Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Windows 7 release to manufacturing reportedly on track for July 13th]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/windows-7-release-to-manufacturing-reportedly-on-track-for-july/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/windows-7-release-to-manufacturing-reportedly-on-track-for-july/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/windows-7-release-to-manufacturing-reportedly-on-track-for-july/#comments
Get out your Bill Gates commemorative calendars folks, 'cause it looks like we now have a few more dates to mark off on the road to Windows 7 availability. While Microsoft still isn't saying anything official itself just yet, a number of different sources are reporting that the company has set July 10th as the date for the final gold build of Windows 7, while the big release to manufacturing date is apparently on track for July 13th. Of course, things could still change if there's a major bug or other problem encountered, but barring any disasters, that'll likely be the same build that finds its way onto your PC this fall.

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Windows 7 release to manufacturing reportedly on track for July 13th originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gold buildGoldBuildmicrosoftrelease to manufacturingReleaseToManufacturingRTMwindowswindows 7Windows7Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Shadowy modder gives Eee PC a risky back alley trackball implant]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/shadowy-modder-gives-eee-pc-a-risky-back-alley-trackball-implant/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/shadowy-modder-gives-eee-pc-a-risky-back-alley-trackball-implant/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/shadowy-modder-gives-eee-pc-a-risky-back-alley-trackball-implant/#comments
Remember that guy who uber-hacked his Eee PC with a GPS, Bluetooth, draft-n WiFi, FM transmitter, SDHC card reader, modem, USB hub, 2GB RAM? Well, we got one more for him. This enterprising gentleman, fed up with suffering through the three-finger scroll of his Eee PC 901, integrated the trackball of his Apple Mighty Mouse into the netbook's palm rest. Of course, this took some time and effort: in the end, the trackball leads had to be unsoldered from the mainboard, the trackball itself soldered to the mainboard, and the whole shebang installed under the surface of the netbook itself. But you know what? It works. That is, until the Mighty Mouse itself craps out -- as they have been known to do. Still, it's all in a day's work for a heroic modder. Right? Hit that read link for the step-by-step, but not before you peep the vid after the break.

Continue reading Shadowy modder gives Eee PC a risky back alley trackball implant

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Shadowy modder gives Eee PC a risky back alley trackball implant originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple might mouseAppleMightMouseasusasus eee pcasus eee pc 901AsusEeePcAsusEeePc901diyeee pceee pc 901EeePcEeePc901hackmighty mouseMightyMousemodnetbookThu, 02 Jul 2009 11:39:00 EST<![CDATA[NVIDIA said to be prepping Ion 2 for late 2009]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/nvidia-said-to-be-prepping-ion-2-for-late-2009/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/nvidia-said-to-be-prepping-ion-2-for-late-2009/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/nvidia-said-to-be-prepping-ion-2-for-late-2009/#comments
NVIDIA obviously isn't doing much talking about it itself just yet, but Fudzilla apparently has it on good authority that the company is indeed already hard at work on Ion 2, which promises to bring with it plenty of improvements over the already impressive Ion chipset. Chief among those is a decreased die size, "much faster graphics," and more than twice the shaders of the original Geforce 9400M /MCP79 chipset that the current Ion is based on (which uses 16 shaders). Not many more details than that, unfortunately, but NVIDIA is supposedly looking to launch Ion 2 by the end of this year -- although not before it sells plenty more Ion 1s, of course.

[Via SlashGear]

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NVIDIA said to be prepping Ion 2 for late 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ionion 2Ion2nvidianvidia ionnvidia ion 2NvidiaIonNvidiaIon2Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Marshal's DVD Power Up Dock includes room for HDD, Bugs Bunny jokes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/marshals-dvd-power-up-dock-includes-room-for-hdd-bugs-bunny-jo/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/marshals-dvd-power-up-dock-includes-room-for-hdd-bugs-bunny-jo/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/marshals-dvd-power-up-dock-includes-room-for-hdd-bugs-bunny-jo/#commentsMarshal's DVD PowerUp Dock includes room for HDD, Bugs Bunny jokes
If you're still waiting for NU's DVD/HDD docking station to make its appearance at your local purveyor of flimsy-feeling netbook accessories, perhaps you'd instead prefer to wait for this new, less wedge-shaped one from Marshal. Called the DVD Power Up Dock, it sports a DVD drive with the requisite plethora of reading and writing options plus a 2.5-inch SATA HDD and, finally, a USB hub with the least possible number of ports: two. It's listed as being compatible with Windows and naturally there's no mention of price or availability, but that would ruin the surprise.

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Marshal's DVD Power Up Dock includes room for HDD, Bugs Bunny jokes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dockdockingdocking stationDockingStationdvd power up dockdvd powerup dockDvdPowerupDockhard drive enclosureHardDriveEnclosuremarshalmarshal dvd power up dockmarshal dvd powerup dockMarshalDvdPowerupDocknetbooksataWed, 01 Jul 2009 07:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows 7 Beta automatic shutdowns begin today, RC users safe until March 1st]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/windows-7-beta-automatic-shutdowns-begin-today-rc-users-safe-un/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/windows-7-beta-automatic-shutdowns-begin-today-rc-users-safe-un/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/windows-7-beta-automatic-shutdowns-begin-today-rc-users-safe-un/#comments You're not still running Windows 7 Beta are you? Tsk tsk, better get your RC build before your system starts spontaneously shutting down every 2 hours. As Microsoft has warned repeatedly, Windows 7 Beta builds will begin bi-hourly shutdowns starting on July 1st in a bid to move you over to the latest release candidate. RC user will suffer the same treatment starting March 1st, 2010 on the way to a June 1st expiration -- well after the October 22nd launch date of Windows 7 to retail. This concludes this Engadget public service announcement, your regularly scheduled snarkiness will return in a moment.

[Thanks, Kyle]

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Windows 7 Beta automatic shutdowns begin today, RC users safe until March 1st originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaexpirationexpiringmicrosoftrcrebootshutdownwindowswindows 7windows 7 betawindows 7 rcWindows7Windows7BetaWindows7RcWed, 01 Jul 2009 03:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Dell's Mini 10 getting GPS / WiFi tracking upgrade next week]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/dells-mini-10-getting-gps-wifi-tracking-upgrade-next-week/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/dells-mini-10-getting-gps-wifi-tracking-upgrade-next-week/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/dells-mini-10-getting-gps-wifi-tracking-upgrade-next-week/#comments Dell's Mini 10 already offers GPS with an integrated 3G chip, but if you're not interested in mobile broadband, starting next week you can opt instead for a wireless 700 location solution, a hybrid of Broadcom's assisted GPS and Skyhook's WiFi positioning technologies. We had a chance to sit down with a few of the product managers working on the device, and even within a brick-laden office building it did a pretty fine job of finding us within 30 meters and integrating with Flickr, Loopt, and Yelp using the Loki plug-in for Internet Explorer / FireFox. Impact on battery life was said to be "immaterial" although a ballpark estimate was about a five percent hit when in use. For $70, it'll come bundled with CoPilot turn by turn navigation software. It requires the $30 HD display upgrade, but even then, an extra Benjamin total for a large-screen navigation device is hard to pass up if you're looking to get a netbook anyway. If you're still not sold, Dell promises it'll be available for other Mini options, with and without the HD upgrade, in the near future. Now how about a few words on the Mini 11, eh Dell?

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Dell's Mini 10 getting GPS / WiFi tracking upgrade next week originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-gpsagpsbroad comBroadComdellmini 10Mini10net bookNetBookskyhookwirelesswireless solutionWirelessSolutionTue, 30 Jun 2009 20:19:00 EST<![CDATA[China delays plan for mandatory "Green Dam" internet filter]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/china-delays-plan-for-mandatory-green-dam-internet-filter/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/china-delays-plan-for-mandatory-green-dam-internet-filter/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/china-delays-plan-for-mandatory-green-dam-internet-filter/#commentsThere's not exactly much more details than the headline on this one, but China's official Xinhua news agency is reporting that the country is delaying its plans that would require that the so-called "Green Dam Youth Escort" internet filtering software be installed on all PCs sold in China. That requirement was set to go into effect on Wednesday but, as we have seen, it's caused no shortage of controversy during the lead up -- both because of the general nature of the software, and because of some piracy and security issues that could leave PCs with the software vulnerable to an attack. No word on a new date just yet, but it seems unlikely that the delay will be an indefinite one.

[Thanks, James]

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China delays plan for mandatory "Green Dam" internet filter originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>censorcensorshipcensorwarechinacontent filterContentFiltergreen damgreen dam outh escortGreenDamGreenDamOuthEscortinternet filterInternetFilterTue, 30 Jun 2009 18:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia N97 and Dell Vostro bundled for $730: make one mistake, get one free]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/nokia-n97-and-dell-vostro-bundled-for-730-make-one-mistake-ge/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/nokia-n97-and-dell-vostro-bundled-for-730-make-one-mistake-ge/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/nokia-n97-and-dell-vostro-bundled-for-730-make-one-mistake-ge/#comments
The N97 might not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're still tempted to pay the $700 entry fee, you could sweeten the deal by throwing in a free-ish laptop -- Dell's currently bundling the Vostro A860 with Nokia's latest for $730 after a discount coupon. Flip that sucker on eBay for anywhere close to its $379 list price plus some "handling fees" and you might just come close to paying a reasonable price for the N97. Well, sort of reasonable. Those still interested should hurry past the read link, as the full discount will only be available through tomorrow or until stocks last.

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Nokia N97 and Dell Vostro bundled for $730: make one mistake, get one free originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a860bargainbundledelldell small businessdell vostroDellSmallBusinessDellVostrologicbuyn seriesN-seriesn97nokianokia n97NokiaN97NSeriesspecial offerSpecialOffervostrovostro a860VostroA860Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:01:00 EST<![CDATA[BenQ shocker! Joybook Lite U102 outed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/benq-shocker-joybook-lite-u102-outed/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/benq-shocker-joybook-lite-u102-outed/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/benq-shocker-joybook-lite-u102-outed/#comments
Admit it: you've been sitting around all day waiting to hear tell of the latest Joybook offering from BenQ, right? Well, have we got the story for you! BenQ's just dropped word of its newest -- the Joybook Lite U102. While we don't have full specs, we do know that this 10.1-inch baby boasts a 16:9 WSVGA backlit LED, an Intel Atom CPU, and a 250GB HDD, with a 90 percent-sized keyboard. Pretty generic netbook specs, but its super-shiny black shell also makes it decently attractive. The BenQ Joybook Lite U102 will be available any day now in Taiwan, Thailand, and China.

[Via FarEast Gizmos]

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BenQ shocker! Joybook Lite U102 outed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>benqbenq joybookbenq joybook u102BenqJoybookBenqJoybookU102joybookjoybook u102JoybookU102laptopsnetbooknetbooksu102Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefox 3.5 arrives]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/firefox-3-5-arrives/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/firefox-3-5-arrives/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/firefox-3-5-arrives/#comments
After some rather impressive RC builds, Firefox 3.5 is all packaged up and ready for public consumption. Mozilla is saying its new browser is more than two times faster than Firefox 3, but what has us more excited is the support for plugin-free "open codec" video and audio playback using Ogg Vorbis and Ogg Theora-- it's still in its infancy, but the subtle glimpse we've seen so far of a world without Flash video reducing our CPU to jelly is rather compelling.

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Firefox 3.5 arrives originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>firefoxfirefox 3.5Firefox3.5mozillaoggogg theoraogg vorbisOggTheoraOggVorbisopen videoOpenVideoTue, 30 Jun 2009 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Dell's 12.1-inch Vostro 1220 gets official in Japan, packs few surprises]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/dells-12-1-inch-vostro-1220-gets-official-in-japan-packs-few-s/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/dells-12-1-inch-vostro-1220-gets-official-in-japan-packs-few-s/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/dells-12-1-inch-vostro-1220-gets-official-in-japan-packs-few-s/#comments
We'd already come to grips with the fact that a Vostro 1220 was indeed on the way, and now Dell's own Japanese branch has confirmed it. Over in the Land of the Rising Sun, the 12.1-inch business laptop has gone legit, bringing with it Intel processor options (a 2.20GHz Celeron or 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo, namely), 1GB or 2GB of RAM, a WXGA (1,200 x 800) glossy display, 4-cell battery (a 6-cell is available), WiFi, three USB 2. sockets, FireWire, gigabit Ethernet, VGA output, ExpressCard slot, a multicard reader and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. The unit should start shipping soon in various configurations, with a lower-end build tagged at ¥79,980 ($837); needless to say, we're expecting a US announcement to follow in short order.

[Via Impress]

Update: And now it's a go in North America. Check the local press release after the break.

Gallery: Dell's 12.1-inch Vostro 1220 gets official in Japan, packs few surprises

Continue reading Dell's 12.1-inch Vostro 1220 gets official in Japan, packs few surprises

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Dell's 12.1-inch Vostro 1220 gets official in Japan, packs few surprises originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1220business laptopBusinessLaptopcelerondelljapannetbookofficialultraportableVostroVostro 1220Vostro1220Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Mobinnova élan sporting a custom Tegra UI]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/video-mobinnova-elan-sporting-a-custom-tegra-ui/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/video-mobinnova-elan-sporting-a-custom-tegra-ui/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/video-mobinnova-elan-sporting-a-custom-tegra-ui/#comments
Although we get irked by all the names assigned to netbooks, smartbooks, or in this case, viewbooks, we are still pretty excited about the élan's 1080p capabilities, and now the Netbook News crew are adding to our enthusiasm with a pair of videos investigating the machine's chassis and software. The UI they looked at is notable for being supplied by NVIDIA, and may therefore give a good indication of what future Tegra-based devices of all shapes, sizes and naming nomenclatures may look and feel like. We like the media-centric approach, which complements the platform's strengths well, and the chunky navigation icons avoid the pitfalls inherent in a screen of this size (8.9-inches). Click through for the vids, but be warned: super-glossy screens and pink laptop enclosures lay ahead.

Continue reading Video: Mobinnova élan sporting a custom Tegra UI

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Video: Mobinnova élan sporting a custom Tegra UI originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080pelanmobinnovanetbooknvidianvidia tegraNvidiaTegrasmartbookTegravideoviewbookTue, 30 Jun 2009 08:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony now including "Green Dam" filtering software on PCs sold in China]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/sony-now-including-green-dam-filtering-software-on-pcs-sold-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/sony-now-including-green-dam-filtering-software-on-pcs-sold-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/sony-now-including-green-dam-filtering-software-on-pcs-sold-in/#comments
Well, there was some evidence earlier this month that some piracy issues in China's mandated "Green Dam" content-filtering software could cause PC exports to the country to be stalled, but it looks like Sony has now gone ahead and included the software on its PCs regardless, albeit with a few major caveats. According to the document above (included with a VAIO PC sold in the country, and translated by RConversation's Rebecca MacKinnon), Sony says that it is including the software "in accordance with government requirements," but that it "cannot guarantee the authenticity, legality, or compatibility of the software's content, function, service or any other feature." It's also apparently only including the program on the hard drive and providing installation instructions, rather than providing it completely pre-installed itself. Still no word from any of the other major PC manufacturers, it seems, but you can be sure this won't be the last word on the matter.

[Via TG Daily]

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Sony now including "Green Dam" filtering software on PCs sold in China originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>censorcensorshipcensorwarechinacontent filtercontent filteringContentFilterContentFilteringfilterfilteringgreen damGreenDamsonyvaioMon, 29 Jun 2009 20:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Dell working on iPod touch-esque Android MID, says WSJ]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/dell-working-on-ipod-touch-esque-android-mid-says-wsj/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/dell-working-on-ipod-touch-esque-android-mid-says-wsj/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/dell-working-on-ipod-touch-esque-android-mid-says-wsj/#comments It's no surprise that Dell's been dipping its toes in Android-infested waters as of late, and now the Wall Street Journal's reasserting a previous claim from early April that the company's hard at work on a MID powered by Google's mobile OS platform. Multiple sources have reportedly likened it to a slightly larger iPod touch, while one went so far as to suggest a very tentative second half 2009 target release window, assuming the project doesn't get 187'd before then. Despite its history with Intel and the chipmaker's penchant for MIDs, the report pegs ARM as the processor of choice. As for how this jibes with rumors of Dell's smartphone plans, that's where things get interesting, as WSJ quotes a source who said Dell's thinking about selling it through cell carriers like it's currently doing with 3G-equipped netbooks. The article repeatedly calls it a MID -- meaning a phone might still be in the cards, but given past whispers, it kind of makes you wonder.

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Dell working on iPod touch-esque Android MID, says WSJ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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According to a mag called Netbook Italia (which might have something to do with computers) Samsung is developing a new NVIDIA Ion-powered netbook platform, with the first such device making the scene in Europe as early as July. The N510 boasts a 1.66 GHz N280 processor, 11.6-inch WXGA display, 1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3-in-1 card reader, and a 6-cell battery. The addition of a GPU should help out quite a bit when viewing HD video, although we're guessing this could take its toll on battery life. Either way, we'll find out soon enough.

Update: According to CNET, Samsung has confirmed the N510 (with the above specs) for a July release.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

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Samsung to introduce NVIDIA Ion-powered netbook originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interesting piece in the New York Times today about Acer -- the company is about to ride the tidal wave of netbooks and other el-cheapo computers straight to the number two spot on the PC sales chart. That's a big deal -- no non-US company has ever made it so high -- and it's interesting that the strategies Acer took to get there are the same things Dell's been trying to do lately: it's heavy on low-cost, stylish laptops and netbooks, it keeps inventory extremely lean, and it relies on an extensive set of retail partnerships in Europe. What's more, the Aspire One has been the best-selling netbook for a while now, and we'd say Acer's way out in front of the CULV thin-and-light race with the Timeline -- in fact, we'd say the only open question here is whether the company can take all this computing success and translate it to something worthwhile in the smartphone space. Based on what we've seen so far, we've got our doubts, but we'll see what those super-secret Android sets look like before we place our bets.

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Acer poised to beat Dell, become number two PC maker originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aceraspireaspire oneAspireOnedellhewlett packardhewlett-packardHewlettPackardhplaptoplaptopsnetbooknetbookspc salesPcSalessalessales chartsSalesChartssmartphonetimelineSun, 28 Jun 2009 23:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo S12 gets a VIA Nano option]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/27/lenovo-s12-gets-a-via-nano-option/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/27/lenovo-s12-gets-a-via-nano-option/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/27/lenovo-s12-gets-a-via-nano-option/#comments Wanna trade in some battery life and get a bit of extra speed in the deal? Lenovo is now offering its spanking new S12 netbook with a VIA Nano ULV 2250 processor and VIA Chrome9 HC3 graphics instead of the usual Intel Atom / GMA 950 combo, which should offer a little more pep (at least in some applications) and lops $50 off the original's spendy $500 asking price. The Nano setup will draw more battery than the Atom, so you might want to invest that extra cash in another battery if you can track one down, but at least the $450 price includes a 6 cell as standard.

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Lenovo S12 gets a VIA Nano option originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2250chrome9chrome9 hc3Chrome9Hc3hc3lenovonanonetbooks12ulv 2250Ulv2250viavia nanovia nano ulv 2250ViaNanoViaNanoUlv2250Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer Aspire One AO751h reviewed -- sweet battery life, sad CPU marks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/27/acer-aspire-one-ao751h-reviewed-sweet-battery-life-sad-cpu-m/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/27/acer-aspire-one-ao751h-reviewed-sweet-battery-life-sad-cpu-m/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/27/acer-aspire-one-ao751h-reviewed-sweet-battery-life-sad-cpu-m/#comments
Acer's 11.6-inch netbook -- the Aspire One 751h -- has been available Stateside since mid-May, and Laptop's spent some quality time with it, delivering a full review. Overall, they found the nice, large screen to be welcoming, and the battery life (on their 6-cell configuration) was fantastic -- clocking in at over seven hours. They were, however, pretty disappointed in the 1.22-GHz Intel Atom Z520 CPU, finding it to really slow the unit down. They note that other similarly priced models boast better processors, and might be a smarter choice. The Aspire One 751h runs $399 with a 3-cell battery, and $449 for the 6-cell version. Hit up the read link for the full review. One more shot after the break.

Continue reading Acer Aspire One AO751h reviewed -- sweet battery life, sad CPU marks

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Acer Aspire One AO751h reviewed -- sweet battery life, sad CPU marks originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aceracer aspire oneAcerAspireOneao751haspire oneaspire one ao751hAspireOneAspireOneAo751hlaptoplaptop magazineLaptopMagazinelaptopsnetbooknetbooksreviewSat, 27 Jun 2009 10:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony launches VAIO Signature Collection, $2,000 VAIO P]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/sony-launches-vaio-signature-collection-2-000-vaio-p/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/sony-launches-vaio-signature-collection-2-000-vaio-p/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/sony-launches-vaio-signature-collection-2-000-vaio-p/#comments
Been getting the feeling that your laptop was missing that certain something, that little detail, the perfect touch... crocodile skin, perhaps? Well check yourself, homeboys and homegirls -- Sony has just launched a line dubbed the "Signature Collection" which should suit all of your fashion / money havin' needs. Besides offering a handful of its laptops like the CS390 in new skins (the aforementioned fake animal flesh in multiple colors, "kaleidoscope," and all kinds of high gloss varieties), Sony is also introducing a snappier version of the VAIO P (the P699E/Q) -- a glitzy black iteration that will only be available to 1,000 customers. Sure, you'll have to shell out a totally barbaric $1,999 to get one, but it'll come equipped with a 1.86GHz CPU and a freaking radical 256GB SSD. A glorified netbook is worth $2k in our awesome economy, right? Ponder that and other philosophical conundrums as you peruse the new selections located in the vicinity of an area adjacent to the location of that read link.

[Via Sony Insider]

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Sony launches VAIO Signature Collection, $2,000 VAIO P originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CS390P699EQsignature collectionSignatureCollectionsonyvaiovaio pVaioPZ790DNDFri, 26 Jun 2009 21:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Sugar Labs' "Sugar on a Stick" OS available for any and all]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/sugar-labs-sugar-on-a-stick-os-available-for-any-and-all/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/sugar-labs-sugar-on-a-stick-os-available-for-any-and-all/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/sugar-labs-sugar-on-a-stick-os-available-for-any-and-all/#comments
The last time we heard from Sugar Labs, its "Sugar on a Stick" project (a tidied-up build of Sugar OS which can be run live from a CD or USB drive) was just entering beta. Apparently all the company needed to take that version to a release-ready state was a month (give or take). A full, free version of Sugar is now available in a 383MB ISO file for anyone to take advantage of -- though the company is obviously setting its sights firmly in the direction of the education market as usual. The OS -- previously designed for the OLPC XO, but now targeted to any PC or Mac schools have lying around -- is based on the newly released Fedora 11, and is in a "Strawberry" release meant for real world classroom testing. The feedback the company receives on this edition will apparently be incorporated into a future version destined for your hands and eyes at the end of the year. In the meantime, you can take SoaS for a spin... ASAP.

[Via Ars Technica]

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Sugar Labs' "Sugar on a Stick" OS available for any and all originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>olpcreleasesoasstrawberry releaseStrawberryReleasesugarsugar labssugar on a stickSugarLabsSugarOnAStickFri, 26 Jun 2009 18:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows 7 could be sold on thumb drives, but probably not]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/windows-7-could-be-sold-on-thumb-drives-but-probably-not/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/windows-7-could-be-sold-on-thumb-drives-but-probably-not/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/windows-7-could-be-sold-on-thumb-drives-but-probably-not/#comments
As you know, Windows 7 pre-orders begin today (unless you're lucky enough to be in Europe, that is). This of course begs the question: what is a Win7-aspiring netbook owner to do? External optical drives are pretty kludgey, in our estimation, and trip to the Geek Squad? Out of the question. According to CNET, a "source" of some sort is goin' around saying that Microsoft is planning on making the OS available on USB thumb drives for the ultra-portable market, although we feel that such devices are best left to the college students who rely on campus computer labs -- or the occasional J.Lo album. As for Microsoft, they've said nothing about any of this, although we have noticed that its online store has all three upgrades (Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate) available for pre-order download (at $49.99, $99.99, and $219.99 respectively). Problem solved, right?

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Windows 7 could be sold on thumb drives, but probably not originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7flash driveFlashDrivemicrosoftnetbookpre-orderthumb driveThumbDrivewindowswindows 7Windows7Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Sharp's Mebius NJ70A unboxing]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/video-sharps-mebius-nj70a-unboxing/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/video-sharps-mebius-nj70a-unboxing/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/video-sharps-mebius-nj70a-unboxing/#comments
We've seen a bit of Sharp's Mebius netbook around here -- and most of our attention has been focused on that LCD trackpad (a 4-inch optical-touchscreen) -- but now it's been unboxed on video for all to wonder at. This 1.6GHZ Intel Atom N270-boasting baby has a 10.1-inch display (1,024 x 600), 1GB of RAM, a 160GB HDD, three USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a multicard reader, and it runs somewhere in the realm of ¥80,000 (about $837). Video unboxing after the break -- and hit the read link for a photo gallery.

[Via SlashGear]

Continue reading Video: Sharp's Mebius NJ70A unboxing

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Video: Sharp's Mebius NJ70A unboxing originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mebiusmebius nj70aMebiusNj70anetbooknj70asharpsharp mebius nj70aSharpMebiusNj70aFri, 26 Jun 2009 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[ASUS' Eee PC Seashell 1101HA gets hands-on treatment ahead of European launch]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/asus-eee-pc-seashell-1101ha-gets-hands-on-treatment-ahead-of-eu/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/asus-eee-pc-seashell-1101ha-gets-hands-on-treatment-ahead-of-eu/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/asus-eee-pc-seashell-1101ha-gets-hands-on-treatment-ahead-of-eu/#comments Make no mistake, ASUS knows it's onto something with the sleek new Eee PC seashell form factor. We've seen the 1101HA and its 3G-equipped fraternal twin 1101HGO before, and now Trusted Reviews has managed one more glimpse before the netbook goes on sale in Europe later this month. The biggest selling point for this over the other seashell models like 1008HA or 1005HA is gonna be the 11.6-inch screen, but beyond that, it looks like you're getting slightly gimped right shift key, but on the bright side, there's also a removable battery. As the site notes, this particular model happened to have the ASUS logo displayed on the back of the lid, which is in stark contrast to the typical Eee branding we see in its place. Still no word on an US release, but we're holding out hope it'll follow suit pretty quickly after the overseas launch.

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ASUS' Eee PC Seashell 1101HA gets hands-on treatment ahead of European launch originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1101 ha1101Haasusasus eeeasus eee pcasus seashellAsusEeeAsusEeePcAsusSeashelleeeeee pceee pc seashellEeePcEeePcSeashellhands onhands-onHandsOnnet bookNetBooksea shellSeaShellseashell 1101haSeashell1101haFri, 26 Jun 2009 05:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Best gaming laptop for under $1,500?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/ask-engadget-best-gaming-laptop-for-under-1-500/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/ask-engadget-best-gaming-laptop-for-under-1-500/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/ask-engadget-best-gaming-laptop-for-under-1-500/#commentsBelieve it, vaquero -- you just happened upon this week's episode of Ask Engadget, the only time of the week where you get the opportunity to bestow your wealth of gadget knowledge onto a fellow reader in need. Given the open-mindedness of Niko here, we couldn't help but pass on his inquiry:
"What's the best gaming laptop for under 1,500 bucks? I had my eye on the P7805u (Gateway), but it seems Best Buy has run out for the time being. Also, as a secondary question, I like the specs on brands such as iBUYPOWER and CyberPower and the like, but are they reliable? I'm a little worried about buying labels that aren't huge like Dell, Gateway, etc. Thanks!"
So, make sure those of you who've avoided the big boys chime in here -- who knows, maybe it's actually better to snag a machine from a lesser-known label. After you've contributed, feel free to send in your own question to ask at engadget dawt com.

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Ask Engadget: Best gaming laptop for under $1,500? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askAsk EngadgetAskEngadgetfeaturesgaminggaming laptopgaming pcgaming rigGamingLaptopGamingPcGamingRiglaptoppcFri, 26 Jun 2009 01:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba's new Satellite M500 and U500 mid-tier laptops "shine" in the flesh]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/toshibas-new-satellite-m500-and-u500-mid-tier-laptops-shine-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/toshibas-new-satellite-m500-and-u500-mid-tier-laptops-shine-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/toshibas-new-satellite-m500-and-u500-mid-tier-laptops-shine-i/#comments
You know, at one point chrome accents and glossy plastics were novel additions to previously staid consumer electronics -- now they make us want to punch a hole in the nearest smarmy LCD display. While HP has tried its best to be the worst offender in its consumer line, Toshiba is really giving it a shot with the M500 and U500 series laptops -- the U500 is pretty outlandish, but at least it offers a ribbed, almost-desirable matte surface of sorts, while the M500 (pictured) makes everything else look tame in comparison, and has the plentiful finger smudges to prove it. Both of the laptops offer chrome trim, overdone speaker grills and light-up accents. The textured trackpads are probably a love it or hate it thing; in fact, most of these "style" choices could be termed as such, but we're sure you've ascertained by now where we stand. Sure, the so-called general consumer apparently eats it up, but the charm is lost on us. On a gentler note, the M505 we looked at was running Windows 7, something we more commonly see being demoed on a touchscreen PC or something otherwise Windows 7 specific. Obviously it's not shipping with that OS yet, but the pining is palpable.

Gallery: Toshiba's new Satellite M500 and U500 mid-tier laptops "shine" in the flesh

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Toshiba's new Satellite M500 and U500 mid-tier laptops "shine" in the flesh originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureshands-onm500m505satellitesatellite m500satellite m505satellite u500satellite u505SatelliteM500SatelliteM505SatelliteU500SatelliteU505toshibau500u505Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:24:00 EST<![CDATA[ASUS G60 gaming laptop rolls out, gets examined]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/asus-g60-gaming-laptop-rolls-out-gets-examined/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/asus-g60-gaming-laptop-rolls-out-gets-examined/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/asus-g60-gaming-laptop-rolls-out-gets-examined/#comments
Eye-catching paint job aside, ASUS's new G60 "Republic of Gamers" gaming laptop may not seem all that different from the company's previous G50 model at first (or second) glance, but there are indeed a few somewhat notable differences both inside and out. Perhaps the most significant is a new 16-inch screen which, in addition to being ever so slightly larger than the previous 15.4-incher, also packs a full 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. Otherwise, you can expect to get a Core 2 Quad processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, up to 1TB of storage from the dual hard drives, GeForce GTX 260M graphics, and a Blu-ray drive, to name but a few expectedly high-end specs. Still no official word on a release over here, but it looks like folks in the UK will be able to pick this one up in September for £1,500, or just under $2,500. In the meantime, you can hit up the links below for a closer look.

[Via Pocket-lint]

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ASUS G60 gaming laptop rolls out, gets examined originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asusasus g60AsusG60g60gaming laptopGamingLaptoprepublic of gamersRepublicOfGamersThu, 25 Jun 2009 19:31:00 EST<![CDATA[HP ProBook 4310s hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/hp-probook-4310s-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/hp-probook-4310s-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/hp-probook-4310s-hands-on/#comments
While we might gripe about the style choices of HP's consumer line, HP has done wonders for its "professional" image with the ProBook line. The new ProBook 4310s merely carries on that tradition, but it still cuts a nice figure in the flesh. While we normally like to play it safe on color choice, we have to say that the matte lid of the crimson version (pictured) really triumphs in a sea of gloss. Our only gripes are that it's a tad bit thick and heavy -- totally standard for this tier of laptop, but annoying nonetheless -- and that the sharp, square chiclet keys aren't perfect for touch typing, and are actually a little mushy in practice. We'd also much prefer some two finger scrolling to the piddling sidescrolling on offer, but we're grumpy like that.

Gallery: HP ProBook 4310s hands-on

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HP ProBook 4310s hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4310sfeatureshands-onhpprobookprobook 4310sProbook4310sThu, 25 Jun 2009 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Panasonic's Toughbook CF-30 gets gnawed by tiger, stomped by elephant and 187'd]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonics-toughbook-cf-30-gets-gnawed-by-tiger-stomped-by-ele/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonics-toughbook-cf-30-gets-gnawed-by-tiger-stomped-by-ele/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonics-toughbook-cf-30-gets-gnawed-by-tiger-stomped-by-ele/#comments
In a whirring round of hurt that only a dear friend we know simply as Congmasta could deliver, a team of his irreverent cousins got ahold of Panasonic's Toughbook CF-30 to see just how far the envelope could be pushed. We already discovered that said machine was plenty tough for the average adventurer, but Forbes' tests prove that this bad boy is tailor made for maltreatment in the field. Somehow, the machine survived a round of Diet Coke to the keys, a few chomps from a white tiger, an elephant's playful attempt to extirpate it and even a single .22 slug through the lid. After the torment concluded, the CF-30 still managed to boot, and while that hole in the LCD was certainly a nuisance, it didn't stop the rest of the pixels from lighting up and trudging onward. Tap the read link for all the gory details, photographs and video, but seriously, don't try this at home. Or anywhere.

[Image courtesy of Schim Schimmel/SchimmelSmith Publishing, thanks Vipul]

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Panasonic's Toughbook CF-30 gets gnawed by tiger, stomped by elephant and 187'd originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cf-30laptoppanasonicruggedrugged laptopruggedizedRuggedLaptoptesttigertorturetoughtoughbooktoughbook 30toughbook cf-30Toughbook30ToughbookCf-30Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Always Innovating's Touch Book in production, finally pictured in non-render form]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/always-innovatings-touch-book-in-production-finally-pictured-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/always-innovatings-touch-book-in-production-finally-pictured-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/always-innovatings-touch-book-in-production-finally-pictured-i/#commentsAlways Innovating's Touch Book in production, finally pictured in non-render form Always Innovating has stopped innovating for a moment and started production. Its transformer of a netbook/tablet called the Touch Book is now rolling off manufacturing lines on track for shipments starting next month. Anyone who has pre-ordered already will be happy to know that the prices we spied in April are still in effect, meaning $299 for the tablet itself, while the clip-on keyboard comes in at $99 extra. For that price you get an 8.9-inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen, a USB 802.11 b/g/n adapter, Bluetooth, a TI OMAP3430 OMAP3530 processor, and 512MB of memory split evenly between RAM and NAND, plus a further 8GB of storage on an SD card. Not exactly a screamer, but performance running Linux (the only OS available) should be reasonably snappy, and we're curious to see what enterprising coders will do with its internal accelerometer. It does look a little like a knob-free Etch A Sketch...

Update: As Kaa pointed out in the comments, we were off by 100 on the CPU revision. It's an OMAP3530, not 3430.

[Thanks, Jeff]

Gallery: Always Innovating Touch Book

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Always Innovating's Touch Book in production, finally pictured in non-render form originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>always innovatingalways innovating touch bookAlwaysInnovatingAlwaysInnovatingTouchBookomapomap3430texas instrumentsTexasInstrumentstitouch bookTouchBookThu, 25 Jun 2009 08:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Gateway adds the 15.6-inch NV series to its laptop lineup]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/gateway-adds-the-15-6-inch-nv-series-to-its-laptop-lineup/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/gateway-adds-the-15-6-inch-nv-series-to-its-laptop-lineup/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/gateway-adds-the-15-6-inch-nv-series-to-its-laptop-lineup/#comments Gateway seems to be on a roll with new product announcements lately. Tonight the company's unveiled a new NV series of laptops with one-touch backup and powersaving features. Let's get down to business: the 15.6-inch laptop's got an LED-backlit display with 1366 x 768 widescreen resolution, up to 4GB DDR2 RAM and 320GB HDD, DVD optical drive, 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N, multi-card reader, VGA and HDMI out, four USB 2.0, 6-cell battery, and Windows Vista Home Premium. Fanciful color choices? We got you covered: NightSky Black, Midnight Blue, Cherry Red, and Coffee Brown. Doling out $499 will net you a 2.1 GHz AMD Athlon 64 with Radeon HD 3200 graphics, while the $599 option comes with 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with GMS 4500MHD. Full press release and another glimpse of the laptop after the break.

Continue reading Gateway adds the 15.6-inch NV series to its laptop lineup

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Gateway adds the 15.6-inch NV series to its laptop lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gatewaygateway nvgateway nv seriesGatewayNvGatewayNvSerieslaptopnotebooknvnv seriesNvSeriesThu, 25 Jun 2009 00:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft rolls out Windows 7 packaging]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/microsoft-rolls-out-windows-7-packaging/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/microsoft-rolls-out-windows-7-packaging/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/microsoft-rolls-out-windows-7-packaging/#comments We could swear we've seen this before, but nonetheless, Microsoft's Windows blog has unveiled what it's calling the official Windows 7's packaging -- as in, this it what we'll be seeing in stores when it launches this fall. It's apparently 37 percent lighter and has a 50 percent better econometrics score over the Vista box, which we can't help but draw mental parallels to the platform's overall performance and mindshare improvements. See it for yourself in the gallery below -- couldn't hurt to get a peek now at what you'll be picking up come October 22nd.

Gallery: Microsoft rolls out Windows 7 packaging

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Microsoft rolls out Windows 7 packaging originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boxbox artBoxArtmicrosoftmicrosoft windowsmicrosoft windows 7MicrosoftWindowsMicrosoftWindows7packagingwinwin 7Win7windowswindows 7windows 7 packagingWindows7Windows7PackagingWed, 24 Jun 2009 21:08:00 EST<![CDATA[ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005HA available for pre-order, shipping July 1st]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/asus-eee-pc-seashell-1005ha-available-for-pre-order-shipping-ju/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/asus-eee-pc-seashell-1005ha-available-for-pre-order-shipping-ju/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/asus-eee-pc-seashell-1005ha-available-for-pre-order-shipping-ju/#comments

Looks like those of you interested in ASUS' newest little netbook, the Eee PC Seashell 1005HA, won't have to wait very long to have your dreams fulfilled. In fact, it's popping up for pre-order right now. The 1005HA (which we just played with extensively) is nearly identical to the already available 1008HA, but with a longer-lived, swappable six-cell battery, and without those little port doors we found to be somewhat troublesome in our review of the unit. It runs $389 and is expected to ship on July 1st. Hit the read link to check out the pre-order good times.

[Thanks, Nate]

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ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005HA available for pre-order, shipping July 1st originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1005haasusasus eee pc 1005haasus eee pc seashellAsusEeePc1005haAsusEeePcSeashelleeeeee pceee pc 1005haEeePceeepc 1005haEeepc1005hapre-orderpreoderseashellWed, 24 Jun 2009 20:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba's still not done, rolls out new Satellite L Series laptops]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/toshibas-still-not-done-rolls-out-new-satellite-l-series-lapto/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/toshibas-still-not-done-rolls-out-new-satellite-l-series-lapto/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/toshibas-still-not-done-rolls-out-new-satellite-l-series-lapto/#comments
Not sold on Toshiba's new NB205 netbook or one of its many new Satellite laptops announced earlier this week? Don't worry, 'cause Toshiba's just announced four more Satellite models, all of which fall under its budget-minded L Series line. Those include the 14-inch Satellite L510/L515, the 15.6- and 16-inch Satellite L500/L505, and the heavyweight 17.3-inch Satellite L550/L555, each of which pack either AMD Athlon or Turion, or Intel Pentium or Core 2 Duo processors depending on the configuration, along with integrated graphics or ATI's discrete Radeon 3100, a 10-key numeric keypad on the 15.6-inch and larger models, a minimum 2GB of RAM and 250GB hard drive, and Toshiba's trademark "Fusion" finish on the whole lot of 'em. Best of all, starting prices range from a reasonable $550 to $650, and all are apparently available to order right now.

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Toshiba's still not done, rolls out new Satellite L Series laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>l500l505l510l515l550l555satellitesatellite l seriesSatelliteLSeriestoshibatoshiba satellitetoshiba satellite l seriesToshibaSatelliteToshibaSatelliteLSeriesWed, 24 Jun 2009 16:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo IdeaPad U350 thin-and-light hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/lenovo-ideapad-u350-thin-and-light-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/lenovo-ideapad-u350-thin-and-light-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/lenovo-ideapad-u350-thin-and-light-hands-on/#comments
A month after Lenovo announced its new IdeaPad U350 the thing is finally ready for the prime time, and let us tell you: it wasn't hard to spot. While in theory this is "just another thin-and-light" in a rapidly growing, CULV-aided market segment, the craftsmanship and materials used on the U350 make it our favorite bit of Lenovo design since the U110, and very well might set it apart from the budget-minded pack. We're particularly digging the textured rubber back, but the ribbed metal palm rest also excellently avoids the glossy-plastic-of-death. Otherwise the laptop settles pretty nicely into a thin-and-light groove, with both of those particulars in spades and CULV under the hood. We would prefer some NVIDIA 9400M to Intel's integrated graphics, but at least there's HDMI out, and Intel's chipset tends to be a bit better on the power sipping front. Check out the gallery for some head-to-head shots with Lenovo's T400s -- which is clearly superior in most regards, but goes for double the price.

Gallery: Lenovo IdeaPad U350 thin-and-light hands-on

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Lenovo IdeaPad U350 thin-and-light hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureshands-onideapadideapad u350IdeapadU350lenovothin and lightThinAndLightu350Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo IdeaPad s12 now available (at least for pre-order)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/lenovo-ideapad-s12-now-available/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/lenovo-ideapad-s12-now-available/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/lenovo-ideapad-s12-now-available/#comments
 At long last, the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 is available for pre-order. The 12.1-inch, WXGA (1,280 x 800) resolution netbook, if you've forgotten, boasts an Intel GMA950 chipset (and will have NVIDIA's Ion chipset as an option in September), an Intel 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU, 1GB of DDR2 memory, 160/250/320GB HDD options, an optional 6-cell battery, Ethernet jack, WiFi, Bluetooth, three USB 2.0 sockets, an ExpressCard slot, a 4-in-1 card reader and VGA / HDMI outputs. It also has a full sized keyboard, and optional 1080p video playback. Starting price for the base model is $499. Hit the read link for the full host of options -- we'll let you know when it's shipping!

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Lenovo IdeaPad s12 now available (at least for pre-order) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh noes! According to some market research dudes, the average consumer cannot tell the difference between a netbook and a notebook. We're inclined to believe that this is simply because the average consumer hasn't perused this handy chart, but what do we know? Of course, the readers of Engadget are an intelligent and sophisticated bunch, one that understands all the intricacies of this -- one of the most important questions of our time. But what about the folks that need to sell netbooks (and notebooks) to 18-24 year olds, one of the main demographics that manufacturers hope to reach with their products? Hit the read link for what's sure to be a gripping (if wicked expensive) report titled Netbooks II: A Closer Look. Or, if you're only moderately curious, feel free to check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading Netbook study finds that netbook buyers don't know what netbooks are

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Netbook study finds that netbook buyers don't know what netbooks are originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>laptopmarket researchmarket research dudesMarketResearchMarketResearchDudesnetbookNetbooks II A Closer LookNetbooks II: A Closer LookNetbooksIi:ACloserLookNetbooksIiACloserLooknotebookreportstudyWed, 24 Jun 2009 13:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo is possibly maybe thinking about an OLED ThinkPad T500]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/lenovo-is-possibly-maybe-thinking-about-an-oled-thinkpad-t500/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/lenovo-is-possibly-maybe-thinking-about-an-oled-thinkpad-t500/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/lenovo-is-possibly-maybe-thinking-about-an-oled-thinkpad-t500/#commentsLenovo is possibly maybe thinking about an OLED ThinkPad T500 Laptops of all sorts are getting thinner, even the decidedly stoic and business-minded ThinkPad series. Hot on the heels of impressing us with its T400 refresh Lenovo is letting slip that it's having thoughts of putting its T500 series on a diet as well, with marketing manager David Critchley indicating that the company wouldn't be opposed to making a super-thin OLED version of the laptop -- "if demand is there." That's not really saying much since just about any company would do the same if they thought they could sell enough of the things. Well, maybe not Toshiba. That might be a little too exciting to fit in with the rest of its lineup.

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Lenovo is possibly maybe thinking about an OLED ThinkPad T500 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So much for Nokia and Intel keeping quiet on actual product announcements, huh? Just yesterday, the two mega-corps joined hands in what they called a technical collaboration, and while they wouldn't go into detail about what products would sprout from the partnership, it seems that Commercial Times has done the honors. Reportedly, Nokia has already ordered up a few machines from Compal and Quanta, two OEMs that are largely responsible for most every netbook on the market today. Not surprisingly, we're told that the Nokiabook will rely on one of Intel's Atom processors, and considering that the new wave of Atom chips aren't slated to land until 2010, you can pretty much put money on a N270 or N280 configuration. In related news, we're told that Compal will engineer a Qualcomm Snapdragon-based Nokia smartbook, though there's no word on what kind of OS (Symbian, perhaps?) will be included.

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Atom-based Nokia netbook reportedly on track for Q3 release originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just when you thought you were safe from the netbook horde, along comes HP's new Mini 5101 to tempt you with the same basic specs once again, but this time with a slick aluminum and magnesium chassis to appeal to the "mobile professional" or anyone else with a bit of class. In a crazy twist, HP has finally moved the mouse buttons below the trackpad (because only professionals like clicking), and has included other perks like a 7200 RPM hard drive, Bluetooth 2.0, 2 megapixel webcam, and options of either a WSVGA (1024 x 600) or "HD" (1366 x 768) 10.1-inch LED screen. There are also options for 80GB or 128GB SSD drives, four-cell or six-cell batteries, with the latter rated at an improbable eight hours of runtime, and of course WWAN. There's a start price of $449, but with some of these options we could see that shooting up pretty fast -- especially if you pick the optional USB-powered external disc drive, external speakers or port replicator. It's not cheap being cheap. The Mini 5101 goes on sale in July.

Gallery: HP Mini 5101 press shots


We got a quick hands-on with the netbook, and were fairly impressed. The square chiclet keys are much easier to hunt down than Mini 1000-series flush keys, and the proper trackpad configuration is naturally a huge bonus. We'd much prefer multitouch scrolling to the side-scrolling action, of course, but at least it's an improvement. The overall build quality is near the top of any laptop or netbook we've played with in this price range -- it's not perfect, and there's some of that telltale keyboard flex, but it's a big improvement over its largely plastic competitors and predecessor.

Gallery: HP Mini 5101 hands-on shots

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HP Mini 5101 cleans up nice, shows the serious side of netbooks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It'd be difficult to term HP's new Mini 5101 netbook "exciting" but the new ProBook 4310s has promise -- or at least flexibility. Like its name suggests, the ProBook 4310s is for boring people who like to spend their days alternating between an Excel spreadsheet and Peggle, but the specs and looks hint at adventure. Basically, this 13.3-inch laptop can be whatever you'd like it to be, with a starting price of $799 and the whole gamut of options, from Celeron to Core 2 Duo, FreeDOS to Vista, DVD to Blu-ray, and integrated or discrete graphics (ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 with 512MB of RAM and HyperMemory support). There's space for up to 8GB of RAM, EV-DO, ExpressCard 34, SD card, all sorts of hard drives -- if you can imagine a spec HP probably has an option for it inside this 1-inch thick, 4.34 pound shell. Even the screen is available in three different configurations -- it's nice to be reminded now and then that high design doesn't always have to kill choice. The 4310s will be available on July 20th.

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HP ProBook 4310s serves up a cornucopia of options for the configuration junkie within originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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