CES - Computers and hardware

LAS VEGAS--Eight months after releasing its first USB 3.0 external hard drive, the MiniStation Cobalt, which was also one of the first on the market, Buffalo showed off today at CES 2011 a comprehensive family of external storage solutions based on the high-speed USB 3.0 connectivity.

USB 3.0 is the next generation of USB connectivity that's slated to replace, and is backward-compatible, with USB 2.0. USB 3.0 has a ceiling speed of 5Gbps, which is about 10 times the speed of of USB 2.0, which caps at 480Mbps. It's likely that most … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Ever wonder where your data is actually stored when you use a "cloud" storage service? Well, you now have a chance to learn about that in a close-up and personal way by hosting your own cloud at home with Buffalo's new NAS server.

The company announced today its brand-new CloudStor personal storage solution. In a nutshell, this is a network attached storage (NAS) server that's powered by Pogoplug.

Pogoplug itself is a successful implementation of Marvell's Plug Computing initiative that transforms a personal computer into a tiny form factor best suited for specific applications … Read more

Wednesday evening was the occasion for Microsoft's traditional CES keynote kick-off.

As usual, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer took the stage to demonstrate hardware and software from Microsoft and its partners. At this year's keynote, the topics ran the gamut from Windows Phone 7 to the Xbox and Avatar Kinect to ARM processors and system-on-a-chip technology.

(Last year's keynote had Ballmer talking up Windows 7, while demoing the Office 2010 suite and Halo: Reach for the Xbox 360. That keynote was also where we first laid eyes on HP's Slate 500 device--some 10 months before proper details … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Soon you'll be able to make your BlackArmor NAS server even tougher.

Seagate today showed off at CES 2011 a new storage package that the company says offers the ultimate in data security. It combines the flagship BlackArmor 440 NAS server, which offers RAID 5 and up to 12GB of storage space, with an IoSafe SoloPro disaster-proof external hard drive, which is used as a backup drive for the BlackArmor server.

The external hard drive is branded with the Seagate logo and called a fireproof/waterproof BlackArmor external hard drive. This is similar to how the company has … Read more

LAS VEGAS--How often does a journalist fire a real gun in the line of duty? Let me tell you, not often. But that's just what I did today. And no, I wasn't taking an anger management class.

It was just another demo by IoSafe, maker of disaster-proof storage solutions like the IoSafe SoloPro. These are extreme types of devices and, it seems, their maker believes they deserve some over-the-top demonstrations.

For that reason, it's now somewhat of a tradition that IoSafe stages grandiose product demos during CES. The company did a crazy fire and water demo during CES 2009 for the IoSafe Solo and an even crazier one during CES 2010, which included a 35,000-pound excavator, for the Solo SSD.

This year, the demo of the IoSafe Rugged Portable, while smaller in scale, was much louder, literally. It involved firing live rounds to prove just how rugged the Rugged Portable is.

According to Robb Moore, CEO of IoSafe, the Rugged Portable isn't designed to be bulletproof but just to withstand a significant amount of impact. "There are types of bullets that can go through any electronic devices we make," he says. "I believe, however, the Rugged Portable can survive multiple rounds of shotgun. Still, I keep my fingers crossed."… Read more

Laptops that use active shutter 3D glasses have been few and far between, but the handful we've seen (from HP, Asus, and others) have all been at least as good as their desktop counterparts, which require a checklist of compatible video cards, cables, and monitors to function. Sony is now joining the fray with the new Vaio F series 3D laptop, a 16-inch system that makes use of both Nvidia's popular 3D Vision technology and Sony's own 3DTV system.

The display has a native resolution of 1,920x1,080 pixels, which is a nice upgrade from most 3D laptops, which trade down to lower 1,366x768-pixel panels. The native 1080p screen is suited for HD video, so we're pleased to see a Blu-ray drive included as well. Of the F series, Sony says, "This laptop is a multimedia powerhouse melding cutting-edge technologies such as Blu-ray Disc and 3D functionality into one portable device."

The F series also includes the 2D-to-3D conversion feature found on many 3D flat-screen TVs, which creates a faux 3D effect in 2D content. It's a gimmick at best, but can occasionally be useful, perhaps in video games, but your mileage may vary. There's also simulated surround sound, thanks to the S-Force Front Surround 3D system. … Read more

Like other PC vendors, Sony has a new, Intel Sandy Bridge-based all-in-one to announce this morning. We expected as much, but we didn't expect the slick design Sony has introduced with its new Vaio L Series. Rather than the plastic-heavy designs of its past, the new model has the appearance of an exceedingly thin computer. It also has a unique take on touch input.

A side view of the Vaio L Series reveals a back panel with standard thickness, but the thin appearance comes from tapering the rear section away from the screen. Between that simple-but-effective design, the basic … Read more

Editor's note: This live event has concluded. For a brief rundown of what was announced, check out our summary post here. You can also replay our live blog in the Cover It Live module below.

LAS VEGAS--Sony Chairman and CEO Howard Stringer brought along his pal Taylor Swift this time last year to usher in the company's 3D push. What famous friends will he bring along to CES this year?

We'll find out Wednesday at 5 p.m. PT when the gadgetmaker will host a press conference at its massive booth on the showfloor of CES 2011. … Read more

The high-end Z-series of Sony Vaio laptops has its fans, but with prices starting at $1,899 and going to over $3,000, it's out of the price range of most laptop shoppers. The Vaio S series aims to offer a stylish 13-inch Vaio at much more competitive prices.

Sony says the S series offers, "easy portability and long battery life, perfect for the tech-savvy student or mobile professional," and it's certainly a bit lighter than some other 13-inch systems in the same general price range, at 4.4 pounds and only 1 inch thick.

While the standard SSD hard drives and high-end gloss of the Z Series may be missing, the S Series includes Sony's G-Sensor Shock Protection technology, which is basically an accelerometer for protecting the hard drive in case of falls or bumps, as well as Bluetooth and Sony's Vaio Care button, which lets users access a suite of tech support tools right from a quick launch button above the keyboard. … Read more