Digit Magazine January 2006

12 MB·

by  Digit

Editorial
The Dollar Downpour
D
DURING AN OCTOBER‘05 trip to Germany, I specif-
ically asked Hector Ruiz, AMD president and CEO,
whether there was any possibility of AMD putting
up a semiconductor plant in India. He gave me a
look that implied “No way!” To my question he
politely replied, “I don’t think this is possible for
now, given the infrastructure and technology trans-
fer constraints.”
But just last month he made a personal visit to
India and proudly announced an agreement to
license AMD’s proven process technology for SemI-
ndia’s planned wafer fabrication and assembly-test-
mark-pack (ATMP) operations. AMD and SemIndia
will now jointly develop and market semiconductor
solutions for India. Now that’s an about-turn from
his earlier stance.
Incidentally, immediately after Ruiz left, Intel’s
chairman Craig Barrett made a surprise visit and
announced a multi-year investment plan for India
totalling more than $1 billion, stating they plan to
Deepak AjwaniAssociate Editor
grow their local operations, boost venture capital
investments, and work closely with the Govern- “We will soon witness launch of the
ment, industry, and educators.
latest gadgets and tech products
Then came Bill Gates on his fourth visit to India
and he upped the ante—making big-ticket simultaneous with their global launch”
announcements of investing $1.7 billion in the
country over the next four years, and hiring 3,000 the Indian IT sector. No this time not for any back
people in the same time-frame—taking Microsoft’s office operations but to work on developing newer
Indian manpower count to 7,000. and innovative technologies that will spawn better
Earlier, Cisco, the world’s leading networking products for the global market.
firm, had announced a $1.1 billion investment plan India represents a major market for desktop and
in India, while Vodafone decided to spend $1.5 billion laptop computers as well as Internet-enabled
for a 10 per cent stake in Bharti Tele-Ventures Ltd. devices. Industry observers expect the market to see
This impressive investment line-up clearly indi- strong growth in the near future, given the impetus
cates the confidence global players now have in provided by the Government towards increasing PC
India, both as a major market for IT products and as and Internet penetration. Also, India’s Internet user
a location for high-tech manufacturing. We have base has registered a massive 54 per cent growth,
moved on from being the software sweatshop of with 38.5 million users as of 2005-06 from just
the world. 25 million in 2004-05.
India is no longer just another potential growth It is these growth indicators that have compelled
market for technology companies. Rather, India has the corporate honchos of the world’s leading PC and
scaled up to be one of the most important countries processor manufacturing companies to come per-
to be focussed on and build a consumer base. We sonally to India and shell out billions of dollars.
will soon witness launch of the latest gadgets and
Who’s next?
tech products simultaneous with their global
launch. R&D efforts of major IT companies will also
be tuned and customised to Indian consumer needs
for products they wish to sell in India. Not to forget,
it will also lead to a major spurt in recruitment in [email protected]
Tell Us What You Feel About Digit Advertisers’ Index
Each month,Digit walks through the
YOUR TECHNOLOGY NAVIGATOR technology maze to bring you the most Client Page
relevant, most researched stories. If you have
January 2006 • Volume 6 • Issue 1 an opinion about anything published in Digit, Adline............................................121
Chairman or about technology in general, please write Canon..............................................41
Jasu Shah in to [email protected]
Cebit................................................21
Printer, Publisher and Editor
Maulik Jasubhai Product Testing Compuage......................................49
President and Publishing Director
L Subramanyan Want your product reviewed by Digit? Cricket Today................................117
Contact our Test Centre at
Editorial [email protected] Dell ............................................14-15
Associate Editor Deepak Ajwani
ECS ................................................43
Copy Editors Robert Sovereign-Smith,
Ram Mohan Rao, Renuka Rane, Jyotsna Rege Software On DVD/CD Enjay ............................................114
Writers Mithun Kidambi, Nimish Chandiramani To submit and suggest software for
inclusion in the DigitDVD or CD, contact Epson..........................................13,31
Test Centre
Deputy Head Deepak Dhingra us at [email protected] Foxcon............................................57
Reviewers Sanket Naik, Jayesh Limaye,
Freescale........................................45
Anup Nair Help!
Co-ordinator Gautami V Chalke For subscription or copy-related issues, Google............................................19
Design send an e-mail to [email protected] IIT Kharagpur................................115
Creative Head Kabir Malkani
You may also contact the following
Head - Editorial Design Solomon Lewis Intex................................................75
Senior Designer Shivasankaran C Pillai executives for local queries:
Designers Vijay Padaya, Sivalal S, Bangalore:Marshall S (0 9341809286) Jet Airways ..........................27,29-30
Pradip Ingale, Vikram Kathare, Chennai:L RLaxmanan (044-33629283)
Chaitanya Surpur, Shrikrishna Patkar Delhi:Puja Punj (011-51608659) Kunhar peripherals....................37,39
Photographers Jiten Gandhi, Sandeep Patil
Hyderabad:Norbert Joseph (09396229281) LG ............................................Cover
Co-ordinator Rohini Dalvi
Kolkata:Jayanta Bhattacharyya
Multimedia (09331829284) Maxim............................................99
Content Co-ordinator Robert Sovereign-Smith Mumbai:Arpita Ganguli (022-27629200) Microsoft....................................32-33
Sales Pune:Sachin Kamble (09372429280)
Vice-President, Sales Vijay Adhikari Moserbaer..............Inside back Cover
National Head Sobers George
Head, Non-IT Sales Bhavesh Thakor Endorsements/Reprints NEC ..............................................107
Marketing Interested in ordering article reprints, Nikon................................................7
Brand Head Nabjeet Ganguli or using our logos?
Romonov........................................23
Brand Executive Rohini Krishna Contact [email protected]
Marketing Communication Mona Talati, Rooman..........................................47
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Logistics Anant Shirke, M P Singh, of a dispute, the Editor’s decision shall be final Xerox ..............................................71
Vilas Mhatre, Sriram Iyer, Mohd. Ansari
Shashi Shekhar Singh Product Index
Audience Development
Assistant Manager Puja Punj, Krishna Kurup Branded Home PCs Datamini Festiva MG Premium . . . .67 PowerVCR II version 3.0 . . . . . . . . .122
Digit Patron Cell Ghazala Siddiqui Value PCs Krypton Voyager 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 WinDVR 3.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
Executives Neha Patel, James D’Souza
Compaq Presario SG1008IL . . . . . .62 LG XD8-L92ARP1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 WinVDR 2.6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
Circulation — Sales Compaq Presario SR1502IL . . . . . . .62 Media Center PCs
Head Sunder Thiyagarajan Datamini Festiva MG Value Series .62 ACER Aspire E500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 New and Notable
Co-ordinator Arun Kumar
HCL EzeeBee 4981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 HCL Beanstalk 4958 . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Asus W1S00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Customer Service HCL EzeeBee PI 873 . . . . . . . . . . . ..63 HP Pavilion Media Center . . . . . . . .69 Lenovo ThinkPad Z60t . . . . . . . . . . .78
Co-ordinator Arpita Ganguli
LG XT1-VH1SHP1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 PC m7280in Logitech G15 Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . .77
ExecutivesAmarjit Kaur, Radha Kathare
Zenith Premium 7D . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Sahara R3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Logitech G5 Laser Mouse . . . . . . . . .77
Head Office: Editorial, Marketing
PCs above Rs 25K MSI MegaView 588 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
and Customer Service
Plot No D-222/2, TTC Industrial Area, MIDC Acer Aspire ASP V4324 . . . . . . . . . .66 PVR Software Nokia N70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
Shirvane, Nerul, Navi Mumbai 400 706 Acer Aspire SA80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 ChrisTV 4.80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122 Sony VRD-VC20 DVDirect . . . . . . . . .76
Phone: [phone]/9200 Compaq Presario SR1630IL . . . . . . .66 iuVCR 4.9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122 XFX XGear PC Wireless Controller . .78
Fax: [phone] Datamini Festiva MG . . . . . . . . . . . .67 NeoTV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122 Yes MMP8 Portable DVD Player . . .76
COVER
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of Jasubhai Digital Media Pvt Ltd,
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6 DIGITJANUARY 2006
Enter Digital Passion
16
Rahul Bose,
has a
preference
25Touched By Tech
for Apple, 52 Let Your Computer Chill
though he What would life have looked like without
How does a geek cool that big bad
won’t admit it! tech? Presenting a panoramic view of what’s
machine he built?
been by us, and what’s to come
22
Wikipedia: how
reliable is it?
What does the
34 The
Wikimedia
Foundation Lizard Of Oz
have to say “It’s Alive! It’s
about it?
Alive!” Will
software of the
24
ZigBee—more future blur the
than just line between 46 Pole Position
a funny- the human and The Internet in India is just getting into top
sounding word
the artificial? gear, courtesy ADSL. But what about VDSL?
Contents Magazine
58 Home Companions
Digital Tools
What PC suits your home best? We review three
55 Pick, Choose, Publish! categories of home PCs for you to choose from
Tired of trying to lay out your material in
Word? Try Publisher instead
97 Agent 001
Our Agent finds out what processors you should be
buying. Plus, handy buying advice from mobile phones
to high-end workstations
76 New & Notable
Portable DVD players, cool new gaming gear, 82 Net Gain
a stylish new cell phone and some more
The Indian Government’s new national portal is
goodies catch our eye this month
surprisingly well designed and useful
8 DIGITJANUARY2006
Digital Business
105Wired Hospitality
Learn how The Orchid keeps its operations running
smooth and well-oiled
108 Blogs Mean Business
110 Trend
Use your blog to reel in customers and promote
We take a look at how the corporate world views your business
online degrees
January 2006
Digital Leisure 118Capture, Control, Create Escape
Your computer is quickly nudging your TV 131
out of the picture. We help you choose the
113Blog For A Cause
best Personal Video Recorder (PVR) software
Can blogging save lives? We found out that it
for your PC
just might!
The man who put
the Ping! in
Pong—Nolan
Bushnell, the
creator of the
first computer
game
133
124 Tech Critique It’s fun with The
Really Big Button
Pick your battles—the Germans or the
That Doesn’t Do
Law? This month, we played Call of Duty 2 Anything
and Need For Speed: Most Wanted
S Three Incredibly Useful Sites ..........18 Tips & Tricks....................................83 Digit Diary......................................132
R
A The Digital World ............................18 Q&A ................................................92 Blogwatch......................................133
L Beat That ........................................20 Tech Quiz........................................116 Digit Forum....................................146
U
G Gender Benders ..............................22 Mediawise......................................128 Inbox..............................................146
E
R Buzzword Of The Month ..................22 Bluff Your Way Through..................132 Tabloid Tech ..................................148
JANUARY2006 DIGIT 9
D DIGITALPASSION DIGITALTOOLS DIGITALBUSINESS DIGITALLEISURE
V FPS Creator 1 MULTIMEDIA Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech SMALL GAMES
D nnDGXig:i:TBroaonks cvo.1d1er 2.24.2936 Beta 2a RTheea Udlterar H1a.l0 Text-to-Speech Reader SThtea hripgholyr tac Gclaaimlaecdt, iincd Eepmenpdiernetlsy
nAVOne Video Converter 2.52 application reads your documents out developed MMORPG, Starport, is now
nFMV Pro 5.99 loud in one of its many high-quality available and still 100% free to play. Be
nVideoCharge 3.3.9 voices. This can be a great tool for the captain of a space-ship in this fully
nWinDVR 3 proofreading, because hearing your graphical, real-time action game, set in a
text spoken out helps you spot the multi-player world.
INTERNET mistakes you’ve made.
nGamer’s Own Instant Messenger 0.1.7
nServer2Go 0.9.8 NetSupport DNA 2.5
Create your game instantly with this nTryFast Messenger 4.6.1672 NetSupport DNA (Dynamic Network
intuitive 3D editor. Drag and drop walls, nCapturix VideoSpy 2.12.1760 Administration) facilitates central
lights, doors, enemies, ammo, weapons nCoffeeCup HTML Editor for management of your enterprise PCs in
and more with pixel-perfect precision, Windows 2006 a secure, co-ordinated and efficient
and watch as they intelligently link nConceptDraw WebWave 5.3.0 manner.
together. Then with one click of the nPost2Blog 1.10 beta 7
mouse, play your game! nZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite
DEVELOPER TOOLS SYSTEM
nExchanger XML Editor System Mechanic 6.0p Christmas Quest 1.0
nMicrosoft .NET Framework runtime The only system optimisation and PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS Christmas Quest is part trivia contest
files 2.0 security software you'll ever need—six nWindows Server System Reference and part treasure hunt. Navigate the
nOracle 10g Express Edition award-winning products contained in Architecture (WSSRA) 2.0 planet in search of your holiday
nBorland C++ builder 2006 one complete solution. Fix stubborn nAudiomatic 1.01 assignments.
nBorland Delphi 2006 errors, accelerate performance, nFlorencesoft DiffEngineX 1.24
nPower Render maintain peak PC health, protect nMySQL Migration Toolkit 2.3
against viruses, hackers, spyware, nNetSupport Manager Remote
GAMES adware, and more using the System Control 9.10
Need For Speed Most Wanted Mechanic 6 Professional robust arsenal nSameShow PPT to SWF
PC Demo of powerful tools. Converter 1.6.0
VMware Workstation 5.5 MOBILE APPS
VMware Workstation is a powerful Sony Ericsson Themes
desktop virtualisation software for Creator 1.92
software developers/testers and The “Themes Creator” is now official,
enterprise IT professionals. It runs and supports all Sony Ericsson phones
multiple operating systems that support themes.
simultaneously on a single PC. VIDEOS
Oxygen Phone Manager II F.E.A.R. Machinima Episodes
Be Wanted. Wake up to the smell of burnt nAshampoo WinOptimizer Platinum Oxygen Phone Manager II lets your PC The newest series from Rooster Teeth
asphalt as the thrill of illicit street racing Suite3 3.00 and Nokia mobile phone communicate Productions (the creators of the famous
permeates the air. From the makers of nVisualCron 2.7.6 with each other using infrared, Red Vs. Blue series), P.A.N.I.C.S. (People
the hit Need for Speed Underground nUnofficial Windows 98 SE Service Pack Bluetooth, DLR-3 cable, DAU-9P Acting Normal In Crazy-ass Situations)
series, Need for Speed: Most Wanted 2.1a compatible cable in FBUS mode, and has arrived!!!
challenges players to become the most nAcronis Disk Director Suite 10.0 DKU-5 (Pop-Port) cable.
notorious and elusive street racer. nBackup2005 Pro 4.4.6.155 PoP: The Two Thrones
nDiskeeper Professional Edition POPT2T takes place in the homeland of
Quake 4 Demo 10.0.593t the Prince—Babylon. For the first time.
This demo offers enough nPCMark05 Basic 1.1.0
multiplayer action to keep
you competing online for FAST TRACK IN PDF
days, with two versions of By popular demand, archives of the
the popular map “The past 12 months are back!
Fragging Yard.” The single
player also starts from nFast Track To Digital Photography
where the full version takes off. nFast Track To Anti-virus
nFast Track To Wi-Fi
Kubuntu 5.10 nFast Track To Upgrade Your PC nNokia PC Suite 6.7 Release 21
Kubuntu is a user- nFast Track To MS Office nSiemens Mobile Phone Manager
friendly operating nFast Track To The Internet 3.04.40.48.4
system based on KDE, nFast Track To Your Web Presence niPodSync 2.26 Path Of Neo
the K Desktop nFast Track To Digital Entertainment nOxygen Phone Manager II 2.8 build 3.3 The Matrix: Path of Neois the follow-up
Environment. nFast Track To Essential Windows Tools nVisSie 2.5.6a to 2003’s hit action video game based
on The Matrixfilm trilogy.
nF.E.A.R. Update
Patch
nQuake 4 Update Patch 1.0.4
nHammer And Sickle
nPeter Jackson's King Kong
nThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion,
The Witch and The Wardrobe
LINUX
nKubuntu 5.10
namaroK 1.3.7
nmCube Music Manager 20051205
10 DIGITJANUARY 2005
Contents Interactive
DIGITALPASSION DIGITALTOOLS DIGITALBUSINESS DIGITALLEISURE C
Solar 1.0 REAKTOR 5 5.00 Sydock XForms 2.5.4.6 Harry Potter and the Goblet D
Solar is an advanced, secure software of Fire Demo:Nanosaur
protection and licensing system that Extreme 2.03
allows you to protect your program In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,
Harry is mysteriously selected as the
fourth competitor
in the dangerous
Triwizard
Tournament. Each
from unauthorised users, while contestant in this
providing you with a reliable yet REAKTOR 5 fuses all audio applications Sydock Document Processor FREE lite international
easy-to-implement licensing system. into a single, extremely versatile and version gives organisations and working competition must
powerful tool. Musicians, producers and groups the ability to collect and confront a fire-
Actual Drawing sound designers are all catered to by distribute information using the breathing dragon,
Actual Drawing is a visual publishing tool the very broad range of instruments flexible and varied possibilities of XML- rescue friends from the icy depths
that helps create Web pages without you and sounds already included. based forms. of the Black Lake, and navigate the
twisting mysteries of a vast,
MULTIMEDIA iMediaCONVERT 3.3.16 dangerous maze.
nALLPlayer 2.2.7 iMediaCONVERT
nCircle Virtual CD v1.02 converts PowerPoint GAMES
nCliprex DVD Player Professional presentations nArcher Battle 1.0
nDIMIN Image Viewer n5 5.2.1.111 (including sounds) to nBackgammon Lite 5.1
nForceVision 3.3 Final Flash, and instantly nBastille Solitaire 1.0
nFusion Media Player 1.7.2 delivers Internet, nBingo Liner 3.0
nnDVD 1.0.2146.18505 Intranet, CD-ROM or nFree Cribbage Card Game 6.40
nScreenshot Captor 2.06.02 LMS-compatible nFree Hearts Card Game 6.40
nStickyView 1.1.4 results, suitable for online distribution nFree Spades Card Game 6.40
nVisual CD 2.0 or interactive e-learning platforms. njose 1.4.0
having to know HTML, allowing you to nVrecord 0.57 nPoker Mania 3.2.1
drag and drop page content. The nAKRAM Audio Converter 2.17 MOBILE APPS nSilke Halma 1.0.4
program has its own image-manipulation nBatchPhoto 1.0 niDirectionz 1 nBlack Jack for Windows 1.0.2.1
tools, so you don’t need to use a third- ndjDecks 0.70b nSymantec Mobile Threats Removal nFrenesia 1.1
party image editor. neJukebox 3.991 Tool 1.0.3 nLotto007 XP 2005 6.4
nFiregraphic XP 8.0.810 niPodRip Win 2.8
Synopsis—Visual nMovie DVD Maker 1.3.8 nMonopoly for Palm OS 1.2.3 VIDEOS
Programming Tool 1.1.10 nMP3Producer 2.47 nParty-Pod Pro 6 Age Of Conan Trailer
Synopsis is a visual programming tool nMusic Stop 1.0
that dramatically accelerates software nPicaJet FX 2.5 (440) Canto Pod 2
development. By dragging and dropping nREAKTOR 5 5.00
icons and connecting them with graphical nRiver Past Cam Do 2.81
links, it is possible to assemble complex nThumbNailer 8.0.8.4
programs literally in seconds.
INTERNET
Galacticards 1.002 nDeepnet Explorer 1.5.2 beta 2
In Galacticards, nEbookMaker 1.21
five players nFree Browser 1.5.38
start out with a nFresh Download 7.42
home world, nMozilla Firefox 1.5 Final
some defensive nPando 0.8.1.0 beta
ground units, nPortable Firefox 1.5 RC3 A trailer of the Age Of Conangame that
and a hand of nSPAMfighter Standard 4.0.6 This program quickly puts song lyrics will take you to the mythical worlds of
five cards with which they begin their nInternet Download Accelerator 4.4.1.935 on your iPod at no cost. After you fantasy.
struggle to become the largest species nInternet Download Manager 5.0 beta 3 connect your iPod and open the
in space. nQuadSkucker/Web 3.0 application, be sure to check the NFS Most Wanted Video
nThe Bat! Voyager 3.63.07 BETA Settings panel to make sure the proper
DEVELOPER TOOLS nWebCamSplitter 1.2.6 drive is selected. While you can enter a
nMSN Messenger Activity SDK 1.0 nWilling Webcam 3.2 search term to find a particular track,
nPHP Designer 2005 it’s easier to simply have the program
nStani’s Python Editor 0.8.0b SYSTEM display all tunes on your iPod. From
nTreeview—JavaScript Tree Menu 4.3 nAutoHotkey 1.0.40.10 there, you can simply check boxes for
nVisual C# 2005 Express nLookInMyPC 1.0 songs you’d like lyrics for.
nVisual Web Developer 2005 Express nMonitor Calibration Wizard 1.0
nFlashDigger Plus nPartition Logic 0.6 Pocket Tunes
nOZEXE 3.10 nSqirlz Morph 1.2d 3.1.1
nSlavaSoft QuickCrypt Library 2.5 nTreeSize Free V1.77 Regardless of whether NFS Most Wantedis a game where you
nTristana Writer nVICE 1.18 your mobile device run from the cops, often destroying
shipped with a dedicated everything in sight with your souped up
LINUX ESSENTIALS music jukebox, Pocket sports car. Here’s a video that shows
nBanshee 0.10 nAdobe Acrobat Reader 7.5 Tunes still makes a you what you can expect to see when
nDirac 0.5.4 nAvast Home Edition 4.6 strong case for itself as you play the demo that’s on our DVD.
nGStreamer 0.10.0 nIrfanView 3.97 an alternative solution.
nMadJACK 0.1 n Kazaa Lite Mega Codec Pack 1.40 After you’ve imported
nMkdvd 2.43 nKerio Personal Firewall 4.2.2 MP3, WMA, or OGG files to your Palm’s
nmkvtoolnix 1.6.5 nNorton AntiVirus Definitions Update expansion card, the program
nmplayerplug-in 3.17 nSpybot Search & Destroy 1.4 will immediately recognise them once
nOST-Box 0.1.0 nWinRAR 3.51 you start it up.
nShoutcast 1.9.5
For any queries regarding the CD or DVD, e-mail [email protected] “CD/DVD” as the subject. DIGITJANUARY 2006 11
If the subject is not mentioned, your mail might not reach the right person.
Online
Digit Patrons
By Demand It really does
January 2006
pay to be loyal!
You get to choose what goes in Digit
Interactive. This month, you chose: Find out more
Need For Speed: Most Wanted Demo on www.
Quake 4 Demo thinkdigit.com
Last Month’s Question:
Digit Reader Poll
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Digit?
This Month’s Question
HaboToowtua ctll oys npPcayerwarnnaoreiedd/ aadrew yaorue? L1i9n%ux Software Vijay Padayainfographic
Just obsessed enough
Reviews
Only if it starts to bug me TCeacrheneorlso Igny 11.8%
Live and let live, I say 31% Apple Mac
11.8%
WHAT ware?
Consumer
Log on to www.thinkdigit.com Electronics
and vote 18.8%
Total votes 8,335
www.thinkdigit.com
taste technology at
There’s something for everyone on the Digit Forum
www.thinkdigit.com/forum
12
Successor To Centrino Due this month Legal P2P In A Set-Top Box
Intel said it would officially release its next mobile platform, MuViBOXX!, a new entertainment company, introduced the
Napa, in January. Napa is equipped with the powerful Yonah world’s first legal P2P media centre in a set-top box. The box
dual-core processor. Intel claims Napa will boost average will feature biometric DRM, and allow consumers to download
performance 68 per cent beyond the Sonoma platform, movie and music content from a proprietary global file-
while extending battery life beyond the 5-hour mark. sharing network. The box has a 500 GB hard disk.
Enter
WILL THE $100 LAPTOP TAKE OFF?
Rahul Bose
Actor and Director Mere Gadget Or Affordable
Rahul Bose gave up an
illustrious advertising
Laptop?
career only to emerge as a
prolific actor, director and
script writer. After a
successful debut as
Agastya Sen in Will the $100 laptop Given this background, that has the full
English August, he change the world? what are we to make of functionality of a PC,
went on to write Will it at least Craig Barrett's remarks? reprogrammable to run all
and direct the positively impact some Intel’s chairman openly the applications of a grown
critically students in developing criticised the concept. At a up PC... not dependent on
acclaimed film countries? Opinion is press conference in Sri servers in the sky to deliver
Everybody Says I’m divided. Even as Taiwan’s Lanka, he insisted there content and capability to
Fine, and endeared Quanta, the world’s largest will not be a market for them, not dependent on
himself to audiences manufacturer of notebooks, the devices. hand cranks for power.”
through his role in Mr and signed on to the project, Barrett argued that a So what does the
Mrs Iyer. Rahul discusses his Intel’s chairman dismissed computer’s features are “gadget” feature? The CPU
tech quotient with Digit: it as a mere “gadget”. more important than price. is 500 MHz; the
The pedigree of the $100 He claims that the laptop is colour/monochrome dual-
What role does technology laptop is impeccable. It’s an ineffectual gadget that mode screen is 7.5 inches
play in your life? been designed by industry diagonally; there’s 128 MB
Technology has helped me specialists at MIT in co- of RAM, 512 MB of Flash
enhance my creativity. Whether operation with the One memory, and there’s
it is acting, theatre, or writing Laptop Per Child (OLPC) 802.11b wireless support.
scripts for that matter, association, and was first Two speakers and four USB
technology gives you a distinct conceived by MIT Media ports are provided. There’s
advantage. For instance, I use Labs founder Nicholas no hard disk, optical or
Final Draft—software to write Negroponte. The floppy drives. On the
film scripts. project itself is software front, the laptop
very runs Red Hat Linux, and
What gadgets do you own? ambitious, incorporates a Web browser,
I own a Motorola V3 phone, an aiming, as it will a word processor, an e-mail
iPod Nano, and an Apple Mac at does, to empower suffer program, and a
home—nah, that’s not because I every child with a from low programming system that
am partial to Apple or anything, laptop. Even the UN has demand and includes the Squeak
but I guess I’ve really gotten expressed support for the limited success despite programming language.
used to the Mac. idea that cheap laptops will huge international interest The most obvious
be an effective way to in the project. Citing explanation for Barrett’s
What do you mostly do online? spread computers across hardware limitations, remarks is the fact that in
I surf the Net, e-mail and blog. the world. Barrett said that the $100 August, Intel opened four
The one site I frequently blog The response from the laptop will not adequately platform design centres in
on is Intentblog.com. It’s a media, governments and meet the needs of its target Brazil, China, Egypt and
platform for people to develop the industry has been consumers and that Intel’s India, to design computers
a dialogue about new fantastic. Orders for contributions to IT in for local markets. So are we
paradigms in creativity, millions of units have been developing countries are far to entirely dismiss Barrett?
communication, and fulfillment. received from governments more tangible and relevant: Perhaps, perhaps not.
in Brazil, Egypt, Thailand “Mr Negroponte has History has shown that
Any instance where and Nigeria. Negroponte called it a $100 laptop—I attempts to bring
technology really helped? unveiled the design of the think a more realistic title computers to the poor are
When I was in the tsunami-hit device in November last should be ‘the $100 gadget.’ likely to fail. There have
Andamans, it was the Internet year, and plans are The problem is that gadgets been several attempts,
that helped me stay connected underway for the first units have not been successful. It without success, to bring
with the rest of the world. to be shipped early in turns out what people are low-cost PCs to Brazil. Then
January ‘06. looking for is something there’s the Simputer,
16 DIGITJANUARY2006
Security Watch
designed in India, of which anonymously-written
Opera Upgrade we’ve been hearing about biography entry that linked Microsoft Xbox
Recommended for a long time—but of former USA Todayeditor 360
which nothing seems to John Seigenthaler Sr with The current
The Problem
materialise. AMD has not the assassinations of darling of gamers,
Users of Opera 8.1 may be at sold many of its cheap President John F Kennedy Xbox 360 is the
risk of attack. Security firm most powerful
Internet devices—the and Senator Robert F
Secunia has uncovered a game console in the market.
security weakness in that Personal Internet Kennedy. The writer, Brian Microsoft has re-built the 360
Communicators—for the Chase, later issued an to provide an experience that
version. Researchers at Secunia
developing world. apology for his prank. leaves the competition gaping
said they found that a design
But still, history has also Seigenthaler, in a USA Today like a goldfish.
error in the way Opera
taught us that some bad editorial, criticised
processes mouse clicks in new
ideas meet with wild Wikipedia and called the
browser windows. This,
success, and that some fake biography “Internet Sony Playstation 2
combined with the With the
great ideas fall flat. character assassination.”
predictability of the position of Playstation 3
The $100 laptop could In an interview with
the ‘File Download’ dialog box, still a few
could be exploited to trick turn out to be a good idea BusinessWeek Online, months away,
that works. After all, it’s Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia Top Dog Sony has been
users into clicking the ‘Open’
targeted at children and founder and president of ingloriously knocked over by
button of a file download
students—and looking at the Wikimedia Foundation, the Xbox 360 for now. Sony
prompt, even if they intended devotees must either shift
the features on offer, who which runs Wikipedia, said
to click ‘Save’ or ‘Cancel’. loyalties to Microsoft or
needs more? Even if the they were revamping the
The exploit has only been gnash their teeth in jealousy.
project can place a laptop process of entry creation so
verified to work in Opera
in the hands of every credibility could be
version 8.01, though earlier
twentieth child, it would maintained. Asked how intention to be Britannica
versions may be vulnerable too.
have succeeded. users should view or better quality, and our
Wikipedia, he said, “It policies and everything are
The Damages
AWASH IN CONTROVERSY should be thought of as designed with that goal in
Naturally, you wouldn’t want to
Is Wikipedia work in progress. It’s our mind. We don’t reach that
click ‘Open’ for a file you intend
quality yet.” Most
to save and then virus-check.
Credible? tellingly, when asked
And if you’re prompted to save
if he thought
or open a file from an untrusted
students and
source, you’re more likely to
researchers should
click ‘Cancel’!
It was only a matter of cite Wikipedia,
Hackers could use the weakness
time before an Wales issued a frank
to trick users into downloading
encyclopaedia based on “No.” But he went on
and running unwanted
the wiki concept became to say he didn’t think
programs. The flaw cannot be
the subject of a people should cite
taken lightly—running a mali-
controversy. It was a Britannica either.
cious program could damage
relatively minor incident When it comes to
your computer!
that sparked it off, but the Wikipedia vs. Britannica,
questions are now really opinion on the Internet
The Solution
being asked. Wikipedia, for varies wildly. Some,
The flaw was eliminated in
those who came in late, is including CNN, say
Opera version 8.02, but why
an online encyclopaedia Wikipedia is as
not upgrade to the latest
that anyone—including accurate on science as
version—8.51? The update is
you—can edit. And it the venerated
available at www.opera.com/
currently has more than a Britannica. Others
download.
million entries. have cast doubt on
The incident we’re Wikipedia’s credibility
talking about was an IllustrationsHarsho Mohan Chattoraj even before this recent
One Silly Question “Why is the mouse called a mouse?”
P“Irte'sk sah an iSchea nrmama,e J afoipru trhe device” “MSionncae Dith'su msoa lt, iPnuyn?e” “CSoazr oisth l oAozkizs Clhikoeu golnee, !R”atnagiri “IPtr miyao vTeaslr aejrao, uMnudm lbikaei one” “IAtk caonuklsdhna' tS rbivea csatallveid, Dae lchait”
DIGITJANUARY2006 17