Fujitsu has started shipping its LifeBook PH520 thin and light notebook. The Fujitsu LifeBook PH520 has an 11.6 inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. The machine was introduced a couple of weeks ago. It is now available for purchase in the US for $599.

Like most Fujitsu notebooks, the LifeBook PH520 is pricier than similar notebooks with other branding. The PH520 is powered by a 1.7GHz AMD Athlon II Neo K125 processor. It runs Windows 7 Professional operating system. Other specifications include 2GB of DDR3 memory, a 320GB hard drive, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI, flash card reader, 3 USB ports and a spill resistant keyboard. The notebook comes standard with a 5800mAh battery.

Sony has, in cooperation with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, issued a voluntary recall of 233,000 Sony VAIO laptops. The reason the laptops are being recalled is that they tend to overheat.

Most of the recalled notebooks belong to the VAIO F VPCF11 and VAIO C VPCCW2 Series. Sony has confirmed that it received around 30 reports regarding units that overheated resulting in damage to the keyboards and casings. No injuries have been reported so far. The recalled laptops were shipped between January 2010 and April 2010.

CPSC has also advised owners of the recalled units to visit the following link http://esupport.sony.com/US/f1cw2update for instructions on how to update the computer's BIOS firmware, which will prevent it from overheating.

Gateway has officially unveiled its 10.1 inch netbook called Gateway LT23. The device sports a fashionable lid with an organic woven pattern that appears to be mosaic.

The Gateway LT23 has an Intel Atom N450 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM and a 250GB hard disk drive. It ships with a 6-cell battery that should provide up to 8 hours of runtime. The 10.1 inch LED-backlit display has 1024 x 600 pixels.

The netbook weighs 2.76 pounds. Other specifications include an integrated web camera, WiFi 802.11n, Ethernet LAN, a multi-in-one card reader, 3 USB ports and a VGA output.

The Gateway LT23 is available in champagne, pearl and black color. It starts at $329.99.

Asus has officially announced its Eee PC 1215N with NVIDIA ION graphics and a 1.8GHz Atom D525 dual core processor.

The Asus Eee PC 1215N is a 12.1 inch notebook. It can play 1080p HD video, thanks to the ION graphics. And via the HDMI jack, you can transfer videos to an HDTV. The laptop also features the NVIDIA Optimus technology for automatically switching between the integrated and discrete graphics option, depending upon what task you are performing. Other features include up to 2GB of DDR3 RAM, up to 320GB hard drive, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, 2 USB 3.0 ports and 1 USB 2.0 Sleep'n'Charge port, HDMI and VGA output, 1.3 megapixel webcam and SD/SDHC/MMC card reader. The 12.1 inch display has 1366 x 768 pixels.

The Eee PC 1215N runs Windows 7 Home Premium. It ships with a 6-cell lithium ion battery.

The recently unveiled Toshiba Satellite T215 is an 11.6 inch ultraportable notebook.It is available in two configurations from Toshibadirect.com.

The Toshiba Satellite T215D-S1140 has a 1.7GHz AMD Athlon II Neo K125 single core processor and a 250GB hard disk. The other model, the Satellite T215D-S1150 has a AMD Athlon II Neo Dual-Core K325 1.3GHz CPU and 320GB of storage space. Both models ship with the ATI Radeon HD 4225 integrated graphics, 2GB of DDR3 memory, a 6-cell battery which will reportedly power the machines for up to 5.15 hours, Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, and an external USB DVD writer (optional).

The Satellite T215 has an 11.6 inch LED backlit display with 1366 x 768 pixels. Other features include a full-sized keyboard, a built-in webcam, microphone, stereo speakers, WiFi 802.11n, Ethernet LAN, three USB ports (one of which is shared with an eSATA port, multi-in-1 memory card reader, and VGA and HDMI outputs.

Pricing and availability
The notebooks feature a Fusion Chrome finish in red. While the Satellite T215D-S1140 start at $469.99, theT215D-S1150 has a starting price of $499.99.

Lenovo first showed off its Skylight smartbook at CES early this year.Back then, the prototype device featured a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and a Custom Linux distribution called Skylight. Lenovo put the smartbook on hold after a few months due to some reasons. It was eventually revived and Lenovo said that the company would use Google Android instead of the custom Linux OS. And now it is being said that Lenovo also plans to use a faster 1.5GHz Qualcomm processor, instead of the 1GHz chip the prototype featured. But since these processors won't be available until later this year, the Skylight won't hit the streets anytime soon.

In related news, Toshiba which unveiled its first smartbook last week is also working on two ARM-based tablets. These machines are also due out before the end of this year. The Toshiba tablets are reportedly being built by Taiwanese OEM Pegatron.

The Acer Aspire One AO533 is a 10.1-inch netbook. It is now available for pre-order in the US.

The Aspire One 533 is available with an Intel Atom N455 or Atom N475 processor, Intel GMA 3150 integrated graphics, 1GB of DDR3 RAM, a 160GB or a 250GB hard drive, Windows 7 Starter Edition and a 6-cell battery that should power the machine for up to 8 hours on a single charge. The 10.1 inch LED backlit display has 1024 x 600 pixels.

Other features include a built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam, microphone, stereo speakers, WiFi 802.11n, Ethernet LAN, 3 USB 2.0 ports, Bluetooth 3.0, a multi-gesture touchpad, a multi-in-1 media card reader and a VGA output. The netbook weighs 2.76 pounds. It is available in black and red. Acer will also, reportedly, release the netbook in white sometime soon.

Pricing and availability
The Acer Aspire One 533 is now available for order from Amazon. Prices start at $329.99.

The highly anticipated HP Envy 14 is finally here. The Envy 14 is a 14.5 inch notebook. It is available with your choice of a Core i3, i5 or i7 processor.

The base model will set you back $1,099. For that price, you will get a 14.5 inch HD Radiance display with up to 1600 x 900 pixels, a Core i3-370M (2.40GHz) processor, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB,7200rpm hard drive, ATI Radeon HD 5650 discrete graphics with 1GB of dedicated video memory and an 8-cell battery. Higher-end configurations involving a Core i7 quad-core processor, up to 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and an add-on 6-cell battery is also available.

The HP Envy 14 measures 1.1 inches in thickness and weighs 5.25 pounds. The new Envy 14 has the same look and feel as the previous Envy notebooks,but it is slightly larger allowing the machine to fit a Core i7 processor and powerful ATI graphics inside.

The Acer Aspire 1551 has hit the retailers. This machine has better specs than a typical netbook, but it is cheaper than a regular thin and light laptop. The Aspire 1551 has an 11.6 inch LED backlit display. It is powered by a 1.5GHz AMD Turion II Neo K625 dual core processor. Other specifications include an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4225 discrete graphics, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 320GB hard drive, HDMI-out, WiFi 802.11n and a six-cell battery that should power the machine for up to 5 hours on a single charge. The laptop weighs just over 3 pounds. It will, reportedly, be able to decode 1080p HD video, thanks to the powerful ATI graphics.

Pricing and availability
The Acer Aspire 1551 is now available for $550., a 320GB hard drive, 802.11n WiFi, HDMI-out and a six-cell, five-hour battery into a package weighing just over three pounds. If you've got $550 to drop, there's an Aspire 1551 with your name on it, available now practically wherever laptops are sold.

Samsung has unveiled its Summer 2010 netbook lineup which includes the stylish N230 and N220 netbooks, and updated versions of N150 and NB30.

At just 2.2 pounds, the Samsung N230 is ultralight. It has a glossy black finish and promises up to seven hours of battery life. The N220 weighs 2.9 pounds. It has a green exterior with chrome accents. It will get around 10 hours of battery life.

The updated N150 (N150-11BL) features a matte black exterior with red accents and a anti-glare display. It will reportedly get around 10 hours of battery life on a single charge. The refreshed NB30 (NB30-11B) has a blue case and offers up to 9.5 hours of battery life.

All laptops have 10.1 inch displays, 250GB hard drives,1GB of DDR2 memory, Intel Atom N450 processor, Windows 7 Starter OS, WiFi 802.11n and 0.3 megapixel webcams.

Pricing and avaibility
The N150-11BL, NB30-11B and the new N220 are expected to be available in June for $349, $359 and $369 respectively. The N230 netbook will start shipping in July for an MSRP of $399.

Samsung has unveiled its summer 2010 notebook lineup. The highlights are the Samsung R440 and R540 notebooks.

The 14 inch Samsung R440-11 has an Intel Core i3-330M processor, Intel GMA integrated graphics, up to 320GB hard drive and a DVD burner. The notebook will get around 4 hours of battery life. The 15.6 inch R540-11 has a Core i5-450M processor, ATI Mobility Radeon HD545v discrete graphics, up to 500GB storage, a DVD burner or Blu-ray Combo drive. The R540-11 will get around 4.5-hours of battery life.

Both notebooks have LED backlit displays with 1366 x 768 pixels. Other common specifications include 4GB of DDR3 RAM, Windows 7 Home Premium, 0.3MP web cameras, multi-gesture touchpads, WiFi 802.11n, 3 USB 2.0 ports, and HDMI outputs.

Samsung has also upgraded its 15.6 inch R530. The new model called R530-11 has a Core i3-330M CPU, the NVIDIA GeForce 310M discrete GPU, 4GB DDR3 RAM, a 500GB HDD, 3 USB ports, 0.3 megapixel webcam, WiFi 802.11n and Windows 7 Home Premium. The 15.6 inch display has 366×768 pixels.

The Samsung R440, R540, and R530 will start shipping in July for $729, $999, and $799, respectively.

The Acer Aspire AS8943G is now available in the US. The Aspire AS8943G is an 18.4 inch desktop replacement laptop aimed at multimedia enthusiasts. It sports a full HD display, an Intel quad-core processor, and ATI dedicated graphics.

The Aspire AS8943G belongs to the Aspire Ethos line. It is available in two configurations: the AS8943G-6190 and AS8943G-6782. Both models have an Intel Core i7 720QM CPU, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 graphics with 1GB of video card, a 500GB hard drive, a Blu-ray Combo drive, and an 8-cell battery which should power the machine for up to 3 hours. While the AS8943G-6190 ships with 4GB of DDR3 memory,the AS8943G-6782 has 8GB. Both models support up to 16GB of memory.

Other features include five integrated speakers, a dedicated subwoofer, Dolby Home Theatre Audio, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, chiclet style keyboard with dedicated number pad, a fingerprint reader, WiFi 802.11n, four USB ports and HDMI and VGA outputs. The dual mode touchpad has capacitive touch media controller icons for switching between multi-gesture mode to media console mode.

TheAspire AS8943G weighs 10.1 pounds. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium OS. Both models are now available for order. The AS8943G-6190 is going for $1,549.99 from Amazon whereas the AS8943G-6782 will set you back $1,599.99 (Newegg).

The Dell Inspiron 17R is a 17.3-inch desktop replacement laptop. It is the largest model in the new Inspiron R series.

The Inspiron 17R is available with Intel Core i3 and i5 processors, Intel HD integrated or ATI Mobility Radeon HP 5470 discrete graphics with 1GB of dedicated video RAM, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory and up to 500GB hard drive space. The 17.3 inch display has 1600 x 900 pixels. Other specifications include a DVD burner or Blu-ray Combo drive, 1.3 megapixel webcam, SRS Premium Sound, stereo speakers, WiFi 802.11n, Ethernet, 3 USB 2.0 ports, eSATA/USB combo port, 7-in-1 media card reader, HDMI and VGA outputs. Optional features include Bluetooth and WiMax.

The Inspiron 17R has a full sized keyboard with a dedicated number pad. It runs Windows 7 or Vista. The notebook features a brushed glossy chassis. It is available in three colors - Mars Black, Peacock Blue, or Tomato Red color.

The standard 6-cell battery is expected to get around 4 hours of runtime. The battery life can be extended to around 8 hours by using the optional 9-cell battery.

Pricing and availability
The Dell Inspiron 17R is now available from the Dell store. Prices start at $619.99.

Gateway has introduced its ID series of thin and light notebooks. The Gateway ID series includes the 14-inch ID49 and 15.6-inch ID59.

The notebooks measure only around 1 inch in thickness. While the ID49 weighs 5.07 pounds, the ID59 is slightly heavier at 5.5 pounds. Both models are available with Intel's Core i3 and i5 processors and integrated Intel HD graphics. Select models of ID49 are also available with NVIDIA GT330M graphics.

Other features that are common to both laptops include 1366 x 768 pixels LED-backlit displays, up to 500GB of storage, up to 8GB of RAM, DVD burners, Dolby Home Theater audio, 1.3 megapixel webcam, stereo speakers and WiFi 802.11n. The laptops run Windows 7 Home Premium and will reportedly offer around 6 hours of battery life.

The Gateway ID series notebooks feature a sleek silver casing. The most interesting feature of the machines is the unique aqua-blue touchpad which glows when touched.

The Gateway ID49 and Gateway ID59 have a starting price of $679.99 and $799.99, respectively

The folks at E Ink are working on building a new kind of display that is a whole lot more durable than other displays on the market. No tech product is 100% indestructible, but it is perfectly possible to build products that can withstand everyday use and abuse.

The E Ink displays available today use glass screens. The new technology uses plastic which is more durable than glass. A plastic screen, for instance, won't break when you drop it or drop something on it. Plastic is also quite flexible so the screen can be bent gently. On the flip side, the plastic screen isn't scratch proof. It is also prone to develop cracks if you try really hard.

According to E Ink, the technology could be used to make low power eBook readers for students. These devices will be a whole lot harder to break. Better still, you can throw them inside your bag without having to worry about breaking the display.

The HP Mini 110e is the company's latest mini-laptop aimed at students in grades 6 and lower. Its looks give the impression that it is just another netbook based on Intel's Classmate PC reference design. While there are some similarities, the HP Mini 110e different from most other Classmate PCs in many respects.

For one thing, it has a spill resistant chiclet style keyboard which is different from a typical netbook keyboard. The laptop still has the same toy like design as other Classmate PCs, but that is a design element HP incorporated to make the machine capable of withstanding minor falls, scrapes etc.

The base model of HP Mini 110e sports a stark white color. But schools will be able to customize the lid in whatever manner they like for an additional fee. HP, for instance, recently showed off a World Cup Edition model.

Lenovo has confirmed that its Skylight smartbook and IdeaPad U1 Hybrid notebook will be available before the end of 2010. The Ideapad U1 Hybrid has a detachable display that can work as an independent tablet. While the original plan was to run a custom Linux distribution on these devices, Lenovo has decided to replace it with Google Android instead. And according to Lenovo, they decided to use the Android OS because the 'ecosystem around Android is really picking up speed'.

In other words, Lenovo has realized that running Android is a smarter decision than running a custom Linux distribution because Android enjoys greater support. The Android market is already full of third party applications and it won't be long before we see some third party apps for these devices.

The Apricorn Aegis NetDock has started shipping. The NetDock is a USB docking station for netbooks and notebooks that need extra hard drive space, an optical disc drive, and extra USB ports. As you probably know most netbooks lack an optical drive. Many of them don't have sufficient number of USB ports either. A USB docking station is helpful in such situations because it offers all or most of these features.

The Apricorn Aegis NetDock is available in two versions. The $189 version comes with a 500GB, 5400RPM hard drive, while $89 gets you a model with an empty 2.5″ hard drive bay into which you can add your own hard drive. Both versions have an 8X DVD burner and a 4 port USB 2.0 hub with 2 “always on” ports.

Since the NetDock is a 3-in-1 device it requires more power than what the USB drives on your computer can provide. Consequently, you need to plug the NetDock into a wall jack.

MSI has officially introduced its Wind U135DX netbook.The machine looks an awful lot the Wind U135 which has been around since January. There are, nevertheless, a few differences. The new Wind U135DX has a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 processor, whereas the original Wind U135 ships with a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor.

The Atom N455 has the same clock speed as the Atom N450, but it supports DDR3 memory. But curiously the MSI product page for the Wind U135DX says that it has 1GB of DDR2 RAM. We are yet to figure out whether this is a typo.

The Wind U135DX has a 10.1 inch display with 1024 x 600 pixels. Other specifications include Intel GMA 3150 graphics, a 160GB hard drive, a 0.3 megapixel webcam, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, 3 USB ports, flash card reader and VGA output. The netbook will be available with a choice of 3 or 6 cell battery. No word on pricing or availability at the moment.

Acer has announced two new laptops for consumers on a budget. The 15.6″ Aspire 5741 (AS5741) and the 17.3-inch Aspire 7741 (AS7741) are available with Intel's Core i5, i3, as well as AMD Phenom II, Athlon II, Turion II, and AMD V Series CPUs. It should be noted that these are not official model names and may change by the time the laptops hit the market.


The new Aspire notebooks feature rounded edges and textured mesh lids. Other specifications include 4GB of DRR3 RAM, up to 500GB hard drives, WiFi 802.11n and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. Select models are available with ATI Radeon 5470 or 5650 dedicated graphics and Blu-ray drives.

The new Acer Aspire notebooks are expected to be available later this month. Prices range between $429.99 to $899.99.

The Clevo D900F and W880CU gaming notebooks are now available for order in the US. These machines can be configured with NVIDIA's latest GeForce GTX 480M discrete graphics.

The 17 inch D900F can be ordered from Sager, AVA Direct and Malibal. The machine features Core i7 six core and quad core processors, up to 12GB of RAM, up to three hard or solid state drives, as well as the DirectX 11-compatible GTX 480M discrete graphics with 2GB of GDDR5 video RAM.

The 17.3 inch Clevo W880CU is sold by the same retailers. It features Intel's Core i5 and i7 processors, up to 8GB of RAM and optional dual hard drives or solid state drives.

When configured with the GeForce GTX 480M, the Clevo D900F will cost $2500 whereas the Clevo W880CU with the same GPU starts at $2,000. If you are budget conscious, you may want to configure the notebooks with the GeForce GTX 285 which costs around $500 less.

The new Acer Aspire AS5745 and AS7745 multimedia laptops are now available in the US.

The Aspire AS5745 features a 15.6-inch LED backlit display with 1366×768 pixels, whereas the AS7745 Series has a 17.3-inch LED backlit display with 1600×900 pixels. The notebooks are available with a choice of Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 processors, discrete graphics and Dolby Home Theater audio. Select models of Aspire AS5745 are available with multi-touch displays.

One of the featured models that Acer has been highlighting is the Aspire AS5745G-6538 with the Intel Core i7 720QM quad-core processor and NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M dedicated graphics.

Other featured models include the multi-touch Acer Aspire AS5745PG-3882 with the Core i5 and GeForce GT 330M and the Aspire AS7745G-6214 with the Core i7 720QM processor, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 graphics, 1TB of storage via dual hard drives, up to 16GB RAM via four memory slots and a Blu-ray drive.

The regular AS5745 and AS7745 have a starting price of $699, while the AS5745G, AS5745PG, and AS7745G start at $1,049, $899.99, and $1,399, respectively

The Acer Timeline X series notebooks have finally made their debut in the US. Acer has been selling these machines in other parts of the world for a few months now. The Acer Timeline X consists of several thin and light models with prices starting at $599.99.

The smallest among the bunch is the Acer Aspire Timeline 1830T. This machine has an 11.6 inch display. The base model with a Core i3 CPU, 3GB of DDR3 memory and a 320GB HDD costs $599.99. For $699.99 you can get a Core i5 ULV CPU, 4GB of DDR3 memory and 500GB HDD.

The other models that are on offer include the 13.3-inch 3820T, 14-inch 4820T, and the 15.6-inch 5820T.

The Aspire 5820T and the Aspire 4820T notebooks ship with 4GB of RAM, up to 500GB of storage and a built-in optical drive. Prices start at $749.99. The discrete graphics option is available on the Aspire 4820TG which features an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 graphics. This model costs $799.99 with a Core i3 processor, 4GB of DDR3 memory and a 320GB hard drive. The Core i5 version with a 500GB hard drive will cost $899.99.

The Aspire 3820T has a 13.3 inch display. It starts at $729.99 and has 4GB of DDR3 memory and a 320GB / 500GB hard drive.

The affordable Inspiron R Series notebooks are now available for purchase in the US. The notebooks that are currently available include the 14 inch Inspiron 14R, 15.6 inch Inspiron 15R and the 17.3 inch Inspiron 17R.

All three models are available with Intel's Core i3 and i5 processors, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory and up to 640GB HDD. ATI discrete graphics with 1GB of dedicated video memory is also available as a configuration option. Other features include built-in webcams, SRS Premium Surround Sound and optional Intel Wireless Display that would let you wirelessly connect the laptop to an HDTV when paired with a third party adapter which you need to buy separately.

The Dell Inspiron R series notebooks are available in four brushed finishes - Mars Black, Peacock Blue, Tomato Red and Lotus Pink – with chrome accents. They also feature smudge-resistant palm rests.

Pricing and availability
The Inspiron R series notebooks are now available at the Dell online store. Prices start at $449.

Toshiba has rolled out its first smartbook. The 10 inch mini-laptop has an ARM-based chipset and runs Google Android 2.1. The Toshiba AC100 has got the following specs.

Display: 10.1 inch display with 1024 x 600 pixels
Operating system: Google Android 2.1
Processor: 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra TM250
Storage: 8GB to 32GB flash storage
Memory: 512MB

The smartbook has got a 1.3 mega pixel webcam, USB, mini USB, HDMI, SD card slot, mic and audio. It supports WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth and 3G (optional). It will reportedly play 1080p video, thanks to its NVIDIA Tegra processor. Toshiba claims that it will get around 8 hours of batterylife while surfing and watching video. In standby mode, it will reportedly last for 180 hours.

Despite this being an Android device, the Toshiba AC100 does not have a touchscreen. It also ships with the Opera Mobile web browser instead of the default Webkit-based Android browser. Other software that comes pre-loaded with the smartbook include an email client with VoIP functionality and Documents to Go.

The mini-laptop also reportedly has a custom Facebook, YouTube and Twitter widgets. It doesn't support Adobe Flash at the moment, but according to Toshiba this issue will be addressed with an update to Android 2.2 in a few months.

The Toshiba AC100 is expected to start shipping in Japan as the Toshiba Dynabook AZ and it will cost around the local equivalent of $440 to $548.

The Toshiba Satellite A665-3DV, the first 3D laptop from Toshiba, is now available for purchase in the US. It features NVIDIA's 3D VISION technology that uses 3D software, 3D-ready display and active shutter glasses to convert 2D films into 3D.

The Satellite A665-3DV is powered by Intel's Core i7-740QM Quad-core processor. Other specifications include NVIDIA GeForce GTS 350M discrete graphics with 1GB of dedicated video memory, a 640GB hard drive and a Blu-ray combo optical drive. The 15.6 inch display has 1366 x 768 pixels.



The Toshiba Satellite A665-3DV also features Dobly Advanced Audio technology, harman/kardon stereo speakers, integrated webcam and mic, HDMI, VGA, WiFi 802.11N, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, four USB ports (one of which is shared with an eSATA port), an ExpressCard slot, a multi-in-one media card reader, and a backlit keyboard.

The notebook comes standard with a 12-cell battery. It weighs around 6.4lbs and gets around 4.5 hours of runtime. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium.

Pricing and availability
The Toshiba Satellite A665-3DV is now available for purchase from ToshibaDirect for $1,600.

Toshiba announced two new ultraportable laptops last week - the 11.6-inch Satellite T215 and 13.3-inch Satellite T235.

The Toshiba Satellite T215 is powered by an AMD Athlon II Neo processor with ATI integrated graphics, up to 320GB of HDD and 2GB of DDR3 memory. It weighs around 3.3 pounds. The Satellite T235 which weighs 3.9 pounds is available with your choice of an AMD Athlon II Neo, Turion II Neo or Intel Pentium ULV processor. Other specifications include up to 4GB of DDR3 memory and a 320GB hard drive.


Both laptops have integrated webcam, WiFi 802.11n, Ethernet LAN, Bluetooth, 3 USB ports (one of which is shared with an eSATA port), HDMI output and a multi-card reader. The notebooks feature dual-tone fusion chrome exteriors. They are available in red, white and black.

Pricing and availability

The Satellite T215 and T235 should be available from June 20th. Prices start at $469.99

Lenovo is the latest company to throw its hat in the 3D laptop ring. The just announced 15.6 inch IdeaPad Y560d is the company's first notebook with a 3D display.


The Lenovo IdeaPad Y560d is aimed at multimedia enthusiasts. It utilizes the TriDef 3D technology that uses a 3D screen, software and glasses to convert 2D images into 3D. The IdeaPad Y560d is powered by an Intel Core i7-620M processor. It features the switchable graphics solution combining the integrated graphics and the ATI Radeon HD 5730 discrete graphics with 1GB of dedicated video memory. Other specifications include 8GB of DDR3 RAM, up to 750GB hard drive, RapidShare 64GB Solid State Disk (optional) and Blu-ray (optional).

Lenovo's 3D laptop also has JBL speakers, Dolby Home Theater surround sound, WiFi 802.11N, Bluetooth (optional) and an HDMI output. The IdeaPad Y560d runs Windows 7 Home Premium.

Pricing and availability
The IdeaPad Y560d is expected to be available by the end of this month. It will have a starting price of around $1,199.99

The Acer Aspire One 532G was supposed to be the first 10 inch netbook to ship with NVIDIA's second generation ION platform. But now it looks like the project has been canceled. Acer USA has confirmed that the company has no plans to release the netbook 'in the upcoming back-to-school cycle'. Acer, however, hasn't confirmed or denied its plans to cancel the project. But according to French site Blogeee, the project has been canceled although it is not clear whether the cancellation would affect only Acer's European divisions.


The Aspire One 532G was introduced in February almost a month before NVIDIA announced its second generation ION graphics. The netbook was expected to have a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor with a light version of the NVIDIA IOn graphics. The laptop was also expected to have a 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display, 802.11b/g/n WiFi connectivity, a 6 cell, 4400mAh battery, and Windows 7 Starter Edition and sell for less than $500.

The Gigabyte T1000P is a 10.1 inch convertible touchscreen tablet style netbook. It has a swivel that would let you fold the display down over the keyboard for using the device in the tablet mode.


The Gigabyte T1000P was introduced a couple of months ago. It is now available for pre-order from Amazon for $699 plus shipping. At that price this machine isn't quite cheap. The netbook has a 1.83GHz Intel Atom N470 processor, a 250GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM and Windows 7 Starter Edition. The 10.1 inch display features 1366 x 768 pixels.

Apart from the HD display and a relatively faster processor, this machine doesn't have anything that would differentiate it from the Eee PC T101MT which sells for about $500. But if you are a high resolution display fan, the Gigabyte model is certainly a good option.

The Gigabyte T1000P is expected to start shipping on July 1st.

The Samsung N150 is the cheapest 10 inch netbook the company introduced this year. The netbook is also available in a few custom models. For instance, there is a kid friendly N150. There is also a colorful Corby edition and an Adidas-themed model. And now Samsung has introduced yet another model - the N150 Plus. The Samsung N150 Plus will be sold exclusively through Best Buy stores in the US. The folks at Laptop Magazine recently reviewed the new model and here is what they have found.

Compared with the regular N150, the Samsung N150 Plus has a higher capacity 250GB hard drive. It also features a new power management system to prolong the battery life. The new model has stylish red/black lid that reminds one of the brand’s higher-end laptops. Better still, it comes pre-loaded with Microsoft 2010 Starter Edition.

Samsung N150 Plus Quick specs

CPU: 1.66-GHz Intel Atom N450
Operating System: Windows 7 Starter Edition (32-bit)
RAM: upto 2GB
Hard Drive: 250GB hard drive spinning at 5,400 rpm
Display: 10.1 inch display with 1024 x 600 pixels
Graphics: Intel GMA 3150 integrated graphics
Wireless: 802.11b/g/n

The Samsung N150 Plus costs $372. The regular model sells for about $40 or $50 less. For the extra bucks you do get a few features that the regular version lacks. For instance, the N150 Plus comes pre-loaded with Office 2010 starter. The Starter Edition only includes Word and Excel. If you need PowerPoint or other applications you have to shell out $150 or so to upgrade. Alternatively you can use Office Web Apps online for free. Or you could install OpenOffice.org or another free office suite.

Display, keyboard and touchpad
The Samsung N150 Plus has a matte display which is quite usable outdoors. Display itself is good. Colors are bright and vivid. The keyboard is quite responsive. The keys provide nice tactile feedback. The touchpad could have been better.

Battery life

Despite having a new power management utility, the N150 Plus doesn't offer significantly longer battery life. In fact, it lasts for a little over 7 hours on a single charge. The regular N150 also gets around the same uptime. On the plus side, the computer now lasts longer in the sleep mode.

Performance

Performance is satisfactory. The netbook has enough power to handle day-to-day computing jobs. But N150 is powered by an Intel Atom processor with GMA 3150 graphics. So don't expect this to be a performance machine. Gaming is out of question, so is HD video playback.

Pros
Good design
Nice keyboard
Anti-glare matte display
Great speakers
Lasts longer in sleep

HP has revived the Mini 110 netbook. The device is now back at HP website. HP had almost retired the Mini 110 series after releasing the Mini 210 earlier this year.

The HP Mini 210 has better aesthetics than its predecessor. While it has a battery that sits flush with the base of the laptop, the Mini 110 had a large protruding battery. And unlike the Mini 110 which has a first generation Intel Atom processor, the HP Mini 210 features a Pine Trail Atom N450 processor.

The new HP Mini 110 has the same 10.1 inch matte display with 1024 x 600 pixels. It can be configured with either a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 or a 1.83GHz Intel Atom N475 processor. Both processors support DDR3 RAM. Other specifications include 1GB of RAM, a 160GB / 250GB hard drive and WiFi 802.11b/g/n. Bluetooth and 3G are optional features.

The HP Mini 110 comes standard with a 6-cell battery. It runs Windows XP Home or Windows 7 Starter. Prices start at $280.

PC makers have suddenly taken a fancy to the dual screen tablet/netbook hybrid. Earlier this year MSI unveiled a concept device with two 10 inch displays at CES. You can use the device like a netbook with one of the displays acting like a virtual keyboard. The MSI dual screen tablet is still in the concept stage and it is not clear whether it will ever hit the market. But MSI is not alone in this space. Recently a relatively unknown company called Kno launched a similar decide with twin 14 inch displays. And now it looks like Toshiba too wants a piece of the action.

According to a DigiTimes report, Toshiba is working on a 'dual-screen notebook'. It is currently being built in-house and carries the codename 'GuideBook'. It will have two 7 inch displays. Few details are available about the Toshiba GuideBook at the moment, but it could launch as early as this month.

In related news, HTC and Sony are also said to be building dual screen devices.

The Neofonie WeTab tablet PC will ship with pre-installed advertising widgets on the Home screen. There is apparently no way to turn the ads off. Neofonie says that they won't remove the ads because advertising is part of the company's plans to make money from the tablet.

The Neofonie WeTab made a lot of headlines when it was announced a couple of months ago. Its original name was WePad which had an uncanny resemblance to a certain other tablet on the market. Anyway Neofonie changed the name of the tablet to WeTab.


The WeTab has an 11.6 inch display. It runs a custom Linux operating system. The home screen is filled with widgets that would give you instant access to a lot of information such as email, IM, news feeds and social networking sites. And there are also widgets for advertising.

This isn't the first time companies have shipped PCs with software you didn't ask for. For instance, it isn't unusual for computers to ship with trail versions of Microsoft Office and Norton Internet Security. But customers still had the freedom to uninstall these apps if they want to. As for the ads on WeTab, well, they can't be removed. Of course, it won't take long before hackers manage to tweak the code and remove the ads altogether. Alternatively people may just install an operating system of their choice.

The Neofonie WeTab is expected to start shipping later this year in Germany.

MSI has started shipping its GX740 17-inch gaming laptop in the US. The MSI GX740 is aimed at power users. It is equipped with a Core i7 processor, ATI Radeon HD 5870 discrete graphics with 1GB of DDR5 memory and support for DirectX 11. Other features include 7.1 audio output, a built-in subwoofer, an HDMI output and VGA. The notebook also features MSI's Turbo Boost technology that enables hardware acceleration when needed.

Needless to say, the notebook measures 1.5 inches in thickness and weighs 7lbs. After all, you need a lot of room inside the chassis to handle all the heat that would be generated by these high-end components.

The GX740 has a 9-cell battery. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit and features a brushed aluminum chassis with fire-engine red accents. The 17 inch display sports 1680 x 1050 pixels. Other features include 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 500GB hard drive and Bluetooth. And the best part? At $1399.99, this monster is cheaper than Alienware M17x with similar specs.

The JooJoo tablet began its life as CrunchPad. The original idea was to build a tablet that would provide a nice interface for a web browser and help you get online in a matter of seconds. Unfortunately, the finished product didn't quite live up to the claims.

JooJoo, in fact, has got the right hardware. Its components are capable of delivering better performance than an iPad. The problem is with the custom software interface which doesn't support third party applications. But since JooJoo ships with an x86-based processor, it is capable of running any OS of your choice. And now members of the JooJoo Forum has discovered that the tablet can be turned into a much more versatile device by installing Windows 7 on it.

The accelerator and 3G modem aren't currently supported but hackers have managed to get the touchscreen work well with Windows 7. What's more, you can now use an on-screen keyboard, use any web browser you like and even play 720p HD video using the media player of your choice.

The JooJoo has a 12.1 inch display with 1366 x 768 pixels. It is powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor. Other specifications include NVIDIA ION graphics, 1GB of RAM and a 4GB SSD.

Acer is expected to introduce a new series of 11.6 inch Acer Aspire 1830 notebooks in the coming months. The upcoming Aspire 1830T and 1830Z will both sell for around 599 Euros ($725) in France.

The Acer Aspire 1830Z will have a Pentium U5400 dual core processor, while the 1830T model will feature a dual core Intel Core i3-330UM processor. Few details are available at the moment. There isn't a launch date either. Meanwhile, SuperBiiz is offering the Acer TravelMate TM8171 for those who don't want to wait till the Core i-series powered Aspire 1830T hits the market. The TravelMate TM8172 is now available for as little $579 (with coupon code PAPA30).

The Acer TravelMate TM8172 is an 11.6 inch notebook with an HD display featuring 1366 x 768 pixels. It is powered by a 1.2GHz Core i3-330UM low voltage processor. Other specifications include 2G of RAM, a 250Gb hard drive, and Windows 7 Professional.

At $579 with the coupon code this machine is certainly a better alternative to the Aspire 1830T which will have a higher price point.

Archos, a company known for its portable media players, has also built some netbooks. The most recent among them is a 13 inch laptop with netbook specs. The Archos 13 is powered by an Intel Atom processor. But with its 13.3 inch display, it is bigger than a typical netbook.

The Archos 13 is powered by a dual core Intel Atom D510 processor. This chip is usually found in desktops and it may deliver slightly better performance than the single core Atom processors found in most netbooks. Other specifications include 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 160GB hard drive, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.0. The notebook comes standard with a 6-cell battery. It has a VGI port. No HDMI. It runs Windows 7 Starter Edition.

The Archos 13 is now available in France for about €399.98 or about $485 US

The Adobe Flash Player 10.1 is now ready for download. Adobe has been releasing Beta versions for a while, but now the plugin is ready for prime time.

The Flash Player 10.1 supports hardware acceleration for H.264 video content. Unfortunately the technology doesn't work with all graphics card. But if your PC has NVIDIA ION graphics or Intel GMA 4500MHD, you should be able to watch high definition video. Some of the most recent ATI and NVIDIA GPUs should also work with the plugin. But the technology doesn't support the Intel GMA 950 or GMA 3150 integrated graphics.

Flash Player 10.1 also supports private browsing which means that it won't keep any cookies while you surf the web in your browser's private mode.

Flash Player 10.1 is now available for download here

The Acer Aspire 721 is now available for purchase. Amazon has started selling the notebook for $429.99 plus free shipping. The Aspire 721 is an 11.6 inch thin and light notebook with an AMD chipset.

The laptop was introduced last month. It is powered by a 1.7GHz AMD Athlon II Neo processor and ATI Radeon HD 4255 graphics with 384 MB of dedicated video RAM.

Other specifications include a 250GB hard drive, 2GB of memory, 3 USB ports, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, a 1.3 megapixel webcam and a 4400mAh battery. The 11.6 inch display has 1366 x 768 pixels.


The Acer Aspire 721 weighs 3.1 pounds. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium.

The Asus Eee PC 1201K is an ultraportable notebook with a 12 inch HD display. Its case design isn't much different from those of other ultraportable notebooks from Asus. So what makes this machine different from other models in the Eee PC 1201 series? Well, it appears that the 1201K has an AMD Geode processor which isn't something you would find in many laptops these days.

The folks at Eee PC.it came across an official product page for the notebook which mentions a 1.4GHz AMD Geode NX1750 processor and SIS741CX/964 chipset. Most other models in the Eee PC 1201 series have Intel Atom processors.

The Geode processors were launched in 2003. These are designed to reduce the power consumption. In fact, the original OLPC XO laptop was powered by a Geode processor.It is not clear whether this processor will deliver the same performance as an Intel Atom processor, but it will certainly help keep the price low.

As for the other specifications of the notebook, well, the Eee PC 1201K has 2 USB ports, and a VGA port. No HDMI.

Fujitsu has refreshed its ultraportable lineup. One of the models to get the update is the Fujitsu MH380 ten inch netbook. It is now available with a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 and 1.83GHz Intel Atom N4705 processor. Both processors support DDR3 memory.

Fujitsu has also unveiled a new line of 11.6 inch laptops. The Fujitsu LifeBook PH520 is powered by a 1.7GHz AMD Athlon Neo K1235 processor and ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics. The other model in the series, the LifeBook PH540, will have a 1.2GHz Intel Celeron SU2300 ULV processor instead.

The new 11.6 inch notebooks are expected to go on sale in Japan with Windows 7 Home Premium. They will sport HD displays with 1366 x 768 pixels. It is not clear whether these machines will be available outside of Japan.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, Sony plans to release a device similar to the iPad sometime soon. No details are available about the Sony tablet at the moment, but sources claim that it will be powered by Google Android. There are also people who believe that it will run Windows 7.

No matter what operating system it runs or what hardware it sports, one thing is certain. The Sony tablet won't be able to compete with iPad or other upcoming tablets in terms of price. The company is not known to produce affordable gadgets.
Sony has always marketed its products as higher-quality than those produced by its competitors. Needless to say, these machines always carried higher price tags. Take Sony Vaio P, for instance. This model does have a few premium features such as an accelerometer, an HD display and an SSD, but at $899,it is ridiculously pricey. The Sony tablet is unlikely to be affordable either.

The refreshed Sony VAIO P which was introduced a little over a month ago is now up for pre-order for $899 and up. The new VAIO P has the same 8 inch display as the previous one. It weighs 1.3 pounds and measures 0.8 inches in thickness. The 8 inch display features 1600 x 768 pixels. The updated models are available in a range of colors including white, orange,black, green and pink.

The new models have an optical touchpad built into the screen bezel. They also feature an accelerometer that would let you automatically rotate the display by tilting the device.

The base model of VAIO P has a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 processor, 2GB of DDR2 memory, a 128GB solid state drive, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1. The netbook runs Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit.

The Lenovo IdeaPad U160 thin and light notebook is now up for order. The IdeaPad U160 is powered by a low power Intel Core i-series processor. The cheapest model available at the moment starts at $1049. This is kind of surprising because Lenovo had announced that the base configuration of U160 would start at $699.Hopefully prices will come down as Lenovo starts offering new configuration options.

So what do you get for your money? For $1049 you get an 11.6 inch HD display with 1366 x 768 pixels, a 1.06GHz Intel Core i5-520UM processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 320GB hard drive, a 6-cell battery, WiFi 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 2.1. The notebook runs Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit.

Willing to shell out an extra hundred bucks? Well, you can get a 1.2GHz Core i7-640UM processor, a 500GB hard drive and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

The Alienware M11x ultraportable gaming laptop is now available with a choice of Core 2 Duo, Core i5 and Core i7 processors. One of the cheapest and lightest gaming notebooks on the market, the Alienware M11x hit the streets a few months ago. Back then it started at $799.


You still get the same NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M graphics with the new models. But besides the Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor, the Core i5-520UM and Core i7-640UM options are also available now. The Core i-series configuration starts at $949. Dell has also upped the price for the Core 2 Duo model to $899, but unfortunately hasn't added any new features.

The new Core i-series models also support the NVIDIA Optimus technology for automatically switching between the integrated and discrete graphics options. Core 2 models do not support the technology so you will have to manually switch between the integrated and discrete graphics options.

The bad news is that the starting price for the Alienware M11x with a Core i-series processor is $949. And at the same time, Dell seems to have upped the price for the Core 2 Duo model to $899 without adding any new features.

It’s also worth pointing out that if you grab the Core 2 Duo model, you’ll have to manually switch between discrete and integrated graphics, while the new Core i-series models support NVIDIA Optimus technology for automatically shifting between graphics cards depending on what you’re doing with the computer.

Update: Dell either had a change of heart or fixed an error on its web site. Ether way, the Core 2 Duo model is now available for $799 once more

Acer officially introduced three new budget-minded laptops today. Here is a run down on their specs.

Acer Aspire One 533

The Aspire One 533 netbook has a 10.1 inch display with either 1024 x 600 or 1280 x 720 pixels. We have been hearing about this machine for a while. It also made an appearance at Computex last week. The Aspire One 533 is available with your choice of a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 or 1.83GHz Intel Atom N470 processor. Other features include DDR3 memory, up to 250GB of storage, HDMI output, integrated WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and 3G.

Acer says that the laptop will get around 10 hours of battery life. The Aspire One 533 is available in glossy black, red or white.

Acer Aspire One D260

The Acer Aspire One D260 is available with a dual boot system that would let you boot into either Android or windows 7. The netbook has a 10.1 inch display with 1024 x 600 pixels, a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 or N455 processor, GMA 3150 graphics, WiFi, 1GB of RAM and up to 250GB of hard drive space. Optional features include Bluetooth 3.0.

Acer Aspire One 753

The Aspire One 753 is an 11.6 inch notebook. It is available with an Intel Celeron U3400 ULV processor,integrated Intel HD graphics with 128MB of dedicated video memory and DirectX 10 support. The 11.6 inch display has 1366 x 768 pixels. Other specifications include built-in WiFi, Bluetooth or 3G (optional), up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM and up to 640GB of storage.