Archos has released the Android 2.2 updates for its Gen8 tablets which include the Archos 28, Archos 32, Archos 43, Archos 70, and Archos 101. Some of those tablets are not yet available in the US.

The update from Android 2.1 to Android 2.2 is expected to improve the performance of third party apps, thanks to the faster JIT compiler. It will also let you install apps that require Android 2.2 to play smoothly. You may also be able to install some apps to an SD card.

The OS update will also provide more accurate battery charge estimates, faster USB data transfers and support for Bluetooth GPS receivers. Most importantly, tablets running Android 2.2 can run Adobe Flash Player 10.1. Unfortunately that plugin is still not available for Archos, although it is in the works.

If you already have an Archos tablet running Android 2.1 you will soon be prompted to download and install the new OS. Alternatively you can download the update from the Archos support page.

In terms of looks, the Gigabyte T1005 isn't all that different from the T1028X convertible laptop, but under the hood it houses more powerful components. Like its predecessor, the T1028X, the T1005 also has a 10.1 inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. The display can be folded down over the keyboard for using the laptop in the tablet mode.

But while the T1028X has a resistive touchscreen display, the T1005 has a capacitive touchscreen display which is easier to operate with your fingertips. This model also sports a dual core 1.5GHz Intel Atom N550 processor. Other specifications include 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive and Windows 7 Home Premium. The laptop also has some premium features like a USB 3.0 ports, an Express Card slot and an eSATA / USB combo port.

Design and build quality
Build quality seems satisfactory. The hinge feels very sturdy and although the netbook has a plastic casing, it doesn't look cheap.

The keyboard is also decent, but some users may not like the shift keys which are rather small.But that is something you will eventually get used to.

Performance
Performance is satisfactory. The T1005 can easily handle day-to-day computing tasks without any difficulty. But the touchscreen does feel a bit laggy at times. But it is possible that this could be an issue with the software and can easily be fixed with an update.

The T1005 doesn't have a discrete graphics option. So heavy duty gaming is simply out of question. That said, you can still indulge in some modest gaming. HD video content also plays fine.

Battery Life
The T1005 gets around 5 and half hours of battery with the USB 3.0 port turned on. By turning it off, you will be able to get an extra hour of battery life.

Conclusion
The Gigabyte T1005 is an impressive netbook. Because it is a convertible it serves two purposes - that of a laptop and that of a tablet. The laptop has many premium features including an HD display, Windows 7 Home Premium and USB 3.0 port. The only downside perhaps is the price. At $600, the Gigabyte T1005 is costlier than most netbooks. In fact,it costs as much as some entry level notebooks. But if you don't mind spending a few extra bucks,you have no reason not to buy this laptop.

Asus has announced that its Eee Note EA-800 note taking device will retail for $230 in Taiwan starting this week. It was only last week that the device got a proper name. The Eee Note is the same machine as the Eee Tablet. But since the name Eee Tablet didn't quite suit a device that isn't quite a tablet Asus decided to rename the device.

At $230, the Eee Note is quite attractively priced. It has some versatile features too. The device, for instance, has a built-in camera and microphone for recording notes. There is also a 3.5mm headphone jack for playback.


The Eee Note EA-800 runs Linux. It has an 8 inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. Asus claims that the device will get around 13.5 hours of battery life. The Eee Note is expected to launch in the US in the first quarter of 2011.

Dell has made a new addition to its Vostro laptop line. The new Dell Vostro V130 is a refresh to the original Vostro V13. Like its predecessor, the new model also has a magnesium alloy chassis. Incidentally, the Vostro V130 is the lightest 13 inch ultraportable laptop available at the moment. It is available in Lucerne Red and Aberdeen Silver. What's more, the new Vostro V130 is also the first ultra thin notebook to feature Intel's Hyperbaric Cooling technology.

The Vostro V130 is powered by Intel's latest Core i3 and i5 ULV processors. Other features include full-sized keyboard, 13.3 inch HD display, an HDMI port for connecting to an HDTV, 2 USB 2.0 ports, one eSATA / USB combo port, built-in webcam, a SIM card slot and VGA. The supported connectivity options include WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth 3.0. US models will also have WiMAX. The new Vostro V130 seems to have the same capacity battery as the Vostro V13 which gets only around 3.3 hours of runtime.

Pricing and Availability
The Vostro V130 is available today worldwide, starting at $429.

Sharp has announced the launch date and pricing for its upcoming Galapagos tablets in Japan. There are two machines - one sporting a 5.5 inch display and the other sporting a 10.8 inch display. Both models run Android. They will go on sale in Japan on December 10th for the local equivalent of about $480 and $650 respectively. Prices may drop when the tablets make their debut in the US.

The 10.8 inch tablet has a 1366 x 800 pixels display and a 10 hour battery. It also has WiFi 802.11b/g and an 8GB microSDHC card. The tablet weighs about 1.7 pounds.

The 5.5 inch Galapagos tablet has a 1024 x 600 pixels display, 8GB of storage, a 7 hour battery and WiFi 802.11b/g. It weighs less than half a pound.

Sharp is positioning its tablets as eBook readers, but they also feature web browsers. And since the machines run Android, they are also hackable.

The HP G62M notebook computer has arrived just in time for the holiday shopping season. Great deals are currently available on the laptop. If you purchase the machine from HP Home now you will get it for just $349.99. The laptop usually retails for $449.99.

The HP G62M has a 15.6 inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. It is powered by an Intel Celeron 900 processor. The laptop also has 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive spinning at 7200rpm. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium.

Other specifications include Intel GMA 4500 integrated graphics, HDMI output, VGA output, an 8 x DVD burner, three USB ports, 5-in-1 digital media reader, Altec Lansing speakers, WiFi, Bluetooth and a 6-cell battery which will reportedly get around 5.5 hours of battery life.

A couple of laptops sporting Intel's upcoming 2nd generation Core series processors have been spotted in the wild.These machines are scheduled for release on January 5th, 2011 during the CES show.

The laptops in question include the Acer Aspire 17.3 inch model and the Lenovo IdeaPad Y560P. Both notebooks have Intel Core i7-2630QM (quad-core) processor and AMD Mobility Radeon HD 6550M discrete graphics. A certain Gateway laptop will reportedly also have the Core i7-2630QM CPU.

The Intel Core i7-2630QM is believed to be one of the next generation 32nm processors based on the 'Sandy Bridge' microarchitecture. It will sport new and improved performance boosting technologies and better integrated graphics. The second generation Core series processors will be available in dual and quad-core versions.

Interestingly the Acer laptop seems to have the current Intel HM55 chipset while the Gateway model sports the HM65 which is based on Intel's upcoming Huron River laptop platform.

Microsoft Store has started offering the Dell Inspiron Mini 1018-iM1018-2628OBK netbook for free. Now here is the catch. To get the laptop free of cost, you have to purchase the Office Home and Business 2010 suite which is priced at $279.99. The offer is valid through Cyber Monday which falls on November 29th.

The Inspiron Mini 1018-iM1018-2628OBK has a 10.1 inch LED backlit display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. It is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 processor with GMA 3150 integrated graphics. Other specifications include 1GB of DDR3 memory, a 250GB hard drive and a 6-cell battery which will reportedly get around 7.2 hours of runtime. The netbook runs Windows 7 Starter Edition.

The Dell Inspiron Mini 1018-iM1018-2628OBK weighs 3.1 pounds. It also has a 0.3 megapixel webcam, stereo speakers, WiFi 802.11n, Ethernet LAN, 2 USB ports, a VGA port and a 3-in-1 memory card reader.

Black Friday may have ended, but you can still get great deals on notebooks and netbooks, thanks to Cyber Monday. Some of these deals are already available, others will kick in on Monday, November 29th. Here is a quick roundup.

HP Compaq Presario CQ62Z - 15.6 inch, AMD V-Series V140 processor, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, ATI Radeon HD 4250, Windows 7 Home Premium - Price: $349.99 - HP Home

HP G62m Series -15.6 inch, Intel Celeron Processor 900, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium - Price: $349.99 - HP Home

HP Compaq Presario CQ62-219WM + Flash + Case - 15.6 inch, Intel Celeron 900 processor, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium - Price: $398.00 + Free Shipping - Walmart

eMachines eME527-2537 - 15.6 inch, Intel Celeron 900 processor, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium - Price: $365.72 + Free Shipping - Amazon.com

Dell Inspiron 15 - 15.6 inch, Intel Celeron 900 processor, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium - Price: $399.99 - Dell.com

Acer Aspire AS5552-3036 - 15.6 inch, AMD Athlon II Dual-Core P340 processor, 3GB RAM, 320GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium - Price: $474.95 - B&H

Toshiba Satellite C655D-S5041 - 15.6 inch, AMD V120 Processor 2.2GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium - Price: $399.99 + Free Shipping - OfficeDepot

Toshiba Satellite L655-S5058 - 15.6 inch, Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4500 processor, 3GB RAM, 320GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium - Price: $478.00 - Walmart

HP G62x - 15.6 inch, Intel Core i3-350M processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium - Price: $499.99 - HP.com

HP Pavilion dm3t - 13.3 inch, Intel Pentium U5400 processor, 3GB RAM, 320GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium - Price: $549.99 - HP.com

Acer Aspire AS5745G-7671 - 15.6 inch, Intel Core i3-370M processor, Nvidia GeForce GT 420M, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium - Price: $599.99 + Free Shipping - Newegg

Lenovo Thinkpad X201i - 12.1 inch, Intel Core i3-370M processor, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium - Price: $879 - Lenovo.com

Alienware M11x - 11.6 inch, Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor, GeForce GT 335M, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD - Price: $599.00 - Dell.com

Sony VAIO VPCY216FX/S - 13.3 inch, Intel Core i3 i3-330UM processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium - Price: $793.99 - Buy.com

Now that the Jolicloud Jolibook has gone on sale in the UK, we are starting to see reviews pop up. The Jolicloud Jolibook is the first netbook to ship with the Jolicloud operating system. The Jolibook is not yet available for purchase in the US, but Engadget's Joanna Stern has published a detailed review of the netbook.

Long story short, the hardware is pretty standard. It is neither better nor worse than what you would expect from a typical netbook. On the flip side, the display could have been better. The company could have also used a higher capacity battery. The Jolibook gets only around 5 hours of battery life with the 48 Whr battery.

The operating system is quite user-friendly. It is easy to use and can run web-based as well as desktop apps. Google's upcoming Chrome operating system can run only web-based apps and that is what makes the Jolicloud a better operating system than Chrome.

The Jolibook runs £279 in the UK. At that price it isn't exactly cheap especially when you consider the fact that the Jolicloud operating system is available for free download. That's to say, it is possible to buy a cheap Windows or Linux operating system and then install the Jolicloud OS on your own. But if that is not your thing, you will definitely want to consider this machine.

RIM is yet to announce the official pricing for the upcoming BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, but we have been hearing that it will be very competitively priced. In fact, at least some of the models are expected to sell for under $500 and that makes sense. The WiFi only iPad is priced at $499.

While there is still no official word on pricing, the 8GB model of the tablet will reportedly sell for $399. The 16GB version will run $499 and the 32GB version will go for $599. Of course, you should take these prices with a grain of salt because they come from an anonymous source.

None of these models will have an integrated 3G modem and that is probably because it is possible to pair the PlayBook with a BlackBerry phone and share the data connection. You can also use the PlayBook as a standalone tablet and access data over a WiFi connection.

The BlackBerry PlayBook is expected to hit the streets early next year

Dell Inspiron Duo Convertible Netbook

Have you ever seen your laptop screen turning upside down and flip from touch to type within seconds? So now is the time when your imagination will get to real. Still in labs for the release, the new Dell Inspiron Duo is a technology at its best with new innovational features and specifications bestowed in it. It happens many times that you don’t feel like typing and want the touch experience or sometimes you need to type the text. The laptop screen swings with your mood swings and provides you simple access to everything in your laptop. The Dell Inspiron Duo is powered by the new Intel Atom Processor that makes it is power machine.


With the new flip hinge model, one can seamlessly turn from touch to type according to the convenience. With the help of the Dell Inspiron Duo Stage software you can access your favorite music and photos with one simple touch or click. You can enjoy watching movies, view all your photographs and videos, play all the latest games and read books with the help of the 10”HD multi touch display screen of this wonderful laptop. This net book runs over the Windows 7 and one can revolve its screen around 180 degrees to turn it into a tablet from a laptop. Like all the Dell laptops and notebooks, this new convertible device is also available in an array of vibrant colors. And the good news for all the Dell fans is that they don’t have to wait for long to have this tablet cum net book in their hands. The company has the expected launch of the Dell Inspiron Duo by November this year.

The new Dell Inspiron Duo is made for all the ages and for every profession. It also has the built in 1.3 megapixels Web Camera with the best picture quality, digital microphones and the integrated Wi-Fi for wireless connectivity. Also you have optional choices for the connectivity like the 4G broadband and Bluetooth for making it much easy to connect with your family and friends from anywhere in the world. According to the standard configurations you will have 250GB, 5400 RPM hard disk drive along with 320 GB, 7200 RPM options which may vary with range and personal choice. Also you will have 2 GB RAM that can be increased accordingly. The company has also given some of the additional accessories with the device to add value to your money.

By November you can enjoy the brand new flipping experience the Dell Inspiron Duo will offer its customers. Fully loaded with all the latest specifications and feature, this device will bring a revolution in the field of net Book and tablets. The price of Dell Inspiron Duo is also according to the features offered by the company giving full value for your money. From kinds to the travelers, students to professional, everybody can enjoy working with this new Dell Inspiron and can flip it from net book to tablet and vice versa according to the choice.

Dell Inspiron Duo Photos





Dell Inspiron Duo Convertible Netbook Video

It is Black Friday in the US today. The busiest shopping day of the year, Black Friday marks the official beginning of the holiday shopping season. Needless to say, you get great discounts on a lot of goodies on this day. Here is a quick roundup of the best Black Friday deals we have come across. Note that most of these deals are only available in stores. Many of them are valid only today and till stocks last.

Netbooks

Compaq 10.1″ netbook with Atom CPU, 160GB HDD, Win 7 Starter for $149.99 - Best Buy
Compaq 10.1″ netbook with Atom CPU, 250GB HDD, Win 7 Starter for $199.99 – Best Buy
HP Mini 110 with Atom N450 processor, 6 cell battery for $228 – Sam’s Club
HP Mini 110 with Atom N455 processor, Win 7 Starter for $250 – BJs
Acer Aspire One AOD255 10″ netbook with Atom N450 for $179.99 – Radio Shack

Laptops

Lenovo ThinkPad X100e 11.6″ notebook with AMD Athlon Neo for $359 – Lenovo (coupon: BLACKFRIDAY)
Fujitsu Lifebook AMD 1.7GHz 12″ Laptop w/ Win 7 Pro for $399 – Fujitsu (coupon: PH5HOLIDAY)

Tablets
16GB WiFi Apple iPad for $399 – at select TJ Maxx and Marshalls stores
Archos 7 Home tablet with 8GB storage, Android 1.6 for $170 – Amazon
Archos 5 32GB Internet Tablet with Android for $205 – Amazon
Pandigital Novel ebook reader with WiFi and Android for $139.99 – Best Buy


Apple has also announced instant discounts on the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops and iPads. You will get $41 discount on the iPad. On MacBook Pro and MacBook Air you will get a discount of $101. Apple's Black Friday offers are only valid today.

According to Digitimes, the upcoming Acer Windows 7 tablet will be powered by an AMD Ontario processor. Acer has already announced that its tablet would use a next generation AMD processor but the company hasn’t named the processor yet.

The AMD Ontario processor is based on the Bobcat core. It will come bundled with the Radeon HD 6250 integrated graphics. It is one of the first Fusion processors from AMD to have graphics and processors cores in the same piece of silicon. This particular chip is codenamed C-50 and it will reportedly use 9W of power.

The Acer Windows 7 tablet will have a 10.1 inch display, WiFi and 3G capabilities. It has two 1.3MP cameras – one on the front and one on the back. It will also have a docking station with a keyboard allowing you to use the tablet as a netbook. The tablet is due out February.

In related news, Acer has announced two more tablets – one 7 inch and one 10 inch. These tablets will have ARM-based processors and Android operating system. They are due out in April.

Radio Shack will be selling the Acer Aspire One AOD255-2331 netbook in its stores on Black Friday for $180. The retailer usually sells the netbook for $279.99.

The Aspire One AOD255-2331 is a 10.1 inch netbook. It has a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 single core processor. The netbook also has 1GB of DDR2 memory, a 160GB hard drive, a built-in webcam and Intel GMA 3150 integrated graphics.

The Aspire One A)D255-2331 runs Genuine Windows XP Home Edition. The 10.1 inch TFT LCD display has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels.

The offer will be valid until November 27th. Note that this model is not available for purchase at Radio Shack’s online stores.

Walmart has announced that it will sell the 15.6 inch HP G56-129WM for just $298 on Black Friday.

The budget friendly HP G56-129WM has a 2.2GHz Intel Celeron 900 single-core processor, Intel GMA 4500M integrated graphics, 3GB of DDR2 RAM, a 250GB hard drive, a 6-cell battery and DVD burner. The 15.6 inch display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. The laptop runs Windows 7 Home Premium operating system.

The HP G56-129WM weighs 5.6 pounds. It has a black matte HP Imprint exterior. The laptop also has an integrated microphone, WiFi 802.11n, Ethernet LAN, 3 USB 2.0 ports and a VGA output port. The G56-129WM doesn't have an HDMI port. It is also not clear whether the laptop has a built-in webcam.

The HP G56-129WM will be sold only in stores in limited quantities on 11/26/10 from 5AM to 11AM. It will not be available on the Walmart website on Black Friday.

The Asus N53JF 15.6 inch entertainment laptop has started shipping in the US. Newegg has started selling the N53JF-XE1 model with a 2.53GHz Intel Core i5 460M processor and NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M discrete graphics with 1GB of dedicated video card. Other specifications include 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 500GB hard drive, a Blu-ray combo drive and Windows 7 Home Premium OS.

While the product page of the N53JF on the Asus.com says that the laptop supports NVIDIA's automatic graphics switching technology, Newegg doesn't mention this feature.

The Asus N53JF-XE1 has a full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The laptop also boasts of an audio system co-developed with Bang & Olufsen featuring the SonicMaster technology. The laptop also has a built-in 2MP webcam, wireless N, Ethernet LAN, a single USB 3.0 port and 2 USB 2.0 ports, an eSATA port, HDMI and VGA outputs and a 5-in-1 media card reader. The N53JF weighs 6.4 pounds with the 6-cell battery. It is priced at $999.99 at Newegg.

The Toshiba Satellite A660-BT2G23 is one of the best selling Toshiba laptops ever. It is a high-performance 16 inch multimedia laptop powered by an Intel Core i7-740QM quad-core processor and NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M discrete graphics with 1GB of dedicated video RAM. The Satellite A660-BT2G23 also has up to 8GB of RAM, up to 640GB of storage space and a DVD burner / Blu-ray combo or a Blu-ray writer.

The 16 inch LED backlit glossy display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.

The Satellite A660-BT2G23 also sports a chiclet-style keyboard with optional backlight, harman/kardon stereo speakers with DOLBY Advanced Audio technology, multitouch trackpad, webcam and microphone, WiFi 802.11N, Bluetooth, and Gigabit LAN connections, 3 USB 2.0 ports and an eSATA/USB combo port, a multi-in-one media card reader, and an ExpressCard slot. There is also an HDMI and VGA output ports for transferring video to an external monitor.

The Satellite A660-BT2G23 features a Fusion X2 Finish in charcoal color. It weighs around 5.8 pounds with the standard 6-cell battery and runs Windows 7 Home Premium. Prices start at $949.00 at ToshibaDirect.com.

Acer introduced five new laptops and tablet computers yesterday. One of them is a 10 inch Windows tablet due out early next year.

Complete specs of the device are not yet available, but it will have 10.1 inch HD display. The tablet will measure about 0.6 inches in thickness and weigh less than 2.2 pounds. The tablet will also have WiFi, 3G and a pair of 1.3 megapixel cameras - one on the front and one on the back.

The Acer tablet will also have a docking station with a full-sized keyboard, allowing you to use it as a kind of convertible tablet-style netbook. The tablet will reportedly be powered by a 'next-generation' AMD processor and that should give it an edge over other Windows tablets in the market. That is because Atom chips feel quite sluggish on Windows 7 tablets. Perhaps a slightly more powerful processor will be able to deliver better results. Even AMD's current crop of netbook processors deliver better performance than Atom processors. The upcoming processor will definitely be faster, and not slower.

Asus has officially renamed its Eee Tablet note taking device. And the new name - Eee Note - sounds more sensible than the old one.

The Asus Eee Note EA800 has an 8 inch grayscale display with a resolution of 768 x 1024 pixels. The Wacom touchscreen works well with a stylus. What's more, it can recognize 256 levels of pressure which should make writing and drawing more precise.

The Eee Note EA800 also has 4GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot for expansion and WiFi 802.11b/g/n. Other specifications include a 2MP camera, a 1 Watt speaker and a 3700mAh battery.

Asus claims that the device will get around 10 hours of battery life with WiFi enabled and 10 days of standby time.

The Eee Note supports a range of ebook formats including PDF and ePUB as well as TXT, JPG, BMP, GIF, PNG and Microsoft Office files and MP3 audio.

No word on pricing or availability at the moment.

The Velocity Micro Cruz Tablet is a 7 inch Android tablet with some really impressive features. There are a few drawbacks too.

The Cruz Tablet was introduced a couple of months ago and has now started shipping.
Its 7 inch capacitive touchscreen display has a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. The tablet runs Google Android 2.1. Other specifications include 4GB of storage, 512MB of RAM, an 8GB SD card for expansion and WiFi 802.11b/g/n. There is also an accelerometer for automatic screen rotation. The battery is user replaceable.

The Cruz Tablet doesn't have access to the Android Market. Instead it ships with the CruzMarket app. There are three capacitive touch buttons built into the side of the case for Home, Menu and Back buttons. There is no Search button, though.


The Velocity Micro Cruz Tablet is now available for purchase from Velocity Micro or Newegg for $299.99.

The Dell Inspiron Duo convertible tablet / netbook hybrid is now up for pre-order from Microsoft Store. The laptop is going for $549, but you will need to pay an extra $99 if you want Microsoft's 'Signature Premium' service which will provide priority tech support and a theft recovery system.

The Inspiron Duo is a 10.1 inch convertible tablet with a 1366 x 768 pixel capacitive touchscreen display. What is interesting about this machine is that you can flip the display backward and forward so that it can be used as a laptop or a tablet.

The Duo is powered by a 1.5GHz Intel Atom N550 dual core processor. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium. Other specifications include 2GB of DDR3 RAM, a 320GB, 7200rpm hard drive. There is still no word on a shipping date, but they won't charge you until it ships.

The LG E-Note H1000B is a tablet computer with a 10.1 inch resistive touchscreen display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. It runs Windows 7 Starter Edition. The tablet is powered by a 1.1GHz Intel Atom Z510 or a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 processor. Other specifications include 1GB of RAM and a 16GB solid state disk.

The LG E-Note hit the FCC website a few weeks ago, but LG hasn't made any official announcement regarding the tablet's availability in the US. The company,however, launched the E-Note in Korea this weekend.

The LG E-Note H1000B also has WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, optional WiMAX, 2 USB ports and an SDHC card slot. The tablet comes standard with a removable 4-cell battery and weighs 1.9 pounds. It sells for about $850 in Korea.

Over the last few months we have seen plenty of iPad clones. The latest to join the band is the Haleron H97. What is interesting about this machine is that it looks exactly like the iPad. The tablet, for instance, has the same home button at the bottom of the display. It also features a curved design on the back just like the iPad.

The hardware is different. Haleron says that its tablet has VGA, DVI, HDMI, 4 USB 2.0 ports, optional Ethernet adapter and headphone and mic jacks. Interestingly many of these ports are not visible in the rendered images of the tablet. It is also not clear whether the tablet is thick enough to house all of these ports. Anyway, at the moment we have got to believe what Haleron is saying.

The Haleron H97 has a 9.7 inch capacitive multitouch display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. It is powered by an Intel Atom Z550 processor. The tablet runs Windows 7 Home Premium. Other specifications include 1GB of RAM, Intel integrated graphics, WiFi, Bluetooth and optional 3G.

The Haleron H97 will reportedly start shipping to distributors in December. The company won't be selling the tablet directly to customers.

Haven't we been hearing about the Notion Ink Adam tablet for ages? Well, the product is not yet ready to ship, but it is on its way. Notion Ink's Rohan Shravan says that the tablet is due out in January. In a weekend blog series he also revealed several interesting details about the tablet.

The Adam tablet will have a matte, scratch-resistant display. To prevent color distortions the company has also done some work on the display.

The tablet will come pre-loaded with a three-pane file browser called Sniffer which is designed for tablets with widescreen displays. The GPS navigation software will be available in 43 languages. There is an email app called Mail'd. This particular application is capable of working online and offline. What's more, it has an undo sent mail feature. Notion Ink is also planning to build an unofficial forum for the users of the tablet.

HP has released a new line of budget friendly notebooks. The new HP G62x series laptops feature 15.6 inch displays. Two models are available - the G62x and the G62t.

According to the HP website, the G62x is designed for business users. It is powered by a Core i3 processor. The consumer-oriented G62t, on the other hand, is available with your choice of an Intel Pentium or Core i5 processors. The G62x also has up to 320GB of hard drive space and a DVD burner. The G62t is configurable with up to 640GB of storage and Blu-ray optical drive.

Other components that are common to both models include Intel HD or ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 graphics, 2 or 3GB of RAM, and a 6-cell battery that will get up to 5.5 hours of battery life. Both models have a 1366 x 768 pixels display.

The G62t and G62x also have an optional webcam, stereo speakers, WiFi 802.11n, Ethernet LAN, 3 USB ports, a 5-in-1 media card reader, HDMI and VGA video outputs.

The HP G62x starts at $549.99, whereas the G62t starts at $479.99.

The HP Mini 1103 is the newest business netbook from HP. Starting at $299, it is also the cheapest among HP's business netbooks. The HP Mini 1103 has the same basic case design as the Mini 210. There are a handful of minor differences, though.

The HP Mini 1103 is only available in solid black. The Mini 210 is available with more color options. The Mini 1103 has a glossy lid, whereas the Mini 210 has a matte lid. Other than these minor differences, the two netbooks are pretty much the same.
Both netbooks have island-style keyboards.They also feature rear panels which can be removed to upgrade the RAM, hard drive and some other components without having to use a screwdriver.

Another major difference perhaps is that the Mini 210 is consumer oriented whereas the Mini 1103 is business oriented. The main difference between HP's consumer and business netbooks is that the latter are available with more configuration options which aren't usually available with the former.

The HP Mini 1103 should be available for purchase soon.

In what could probably be the most interesting Black Friday offer we have come across this year, the clothing stores TJ Maxx and Marshalls have announced that they will be offering the WiFi only Apple iPad for just $399 on Black Friday at select locations.

The WiFi only iPad usually starts at $499. Even refurbished models sell for more than $400 making this the best price for iPad.

TJ Maxx and Marshalls do not normally sell consumer electronics products. By offering a hot product at an unheard of price the stores are just trying to attract more customers. Unfortunately only a limited number of iPads will be on offer. Worse still, the stores have not announced which locations will have the tablet. That means that finding the 'right' store is going to be the most difficult part.

Contrary to what we heard a couple of days ago, the Dell Inspiron Duo isn't coming next week. You will have to wait a little longer to get your hands on this convertible tablet style netbook.

Dell has announced that the Duo will start shipping in the first week of December. It will have a starting price of $549.

The Dell Inspiron Duo has a 10.1 inch display. It is powered by a 1.5GHz Intel Atom N550 dual core processor. The tablet / netbook hybrid runs Windows 7 Home Premium. Other specifications include 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, and a Broadcom Crystal HD video accelerator for 1080p HD video playback. The 10.1 inch display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.

Of course, $549 is a high price tag for a 10 inch netbook, but you also get some premium features such as an HD display, a dual core processor and Windows 7 Home Premium. What's more, the device can also be used as a tablet.

Acer has quietly unveiled its Aspire 1430 thin and light laptop. The Aspire 1430 has an 11.6 inch display. It is already up on the Acer website, but surprisingly Acer hasn't made any official announcement so far.

The Acer Aspire 1430 has impressive specs. It is powered by a 1GHz Intel Core i5-520UM processor. The 11.6 inch display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Other specifications include 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 320GB hard drive spinning at 5400 rpm, a 5-in-1 card reader, integrated Intel graphics, VGA and HDMI output ports. The Aspire 1430 runs Windows 7 Home Premium. It comes standard with a 6-cell battery rated at 4400mAh.

The laptop measures 1.1 inches in thickness. It weighs 3.1 pounds. No word on pricing or availability.

PeeWee PC has launched a new convertible tablet style netbook for students. The PeeWee Pivot 2.0 convertible seems to be based on Intel's Classmate PC reference design and that probably explains why it looks like the CTL 2Go Convertible Classmate PC.

The PeeWee Pivot has a 10.1 inch resistive touchscreen display which can be folded down over the keyboard for use in the tablet mode. The standard model has a 1024 x 600 pixels display. An HD display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels is available as an optional feature.

The computer is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor. Other specifications include up to 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth. There is also an accelerometer for automatic screen rotation.

The PeeWee Pivot is aimed at students and has many features that would make it ideal for use in school. The convertible, for instance, has a water resistant keyboard, a built-in handle and a semi-rugged case.

The PeeWee Pivot runs Windows 7 Starter Edition. It runs about $599.

Jolicloud will soon start selling a netbook called Jolibook... perhaps real soon.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the netbook will start shipping in the UK on Friday. Jolicloud will release the netbook in other countries afterwards.

The Jolicloud Jolibook is powered by a 1.5GHz Intel Atom N550 dual core processor. It runs the Linux-based Jolicloud operating system which is designed to run on laptops with small displays and low power processors. Other apps that will come pre-loaded include the Chromium browser, a Facebook app, Spotify, VLC and Skype.

Still no word on pricing, but the netbook is reportedly 'very competitively priced'. Jolicloud is reportedly also in talks with European education suppliers in a bid to get the Jolibook into schools.

The Gigabyte T1125 convertible tablet PC passed through the FCC this week. While the mini-laptop has been available in some parts of the world since early this year, it is hasn't started shipping in the US yet. That is going to change. Word is that the T1125 will hit the US market before the end of this year. Now here is a piece of bad news. The machine isn't going to be cheap.

The Gigabyte T1125 will reportedly be available in two configurations. The Intel Core i3 version will run $1099. Need more horse power? The T1125 will also be available with a Core i5 processor but that version will run a whopping $1199.

Other specifications include an 11.6 inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, NVIDIA GeForce 310M discrete graphics with NVIDIA Optimus automatic graphics switching technology, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 and optional 3.5G modem. The T1125 also has a USB 3.0 port, 2 USB 2.0 ports, an eSATA port, VGA, HDMI, a card reader and headphone and mic jacks. The computer has a 6-cell battery rated at 7800mAh.

The Gigabyte T1125 is expected to be available in early December. It also features an optional docking station which will let you add a DVD drive.

Research In Motion (RIM) has started showing off its upcoming BlackBerry PlayBook. This morning the company posted a video comparing the web browsing experience on its PlayBook with iPad. The folks at Engadget also got a chance to spend some time with a prototype of the tablet. And here is what they have found.

The PlayBook handles mutltitasking like a champ. In fact, it is so fast that it makes today's mobile operating system's look sluggish and outdated.

Switching apps on the PlayBook is a lot like switching between apps on the WebOS running Palm Pre. A series of thumpnails show running apps. But while the PalmPre only shows thumpnails, the PlayBook shows live previews in the thump nail. For example, if you are playing a video in one screen, you will see a live preview of the video in the thumbnail. That is because the video will run in the background even after you have moved to another application. This kind of true multitasking capabilities will definitely help business users.

Still no word on availability, but last week we heard that the tablet will sell for under $500.

The Dell Inspiron Duo is an interesting netbook / tablet hybrid. No, it doesn't feature any new software or technology. What makes this machine unique is its design.

While typical convertible tablet style netbooks feature a swivel that will let you rotate and fold the display down over the keyboard, the Inspiron Duo lets you flip the screen backward and then spin it until it is facing outward. Close the lid and the laptop is now ready for use in the tablet mode. The new design will make the laptop thin yet sturdy. Yes, it also looks cool.

Dell is yet to announce a firm launch date for the Inspiron Duo. The company, nevertheless, released a promo video recently. And now CNET reports that the Inspiron Duo could start shipping on November 23rd.

Specs-wise, the lapto has a 1.5GHz Intel Atom N550 processor. It runs Windows 7 and has a 10 inch display. No word on pricing or other specs.

The 1.6GHz Zacate E350 is the first low power processor based on AMD's Bobcat core. The Zacate and the upcoming Ontario processors are part of AMD's Fusion Line of processors which put the CPU and graphics core on a single chip. We have already heard that the Zacate chips deliver better graphics and processing power than Intel's Atom processors. Now we have a better idea of how fast the new Bobcat processors are.

A number of tech news sites have benchmarked the new Zacate processor. The dual core processor consumes less than 18W of power. It is good at multitasking. It can also handle 1080p HD video without breaking a sweat.

Hot Hardware ran a series of bennchmark tests and found that the Zacate processor was faster than a computer with a dual core Intel Atom D525 processor and ION 2 graphics. But it is not as fast as the AMD Turion II Neo K625 dual core processor which also consumes more power.

Overall, it looks like the Zacate processor will beat Intel's Atom D5xx line of processors in the nettop and low power laptop space. AMD is also getting ready to launch its Ontario processors for netbooks and tablets. So is it the end of the road for Intel's Atom?

Asus is planning to change the name of its Eee Tablet note-taking device. The Asus Eee Tablet isn't a tablet computer. It is basically an ebook reader with note-taking capabilities. Actually Asus is also working on a line of tablets called Eee Pads. Now that the name Eee Tablet is causing a lot of confusion, Asus is planning to rename the device before bringing it to the market.

Right now the company doesn't have decided on a new name so we will continue to call it Eee Tablet. The Eee Tablet has an 8 inch grayscale touchscreen display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. It recognizes stylus input and offers a super-fast 0.1 second page refresh rate.

Asus first demoed the device this summer and is expected to show off it at CES 2011. The company is preparing for a launch in early next year. Meanwhile Endgadget reports that it will likely be called Eee Note or Digital Note. No word on pricing.

AT&T has announced that it will start shipping the Samsung Galaxy Tab on November 21st. The company will offer Pay-As-You-Go data plans with the tablet. For $14.99 you will get 250MB of data per month. The $25 per month plan has a data cap of 2GB. Since there is no service contract, AT&T doesn't offer any subsidy which means that the tablet will cost a whooping $649.99.

Meanwhile US Cellular has also announced that it will start selling the Galaxy Tab on November 19th for $399.99 after rebate with a contract. The tablet will cost $599 without a contract.

So in all, five wireless carriers in the US are either offering the tablet or have announced their plans to offer the tablet. Those already shiping the tablet are:

* T-Mobile: $399.99 with contract $24.99/month for 200MB or $39.99 for 5GB
* Verizon: $599.99 without contract, monthly plans starting at $20 for 1GB
* Sprint: $399.99 with contract $29.99/month for 2GB or $59.99 for 5GB

Coming soon:

* AT&T: $649.99 without contract, $14.99 for 250MB or $25 for 2GB
* US Cellular: $399 (with contract) with $14.99/month for 200MB, $54.99 for 5GB / $599 without contract

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is powered by a 1GHz Samsung Hummingbird processor. It has a 7 inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. The tablet runs Android 2.2 and has full access to the Android Market.

HP has made yet another addition to its business lineup. The HP Mini 1103 is basically a business oriented version of the HP Mini 110 /210 consumer netbook. It lacks some of the premium features found in the HP Mini 5103 business netbook such as the optional dual core processor, optional HD display and touchscreen. On the bright side, the HP Mini 1103 has a much lower starting price of $299.

The HP Mini 1103 is available with your choice of a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 or a 1.83GHz Intel Atom N475 processor, 1GB or 2GB of DDR3 RAM and 160GB to 320GB, 7200 rm hard drive. Other specifications include WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, 3 USB 2.0 ports, a VGA port, 3 or 6-cell battery options and headphone and mic jacks.

The main difference between HP's business oriented and consumer oriented netbooks is that the former is available with a number of configuration options that aren't usually available for the latter. The business oriented HP Mini 1103, for instance, can be configured with Windows 7 Starter, SUSE Linux 11 or FreeDos.

More details are available at the HP.com. The HP Mini 1103 will be available for purchase next month for a starting price of $299.

The Gigabyte T1125 is an 11.6 inch convertible tablet style netbook. Its display can be folded down over the keyboard for use in the tablet mode.Gigabyte introduced the T1125 earlier this year but it is not yet available in the US. Now the convertible has showed up at the FCC website which is a good indication that the company is thinking about bringing the mini-laptop to the US.

According to documents available with FCC, the Gigabyte T1125 has an Intel Pentium ULV processor, NVIDIA GeForce 310M discrete graphics with support for Optimus automatic graphics switching technology, Intel HD graphics and an HM55 chipset.

The 11.6 inch touchscreen display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Other specifications include up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM, up to 500GB of hard drive storage, 2 USB ports, an eSATA / USB combo ort, flash card reader, HDMI output, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, a 1.3 megapixel camera, headphone and mic jacks and an optional HSDPA 3.5G modem. The netbook is available with either a 4-cell or a 6-cell battery.

The Acer Aspire TimelineX AS1830T is now available with Intel's Core i7-680UM processor. The Aspire TimelineX AS1830T is an 11.6 inch ultraportable notebook. It weighs 3.1 pounds.

Currently the Aspire TimelineX AS1830T-68U118 is only the notebook available in the US with an Intel Core i7-680UM processor which has a regular clock speed of 1.46GHz. This processor can be overclocked to up to 2.53GHz via the Turbo Boost technology.

Other specifications of the notebook include 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 500GB hard drive, integrated Intel HD graphics and a 6-cell battery that will reportedly get up to 8 hours of battery life on a single charge. The 11.6 inch display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.

The Aspire TimelineX AS1830T also has stereo speakers, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, Bluetooth, wireless N, Gigabit Ethernet LAN, 3 USB ports, a 5-in-1 media card reader and HDMI and VGA output ports.

Pricing and availability
The Acer Aspire TimelineX AS1830T-68U118 is now available for purchase from Newegg ($849.99), Amazon ($915.30), and other retailers.

Linux system builder System76 has made some updates to its Starling NetBook. The $385 mini-laptop is now available with a 1.5GHz Intel Atom N550 dual core processor. It runs Ubuntu 10.04. The laptop has a 10 inch display and a 3-cell battery.

Since the Starling netbook doesn't run Windows 7 Starter Edition it isn't restricted by Microsoft's hardware specifications. In other words the netbook is available with a lot of upgrade options including up to 500GB of hard drive space or a high performance SSD. It also ships with 2GB of RAM, while most netbooks on the market has 1GB. Other optional features include a 6-cell battery which will drive the price up to $444.

Right now the System76 netbooks are only available in the US. The company has, however, announced its plans to sell them internationally by the end of the month.

India-based Notion Ink is getting ready to ship its Adam tablet soon. The Notion Ink Adam will be one of the first Android tablets with a NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor and optional Pixel Qi display to hit the market.

The Pixel Qi transflective display is designed to be readable both indoors and outdoors. And when you turn the backlight off, it consumes much less power than a regular LCD display.

Notion Ink today published some of the photos of the tablet that shows how the machine looks when you open up the case. The photo shows a motherboard with a NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor. The RAM, storage and the processor are all soldered onto the motherboard.

In a blogpost, Notion Ink founder Rohan Shravan has said that there will be about 20 custom widgets specifically built for the tablet. He also said that the tablet will ship with a 'full office suite' although it is not clear what exactly is meant by that. Notion Ink has also worked out partnership with content providers to make digital content available on the tablet.