HP launches AMD-based desktop

>Hewlett-Packard last week launched its new Compaq D315 Business PC, which includes the AMD Athlon XP processor. HP says it's the first major PC company to bring the Athlon processors to the business market.

The PC will be marketed toward mainstream and budget-conscious business users, with a starting price of $550 (includes a $100 introductory instant rebate). The D315 includes an Athlon XP 2000+ processor, NVIDIA GeForce 2 graphics card, a 20G-byte hard drive, 128M bytes of Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM, a standard 48x CD-ROM drive, integrated Ethernet card and six Universal Serial Bus ports.

The system can be upgraded to Athlon's 2200+ processors, 1G byte of DDR SDRAM, a 40G-byte hard drive, and choice of CD-RW or DVD-ROM drive. More information can be found at www.compaq.com/products/desktops.

HP says it chose AMD's new line of desktops after it identified markets where HP wasn't doing business. "We found that there was a base of customers who liked the AMD-based technology but were looking for service and support from a Tier 1 company," says Louis Kim, director of marketing for the commercial desktop division at HP.

Kodak announces two new digital cameras

Kodak recently added two new models to its Kodak EasyShare digital camera series. The DX4330 Zoom digital camera includes Kodak's new 1.8-inch indoor/outdoor LCD display for better viewing in bright sunlight. The 3.1-megapixel camera has a 10x zoom and 3x optical zoom lens. Kodak says the camera can produce prints up to 11 by 14 inches. Other features include a dial that offers fast access to scene modes such as close-ups, landscape, sport, night or full automatic. It also can perform continuous capture of video and sound, limited only by the memory card size. Kodak says the camera will cost $350 and will ship early next month.

The second model, the point-and-shoot CX4200, is a 2.0-megapixel camera with 2x digital zoom. It can create prints up to 8 by 10 inches and will ship late this month for about $180.

Both cameras include an on-camera "share" button, which lets users tag pictures for easier printing or e-mailing. For example, a user can press the button and then tag the picture for e-mailing, selecting an address directly from the camera. When the photos are transferred to the computer, they are sent to the recipient's e-mail address. Both cameras can store up to 32 e-mail addresses. They also come with 16M bytes of internal memory, and expansion via MultiMedia Card or SecureDigital card is possible.

Add Java applets to your Web site

Apycom Software recently released Version 3.0 of its Apycom Java Menu Applets, a series of configurable Java applets that let users create cross-browser dropdown menus, bars and buttons for their Web site.

Apycom says that every applet has a unique set of features that lets users create a Web site interface of any style or functionality. The apPopupMenu applet can pop up over frames, form elements, Flash or go over the browser window (in addition to HTML content).

Another applet is apMagicMenu, which lets users develop menus with a "floating" background. Others include apMenu, apPulseMenu, apTabMenu, apButtonMenu and apImageMenu. Apycom says the applets are operating system-independent and work with Windows, Macintosh and Unix browsers.

They work on Internet Explorer 3.02 or higher, Netscape 4.04 or higher, and other Java-compatible browsers. The applets are free for noncommercial and nonprofit Web sites; commercial Web site licenses start at $20. Go to www.apycom.com for more information.

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