NOTEBOOK AND LAPTOP REVIEWS: 6/1/11

ACER LAUNCHES ASPIRE ONE AOD257 FOR $250

Acer is known for pricing its laptops aggressively. The company has launched several netbooks that undercut its competitors on pricing over the past few years. But now by launching the Aspire One AOD257 for $250 Acer has lent a new meaning to aggressive pricing.

The Aspire One AOD257 has a list price of $270, but it is available from Amazon for $249. At that price it is the cheapest 10 inch netbook available in the US with a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 dual core processor.

The $249 model has Windows 7 Starter OS, 1GB of DDR3 memory, a 250GB hard drive, Intel integrated graphics 3150, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Ethernet, Multi-in-One Media card reader, built-in 0.3 Megapixel webcam, 3 USB 2.0 ports, two built-in speakers and a 3-cell battery which will reportedly get up to 3 hours of battery life. If you need more battery life, you should consider buying the $300 model which has a 6-cell battery.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB 4G UP FOR PRE-ORDER FOR $530 ON CONTRACT

Verizon has started taking pre-orders for the 4G-enabled version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Android tablet. The WiFi-only version of the tablet has been available for a few weeks. The 4G model is for those who seek always-on internet connectivity. Prices start at $529.99.

To get the tablet for $530 you will need to sign up for a 2-year service contract. Data plans for the tablet range between $20 (1GB/month) and $80 (10GB / month). Verizon won't ship the tablet for another 4-6 weeks.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 has a 10.1 inch, 1280 x 800 pixels display and 16GB of storage. It is powered by a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core processor. It runs Android 3.1 Honeycomb operating system.

You will be able to use the 4G model virtually everywhere without having to rely on the availability of a WiFi hotspot. On the flip side you will end up spending a minimum of $480 on data plans over the course of the contract. The WiFi-only version, on the other hand, is available for just $499.

HP TOUCHPAD REVIEW ROUNDUP

The HP Touchpad has a 9.7 inch, 1024 x 768 pixels display. It is powered by a 1.2GHz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. The base configuration has 16GB of storage, WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1 and a 6300mAh battery. Another model with 32GB of storage is also available for $599.99.

The TouchPad tablet hasn't hit the streets yet, but many tech blogs have published detailed reviews. Here is a quick overview.

Laptop Magazine reports that the TouchPad has a nice, bright display with excellent viewing angles and an intuitive user interface. The speakers are good. On the downside, the tablet feels slow. And to make things worse there aren't many apps for the platform.

According to Engadget, the HP TouchPad works really well with a Palm Pre 3 phone. Although there are few built-in apps they work well. The folks at Engadget are also impressed with the onscreen keyboard. On the flip side, they were underwhelmed by the slow boot speeds and low benchmark scores.

HP TOUCHPAD REVIEW ROUNDUP

The HP Touchpad will go on sale this Friday for $499.99 and up. It is the first tablet to run webOS 3.0 operating system. Although the webOS is a nice operating system, there aren't many third party apps for the platform right now.

The HP Touchpad has a 9.7 inch, 1024 x 768 pixels display. It is powered by a 1.2GHz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. The base configuration has 16GB of storage, WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1 and a 6300mAh battery. Another model with 32GB of storage is also available for $599.99.

The TouchPad tablet hasn't hit the streets yet, but many tech blogs have published detailed reviews. Here is a quick overview.

Laptop Magazine reports that the TouchPad has a nice, bright display with excellent viewing angles and an intuitive user interface. The speakers are good. On the downside, the tablet feels slow. And to make things worse there aren't many apps for the platform.

According to Engadget, the HP TouchPad works really well with a Palm Pre 3 phone. Although there are few built-in apps they work well. The folks at Engadget are also impressed with the onscreen keyboard. On the flip side, they were underwhelmed by the slow boot speeds and low benchmark scores.

ACER AC700 CHROMEBOOK TO SHIP THIS MONTH

Acer has announced that its first Chrome OS laptop will start shipping during this month itself. The WiFi-only model will cost $349.99. A 3g-capable model will be available later this summer. The Acer AC700 Chromebook was supposed to start shipping on June 15th. Acer missed that target date but sent out a press release yesterday announcing the imminent launch of the device.

The Acer AC700 Chromebook has an 11.6 inch display. It runs the Google Chrome operating system and is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 dual core processor. The laptop has 2GB of DDR3 memory and 16GB solid state disk for storage. Other specifications include 2 USB ports, a 4-in-1 card reader, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and a 6-cell battery. The Acer AC700 weighs 2.95 pounds.

The Acer Chromebook is cheaper than the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook which starts at $429.99.

ASUS EEE PC X101 COULD SHIP IN JULY

The Asus Eee PC X101 will reportedly start shipping in July. The Eee PC X101 is an ultra-affordable laptop with a low power 1.33Ghz Intel Atom N435 processor. It will be available in two models. The $200 model will run MeeGo Linux which is an open source operating system. There will be a Windows 7 model as well, but it will cost more. Digitimes report that the Windows model will be priced in the range of $310 and $350.

That pricing, however, doesn't sound plausible because you can get dual core Atom netbooks for under $300. The Atom N435 is a single core processor with a clock speed of 1.33GHz.

Digitimes report that besides the Windows operating system, that model will also have a higher capacity hard drive instead of the 8GB solid state disk found in the MeeGo model. Another possibility is that the Windows model will only be available in Europe where consumer electronics tend to cost more than it does in the US.

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

The Fujitsu LifeBook TH40/D, which was supposed to go on sale by the end of this month, has been delayed. That, however, doesn't mean that the tablet is being cancelled.

The Fujitsu Lifebook TH40/D is a Windows 7 tablet. It has a 10.1 inch display and a 1.5GHz Intel Atom Z670 Oak Trail processor. Other specifications include a 120GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM. The tablet weighs 2.4 pounds and measures 0.7 inches in thickness. It has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard which will hide itself behind the display when it is not in use.

Samsung announced a similar tablet at CES in January. The Samsung Series 7 Sliding PC too has a slide-out keyboard. It hasn't started shipping yet.

ARCHOS ANNOUNCES BUDGET-FRIENDLY HONEYCOMB TABLETS

Archos has announced two new Android tablets. The Archos 80 and Archos 101 G9 both run Android 3.1 Honeycomb operating system. They are probably the cheapest Honeycomb tablets we have seen so far.

The Archos 80 has an 8 inch, 1024 x 768 pixels display. It runs $279. The Archos 101 G9 has a 10.1 inch, 1280 x 800 pixels display. It starts at $349. Both tablets are expected to hit the streets by the end of September.

The Archos 80 and 101 G9 have 1.5GHz TI OMAP4 dual core processors and a choice of flash storage or hard drive. They have official access to the Google Android Market. Other specifications include 720p front-facing cameras, USB, microSD card slots, HDMI output, GPS, G-Sensor and compass. They also come with built-in kick stands.

Archos says that the tablets will get up to 7 hours of battery life while watching videos.

SONY LAUNCHES AFFORDABLE VAIO EG, EH AND EJ NOTEBOOKS

Sony has made three new additions to its VAIO E series. The new Sony VAIO EG, EH and EJ notebooks sport Intel's Sandy Bridge Core i Series and Pentium processors. They will replace the previous generation VAIO EA, EB and EC models.

The 14 inch VAIO EG, the 15.5 inch VAIO EH and the 17.3 inch VAIO EJ are available with your choice of an Intel Core i5-2410M, Core i3-2310M or Pentium B940 processors. Other specifications include NVIDIA GeForce 410M discrete graphics, up to 8GB of RAM, up to 750GB of hard drive and DVD or Blu-ray player.

All the three models run Windows 7 operating system. While the VAIO EG and EH have 1366 x 768 pixels display, the EJ has a higher resolution 1600 x 900 pixels screen. Sony says that the 14 inch model will get up to 6.5 hours of battery life. The larger VAIO EH and EJ are expected to get up to 5 hours of runtime.

The new VAIO E series laptops can be configured and purchased from Sony's web store. Prices start at $580.

ACER ASPIRE ETHOS AS5951G MULTIMEDIA NOTEBOOK ANNOUNCED

Acer has announced a new high-end multimedia notebook. The Acer Aspire Ethos AS5951G sports a 15.6 inch display, second generation Intel Core i7 quad and dual core Core i5 processors, NVIDIA GeForce discrete graphics and an attractive design. It can be configured with up to 16GB of RAM and DVD or Blu-ray drives.

The 15.6 inch display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. It is covered with a scratch resistant but glossy gorilla glass. What differentiates this notebook from similar offerings from other PC makers is its specially designed touchpad. The touchpad, for instance, can be detached and used as a remote controller. It also comes with LED buttons for controlling multimedia content.

The new Acer Aspire Ethos line sports an all-black Tuxedo design with a brushed magnesium alloy chassis. Other features include 1.3 megapixel webcam, USB 3.0 technology and HDMI output.Prices start at $1,399.99.

CLOSER LOOK AT THE ASUS UX21 ULTRABOOK

With its ridiculously thin chassis, the Asus UX21 could easily pass off as yet another MacBook Air clone. The notebook measures 0.12 inches at its thinnest point and 0.67 inches at its thickest. Asus hasn't revealed the final pricing of the notebook, but it is expected to sell for under $1000. Incidentally MacBook Air also starts at around the same price point.

The Asus UX21 was unveiled earlier this month at the Computex trade show. It is an example of the so-called 'ultrabook' which according to Intel is a new class of affordable ultraportable computers.

The Asus UX21 has an 11.6 inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. It sports an aluminum case, a full sized keyboard and a large touchpad. It weighs 2.4 pounds. The laptop will be available with your choice of an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor. The storage option is a solid state disk. No word on availability at the moment.

ACER CHROMEBOOK DELAYED AGAIN

It looks like the Acer AC700 ChromeBook release date has been pushed back further. The machine was supported to start shipping on June 15th, but that date has come and gone. And now Amazon, which has been taking pre-orders for the WiFi only version of the laptop for $349.99 says that the machine will start shipping in mid-July. The 3G-model will be available in mid-August for $429.99.

The Acer AC700 Chromebook runs the Google Chrome operating system. It is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 dual core processor. The laptop has an 11.6 inch display and an HDMI output port. It also has 2GB of RAM.

The Acer Chromebook weighs 3.2 pounds. The 3G-enabled model comes with 100MB of free Verizon 3G data per month for two years. In case you can’t wait until mid-July to get your hands on a Chromebook, Samsung has started shipping its Chrome OS laptop. But the WiFi only version of the Samsung Chromebook will run you $430.

CLOSER LOOK AT THE TOSHIBA THRIVE ANDROID TABLET

The Toshiba Thrive tablet has many features that would make it stand out from the rest. The tablet, for instance, incorporates some of the best elements of modern tablets and laptops.

Like most other top-of-the-line Android tablets on the market, the Toshiba Thrive also has a 10.1 inch HD display (1280 x 800 pixels) and a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core processor. The Thrive also has some features you wouldn’t usually find in modern tablets. For instance, it has a full-sized USB port, full sized HDMI port and a full sized SD card slot. The back panel can be removed so that users can replace the battery.

The Toshiba Thrive will start shipping on July 10th. At 1.6 pounds, the machine has more or less the same weight as the Motorola Xoom. Its textured back panel provides excellent grip so that you can comfortably hold the tablet from any side.
There is a proprietary docking port on the bottom of the tablet. There is also a standard mini-USB port.

LENOVO IDEAPAD S100 NETBOOK UP FOR PRE-ORDER

Amazon has started taking pre-orders for the 10 inch Lenovo IdeaPad S100 mini-laptop. The IdeaPad S100 is Lenovo's first 10 inch laptop. It was unveiled at the CES trade show in January. Unfortunately the little guy hasn't started shipping yet. But now that Amazon has started taking pre-orders its release should be imminent.

The model that is currently up for pre-order runs $329.99. It has a 10 inch, 1024 x 600 pixels display and a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 processor. A model with a dual core Atom N570 is also expected to be available.

The IdeaPad S100 has 1GB of DDR3 memory, a 250GB hard drive and Windows 7 Starter operating system. The keyboard is reasonably large, but the touchpad is tiny and doesn't have physical left and right buttons.

SAMSUNG UNVEILS SOLAR POWERED NC215S MINI-LAPTOP

Samsung is all set to launch a solar powered netbook. The company first announced the plan at its Africa Forum last month. And now word is that the Samsung NC215S solar powered netbook will also be available in Russia. First pictures of the tablet have also hit the web.

The Samsung NC215S has a solar panel on the lid. The laptop will get one hour of runtime for every two hours of charging time. When the solar panels are fully charged, they will power the laptop for up to 14 hours.

Specs-wise, the Samsung NC215S is virtually identical to the Samsung NC210. Both models have 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixels matte displays, 1GB of RAM and Intel Atom N455 single core or N570 dual core processor.

The Samsung NC215S is expected to be available in the US in the first week of July for $399. It is also expected to be available in Russia in August where it will sell for the local equivalent of around $500 US.

HUAWEI UNVEILS MEDIAPAD TABLET WITH ANDROID 3.2

Huawei has officially unveiled its MediaPad tablet. The device has a 7 inch display and runs Google Android 3.2 operating system. MediaPad, incidentally, is the first 7 inch tablet to run Google Android 3.2 which is optimized for tablets of its size.

The Huawei MediaPad is powered by a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. It has 8GB of storage, a microSD card slot, front and rear cameras, GPS, 3G and WiFi. The tablet's IPS display offers wide viewing angles.

The Huawei MediaPad measures 0.41 inches in thickness and weighs 0.86 pounds. Huawei says that the tablet will be able to play 1080p HD video playback. It will reportedly get up to 6 hours of battery life. The tablet also has an HDMI port for transferring video to an external monitor. No word on pricing, but the tablet is expected to ship during the third quarter of 2011.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB 10.1 WITH AT&T 3G COMING SOON

The WiFi only version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is already available in the US and many other parts of the world. A 3G-enabled model is also coming. Samsung has filed documents with FCC for a version of the tablet with AT&T's 3G mobile broadband network.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 has a 10.1 inch HD display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. It is powered by a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core processor and runs Google Android 3.1 operating system. One of the lightest 10 inch tablets on the market, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 weighs only 1.25 pounds.

The WiFi only model is priced at $499. The 3G model will cost a little more, but subsidies should be available to those willing to sign up for long term service contracts. This particular FCC listing is for an AT&T compatible model, but since Samsung has a history of launching its products on all major carriers most listings should follow.

ASUS G74 GAMING NOTEBOOK UP FOR PRE-ORDER

Excaliber PC has started taking pre-orders for the Asus G74 gaming laptop. The G74 has a 17.3 inch full HD display with optional 3D capability. It is powered by an Intel Core i7 2630QM quad-core Sandy Bridge processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M discrete graphics with 3GB of GDDR5 VRAM. The notebook supports up to 16GB of DDR3 memory, two hard drive bays and THX TruStudio audio with stereo speakers and a subwoofer.

Two models are currently up for pre-order - the G74SX-A1 and the G74SX-3DE. The second model has a 120Hz 3D screen and NVIDIA Vision 3D glasses. Both notebooks come standard with 12GB of RAM, dual 750GB, 7200 rpm hard drives and an 8-cell 5200mAh battery. While the G74S-A1 has a Blu-ray combo drive, the 3DE model has a Blu-ray burner.

The Asus G74 has a simplistic design with a matte chassis. Other specifications include isle-style keyboard and a cooling system with dual fans. The Asus G74SX-A1 and G74SX-3DE run Windows 7 Home Premium operating system and are priced at $1,745 and $1,979, respectively. That price includes a backpack and gaming mouse. Both models are expected to be available by June 28.

HP PROBOOKS GET AMD LLANO APUs

HP has updated its business-class ProBook laptop lineup with AMD's latest Llano chips. The new processor option will be available with HP's mainstream ProBook 6465b and 6565b and the budget-friendly ProBook 4535s, 4435s and 4436s laptops.
Select models will be available with discrete graphics options.

The HP ProBook b-series notebooks with Llano APUs have a starting price of $679. The S-series will start at $519. Both models are expected to be available on June 27.

The AMD Llano Fusion APUs are based on the 32nm production technology. They incorporate up to four processor cores and up to 400 GPU cores with DirectX 11 support. The Llano chips also have a dedicated HD video decoder. The AMD Llano APUs are designed for use in mainstream notebooks. They deliver high CPU performance, discrete-class graphics and long battery life.

TOSHIBA SATELLITE L SERIES LAPTOPS REFRESHED WITH AMD LLANO CHIPS

Toshiba has refreshed its Satellite L Series multimedia laptop lineup. The new additions are the 13.3 inch Satellite L730 / L735, the 14 inch Satellite L740 / L745, the 15.6 inch Satellite L750 / L755 and the 17.3 inch Satellite L770 / L775.

The new models in the Satellite L Series come standard with 2nd generation Intel Sandy Bridge processors or the latest AMD A4 or A6 Llano APUs, HDMI outputs and optional Blu-ray drives. The notebooks sport a Fusion Matrix glossy finish in silver, white, graphite, red, brown or brushed aluminum blue.

Toshiba's press release for the laptops doesn't reveal a lot of details, but sources claim that the laptops will ship with optional NVIDIA or AMD discrete graphics and USB 3.0 ports. Select models will also have full HD displays.
According to Toshiba the laptops will be available in the US by the end of this month. Prices start at 500.

DELL STREAK 7 PRICE DROPS TO $350; LIMITED PERIOD OFFER: 2 TABLETS FOR $525

The Dell Streak 7 Android tablet has had a price drop. The Streak 7 is a 7 inch Android tablet with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. It has a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor and runs Google Android 2.2 operating system.

It is not exactly clear why Dell decided to launch a tablet with an outdated OS and a ridiculously low resolution display at a time when the market is flooded with high resolution Android Honeycomb tablets. Nonetheless it does have a few features going for it. The Streak 7, for instance, is one of the cheapest tablets with a Tegra 2 processor. And today the little machine got even cheaper.

The Dell Streak 7 launched in April with a starting price of $400. Now you can pick up the WiFi-only version for $350. Need two tablets at a discount? You can get two Streak 7 WiFi tablets for just $524.98 as part of Dell's Hot Summer Day sales. You will need to complete the purchase before 6 am Central Time on Saturday morning.

OVER 500,000 BLACKBERRY PLAYBOOKS SHIPPED, SAYS RIM

RIM says that it has shipped more than half a million BlackBerry PlayBooks since the tablet's launch in April. Not bad, especially when you consider the fact that few apps are available for the tablet at the moment.

The PlayBook is a 7 inch tablet with a 1024 x 600 pixels display. It is powered by a 1GHz dual core processor. The tablet runs BlackBerry Tablet OS which is based on the QNX software. Few third party apps are available for the tablet right now. Nonetheless, it comes standard with a decent web browser, good multitasking tools and a nice multitasking system.

The tablet doesn't have native email or contact applications right now, but you can enjoy those features by pairing your PlayBook with a BlackBerry smartphone. RIM has also promised that they are working on including support for Google Android apps. When that feature becomes available PlayBook users will be able to download Android apps and run them on their tablet.

HP UNVEILS AMD LLANO-BASED PAVILION LAPTOPS

HP has unveiled its new Pavilion consumer laptops featuring AMD's latest Llano Fusion Accelerated Processing Units.

The new models are the 14 inch Pavilion dv4, the 15.6 inch Pavilion dv6, the 17.3 inch Pavilion dv7 mainstream entertainment notebooks and the lower end Pavilion G series 14 inch g4, 15.6 inch g6 and the 17.3 inch g7.

The Llano APUs incorporate up to four CPU cores, integrated Radeon graphics and HD video decoder. Select dv and g series laptops will also sport discrete graphics cards.

The Pavilion dv6 and dv7 start at $600 and $700 respectively. They are both expected to be available in July. No word on the pricing or availability of the Pavilion dv4.

The consumer oriented Pavilion g series notebooks are expected to be available in July. Prices start at $450.

PANASONIC TO LAUNCH TOUGHBOOK RUGGED TABLET

Panasonic is the latest company to throw its hat in the tablet ring, but the Japanese maker of consumer gadgets is taking a different approach. The company is building a rugged tablet. Panasonic doesn't have many best selling consumer laptops. The company is known more for building rugged laptops for enterprise customers.

The Panasonic tablet will run Google Android operating system. It is aimed at enterprise market and will be sold under the Toughbook brand name.

The Panasonic Toughbook will have a non-glossy, daylight viewable 10.1 inch multitouch display. It will sport a rugged case that will protect it from minor falls. Other features include an all-day battery life, GPS, 3G, 4G and WiFi capabilities. No word on the processor, pricing or a launch date.

ACER CHROMEBOOK TO START AT $350, WILL SHIP LATER THIS MONTH

The Samsung Series 5 Chromebook launched right on schedule, but it looks like the Acer Chromebook has slipped a bit. Google had promised that Chrome OS laptops from both Samsung and Acer will start shipping on June 15th. But now Computer World reports that the Acer Chromebook is unlikely to ship before the end of June. The good news is that the Acer Chromebook is cheaper than expected. While Amazon had been taking pre-orders for the laptop for $379.99 for a few days, Acer has confirmed that it has a starting price of $349.99.

This model doesn't have 3G. The 3G-enabled model is priced at $429.99. The name of the laptop has also been changed from the Acer Cromia Chromebook to the Acer AC700 Chromebook.

The Acer AC700 has an 11.6 inch display, a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 dual core processor, a 6 hour battery, an SD card slot, an HDMI output port and 2 USB ports.
The laptop weighs 3.2 pounds. Other features include a full sized keyboard and a large clickable touchpad.

SAMSUNG SERIES 5 CHROMEBOOK REVIEW

The first ChromeBook has gone on sale right on schedule. In case you haven't got yours you can order the first Samsung Series 5 Chromebook from Amazon or Best Buy. The WiFi-only model runs $430. The WiFi=3G model runs $500.

With its 12.1 inch display, the Samsung Series 5 notebook is larger than a typical netbook. But like pretty much every netbook on the market, the Series 5 Chromebook also has a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 dual core processor and Intel GMA 3150 integrated graphics. Other specifications include 2GB of DDR3 memory and a 16GB SSD. The 12.1 inch display has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels.

The Samsung ChromeBook runs the Google Chrome which is a light weight operating system built around a web browser. You can use the Chromebook to play local music or movies. There is a built-in file browser and support for USB storage devices or SD cards. The laptop comes standard with web-based media players, but they are pretty basic when you compare them with desktop-based media players.

As Google has always promised the laptop boots in under 10 seconds. It gets you online pretty fast and synchronizes all your data with your Google account. But interestingly there is little in Chrome OS that you can't do in Windows or Mac after installing the Google Chrome web browser.

While the laptop comes standard with 2GB of RAM, it is plagued by a relatively slower processor. Many reviewers have also pointed out that it suffers from occasional crashes and delivers inconsistent multimedia performance. And that is quite unacceptable because the ChromeBook has a higher price tag than a typical netbook and offers much less.

The only major plus points are the larger screen and faster boot times. The question is: is that enough for you?

8.9" AND 10.1" SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB ANDROID TABLETS TO HIT EUROPE THIS SUMMER

Samsung has announced the European launch dates and pricing details of its 8.9 inch and 10.1 inch Galaxy Tab Android tablets. Both models will be available in Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway starting this summer. In Sweden, the 10.1 inch model will start shipping on June 29th.

Both 8.9 inch and 10.1 inch models run Google Android 3.1 Honeycomb operating system. Other specifications include 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core processor, 1280 x 800 pixels display, Bluetooth 3.0 and WiFi 802.11n. The tablets have two cameras - a 3 megapixel camera on the rear side and a 2 megapixel camera on the front side.

It looks like the only major difference between the two models is in the screen size.
Both WiFi only and WiFi + 3G HSPA+ models will be available. Prices vary by country. The 8.9 inch Galaxy Tab appears to be priced in the range of $670 and $710. The 10.1 inch model will run between $690 and $780.

LENOVO TO LAUNCH 10 INCH BUSINESS TABLET THIS SUMMER

Wall Street Journal reports that Lenovo will introduce a 10 inch Android tablet for business customers later this summer. Lenovo already has a consumer oriented 10 inch tablet in the offing. The consumer model, too, is expected to launch later this summer under the name Lenovo LePad or Lenovo IdeaPad K1.

The business tablet will reportedly have support for a stylus. However, it is not clear what kind of screen technology it will use. Recently both Asus and HTC launched tablets with a capacitive touchscreen display and active digitizer. Lenovo could attempt the same. Alternatively the company could launch a cheaper tablet with a resistive touchscreen display and stylus support.

The business tablet will run Google Android operating system. It will be sold under Lenovo's ThinkPad line of business computers. Lenovo will reportedly also launch a 10 inch Windows tablet later this year. Few details are available about that machine at the moment.

ACER ICONIA M500 TABLET RUNS MEEGO

Acer has unveiled a new MeeGo tablet - the Acer Iconia M500. The Acer Iconia M500 doesn't look all that different from the Android-running Iconia Tab A500. The new Slate also has a 10 inch display with a resolution of 280 x 800 pixels.

There is no word on the processor, but chances are it has an Intel Atom Z670. Earlier this week Intel had announced that at least ten shipping tablets and many more upcoming ones have Intel Z670 processor.

Acer is the first major brand to announce a MeeGo tablet. Right now, the German tablet WeTab is the only slate computer offering the light weight OS. Acer demoed the OS on the tablet at Computex earlier this month. No word on pricing or availability at the moment.

PANASONIC TOUGHBOOK CF-19 RUGGED LAPTOP GETS INTEL SANDY BRIDGE PROCESSOR

The Panasonic Toughbook 19 (CF-19) has been upgraded with Intel's latest Sandy Bridge processors, more storage and more RAM. The 10.1 inch fully-rugged convertible tablet now also offers a new display option.

The previous version of Toughbook CF-19 had an Intel ULV processor. The new model sports an Intel Core i5-2520M dual core standard voltage processor and Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics. Full voltage CPUs deliver better performance. They also generate more heat than their ultra low voltage counterparts. Interestingly Panasonic has managed to design this tablet without a cooling fan.

The new Toughbook meets the MIL-STD 810G ruggedness standard. It comes standard with 4GB of RAM (upgradable to 8GB), a 320GB, 7200rpm hard drive or a 128GB / 256GB SSD. The 10.1 inch display supports both digitizer and touch input. While it still has the old XGA resolution, it is now also offered with the TransflectivePlus option which makes it readable under direct sunlight.

The supported connectivity options include WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, optional GPS, optional Gobi2000 3G mobile broadband and 4G LTE mobile broadband. That last option will be available later this year. Other specifications include a built-in webcam, backlit keyboard and Windows 7 Professional operating system.

The Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 will be available globally in September 2011. It has a starting price of $3,349.

TOSHIBA THRIVE ANDROID TABLET UP FOR PRE-ORDER FOR $430 AND UP

Several retailers including Amazon, Newegg and Toshiba Direct have started taking pre-orders for the 10 inch Toshiba Thrive Android tablet. The device is expected to start shipping on July 10th.

The Toshiba Thrive has a starting price of $429.99. For that price you will get 8GB of storage, a 1 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core processor and a 10.1 inch HD display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. The tablet runs Google Android 3.1 Honeycomb operating system. The 16GB model will run $479.99. The top-of-the line 32GB model is priced at $579.99.

While Toshiba Thrive has standard tablet specs, it does have a few features that set it apart from the rest. For example the tablet has a full sized SD card slot and a full sized USB ports. It also has a user removable battery.

OAK TRAIL TABLETS TO GET LONGER BATTERY LIFE WITH ANDROID AND MEEGO

Evolve III made news earlier this year by launching the Maestro tablet that can run Windows, Android and Maemo Linux. Now the company is pitching an updated model called the Maestro S. While the original Maestro had an Intel Atom N475 Pine Trail processor, the new model will have an Intel Atom Oak Trail processor.

The Maestro S sports a 1.5GHz Intel Atom Z670 processor, a 10.1 inch display, 2GB of RAM and a 32GB SSD. Evolve III says that the tablet will get up 18 plus hours of battery life while running Meamo or MeeGo Linux. With Android OS it will reportedly get up to 16+ hours of runtime. If Windows 7 is your preferred OS, you should a little over 10 hours.

The Intel Oak Trail processors are consume even less power than the Intel Pine Trail Atom processors. The Oak Trail chips are capable of disabling components that aren't currently in use. However, Windows isn't optimized for this kind of performance and that is the reason why battery life dips while running Windows. Android and MeeGo, on the other hand, are essentially smartphone operating systems and optimized for low power chips.

MAC OS X LION TO SUPPORT BROWSER ONLY MODE

The Google Chrome OS is making a lot of headlines these days. Basically the Chrome OS is a full screen web browser. As soon as you power a Chromebook on you will be greeted with a browser window. Although the OS does support a few desktop style features, you will be spending your entire session in a browser window.

Now it looks like Apple has taken a leaf out of Google's book. Apparently Chrome OS won't be the only operating system to offer a full screen browser-based user interface. Word is that Apple's OS X 10.7 Lion also has a 'restart to Safari' option. Choose this option and the Mac OS will be temporarily deactivated and replaced with a full screen Safari web browser.

Not exactly a great feature, but this does have a few uses. You can, for example, allow your kids to surf the web using your Mac. If you enable the 'restart to Safari' option, you can rest assured that they will not make inadvertent changes to your files or settings.

The OS X Lion will be available in July, but a beta version is already in the wild.

GENERAL DYNAMICS ITRONIX LAUNCHES GD8200 ULTRA RUGGED LAPTOP

General Itronix has released a new rugged laptop that meets the US Military MIL-STD 810G specification. The Itronix GD8200 can survive extreme environments and violent vibrations and drops.

The GD8200 has a bright 13.3 inch sunlight viewable touchscreen display which can be used with gloved hands. All that ruggedness comes at a cost: the machine weighs 7.8 pounds. Fortunately it has a handle which will come hand when you take it from one place to another.

The GD8200 sports a Core i7 processor and runs Windows 7 operating system. Other specifications include WiFi, Bluetooth and 4G cellular broadband. Prices start at $4,460.

ASUS EEE PAD SLIDER LAUNCHING IN THE UK IN AUGUST

The Asus Eee Pad Slider is getting closer and closer to its launch in the UK and Germany. There is still no word on a US launch date, but the company is saying that the tablet is coming 'soon'.

In its Facebook fan page, Asus UK has announced that the tablet will be available in that country in August. The Eee Pad Transformer with 3G is also expected to launch in the UK in August. Amazon Germany has also uploaded a product page for the tablet. No word on a launch date or pricing.

The Asus Eee Pad Slider is a 10.1 inch tablet with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. It runs Android Honeycomb operating system. The tablet is powered by a dual core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor. Unlike the Transformer which has a detachable keyboard, the Slider has a slide out keyboard that hides itself behind the display when it is not in use.

BLACKBERRY PLAYBOOK COMING TO EUROPE AND ASIA

Research in Motion will be launching its BlackBerry Playbook in 16 additional countries in the next month. Right now the BlackBerry PlayBook is only available in the US and Canada where it is facing stiff competition from the Apple iPad and a host of other Android tablets.

New regions where the tablet will launch over the next 30 days are the UK, Spain, France, India, Italy, Australia and Hong Kong among other places.

The BlackBerry PlayBook has a 7 inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. It is powered by a 1GHz TI OMAP dual core processor. Thanks to its snappy processor, the PlayBook is one of the fastest tablets around and handles multitasking like a champ. It also supports Adobe Flash.

The PlayBook runs the BlackBerry Tablet operating system. RIM also plans to add support for Google Android apps so that users will have a vast pool of apps to choose from.

ACER AND SAMSUNG CHROMEBOOKS UP FOR PRE-ORDER

Pre-orders for the Acer and Samsung Chromebooks are now open for everybody in the US. You can place your orders through Amazon and Best Buy.

A Chromebook is essentially a laptop designed to run Google Chrome operating system. It is a light-weight operating system built around a web-browser. A Chromebook is unlikely to offer the full functionality of a laptop because it won't be able to run most desktop applications.

Right now, two companies offer Chromebooks - Acer and Samsung. Both offer WiFi-only and 3G capable models. Of the two Chromebooks, the Acer Cromia is the cheapest. The WiFi only model runs $379.99. The 3G-capable Cromia Chromebook is priced at $449.99. The Samsung Series 5 Chromebook has a starting price of $429.99. The 3G-model is priced at $499.99. The Samsung Chromebook will be available in black or white. The Acer cromia is only available in black.

The Samsung Series 5 laptops have 12.1 inch, 1280 x 800 pixels displays. The Acer Cromia has smaller 11.6 inch, 1366 x 768 pixels displays. Both models have 16GB of SSD, 2GB of DDR3 memory, 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 dual core processors and oversized clickpads.

The Acer Cromia and Samsung Series 5 Chromebooks are expected to start shipping on June 15th.

DELL STREAK 10 PRO ANDROID TABLET COMING TO CHINA LATER THIS YEAR

Dell's first 10 inch Android tablet, the Dell Streak 10 Pro, will start shipping in China later this year. Interestingly it won't be available in Europe and the US until much later.

The Streak 10 Pro is aimed at professional consumers or 'prosumers'. The tablet is expected to launch with Google Android Honeycomb operating system. The 10 inch display will have a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. No word on the processor, memory or storage.

Dell is a Texas-based company, and its decision to launch the tablet first in China has surprised many. Dell has, however, justified its decision by saying that China is a 'growth' market where Dell is currently the No 2 PC maker. The company expects its revenue from growth markets to grow this year.

What's more consumers in China are used to buying tablets that don't have official access to the Android Market. So Dell can launch the tablet in China without these features. Dell also thinks that distribution in China is a whole lot easier than distribution in the US, because in China PC makers don't have to fight with wireless carriers on pricing models.

HP TOUCHPAD TO START SHIPPING ON JULY 1ST FOR $499 AND UP

HP has announced that its TouchPad tablet will start shipping on July 1st.In the US, the tablet will be up for pre-order starting June 19th. The HP TouchPad will be available in two models. The 16GB model will run $499, while the 32GB model is priced at $599. 3G-enabled models are not expected to be available until later this year.

The HP TouchPad runs webOS 3.0 which is a version of the webOS optimized for tablets. It has a 9.7 inch capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. Other specifications include a 1.3 megapixel front-facing webcam, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0 and a 6300mAh battery.

The webOS is essentially a smartphone operating system powering the Palm Pre. While it is a decent OS, Palm couldn't do much with its webOS smartphones. It will be interesting to see if HP manages to accomplish anything more than that.

European pricing for the TouchPad has also emerged. As expected, it will cost more in Europe. In Germany the 16GB model will go for 479 Euros (about $700 US) while the 32GB model will run 579 Euros (about $840 US).

VODAFONE UK WILL OFFER THE GALAXY TAB 10.1 INSTEAD OF 10.1V

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be available throughout the US starting next week. It is also headed to the UK where Vodafone will be offering the exact same version of the tablet.

In the UK, Vodafone was supposed to offer the Galaxy Tab 10.1v instead of the thinner and ligher 10.1. But now it looks like the carrier has had a change of mind.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1v is the original Galaxy Tab 10.1. It was designed before Apple launched its incredibly thin iPad 2. Taking inspiration from Apple, Samsung redesigned the tablet and made it even thinner and lighter. Nonetheless, the company didn't want to abandon the original design and rebranded it as Galaxy Tab 10.1v. This model is unlikely to be available in the US, but it will be sold in many parts of Europe.

While the 10.1v is slightly thicker it also happens to have better hardware including an 8mega pixel rear facing camera. The Galaxy Tab 10.1, on the other hand, has a 3 megapixel camera on the rear side.

CLOSER LOOK AT THE NEW ACER TIMELINEX NOTEBOOKS

Acer has taken the wraps off its TimelineX thin and light notebook lineup for 2011. The new models are the 13.3 inch 3830T, 14 inch 4830T and the 15.6 inch 5830T. The new TimelineX notebooks are aimed at multimedia enthusiasts. They sport a simplistic and elegant look, blue cases and chiclet keyboards. The new models are also thinner than their predecessors.

The new Acer TimelineX notebooks are available with a choice of Intel Core i3 or i5 processors. Select models feature NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M and 520M discrete graphics. Others have Intel HD integrated graphics.

Acer claims that models with integrated graphics will get up to nine hours of battery life. Those with discrete graphics options will reportedly get up to 8 hours.

All models in the new TimelineX family have 1366 x 768 pixels display. The 4830T and 5830T have built-in optical drives and dedicated numeric pads.

Other features include webcams, 3D sonic stereo speakers, Dolby Home Theatre audio, HDMI outputs, USB 3.0 technology, WiFi and Gigabit Ethernet. Select models have Bluetooth. Prices start at $599.

SAMSUNG SERIES 5 CHROMEBOOK 3G UP FOR PRE-ORDER FOR $500

The Samsung Series 5 Chromebook won't be available until June 15th. Nonetheless, you can place your pre-orders now as part of the Chromebook preview program launched by Google and Samsung.

To place your pre-order you need to follow the special links Google started posting this morning. For more clues follow @googlechrome on Twitter or visit Google Chrome blog for updates. The links will take you to a pre-order page at Amazon which may only be available for a limited time. You can place your order for the 3G-version of the Series 5 Chromebook for $499.99.

Samsung will also offer a WiFi-only version of the laptop on June 15th. Acer too will offer both WiFi and 3G version of notebooks running Google Chrome OS. These will be cheaper than models from Samsung. However, the Acer Chromebooks are not yet available for purchase.

BEST BUY TO SELL WIFI ONLY GALAXY TAB 10.1 STARTING $499

Samsung has announced that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 (P7100) Android tablet will start shipping on June 8 in the US.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 P7100 has a 10.1 inch multitouch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. It runs Google Android 3.1 Honeycomb operating system. The tablet has official access to Google Android Market. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is powered by a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra dual-core processor. The tablet is available in two models - one with 16GB of storage and another with 32GB of storage.

Other specifications include front (2MP) and rear (3MP) facing cameras, HD video playback capability, stereo surround speakers, and a 7000 mAh battery which will reportedly get up to 9 hours of battery life. The supported connectivity options include WiFi 802.11n, 4G LTE mobile broadband and Bluetooth.

Samsung claims that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the thinnest mobile tablet currently available in the world. It measures 0.33 inches in thickness and weighs 1.25 pounds.

Best Buy will start selling the WiFi-only version of the tablet at its New York outlet on June 8. Starting June 17 it will be available from Best Buy website and other retailers including Amazon, Newegg and Tiger Direct. The 16GB version will be available for $499. The 32GB model will run $599.

A 4G-enabled version of the tablet will be available from Verizon sometime soon. The 16GB model will run $529.99 with a contract. The 32GB model is priced at $629.99.

ACER TIMELINEX NOTEBOOKS GET 2ND GENERATION CORE I SERIES PROCESSORS

Acer has made three new additions to its TimelineX line of thin and light laptops. The new models have screen sizes ranging between 13.3 inches to 15.6 inches.

The new TimelineX laptops feature Intel's second generation Core i3 and i5 processors with Turbo Boost technology. Some models also have discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M or 540M graphics. The new models start at $599.99, but bear in mind that for that price you won't get discrete graphics options.

Of the three models the TimelineX 3830T is quite portable with its 13.3 inch display. It measures less than 1.15 inches in thickness and weighs 4.12 pounds.

Acer launched the TimelineX series last year. Back then the cheapest member of the family was the 11.6 inch TimelineX 1830T. It had an ultra low voltage processor and a $599.99 price tag. The 1830t still sports that ULV processor and hasn't received any update.

VIEWSONIC LAUNCHES VIEWBOOK 730 BUDGET LAPTOP

Tablets from big-name companies usually tend to be pricey. But last week, MSI showed off two budget laptops. And now ViewSonic, not quite a big name, has also announced its plans to offer a 7 inch tablet called the ViewBook 730 for $249.99.

The ViewBook 730 has a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor and 8GB of storage. It has an 800 x 480 pixels resistive touchscreen display and a stylus with which you can write or draw on the screen. ViewSonic claims that it will get up to 8 hours of battery life.

The ViewBook 730 runs Google Android 2.2. It doesn't have official access to the Android Market and instead will ship with the Amazon Appstore pre-loaded. The tablet will support Adobe Flash Player 10.1. It also comes pre-loaded with Amazon's Kindle, MP3, Twitter and YouTube apps among others.

The ViewBook 730 will be available later this month for $249.99. At that price, it is a little cheaper than the $200 MSI WindPad Enjoy 7 or the $99 Arnova 7. On the bright side, it has got relatively better specs.

CLOSER LOOK AT THE LENOVO THINKPAD EDGE E125

The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E125 is one of the new ThinkPad ultraportable laptops Lenovo showed off at the Computex trade show last week. The ThinkPad Edge E125 has many features of the ThinkPad X120e and ThinkPad Edge 11.

Like the ThinkPad X120e, the X125 also has an AMD Fusion processor. However, it is not clear whether it has an AMD E-350 or the new AMD E-450 processor.

The case design looks more like the ThinkPad Edge line of laptops with a chromed edge around the lid. The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E125 has an 11.6 inch display and an island style keyboard. It sports Lenovo's TrackPoint system which consists or a standard touchpad below the keyboard and a pointing stick in the middle of the keyboard. Other features include 3 USB ports, HDMI and D-sub ports, Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth and a headset jack.

No word on pricing or availability at the moment.

SPRINT TO START OFFERING HTC EVO VIEW 4G ANDROID TABLET ON JUNE 24TH FOR $400 ON CONTRACT

US wireless carrier Sprint will start offering a 4G capable version of the HTC Flyer 7 Android tablet on June 24th. The company will sell the Flyer under the name HTC EVO View 4G. You will be able to pick up the tablet for $399.99 when you sign up for a 2-year service contract. While the US version of the tablet doesn't come standard with the digital pen, Sprint is offering it for free for a limited period when you sign a contract. The stylus normally runs $79.99.

The HTC Evo View 4G has a 1.5GHz single core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and a 7 inch capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. It will launch with Android 2.3 operating system. Sprint has assured that it will roll out an update for Android 3.0 when that becomes available for 7 inch tablets. Curiously Android 3.0 is already available for many other 7 inch tablets, so it is not exactly clear what Sprint means by this statement. The wireless data plans for the tablet starts at $34.99/month.

Meanwhile a WiFi-only version of the tablet is available from Best Buy for $499.99.

OVERVIEW OF THE AMD Z-01 DESNA CHIP FOR TABLETS

AMD recently introduced a new low power processor for tablets and other mobile computing devices. The new AMD Z-01 chip is part of the Fusion line of processors which means it comes bundled with high performance Radeon graphics.

The AMD Z-01 also happens to be the least power hungry member of the Fusion family. It reportedly has a TDP of between 5.9W and 6.4W. That means it consumes much less power than the 9W AMD C-50 which is found in many netbooks.

Both AMD C-50 and AMD Z-01 are dual core processors having a maximum clock speed of 1GHz and a maximum 3D engine clock speed of 275MHz. What makes the Z-01 more power efficient is that it has lower minimum speeds. For instance, in the case of Z-01 the CPU can drop to 615MHz. The C-50 chip, on the other hand, doesn't dip lower than 800MHz. The new chip also uses the Turbo Core technology to overclock the processor when only one of the two cores is active. As a result of this it can deliver better performance without consuming more power.

SONY S2 DUAL SCREEN ANDROID TABLET HITS FCC

Sony S2, Sony's dual-screen Android tablet which is due out this week, has hit the FCC. The FCC listing doesn't provide a lot of new information other than the fact that the tablet supports WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth and AT&T's 3G mobile broadband connectivity. The Sony S2 tablet will also support 21Mbps HSPA + wirelss networks. It looks like the tablet has a user-removable battery.

The Sony S2 has two 5.5 inch displays with a resolution of 1024 x 480 pixels. The displays can be used together. Alternatively you can run different apps on the displays at the same time. The Sony S2 has a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor. You can fold the tablet up into a cylinder for easy storage.

The Sony S2 will launch with Android Honeycomb operating system. It is PlayStation certified which means that you can run classic PlayStation games on the mobile device.

Sony is also building another tablet called S1 which has a single 9.4 inch display.

ARCHOS ARNOVA 7 TO RUN $99

Archos has uploaded the product pages for its new Arnova 7 and Arnova 84 budget tablets. The biggest difference between the Archos Arnova tablets and those coming from companies like Samsung, Toshiba and Motorola is in the pricing. The Archos tablets tend to be dirt cheap. Sure the pricing has a bearing on the specs too.

The tag line of the 7 inch Archos Arnova reads 'a 7 inch tablet for $99 is possible'.
It doesn't have particularly impressive specs, but that is hardly surprising. For $99 you will get a 7 inch, 800 x 480 pixels resistive touchscreen display and 4GB of flash storage. The tablet runs Google Android 2.2 operating system.It can handle H.264 videos of up to 720p resolution as well as MPEG-4 and RealVideo formats.

The Arnova 7 has a USB port, a microSDHC card slot and WiFi 802.11b/g. The tablet weighs just 12 ounces and measures 0.5 inches in thickness. The product page doesn't mention the processor, but it is safe to assume that the tablet doesn't have a high-end dual core processor. Nonetheless, it should have enough power to handle tasks like web surfing, ebook reading, video playback and modest gaming.

The Arnova 84 has an 8.4 inch, 800 x 600 pixels display. It has similar connectivity, storage and media capabilities as the 7 inch Arnova. No word on pricing for this model.

MSI SHOWS OFF BUDGET-FRIENDLY WINDPAD ENJOY 7 AND ENJOY 10 TABLETS

MSI showcased two new budget tablets at the Computex trade show this week. The MSI WindPad Enjoy 7 and WindPad Enjoy 10 are both aimed at budget-conscious customers. PC World reports that the 7 inch model could sell for as little as $199 while the 10 inch model could run $299.

Both tablets run Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system and are powered by 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processors. MSI claims that the tablets will get between 4 and 6 hours of run time while playing video.

The MSI WindPad Enjoy 10 has a 10 inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. It weighs 1.75 pounds. The WindPad Enjoy 7 features a 7 inch display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. It weighs just 0.87 pounds.

While the specs aren't all that impressive pricing isn't bad. That said, it is still not clear whether these machines will make it to the market. Although MSI has been showing off tablets for a while, you still can't walk into a store and buy one of them.

KOGAN TO SHIP CHROMIUM OS LAPTOP NEXT WEEK

Both Acer and Samsung are expected to launch their Chromebooks on June 15th. But in case you don't want to wait until then, you can pick a laptop running Google Chrome operating system starting next week. The device is built by Australian consumer electronics company Kogan.

The Kogan Chrome OS laptop has an 11.6 inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. It is powered by a 1.3GHz Intel Celeron SU2300 processor. Other specifications include 1GB of RAM, a 30GB SSD and WiFi 802.11b/g/n. The notebook runs Google Chromium OS which is an open source version of the Chrome OS.

Although the Chromium OS is built around the Chrome OS, it doesn't offer some features supported by the Chrome OS. As far as Chrome OS is concerned Google is working directly with PC makers to ensure that laptops running the Chrome OS will have fast boot and resume speeds. The Kogan laptop may not provide all those features.

On the bright side, it is very attractively priced. Kogan is selling the laptop for the local equivalent of about $371 US. At that price the notebook is slightly more expensive than the entry level Acer Cromia, but bear in mind that the Kogan laptop has a more powerful processor.

MICROSOFT DEMONSTRATES WINDOWS 8 OS

Microsoft demonstrated an operating system codenamed Windows 8 at the D9 conference this week. The operating system is designed to run on various types of devices including tablets and desktop computers. It will also be able to run on devices powered by ARM-based processors.

Windows 8 is capable of running web-based apps as well as classic Windows programs. Instead of the Windows Start menu found in the existing versions of Windows, the new version has a tile-based Start screen. The new version of Windows also supports both touch and keyboard / mouse input.

Incidentally Windows 8 has the following hardware requirements:
Windows 8 will run on 1024 x 600 pixel displays, but to get the best experience you will need a 1366 x 768 or higher display resolution. Devices may also need to have edge-to-edge displays to support many touch gestures such as swiping from the edge of the screen.

TOSHIBA SHOWS OFF W110 WINDOWS TABLET

Toshiba showed off an 11.6 inch Windows tablet at Computex this week. The Toshiba WT110 Windows tablet doesn’t look all that different from the 10 inch Toshiba Thrive Android tablet: it is a bit larger. There are some other key differences too.

While the Toshiba Thrive runs Android operating system, the WT110 runs Windows 7. While Windows isn’t very touch friendly, the advantage of running the Microsoft OS on a tablet is that you can plugin almost all sorts of peripherals.

The WT110 has a 1366 x 768 pixels capacitive touchscreen display. It is powered by a 1.5GHz Intel Atom Z670 Oak Trail processor. Toshiba has also built some capacitive touch buttons onto the sides of the tablet for various Windows functions. The Toshiba Thrive doesn’t have these hardware buttons because it is designed to run Android 3.1 Honeycomb which doesn’t require buttons for home, back and menu functions.

The Toshiba WT110 is due out in Japan later this month. No word on pricing at the moment. It is also not clear whether Toshiba has plans to launch this tablet in the US.

SUBSCRIBE

Categories

Online Readers

Follow Me

Contact Us

Latest Comments

Hot Stories

Laptop Sites