Intel has been making a killing with their Core and Core 2 line of CPU’s. While they’ve been busy counting stacks of money, they’ve also put plans in place for their next line of chips. Intel plans on reducing the physical size of their chips from 65 to a 45 nanometer manufacturing process. This means that chips will be cheaper to produce, run cooler, and consume less power than current CPU’s being sold. So, this a win-win for both Intel and consumers, alike.

While there isn’t a specific date to introduce the new chips, Intel is hoping to release a high-end 45nm CPU by the end of 2007. It gets better. Chips that use the new manufacturing process will be faster at the same clock speed as current processors. So, if you’re planning on a system upgrade soon, you may want to consider what Intel has coming down the pipeline.

As I’m positive you can tell from looking around here on TEK, we love anything that comes out of Logitech. They’re one of the only companies that can produce computer accessories and peripherals that I can stand. Most other companies do it cheaply and with the kind of quick-cash-concotion methods that make you want to choke your Grandma. Ever seen box-photographs that made you buy the product, then you take it home and unbox it - and it’s trash? Logitech doesn’t do that. Quality — all the way. (No, they didn’t pay me to say that. I’m just a fangirl.)

First off, the Wave is beautifully designed. Sleek, yet filled with both media keys, quick keys that you can program and keys that you didn’t even know you needed but are damn happy they’re there. It looks like a bit daunting at first, but once you rest your hands upon it, all is revealed. The Wave’s keys are almost hypnotic in how they’re placed. When you look at the subtle raise in the middle of the alphabetic keys, it’s a very gentle “wave” over to the next hand. The palmrest on the keyboard cushions, but doesn’t heat your palms up for those deranged writing sessions. It seems as if the Wave was almost perfect. Too perfect.

Then I came to the bloody realization that maybe it wasn’t. See, they sent me a Cordless Desktop set, which meant that both the keyboard and the mouse were battery operated. I also have a mouse that Logitech made, called the G7. The G7 comes with two rechargeable battery units and a charger. I somewhat expected that Logitech would do the same with the Wave, seeing as how it’s new technology and the G7 came out last year. Nope, you gotta pop AA batteries into both the keyboard and the mouse. This scared and confused me, so I wanted to wait a bit and report on how good the batteries held up since they’re in a keyboard that gets a lot of use. So far, I’ve had the Wave for a week and the batteries haven’t died once. So, there is light at the end of this tunnel - however, I do want to know why Logitech didn’t opt for rechargeable batteries - we KNOW they have them.

As far as comfort goes, the Logitech Wave has me unmoving towards other keyboards. However, there are quite a few out there that could stand up against it. Saitek’s Eclipse II still glitters up at me from beside my desk and makes me wistful for it’s sturdiness, which is something that the Wave isn’t. Yes, if you’re one of those people that doesn’t have kids, a family of people using your desktop — then go for it. However, Logitech could’ve paid a little more attention to the heft and sturdiness of their keyboard. Just saying, Logitech. That’s all. Mama still loves you, baby.

Would I buy it? Probably not the Cordless Desktop, seeing as how I don’t have a need for a wireless keyboard. It never moves off my desk. Would I want the wired version? Sure. Would I replace my Saitek Eclipse II for it? No. So, perhaps this is the first Logitech item that I wouldn’t heavily promote. Yes, in the end it feels good but it’s nothing I want to take home to Mom, just like a good chunk of my ex-boyfriends.

If you care to look about six inches down on your screen, you’ll see a nifty article about an NES-Mouse from zieak.com. Well I thought that it was just into the realm of pure awesome. So I did a little looking around, and I find yet another spiffy NES controller modification. This time with card reader. Yet again he provides step by step instructions that even I could follow. I can’t stress enough how much I think projects like this are just, “profanity-ing sweet!” I hope you enjoy things like this, because I’m gonna hunt more down, and you’re going to have to read them.