InformationWeek Stories by George Ou

Why PC Sales Are In Free Fall

2013-04-11T10:33:00Z

Microsoft's hardware and software strategies for Windows 8 have been miserable failures so far. A rumored 7-inch Surface is one avenue for them to turn the tide

Unlocked Android Smartphones Will Free Consumers

2013-03-20T10:00:00Z

Locked smartphones can only compete when subsidized by carriers. Low cost unlocked Android phones from Google and smaller companies will break that model.

Logitech Keyboard and Camera for Cisco Jabber

2013-02-01T07:00:00Z

Enterprises implementing UC (Unified Communications) using Cisco Jabber will get some value out of the Logitech UC Solution for Cisco 725-C, but not it's not a complete client-end solution. The package bundles a slick keyboard designed for Jabber, a high-end webcam and, oddly, a mouse. Adding speakers and a headset would have made it more valuable.

Intel Haswell: $599 Touch Ultrabooks In 2013

2013-01-08T08:30:00Z

The PC industry used to taunt Apple about their price premium but now the joke is on them: The first crop of Windows 8 tablets and hybrids are overpriced and under-featured. But Intel seems to have the right idea on saving the PC industry. They are pushing Ultrabooks to the $599 price point with mandatory touch capability by the end of 2013.

Windows 8 Tablet Launch #Fail

2013-01-02T08:45:00Z

Microsoft Windows tablets, in spite of a superior Intel processor, suffer from hardware and software problems — and are overpriced. The PC industry seems to have a misguided notion that it doesn't need to compete on specs and price with the iPad 4 and Nexus 10. It's shocking that Microsoft spent three years producing an antiquated overpriced product such as the Surface while Apple and Google, including their partners, are producing superior products in 6-month cycles.

Will iPads Get Intel CPUs or Macs Get ARM?

2012-12-03T07:02:00Z

Rumors have been spreading that Apple will shift their Macs to ARM processors and that Intel will make them. It's more likely that Apple and Intel will compromise and move higher-end systems, including the iPad, to Intel architectures. Moving the iPhone won't make as much sense.

Why Windows Tablets Are The Best Storage Deal

2012-11-15T08:51:00Z

People who complain that too much of the flash storage in Windows 8 and RT tablets is taken up by the OS and Office 2013 app are missing a big point. At least they can add their own flash storage later via microSD card for very little money. Apple iPad and Google Nexus tablet users, on the other hand, are stuck with whatever storage comes with their device.

iPad Mini Leaves Gaping Price Umbrella

2012-10-24T14:09:00Z

The iPad Mini is a modest product at a premium price. That's good news for Google, Amazon, and Barns & Noble, but it probably won't prevent the iPad from slipping below 50% market share.

Consumer Confusion Coming As Retailers Mislabel Windows RT

2012-10-22T12:06:00Z

Retailers are doing a lousy job of teaching customers the difference between Windows RT tablets and Windows 8 tablets. This sloppiness will come back to bite them when customers discover RT tablets' limitations and return them to the store.

How The iPad Went From Monopoly To Minority Within A Year

2012-10-08T18:15:00Z

Apple's tablet market share has been slipping over the last year because of strong 7-inch Android competition, and now Windows 8 is right around the corner. Can Apple make something superior at a reasonable price that doesn't destroy its higher-end market? BYTE's George Ou is doubtful.

Windows 8 Tablets For $399? It's Possible

2012-10-05T11:51:00Z

Last month the media predicted unrealistic, sky-high prices for Windows 8 tablets. Now, Acer, Lenovo, and Asus confirm what we suspected all along: People won't pay hundreds of dollars more for a Windows tablet when they can get an iPad for $499. If the PC industry is serious about competing with Apple, Win8 tablets are going to have to start at $399.

Microsoft Hits Back At Intel Over Tablet Readiness

2012-10-03T07:00:00Z

Microsoft and Intel might be sniping at each other now, but we can still look forward to Clover Trail-equipped Windows 8 tablets delivering the same great battery life as the ARM-equipped iPad.

Intel Win8 Tablet Competitive Price vs. ARM Confirmed

2012-09-18T08:45:00Z

Widespread reports still claim that Intel Windows 8 tablets based on the Clover Trail Atom SOC (system-on-chip) will be priced very high. I have been maintaining the opposite for months. But we don't need to guess anymore because I've confirmed with a real source. Looks like ARM-based Windows RT is a loser.

ARM Battery Life Advantage Myth Lives On

2012-08-20T08:00:00Z

For many years the only mobile devices that had decent battery life were based on ARM chips. But this is no longer the case--no matter what you might read or hear. ARM's monopoly on long battery life is coming to an end.

Fall Tablet Pricing Rumor Roundup

2012-08-17T15:00:00Z

The impending price war among tablet makers will be bloody and fierce, but many of the rumors circulating right now about the iPad Mini, Android, Windows RT, and Windows 8 x86 tablets just don't make sense. Many are based on false assumptions, such as that Intel cannot compete on price. Let's run them through the BS detector.

Windows 8, RT Hardware Will Run For Weeks

2012-08-14T11:30:00Z

Windows RT tablets are on the way from Dell, Lenovo, Samsung and Asus, according to Microsoft, as well as Microsoft's own Surface RT. But the really big news? RT and Windows 8 devices will be always on--no more boot up, shutdown, or suspend. In the meantime, beware imitations that claim to be always connected but aren't.

USB Poised To End Power Brick Hell

2012-08-09T18:24:00Z

The new USB Power Deliver (USB-PD) standard and several associated standards put USB on a path to being the universal electronics connector, replacing even the power adapter for notebooks. A greater variety of power levels allow it to control and power many more devices, including HDTV, than current standard connectors.

Email List Stolen From Hacked Dropbox Employee

2012-08-01T08:02:00Z

An employee's Dropbox account with an insecure password was compromised. A list of user e-mails from that account was used in a spam campaign. The company recommends users get a password manager such as 1password, norton password manager, roboform, or lastpass.

Windows RT Won't Run Some Old Printers

2012-07-26T10:18:00Z

Windows on ARM was always going to need a lot of new driver work, but it appears that Microsoft's commitment to supporting devices on the low-cost Windows version is tentative. Only some printers will be supported.

Why An iPad Mini Now Makes Sense

2012-07-11T10:35:00Z

Things have changed. Amazon's experience with the Kindle Fire and the Nexus 7 from Google provide market research for Apple. A smaller iPad would be good for for them now. tablet, mini, samsung, galaxy tab

Why Microsoft Must Stop the Surface Madness

2012-06-22T08:59:00Z

BYTE contributor George Ou got blowback when he predicted Microsoft's Surface tablets would fail. Well, he's standing his ground. Hanging with the cool Mac guy is just going to alienate all the PC customers who have made Microsoft great.

Why Microsoft's New Surface Tablets Will Fail

2012-06-19T12:05:00Z

Microsoft's two new tablets, Surface for Windows RT and Surface for Windows 8 Pro, are doomed for different reasons. The RT tablet can't run Windows apps, and the Pro tablet is big and heavy with lousy battery life.

Logitech ConferenceCam BCC950: Easy, Quality Videoconferencing

2012-06-14T12:44:00Z

With the exception of a few fixable design flaws, I am very pleased with the Logitech ConferenceCam BCC950. Pair it up with any 40+ inch 1080P HDTV with a VESA mounted fanless embedded computer running Skype and the solution could rival some business class "telepresence" solutions. Not only will you save a ton of money, you will be able to easily reach beyond your own corporate Intranet and avoid all the protocol incompatibilities plaguing the expensive telepresence systems. webcam, uc, unified communications

Windows 8 Hybrids Will Surpass iPad Battery Life

2012-06-11T08:30:00Z

Forrester predicted that the iPad would become our primary computing device, but that was based on mistaken assumptions about the ability of Windows and Intel to catch up on hardware. In fact, Clover Trail notebooks and tablets will leapfrog iPad.

Windows 8, Intel Atom SoC Will Be iPad Killer

2012-06-04T14:45:00Z

Windows and Intel might finally have their iPad killer: Acer's Iconia W510. The dockable tablet promises to be the first of a new breed of powerful Windows tablets that run on Intel's Atom Z2760 dual-core System-on-Chip. It will have full Windows notebook capabilities as well, and excellent battery life.