Rachael Griffin

Computers, cell phones and the like are the ultimate luxuries. They make our lives easier and, lets face it, we love them to death. But we all know how frustrating it can be when something goes wrong. Either it's way more expensive than we thought, ... impossible to repair, or the warranty doesn't cover what's broken. That's how some deceived Dell customers felt about financing, warranties, and repair services promised by the company. Clients who were "left on hold for hours...pressured to take apart their computers themselves, and subjected to numerous other negligent and abusive practices." ( ... (view more)

At this week's All Things Digital conference, Bill Gates and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled plans for the new Windows 7, to be released next year. The program will not be a major departure from the previous operating system Vista, but will ... include some important improvements, as well as some innovative developments. As many techies and clients will agree, Vista has been the source of some controversy and may be one of Microsoft's bigger botch-ups. Ballmer has emphasized that Windows 7 will improve upon some of Vista's failings, like decreasing the "overzealous security controls" and ... (view more)

In a market where software developers are always looking for the cutting edge, a recent survey revealed that newer is not always better. It turns out that developers prefer writing programs for older Windows operating systems, such as XP, to the ... newer Vista. (Source: zdnet.com ) U.S. research group Evans Data Corp recently released the results of a poll of 380 North American software developers. The study asked which integrated development environment (IDE) they preferred, as well as which operating system they wrote programs for. In the first section, respondents were asked to evaluate IDEs ... (view more)

Last week, I wrote about environmental watchdog Climate Counts' criticism of Apple's sustainability policy. On the heels of that report comes a new initiative by Hewlett-Packard to create a 'green printer'. According to the Climate Counts study, HP ... scored 68% success, putting it in the "striding" category, as opposed to companies "stuck", like Apple, or just "starting", like Dell and Nokia. (Source: climatecounts.org ) Since, 1992, HP has been intent on improving its environmental record. The company's website claims that it has endeavoured to use recycled materials, minimize containers and ... (view more)

Evidently, Apple's flashy advertising and sleek product design has attracted customers willing to pay high prices for its products. Over the past few years, Apple climbed to the top of the market on high-end desktop and laptop sales, according to a ... recent report by market research company NPD Group. Of all computers costing more than $1,000 sold in 2007, 70% were Mac desktops and 64% Mac laptops. (Source: arstechnica.com ) An interesting report, indeed. Problem is, it doesn't adequately reflect the realities of the industry. Anyone browsing the Apple website will quickly see that there are ... (view more)

Microsoft's new WorldWide Telescope (WWT) uses Microsoft's Virtual Experience Engine to combine images from various telescopes and observatories into a seamless panorama of the night sky. Launched Monday, the brainchild of Microsoft's research ... department is a downloadable desktop application that brings the universe to your home computer. (Source microsoft.com ) Forget Google Earth, the WWT combines images from the Hubble Space Telescope, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and the Two Micron All Sky Survey. Users can investigate the night sky in several different ... (view more)

Apple products may be fantastically marketed and look great, but according to a recent study by environmental watchdog Climate Counts, the company is a serious environmental offender. Although its website states that the company "recognizes its ... responsibility as a global citizen," Apple scored a pithy 11 out of 100 points on Climate Counts' 2008 survey of the environmental policies of large companies. Through attempts to identify problem areas, the Apple jumped up 9 points from last year's survey . However, the company lost huge marks for not acknowledging the extent of its carbon footprint. ... (view more)

Have you ever wondered what life would be like without your computer? Most people can't even fathom it. Would it surprise you to know that until last month, Cubans were restricted from owning computers, surfing the Internet, or having cell phones? ... Until recently, the communist Cuban government (under Fidel Castro) restricted all non-essential expenses, such as air conditioners, luxury cal rentals, and toasters. Average Cubans were not allowed any of these indulgences. (Source: iht.com ) In most countries, computers, Internet access and cell phones are an everyday, often integral, part of life ... (view more)

Apple has lowered the prices of its iTunes movie downloads in an attempt to draw more business to its stores and website. The electronics retailer will be selling titles from almost every major film company at a $1 loss. New releases, such as 'Juno' ... and 'American Gangster', will retail for $14.99 on the website, while older films will sell for $9.99 (Source: efluxmedia.com ) After completing deals with 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Lions Gate, Image Entertainment and First Look ... (view more)