wyrdtoo

@Andir LOL! Yeah, exactly what I said in my last sentence.

I was just disputing the article's statement about this new dual core cpu's 3.2GHz being the quickest AMD has ever released.

"...is the company's quickest dual-core desktop CPU to date at 3.2GHz..."

Obviously it's not because the 6400+ has a 3.2GHz clock.

"The $99 Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition is the company's quickest dual-core desktop CPU to date at 3.2GHz..."

Actually AMD released an Athlon 64 X2 6400+ Black Edition with stock clock at 3.2GHz (http://products.amd.com/en-us/DesktopCPUDetail.aspx?id=33). It's still running one of my favorite gaming rigs.

While I have no doubt this new X2 555 performs better than that good ol' Athlon X2 workhorse, it's not because of the clock speed as you imply.

@peestandingup

These aren't being bought by people who can tether their smartphones. First of all there are no WiMAX phones on the market at this time, so the only realistic way to get your families or co-workers laptops onto a WiMAX network is with a WiMAX modem and hotspot/router. Secondly, cellular hotspots are for many-to-one connections - you know, multiple clients connecting and using the same data service. Homes, Small Offices, business travelers are common markets for these devices. I use a WiMAX router with 802.11n wi-fi in my house to provide internet access and networking for the dozen wireless and internet devices in my household.

But the real power of these is in alternative industries and markets. For instance, many professional photographers use cameras equipped with wi-fi. You can't tether them to a cellphone, but you can connect them to a wireless cellular router.

Also, in most of the developing world, cellular networks offer better coverage and reliability than landline-based internet systems. I know of schools in Africa that use cellular hotspots to provide internet access to their students' netbooks.

Also in applications that require first response (wildfire camps, flood and hurricane emergency crews, temporary emergency housing, etc.), cellular broadband routers are far cheaper and easier to implement than pulling in DSL lines or handing out 300 smartphones with tethering capability. I know a company that helps enterprises temporarily house relocated employees, and this company solely employs cellular routers in the homes because they are cheaper and easier to setup and teardown than subscribing to landline broadband services for 1 or 2 months per family.

Just because YOU don't have a need for a technology doesn't mean millions of others don't.

@(Unverified)

Something like what, specifically? CradlePoint already has a router on the market that has gigabit ethernet, 802.11n wireless and 3G/4G (WiMax) compatibility... And I believe all their routers will work with WiMax anyway, even the pocket-size travel ones.

http://www.cradlepoint.com/products/mbr1200-failsafe-gigabit-n-router-mobile-broadband

That's because we're getting raped by Microsoft. Anyone can put a 2.5" 400GB SATA drive in their PS3 for $60 in about 3 minutes. Please, MS, for the love of Kojima, give us user-replaceable drives in the future!

Or, for real photographers who want to get the laptop out of the middle...

http://www.cradlepoint.com/files/uploads/NYT_WH_Photographer_DougMills.pdf

:D

That's because you looked up "DDR5", not "GDDR5"... Here you go!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GDDR5

:D

VEGAS!

Despite the promotional ads, what happens in Vegas stays with you the rest of your life, so you might as well catch it from a mutant-zombie-showgirl-hooker with D-cup tentacles!

Doesn't surprise me at all. I noticed something like this as a kid. Go buy the real Scotch masking tape... the kind that is pale tan in color, 1 inch width... Go into a pitch black room or closet in your house and start peeling. You'll see greenish light emanating from the peel zone. The faster you peel, the more intense (but shorter lived) the burst of light is. I always thought it was some form of static sparking at a minute level.

But don't ask why I was peeling masking tape in the dark.

:D

I've had FF XIII pre-ordered on Amazon for quite a while now, and they've changed the release date at least twice. It was originally scheduled to ship in November of this year, then it was changed to January of 2009, then recently it was changed to December 15 of this year. I was a little surprised by that last update, but according to the messages I get from Amazon, the dates are based on information provided to them by the publisher/manufacturer, so it's the best guess for now. No matter what, it looks like a new FF sometime during the winter months, and I'll be happy with that.