Dell launches new Pentium M-based Inspiron notebook

Dell has unveiled its Inspiron 6000 notebook, drawing on Intel's latest 915GM mobile chipset with its increased PCI Express and multimedia support. It is aimed at small businesses or consumers looking for value machines with higher-quality integrated graphics. The Inspiron 6000 is built around an Intel Celeron M 350 (clocking 1. ...more

The PC gets wireless gaming

Logitech has launched the world's first wire-free vibration gamepad for the PC. Operating over radio frequencies in the 2.4Ghx spectrum (incidentally the same used for 802. ...more

Police investigate UK PC builder

A number of UK police forces and Trading Standards have begun investigating Scotland-based Elite PC Systems, on information from a number of our readers. Some report having spent up to ?2,500 on computers that never arrived. One Custom PC reader reported having sent a ?2,000 cheque to the company as far back as June, but has since been unable to get through to the company to locate the whereabouts of his PC. ...more

Sony to enter the CompactFlash market

Following the release of its first digital SLR camera in the summer, Sony is set to enter the CompactFlash market. It says memory cards with capacities of up to 4GB will be available. Pricing details and the exact product line-up will be announced 'shortly', but the memory cards will appear in the spring, states Sony. ...more

Open source to power US patent review

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is looking to the open source community to help improve the quality of patents issued in the US. Quality issues have landed the USPTO with something of a reputation as an over-liberal system that one should try to avoid - particularly in relation to efforts in Europe to come up with a harmonised patent legislation for the EU. The successful patenting of what some might consider trivial or obvious inventions, such as 'one-click shopping' has made software patents tricky terrain for the tech industry. ...more