The V550 Nano Cordless Laser Mouse is the latest offering from Logitech known for its line of quality mice. The V550 is compact and lightweight without being undersized and flimsy.

It is powered by the laser precision technology which allows for superior tracking. There is a hyper-fast scroll-wheel. This mouse also features the Plug-and-Forget Nano Receiver common with all Logitech mice. Another unique feature of this mouse is its Clip-and-Go dock with which you can physically attach the mouse to your laptop.

Logitech claims that the V550 has an amazing 18 months of battery life. It is shipped with a pair of AA batteries, a pair of Clip-and-Go docks, a Clip-and-Go removal tool, a clip-and-Go storage box, a desktop USB extension stand and 2 cleaning wipes.

Pros
Laser precision technology
Tiny receiver
Hyper fast scroll wheel
Amazing battery life
Portable

Cons
There is no back/forward button
Because of its small size it cannot offer full ergonomic support

Archos, a French company known for its electronic devices, has introduced its first ever notebook, the 13.3 inch Archos 13. The machine is very compact and has extremely attractive looks.

The Archos 13 has a 13.3 inch LED backlit display with 1280x800 resolutions. It is powered by a low voltage Intel Celeron processor clocking at 1.2GHz. Other specifications include 120GB hard drive and 1GB RAM. These specifications aren’t very impressive for a notebook, but they are better than the usual netbook specifications. Another not so great feature is the bloatware that comes bundled with this PC. Besides offering little functionality these software tends to slow down the PC.

On the plus side, a very impressive feature of this notebook is its 10-cell battery which will provide a great deal of uptime. Despite having a large power pack, the machine keeps a slim profile and weighs just 1.5 kg. No information regarding the pricing is available as yet, but it is expected to cost around $800.

The just launched Cooler Master SNA 95 is the world’s smallest and lightest 95W laptop adapter. Manufacturers have long been working on making laptop adapters smaller and lighter so that they can be carried around easily.

Despite having a small size and weighing very light, the new SNA 95 offers a high output of 95 W. It also comes with useful features like a USB charging port and cable management base system. With its nine different power cords the adapter is compatible with nearly all kinds of laptops.

The SNA 95 has a flat, short and wide body. Besides laptops, it can be used for charging most USB devices including Mobile phones, PDAs, iPods and MP3/MP4 players.
Cooler Master is known for manufacturing power supplies for Desktop PCs. With the release of this adapter the company has forayed into the laptop accessories market.

Japanese computer scientists have discovered a way to crack the Wi-Fi Protected Access WPA) encryption system. This new attack makes it possible for hackers to break into wireless router systems and read encrypted traffic sent between computers and WPA encryption systems.

The new attack works only on WPA systems using the old Temporal Key Integrity Protocol algorithm. It cannot break the newer devices using WPA 2 Standard or the stronger Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm. Hackers are yet to discover a means of breaking these algorithms.

The encryption systems used by Wireless routers have never really been foolproof. Actually the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) was cracked within a few years of its introduction in 1997. Newer standards are, nevertheless, more secure and since March 2006, Wi-Fi certified products are required to use the WPA 2 standard. But there are still a decent amount of devices using the older standard and this new development makes them particularly vulnerable.

MSI will release a touchscreen netbook based on Intel’s next generation Pine Trail Atom platform. Intel has not yet launched the Pine Trail but is expected to do so before the end of this year.

MSI hopes to be the first to release products based on this platform and the first MSI product based on this will be the proposed 10 inch convertible U150. This netbook will run on the Windows 7 platform.

The Pine Trail generation of Atom processors will have CPU blended with GPU on the same chip. This arrangement is expected to improve the graphics performance and reduce the power consumption.

The MSI convertible will have a resistive touchscreen. While it is expected to deliver a good performance, the lack of a capacitive screen with multi-touch capabilities will prevent it from making use of Windows 7’s Touch Pack applications.

NEC has finally entered the netbook market with the introduction of a small mobile netbook – the LaVie Light Lui Mobile. In specifications and looks this netbook isn’t very different from other netbooks available in the market. It, nevertheless, has some distinct features in the form of a VNC Client option and optional WiMax.

Specifications
Processor: Intel Atom N280 1.66 GHz
Memory: 1 GB DDR2 RAM
HDD: 160 GB of Hard Disk
Display: 10.1-inch 1024 x 600 LCD display

The branded VNC client provided with this netbook will help you connect the device to a remote desktop system. So you can work on the netbook and then sent the files to the Home desktop devices. The optional WiMax will allow the netbook to access broadband internet connection.

Other features include WiFi b/g and Bluetooth 2.1. The 6 cell battery is expected to give 8.5 hours of battery life.

There is no information regarding pricing and availability.

The Portable One SX-N7350 is a compact notebook with a 13.3 inch display. It is built on the Clevo M735T platform.

Configuration:
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 (2.53GHz, 6MB L2 cache, 1066MHz FSB)
Operating system: Microsoft Windows Vista Business (w/ SP2)
Display: 13.3-inch glossy LED-backlit 16:10 display (1280x800)
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
Memory: 4GB DDR2 800MHz RAM
Storage: 250GB Western Digital 7200RPM HDD
Price as configured: $1,295.29

Build and Design
With a simple plastic exterior, the Portable One SX-N7350 looks neat and elegant. Build quality is very good: the SX-N7350 can easily compete with many popular business notebooks. The screen cover is very rigid and protects the display from external impacts. There are easy access panels for the hard drive and other internal components, so upgrading this notebook won’t be an issue at all.

Screen and Speakers
The LED backlit display has an aspect ratio of 16:10. Color saturation is good. The display is bright enough to become viewable in bright office settings. On the flip side, the viewing angles are average.
The audio quality is average. Headphones or external speakers are a must if you want to enjoy music or movies on this notebook.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard looks small for a 13.3 inch notebook, but it is very comfortable to type on. The touchpad is a Synaptics model. It is very responsive and easy to use. The buttons can be triggered easily; sensitivity is also very good.

Ports and Features
Port selection is limited. There are 3 USB ports, LAN, modem jacks, VGA-out, and audio. There is an ExpressCard/54 slot and a SD-card reader for expansion purposes. There is no HDMI or DisplayPort connection.

Performance
Performance is very good with a fast processor like 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 and a 7200rpm hard drive. Boot times are fast. The integrated X4500MHD can’t handle high-end gaming, but that shouldn’t be an issue as this is a performance oriented business notebook. Though there is no discrete GPU, the machine has no difficulty decoding 720p and 1080p HD video content.

Battery life
The SX-N7350 has a 4-cell battery with 35Wh capacity. At 2.5 hours, the battery life isn’t very impressive. If you need more uptime, you can buy a larger 8-cell battery.

Pros:
Good build quality
Comfortable keyboard
Snappy performance

Cons:
Pricey
Limited ports
Poor battery life

The PCMCIA organization has finalized the ExpressCard 2.0 standard. The new 2.0 standard is 10 times faster than the previous 1.2 standard and will offer transfer rates of up to 5Gbps.

The PCMCIA’s ExpressCard and PC Card slots are used in almost every notebook. Several manufactures including AMD, Fujitsu Siemens, LG Electronics, Intel, Lenovo, Lexar Media, Microsoft, Qualcomm, SanDisk, Sony, Texas Instruments and Toshiba support the ExpressCard Standard now.

The new 2.0 standard is backward compatible with the earlier 1.2 standard, so you will have no problem using your existing ExpressCard devices on the new card slots. Devices based on the new ExpressCard 2.0 Standard will be available by 2011.

HP has launched two new netbooks in the Mini 110 series which will replace the Mini 1000 series of netbooks. The new netbooks dubbed Mini 110 Mi and Mini 110 XP are available now.

The Mini 110 Mi runs on the Linux OS. Prices start at $279.99. The Mini 110 XP comes pre-installed with Windows XP. Prices start from $329.99. Customization options are also available for both models.

Both netbooks have the following base specifications

Processor: Intel Atom N270 1.60 GHz Processor
Storage: 8 GB SSD
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Graphics: Intel's onboard GMA 950 Graphics
Display: 10.1 inch with a native resolution of 1024 x 576

The base configuration also includes a 5-in-1 card reader, Wireless b/g card and a 3-cell battery.


Upgrade options include Intel Atom N280 1.66 GHz Processor, 2 GB RAM, 250GB HDD/ 160 GB HDD/16GB SSD/32GB SSD/64GB SSD and 6-cell battery.

MSI releases Wind Top AE2010 All-in-One Desktop

The newly released MSI Wind Top AE2010 All-in-One desktop PC has a 20-inch touchscreen. It is powered by an AMD Athlon X2 Dual Core 3250e 1.50GHz processor with ATI Radeon HD 3200 onboard graphics chip with 128 MB DDR3 memory. Other specifications include up to 4GB of RAM and 320GB HDD.

The 20 inch touch screen display has energy star 5.0 rating. It is power efficient while at the same time producing crisp images. With its powerful onboard graphics, the AE2010 can easily decode HD media. It will also be able to handle entry level gaming.

Other features include 6 USB ports, Gigabit Ethernet, Webcam, VGA-in and VGA-out. MSI ships the PC with color matched keyboard and mouse. The AE2010 comes with the Windows Vista Home Premium. Buyers will also get a Windows 7 upgrade coupon.

MSI said that they will start shipping the PC in September. Prices start at $650.

All purpose laptops are capable of handling almost every task. Here is a list of the top 5 all-purpose notebooks.

1. Lenovo Thinkpad T400S

Processor: 2.53-GHz Core 2 Duo SP9600
Display: 14.1" Wide screen display
Storage: 128GB Hard Drive
Minimum Weight: 4Lbs.

Bottom Line: A lean, mean machine with cutting edge features.

2. Samsung X460-44P

Processor: 2.26-GHz Core 2 Duo P8400
Display: 14.1" Wide screen display
Storage: 320GB Hard Drive
Weight: 4.2Lbs.

Bottom Line: competent notebook with slimmer looks and high-end features

3. Apple MacBook Pro A1286 (15.4-inch)

Processor: 2.8-GHz Core 2 Duo T9600
Display: 15.4" Wide Screen Display
Storage: 500GB Hard Drive
Weight: 5.5Lbs.

Bottom Line: A midsize notebook with upgraded configurations


4. Dell Studio XPS 16

Processor: 2.4-GHz Core 2 Duo P8600
Display: 16" wide screen display
Storage: 320GB Hard Drive
Weight: 7Lbs.

Bottom Line: Great design combines with sharp features in this Studio line notebook.

5. Micro Express JHL9050

Processor: 2.66-GHz Core 2 Duo T9550
Display: 15.6" wide screen display
Storage: 320GB Hard Drive
Weight: 5.9Lbs.

Bottom line: A solid notebook delivering better performance than its more attractive competitors.

The 13 inch MacBook Pro is the latest addition to the famed MacBook Pro family of notebooks. With its unibody aluminum casing this machine is lighter and sturdier than the older plastic versions.

The new MacBook Pro has regained the FireWire port which was missing in the previous version. Apple has also added an SD card to the notebook. There are still a few things that could have been added, and they include Blu-ray, mobile broadband options and matte screen. The only major drawback with this notebook is that its battery cannot be removed. Actually this problem is found on the MacBook Air and 17-inch Pro as well. On the upside, Apple claims that the nonremovable battery will improve the battery life by up to 40%.

The new display supports a wider range of colors. The display is good, with the only drawback being the lack of a matte-screen option offered on the 17-inch MacBook Pro. While the glossy screen makes colors look vibrant, reflections can be a problem in bright lighting conditions.

Specifications
Processor: 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
RAM: 2GB, 1066MHz DDR2
HDD: 60GB 5,400rpm
Chipset: Nvidia MCP79
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 9400M (integrated)
OS: OS X Leopard 10.5.7
Screen size: 13.3 inches
Prices start at $1,199

Japanese electronics maker DosPara has released their 12 inch laptop – the Dospara Prime Note Cresion NA. With a non-netbook processor like the Atom 330 and Nvidia’s Ion based chipset, this machine can’t really claim to be a netbook.

Features
The Prime Note Cresion NA is thin and lightweight. It has a relatively powerful processor and a large enough display, making it ideal for general use around the house. Other features include an HDMI port for transferring video to an external monitor, an optical drive, 2GB of RAM, a 320GB Hard disk, 3 USB ports, a card reader and Bluetooth.

The display measures 12.1 inch and has a resolution of 1,366x768. The laptop weighs just under 2kg. Prices start at $600.

The super slim A-DATA NH92 claims to be the world’s slimmest portable hard drive. The tiny device can hold up to 500GB of data.

The A-DATA NH92 has a USB interface and with is shock protected design this drive will have good durability. It is available in three colors.

A-DATA NH92 Specifications:

Device Interface: USB 2.0
Hard disk interface: 2.5” SATA
Operating systems supported: Windows 2000, XP, Vista Mac OS X 10.4, Linux Kernal 2.4

External hard drives are aimed at people who need more storage space than that is available in the internal hard drive of their computers. External hard drives are also used to backup data. You can save music, movies and pictures on these devices.
The A-DATA NH92 is available in two sizes – 250GB and 500GB. The 250GB device can store 4500 hours of music. With this much storage space, you will be able to backup your entire hard drive on this tiny device. The 250GB drive is retailed for about $70. The 500GB drive will cost approximately $100.

Pros:
Very small, almost tiny
Good build quality and design

Cons:
Dual USB cable is necessary for best speeds

The Dell Studio XPS 13 and XPS 16 notebooks are now available in Arctic White. Dell already sells the notebooks in red and black.

The Arctic White model will have a slightly different design with a stylish leather accent at the bottom of the lid. The addition of leather will provide better grips as well as making the laptop look sharp. Other design elements will be the same.

The White XPS will have the same specifications as the red and black XPS. But it will cost an extra $40. The XPS 13 and XPS 16 notebooks are powered by a 2GHz Core 2 Duo processor with 3GB RAM and a 250GB HDD. The 13 inch version has an integrated Nvidia GeForce 9400M, whereas the 16 inch XPS comes with a discrete ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3670.

The Asus K50IJ is a good desktop replacement laptop delivering competent performance at a budget price. It can be bought for $699.

ASUS K50IJ-C1 Specifications:
Operating system: Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1, 32-bit)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo processor T6500 Processor (2.1GHz)
Display: 15.6" 16:9 Wide Format (1366 x 768) HD LCD Display
Memory: 4GB DDR2 800MHz RAM, 1 slot, 4GB Max
Graphics: Intel GMA X4500M integrated graphics
HDD: 250GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive

Build and Design
The K50IJ is well built. The chassis is made of good quality plastics and doesn’t suffer from flex or squeaks. The notebook weighs nearly six pounds with its 15-inch display, so this isn’t quite the machine to buy if you are mobile professional. Build quality is reasonably good. The screen lid, nevertheless, shows some flex under pressure.

There are no access panels at the bottom of the laptop for upgrading the memory, hard drive or wireless cards. Actually the K50IJ doesn’t offer much upgradeability options as it as only a single RAM slot.


Screen and Speakers
The 15.6 inch HD display has 1366 x 768 pixels. The display is good with vibrant colors and excellent contrast. Horizontal viewing angles are good. But vertical viewing angles are average.

The Altec Lansing speakers produce good quality audio when you place the machine on a desk. As the speakers are placed beneath the left and right palm rests, you will get only muffled sound when you place the notebook on your lap. Another drawback is the lack of a subwoofer.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The K50IJ has a full-sized keyboard with dedicated number pad. The keyboard is comfortable to type on. The keys are large with good spacing. However, the keyboard shows some flex under heavy typing pressure. There is no backlighting, so typing in a dark room won’t be easy.

The touchpad has multi-touch capabilities and a nice texture. On the flip side sensitivity isn’t very great. The touchpad also shows some lag during fast movement. The buttons are noisy when pressed.

Ports and Features
Port selection is average. There are very few ports, and they include 4 USB 2.0 ports, VGA out, audio jacks, Ethernet, a 3-in-1 card reader, a power jack and optical drive. There is no eSATA, HDMI, FireWire or ExpressCard.

Performance
The machine performs reasonably well with the Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 processor and Intel X4500M integrated GPU. It can easily run applications like MS Office and Photoshop. It will also have no difficulty decoding 720p or 1080p HD video. But the lack of a discrete GPU makes high-end 3D gaming out of question.

Battery
At 3.5 hours, the battery life is reasonably good. But keep in mind that several 15 inch notebooks in the market with discrete GPUs offer better battery life.

Heat and Noise
Heat and noise levels are within normal limits. The K50IJ has an efficient cooling system and a reasonably quiet hard drive.

Pros:
Good display
Nice keyboard
Reasonably good performance for the price

Cons:
Very few ports
Limited upgradeability options

MSI has announced five C-series notebooks – the CX600, CR600-013, CR600-017, CR700 and CX700. These budget notebooks will have 16 and 17.3 inch WXGA++ displays.

The new laptops will feature entry level Intel Pentium Dual Core processors. All except the CR600-017 will have the Intel Pentium Dual Core T4200 2.0GHz processor. The CR600-017 will be powered by a slightly faster Dual Core T4300 2.1 GHz. All the models will have 4GB DDR2 RAM. Hard drive capacity will be 320GB 5400rpm.

Despite them being budget notebooks, MSI has decided to equip them with discrete GPUs. The CR-models will have Nvidia Geforce 8300M graphics. The CX-models will use the ATI Radeon HD 4330 GPU.

The default operating system will be Windows Vista Home Premium. Other features include 3 USB 2.0 ports, Wi-Fi b/g/n, gigabit Ethernet, 4-in-1 card reader, 1.3 MP Camera and DVD Burner. The CR600-017 will have a Blu-ray drive instead of the DVD drive.

MSI will release new notebooks based on Intel’s Calpella platform by the end of this year. These notebooks will be powered by Intel’s soon-to-be-launched Mobile Core i7 (7200M, 8200M and 920XM) processors. The default operating system will be Windows 7.

The Core i7 platform is expected to provide better performance than the Centrino 2 based platforms currently used. Intel claims that the i7 processors will offer better multi-tasking capabilities with improved battery life.

The new notebooks will be equipped with 15.4 and 17 inch screens. They will be priced in the range of $600 and $900.

Meanwhile MSI has delayed the release of new laptops based on Core i5 and i3 until early 2010.

The Asus G51VX-A1 notebook is built for the ultimate multimedia experience. It comes with dual hard drive bays and Nvidia GTX 260M GPU. Now if you think this specification isn’t high enough you can opt for the quad-core processor.

Asus has equipped this series of notebooks with a 1080p 16:9 display and Altec Lansing speakers to further enhance the multimedia experience. A high-end configuration with the quad-core processor and dual hard drives may cost as much as $1,699.

The Asus G51VX-A1 configuration
Operating system: Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1, 64-bit)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000 (2GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 6MB Cache)
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M 1GB GDDR3 memory
Display: 15.6 inch WUXGA FHD LCD display 1920x1080
Memory: 4GB DDR2-800 SDRAM (2GB x 2)
HDD: Two 320GB Seagate 7200RPM Hard Drives

Build and Design
Most of the notebook is made of sturdy plastic, so build quality is good. There is a chrome trim around the side and bottom edges of the outside cover. Asus has also painted a futuristic pattern onto the lid. Both of these design elements enhance the gaming theme of the notebook. Users who want to upgrade components will find it easier as a single panel gives access to all user-replaceable parts.

Screen and Speakers
The glossy display makes colors pop out of the screen. Color saturation is good, so are the viewing angles. The display is bright enough to make viewing possible in a bright room, but it won’t be viewable in direct sunlight.
The speakers sound nice, but the lack of a sub woofer on a notebook of this size is a bit disappointing.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The backlit keyboard features a chiclet style. It is comfortable to use and shows no signs of flex at all. There is, nevertheless, one problem. The keyboard is slightly small for the bezel around it. The touchpad is a Synaptics model. It shows good sensitivity. Tracking speeds are also excellent.

Ports and Features
Port selection is good. There are 4 USB ports, HDMI, VGA out, an eSATA port, Firewire 400, LAN and three audio jacks. For expansion, there is an ExpressCard/54 slot and an SD-card reader.

Asus ships the notebooks with plenty of free goodies such as a padded notebook backpack, a pair of Eee Stick game controllers and a Razer Copperhead Gaming mouse.

Performance
With its Nvidia GTX 260M GPU and Intel Q9000 quad-core processor this machine is capable of high-end gaming. Multimedia playback is equally good. In fact the quad-core processor can even decode two 1080p videos at the same time, showing one on the notebook display and the other on an external monitor through the HDMI port.

Heat and Noise
Heat levels are normal for a notebook of this configuration. The fan tends to get noisy during extensive gaming, but it is quiet during normal activity.

Battery Life
Battery life is below average. The G51VX-A1 can manage barely one and half hours as against the Gateway P-7805u which offers up to 3.5 hours of uptime with similar specifications.

Pros:
Good build quality
Great gaming performance
Attractive design

Cons:
Poor battery life

Apple has released two firmware updates which will fix the Bluetooth and hard drive noise issue in MacBook Pro.

The Bluetooth Firmware Update 2.0.1 is meant to improve overall compatibility with Apple Wireless Mighty Mouse and Apple Wireless Keyboard. It also includes some bug fixes. This update is available for all Apple computers with Broadcom Bluetooth chipsets, which includes MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs.

The Hard Drive Firmware Update 2.0 will finally solve the widely reported noise issue associated with 7200RPM hard drives. As this issue only affects the MacBook Pros released in 2009, it is available for only those Macs.

More than 50% notebooks with a dedicated graphics card use the ATI Mobility Radeon chips, AMD has announced. AMD now claims an overall 53% share of the notebook dedicated GPU market.

The AMD Mobility Radeon series of GPUs are known for delivering advanced performance, leading features and innovative technology. They also support the Microsoft DirectX 10.1 standard which enables high quality multimedia experience. Of all the AMD chips, the Mobility Radeon HD 4000 series, which includes the HD 4530 and HD 4670, is the most popular.

Several high end notebooks including the HP Pavilion dv6T, Alienware M17, Acer Aspire 5739G, Toshiba Satellite M500, Sony VAIO FW Series, Samsung R522, Asus W90Vp-X1, MSI GX623 and Dell Studio 15 now use AMD GPUs.

Corsair, the well known maker of SSD drives, has released its latest in the Extreme Series – the X256. This new SSD has 64MB of cache memory. It offers better speeds and higher capacity. Price is in the range of $695.

Corsair has already released several SSDs – the X32, X64 and X128. The latest X256 is a 2.5 inch SSD featuring Indilinx’s Barefoot controller and Samsung’s MLC NAND flash memory. Corsair said that the new drive has a read speed of 240mb/s and write speeds of 170mb/s.

The X256 is expected to support Windows 7’s TRIM command which would help it run in top speed even when it is nearing its full capacity.

Nokia has unveiled its first netbook, the Booklet 3G. Unlike conventional Nokia devices which run on Symbian or Maemo, this device uses the Windows XP OS.

The Booklet 3G has a 10.1 inch HD display with 1366 x 768 pixels. There is also an HDMI port for transferring video to an external monitor. It is based on an Intel Atom processor. Nokia claims that it will give up to 12 hours of up time. Some Nokia Ovi services are included with the netbook such as integrated A-GPS system, Maps for Ovi, and VPN integration.

Nokia has encased the laptop in a thick aluminum chassis. The machine weighs just 1kg and measures 2cm in thickness. It is equipped with HSPA mobile broadband, WiFi, Bluetooth, a GPS receiver, 3 USB 2.0 ports, SD card reader, webcam and hot-swappable SIM card support.

Nokia has not yet revealed its release date and pricing. However, a formal announcement is expected at the September 2 Nokia World conference.

Sony has unveiled its third e-reader. The new device provides wireless Internet access through AT&T’s 3G mobile broadband network.

The new Reader Daily Edition will be retailed for about US$399. It provides connectivity to several online stores including Sony’s ebook store from where users can purchase and download books, newspapers and magazines. No monthly fee is charged for basic wireless connectivity.

The Daily Edition will have a 7-inch touch screen. It has an aluminum body. Sony announced its Reader Touch Edition and the Reader Pocket Edition earlier this month. The Touch Edition with its 6-inch touchscreen costs $299. The Pocket Edition has a 5-inch screen and is priced at $199. The devices will be released shortly. They will offer stiff competition to Amazon’s Kindle e-reader.

Gigabyte has released eight new motherboards with ATI Radeon 4200 onboard graphics. The new motherboards are based on the AMD 785G chipset. They support DirectX 10.1 and Unified Video Decoder 2.0 standard. Of the eight new motherboards, four support the DDR2 memory module; the rest support the DDR3 memory modules. The new motherboards are made of 2oz copper and are expected to enhance the performance of Windows 7.

The new series of motherboards support AMD Phenom/Athlon/Sempron CPUs with AM2 and AM2+ sockets. They also support 45nm AMD Phenom II and Athlon II processors with Socket AM3.

The models that support the DDR2 memory module are GA-MA785G-UD3H, GA-MA785GPM-UD2H, GA-MA785GM-UD2H and GA-MA785GM-US2H. The models that support DDR3 memory module are GA-MA785GT-UD3H, GA-MA785GPMT-UD2H, GA-MA785GMT-UD2H and GA-MA785GMT-US2H.

The motherboards GA-MA785GPMT-UD2H and GA-MA785GPM-UD2H are also equipped with 128MB 1333MHz DDR3 SidePort memory which allows dedicated memory access for the integrated graphics resulting in 10 percent improvement in graphics performance.

Other pluses include DualBIOS technology and Dolby Home Theater Suite. The DualBios technology recovers crashed BIOS data in case the main BIOS crashes. And with the integrated Dolby Home Theater you will get excellent surround sound output experience.

The HP Mini 2140 is a 10 inch netbook running on the Windows XP home operating system. It is faster and cheaper than its predecessor the 2133.

Design and Build
The HP Mini 2140 has an all-aluminum casing. Build quality is good. Thanks to the metal casing, it is a bit heavier than the average netbooks.

Keyboard and trackpad
The keyboard is nearly full-sized. This is a definite plus on a netbook. The trackpad sports an unconventional design: its buttons are placed on either side. Users may take some time to get used to this adjustment.

Performance and Features
The 2140 with its Intel Atom processor is faster than its predecessor the 2133 which sported a VIA processor. Another feature that makes this machine snappier is the use of Windows XP instead of the more demanding Vista.

Port selection is good for a device of this size. There are 3 USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, line-in/out, VGA, memory card reader and an Express Card slot. The 6-cell battery gives up to 7 hours of battery life.

Conclusion
The 2140 is good for everything a netbook is intended for - web browsing, office work and watching videos. It is indeed one of the best netbooks available in the market. Highly recommended.

A netbook is a small laptop with a 9 or 10 inch display. Netbooks are usually powered by low-end components like Intel Atom processors, integrated GMA950 graphics and up to 1 GB of RAM. They run on either Linux or Windows XP Home.

Best Netbooks

Asus Eee PC 1000HE
Asus continues to be the leader in the netbook market. The Asus Eee PC 1000HE has an impressive battery life and good build quality. It comes with a good keyboard and trackpad. On the flip side, it is a bit bulky.

Lenovo S10
The Lenovo S10 has an Intel Atom processor clocking at 1.6GHz, 512mb RAM and a 10.2 inch LED backlit display. It supports a wide variety of connectivity options and has easy access panels for upgrading the components. On the flip side, the keyboard is average and the trackpad buttons are loud.

HP Mini 2140
The HP Mini 2140 has a relatively bigger screen. It runs on the Windows XP Home OS. This netbook has good build quality. Other pluses include a great keyboard and good battery life. On the down side, it is a bit heavy and comes with a non-standard screen resolution.

MSI Wind U100
The MSI Wind U100 has many features that make it stand out among the crowd of netbooks in the market. It has Bluetooth, Wireless b/g/n, 3 USB 2.0 ports and a good 6-cell battery pack. Viewing angles are excellent and the keyboard is comfortable. On the flip side, the touchpad is average. You may also run into warranty problems if you add new components.


Dell Inspiron Mini 9
The Inspiron Mini 9 has an 8.9 inch display. Despite this being a very small device Dell has managed to give it an integrated Webcam and decent amount of connectivity ports. On the other hand, the keyboard is small. The machine also tends to warm up.

It is rumored that Samsung and Lenovo won’t launch new netbook models based on Nvidia’s Ion platform until the release of Windows 7 in October. As the launch date of the newest Windows OS is nearing PC makers are busy building netbooks optimized for running on the new OS.

Lenovo will release its Ion based Ideapad S12 model by the end of October. This will be the first netbook capable of handling HD video content, and it is expected that it would cost around $50 more than the standard model. Sources also claim that Lenovo may be facing production issues as Intel has restricted the use of Atom N-series processors in netbooks.

Samsung is also expected to release the Ion based N510 netbook after the arrival of Windows 7. This netbook will have an Intel Atom N270 1.60 GHz processor, 1 GB RAM and 9400M Ion chipset. It will cost around $599.

MSI has officially released its ultraslim X600 notebook in the US. The notebook comes with some decent specifications and is being retailed for a decent price.

The best thing about this machine is indeed its tiny frame. Under the slim chassis it packs a 1.4GHz Core 2 Solo processor and 4GB RAM. The graphics is handled by ATI HD 4330 graphics. Other specifications include a 320GB HDD and an external DVD drive.

X600 has a 15.6 inch WXGA display. The notebook is available in silver and black. It is being retailed for $899.

Dell has not yet officially announced the release of its notebook, the Latitude Z600. Specifications too are largely unknown, but some pictures have emerged and they show an interesting design.

The new laptop seems to have adopted some features of the hideously pricey Dell Adamo line-up. It can also be guessed from the pictures that it uses the Santa Rosa Platform. Dell has already shifted its home entertainment notebooks to the Centrino 2 Montevina platform, but it seems the business series notebooks are yet to make the transition.

The screen appears to be a mainstream 15 inches screen with a 1280x800 resolution. The ‘Latitude On’ feature has made a come back with this notebook. The keyboard comes with plain white text which probably suggests the lack of backlighting.

The machine looks neat in appearance and keeps a slim profile. From the photos, it seems that this is going to be the slimmest and lightest Latitude laptop. There are the usual number of ports. Detailed specifications will be clear only when the notebook makes its debut.

The 15 inch MacBook Pro is a decent notebook delivering competent performance. At $2,299, it is a bit pricey. Let’s see if it is worth the money.

Specifications of the laptop under review
Processor: Intel T9600 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo (6MB cache, 1066MHz FSB)
Memory: 4GB (2x2GB) PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM (1066MHz)
Graphics: nVidia Geforce 9600M GT with 512MB GDDR3 SDRAM (dedicated) AND nVidia Geforce 9400M with 256MB DDR3 SDRAM (shared)
Display: 15.4” glossy LED-backlit TFT active-matrix (1440x900)
HDD: Hitachi 500GB 5400rpm SATA II

Build and Design
The Macbook Pro has an aluminum unibody case. As the chassis has no joints the notebook looks and feels very rigid. Apple has removed the battery panel from the underside of this notebook, so users will have difficulty removing the battery.
The notebook is less than 1-inch thick and weighs just under 2.5kg. At this weight and thickness it is ultraportable. Build quality is good. The notebook feels solid in the hand.

Display and Sound
The display is simply amazing. It supports a significantly wider range of colors than its previous version. Viewing angles, especially horizontal viewing angles, are excellent. Another nice feature of the display is that its brightness is automatically adjusted to the brightness of the environment.
The speakers are audible; a pair of headphones is still a good accessory.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The 15 inch Macbook Pro has a full-size backlit keyboard. The keyboard has a Chiclet design. It is comfortable to use. The backlighting is activated automatically in low-light conditions.

The trackpad has multi-touch controls. It has no physical buttons. Some users may find this lack of buttons troublesome, but it is something you can get used to. The trackpad works flawlessly in the Mac OS X, but tends to get a bit oversensitive in the Windows platform.

Heat and Noise
The fans are very quite, so is the hard drive. Heat levels are low under normal working conditions, but the machine tends to get uncomfortably warm during intensive use. On the bright side, the cooling system is very efficient.

Ports and Expansion
Port selection is average for a laptop of this size. Apple has included an SD card slot, but its functionality is limited. Actually it supports only full size SD cards. There is no Expresscard slot. There is a Firewire 800 port, but it is not compatible with Firewire 400 devices. You will need an additional converter to connect FireWire 400 devices to the port. There is a Mini DisplayPort which again isn’t universal. You will need an additional adaptor to convert it to other mainstream display connectors like VGA, DVI or HDMI. The Slot loading optical drive won’t accept mini-discs. There are only 2 USB ports. Other ports include Gigabit Ethernet port, Wi-Fi, (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and built-in webcam

Battery Life
At around 7 hours, the battery life is excellent for a notebook of this size. But note that you won’t get more than 4 hours if you use the Windows Operating System.

Conclusion
The 15 Inch MacBook Pro has several advantages: it gives excellent battery life, has a silent cooling system and a great display. With a powerful processor and a discrete GPU, this machine can handle almost every task with ease. On the flip side, the port selection is pretty average. Another not-so-appealing factor is its price.

Pros:
Seamless aluminum chassis
Great display
Good battery life

Cons:
Only two USB ports
No ExpressCard slot
Pricey

Seagate has released portable USB hard drives having a storage capacity of 640GB. These new drives are intended to be an extension of the FreeAgent Go series by Seagate.

The new drives come preloaded with the ‘Seagate Manager Software’ that automatically backups your important files. You can set daily/weekly/monthly backup schedules for your files. The new drives are expected to be retailed for $150-$200. Seagate currently sells its 500GB drives for $120.

The new drives are available in Titanium Silver & Tuxedo Black. They are compatible with Windows XP/Vista.

Features
USB Connection
Transfer Rate 480Mbps
Slot size: 2.5 inch
Warranty: 5 years
Spindle Speed: 5400 RPM
Fast USB data transfer

The FreeAgent hard drives are known for being the thinnest portable drives available today. They automatically backup data and support Encryption technology.

HP has started taking customized offers for its thin and light dv2 notebook series. The customizable dv2 notebooks will be available in Espresso black and Moonlight white colors. They can be upgraded to AMD Athlon Neo / Turion Neo X2 dual-core processor configuration.

The Pavilion dv2z notebook is just 1 inch in thickness and weighs 3.81 pounds. It has a 12.1 inch LED display, near full-size keyboard, SRS Premium Surround Sound and HDMI port. The notebook has a magnesium-aluminum alloy case.

Memory can be upgraded to 4GB DDR2 RAM. It is also possible to use a discrete ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3410 graphics card instead of the integrated X1250. Hard disk capacity can be upgraded to 500GB. Other optional upgrades include Blu-ray and mobile broadband.

Pricing & Availability:
The customizable dv2z is now available. Prices start at $599.99.

HP has released its Pavilion dv6z Artist Edition 2. This notebook PC has a refreshing design which is inspired by the sea and sky. Its design won the HP/MTV Engine Room Notebook Design Contest recently.

The 16 inch Artist Edition 2 has specifications similar to Pavilion dv6z. It also has full versions of software like Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2, Magix Music Maker 14, Corel Painter Sketch Pad and Corel VideoStudio X2. Interesting design elements include color-matched palm rest and keyboard and optional edge-to-edge frameless look.

The notebook is powered by AMD Turion X2 Dual-core Mobile processors with discrete ATI Mobility Radeon HD 6540 1GB graphics. Other specifications include 7200RPM hard drive, 802.11n WiFi, eSATA / USB 2.0 combo port, HDMI 1.3 port, Webcam, dual-array microphone and Blu-ray.

Pricing & Availability:
The notebook is currently available. Prices start at $949.99.

Disney has released a netbook for kids in association with Asus. Dubbed Netpal, it is aimed at children aged 6-12 years.

The Netpal comes with plenty of parental controls. It allows parents to white list applications, websites and email addresses that kids can access. It also has a kid-friendly interface and will be retailed for $350. Netpal is available in two colors – pink and blue. The machine weighs just 1.2Kg. The expected battery life is 5 hours.

Specifications
Processor: Intel ATOM N270
Operating system: Genuine Windows XP Home
Display: 8.9” LED-backlit WSVGA screen (1024×600)
RAM: DDR2 SO-DIMM 1GB
Storage: 16GB SSD or 160GB HDD

Ports and Slots
There are 3 USB 2.0 ports, 2 x audio jacks: Headphone / Mic-in, 1 x LAN RJ-45, 1 x VGA port, WLAN and 0.3 Mega Pixel camera. There are also some cool features like Radio Disney for streaming audio from music channels.

MSI has announced the European launch of its Wind U210 notebook. This is an AMD variant of its Wind U200 notebook which runs on the Intel platform. The Wind U210 will be available in two versions – the U210-002 and U210-010.

The Wind U210-002 will have an Athlon Neo MV-40 1.6GHz CPU with 1 GB RAM and 160GB storage. It will run on the Windows XP platform. The starting price of this version is €399.

The U210-010 has better specifications. It comes with 2GB of RAM and 250GB HDD. This version runs on the Windows Vista Home Premium. You will also be able to upgrade it to Windows 7 when it becomes available in October. The base configuration will be retailed for €449.

Both notebooks are equipped with a 12.1 inch display and weigh 1.5kg each. The notebooks are expected to be released soon.

The Samsung R470 is a complete entertainment notebook with an extremely attractive design. It is a bit pricey, but it is worth the money.

R470 specifications
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor (T6500, 2.10GHz, 800MHz, 2MB)
Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
Display: 14 inch full HD Screen with 16:9 aspect ratio
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce G105M Graphics card

Design and Display
R470 has a lovely design. A very useful design element is the water-resistant coating which protects the entire machine from spills. The 14 inch LED display is powered by the Nvidia GeForce G105M GPU. Colors are bright and vibrant. Build quality is good and at just 2.23 kg, the notebook is ultraportable.

Keyboard and touchpad
R470 has a full keyboard. The keyboard has antibacterial properties and is easy to use. The touchpad is large for a notebook of this size. It shows good sensitivity.

Port and Slots
Port selection is good. There are USB 2.0 ports, Fire Wire 400 ports, media card slots and TV tuner inputs. The TV tuner input port supports both digital and analog formats. With the media card slots you can share digital images and data. There are ample connectivity options such as Wi-Fi (802.11n), and built-in Bluetooth. Other features include SRS sound with 2.1 channel speakers. With the HDMI port you can easily transfer video to an external monitor. You can also connect HD video cameras and gaming consoles.

Another very useful feature is the chargeable USB ports. You can charge all of your USB devices through the USB port of this notebook even when the notebook is turned off. So while traveling you are saved the trouble of finding a plug point for charging your devices.

Performance
Performance is quite good. The powerful Nvidia graphics card is capable of handling high-end gaming. It can also decode HD movies effortlessly.

More and more companies are producing touchscreen capable netbooks. The latest to enter the fray is Kohjinsha. The company has released its EX6 touchscreen convertible netbook/tablet.

The EX6 tablet has an 11.6 inch resistive touchscreen with 1366x768 resolution. It is powered by the Intel Atom N270 1.60 GHz processor with Intel 945GSE chipset. Up to 2GB of RAM can be installed. The hard disk capacity is 160GB. There are ample connectivity options in the form of Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth and gigabit Ethernet. Other features include DVD Burner, two USB 2.0 ports, Express card 54 slot, SDHC, microSD card reader and web cam. Optional features include a fingerprint reader.

The tablet runs on the Windows XP operating system. You may want to upgrade it to Windows 7 after its release to make use of the touchscreen. It is retailed for around $635.

Nvidia has released five new 40nm Mobile Graphics cards for notebooks. They are said to fill the gap between the existing GTX280M, GTX260M, and GTS160M series of GPUs.
The five new GPUs for gaming laptops are dubbed G210M, GT 230M, GT 240M, GTS 250M and the GTS 260M.

All of these GPUs are based on the 40nm manufacturing process. They come with 512 MB to 1GB of GDDR3 onboard memory. They are compatible with Windows 7 and DirectX 10.1, SLI, HybridPower and CUDA standards. All chips except the G210M support Nvidia’s PhysX technology.

The new GPUs belong to three categories according to their graphics capability:

GeForce G210M (Mainstream)
GT 230M & GT 240M (Performance)
GTS 250M & GTS 260M (High performance)

Hannspree has entered the netbook market with its HannsNote netbook. This 10 inch machine has an attractive design and is very lightweight.

The HannsNote netbook has more or less the same specifications as other netbooks in the market. It is powered by an Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz CPU with 1GB RAM and a 160GB HDD. Other features include 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, card reader and integrated webcam.

The HannsNote has a 6-cell battery which is expected to provide decent uptime. The machine will weigh just 2.9lbs with the battery. The netbook will run on the Windows XP platform. It is available in black and white. Prices start at $379.

MSI has announced their Bravo EX628 laptop which is ideal for watching HD movies.
Bravo EX628 has a 16 inch screen having a 1366x768 resolution. It is equipped with ATI Mobility Radeon HD4670 1GB discrete graphics card which can fluently decode HD video. To make the viewing experience perfect, there is a 2.1 channel Dolby Home Theatre certified audio system.

The laptop is powered by an Intel Centrino 2 based processor. Up to 4GB of RAM can be installed. Maximum storage capacity is 320 GB. Other specifications include USB 2.0 ports, 2mp camera, 3-in-1 card reader, e-SATA, Blu-ray drive, optional Bluetooth, Wi-Fi b/g/n and gigabit Ethernet. There is also an HDMI port for transferring video to an external monitor.

Two battery options are available – standard 6-cell or 9-cell. The machine weighs 2.7 kg. There is no information regarding the release date.

Lenovo has officially released its 14-inch ThinkPad T400s. This notebook combines the features of Lenovo’s best selling T400 with the portability of X300.

The ThinkPad T400s is the thinnest and lightest T-series notebook ever. It measures just 0.83 inches in thickness and weighs less than four pounds.

Specification
Processor: 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo SP9400 or 2.53GHz SP9600 Processor (25W, 6MB Cache)
Graphics: GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics
Memory: 4GB DDR3 1066MHz RAM
Display: 14.1-inch WXGA+ LED-backlit LCD
Storage: up to 256GB SSD

Other features include 9.5mm slim DVD burner / Blu-ray player, integrated fingerprint reader, second-generation Top Cover Roll Cage protection, 2MP webcam, Dual Digital Microphone and extra 3-cell Ultra Bay battery. Connectivity options include 802.11n WiFi, WiMAX, Bluetooth, UWB and WWAN.

There are 2 USB 2.0 ports, VGA, 1 USB/eSATA combo port, Ethernet, 34mm ExpressCard slot and Multidock Expansion slot. One of the USB ports has an ‘Always On’ feature which lets you charge USB devices even when the laptop is in standby or hibernate mode.

The T400s features an improved keyboard design with spill-resistant keys. The touchpad is large for a notebook of this size. It features multi-touch controls with flush design and texture.

Pricing & Availability:
The ThinkPad T400s is now available in the retail market. Prices start at $1599.

MSI has released the specifications of its 15.6 inch X-Slim X600 notebook. One of the thinnest and lightest notebook for its size, the MSI X600 is based on the Intel CULV platform.

The notebook supports up to 500GB of hard drive and ATI Radeon HD 4330 discrete graphics card with 512MB DDR2 VRAM. With these specifications, it will have no difficulty decoding 1080p HD video. The machine weighs just 2kg with the 6-cell battery. Other features include HDMI, 2nd generation Dolby Surround Sound cinema-grade4-speaker design, eSATA, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, 2-in-1 card reader, keyboard with 103 keys and 1.3mp webcam. Optional features include WiMAX and Bluetooth. The machines will also support MSI's proprietary ECO Engine power management feature.

6-cell or 8-cell battery options are available. The estimated battery life is 4.5 hours.

The Dell Vostro 1220 is the smallest Dell notebook ever. This 12.1 inch notebook is aimed at small and medium businesses. Prices start at $799.

The new Vostro 1220 is available in Obsidian Black or Deep Cherry Red. It supports up to 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 8GB DDR2 RAM and integrated Intel X4500MHD graphics.

The base configuration has the following specifications:

Processor: 2.2GHz Celeron 900 Processor
Memory: 2GB DDR2 RAM
HDD: 160GB
Operating system: Windows Vista Home Basic

Other features include DVD+/-RW Optical drive, Blu-ray, fingerprint reader, Bluetooth 2.1 and 802.11n Wi-Fi. The hard disk capacity can be upgraded to 500GB 7200rpm or 250 GB 7200rpm encrypted hard drive with free fall sensor.

Windows XP can also be installed on Vostro 1220 using the Windows Vista Business downgrade path. An exclusive 16GB SSD option is available on Ubuntu version of Vostro 1220.

The Gateway NV series has got bigger with the addition of 9 new laptops. The new laptops feature a 15.6 inch display.

The notebooks are available in two configurations with either AMD Athlon 64X2 QL-64 Dual-Core Processor or Intel Core 2 Duo Dual-Core T6500 processor. Up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM can be installed. Hard disk capacity is 320GB.

NV5214u
The least expensive notebook in the series - the NV5214u - has the following specifications.

Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 QL-64 Dual-Core Processor (2.1GHz, 667MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache)
Operating system: MS Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with SP1
Display: 15.6" HD WXGA Ultrabright LED-backlit Display (1366 x 768 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio)
Memory: 4096MB Dual-Channel DDR2 sDRAM
HDD: 320GB SATA hard drive
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics

The notebook weighs 6.82 lbs with the 6-cell battery. Other specifications include 4 USB 2.0 ports, VGA port, HDMI port and integrated webcam. It comes with a price tag of $499.

NV5810u
NV5810u, the most expensive notebook in the series, comes with a price tag of $599. It has the following specifications:

Processor: Intel Core Duo Dual-Core T6500 Processor (2.1GHz, 800MHz FSB, 2MB L2 Cache)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit) with SP1
Display: 15.6" HD WXGA Ultrabright LED-backlit Display (1366 x 768 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio)
Memory: 4096MB Dual-Channel DDR2 667MHz sDRAM
HDD: 320GB SATA hard drive
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD

The machine weighs 5.84lbs with the 6-cell battery. Other features include 4 USB 2.0 ports, VGA port, HDMI port and integrated webcam.

The model featuring AMD processor has an ATI graphics card. It is also cheaper by $100. The notebooks are available in four different colors. Other models in the series have more or less the same specifications.

Lenovo has announced new customization options for its IdeaPad S12 series of netbooks. The S12 series originally feature an Intel Atom based processor with Nvidia’s Ion based motherboard and powerful onboard graphics. New customization options feature a VIA based processor, motherboard and onboard graphics. The new configuration is expected to deliver better graphical and video playback capabilities.

The initial specifications as announced by Lenovo include the following:

Processor: VIA's Nano ULV 2250 1.30 GHz Processor
Memory: 1 GB of DDR2 RAM
HDD: 150 GB 5400RPM HDD
Graphics: Integrated Chrome9 HC3 graphics
Display: 12.1 inch WXGA display

The VIA powered IdeaPad will have a genuine copy of Windows XP. It will be able to decode 1080p HD video content fluently. Only Nvidia Ion based netbooks and laptops offer this functionality at the moment.

The best part is that the VIA platform isn’t costlier than the Intel platform common in netbooks. The IdeaPad S12 is expected to start shipping in a few weeks. Prices start at $449.

Hp has released a new ProBook notebook aimed at small and medium businesses. It has magnesium and aluminum alloy casing and sports an elegant design.

The HP ProBook 4310s is a full-sized notebook with a 13.3 inch screen. Its specifications are similar to those found on other ProBooks. There are, nevertheless, a few additions: the new ProBook has a faster DDR3 memory. It also features an optional Gobi WWAN mobile broadband connectivity option.

Other specifications include:
Processor: Core 2 duo 2.80 GHz Processor
Memory: Up to 8 GB DDR3 RAM
Storage: Up to 500 GB 7200 RPM HDD
Graphics: Intel GMA 4500MHD / ATI Mobility Radeon 4330 Graphics

There is an optional Blue-Ray Drive. Prices start at $799.

Acer has announced the release of its new Aspire notebook – The Acer Aspire AS5739G. This is the newest addition to the Gemstone family of Acer laptops.

The AS5739G has a 15.6 inch display with an aspect ratio of 16:9. Its specifications are as follows.

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 2.1GHz processor
Memory: 4GB DDR3 RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT130M 1GB discrete graphics card
HDD: 250GB
Display: 15.6 inch LED-backlit LCD display

Other features include wireless-N, Dolby Surround sound technology, DVD/optical drive, integrated fingerprint reader and multi-gesture touchpad.

Pricing and Availability
The notebook is now available in the retail market. Prices start at $749.

HP has released a new Mini netbook – the HP Mini 5101.

The HP Mini 5101 has an elegant design coupled with good build quality. It has better specifications than its previous version – the HP Mini 2140. The Mini 1501 has a 10.1 inch LCD display. Its specifications are as follows:

Processor: Intel Atom N280 1.66 GHz Processor
Memory: Up to 2 GB DDR2 RAM
Storage: Up to 320 HDD/ 80GB SSD
Display: 10.1 inches LCD display at 1024 x 600 / HD capable 1366 x 768
Weight: 2.64 lbs
Battery: 4-cell or 6-cell

There are three USB 2.0 ports, VGA Out, Wifi a/b/g/n, Card reader and 2.0 megapixel camera. Optional features include Bluetooth and EVDO/HSPA WWAN. Prices start at $499

The Acer Aspire Gemstone Blue series has two new additions – the 15.6 inch Acer Aspire AS5536 and 17.3 inch Acer Aspire AS7735Z.

Both models are aimed at entry level to mainstream laptop market. They offer DDR3 memory and enough power to handle HD media fluently. The new notebooks are available in an attractive sapphire design called Gemstone Blue. They have HD displays with 16:9 aspect ratio and with Dolby surround audio.

Specifications of AS5536
Processor: AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core QL-64 2.1 GHz
Memory: 3 GB DDR2 RAM
Display: 15.6" WXGA TFT Active Matrix
HDD: 320 GB Hard Disk
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics
Operating system: Windows Vista Home Premium

Other features include 4 USB 2.0 ports, RJ-11 (modem), RJ-45 (NIC), HDMI, Bluetooth and multi-touch trackpad. Prices start at $479.99

Specifications of AS7735Z
Processor: Intel Pentium T4200 2.0GHz processor
Memory: 4GB of DDR3 RAM
HDD: 250GB
Display: 17.3" HD+ LED Backlit Display
Graphics: Intel GMA 4500MHD Graphics

Other features include an 8X DVD Super Multi Double-Layer Drive, Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/Draft-N) and multi-gesture touchpad. Prices start at %599.

Gateway has announced the release of its new netbook – the LT3100. It will be powered by a 1.2GHz AMD Single-core Athlon 64 L110 processor and Radeon X1270 graphics card.

The LT3100 has an 11.6 inch LED backlit LCD screen having a 1366 x 768 resolution. It weighs just 3.14 pounds and measures 1-inch in thickness. Up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM can be installed on this machine. Hard Disk capacity is 250GB. The 6-cell battery is expected to provide nearly 5 hours of uptime.

The netbook will be available in two colors - NightSky Black & Cherry Red with silver trim. Other features include three USB 2.0 ports, 802.11b/g WiFi, Multi-Gesture touchpad, multi-card reader, integrated webcam, pre-installed Windows Vista Home Basic, full-size keyboard, Ethernet & VGA Ports.

Pricing and Availability
The LT3100 will be available soon. It is expected to cost around $400.

Dell’s Inspiron 11z is slightly larger than an average netbook. This thin-and-light notebook has an 11.6 inch screen. It weighs just 3lbs with the 3-cell battery.

Inspiron 11z uses a low-end Intel Celeron 1.2GHz 723CPU with GS45 integrated graphics. Other specifications include 2GB DDR2 RAM and a 250GB 5400RPM HDD. The notebook is available for $399. Needless to say, it lacks features like an optical drive and a discrete graphic card.

There are 3USB ports, a card reader, an integrated webcam and HDMI.

The Inspiron 11z runs Windows Vista. You will be able to upgrade it to Windows 7 when it becomes available in October.

MSI has officially announced the release of its X-Slim X400 notebooks. At just 1.5 kg, the X400 will be one of the slimmest and lightest laptops around. It will have white interiors, personalized color bezels and a glossy finish.

Specifications
Processor: Intel CULV processor
Graphics: GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics
Display: 14-inch 16: 9 aspect ratio, 1366x768 resolution
Memory: 2GB DDR2 800MHz RAM
HDD: 500GB

Connectivity options include an HDMI port, 1.3MP Webcam, 2-in-1 Card reader, 802.11n WiFi, Gigabit LAN and VGA output. The notebook also supports optional features like external DVD burner/Blu-ray drive and Bluetooth.

MSIX400 weighs just 1.5kg with the 4-cell battery. You have the option of using an 8-cell battery which is expected to provide up to 9 hours of battery life.

Pricing and Availability
There is no information regarding pricing or availability as yet.

Logitec has announced a portable DVD player for netbooks. It can read single layer as well as dual layer DVDs. The player can also be used as ‘boot disk’ in the event of a hard disk crash.

As netbooks are getting smaller and smaller many manufacturers have started removing extra components like the DVD drive. While mobile professionals are much less likely to use the DVD drive while traveling, there are still some situations when they come in handy. For instance, you need a DVD drive to format your hard disk in the unfortunate event of a crash.

The Logitec Slim Portable DVD player is powered by USB and doesn’t require separate power supply. It is expected to be released in October with a price tag of $55.

The Lenovo G550 is an updated version of the Value Line G530. Unlike the G530 which had a 16:10 screen, the G550 has a 16:9 screen.

Lenovo Value line G550 Specifications
Processor: Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4200 (2.00GHz, 1MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
Operating System: Microsoft Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (w/ SP1)
Display: 15.6-inch glossy 16:9 display (1366x768)
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
Memory: 3GB DDR3 1066MHz RAM
HDD: 250GB Western Digital 5400RPM
Weight: 5lbs 9.0oz
Price as configured: $549

Build and Design
G550 has a slightly different design from G530. It is entirely black inside and out. Build quality is excellent. The notebook is made entirely out of plastic, but it looks and feels solid. The base of the notebook has easy access panels to the memory, CPU, wireless card, and hard drive, so you can easily upgrade or repair the components.

Screen and Speakers
The 15.6 inch LCD screen is average. Colors are bright and vibrant. Viewing angles are OK. The screen has a glossy coating, so reflections can be a problem when you work outdoors. Screen brightness is adequate for viewing in bright settings.
The front edge of the palmrest houses the speakers. Audio quality is good.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard is comfortable to use and comes with a dedicated numberpad. There is no audible click when keys are pressed. The keyboard is sturdy and shows little signs of flex. The touchpad is an ALPS model with average sensitivity is average.

Ports and Features
Port selection is average. G550 has less number of ports than G350. There are 3 USB 2.0 ports, audio jacks, wireless on/off, LAN, VGA, Kensington Lock slot, DVD/optical drive, Broadcom WiFi (802.11b/g), 10/100 Ethernet, Modem. There is no express card or the modem jack.

Performance
Performance is quite good. The G550 is a good desktop replacement laptop that can perform most tasks with minimal efforts. This notebook is aimed at small businesses, students and home users. It can easily play SD or HD movies. You can also play an occasional 2D game. G550 has a DDR3 memory which is faster than the DDR2 found on G350.

Heat and Noise
Heat levels are within normal limits thanks to the larger chassis and a comparatively slower processor. Noise levels are also fine.

Battery
The 6-cell battery provides up to 4 hours of uptime.

Conclusion
Lenovo G550 is a solid notebook delivering good performance. It is better than most other business targeted notebooks in the market. The only problem is that it lacks some of the standard features found on the previous version.

Pros:
Excellent build quality
Good keyboard
Solid performance

Cons:
Lacks features like ExpressCard slot

MacBook Air fans who couldn’t buy the notebook because of its price may find a cheaper alternative in Dixon’s Advent Altro and Advent Altro Elite. That said, these notebooks are similar in design to MacBook Air, but their specs are different.

The Advent Altro is a CULV model running on the Intel Celeron processor with 3GB of RAM and 120GB HDD. It has a 13.3 inch display and comes with a metal case. Other features include WiFi, Bluetooth, USB and HDMI. There is also an interesting multifunction connector that can be used with a port replicator.

The Altro Elite will have an Intel Core 2 Solo CPU. It comes with a flush glass finish. Both notebooks use the Windows Vista OS. But you will get a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it becomes available later this year.

GB has released its new netbook – the X1200. It is currently sold in the OEM market for $332.

X1200 is ultraportable and can easily claim to be the first netbook that is truly affordable. It is not yet available in the retail market. The netbook weighs just 1.35kg. It has the following specifications.

Specs:

Processor: Intel Atom N270 running at 1.6GHz
HDD: 160GB
Memory: 1GB
Display: 12.1" (1280 x 800)
There are two USB 2.0 ports and a 1.3 megapixel webcam.

X1200 has the same specifications as any other netbook, but with its 12.1 inch display, it is larger. It is not yet clear whether this will be an advantage or a problem as Intel prefers using the Atom processor only on netbooks with screen sizes less than 10.2 inches.

The HP Mini 110 XP Netbooks are now available in Pink Chic and White Swirl designs. If you decide to buy the netbook in one of these colors, you will have to shell out an extra $20.

The new colored Mini 110XPs will have the same internal components as the original – Atom N270/N280 processor, 10.1" LED WSVGA LCD, 1GB DDR2 RAM and up to 32GB SSD or 160GB spinning hard drive. The new colored models will, nevertheless, have an optional Broadcom Crystal HD Enhanced Video accelerator besides Intel's GMA 950 graphics for good 1080p HD Video playback. You will have to spend another $30 to have the Broadcom card.

Google plans to release its Linux-based Chrome Operating System by the second half of 2010. Google is still developing its Chrome operating system which is actually an extension of its web browser which goes by the same name. Google Chrome will be light on your resources and is basically aimed at netbooks.

Reports indicate that the Chrome OS will be available for both x86 and ARM processors. Google said that Chrome OS will be fast, secure and simple. It will run on top of a Linux kernel.

The Chrome OS is different from Android which is another Google product. While Android is designed for netbooks, Chrome will be a full fledged system that can run personal computers of all kinds and sizes.

Availability

Google Chrome OS is free for use. Notebook makers like Acer, Asus, Toshiba, HP and Lenovo have already expressed their support for Chrome OS.

Getac’s 9213 laptop is aimed at businesses. It is both stylish and rugged. Rugged notebooks are known for their durability and ability to survive in unfavorable conditions like high pressure and temperature.

Getac 9213 isn’t built to compete with Panasonic’s Tough book, but it has a lot of good features such as Magnesium alloy chassis and case, shock-mounted hard disk, encased LCD display, spill resistant keyboard and touchpad. The notebook can withstand shock and drop. Other plus points are its lightweight and good battery life.

Specifications
Processor: Intel Core 2 duo (Penryn) Ultra Low Voltage SU9400 1.40 GHz Processor
Memory: 3 GB of DDR2 RAM
HDD: Up to 250 GB HDD
Graphics: Intel GS45 onboard graphics chip
Display: 13.3-inch LED Backlit WXGA display
Weight: 3.75lbs

Getac 9213 supports Intel Ultimate Wi-Fi Link 5300 and Bluetooth. There is a TPM security module for enhanced security and 1.3 megapixel webcam. Optional features include a 3.75G HSUPA module and fingerprint reader. The estimated battery life is 8 hours. Prices start at $1799.

Acer’s much talked about Dual-boot Android & XP netbook is expected to be released this month. According to media reports these Acer netbooks will allow a dual-boot option so that you can install both Android and Windows XP on them. The netbooks will be available with both Operating systems pre-installed.

What does this mean for the customer?
Well, as Acer chooses to keep XP, prices will not come down. Acer now pays approximately $25 for every Windows XP license on a netbook.

In a related development, both Asus and MSI are working on developing Android-based netbooks. But they have no intention of releasing them in 2009.

Cost is indeed a deciding factor in selecting a laptop. Cheapest notebooks are usually equipped with single-core processors like Intel Celeron. This is usually sufficient if your demands are moderate. But it you need multi-tasking capabilities, you have to buy an affordable dual-core laptop. Here is a list of cheap laptops that deliver good performance.

Please note that this is only an indicative list.

1. ASUS Eee PC 1000HE
2. Lenovo S10
3. Acer Aspire One
4. Dell Studio 1537
5. HP Mini 2140
6. MSI Wind U100
7. Dell Inspiron Mini 9
8. HP Dv5z 1001x
9. Samsung R610

The Samsung N310 is a consumer oriented netbook. It is available in black, sky blue or orangey red case. It looks a bit bulky, but doesn’t weigh much.

Screen and Speakers
The N310 has a 10.1 inch LED backlit display with a native resolution of 1024x600 pixels. The display is good. Colors are bright and sharp. There is a 1.3 Mp camera just above the screen and it does its job neatly.

The speakers produce good sound, but you will still want to use earbuds and headphones to enjoy music.

Keyboard and touchpad
The antibacterial keyboard is nearly full-sized, so typing doesn’t require a lot of adjustments. The touchpad is comfortable to use; it doesn’t support multi-touch controls.

Specifications
The N310 is powered by an Intel Atom N270 running at 1.6GHz. There is no discrete graphics card: The integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics processor does that job. The hard disk capacity is 160GB (5400rpm SATA). The base configuration comes with 1GB of RAM. There are easy access panels to the memory and battery.

Ports and Slots
Port selection is adequate. There are 3 USB ports, 10/100Mb/s Ethernet connector, headphone and microphone jacks, a VGA port and an SD card slot. There is no HDMI or eSATA. Internet connectivity options include 802.11g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2+EDR.

Performance
Performance is strictly satisfactory. You will be able to perform your day-to-day jobs. N310 is neither better nor worse than the other netbooks in the market. One disappointing aspect is the battery life which is below average.

Verdict
The biggest selling point of any netbook is its design. Samsung N310 impresses in that aspect. It is a nice netbook with neat ergonomics. The keyboard is good, the touchpad is nice and the display is sharp and bright. So buy it for its looks.

By greenest laptops we mean environment and power friendly laptops. Here is a list of the five greenest laptops that consume less power, charge quickly and provide the longest uptime.

Apple MacBook Pro
This notebook has received the 5 star energy rating by EPEAT. MacBook Pro is available in three display sizes – 13 inch, 15 inch and 17 inch. It is energy efficient and provides up to 7 hours of uptime. It uses no hazardous materials and can be recycled.

Toshiba Portege R600
Toshiba Portege R600 is a small laptop having the specifications of a full sized powerful laptop. R600 is energy efficient and provides over 7 hours of battery life. It has a user friendly size and weighs just 2.4lbs.

Toshiba Satellite A355
A355 consumes very little power while charging. It uses a high end processor with a discrete graphics card, yet it has an energy star rating of 4. Other models in the Satellite series – A500 and A505 – are also greener.

Lenovo ThinkPad T400
T400 has an energy star rating of 4. It has a powerful processor with up to 6MB L2 cache. T400 consumes very little power. Actually it can run for up to 5 hours on a 4-cell battery.

HP Mini 1101
HP Mini 1101 has a small screen. It is ideal for users who don’t want a high-end machine. Mini 1101 uses an Atom processor that requires just 5W power to function. It has an energy star rating of 4.0.

Sony customers who shelled out nearly $2000 on their new VAIO notebooks will not be able to run Microsoft’s XP virtualization technology (VT) in Windows 7. Sony said that it is working on enabling the XP virtualization in selected VAIO models. It is not yet clear which VAIO models will ultimately support this feature.

VT is one of the key features in the Intel Core 2 Duo mobile processors used by VAIO, but none of the VAIO notebooks currently shipping supports VT. Sony’s decision to disable XP virtualization will make it impossible for consumers to run their Windows XP applications with Windows 7.

Apple will release its tablet PC in October. Reports indicate that the Mac tablet will have a 9.7 inch screen featuring a multi-touch technology. It is safe to expect that this machine will be the newer version of the netbook but it will be a bit pricey.

Like other Apple devices, Mac tablet too will be thin and light. It will pose a major threat to similar products in the market like Amazon’s Kindle and Sony’s Digital Reader.

Pros:
Thin and light
Minimum 4 hours uptime
Touchscreen similar to that found on iPhone
Dynamic virtual keyboard on screen
Portable

The Mac tablet is expected to have a price tag of $800.