Origin PC took its turn at the high-performance ultraportable category Sunday with the EON11-S. Using the same Clevo-made frame as the Maingear Pulse 11, it's small with an 11.6-inch screen but still fits as much as a quad 2.1GHz Core i7 courtesy of Intel's low-power Ivy Bridge architecture. Likewise, it carries a new GeForce GT 650M that gives it mid-level gaming.
At the Milan Design Week, ASUS priced and dated many of its upcoming portable products for the European market, Notebook Italia learned. The Padfone will ship late in May, or about a month later than in its home market of Taiwan. Its price at a telephone operator hasn't been revealed, but the Padfone Station that includes the 32GB handset and a docking tablet that's coming in June will cost 700 euros (about $914).
Following a desktop slip, details of Intel's notebook versions of its Ivy Bridge processor lineup have leaked as well. The lineup seen by VR-Zone will simplify into just U-series ultra-low voltage chips that use 17W and full-power M-series chips that use 35W, 45W, or 55W depending on the model. All 25W chips have disappeared now that PC builders can dial down the peak power themselves.
Samsung is showing off a new tablet PC over at the IFA show in Berlin, the Slate PC Series 7. Borrowing the name from the company's recently introduced Series 7 notebooks, the tablets sport Windows 7 rather than Android. The 11.6-inch devices also get a choice of Core i3, Core i5 or Pentium processors, as well as 4GB of RAM.
Chipmaker Intel has again began offering a CPU upgrade service. This time, however, users can upgrade one of three CPUs, including the Core i3-2312M, Core i3-2102, and Pentium G622. Performance boosts range from 10 to 23 percent.
Acer retail channels are being told that the Iconia Tab A100 will launch in the US sooner than thought. The seven-inch Android 3.2 tablet is now due to arrive in early August and will cost well below the 10-inch A500, at $300 versus $450. It still has a Tegra 2 processor but, apart from the smaller screen, will pare back the storage to 8GB and halve the RAM to 512MB.
Llano-based Fusion chips from AMD that began shipping in April to netbooks and nettops first are now being shipped to notebook makers. Details of both the shipping and prices have emerged thanks to Digitimes that show a full-blown ship schedule will begin in July. AMD is reportedly due to move 1.5 million chips and would be well on its way to meeting its goal of a 15 percent share of the notebook CPU segment.
Taiwanese computer maker MSI has introduced a new all-in-one computer with a 20-inch touchscreen, the Wind Top AE2070. The base model is equipped with a 1600x900 multi-touch screen, a Pentium G620 CPU, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 500GB SATA II hard drive. An onboard Intel HD Graphics 2000 processor handles graphics. The computer runs Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit.
An uncovered roadmap in the midst of Intel's Developer Forum in Beijing has revealed plans from Intel to speed up its current desktop processors from the Sandy Bridge platform as well as some early details of its Ivy Bridge successor. A fall update known as Sandy Bridge-E should upgrade the current platform with support for 16X PCI Express video cards, a quad-channel memory interface, and expected upgrades like increased Level 3 memory cache and more cores. WCCFTech's copy doesn't show any more than six-core processors, although the pricing would put it in the mid-range or higher for a territory occupied by quad-core chips.
Dell on Tuesday focused some attention on its pro-level Precision and Optiplex systems. Its most Precision M4600 and M6600 are the most genuinely new models and also the most secretive. The two should replace the 15.6-inch and 17-inch existing workstation notebooks and are likely to use Intel's 2011 Core (Sandy Bridge) processors along with new workstation graphics and a slightly refreshed design.
HP tonight reworked its Pavilion notebooks to include a new entry level line and to re-launch two dv models in the wake of the Sandy Bridge delay. The 14-inch G4, 15.6-inch G6 and 17.3-inch G7 replace HP's starter models and have a new look that brings some of the more minimalist, upscale design traits from the dv series with less expensive materials. All of them have Altec Lansing speakers to boost the audio and options such as Blu-ray.
While at CES on Saturday, we had the opportunity to see Hanvon's E920 color E Ink reader first hand to see how well it worked in practice. The screen is, as promised, much more interesting to use than on just about any other e-paper reader. Colors are muted due to the nature of the technology, but it still stands out very clearly and is extremely sharp: at 1600x1200, the 9.7-inch display isn't quite Retina Display accurate but is noticeably more "pixel-free" than a Kindle.
HP has just quietly added a new, range-topping notebook to complement the currently available G62m and G62t. The 15.6-inch G62x gets a standard 2.26GHz Core i3 and not the 2.2GHz Celeron or 2GHz Pentium Dual Core, respectively, found in the other two. A 2.4GHz Core i3 is optional.
Gateway on Wednesday released a genuinely new redesign of the ZX One all-in-one desktop to make it better-suited as a media center. The 21.5-inch ZX4951 and 23-inch ZX6951 both have a new, curved design that it hopes is friendlier in the home. A more practical upgrade gives both of them Blu-ray drives and turns them into home theater PCs for those with little free space.
Intel has quietly begun a trial program, Intel Upgrade Service, that charges customers to unlock the full performance of a chip. Certain PCs, such as Gateway's SX2841-09e, are running an artificially limited Pentium G6951 processor and asked to buy a $50 Processor Performance Upgrade Card to get the built-in feature set. Installing a Windows app switches on Hyperthreading, giving the system support for up to four program threads, and reenables another 1MB of Level 3 cache.
HP's recently updated Pavilion dm3 is now being offered for sale. The 13.3-inch notebook is just one inch thick and weighs 4.15lbs, while offering a choice of ultra-low voltage 1.2GHz Pentium or 1.2GHz Core i3 processors. It comes in a more refined design built to vent heat away from a lap and even to adjust the fans depending on where the notebook sits.
HP's most unique introduction on Wednesday is a complete redesign of the Pavilion dm3. The 13.3-inch ultraportable has been shaped entirely around reducing its heat output and uses a combination of metal, non-conductive surface layers and repositioned vents to keep heat away from the hands and lap. Its heat management is equally clever, as it not only directly talks to fans but can automatically detect when it's on a lap and spool up the fans for extra cooling.
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.
We've witnessed desktops shrinking from the size of an entire room to just incidental additions to the back of a display. ViewSonic's PC Mini line is emblematic of that shift, and our VOT125 review unit measures about the size of a decent deli sandwich and seemingly almost as light. The VOT125 may be the holy grail of tiny computers in terms of size, but we'll find out in a full test if this nettop can deliver a suitable experience along with its tiny packaging.
Velocity Micro has brought out two new computers aimed at students. The 13.3-inch T30 Italia notebook is designed for portability first and measures just 0.8 inches thick. It should also last with a 1.3GHz Pentium, although battery life hasn't been discussed.
Intel could put an end to the notebook Celeron line entirely by next year, notebook suppliers said on Friday. The chip producer is reportedly ramping down production to where it would drop the mobile Celeron entirely in 2011. It would leave just the dual-core Atom and Pentium to occupy the space, and by its exit, would avoid competing for attention.
Intel is about to release a mid-July desktop processor refresh that could help companies like Apple improve their lineups, a schedule posted today might have confirmed. The Core i7 970 would lead the way and become the first non-Extreme six-core processor from Intel. Early leaks have put it at a 3.2GHz regular speed and have given it a large 12MB of cache. The part will still be expensive, DigiTimes warns, as it will cost $885 even in bulk pricing.
Toshiba marked the 25th birthday of its notebooks by unveiling the first dual-touchscreen Windows tablet computer. The Libretto W100 has twin seven-inch, 1024x600, multi-touch displays that control virtually the entire Windows 7 interface. One display can work separately as a keyboard (with vibration feedback) or just as a second display; an accelerometer lets users tilt the device on its side for e-book reading.
Toshiba's notebook launches were bolstered today by two rare AMD-based ultraportables. The 11.6-inch Satellite T215 and 13.3-inch Satellite T235 both use Athlon II Neo chips to provide a one-inch, under four pounds design that still has integrated graphics capable of HD video and modern 3D. The T235 adds an option for faster Turion II Neo hardware or Intel's CULV-based Pentium dual-core.
Lenovo's luxury all-in-one desktop, the A300 introduced at CES, is now shipping in the US. The computer is available in three configurations, either with a 2.2GHz Intel Pentium dual-core or a Core 2 Duo with the same clock speed. All share Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit and a 21.5-inch display with a full HD resolution. All but the base 2GB system have 4GB of RAM.
Acer today finally took the wraps from its first Timeline convertible tablet notebook. The 1825PT puts its 11.6-inch display on a swivel and gives it multi-touch. It's also potentially one of the faster Timelines, with a 1.3GHz Core 2 Duo an option along with a similarly clocked Pentium.
HP as part of its desktop updates this morning updated its All-in-One lineup with a new model and faster speeds for existing PCs. The new PC, the All-in-One 200, drops the easel designs of most of HP's all-in-ones for a monitor-like design not unlike the iMac. HP's system is oriented to the budget side, however, and has a design that can swivel the display independently of the base, not just pivot up or down.
Intel on Tuesday launched two new, fasterdesktop processors without fanfare. The 32 nanometer Core i5-680 clocks in at a regular 3.6GHz across its two cores and can scale up to 3.86GHz with Turbo Boost. It still recognizes Hyperthreading, carries 4MB of Level 3 cache, and clocks its integrated graphics core at 733MHz.
Dell introduced two new products this week, including its short-throw S300w projector and Vostro 230 desktop PCs, available in a mini tower and an even smaller slim form factor. The S300w is capable of displaying 3D images at up to 720p HD resolutions. It outputs at 2,200 lumens, while its contrast ratio is 2,400:1.
Rambus late Thursday achieved a partial win in its ongoing patent dispute with NVIDIA. While an International Trade Commission decision in January found that NVIDIA had infringed on three of Rambus' patents for memory technology, a US Patent & Trademark Office verdict this week said that one of the Rambus patents was invalid and partially invalidated a second patent. NVIDIA plans to appeal the decision on the remaining patent.
Lenovo as part of its launches today updated its highest-end ThinkPad W series with a few company firsts. The W701 is the first ThinkPad with USB 3.0 and should now support the 5Gbps standard for very fast external hard drives and future peripherals down the line. Its large case also now supports as much as 16GB of DDR3 RAM (up from 8GB) and should handle even very demanding visual editing.
LG on Monday formally rolled out two ultralight XNOTE PCs in its home country of Korea. Topping these, the T280 is one of LG's first CULV-based notebooks and fits either a 1.3GHz Pentium dual-core or Core 2 Duo underneath a 11.6-inch display. LG doesn't supply battery life claims to match the low-voltage processors, but it does promise a relatively light 3.06-pound weight and a 1.2-inch or thinner profile.
Toshiba at the Mobile World Congress show this week showed off its Satellite T130 notebook PC with an integrated 4G LTE network module from Sony Ericsson. During demonstrations the PC-maker held at its booth, data download speeds of up to 16Mbps. LTE can technically provide peak download speeds of up to 100Mbps. This is significant as the PC is one of the first few with the high-speed connection option.
PC maker MSI on Tuesday announced that four new Classic Series notebooks are being introduced to the North American market. This includes the 16-inch CR600 and three variations of the 15.6-inch CR620. All models ship with Windows 7 Home Premium, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 1.3-megapixel camera and six-cell batteries. The CR600 as the entry model gets a 2.3GHz dual-core Pentium CPU and 3GB of RAM, along with a GeForce 8200M G graphics chipset.
Lenovo on Tuesday said it will soon add the E20 desktop system to its line of ThinkStation entry-level workstation PCs. Aimed squarely at those working in the computer aided design and digital content creation fields, the E20 will offer Intel's Core i3, Core i5, Pentium and Xeon 3400-series processors. At the same time, newly offered in the range is NVIDIA's Quadro discrete graphics cards, with the FX 1800 as the most capable. Base systems will ship with Intel Core HD integrated graphics.
Dell has announced the Latitude 13, a thin-and-light notebook with a 13.3-inch LED-backlit display and all the enterprise features in its Latitude line. Although it shares the same 0.65in-thick aluminum case as the Vostro 13, the Latitude 13 will include a wider range of Intel's CULV processors, and other enterprise IT features designed to appeal to larger companies. Among these are a preinstalled Cytrix client, automated system image distribution for software updates, and recovery services favored by corporate IT departments.
Quickly dampening leaks, Alienware this afternoon started taking orders for its M11x ultraportable. The stock $799 trim is modest and comes with a 1.3GHz Pentium, 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive and the system's all-important GeForce GT 335M video. A 1.3-megapixel webcam is its only other major hardware extra built-in.
Gateway's presence at CES is being marked by the launch of two new EC notebooks running Intel's CULV (Consumer Ultra Low Voltage) platform. The EC14D is Gateway's first CULV system to include its own DVD burner. While slightly thicker at one end as well as heavier (3.55lbs. versus 3.08), the drive is seen as an ideal option for college students or travelers that may either need or want to watch DVD movies or burn a disc of their own.
Computer maker MSI has began shipping its Wind Top AE2020 all-in-one PC to the UK. The PC has a 20-inch, multi-input touchscreen and is the first from MSI to combine this feature with Windows 7 Home Premium. A 2.1GHz Pentium dual-core forms the heart of its performance, but it also uses NVIDIA's Ion graphics to smoothly play back HD videos on the 1600x900 display.
Dell tonight provided an early look at a potentially major addition to its Vostro work PCs. The V13 is meant as a budget alternative to an Adamo and measures just as thin at 0.65 inches, but actually weighs less at 3.5 pounds. Room is still available for one each of eSATA, Ethernet, USB and a card reader, though video output is VGA-only instead of the more luxurious system's DisplayPort.
Two of Lenovo's first notebooks to use AMD processors have been given hard specs in a German leak. True to form, the ThinkPad X100e is now known to be Lenovo's first portable in between netbooks and notebooks and should use a 1.6GHz Athlon Neo, an 11.6-inch 1366x768 display and a multi-touch trackpad. Configurations will vary but should hold up to 4GB of RAM, a 3- or 6-cell battery, and between 160GB and 500GB of hard drive space.
The flyer for Best Buy's Black Friday/Thanksgiving sale has been leaked on the Internet ahead of its official release thanks to a copy posted today. Among the 'doorbusters' are a $300 PS3 bundle that includes two games, while an Xbox 360 bundle with six games will carry the same sticker price. Another front-page deal involves a 46-inch, 120Hz LED-backlit Samsung HDTV with free home delivery, hook-up and recycling for $1,600, or $1,000 off.
Lenovo has began offering its 11.6-inch IdeaPad U150 notebooks in the US. Available in two models, the PCs use CULV processors and run the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium along with an integrated Intel GMA 4500 graphics chipset. They also share an 11.6-inch, 1366x768 resolution display.
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.
Dell used the occasion of Windows 7's launch to unveil the first all-in-one desktop since Apple's new iMacs. Showing initially in Japan, the Inspiron One 19 returns to an easel-like design and is meant as a faster alternative to a notebook without taking up much additional space. The PC carries an 18.5-inch, 1366x768 display and uses desktop processors that scale up to a 2.93GHz Core 2 Duo.
ViewSonic has recently unveiled some of its first portables above the netbook class in its Viewbook series. The 12.1-inch VB120, 13.3-inch VB130 and 14-inch VB140 Pro are all powered by Intel's CULV chips, with the VB120 getting a 1.3GHz Core 2 Duo and 2GB of RAM. It also has a 250GB hard drive preloaded with Windows 7.
Fujitsu has opted for an unusual end-of-week introduction for a pair of new notebooks in its LifeBook mix. The P3010 and P3110 are the company's first netbook/notebook crossovers and have 11.6-inch screens as well as a long 6.7-hour battery life that can be pushed to 7.2 with an eco mode toggle. They also borrow a technique from Apple that will share a DVD drive on the local network to read or burn discs instead of having to use a physically attached USB optical drive.
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.
NVIDIA's Ion 2 chipset is still due to ship before the end of year and could provide a significant boost not just to netbooks but to notebooks using Intel's CULV (Consumer Ultra Low Voltage) processors as well, an update from the company has shown. In addition to supporting the timeframe, an executive heading chipset development has reportedly confirmed rumors that the next-generation Ion will support processors other than the Atom, including the Celeron, Core 2 and Pentium processors that make up CULV as well as VIA's competing Nano design.
Sony at an event tonight launched a trio of new systems, starting with its first touchscreen PC. The VAIO L supports Windows 7's own multi-touch elements for scrolling and zooming through content without needing special software. Like Gateway and HP, Sony has its own custom touch portal, here called Media Gallery, that lets users rely on touch to edit photos and videos.
