Research in Motion (RIM), maker of the celebrated BlackBerry smartphones, is expected to launch its first Blackberry tablet in November. The company recently purchased the blackpad.com and now Bloomberg has confirmed that the tablet will be called Blackpad. Even though the tech fraternity isn't very enthusiastic about that name, RIM, it seems, has decided to go ahead.
According to Bloomberg, the Blackberry tablet or Blackpad will have a 9.7 inch display.It will feature both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity and users will be able to access the internet by connecting the Blackpad to a Blackberry over Bluetooth. The tablet will also sport two cameras - one on the front and the other on the back.
The BlackPad will reportedly have the same price point as the iPad which starts at $499. The Blackpad tablet is designed to work with Blackberry phones. It will allow you to access your Blackberry content on a larger screen. But while the iPad can run about 2,50,000 applications, only about 6000 apps are available for Blackberry users at the moment.
WALMART SELLING THE ACER ASPIRE AS5251-1513 FOR JUST $298
Walmart has started offering the Acer Aspire AS5251-1513 for just $298. The Aspire AS5251-1513 is a 15.6 inch laptop. It is powered by an AMD V-Series V-120 single core 2.2GHz processor with ATI Radeon HD 4250 integrated graphics. Other specifications include 2GB of DDR3 memory, a 250GB hard drive and a DVD burner. The notebook runs Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit operating system and ships with a 6-cell battery that will reportedly get around 3 hours of runtime. The 15.6 inch display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.
The Aspire AS5251-1513 also has a web camera, a Gigabit LAN port, WiFi 802.11n, 2 USB ports, a multi-in-1 media card reader and HDMI and VGA outputs.
The product page on Walmart lists the notebook as out of stock online. Consumers are requested to contact the retailer's stores for availability.
ASUS LAUNCHES EEE PC 1001PQ WITH CUSTOMIZABLE LID
Asus has launched a new colorful and customizable Eee PC called 1001PQ. Specs wise, the Eee PC 1001PQ isn't much different from a typical netbook. It has a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor and a 10.1 inch display with 1024 x 600 pixels. It ships with a 3-cell or a 6-cell battery. Other specifications include Bluetooth 2.1 and WiFi 802.11b/g/n. Design wise, it is a totally different machine. The Eee PC 1001PQ has a lid with an unusual design.
It is available in either “Flame Purple” or Vibrant Gold” colors. Both models come with a series of stickers with which you can customize the way the lid looks. The netbook is apparently aimed at 'pre-adolescents' because Asus believes that the stickers will let them 'express themselves and their personality'. If you don't find the idea particularly impressive, then you are probably not in the target audience of this netbook.
It is available in either “Flame Purple” or Vibrant Gold” colors. Both models come with a series of stickers with which you can customize the way the lid looks. The netbook is apparently aimed at 'pre-adolescents' because Asus believes that the stickers will let them 'express themselves and their personality'. If you don't find the idea particularly impressive, then you are probably not in the target audience of this netbook.
ASUS EEE PC 1018P AND 1015PED UP FOR PRE-ORDER AT AMAZON
The Asus Eee PC 1018P and 1015PED are already available from Best Buy. But these models are relatively cheap and ship with lower capacity batteries. They also lack Bluetooth. Now Amazon has started taking pre-orders for higher-priced versions of the same netbooks.
The Asus Eee PC 1018P-PU17 is going for $527.80 at Amazon. This netbook is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor. Other specifications include 1GB of DDR3 memory, a 250GB hard drive, 3 USB ports, Bluetooth 3.0 and WiFi 802.11b/g/n. The 10.1 inch display has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels.
The Eee PC 1015PED is more affordable with prices ranging between $429 and $465.40.It is available with a choice of 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 or a 1.83GHz Intel Atom N475 processor. It also ships with Bluetooth 3.0 and higher capacity 6-cell batteries.
SAMSUNG INTRODUCES X180 AND X430 THIN AND LIGHT NOTEBOOKS
Samsung has unveiled yet another thin and light laptop in Korea. The device called Samsung X180 is powered by a Core i3-330UM processor with Intel integrated graphics. The Samsung X180 has an 11.6 inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. It ships with 3GB of DDR3 memory and an 8850mAh battery that will reportedly get around 8.2 hours of battery life. No word on pricing or availability outside of Korea.
Meanwhile, Samsung also introduced a 14 inch notebook called Samsung X430. This model has 4GB of RAM, Core i3-330UM processor and discrete NVIDIA GeForce 310M graphics. It also ships with an 8850mAh battery and will reportedly get around 8 hours of battery life. The 14 inch display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.
ASUS EEE PC 1015PD PRODUCT PAGE GOES LIVE
Asus has uploaded the product page for its Eee PC 1015PD. The 10 inch netbook is available with your choice of a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 or a 1.83GHz Intel Atom N475 processor. Other specifications include Intel GMA 3150 integrated graphics, Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and up to 2GB of DDR3 memory.
The Eee PC 1015PD is available with a 160GB, 250GB or a 320GB hard drive. Both 3-cell and 6-cell battery options are available. While the 3-cell battery is rated at 23Whr, the 6-cell battery is available in various capacities. Asus claims that the 3-cell battery will get around 4.5 hours of battery life, whereas the 63Whr, 6-cell battery will get a cool 13 hours of uptime.
The Eee PC 1015PD also has a 0.3 megapixel webcam, VGA output, 2 USB 3.0 ports and 1 USB 2.0 port, an SDHC card slot, mic and headphone jacks. It runs Windows 7 Starter Edition. The 10.1 inch display has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels.
AMD-POWERED SAMSUNG X125 COMING
Samsung,it seems,is all set to launch a new thin and light notebook with an 11.6 inch display. According to Notebook Italia, the company will show off a notebook called Samsung X125 at IFA in September. The X125 is expected to be a successor to the X120 which is yet to be officially launched in the US.
The Samsung X125 will reportedly have an AMD Athlon II Neo K125 processor and ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics. The 11.6 inch display will have a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Other specifications include 3G of memory, a 320GB hard drive, Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and a 6-cell battery. It will run Windows 7 Home Premium.
The laptop will weigh around 3.3 pounds with the 6-cell battery. It is expected to be available in white or black. No word on a launch date, but Amazon UK has started taking pre-orders for 441 Euros
The Samsung X125 will reportedly have an AMD Athlon II Neo K125 processor and ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics. The 11.6 inch display will have a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Other specifications include 3G of memory, a 320GB hard drive, Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and a 6-cell battery. It will run Windows 7 Home Premium.
The laptop will weigh around 3.3 pounds with the 6-cell battery. It is expected to be available in white or black. No word on a launch date, but Amazon UK has started taking pre-orders for 441 Euros
SYNAPTICS INTRODUCES CLEARPAD 7200 TOUCHSCREEN PANELS
Synaptics is a company known for making laptop touchpads. But in addition to touchpads, the company also makes touchscreen displays. The new ClearPad 7200 line of capacitive touchscreen displays from Synaptics are expected to hit the market later this year.
These touchscreens are aimed at the touchscreen tablet space. They are meant for use in devices with screens up to 10.1 inches in thickness. They could also be used in digital photo frames and touch enabled netbooks. The Synaptics touch panels can recognize up to 10 inputs at a time. In fact, they support many of the gestures you can use on Synaptics touchpads.
The ClearPad 7200 touch panels are expected to be available later this year. They will work with Windows 7, Google Android and Linux based operating systems.
These touchscreens are aimed at the touchscreen tablet space. They are meant for use in devices with screens up to 10.1 inches in thickness. They could also be used in digital photo frames and touch enabled netbooks. The Synaptics touch panels can recognize up to 10 inputs at a time. In fact, they support many of the gestures you can use on Synaptics touchpads.
The ClearPad 7200 touch panels are expected to be available later this year. They will work with Windows 7, Google Android and Linux based operating systems.
DELL STREAK ANDROID TABLET TO COST $299 WITH SERVICE CONTRACT
Dell has unveiled the official pricing for its Streak Android tablet. The machine will soon be available in the US. If you sign up for a 2-year service contract with AT&T, you will be able to purchase the machine at the subsidized price of $299. Without the subsidy, the price will go up to $549.
The Dell Streak is a 5 inch Android tablet that can be used for making calls. It is powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Other features include a 5MP camera, WiFi, Bluetooth and a microSD card slot. It also ships with a 3G modem. At launch, the tablet will run a custom version of Android 1.6. An update to Android 2.2 Froyo is expected to be available later this year.
While $549 may seem like a lot of money,it is actually the standard price of an unsubsidized smartphone. In fact,it is about $50 less than the price of an unsubsidized iPhone 4. There is still no official word on when the tablet will actually start shipping.
HP COMPAQ PRESARIO CQ60-615DX - ANOTHER SUB-$300 15.6 INCH LAPTOP
Best Buy has started offering the 15.6 inch HP Compaq Presario CQ60-615DX laptop for only $299.99. It is actually one of the cheapest 15.6 inch notebook available in the US market at the moment.
The HP Compaq Presario CQ60-615DX is powered by a 2.2GHz Intel Celeron processor with GMA 4500M integrated graphics. The 15.6 inch display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Other specifications include 2GB of DDR2 memory, a 250GB hard drive and a DVD burner. The notebook comes standard with a 6-cell battery which will reportedly get around 3 hours and 45 minutes of uptime. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium.
The HP Compaq Presario CQ60-615DX also has WiFi 802.11n, Ethernet LAN, a 56k modem, three USB ports and Altec Lansing speakers. It weighs 6.6 pounds. Another sub-$300
15.6 inch laptop available right now is the AMD-powered Acer Aspire AS5251-1513 which is being sold by Walmart for $298
The HP Compaq Presario CQ60-615DX is powered by a 2.2GHz Intel Celeron processor with GMA 4500M integrated graphics. The 15.6 inch display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Other specifications include 2GB of DDR2 memory, a 250GB hard drive and a DVD burner. The notebook comes standard with a 6-cell battery which will reportedly get around 3 hours and 45 minutes of uptime. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium.
The HP Compaq Presario CQ60-615DX also has WiFi 802.11n, Ethernet LAN, a 56k modem, three USB ports and Altec Lansing speakers. It weighs 6.6 pounds. Another sub-$300
15.6 inch laptop available right now is the AMD-powered Acer Aspire AS5251-1513 which is being sold by Walmart for $298
MOTOROLA TO LAUNCH A TABLET LATER THIS YEAR
Motorola is the latest company to throw its hat in the Android tablet ring. According to Street.com, the company will release a 10 inch tablet in November. The proposed machine will reportedly run Google Android's upcoming version dubbed Gingerbread.
Motorola has already released plenty of smartphones running Google Android. The company's Droid phone is probably the most successful Android phone ever. The recently launched Droid X and the upcoming Droid 2 are also getting a lot of attention and rave reviews.
It is not clear what processor the Motorola tablet will ship with, but it is unlikely to be anything less than a 1GHz processor. There is also no word on the display resolution.
Motorola has already released plenty of smartphones running Google Android. The company's Droid phone is probably the most successful Android phone ever. The recently launched Droid X and the upcoming Droid 2 are also getting a lot of attention and rave reviews.
It is not clear what processor the Motorola tablet will ship with, but it is unlikely to be anything less than a 1GHz processor. There is also no word on the display resolution.
DELL UK INTRODUCES DELL INSPIRON M101Z
Dell UK has uploaded the product page for its 11.6 inch notebook called the Dell Insprion M101z. Unlike other thin and light laptops from Dell, the Inspiron M101z has an AMD processor and ATI graphics. In fact,it has got the same processor and graphics as the Acer Aspire 521.
The Dell Inspiron M101z is powered by a 1.7GHz AMD Athlon II Neo single core processors and ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics. It supports up to 4GB of RAM and up to 320GB of hard drive storage. The 11.6 inch display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.
According to Dell's UK website, the laptop runs Windows 7 Home Premium.It can also be configured with an AMD Athlon II Neo dual core processor. Rounding out the specs are 3 USB ports, an HDMI port, Ethernet, VGA, Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and headphone and mic jacks. The laptop ships with a 6 cell, 56Whr battery.
LG LAUNCHES X140 IN ASIA
The LG X140 has relatively better specs than a typical 10 inch netbook. It has a 10.1 inch HD display with 1366 x 768 pixels, a 1.83GHz Intel Atom N475 processor and a spacious 320GB hard drive. While these specs aren't particularly impressive, they are better than what you get with a regular netbook which has an Atom N450 processor and a 160GB or 250GB hard drive.
Other specifications of the LG X140 include the integrated Intel GMA 3150 graphics, 1GB of RAM, Bluetooth and WiFi. The laptop runs Windows 7 Starter Edition.
That said, the LG X140 isn't significantly better than most other netbooks on the market. While the Atom N475 processor is faster than the Atom N450 processor, it can't deliver the same performance as an AMD Nile-based processor or an Intel CULV processor.
Pricing and availability
The LG X140 is expected to launch in Asia sometime soon. It will sell for the local equivalent of $500.No word on pricing or availability in the US.
DELL STREAK TABLET TO START SHIPPING IN LATE JULY
The 5-inch Dell Streak Android tablet will be available for purchase in late July. The machine weighs half-pound and sport GSM/EDGE, UMTS, and HSDPA / HSUPA, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity. It is powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8250 processor. There is also a microSD memory card slot, 512MB ROM, 512MB SDRAM and 2GB non-user accessible MicroSD for system and application files. The 800 x 480 pixel multi-touch LCD display is covered with damage-resistant Gorilla glass. Other features include a 5MP rear-facing camera, a VGA front-facing camera, and a user-removable battery.
The Dell Streak measures just 0.4 inches in thickness and provides 3G phone connectivity with support for SMS, MMS, email, web browsing and instant messaging.
Pricing
In the UK the tablet will have a starting price of £449 ($684). In the US, it is expected to start at $500.
POCKET SONY STYLE L80 LAPTOP NOW SHIPPING FOR $299
An 8.9 inch 'Sony Style' mini laptop is now available for just 299 from Shenit.com. There are plenty of Vaio P clones in the market, but most of these are only available in Asia. The Pocket Sony Style L80 Mini Laptop, on the other hand, is available internationally.
This little machine features a compact design much like the Sony Vaio P, but it doesn't have a touchpad below the keyboard. instead, there is a pointing stick in the middle of the keyboard which can be used to control the on-screen cursor.
While the original Sony Vaio P has an 8 inch display, the Sony Style L80 has a relatively larger 8.9 inch display. It is not clear what resolution this display sports. Other specifications of the device include a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, 1GB of memory and 16GB of storage. Curiously the product page says that the computer has an Intel 945GSE chipset, but every other Intel Atom N450-powered computers have the newer NM10 chipset.
MSI GT660R NOW SHIPPING
The MSI GT660R gaming laptop is now available for purchase. The GT660R-004US has an 1.73GHz Intel Core i7-740QM quad-core processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX285M discrete graphics with 1GB of dedicated video memory, 6GB of DDR3 memory, dual hard drives with a combined capacity of 1TB and a Blu-ray combo drive. The 16 inch display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.
The MSI GT660R has a chiclet style keyboard with a dedicated numeric pad. Other features include a 720p webcam, stereo speakers with a subwoofer, WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet, 2 USB 2.0 ports and 2 USB 3.0 ports, an eSATA/USB combo port, ExpressCard slot, a 4-in-1 card reader, HDMI and VGA output. The notebook has LED lights around its edges. It also features MSI's Turbo Drive Engine which allows users to overclock the processor and GPU.
The MSI GT660R weighs 7.7 pounds with the 9-cell battery. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium and will reportedly get around 3 hours of battery life.
The MSI GT660R-004US is now available from Amazon and Newegg for $1,699.99.
HP TO LAUNCH SEVERAL TABLETS THIS FALL
HP has announced that it plans to launch a series of tablets this fall. There are no details on the specs of these machines, but it looks like there will be two kinds of tablets: consumer oriented devices running webOS and enterprise focused devices running Windows 7.
The HP Slate 500 which is slated for release this fall was originally supposed to be a consumer oriented device, but now it is being targeted at enterprise customers. In related news Palm has confirmed that HP and Palm are working on other webOS products like smartphones and netbooks. Not so long ago, HP had said that the company would not launch a webOS netbook, but now it looks like HP has had a change of mind.
MSI FX600 ENTERTAINMENT LAPTOP NOW SHIPPING
The entertainment oriented MSI FX600 is now available for purchase. Newegg has started offering the 15.6 inch notebook in two configurations. While the FX600-002US has a Core i5 450M processor and a DVD writer, the FX600-003US ships with a Core i3 350M processor and a Blu-ray combo drive. Both models have NVIDIA GeForce GT325M discrete graphics with 1GB dedicated video memory, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 1366 x 768 pixels display and a 500GB hard drive. The FX600-002US also has NVIDIA Optimus switchable graphics technology and THX Surround Sound system. It is not clear whether these features are available in the FX600-003US.
Other specifications include a 720p HD webcam, WiFi 802.11n, Gigabit Ethernet LAN, 3 USB ports, an eSATA/USB combo port, 4-in-1 card reader, HDMI and VGA outputs and an ExpresCard slot. The laptops come standard with a 6-cell battery and will reportedly get around 3 hours of uptime. Both models are priced at $799.99
DELL INSPIRON iM501R NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
The AMD powered Dell Inspiron iM501R is now up for purchase at Amazon. The 15.6-inch mainstream laptop is available in two configurations. While the Inspiron iM501R-1459MRB has a 2.1GHz AMD Athlon II Dual Core P320 processor and integrated graphics, the iM501R-2272MRB is powered by a 1.6GHz AMD Phenom II Quad-Core P920 processor and ATI Radeon HD550v discrete graphics with 1GB of dedicated video memory. Both models ship with 4GB of DDR3 RAM, 500GB hard drive, a DVD burner, and a 1366×768 pixels display.
Other common specifications include a 1.3MP webcam, Ethernet LAN, WiFi, 4 USB ports (one of which is shared with an eSATA port), a 7-in-1 media card reader, an HDMI and VGA output. The Inspiron iM501R-2272MRB also features Bluetooth.
The notebooks start at 5.76 pounds with the standard 6-cell battery and run Windows 7 Home Premium OS.
Pricing and availability
The notebooks are now available for purchase from Amazon.While the Inspiron iM501R-1459MRB goes for $579.99, the iM501R-2272MRB is priced at $763.22.
Other common specifications include a 1.3MP webcam, Ethernet LAN, WiFi, 4 USB ports (one of which is shared with an eSATA port), a 7-in-1 media card reader, an HDMI and VGA output. The Inspiron iM501R-2272MRB also features Bluetooth.
The notebooks start at 5.76 pounds with the standard 6-cell battery and run Windows 7 Home Premium OS.
Pricing and availability
The notebooks are now available for purchase from Amazon.While the Inspiron iM501R-1459MRB goes for $579.99, the iM501R-2272MRB is priced at $763.22.
MSI UNVEILS 17 INCH E7405 MULTIMEDIA NOTEBOOK
The newly unveiled MSI E7405 is a 17 inch notebook aimed at multimedia enthusiasts. It features a 2.26GHz Intel Core i5-430M processor,4GB of DDR3 RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5870 discrete graphics with 1GB of DDR5 video memory, a 320GB hard drive and a DVD burner. The 17 inch glossy display has a resolution of 1680 x 1050 pixels.
The MSI E7405 weighs 7.04 pounds with the standard 9-cell battery. It sports an aluminum alloy chassis with a brushed metal texturing. Other specifications include a 2MP webcam, stereo speakers with a subwoofer, WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth, Ethernet LAN, a 4-in-1 card reader, 4 USB ports (one of which is shared with an eSATA port), HDMI and VGA outputs and an ExpressCard slot. The notebook runs Windows 7 Home Premium.
The MSI E7405-080US is now available for purchase from Newegg.com for $1,149.99.
MSI LAUNCHES 11.6 INCH WIND U230 LIGHT WITH AMD PROCESSOR
MSI has introduced a new version of its thin and light Wind U230 laptop. The new model is called MSI Wind U230 Light. While the original Wind U230 features a 12.1 inch display, the new MSI Wind U230 Light sports a relatively smaller 11.6 inch display.
Apart from this difference in screen size, both models seem to have almost identical specs. Like the original Wind U230, the U230 Light is also powered by a 1.6GHz AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 processor. Both models run Windows 7 Home Premium and ship with 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive. Other common specifications include a 1366 x 768 pixels display, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and HDMI output.
The MSI Wind U230 Light is now available for purchase from Amazon. It is priced at $399.99.
HP WINDOWS 7 TABLET ISN'T DEAD YET
We know that HP is working on several tablet computers. The company already has a tablet running the Palm WebOS in the pipeline. And yesterday yet another tablet popped up on the HP website. The machine called HP Slate 500 apparently runs Windows 7 and it could launch in a few weeks. So didn't HP kill its Windows 7 tablet months ago?
Well, it looks like the HP Windows 7 tablet isn't dead it. HP is still working on it and has even confirmed that the Slate 500 is a real product. But at this point it is in 'customer evaluations' stage which probably also means that this thing could get scrapped again. There is also a chance that HP will bring it to the market. Otherwise, the company wouldn't have taken the trouble to post the details and images on its website.
ASUS UL80JT NOW SHIPPING
Amazon has started taking orders for the Asus UL80JT thin and light notebook. The UL80JT features a 14 inch LED backlit display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. It also supports the NVIDIA Optimus technology for automatically switching between the integrated and discrete graphics cores.
The notebook is powered by a Core i3-330UM processor. It supports up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM and up to 500GB HDD spinning at 5400rpm. Rounding out the specs are WiFi 802.11b/g/n, NVIDIA GeForce 310M discrete graphics with 1GB of VRAM and HDMI port.
The UL80JT does not have an optical drive. The notebook runs Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit. And if you make judicious use of the discrete graphics, you should be able to get around 10 hours of battery life. Prices start at $899.
The notebook is powered by a Core i3-330UM processor. It supports up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM and up to 500GB HDD spinning at 5400rpm. Rounding out the specs are WiFi 802.11b/g/n, NVIDIA GeForce 310M discrete graphics with 1GB of VRAM and HDMI port.
The UL80JT does not have an optical drive. The notebook runs Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit. And if you make judicious use of the discrete graphics, you should be able to get around 10 hours of battery life. Prices start at $899.
PIXEL Qi DISPLAY PROLONGS BATTERY LIFE BY ABOUT 25%
When used in the high contrast mode, the Pixel Qi's 3qi display consumes 80% less power than a typical LCD display. The Pixel Qi display can be used either with or without the backlight. When the backlight is on, the display looks like any other LCD display and may consume just as much power. But turn the backlight off and the display will become sunlight-readable. It also consumes much less power in this mode.
But a display is only one of the many laptop parts that consume power. So what improvement in battery life can you expect if your netbook has a Pixel Qi display? The folks at Engadget recently tested one of the Pixel Qi DIY kits and seem quite impressed with how well the screen looks outside and how much power it saves.
Long story short, the Pixel Qi display prolongs battery life by about 25%. The Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 which normally lasts 4 hours and 21 minutes in a video rundown test lasted for about 5 hours and 45 minutes when fitted with the Pixel Qi display. You should be able to get much better results from a computer like the Eee PC 1005PE which normally lasts 10 hours on a single charge.
AMD ONTARIO CHIPS COULD LAUNCH THIS YEAR
AMD is suddenly serious about playing in the netbook and ultraportable laptop space.The chipmaker has already released its Nile processors which are found in low cost laptops like the Acer Aspire One 521 and the Acer Aspire 1551. Now AMD is working on another line of processors that is specifically aimed at laptops that currently use Intel Atom processors.
The new AMD Ontario chips are based on the 40nm process. They are targeted at netbooks and will reportedly launch during the fourth quarter of this year. Actual computers built around the new chipsets will hit the market early next year. AMD hasn't revealed a lot of details, but the Ontario chipsets are expected to deliver better performance than Intel's Atom processors.
The new AMD Ontario chips are based on the 40nm process. They are targeted at netbooks and will reportedly launch during the fourth quarter of this year. Actual computers built around the new chipsets will hit the market early next year. AMD hasn't revealed a lot of details, but the Ontario chipsets are expected to deliver better performance than Intel's Atom processors.
iBUYPOWER LAUNCHES BATTALION 101 GAMING LAPTOP
iBUYPOWER has launched a 3D-capable gaming laptop called Battalion 101 W860CU-3D. The notebook features a 15.6 inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. It is available with Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, up to the quad-core i7-920XM Extreme, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX285 discrete graphics with 1GB of dedicated video memory and up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM. Other features include a DVD burner or Blu-ray Combo drive, USB 3.0 ports, webcam, Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11n. Various HDD and SSD storage options are available. The notebook runs Windows 7 Home Premium. It comes bundled with NVIDIA's 3D glasses and software.
Pricing and availability
The iBUYPOWER Battalion 101 is now available for order. Prices start at $1,646.
GETAC UPDATES V100 RUGGED LAPTOP WITH CORE i7 PROCESSOR
Getac has updated its V100 rugged laptop with a Core i7 processor, larger hard disk and a multi-touc display.
The Getac V100 is a 10.4 inch convertible tablet style laptop. It is now available with a 1.2GHz Core i7-640UM processor, Intel GMA HD integrated graphics, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, a 320GB HDD or optional 80GB SSD. The laptop doesn't have an optical drive. The LED-backlit display has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. The display is viewable in direct sunlight and is glove-friendly.
The Getac V100 weighs 5 pounds. It features a magnesium alloy chassis, sealed I/O ports, a waterproof membrane keyboard and a shock mounted hard drive. It is compliant with MIL-STD 810G and IP65 standards and is fit for use in "almost any environment or extreme working conditions”.
Other features of the laptop include a built-in 2MP webcam, WiFi 802.11n, microphone, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, optional GPS, optional Gobi 2000 3G, two USB ports, an eSATA/USB combo port, optional fingerprint scanner, ExpressCard and Smart Card readers, and a VGA output.
The Getac V100 runs Windows 7. No word on pricing or availability at the moment.
ASUS UL20FT TO SHIP NEXT MONTH
The Asus UL20FT will start shipping next month. Excaliber PC has started taking pre-orders for a model called the UL20FT-A1 for $579.
The Asus UL20FT is the successor to the UL20A. It has a 12.1 inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Like its predecessor, this model also ships with a 250GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM and Windows 7 Home Premium. But while the UL20A has a Core 2 Duo SU7300 CULV processor, the UL20FT ships with a 1.2GHz Intel Core i3-330UM processor.
Other specifications include a 0.3 megapixel webcam, 3 USB ports, headphone and mic jacks, a 5-in-1 card reader, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and Gigabit Ethernet. The laptop comes standard with a 6 cell, 4400mAh battery and weighs 3.3 pounds.
The Asus UL20FT is the successor to the UL20A. It has a 12.1 inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Like its predecessor, this model also ships with a 250GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM and Windows 7 Home Premium. But while the UL20A has a Core 2 Duo SU7300 CULV processor, the UL20FT ships with a 1.2GHz Intel Core i3-330UM processor.
Other specifications include a 0.3 megapixel webcam, 3 USB ports, headphone and mic jacks, a 5-in-1 card reader, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and Gigabit Ethernet. The laptop comes standard with a 6 cell, 4400mAh battery and weighs 3.3 pounds.
HABEY SELLS BROADCOM CRYSTAL HD VIDEO ACCELERATOR FOR $50
The Broadcom Crystal HD video accelerator enables HD video playback on computers with slow processors and integrated graphics. A few netbooks that are currently shipping come pre-loaded with the card. Hackers have also managed to get the card work with a range of netbooks. Until a few weeks ago, you could buy cheap Broadcom cards from eBay and install it on your netbook. But the prices of these cheap cards shot up recently after Broadcom introduced its second generation video accelerators which resulted in a drop in the supplies of the original model.
But now it seems there is another option. Habey has started selling its HB-VD904 for $49.99 from Amazon and Newegg. This card is based on the original Broadcom video accelerator, and can play high definition AVC, VC-1, MPEG-2, WMV, and H.264 video.The HB-VD904 is essentially a PCIe mini card that can fit inside most existing netbooks.
UEFI COULD REPLACE BIOS AND MAY OFFER FASTER BOOT TIMES
Almost every PC that ships today uses a piece of software called BIOS to let the operating system interact with the computer's physical components. The BIOS software is loaded on your computer's motherboard. Making changes to the BIOS settings is possible, but it is not easy. You have to launch a text-and-arrow-key based user interface and navigate through a series of menus that aren't quite user friendly.
But it looks like an alternative is in the works.The new software called UEFI has a graphical user interface which means that you can navigate the settings using a mouse. Better still, UEFI is designed to work with modern PC hardware. It is also possible to configure the UEFI in a way that could improve boot times in Windows.
During a demonstration of the software Lenovo loaded its ThinkPad T400 with UEFI and showed that the machine can boot Windows 7 in just 10 seconds. It is worth noting that the ThinkPad T400 has a Core 2 Duo processor which is much more powerful than a typical Atom processor. So there is no point in expecting 10 second boot times on a netbook. You should still be able to get improved boot speeds.
APPLE LAUNCHING 11.6 INCH MACBOOK AIR?
Apple hasn't launched a netbook yet, and the company has always maintained that it has no intention to launch one either. This summer, however, Apple launched a 9.7 inch device called iPad. It isn't quite a netbook alternative, but it is a portable device offering a web browser and good battery life. iPad, however, lacks a physical keyboard and the ability to run full desktop applications.
So what if you need an Apple computer for computing on the go? Well, right now you don't have a lot of choices besides the 13.3 inch MacBook Air. It is a bit bulky by netbook standards and is super expensive. But now DigiTimes reports that Apple is planning to launch an updated version of the MacBook Ait. The new model will reportedly have an 11.6 inch display and Intel Core i-series prcessor. It is expected to be available in the second half of 2010. It is not clear whether this machine will carry an even higher price tag than the current model which sells for $1499 and up.
ACER ASPIRE TIMELINEX 5820T OVERVIEW
The recently launched Acer Aspire TimelineX 5820T is a 15.6 inch thin and light laptop. It measures only around 1 inch in thickness and weighs around 5.3 pounds.
The Aspire TimelineX 5820T is available with your choice of a 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-450M or a 2.26GHz Core i3-350M processor. Other specifications include Intel HD integrated graphics, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, up to 500GB of hard disk space and a DVD writer. The notebook ships with a 6-cell battery which should provide up to 8 hours of run time. According to some reports, Acer also plans to release the notebook with discrete ATI Radeon graphics.
The 15.6 inch LED-backlit display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. The Aspire 5820T also features a microphone, a web camera, WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth, Gigabit LAN, 4 USB ports, VGA, HDMI outputs and a 5-in-1 media card reader. The keyboard is full-sized with a dedicated numeric pad. The notebook runs Windows 7 Home Premium.
Pricing and availability
The Aspire TimelineX 5820T is now available for around $700 from various online retailers.
MEET eMACHINES eM350: A NETBOOK FOR $280
The eMachines eM350 is a cheap laptop that goes for $280. The eMachines brand name is owned by Acer which also owns the Gateway and Packard Bell brand names.
At $280, the eM350 is cheaper than the cheapest Acer Aspire One netbook that goes for $300. There are, however, a few differences in the specs. While most new Acer netbooks have Windows 7 Starter Edition, the eMachines eM350 runs Windows XP. But if XP is your preferred OS, then that is not something you will worry about. Other specifications of the device include a 160GB hard drive, a 1GB of RAM, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Ethernet 10/100Mbps and 2 USB ports. It has the same Atom N450 as most other Acer netbooks. The 10.1 inch display has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. The mini-laptop ships with a 3-cell, 200mAh battery and weighs 2.4 pounds.
Availability
The eMachines eM350-2074 is now available from B&H for $279.99 plus free shipping.
ACER TO LAUNCH TWO TABLETS THIS YEAR?
Acer will reportedly launch a tablet or two later this year. The company has already indicated that it does have some tablet ambitions so this new tidbit of information is unlikely to surprise anyone.
According to a DigiTimes report, the Acer tablets will be released during the fourth quarter of this year. One of the machines will have a 7 inch display whereas the other model will sport a large 10 inch screen. Both models will have ARM-based processors and run the latest version of Google's Android operating system. They will also offer full Flash support.
Incidentally Acer showed off a 7 inch eBook reader at Computex a few weeks ago. While the machine was called an eBook reader it had the specs of a typical tablet. As of now there is no indication of a Windows tablet from Acer.
APPLE WORKING ON 5 AND 7 INCH IPAD TABLETS?
Apple sold millions of its iPad tablet within a few months of launching the device. The Apple iPad has a 9.7 inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. It is a decent size for watching videos and viewing websites on the go. But Apple, it seems, is eager to test other sizes as well.
According to DigiTimes, the company is planning to launch a second generation of iPad with a 5.6 inch or a 7-inch OLED display. Apple apparently is buying up a lot of OLED displays these days. But since there is no official confirmation we will have to take this news with a pinch of salt.
As far as the rumors are concerned, DigiTimes reports that the new tablets could be available during the fourth quarter of this year. The new models will reportedly be aimed at the eBook reader space, and Apple will continue to sell its now legendary 9.7 inch iPads.
VILIV N5 NOW SHIPPING IN THE US
The Viliv N5 is now available for purchase from Dynamism with a same day shipping promise. The UMPC Portal reports that if you place your order before July 15th, you will get a free battery which is worth about $50.
The Viliv N5 has the same specs as a typical Intel Atom powered netbook, but with its 4.8 inch display it is small enough to fit inside your coat pocket. The only model that is in stock at the moment is the 3G version which runs a cool $799. A WiFi only version costing $649 is expected to be in stock on July 19th.
The Viliv N5 has a 1.3GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor. It runs Windows 7. Other specifications include 1GB of memory and a 32GB Solid State Disk for storage. The 4.8 inch touchscreen display has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. The mini-laptop also has a QWERTY keyboard.
VELOCITY MICRO ANNOUNCES CHEAP ANDROID TABLETS
Velocity Micro has announced a line of Android tablets that could cost between $149 and $299. The first machines to hit the market will be the $199 Cruz Reader and the $149 Cruz StoryPad. Both tablets have 7 inch touchscreen displays with a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels. They are due out in August.
The Cruz Reader is more than an eBook reader. It comes standard with a web browser, video games, media player, calender, notepad and some other applications. The supported connectivity option is WiFi 802.11b/g. There is also an accelerometer, USB port and an SD card slot.The tablet will ship with the Kobo Android application pre-loaded so that users can access over 2 million eBooks.
The Cruz Storypad has a drop-resistant case. It is available in pink, blue or green and comes pre-loaded with a media player.
The $299, Cruz Tablet is due out in September. It will have WiFi 802.11n, 4GB of on-board storage, an 8GB SD card and a 7 inch display with 800 x 480 pixels resolution.
BLACKBERRY TABLET TO HAVE A 1GHz MARVELL PROCESSOR?
That RIM (Research in Motion) is going to launch a Blackberry tablet later this year or early next year is almost certain. What is still not quite certain is the kind of specs the machine will have, although there is no dearth of rumors.
Now a market analyst has reportedly said that the Blackberry tablet will have a 1GHz Marvell CPU and that is quite interesting. Marvell is known for its line of low-power ARM-based processors. These are commonly found in eBook readers. In the past Marvell has unveiled concept tablets that could run Ubuntu Linux and handle HD video playback. So there is no denying the fact that a 1GHz Marvell processor will be able to handle the web browsing and video conferencing capabilities that the Blackberry tablet will reportedly have. And if RIM does opt for a Marvell processor, it will be a great win for the chipmaker that has until been restricted to the ebook reader space.
Now a market analyst has reportedly said that the Blackberry tablet will have a 1GHz Marvell CPU and that is quite interesting. Marvell is known for its line of low-power ARM-based processors. These are commonly found in eBook readers. In the past Marvell has unveiled concept tablets that could run Ubuntu Linux and handle HD video playback. So there is no denying the fact that a 1GHz Marvell processor will be able to handle the web browsing and video conferencing capabilities that the Blackberry tablet will reportedly have. And if RIM does opt for a Marvell processor, it will be a great win for the chipmaker that has until been restricted to the ebook reader space.
GATEWAY ANNOUNCES NS10 11.6 INCH LAPTOP
Gateway has announced a new 11.6 inch laptop called NS10. It is expected to hit the market by mid-July.
The Gateway NS10 will be available with several CPU options including the Intel Core i3-330UM, core i5-430UM, Core i5-520UM, and Core i5-540UM. The 11.6 inch HD display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Other specifications include up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, up to 640GB HDD or up to 160GB SSD, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, a multi-card reader and optional USB optical drive. The notebook runs Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional 32 bit. Both 3-cell and 6-cell battery options are available.
The Gateway NS10 measures 1.1 inches in thickness and weighs 2.7 pounds. No word on pricing at the moment.
GOOGLE TO OPEN THE ANDROID MARKET TO TABLETS?
The Google Android operating system is meant for running smartphones. It is actually the fastest growing smartphone operating system. A good part of this popularity can be attributed to the availability of third party applications.
But Android can power smartbooks and tablets too. In the last few months we heard several PC makers announcing Android-powered tablets. The touch-friendly mobile operating system can work quite well on tablet PCs. There is one problem though. Only smartphones have access to the Android market which is teeming with thousands of third party applications. It is still not clear why tablets and smartbooks don't have access to the Android market. But now it looks like Google is planning to open the market to Android tablets or the company may just launch a parallel market for tablets.
But Android can power smartbooks and tablets too. In the last few months we heard several PC makers announcing Android-powered tablets. The touch-friendly mobile operating system can work quite well on tablet PCs. There is one problem though. Only smartphones have access to the Android market which is teeming with thousands of third party applications. It is still not clear why tablets and smartbooks don't have access to the Android market. But now it looks like Google is planning to open the market to Android tablets or the company may just launch a parallel market for tablets.
NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 460 DEBUTS
NVIDIA has started shipping its GeForce GTX 460 midrange graphics card. The $200 GPU is rated faster than its sibling the $280 GTX 465 with 675MHz graphics and it has already received rave reviews from tech blogs. The GTX 460 is built on the new GF104 core. And unlike other GPUs in the Fermi line it is highly power efficient.
The base configuration of the chipset has 336 CUDA cores and 768MB of GDDR5 memory. There is also a 1GB, 256-bit version offering a larger L2 cache, a broader memory interface, and 8 more ROP units. Other than these differences both cards seem to have nearly identical specifications. But it must be borne in mind that the size of the L2 cache and the memory interface do have an impact on performance.
Meanwhile PC makers such as Asus, Gigabyte and MSI have already fielded new models sporting the brand new GPU over at Newegg.
SONY LAUNCHES VAIO E COLOR COMBO SITE
Sony has never really been the one to release affordable laptops. The company, however, manages to sell a decent number of units, thanks to the Sony branding that does enjoy a good fan-following. In recent years, however, Sony has been facing stiff competition from the likes of Asus and Acer which are known for their range of cheap laptops offering competent performance. So what do Sony do? Well, the company has no plans to reduce the cost of its netbooks, but it is resorting to alternative methods in its bid to attract customers.
Sony's newest VAIO E series is a case in point. The laptops are already available in lurid colors and replaceable keyboard skins. And now Sony has launched its VAIO E Color Combo site where you can view the color options for your mouse, keyboard skin and sleeve as well as the VAIO E notebook. You can see all four items together and mix and match until you are satisfied.
JOLICLOUD 1.0 TO LAUNCH NEXT WEEK
The Jolicloud 1.0, a Linux-based operating system for netbooks, is officially launching next week. The OS has been available to beta testers for a while. The latest version comes pre-loaded with Firefox and has a greater focus on web-based applications. It also provides quick access to applications such as Gmail, Twitter and Skype.
In the Jolicloud Apps center, there are over 700 web and desktop applications available. By adding icons to the Jolicloud program launcher, you can install new applications. Users can also share their applications with friends.
The Jolicloud user interface is HTML5 based which means that you can manage your account from any computer with an HTML5 compatible web browser.
ASUS EEE PC 1005PX WITH MATTE DISPLAY OFFICIALLY INTRODUCED
Asus has officially unveiled its Eee PC 1005PX ten inch netbook. While most netbooks Asus released this year has glossy displays, the Eee PC 1005PX is different. It sports a matte display which is more readable in direct sunlight. The display is probably the most important feature that sets this machine apart from the Eee PC 1005PE. Both laptops have a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, GMA 3150 integrated graphics, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and 6-cell batteries. They also feature the same basic case design.
There are a few other differences as well. While the 1005PE has 3 USB ports, the 1005PX has got only 2. The new model also has a lower capacity battery that will reportedly get around 8.5 hours of runtime. On the plus side, the 1005PX is cheaper than its predecessor.
The Eee PC 1005PX is quite configurable. It is available with Windows 7 Starter Edition or Windows XP Home. The hard drive is also available in various (160GB / 250GB/ 320GB) capacities. Other optional features include Bluetooth 2.1.
NEW DESIGNER LIDS FROM DELL AND MSI
Dell has been offering custom designs for laptop lids for a while. The company's Dell Design Studio allows users to choose from a range of themes which include Major League Baseball and OPI Nail Lacquer shades. And now the company has started offering more designs, thanks to its association with members of the Threadless community. 11 designer laptop lids are currently available in the Dell Design Studio as part of the Threadless collection.
That said, Dell isn't the only company offering laptops with designer lids. Recently MSI released a limited edition with Los Angeles Dodgers branding.The MSI Wind U135dX and the Wind Top AE2220 all-in-one desktop are available with the designer lids. In the past HP has also released netbooks and notebooks with designer lids. Still, Dell leads the pack when it comes to the sheer variety of design options available.
SAMSUNG N150 NOW AVAILABLE FROM VERIZON
The Samsung N150 is now available subsidized from Verizon wireless. When you sign up for a 2-year 3G broadband service, you can pick the netbook for as little as $29.99 from a Verizon Wireless website. Incidentally, the N150 is the first Samsung netbook to be available from Verizon which also offers netbooks from HP and Gateway. But at just $30, the Samsung N150 is the cheapest model you can buy from Verizon at the moment.
The Samsung N150 has a 10.1 inch display with 1024 x 600 pixels. It is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor and runs Windows 7 Starter Edition. Other specifications include WiFi 802.11b/g/n, 1GB of memory, a 160GB hard drive and a flash card reader.
The Samsung N150 has a 10.1 inch display with 1024 x 600 pixels. It is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor and runs Windows 7 Starter Edition. Other specifications include WiFi 802.11b/g/n, 1GB of memory, a 160GB hard drive and a flash card reader.
DUAL CORE ATOM N550 TO REPLACE CELERON PROCESSORS?
Intel will launch its dual core Atom N550 for netbooks and ultraportable notebooks soon. The dual core processor which has a clock speed of 1.5GHz is expected to offer better overall performance than the single core Atom processors available today. But according to a DigiTimes report, the dual core processor will cost $11 to $22 more than current Atom chips and that could make netbooks costlier than they are today. In fact, they may cost as much as a low cost CULV powered machine.
Affordability played a very significant role in making netbooks this popular. So why should anyone want to buy a low power netbook when they can get a relatively faster thin and light laptop for the same price? Well, it seems Intel is also facing the same question. And the company, according to DigiTimes, is planning to retire its budget Celeron line of ULV processors which will be replaced by the Atom N550.
HP PAVILION DM1Z GOES ON SALE
The HP Pavilion DM1z has finally gone on sale. This 11.6 inch ultraportable notebook is available with a variety of AMD's Athlon II Neo processors ranging from the 1.3GHz K325 to the 1.7GHz K125 processor. Other specifications include up to 5GB of DDR3 RAM, a 250GB hard drive or a 128GB SSD, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4225 integrated graphics, an optional external DVD burner, WiFi 802.11n, optional WWAN, VGA webcam and a 5-in-1 card reader. The keyboard is nearly full-sized.
The Pavilion DM1z ships with a 6-cell battery which will reportedly power the laptop for up to 5.25 hours. It weighs 3.24 pounds and runs Windows 7 (Home Premium / Professional). The 11.6 inch display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.
Pricing and availability
The Pavilion DM1z is now available for purchase. Prices start at $449.99.
ACER ASPIRE 5741 NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
The budget friendly 15.6 inch Acer Aspire 5741 notebook is now available for purchase. The device is available in two configurations: While the Acer Aspire 5741-5763 has 4GB of DDR3 RAM, Aspire 5741-5698 ships with 3GB of DDR3 memory. Both machines sport a 2.2GHz Intel Core i3-350M processor, Intel GMA HD integrated graphics, a 320GB hard disk drive, Windows 7 Home Premium and a DVD burner. The 15.6 inch display has 1366 x 768 pixels. Acer is also planning to offer the notebook with discrete ATI Radeon dedicated graphics.
Other specifications include a 1.3MP web camera, stereo speakers, a microphone, WiFi 802.11n, Gigabit Ethernet, 3 USB ports, a 5-in-1 media card reader, VGA and HDMI outputs. The keyboard is full-sized and features a dedicated number pad.
The Aspire 5741 weighs 5.74 pounds with the 6-cell battery. It will reportedly get around 4 hours of battery life. Prices start at $620.
GATEWAY UNVEILS LT32 THIN AND LIGHT LAPTOP
Gateway has officially unveiled its thin and light laptop called Gateway LT32. The machine sports an 11.6 inch display with 1366 x 768 pixels. In terms of looks and specs, the Gateway LT32 isn't at all different from the Acer Aspire One 721. It just happens to have the Gateway branding and for good reason. Acer owns the Gateway brand and has a history of launching the same laptop under two different names.
Anyway, much like the Aspire 721, the Gateway LT32 also has a 1.7GHz AMD Athlon II Neo K125 processor, ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics and Windows 7 Home Premium. Other specifications include 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, HDMI and VGA outputs and 3 USB ports. And since the Aspire One 721 can play 1080p HD video, the Gateway LT32 should also be able to do that. The notebook weighs 2.76 pounds with the 4400mAh battery.
The Gateway LT32 is now up for order for $449.99 from the Gateway shop. Interestingly the Acer Aspire One 721 goes for around $30 less.
PIXEL QI DISPLAY LOOKS BETTER OUTDOORS THAN THE XO LAPTOP DISPLAY
The Pixel Qi has started selling its 3Qi DIY kits. And word is that it is already out of stock despite costing a whooping $275 per unit. The Pixel Qi display operates in two modes: it can function as a full color screen indoors and as a low power, high-contrast display outdoors. In this mode it is quite readable in direct sunlight and can be used for reading eBooks or performing other tasks that don't quite require a color display.
Before starting Pixel Qi, Mary Lou Jepsen, who is behind the project, worked on the OLPC XO Laptop. But that was a few years ago. So how does the Pixel Qi dsplay stack up against the display on the XO Laptop?
OLPC News has posted some hands-on photos and videos of an OLPC XO laptop and an Acer netbook fitted with the Pixel Qi display. And make no mistake. The Pixel Qi display looks better. It shows darker blacks in high contrast.
ROVER INTRODUCES 5 TABLET COMPUTERS IN RUSSIA
The tablet revolution is far from over. In fact, new and not necessarily improved tablets are showing up in different parts of the world almost on a regular basis. Right now, the focus is on Russia.
Russian PC Maker Rover Computer has introduced five new tablet PCs. The machines will hit Russia later this year. To start with, there is the 7 inch touchscreen tablet called Air G70. It will run Windows CE 6.0. All other models run Google Android. The Air G70 is powered by a 667MHz ARM11 CPU with 256MB of RAM, and 4GB of flash storage. It also has WiFi, optional 3G and a MicroSD card slot.
The most interesting among the Android tablets is the RoverPad Tega W70 with a NVIDIA Tegra processor. This model will reportedly run Android 2.1. It also has 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, and an HDMI output.
ASUS EEE PC 1018P, 1016P AND 1015P UP FOR PRE-ORDER
Excaliber PC has started taking pre-orders for the Eee PC 1016 and 1018 mini-laptops. Asus has been showing off these machines for a while, but there has never really been a firm launch date. The laptops are shown to have an estimated ship date of July 29th.
According to the pre-order page for the Eee PC 1018P, it will have a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 processor, 1GB of RAM, 3 USB 3.0 ports, a 320GB hard drive and WiFi 802.11b/g/n. The netbook has a 44Whr battery and runs Windows 7 Starter Edition. It goes for $430.
The Eee PC 1016P is pricier. It has the same 10 inch (1024 x 600 pixels) display and Atom N450 processor, but it ships with more RAM (2GB) and Windows 7 Professional. Other specifications include a 320GB hard drive and a 48Whr battery. The machine is listed for just under $500.
In related news, Best Buy has the Eee PC 1015P in stock for $350.
According to the pre-order page for the Eee PC 1018P, it will have a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 processor, 1GB of RAM, 3 USB 3.0 ports, a 320GB hard drive and WiFi 802.11b/g/n. The netbook has a 44Whr battery and runs Windows 7 Starter Edition. It goes for $430.
The Eee PC 1016P is pricier. It has the same 10 inch (1024 x 600 pixels) display and Atom N450 processor, but it ships with more RAM (2GB) and Windows 7 Professional. Other specifications include a 320GB hard drive and a 48Whr battery. The machine is listed for just under $500.
In related news, Best Buy has the Eee PC 1015P in stock for $350.
ACER ASPIRE ONE D255 TO HAVE DUAL CORE INTEL ATOM N550 PROCESSOR
The upcoming Acer Aspire One D255 notebook will reportedly have a dual core Intel Atom N550 processor. We have already heard that the Asus Eee PC 1015N will have the same processor. And if our guess is right, we will soon start seeing a spate of new laptops featuring the new processor.
The Atom N550 has dual 1.5GHz cores with 512KB of L2 cache. It also supports hyperthreading which should give you a nice performance boost while performing certain tasks. While the N550 is the first dual core Atom processor designed for netbooks, PC makers like Asus has already released mini-laptops with the dual core Atom 330 and the D525 which are actually desktop processors.
The Acer Aspire One D255 has the same case design as the recently unveiled Aspire One D260, but it is now available in new colors sans the chrome elements.
The Atom N550 has dual 1.5GHz cores with 512KB of L2 cache. It also supports hyperthreading which should give you a nice performance boost while performing certain tasks. While the N550 is the first dual core Atom processor designed for netbooks, PC makers like Asus has already released mini-laptops with the dual core Atom 330 and the D525 which are actually desktop processors.
The Acer Aspire One D255 has the same case design as the recently unveiled Aspire One D260, but it is now available in new colors sans the chrome elements.
MAINGEAR INTRODUCES eX-L 17 GAMING NOTEBOOK
Maingear has introduced its newest gaming laptop. The machine dubbed eX-L 17 is a 17 inch monster. It has some powerful components and a price tag to match.
The Maingear eX-L 17 has a full HD (1080p) display. It is available with processors ranging from Intel Core i5 to Core i7-quad. The notebook also supports a range of graphics cards including 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon 5870, 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX480M and NVIDIA Quadro FX 2800M. Other specifications include up to 8GB of RAM and a 750GB Hard Disk Drive or a 512MB Solid State Disk. The look and feel of the notebook can be customized. For instance, you can get laser etching on the lid.
Pricing and availability
The Maingear eX-L 17 is now available for purchase. Prices start at $1899.99.
The Maingear eX-L 17 has a full HD (1080p) display. It is available with processors ranging from Intel Core i5 to Core i7-quad. The notebook also supports a range of graphics cards including 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon 5870, 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX480M and NVIDIA Quadro FX 2800M. Other specifications include up to 8GB of RAM and a 750GB Hard Disk Drive or a 512MB Solid State Disk. The look and feel of the notebook can be customized. For instance, you can get laser etching on the lid.
Pricing and availability
The Maingear eX-L 17 is now available for purchase. Prices start at $1899.99.
IBUYPOWER MAGIC SOFTWARE BRINGS MULTI-TOUCH TO ALL GAMES
iBUYPOWER is a company best known for their line of custom gaming notebooks. Their latest offering, however, isn't related to hardware. It is a piece of software that brings multi-touch functionality to every game.
With the new customizable MAGIC software even games that don't support touch input can be played with just your fingers. MAGIC is short for Multi-touch Advanced Gaming Interface and Control. It allows users to play any game with multi-touch inputs. What MAGIC does is to link a multi-touch gesture to a command the game already understands. Gamers have to create a customizable profile for each game assigning actions such as Tap, Pan (Drag), Rotate, and 2 Finger Tap to existing game commands.
The MAGIC software is now available for download here. It only works with the company's newest multit-touch gaming notebooks at the moment.
With the new customizable MAGIC software even games that don't support touch input can be played with just your fingers. MAGIC is short for Multi-touch Advanced Gaming Interface and Control. It allows users to play any game with multi-touch inputs. What MAGIC does is to link a multi-touch gesture to a command the game already understands. Gamers have to create a customizable profile for each game assigning actions such as Tap, Pan (Drag), Rotate, and 2 Finger Tap to existing game commands.
The MAGIC software is now available for download here. It only works with the company's newest multit-touch gaming notebooks at the moment.
LENOVO IDEAPAD Y560D GOES ON SALE
Everybody is building a 3D laptop these days. And Lenovo is no different. In fact, Lenovo has become one of the first companies to actually bring a 3D notebook into the market. The Lenovo IdeaPad Y560d, the company's first 3D laptop, has gone on sale.
The notebook is powered by a 1.6GHz Core i7-720QM processor with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730 discrete graphics with 1GB of dedicated memory, 4GB of DDR3 memory and 500GB hard drive. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium. Other specifications include WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, dual-layer DVD burner and JBL speakers. The notebook comes standard with a 6-cell battery.
The IdeaPad Y560d starts at $1,499. And if you are not short on cash, you will be able to customize it to your heart's content.
The notebook is powered by a 1.6GHz Core i7-720QM processor with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730 discrete graphics with 1GB of dedicated memory, 4GB of DDR3 memory and 500GB hard drive. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium. Other specifications include WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, dual-layer DVD burner and JBL speakers. The notebook comes standard with a 6-cell battery.
The IdeaPad Y560d starts at $1,499. And if you are not short on cash, you will be able to customize it to your heart's content.
TOSHIBA SATELLITE T235 OVERVIEW
The recently launched Toshiba Satellite T235 is a 13.3 inch ultraportable laptop. It is available in three configurations.
The Satellite T235D-S1340RD has an AMD Athlon II Neo K325 processor, ATI Radeon HD 4225 integrated graphics and 3GB of DDR3 memory. The Satellite T235D-S1345 is powered by an AMD Turion II Neo K625 processor. It has the same ATI Radeon HD 4225 integrated graphics, but ships with 4GB DDR3 RAM. The third model, the Satellite T235-S1350RD has an Intel Pentium U5400 processor, Intel HD integrated graphics and 4GB of DDR3 memory. All three models have a 320GB hard disk, 6-cell battery, LED-backlit display with a resolution of 1366×768 pixels, Windows 7 Home Premium, and external USB DVD writer (optional).
Other common features include integrated webcam, stereo speakers, WiFi 802.11n, Ethernet LAN, microphone, 3 USB ports (one of which is shared with an eSATA port), a multi-in-1 memory card reader, a multi-touch trackpad and VGA and HDMI outputs.
The Toshiba Satellite T235 notebooks are available in red with a Fusion Chrome finish. They weigh 3.9lbs. Prices start at $549.99.
The Satellite T235D-S1340RD has an AMD Athlon II Neo K325 processor, ATI Radeon HD 4225 integrated graphics and 3GB of DDR3 memory. The Satellite T235D-S1345 is powered by an AMD Turion II Neo K625 processor. It has the same ATI Radeon HD 4225 integrated graphics, but ships with 4GB DDR3 RAM. The third model, the Satellite T235-S1350RD has an Intel Pentium U5400 processor, Intel HD integrated graphics and 4GB of DDR3 memory. All three models have a 320GB hard disk, 6-cell battery, LED-backlit display with a resolution of 1366×768 pixels, Windows 7 Home Premium, and external USB DVD writer (optional).
Other common features include integrated webcam, stereo speakers, WiFi 802.11n, Ethernet LAN, microphone, 3 USB ports (one of which is shared with an eSATA port), a multi-in-1 memory card reader, a multi-touch trackpad and VGA and HDMI outputs.
The Toshiba Satellite T235 notebooks are available in red with a Fusion Chrome finish. They weigh 3.9lbs. Prices start at $549.99.
PIONEER COMPUTERS LAUNCHES EPAD L11 TABLET IN AUSTRALIA
Australian PC Maker Pioneer Computers has introduced a new 11.6 inch tablet PC in that country. The Pioneer DreamBook ePad L11 seems to have the same hardware as the Neofonie WeTab tablet. There is, however,one difference. The ePad L11 runs Windows whereas the We Tab runs Linux.
The ePad L11 has a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, Intel GMA 3150 integrated graphics, NVIDIA ION discrete graphics and 2GB of memory. The storage option is a solid state drive of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB capacity. The 11.6 inch capacitive touchscreen display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels and supports multitouch gestures. Other features include WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, and optional 3G and GPS modules, 2 USB ports, an SDHC card slot, a SIM card slot and a mini-HDMI port. The 2 cell, 4800mAh battery will reportedly get around 6 hours of battery life.
The ePad L11 runs Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate. Prices start at $699 Australian, which is about 589 USD.
BEST BACK-TO-SCHOOL NETBOOKS
It is back-to-school season again. Check out this quick buying tips before you head for the nearest Bestt Buy store.
Acer Aspire One 521
The Aspire One 521 has an AMD Athlon II Neo K125 processor and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4225 graphics. The machine will reportedly get around 7 hours of battery life which should be more than enough for a day's work. Other specs include 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive. The Aspire One 521 is now available from Amazon for $349.99.
ASUS Eee PC 1201PN
The Eee PC 1201PN starts at $484. It has a 12.1 inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Other features include Intel Atom N450 processor, second generation NVIDIA ION graphics, Windows 7 Home premium and a 250GB hard drive. What makes this machine attractive is the ION graphics which will let you play some games with ease. What's more, there is an HDMI port for transferring videos to an external monitor.
Samsung NB30
The Samsung NB30 is semi-rugged which makes it an ideal choice for students: It will easily withstand use and abuse in a typical classroom. It has a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, a 160GB hard drive and a spill resistant keyboard. The laptop will get around 6.5 hours of battery life. And at $329.99, its price is equally attractive.
Toshiba mini NB305-N440
The Toshiba Mini NB305-N440 has one of the best netbook keyboards and a large touchpad. It is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 processor. Other specs include 1GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive. Price starts at $342.29
Acer Aspire One 521
The Aspire One 521 has an AMD Athlon II Neo K125 processor and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4225 graphics. The machine will reportedly get around 7 hours of battery life which should be more than enough for a day's work. Other specs include 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive. The Aspire One 521 is now available from Amazon for $349.99.
ASUS Eee PC 1201PN
The Eee PC 1201PN starts at $484. It has a 12.1 inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Other features include Intel Atom N450 processor, second generation NVIDIA ION graphics, Windows 7 Home premium and a 250GB hard drive. What makes this machine attractive is the ION graphics which will let you play some games with ease. What's more, there is an HDMI port for transferring videos to an external monitor. Samsung NB30
The Samsung NB30 is semi-rugged which makes it an ideal choice for students: It will easily withstand use and abuse in a typical classroom. It has a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, a 160GB hard drive and a spill resistant keyboard. The laptop will get around 6.5 hours of battery life. And at $329.99, its price is equally attractive.
Toshiba mini NB305-N440
The Toshiba Mini NB305-N440 has one of the best netbook keyboards and a large touchpad. It is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 processor. Other specs include 1GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive. Price starts at $342.29
TOSHIBA LAUNCHES CM1 CLASSMATE PC IN JAPAN
Toshiba is the latest PC maker to launch a convertible tablet style netbook specifically aimed at students. The company has just introduced its CM1 Classmate PC in Japan. The Toshiba CM1 is based on Intel's latest Classmate PC reference design. In looks it isn't much different from the CTL 2Go PC convertible tablet we heard about early this year.
The Toshiba CM1 is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor with 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive. It has a 10.1 inch HD display with 1366 x 768 pixels. The netbook runs Windows 7 Professional 32-bit. The display can be rotated down over the keyboard for use in the tablet mode. There is also a built-in handle for easily carrying the netbook between classrooms. The case is ruggedized to withstand use and abuse by students.
At 3.97 pounds, the CM1 is a bit heavy for a netbook though. No word on pricing or a US launch date.
The Toshiba CM1 is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor with 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive. It has a 10.1 inch HD display with 1366 x 768 pixels. The netbook runs Windows 7 Professional 32-bit. The display can be rotated down over the keyboard for use in the tablet mode. There is also a built-in handle for easily carrying the netbook between classrooms. The case is ruggedized to withstand use and abuse by students.
At 3.97 pounds, the CM1 is a bit heavy for a netbook though. No word on pricing or a US launch date.
PIXEL Qi DIY KIT NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
Pixel Qi‘s 10.1 inch display kit is now officially available for DIY types who would like to swap out their netbook's original display with the dual-mode power efficient Pixel Qi display. The whole process, reportedly, takes only around 5 minutes and you need to use only a screwdriver.
Unlike the standard LCD displays found on most netbooks, the Pixel Qi display can operate in two modes - a full color mode and a high contrast almost black and white mode. In the high-contrast mode the display consumes very little power and it is even readable in direct sunlight. And that is the main advantage. You can't use a typical netbook in sunlight because the display will turn into a mirror due to reflections. And now it looks like there is finally a solution to this vexed problem.
On the downside, the Pixel Qi DIY kit isn't cheap. It costs a whooping $275. Nowadays you can get a complete netbook for that price. But prices will come down as the demand goes up. And hopefully we will soon start seeing actual netbooks and tablets ship with the displays pre-installed.
You can purchase the Pixel Qi display kit from Maker Shed.
Unlike the standard LCD displays found on most netbooks, the Pixel Qi display can operate in two modes - a full color mode and a high contrast almost black and white mode. In the high-contrast mode the display consumes very little power and it is even readable in direct sunlight. And that is the main advantage. You can't use a typical netbook in sunlight because the display will turn into a mirror due to reflections. And now it looks like there is finally a solution to this vexed problem.
On the downside, the Pixel Qi DIY kit isn't cheap. It costs a whooping $275. Nowadays you can get a complete netbook for that price. But prices will come down as the demand goes up. And hopefully we will soon start seeing actual netbooks and tablets ship with the displays pre-installed.
You can purchase the Pixel Qi display kit from Maker Shed.
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