Cuban Computers "Allowed"

The Cuban government will finally allow citizens to own computers and cell phones as a result of reforms by new President Raul Castro after assuming the reigns of power from his brother Fidel Castro. AP Reports CNET Reports

However, internet access is not yet allowed at home unless you are certain party officials or reporters, and it is unclear how long that rule will remain in effect, although apparently black market computers, phones, and access have been available for some time.

Ironically the first computers on sale in Cuba are actually more expensive than they would be in the USA, possibly suggesting a market for enterprising entrepreneurs who can navigate the intricacies of Cuba's tightly controlled, centralized economy.

Keyboards - More Germs Than a Toilet

Research suggests that computer keyboards house more harmful bacteria than a toilet seat. The BBC is reporting that tests conducted on 33 office keyboards found that four were deemed a potential health hazard and one had five times more germs than the toilet seat. Similarily, University of Arizona also found that the average office desktop harboured 400 times more bacteria than the average office toilet seat. The report cited a quote from a microbiologist that what grows on a keyboard is often "a reflection of what is in your nose and in your gut". What causes this you might ask? Poor personal hygiene and crumbs from eating at your desk. Solution: get under the hood of your keyboards by shaking them out, wipe them with a soft, damp, lint-free cloth, and disinfect with alcohol wipes. (Image source: ComputerShopper.com)

Shopping For An Ultra Mobile PC?

If you are in the market for a new ultra mobile PC or "ultraportable" Liliputing has a great list of what is available right now and what UMPCs are coming soon: liliputing.com

I was more bullish on my ASUS eee PC until the Linux OS failed to boot at the end of my China trip and it appears I'll lose some pictures I had backed up there, but until the crash I found that popular unit to be a very convenient travel computer with a small keyboard and screen as the main challenges to normal computer comforts. Although it has been very hard to beat the $300-$500 price tag on the basic line of eee PCs several new contenders are entering this market so I'd recommend you pay very close attention as the new crop of UMPCs hits the stores.

You also may want to abandon the idea that a PC primarily designed for children won't meet your needs - some of the current crop of UMPC contenders like the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) units may be exactly what you need. The OLPC offers mesh connectivity and rugged construction, so if you are computing in the field and mostly need rural connectivity and note taking capabilities this might be a better choice than much higher priced units that won't be as tough.

Flash Notebook News Flash: Trouble ahead?

Reports coming in regarding the reliability of flash based notebooks are not encouraging. Despite the higher costs, failure rates appear to be on the order of a whopping ten times those of conventional hard drives. My personal experience has been favorable so far with the flash based drive eee PC I´m typing this from right now, but this report from CNET indicates that if you use a flash notebook you could have trouble ahead.

Monitors and Your Productivity: Size Matters

A study by the University of Utah has concluded that larger monitors lead to greater worker productivity. One finding was that workers using 24 inch monitors completed the test task 52% faster than those using 18 inch monitors.

So, if you've been longing for a bigger monitor now may be the time to buy. This study suggests that you'll pay yourself or your company back via increased productivity in as little as a few days.

Wall Street Journal Summary