Computers | featured news

Most televisions and all MacBooks still lack a touch screen. When will this change? When will all displays be converted to touch screens? It could take some time. While the PC industry has embraced Windows 8 with a wide variety of touch screen devices (including laptops and desktops), some manufacturers are reluctant to enter the realm.

Chipmaker Intel just announced that CEO Paul Otellini, who has been on the job for eight years, will be retiring in May. People are going to wonder if Intel’s board is forcing Otellini out. They’ll point to Intel’s mandatory retirement age of 65. Otellini is only 62, and his predecessor Craig Barrett retired from the CEO job at 65 or 66. But apparently there’s no hard-and-fast rule at Intel. The legendary Andy Grove, the company’s third employee, served as its CEO from 1987 until 1997, retiring closer to age 61.

Advanced Micro Devices has hired JPMorgan Chase & Co to explore options, which could include a potential sale, as the chipmaker struggles to find a role in an industry increasingly focused on mobile and away from traditional PCs, according to three sources familiar with the situation.

Scientists at I.B.M. are reporting progress in a chip making technology that is likely to ensure the shrinking of the basic digital switch at the heart of modern microchips for more than another decade.

I have a hard drive with valuable information on it, but I can't seem to access it — the drive is either damaged or erased. Is there any way I can see what's on the drive and get it off?

China rejected on Tuesday as "groundless" U.S. accusations that two top Chinese telecoms equipment makers posed a security risk. The U.S. House of Representatives' Intelligence Committee urged American companies on Monday to stop doing business with Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and ZTE Corp. , warning that China could use equipment made by the companies to spy on certain communications and threaten vital systems through computerized links.

While most people decide to buy their computers outright, some come to the decision that rent-to-own is a better option. What these people might not know is that their rented computer could have been spying on them.

If you don't have an up-to-date backup of your important data, then this tale of woe should encourage you to make one over the weekend. A couple of weeks ago I reported the story of Matt Honan. He's a smart guy and former journalist for Gizmodo and former contributing editor to WIRED magazine.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles experienced a statewide computer outage Tuesday, disrupting many in-office services to customers, officials said.