Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/316130782?client_source=feed&format=rss
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Monday, July 1, 2013
Lenovo ThinkPad T431s
Consistency wins the race. To that end, the Lenovo ThinkPad T431s follows on as Lenovo's mainstream business corporate laptop. It takes some cues from next-gen systems like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, like carbon fiber construction and a sealed battery, but it's still a powerhouse to be considered when you're buying 10 or 10,000 laptops per order. A couple of features need improvement, but overall the T431s is a solid business laptop, and users should have no problem adapting to it from previous T-series ThinkPads.
Design and Features
The T431s measures about 0.8 by 13 by 9 inches (HWD) and weighs in at a svelte 3.37 pounds. It represents a total redesign of the ThinkPad line, though it still undoubtedly looks like a ThinkPad. The older Lenovo ThinkPad T430 had three separate mouse buttons below the space bar for use with the TrackPoint pointing stick, and two more for use with the trackpad. The new T431s has a one-piece trackpad with five mouse buttons integrated into its top and bottom edges. The bottom area is useful for the trackpad user, while the three sections of the top edge work just like the three separate buttons for the TrackPoint. That way, users who just can't change the way they do things can still left, right, and center/scroll click as they're use to doing. It has a different feel compared to the three separate buttons, particularly since the top edge of the trackpad is flat and not raised like the previous buttons, but it's easy to get used to.
The trackpad is multi-touch, and supports the usual Windows 8 gestures and swipes. The one thing you won't get on the ThinkPad T431s is a touch screen. For that, you'll have to upgrade to the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch ($1,684). Like the Lenovo X1 Carbon Touch, the T431s uses carbon fiber composites in its top lid and magnesium construction in the bottom chassis to save weight and add strength.
Another feature that saves weight is the elimination of the optical drive option. DVD and CD technology is mostly dead at this point anyway, but if you still need optical drives, your IT manager can buy a few USB external drives, which still work fine on the T431s. The T431s also eliminates a legacy technology that will be missed: The T431s drops the removable battery in favor of a sealed battery. This will be a bother for the road warrior who has the discipline to keep several spare batteries handy at all times, but if your users mainly keep their laptops docked, then it won't bother them. The T431s still has a standardized Lenovo docking port on the bottom for use with ThinkPad Series 3 docks.
The T431s has some ruggedized features, including draining channels in the keyboard deck to help with liquid spills. The system is tested to Mil-STD-810 levels for temperature, pressure, humidity, vibration, and dust resistance. In addition to the ruggedized features, the T431s we tested came with a backlit keyboard with scalloped key tops, which makes it easier and more comfortable to type. As usual, Lenovo's mainstream business laptop has one of the best keyboards in the category. The system we tested also has a fingerprint reader and the requisite security hardware behind it, as well as a smartcard reader.
The T431s matte-finish screen measures 14 inches diagonally and has a 1,600-by-900 resolution. Lenovo and other manufacturers call it a HD+ screen, but it still falls short of the 1,920-by-1,080 resolution required for full 1080p HD. You can view 720p content natively, but 1080p graphics will be scaled down or cropped. This deficit won't bother most text-based users, but spreadsheet jockeys will miss the extra screen real estate. For those folks, consider using a docking station or the built in VGA and mini-DisplayPort to connect a large screen external display. Speaking of ports, the T431s comes with a full-size Ethernet port, two USB 3.0 ports (colored black), a headset port, Kensington lock port, and a SIM card slot for an optional WWAN adapter. The system we reviewed has 4GB of system memory and a 500GB SATA hard drive for storage.
That storage can be equipped any way your IT folk decide, but this review unit came with a selection of Lenovo and third part software packages pre-loaded. These packages include Accuweather, Kindle, Evernote, Skype, Zinio, Norton Internet Security, rara.com, Sugarsync, an ad for Microsoft Office, Intel's AppUp, and Lenovo utilities like Quicklaunch and Lenovo Companion.
Performance
The T431s matched the Lenovo X1 Carbon Touch on the battery life test, with a time of 5 hours 41 minutes on our batter rundown test. This was about 15 minutes longer than the Lenovo X1 Carbon Touch, so the difference is essentially a wash. The Dell 6430u lasted hours longer, with a 7:40 battery time. While that's significant, five-and-a-half hours is sufficient for a business laptop simply moving from meeting to meeting.
Ultimately, the choice of laptops falls to your IT buyer and the current installed base of systems. If you're a Lenovo shop, the Lenovo ThinkPad T431s is a worthy successor to the ThinkPad faithful, though the new trackpad may take a little while to get used to. The Dell Latitude 6430u as reviewed has significantly more performance under its hood, so it holds on to the Editors' Choice for business laptops, but if your company relies on Lenovo systems, the T431s is a very good workhorse PC for your rank and file workers.
BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS
COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Lenovo ThinkPad T431s with several other laptops side by side.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/CmE6cLSy1u0/0,2817,2420972,00.asp
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Sunday, June 30, 2013
Is this the colorful polycarbonate casing for Apple's new low-cost iPhone?
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Phoenix, Las Vegas bake in scorching heat
A visitor to the Furnace Creek Vistitor Center walks by a digital thermometer in Death Vally National Park Friday, June 28, 2013 in Furnace Creek, Calif. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest as building high pressure triggers major warming in eastern California, Nevada, and Arizona. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
A visitor to the Furnace Creek Vistitor Center walks by a digital thermometer in Death Vally National Park Friday, June 28, 2013 in Furnace Creek, Calif. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest as building high pressure triggers major warming in eastern California, Nevada, and Arizona. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Dan Kail, 67, of Pittsburg Pa., walks thru the sand dunes in Death Vally National Park Friday, June 28, 2013 near Stovepipe Wells, Calif. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest as building high pressure triggers major warming in eastern California, Nevada, and Arizona. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Michael Jackson impersonator Juan Carlos Gomez drinks some water as he takes a break from posing for photos with tourists along The Strip, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Las Vegas. A blazing heat wave expected to send the mercury soaring to nearly 120 degrees in Phoenix and Las Vegas settled over the West on Friday, threatening to ground airliners and raising fears that people and pets will get burned on the scalding pavement. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
David Reyes, left, and Shavaar Hanes take a break from posing for photos with tourists as the Mario Brothers along The Strip, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Las Vegas. A blazing heat wave expected to send the mercury soaring to nearly 120 degrees in Phoenix and Las Vegas settled over the West on Friday, threatening to ground airliners and raising fears that people and pets will get burned on the scalding pavement. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Parker & Sons Air Conditioning warranty supervisor Michael Hawks cools off after inspecting an a/c unit, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Phoenix. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest as building high pressure triggers major warming in eastern California, Nevada, and Arizona. Dangerously hot temperatures are expected across the Arizona deserts throughout the week with a high of 118 Friday. (AP Photo/Matt York)
DEATH VALLEY, Calif. (AP) ? Dan Kail was vacationing in Las Vegas when he heard that the temperature at Death Valley could approach 130 degrees this weekend. He didn't hesitate to make a trip to the desert location that is typically the hottest place on the planet.
"Coming to Death Valley in the summertime has always been on the top of my bucket list," the 67-year-old Pittsburgh man said. "When I found out it might set a record I rented a car and drove straight over. If it goes above 130 I will have something to brag about."
The forecast called for Death Valley to reach 128 degrees Saturday as part of a heat wave that has caused large parts of the western U.S. to suffer. Death Valley's record high of 134 degrees, set a century ago, stands as the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth.
"The wind out here is like being in front of a blast furnace," Kail said.
As temperatures soared in Las Vegas Friday, 200 people were treated for heat problems at an outdoor concert, Clark County spokesman Erik Pappa said.
Thirty of them were hospitalized for heat-related injuries at Vans Warped Tour at Silverton Casino as temps reached 115.
Most of the others "were essentially provided shade and water and a place to sit down," Pappa said.
It was expected to get even hotter in Las Vegas over the weekend.
Phoenix reached 116 on Friday ? 2 degrees short of the expected high ? in part because a light layer of smoke from wildfires in neighboring New Mexico shielded the blazing sun, the National Weather Service said. Phoenix was forecast to hit nearly 120. The record in Phoenix is 122.
The heat was so punishing that rangers took up positions at trailheads at Lake Mead in Nevada to persuade people not to hike. Zookeepers in Phoenix hosed down the elephants and fed tigers frozen fish snacks. Dogs were at risk of burning their paws on scorched pavement, and airlines kept close watch on the heat for fear that it could cause flights to be delayed.
The heat wasn't expected to break until Monday or Tuesday.
The scorching weather presented problems for airlines because high temperatures can make it more difficult for planes to take off. Hot air reduces lift and also can diminish engine performance. Planes taking off in the heat may need longer runways or may have to shed weight by carrying less fuel or cargo.
Smaller jets and propeller planes are more likely to be affected than bigger airliners that are better equipped for extreme temperatures.
Temperatures are also expected to soar across Utah and into Wyoming and Idaho, with triple-digit heat forecast for the Boise area. Cities in Washington state that are better known for cool, rainy weather should break the 90s next week.
"This is the hottest time of the year, but the temperatures that we'll be looking at for Friday through Sunday, they'll be toward the top," said weather service meteorologist Mark O'Malley. "It's going to be baking hot across much of the entire West."
The heat is the result of a high-pressure system brought on by a shift in the jet stream, the high-altitude air current that dictates weather patterns. The jet stream has been more erratic in the past few years.
Health officials warned people to be extremely careful when venturing outdoors. The risks include not only dehydration and heat stroke but burns from the concrete and asphalt. Dogs can suffer burns and blisters on their paws by walking on hot pavement.
"You will see people who go out walking with their dog at noon or in the middle of the day and don't bring enough water and it gets tragic pretty quickly," said Bretta Nelson, spokeswoman for the Arizona Humane Society. "You just don't want to find out the hard way."
Cooling stations were set up to shelter the homeless and elderly people who can't afford to run their air conditioners. In Phoenix, Joe Arpaio, the famously hard-nosed sheriff who runs a tent jail, planned to distribute ice cream and cold towels to inmates this weekend.
Officials said personnel were added to the Border Patrol's search-and-rescue unit because of the danger to people trying to slip across the Mexican border. At least seven people have been found dead in the last week in Arizona after falling victim to the brutal desert heat.
In June 1990, when Phoenix hit 122 degrees, airlines were forced to cease flights for several hours because of a lack of data from the manufacturers on how the aircraft would operate in such extreme heat.
US Airways spokesman Todd Lehmacher said the airline now knows that its Boeings can fly at up to 126 degrees, and its Airbus fleet can operate at up to 127.
While the heat in Las Vegas is expected to peak Sunday, it's unlikely to sideline the first round of the four-week Bikini Invitational tournament.
"I feel sorry for those poor girls having to strut themselves in 115 degrees, but there's $100,000 up for grabs," said Hard Rock casino spokeswoman Abigail Miller. "I think the girls are willing to make the sacrifice."
___
Skoloff reported from Phoenix. Also contributing were Robert Jablon in Los Angeles, Julie Jacobson and Michelle Rindels in Las Vegas, Michelle Price in Salt Lake City, Cristina Silva and Bob Christie in Phoenix, and Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, N.M.
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Saturday, June 29, 2013
Intel 335 Series 180GB SSD
Intel has had a prominent role in the consumer solid-state drive (SSD) market since it launched its 80GB X25-M solid-state drive back in 2009. The chip giant has followed up with refreshed devices at regular intervals, most recently with the SSD 335 Series. The 180GB 335 Series drive we're reviewing today is the second SKU to launch; Intel shipped a larger 240GB model last December. This new drive is a decent performer, but its reliance on older controller technology leave it wedged in the middle of the pack.
There's not much difference between the new SSD 335 Series drives and the 330 Series, which launched a little over a year ago. Both the 330 and 335 families use the SandForce SF-2281 controller. Both offer SATA 6G support, a three-year warranty, and the same base performance specs (500MBps sequential read and 450MBps sequential write). The older drive uses 25nm MLC NAND, while the newer 335 Series is based on Intel's 20nm NAND. SSDs aren't known for drawing much power, but the 335 is specced as having a maximum power draw of 350mW, with idle power consumption of 275mW. That's significantly less than the SSD 330 Series, which was specced for 850mW under load and 600mW in idle.
Save for the reduced power consumption, the shift to 20nm NAND is mostly an advantage for Intel, rather than a direct benefit to consumers. The 20nm NAND is significantly smaller than 25nm NAND, which means Intel can fit more memory chips on a given silicon wafer. The shift to smaller manufacturing geometries (also called nodes) is one reason why the price of SSDs has dropped precipitously in the past few years. The new 20nm NAND chips (shown to scale in the image above), are just 40% the size of the 34nm NAND Intel was using four years ago.
Intel drives tend to carry a fair amount of additional (overprovisioned) Flash. The 180GB SSD 335 actually contains 192GB of RAM; the additional 12GB is rotated into use as blocks of the original 180GB wear out and need to be retired. One of the downsides to using NAND built on a smaller process is that the memory can't handle as many program/erase cycles. Despite this trend, Intel rates the SSD 335 is as robust as the previous SSD 330 family.
We compared the 180GB Intel SSD 335 against the Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB and the OCZ Vector Series VTR1-25SAT3-256G. Our review unit was tested using an Asus P877V-Deluxe motherboard with 8GB of DDR3-1600 and an Intel Core i7-3770K CPU. The P877-V Deluxe offers multiple SATA controllers from Intel and Marvell; all of the drives were connected to Intel's 6G SATA port.
Of principle interest here is whether the 335's older SandForce controller can keep up with newer options from OCZ and Samsung. The SF-2281 controller has mostly been popping up in budget drives of late, and SandForce is expected to launch a new SF-3000 controller series later this year.
The performance figures for AS-SSD and SiSoft Sandra tests reflect a drive's performance in a particular type of data workload. Sequential read/write tests measure an SSD's capabilities when reading or writing a large block of contiguous data. A single large movie or ISO image will test a drive's sequential performance (assuming that the target drive isn't badly fragmented). In AS-SSD, the Intel 335's sequential read speeds weren't far off the OCZ Vector and Samsung 840 Pro (465MBps compared to 509 MBps and 518 MBps, respectively), but sequential write performance was significantly lower. The Intel 335 managed 252MBps, while the OCZ Vector clocked in at 495MBps and the Samsung 840 Pro scored 481MBps.
The 4K read/write tests ascertain the performance of an SSD or HDD when reading and writing small chunks of data. These small read/writes are vital to the everyday performance of a storage solution. The "64 Threads" test in AS-SSD means that the benchmark program spins off 64 separate 4K read/write tasks. This stretches the controller's ability to manage such workloads, but also provides a more realistic performance metric?an operating system is constantly reading and writing data to multiple services and programs simultaneously. The Intel 335 lagged behind the OCZ and Samsung drives at 203MBps read and 214MBps write. The OCZ Vector logged read/write speeds of 359MBps and 304MBps with the 840 Pro at 381MBps read, 299MBps write.
The random read/write performance data from SiSoft Sandra that we also quote is a measure of a drive's sustained performance when reading and writing a contiguous block of information to a randomly chosen location. These metrics are important because they collectively measure the different types of storage tasks an SSD or HDD performs, even if they don't represent user workloads.
SiSoft Sandra again shows the Intel 335 competing well in read performance (485MBps, while the OCZ Vector and Samsung 840 Pro both tie at 530MBps). Write performance is the drive's weak spot -- the Intel 335's SF-2281 controller turns in 225MBps in random write performance. That's less than half the OCZ Vector's 509MBps random write or the Samsung 840 Pro's 507MBps.
Finally, there's PCMark 7, which is a different type of test. The benchmark uses real storage workloads created by recording traces of hard drive activity when playing games, loading music or video, or copying files. These traces are used to measure the performance of storage products in comprehensive real-world scenarios.
The difference between SSDs in PCMark 7 tends to be much smaller than what we see in other synthetic tests. The Intel 335 scored a 5214, compared to a 5419 for the OCZ Vector and a 5588 for the Samsung 840 Pro. The gap between the Intel SSD 335 and the other drives is roughly ~7%.
Right now, the Intel 335 Series 180GB is selling for about $175, or just under $1 per GB. That compares fairly well to the cost-per-GB of an OCZ Vector ($269 for 256GB at NewEgg) or the Samsung 840 Pro ($249 for 256GB at NewEgg). The OCZ and Samsung options, however, are significantly faster than the Intel 335 Series. The SF-2281 controller has migrated to budget SSDs for a reason; it was cutting edge when it debuted in 2011, but its performance has been surpassed by other products.
That doesn't mean the Intel 335 is devoid of strong points. Intel has over-provisioned the drive by about 6.7%, which is fairly high for consumer hardware. The company has a reputation for high-quality NAND flash, and the included SSD toolbox software interfaces well with Windows and can auto-optimize an OS installation to run on solid state storage as well as manually triggering the TRIM command.
When push comes to shove, however, the Intel 335 Series 180GB SSD is in a bit of a no-man's land. There are budget drives, like Samsung's 840, that offer a lower cost per GB. There are higher-performing drives for the same cost per GB. If you can grab one of the 180GB or 240GB drives on sale, or if you're fond of Intel-branded products, then the Series 335 180GB SSD is a good option. Other buyers will find newer hardware a better deal.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/W90L3LX-5Z4/0,2817,2421132,00.asp
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Finding The Right Hotel For Your Trip - ArticleSnatch.com
If you are planning a short trip or an extended vacation, finding the right hotel is part of the planning process. You will need a place to stay on your trip, even if you plan to mainly only sleep there. The type of accommodations you look for will depend on personal preference. The first step is to find the place you want to stay at during your trip. Knowing how to find a facility to stay in will help you locate the right one.
Online
One place to look for a hotel is online. The Internet provides an easy way to locate accommodations for your trip. You have the ability to see the location, read reviews, and find out what each facility offers. The Internet also allows you to look for accommodations anywhere in the world from the comfort of your home. You are able to compare rates and amenities of each location. Many sites offer the ability to find the least expensive location and the best deal on booking rooms for your stay.
Phone Book
If you are planning a trip close to home, you can look in area phone books for a list of accommodations. This provides you with a list of all facilities in the area. You will find contact information for the locations, including phone numbers. By contacting the facility, you will be able to find out rates and services offered at the location.
Rooms
As you look for a facility to stay in, you will have options on the type of room you get. Depending on how many are traveling with you, your room may have one or two beds. Some rooms have two beds and a pull out couch for extra sleeping space. The type of room you need may help you decide on the facility you book for your trip.
Different Types
You will find several types of facilities available for your trip. There are budget motels and luxury locations available. Rustic locations and resorts are also options when looking for a place to stay. You will find bed and breakfast facilities and historic inns available in many areas as well. Choosing which type is right for you will depend on what kind of trip you are taking.
Whether your trip is for a weekend, a week, or an extended stay, finding a hotel that meets your needs is important. You want to be comfortable on your trip. Your accommodations should be close to the things you want to see and places you will visit. How much time you plan to spend in your room will make a difference on the type of facility you choose. From budget to luxury, you will be able to find the right accommodations for your situation when you know where to look.
Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Finding-The-Right-Hotel-For-Your-Trip/5193064
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Students Drowning in Debt: An Opportunity for Education ...
Ferguson is president and CEO of TIAA-CREF, a financial services organization, and a former vice chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve; Stewart is president of the Council of Graduate Schools.
In Politico, they?re calling for a nationwide policy to teach students money management skills, beginning at the K-12 years.
?A comprehensive national action plan is needed, and it must provide students with the knowledge and tools they need to fully understand their student loans and better manage their overall personal finances,? the column says. ?Helping students and families take advantage of available financial aid options and teaching money management skills will reduce the amount that students need to borrow and help them to manage any debt they may incur.?
The writers conclude: ?Working together, educational institutions, policymakers and businesses can help build a nation of financially literate Americans who are not only well-prepared for their chosen careers, but also secure in the skills they need to lead financially healthy lives. A dedication to financial education will help ensure that our nation has the highly educated professionals who can lead the way to future prosperity.?
As a nonprofit, BetterInvesting has been deeply involved in financial education programs for more than 60 years, with the help of our volunteers nationwide.
For example:
- Charles K. Barker of Indianapolis, president of BetterInvesting?s Central Indiana Chapter, chairs a financial literacy program sponsored by the organization 100 Black Men of Indianapolis. Charles mentors high school students through the education program.
- ?A member of The Standard and Rich Investment Club, a BetterInvesting affiliate located in the suburbs of Cleveland, developed a stock market curriculum that was approved by the National Endowment for Financial Education used in classrooms in a local school district.
- ?Our longtime volunteer Bill Wilson, a professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, used BetterInvesting tools to teach his students how to analyze stocks.
BetterInvesting?s focus is teaching members how to succeed in the stock market, by analyzing how best to use their money and planning for the future. Members grow their wealth either individually or through clubs, and by doing so they reach for financial security.
BetterInvesting members tell us again and again that they use the skills they?ve learned to teach financial literacy to their children and grandchildren. And that?s as good as gold.
About BetterInvesting
BetterInvesting is a national nonprofit organization that has been empowering individual investors since 1951. Founded in Detroit, the association (formerly known as National Association of Investors Corporation) was born out of the conviction that anyone can become a successful long-term investor by following commonsense investing practices. BetterInvesting has helped more than 5 million people become better, more informed investors by providing webinars, in-person events, easy-to-use online tools for analyzing stocks and mutual funds, a monthly magazine and a community of volunteers and like-minded investors. For more information about BetterInvesting, visit its website at?http://www.betterinvesting.org/investing/landing/openhouse/blog/index.html or call toll free (877) 275-6242.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
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Source: http://blog.betterinvesting.org/investing/students-drowning-in-debt-an-opportunity-for-education/
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