Laptop Reviews

Toshiba Portege M800 Notebook to Be in Europe Soon

2008-05-09T08:13:00.000-07:00

In Q3 of 2008, Toshiba Portege M800 will be available in Europe. Not much different from other notebook, it is powered by a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T5750 processor and 1GB RAM. It runs on Windows Vista Home Premium with 250GB SATA hard drive. it also features 13.3-inch WXGA display with a 1280 x 800 resolution and Super multi-DVD .

By ZoomGadget

NEC Releases new ShieldPRO Tablet PC for Japan

2008-05-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

Nothing much different from the previous products, this new ShielPro is now available for Japan. Coming with a 12.1-inch display, it powered by Core 2 Duo U7500 1.0GHz processor (low) and it runs on Windows XP. You will also find optional built-in GPS, OS keyboard and language (J / E), IEEE1394, ExpressCard, SD card. From the height of 90 cm from the concrete floor it will not break down, and the robustness of -20 ℃ ~ 50 ℃ wide temperature operating environment agreements.

By ZoomGadget

Ubuntu Linux 7.04 is now available for Sharp's Zaurus PDAs

2008-05-09T08:08:00.001-07:00

The Sharp Zaurus name might not be quite the force it once was, but it certainly still has its die-hard fan base, as evidenced by the recent efforts of some enterprising individuals to get Android up and running on the slightly out-dated hardware. The 0.1 release comes with a minimalist filesystem that can be launched in an emulator, enhanced with software from the vast Ubuntu archives, and then flashed onto a real Zaurus.

In creating his root filesystem for the Sharp Zaurus, Omegamoon drew pre-built binaries from the ARMv5EL (ARM9) branch of Mojo Project's Frisky Firedrake tree. Built by natively compiling source packages from Ubuntu's Feisty Fawn (7.04) distribution, Mojo's Frisky tree also offers an ARMv6EL-VFP or ARM11 branch. Additionally, Mojo has produced a "Grumpy Griffin" build based on Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon (7.10), with a Hasty Hippogriff build derived from Hardy Heron planned but not yet underway.

By ZoomGadget

MSI Wind gets a price: $610

2008-05-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

We've gotten a ton of info on the MSI Wind, but so far pricing details have been a closely-guarded secret. Good thing we've got wonder-importers Expansys to help us out, though -- they've just listed the Wind at the pretty decent price of $610. That's not bad for a 10-inch screen, 1.6GHz processor (supposedly an Atom), 1GB of RAM, an 80GB disk and XP, but let's hope things get even cheaper when this thing hits the US for real.

By Engaget

HP 2133 XP configurations get priced

2008-05-09T08:05:00.001-07:00

HP's Mini-Note 2133 is due to get all-new Windows XP configurations this month, and it looks like early pricing details are starting to leak out. If the numbers are accurate, a base 1.2GHz rig with 1GB of RAM and a 120GB disk will run you $729, and bumping things up to 1.6GHz, 2GB of RAM and a 160GB disk will set you back $819. That's pretty steep -- but remember, early pricing info on the currently-available models was a tiny bit off, so these numbers could change when these hit sometime next week.

By Engadget

Dell to replace all European Vostro 1310 and 1510 keyboards

2008-05-09T08:05:00.000-07:00

We're not at all certain what led Dell to ship European Vostro 1310s and 1510s with, ah, revised QWERTY keyboards, but it looks like the company is making good on its promise to remedy the situation. According to Dell, all affected customers will be contacted and offered a replacement keyboard beginning today. Apparently the switch isn't too hard to make, so you'll be able to either do it yourself, or Dell will send out a tech to do it for you at no cost. Sounds like Dell's doing its best to make this right -- but c'mon, how did this not raise all kinds of red flags during the design process?

P.S.- If you're a touch-typist who's having major issues, you can also jump to the front of the pack by emailing Dell -- check out the read link for directions.

by Engadget

ASUS Eee PC given away with T-Mobile mobile broadband package

2008-05-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

We're calling this right now: ASUS' Eee PC is the new MP3 player. But only in the context of giveaways. Anywho, just days after RBC announced that it would dish out free subnotes if prospective customers joined in, PowerUp Mobile is now offering a similar deal for UKers who sign up for T-Mobile's Web n Walk mobile broadband package. In short, folks comfortable with inking their name on a two-year contract at £35 per month will net a free USB modem and a Eee PC 2GB Surf. Better hurry -- the deal expires on June 15th.

By Engadget

Dell Inspiron 1435, 1535 and 1735 leaked

2008-05-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

While not quite as exciting as March's week of Latitude scoops, we've got ourselves some infos on what look to be Dell's upcoming Inspiron 1435, 1535 and 1735 consumer laptops. Seems they'll all be sharing the same basic design language, pictured above, and will be privy to some rather expansive aesthetic customization options if you're into that type of thing. Specs are the typical Dell smorgasbord of options, but all three laptops start at around 1-inch thick and taper up to 1.5 inches thick. All three also sport slot-loading drives, with a Blu-ray option, and processors ramp up to Core 2 Duo T5850 2.16GHz chips. 3G options are also available across the lineup, and just about anything else you might find useful in a mid-range laptop. Apparently the 1435 isn't due until October, but the 1735 is coming on June 9 and the 1535 on the 26th of this month.

By Engadget

AMD announces 6- and 12-core Opterons

2008-05-09T08:01:00.000-07:00

AMD may be busy sorting out issues with its quad-core Phenoms and hard at work on "completely different" chip architectures, but that isn't stopping the company from aggressively updating its roadmap, announcing today plans for 6- and 12-core server-grade Opterons. Both the new 6-core chip, codenamed Sao Paulo, and the 12-core unit, codenamed Magny-Cours, are based on a brand-new platform called "Maranello," and slotting in to replace the planned 8-core Barcelona chip, which appears to have been canceled. According to AMD, 12-core chips are easier to manufacture, so it's going to skip over 8-core chips and go straight to the good stuff. That must be news to Intel, which is planning on shipping 8-core Nehalem chips later this year, and will probably then hold the coveted "number-of-cores" crown until AMD releases the 12-core chips in 2010. There's no word on whether any of these chips can make these processor roadmaps comprehensible or even chronological, but we can dream, can't we?

By Engadget

Mobo gets rebadge happy with two new low-cost subnotes for Brazil

2008-05-09T07:56:00.000-07:00

It looks like folks in Brazil are soon going to have a few more low-cost subnote options to consider, with Mobo announcing two new but curiously familiar-looking models. That includes the Positivo Mobo (pictured above), which appears to almost certainly be a rebadge of Airis' Kira 740 Eee PC lookalike (or a rebadge of whatever that is a rebadge of). That likelihood is further backed up by the nearly identical specs, including the usual 7-inch display, Via C7-M processor, 1.3-megapixel webcam, and built-in WiFi, although this particular model appears to come with 2GB of flash memory in place of the Kira's standard 40GB hard drive. Set to be released alongside it is the company's Mobo Kids laptop, which is just a straight up rebadge of Intel's Netbook platform (a.k.a. Classmate 2), with it boasting the same Celeron M processor and presumably all the same specs seen in other incarnations like CTL's 2go PC. Look for both of 'em to pack the same R$999 price tag (or $590), with the Positivo Mobo hitting stores first on May 23rd and the Mobo Kids following sometime in July.

By Engadget

NVIDIA to simplify product range as it courts consumers

2008-05-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

NVIDIA isn't joking around when it says it's after a dominant position in the consumer tech NVIDIAindustry, and it's apparently willing to take some aggressive steps to get there -- like totally revamping its product lines. Speaking to Gamesindustry.biz, NVIDIA veep Roy Taylor (the same guy who said Intel was "dead", you remember him), said that his company needed to "simplify the product line for consumers," and that if NVIDIA is going to "widen our appeal, there's no doubt we have to solve that problem." No specific plans were offered, but might we suggest a moratorium on the random-numbers-and-letters product-naming scheme? Just a thought.

By Engadget

Eee 900 now available for pre-order for delivery May 12

2008-05-09T07:54:00.000-07:00

We already knew a few delivery dates for the Eee 900 worldwide, but ASUS came real with the Stateside deets today, so if you're in the market, get ready for some unboxing fun on May 12th. A plethora of online retailers should be taking your $549 pre-orders soon, including Amazon, Buy.com, Newegg, PC Mall, and Costco, and several brick-and-mortar retailers will also get stock on the 12th as well. Other than that, it's the same Eee 900 we've been seeing for a while now -- we're just waiting for that black one to hit.

By Engadget

Yinlips ultraportable mashes the Eee with a TI-99

2008-05-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

It looks like ultraportable laptops are the new generic PMPs, and we couldn't be happier about it -- especially if we keep seeing units like the Yinlips Micro PC YDP-G77 here. While the spec list is pretty average -- 7-inch screen, 400MHz CPU (we don't know what kind), WiFi, Linux, 500MB or 1GB flash drive -- what's really getting us is the old-school TI-99 looks. All we need now is a speech synthesizer module and we'll be all set.

By Engadget

Switched On: The Linux ultraportable opportunity

2008-05-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

The US smartphone market may continue to be dominated by mobile platforms from Apple, Microsoft, and RIM, but Linux has been creeping into ever more mobile devices in the last few years. Some Motorola RAZR 2 models have donned a Tux, Palm is looking to Linux to drive its next-generation consumer smartphones, and Android's backers hope to spread it to an even wider array of handsets. Linux is also driving many avant garde connected consumer electronics devices such as the Chumby, Nokia N810, Amazon Kindle, Dash Express, and whatever the fertile minds tinkering with Bug Labs' modules are envisioning,. Even the remote control that houses the user interface of Logitech's Squeezebox Duet is a Linux computer.

However, none of these products is intended for as flexible a range of uses as a notebook PC, where Linux is being tested as a tool to achieve lower price points on a new generation of low-cost but style-conscious ultraportables. ASUS set the pace with Xandros on the Eee PC, and HP has tapped Novell SuSE Linux for the 2133 Mini-Note, but whereas the Eee's positioning has been somewhat of a loose hybrid between an adult OLPC and the Nintendo Wii's culture of global inclusion, the HP Mini-Note has been strongly focused on reckless, immature students while acknowledging potential for senior executives that have been known to share their temperament.

By Engadget

Intel brings DirectX 10 to integrated graphics, NVIDIA says not so fast

2008-05-09T07:47:00.000-07:00

Intel has been boasting of DirectX 10 support for its various integrated graphics options for some time now, but it's only just recently gotten around to actually releasing a Vista driver that brings its GM965 and G35 Express chipsets up to speed. Of course, NVIDIA just couldn't help itself from getting a few (more) digs in at Intel's expense, and it's now kindly provided a few benchmarks to show just how badly Intel's integrated DirectX 10 solution stacks up against the bleeding-edge DirectX 10-ready games it now ostensibly supports. They couldn't find a single game that was able to crank out more than 5 fps, even at a lowly 1280 x 1024 resolution and with the usual graphics intensive settings turned off. Then again, 4.4 fps in Crysis is pretty much par for the course.

By Engadget

Asus G70 Ultimate Gameplay

2008-05-01T22:45:00.000-07:00

B Zoomgadget: Gamers are some of the most demanding consumers in their demands for system performance. To answer this need, ASUS has acquired a “Multi Dual-Engine” architecture in designing the G70 with a duplex structure in its major system components, including dual graphics engine, dual hard drive bays and dual fan systems. Together with high-definition visual and audio capabilities, the G70 sets a new standard of mobile gaming, at the level of extreme performance, offering the capability of dedicated gaming rigs in a portable package.

Powering the G70, is a choice of Intel Core 2 Duo, and Core 2 Extreme processors, the latter being Intel’s highest performance CPUs. For user friendliness, the G70 features ASUS Direct Console software with which the user can manage the G70’s many features and even select CPU performance levels between Standard, Turbo and Turbo Extreme. In concert with ultra fast dual core processor, dual graphics engine and dual hard drive storage, the G70 has been tested to achieve 3DMark 2006 score of 8,116 (Vista Ultimate 32-bit, 1024x768) and 8,208 (Vista Ultimate 64-bit, 1024x768).

Here are some specs:

* Intel Core2 Extreme Processors X9000; Intel Core2 Duo Processors T8100/T8300/T9300/T9500
* Mobile Intel 965PM Express Chipset
* Genuine Windows Vista
* Nvdia GeForce 8700M GT GPU X 2, support Nvdia Sli technology, External 1024MB VRAM (512MB X 2); GDDR3 1024MB
* DDRII 533/667MHz, up to 4GB
* 17.0" WUXGA/ WXGA+ Color Shine, quick-response time, LCD
* SATA 250/320/500(250x2)/640(320x2) GB HDD
* DVD Super-Multi Light Scribe/ Blu-Ray Reader/ Blu-Ray RW (optional)
* Built-in 2.0 Mega-pixel camera
* 10/100/1000, 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth V2.0+EDR (optional)
* 433 x 314 x 49mm, 4.8 kg (8cell battery pack)
* ASUS Direct Messenger (2nd display)

Zoomgadget via Asus

Get Free Eee PCs from Canadian bank

2008-05-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

Zoomgadget: It is not the first time that we see this offer. It used to be 1GB iPod shuffle for a new sign up for a new checking account... Now we can see that the offer changes to Asus Eee PCs for switching to their checking account service. The Eee PC is 7-inch, 2GB version and it runs on Xandros.

Zoomgadget via rbcroyalbank

Dell Intros the Vostro 1510 and 1310 Laptops

2008-05-01T21:28:00.000-07:00

Zoomgadget: Dell has announced its two new cheap laptop the Vostro 1510 and 1310. Both can go up to Intel Core 2 Duo Processors, 80GB to 250GB hard drives and up to 4GB of RAM. Vostro 1510 has 15.4-inch screen while the Vostro 1310 has 13.3-inch. The starting price of 1510 is $599 and $749 for the 1310.

Zoomgadget via Dell

The Shiny Asus M50S Multimedia Notebook

2008-05-01T20:29:00.000-07:00

Zoomgadget: This shiny Asus M50S seems to be a better laptop for portable due to its light weight. It is powered by Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor at 2.10 GHz with 3GB of memory. It features a 15.4" screen, 250GB SATA hard drive, 802.11 networks galore, Bluetooth and NVIDIA GeForce 9500M GS mobility GPU with 512MB of dedicated frame buffer. More than this it als has a Blu-ray disc reader / DVD burner.

Zoomgadget via Pcper

Dell Vostro 1310 Review

2008-05-01T06:43:00.001-07:00

By Notebookreview

When Dell launched their new Vostro line of computers last year the Vostros where immediately praised for meeting the needs of small businesses and budget-minded consumers alike. The Vostro 1310 is the newest and smallest addition to the Vostro family of notebooks. This compact business notebook comes with a 13.3" display, dedicated graphics option and a slot-loading optical drive, but does it still offer the right combination of features, options, and price that made the Vostro line so popular? Keep reading and you can find out.

The Dell Vostro 1310 is available with a range of Intel processors (from the 1.86GHz Celeron M M540 up to the T9500 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo). There are two 13.3" screen offerings, a 1280x800 WXGA with matte anti-glare coating and 1280x800 WXGA "TrueLife" glossy display. The notebook can take up to 4GB of RAM and Dell offers 32-bit versions of Microsoft Windows Vista Business or Windows XP Professional. The system is priced starting at $749 with integrated Intel X3100 graphics at the time of this writing, but is also available with nVidia 8400M GS dedicated graphics.

Our pre-production Vostro 1310 is equipped with the following specs:

* Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 (2.1GHz)
* Memory: 2GB - 2 DIMM (DDR2-667) (4GB max)
* HDD: 160GB 5400RPM HDD
* Graphics: 128MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
* Display: 13.3" WXGA Antiglare
* Optical drive: Slot-loading 8x DVD +/- RW
* OS: Vista Business SP1 (available with XP Professional)
* Software: 30-day security subscription anti-virus, No trail-ware
* Wireless: Dell 1505 Wireless-N Mini Card (802.11a/g/n)
* Battery: 6-cell battery
* Other: Webcam and fingerprint reader
* Services: Network assistant; 10GB of Datasafe online; Dell Support Center; PC Tune-up
* Dimensions (HxWxD): 0.94" (front)/1.59" (back) x 12.48" x 9.57"
* Weight: 4.45 lbs (with 4-cell battery), 4.63 lbs (with 6-cell battery)
* Base configuration price: $749
* Price as tested: $1,357

Notebookreview

Demand for Intel's Atom already outstripping supply?

2008-05-01T06:41:00.001-07:00

By engadget

There's a ton of upcoming laptops and devices based around Intel's Atom processor, and it looks like all the early interest is causing that best of all possible problems for the chipmaker: it's gotten too many orders. Intel told the WSJ that it's planning on producing "millions" of Atom chips this year, but that it's "seeing better-than-expected demand" as production begins and that it's "we are working quickly to address it." Still, it looks like manufacturers are expecting a shortage to last for a while -- ASUS predicted that supply would be constrained until the third quarter during its quarterly conference call, for example -- and various Chinese trade publications have reported the same. That's definitely not encouraging news, and with AMD's Puma and VIA's Isaiah nipping at Atom's heels, Intel might want to kick things into a higher gear.

engadget

ASUSTek Adds Three New Colors to its Eee PC

2008-05-01T06:38:00.001-07:00

By akihaba

ASUSTek added three new colors to its Eee PC 4G-X: “Sky Blue,” “Rush Green,” and “Brush Pink.” Other than that there's no significant change. Our UMPC runs on the same CPU as the previous model, features a LCD screen in 800x480 (WVGA), 4GB of SSD, and up to 2GB of RAM.

This beautified Eee PC 4G-X will be released in Japan May 3rd.

akihaba

MacBook Air users still faced with overheating problems?

2008-05-01T06:28:00.000-07:00

By engadget

We're still hearing reports of MacBook Air overheating woe, well after an EFI update in April that was meant to address some of those problems. While hot computers are nothing new, the MacBook Air starts shutting down cores and offloading processes when things get bad, which means users are faced with aggravating stop-start freezing until they can manage to cool the computer off -- or just put it to sleep and let it "rest." Apparently some people have traced this back to the age-old misapplied thermal grease problem, but that's hardly a solace for the average consumer trying to convince Apple to fix this thing for them. We took a MacBook Air that was acting up into the Genius Bar and Apple claimed it couldn't reproduce the problem, though we have heard cases of Apple replacing the computer for users. We'd be curious to know just how many Air users are having trouble, and if the X300 is experiencing anything similar, so let us know in the comments.

Engadget

Lenovo has some funny-ha-ha times at MacBook Air's expense

2008-04-30T08:47:00.000-07:00

By engadget

Funny concept, Lenovo -- manila envelope stuffing was just ripe for a demonstration of what all you typical MacBook Air user is going to need on hand -- but we've gotta dock a few points for the shortage of Yael Naïm in this X300 mockumercial. Let it be known that we take our fake commercials based on real commercials based on sexy product war very, very seriously around these parts. Video is after the break.

Engadget

New Fujitsu Tablet PC Spotted?

2008-04-30T08:18:00.000-07:00

By tabletpcreview

Thanks to a friend of TabletPCReview, we got some pictures of what looks to be a new LifeBook Tablet PC from Fujitsu. He spotted the LifeBook at a customer presentation Fujitsu gave last week in Germany.

At this point the following specifications are known:

* Intel Core 2 Duo P8400
* 13.3" passive digitizer Display
* Accessories in the same design

As I mentioned, not much is known at this time or if this model will even make it to the States, but it looks nice. If it lives up to other Fujitsu models we know it will have a solid chassis and great display, although it is passive.

tabletpcreview