Startech's USB Video KVM is Huge Aid for Datacenter & Rack Work
Startech's USB KVM may be your new best friend for trips to the datacenter. All those backbreaking hours hunched over racked KVM's that just never have enough ports. Plug this into a VGA port and a USB or PS2 mouse port and server video is piped into your laptop. Since the video comes from the VGA port you'll be able to watch the entire boot-up process and don't have to wait for network or USB software services to start. Perfect for those of us who still have to work on servers that don't have an ILO interface. It also handles video scaling for systems running video resolutions up to 1920x1600. Although if you are wasting server resources on a desktop that size you need to consider a new line of work.
Another really nice benefit of this device over traditional rack KVMs is that you can use this from the back of the rack. So if you are handling issues that require moving cables or network connections which are generally on the opposite side of the rack, this can be a major time saver. This could save you tons of time walking from front to back of the cabinet to make changes and test results. You will have to shell out $470 for this convenience but if you hurry you should be able to get it into your 2010 IT budget. It is available now if you can't wait. Video demo after the jump.
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Palm Makes Fist & Shakes it Apple with a Finger for USB-IF
After a large stink was made last week over Palm alleging that Apple was intentionally misusing the 'open' spirit of USB connectivity. It got slapped back while admitting that, to get around Apple's lock-out of non-Apple devices, it was 'forced' to use software to masquerade as an iPod. The USB-IF promised to review Palm's claim about the spirit of the contract but Palm's actions were citing as very literally violating the contract. With all of its Pre sales finally breathing some much needed life back into the ailing Palm, you had to know they were going to defend their product. Palm has thumbed its nose at the warning and updated the Pre's software to fool iTunes. They've even gone on step further and enabled MORE iPod / iTunes functionality on the Pre. Let the firmware war begin. It's hard to pick a side here. The mp3 market isn't really a noble pursuit to begin with. Mp3's turned more people into pirates than having a peg leg and a parrot. I'll personally worry about whether my mp3s are legitimate when all those impoverished musicians regularly submit to drug tests.
In a haze, we recall the birth of the iPod mp3 player and that non-DRM'd mp3's have always played fine. All those illegal songs found a ...y and stylish home in the iPod. Yes, iTunes has funnelled legitimate sales into the mainstream. It's just a coincidence that all these finally legitimate sales go through their cash registers. How much more market share will Apple need before it decides to lock iTunes to only Apple computers. As Microsoft participates in more and more open source endeavours is Apple trying on shiny helmets and getting fitted for long black capes? Time will tell.
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