Hanover, Germany - When the CeBIT rolled out in March 2008, nobody had an answer to the small yet affordable Asus EeePC.

The market has rushed to fill the gap in the interim, however, with several new devices seeking to make headway in the netbook market. Devices in this class are designed to have dimensions comparable to a sheet of paper and weigh just one kilogramme, yet cost a fraction of their similarly dimensioned cousins, the subnotebook.

Even so, buyers must make clear sacrifices in terms of options and performance.

Munich - Monitors frame our relationship with our computers and a great computer is only as good as its monitor.

That's why it's important to ask yourself: "What do I want to do with this computer" before purchasing, says Jaroslav Smycek of the Hannover Consumer's Center.

Although nearly all flat screen monitors are based on LCD technology, there are differences between the models. "TN Film models are popular. These screens are in the lower end of the price range," says Josef Reitberger of "CHIP," a Munich-based computer magazine.

Analysts have predicted that the computer mouse will be passé by 2013 and will be replaced by touch screens and facial recognition systems. A Gartner analyst, Steve Prentice feels that the 36 year old device originally invented by Douglas Engelbart as a block of wood has had its day of glory. Steve Prentice feels that the mouse is alright for the desktop but useless when using a notebook or home entertainment purposes.

Stuttgart  - It's easy to feel like you saved money when you bring home an inkjet printer. The devices themselves are often inexpensive. Yet reality usually sets in when it comes to refilling the printer cartridges. A set of black and coloured inks often costs at least 50 dollars or more, sometimes putting the expenditure on a par with the printer itself.

San Francisco - Struggling computer chip-maker Advanced Micro Devices replaced its CEO Hector Ruiz Thursday, appointing AMD president and chief operating officer Dirk Meyer in his place. 

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