Technology Blog: laptop

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Alienware M11x gets overseas Core i3 / i5 / i7 and NVIDIA Optimus update, US version due tomorrow?

We've been hearing about an impending CPU update to Alienware's M11x for some time now, and now Dell Malaysia has quietly updated its website with options to order the revised not-quite-netbook. So what's new? Well, there's NVIDIA Optimus for starters, and the Intel Core 2 Duo processor has been thanked for its time and shown the door in lieu of Core i3, i5, and i7 CPUs on a QS57 chipset.

Meet Pearce Clune, Dell's Head of Consumer Operations for Middle East, Africa, and Turkey. Clune's gone ahead and a pretty brief demonstration of Alienware's laptop lineup to Shuffle Magazine, include the mighty impressive M11x powerhouse in netbook clothing. It's all pretty standard fare until about 2:20 into the video, where the fine gentleman casually drops that the Core 2 Duo processor is about to get a modern upgrade with Core i3, i5, and i7 options. That's right, a Core i7 processor in a 11-inch form factor. We'll let that sink in for a second. But don't just take our word for it -- video after the break. Now, is Optimus en route, too?

ASUS has been attaching bamboo to its laptops for some time now, but it was only ever really for show -- though the wood itself was certainly biodegradable, adding veneer isn't exactly the greenest statement in the world.

Boy, Samsung's been keeping us busy today -- in addition to the Q330 and Q530, the company was also showing the P580 business laptop at the British Museum today. The particular unit we played with had a vibrant 15.6-inch 1,366 x 768 matte screen, although a higher resolution and greater viewing angle would've made it a prettier package.

You could say this is one of the odder ways to make somethings official, but Acer's Aspire One 521 and 721 have been deemed just that after surfacing at an event today in France. Just as we'd heard the 10-inch 521, is rocking a heretofore unheard of AMD 1.2GHz V105 (single-core) processor, 160GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, ATI's Radeon HD 4225 GPU and a penchant for handling 1080p video without breaking a sweat. It's also equipped with VGA / HDMI outputs, a media card reader, three USB sockets, audio in / out, Ethernet jack and a native 1,024 x 600 resolution. The 11.6-inch 721, on the other hand, has AMD's newer 1.3GHz Athlon II Neo K325, which similarly sports full HD playback on its 1366x768 resolution screen.

The world might be all abuzz about Ion 2 already, but we reckon we can still make room for an NVIDIA Ion nettop that measures a malnourished 21mm in width and offers full 1080p video playback. The successor to Lenovo's IdeaCentre Q110, the Q150 is built around a pair of Intel Atom options -- the single-core D410 or dual-core D510, both running at 1.6GHz -- and will come with Windows 7 Home (Basic or Premium) preloaded, built-in WiFi, a quartet of USB 2.0 ports, and an HDMI output should you pick up the Ion option.

Lenovo IdeaPad U Series updated with Core i3, i5, i7 ULV processors

Well, thank you, Lenovo! Not only for updating the thin and light IdeaPad U Series laptops with new chiclet keyboards and ambient light sensors, but for finally giving us some details on Intel's new Core i3, i5 and i7 ULV processors.

That's right, the new IdeaPad U lappies will be available at the beginning of June and will pack brand new Core 2010 ULV chips, which is in line with what we have heard about the release. Like the current U Series, the 11.6-inch U160, 13-inch U360,14-inch U460 and 15-inch U560 all measure less an an inch-thick and don't weigh more than 3.8 pounds.

ExoPC Windows 7 Slate can Play 1080p Videos

We were really willing to see the HP Slate PC in action but sadly HP pulled the plug on it, stating that Intel’s hardware is power hungry and Microsoft’s Windows 7 is not a good Tablet PC operating system. But now, ExoPC has come up with a similar Slate PC, that runs Windows 7 and does 1080p videos.

ExoPC Windows 7 Slate

Toshiba 650GB External Hard Drive (HDDR640E04XR)

The line between portable and desktop external hard drive is becoming increasingly slim. The new Toshiba 650GB External Hard Drive (HDDR640E04XR) ($159.99 list) is pocket-sized and possesses the software package and storage capacity of most desktop external drives. At first glance it looks just like any old external drive that you might use to backup your files. Don't be fooled: This device means business.

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The Best Apple Product Alternatives

From iPods to iMacs, for every Apple creation out there, you can find a viable and sometimes-less-expensive, non-Apple alternative. Here are our top picks.

With the iPad available for pre-order and hitting stores on April 3rd, Apple fever is in full swing. The allure of Apple products is a powerful thing, yet somehow, unlike most of your friends, you have managed to steer clear of the iPhones and iPods staring you down from all those giant billboards. You choose originality, and for this, we admire you. Whether it's a limited budget or an anti-Apple stance that stops you from shelling out, say, $2,500 for a MacBook Pro, take solace in the fact that you'll find plenty of competing PC laptops that will serve you just as well.

In fact, for each item on the Apple roster, there's a non-Apple alternative that comes close, and, in some cases, even performs better and costs less. We've got an ideal and a budget pick to compete with each mainstream Apple offering. What we don't yet have are alternatives for the yet-to-be-reviewed iPad—but for everything else, read on. Click on the links for full reviews.
Included in this Roundup:
Cell Phones
Apple iPhone 3GS (AT&T) ($199, )
When it first came out, the iPhone was dubbed the Jesus Phone. Three years later, it seems like every other person has one—their eyes glued to the gorgeous 3.5-inch touch screen. Sure, these people annoy you, yet you envy their ability to check e-mail and surf the Web on the go with such ease, solving trivial disputes among friends with a few screen taps. Honestly, there aren't many phones that can do what the iPhone does with such grace, but that's not to say there isn't any worthy competition.

Lenovo Ideapad S10-3

Lenovo has built a reputation for constructing quality laptop keyboards, as evidenced by those found in its ThinkPad and IdeaPad lines. But a good keyboard has somehow eluded its 10-inch netbook line until now. In addition to getting new Intel parts, the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3 ($370 direct) has received a full-size keyboard and the kind of typing experience that has garnered praise for netbooks like the Editors' Choice Toshiba mini NB305-N410 ($400.00 Direct, ) and the HP Mini 5102 ($400 Direct, ). Unfortunately, while the Toshiba NB305 and HP 5102, which have a roomy touchpad and soft mouse buttons to compliment the keyboards, the S10-3's one-piece touchpad does the opposite.

Netbooks Keep It Light

Tired of schlepping a heavy laptop around? Then take a load off with a netbook. We give you some of our favorites.

Whether you commute by bus, train, car, or on foot, lugging a laptop around can get cumbersome. Between that and everything else in your bag, your back can get seriously strained. Short of hiring someone else to carry a laptop, consider a netbook. They're lightweight, inexpensive relative to other laptops, and can handle day-to-day computing on the go. We give you some of our favorites.

Toshiba JournE Multimedia Touch Tablet

There’s been a lot of discussion about a possible Apple iTablet and the Crunchpad, but it’s Toshiba that has announced their JournE Touch Tablet.
Built upon the Windows CE platform, this gizmo comes with a 7-inch touchscreen display, an ARM-based processor, 1GB memory storage (expandable via the SDHC slot) and includes 802.11b/g WiFi network connectivity. The handheld mobile Internet device (MID) is all about multimedia playback and supports H.264, DivX and WMV media. The 800×480 display can play reduced-quality High-Definition videos or full HD quality video via the HDMI output. Video streaming is an integral component of this device and support for YouTube videos and the movie service Acetrax is included as is Picasa, Facebook, IM Chats and viewing Flickr archives.
The JournE should launch later this year with pricing still to be announced.

There’s been a lot of discussion about a possible Apple iTablet and the Crunchpad, but it’s Toshiba that has announced their JournE Touch Tablet.

10 Things You Must Know When Buying a Laptop

We give you 10 quick tips on what to look for when buying a laptop.

Buying a laptop isn't that simple. After all, there are myriad factors to consider, including size, features, performance, ease of use, and more. But there are some common factors you should consider, regardless of what kind of laptop you are searching for. We give you 10 tips for zeroing in on the best laptop you can get for your needs.

HP Flashes a Few Slate Details

When HP's Slate tablet joined Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on stage at CES last January, the device aroused some curiosity, but few details were disclosed. HP's CTO has revealed a few more tidbits recently: The Slate will run Adobe's Air and Flash, technologies that the Apple iPad has rejected. However, HP is being vague about the device's other features -- for now, anyway.

Sometime later this year, HP (NYSE: HPQ) will release its Slate tablet PC device. What we know now is that it will run Windows 7 as well as Adobe (Nasdaq: ADBE) Flash and Air, according to information revealed by an HP executive.

However, it appears that the company is attempting to be quite selective about how and when it doles out further details on the device.

HP’s Windows 7 Slate Strikes at the iPad

The Apple iPad’s Oscar debut on millions of TVs may have been the talk of the town Monday morning, but not for long. Rival PC maker HP has launched a sneak attack on the iPad.
HP released a video introducing its tablet called the Slate that will run Windows 7 operating system and support Flash — a jab at the iPad, which will not display Flash-based sites or videos.
“With this slate product, you’re getting a full web browsing experience in the palm of your hand,” posted Phil McKinney, vice president and chief technology officer for HP’s personal system group on the company’s blog. “No watered-down internet, no sacrifices.”

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HP did not reveal pricing or availability for the device, though it has indicated the Slate will be available this year.

Alienware Aurora ALX (Core i7)

When you by an Alienware gaming system you're making a statement. The Alienware Aurora ALX (Core i7) ($4,249 direct) gaming desktop is like buying a Porsche: You can certainly find other cars that go just as fast for a lower price, but they wouldn't look as flashy, would they? There are plenty of other systems on the market with similar high-end, high-speed components, but none with the flash that an Alienware system has. The question is, are you willing to pay for it?

Acer Aspire AZ5610-U9072

The Acer Aspire Z5610-U9072 ($899 list) is 20 inch all-in-one PC that stresses usability over extraneous features. A lot of all-in-one's treat the touch screen like a gimmick, but not the Z5610. Acer has clever woven multi-touch features and touch-based applications into a successful desktop computer that works well in an office, family room, or dorm room.
Acer Aspire Z5610-U9072 : Back Acer Aspire Z5610-U9072 : Right

HP Mini 210 vs Dell Mini 10v – Head to Head

Netbooks since the year 2009 have stormed the world of PC market. PC hardware manufacturers are working on bringing new and improved models of this tiny form factor every other day. To help you choose which one is right for you, we have formulated a quick specs-wise comparison between the HP and Dell netbooks – HP Mini 210-1080NR vs Dell Mini 10v.
HP Mini 210-1080NR Highly portable Mini 210-1080NR has a flush-glass display and comes in four color choices: HP Imprint in matte Silver, Pacific Blue, Sonoma Red, Black Crystal. It features Windows 7 Starter edition plus quick Web access for instant surfing, synch-up and video streaming applications from HP.

HP Mini
210

HP Pavilion dv7-3183cl

HP Pavilion dv7-3183cl HP Pavilion dv7-3183cl : Top

When you're looking for a multimedia laptop and only have $1,000 to spend you usually have to sacrifice something. If you want a large screen, you will have to sacrifice speed or processing power to stay under budget and vice-versa. The HP Pavilion dv7-3183 ($999.99 list) gives you a good mix of both computing power (Intel's new core i5 CPU) and 17.3-inch screen without charging you an arm and a leg.

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