I still see it when placing orders. We usually only sell the faster, high-reliability drives. Tried the normal ones recently because they were available, but got complaints they were noisy. So just this week I found some, but only in packs of 20. Its worth it.

For more info: http://www.crn.com/news/storage/232600019/hard-drive-shortage-hits-enterprise-drive-shipments-hard.htm

Nope. It’s not from Microsoft. The apps are true Microsoft, but the method is Onlive Desktop. You can sign up for a free 2Gb account at http://onlive.com/desktop

This gives you a virtual Windows 7 Desktop with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Powerpoint. You can use their website to upload any of these documents to your virtual desktop and then use the iPad to edit and view them.

Downsides? There are a few:

1. The free account has a limit of 2Gb of documents

2. You’ll need wifi access. 3G won’t cut it. It won’t even connect with most 3G speeds.

3. You don’t have access to Internet Explorer for those non-iPad-Safari-friendly websites.

4. Any change you make to Windows 7 itself isn’t saved. Includes backgrounds, the desktop, etc.

5. Any change you make to your files does get synced back to your free OnLive account. However, you’ll have to retrieve them to your PC using the website until they come up with a better option.

6. You may need to configure your firewall. OnLive requires UDP ports 16384-16640 and TCP port 443 to be open. The latter is typical HTTPS and is normally open. The former will require your IT guy to configure. If it’s not open, you’ll just get a generic error message on your iPad regarding Network Connectivity.

This concept from OnLive is new and will have it’s issues and hopefully, it’s improvements. For now, it’s a solution for editing or viewing Excel, Word and Powerpoint from an iPad for users that don’t have another option (like Citrix XenApp).

Meanwhile, Microsoft has only released OneNote for the iPad.

By using Netflix and Hulu for the past 8 months, I’ve been passing the DVD movie section in the stores without even a glance. But, what do my wandering eyes find when I have to kill time while the rest of the family is shopping? A bluray movie on sale.

Well I never bought a bluray player. I figure by going digital with Netflix, I’d skip a generation of movie technology. But, alas, it’s not just a bluray movie. The $7 sale title includes a DVD as well. And, to further entice me, a digital copy as well. It reminds me of the days when computer software came with both the 3.5″ and the 5.25″ floppies.

So, I bought it. I can watch the DVD. I can download the digital copy to my iPad. Some use iTunes and others use Flixster. Flixster has its own iPad app. Unfortunately, you can’t use the iPad to register the download code. It says the browser isn’t supported. But, once it’s registered it’s in your digital library.

So, I’m now back in the hunt for great sales on bluray movies that say they also include DVD and digital. I missed the movie aisle.

Now let’s think about this. Why can’t they do this with books? I’d buy the paper copy and get a free digital download code for my Kindle. Wouldn’t that be sweet! The local bookstore would sell more books. And it would be the only way to find a digital book on sale – if the paper version were on sale too.

What about record stores? This could have saved them from all but disappearing. It’s not too late.

You might think I’m replacing it with an Android phone, the horror! Although Android is improving, the reason was a battery in the iPhone 4S. It would get very hot and loose it’s charge long before lunch.

Times haven’t changed with technology. First she was told to go to the local AT&T store. They said she must have too many apps running in the background. Then a call to Apple recommended we wipe the iPhone and restore. That took two hours of my time and none of Apple’s to suggest it. Didn’t work.

So, after a few more days, my wife finally convinced them to send another. It was only a month old. Phone support never takes into account the tech ability of the user. They always assume we are idiots and gullible. But we are liars. We have to be to get past some of their illogical recommendations. “Yes we already tried that!” becomes the correct reply to avoid irretrievable hours on the phone.

The process once we received the new phone was easier than in the past. I ran a backup to iCloud. Then wiped the old phone. Moved the sim card to the new phone. During setup it asked if I wanted to restore from the iCloud. Make sure you have wifi access as it takes a while. Then the iPhone starts downloading all the old apps. But the next day my wife realized her music was missing. I had to revert to the old iTunes on our pc to restore it.

The new iPhone 4S replacement works. But, this story could have been much shorter.

Usually it’s the other way around. Or, in worse case, the U.S. company disappears altogether. However, it means fewer hard drive manufacturers worldwide.

With the doubling of hard drive prices due to part supply shortages after Taiwans flooding, this can’t be an improvement in the supply infrastructure of hard drive components.

Although few tablets use hard drives, the servers they access via Citrix or the Cloud are very hard drive dependent.

For more info: http://t.co/EGhuvoaF

My wife sent me this link. You may have already seen it. Normally I don’t view links sent to me – even from my wife! But, I thought this was interesting. I’m often asked about future technologies and this video shows some possibilities. It’s by Corning – yes, the same people that make our dinner plates. Ah, but they make much more than that! And they appear to have great hopes for glass in our tech future.

Video about future technology and how we might interact.

Hewlett Packard recently announced (under the new CEO Meg Whitman), that the WebOS, which runs the short-lived HP TouchPad, will become open source. This means that the “public” will be given the choice to continue it’s existence and evolution.

Although Linux isn’t running on every desktop, also an open source OS (operating system), it is quite alive. So, there is hope for WebOS and the TouchPad.

Thanks HP.

For more info, read this BBC article.

One of our readers suggested i post a link to this:

12 Ways Hardware Makers Screw up a Perfectly Good Windows PC. It’s one of those “come on guys – seriously?” or “the marketing dept engineered this.”

Or as she puts it – enough with the Crapware! Thanks June!

Do you want a great deal on a low resolution (ie bad resolution) monitor or TV? Then Black Friday is your day! It seems that every store has dragged these things out of their stock dungeons…er…rooms to offer a “great” deal.

Please don’t fall for it.

Resolution is a permanent spec, can’t be upgraded – ever! These days even 1180p isn’t something to write home about, but 720p? To avoid scorn and disbelief – tell no one if you fall for these “deals.”

Look for 1180p minimum. And not 1180i either. Sigh.

Tablet and Smartphone users be aware! I’ve already installed the BlackFriday app from DealTaker on my iPhone and iPad. The iPhone version is good for highlighting favorite deals. The iPad app is good for viewing scanned images of the upcoming Black Friday shopping inserts. Yes, many are there already – sorted by store. No need to wait for Thursdays behemoth paper!

So who will be going with me this year? It’s earlier. It used to keep me out from 4a to 10a. This year it will be midnight to probably 7a. Oof!

I’ll be avoiding the long lines for the favorites like computers and tvs. It’s all on the planning. Hey, will Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts be open at midnight? I hope so!