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Intel's push for petabyte SSDs requires a new kind of drive
There aren't many ways to make data center storage exciting, but mentioning a drive that could hold up to one petabyte (1,000 terabytes) comes close. Intel is making the case to swap out old disk-based drives in data centers with SSDs, and as part of that it's showing off a new "Ruler" form factor. Instead of molding to the 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch size of traditional drives or just the dimensions of a PCIe slot, its long skinny shape fits into a standard rack mounted server. As TechGage notes, with regular 10TB hard drives, slapping together a petabyte's worth would fill up a 100-bay 4U server. The new Ruler drives aren't available yet, but Intel claims it will offer them with both its Optane and 3D NAND SSDs in the "near future."
Packard Bell trims the fat on PB oneTwo all-in-one desktop PC line
Don't look now, UKers -- but you've got yet another option in the burgeoning world of all-in-one PCs. Thrilling, we know. Packard Bell has just issued the revamped PB oneTwo, an all-in-one PC line that may very well end up referred to as "PB 12" in your domicile. Nomenclature aside, this freshened up device is a full 65 percent slimmer than the one your mate purchased two years ago, giving you 65 percent more reason to brag about it once you've taken delivery. It's available in 21.5-inch and 23-inch flavors, with Intel's 2nd-generation Core i CPU family, NVIDIA or AMD graphics, a pair of 2.5-watt speakers, two USB 3.0 sockets (along with four of the slower USB 2.0 variety), an optional Blu-ray drive, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory and a 1,920 x 1,080 display on the both of 'em. You'll also get a 2 megapixel webcam, multi-format card reader, optional (seriously?) WiFi / Bluetooth, gigabit Ethernet and a bundled keyboard and mouse. The PB oneTwo M (21.5-inch) and PB oneTwo L (23-inch) will ship later this month for £599 and £699, respectively, though there's no word on availability beyond the Queen's backyard.
Packard Bell imedia lineup gets an Acer-inspired refresh
Packard Bell recently overhauled its logo in an effort to keep up with the times, but are its offerings up to the same task? The new imedia lineup immediately recalls the recently announced M-series desktops from Acer, and that's no accident. The innards are remarkably similar too, with the top models sporting Core 2 Quad or AMD Phenom II X4 processors, a 1.5GB GeForce GT230, HDMI out, Blu-Ray combo drive and a maximum of 8GB DDR3 memory and 1TB of storage. While none of the specs are on the blistering edge of innovation, there's plenty of power there and keen pricing could make them an attractive proposition. The entry-level Celeron-based units start at £299 ($490) in the UK.
