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IBM notebook promises eight hours of battery life

By Keith Shaw

Network World, 09/09/02

IBM notebook promises eight hours of battery life

IBM recently introduced its ThinkPad X30 notebook, a 3.6-pound notebook that combines IBM power management technology and design features to stretch battery life to up to eight hours (when equipped with an optional second battery).

The X30 can use two batteries at the same time - one internal battery and one extended-life battery that attaches to the bottom of the notebook. IBM says its power-saving technology can intelligently manage power consumption between the batteries and analyze how much power is needed to perform a specific task in a specific environment. When that is determined, the system can reduce the power to each of the major subsystems appropriately.

The X30 also includes IBM's Access Connections wizard, which lets users manage wired and wireless connections, and switch between them, and IBM's Rapid Restore PC application, which lets users recover saved data after a software crash with the press of a button.

Another option is the X3 UltraBase, a 1.6-pound base with enhanced features. Users can connect to the UltraBase to recharge the battery and use features such as a DVD or CD-ROM drive.

The X30 comes with Cisco Aironet integrated wireless (802.11b) technology and support for the 802.1x/Extensible Authentication Protocol security standard. It starts at $2,000 and is available now. For more information, go to www.ibm.com/thinkpad.

CTX ships 23-inch flat-panel LCD monitor

CTX International recently expanded its FlatView series of LCD monitors with the H2300, a 23-inch monitor aimed at high-end professional users. The H2300 is targeted at professionals in the imaging, design, financial, medical, manufacturing and education fields.

Compatible with Macintosh and Windows computers, the H2300 has 1,600-by-1,200-pixel resolution, wall-mount capabilities and low power consumption. CTX says the H2300 emits almost no magnetic fields. In addition, two 2-watt speakers are built into the monitor to save desk space.

The unit costs about $2,800. Go to www.ctxintl.com for more details.

Secure your PDA with pictures

Pointsec Mobile Security recently announced PicturePIN, an application for PDA users that can replace passwords with a sequence of graphic symbols that appear on the logon screen.

The company says the application lets users create a "mnemonic story or phrase" using the symbols. This eliminates names or words and the need for written reminders.

For example, a password of "Women-Love-Flowers-Daily" could be created by using the face of a woman, heart, flower and a sun. Pointsec says that by having users create stories or scenarios with their passwords, the sequences become memorable yet random to others.

The PicturePIN sequence can consist of four to 13 symbols. While the application generates the graphics, the user can choose a preferred symbol set and its sequence. The location of the symbols on the screen also changes with each logon sequence, which helps eliminate the possibility that someone watching over the shoulder could repeat the location of the icons.

Pointsec has products for Pocket PC and for Palm OS-based devices. Both products include 128- and 256-bit encryption based on the Advanced Encryption Standard algorithm. The system can encrypt data stored on the device and on removable media such as multimedia cards, and Secure Digital and Compact Flash cards.

Pointsec says decryption happens automatically on an as-required basis, on the assumption that the user logged on with the correct sequence. If the PDA is idling, the software places it in a suspended state - normal operation can resume by clicking the first two pictures of the PicturePIN code. A centralized administrative feature lets system administrators reset the password locally or via LAN in case end users forget their code sequences.

Go to www.pointsec.com to learn more.

Shaw can be reached at kshaw@nww.com.