Lenovo stopped just shy of declaring war on Dell in a recent public 
As PC users, we're so used to hearing sirens warn that the sky is falling we barely notice the noise anymore. Part of the reason for that is because even when things are bad, they're still pretty good. That's again the case today as market research firm Gartner lowers its PC shipments forecast for 2011, but a closer examination of the numbers shows there's reason to remain confident in the state of PCs.
We welcome all PC (as in Personal Computer) users to the Maximum PC fold, be they Windows, Linux, or Mac OS X fans. Apple doesn't always make it easy, though. If the Cupertino outfit isn't out in court trying to destroy Google's open source Android platform through lawsuits, it's posting support documents that leave us scratching our heads wondering what the company thinks of its users.
When the going gets tough, most technology throws up its hands in defeat and wilts like a flower. The majority of gadgets on the market just aren’t built to face the drop-down, submerged-in-liquid realities of everyday life – just ask anybody who ever had to replace his smartphone after spilling just a few drips of soda on it. 
Hewlett Packard created more waves than a tsunami yesterday when the OEM confirmed rumors that it plans to dump its PC business, yet still managed to surprise industry analysts by announcing the end of operations for webOS devices, and specifically the slow selling TouchPad and webOS phones. Now that the the dust has settled, it's time to look at why HP thinks reinventing itself is a good idea.
When someone says the word "Zombies," we immediately mutter the word "Cool" in a low voice and think back to the fun zombie-killing action in Shaun of the Dead or Dead Rising 2. But while zombie movies and video games may strain the outer edges of awesome, zombified computers just suck. If you live in the US or UK, we have bad news: a recent report studying malware distribution claims that your computers are the most valuable compromised computers in the world.
The tidings look grim on the PC front. Despite a surge in sales from the first quarter to the second in 2011 (maybe due to Witcher 2's awesomeness?), the total number of units moved have plummeted over the past year. Some manufacturers have managed to grab sunbeams between all the rain, though. A new report reveals that the ranks of the top five computer manufacturers have undergone a serious shift as some scramble for ground that others have given up.
If PCs are dead (they're not), someone forgot to tell Japan. And NEC. And Lenovo. In a joint press release today, Lenovo and NEC announced the launch of NEC Lenovo Japan Group, a long winded name that now represents Japan's largest PC provider. Based on recent analyst figures, the group expects to control about 25 percent of Japan's PC market, poking its head into both the commercial/government sector and in consumer sales.
Utah-based Xi3 Corporation has announced a Chrome OS-running version of its flagship Modular Computer. The company made the announcement in a recent press release. Touting its upcoming ChromiumPC modular desktop as “the world’s first desktop computer running Google’s Chrome operating system,” the company revealed in the press release that it has been working on the machine since 2009. More details about Xi3’s latest modular computer, which measures less than 4-inches per side, after the break.Connect with MaximumPC
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