Asus launched a few tablets called Eee Pads and a digital note-taking device called Eee Tablet at Computex yesterday.

Asus Eee Pad

The Eee Pads are the company's first touchscreen tablets. These machines are available in two different configurations. The 12.1 inch version called Eee Pad EP121 has an Intel Core 2 Duo CULV processor. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium and will reportedly offer around 10 hours of battery life. The EP121 will handle text input either via the onscreen keyboard or through an external keyboard which you can connect through a docking station.

The other model is called Eee Pad EP101TC. It has a 10 inch display and runs Windows Embedded Compact 7. Asus wasn't keen on revealing more details. Both models are expected to hit the streets in early 2011.

Asus Eee Tablet

The Eee Tablet is a digital note-taking and drawing device with a grayscale display. It isn't quite a tablet in the strict sense of the term. While the Eee Pads will cost between $399 to $499, the Eee Tablet will sell for about $199 to $299.

MSI unveiled two tablets at CES yesterday. The machines called MSI Wind Pad 100 and MSI Wind Pad 110 both feature 10 inch touchscreen displays. But the under the hood these are totally different machines.

Wind Pad 100 Windows 7 tablet
The MSI WindPad 100 is powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 processor. It runs Windows 7 Ultimate. MSI has also developed a touch-friendly program launcher called Wind Touch. Other features include a webcam, an HDMI output for transferring 720p HD video to an HDTV and 2 USB ports. The 10.1 inch capacitive display features 1024 x 600 pixels. The MSI Wind Pad 100 will reportedly hit the streets later this year for about $499.

MSI Wind Pad 110
The MSI Wind Pad 110 is powered by a NVIDIA Tegra 2 chipset.It also has a 10 inch capacitive touchscreen display and USB ports. The Wind Pad 110 runs Android 2.1. It is expected to be available for $399 by the end of this year.

The LG X140 has been making appearances at trade shows for a while and today LG issued a press release announcing the official launch of the netbook. The netbook will soon be available in Latin America and parts of Asia. There is still no launch dates for the US and Europe.

The LG X140 has a 10.1 inch display with 1366 x 768 pixels. It is available with your choice of a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 or a 1.83GHz Intel Atom N470 processor. Other specifications include 1 / 2GB of RAM, 250GB / 320GB hard drive, 1.3 megapixel webcam, SRS TruSurround HD audio and integrated 3G modem. The netbook runs Windows 7 Starter Edition.

The LG X140 comes pre-loaded with a quick boot software called Smart on 2.0. It lets you access your email and browser within 5 seconds. The netbook will be available in white, black or hot pink.

Realease (real-ease) has just unveiled a 10 inch tablet that runs on Linux. Called Shogo, it is essentially designed for developers that seek a more mobile way to design things. And it has got a few features that would make everybody happy.

The tablet comes in two versions: the first version which will be available this August is based on Freescale’s i.MX37 (ARM 11) processor. The second model is based on Freescale’s i.MX51 (ARM Cortex A8) processor. Both versions run Linux. Since the entire Linux Operating System is open source, developers can build the tablet in any way they like.

The tablet comes pre-loaded with a simple User Interface (UI) which supports HTML5-based applications. There are 3 USB ports, two of which are external whereas one is tucked away inside. Other features include an Ethernet connector, a microphone port, a port for headphones, an integrated webcam and an accelerometer. Better still, there is a kickstand too.

The Realease Shogo tablet is designed for developers and as such the company has no plans to make it “widely” available.

Seagate has announced a 2.5 inch Solid State Hybrid Drive for notebooks. The drive called the Momentus XT combines solid state memory with traditional hard disk.
The Momentus XT spins at 7,200rpm. It has 4GB of solid state memory and features Seagate's Adaptive Memory technology to deliver what is called the world's fastest hard drive performance.

According to Seagate, when it comes to booting the operating system, the Momentus XT is “up to 100% faster” than standard 5,400rpm notebook HDDs and 'sets new benchmarks for real-world system performance for notebooks and gaming systems'. According to the press release, the new SSD/HDD hybrid will be used in Asustek´s G73 gaming notebook. No word on pricing or availability at the moment.

NVIDIA has officially released the GeForce GTX 480M discrete graphics cards for notebooks. The GeForce GTX 480M are part of the company's Fermi platform.

Billed as the fastest notebook GPU, the GeForce GTX 480M is the company's first DirectX 11 capable graphics. It has 352 CUDA cores, a 256-bit memory interface, 850MHz processor speed and 1200MHz memory clock speed. The GPU supports CUDA, two-way SLI, PhysX, PureVideo and 3D Vision technologies. It will also offer a performance of 897 Gigaflops.

It was previously reported that the GTX 480M will be first available in Eurocom's 17-inch Cheetah and Panther notebooks. The upcoming Clevo D900F will also have the GPU. The GTX 480M costs around $380 more than the GTX 280M.

The Apple tablet has gone on sale in various parts of the world including the UK, Japan, Italy, France and Germany. Interestingly, the iPad is doing quite well in Japan, a country where people prefer gadgets built by local manufactures.

Incidentally, the Computex trade show in Japan starts in a couple of days. PC makers will be showing off all kinds of tablets there including those running Windows 7, Google Android and other operating systems. But to be honest none of these machines are likely to hit the market in a few months. That said, you can't still rule out the competition. Though, Apple had a headstart in the tablet space, some of these upcoming devices will probably be able to create a dent in its market share.

Lenovo has decided against using its custom-built Skylight OS on its upcoming Skylight smartbook and the IdeaPad U1 Hybrid tablet/laptop. The company has apparently realized that a custom Linux-based operating system with no third party applications will attract few buyers. And since Lenovo is keen on finding as many buyers as possible, it has ditched the Skylight OS in favor of Google Android. Devices running the Android operating system will have access to the tens of thousands of applications in the Android Marketplace.

So ditching Skylight OS is a smart idea, but adopting Android has its downsides too: it will cause the launch dates for both Skylight and the IdeaPad U1 to be pushed back. Both Skylight and IdeaPad U1 have the same 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

Meanwhile Lenovo has started calling the IdeaPad U1 Hybrid a 'concept device' which probably doesn't bode well for the future of the device.

Asus reportedly plans to launch an updated version of its 12.1 inch UL20a notebook. Sources claim that the new machine will be called UL20FT and it will have Intel's latest ULV chipset instead of the Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor found on UL20a.

The UL20FT is likely to be powered by a 1.02GHz Intel Celeron U3400 or a 1.2GHz Intel Core i3-330UM processor. These processors don't support Intel's Turbo Boost technology, but with Asus's Turbo33 platform users will still be able to overclock either processor by up to 33%.The notebook is likely to ship with integrated graphics.

Like the UL20a, the UL20FT will also reportedly have a 12.1 inch HD display with 1366 x 768 pixels. It will support up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM and up to 500GB of storage. Asus claims that the laptop will get around 8 hours of runtime with the 6-cell battery.

Asus is expected to show off the new notebook at Computex next week. No word on pricing or availability at the moment.

Gigabyte will unveil an 11.6 inch convertible tablet PC at Computex next week. The company already has a line of thin and light convertible tablets. The newest addition to the family is called Gigabyte M1125. This model will have an 11.6 inch HD touchscreen display with 1366 x 768 pixels. It will also feature a full-sized keyboard.

The Gigabyte M1125 will be powered by an Intel Calpella chipset which covers the Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors. It is, however, not clear exactly which processor Gigabyte will throw in the notebook.

The Gigabyte M1125 will also feature speedy USB 3.0 ports, optical disc drive and a docking station. That's all we know at the moment. No word on hard drive capacity, pricing or availability. But Gigabyte has no history of launching cheap machines. This one is unlikely to be different.

The folks at OLPC has announced that their next XO product will be a tablet, and not a laptop. The original XO laptop was built in-house, but this time around OLPC is working with chipmaker Marvell whose Moby Reference design will be the basis of its new tablet.

The XO tablet is still aimed at students in developing nations. It will have a multi-lingual software keyboard with touch feedback. And it will consume just one watt of power.

The Marvell Moby Tablet platform has a 1GHz Marvell ARMADA 610 processor with built-in Bluetooth, GPS, WiFi 802.11b/n and FM radio. The chipset is capable of handling 1080p HD video. It also provides 3D graphics support. The Marvell Moby platform can run Android, Windows Mobile and Ubuntu Linux.

The XO tablet will also have a webcam for video chat. It also sports a mobile hotspot feature that would let you share a broadband connection with up to 8 devices over WiFi. Both OLPC and Marvell are expected to showcase the tablet at CES in January.

No word on pricing or availability at the moment. But the Marvell Moby reference design is aimed at building tablets costing $99. So this one has got to be cheaper than the original XO laptop.

Acer introduced two very similar looking devices this week. One of them is an eBook reader with a 6-inch E-ink display. The other is a 7-inch Android-based tablet PC featuring a full color display.

The tablet appears to have a QWERTY keyboard below the touchscreen display. Acer CEO said that it is due out in the fourth quarter of this year. Few details are available at the moment, but the tablet appears to have a 3G modem as Acer plans to sell it through wireless carriers.

The Acer LumiRead eBook reader will be released in the third quarter of 2010. It will have access to the books from the Barnes and Noble eBook store. Other features include 2GB of storage and a microSD card slot for expansion. Like the tablet, eBook reader also has a QWERTY keyboard below the display. There are also buttons for turning the pages.

The folks at MeeGo have released MeeGo V1.0 for netbooks. MeeGo is a custom operating system designed for netbooks, smartbooks and mobile phones. This version of the OS is still primarily aimed at developers but it is fairly stable. So if you are a netbook user it is well worth checking out. And you can try MeeGo risk free because it can be run from USB drive.

The MeeGo V1.0 is incredibly fast. It boots in a matter of seconds. Another feature that makes this OS ideal for netbooks is that it is designed for small screen devices. When you launch an application it runs in full screen which means that there is no taskbar wasting space at the bottom of the screen. MeeGo also has an intuitive home screen that gives you a lot of information. You can, for instance, see updates from your social network contacts and a list of upcoming appointments all at one glance.

The biggest problem with MeeGo at the moment is that there aren't a lot of third party applications designed for the OS. But this will change as MeeGo takes off in the marketplace.

The Dell Inspiron Mini 11z is a thin and light notebook featuring an 11.6 inch HD display with 1366 x 768 pixels. It is powered by an Intel CULV processor and sports a nice wide keyboard. The only complaint that most people have with this netbook is that it features one of the worst touchpads.


The Inspiron 11z has a touchpad with integrated left and right buttons. There are, however, a few problems with this arrangement. Dragging and dropping, for instance, is a bit of a hassle when there are no distinct mouse buttons.

But Dell, it seems, has finally decided to address the issue. Word is that Dell has started shipping the Inspiron Mini 11z with a new touchpad featuring two distinct left and right buttons below the touchpad. According to some members at the MyDellMini forum, the buttons do feel cheap but they are much easier to click.

The Samsung NB30 has received a minor update. The new model called Samsung NB30 Pro runs Windows 7 Professional and has 2GB of RAM. The rest of the specs remain the same.

Like the standard NB30, the NB30 Pro specialized netbook also has a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, 10.1 inch display with 1024 x 600 pixels, 160GB hard drive, Intel GMA 3150 graphics, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, VGA and webcam.

Both models feature a semi-rugged chassis, spill-resistant keyboard and a hard drive sensor that would shut down the hard drive in the event of a fall.

The Samsung NB30 is aimed at business people who need a durable machine. By updating the laptop with Windows 7 Professional, Samsung has made it more attractive.

Pricing and availability

The Samsung NB30 Pro is expected to be available by the end of this month for about $519.

The newly unveiled Gateway LT2203 is essentially a rebranded version of the Acer Aspire One 521 and for good reason. Acer owns the Gateway and Packard Bell brands and has a history of launching the same netbook under all the brand names it owns.

Anyway, the Gateway LT2203 was recently spotted in San Francisco at the Netbook Summit. Much like the Aspire One 521, the Gateway LT2203 has a 10.1 inch display with 1024 x 600 pixels. It is powered by a 1.2GHz AMD V105 single core processor with ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics, 1GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive. The ATI graphics gives the machine enough power to handle HD video playback. It can even play some 3D games.

The laptop comes standard with a 6 cell battery. Other specifications include HDMI output, Bluetooth 3.0, and 802.11b/g/n WiFi.

One of the first netbooks to sport AMD's new Nile processor, the Acer Aspire 721 is now up for pre-order from Amazon for $430 plus free shipping.

The Aspire 721 has an 11.6 inch HD display with 1366 x 768 pixels. It is powered by a 1.7GHz AMD Athlon II Neo K125 single core processor. The notebook also has the ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics with 384MB of dedicated video memory. Other specifications include 2GB of DDR3 RAM, a 250GB hard drive, and a 6 cell, 4400mah battery.

The Acer Aspire 721 runs Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit. It weighs 3.1 pounds. It is not known whether this machine will be able to deliver better performance and battery life than notebooks powered by Intel CULV processors. But at just $430, the Aspire 721 is only slightly costlier than a typical Atom-powered netbook. Better still, it offers an HD display, better graphics and full fledged operating system.

According to a Digitimes report, MSI will start shipping its tablet PC in the third quarter of this year. The company has been showing off tablet computers for a while and has now confirmed that its tablets will be sold in Europe and the US through regional wireless carriers during this year itself. The MSI Chairman, however, doesn't expect tablets to sell well until at least next year when there will be more applications and services available for the devices.

The MSI tablet will reportedly have an Intel Atom Z-series processor. It will sport a multi-touch display and run Windows 7 which means that it will be able to run all Windows applications. There is still no word on pricing, but more details should emerge at Computex next week.

Sony is not one to build low cost netbooks or notebooks. The company's VAIO W netbooks have pretty regular specs, still they are significantly pricier than their competitors from Asus or Acer. And now Sony has made yet another pricey addition to its netbook line.

The company has just announced a special edition VAIO W netbook which is designed by Sony in partnership with Billabong. The biggest selling point of this machine will reportedly be its Imperial Lime lid.

The Sony Vaio W Limited Edition netbooks should start shipping in Australia next month. The machines have a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, Ethernet jack, 2 USB 2.0 ports, integrated webcam and 10.1 inch displays with 1366 x 768 pixels. Prices start at AU$749 ($619). Does the mediocre hardware justify the premium price tag? Well, that is debatable.

Gateway has refreshed its mainstream NV Series notebooks by adding the 15.6 inch NV59 and 17.3 inch NV79 to the line-up. The new Gateway NV notebooks are available with Intel's Core i3 or i5 processors, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, up to 640GB of hard disk space, webcam, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and Gigabit Ethernet LAN.

While the NV59 doesn't have a discrete graphics option, the NV79 is available with ATI Mobility Radeon HD graphics. The touchpad supports multi-touch gestures and the keyboard features a dedicated numeric pad. Optional features include Blu-ray.

The NV59 15.6 inch notebooks have a 1366 x 768 pixels display whereas the NV79 notebooks have a screen resolution of 1600 x 900 pixels.

The Gateway NV59/79 notebooks have a starting price of $629.99. The first model to hit the retail shelves will be the NV59C09u. Additional models will hit the market in the coming weeks.

The HP Pavilion dm4t is now available for purchase. The Pavilion dm4t is a 14 inch thin and light entertainment notebook. It measures less than an inch in thickness and weighs 4.4 pounds with the standard 6-cell battery.

The Pavilion dm4t can be configured with an Intel Core i3 or i5 processor. Other specifications include a switchable graphics option involving the Intel integrated HD graphics and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5450 discrete GPU, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, up to 640 GB of hard disk space and a DVD writer. The 14 inch BrightView LED-backlit display has 1366 x 768 pixels.

The HP Pavilion dm4t also has an island-style keyboard, a webcam, Altec Lansing stereo speakers, WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet, a 5-in-1 media card reader, VGA, HDMI output and a fingerprint reader. There are 3 USB ports one of which is also an eSATA/USB combo port.

The notebook runs Windows 7 Home Premium and a has a starting price of $729.99. It is now available for purchase from the HP online store.

HP has unveiled a Select Edition of its 15.6 inch Pavilion dv6t entertainment notebook. The main difference between the regular dv6t and the Select Edition is that the latter is available with a touchscreen display, quad-core processor and a different case design.

The Pavilion dv6t select Edition is available with your choice of a Core i3, i5 or i7 processor (up to quad-core i7-820QM), ATI Mobility Radeon HD5470 512MB or HD5650 1GB discrete GPU, up to 8GB of DDR3 Memory, up to 640GB of hard disk space or a 160GB solid state drive, DVD burner or Blu-ray optical drive. Quad core processor configurations are only available with ATI Radeon HD5650 1GB GPU.

The LED-backlit Brightview display features 1366 x 768 pixels. The touchscreen recognizes multi-touch gestures. Other features of dv6t include built-in webcam, island-style keyboard, Altec Lansing stereo speakers, WiFi 802.11n, Gigabit Ethernet, optional Bluetooth, four USB ports (one of which is also an eSATA/USB combo port), a 5-in-1 card reader, VGA, HDMI and optional fingerprint reader.

The 5.5inch notebook comes pre-loaded with HP TouchSmart applications. It features a brushed aluminum chassis with “stream argento” texture. HP claims that the standard 6-cell battery will offer up to 5 hours of runtime. The optional 9-cell battery should get around 7.75 hours of battery life.

The Pavilion dv6t runs Windows 7. It is now available for purchase at HP's online store. Prices start at $749.99.

MSI has made two new additions to its line of multimedia notebooks. The machines dubbed CX620MX and CX420MX sport 15.6 inch and 14 inch displays respectively. They are available with Intel's latest Core 2010 processors and ATI Radeon HD545V discrete graphics with 512MB of video RAM.

Both notebooks feature two DDR3 memory slots, a 1366 x 768 pixels display and up to 500GB of hard drive. It is not clear whether they have optical drives. Other specifications include 1.3MP web camera, WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth, microphone, two speakers, Ethernet LAN, HDMI, VGA, a 4-in-1 card reader and 3 USB ports. One of the USB ports in the CX620MX is an eSATA/USB combo port.

The notebooks come standard with a 6-cell battery. While the CX420MX weighs 4.85 pounds, the CX620MX is heavier at 5.47 pounds. No word on pricing or availability at the moment.

The HP G72t is a consumer-oriented 17.3 inch desktop replacement laptop. It is available with a Core i3 or i5 processor (up to Core i5-540M)and Intel HD integrated graphics or ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5430 discrete GPU, up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, up to 640GB of hard drive and a DVD burner. The 17.3 inch display features 1600 x 900 pixels.

The keyboard is full sized and features a dedicated numeric pad. Other specifications include WiFi n, optional web camera, optional Bluetooth, Ethernet, optional 56k modem, headphone and stereo speakers. There are 3 USB ports. Select models also feature an HDMI port and 5-in-1 media card reader. The notebook weighs 6.6lbs with the 6-cell battery. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium.

Pricing and availability
The HP G72t is now available for purchase. The base configuration costs $599.99.

The HP Pavilion dv5t is now available for purchase. It is the first HP notebook to feature a 14.5 inch display.

The Pavilion dv5t is available with Intel's latest Core 2010 (Core i3-350M, i5-430M or Core i5-520M) processor, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, up to 640GB of hard drive and a DVD burner or Blu-ray. There is no discrete graphics option other than the Intel HD integrated graphics.

Other features include an island-style keyboard, webcam with microphone, WiFi 802.11n, Altec Lansing speakers, optional Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet, optional mobile broadband, 2 USB ports,1 eSATA/USB combo port, VGA, HDMI and a 5-in-1 card reader.

The notebook measures 1.22 inches in thickness and weighs 5.19lbs with the 6-cell battery. HP claims that the battery will power the machine for up to 6 hours on a single charge.
The HP Pavilion dv5t runs Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional. It is available in
three colors: black cherry, champagne, and sonoma red.

Pricing and availability
The HP Pavilion dv5t is now available for purchase from HP's online store. Prices start at $649.99

In terms of looks, the ExoPC Slate isn't much different from a typical iPad knockoff. It is an all-screen device with a touchscreen display and a shiny bezel. But in terms of software, it is very very different. This machine, for instance, runs a full version of Windows 7. It also features a suite of apps that makes the tablet more touch-friendly and that is a smart move because the Windows operating system isn't quite meant for touch input.

Because it runs Windows 7, the ExoPC Slate is capable of running all desktop applications including Adobe Flash.

The ExoPC Slate has an 11.6 inch touchscreen display with 1366 x 768 pixels. It can play HD videos thanks to the included Broadcom Crystal HD Video accelerator. Other features include 2 USB ports, an HDMI port, SD card slot, and SIM card slot for optional 3G. The tablet will be available with either 32GB or 64GB of storage. It will soon hit the retail shelves.

The Compaq Airlife 100 is one of the first smartbooks to hit the market. Needless to say, there has been a great deal of hype surrounding the device, but does it really manage to live up to its potential?

Chippy at Carrypad recently obtained a pre-production unit from HP. He has posted a detailed review of the smartboook and according to him the machine is a bit of a let down.

The Compaq Airelife 100 is powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with 512MB of RAM and 16GB of flash based storage. The smartbook runs Google Android 1.6. The supported connectivity options are 3G and WiFi.

Just like your smartphone, the Compaq Airlife 100 also offers always-on internet connectivity. It can receive incoming messages even when it is in the suspend mode. It also sports a clean design with a nice and quiet keyboard. Other plus points include a 12-hour battery life. The 10 inch touchscreen display has 1024 x 600 pixels.

Even though the machine sports a touchscreen, you can also operate it using a touchpad, thanks to the tweaks HP has made to the operating system. There is one problem, though. Android doesn't have a cursor. So navigating using the touchpad may seem like a bit of a hassle. So far, so good. So what are the down sides?

The Compaq Airlife 100 has the same form factor as a netbook. It has a built-in keyboard and a 10 inch display. But unfortunately it doesn't offer the full functionality of a netbook. There are, for example, no USB ports. So,you can't plug in a printer or a smartphone into it.

Other downsides relate to the software. The smartbook ships with Android but it doesn't have access to the Android Market which means that there are very few apps you can install on the device. Worse still, it ships without the basic Google apps you get on most smartphone like Gmail, maps, contact sync and Goggles. The multimedia capabilities of the device are also questionable.

So what is the verdict? Smartbook like devices do have great potential thanks to their always-on nature, but this machine requires a lot of work on the software. Android may be a great platform for a smartphone, but on laptop like devices with large displays it just doesn't fit the bill.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X100e is a thin and light notebook aimed at small and medium businesses. It has relatively better specs than a typical netbook. The X100e, for example, has a faster AMD processor, full-sized keyboard and an 11.6 inch display with 1366 x 768 pixels. And if sources are correct, the notebook is going to get better: it will soon get a 4G WiMAX option.

According to the documents Lenovo filed with FCC, the new model will have an Intel wireless card that supports WiFi, Bluetooth and WiMAX connectivity options. The update may also be applicable to the ThinkPad Mini 10 which recently showed up in Australia. The ThinkPad Mini 10 is essentially the same computer as the ThinkPad X100e, except that it has a 10 inch display with a large bezel. There is also a mention of a relatively larger model called ThinkPad Mini 11.

Acer has officially introduced its Aspire Timeline 1825PT convertible tablet PC. The device is powered by a 1.3Ghz Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor with up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM and integrated Intel GMA 4500 graphics. The Aspire Timeline 1825PT has an 11.6 inch touchscreen display with 1366 x 768 pixels. The display can be folded down over the keyboard for using the device in the tablet mode.

Other specifications include a 250GB / 320GB hard drive, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, HDMI / VGA outputs, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, built-in webcam, Gigabit Ethernet and integrated media card slot.

The Aspire Timeline 1825PT ships with a 6-cell battery which according to Acer will power the laptop for up to 8 hours on a single charge. The notebook runs Windows 7 Home Premium.

Pricing and availability
The Acer Aspire Timeline 1825PT is available in three colors - Diamond Black, Sapphire Blue and Ruby Red. It is now available for purchase in the UK for a starting price of £599.99 ($886).

The HP G42t has quietly surfaced on the company's website. The 14 inch notebook was not one of the machines HP introduced last week. No matter, it is now available for purchase and customization.

The HP G42t can be configured with a Core i3 or i5 processor. Other specifications include up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM, up to 640GB of hard disk drive, built-in webcam, WiFi, optional Bluetooth, a SuperMulti DVD burner (or a Blu-ray drive) and integrated Intel graphics. The 14 inch display has 1366 x 768 pixels.

The notebook ships with a 6-cell battery. The base model with a Core i3 processor starts at $549.99. Higher-end configurations will easily drive the prices up.

Intel is expected to officially unveil its dual core Atom processors for netbooks any time now. The processors are coming, we are told, and maybe that is true but Asus doesn't want to wait. The company has already announced a netbook with a dual core Intel Atom processor. The upcoming Asus Eee PC 1215N netbook will reportedly have an Intel Atom D510 dual core processor which is meant for use in desktops and not netbooks.

The Asus Eee PC 1215N will also feature NVIDIA's second-generation ION graphics which should enable 1080p HD video playback on the netbook. It will have also NVIDIA's Optimus technology that would automatically switch between the ION graphics and integrated Intel GMA 3150 depending upon the task you are performing. Rounding out the specs are a 12.1 inch HD display with 1366 x 768 pixels,VGA and HDMI ports,3 USB 3.0 ports and a flash card connection.

Asus has officially unveiled its Eee PC 1015P and Eee PC 1015PE netbooks. Both machines have the exact same specs, but the Eee PC 1015PE seems to have a little more Chrome around the edges of the keyboard. Detailed specifications are given below.

Both Eee PC 1015P and 1015PE have 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, 10.1 inch display with 1024 x 600 pixels, Windows 7 Starter Edition, Bluetooth 2.1 and WiFi 802.11b/g/n.

The laptops are available with several different battery options. Asus claims that the top of the line 63Whr will get the machine running for 13.5 hours on a single charge. 56Whr, 48Whr and 23Whr battery options are also available with the netbooks.

The Eee PC 1015P will be available in black, white, and blue. The 1015PE will be also be available in red and pink. It looks like one of these models is for sale in the US and the other for Europe or some other countries.

The Compaq Airlife 100 is not yet widely available for purchase. Some bloggers have, nevertheless, managed to obtain a pre-production unit.

The Airlife 100 is probably one of the first smartbookS to see the light of the day. The device is powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Other specifications include 512MB of RAM, 16GB of flash storage, 3G and WiFi connectivity. In terms of design, the Airlife 100 isn't much different from the HP Mini 1000 netbook, and for good reason. HP owns the Compaq brand.

One of the major difference between the Airlife 100 and Lenovo's upcoming Skylight is that the latter has an ARM-based processor and built-in 3G connectivity. Both machines feature always-on internet connectivity that lets them receive incoming communications even when the lid is closed.

The Compaq Airlife 100 runs Google Android and sports a touchscreen display. HP has, however, tweaked the software so that you can also use a touchpad to navigate even though the Android OS doesn't have a cursor.

The Fujitsu LifeBook T730 has quietly made its debut. The notebook has a 12.1 inch WXGA convertible touchscreen display. It can configured with Intel's Core i5-520M, i5-540M or Core i7-620M processor. Other specifications include up to 500GB HDD or 256GB SSD, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, integrated Intel HD graphics, Intel WiFi a/g/n or Atheros b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, VGA, HDMI, Ethernet, FireWire, 3 USB ports, SD card reader, ExpressCard 54 and audio in/out. There are 3 USB 2.0 ports.

The base model ships with an active digitizer that can be used with a special stylus. A dual-mode panel that accepts both stylus and multitouch finger inputs is also available as an option. The LifeBook T730 will get around 5.5 hours of runtime with the standard 5,200mAh battery.

Pricing and availability
The LifeBook T730 is now available for purchase. The base model with a Core i5-520M processor and 2GB of RAM goes for $1,869. You can upgrade to the Core i7 model by shelling out an extra $150.

Several main stream PC makers are working on smartbooks which combine the features of a smartphone and a netbook. The Lenovo Skylight, for example, is a smartbook bearing the form factor of a netbook.

Asus, the company that sparked the netbook revolution, hasn't announced any smartbooks yet and if sources are correct Asus isn't keen on building one either. The company is taking a different approach. It is building a netbook with a pull-out mobile phone.

Besides allowing you to make calls, the phone will also work as a 3G modem for the laptop. So what is the advantage of using a system like this? Well, you need to pay for only one data plan. You can use your mobile phone and your netbook on the same network for the same price. It is, however, not clear whether you will be able to use both devices at the same time.

According to sources, the Asus netbook will use a phone module from Modu, which is already available on the market. No word on pricing or availability, but more details are expected to emerge at the Computex trade show in June.

Dell Singapore has uploaded the product page for the Inspiron M301z featuring AMD's newest dual core Neo processor. The notebook is not yet available on Dell's US website.

The Dell Inspiron M301z has a starting price of $999. It features a 1.3GHz dual core Athlon II Neo K325 processor, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4225 integrated graphics and a 320GB hard drive spinning at 7200rpm. The notebook can also be configured with a 1.5GHz Neo K625 processor and up to 4GB of RAM.

The Inspiron M3o1z has a 13.3 inch WLED glossy display featuring 1366 x 768 pixels. It ships with a 6-cell 44Whr battery which should power the machine for up to 5 hours.

Availability
The Dell Inspiron M301z is now available for purchase in Singapore. It is expected to be available in parts of the world soon.

Tablets are the flavor of the season.Here are a few tablet stories doing the rounds:

Sony could launch a tablet
Sony is well known for its line of personal computing devices. In fact, the Japanese company has even earned the reputation of being the Apple of Windows PC makers. Sony certainly thinks highly of its machines. Needless to say, Sony computers are pricier than those built and marketed by competitors such as HP, Dell, Asus, Lenovo and others. The best part is that they still manage to sell a large number of units. Now that Apple has proved that a tablet could be a money making machine, Sony is also keen on building one. But Sony doesn't want to admit that they are inspired by Apple. A Sony VP said that they were thinking about building a tablet, even before the iPad was announced. LOL.

$189,000 iPad is plated in gold
Shopping for an iPad? Well, it looks like almost everybody has already bought one. But just in case you aren't happy about carrying around something that only costs between $500 and $800, you will be interested in this proposition. The iPad SUPREME EDITION that costs nearly $200 grand is now available for purchase. Interested? It is plated in gold and encrusted with diamonds.

Intel has both single core and dual core Atom processors for desktop computers. For netbooks, however, only single core processors are available at the moment but Intel is working on dual core versions as well. Now word is that the new chip will be called Atom N550.

The dual core Atom N550 will reportedly have a clock speed of 1.5GHz, 1MB of L2 cache and two cores with support for hyperthreading.

The new chipset will have a total power draw (TDP) of 8.5 watts. The TDP includes the power consumed by the CPU, integrated graphics and memory controller. Of course, this chip will consume more power than the single core Atom N450 and N470 processors, but that is the price you have to pay for adding another core. That said, the dual core Atom processors are unlikely to offer a significant boost in performance, but they will have more power to handle multitasking.

The new dual core chips are expected to hit the streets in the third quarter of 2010.

The Asus U Bamboo series notebooks feature a chassis built of bamboo. They show the company's commitment towards going green. Bamboo which is a good alternative to plastic is known for its superior strength and heat resistance.

The recently unveiled Asus U Bamboo series include the 13.3 inch U33JC, the 14.1 inch U43JC and the 15.6 inch U53JC. All three notebooks feature a Core i5-450M processor, NVIDIA graphics, 2GB of DDR3 memory, 500GB hard drive and USB 3.0 ports. The notebooks run the various versions of Windows 7 Operating system.

The relatively cheaper U35 and U45 notebooks are also part of the Asus U Bamboo series. Instead of the USB 3.0 ports found on their pricier siblings, these machines have USB 2.0 ports instead. The Asus U35 has a 13.3 inch display whereas the U45 has a 14.1 inch display. Both models ship with an 8-cell battery.

Pricing and availability
The new Asus U-Bamboo series notebooks should be available mid-June. The U33JC will sell for the equivalent of around $1,290 in Taiwan. The U43Jc and U53Jc will start at around $1,360. Note that the prices may change when these notebooks reach other countries.

The Asus Eee PC 1201PN has been officially unveiled at long last. This 12.1 inch notebook with NVIDIA's next-gen ION graphics has been making unofficial appearances for a while. And now it is up for pre-order in Germany. Prices start at 479 Euros or about $608 US.

The Eee PC 1201PN is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor with NVIDIA's next-gen ION graphics. It features a 12.1 inch display with 1366 x 768 pixels. The NVIDIA ION processor is capable of handling 1080p HD video playback and some modern 3D games. The notebook also ships with the ArcSoft TotalMedia Theater, a media player which offers hardware video acceleration for ION powered laptops. Other features include Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, HDMI output and 5.1 channel audio. No word on pricing or availability in the US.

Toshiba Updates Satellite Pro line with Core i3 or Core i5 processors
The Toshiba Satellite Pro line has been updated with Intel's Core i3 and i5 processors and AMD's latest dual core Athlon II processors. The models that have been updated are the 15.6 inch Satellite Pro C650 / C650D, the 13.3 inch L630, the 15.6 inch L650 / L650D and the 17.3 inch L670 /670D. While the models with the suffix D get the Athlon II processor, all others are available with a Core i3 or i5 processor.

The notebooks feature either a 1,600 x 900 or 1,366 x 768 pixels LED-backlit display, integrated Intel GMA HD graphics or the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5145 discrete GPU,an optional Blu-ray drive and up to 8GB of RAM.

The notebooks also feature Toshiba's Media Controller software for streaming content to other devices in the network. No word on pricing or availability, but these machines are expected to be available in Europe and Asia sometime soon.

According to a Digitimes report Acer will showcase multiple Chrome OS based products at Computex in June. These could be tablets, netbooks or main stream computers. Acer has always said that it wants to be the first company to bring a Chrome OS netbook to the market. And now it looks like Acer may meet that goal.That said, you will still not be able to walk into a store and buy a Chrome based device soon because Google has no plans to release its Chrome OS until this Fall.

Google Chrome is a cloud-based operating system. It is actually an operating system built around a web browser. And since the only real application is a web browser, Chrome OS devices will boot quickly and you will be able to get online in a matter of seconds.

AMD has never really had a dedicated line of processors for the netbook and ultra thin laptop segment. But the sky-rocketing popularity of these mini-laptops has forced AMD to re-think its decision. And today the chipmaker unveiled its Nile platform for ultrathin notebooks.The new processors are available in single and dual core versions and will consume between 9 and 15 watts of power.

PC makers will be able to pair these processors with ATI Radeon HD 5400 or 4200 graphics which means that the new platform will have more than enough power to take on Intel's CULV (Consumer Ultra Low Voltage) platform. Other features include support for DirectX 10.1 graphics and DDR3 memory.

AMD claims that the new processors will get around 8 hours of uptime, but that depends upon the capacity of batteries.The AMD Nile processors are meant for use in laptops with 11 to 13.3 inch displays, HDMI output and 5.1 channel audio.

Acer launched three mini-laptops this week and all of them are powered by AMD's newest low power processors. Here are some of the highlights of the new machines.

Acer Aspire One 521
The Acer Aspire One 521 is powered by a 1.2GHz AMD V105 single core processor and ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics. It is capable of handling HD video playback. The netbook also has an HDMI port for transferring video to an external display. The Aspire One 521 has a 10.1 inch display with 1024 x 600 pixels. It supports DDR3 memory.
Acer Aspire 721
The Acer Aspire 721 has an 11.6 inch display with 1366 x 768 pixels. It is powered by a dual core AMD Athlon Neo K325 processor with ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics. This model also supports HDMI output. Other features include Bluetooth, optional 3G, Ethernet. There are 3 USB ports.

Acer Aspire 1551
In terms of looks, the Aspire 1551 isn't much different from the Aspire 721. Both models are equipped with 11.6 inch displays. There is one difference, though. The Aspire 1551 has an AMD Turion II Neo dual core processor and ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics. The notebook can decode 1080p HD video. Other features include HDMI port, WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G.

Dell has released an updated version of its semi-rugged Latitude 2100 netbook. The new model dubbed Latitude 2110 has pretty much the same looks as its predecessor, but it also sports a number of updates.

First, the Latitude 2110 is powered by a 1.83GHz Intel Atom N470 processor and GMA 3150 graphics. Second, it’s available with an optional touchscreen display. The netbook supports a range of operating systems including Ubuntu 9.10, Window XP, Windows Vista Home Basic, or Windows 7 Starter. As for the storage, you can opt for either an SSD (16GB / 64GB)or an HDD (160GB, 5400rpm / 250Gb, 7200 rpm).

The wireless connectivity options are WiFi 802.11b/g/n or 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth and 3G.The laptop ships with 1GB of RAM. An HD display with 1366 x 768 pixels is also available as an option. But you can't have a high resolution screen and a touchscreen.

The Latitude 2110 is aimed at businesses and education segment. Prices range between $389 and $891, depending upon your configuration.

The Asus Eee PC R101 is now up for pre-order in Germany. The Eee PC R101 is basically a rebadged version of the Eee PC 1001PX but while the 1001PX is meant for the US market, the R101 is meant for the German market.

The netbook has a 10.1 inch display with 1024 x 600 pixels. It is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor with 1GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive. The battery is rated at 4400mAh and should power the laptop for up to 9.5 hours. The Eee PC R101 runs Windows 7 Starter Edition. Other features include 2 USB ports and WiFi 802.11b/g/n.

Pricing and availability
The Eee PC R101 is now available for pre-order from NotebooksBilliger.de for 299 Euros, or about $380 US.

Few netbooks available on the market have HDMI output for HD video. That makes sense, because Atom powered netbooks can't handle HD video playback. Netbooks with NVIDIA ION graphics or Broadcom Crystal HD video Accelerator are exceptions to this rule.

But it looks like things could change in the span of an year. Fudzilla reports that Intel's upcoming Cedar Trail-M Atom platform will offer full support for 1080p HD video. These chips are due out in the second half of 2011. This platform is also expected to support HDMI output which means that you will be able to easily plug a netbook into an HDTV. Of course, none of these claims have the official backing of Intel.

MSI has been working on a slate PC or a two for a while. The company even showed off some tablet prototypes at CES in January. But that was before the 'magical and revolutionary' iPad hit the streets. iPad has already established itself as the device to beat in the tablet space so much so that HP even shelved its tablet plans. But it looks like MSI is undeterred by the success of Apple. The company is well on track and may release its tablets in a short while. According to Digitimes,MSI will show off a Windows 7 tablet at Computex in June.

The MSI Slatebook will reportedly have an Intel Atom Z-series processor and a 10 inch touchscreen display. It will have WiFi and 3G connectivity. The tablet is likely to go for under $500. There is still no word on a release date. Like the iPad, the MSI Slatebook will also be able to read eBooks. The company is in talks with publishers and apps developers for content for its tablet.

The just-launched Lenovo IdeaPad U160 is an 11.6 inch thin and light laptop with a Core i-series ULV processor. The machine weighs about 3 pounds and measures 0.9 inches in thickness.

At $699, this machine is costlier than the IdeaPad U150, but it also packs some cool components under its hood. The IdeaPad U160 will be available with your choice of an Intel Celeron, Pentium, Core i3, i5 or i7 processors. The notebook runs Windows 7 - Starter, Home Basic or Home Premium. Other specifications include up to 4GB of RAM, up to 500GB of storage, 1.3 megapixel webcam, WiFi 802.11b/g or WiFi 802.11b/g/n, optional Bluetooth and optional 3G connectivity.

The IdeaPad U160 has the regular array of ports including 3 USB ports, an eSATA port, VGA, HDMI, a 5-in-1 flash card reader, headphone and mic jacks. The 11.6 inch display features 1366 x 768 pixels. Both 3-cell and 6-cell battery options are available. Lenovo says that the 6-cell battery will get around 7 hours of runtime.

Pricing and availability
The Lenovo IdeaPad U160 is expected to be available in June. Prices start at $699.

Intel plans to launch ultra low voltage version of its Core i3 and i5 processors. These processors are meant for use in thin and light laptops with larger displays than netbooks. Intel already has a large line of CULV (Comsumer Ultra Low Voltage) processors. The most popular among them are the Celeron SU2300, Intel Pentium SU4100 and Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 dual core processors.

The new chips will be faster than the current generation of CULV processors, but they will not be as powerful as their standard voltage siblings. These chips will be cheaper and get more battery life than other Core i-series processors.

The new chips are based on the 32nm architecture which will make them consume less power. No official word on pricing or availability, but these chips are expected to reach budget ultra thin laptops during this quarter itself.

A little over a year after launching the Vaio P 8-inch mini-laptop, Sony has refreshed the series. The new Vaio P has the same high definition display and small screen size, but it also sports some new features. Chief among the new features are the optical touchpad and the accelerometer.

The touchpad is built into the screen bezel. The pad is on the right bezel and the mouse buttons are on the left bezel. This arrangement is meant for navigating the desktop just by holding the screen. The accelerometer will allow you to rotate the display to read web pages.You can also tilt left or right to move forward or backward websites while surfing the web.

The top-of-the-line model is now available with a 2.13GHz Intel Atom Z560 processor. The base model still has the slower 1.6GHz Atom Z530. The new Vaio P laptops are available in five colors - black, white, pink, orange and green. Other specifications include 2GB of RAM,WiFi and optional 3G mobile broadband.The netbook runs Windows 7 Home Premium.

The standard storage option is a solid state drive. While the original model had up to 64GB of SSD, the new model is available with up to 256GB.

Pricing and availability
The new Vaio P laptops will start shipping in June. The base model starts at $800.

AMD is yet to officially announce its Phenom processors, but some PC makers have started announcing notebooks with the said processor.

The Dell Inspiron M501R, for example, is offered with an AMD Phenom II X4 quad-core processor with an unknown model name. The Acer Aspire 5553G notebook with a Phenom II X4 N930 (2.0GHz/2MB/35W) has been spotted on Amazon.de. HP has also announced a new notebook with the new AMD Phenom II Dual-Core N620 processor. The company claims that the new notebook will offer 'up to 69% faster performance than previous-generation HP AMD-powered notebooks'. Better still, the new processor will reportedly also get 'up to 24% longer battery life'.

Specsheets for the Dell Inspiron M501R and HP ProBook 4425s reveal that the new chips are paired with AMD M880G chipset and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 graphics.

The HP Envy 14 is a 14.5 inch consumer oriented notebook. It is available with your choice of a Core i3,i5 or i7 processors. The graphics option can be switched between the integrated Intel GMA HD and the ATI Radeon 5650 with 1GB of dedicated video memory. Up to 8GB of RAM can be installed. The standard storage option is an HDD (up to 640GB). Alternatively you can opt for a 160 / 256GB Solid State Drive.

The HP Envy 14 features the high definition HP Radiance display which offers up to 59% brighter images than standard displays. The display features 1600 x 900 pixels. Other features include integrated webcam, integrated microphones, WiFi 802.11n, WWAN with GPS, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, three USB ports, a 2-in-1 digital media reader and backlit keyboard with numeric pad.

The HP Envy 14 weighs 5.25 pounds with the standard 8-cell battery. It sports magnesium / aluminum chassis and runs Windows 7 (Professional, Premium or Ultimate).

Pricing and availability
The Envy 14 is expected to be available in the US starting June 27. The base model will sell for $999.

Dell has uploaded the product page for its Latitude E4310 thin and light laptop. The Dell Latitude E4310 is a 13.3 inch notebook aimed at small and medium businesses.

The Latitude E4310 is available with an Intel Core i5-520M or 540M processor, Intel HD integrated graphics, up to 500GB of HDD or up to 256GB of SSD, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory and DVD or Blu-ray drive. The 13.3 inch display features 1366 x 768 pixels.

The notebook weighs 3.4 lbs and measures 1.1 inches in thickness. The supported connectivity options include WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth, Ethernet, mobile broadband and WiMAX (optional)and an optional 56k modem. Other features include a 2 megapixel webcam, fingerprint reader, a smart card reader, full hard drive encryption, one USB and one eSATA /USB combo port, a 7-in-1 card reader, VGA output, an ExpressCard slot and a docking connector.

The notebook runs Windows 7 or Ubuntu Linux OS. No word on pricing.

An insider at HP has indicated that a webOS tablet bearing the code name HP Hurricane could be released in the third quarter of this year. Less than a fortnight ago, there were reports that HP had shelved its Windows 7 tablet PC. The company apparently wasn't all that impressed with the performance of Windows 7 on its prototype touch tablet. This all goes down well with what we heard and saw over the last few weeks.

HP recently acquired Palm and the WebOS running on its smartphones. While acquiring the webOS HP had said that they would take it to places it has never been. A tablet running the OS is perhaps what HP is planning to do. It is still not clear whether these are plane rumors, but we wouldn't be surprised if HP does bring a WebOS Slate in time for the holiday shopping season.

Several HP notebooks were updated earlier this week, but the TouchSmart tm2 convertible tablet style notebook wasn't one among them. But according to sources, the tm2 will be getting an update in June. Word is that HP will update the notebook with Intel's latest Core i3 and i5 processors. The graphics card may also get an upgrade.

The TouchSmart tm2 currently sports Intel's Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor. It has a 12.1 inch WXGA capacitive touchscreen display that accepts both finger and pen input. There is also a swivel that would let you fold the display down over the keyboard for using the device in the tablet mode.

There is still no official confirmation from HP. But since Intel is also expected to release the ULV version of its Core i5 processor in June, this rumor does seem believable.