The popularity of the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) storage interface might be waning in the face of SATA and RAID but the interface trucks on-- the SCSI Trade Association (STA) got a new board of directors for 2014.

The standard even went through a number milestones during 2013, with the SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) interface reaching the final standardisation of SAS-3 by T10, with volume deployments of 12Gb/s SAS products.

The decline of the W. European PC market continues Gartner reports-- Q4 2013 sees shipments decline by -4.4% Y-o-Y to 14.7 million units, with drops across all segments and territories.

Mobile and desktop PC shipments for the quarter decline by -6.5% and -0.3% Y-o-Y respectively. Shipments to the professional segment are down by -1.7%, while the consumer market drops by -7%.

"Shipments for traditional PCs (desktops and mobile PCs) in 2013 decreased -14%, but the rate of unit decline is moderate across geographies-— which could indicate that the impact of tablets cannibalizing PC sales in mature markets is fading," the analyst says. "Additionally, large numbers of professional PCs running on Windows XP remained in use, and the corporate market has been increasing its PC replacement-— making up for a weak consumer PC market."

IBM researchers claim they created a graphene-based circuit with performance 10000 times better than current options-- or at least one reliable enough to send and receive text messages.

As described in Nature the circuit features acts as a radio frequency receiver, meaning it translates radio waves into information one can understand, as well as send signals back and forth. Tests involved sending a message on a 4.3GHz carrier signal saying "IBM," which was sent and received distortion-free.

“This is the first time that someone has shown graphene devices and circuits to perform modern wireless communication functions comparable to silicon technology,” IBM says.

Once again the two major analysts agree on a topic close to our hearts-- EMEA PC shipment continue falling during Q4 2013. Gartner says the decline is "less steep" at -6.7% Y-o-Y, while IDC describes shipments as "constrained."

According to Gartner EMEA Q4 2013 shipments total 25.8 million units with shipment declines across all regions, if less so than the last 7 quarters.

Consumers continue replacing PCs only on a "needed basis," since new form factors suffer from either limited availability or higher than average prices. On the other hand tablets, especially Androids, make popular, attractively priced, holiday presents.

The pieces in Valve's plan for console-style PCs fall into place at CES 2014, where the company names the hardware partners making the first batch of SteamOS-powered games machines.

Interestingly enough CES does not host a Valve-branded Steam Machine-- the company instead leaves the stage open to 13 other companies, namely Alienware, Alternate, CyberPowerPC, Digital Storm, Falcon NW, GigaByte, iBuyPower, Maingear, Materiel.net, Next Spa, Origin PC, Scan, Webhallen and Zotac.

The Steam Machines seen at the show range from $500 entry-level options to $6000 high-spec monsters. All pack an array custom specifications inside at times slightly bizarre custom hardware. Current favourites include Gigabyte's miniature cube, Falcon NW's desktop number (complete with lurid decal!) and the PS4-style option from iBuyPower.

Upgrading existing PCs might be fun for the enthusiasts, but most customers lack the skills to replace a graphics card, never mind a CPU or a motherboard. Enter Razer's Christine, a concept for a modular PC with plug-and-play upgradabilty.

The idea behind Christine sounds clever. It essentially consists of a central backbone into which one slots all components making up a PC. Said components-- be it CPU, GPU or HDD-- come as cable-free self-contained modules, and attach into the backbone via PCI-E ports.

Users can attach modules in any order, and each features active liquid cooling and noise cancellation. According to the company these include quad-SLI graphics, multiple SSD and RAID storage components, IO and even power supplies.

LG reveals a desktop PC running on ChromeOS-- the Chromebase (Model 22CV241), the first all-in-one (AIO) PC running on Google's cloud-based operating system complete with 21.5-inch IPS display.

It is actually the second desktop ChromeOS machine we recall, the other being the Mac Mini-style Samsung Chromebox.

The Chromebase promises "the successful combination of simplicity, power and great design" if with fairly modest specs-- Intel Celeron CPU, 2GB RAM, 16GB SSD, 1.3MP webcam and built-in 5W speakers as well as a complement of ports (including HDMI-in).

Following the launch of the Envy 17 Leap Motion SE laptop HP integrates gesture-based input technology in 11 desktop and all-in-one (AIO) PCs, all armed with a keyboard featuring built-in Leap Motion sensors.

Available separately as the HP USB Leap Motion Keyboard, the keyboard carries an embedded micro sensor only 3.5mm thick. Select HP PCs also ship with pre-installed Airspace and Leap Motion software, together with free bundled apps.

Users can buy more apps through the online Airspace Store.