01/16, 12:10pm
Surface SUR40 arrives a year later
Microsoft on Monday confirmed that the first Surface 2.0 table, the Samsung Surface SUR40, was shipping. Coming out a year after it was first shown, the multi-touch table introduces optics in the panel itself that can see objects and react accordingly. It can now react to as many as 50 simultaneous contact points and uses a quicker 2.9GHz AMD Athlon II X2, a Radeon HD 6700M graphics chip, and runs on Windows 7.
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11/17, 9:25am
Next-gen Microsoft Surface table ready to order
The first Microsoft Surface 2.0 multi-touch table, the Samsung SUR40, has gone up for pre-order. Those in 23 countries can request the new Surface ahead of its launch in January. A handful of companies have already publicly lined up, including aircraft maker Dassault, Fujifilm, and Royal Bank of Canada.
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01/04, 12:00am
HP Pavilion, Elite, Slimline get Beats and Sandy
HP's Pavilion home desktops got a major lift early this morning with both sound and visual upgrades. The Slimline s5700, Pavilion p6700 and Elite HPE-500 now have the Beats audio that was previously only an option for notebooks. Making the pick gives them richer audio output from headphones or speakers, purportedly getting closer to the intended sound.
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09/30, 11:15am
Toshiba intros Satellite, Satellite Pro C660 PCs
Toshiba has revealed two new notebooks in the form of the 15.6-inch Satellite C660 and Satellite Pro 660. Either can be had with chips from AMD or Intel, up to an Athlon II or Core i3, respectively. To keep prices low, there is only integrated graphics on both, with either Radeon or GMA HD video depending on the choice of processor.
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09/28, 8:45am
Acer outs AZ3100 with AMD, AZ5700 with Intel
Acer has taken the wraps off a new set of slim all-in-one desktops, the AMD powered AZ3100-U3072 and the Intel powered AZ5700-U3112. The 21.5-inch AMD version is the entry-level model and comes equipped with a 2GHz Athlon II 170u, 3GB of memory and a 500GB drive, matched with integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9200 graphics and a 1080p display.
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09/27, 3:35pm
HP HPE gets 6-core AMD, Pavilion, Slimline update
HP today overhauled its desktop line to modernize it and give it more choices. The top-end HPE desktop now has the option of AMD chips and can use Phenom II processors in place of the costlier Intel equivalents, up to a 3.2GHz six-core model. Graphics choices also get more aggressive with up to a Radeon HD 5770 in the best version.
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09/23, 9:10am
Dell Inspiron One 23 and quad Zino HD debut
Dell swung its attention to models directly competing with Apple on Thursday as it launched a new all-in-one desktop and upgraded its smallest desktop. The 23-inch Inspiron One is meant to go both against the iMac and HP's TouchSmart line with a 1080p, multi-touch display that centers on a new touch front end known as Stage. The interface provides quick access to apps, music, photos and video, including online services such as CinemaNow and Netflix.
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09/20, 11:45am
HP intros Omni 100, TouchSmart 310 all-in-one PCs
HP has introduced two new all-in-one PCs this week, with the TouchSmart 310 and Omni 100. Both include 20-inch screens with a 1600x900 resolution, though only the former's is touch-enabled to take advantage of HP's latest TouchSmart software. Th front end lets them access free and subscription-based apps from the web, and lets users easily drag apps, music, photos, videos and other content from the web onto the desktop, like fridge magnets.
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08/17, 5:30pm
ASUS shows ET2400 all-in-one PCs with HD screens
ASUS recently revealed a new line-up of all-in-one PCs with the ET2400 series. There are seven models, each with a 23.6-inch display with 1080p resolution. The top-level model, the ET2400XVT, gets a 120Hz, 3D panel alone, along with a 1.73GHz quad Core i7.
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06/21, 9:30pm
AMD offerings limited to entry-level VAIOs
Sony has finally returned to AMD processors in two new entry-level VAIO notebooks, the EE25FX and EF22FX. The company years ago dropped AMD components from its notebook offerings, instead focusing on Intel chipsets. Both of the new notebooks integrate Athlon II X2 P320 CPUs running at 2.10GHz with 1MB of L2 cache.
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06/21, 6:30pm
MSI shows notebook with dual-core chip, Danube
MSI on Monday announced its latest Classic-series notebook PC, the 15.6-inch CR630. It uses AMD's newer Danube mobile platform and will be powered by an Athlon II dual-core processor of an unspecified clock speed. The platform swap gives the notebook relatively fast Mobility Radeon HD 4270 graphics that can drive HD video and basic 3D gaming on the 720p-capable screen.
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06/14, 4:25pm
MSI shows 14-inch CX410 with AMD Athlon II
MSI on Monday introduced a new notebook PC, the 14-inch CX410. It comes powered by AMD's Vision platform rather than the usual Intel hardware and has a dual-core AMD Athlon II. A 512MB Mobility Radeon HD 545v handles graphics processing relatively easily for the 1366x768 screen.
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05/19, 4:05pm
Gateway ZX series gets faster AMD and Intel chips
Gateway in a low-key update this afternoon sped up its ZX series touchscreen all-in-ones at both the low and high ends. Leading the group is the 23-inch ZX6900, which now has at least a 2.93GHz Core i3 dual-core processor and an optional version with a 3.2GHz Core i5. The desktop comes saddled with Intel's integrated graphics but does tout 4GB of RAM, 640GB of hard drive space and a 4X Blu-ray combo drive.
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05/12, 11:00am
AMD Phenom II quad uses just 35W power
After brief teases from HP and others, AMD today confirmed full details of its 2010 notebook chips. The mainstream processors are now known to be much more power efficient than both previous AMD chips and Intel's quad-core hardware. The four-core 2GHz Phenom II N930 and the 1.6GHz P920 use just 35W and 25W of power, rendering either of them miserly enough to sit in thin-and-light notebooks.
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05/11, 4:55pm
Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 14, 15 models get AMD CPUs
Lenovo has added new AMD-powered models to its ThinkPad Edge 14- and 15.6-inch offerings, first introduced in March. Newly available chips include the 2.1GHz Athlon II X2, 2.3GHz Turion II X2 and 1.8GHz Phenom II X3. All variations get the same ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400 graphics chipset.
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05/11, 2:15pm
First quad-core AMD desktop CPU to top 3.0GHz
AMD on Tuesday introduced its 2010 lineup of components for mainstream desktop PCs, including a 3.0GHz Athlon II X4 offering. The X4 640 is said to be the company's first quad-core desktop CPU in the Athlon II family to run at 3.0GHz, a modest increase over the current X4 635 model that offers 2.9GHz performance.
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05/05, 12:00am
HP ProBook gets quad AMD processors
HP revamped its business notebooks in large fashion today with a particularly large update to its ProBook line. The 14-inch 6455b and 15.6-inch 6555b are some of the first pro systems to use AMD's new mobile Phenom II processors. They add three- and four-core options up to 2GHz and are reckoned to be about 69 percent faster than HP's earlier AMD-running business notebooks but with 24 percent more battery life.
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04/21, 12:00am
Compaq 6005 packs Phenom II quad in paper size
HP has added a parcel of new desktops today that, in its business line, include its smallest-ever desktop using AMD. The Compaq-labeled 6005 Pro has the footprint of a piece of paper but can use desktop-level processors. It's small enough to fit on the back of a display and is also HP's first truly green PC, dropping BFRs (bromide flame retardants) and PVC plastics.
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02/11, 1:10pm
Lenovo to bring AMD-powered notebooks, AIO PC
Lenovo on Thursday introduced three new products for its North American range, including the G455 and G555 notebooks and C314 all-in-one desktop PC. All are powered by a choice of AMD processors, supporting both Turion or Athlon CPUs and will run on Windows 7. The G455 and G555 are expected to sport 14- and 15-inch displays, respectively, and will run on Athlon II or dual-core Turion IIs with ATI Radeon HD Mobility graphics standard.
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01/25, 10:10am
AMD puts out 3.2GHz Phenom II X2, four more
AMD on Monday swung its attention to the budget end of its processors and today launched multiple chips, including its first Phenom II to crack the $100 barrier. The 3.2GHz X2 555 Black Edition just dips below the mark at $99 (for PC builders) but is also the fastest dual-core processor from the company. Being a Black Edition also gives it headroom for overclocking.
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01/14, 4:00pm
Lenovo intros A63, M90 work PCs with new CPUs
Lenovo on Thursday revealed two new desktops that use Intel's relatively new Core i7 processor and AMD's Phenom II CPU. The first is the ThinkCentre A63 desktop meant for small- to medium-sized businesses, and it can be equipped with a range of AMD's 45nm processors, including the Sempron, Athlon II Phenom II processors.
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11/09, 5:55pm
HP LE1x11 displays, Pro 3000 PCs debut
HP kicked off its week by launching a pair of business-focused LCDs as well as two desktops to match. The 17-inch LE1711 and its closely related 19-inch counterpart, the LE1911, are spun as eco-friendly displays that still use conventional backlights but use 50 percent less mercury and entirely scrap toxics like arsenic, BFRs and PVC. They also meet the requirements to earn the latest Energy Star badge.
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11/04, 4:20pm
AMD to out two new desktop platforms next year
By May of 2010, chipmaker AMD will officially introduce two new desktop platforms, with the high-end Leo and more mainstream Dorado, says Digitimes. The information comes from motherboard makers, who revealed the Leo will be made up of current 45nm Phenom II or future six-core Thuban CPUs paired with either 890FX or 890GX northbridge and SB850 southbridge chipsets.
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10/29, 4:50pm
MSI shows 16-inch CR610 notebook with Windows 7
MSI on Thursday announced the upcoming release of the CR610, a 16-inch notebook PC running on AMD's Tigris platform with an Athlon II processor. Also, the PC ships with Windows 7 preloaded onto its 2.5-inch hard drive, which can be had in 250, 320 and 500GB capacities. Up to 4GB of RAM can be specified, with graphics handled by an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4200 chipset.
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10/20, 11:35am
Athlon II X2, X3, X4 updated
AMD this morning sought to challenge Intel's control of the low-end processor space with eight new Athlon II processors. The new range pushes costs and power use lower, and is headlined by the Athlon II X4 600e and 605e. These clock at just 2.2GHz and 2.3GHz each but have four cores that combined use at most 45W of power and fit in very tight spaces; they also only cost $133 and $143 in bulk.
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10/14, 3:20pm
Toshiba unveils Win 7 PCs with no clutter
Toshiba on Wednesday updated its notebooks with Windows 7 and a rare promise among Windows PC makers. The company promises that all of its systems running the new OS, including its touchscreen models, will go without any icons on the desktop except for the default Recycle Bin. System performance should get a boost as the PCs will run as little software in the background as possible, in many cases only running anti-virus tools.
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10/13, 12:00am
HP launches TouchSmart 300 and 600
HP early today is making an aggressive push into touchscreen PCs with two key updates to its TouchSmart home all-in-ones. The TouchSmart 300 and 600 add true multi-touch input and have significantly expanded use for the technology: they can not only use pinch-to-zoom, flicks and other gestures in the general operating system thanks to Windows 7 but in several new touch apps for the systems' custom front end. They can now navigate Hulu or Netflix streaming video, stream Pandora or Rhapsody music, or update and follow Twitter feeds all primarily using touch.
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10/13, 12:00am
HP adds ProBook 6445b, 6545b, Elite 7000
HP on Tuesday centered its pro PC updates for Windows 7 on a new high-end tower and two frugal notebooks. The Elite 7000 desktop is HP's new high-end outside of workstations and runs on Core i5 and i7 processors and has a new black, metal case more suited to a desk than the workmanlike old models; it's also the first desktop in the category for HP that allows SuSE Linux in place of Windows. Graphics have been given a large boost and can scale to as much as either a GeForce GT 230 or a Radeon HD 4650.
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10/13, 12:00am
Compaq outs CQ61, CQ4010, 500B and 505B
HP's sub-label Compaq tonight received three upgraded systems to ready itself for Windows 7. The Presario CQ61z refreshes the familiar 15.6-inch CQ60 with a more modern 2GHz AMD Sempron whose choice helps put the system at a particularly low $400 price (post-rebate) even while brand-new. The refresh further adds Mobility Radeon HD 4200 video in place of the older NVIDIA hardware but still has 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive.
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09/15, 8:50pm
First 45nm X4 offerings to hit budget prices
AMD has introduced several new processors, the Athlon II X4 620 and 630, that have been added to the company's 'mainstream' desktop platform. The 620 component represents AMD's first quad-core processor to ship for less than $100, while still integrating the latest 45nm process architecture.
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09/15, 12:00am
HP Compaq 6000 Pro business desktop series
HP on Tuesday announced the release of its new family of desktop PCs aimed at businesses, in the form of the Compaq 6000 Pro and HP Compaq 6005 Pro. The main difference involves the choice of CPUs, with the Compaq 6000 Pro available with a number of Intel chips, including various Core 2 quads, Core 2 Duos, dual core Pentiums and Celerons, while the Compaq 9005 Pro can be had with chips from AMD's Sempron, Athlon II, and dual-core, triple-core or quad-core Phenom II processors.
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09/14, 3:40pm
Intel at over 80 percent of CPU business
Intel has clawed back market share to where it makes more than four fifths of the revenue from processors in PCs today, iSuppli said today in a new study. The company now has 80.6 of the revenue from all processors in the computer business; it represents just a slight increase from the winter (79.6 percent) and from the same period a year earlier (79.1 percent) but is the highest level seen since 2005, when Intel reached an all-time high of 82.4 percent.
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