Get The Best PC For Your Buying Dollar This Holiday Season

Apple's CEO Tim Cook this week may have questioned "Why would you buy a PC anymore", but the cold hard truth is many of us are still turning to laptops and desktops when it comes to filling the need for speed, power and raw multi-tasking. Ironic as Cook's statements seem to be that happens to be a good thing for Apple as they just recently reported record sales of Macs!

Like most geeks we have held fast to our belief that no matter how great that tablet or smartphone may be and how much you can accomplish with them these days. When it comes to performance you just can't compete with the capabilities of a full blown desktop, high-end laptop or a newer Intel 2in1 device.

When it comes to buying the best device to suite all your needs there are several schools of thought, all of which generally involve weighing your overall actual wants and needs. We know this can more often than not be extremely confusing especially during the upcoming holiday shopping season when we start seeing lots of bargains. So we've put together a little guide that we hope will help you out.

Desktops offer the most performance, upgrade-ability and longevity!

When it comes down to pure outright computing power nothing has yet to displace the Intel based desktop at the top. Even at what is considered the entry level you'll see more performance for day to day tasks than the average user would ever need. In addition to offering great performance desktops offer something few other platforms do, the ability to be upgraded and repaired which in turn gives them an incredible amount of longevity.

A $400-500 investment in a desktop today should very easily net you 4-5 good years of hard work, whereas most people purchasing tablets or smartphones at similar costs are generally swapping devices every couple years. Of course there is some trade-off, you obviously don't get the portability, but the overall investment is generally the best return. Steeping up and making a bit higher purchase now in the $700-800 or even the $800-1000 range will net you even more bang for your buck as you'll get much improved hardware that should be a little more 'future-proof' (a term I actually hate).

When looking at purchasing a desktop I almost always give then same one line of advice, "Buy The Best You Can Afford At This Time!" This doesn't mean you need to run out and buy the newest CPU's, the fastest or most RAM or dump $2000-3000 on a new machine. In fact, unless you are a gamer, you can avoid all of the above and get a great machine that will still offer you the best bang for your buck!

What it does mean though is try to keep a balance and learn where you can 'skimp' and where you can't. Typically you want the best CPU and GPU you can buy and can skimp on easier upgrades like RAM and hard drives, both of which are much easier and cheaper to upgrade down the road if needed. I always suggest avoiding slimline or none traditional cases as they can really limit your upgrade options down the road. During the holidays you also want to avoid the luster of those cheap $200-300 deals as they generally feature lower-end CPUs that may be perfectly fine for some basic uses they just don't offer the best in performance. Try to stick with an Intel Core i5 or better, or for more performance an Intel Core i7. Also try to stick with the newest generations.

Laptops and Intel 2-in-1's offer the most balance for the money!

When it comes getting the most overall value laptops and especially the new Intel 2in1 devices are hard to beat. Your costs might be a little more upfront when looking at a one to one comparison to a desktop but the benefit of portability can easily outweigh any performance that might be lost by going with a laptop over a comparably priced desktop. And while most of us geeks hate to use the words desktop replacement with today's technology and performance we are seeing from laptops and Intel 2in1 devices you really are given a full desktop replacement option.

Selecting a laptop or 2-in-1 device brings up a completely different set of questions and factors from trying to find a desktop. First and foremost is going to be deciding on use and how much portability you really need. If you are someone in school, working or always on the go then you'll likely want something that is slimmer and lightweight, more compact and easily carried which generally means smaller screen size. If you are a big gamer or need something with a ton more power or are someone that doesn't plan on totting that laptop with you everywhere you go then you can opt for a heftier package and in the end a larger screen.

I've always recommended getting a super portable option that packs the most power you can get. My train of thought is a simple one, most people start using their laptops on the go more than they generally think they would and having the most portable option you can get now saves you later. Additionally, monitors are cheap these days (heck most of us have an HDTV) making it easier and more cost effective to add a larger secondary screen down the road if you need to.

I personally opt for a 2-in-1 device, preferably something with a detachable or convertible screen. This gives me the option of using it both as a traditional laptop when I need my keyboard and more multi-tasking and tablet when I'm just doing my basic tasks.  I also look for as many connections as possible. I suggest HDMI so you can easily get video out (great for sharing to a TV), and at least two if not three usb ports. I connect a couple external devices like my usb mouse and hard drive so more ports are needed. Windows 10 these days is also a must have for me (it is still free as an upgrade but nice to have right out of the box!).


Closing thoughts on holiday PC shopping

As I mentioned above a few times, I always try to avoid some of the flashy low costs sales items of the holiday season especially when it comes to laptops and desktops. Generally these cheaper deals are cheaper for a reason and that is typically because they are lower specs or older tech. Saying that doesn't mean some of the deals aren't going to be great, especially deals in the mid to high end range, I'm talking more about the cheap, get you in the door $150-250 deals you see.

Again, if you are looking for something to last a few years and give your more bang for your buck you want to buy the best you can at this time. If you just want something that will 'make due for now' then those deals might work out for you. Just be sure to weigh the pro's and con's of each option.

So now the big question, what are you planning on buying this holiday season? Are you going to be out shopping for Black Friday 2015? And if so what tech deals are you looking at? Comment below and let us know!



#spon: I'm required to disclose a relationship between our site and Intel This could include Intel providing us w/content, product, access or other forms of payment.

Microsoft Unwraps Surface Pro 3 With Massive 12-inch Screen

Microsoft may be the underdog in the tablet and smartphone wars. However, that hasn't stopped the company from trying. Earlier today the company unveiled its latest offering, the third generation of the company's Surface Pro tablets, the Surface Pro 3.

The new 2 in 1 devices are Microsoft's most powerful, thinnest and lightest Surface Pro yet. They will feature a 12-inch ClearType Full HD screen with 2,160-by-1,440 resolution, your choice of 4th-generation Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors as well as up to 8GBs of RAM and up to a 512GB SSD drive. All in a packed that weighs just 1.76 pounds and is 0.36 inches thin, which according to Microsoft makes it 30 percent thinner than an 11-inch MacBook Air.

The Surface Pro 3 is both a “full PC and a brilliant tablet,” says Panos Panay, Microsoft corporate vice president for Surface Computing, who unveiled the new Surface at a live event in New York City.

In addition to the new tablet Microsoft also announce a new line of Surface accessories like the improved Surface Pro Type Cover, which will take Surface Pro 3 from tablet to laptop in a snap. The new premium Surface Pen with pressure sensitivity to enable a more natural writing experience, while a full-size USB 3.0 port, microSD card reader and Mini DisplayPort allow for quick file transfers and easy connections to a range of peripherals.

Additional optional accessories, include a new Docking Station for Surface Pro 3 and a Surface Ethernet Adapter, to build a Surface Pro 3 that has all the features and capabilities of a complete laptop.

The Surface Pro 3 will go on sale tomorrow, starting at $799 for the Core i3 version with 4GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD. Core i5 and Core i7 versions will set you back $999 and $1549 respectively. The range-topping model will set you back $1,949 and gives you a Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. More information on Surface can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/surface.

Source: Microsoft Newsroom, Microsoft Surface Blog

Geeks Work Hard and Play Harder

Being a tech blogger, social media guru and overall geek in general is loads of work. Technology changes at break-neck speeds and unfortunately in the 'always on, always connected' era never rests. So it should come at no surprise that we work hard. That however comes with a wonderful upside, we get to play hard as well.

There are always new gadgets to checkout, new sites and services to review, conferences and meetings and then of course the occasional LAN party or hack-fest to keep us busy. The great upside to that is access to some of the newest and best tech on the market, without which I doubt I could get through this hustled life unscathed.

With the many devices I have available to me the one that I always have in my geeks toolbox is my #Intel2in1. I've found, after much trial and error, that trying to fulfill my daily requirements was going to be more than most devices could handle. So I have decide an #2in1 device best suited my overall needs. It is portable enough for on the go use, yet still fill all the functionality and productivity requirement of the demanding geek lifestyle.

Being a blogger means needing something that not only hands the fast paced on the go lifestyle but something that meets our rigorous productivity needs when typing out articles or reviews. While being a geek means needing a device that can handle the demands of a few games, some photo editing and maybe even a few more demanding tasks.

Over the course of the next few weeks I'll be putting my new device to the stress test that is the everyday life of a blogger. Which will be followed by a post with a comprehensive review sharing my hands on experience. So be sure to check back for more!


#spon: I'm required to disclose a relationship between our site and Intel This could include Intel providing us w/content, product, access or other forms of payment.

Acer Releases New $199 Google Chromebook

When Google unveiled a new version of their Chrome OS earlier this year they also announced a partnership with vendors Samsung and Acer to release Chome OS based Chromebooks. Netbook like laptops that feature Google's in-house designed operating system. Today we get a glimpse at the latest offering from that paring, the new Acer C7 Chromebook.

The new Acer C7 Chromebook features an 11.6-inch 1366x768 display and full-size keyboard all packed into a 1 inch thin – 3 lbs / 1.4 kg body. You get and an Intel Celeron 847 processor (2MB L3 cache, 1.10GHz, DDR3 1333 MHz), 2GB of DDR3 memory, 320GB hard drive and 100GB of free storage on Google Drive. Acer claims you get 3.5 hours of battery life, which isn't awesome but its manageable. Other features include Dual band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n and Ethernet, 1.3 MP HD Camera, 3x USB 2.0 ports and for display purposes 1x HDMI Port and 1x VGA port.

The C7 is available for $199 starting tomorrow in the Google Play store, at Best Buy stores and on BestBuy.com.

Source: Official Google Blog: The new Acer Chromebook

Three Reasons to Consider Purchasing a Refurbished Laptop

There are more and more companies now offering refurbished laptops for sale and they certainly have their advantages. However many people are often put off by the term 'refurbished' as they often mistake it with the term 'used'. In reality though, they are two totally different entities. When a person purchases goods that are 'used' they generally purchase that item 'as is'. Alternatively when you buy a 'refurbished' item you are generally buying something that has been thoroughly tested, cleaned and in the case of laptops sometimes even upgraded. In other words it is at the very least brought back up to standard.

So with this in mind, what other reasons might you consider purchasing a refurbished laptop?

Price

This is most definitely a key factor for many people and even though laptops have come down in price in recent years, the consumer is generally looking to get the most for their hard earned cash. When it comes to cost, you can pick up a refurbished laptop for anywhere between 25% and 60% off the recommended retail price. It is important to remember also that the term 'refurbished' doesn't have to mean a machine that's a couple of years old. In fact, some companies offer refurbished items that have simply been store returns. This could be through unwanted gifts, or that they didn't fit the buyer's specifications. In these instances the laptop is virtually box new.

Bang for your Buck

Many laptops that are refurbished for resale are of high specification. This means that as a potential customer your £300 or £400 may get you a far more expensive computer with higher specifications that may otherwise cost you two or three times this amount if bought from new. In other words you can certainly get a lot more bang for your buck. Purchasing refurbished gives you the chance to buy in budget without having to sacrifice any of the features you are looking for.

Parts Warranty Coverage

Having a secondary or back-up laptop is a good idea if you work from home, or are a traveling student, or alternatively are simply looking to purchase a computer for the kids to do their homework on. You may not want to spend too much cash on a laptop, but need it to be of a high enough spec so that it does what you want it to do. This can be expensive if you insist on buying new. However with a refurbished model, you can achieve all of this for a much smaller budget. In addition to this, similarly to many PC retailers, refurbishment companies will offer some form of parts warranty (normally a minimum of three months and sometimes up to three years) meaning that any purchaser can feel safe in the knowledge that should something happen, their laptop is covered.

For many companies offering refurbished laptops for sale, it will probably come as no surprise that they are seeing an increase in customers, especially with such good deals to be had. You could well be surprised at what you can get for your money and indeed the choice on offer. If you want a great deal check out SCH Trade's range of refurbished laptops.

NVIDIA Settles In Laptop GPU Class Action Lawsuit

Considering the time frame involved, and the lack of recent publicity many of you out there may have long forgotten about the issue by now, but anyone that was hit by those defective NVIDIA GPUs back in 2008 will want to take notice.

NVIDIA has finally reached a settlement in the class action lawsuit that was the result of hundreds of thousands of laptop users being afflicted with defective GPUs. That means that anyone with an affected Apple, Dell or HP laptop will be eligible for some form of compensation. In the case of Apple and Dell laptops, that includes a replacement of the GPU or MCP, while users of an affected HP laptop will actually get a full replacement laptop "similar in kind and value." Anyone that has already paid to have their laptop repaired due to the GPU issue is also entitled to a full reimbursement provided they have the necessary documentation for the repairs.

A list of the models affected can be found here. You can also click here to see if your specific model is affected by this settlement. For full details checkout the NVIDIA Settlement home page.

Toshiba Libretto W100 High Priced Dual Screen Sexiness

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the company's laptop business, Toshiba introduced three new portable devices - the Portégé R700, the AC100, and the sexy new dual touchscreen Libretto W100.

Touted as he world's first dual touchscreen device to run Windows 7, the ultra portable 7.95" by 4.84" by 1.2" inch Libretto weighs just 1,8lbs and feratures dual 17.8cm (7") 1024 x 600-resolution screens. Powering the W100 is a 1.2GHz Intel Pentium U5400 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 64GB SSD and of course Windows 7 Home Premium. For connectivity the W100 features a 802.11 b/g/n WiFi card and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR5. There is also a 1-megapixel HD Webcam with facial recognition a USB port and built-in memory reader.

For your typing needs there are four virtual keyboard modes simple, thumb and 10-key, plus a quick-launch button all with haptic technology—which offers a sort of tactile feedback that makes typing feel more authentic — as well as a virtual touchpad.

Toshiba is calling the Libretto W100 a "concept PC," however the company is actually planning to bring it to market sometime in August. The price is reportedly going to be a rather high $1,099 with only a limited number available.

For more details checkout the full Toshiba press release and for more images checkout the Libretto W100 set on Flickr

HP Recalls Hundreds of Laptop Batteries

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and/or other safety regulatory authorities, HP announced voluntary recalls and replacement programs for some of the battery packs used in certain HP notebooks.

Recall programs were announced on the following dates:

• May 19, 2010 (Expansion of 5/14 and 10/15/2009 Announcements)
• October 30, 2008
• April 20, 2006
• October 14, 2005

HP and the battery manufacturers believe that certain battery packs shipped in some notebook PC products may pose a potential safety hazard to customers. The batteries can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard. Check to see if your model is listed below and then hit the validation site to confirm if you've got one of the bad ones.

Best Buy Selling $249 Acer Notebook Starting Wed 11/11

Best Buy Unveils Its Lowest-Advertised-Priced Laptop Ever
$249.99 notebook launches robust holiday computing selection

Best Buy will appeal to value-conscious consumers with a dynamic holiday computing selection launching Nov. 11 and featuring the retailer’s lowest-advertised-price laptop ever. Selling in-store and online for $249.99, the Acer laptop delivers solid specifications including an Intel Celeron 900 processor, 2GB memory and a 160GB hard drive, and debuts the extensive seasonal computing offerings at Best Buy.

This holiday, computing selection at Best Buy spans nine popular brands, and includes over 30 laptops, six netbooks, 17 desktops and four all-in-ones. The assortment, coupled with new technologies and promotional offers like the $249.99 Acer laptop, are intended to help both customers who want to upgrade their own gear with the arrival of Windows 7, and who have computing on their wish lists for holiday.

“For many of us, computers are the center of our digital worlds, and Best Buy is committed to remaining a valued partner in this space,” said Jason Bonfig, vice president of computers at Best Buy. “We promise a broad assortment of quality products at a variety of price points, all the major brands, and smart Best Buy Blue Shirts and Geek Squad Agents to help customers feel confident about the choices they’re making.”

From now through the end of December, Best Buy will marshal a distinctive combination of dynamic assortment, exclusive offers and support services to benefit shoppers ready to give the gift of computing this holiday season – whether for loved ones or themselves. The retailer’s holiday line-up includes:

• Broadest-Ever Selection and Newest Technology.

Best Buy and BestBuy.com carry the nine top computing brands (Acer, Apple, Asus, Dell, Gateway, HP, Sony, Toshiba, Lenovo), and more than 30 laptops, six netbooks, 17 desktops and four all-in-ones. Laptops range in price from $249.99 to $1999.99, and eight desktops are priced under $500. Apple laptops range from $999.99 to $2,499.99. Customers can select from newly popular functionality like embedded broadband/Gobi enabled-laptops and netbooks with the customer’s choice of Verizon, Sprint or AT&T as carrier.

Ultra-thin laptops (13-inch, 14-inch, and 15.6 inch) are also available. Large memory machines (6GB of memory) start at $879.99 and Blu-ray laptops at $699.99. Best Buy also offers a wide variety of accessories including products like the Logitech M305 Pattern Mice, Rocketfish Lapdesk, Golla fashion bags and Incase Netbook Sleeves.

• Unique Promotions.

Holiday shoppers will be attracted to offers that deliver value through pricing and performance. In addition to the Acer $249.99 laptop, Best Buy will feature computing products such as the Samsung Netbook (1GB/160/6 Cell/Win 7 – available now), the most competitive Windows 7 netbook offer ever, and Best Buy-Dell Limited Edition Exclusive Netbooks, which are individually numbered and designed by world renowned artists.

Throughout the holiday season, six months of anti-virus protection will be free with the purchase of any laptop/desktop/netbook, and one year of Napster will be included free with any Dell computer purchase. In addition, Best Buy continues its popular exclusive HP in-home networking bundle introduced with Windows 7 arrival. Dubbed the “PC Home Makeover,” for only $1,199.99 customers can purchase an HP desktop, monitor, laptop, netbook, wireless router and Geek Squad setup and networking. The exclusive PC Home Makeover offer is available through mid-January.

• In-Store Service & Post-Purchase Support.

Best Buy Blue Shirts are ready to help customers find the right computer and ensure they have everything they need to get up and running. Geek Squad is available to help set up that new gear, with Agents available in-store, in-home or online. For those customers who want to upgrade to Windows 7 without buying a new PC, Geek Squad has reduced its $129.99 operating system install service charge to just $39.99. The service allows customers to upgrade their Windows XP or Windows Vista operating system to Windows 7 without the hassle of doing it themselves through January.

To learn more about how Best Buy’s holiday computing selection will help make your season jolly, visit your local Best Buy store or www.bestbuy.com/computing.

Source: BusinessWire

*Update 11/10 12:10Am*

The link (click here), is now live and active. The deal is for an Acer Extensa Laptop model EX5230E-2177 with an Intel Celeron 900 Processor. It looks like this is going to be a one day only sale though so anyone wanting to get in on it better jump quickly.

Product Features

• Quantities limited. Minimum 5 per store. Not available in all BestBuy stores. No backorders.
  
  
• Intel® Celeron processor 900
  Features an 800MHz frontside bus, 1MB L2 cache and 2.2GHz processor speed.
• 2GB DDR2 memory
  For multitasking power, expandable to 4GB.
• Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support
  Records up to 8.5GB of data or 4 hours of video using compatible DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media; also supports DVD-RAM.
• 15.4" LCD high-brightness widescreen display
  With 1280 x 800 resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio showcases movies and games in stunning clarity.
• 160GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 rpm)
  Offers spacious storage and fast read/write times.
• Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
  For lush graphics. 2 built-in stereo speakers with high-definition audio support.
• Built-in webcam with digital microphone
  Makes it easy to video chat with family and friends.
• 3 high-speed USB 2.0 ports
  For fast digital video, audio and data transfer.
• Built-in 802.11b/g/Draft-N wireless LAN
  Wirelessly connect to the Internet.
• Built-in 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
  With RJ-45 connector for quick and easy wired Web connection.
• Weighs 6.3 lbs. and measures just 1.7" thin
  For portable power.
• Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-bit operating system preinstalled
  Provides a stable platform for word processing, Web navigation, gaming, media storage and more.
• Software package included
  With Adobe Reader and more. 60-day trial version of Microsoft Office Professional 2007 also included.
• ENERGY STAR qualified
  Designed to use less energy and meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy.

After Much Talk And Anticipation Dell Finally Unveils Adamo Laptop

Dell Introduces Adamo Brand with Launch of the World’s Thinnest Laptop

Style-minded people who place a premium on precision craftsmanship and design can now add Adamo to their list of must-have items for 2009. Dell today unveiled the world’s thinnest laptop as a kick off to the new Adamo by Dell brand.

Adamo, derived from the Latin word meaning “to fall in love,” will serve as a flagship in a line of products created to disrupt the personal computing space with the combination of new design aesthetics, personalization choices and sought-after technologies.

The News:

• Adamo is the pinnacle of craftsmanship and design and features:
• A chassis milled from a single piece of aluminum featuring precision detailing and a scalloped backlit keyboard
• Striking high definition edge-to-edge glass display
• Fully connected with WiFi, Bluetooth™ and optional integrated mobile broadband** and full complement of connectivity ports with no compromises
• Cool, quiet and robust solid state drives
• Available in Onyx and Pearl colors with a broad range of complementary accessories
• Price starting at $1999

Quotes:

• “Great design needs to be timeless and evoke emotion in people”, said Alex Gruzen, senior vice president of Dell’s consumer products. ”While a premium computing experience was assumed for Adamo, the intent was for people to see, touch and explore Adamo and be rewarded by the select materials and craftsmanship you would expect in a fine watch.”
• “Dell continues to signal a commitment to design and personalization across its entire product line and has made significant strides forward in the past year,” said Rob Enderle, Principal Analyst, Enderle Group. “The Adamo laptop is a showcase for this commitment and a flagship product that will draw buyers to the brand.”

People who choose Adamo will be offered a unique color matched collection of Adamo by Dell branded peripherals and accessories including, in the U.S. an exclusive line of bags from TUMI. Choices will include:

• External storage option with 250GB or 500GB external hard drive.
• External DVD+/-RW or Blu-ray disc™ drive.
• 8GB*** USB drive.
• Connectors and cables including DisplayPort to HDMI, DVI, and VGA.
• Adamo Premium Service (US Only):
• 24/7 access to Dell’s best trained technicians
• Consistent communication with a dedicated personal team

The Adamo by Dell brand is being supported by innovative and new approaches to marketing and promotion for Dell. Designed to challenge people’s perceptions of what a computer is, the Adamo by Dell brand was inspired by fashion, luxury brands and timeless design.

Dell has looked beyond traditional approaches to reaching computer shoppers and launched a provocative campaign featuring:

• A stylish worldwide print campaign shot by acclaimed British-based photographer Nadav Kander and featuring high-fashion models that reinforces the “fall in love” positioning. Kander, whose work is celebrated in galleries worldwide, also shot the moving portfolio, “Obama’s People,” which appeared in The New York Times Magazine earlier this year.
• AdamoByDell.com, the centerpiece of the campaign and a highly stylized site where viewers can learn about Adamo, register for updates and, beginning today, place orders. Since its launch last month, AdamoByDell.com has attracted nearly 800,000 unique visitors from around the world and more than 1 million page views.
• Artful packaging in which the product arrives “floating” in a clear box with minimal clutter - a beautiful experience for a sophisticated product.

Product Specifications:

• Intel Core 2 Duo processors with Intel® Centrino® technology
• DDR3 system memory
• 13.4-inch 16:9 HD display
• Draft-Wireless N
• High-performance solid state drives standard
• Bluetooth 2.1
• Mobile Broadband option
• Up to 5+ hours of battery life (preliminary)
• 2 USB ports, 1 USB/eSATA combo port, Display Port, RJ-45 port
• Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-bit

Available for pre-order today at www.adamobydell.com and shipping worldwide starting March 26, 2009, Adamo will be available online for purchase in 24 countries including U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, U.K. France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, ANZ, China, Honk Kong, India, Korea, Malaysia/Singapore, Japan, and Indonesia.

Links:
www.AdamoByDell.com
www.dell.com
www.dell.com/designstudio
www.flickr.com/photos/dellphotos

Source: Dell Press Release

ASUS Launches the G71- World's First Quad Core Gaming Notebook

Earlier this week ASUS announced the world's first Intel Quad Core Gaming notebook — the ASUS G71. From the specs the G71 looks like its going to be quit the gamer! However early price puts the ASUS G71V-A1 core 2 duo equipped laptop at around $2k, so be prepared to hand over some cash for all the performance as the quad core will likely be considerably higher.



Thew G71 is packed with a rather impressive array of high performance components, such as a 17” Crystal Shine high brightness display with a response time of 8 ms, powered by a NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GT GDDR3 512 MB graphics card. The G71 also features up to 4 GB of DDR3 1066MHz system memory coupled with dual hard disk drives of up to 1 TB (500 GB x 2)—enabling users to enjoy multimedia entertainment and games while on the move.

ASUS G71 Specifications:

• CPU Options
  Intel® Quad Core QX9300
  Intel® Core™2 Duo Extreme Processor X9100
  Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T9600/ T9400/ P8600/ P8400/ P7350
• Mobile Intel® PM45 Express Chipset +ICH9M-E
• Intel® WiMAX/ WiFi Link 5100
• Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate
• Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium
• DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM, up to 4GB
• NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GT with 512MB GDDR3 VRAM
• Intel® Turbo Memory Technology with 2GB NANDFlash(optional)
• 17" WUXGA, High Brightness, Color Shine
• Dual hard disk drives and single hard disk drive (optional);
  1 terabyte (500 GB x 2) 5,400 rpm
  640 GB (320 GB x 2) 5,400 rpm
  500 GB (250 GB x 2) 5,400 rpm
  400 GB (200 GB x 2) 7,200 rpm
  200 GB, 7,200 rpm
• DVD Super Multi Double Layer/ Light Scribe/ DVD combo / Blu-ray DVD writer
• 2-megapixel swivel web camera
• Built-in Bluetooth™ V2.1+EDR(optional feature)

Direct Console 2.0
Direct Console 2.0 is an all-in-one gaming control interface that allows users to select from three processor speed settings depending on their mode of usage. The same interface also includes controls for Direct Messenger, enabling communication utilities such as Instant Messaging (MSN™), Meeting and E-mail notification. The gaming hotkeys enable users to launch their favorite games with a single touch and execute in-game commands on-the-fly. The chassis of the G71 also features a programmable lighting system, which lights up and blinks during in-game events. These lights can be configured through the Direct Console 2.0, providing the user with a pyrotechnic-like ambience while in the game.

Direct Messenger
Users can now read their emails and communicate via Instant Messaging (MSN™) through the Direct Messenger. Acting as a secondary display, it displays email notifications, instant messages, battery reserves and system loadings in real-time even during a game in progress. This allows users to keep in touch with their friends and family while multitasking between various applications.

Entertainment and Style on the Move
The G71 incorporates several entertainment features that promise to give users a gaming experience like none other. Altec Lansing speakers equipped with a subwoofer deliver excellent sound reproduction, further complimented by Dolby™ Home Theater. A 2.0 megapixel webcam allows users to communicate visually through Skype™ or MSN™; while a dedicated game keyboard layout provides them with strategically placed movement keys on a full-sized keyboard—granting them quick access to their in-game inventories and allowing them to issue commands in the shortest time possible. These features combine to provide an entire host of gamer-centric features for users to immerse themselves in a world of audio and visual entertainment with style.

Fun for Everyone
The G71 may have the sheer power to sate the needs the most serious of gamers, but it is also very suitable for those who prefer to play games on a more casual basis. Attaching ASUS' innovative Eee Stick—a simple plug and play gaming solution that allows users to interact with the game by translating their hand motions into corresponding movements onscreen—for example, will instantly transform the G71 into a mobile gaming console. The easy-to-use and family-friendly Eee Stick—which works with all of ASUS' notebooks—consists of an Activation stick, a Navigation stick and a 2.4GHz RF dongle. It has a broadcast range of up to 10 meters, allowing users more leeway for physical movement. Boasting three modes of operation, the Eee Stick can be used with a myriad of game genres, ranging from sports and shooting, to action and beat 'em up games.

Source: ASUS

Rumor: Apple Shipping $800 MacBook

The we is a buzz about the possibility of a new $800 Macbook. The rumor is fueled by reports at the Inquisitr sitting a source that has already received the new pricing list.

The Inquisitr claims that their source, an Apple retailer, has already been given the new price lists for Apple's upcoming laptops and that there are 12 price points ranging from $800 to $3100. Current laptops are said to have only 8 retail price points: 3 Macbooks (starting at $1099), 3 Macbook Pros and 2 Macbook Airs.

Duncan Riley, the author of the post, said he exclusively got the dirt from "a source we would categorize as reliable, would have access to such information, and who has been accurate in the past."

The folks at MacRumors seem a bit skeptical. Arnold Kim writes, "While The Inquisitr has no prior track record with Apple rumors, the owner of the site and author of the report is a relatively established blogger. One potential cause for doubt is that their source claims that "retail outlets usually get the price lists 10 days before products hit the market" which is not typical. Historically, price lists have appeared as early as a few days ahead of launch. The longest lead time in recent memory was about four days prior to a Monday iMac launch."

Apple has been cutting prices on some of their products so it isn't out of the realm of possibility. If anything I'm leaning towards a lower end product, I doubt the specs would blow us out of the water. But I guess we'll just have to wait until Oct. 14th to see if the rumor is true or not.

NVIDIA Launches GeForce 9M Series Notebook GPUs

NVIDIA claims that the new GeForce 9M GPUs are up to 40% faster than the previous generation GeForce 8M parts and as much as ten times faster than a certain chip giant's "generic" integrated GPUs, namely, Intel.

"Beginning this summer, GeForce 9M GPUs and Hybrid SLI, paired with AMD and Intel CPUs, will enable a new breed of notebooks," said Jeff Fisher, senior vice president of the GPU business at NVIDIA. "These new notebooks will be optimized to deliver a visual experience and raw computing performance that traditional cookie-cutter notebooks with integrated graphics simply can’t touch."

With the launch of the GeForce 9M Series of notebook GPUs, NVIDIA has once again engineered the world’s fastest notebook GPUs, designed for running today’s graphically intensive games, 3D applications and HD movies at extreme resolutions. In addition, this new GPU features a multi-core architecture which will not only speed up entertainment applications, but will also speed up today’s lifestyle applications, like video encoding from a PC to a small personal media device, where the speed up in the video conversion is up to 5x faster with the GeForce 9M family GPUs."

In addition, the new GeForce 9M notebook GPUs enable the world’s first notebooks with Hybrid SLI technology. The new technology enables two NVIDIA GPUs, one low-power and one high-performance, to work cooperatively in the same PC to deliver two features—GeForce Boost and HybridPower™. These features deliver more performance from both GPUs for visual computing when needed, or save power by switching to the low-power GPU when not. Hybrid SLI gives users the quality and performance benefits of a high-performance GPU without sacrificing battery life.

The NVIDIA GeForce 9M family of GPUs also feature:

• A new graphics engine that delivers up to 40% faster performance than the previous generation GeForce notebook GPUs and 10x the performance of integrated graphics solutions
• New PureVideo® HD video processing features for improved color and contrast
• Full support for the latest Blu-ray advancements including BD-Live and dual-stream video playback
• Extensive multi-display connectivity with support for all the latest display standards including DVI, HDMI 1.3, Display Port 1.1, and VGA
• Support for the new MXM version 3.0 graphics module specification

"With the recent addition of advanced features to Blu-ray and the complexity of DirectX 10 games like Crysis, PC users need more graphics processing performance than today’s generic integrated graphics can deliver," said Rene Haas, general manager of the notebook business at NVIDIA. "The new GeForce 9M series meets this need while also delivering processing muscle for applications beyond gaming and graphics."

The new GeForce 9M GPUs will power the visual computing experience in over a hundred notebook models beginning this summer. For more information, please visit www.nvidia.com.

Source: Nvidia.com

Caught In The Act Dell Releases "Mini Inspiron" Photos

Gizmodo’s Brian Lam caught Michael Dell hauling around a mini laptop at the All Things D conference, the notebook just happened to be the new "Mini Inspiron".

Lam snapped a few photos which were immediately placed on Gizmodo leaving Dell no choice but to come clean. Shortly after Gizmodo spilled the beans on the tiny notebook, the Direct2Dell blog site went ahead and released two more images of the sub-$500 Mini Inspiron in all of its Candy Red glory.




It's hard to get an idea of how large the screen is, but everyone is guessing that it's likely 9" running at a resolution of 1024x600. The keyboard also looks to be a bit on the small side and lacks function keys on the top row. And although official specifications for the device haven't been announced, it's almost a given that the Mini Inspiron will feature a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor and a 945G chipset. The Mini Inspiron will be available with Windows XP or Ubuntu Linux.

For the real world shots Brian Lam took of the Mini Inspiron, head over to Gizmodo.

Dell Gives Inspiron Notebooks 45-nanometer Penryn CPUs

Dell will soon be fitting several of its Inspiron notebooks with Intel's new 45-nanometer Penryn processors.

Dell spokeswoman Anne Camden said that consumers will be able to order Penryn-based Inspiron 1420, 1525 and 1720 systems in the next few weeks. She also noted that Dell will be adding Penryn to its XPS M1330 and plans to offer Penryn processors to more XPS laptop models this spring.

"People want it because it's Intel's newest processor technology," Camden said. "The 45-nanometer technology delivers better performance, and it also brings in better battery performance."

[Source: Computerworld]

Laptops Of The Future

Ever wonder what laptops will look like three to five years? Well thanks to Computerworld and a handful of designers, engineers and marketers we get a sneak peek of how laptops will change over the next seven years.

"Between now and 2015, we expect to see a series of big changes that will redefine what a notebook is and what it looks like," said Mike Trainor, Intel Corp.'s evangelist for mobile products.

While some of these designs are down right wild some are extremely innovative. Take for instance the screenless Siafu. A touch based concept for the visually impaired. Because the blind can't see what's on the screen, Siafu converts images into corresponding 3-D shapes that are created with Magneclay, an oil-based synthetic material that instantly forms shapes in response to electrical fields.

More images from Computerworld

More Power

While the current laptop models are running dual and in some limited instances Quad Core Cpus, the next generation will be running six to eight computational cores.

Storage will no longer be a concern, as the typical mainstream notebook could be outfitted with a 2TB hard disk drive. Lower costs in SSD's will also mean more mainstream push to the faster lighter devices. We can look to having something like 250GB of super fast flash memory.

Powering all this will still likely fall to lithium-ion cells as batteries will continue to dominate the power scene. However they will become smaller, lighter and will be formed in a variety of shapes and sizes. Meaning designers will be able to pack more into a smaller space, providing more power.


Brighter, lighter displays

OLEDs with touchscreen capabilities that draw far less power and, when powered from a battery, can operate longer will be the main stay. OLED's are flexible, brighter and lighter than today's LCD screens. All making for a much more portable, much more viewable laptop.

More images from Computerworld

Checkout more on the article at Computerworld.com

24 Ultralight Notebooks

"Ultralight portable laptops from Dell, Toshiba, Panasonic, and Fujitsu promise mobile productivity in a slender package, but can this crop of lightweights get the job done?"
Read the full article by Bill O'Brien at InformationWeek

Acer Releases Two Blu-Ray Laptops

Wednesday Aspire announced the release of the Gemstone Blue 8920g and 6920g, Acer's new multimedia notebooks. The laptops are part of the "Blue" series, which refers to the notebook's blue, black, and silver color scheme and interior/exterior lighting effects.

The 8920g will have an 18" foot print and features a Blu-ray drive, one or two hard drives with a possible combined capacity of 640GB, NVidia GeForce graphics, and up to 4GB of DDR2 667-MHz memory.

The notebook also includes an integrated TV tuner, six integrated speakers, and support for Dolby Home Theater sound technology. In addition, there's a touch-sensitive media console for navigating menus and adjusting volume without going through the standard Windows menu.

The smaller 6920 line will be a 16" footprint will pack many of the same features and is powered by the same Intel Centrino platform with only half the hard drive capacity.

No word on pricing at the moment but it is expected to range from about $900 to $1,700.

The Web's Best Laptop CPU Guides

Confused about laptop CPU choices? I'll be the first to tell you you aren't alone. I've been shopping around for a good laptop on a reasonable budget for months now and the 20-30 different CPU choices out there leave your head spinning. And if a technophile like me is confused then how can the average consumer fare?

Luckily I've found a few great guides that will help answer some of those questions and guide you along the way to making the informed choice. The guys over at NotebookReview.com, NotebookCheck.net and Tom's Hardware have built a couple great guides. Some with benchmarks and side by side comparisons and some just well written guides that everyone interested in buying a laptop should checkout.

First off is the "The Ultimate CPU Guide" from NotebookReview.com. This very informative guide provides a breakdown of both AMD and Intel CPU's from the older Celeron M 520 to the new Core 2 Extreme X9000.

Second is the Mobile CPU Benchmark Chart from NotebookCheck.com. This is a sorted and filtered table of the best-known laptop processors. It contains technical information such as model, codename, speed ratings, cache ratings, front side bus (FSB) Thermal Design Power (TDP) and average benchmark values.

Last but not least are the interactive Mobile CPU 2007 and 2008 Charts from Tom's Hardware. Unfortunately these charts are very limited to only a few processors. However they give some real life side by side comparisons. A great tool for beginners and advanced users alike.