MSI has released an updated version of its U2xx series of notebooks. The new MSI Wind U230 looks very similar to the U200/U210 notebooks already available in the market.

Major updates pertain to the processor and the operating system. While the U200/U210 laptops run on Windows XP, the U230 comes with Windows 7 Home Premium. The processor has also been upgraded to dual core AMD Neo X2.

Quick specs
Display: 12.1 inch, 1366 x 768 pixel screen
Processor: AMD Yukon MV40/L335 dual core processor
Graphics: AMD Radeon HD3200
Memory: Up to 4GB of DDR2 667/800MHz RAM (2 DIMM slots)
Storage: 160GB/250GB/320GB HDD

Connectivity options include WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Ethernet and optional Bluetooth. There are 3 USB ports, HDMI, headphone, VGA, 4-in-1 card reader and 1.3Mega Pixel webcam. 3-cell and 6-cell battery options are available. The expected battery life is around 4 hours.

ii-View has unveiled a 12.1 inch netbook called ii-View A2. The device has better specifications than average netbooks and comes with a low price tag.

In design the ii-View A2 is very similar to the MacBook Air, but it has very different specifications. The ii-View A2 is powered by an Intel Atom N270 1.60GHz processor with 2GB of RAM. The maximum storage capacity is 320GB. The 12.1 inch LCD display features 1366x768 pixels. These specifications are slightly better than what you would get with most netbooks. Another plus point is the relatively larger screen which also allows the netbook to have a full-sized keyboard. Other features include Wi-Fi b/g/n, multi-touch trackpad, webcam, HDMI port, 10/100 Ethernet and 2 USB 2.0 ports.

The ii-View A2 will run on the Windows 7 operating system. The 6-cell battery is expected to give up to 3 hours of runtime. Prices start at $399.

Fujitsu has announced two new additions to its P-Series of notebooks. The Fujitsu LifeBook P3110 and P3010 are available in beautiful colors with attractive design.

Both notebooks have an 11.6 inch display with 1366x768 pixels. While the P3110 runs on an Intel Pentium SU4100 1.30GHz processor, the P3010 has an AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 1.60GHz processor. Both notebooks come with a DVD Burner. Other common features include WiFi, multi-touch trackpad, 1.3MP camera, Bluetooth 2.1, stereo speakers, integrated graphics and spill-resistant full size keyboard. The laptops are available in three colors – Glossy Black, Glossy Silver and Glossy Red Ruby.

The machines weigh 3lbs and measure just an inch in thickness. The included batteries are expected to give 6.7 hours of up time. No information regarding pricing or availability has been announced as yet.

Dell has upgraded the internal hardware of its premium Adamo Desire. The new Adamo Desire is much more powerful than its previous version and sells for the same price.

The Dell Adamo Desire notebooks have always been pricey. Until now, they used to ship with a 1.4GHz processor and a 128GB solid state drive. The recent upgrade means that the machines will now ship with a much faster 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo SL9600. Other specifications have been bumped up too. The SSD is now available in 256GB capacity. You will also get 4GB of DDR3 RAM and Windows 7 Home Premium.

The Dell Adamo Desire has a 13.4 inch 720p display. It weighs 4lb and measures just 0.65 inches in thickness. The battery is expected to give 5 hours of up time. The price of the notebook has remained unchanged at $2,299.

Gateway has announced three new laptops – the EC14, EC54 and EC58. The machines are highly portable and run on Windows 7 operating system.

All notebooks will have more or less the same hardware including a 1.3GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core SU4100 processor, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a 320GB hard disk drive and Intel’s GMA 4500MHD graphics. Other features common to the notebooks include WiFi 802.11b/g/n draft-n, 3 USB ports, HDMI, integrated webcam and multicard reader. The trackpad supports multi-touch gestures. The machines are expected to give 6-8 hours of battery life.

The EC14 is the smallest model with its 11.6 inch display. It weighs around 3lbs. The other two models are equipped with 15.6 inch displays. The EC14 starts at $549.99 while the larger models cost around $649.99.

Viewsonic has launched a new CULV notebook with a 13.3 inch display. A novel feature of this device is that it can house a second battery in the optical drive slot.

The ViewBook Pro as the device is called runs on an Intel Core 2 SU7300 processor with 2GB of RAM and Windows 7 OS. The RAM is upgradable to 4GB. The chassis is built of thin aluminum. The regular battery is expected to give up to 8 hours of battery life. If you need more juice, you can house a second battery in the optical drive slot and you should be able to get up to 12 hours. If portability is your main concern, you can opt for a model with neither the second battery nor the optical drive and you will be able to save some weight.

The device is available in two models. The silver model (ViewBook Pro S) is available with a DVD burner for $1099. The black model (ViewBook Pro B) is available without an optical drive for $999. The notebooks will be available from next month.

The HP Mini 311 and 110 are now available subsidized from Verizon. Purchase the devices along with a wireless contract from Verizon and you will definitely save some money.

The HP Mini 311 is famous for being the first Atom netbook with a Nvidia ION graphics. The machine is quite powerful and can handle 1080p HD video content with minimal efforts. It runs on Intel Atom N270 with 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard disk drive and Windows 7 Home Premium. Verizon offers the notebook for $249.99 when purchased along with a contract.

The Mini 110 isn’t as powerful as the Mini 311. It comes pre-installed with Windows XP and has the regular netbook specifications. Unlike Mini 311, the Mini 110 doesn’t have ION graphics. The 10.1 inch netbook will be available from Verizon for $199.99 when purchased with a wireless contract.

The Mini 311 is now available at the subsidized price. The Mini 110 is expected to be available from mid-November.

Despite having the designation ‘z’, the Inspiron 14z isn’t probably the thinnest and lightest laptop in its category offering the best battery life, but it does have some impressive features.

Dell Inspiron 14z (Cherry Red) Specifications:
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo CULV SU7300 (1.3GHz, 800MHz, 3MB)
Operating system: Windows 7 Premium (64-bit)
RAM: 3GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 at 1066MHz
Storage: 250GB 5400rpm HDD
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HD
Display: 14.0” HD (1366x768) WLED Display and webcam
The machine weighs around 4lbs. Price as configured: $839.

Build and Design
In design and looks the Inspiron 14z is similar to the Inspiron 14. There are, nevertheless, some differences between the two models. The 14z is more power efficient than the Inspiron 14 due to its CULV processor and WLED display.

The notebook is made of relatively thin plastic, but build quality is good. The display lid, however, does suffer from minor flex: you can create ripples on the screen by pressing the back of the display. Other than that, there are no major problems with the build quality.

The bottom of the notebook provides easy access panels for the hard drive and RAM.

Screen and Speakers
The 14-inch display has 1366x768 pixels. Colors are good but contrast isn’t very impressive. The WLED backlighting is even and provides a wide range of brightness settings. Horizontal viewing angles are pretty good, but vertical viewing angles are average.

The stereo speakers are located beneath the front edge of the notebook palmrests so you will only hear a muffled sound when you put the laptop on your lap. Put the device on a desk and you should be able to hear better audio. Sound quality isn’t particularly good or bad. Audiophiles will definitely find a pair of headphones useful and the headphone jack produces clear, distortion free sound.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard has full-sized keys. It is very firm and shows absolutely no flex at all. The only problem with the keyboard is probably the lack of backlighting.
The touchpad is a Synaptics model using Dell’s proprietary touchpad drivers. It supports multi-touch controls. Sensitivity is good with very little lag.

Ports and Features
Port selection is average for a notebook of this size. There are 3 USB ports, HDMI video out port, VGA, a multi-format memory card reader, Ethernet and a standard 8xCD/DVD burner with dual-layer support. The Inspiron 14z doesn’t have an ExpressCard slot, eSATA or FireWire.

Performance
The Inspiron 14z runs on an Intel Core 2 Duo CULV SU7300 processor with Intel X4500HD integrated graphics. Performance is good for daily activities such as surfing the web and processing Office documents. You can also make simple edits to your photos or videos.

The CULV processor is highly power efficient but it does affect the overall performance of the notebook. That said, the machine is still good enough to serve your basic needs as a family notebook. But if you want to play the latest 3D games or run high-end photo editing applications, this is not the laptop to buy. The price tag, too, seem a bit odd. The Inspiron 14z starts at $799 whereas the Studio 14z, which offers much better performance, starts at $699.

Battery
The Inspiron 14z has a 6-cell 48.8 WHr battery. At around 6 hours, battery life is impressive for a notebook of this size, but still it falls short of Dell’s promise of 66% better battery life.

Heat and Noise
The cooling system does a good job and keeps the heat and noise levels well within normal limits.

Conclusion
The Dell Inspiron 14z delivers reasonable performance and an impressive battery life. This is not a high performance machine, but is good enough to be a convenient notebook for general use. On the flip side, the Inspiron 14z is costlier than the Studio 14z which offers much better performance at an affordable price.

Pros:
Impressive battery life
Nice design
Good keyboard

Cons:
Average performance
No eSATA, FireWire or ExpressCard slot
Keyboard lacks backlighting

Sony and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have issued a voluntary recall on a number of Sony adapters because they could cause electric shock. Users who bought a Sony computer between 2005 and 2009 could be at risk. The voluntary recall is issued on Sony’s VGP-AC19V17 AC adapter model. This model has been shipped with a number of Sony products including the following:

# All-in-one VAIO desktops of the VGC-LT series and VGC-JS2 series
# VAIO Docking Stations of the VGP-PRBX1 and VGP-PRFE1 series

Sources state that about 69,000 adapters sold between September 2005 and October 2009 will be recalled. Sony has also asked users to immediately stop using the recalled adapters. If you are one of the affected users call (877) 361-4481 or visit esupport.sony.com/ac19adapter to contact Sony about a replacement.

Apple has finally equipped its MacBook with a unibody chassis, although it is still made of plastic. Other features of the device have also been upgraded.

The new and improved MacBook has a 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, a 250GB hard disk drive and integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics. RAM is upgradable to 4GB. Another nice feature is the new glass multi-touch keypad. The 13 inch glossy LED-backlit display has 1280x800 pixels.

The connectivity options include a Mini DisplayPort, WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth and 2 USB ports. The audio in/out port supports both optical digital out and analog in/out. The built-in battery is expected to give up to 7 hours of up time.

Pricing and availability
The new MacBook is now available for purchase for $999.

Acer has unveiled a convertible tablet called Aspire 1420P. It has a flexible multi-touch display and runs on an Intel CULV processor.

The Aspire 1420P is based on the Intel GS45 chipset. It is powered by a Celeron processor. Up to 8 GB of DDR2 RAM can be installed. The storage option is a 320GB hard disk. The laptop has an 11.6 inch display with 1366x768 pixels and it supports 200-nits bright colors. The display is multi-touch enabled and accepts finger and pen input. For handling graphics, there is Intel GMA X4500MHD integrated chipset supporting HD video offloading. Other features include 3USB 2.0 ports, HDMI port, Gigabit Ethernet, WWAN 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi b/g/n and Kensington lock.

The machine weighs 3.80lbs and comes with Windows 7 Operating System. The 5600mAH 6-cell battery is expected to give up to 8 hours of battery life. The machine is available in three colors – Diamond Black, Sapphire Blue and Ruby Red.

No information regarding pricing or availability has been announced as yet.

Acer has unveiled a laptop supporting 3D vision. The Acer Aspire 5738DG, as it would be called, uses Nvidia’s 3D system hardware and glasses. And the included TriDef 3D screen has good refresh rate to make the 3D experience really smooth.

The 5738DG has a 15.6 inch display with 1366x768 native resolution. It is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 2.20GHz processor with up to 4GB of RAM. The standard storage option is a 320GB hard disk drive. There is a discrete graphics card in the form of an ATI Radeon HD 4750 with 512MB of dedicated memory. The machine will run on the Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit operating system. Other features include WiFi b/g/n, four USB 2.0 ports, multi-format card reader, webcam, Dolby optimized stereo speakers and a DVD burner.

The machine weighs 6.16lbs with the 6-cell battery. It is now available for purchase at the starting price of $799.99.

Dell has introduced what it calls industry’s first rugged tablet PC with capacitive multi-touch technology. The device called XT2 XFR has a 12.1 inch display and some decent specifications packed inside a rugged frame.

The XT2 XFR is powered by a 1.60GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600 processor. It can be configured with either a 160GB hard disk drive or a 128GB solid state drive. Up to 5GB of RAM can be installed. There are no discrete graphics cards: Intel’s GMA 4500MHD does that job. The touchpad is gesture enabled. Other features include 3 USB ports, Ethernet, FireWire, VGA, a fingerprint reader and hot-swappable 2MP camera or GPS.

At just 5.4lb, the tablet is fairly lightweight. Presently it is customizable with Windows Vista and XP. Windows 7 may be available in the near future. Prices start at $3599.

Lenovo has unveiled three new IdeaPad notebooks featuring Windows 7. The machines are dubbed Y550P, U150 and U550 and are presently available for customization on Lenovo’s website.

The Y550P has a 15.6 inch display. It is the first Lenovo laptop to be powered by the Core i7 processor. The machine is aimed at multimedia enthusiasts and is equipped with a discrete GPU from Nvidia. It will also feature ‘unique Lenovo tools’ such as SlideNav.

The U150 is a thin and light laptop with an 11.6 inch display. It measures just .53 inches in thickness and weighs under 3 lbs. The U150 will run on an Intel CULV Core 2 Duo processor with up to 8GB of RAM. The U550 is aimed at businesses. It has a 15.6 inch display and sports an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Other features include switchable graphics and VeriFace facial recognition software.

All laptops

Laptops have quickly become some of the most popular gadgets in the market today. This dramatic increase in sales has spawned hundreds, if not thousands of laptop accessories by nearly as many manufacturers. These accessories range from benign items such as laptop covers and skins to hardware upgrades that can vastly improve your laptop’s performance.

When it comes to laptop, one of the top selling accessories is definitely the laptop stand. Although a laptop stand can be perceived to be a moderately uncomplicated object, such as a podium for your lap for the laptop to reside on. Numerous designs for laptop stands have evolved over time from the very basic to the much more intricate. However, the basic concept of a laptop stand still reveals that the use of a laptop stand is to adjust the laptop in an arrangement that is comfy and relaxed for the person operating on it. Long working hours on laptops can lead to severe unrest and irritation to the body. Hence, the key purpose of the laptop stand is to create enduring utilization of the laptop simpler and comforting for the user’s limbs.



The most interesting piece of accessory for a laptop is the wonderful creation of a laptop stand. It is unique to have a laptop stand instead of the computer being placed on your lap. The new laptop stand has been created in a way to give you the best possible view of the screen and the keys are just within your easy reach so that you feel quite comfortable with this new innovative accessory. You can carry on with your wok on the laptop with a stand for long hours happily. The fundamental architecture of the laptop stand is just like the wedge. This creative stand is placed on your lap on which the laptop is positioned comfortably. The wedge is placed in a specific angle to suit your working process on the laptop. It can be moved to any angle or direction according to your desire of the laptop face. This is done to ease the workings of your fingers and hands and give relief to your shoulders. The main aim is to provide comfort to your arms and the ergonomically designed wedge is offered to take away all the tension in operating a laptop for a long time. The introduction of this type of wedge is appreciated by laptop users because of its simplicity and comfort facility. They can be placed anywhere when they are not used.

A sophisticated model of wedge comes with different attachments for better comfort to the laptop users who travel a lot and have to work in different conditions. The flexible design has more to it, other than the hinges and locking systems. The legs are adjustable to the need of the height that you would be preferred for your work and you can take the laptop stand with you in tours to make the trip worth of it.

A laptop stand doesn't necessarily have to be anything fancy. The simplest type of a laptop stand design is a straight forward lodge. This simple lodge is a crucial piece of accessory. It can be carved out from almost any of the daily materials used like wood or thermocol, but users who work for prolonged hours desire for something that is soft and light weight so that it doesn’t disturb the body after a long hour at work. These stands put the laptop in a more comfortable typing position when being used on your lap, alleviating any strain caused by bad wrist positioning. It is simply made to rest on your lap and can enable the laptop to be mounted on top of it. Now based on the operator’s preference the lodge can position the laptop either upwards or downwards and slant it at a position that is comfortable for the operator. The thought is to place the keyboard in a contented spot so as to revive strain in the upper body of the user (arms and shoulder). These lodges are accepted across the board because of the simplicity in design, and the ability to be accommodated in the house with a lesser space requirement than the complicated types.

For other users who call for a somewhat lithe in devise, multi-configuration laptop stands are obtainable. This design utilizes an assortment of pivots and crux, more like a shoulder bone joint such that the stands can be adjusted and alleviated to any desired position. The stature of the desk can be effortlessly hoisted or bent down as required. Moreover, the stand can be attuned to ensemble with nearly any kind of spacing requirements. These design stands are very well-liked with those who are always on the move and are always travelling for work since the stand can well adjust to any place that they travel too thereby providing flexibility.

If you wish to buy a laptop stand, there is no need to sprint across from store to store as the product is easily available online. Internet has a wide and varied range of laptop stands available. You can feel free to search for the best laptop stand you need from these online stores. You can have a look at the designs and the features at the various websites and pick up a one that suits you best. The price for these laptop stands may vary from $50 for the simplest of designs up to $1500 ones that not only provide comfort in use but have encompasses with other features like laptop accessory holder, drive stands and CD/DVD holding packs. But some of the websites offer good discounts and so it is better to do some bargain before making the final purchase.

Viewsonic has added a 12.1 inch thin and light laptop to its line of portable computers. This is the first Viewsonic laptop with a 12 inch display and an Intel CULV processor. Viewsonic has been busy churning out 10 inch netbooks for a while.

The ViewBook 120 is powered by a dual core 1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU2300 processor with 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive spinning at 5400 rpm. It runs on the Windows 7 Home Premium. The notebook has the usual array of ports and jacks including an ExpressCard slot. The 12 inch display has 1280x800 pixels. Sources claim that it could run about $600.

Almost every Intel Atom powered netbook with 10 inch displays now run on Windows 7 Starter Edition. The Asus Eee PC 1008HA is a bit different. It is available in two versions – one featuring Windows 7 Starter and the other featuring Windows 7 Home Premium.

The version with Windows 7 Home Premium starts at $480. For that price you will get a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive and a 10.1 inch display with 1024x600 pixels. Other notable features include Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11b/g/n. The model also packs a non-removable battery.

Notebooks and netbooks running on Windows 7 are now available for purchase. But what if you want to upgrade your existing netbook from Windows XP or Vista to Windows 7? Well, it seems PC makers have heard your prayers. A number of manufacturers have started offering Windows 7 drivers for several existing models through their support and download sites.

Asus, for instance, has already started offering Windows 7 drivers and utilities for its netbooks at its support page. Other PC makers who offer Windows 7 driver and application downloads include HP, Acer, Dell and Samsung.

Here is yet another clone from China. Chinese PC maker Rui Iridium Star Digital has released a netbook that bears an unmistakable resemblance to Sony Vaio P. The new device is a bit wider and features a larger keyboard. It doesn’t have a typical touchpad. Instead, it is equipped with a pointing nub in the middle of the keyboard.

The Sony Vaio P is powered by an Intel Atom Z5xx series processor. It is equipped with a high resolution 8 inch display with 1600x768 pixels. The Chinese device, on the other hand, has a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1 GB of RAM, Intel GMA 950 graphics and a 10 inch display with 1024x600 pixels. The standard storage option is a 160GB hard drive. The machine weighs 2.6kg with the 3-cell battery. Other notable features include WiFi 802.11b/g/n.

As we all know, Windows 7 has been released to the market place and it will be fun getting to know a new operating system. The newest version of Windows is a much improved version of the Windows operating system and comes with a lot of high praise. This might be because of the very low user ratings that Windows Vista received during its initial release and run. I have tried Windows 7 and I will say that it is a much better user experience than the previous Windows operating systems. The one thing that I am not a fan of, in this latest OS release, is the fact that it comes with so many versions of the operating system. There is the home basic version, the home premium version, the starter version, the professional version, the ultimate version, and the enterprise version. And this is without including the different versions that come in the x86 or the x64 flavor. This can confusing to the average person who is not too familiar with such a protocol so we will walk you through which versions the average person should pick.

We will start with the versions that the average person will not be interested in. This will help narrow down your choices while giving you an ideal of what versions are out there in case your need to upgrade or maybe even downgrade. Most people are not going to be satisfied with the starter version of Windows 7. This is meant for the new netbooks that you may have seen advertised on TV. This is a strip down version of windows 7 and will not suit most of your needs. On the opposite end of the spectrum you have the Windows 7 enterprise version. This is meant for business and IT users and the average user will not get much use out of it. I would suggest staying away from this as well. Now lets go to the versions that you may want to choose from.

On the first level you have windows home basic and premium versions. When it comes to Windows Basic, most users in what is considered a first world country, will not have to worry about. Windows Home Basic is meant to be used by users in a third world or emerging market country. So for most people Windows Home premium would be considered the starter pack. If you are a user who does not do heavy computing and most of your time on the computer contains the activities of surfing the Internet and watching movies, then this is the edition for you. It's price tag makes it suitable for people who are far from heavy computer users.

The next level of Windows 7 is the Windows 7 professional versions. Most people who make a living using their computer rather heavily will want to invest in this version. People who also use their computer for gaming and other recreational activities will want to chose this version as well. This version comes with easy back up compatibility as well as easier features that will allow you to connect with your work network. The price point begins at $200, so it is a little more pricey than the Home version. If you are a heavy computer user then it is worth it.

Along the same level of Windows 7 professional is the other version, Windows Ultimate. This has similar features to Windows professional except it cost $30 more and it comes with BitLocker capability. BitLocker is the security feature that was introduced in Windows Vista that allows you to encrypt your hard drive. Also Windows 7 Ultimate will allow you to use any language that you choose to work in and not just with the default language that you picked while doing the install. If you are a person that works and travels with your computer a lot, then this is the version that I would recommend. If you were to lose your laptop then your work secrets would still be safe.

We have given you the different variations of the new Windows 7 and told you what would be best for the average type of user. Hopefully this will help you when you have to make the decision on what version you would like.

PC makers favor hitching their project to large Linux distributions because they get the freedom to develop optimizations for low screen resolutions, low power processors, and other hardware used in netbooks. Ubuntu Linux is one such popular version of Linux specifically optimized for netbooks running on Intel Atom processors such as Asus Eee PC.

Eeebuntu is a customized version of Ubuntu and enjoys a huge fan base among the netbook user community. One of the major problems faced by this project is that it has to keep itself updated whenever a new version of Ubuntu arrives. And Ubuntu is known for releasing a major update every six months. Their latest update is due to be released on October 29 and PC users who have installed Eeebuntu on their computer may find it incompatible due to errors in Ubuntu 9.10’s Intel display drivers. Eeebuntu developers say that the Ubuntu 9.10 is full of problems that could affect the functionality of netbooks. They say that things that worked just fine in Ubuntu 8.10 are no longer working in 9.10.

The Dell Inspiron 537s is an impressive desktop computer with a 2.93GHz Core 2 Duo CPU. It runs on the Windows 7 Home Premium but Dell will give you a free upgrade to Windows 7 as soon as the new OS arrives. Up to 4GB of RAM can be installed. The maximum hard drive capacity is 640GB.

The Inspiron 537s is smaller, cheaper and quieter than conventional tower-style desktop PCs. The machine isn’t quite small or low power as a typical Intel Atom powered nettop, but at just $350 including shipping it is competitively priced.

Windows 7 is all set to be released on October 22 and PC makers are busy giving their computers a specs bump. Fujitsu is no different. The company is planning to launch a Windows 7 version of its popular netbook, the Fujitsu LOOX M. The new version will be equipped with a 10.1 inch display featuring 1024x600 pixels. Up to 1GB of RAM can be installed.

The new LOOX M will run on a 1.66GHz Intel Atom processor. While the previous version featured a 160GB hard drive, the new version will have a 250GB hard drive. The LOOX M will ship with Windows 7 Starter Edition.
Dell Inspiron 537s

China based PC maker Sungword has released a portable computing device costing just $73. The clamshell-style device is equipped with a 7 inch display featuring 800x480 pixels.

The mini-laptop has a 300MHz VIA VT8500 ARM-based processor with 128MB of RAM. It provides up to 1GB of storage space and runs on the Windows CE Operating System. The machine also sports a QWERTY keyboard and an 1800mAh battery. Other notable features include WiFi.

With such low-end specifications, you can’t expect much in the performance department. In fact, it is safe to assume that the device wouldn’t be half as useful as a smartphone.

The laptop weighs just about 1.5 pounds. It is unlikely to be available outside of China any time soon.

Acer’s Aspire D250 that dual boots Windows 7 and Google Android is out and bloggers have posted videos of just how the device works. So if you are one among those scores of people wondering what the big deal is you may find this post helpful.

The D250 first boots into Android. It appears that there in no easy way of booting directly into Windows 7. On the plus side, Android boots really fast. It takes only a few seconds to load. The Android interface allows you can go online and perform basic activities. After booting Android you can also decide if you want to switch to Windows 7. Users who don’t want to boot Android every time they switch the PC on may want to suspend or hibernate it to be able to skip the ritual. They can also consider getting a Windows 7 installation CD and wiping Android off.

In case you decide that Android is enough to meet your needs, you can stay there. But you will still have to pay the Windows 7 license fee when you buy the laptop as Acer ships the notebook with both Android and Windows 7.

Acer has introduced another laptop identical to the just-launched Aspire Timeline 1810TZ under the Packard Bell name. The Aspire 1810TZ is a convertible tablet with an 11.6 inch touch screen display and a high capacity battery.

Like the 1810TZ, the Packard Bell Butterfly Touch has an 11.6 inch touch screen display with 1366x768 pixels and runs on the Windows 7 Home Premium. It reportedly has an 8 cell battery. Other specifications of both laptops are more or less the same. The Butterfly Touch is expected to be available in Europe for 599 Euros from October 22nd.

It seems that Chinese PC makers are busy cloning western netbooks and making them larger in China. Phecda, a PC maker from China, has cloned the HP Mini 5101 and blown it up into a 11.6 inch laptop with a 1366x768 pixels. The device looks much like the HP Mini 5101. It has the same case deign, similar keyboard and touchpad as the HP Mini 5101. Phecda hasn’t changed even the power button and LEDs.

The Phecda device is expected to be sold for around $300, whereas the HP Mini 5101 starts at $400. What about the specs? Well, the HP Mini 5101 indeed has meatier specifications including a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 processor, 2 Mega Pixel webcam and a 7200rpm hard drive. HP also offers the option of a 55WHr battery with Mini 5101.

The Phecda computer has a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor with 1GB of RAM and 160GB hard drive. Other features include 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, 2450mAh battery, and 1.3MB webcam.

The Acer Aspire Revo is famous for being one of the first nettops to feature a Nvidia Ion GPU and now Acer has made the device even better. Recently the Aspire Revo received another specs bump. The new Aspire Revo runs on Windows 7 with a dual core processor and full version of the Nvidia ION graphics. Previous versions featured Light Edition of ION. This version is now available for purchase in the US.

Detailed specifications of the Aspire Revo R3610-U9012 are as follows:
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium
Processor: 1.6GHz Intel Atom 330 dual core
Graphics: NVIDIA ION (full version, not ION LE)
RAM: 2GB
Storage: 160GB

Connectivity options are: 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Ethernet. Other features include HDMI, VGA, eSATA, 6 x USB 2.0, mic/headphone jacks. Prices start at $330.

Chinese firm Kenade Electronics is all set to launch 11.6 inch and 13.3 inch laptops based on the next generation Pine Trail platform.

The Kenade K116 will have an 11.6 inch display with 1280x800 pixels. It will run on a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor with integrated Intel GMA 500 graphics. Other specifications include 1GB of RAM, 250GB hard drive, VGA, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Ethernet, 3 USB ports and 1.3 mega pixel webcam. Optional features include Bluetooth and 3G. The device will weigh around 3 pounds with the battery.

Kenade is also planning to launch a 13.3 inch laptop called K133. It will run on a dual core Intel Atom D510 processor. Other specifications will more or less be the same. There is no information regarding pricing or availability.

Haleron surprised the world a few weeks ago by announcing a netbook sporting two separate Intel Atom N270 processors. It is not sure whether the concept will materialize, but now the company has unveiled another netbook with an Intel Atom 330 processor. Called Swordfish 20, the new device is powered by a dual core Atom 330 processor with 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive.

The Atom 330 is a processor usually found on desktops. While it offers better performance than the netbook specific N270/N280, it also consumes more power.

The Swordfish 20 netbook is equipped with a 10.2 inch display featuring 1024x600 pixels. The standard storage option is a 160GB hard drive, but you can opt for a 250GB drive. Other specifications include Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, 3 USB ports, VGA, Ethernet, a 5-in-1 card reader and a 1.3MP webcam. It has a 6 cell battery and an unlocked 3G modem. Prices start at $499.

Toshiba has unveiled a new NB205-N330 netbook. It is actually an update to the previous NB205-N310. Both models have great keyboards and touchpads. They also offer excellent battery life. There are, nevertheless, a few things that make the new model different.

Unlike the NB205-N310 which runs on Windows XP, The NB205-N330 will ship with Windows 7 Starter Edition. The NB205-N330 also has a larger 250GB hard drive. Toshiba claims that it will offer up to 9 hours of battery life.

The device will be available from October 22nd, the launch date of Windows 7. Toshiba’s decision to go with the Windows 7 Starter Edition has helped keep the price down. Actually the NB205-N330 starts at $399.99. On the flip side, the Starter Edition doesn’t offer many features found in the higher end versions of the OS.

Intel has been working on its low-power Atom processors based on the Pine Trail platform for a while. Unofficial sources claim that the company may soon launch the first Intel Atom Pine Trail chip - the 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 - on January 3rd.

The Atom N450 will have memory and graphics functions incorporated into the single chip. The result will be a power efficient processor that consumes less power than the Atom N270/N280 processors available today. The Atom N450 may also use a graphics core called GMA 3150. The GMA 3150 is expected to offer better graphics performance than the GMA 950 graphics used in most netbooks. That said, you will still not be able to play high end games. The strength of GMA 3150 is in power conservation and not in powering demanding graphical applications.

Acer has been talking about an Android + Windows 7 notebook for sometime. Now they have kind of assembled it. Actually Acer has released demo units of a new version of the Acer Aspire One D250 pre-installed with both Windows 7 and Google Android. You can decide which operating system you want at launch. The only problem is that you actually have to boot Android first. You may then choose the ‘Switch OS’ option to load Windows 7. A handful of tech news sites have managed to review the demo unit and their response is mixed.

Laptop Magazine said that even though Android boots really fast (30 seconds), the User Interface isn’t quite designed for laptops. Another problem, according to Pocket Lint, is the lack of keyboard shortcuts to support the Android features. You are left with no options but to navigate with a touchpad and the Esc button.

The device is expected to be available in the UK on October 22nd for £279.

The Nokia Booklet 3G has been priced for the US market. If you sign for a 2 year long commitment to an AT&T service plan, you will be able to buy the device for $299. Great! Well, not really. The AT&T plan doesn’t come cheap. Actually it costs $60 a month. If you aren’t keen on paying this amount month after month, you may want to buy the netbook unsubsidized. The unsubsidized price of Booklet 3G in the US is $599.

The Booklet 3G is an ultra-thin, ultra-light netbook running on an Intel Atom Z530 1.6GHz processor with 1GB of RAM and 120GB of hard drive. It is equipped with a 10.1 inch display featuring 1280x720 pixels. Nokia claims that the device will offer up to 12 hours of battery life. Other features include HDMI, 3 USB ports, Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, integrated 3G, Assisted GPS, a webcam, a card reader, accelerometer and hot-swappable SIM slot.

Toshiba has announced the launch of two touch screen notebooks. These devices will run on Windows 7.

The new touch screen notebooks will be called Satellite M505 and Satellite U505. Both notebooks will feature the Toshiba LifeSpace software package which provides users with a ‘Bulletin Board’ full of ‘touch’ features. Another useful feature is the ‘ReelTime’ software which gives a visual history with which users can find files based on when they were opened.

The M505 comes with a 14 inch display. It is due to be released on October 22nd. It will be powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 2.2GHz processor, integrated 4500MHD graphics, 4GB RAM and a 500GB HDD. The U505 is due to be released on November 1. It will have a 13.3 inch display with similar specifications.

The M505 is expected to cost around $949.99, while the U505 will sell for $1,049.99.

HP has put a price tag on its Core i7 powered entertainment notebook – the Pavilion dv8. The machine is powerful and has a matching price tag.

HP has officially priced the Pavilion dv8 on its UK site. The machine comes with impressive specs including a Core-i7 processor, 4GB of RAM (up to 8GB can be installed), 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT230GPU, and twin 320GB hard disk drives. There is an integrated TV tuner and Blu-ray to complement the multimedia nature of this notebook. Other features include integrated webcam, WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth, fingerprint reader, HDMI/VGA, FireWire, ExpressCard and a multicard reader. There are 4 USB ports and 1 eSATA/USB combo port.

The Pavilion dv8 isn’t light. It weighs approximately 9lb and is equipped with an 18.4 inch display with a full 1920x1080 HD resolution. The device will cost around £1,300 in the UK. There is no word yet on its price in the US.

Acer has updated its Aspire 1410 a.k.a. 1810T. The new model called Aspire Timeline AS1810TZ is equipped with a dual core 1.3GHz Intel Core Two Duo SU7300 ULV processor. Unlike its predecessor, it is expected to be better at handling CPU-intensive tasks liking playing HD Flash video.

The SU7300 is still very much an ultra low voltage processor, and you can’t expect it to compete with high end processors found in expensive laptops. On the plus side the CULV processor helps keep the size and price of the laptop down while at the same time offering decent battery life. Acer claims that the new device will offer 6 to 8 hours of battery life. It will probably, but you always need to take these claims with a pinch of salt.

The Aspire AS1810TZ will run on Windows 7 Home Premium. The 11.6 inch display has 1366x768 pixels. Other features include Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Ethernet and built-in webcam. The notebook will be available in black, blue and brushed aluminum. Prices start at $550.

HP has officially announced the Pavilion DM1. The device is all set to go on sale in Japan this November for about $780. The Pavilion DM1 is an 11.6 inch notebook powered by an Intel Consumer Ultra Low Voltage (CULV) processor. Some leaked info about this model had been doing the rounds for a while.

The Pavilion DM1 is powered by a dual core 1.2 GHz Intel Celeron SU2300 processor with GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics. It is equipped with an 11.6 inch display featuring 1366x768 pixels. Up to 5GB of RAM can be installed. Other features include a 250GB hard drive, HDMI, WiFi 802.11b/g, VGA, 2 USB ports and Ethernet. The 6-cell battery is expected to give up to 8 hours of up time.

The machine will weigh 3.3 pounds with the battery. It will run on the Windows 7 Home Premium Operating System.

Fujitsu has unveiled an 11.6 inch Intel CULV-powered laptop. Dubbed FMV LOOX C, the device is due to be released in Japan on October 22nd. Two models will be available but both of them will have 11.6 inch displays featuring 1366x768 pixels.

Other specifications that are common to both notebooks include 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, Intel GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics and Windows 7 Home Premium operating system.

While the first model FMV LOOX C/E50 will have a 1.2GHz Intel Celeron SU2300 processor, the other model, FMV LOOX C/E70, will have a slightly better 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 processor. The C/E50 is expected to provide up to 6 hours of battery life and will cost around $900. The C/E70 will cost about $1100 and may offer up to 9.2 hour battery life.

The machines are available in three colors – red, black and blue. Other common features include 3 USB ports, VGA outputs, 802.11n WiFi, Ethernet, and mic/headphone jacks.

The HP ProBook 4310s is a 13-inch budget priced business notebook. It has more or less the same design as the ProBook 4510s and 4710s.

Review Unit Configuration
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T6570 Processor (2.1GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
Operating system: Microsoft Genuine Windows Vista Business (with option for Windows XP downgrade)
Display: 13.3-inch LED-backlit anti-glare HD display (1366 x 768)
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
Memory: 2GB DDR3 1333MHz RAM
Storage: 320GB 7200RPM HDD

Price as configured: $779

Build and Design
The HP ProBook notebooks are aimed at small and medium businesses. These laptops offer a good balance of features at an affordable price.

The ProBook 4310s has a square, industrial-looking exterior and recessed keyboard area. The ProBooks are made mostly of plastic unlike the Elitebooks which are made of magnesium and aluminum alloy.

The ProBook 4310s is fairly light at 4.4 pounds. But the use of thin and light plastics lends a cheap feel to the notebook. The base of the laptop and screen lid show flex. Also, the chassis isn’t strong enough to withstand multiple drops off a desk. It would have been nice if HP had used thicker plastics or magnesium alloy in the construction of 4310s. On the plus side there are removable panels on the bottom of the laptop so upgrading components isn’t very difficult.
The average build quality, however, doesn’t prevent the laptop from featuring HP 3D DriveGuard which provides protection to the hard drive in the event the laptop gets dropped. Other security features on the notebook include HP ProtectTools with drive encryption, Device Access Manager, HP Spare Key, HP Disk Sanitizer and File Sanitizer.

Screen and Speakers
The ProBook 4310s comes with a 13.3 inch anti-glare display with 16:9 aspect ratio. The display features 1366x768 pixels. The display is good with good color and contrast. Horizontal viewing angles are excellent but vertical viewing angles are average.

The speakers are placed above the keyboard so that the sound is directed towards the user. Still, speaker performance isn’t very good. They sound tinny and lack range and at higher volumes, the audio tends to sound distorted.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The 4310s has a full-size keyboard featuring a chiclet style. There is enough spacing between keys for comfortable typing. The layout of the keyboard is equally good.

The touchpad is very responsive. On the flip side, the touchpad buttons are a very stiff and require a deep press in order to register a click. Unlike other HP consumer notebooks, there is no dedicated touchpad disable button on 4310s.

Ports and Features
Port selection is good. There are USB 2.0 ports, optical drive, WiFi (802.11a/b/g/draft-n), Ethernet, Modem, and Bluetooth.

Performance
The HP ProBook 4310 is equipped with an Intel T6570 processor running at 2.1GHz and integrated intel graphics. HP also provides the option of discrete graphics (ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 with 512 MB dedicated video memory) at an additional cost. The 320GB hard drive spins at 7200rpm, so applications load without much lag. The notebook has enough power to handle applications like MS Office and FireFox. You will also be able to do some basic video work. High end gaming is still out of question as the integrated graphics isn’t very powerful.

Heat and Noise
During normal use heat production is minimal. Noise levels are also reasonable. But put the machine under pressure, and you will not have to try too hard to hear noise generated by the exhaust fans.

Battery
The base configuration comes with a 4-cell 37WHr battery. A larger 8-cell 73WHr battery is also available. The 4-cell battery will provide up to 4 hours of up time.

Conclusion
A decent notebook offering satisfactory performance. The HP 4310s is stylish and offers a good balance of features at a reasonable price.

Pros:
Reasonably priced
Great keyboard
Attractive design

Cons:
Average build quality
Costly if you buy it custom configured
Bad touchpad buttons

The Mobinnova elan is known for being one of the first laptops based on Nvidia’s Tegra platform. We have been hearing about this device for some time, but now more details have emerged. The Tegra platform essentially consists of an ARM-based processor and some high performance graphics. The ARM processors are highly power efficient and Nvidia graphics are good at handling HD video. As a result of this the laptops running on Tegra platform will be able to run for 5 to 10 hours playing HD video.

The company has not yet announced the price or launch date of Mobinnova elan. But sources claim that the device will be renamed Mobinnova Beam in the US. It will run on Windows CES, which is a low power operating system capable of running ARM processors.

The Mobinnova Beam can easily decode 720p video. It is expected to be available at a subsidized price in the US if you purchase it with a 3G data plan from a wireless service provider.

Toshiba has introduced two new additions to the Dynabook family of notebooks. The Toshiba Dynabook MX/43 is a 13.3 inch laptop powered by a dual core Intel CULV processor. The other model Dynabook MX/33 has an 11.6 inch display with 1366x768 pixels. It can compete with similarly sized notebooks such as Dell Inspiron 11z and Acer Aspire 1410. Both machines will run on Windows 7.Detailed specifications are not available.

The Dynabook MX/33 runs on a 1.3GHz Intel Celeron 743 single core CPU. Other specifications include 250GB hard drive and 2GB of RAM.

Pricing and Availability
Both notebooks will be available in Japan from October 22. While the Dynabook MX/43 costs around $1300, the smaller MX/33 will have a price tag of $1000.

Asus has introduced yet another notebook powered by Intel’s new Core i7 processor. Dubbed M60J, it is equipped with a 16 inch display and NVIDIA GeForce GT 240M GPU with 1GB of video memory.

The Asus M60J can be configured with either an Intel Core i7 720QM 1.6GHz or 820QM 1.73GHz Processor. The dual hard drives provide up to 1 TB of storage. Up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM can be installed. The 16 inch display features 1366x768 pixels.
The notebook also features the AI TouchMedia feature which is a one-touch multimedia center. Other notable features include WiFi 802.11n, 2 megapixel web camera, a fingerprint reader, an ExpressCard slot, an eSATA port, 4 USB ports, HDMI, VGA outputs and 4-in-1 media card reader. The machine weighs 3.3kg with the 6-cell battery.

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

Asus has released a new low cost netbook – the Asus Eee PC 1000HT. It is currently available in Japan for about $421. The new netbook doesn’t have any remarkable features. In looks it is similar to the Eee PC 1000H. But unlike the 1000H, the 1000HT doesn’t have Bluetooth or WiFi 802.11n. On the plus side Asus claims that the Eee PC 1000HT will offer up to 6.4 hours of battery life which is better than the 4-5 hours offered by Eee PC 1000H.

Specifications
Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270
Display: 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixels
RAM: 1GB
Storage: 160GB HDD
Operating system: Windows XP Home

Connectivity options are Ethernet and 802.11b/g WiFi. Other features include 3 USB 2.0 ports, Microphone, Headphone, SDHC card slot and VGA. The 6 cell battery is expected to give 6.4 hours of up time.

Acer has warned that some of its Aspire Series notebooks may be susceptible to overheating. The company has, therefore, decided to recall five models of its Aspire series notebooks.

Acer said that the affected models may experience overheating if you put too much pressure on the left palm rest. Extreme pressure on the left palm rest will cause the microphone cable to heat up. The problem will, in turn, result in the deformation of the unit and possible system failure. The increased temperature in the chassis may also cause other components to malfunction. The affected Aspire models are: Acer Aspire AS3410, AS3810T, AS3810TG, AS3810TZ and AS3810TZG.

You can determine whether your model is affected or not by filling out the form on Acer’s website. Acer will replace or repair the affected models free of cost.

The newly announced Asus UL30, UL50AG and UL50VG will run on CULV processors. Besides being power efficient the new laptops feature a thin design and promises to deliver up to 12 hours of battery life.

Design
The chassis is built of brushed aluminum which lends the laptops an aura of elegance while at the same time keeping the design thin. While the UL30 has a 13.3 inch display, the other two notebooks – the UL50AG and UL50VG – come with 15.6 inch displays.

Specifications
The laptops will be powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 1.40GHz processor with 500GB hard disk. The UL50VG will come with a switchable discrete graphics GPU. Another power efficient feature is the Turbo Boost option which improves the performance of the laptops by 33%.

The touchpad supports multi-touch gestures. Other features include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi b/g/n, webcam and Altec Lansing Speakers with SRS surround sound.

Pricing and Availability
The laptops will hit the UK market on October 22 with Windows 7. Prices start from £599 for UL30, £699 for UL50AG and £799 for UL50VG.

Dell has always been fond of making its laptops colorful. Now the PC maker is taking that fondness to yet another level. Dell has teamed up with nail polish experts OPI with the objective of creating 26 new color choices for its laptops. Users are allowed to choose the new colors when they customize the notebook in the Dell Design Studio. The new colors will be available on Dell’s Studio, Inspiron and Inspiron Mini line of notebooks.

Of the 26 colors 6 will be holiday themed. So is this a smart move by Dell? Well, the new nail polish colors will not improve the functionality of your computers, but they will certainly help you personalize your machines and make them look different from the numerous notebooks out there.

The Kinpo N03V is a nice netbook for its price. It runs on a VIA Nano processor and is equipped with a high resolution 11.6 inch display. The device is now available in Taiwan for about $250 along with a 2-year mobile broadband contract.

The N03V is powered by a VIA Nano U2250 processor with 1GB of RAM and a 160GB of hard drive. The 11.6 inch display features 1366 x 768 pixels.

Features
The keyboard is large and comfortable to type on. The touchpad is wide for a laptop of this size and comes with two distinct mouse buttons. There is a 1.3 mega pixel webcam. Another nice feature is the LED indicator next to the webcam.

Ports and Slots
There are 3 USB 2.0 ports, an SD card reader, VGA, Ethernet, headphone and microphone jacks.

A useful design feature is that you can easily upgrade the user-replaceable components by removing the keyboard.

Asus has been working on its 12 inch notebooks the Asus Eee PC 1201N and 1201HA for a while. The company is yet to announce these products but they are definitely in the pipeline. Detailed specifications of both notebooks have leaked and showed up on some websites.

Asus Eee PC 1201N
Display: 12.1 inch, 1366 x 768 pixels
Processor: 1.6GHz Intel Atom N330 dual core
Graphics: NVIDIA ION (GeForce 9400M)
Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium
RAM: 3GB DDR2
Storage: 320GB HDD + 500GB web-based storage

Connectivity options include WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth and Ethernet. There are 3 USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, VGA, SD card slot, headphone, microphone jacks and a 0.3 mp webcam.

The touchpad supports multitouch gestures. The machine weighs 3.1 pounds. The six cell battery is expected to give up to 8 hours of battery life. The notebook is available in three colors – black, blue and red.

Asus Eee PC 1201HA
Display: 12.1 inch, 1366 x 768 pixels
Processor: 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520
Graphics: Intel US15W / GMA 500 graphics
Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium
RAM: 2GB DDR2
Storage: 250GB HDD + 500GB web-based storage

Connectivity options include WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth and Ethernet. There are 3 USB 2.0 ports, VGA, SD card slot, headphones, mic and 0.3MP webcam.

The touchpad supports multitouch gestures. The 1201HA is available in three colors – black, blue and red. It weighs 3.1 pounds with the 6-cell battery.

The HP Mini 311 is already a good laptop with a NVIDIA ION LE graphics and a higher resolution (1366 x 768 pixels) display. But HP wants to make it better.
HP currently ships the netbook with 1GB of RAM, NVIDIA ION (Light Edition) and 160 GB hard drive. While this configuration isn’t very bad, it doesn’t support the DirectX 10 standard which would considerably improve the graphics performance. Well, the situation is going to change.
As soon as Windows 7 arrives, HP plans to start offering the Mini 311 with Windows 7 Starter, Basic, Premium and Professional editions. The Mini 311 running on Windows 7 will have full NVIDIA ION support and 2 or 3GB of RAM. The strorage option will be a 250GB or 320GB hard drive. HP may also offer the option of an 80GB solid state disk. But what about the price? Well, the addition of better hardware will definitely push the price up.

The Samsung N130 is now available in the US. You can order the N130-13B, the model with slate blue lid, from Buy.com for $328.99 and Amazon for $350.99. Here is a quick rundown of what you would get for the money.

Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270
Display: 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixels
Operating system: Windows XP Home
Memory: 1GB
Hard disk: 160GB, 2.5″ 5400rpm

Connectivity options include 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Ethernet. Other features include VGA, headphone, mic, 3 USB, SD card slot, 0.3MP webcam and one 1.5W speaker. The machine weighs just 2.82 pounds with the 6 cell battery.

The Samsung N130 is one of the two recently announced N series netbooks. The other netbook – N140 – has a silightly better N280 processor. It is yet to hit the market.

The MobiLite G2 USB card reader is light on your resources. It is a multi-format card reader that can handle SDHC, MicroSD and several Memory Stick formats. Note that the MobiLite G2 can’t handle xD, CompactFlash or other flash media formats.

The G2 USB card reader is almost tiny. It measures in at 2.45″ x 1.16″ x 0.65″. It is only slightly larger than the memory cards it can read.

The MobiLite G2 USB card reader isn’t pricey. You can buy it for $11. And for $28.50 you will get one with a 4GB SDHC card.

Lenovo is yet to officially announce its 11.6 inch U150 netbook, but its detailed specifications have emerged.

The User Manual posted by Lenovo on its website state that the U150 will run on a dual core Intel SU4100 CULV processor with integrated Intel GMA X4500 graphics.

Ports and Slots
Port selection seems adequate. There are 2 USB 2.0 ports plus an eSATA/USB combo port, Ethernet, 4-in-1 card reader, HDMI, VGA, D-sub, headphone and microphone jacks. Both 3-cell and 6-cell battery options are available.

U150 specifications
The U150 can be configured in a number of ways.
Display: 11.6″ HD LCD or 11.1″ HD LCD
Storage: 2.5″ SATA 160/250/320GB 5400rpm hard drive or 16GB/32GB Mini-PCIe SSD
RAM: DDR3

Selected models will also feature Bluetooth and 3G. All models will have 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi. The touchpad supports multi-touch gestures such as pinching and two finger scrolling. The machine will weigh 3.3 pounds with the 6-cell battery.

Telsda, a Chinese handset maker, has forayed into the netbook market with a convertible touch screen device that would remind you of Asus Eee PC T91 or Gigabyte TouchNote.

The Telsda netbook is equipped with a 10.1 inch touch screen display and a swivel that allows you to rotate the display and fold it down over the keyboard. The machine weighs 2.9 pounds. It is powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor with 1GB of RAM and 160GB hard disk. Other features include VGA port, a 1.3MP webcam and flash card reader. Optional features include 3G wireless. Sources claim that the device will sell for less than $300.

The latest to enter the already-crowded tablet computer market is the Lbook T9. It will reportedly sell for between $350 and $375.

The Lbook has an 8.9 inch display featuring 1024x600 pixels. It will run on a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom Z530 processor with 2GB of RAM. The hard disk capacity is 120GB. Other features include WiFi, Bluetooth and optional 3G. The tablet measures about half an inch in thickness and weighs just 1.5 pounds. It is expected to be available around March.

The Lbook T9 isn’t probably the best tablet out there, but its price isn’t bad. A better alternative is indeed the Asus Eee PC T91 which has a touchscreen and a keyboard.

Sony has unveiled a VAIO X ultrathin laptop with prices starting at $1300. Like other VAIO notebooks this machine too features a carbon fiber frame and a high end solid state drive.

With its Intel Atom processor VAIO X is cheaper than most other VAIO notebooks, but it isn’t necessarily better. The power efficient processor may offer better battery life, but it wouldn't make VAIO X a high performance machine.

The VAIO X has a 11.1 inch display with 1366x768 pixels. It weighs around 1.5 pounds with the standard battery. The notebook is powered by a 2 GHz Intel Atom Z550 processor with Intel GMA 500 graphics. The standard storage option is a solid state drive with a maximum capacity of 128 GB.

Sony said that the standard battery would provide up to 3.5 hours of up time. If you need more life, you can opt for an extended battery which is expected to give up to 14 hours on a charge. Other features include Bluetooth, GPS, and a Verizon Wireless mobile broadband module.

Pricing and Availability
The laptop will be available on October 22, the official launch date of Windows 7 and Sony has started taking preorders. The base model starts at $1299.99. A higher end version with 128GB SSD may cost as much as $1499.99.

Zotac, a company known for manufacturing graphics cards and motherboards, have launched a line of nettops running on Intel Atom processors and Nvidia ION graphics.

While one of the nettops, the Zotac Mag HD-NS01, features a 1.6GHz Intel Atom 230 processor, the Mag HD-ND01 has a 1.6GHz dual core Atom 330 processor. Other specifications are more or less the same for both nettops. Both devices are equipped with Nvidia ION graphics, 160GB hard drives, 2GB of RAM. Other features include Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, 8-channel audio, Gigabit 10/100/1000 Ethernet, HDMI, eSATA, VGA output and 6 USB ports.

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

Sony has unveiled its first all-in-one desktop with a touchscreen interface – the VAIO L. The device is equipped with gigantic 24-inch display featuring 1080 pixels. Prices start at $1,300.

The base configuration has a 2.7GHz Intel Pentium dual core CPU, Nvidia GeForce G210M graphics, 4GB of RAM and 320 GB hard drive. Other features include a DVD burner. Buyers willing to shell out more money can opt for higher configurations with a 2.66GHz Core 2 Quad processor, 1TB of storage, a Blu-Ray drive, and an integrated ATSC tuner.

Pricing and availability

Sony has started accepting pre-orders for the VAIO L. It is expected to be available in November.

Sony has unveiled their newest notebook – the VAIO CW. It is available in five colors – red, pink, white, black and indigo.

Specifications
Display: 14-inch screen (16:9, 1366x768)
Operating system: Windows 7 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo processors up to 2.80GHz (T9600)
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GT 210M 256MB or GT 230M 512MB
Memory: Up to 8GB RAM
Storage: Up to 500GB hard drive space

Other features include a Blu-ray disc drive. The standard battery is expected to give 4 hours of up time. With an extended battery, you should be able to get up to six hours. The machine weighs 5.3 lbs with the battery.

Pricing and Availability
The VAIO CW should be available around the launch date of Windows 7. Prices start at $799.

Gateway plans to launch an 11.6 inch convertible tablet running on the Windows 7 Basic or Home Premium. Dubbed EC18T, the device may offer stiff competition to Gigabyte T1028 and Asus Eee PC T91.

The EC18T is rumored to run on the Intel Core 2 Duo processr with 4GB of DDR3 SDRAM and Intel GS45 Express graphic chipset. The leaked pictures of the device shows a stylus holder built into the screen bevel. Other features include what looks like an HDMI port.

Gateway has not yet announced any official information regarding pricing or availability, but it is expected to reach the market soon after the release of Windows 7.

Kohjinsha unveiled a unique netbook with two 10.1 inch LCD displays at CEATEC 09. The secondary display sits behind the primary display and can slide out to sit side-by-side with the primary display. The displays are available at either 1024 x 600 or 1366 x 768 pixels.

The device is powered by a 1.6GHz AMD Athlon NeoMv-40 processor and runs on the Windows 7 operating system. Up to 4GB of RAM can be installed. The storage capacity is 160GB. Other features include TV Tuner, fingerprint scanner, Bluetooth 2.1.

Kohjinsha has not yet announced any official release dates. Actually, this is only a prototype device and may remain just that. But if the concept does become a reality, don’t expect the device to offer good battery life.

Lenovo has unveiled its 11.6 inch Ideapad U150 at the CEATEC show in Japan. The device isn’t quite a netbook. It is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo Ultra Low Voltage SU4100 processor with 2GB of RAM and integrated Intel GMA X4500 graphics.

The Ideapad U150 has an attractive design with textures tattooed on its exterior. The laptop is thin and light. It measures just 13.5 mm in thickness and weighs around 1.35 kg.

Performance
Detailed specifications of the device are not yet known, but it is expected to deliver better performance than other similar sized PCs running on Intel Atom processors. And if Lenovo manages to price it right, the U150 could prove a winner.

Acer Has announced an equivalent to Gateway’s EC18T, the 11.6 inch convertible netbook. The move is hardly surprising as both companies are owned by Acer.

Much like the Gateway EC18T, the Acer Aspire 1820P will have an 11.6 inch display. It is expected to have similar hardware specifications as the Aspire 1810T. The only major difference between the two models will probably be the capacitive screen on 1820P. Apparently the 1820P supports multi-touch gestures.

The Aspire 1820P is slightly heavier than Aspire 1810T. Acer will ship the tablet with Windows 7.

Pricing and availability
The Aspire 1820P is expected to hit the markets by the end of this year. There is no word on pricing as yet.