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Presents several letters to the editor about the technical industry. Focus on the harm caused by the use of GOTOs in programming; Efforts on attempting to eliminate the GOTO; Problems created by GOTO for those attempting to maintain or understand code written by someone else; Comments on the higher the percentage of GOTO statements; Discussion on procedures of programming languages that treats all specialized control structures as combinations of properly compiled procedure.

The article discusses the independent system builders' endurance in the middle of tough competition in system building in the U.S. According to the author, independent system builders also known as white box have dominated in the computer industry during the late 80s. Today, there are only four of them left in the business, this can be attributed on the rise of laptop computers said David Dauod, analyst at International Data Corporation (IDC). Furthermore, it has also been suggested that independent system builders should have fresh inventory to build updated technology as well as to produce more spares for repairs.

Evaluates fast, powerful, reasonably priced desktop and laptop computers. Description of new computer chips to hit the market in 2004; Tips on how to choose a computer based on price versus performance, operating system, and desired features; Information on repair history and technical support for several computer companies; List of suggested models.

This article focuses on news briefs related to technology firms. Five leading technology firms will work together to develop the next generation of software. Digital Equipment Corp., Texas Instruments, Ford Motor Co., U.S. West and the Carnegie Group have formed the Initiative for Managing Knowledge Assets with combined contributions totalling $10 million. Another news is related to supercomputers. U.S. and European researchers will soon be sharing supercomputers via an underwater fiber-optic network. The transoceanic link will allow nine West European nations access to six U.S. supercomputers, including the National Supercomputer Facility at Cornell University. The U.S. Department of Commerce is organizing a trade delegation of U.S. manufacturers to London and Stockholm. Scheduled for October 15, 1990, the DoC's MatchMaker event will target the U.S. computer, software and peripheral industries whose products maintain a position of dominance in these two European nations.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles published in previous issues of the periodical "PC World," including "101 Fabulous Freebies," "Are Extended Warranties Worth It?" and "Never Ask for Directions Again," all in the May 2006 issue.

First the bad news for geeks. Computing power is fundamentally limited by the rate of expansion of the universe. The good news, however, is that if Moore's law continues to hold, chip makers have more than five centuries before they hit the limit. Computer scientists have long wondered whether an infinitely powerful computer could be built, and some have suggested that such a machine might be possible, in principle, if calculations could be performed with infinitesimal amounts of energy. But others have pointed out that since any calculation can only occur as part of a physical process, factors such as the speed of light will limit how fast any computer can transmit information, and so an infinite calculation would require an infinite amount of time. Another problem is that the universe is expanding. This means that a computer would only have access to the resources in a limited amount of space. This led the physicist Freeman Dyson to predict in 1979 that if the universe continued to expand forever, infinite time would be available, making an infinite calculation possible.

Presents information related to a smouldering dispute in the computer industry. Details of the clash over Intel Corp's increasing encroachment into the PC maker's market; Explains that Compaq was one of the few big PC makers that were still profitable, and the only one making money in the booming; Reveals that to stay ahead of its competition, Intel reckons it must release a new microprocessor generation.

Comments on the computer industry in the United States as of March 1999. The weakening demand for personal computers; Forecast of Fred Hickey, who has published a monthly newsletter called `The High-Tech Strategist' for investors since 1987; Brief statistics from market-research firm Dataquest; How top executives at three computer makers have sold personal stock.

At the end of 1996, the U.S. had a "computer density" of 40 computers per 100 people, with PCs accounting for 38 of those computers, reports the latest edition of the Computer Industry Almanac. By the end of 2000, the almanac predicts U.S. computer density will grow to 58 computers per 100 people.

Information about the subjects discussed during the meeting about computers and the law is presented. It is reflected that little had been done regarding the impact of computers to the socio-legal areas, wherein computers has already had legal ramifications. The lack of a central source of information on the computer industry is also explored. The meeting featured notable people including Dr. William F. Miller, Dean Joseph E. Leininger and Roy N. Freed.

The article presents information on some new products launched recently. Telecredit Inc. has introduced an online digital system with multiple remote inquiry stations. According to company sources, the system will allow bank-tellers and supermarket cashiers to verify a customer's check cashing credit status promptly. Consolidated Electrodynamics Corp. has announced the launch of its new digital magnetic-tape system known as the DR-3000 series. Scientific Data Systems has released a brochure containing details of the Series 900 computers.

The article reports that Broadcom Corp., a provider of silicon solutions enabling broadband communications, has introduced Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) controller family, the BCM570x, supports AMD Opteron processors with AMD64 technology. Broadcom's new 64-bit enhanced drivers help enable higher data throughput and increased CPU performance for demanding enterprise applications. In addition to supporting other industry-leading PC processors, Broadcom's 32/64-bit GbE controllers are now designed for use within AMD Opteron processor-powered servers and workstations, enhancing the performance, reliability and power efficiency of AMD's next generation server and workstation platforms.

The article introduces the new industrial panel personal computer which features a Pentium 4 CPU, developed by Apollo Display Technologies Inc. The features include a drop-in design for plug-and-play use in machine automation, industrial control, point of information and digital signage applications. It offers information about the performance application of a new industrial panel.

This article provides an update on the computer industry as of August 2004. Sony Corp. will launch its LocationFree TV in the market later in 2004. The S1500 LF-X1 model weighs about 5 pounds, with a 12.1-inch screen; the $1000 LF-X5 weighs 1.2 pounds, with a 7-inch screen. Meanwhile, Chicago-based Operation Homelink seeks donations of used personal computers to refurbish and send free of charge to families of U.S. troops. Corporate donations of large quantities of older desktops and notebooks in good working order are the most efficient. Creative's MuVo Slim digital music player has credit-card shape and black-and-silver motif which won't jar the boardroom, and its voice recorder may capture a deal-winning idea. Also included: an FM radio and 256MB of memory. A study of dust from CPUs and PC monitors in some 16 U.S. locations found residue of brominated flame retardants in every case. Experts disagree on health dangers of long-term exposure to these chemicals, used in electronics manufacturing. But until the chemicals are completely phased out, Ted Smith, national coordinator for one of the study's sponsors, the Computer Take Back Campaign, advises careful, regular dusting of electronic components as a stopgap measure.

If Google were to close down its popular web-search service tomorrow, it would be much missed. Yet many IT firms would not be too unhappy if Google were to disappear. They certainly dislike the company's message to the world: you do not need the latest and greatest in technology to offer outstanding services. In the words of Marc Andreessen of Netscape fame, now chief executive of Opsware, a software start-up: "Except applications and services, everything and anything in computing will soon become a commodity." Exactly what is meant by "commoditisation", though, depends on whom you talk to. It is most commonly applied to the PC industry. Although desktops and laptops are not a truly interchangeable commodity such as crude oil, the logo on a machine has not really mattered for years. As the term implies, "commoditisation" is not a state, but a dynamic. As the technology becomes more widespread, better understood and standardised, its value falls. Eventually it joins the sector's "sediment", the realm of bottom feeders with hyper-efficient metabolisms that compete mainly on cost. The IT industry also differs from other technology sectors in that its wares become less valuable as they get better, and go from "undershoot" to "overshoot," to use the terms coined by Clayton Christensen, a professor at Harvard Business School. But although expensive Unix systems, the strength of Sun Microsystems, are--and will probably remain for some time--a must for "mission-critical" applications, servers are quickly commoditising. Google goes even further. A visit to one of the company's data centres in Silicon Valley is a trip back to the future. In the same way that members of the Valley's legendary Homebrew Computer Club put together the first PCs using off-the-shelf parts in the early 1970s, Google has built a huge computer system out of electronic commodity parts.

Presents a review of various magazines that focus on microcomputers and the computer industry. Characterization of Byte as the "granddaddy" of computer magazines; Benefits to reading the magazine Computer Shopper; View that PC Magazine is an essential tool to stay informed on personal computing; Description of MacWeek magazine.

The author reflects on software rot. He mentions that software rot is the main reason to purchase a new computer wherein he thinks that it's a plot for the computer industry to sell new computers every few years. Moreover, he describes that his old computer is filled with various data and programs that include cookies, spies and others.

This article offers information on up and coming technological innovations in the computer industry. Microsoft's new Hyperactive Y Chromosome technology will enable browsers to assert complete control over a machine no matter how much users try to overcome it. Thanks to multicore computers and new graphics engines, interfaces can change on the fly every 15 minutes. Add-on Fryolators will harness former knee-burning waste energy to cook donuts and tempura. Novel anode impurity techniques will create sparkling battery fireworks at random intervals. Thanks to patented SVT users will be able to watch movies stored on portable devices in three-dimensional high definition on a virtual 100-inch screen anywhere on goes.

The article focuses on several plans of Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s (AMD) in maintaining global competitiveness in Information Technology services. AMD, a global supplier of integrated circuits for personal and networked computing and communications, continues its services toward broader penetration towards greater and major computer original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The International Business Machine has also expanded usage of AMD's Opteron processors beyond the single eServer model to include five new server models. Lenovo is also launching AMD-powered desktop systems.

The article offers the latest updates in the computer industry. Intel Corp. had once planned to launch its own online music store and even thought of selling devices such as the Intel Pocket Concert MP2 player, a year before Apple's ITunes was introduced. There is a rumor that Novell Inc. plans to change the name of its Novell Linux Desktop to SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop.

The article presents news briefs regarding the computer industry in Great Britain. Viglen has introduced it new mini-PC, which runs on low voltage. Apple has kept up the innovations with new iMacs and MacBook Pro laptops featuring its new Intel processor. Times Educational Supplement Online and Hitachi Interactive Solutions will offer one school the chance to win a Cambridge Whiteboard projector.

The article presents information on the book "What the Dormouse Said: How the 60s Counterculture Shaped the Personal Computer Industry," by John Markoff. The book explores the political, cultural, and pharmaceutical forces that were afoot in the San Francisco Bay Area between 1962 and 1975 and how they helped shape the modern technology.

The article presents information regarding the need of pentop computers. It informs that if the computing power can be crammed into smaller spaces then the result can be this. One can use pen as a computer. The author gives certain example for this. He refers the pen-like gadgets produced by Wizcom, which look a bit more like box-bodied than ballpoint pens. Another example is the ReadingPen, which can read the words drag it over a word, phrase or even a line on a printed page. A Quicktionary pen can translate English to more than a dozen foreign languages. It is able to scan words or phrases in French. The author mentions that if a student can access to such computers it will change the world of education. While reading an ancient book such computer pens will help them to decipher the meaning and even translate a foreign book to their own language. The article informs about the attempt of Techno-toymaker Leap Frog when they introduce an even snazzier gadget. It also informs so many possibilities of pen computers and emphasize on the need for more experiments on this.

This article provides information on the most reliable personal computer products. These days, as of April 2005, what most differentiates one computer product from another is reliability. The personal computer industry may be maturing, but computer products are allegedly still very much prone to glitches, bugs, security vulnerabilities, incompatibilities, premature failure and other problems. According to its survey of subscribers about who makes the most reliable personal computers and backs them the best PC World magazine gave Dell, eMachines, Gateway, IBM and Sony its top score, along with the generic white boxes made by local independent computer stores. Companies making the most reliable notebook computers and supporting them the best, according to PC World readers, were Dell, Gateway, IBM and Toshiba. The most reliable printers came from Samsung (followed by Brother, Canon, Epson and Hewlett Packard), digital cameras from Sony (followed by Canon, Fujifilm, Hewlett Packard, Kodak, Minolta, Nikon and Olympus), and personal digital assistants from Handspring, Palm and Sony, according to the magazine's survey. It is interesting to note that PC World's survey also showed that of the devices measured, digital cameras in general proved most reliable, followed in order by printers, personal digital assistants, notebook personal computers and desktop personal computers.

Focuses on the limitless reach of embedded computer intelligence. Embedment of devices in voice-activated global positioning systems, car engines, home security systems and medical devices; Integration of consumer electronics and home computer; Aim of improving security, eliminating human surveillance and tracking inventory.

This article forecasts on various computer technology that are set to be released in the U.S. market in 2005. There is an emerging use of the personal computer (PC) as an alternative home entertainment center. A number of companies, including Hewlett Packard and D-Link are betting on this possible trend. However, one's idea of a High Fidelity system is any good amplifier and speaker with enough volume. The computer as a music source is going to send out 24-bit digital music, which may be better than what a pocket drive produce, but there is a possibility that genuine high-fidelity enthusiasts will not support Media PC music. Indeed, during the 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), there is always a separate show for high-performance audio over at the Alexis Hotel, quite a long way from the Las Vegas Convention Center, a separation in both distance and attitude. There may also be a limit to the number of people who want to move their photographs from their high resolution computer monitor to their living room television. As high-definition television becomes more popular and good quality camcorders become ubiquitous, this may change. There once was a fad for showing home movies in the living room, and perhaps that will return. What certainly will go over is a set top box with more functions, but easier to use, than TiVo. Several such systems were featured at CES. These systems are approved by the cable companies, and allow the user to record one feature on disk while watching something else, but with a better organized user interface with context sensitive help, and offering choices only when those choices are relevant. Furthermore, hard drive capacity will continue to expand. 2004 saw the end of the Zip drive.

The article relates the changes that occurred in the global computer industry as of April 2004. The computer industry looked pretty predictable six months ago. Since then there have been surprises in processors and technology that have changed the whole playing field. These unexpected events involve almost all of the major players in processors and systems. The largest changes have happened to Intel, the world's biggest processor maker. Intel was set to bring its new 90 nanometer Prescott chips into the market and had updated Itanium chips in the queue. AMD's Opteron chips were then becoming a major challenge for Intel, as they were both powerful and offered 64-bit extensions while still running 32-bit code very well. When Intel's prime partner with Itanium, HP, brought Opteron systems to market, Intel announced it would supply 64-bit capability when the customers needed it. Sun Microsystems is another company in the throes of change. It has just cancelled its next planned processor, the UltraSparc V, in order to go with new multicore designs named Niagara and Rock. It has also extended its systems line to embrace AMD's Opteron and Linux while continuing to enhance the Solaris operating system. On top of these processor events, the personal computer industry is about to go through a major set of changes in 2004 and 2005. The base design will change more in one year than ever before. How this will play with businesses and home users is still an open question.

This section presents several products for the computer industry introduced in the U.S. market as of September 2004. Previously known as Out-of-the-Box, BlueGlue 3.0 from OpenLogic is a one-stop distribution of open source development tools for Java and LAMP developers. It features more than 100 open source projects--including Apache, JBoss, Tomcat, Struts, Eclipse, PHP, Python, MySQL, PostgreSQL, CVS, Hibernate, AspectJ, and Wiki--with automated installation, configuration, integration, deployment, and testing of any combination of projects chosen. Regular updates keep everything current and sample applications are provided. Metrowerks Corporation and Nintendo have begun distributing a tool suite for the handheld Nintendo DS videogame system. The Metrowerks suite includes a multi-core, thread-aware debugger that works simultaneously on the ARM 9 and ARM 7 processors; ARM linker overlays that reduce memory consumption by allowing developers to detect and remove unused code in linked applications; a command line interface as well as a graphical user interface and cache viewing capabilities; and an ARM compiler optimized to work with the Nintendo DS hardware. AOpen has launched the XC Cube EX915, its first Cube system supporting the new Intel Pentium 4 Prescott CPUs of up to 4 GHz. The XC Cube EX915 uses the Intel 915G chipset, with built-in Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900. High-end gamers can add the AOpen Aeolus PCX 5750 VGA card for better video performance. The XC Cube EX915 incorporates a 275 Watt micro power supply and a 4-way voltage technique to further stabilize the CPU.

The article presents an update on the condition of the computer industry in the U.S. in 2004. The computer industry looked pretty predictable in 2003. Since then there have been surprises in processors and technology that have changed the whole playing field. These unexpected events involve almost all of the major players in processors and systems. The largest changes have happened to Intel, the world's biggest processor maker. Intel was set to bring its new 90 nanometer Prescott chips into the market and had updated Itanium chips in the queue. AMD's Opteron chips were then becoming a major challenge for Intel, as they were both powerful and offered 64-bit extensions while still running 32-bit code very well. When Intel's prime partner with Itanium, HP, brought Opteron systems to market, Intel announced it would supply 64-bit capability when the customers needed it. On the Itanium side, IBM is taking its Power processor architecture to levels that are very competitive with Intel's Itanium. Intel's plan to dominate the high end processor market with its proprietary Itanium design now faces challenges from AMD below and IBM above. Sun Microsystems is another company in the throes of change. It has just cancelled its next planned processor, the UltraSparc V, in order to go with new multicore designs named Niagara and Rock. It has also extended its systems line to embrace AMD's Opteron and Linux while continuing to enhance the Solaris operating system.

Highlights several computer developments in 2003. Trends predictable by Moore's Law; Features of the Apple G-5 dual processor system; Commoditization of desktop computers.

Explores issues and topics related to the changes in the computer industry of the U.S.

Presents an update on the computer industry in the U.S. as of October 2003. Failure of the Switch campaign of Apple Computer to attract new users; Endorsement of Apple's iTunes Music Store by singer Michael Jackson.

Discusses why the abundance of computer technologies and standards is a sign of health, not illness in the computer industry. Why standards battles are a healthy industry's by-product; Development of powerful new technologies; Why standards matter; Open systems; Details.

The article discusses the use of Micro/Sys Inc.'s StackableUSB in stackable PC/104 form factor. Due to the lack of stackable version of Universal Serial Bus (USB) in stackable PC/104 single-board computers (SBC), the company made a stacking architecture that fits the 3.550- by 3.775-inch PC/104 form factor. The design has seven sets of USB devices, with two USB differential pairs routed to the on-board USB device and the other three sets are shifted left one position and routed to the next board in the stack. It does not require any on-board USB hubs, but up to four USB devices can be connected directly to the USB host. Moreover, the StackableUSB architecture complements with the Embedded Platform for Industrial Computing (EPIC) Express.

This article focuses on the adoption of supercomputing in the corporate information technology mainstream in the U.S. Efforts are under way to broaden the corporate base of supercomputing users. For example, the Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) in Columbus, Ohio has launched a program called Blue Collar Computing that is designed to provide businesses that lack high-performance computing expertise with tools for testing the technology. OSC envisions wide-scale use of high-performance systems by companies looking to run complex simulations and visualizations of products during the design and testing process.

This article discusses the leadership in the computer industry. The respect and admiration one long had for anyone who aspires to that lofty goal are what, more than anything else, have put him in awe of this year's class of Premier 100 IT Leaders. Hand in hand with that commitment to servitude goes a commitment to fostering diversity, since the latter also instills an appreciation for what lies beyond the territorial priorities and, perhaps, outside of the comfort zones. Recognizing the value of contributions from people with different national and cultural backgrounds is another hallmark of outstanding leadership. That appreciation was articulated over and over by this year's group of Premier 100 IT Leaders. It's a simple, but sublime, observation. And it's one that has yielded a Capgemini training program to bring employees from different continents together so they can interact with their colleagues from other cultures. It just does not get any cooler than that.

This article examines the benefits of virtual directories, which are used for applications that can access only a single directory when the user data or attributes reside in many places. They offer a fast and efficient way to get identity management software and other directory-dependent applications online. These directories are similar to another tool, the metadirectories. Both can access user data from different repositories. Metadirectories, a core element of user provisioning tools, copy data into a new repository that must be created, maintained, and synchronized. INSETS: When to Use Virtual Directories;Virtual Players.

Discusses the COMDEX/Fall '99 conference held in Las Vegas, Nevada in November, 1999. Products featured; Keynote speakers, including Bill Gates, Scott McNealy, chief executive officer of Sun Microsystems, and Bob Young, chairman of Red Hat; Portable devices and related appliances featured.