Filed under: Laptops

Dell’s Studio laptops have style, we’ll give them that, but we were a bit dismayed when they launched right before Intel’s Centrino 2 processors. After three months of living a pleasant but not-really-cutting-edge life, the Studio 15 finally crashed the cool kids’ party a couple weeks ago, rocking the house with two new Centrino 2 configurations. Buy one now and your processor will be either a P8400 (2.26GHz, 3MB cache, 1066MHz FSB) or for an extra 175 simoleons, a T9400 (2.53GHz, 6MB cache, also 1066MHz FSB). If you were holding out for this before buying one of Inspiron’s classy siblings, well, here you go — but the competition is awfully fierce right now.

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Filed under: Laptops, Wireless

A new variant of Asus’ M50Vm-A1 laptop — the M50Vm-A1WM — just showed up on Newegg and Amazon. Soulcrushingly long (mostly) alphanumeric string aside, it’s a decent 15.4” machine for its $1,399 price point, with desktop replacement specs: Intel Core 2 Duo P8400, 4GB of RAM, a GeForce 9600M with a satisfying 1GB of dedicated graphics memory, and even a numpad. What’s new here is onboard WiMAX, which puts Asus on the post-XOHM launch bandwagon with Toshiba, Acer and other laptop manufacturers. This is good news for some lucky early adopters, but if you’re not in one of the testing locales, you might as well continue twiddling your thumbs.

[Via ComputerMonger]

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Filed under: Laptops

When looking to dazzle your friends with humorous examples of oxymorons, make sure you insert Alps Electric’s new “Non-Contact Touchpad” right after “military intelligence” and before “jumbo shrimp” (that last one always gets ‘em laughing). Alps’ prototype (shown without the hand model after the break) breaks linguistic and laptop convention by letting you control your machine with fingers waving about an inch above it. Right now it seems to have limited precision, with one sensor on either side of a rather more traditional pad picking up digits as they move from left to right or in a circle. So, touch-free retouching of images in Photoshop isn’t quite possible yet, but with a few years of refinements anything is possible.

Continue reading Alps Electric’s “non-contact touchpad” needs no touch

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Filed under: Displays, Laptops

We’re a bit miffed as to why Dell’s keeping its new One-Touch Privacy system exclusive to the Latitude E6400, but whatever the story is there, it’ll definitely keep straying eyes from seeing too much confidential information. Interestingly, this here filter isn’t hardware based; rather, it’s a software-driven application that “creates a pixel-based pattern on the screen, reducing the side viewing angles of people seated next to the user.” Dell assures us that it has “minimal impact on display brightness” and that it can be activated with a single touch key, but we’re still wondering how it landed on the seemingly sky-high $139 price. Talk about paying for the privilege.

[Via T3]

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Filed under: Laptops

If HP’s latest 16-inch notebook didn’t grab you for reasons like: “That’s a whole 0.4-inches bigger than my desk,” then you’re in luck, because for about half the price you can now pick up a Pavilion G60-120US Notebook PC — HP’s first 15.6-inch model. The G60, with 1,366 x 768 resolution display, comes caked with all the ho-hum features you might expect from a $629.99 price tag: 2GHz AMD Turion X2 dual-core processor, GeForce 8200M graphics card, webcam, DVD burner, WiFi, Bluetooth, ExpressCard slot and 250GB hard drive. On the other hand, it’s got 3GB RAM, Altec Lansing speakers and HDMI output, weighing in at a palatable 6.06 pounds. Not a bad deal, who needs a lousy HDX anyway, right?

[Via Laptoping]

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Filed under: Laptops

Continue reading ASUS N Series: at long last, a laptop with a built in ‘Air Ionizer’

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Filed under: Laptops

It’s not everyday that you see an 18.4-inch laptop. Then again, Sony (nor anyone else) doesn’t rollout too many Full HD laptops targeting photographers and videographers. The VAIO type A features an LED backlit 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, 2.53GHz T9400 Core 2 Duo, Blu-ray burner, up to 4GB of memory and 2x 250GB of disk (plus 1x eSATA jack for more), an increasingly rare Firewire jack for your camcorder, 3x USB 2.0, and a high-speed UDMA-enabled CF slot for quick image transfers off your DSLR’s CompactFlash card. As Sony’s newest media flagship, we’re also looking at HDMI-out, 802.11n WiFi, GeForce 9600M GT graphics, and a full suite of included image and video editing software from Adobe. All this in a relatively hefty 3.9-kg (8.6-pounds) rig. Although, with just 2-hours of battery you’ll want to spring for the optional 3-hour add-on. Priced at around ¥320,000 (about $3,000) when these hit the streets of Japan at the end of the month. Two more shots after the break.

Continue reading Sony’s 18.4-inch Type A VAIO for Type A photog personalities

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Filed under: Ask Engadget, Gaming, Laptops

Although netbooks seem to be all the rage right now, there’s still a lot of demand out there for laptops that are only able to be labeled as such due to their design. Take a look at Paul’s question as he attempts to locate the best desktop replacement on the market today.

“I am currently looking to replace my desktop PC with a high spec laptop. Portability isn’t a concern as it will spend most of its life on a desk. Here are a couple of things I am looking for: biggest screen possible, plenty of HDD space, plenty of RAM, and plenty of GHzs. Cheaper is better, but my budget is up to around $3,000.”

This fellow didn’t specifically mention gaming as a concern, but we’ll go ahead and assume he’s not buying a 9+ pound laptop to tinker on Minesweeper all day. So, what’s the preferred laptop that weighs more than some mini-towers? And what’s a question that’s been on your mind? Send it in to ask at engadget dawt com.

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Filed under: Laptops

Just because you haven’t gotten up the nerve to build your own laptop doesn’t mean that everyone’s just running out and buying pre-fabricated lap warmers, now does it? Antec sure hopes not, else its new CBB component initiative will become a serious money loser. Said outfit has just revealed a slew of new interchangeable kit designed to act as “building blocks” for folks looking to piece together their own notebook. It even goes so far as to proclaim that this is the “first time that system builders will be able to build customized, personalized laptops from individual components,” and while we’re pretty sure that’s exaggerating it, there’s no doubt the commercialization here makes it easier to digest. The new enclosures, docking station, CBB / RC2-specific keyboards, AC adapters, battery packs, webcams and more are available now for tinkerers who care.

[Via ExtremeTech]

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Filed under: Laptops

Just because you haven’t gotten up the nerve to build your own laptop doesn’t mean that everyone’s just running out and buying pre-fabricated lap warmers, now does it? Antec sure hopes not, else its new CBB component initiative will become a serious money loser. Said outfit has just revealed a slew of new interchangeable kit designed to act as “building blocks” for folks looking to piece together their own notebook. It even goes so far as to proclaim that this is the “first time that system builders will be able to build customized, personalized laptops from individual components,” and while we’re pretty sure that’s exaggerating it, there’s no doubt the commercialization here makes it easier to digest. The new enclosures, docking station, CBB / RC2-specific keyboards, AC adapters, battery packs, webcams and more are available now for tinkerers who care.

[Via ExtremeTech]

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Filed under: Ask Engadget, Laptops

This week’s episode of Ask Engadget (you know you can submit your own inquiry at ask at engadget dawt com, right?) poses a beautifully simple, albeit timely question about those bantam laptops that have taken over the world in recent months. What was once a niche market is now a blossoming sector, and the choices are indeed overwhelming.

“With so many netbooks now available, which is the best one out there? I’m mostly concerned with getting the best bang for my buck, so I’m not too interested in any of those higher-end units.”

For those of you who have bit the bullet on one netbook or another, what kind of taste has it left in your mouth? Would you recommend your current unit? Would you suggest looking elsewhere? Let the battle of the bite-sized lappies begin!

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Filed under: Laptops

Not that these units are a complete surprise or anything, but HP’s taking the time to get really, really official with its minty fresh EliteBooks. Up first is the beastly EliteBook 8730w (that’s the 6830s pictured), which packs a 17-inch DreamColor display, a quad-core Intel CPU, 8GB of RAM and one of NVIDIA’s 1GB Quadro FX graphics cards. Keeping things going are the EliteBook 8530w and 8530p, both of which boast a 15.4-inch display, 8GB of RAM, a Core 2 Duo chip (8530w supports optional quad-core) and HP’s own brushed anodized aluminum DuraCase. As for pricing and release information? Good luck on the guessing.

[Thanks, Christopher]

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Filed under: Laptops

Anyone remotely familiar with the Zepto brand understands that it doesn’t mess around when it comes to PC gaming, and anyone (in the UK, at least) remotely interested in treating themselves to an all new machine should certainly give this one a glance. The 15.4-inch Nexus A15 arrives in a fairly respectable £599 ($1,181) / £699 ($1,378) base configuration, but things get entirely more exciting when adding in the 2.53GHz Intel P9500 CPU, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive (or 32GB SSD, if that’s your thing), a Blu-ray optical drive and a 6-cell battery sure to wither away in no time flat. All the regulars are on board too: WiFi, NVIDIA’s GeForce 9600M GT, Windows Vista, audio in / out, a multicard reader, Ethernet and a few USB ports for good measure. Have fun making those previously mentioned price points look absurdly small.

[Via PCLaunches, thanks vinit]

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Filed under: Laptops

We’ve been hearing the faintest of whispers that Lenovo had a new IdeaPad on tap, and while we haven’t received any official confirmation just yet, we figured it prudent to pass along the latest. According to an anonymous tipster, the G430 will boast a 14.1-inch WXGA display, 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, Vista Home Basic, a DVD burner, NVIDIA’s 256MB GeForce 9300M GS and a 6-cell battery. Furthermore, you’ll find 802.11a/b/g WiFi, no webcam and an undisclosed array of ports. Your guess is as good as ours when it comes to pricing / availability, but surely we’ll know something more soon. Surely.

[Thanks, anonymous]

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Filed under: Laptops

No, not that dual-screen, silly. Or that one. Or that one! The dual-screen lappie we’re talking about actually has two LCD panels, one of which takes the place of a traditional keyboard / trackpad. Reportedly, V12 Designs — which takes credit for dreaming up the design some four years ago — is working with an undisclosed US firm in order to bring said concept to market. We’re told that the keyboard display will likely support haptic feedback so users can feel when a keystroke is registered, and of course, voice recognition will also play a large role. It’s not that we don’t think these are coming, but V12’s Valerio Cometti is suggesting that they’ll be ready for consumption in a mere 16 months. Don’t hate us for being skeptical, but… we’re skeptical.

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Filed under: Laptops

Hooray! More Sony VAIO laptops with naming schemes impossible to decipher! Following up on those tasty new FW and SR lappies that we were informally introduced to earlier this week comes even more foreign images detailing a 13.1-incher. On the surface, it looks like said machines will feature a Core 2 Duo processor, 1,600 x 900 native resolution, 4GB of RAM, 250GB HDD, dual-layer DVD burner, a 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS graphics card, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, WiFi, integrated HSDPA connectivity and a modest array of ports. For more details on which model gets what (off the record, of course), dip on into the read links below.

Read - Images / specs of new machines
Read - More details on rumored VAIOs

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Filed under: Laptops

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Filed under: Laptops

Check it L.E.S hipsters, a laptop that can withstand the stresses of sporting an ironic mustache and deep v-neck Tee around town. The magnesium alloy B51E features ruggedized touches like rubber (baby buggy) bumpers along the edges and a protective film to ward off scratches on the chassis and display. It also features a keyboard with integrated drainage path and hard drive “floated on a sponge protection system” capable of withstanding mojito spills of up to 120 cc / 4 ounces and tabletop drops from 75 cm / 2.5 feet. Oddly, the screen dimensions are not mentioned though the laptop is 14.37-inch wide and tops-out with a Core 2 Duo T8300 proc, up to 4GB of memory, Intel GMA X3100 graphics, up to 320GB disk, and integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam. Now lean in and start maliciously rubbing your hands together — we’ve got the abuse video after the break.

[Via I4U]

Continue reading Video: ASUS’ rugged B51E — tougher than a hipster yuppie

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Filed under: Laptops

This certainly won’t be the first time ASUS has shipped an in-demand item elsewhere in the world while USers ponder the thought of importing, but apparently the outfit’s potent G70 is now on sale in the UK. For those who missed it, this monstrosity features a 17-inch WUXGA / WXGA+ panel, an optional Core 2 Extreme processor, twin GeForce 8700M GT graphics cards, 1GB of RAM, an optional Blu-ray writer, gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth / WiFi and oodles of LED accents. Word on the street has it going for around £1,999 ($3,948) well equipped, but those blokes across the pond aren’t too worried about a US release date.

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Filed under: Laptops

Not to crack open a can of worms or anything, but we’re honestly curious to see what the legions of Area-51 m15x / m17x owners would change about their machines. When launched, both rigs were fawned over for their top-notch specifications, but the m15x hasn’t seen the warmest of receptions from its owners. As you well know, the 17-inch sibling just now started landing on doorsteps everywhere, and we’re genuinely hoping that it doesn’t present those same cracking issues as found on the aforesaid m15x. Beyond defects, we also want to hear what you’d change about a flawless m15x / m17x. Whittle down the weight? Change up the style? Swap out a few components? Go on and let ‘er rip in comments below.

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