Stories by Sharon Gaudin

Gartner expects 2 billion PCs will be in use by 2014

As the number of PCs in use around the world passed the one billion mark, a research firm is estimating that the total will double in just another six years.

Top500 list ranks energy efficiency for first time

Proving that performance isn't everything, the latest Top500 list of supercomputers for the first time also measures energy efficiency.

Toshiba unveils laptop that uses powerful Cell chip

Toshiba Monday unveiled the first laptop computer to use the computing-intensive Cell chip that was first was designed for Sony's PlayStation 3 game console.

How power-hungry are the Top500 supercomputers?

Proving that size isn't everything, the Top500 List of supercomputers for the first time is looking at power efficiency.

'Flying Humvee' robot ships supplies to military troops

An aerospace company has built a prototype of a driverless aircraft designed to shuttle hundreds of pounds of supplies to soldiers in war zones.

AMD graphics card breaks teraflop barrier

Advanced Micro Devices Monday unveiled a new graphics chip designed to be less power hungry than its predecessors by allowing it to be doubled up on high-end graphics cards.

Los Alamos: Roadrunner as important as first computer

A research director at Los Alamos National Laboratories said the addition of a peta-scale supercomputer is as big a leap forward as when scientists got their hands on their first computer ever.

Man gets six months for posting terror threat online

A 22-year-old Wisconsin man has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for repeatedly posting online threats that dirty bombs were going to be detonated at football stadiums in seven states.

Intel's future: Cars with eyes, processors with engines

Intel Wednesday laid out its vision of the future with a show-and-tell that focused on multi-core chips, cars with cameras and brains, and robots that use electromagnetic fields to sense touch.

NASA tests robots for manned move to Mars

When astronauts first step foot on Mars, they won't be alone.

Researchers use DoD satellites to aid Burma relief workers

Scientists at Arizona State University are using satellite images from the US Department of Defense to aid disaster relief efforts in Burma.

NASA: 'Extreme programming' controls Mars Lander robot

Scooping up soil samples and searching for elements that could support life on Mars isn't just an adventure for the Mars Lander and the robotic arm doing the scooping.

Acer bets big on Linux-based ultra-portable laptops

Acer is looking to be part of what the company hopes will be a hot new market - the mini laptop.

AMD broadens the battle; goes after Intel with Puma

Advanced Micro Devices Wednesday ramped up its competition with rival Intel by unveiling its first processor platform designed specifically for laptops.

Intel unveils new chipsets at Computex show

Intel this week unveiled new chipsets for desktop PCs at the Computex trade show in Taiwan.