Tech company Toshiba has stepped up its game to meet the rising demand for low budget laptops. Reports state that the company recently announced its intention to launch a new budget friendly line of laptops this month. The timing couldn’t be better too, with Christmas fast approaching. Starting at $300, the company will offer new laptops for the Toshiba Satellite C600, L700, L735D and P700 lines.

Users will have different sizes to choose from, starting at 13.3 inches and going up to 17.3 inches. Even the smallest of the bunch is no lightweight when it comes to features. Both AMD and Intel chips will be offered giving more choice to users. The company is including a notebook in the lineup, the Toshiba Mini MB505 which is also priced at $300.

The Satellite P700 will continue to deliver performance with top of the line processors from Intel. The company is also capitalizing on the demand for more entertainment based options with the ability to add a Blu-ray optical drive. The Satellite P700 comes in ranges ranging from 14 inches to 17.3 inches.

The company’s mid-range option, the L700 will start at 13.3 inches going up to 17.3 inches, with a beginning price of $455. The specs will match those of the C600 which starts at $349, and which will only be offered in 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch sizes.

Company Reveals Its Gaming Laptop Rankings

In a move that reflects the continued evolution of the laptop gaming market FullText Media has issued an updated ranking of hardware in this area. Its BestGamingLaptop.Net will act as a guide for avid gamers who want to buy a gaming laptop or who just want to see where their own machines rank on the list of top gaming computers.
The editors at FullText Media acknowledge the vast nature of the undertaking, and claimed to go to great lengths to fully assess the capabilities of each system. The company will be relying heavily on feedback from the users themselves in addition to in-depth research by the editors. After all their hard work, they are confident they have listed the 10 best gaming laptops on the market today.

The company is also committed to keeping the list up to date as new entrants keep making their way into the market. Reports state that popular gaming laptop Alienware is constantly being challenged by lesser known brands. This indicates that brand name is not the only consideration for users. Of course, the full extent of the capabilities of each system, as well as add-ons and pricing will continue to influence buying decisions.

The Vaio Gets 3D Upgrade

There is no denying that 3D is hot these days, and the technology has moved from the big screen to the smaller screens of televisions and laptops. Now Sony has gotten in on the action with the release of a special attachment for its popular Vaio brand. According to online reports, it will enable the viewing of 3D images without the need for 3D glasses.

The S and the C series will each have their own type of 3D attachment. Sony has also overcome a hurdle typical of some glasses free 3D options, that is, many users complain that if they don’t look at the screen head on, the 3D effect is lost. Sony has overcome this by using the laptop’s camera to monitor the user’s position and the image is then shifted to keep the 3D effect.

The technology utilizes a transparent panel, lenticular device that fits over the screen and transmits a different image to each eye, thus creating the 3D effect. This is not Sony’s first foray into the 3D arena; the company already has the Sony VAIO F 3D laptop on the market. The VAIO F 3D is priced at roughly $1,799 and has won rave reviews from the tech community.

In some work environments it is not unusual to see workstations with two monitors. This enables improved workflow and increased output and is relatively standard in some settings. Now laptop users can enjoy this type of efficiency with the release of the SpaceBook 17 by gScreen.

The folks at gScreen however have managed to fit two 17 inch displays into the package, giving users the ultimate mobile workstation. One screen closes over the other when the laptop is closed, at which time it looks more like a standard laptop, just bulkier.

The SpaceBook 17 laptop weighs 10 pounds according to reports, which would likely be a turnoff for the average user. This is more than double the weight of some of the sleeker brands on the market today. Even so, for professionals in some industries this is a godsend. Engineers, software developers, video editors are just a few of the folks who might very well find this product indispensible.

The weight aside there is another factor which might be regarded as a negative. It offers only an hour and a half of battery life. Since many users want portability, this is a potential drawback. However, the dual screen display already seems to be garnering lots of interest, so the SpaceBook may turn out to be the next big thing.

A New Midsize Offering From Samsung

Tech giant Samsung is getting ready for the official launch of a new laptop line, the Series 7. The laptops will be available as 13, 14 and 15 inch models, and prices reportedly start at $999. According to Samsung, the design of the Series 7 was influenced by the design of its popular plasma TVs.

The company claims that these laptops will boot up or restart quickly from sleep mode ending the wait for the machine to be usable. The specs include an AMD Radeon 6750M graphic card, quad-core Core i7 CPU, and it is powered by the Intel Core i5. Samsung devotees can expect to see the Series 7 in tech stores by October 2.

A Sharp Product For Gamers

Gaming hardware provider, Razer hopes to cut a bigger slice out of the PC gaming market with its latest product. Aptly called the Razer Blade this is the company’s first foray in the PC end of the industry. Previously they were best known for products like the Boomslang gaming mouse. The new offering has all the makings of a winner among PC gamers.

Its impressive specs include a 17-inch display, and a discrete Nvidia GeForce GT 555M graphics processing unit, it is virtually guaranteed to deliver brilliant visuals. This beauty also has 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 video memory. This gaming workhorse is powered by a 2.8-GHz Intel Core i7 processor and 8 GB 1333MHz DDR3 memory. At almost seven pounds it is slightly heavier than many brands but avid gamers probably won’t care about an extra pound or two.

One of the most notable features of this laptop is what is called the Switchblade User Interface. This has a set of special key which can adapt based on the user’s needs. For one, the keyboard itself has an LCD built in that allows it to double as a touch screen if there is no mouse available. This way the player can still interact with the game environment. When a mouse it plugged in, it reverts to a display mode. This has led one industry expert to suggest that new games may have to be developed to keep up with this technology.

Min-Liang Tan, Razer’s creative director and CEO said of the development, “The Switchblade User Interface on the Razer Blade is a revolutionary innovation that truly defines the new standard for gaming experiences on a laptop.” If this is true, then PC gamers have something special to look forward to. The laptop will be priced at around $2,799.99 and the company expects it to hit American store towards the end of the year.

The PC gaming market has been in a slump in recent years but this move by Razer demonstrates its confidence not only in the Blade abut also in the industry itself. Time will tell whether or not this gamble has paid off.

HP Downsizes With New Release

If the best things really come in small packages, the tech world really seems to have taken the message to heart. This is evidenced by the endless parade of super portable options that still somehow manage to deliver performance and power. One of the latest examples is the HP Pavilion dm 1-3010nr which was recently launched by Verizon.
The release is part of Verizon’s 4G service, but at a glance, it seems that this offering is a step above typical notebooks. With a 320GB hard drive, users certainly will not be lacking for space. They will get plenty of processing power from the dual-core 1.6 GHz MAD E-350 CPU. Additional features include Wi-Fi, webcam and a multi-card reader. The 11.6” display shows that it is meant to be portable, but its specs show that it meant to be a workhorse.

Users can access Verizon’s network in a number of areas. The company promises download speeds ranging from 5 to 12 Mbps. It is said to be a great tool for web conferencing. Buyers will be glad to know that there is no contract required upon purchase. The dm 1-3010nr is priced at $599.99 and the broadband service is pay as you go.

Mystery Surrounds Upcoming Apple Release

Anything that Apple does seems to get the tech world immediately interested. Currently there is a lot of interest in one of their latest products, a 15-inch laptop. This ultra-thin offering from Apple is believed to be destined to be a part of the company’s Macbook Air line. There are also suggestions that it might actually be a Macbook Pro.

Even the website dedicated to Apple news has so far not managed to unearth anything substantial on the upcoming release. This might bode well for the company that is as famous for its product launches as it is for innovation in the industry. Once it does hit the market the pre-release buzz might translate to big sales. Fans of all things Apple will have to wait for official word from the company on this one.

Dire Warning For Apple Laptop Owners

When laptop owners worry about security, the battery is probably something that wouldn’t even enter into the equation. However, as one researcher warns, the power supply of Apple laptops could be prime targets for hackers. According to reports, a security specialist named Charlie Miller has found a weakness in the system that could be exploited.

For starters, the laptop’s battery could be rendered inoperable but there are even more dangerous implications. By overriding built-in controls, hackers could cause your laptop battery to overheat and explode. As Miller explained, the program that is responsible for monitoring the battery could be hijacked. The outside user then has enough control to make the battery act inefficiently.

It has been pointed out that some batteries have internal safeguards that offer protection even if the battery is hacked. Miller plans to fully outline his findings at the upcoming Black Hat Conference held in Las Vegas from July 30-August 2011. This is a series of special briefings dedicated to the issue of computer security. The event is also staged outside the US in Tokyo and Barcelona. Attendees will also hear about Millers solution to the potential battery hacking problem. He developed ‘Caulkgun’, a patch that blocks access to the battery’s internal host.

Google has gone a step further by offering a Virgin America Traveler Chrome app. This will incorporate guides for several destinations and travel tips. Virgin is offering its passengers the chance to try out the Chromebooks, which are among the newest entrants to the laptop market. Judging by reports, the process is pretty simple as well.

At airports that have the ChromeZones set up, it is simply a matter of swiping your credit card. The laptop can be dropped off at the end of your journey. For now there is no charge as travellers will be given the chance to see how well the service, and indeed the Chromebooks themselves, operate.

The laptops will heavily utilize cloud computing to perform most functions. Since Google is one of the main proponents of the platform this is a good way to showcase its capabilities. The service will only be available on US domestic routes, with initial runs being between San Francisco to Boston and Chicago to Dallas.

I use my Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop all the time and when I say all the time I really do mean about every waking moment I am sitting on the couch, I have my laptop on my lap. I am constantly multi-tasking because I have a very hard time focusing. First off, my wife and I both use this computer. She uses it mainly to check her email and run her google calendar. I use it to run my Internet business and other various tasks.

I got this laptop about 2.5 years ago and I bought it right off of Dell’s website cause that was the best deal on the web. I looked at other discount laptops but none of the compared to what I would get with just buying a Dell. I upgraded the wireless card to draft N because speed is of the upmost importance and I also upgraded the screen, we will get to the screen part later.

The computer rarely crashes but when you get too many things running at the same time it does slow down. If I had to do it all over again I would get 8 GB of memory in it instead of 4. Another thing I wish it had was a backlight for the keyboard. Good thing I know how to type cause it gets tricky trying to work on this when there isn’t that much light around.

Another problem is the power supply. Either the power supply or the connection has gone bad because it no longer charges the battery when plugged in. It gives me an error saying it has the wrong power supply connected even though it is the one that came with the laptop.

Overall for the price I have been really happy with this laptop. Dell laptop prices are comparable, if not better than others on the market. While my dell was in my backpack, my backpack slipped off of my shoulder and hit the ground resulting in a broken screen. Since I was cheap and didn’t want to buy the accidental insurance dell offered I had to fix the screen myself. Fortunately dell has a great support website with a walk-through on how to replace the screen. I ordered a screen off of a description on a computer supply website and had it shipped to my house. Took the entire laptop apart to find it was the wrong screen. This time I ordered the screen based on the part number and I got the right screen and everything went back together perfectly. So I can say the computer is definitely repairable and fairly easy to work on, thanks to Dell’s great support walkthroughs.

I am unsure if I am going to buy another Dell laptop. I keep hearing great things about macbooks and want to try one of those out for size. The only problem is that a lot of the applications I run only run in a PC environment so I am going to have to figure something out there. Overall I am very happy with this laptop as I think it only cost me about $700 and I have gotten a ton of use out of for that price.

The fact is, most people perform many tasks online from shopping to banking transactions. This would explain why Google saw fit to endow the laptop with Chrome OS (not to be confused with Chrome, the web browser from Google) as opposed to the other browsing software available. Currently, official launch date is set at June 15, 2011 as Google works to correct problems that were identified.

One of the most significant problem with the laptop is the use of Google’s OS, Chrome, which utilizes cloud computing. This in the opinion of some critics is a problem in itself. It is said that the technology does not run very well on some networks. In fact, while some users are happy with the Chromebook, they have not been quick to forego Windows and Mac OS. Still, if there is one thing Google has in its favor its brand recognition. The company also has the obvious technical capabilities to sort out the problems that have been experienced so far.

Will Netbooks Lose Out to Tablet PCs?
There is no denying that netbooks came along at exactly the right time. They gave an eager public the ability to do what most of them wanted to do – simply browse the Internet. Infinitely portable, it was smaller than the laptop and carried a smaller price tag.
While they were still in the testing phase many predicted they would be the next big thing, and they were. Growth in the sale of netbooks was staggering, and figures reached over 30m million within just a few years. As with everything else in the tech industry however, it couldn’t last forever.

The current hot ticket is tablet PCs, with Apple and Motorola leading the charge. While Apple’s iPad is still the one to beat other players including HP and Dell have been coming out with impressive offerings. Netbook sales have dipped and already industry insiders are predicting doom for the once hot tech product. Much of this has come in the wake of the iPad’s rapid rise in the market. There are still some factions that insist that the netbook will continue to have devotees and new users in the years to come.

The Eye-Tracking Laptop is Now Here
It seems there is no boundary that laptop makers are not willing to shatter when it comes to tech developments. While 3D laptops are still catching on there is even more for tech lovers to salivate over. One of the hottest trends currently is the use of eye tracking laptops which is being partly driven by Lenovo, fast becoming a major player in the market.

Lenovo teamed up with Tobii Technology to reveal the new laptop at a trade show held in Germany back in March. As revolutionary as it may seem, it is actually in keeping with the direction that the industry seems to be heading. There is an increasing emphasis on moving away from typical inputs as can be seem in gaming with the introduction of Microsoft’s Kinect.

How it Works:
On the face of it, the technology works in a relatively simple fashion. A built in camera zeroes in on the user’s eyes and follow even the slightest movement. This is what Tobii is known for developing and so far critics have been impressed. When using the laptop you can do many things you would do with a mouse or keyboard; make selections, open new windows, scroll up and down or zoom in on pictures.
Originally Tobii was focused on developing the technology for people with special needs. With Lenovo’s help they hope to reach a wider audience with their products. There is also a focus in the industry on trying to reduce the incidence of repetitive motion injury.

Currently, the 3D laptop is one of the hottest and newest trends in the tech world. The biggest names have scrambled to capitalize on the ‘3D without the glasses’ idea. Sony’s relatively late entry might be a good thing. It has enabled the company to tweak the already innovative offering, helping to change the face of entertainment as we know it.

That electronics companies are moving fast on 3D is hardly surprising. The format has reenergized the movie box office, with the most notable example being 2009’s Avatar. Now the makers of television sets and some handheld game systems are trying to cash in on the technology. It would seem then that Sony unveiled its latest offering at just the right time.

A Look at the Features
Reviews so far has shown that while late to the field, Sony has gotten it right for the most part. While reviews for any tech product can vary, Sony’s 3D laptop is being widely regarded as a game changer. One feature which has caught the attention of users is the convenient 3D button. This allows you to watch standard 2D movies on DVD or Blu-Ray in 3D format with one click. This is not a basic feature of most other laptops, but we can expect to see more manufacturers adding it as demand for 3D products increases.

Naturally the display is not limited to the small laptop screen for those who think 16 inches might not be enough. The new Sony offering can be connected to HDTV via its HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) port. This feature, which has been around for a while allows the connection of both digital video and voice via one cable. This allows for better picture and sound quality. Another standout feature is the presence of what are known as shutter glasses which enhance the 3D experience. These have an independent power supply which is rendered inactive once there is no 3D content being viewed.

Other specs worth noting on this laptop include:
· Windows 7
· 640GB HDD
· S-Force front surround 3D system and Dolby® Home Theater v3
· A 3D compatible LED backlight
· 3D glasses with sync capabilities
· Blu-Ray player
· Bluetooth and WiFi

Gamers are expected to warm to this Sony offering as it delivers the kind of high end performance they would expect. Naturally the specs are subject to change depending on the market. Buyers may also have their own preferences when it comes to memory, operating system and hard drive size to name a few.

Some of the top 3D laptops on the market currently are:
· HP Envy
· Asus G51J
· Lenovo Ideapad Y560d
· Alienware M17xR3
· Toshiba 3D Dynabook TX/98MB

Releasing this laptop under the VAIO banner practically ensures that this product will have a ready audience. The brand is well established because of its reliability and spectacular features and most Sony Vaio reviews are positive. The VAIO F series 3D laptop is expected to retail for roughly $1,700 as its basic price. This is considerably higher than the standard price for most laptops on the market today, but it is in line with other 3D offerings. Price is not considered too big an issue when the power of these laptops is considered.

My current laptop is the HP Pavilion dv6; my daughter purchased two of these laptops on Black Friday in 2009, after waiting in line at Staples for hours, one for herself and one for me, as an early Christmas gift. Priced at $199.00, this was a steal for this machine and well worth the long wait in line.

This Pavilion model is top of line and looks classy with a dark bronze finish with the signature HP swirl designs. It has a 15.6 inch screen, and weighs about 6 pounds which makes it easy to take just about anywhere. The keyboard on the lap top is full size so it is very easy to type on, unlike the net book that this little prize replaced. The touchpad is the HP ClickPad with the technology to turn it on and off, which is great, because I prefer my trackball and my daughter prefers the touch pad. This laptop is also equipped with a built in web cam, a DVD drive, wireless LAN card, an onboard card reader that reads most of the external memory cards available today, built in speakers along with an earphone jack and a microphone jack. This model has four USB slots, two located on each side, which is great to connect peripheral hardware, such as my trackball or my iPod cord needed to charge my iPod and sync with iTunes. On the inside it is equipped with an Intel Core i3 processor (2.40GHz) and Windows 7 64-bit operating system, which runs any of my frequently used programs superfast. We are both college students and use Microsoft Office programs often, like Word, Excel and Power Point, along with iTunes. The video quality is great, as a long time desk top user I never knew that a lap top could provide this high quality video. I have watched DVD movies on my laptop along with many episodes of my shows from the internet.

Another plus that came with this laptop is the LightScribe technology that allows you to label a DVD or CD by etching the title you select or create yourself right on to the disc, a special LightScribe disc is required to take advantage of this feature. My only complaint with this laptop is the battery life and the AC adapter. The battery is a standard 6-Cell 55WHr Lithium-Ion Battery but it never lasts for more than two hours tops and the AC adapter connections appear to wear over time, sometimes it takes three or four tries to get the AC Adapter to show that is charging the battery, it appears to be a problem with the connection to the computer itself or between the box that joins the two cords. We are in the process of looking into getting the battery in mine replaced or the AC adapter, whatever the charging problem results to be.

Overall a great machine and well worth the money! I would recommend this to anyone.

I own a 15 inch MacBook Pro with an Intel i7 processor and 8 Gigabytes of RAM. It was purchased in December of this year. I have always loved Apple’s computers, however, even I was surprised at how much I love the MacBook pro. I am somewhat of computer collector and this is the most impressive and powerful machine I have ever owned.

One of my favorite things about this machine is the keyboard. The keys are very well spaced and it feels great to type on. Also, it is back lit, which may not seem like a big deal—but once you have it, you will never want to go without it again.

The next thing that I would point out is the over-sized multi-touch track pad. Once again, I love Apple but I did not understand the level of usability that this track pad brings to the laptop. The best feature by far is the ability to scroll by dragging two fingers up and down on the track pad. Apple implements their “inertia” technology, used on the iPhone and their other touch devices, which gives scrolling a “flick” feeling. You can also move forward and back in your web browser by swiping three fingers across the track pad. Pinch to zoom also a fantastic feature. Finally, using four fingers down will show you all your open windows or up to move them out of the way to reveal your desktop.

The new uni-body case on the laptop is also a very nice plus. Most laptops have plastic bezels and will flex and eventually crack and break. The case on the MacBook Pro is machined from a solid block of aluminum.

Another plus specific to the 15 and 17 inch models is the speakers. Located on either side of the keyboard these speakers sound fantastic for on-board laptop speakers. They really bump.

In my opinion, one of the most impressive exterior hardware innovations is the MagSafe charging port. Apple really addressed a serious problem with this. The idea is that if someone trips over the power cord, it will not pull your laptop off a surface to meet its fate on the floor. It works as advertised and has already saved my laptop.

The last specification that I chose when customizing this laptop is my favorite. Most MacBook Pros feature a glossy glass cover over the LCD screen. However, I opted for the Hi-Res anti-glare screen. The screen is just like any other laptop used to be. These new glossy screens may make the laptops more aesthetically pleasing, however, they are not practical. If you are outside or just near a window, you will experience a crippling glare on your screen. I am very glad I went with the anti-glare screen.

Coming Soon:  An Eye-tracking Laptop

How would you like to control your laptop with your eyes?  The first eye-tracking laptop will be unveiled at the CeBIT trade show in Germany on March 1st.  The laptop is a collaboration between Lenovo and Tobii Technology.  By tracking the user’s eye movement, the computer is able to center photos on the user’s gaze, scroll the screen automatically when viewing documents, and save power by reducing the brightness of the screen when the user is not looking at it.  This technology will not replace the keyboard and mouse, but it could still revolutionize the way people interact with their computers.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro

Mac lovers who like small laptops will be pleased to learn about the new 13 inch MacBook Pro.  The Intel Core i5 processor is incredibly fast and makes use of Thunderbolt technology to provide fast data transfer between the laptop and other devices.  The 13-inch MacBook Pro has long battery life and a large touchpad that is easy to use.  The keyboard is backlit for use in low lighting conditions.  The biggest drawback is that the battery cannot be replaced by the end user.  If it ever stops charging, you’ll need Apple’s tech support to replace it for you.

 Sony’s 3D Laptop Goes on Sale in March

Sony’s first 3D laptop computer is being released in March.  The Sony Vaio VPCF21Z1E/BI has a 16-inch stereoscopic screen and comes with 3D active shutter glasses.  It has a built-in HD web cam, and the 3D effects can be switched on and off easily by pushing a button.  The processor is a quad-core Intel Core i7-2630QM with Intel Turbo Boost technology.  Other features include a Blu-ray disc drive with DVD SuperMulti, two SuperSpeed USB ports, one Hi-Speed USB port, and Dolby home theater technology.

Lenovo’s New Laptops Designed for Teleconferencing

Lenovo has released six new laptops that include technology to improve noise suppression.  The company is marketing the new laptops as being better suited to teleconferencing because they are so quiet.  Lenovo also claims that the new models have a battery life of up to 23 hours.  This includes both the internal and external batteries.

Best-Selling Laptop Deals at Dell

Dell has deals on their top-selling laptops that range from $279.99 to $899.99.  You can save up to $233, depending on which model you choose.  The deals start with the Inspiron Mini 1018 for $279.99, which is its regular price, so it’s not exactly on sale, but it’s still a great deal.  The Dell Inspiron 15 is on sale for $399.99, and you can get an Inspiron 15R for $499.99 to $609.99.  There are two versions of the Inspiron 17R listed, with prices of $599.99 and $679.99.  There is also a Dell Inspiron 14R for $599.99 and two XPS 15 laptops for $799.99 and $899.99.  If you qualify, you can purchase any of these laptops using Dell’s financing plan.