NOTEBOOK AND LAPTOP REVIEWS: 5/1/11

ASUS LAUNCHES UX SERIES ULTRAPORTABLE NOTEBOOKS

The Eee PC X101 isn't the only thin and light laptop Asus introduced at Computex this week. The company also launched another line of thin and light laptops in the the Asus UX series. The first model in the Asus UX lineup will be the Asus UX21 which sports an 11.6 inch display. It will weigh about 2.4 pounds.

The Asus UX21 has impressive specs. It will possess Intel's second generation Core series processors, solid state drives and instant-on capabilities. The netbook measures 0.67 inches at its thickest point and 0.12 inches at its thinnest. It also sports a brushed metal finish which kind of gives the laptop a MacBook Air-like look.

There is still no word on pricing or availability. Sure, in pricing the Asus UX series won't beat the X101 which has a ridiculously low price point of $200. But it could be cheaper than the MacBook Air with which it shares many similarities.

ASUS LAUNCHES $200 EEE PC X101 WITH WINDOWS 7 OR LINUX

The Eee PC X101 that Asus introduced at Computex this week can run both Meego Linux and Windows 7. The new Eee PC X101 is thinner and lighter than previous models. It measures just 0.7 inches in thickness and weighs 2.1 pounds.

Asus doesn't usually offer its netbooks with Linux these days. But because Linux is open source it will help to drive the cost down. The Eee PC X101 is expected to sell for just $200. MeeGo Linux, by the way, is supported by Intel. It is optimized to run on Atom powered netbooks and has its own app store.

The Asus Eee PC X101 has a 10.1 inch display and Atom N435 processor. It looks like the $200 model will only have a 3-cell battery and 8GB SSD. A Windows configuration with a more powerful battery and more storage will cost me. Meanwhile Asus has announced that there will be another model called X101H with a hybrid SSD/hard drive option.

MSI SHOWS OFF UPDATED WINDOWS AND ANDROID TABLETS AT COMPUTEX

MSI has been showing off its Windows and Android tablets for a while, but most of these machines have never made it to the market. Nonetheless, MSI is taking another try with its Windpad 110 Windows tablet and Windpad 100A Android tablet. The company is showing off both tablets at Computex this week. Meanwhile, the WindPad 110W is also available for pre-order from ExcaliberPC for $599.

The MSI WindPad 110W has a 10 inch IPS display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. It is powered by an AMD Brazos dual core processor and Radeon HD 6250 graphics. The tablet runs Windows 7 Home Premium operating system. It has up to 64GB of storage and 2GB of RAM. MSI says that the tablet will get up to 6 hours of battery with the 31Whr battery.

The WindPad 100A Android tablet has an ARM Cortex-A9 dual core processor. It has 1GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, a g-sensor and an ambient light sensor. This model too has a 10.1 inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels.

ASUS INTRODUCES EEE PC 1025 WITH NEXT-GEN ATOM CHIPS

Asus unveiled a new generation of 10 inch netbooks at Computex this week. The new Asus Eee PC 1025 is likely to be powered by Intel's upcoming Atom N2600 and Atom N2800 processors.

The new netbooks will last up to two weeks on standby. They will also feature the Instant On technology which allows you to resume from standby in just two seconds. The netbook will reportedly also get 14 hours of battery life 'under ideal conditions'.

The Eee PC 1025 netbooks will also have an HDMI output, a webcam with 4x zoom, WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth 3.0 and USB 3.0. The netbook will sport a new case design with a metallic finish. No word on pricing or availability at the moment.

ASUS EEE PAD MEMO TABLET TO HAVE A GLASSES-FREE 3D DISPLAY

Asus is showing off a 7 inch tablet called MeMo at Computex this week. The little machine was on display at CES as well. There are some major improvements, though. The Asus MeMo now features a glasses-free 3D IPS display. The tablet has also got a new name. It is now called Asus Eee Pad MeMo 3D.

The Asus MeMo already has many features that make it unique. For one thing, the tablet has a capacitive touchscreen display for finger input. It also comes with a stylus with a rubbery tip for making pressure sensitive input. Another unique feature is the “MeMIC” Bluetooth hands-free headset which allows users to listen to music or make phone calls using the tablet.

The 3D feature will only work in the landscape mode. Asus may also offer a cheaper model without the 3D display.

The Asus Eee Pad Memo will launch later this year. It will run Google Android Honeycomb operating system. Although, Asus hasn't officially confirmed this, the tablet will reportedly have a 1280 x 800 pixels display.

ACER PRODUCT MAP LEAKS; ACER CHROME OS NOTEBOOK TO BE CALLED CROMIA C700

Acer's product plans for the rest of the year have leaked. The source of the news is a blog called Macles which is known for breaking news about Acer's products.

Here is a run down:
We have already heard that Acer is building a Chrome OS laptop. The machine is expected to launch in June. Macles report that the netbook will be called Acer Cromia C700.

Acer will also launch a new netbook called Acer Aspire One AOD270. It will be powered by a 1.86GHz Intel Atom N2800 dual core processor.

A new Acer Ferrari one model will hit the streets this year. It will be called Ferrari One F0300 and will have an AMD Fusion processor. Sure, we will have to wait a little longer to find out how accurate this piece of news has been, but Macles has generally been spot on.

ARCHOS LAUNCHES ARNOVA 7 AND ARNOVA 84 ANDROID TABLETS

Archos has introduced two new tablets under its Arnova brand. The Archos Arnova 84 has a resistive touchscreen display with a 4:3 aspect ratio. It runs Android 2.1. The Arnova 7 has a 7 inch resistive display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. It runs Android 2.2 operating system.

Neither Archos Arnova 7 nor Arnova 84 has access to Google Android Market. Instead, they ship with a third party app store with around 30,000 apps available for download.

Detailed specifications of the tablets are not yet available. The Arnova 84 is expected to go on sale in Europe for 149 Euros (about $212 US). The Archos 7 will run about 114 Euros.

Archos has already launched a range of budget tablets including Arnova 8 and Arnova 10. None of these machines are speed demons, but they can be used to surf the web and play media files.

SON VAIO F WITH 2ND GENERATION CORE i SERIES NOW AVAILABLE

Sony has released an updated version of its 16.4 inch VAIO F high-end entertainment notebook. The updated VAIO F sports 2nd generation Intel Core processors, optional 3D display and a new design.

The updated Sony VAIO F is available with your choice of a quad-core Core i7-2630QM, i7-2710QM or Core i7-2820QM, up to 8GB of RAM, up to 640GB hard drive or up to 512GB of SSD. The 3D-capable version of the notebook comes with NVIDIA 3D Vision technology, NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M discrete graphics and Blu-ray /DVD burner. Regular models have GeForce GT 520M discrete graphics and DVD burner options.

The VAIO F 3D has a dedicated 3D button which allows users to convert standard videos to 3D content in real time. Both regular and 3D models have LED backlit displays with full HD resolution.

Other features include a backlit keyboard, integrated speaker bar, Dolby Home Theater v3, a webcam, HDMI, VGA outputs, 2 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0 and a Memory Stick Pro Duo / SD card slot. The supported connectivity options include WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 and Gigabit LAN.

According to the product page, regular models will get up to 5 hours of battery life, whereas 3D models get up to 3 hours. Regular models are available in matte black, silver or 'Premium White' color. The 3D series is available in glossy black only. Prices start at $1,099.99.

SONY LAUNCHES REFRESHED VAIO SA AND SB LAPTOPS

Sony has refreshed its VAIO S series. The new Sony VAIO SB and SA notebooks have better hardware and a design slightly different from their previous versions.

Both models still sport magnesium and aluminum alloy chassis, backlit chiclet keyboards and on-board optical drives. The VAIO SA will be available in brown, black and silver while the SB sports navy and pink options. The only major aesthetic difference between these two models is that the SA has a fingerprint reader nestled between its right and left buttons.

The Sony VAIO SB is now available with Core i3 and i5 processors and AMD Radeon HD 6630 graphics. It is priced in the range of $899 and $1000. The 13.3 inch display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. The Sony VAIO SA has a starting price of $1,370. It will be available with Intel’s new Core i7 processor, AMD Radeon HD 6630 graphics with 1GB of RAM, SSD options and a 1600 x 900 pixels display. Both laptops come standard with batteries, but in case you need more up time Sony is offering a $150 slice battery that when coupled with the standard battery will get up to 15 hours of runtime.

LENOVO IDEAPAD K1 ANDROID TABLET COMING SOON

IdeaPad K1, the upcoming 10 inch Android tablet from Lenovo, is not yet available for purchase, but that hasn't stopped retailers from creating product pages for the device. Buy.com, for example, has posted a product page with detailed specifications and some high quality images. Another retailer Krex has also uploaded a product page for the tablet with a suggested price of $510.04.

The Lenovo IdeaPad K1 is powered by a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor. It runs a version of Google Android (3.0 or higher). The tablet has a 10.1 inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. It also has 1GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, WiFi 802.11n and Bluetooth. There are two cameras - a 5 megapixel camera on the rear side and a 2 megapixel camera on the front side.

According to the product page at Buy.com, the IdeaPad K1 measures 0.52 inches in thickness and weighs 1.65 pounds. It will reportedly get 10 hours of battery life.

LEAKED ROADMAP SHOWS AMD CHIPS FOR TABLETS

It looks like AMD is all set to launch a line of processors for tablets. AMD is a late entrant to the low power processor market. The company's recently launched AMD C-30 and E-50 processors consume under 9W of power and offer decent performance. What makes them better than Intel's Atom is that they come bundled with AMD Radeon graphics which can handle 3D graphics acceleration and 1080p HD video playback.

It looks like AMD is building similar chips for tablets as well. The new AMD Fusion Z-Series chips, code-named Desna will reportedly provide that 'ultimate HD tablet' experience.

A series of leaked slides suggest that the Desna chips will support DirectX 11 graphics, Adobe Flash Player video acceleration as well as hardware graphics acceleration for Internet Explorer 9, MicroSoft Office 10 and Windows 7 visual effects.

There is still no word on the actual specifications of the Desna chips yet. But one thing is certain: if AMD wants to compete with Intel Oak Trail Atom and ARM-based processors, it has make highly power efficient chips.

ASUS TO LAUNCH EEE PAD SLIDER TABLET SOMETIME SOON

Asus has announced that it will launch the Eee Pad Slider tablet sometime soon. The Asus Eee Pad Slider is an Android tablet with a pull-out keyboard. It was introduced at CES.

Asus has posted a few teaser photos of the Eee Pad Slider on TechInStyle.tv. The mockups show the tablet as running Android 3.0 / 3.1 operating system. The models that were on display at CES were running Android 2.2 Froyo.

The Eee Pad Slider is expected to have a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor and a 10.1 inch capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. The Eee Pad Slider is a lot like the Eee Pad Transformer. But while the Slider has a slide-out keyboard the Transformer has a detachable keyboard. The Slider comes standard with the keyboard but the Transformer can be bought with or without the keyboard.

The Eee Pad Transformer is currently available for $400 without the keyboard. There is still no word on the pricing of Eee Pad Slider.

HTC PUCCINI 10 INCH ANDROID TABLET COULD SHIP THIS SUMMER

HTC is reportedly working on a 10 inch Android tablet code-named HTC Puccini. The company is yet to confirm the rumors, but Digitimes report that HTC could begin manufacturing large quantities of the tablet next month.

The HTC Puccini will reportedly have a 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM8660 processor and a 10.1 inch HD display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. The display will be of the capacitive variety but it will also provide support for a digital pen with which users can draw and make handwritten notes on the tablet. The tablet will run the latest version of the Android operating system.

HTC already has a 7 inch Android tablet called HTC Flyer. The machine is already available in many parts of the world, but it is kind of pricey.

MICROSOFT WILL SHOW OFF WINDOWS 8 FOR TABLETS NEXT WEEK

Microsoft is unlikely to release Windows 8 until later this year or early next year. But Bloomberg reports that the company could demo an early version of the operating system on a Tegra-based tablet at the All Things D conference next week.

The next generation of Windows will be capable of running on ARM-based processors. And that makes sense because the tablet market, which is growing at a fast pace, is currently dominated by ARM processors. The existing versions of Windows can’t run on ARM processors. That means the vast majority of tablets currently shipping don’t have Windows. By adding support to ARM-based processors, Microsoft is hoping that, at least, some of the upcoming tablets will ship with Windows.

Microsoft is yet to release any official photos or details of how Windows 8 will work on tablets. However it is expected that the new version of Windows will be more touch-friendly.

ASUS TO UNVEIL A NEXT-GEN EEE PC AT COMPUTEX

Last week Asus posted a teaser for a new tablet it was going to unveil at the Computex show in Taiwan. Today it has posted a teaser for a new laptop. Asus claims that the new laptop will be 'the next evolution of the Eee PC'.

The teaser only shows a silhouette but the laptop looks remarkably thin. It could, actually, be the thinnest Eee PC to date.

There is no word on the specs. In one of the leaked images the laptop is shown as having a vent in the side. That probably means that it has a fan. If it was a fanless system it could have been powered by an ARM-based processor. But that seems unlikely in the case of this Eee PC. As for the operating system, well, it can be anything: Windows, Chrome OS, Linux or Android.

LENOVO THINKPAD X1 ULTRA-SLIM NOTEBOOK NOW AVAILABLE FOR $1200 AND UP

The 13.3 inch Lenovo ThinkPad Ultra-Slim notebook is now available for purchase. The ruggedized business laptop measures 0.84 inches in thickness and weighs 3.7 pounds. It is the thinnest laptop in the ThinkPad series and meets 8 military ruggedness standards.

The configurations that are currently sold have Intel's 2.5GHz Core i5-2520M or 2.1GHz Core i3-2310M processor and integrated graphics. Other specifications include up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, a 128GB or 160GB of SSD or a 320GB traditional hard drive.
The LED backlit display is outdoor viewable and has 350-nit brightness. And to make it damage resistant Lenovo has covered it with Corning Gorilla Glass.

Lenovo says that the ThinkPad X1 will get up to 5.2 hours of battery life on a single charge. And because of the RapidCharge technology, users can charge the battery to 80 percent in 30 minutes. The battery life can be extended up to 10 hours by adding an external slice battery.

Other notable features include backlit spill resistant keyboard, Lenovo UltraNav trackpad, Dolby Home Theatre audio, webcam, optional Bluetooth 3.0 and optional Gobi 3000 mobile broadband.

The laptop also has WiFi, Gigabit Ethernet, a USB 3.0, a USB 2.0, HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort, a fingerprint reader, a 4-in-1 media card slot and an eSATA/USB 2.0 port.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 runs Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional operating system. Prices start at $1,199.

GATEWAY LAUNCHES REBRANDED VERSIONS OF THE ACER ICONIA TAB A500

Packard Bell, which is owned by Acer, has already launched its version of the Acer Iconia Tab A500 Android tablet. Now it is the turn of Gateway which is another subsidiary of Acer.

Two tablets by the name Gateway PT-A60W and PT-A60G have already showed up at a Bluetooth website. The specifications of both models are pretty much similar to those of Acer Iconia Tab A500. The tablets also look very much like the Iconia Tab A500. The product listings don't reveal a lot of details other than the fact the tablets have capacitive multitouch displays and Google Android operating system. Nonetheless, it is safe to assume that they have 10.1 inch, 1280 x 600 pixels displays and front and rear cameras because the Iconia Tab A500 has these features.

It is not clear what exactly is the difference between the PT-A60G and PT-A60W. Both tablets are expected to hit the markets in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and America some time soon.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB 10.1 TO SHIP WITH ANDROID 3.1

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Android tablet will start shipping in the US in the next few weeks. Originally Samsung had planned to launch the tablet with Android 3.0 operating system. But now that Google has launched Android 3.1, Samsung has updated the spec sheet for the tablet as well. All references to Android 3.0 have been replaced with Android 3.1.

The Android 3.1 is the latest version of Android specially optimized for tablets. It offers better hardware acceleration for improved graphics performance. Other supported features include USB host capabilities and improved recent apps menu which now shows up to 16 apps.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is expected to start shipping on June 8th. It is not clear whether the software update will push that date back.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 has a 10.1 inch display. It is powered by a dual core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor and has two cameras – one on the front side and another on the back side.

THE SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB 8.9 UP FOR PRE-ORDER IN GERMANY FOR 600 EUROS

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 is now up for pre-order in Germany. Amazon Germany has started taking pre-orders for the 8.9 inch tablet for 600 Euros or about $845 US. At that price, it isn't cheap by any standard. But one has to bear in mind that consumer electronics products tend to cost more in Europe than in the US.

The 10.1 inch Galaxy Tab is now up for order in Germany for 636 Euros (about $900 US). Interestingly the same tablet is expected to hit the US for $499. The 8.9 inch model should also be a little cheaper than its 10.1 inch sibling if and when it does hit the US shores.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 runs Android 3.0 operating system. It has a 3 megapixel camera and 16GB of internal storage. The tablet is powered by a 1GHz dual core processor, although it is not clear exactly what dual core processor.

DUAL SCREEN NEC LIFETOUCH W DUAL SCREEN TABLET TO START SHIPPING IN JAPAN IN JUNE

The dual-screen Android tablet that NEC has been showing off for a while will start shipping in Japan in June. It is not clear whether this model will be available outside of Japan anytime soon.

The NEC LifeTouch W has a pair of 7 inch resistive touchscreen displays with a resolution of 600 x 800 pixels. It is powered by an ARM Cortex A8 processor and runs Google Android 2.2 operating system. Interestingly the tablet has official access to Android Market.

The NEC LifeTouch W also has a 3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.1, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, 384MB of RAM, GPS and 1GB of storage. It comes standard with a stylus and a battery which will reportedly get up to 5 hours of battery life.

What is intriguing is that the tablet can run two separate apps at the same time on side-by-side displays.

DELL XPS 15Z UP FOR ORDER FOR $1000 AND UP

The Dell XPS 15z, reportedly the thinnest 15 inch laptop on the planet, has gone on sale. The stylish Dell XPS 15z measures just 0.97 inches at its thickest point and weighs 5.54 lbs. It sports an anodized aluminum chassis with magnesium alloy palmrest.
The notebook is available with your choice of an Intel Core i5-2410M or Core i7-2620M processor and NVIDIA Optimus enabled GeForce GT 525M discrete graphics with 1GB or 2GB of video memory.

The Dell XPS 15z also has up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, up to 750GB of hard drive space, a slot-loading DVD burner and an 8-cell battery which will reportedly get up to 8 hours and 22 minutes of battery life. The laptop comes standard with Windows 7 Home Premium operating system.

The 15.6 inch display is available with either 1366 x 768 pixels or a full HD resolution. Other specifications include spill resistant keyboard with backlight, multitouch trackpad, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, HDMI 1.4 and Mini DisplayPort connectors, Intel Wireless technology, Waves MaxxAudio 3 sound technology, WiFi, Gigabit LAN, Bluetooth 3.0, a USB 3.0, USB 2.0 and eSATA/USB 2.0 combo port, and a 9-in-1 media card reader.

The Dell XPS 15z starts at $1,000. It is now available for purchase from Dell Store.

AMD LAUNCHES LOW POWER T40R AND T40E CHIPS FOR FANLESS COMPUTERS

AMD has always been known for building powerful chips that are equally power hungry. But it looks like the company is trying to shed that image. A few months ago AMD launched the 9-Watt C-50 dual core Ontario processor which is just as power efficient as Intel's dual core Atom while at the same time offering better performance.

The company's 18W AMD E-350 processor doesn't consume more power than Intel's CULV processors while offering much better performance. And now AMD has added two new chips to the G-series line of low power processors. The new processors consume even less energy while offering DirectX 11 graphics capabilities.

The AMD T40R is a 1GHz 64-bit single core processor with a total power draw of 5.5 Watt. There is also a dual core version of this processor (T40E) which a TDP of 6.4 Watts. Both processors come standard with Radeon HD 6250 graphics and are designed for use in fanless systems including low power computers and tablets.

AMAZON TABLETS COULD HAVE QUAD-CORE CHIPS AND DUAL MODE DISPLAYS

Word on the street is that Amazon is building a tablet. The company executives have neither denied nor confirmed the rumors. But it looks like Amazon is indeed building one or more tablets. Last week Boy Genius Report reported that Amazon is building two tablets. At least one of these machines will have a NVIDIA T30 Kal-El quad-core processor. And now PC Magazine has got even more details.

According to PC Magazine, Amazon is building a 10 inch and a 7 inch tablet in time for the holidays. Both tablets will run Android operating system. At least one of them will have a NVIDIA Quad-core processor. According to PC Magazine's tipster, the 10 inch model will have a dual mode display which lets you switch between a full color mode and high contrast black and white mode. It is not exactly clear whether the reference is to a Pixel Qi display. But it looks like it is. There is still no word on other specifications or a potential launch date.

TOSHIBA TABLET COULD BE CALLED THRIVE

It looks like Toshiba has finally decided on a name for its upcoming Android tablet. A removed J&R product listing for the tablet suggests that it could be called Toshiba Thrive. Toshiba has been showing off this tablet for a while, but the company is yet to unveil an official name.

The J&R product listing had a $449 price tag. It is still too early to predict whether that is the official price tag because the listing has already been removed. For that price you will get 8GB of storage, a 10.1 inch 1280 x 800 pixels capacitive touchscreen display, a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core processor and 1GB of RAM. The tablet has two cameras - a 2MP camera on the front side and a 5MP camera on the rear side. Other specifications include WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, HDMI, USB, GPS and SD card slots. The 23Whr battery is user replaceable.

The tablet measures 0.62 inches in thickness and weighs 1.6 pounds. The 32GB model is priced at $579. Best Buy is also expected to sell the tablet sometime soon, but the Best Buy product page for the tablet doesn't mention a price or launch date.

32GB HP TOUCHPAD TABLET COULD RUN $599

HP is yet to announce the pricing details of its upcoming Touchpad tablet, but leaked inventory screenshots from Walmart suggest that the tablet could run $599. That model will reportedly have 32GB of storage. Incidentally, the 32GB iPad 2 also runs $599.
Does this mean that the 16GB model will be available for $499 or less? Well, our guess is as good as yours, but one can't rule out that possibility. After all, the 16GB iPad is priced at $499.

The HP Touchpad has a 9.7 inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. It will be powered by a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and runs webOS 3.0 operating system. Sure, there aren't many apps for the webOS operating system right now, but HP must have some tricks up its sleeve.

Meanwhile, Walmart can't be the only retailer for the HP TouchPad. You should be able to purchase the tablet from HP's own website and several other retailers when it is ready for prime time.

FUJITSU COULD OFFER A 7 INCH TABLET LATER THIS YEAR

Fujitsu launched a 10 inch Windows tablet with a slide-out keyboard earlier this week. The company also has another tablet called Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 Slate. While both these models are aimed at enterprise users, word is that Fujitsu is also building a third tablet. This model is set to launch later this year. It will be targeted at consumers. But Fujitsu hasn't finalized the details yet.

Digitimes report that the new model will have a 7 inch display. It will run Google Android 3.1 operating system. The tablet will be priced in the range of $350 and $700.
At launch the tablet will be designed for finger input, but Digitimes report that stylus support will be available eventually.

BEST BUY TO SELL HTC FLYER ANDROID TABLET FROM TOMORROW

Best Buy has announced that it will start selling the HTC Flyer Android tablet on May 22nd. Incidentally Best Buy will be the only retailer in the US to start offering the tablet from tomorrow.

The Best Buy version will ship without a digital pen, but you can buy it as an optional accessory to take advantage of the tablet’s handwriting and drawing capabilities.
The HTC Flyer tablet has a capacitive touchscreen display which means that you can also navigate the tablet using your fingertips.

The HTC Flyer has a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. The 7 inch display has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. It runs HTC Sense 3.0 software on top of Android 2.3 operating system. In the US the tablet will carry a price tag of $499.99.

The HTC Flyer is already available in many parts of Europe. The European version of the tablet comes standard with a digital pen. It also sports a much higher price tag.

HP has launched a new budget laptop in the Pavilion g6 series. Unlike the Pavilion g6t which has first generation Intel Core i series and Pentium Arrandale processors, the g6s sports 2nd gen Core i3, i5 and i7 “Sandy Bridge” dual-core chips.

The Pavilion g6s has a 15.6 inch 1366 x 768 LED backlight display, up to 6GB of RAM, up to 750GB hard drive, DVD burner or Blu-ray combo drive. It will reportedly get up to 4.25 hours of battery life. Other features include chiclet-style keyboard, webcam, HDMI, Altec Lansing speakers and Windows 7 Home Premium operating system.

The HP Pavilion g6s will be available in various color choices including gray, blue, purple, red and rose. Prices start at $550 on HP.com.

TOSHIBA LAUNCHES QOSMIO X770 GAMING LAPTOP

Toshiba has introduced a new 17.3 inch gaming and entertainment notebook. The Toshiba Qosmio X770 sports a brand new design and Intel's latest processors and NVIDIA Graphics.

Precisely the Qosmio X770 has an Intel Core i7-2630QM quad-core processor with up to 2.9GHz clock speed, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M discrete graphics, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, dual storage including a 500GB SSD / HDD and a 750GB standard HDD and a Blu-ray combo drive. Select models will be available with NVIDIA's 3D vision technology. The 17.3 inch display has a full HD resolution. The Toshiba Qosmio X770 also has dual built-in webcams for 3D video recording, Harman/Kardon speaker system, Dolby audio technology, WiFi, GIgabit LAN, Bluetooth 3.0, 1 USB 3.0 port, 3 USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, VGA and a multi-in-one card reader.

The Toshiba Qosmio X770 weighs 7.5 pounds and runs Windows 7 Premium operating system. It will be available in the coming weeks with a starting price of 1,300 Euros (around $1,850 US dollars).

DELL STREAK PRO 10 TABLET DETAILS LEAK

We have already heard that Dell is working on a 10 inch Android tablet. While there is no official word on the specifications of the tablet, the folks at Tweakers.net have managed to get what look like the first images of the tablet, along with detailed specifications.

The Dell tablet will reportedly have a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra T20 dual core processor, 1GB of RAM and rear and front facing cameras (at 5 megapixel and 2 megapixel respectively). The tablet will be available with a choice of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of storage. Other likely specifications include an SDHC card slot for expansion, WiFi and Bluetooth. Optional features include mobile broadband. The tablet reportedly has a 24.1 Whr battery.

The 10 inch tablet reportedly measures 0.35 inches in thickness and weighs 1.59 pounds. According to the leaked images, the tablet will have a media docking station and other accessories including a car charger. It will also have many enterprise features.

ACER ASPIRE ONE 722 UP FOR PRE-ORDER FOR $330

The 11.6 inch Acer Aspire One 722 is now up for pre-order. The Aspire One 722 has a dual core AMD C-50 processor and Radeon HD 6250 graphics.

The AMD C-50 isn't more powerful than an Atom processor, but it comes bundled with powerful Radeon graphics which means that the notebook will be able to handle 1080p HD video playback. Interestingly few other laptops in the same price range as the Aspire One 722 is capable of handling 1080p HD video.

The Aspire One 722 will be available in Blue or Black. Other specifications include 2GB of DDR3 memory, a 250GB hard drive and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit operating system. Amazon is currently taking pre-orders for the laptop for $329.99.

The Acer Aspire One 722 also has 802.11b/g/n WiFi, 3 USB ports, a 0.3MP camera, and HDMI output. It measures 1 inch in thickness and weighs 3.2 pounds.

INTEL TO SHOW OFF 10 NEW ATOM TABLET AT COMPUTEX

Chipmaker Intel will show off 10 new tablet computers at the Computex trade show starting on May 31st. All of these tablets will sport Intel chips. At least a few of them is expected to have low power Intel Atom Oak Trail processors.

Earlier this week, NVIDIA also announced that at least 10 products with NVIDIA's Tegra quad-core processors are in the works.The NVIDIA Tegra processors are ARM-based, while Intel's Oak Trail processors are x86-based processors. While the Intel processors consume more power than ARM-based processors, they are also capable of running almost all operating systems. ARM processors, on the other hand, can't run Windows at the moment although Microsoft is reportedly building a version of the Windows compatible with ARM processors.

Meanwhile, Intel has announced that it will launch 14nm Atom processors by 2014.

NEWEGG SELLING REFURBISHED ASUS EEE PC 1018PB FOR $200

Newegg is offering refurbished Asus Eee PC 1018PB netbooks for $199.99 when you use the coupon code EMCKEJC58. The Eee PC 1018PB is a 10.1 inch netbook with a brushed aluminum case and a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor. The 10.1 inch display has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels.

The laptop also has 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, 3 USB ports, a VGA port and a microSD card slot. It comes standard with a 6-cell battery.

The Eee PC 1018PB launched last year. While it doesn't have the latest Atom processor, for $200 it is not a bad deal at all. Newegg is also running an open box special promotion on the Eee PC 1001PX for $193. The Eee PC 1001PX has the same basic specs as the Eee PC 1018PB, but it has just 2 USB ports instead of 3.

ACER ASPIRE ONE HAPPY NETBOOK GETS IMAGE MAKEOVER

The Acer Aspire One Happy has got a design makeover. The Aspire One Happy is a 10 inch netbook whose chief claim to fame is its bright colorful lids. And now it has received a design makeover. The new Aspire One Happy netbooks feature a kind of water ripple pattern on yellow, orange, blue and pink color lids.

It now also sports a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 dual core processor, 1GB of DDR3 memory and up to 320GB of hard drive space. The netbook will go on sale in Italy for about 299 Euros (about $420 US) sometime soon.

The Acer Aspire One Happy runs Windows 7 Starter Edition. It weighs 2.86 pounds and has a 48Whr battery. Some models will also be available with a dal boot option involving Windows and Android. Other specifications include Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11b/g/n.

INTEL ATOM N2600 AND N2800 CEDAR TRAIL ATOM CHIPS LEAK

More details regarding Intel's upcoming Cedar Trail platform for low power Atom chips have emerged. Word is that the Intel Atom N2600 processor will be based on the 32nm architecture. It will be a 1.6GHz dual core processor with a total power draw of 3.5 watts.

Like most Atom processors, the N2600 will also support hyperthreading. What this means is that it will be able to handle up to four threads at the same time. The chip will come bundled with a 400MHz Intel GMA 5600 graphics core. It will support DDR3 800 MHz memory. The Atom N2600 will reportedly be available in the fourth quarter of 2011.

There will also be a relatively more powerful Atom N2800 processor. It will be a dual core processor with a clock speed of 1.86GHz. This processor has GMA 5650 graphics running at 640MHz and supports DDR3 1066 MHz memory. The Atom N2800 will reportedly have a clock speed of 6.5W.

The Atom N2800 will reportedly support up to 4GB of RAM, while the Atom N2600 tops out at 2GB. Laptops with the Intel Atom N2600 will be able to run Windows 7 Starter, Chrome OS or MeeGo Linux.

WOOT SELLS VELOCITY MICRO CRUZ 7 ANDROID TABLET FOR $80 TODAY

The Velocity Micro Cruz 7 isn't the fastest Android tablet out there. It has very modest capabilities and equally modest specs. Nonetheless, it does have one feature going for it - and that is its price. The Cruz R101 has a list price of $150, but the tablet usually sells for around $120. And today Woot.com is offering the little machine for $80 plus $5 for shipping.

At that price, it can't probably get any cheaper. The Cruz 7 can be used to read ebooks, surf the web and run some Android apps. It has a 7 inch resistive touchscreen display with a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels. It runs Google Android 2.0 operating system. Other specifications include 256MB of RAM, 4GB of internal micro SDHC card, and WiFi 802.11b/g. The tablet will reportedly get a 10 hour battery life from the user replaceable battery.

The Velocity Micro Cruz 7 supports a range of audio and video formats such as MP3, AAC, WAV, PEG-4 and H.264. The tablet doesn't have official access to the Android Market, but you should be able to install third party app stores.

11.6 INCH SAMSUNG 9 SERIES NOW SHIPPING IN THE US

The 11.6 inch Samsung 9 series thin and light laptops have started shipping in the US. The Samsung 9 series sports a duralumin chassis with a curved brushed-metal design. It measures 0.62 inches in thickness and weighs 2.31 pounds.

The model that is currently available for purchase is the NP900X1A-A01US. It has an Intel Core i3-380UM ultra-low voltage processor, Intel HD 3000 grapics and a 64GB SSD. According to the product page the notebook has 2GB of RAM, and it looks like it can't be expanded.

The 11.6 inch, 1366 x 768 pixels display has a brightness of 340-nit. The notebook comes standard with a 4-cell, 5680mAh battery which will reportedly get up to 7 hours of runtime. It is worth noting that the battery is not user-replaceable.

Other notable features include backlit keyboard, multi-touch trackpad, Intel's Wireless Display technology, stereo speakers and a 1.3 megapixel webcam.

The supported connectivity options include WiFi 802.11n, WiMAX, Ethernet, LAN, Bluetooth 3.0.There are 2 USB 2.0 ports, 1 USB 3.0 port, a microSD card slot and a micro HDMI port.

The Samsung 9 NP900X1A-A01US runs Windows 7 Home Premium. Prices start at $1,159.99.

CLOSER LOOK AT SAMSUNG SERIES 5 CHROMEBOOK

Samsung has officially unveiled the specifications for its upcoming Series 5 Chromebook. It will be one of the first laptops to run the Google Chrome operating system.

The Samsung Series 5 Chromebook has a 12.1 inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. It is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 dual core processor. The notebook has a full sized keyboard, an over-sized clickpad and 16GB of storage.

The keyboard has a row of dedicated function keys for adjusting the browser and system settings. The Samsung Chromebook doesn't have an Ethernet jack. Its battery is not user replaceable.

The Chromebook can handle 720p HD YouTube video, but 1080p content is beyond its reach. But that is hardly surprising - the Atom N570 can't handle full HD content on Windows laptops either. The Samsung Series 5 Chromebook is expected to go on sale on June 15th for $430 and up.

HP LAUNCHES 630 NOTEBOOK FOR BUDGET-MINDED CUSTOMERS

HP has launched a new notebook computer for business users on a budget. The new HP 630 is a new version of their Essential series budget laptop lineup. It sports a 15.6 inch display and Intel Pentium P6200 dual core processor.

The laptop also has Intel HD integrated graphics, 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 320GB hard drive, DVD burner and a webcam. The 15.6 inch LED backlit anti-glare display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.

The supported connectivity options include WiFi and LAN. The HP 630 also has 3 USB ports, an SD/MMC media card reader and HDMI and VGA outputs. The laptop weighs about 5.5 pounds. Its chassis is similar to that of the consumer-class HP g6.

The HP 630 is now available for purchase for $439. It can be ordered through HP's store and various retailers.

PANASONIC INTRODUCES TOUGHBOOK 53 SEMI-RUGGED LAPTOP

Panasonic has launched a new semi-rugged laptop. The Panasonic Toughbook 53 sports a 14 inch display with optional touch input support. It is powered by Intel's 2nd generation Sandy Bridge Core i series processors.

The Toughbook 53 has a magnesium alloy case with handle. It has passed the MIL-STD 810G tests. Other features include sealed ports, spill-resistant backlit keyboard and a shock-mounted hard drive.

The available processor options include the dual core Intel Core i5-2520M and the Core i3-2310M. The laptop also has integrated Intel HD graphics, DDR3 memory, up to 320GB of hard drive or a 128GB SSD and a DVD writer.

The Core i3 configuration has 2GB of RAM, while the Core i5 configuration has 4GB. The Core i3 models will get up to 6 hours of battery life. The Core i5 configuration has a higher capacity battery that should get up to 10 hours of endurance. The 14 inch anti-glare display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. The supported connectivity options include WiFi, Bluetooth, Gigabit LAN and 3G. The 4G LTE option will be available this summer.

The Panasonic Toughbook 53 runs Windows 7 Professional operating system. The Core i5 models will start shipping in June with an estimated starting price of $1,900. The Core i3 version will be available in August for around $1,600.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB 10.1 ANDROID TABLET REVIEWED

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Android tablet won't hit the streets until next month. Nonetheless, the company distributed 5,000 special edition tablets to the attendees at Google's I/O this week.

The folks at Android Community, who got one of the sample units, have posted a detailed review of the tablet. Here are the excerpts.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 inch one of the thinnest 10 inch Android tablets around. It has a dual core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor. The review unit has 64GB of storage, but the retail units will also be available with 16GB and 32GB of storage. The special edition unit doesn't have a microSD card slot, but future models are expected to have one.

The tablet has a 7000mAh battery and reportedly gets an all-day battery life. Your experience may, however, differ depending upon how you use the tablet. The reviewer was impressed with the overall performance of the tablet and reports that it is one of the fastest tablets available today. In fact, the reviewer goes to the extend of calling the Galaxy Tab 10.1, the best Android tablet so far.

On the flip, the cameras, reportedly, aren't all that good. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 has two cameras - a 3.2 megapixel camera on the rear side and a 2 megapixel camera on the front side.

FUJITSU LAUNCHES LIFEBOOK TH40/D WINDOWS 7 TABLET WITH SLIDE-OUT KEYBOARD

Fujitsu has introduced its own version of the Samsung Series 7 Sliding PC. The Fujitsu LifeBook TH40/D runs Windows 7. It has a slide-out keyboard that hides itself behind the screen when it is not in use.

The LifeBook TH40/D is powered by a 1.5GHz Intel Atom Z670 Oak Trail processor. It has 1GB of RAM, a 120GB hard drive, a 0.3 megapixel camera, 2 USB ports, an SD card slot and an HDMI port. The supported connectivity options are Bluetooth 3.0 and WiFi 802.11b/g/n.

The Lifebook TH40/D isn't quite thin or light. It measures 0.69 inches in thickness and weighs 2.4 pounds. The tablet is expected to go on sale in Japan in late June. No word on pricing at the moment, but it is worth remembering that Fujitsu has no history of launching affordable computers.

HTC FLYER TABLET GOES ON SALE IN EUROPE

The HTC Flyer Android tablet is now available for purchase in a number of European countries including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. At 499 Euros (about $710 US), the Flyer is not the cheapest Android tablet around, but it does have a few features that make it stand apart from the rest.

With its 7 inch, 1024 x 600 pixels display, the Flyer is more portable than most tablets which have a 10 inch display. The European model of the tablet also comes standard with a digital pen. The tablet has an active digitizer and a custom software which allows you to take handwritten notes. Flyer is also the first tablet to run a version of the HTC Sense user interface customized for tablets.

The HTC Flyer is powered by a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon single core processor. The base configuration has 16GB of storage and WiFi 802.11b/g/n. Higher end configurations with 32GB of storage and 3G are also available. The tablet runs Android 2.3.

As for availability in the US, well, Best Buy will be selling the tablet in the US later this month for $499. Bear in mind that that price does not include the digital pen.

GOOGLE INTRODUCES ACER AND SAMSUNG CHROMEBOOKS

Acer and Samsung will be the first companies to bring Chromebooks to the market. Chromebooks are laptops running Google Chrome operating system.

The Samsung Chromebook will have a 12.1 inch display. It will reportedly boot in 8 seconds and get an 8-hour battery life. The laptop will be powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 processor. It will also have 2 USB ports, a mini-VGA port and an HD webcam. The 12.1 inch display will have a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. The WiFi only version of the laptop will run $429. The 3G-enabled model will have a price tag of $499.

Acer’s Chromebook will have an 11.6 inch display, a dual core Intel Atom processor, 2 USB ports, an HD webcam, clickable touchpad, HDMI output and optional 3G. The laptop will reportedly get up to 6.5 hours of battery life. Like the Samsung Chromebook, the Acer Chromebook will also boot in 8 seconds. Prices will start at $349.

The Chromebooks will go on sale on June 15th. Besides in the USA, the laptops will be available in the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy.

GOOGLE INTRODUCES CHROMEBOOK PLATFORM

Google has introduced what it calls a Chromebook. The Google ChromeBook is essentially a laptop running the Google Chrome operating system. The Google Chrome, by the way, is a light-weight web-based operating system built around Google Chrome browser.

Most of the apps that a Chromebook can run are web-based. Google will keep the Chromebook constantly up to date by pushing periodic software updates. Other features include an integrated media player, a file browser and a PDF viewer. The ChromeBook can also read data from SD cards.

Google tested the Chromebook platform with the Cr48 laptop. The company shipped thousands of test units to users interested in reviewing the experience.
While the Google Cr-48 wasn't aimed at the mass market, Acer and Samsung are expected to launch commercial versions of the laptop on June 15th.

HALF A DOZEN ASUS NETBOOKS GET ATOM N570 UPGRADE

Half a dozen Asus netbooks have received an Atom N570 upgrade. The Atom N570 is a dual core Atom processor with a clock speed of 1.66GHz. It is slightly faster than the 1.5GHz Atom N550.

The models that have received the upgrade are the following:

Asus Eee PC 1015PX
Asus Eee PC 1015PN (This model also has NVIDIA ION 2 graphics)
Asus Eee PC 1018P (This model sports a brushed aluminum case)
Asus Eee PC T101MT convertible tablet with touchscreen display
Asus Eee PC 1008P Karim Rashid Edition (This model ships with 2GB RAM, Windows 7 Home Premium and designer lid)

While some of the product pages on the Asus website still doesn't reflect the upgrades, you can find the listings at B&H, ExcaliberPC, and several other stores.

GOOGLE INTRODUCES ANDROID 3.1 FOR TABLETS AND ICE CREAM SANDWICH FOR PHONES AND TABLETS

The Google Android operating system has received two major updates. First up is the Android 3.1 which will soon start rolling out for the Verizon Motorola Xoom 3G. The Android 3.1 will allow users to view more recent apps.There are some improvements to the home screen widgets as well.

The new version of the Android operating system has USB host capabilities which means that users can now plug in peripherals such as a mouse, keyboard, touchpad or game controller. Users will also be able to connect a camera to the tablet.

Next up is the Google Android Ice Cream Sandwich which isn't due out until the fourth quarter of this year. Right now Android has two versions - one for tablets and one for smartphones. The Ice Cream Sandwich will unify these two versions of Android which means that once Ice Cream is out there will be only one version of Android for all devices.

DELL PRECISION M4600 MOBILE WORKSTATION UP FOR ORDER FOR $1149

The Dell Precision M4600 Mobile Workstation is now available for order in the US. The Precision M4600 sports a 15.6 inch display and Intel's 2nd generation Core i7 Extreme quad-core processors and AMD FirePro Mobility and NVIDIA Quadro discrete graphics with up to 2GB of GDDR5 video RAM.

Select configurations are available with AMD Eyefinity multi-display feature. Other specifications include up to 32GB of 1333MHz or up to 16GB of faster 1600MHz DDR3 RAM.
According to the product page, the M4600 has up to 750GB of hard drive space and RAID 0 and 1 support. The notebook also sports USB 3.0 and eSATA ports. For handling video output there is a DisplayPort, HDMI and VGA connectors.

The Dell Precision M4600 is now available for purchase for a starting price of $1,149. The estimated ship date is 06/07/2011.

LENOVO OFFERING THE IDEAPAD S205 FOR $399; PROMOTION ENDS ON FRIDAY

Lenovo is offering a promotion on its IdeaPad S205 ultraportable notebook. By using the coupon code USPS27505, you can knock $100 off the price. That means you will be able to pick up the laptop for $399 until the promotion ends on Friday.

The IdeaPad S205 has an 11.6 inch display. It is powered by a 1.6GHz AMD E-350 dual core Zacate processor which comes bundled with the Radeon HD 6310 graphics. Other specifications include 3GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive and Windows 7 Home Premium operating system.

While the AMD E-350 isn't exactly a speed demon, it is far more powerful than the dual core Intel Atom processors found inside most 11.6 inch notebooks. What's more, the AMD chip also comes bundled with powerful Radeon graphics.

The IdeaPad S205 usually runs $499. At that price it is actually a little more expensive than similar notebooks from HP or Asus. But for $399, it is one of the best currently available.

ASUS EEE PC 1215P GETS INTEL ATOM N570 PROCESSOR

The Asus Eee PC 1215P has got a minor spec bump. When the notebook launched late last year it had a dual core 1.5GHz Intel Atom N550 processor. Now it sports a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 dual core processor.

The Eee PC 1215P has a 12.1 inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. The new model sports a 320GB hard drive instead of the 250GB drive that shipped with the previous model.

The Eee PC 1215P also has 1GB of RAM, a 0.3 megapixel webcam, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, an SDHC card slot, headphone and mic jacks. It comes standard with a 6-cell, 47Whr battery.

Pricing and availability
The Eee PC 1215P-MU27 is now available from B&H for $399.99 or from Buy.com for $394.99.

ACER ICONIA TAB A500 ANDROID 3.0 TABLET NOW SHIPPING

The Acer Iconia Tab A500 Android tablet has started shipping in the US. The Iconia Tab A500 has a 10.1 inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. It runs a custom Acer user interface on top of Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system.

The Iconia Tab A500 is powered by a dual core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor. Other specifications include 1GB of DDR3 memory, 16GB of flash-based storage, a 5 megapixel camera on the rear side and a 2 megapixel camera on the front side. The tablet will reportedly get up to 8 hours of battery life.

The Acer Iconia Tab A500 also has WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, gravity sensor, e-compass, gyrometer, light sensor, stereo speakers, Dolby Audio, a micro HDMI port, a full-size USB 2.0 connector and a Micro USB 2.0 port. There is a MicroSD card slot for expanding the storage to 32GB.

The Acer Iconia Tab A500 weighs around 1.68 pounds and sports a sliver metallic lid.

HP REFRESHES MINI 210 AND ENVY 14 LAPTOPS

HP has refreshed its Mini 210 netbook and Envy 14 ultraportable notebook. At just $299.99, the new HP Mini 210 is quite budget-friendly. Nonetheless, it sports some premium such as a soft rubberish lid (available in five colors) and an edge-to-edge 10.1 inch display. Other notable features include Beats audio, a spill resistant chiclet keyboard and a touchpad with two dedicated mouse buttons.

The new HP Mini 210 comes standard with a 6-cell battery which will reportedly get up to 8 hours of battery life. On the flip side, the netbook still has a single core 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 processor.

The refreshed HP Envy 14 still sports that etched metal alloy chassis. But now it will be available with a range of Sandy Bridge processors and AMD's latest Radeon graphics. Another notable addition is the USB 3.0 port. HP has also retooled the touchpad which now uses Synaptics latest image sensing technology. Prices start at $999.99.Both models are expected to be available on June 15.

HP LAUNCHES ELITEBOOK 2560P ULTRAPORTABLE AND 2760P CONVERTIBLE

HP has expanded its Elitebook lineup of laptops and tablets. The new additions are the stylish Elitebook 2560p ultraportable and the Elitebook 2760p Tablet PC.

The new Elitebook 2560p is an ultraportable notebook with a 12.5 inch LED-backlit display. It is available with a choice of Intel Core i7 or Core i5 dual core Sandy Bridge processors with Intel Turbo Boost and vPro technology. There is no discrete graphics option. The available storage options include 7200 rpm hard drives and solid state drives of various capacity. The notebook also sports a built-in optical drive.

The Elitebook 2760p is a convertible tablet style notebook with a 12.1 inch display. It recognizes both pen and finger input. It also has Intel Core i7 and i5 processors.

Pricing and availability
The HP EliteBook 2560p has a starting price of $1,099 while the Elitebook 2760p starts at $1,499. The 2760p and 2560p are expected to be available on May 9 and May 23 respectively.

CLOSER LOOK AT THE HP PROBOOK 5330M BUSINESS NOTEBOOK

The HP ProBook 5330m is a business notebook that offers style, performance and affordability all in chassis that measures less than 1 inch in thickness. It weighs around 3.9 pounds and sports a 13.3 inch diagonal HD display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.

The new ProBook 5330m is available with your choice of 2nd generation Intel Core i5 or i3 dual core processors.

The laptop sports a brushed aluminum lid and a magnesium alloy bottom. Other specifications include a backlit chiclet keyboard, an HD webcam, Beats Audio enhanced speakers, the HP Fingerprint sensor and TPM for enhanced hardware-based data security. The 5330m is also one of HP's first DataPass 3G enabled laptops.

The ProBook 5330m doesn't have a discrete graphics option. The base configuration has a Core i3 processor, a 250GB hard drive and 4-cell battery. It is priced at $799.

ASUS EEE PC 1015PX ATOM N570 BASED NETBOOK NOW SHIPPING FOR $320

The Asus Eee PC 1015PX, the first Eee PC to sport the new Intel Atom N570 processor, has started shipping in the US.

The dual core Atom N570 has a clock speed of 1.66GHz which makes it slightly faster than the 1.5GHz Atom N550 dual core processor. Besides the shiny new processor the Eee PC 1015PX has a 10.1 inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, 1GB of DDR3 memory and a 250GB hard disk drive. It comes pre-loaded with Windows 7 Starter Edition.

The netbook is available in two versions. While the 1015PX-PU17 has a 56W/h battery, which will reportedly get up to 11 hours of battery life, the 1015PX-MU17 has a 48W/h unit with an estimated battery life of 10 hours.

The Eee PC 1015PX also has a stereo speaker system, a 0.3 megapixel webcam, Wireless N, LAN, VGA ports, 3 USB 2.0 ports, Bluetooth 3.0 and an SD/MMC card reader. Both models are available in black, white, red and blue color and weigh 2.76 pounds.

Pricing
Newegg is currently selling the Eee PC 1015PX-PU17 for $350 while Amazon has the 1015PX-MU17 in stock for $320.

VODAFONE OFFERING SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB 10.1V IN GERMANY

Vodafone Germany has started offering the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v. The 10.1 inch Android tablet is now available from Vodafone for 660 Euros. If you are willing to sign up for a long-term service contract with the carrier, you will be able to get it for less.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 has a 10.1 inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. It is powered by a 1GHz dual core processor and runs Google Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system. The tablet has two cameras one of which is at 8MP.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is available in two models. The original model, the 10.1v, is slightly thicker than the new version. It was built before Apple launched its incredibly thin iPad 2. That forced Samsung to go back to the drawing board again and build a thinner tablet. That said, the difference between the two models isn't all that striking. What's more, the original version actually has better specs than its thinner sibling. While both models have front and rear cameras, the 10.1v has a higher resolution 8 megapixel camera while the 10.1 has a 3 megapixel camera.

OTHER WORLD COMPUTING OFFERS COSTLY SSD UPGRADES FOR MACBOOK AIR

Other World Computing has started offering a whole new line of solid state disk upgrades for the Apple MacBook Air. The new SSDs are available in 180GB, 240GB, 360GB or 480GB capacities. While the high-end 480GB SSD offers almost twice as much storage space as the standard MacBook Air, it is also ridiculously pricey.

Other World Computing is selling the 480GB Mercury Aura Pro Express SSD for $1580. Interestingly Apple sells the 13 inch MacBook Air with a 256GB SSD for $1599.

The lower capacity SSDs are relatively cheaper with the 180GB and 240GB SSDs running $448 and $580 respectively.

By the way it is worth noting that Other World Computing doesn't do the upgrade for you. You will have to do it yourself by purchasing the MacBook Air upgrade kit which offers all the tools you need to perform the task.

TOSHIBA NB520 NETBOOK NOW SHIPPING IN THE UK AND GERMANY

The Toshiba NB520 mini laptop has started shipping in the UK and Germany. The biggest USP of the netbook is its built-in harman/kardon speakers which are on the palm rest. British site TechRadar which has published a short review of the laptop says that the speakers are surprisingly good.

The laptop also gets a good 10 hours of battery life which makes it one of the best in terms of endurance.

The Toshiba NB520 has a 1.5GHz Intel Atom N550 dual core processor, 1GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive. It has a 10.1 inch display and runs Windows 7 Starter Edition. While the overall performance is quite satisfactory, the reviewer was unimpressed with the spacebar which needs to be pressed really hard.

The Toshiba NB520 was unveiled in December. There is still no word on pricing or availability in the US.

HP PAVILION DM4X GOES ON SALE

HP has made a new addition to its Pavilion laptop lineup. The new HP Pavilion dm4x sports a 14 inch display and Intel's latest processors.

The HP Pavilion dm4x is designed for business users. It can be configured with 2nd generation Intel Core i5 or i7 dual core processors and Radeon HD 6470M discrete graphics.

Other specifications include 4 or 8GB of DDR3 memory, up to 750GB of hard drive space, DVD burner and a 6-cell battery which will reportedly get up to 6.75 hours of battery life. The 14 inch LED backlit display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.

The HP Pavilion dm4x also has a chiclet style keyboard, Dolby audio technology, Altec Lansing speakers, built-in webcam and mic, VGA, HDMI output, 3 USB 2.0 ports, a multi-format media card reader and a fingerprint reader. Optional features include Intel Wireless Display technology.

The HP Pavilion dm4x weighs 4.5 pounds. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional operating system. Prices start at $729.99.

ALIENWARE M18X GOES ON SALE FOR PRICES RANGING BETWEEN $2000 AND $6000

The 18.4 inch Alienware M18x gaming notebook is now available for purchase for prices ranging between $2000 and $6000.

The Alienware M18x is available with your choice of 2nd generation Intel Core quad-core processors up to the Core i7 2920XM Extreme edition. The graphics options are the single or dual core 1.5GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M or the dual core 2GB AMD Radeon HD 6970M.

The notebook supports up to 32GB of RAM, up to 750GB of HDD or 256GB of SSD. The Alienware M18x has two internal storage bays so that the storage capacity can be doubled. A single-unit 500GB hybrid HDD/SSD option is also available. Other specifications include DVD burner / Blu-ray combo drive / Blu-ray writer, built-in 2.1 speaker system with subwoofer, a 3 megapixel webcam, WiFi, Gigabit LAN, Bluetooth, 2 USB 2.0 ports, an eSATA / USB 2.0 connector and a 9-in-1 media card reader. The 18.4 inch display is of full HD resolution.

The Alienware M18x weighs 12 pounds. It sports an anodized aluminum chassis in black or red color. The laptop runs Windows 7 operating system.

The Alienware M18x is expected to start shipping on May 26th. It can be ordered from Dell's official website.

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