ASUS Primed to Release Sandy Bridge Laptops

ASUS is good and ready with Sandy Bridge being on desktops but it comes as no great surprise that the company would be trying to integrate Intel's latest technology into their mobile computing platforms as well. According to Notebook Italia, there seems to be some concrete evidence of four separate models of ASUS laptops getting the Sandy Bridge treatment, including a hefty gaming rig known as the G73SW.

According to information out now, the G73SW will be based on the Intel Quad Core processor with Huron River Sandy Bridge. The device will also have Intel Core i7-2630QM, 8GB of DDR3 RAM at 133MHz, a 17.3-inch LCD screen with 1920x1080 pixel resolution Full HD, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n and USB 3.0 dual storage bays. Data storage can also be carried out by up to 2 hard drives. ASUS has decided to use two SATA 500GB 7200rpm signed Seagate Momentus XT series hybrid drives with a 4GB SSD.

Adding more to this already great device, ASUS is adding a Blu-ray drive and a dedicated graphics card in the form of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460m 1.5GB GDDR5 graphics card. The G73SW is available online for a price somewhere between $2,500 and $2,700. In addition to the G73SW news has also trickled out about the more compact G53SW.

This device is already available in some online shops and will come with an Intel Core i7-2630QM, 8GB of RAM, 1TB of data storage space on the hard disk, the GeForce GTX 460m graphics card, Blu-ray, webcam, microphone, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth and a 15.6-inch HD screen. Both of these devices run Windows 7 OS Home Premium 64bit and come with a carrying case, gaming mouse and guaranteed two year warranty. Alternately, you can get a lesser version of the G53SW which comes with 6GB of DDR3 RAM, 640GB of hard drive space and a DVD burner for around $1,700. Expect to see more details about these products at CES 2011.

Source: Engadget, Notebook Italia

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Digital Storm's New xm15 Gaming Laptop

Digital Storm has just announced their newest product, the xm15, a powerful new lightweight laptop based on NVIDIA's Optimus Hybrid Technology. The xm15 is a different kind of laptop that delivers targeted, extreme performance when you need it so you will always enjoy longer operation without losing the ability to enjoy the visual intensity of HD movies, multimedia applications, web surfing and gaming.

This laptop delivers high graphics for a variety of multimedia content due to NVIDIA's powerful GT 425M 1GB video card. By utilizing NVIDIA's Optimus Hybrid technology, this laptop can defer operation to a second separate integrated Intel graphics processor for less intensive applications. This switch happens automatically and seamlessly meaning that there is no interruption in operation.

By increasing and decreasing performance whenever necessary, the xm15 is able to extend battery life exponentially. The powerful video card in this device makes it not surprising at all that the xm15 has a 1080p HD LED screen that is capable of producing some truly incredible images.

The xm15 puts your benchmark tests to shame as well. It routinely scores above 7200 on 3DMark06 which puts it in the upper levels of laptop performance. Thanks to a built-in light speed eSATA and USB 3.0 transfer ports, you will never have to be tethered to stagnant bulk data. In addition to that, the xm15 comes with a built-in HDMI and VGA outputs, which means it can be taken anywhere and displayed everywhere.

According to Rajeev Kuruppu, Digital Storm's Director of Product Development, "The power demands of high performance laptops have always put a strain on battery life. With the development of NVIDIA's Optimus Hybrid Technology, we're finally able to design an affordable laptop that can handle graphics intensive applications. Our xm15 is the ideal solution for customers who want to consume graphically rich multimedia content, game or just browse the internet...it's truly a hybrid in every definition of the word."

Full specs of the xm15 consist of a 2.4GHz Core i5-520M, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 320GB HDD and NVIDIA's 425M 1GB graphics card for a base rate of $999. You can also increase your build to have a 2.53GHz Core i5-540M for $1,086 or a 2.8GHz Core i7-640M for $1,367.

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Color E-Books at the iBookstore

The New York Times has said that Apple is now making a huge push for the illustrated e-books that they have available in their iBookstore.

The newest version of Apple’s iPad e-reader software, iBook 1.2, was released on Wednesday, December 15, and it introduced more than 100 new color e-books to the store. The Times reported that these new color books include children’s books, cookbooks, and photo books.

A few of the titles that have made the list include: chef Thomas Keller's cookbook, "Ad Hoc at Home," several books from the "Olivia" children's book series, and photographer Ansel Adams' collection of images called "In the National Parks."

With the announcement Apple seems to be focusing a lot on the addition of illustrated children’s books. The Times said that the company seemed very excited about it as well as many different publishers.

Jon Anderson, publisher from Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, said that his publishing company has been "itching to do it since e-books became possible." Unfortunately, for a while there was a lack of color options for e-books, but now there are endless possibilities. "It finally gives us the opportunity to have our picture books join the e-book revolution," said Anderson in an interview. "It gives us great opportunity to monetize our content in a way that we previously haven't been able to."

Simon & Schuster are releasing some great titles that will be included with the new color e-books released at the iBookstore. Some of these titles include: Candace Fleming's "Tippy-Tippy-Tippy, Hide!", Elise Broach's "When Dinosaurs Came With Everything," and Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell's "And Tango Makes Three."

The Times said that, according to Anderson, at the start of 2011 color e-books will begin to be released at the same exact time as the print edition of the book. Right now, this is already what has been going on for text-only e-books and their print versions, but soon it will apply to all e-books.

Apple told the Times that there will be many other publishers producing color e-books for the iBookstore in the near future. Just a few of these include: Disney Publishing, HarperCollins, the Hachette Book Group, and MacMillan and Workman Publishing.

This newest development for the iPad may cause some more issues for Amazon’s Kindle. The Kindle is equipped with an E-ink screen, which means that it cannot handle color. Apple’s iPad has been the preferred e-book reader by the majority of customers up to this point anyway, but this latest color development could cause even more distance between the sales numbers of the iPad and Kindle.

Apple’s new developments will most likely put some pressure on Amazon, and it could possibly result in a new color e-reader from the company.

Amazon has sold millions of Kindles, probably due to the E-ink screen featured on the device. The E-ink, backlit LCD screen featured on the Kindle makes it easy to read things on the tablet even in the bright sunlight, unlike the iPad and the Nook Color e-readers. Despite this great feature on the Kindle, they will definitely need to quickly look into developing a color e-book reader if they want to keep up with the other e-book readers available.

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Google Cr-48 Chrome Netbook

Just because the official release of the cloud-based Chrome OS is still months away, it hasn't stopped Google from launching a massive pilot program. This program offers specially-chosen end users, Google employees and journalists, their own prototype Chrome netbook known as the Cr-48. The sad thing is that these 12.1-inch laptops will never be sold commercially, but they do offer an extremely detailed preview of what can be expected from the very first Chrome systems that will be launched mid-2011.

The Cr-48's are not nor will they ever be available to consumers, so it is safe to say that the current design and hardware will more than likely not be exactly the same. On the other hand, there are several interesting things about these test products that may inspire things in the final product.

The Cr-48 is very similar in design to the MacBook. The chassis is rounded and shaped like one of the plastic MacBooks from the last generation and both devices have roughly the same keyboard size, shape and layout. Heck, even the hinges are similar. The chassis is made of a soft, black rubberized material which makes it comfortable to lay your wrists on it. The size is also very convenient coming in at 11.8 x 8.6 x 0.9 inches which makes it easy to fit in a carrying case or on your lap. However, the weight seems a bit heavy for the size ration as this device comes in weighing around 3.8 pounds.

The isolated layout of the keyboard offers you good feedback and key placement which makes typing extremely simple, but users will notice that the keyboard is void of any function keys. Instead, the Cr-48 has dedicated keys for forward, back, refresh, full screen mode, change windows, increase brightness, decrease brightness, mute, increase audio, decrease audio and power on/off. The caps lock key has also been replaced by a search button due to the fact that Google says they wish to "discourage all-caps typing."

The keyboard also has a bunch of shortcuts that you would typically see on the Windows version of Chrome. These shortcuts include things like CTRL + H for your browser history, CTRL + W to close a tab and CTRL +/- for zoom in and out. If you want to see a full list of these commands, all you have to do is hit CTRL + ALT + ?. You won't find any buttons on the touch pad. However, like a majority of netbooks on today's market, the touch pad itself is, in fact, a button. Many people do not like clicky touch pads, especially if they like to scroll with one finger and click with another.

The Cr-48 has a 12.1-inch screen with a resolution of 1280 x 800. This, as many of you probably already know, is extremely rare on netbooks but is a more than welcome addition. It allows plenty of vertical screen space for easy viewing of web pages and the matte surface of the screen allows the Cr-48 to provide very strong viewing angles to the left and the right.

The Cr-48 doesn't have a lot of ports on it unlike other devices. The right side of the netbook has an SD card reader as well as an audio jack and USB port. The left side includes a VGA port. Storage devices and memory cards work for uploading files to the cloud but do little else. The USB port also supports wired and wireless mouses.

If Google isn't trustworthy, then I don't know who is because, true to their word, the initial setup of the Cr-48 takes only a minute. After powering on the device for the very first time, you are prompted to configure your internet connection by selecting a Wi-Fi network. After this, you are asked to agree to the Google EULA and then to login with a Google account. Then you are given the option to take a personal picture with the integrated webcam which will, if you desire, accompany your login.

The one problem many people are reporting with the login is that the device does not recognize any login that is not followed by @gmail.com. Even if you use any number of accounts that are registered with Google, the Cr-48 will not recognize them. So, if you do not have a valid Gmail account, then you have hit a dead end in the login prompt because creating one during setup is impossible. If this happens, then you may need to log on to another computer that is not a Chrome-OS device and create a Gmail account ending in @gmail.com.

Google is definitely trying to shake things up in the netbook market with this device. A netbook designed completely around Chrome is a bold attempt, but if any company can do it, I'd put my money on Google. I mean, it is only a matter of time before they take over the world.

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Chrome OS and Android

Some people may wonder what the difference is between Google’s Chrome OS devices and their Android devices. For the longest time, I really wasn’t exactly sure myself, but for right now, it seems that the biggest difference is simply a keyboard.

Google’s Chrome OS seems to definitely be much more directed at netbooks and notebooks, while Android seems to be much more useful for the company’s vision of tablets. Linus Upson, the engineer director of both Chrome OS and Android, said in an interview that the company views the Chrome OS as “very focused on laptops.” This statement basically means that devices with a keyboard will be receiving the new OS.

"From a Chrome OS perspective, we're open source, you can look at everything," continued Upson in the interview. "We've done a whole range of mockups across a wide range of form factors.

Continued here: What's the Difference Between Chrome OS and Android?

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Mac App Store Opening December 13th?

One of the biggest things people love about the iPhone, iPad and even the iPad Touch is the fact that they can go online and add hundreds of thousands of apps to their device if they want to. By opening up the App store, they can add games, wallpapers, tools or just about anything you could imagine to their device with a touch of the screen.

Well, news has been cuirculating recently that Apple is going to open up its very own, personalized app store, and thanks to recent news from Appletell, we may be getting the store sooner than we expected, a lot sooner.

According to Appletell, an inside source has claimed that Apple is targeting a Monday, December 13th launch of their Mac App Store. Apple supposedly told developers for apps featured on the Mac App Store to have their products ready to go as soon as December 6th, but that doesn't seem likely.

As for Apple, the company has yet to make any official announcement about this early release of the Mac App Store, and there is always the threat of delays. However, there has seemed to be a push to get the app store out before Christmas, which is well ahead of the previously stated January release date.

According to Appletell, the push is coming from none other than Steve Jobs himself. It was reported that Jobs wanted to go sooner than December 6th, but that obviously didn't happen. Nevertheless, Apple does seem to be way ahead of schedule on the Mac App Store.

Trying to hit the rush is a good idea, but many people are wondering how a digital software system will work as a Christmas present. Gift cards for the Mac App store are said to be coming out with the launch, which will make an excellent last second gift.

It is still very unclear if Apple will hit their target of a December 13th release date, or if this is actually true at all. If it is, and the company does meet their deadline, then there are going to be a lot of happy Mac fans come this holiday season.

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Dell Vostro V130: A Fancier Vostro

Dell unleashed a brand new Vostro today in the form of the Vostro V130, the latest and most stunning addition to Dell's Vostro lineup of laptops. The V130 is designed with the wants and needs of on-the-go entrepreneurs in its cross-hairs. This new device combines great style with reliable durability as well as top notch security as an added bonus. What is better about the V130 is that it is one of the thinnest laptops in the series, measuring 0.65", and also one of the lightest, weighing in at only 3.5 pounds.

There is a lot to boast about with the V130. The laptop is a 13-inch model constructed from sturdy aluminum which is reinforced with zinc hinges and a magnesium alloy palm rest. The V130 is also the very first ultra-thin laptop to offer Hyperbaric Cooling, allowing it to stay quieter and cooler than most other laptops.

To increase the productivity of the V130, the laptop is able to run Windows 7 with ease while at the same time performing everyday tasks effortlessly due to the new Intel Core ULV processor. The V130 also comes equipped with a full keyboard and a 13.3-inch HD WLED display as well as a host of other features. Users are able to choose their own level of 24/7 coverage with optional Dell ProSupport services and even Accidental Damage Services2. In addition to that, users can also get help with DellConnect 3. This allows tech-support agents to troubleshoot your system and even repair it remotely.

According to Vice President of Small and Medium Business Research at IDC, Ray Boggs, "Small and mid-sized firms are re-examining their IT needs and are ready to implement technology that gives them comprehensive access to all the capabilities they need, even while on the road. Notebook PCs are on SMB shopping lists in a big way as firms shift from desktops and implement product refreshes that have long been delayed. Dell continues to keep SMB needs in focus with effective design, connectivity options and more processing muscle."

The V130 is not only being hailed as an all around great laptop but also as the perfect laptop for small businesses around the country. The Vostro V130 laptop from Dell, being praised as the best in the entire Vostro series, cleans up a lot of issues people had with the first version, the Dell Vostro V13. Small business owners should definitely take a look at this device if an ultra portable on the go laptop is something they have been looking for. The Vostro V130 from Dell is available now for a starting price of $429.

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New Social Media-Focused Netbook Released

A new social media-focused netbook was released in the UK on Wednesday, November 24th. The developers of Jolicloud, a popular version of Linux that was first introduced in 2008, have just released their own netbook. The Jolibook by Vye was specifically designed to cater to users who mostly utilize their PC for their many different social media needs ranging from social networking to watching movies or YouTube videos.

Fortunate for individuals in the U.S. who are interested in such a social media netbook, Jolicloud’s Web site advertises that the netbook, which is £279.99, (roughly $380 in the United States) is available in the “UK only for now.” This insinuates that there will most likely be a global push of the netbook sometime soon.

What really makes the Jolibook stand out from the crowd of 10.1-inch netbooks available right now is not just its social media focus, but also its Jolicloud OS. If you currently have Google Chrome, you can sign up for a sample browser version of the OS. The browser version is what some would describe as a “glorified bookmark.” You can easily add different shortcuts to things like Twitter, Facebook, Farmville, New York Times Skimmer, etc., and you can also download apps that will open up new tabs to multiple other pages at once. Basically, you can have all of your favorite Web services in an easily-accessible layout that even gives you the ability to explore and find new apps that you are unfamiliar with.

Another interesting app with Jolicloud allows you to add other Jolicloud users to your streaming feed. When you do this, you will then be able to see the different apps that they have used and enjoyed that you might be interested in. On top of that, there is also local and Web-based storage with Jolicloud. It links you to various services that you can store your data with like Box.net, Dropbox, and ZumoDrive.

The Jolibook has a very chic, stylish, eye-catching design that is sure to appeal to a younger audience, possibly ranging somewhere from 15 to 25 years old. Despite the flashy lid of the netbook, the inside is a pretty standard design. The keyboard keys are spaced out at a very comfortable distance, but unfortunately, at times the touchpad on the device can be a little jumpy.

On the inside the Jolibook features 1024 x 600 resolution, an Intel GMA 3150 graphics card, 1 GB of DDR3 memory, a 1.5-GHz Intel Atom N550 processor, and a 250GB hard drive. The battery is supposed to last up to seven hours (which most likely is a slightly inflated number), and the netbook features a variety of ports including: 3 USB 2.0 ports, an 8-in-1 card reader, VGA port, Eathernet port, Bluetooth v2.1, built-in 300k pixel web cam, and microphone and headphone jack.

Performance-wise, the Jolibook is incredibly quick, much faster than any available Windows system, and can boot up from being cold within 20 seconds.

Although as of right now the Jolibook is only available in the UK, it seems as though it will be available in the U.S. and other countries sometime in the near future. It is definitely a great portable device for teens and younger adults. It has great features, decent battery life, a web cam, and the oh so very intriguing Jolicloud OS. If you’re looking for a snazzy, artsy-looking netbook that is jam-packed with all the features you could possible need to handle all of your social media cravings and needs, then the Jolibook is the netbook for you. For more information you should check out Jolicloud’s official website.

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Apple Mac Book Air 2010 Gets the Colorware Treatment

Do you smell that? It smells like fresh baked cookies and crazy packed shopping malls. That's right, it's the holidays again and many people will be scouring the stores for the best holiday gifts they can find for that special someone in their life. One of the most popular gifts many people will be asking for is none other than the Mac Book Air from Apple.

Now what many of you may already know is that the Mac Book Air is a great laptop, but it doesn't look that exciting. There isn't anything about it that makes it look any better than any other laptop out there.......until now. Thanks to Colorware, Mac Book aficionados can feel even more like an individual.

If you are looking to acquire a Mac Book Air 2010, it can be custom tailored to your specific color specifications. The only thing Colorware asks in return is a measly $1,850. Sure, many of you out there can make fun of the price and say how "expensive" it is but let's be honest, that isn't that much for a completely customized Mac Book Air 2010.

There is one, big resounding problem with this option from Colorware. Should you be one of the fortunate fancy pants out there who already owns a Mac Book Air 2010 you can not send it into Colorware to be refinished. You have to buy a completely brand new device from Colorware themselves. Customers have the option of buying the 11.6-inch model or the 13-inch model, whichever floats their boat. (Update - You can now send in your Macbook Air Design Studio for colorization.)

The devices that Colorware already has on display for their customizations are really cool-looking and to me it seems like they are really worth it. But then again the choice is up to you. However, they may make a great Christmas present.

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PeeWee Pivot 2.0

Children are naturally curious. Most of the time when they see an adult, whether it be a parent or whatever, they generally want to copy or mimic what they see. I can't tell you how many times I have witnessed my younger cousins pretending to talk on the phone or play with an iPod. While their general curiosity is cute, I can't say that it doesn't get me a little on edge when I see the little buggers looking at my laptop or phone with eager anticipation.

Most people are very reserved about handing over expensive pieces of technology to younger individuals. The tendency of young children to find a way to break something expensive or valuable is something that makes people think twice before letting their kid play on their laptop. That is why the company PeeWee exists. PeeWee is one of the leading manufacturers of computer products and accessories, and they have just announced the availability of the all new Pivot 2.0 laptop.

The Pivot 2.0 is rugged, durable and lightweight and it is also fully loaded and features a 180° rotating touchscreen tablet and camera, 15 educational games, Microsoft XP Home, Intel Atom N450 processor, retractable carrying handle and a water resistant keyboard. The Pivot 2.0 features a durable exterior case as well as incredible security protection. The sturdy plastic shell, rubber slip-resistant grips and water resistant keyboard are all perfect features for a child's laptop.

The Pivot 2.0 is able to withstand the everyday hustle and bustle of a kid including traveling to and from school, playing in the car or just relaxing at home. To ensure maximum safety and protection, the Pivot 2.0 comes standard with two security software suites. PeeWee Patrol and Privacy has the ability to limit how much time the children spend on the computer browsing and playing games. This feature also blocks inappropriate sites and prevents children from changing any system settings. Parents can even take screen shots, view browsing history and control the laptop remotely.

Parents can get the Pivot 2.0 from PeeWee now for a reasonable $500. This looks like it would make an excellent Christmas present for any child who is very into technology. With the fact that the Pivot 2.0 is damn near indestructible, this is the perfect children's laptop.

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Substantial Increase in Sales for Lenovo

Lenovo notebooks are just flying off the shelves this quarter. Lenovo’s report for their second fiscal quarter states that there has been substantial growth in the sales of their PCs, allowing them to have a small profit increase and a large revenue increase.

The company reported $5.8 billion in consolidated sales, a 41 percent year-over-year increase, and a profit of $77 million, which is a 45 percent increase from the same period in 2009. On a worldwide basis, Lenvo said that their PC sales have increased by 33 percent.

Lenovo chairman Liu Chuanzhi said, “Lenovo continued to deliver excellent results, highlighting the balance in our business. In line with our 'Protect-Attack' strategy, the China, mature markets and emerging markets have all been growing steadily.”

He also added, “There are three aspects that the Board is particularly satisfied with, first: management's visionary decision to increase investment in R&D and brand building, second: the leadership team, which is working effectively and efficiently, with good rapport, third: Lenovo's culture of meeting commitments and taking ownership is being embraced and fully adopted by our employees worldwide. When a company has a solid leadership team, the right strategy, and a strong corporate culture, this company will be sustainable and enduring. Lenovo continues moving in this direction."

The company has said that their notebook sales comprise more than 60 percent of their overall sales revenues. Compared to last year, this is an increase of 40 percent. Notebook sales themselves have increased 38 percent this year, which is fantastic compared to the average 13 percent industry growth rate. Lenovo also said that 33 percent of their sales were made up of desktop computers, which increased by 26 percent and is 5 percent ahead of the average industry growth. On a side note, Lenovo sold its 60-millionth ThinkPad notebook in October. Its popularity has definitely added to their sales numbers.

Lenovo has just been doing well in all aspects of their products. Obviously, their PC industry has been booming, but also in their first quarter, their new smartphones brought in over $217 million in revenues.

Unfortunately, Lenovo has not yet announced a date to ship their Android-based LePad tablet outside of the U.S. Many people are speculating that the company is waiting for the next revision of the Android platform before they ship their product globally.

"TBR believes Lenovo has delayed the release of the LePad tablet into the markets outside of China until Android's new OS arrives in late 2011," Emily Searles wrote in a research note. "The company said that it views the mobile device market as a marathon, not a sprint, and does not wish to rush into the market with a device that will not fully meet customers' expectations. TBR believes even in the mobile device marathon, Lenovo will face consequences from providing its competition with a head start. By 2011 Samsung, Dell, and HP will have established tablet market share, and Apple's iPad will have released its second version. Lenovo's hesitation to release the LePad may reduce its opportunity, even if the wait means an upgraded OS. TBR believes the loss in revenue from late market emergence will be greater than consumer dissatisfaction from Android's current OS."

It’s great to see companies flourishing despite some of the economic difficulties. Lenovo is doing great, and hopefully the company will continue going in this direction. Once they release their LePad, I feel that their sales will just increase even more. The question is when this will really happen. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, Lenovo should continue to flourish and grow, and their PC sales should do the same.

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Lenovo's New IdeaPad U260

Lenovo has this quirky way about them in the sense that they like to sneak laptops out to the market without them receiving any fanfare whatsoever. And just as the saying goes, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks", Lenovo has done it again with their newest device, the IdeaPad U260, an interesting device with a brand new chassis, 12.5-inch screen, 3.04lb weight and 0.71 inches of thickness.

From what we have gathered about the IdeaPad U260, the device seems to be aimed directly at portability. The device has no optical drive, contains ULV Core i3/i5 processors and only a single 4-cell battery. The device also only contains two USB 2.0 ports and does not have an ExpressCard slot. Details on the battery are scarce, however, Lenovo says that the battery contains four hours of "runtime". A single SO-DIMM slot is all you get for memory, but some RAM could be soldered directly to the motherboard which would give you 4GB of RAM.

Full specifications include Bluetooth, b/g/n WiFi, 4GB of RAM and a 320GB HDD. Considering the fact that the device is an IdeaPad, you do get some pretty nifty color options. Consumers will be able to decide if Mocha Brown or Clementine Orange suits their tastes better.

The 12.5-inch HD-resolution display is only available in an anti-glare finish, which is a welcome change from the typical glossy-only consumer laptop displays. Video output is achieved via VGA outputs as well as HDMI outputs which is nice to see because it lets the consumer know that Lenovo isn't trying to cheap out on them.

Pricing is still to be determined though considering that the chassis is thin, light and composed entirely of magnesium-alloy, you can almost guarantee that this isn't your bottom bin laptop. Keep checking back here periodically for updates on pricing as well as an official release date as soon as Lenovo gives us one.

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Wireless 1080p to Your TV with Asus WiCast

Intel's Wireless Display (WiDi) technology has been very mixed since it landed not too long ago. If you really break it down, there is a lot to sift through and a lot of things to consider. Things like latency, the limitations of 720p, being stuck with Intel HD graphics, purchasing the wireless box for your television and, what could possibly be the most important question, whether this is practical or not.

In regards to all of this, decision making has been split. Vivek seems to really like the system, whereas it seems a whole heck of a lot simpler to just buy an HDMI cable and plug it in. Even if you remove the factor of practicality, there are still a few very frustrating limitations. However, Asus seeks to lay those limitations to rest with the new WiCast setup they have just created.

Asus, acording to a recent press release, has promised almost invisible latency, full 1080p video and even compatibility with anything that has an HDMI port. Probably the biggest thing people will have to overcome when first using WiCast is the initial setup. There are a bunch of little pieces of hardware included in the box like two WiCast boxes, transmitter, receiver, two HDMI cables, two AC adapters and a single USB cable. Thankfully, there are not installation disks and the manual is pretty thin.

Both the transmitter and receiver have an AC adapter, HDMI and mini-USB ports. The receiver's mini-USB port is covered though it can be used to power the device. The receiver's USB is most likely going to be your preferred method of powering the transmitter. This means that the second AC adapter is not necessary but could also be used as an emergency backup or if all the USB ports on your laptop are occupied.

As far as installation goes that is pretty much it. Everything else is pretty self-explanatory and once you hook up your HDMI cables you can pretty much call it a day. This is one of the best things WiCast has over Intel's WiDi, no software to install and no hardware limitations outside of the HDMI port.

Getting the Asus WiCast to work is really quite easy. According to the manual, syncing the transmitter and receiver could take up to a minute but that all depends on how far away the two are from each other. The wireless monitor of your computer should appear as any traditional wired one should and switching audio over from your computer to WiCast is simple.

1080p works great with no latency and the audio sounds as good as anything. Range between the transmitter and receiver is said to be 33 feet though keeping it more than five to seven feet away isn't recommended if you are looking for the best quality. One cool feature is that the WICast is device agnostic which means you can use it with an Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or any other type of HDMI-equipped hardware. The only problem is if you are running the WiCast off of your laptop's battery, then your laptop will take a significant hit in battery life.

Overall, the WiCast is a great value for anybody looking for a device like this, and at $200 you won't go broke trying to get one.

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ClickSafe Laptop Lock from Kensington

Have you ever been concerned about the safety of your laptop? Well, Kensington has been providing computer accessories and peripherals to consumers since 1981 when they released their System Saver, a cooling fan and surge protector for the Apple II. The newest addition to their line of security devices is the ClickSafe Laptop Lock. Although the product may not completely prevent a thief from stealing your laptop, it will definitely slow them down.

So what exactly is the ClickSafe Lock you may ask? Well, its design is very similar to that of a bike lock. The outside is comprised of a hard plastic, while the inside is made up of a carbon reinforced cable. The ClickSafe weighs a mere 0.41 pounds and features a wire that can be stretched 61 inches. This allows you enough room to anchor the device onto a chair or table leg.

To attach the anchor the ClickSafe utilizes the case slot of a laptop. Attaching the lock is a single step process that gives you instant security. Unfortunately, some older laptops and a few newer ones do not support the case slot that is necessary to utilize the ClickSafe device. Most laptops support a case slot except, surprisingly, the MacBook Air and the Toshiba Portege R705-P35.

Along with the anchor and the cable, Kensington also includes two keys, a plastic holder for the anchor and small tool to screw in the anchor. One important thing to note is that you should probably register your two keys with Kensington because if you happen to lose them, it will be almost impossible to get the lock off.

As I mentioned above, attaching the anchor and the lock is quite simple. You even hear a “click” that allows you to know that your device is truly protected and safe. Once your laptop is locked with the ClickSafe and securely fastened to a sturdy piece of furniture, it is completely impossible to pry open the lock. The wire has even been tested to see if someone would be able to destroy it so that they could get away with your laptop. Scissors were able to easily cut through the plastic covering of the wire, but to actually cut the carbon cable itself would take hours of labor intensive work. To snap the cord it would be necessary to utilize bolt cutters.

Unfortunately, the ClickSafe Laptop Lock cannot completely guarantee that your laptop will not be stolen, but it will definitely give you some confidence in the fact that it will definitely make stealing your laptop a very difficult and tedious task. This key lock from Kensington may seem to be more focused towards business users, but the company has promised that they will be releasing a combination lock sometime this spring that will be designed more for the average consumer.

The Kensington ClickSafe Laptop Lock can give users added assurance about the security of their laptop. If you utilize you laptop often in public places, I think that it is a great idea to have extra security like a laptop lock. If you’re interested in making sure that your laptop is extra safe, the ClickSafe Laptop Lock could be exactly what you need.

The ClickSafe Laptop Lock is now available from Kensington for $69.99.

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Buying a Business Laptop

A laptop is almost essential when it comes to business these days. Whether you’re going on a business trip or getting some work done from home, a laptop is a very important thing to have. Now business laptops may not be the sleekest laptops out there right now but looks aren’t really the important thing when it comes to purchasing a business laptop.

So what exactly makes up a business laptop you might ask? Well, here’s what you should be looking for…

Power
In most business laptops you will find a dual-core processor and in some a quad-core processor. In a laptop that you will be utilizing for business purposes, you will want to have at least 4GB of RAM. Anything less than 4GB isn’t really worth the few dollars that you will save and anything over 4GB just really isn’t necessary. Having the right amount of memory allows you to not only multi-task easily, but also allows you to utilize multimedia programs faster.

Storage
You will most likely be using your business laptop for videos, photos, and PowerPoint slides during business meetings, therefore it is important to have a good-sized hard drive. You really need anywhere between 320GB and 500GB of hard drive space.

For consumer PCs optical drives are becoming less and less necessary, but most IT managers still feel that they are necessary for business purposes. You may need to occasionally burn a CD or DVD for a customer or supplier, which means you should make sure that your laptop includes a CD/DVD burner.

Graphics
High-powered graphics are not necessary on your business laptop. Integrated graphics are what most business oriented laptops will include and that’s really all that you need because you most likely won’t be doing any gaming on your system.

Connectivity
Obviously, having a wireless connection is essential, but really, a built-in Wi-Fi connection is standard on laptops these days. The only issue with depending on this is that when you’re out and about and need to get on the Internet, you are forced to find a hot spot or unprotected network.

Due to this issue, a lot of business laptops are now shipping out with a mobile broadband or a 3G wireless modem built into them. These then work in conjunction with service providers like Verizon and AT&T who can bring broadband speeds to your laptop wherever there is a cell phone signal. Unfortunately, data plans from service providers aren’t exactly cheap. They can cost anywhere from $60-$80 per month. The good news is that there is a new wireless standard that could save businesses a lot of money. WiMax, or 4G wireless, is beginning to emerge. It is a Wi-Fi connection that spans across an entire city. Service providers Sprint and Clearwire have started putting up WiMax towers and have already established them in 54 cities. These plans cost anywhere from $20-$40 per month. This is definitely a great solution if you happen to be in a city with a tower.

Battery
Battery life is very important on a business laptop because you want your battery to last during extended periods such as a long flight. If the laptop that you are considering offers different size batteries, like six-cell or nine-cell, always choose the more cells because the more cells there are the better the battery life will be. Of course the more cells in the battery, the heavier it will be, but battery life is very important so it’s worth the extra weight.

Final Thoughts
Obviously there is a lot to consider when buying a business laptop. You should definitely do your research before selecting just any old laptop. Hopefully these tips give you an idea of what you should be looking for. Laptops are becoming a staple in the business world, but finding the right laptop doesn’t have difficult. If you follow these few guidelines, you should easily be able to find the business laptop that fits you and all of your business needs.

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Apple Now Offering iPad Engravings

"I love you sweetheart." "Happy Anniversary Darling." Merry Christmas Mom." All of these sweet messages are perfect to put on a ring, picture frame or plaque for that special someone in your life. However, nothing shows how much these words truly mean unless they are engraved on the back of a fresh new iPad.

That's right, why not get your mom, child or significant other a gift that keeps on giving all year round and always reminds them of how much they mean to you? In line with rumors that surfaced this past summer, the good folks over at Apple have decided to include a free engraving with all new Apple iPad purchases. That's correct, free.

Apple product enthusiasts will be able to include two full lines of text to the top of the back panel of their iPad at no additional cost to them. However, the people at Apple have stated that having an engraving done on your iPad will incur an additional one to three days of shipping time to your order.

Not too long ago, rumors suggested that Apple wanted to offer the free engravings from the very beginning of the iPad launch. However, pre-orders and sales were too high and doing so would have delayed production. The engraving for the iPad works exactly the same way as the engravings for the iPod, allowing customers to add their personal engravings during the ordering process.

So why not give that special person in your life, whether it be a parent, sibling, grandparent or significant other, something really special, an iPad with a personal message expressing just exactly how you feel about them? This is a perfect gift for the upcoming holiday season, so be sure to place your order as soon as possible.

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4G-Enabled Dell Netbook and Notebook from Sprint

Phone companies simply are not satisfied with just providing cell phones anymore. They have begun to expand their product lines to include laptops, netbooks, notebooks, and tablets. Just recently, Verizon announced that they would begin to carry Apple’s iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab this fall. AT&T is offering the iPad in their stores as well, and other carriers like T-Mobile and Sprint are following suit and beginning to carry devices other than just cell phones.

As of Wednesday, October 20th, Sprint announced that they were partnering up with Dell to provide the first dual-mode 3G/4G-embedded netbook and notebook, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook and Inspiron 11z notebook.

"It’s great to see these two products being made available within Sprint stores across the nation. The addition of these two exciting 4G-embedded Dell products fits nicely within our current ecosystem of fixed and dual-mode devices that also includes phones, mobile broadband cards, mobile hotspots, and routers,” said Fared Adib, the vice president of Sprint’s product and development.

Both of the devices are going to come complete with countless useful features. The Mini 10 and the 11z will both come preinstalled with Windows Live Essentials 2011. This allows users to easily sync and share content on the Web with their PCs and phones. Windows Live includes: Hotmail, Messenger, SkyDrive, Photo Gallery, and more.

Sprints says that the Mini 10 is “perfect for students, consumers, and small businesses that rely on Internet access, Web browsing, and social networking to stay connected.” It comes with Windows 7 Starter and features a 1.66-GHz Intel Atom processor, a 10.1-inch screen with 1,024 x 600 resolution, 1GB of memory, and 250GB of hard drive. It will be available for business customers on October 31st and will be available in Sprint stores and on their website on November 14th. This netbook is a great deal. It is free with a $100 mail-in rebate for customers who sign a two-year contract.

Sprint says that the 11z notebook, on the other hand, “is a perfect solution for business users and consumers who want more computing power.” It will feature a 1.2-GHz Intel Core processor, an 11.6-inch screen with 1,366 x 768 resolution, 2GB of memory (expandable to 4GB), 250GB of hard drive, and an HDMI out. The Dell notebook will be available in print stores and online as of November 14th. It will be available for $149.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate for customers who sign a two-year contract.

The 3G/4G plan from Sprint will be available for $59.99 a month, and the 3G plan will be $39.99 a month.

It is extremely exciting to see Sprint expanding their product line to include tablets as well as netbooks and notebooks. These are some excellent products from Dell. If you’re looking for a netbook or notebook to utilize mainly for Internet purposes, the Inspiron Mini 10 netbook or the Inspiron 11z notebook could be just what you are looking for.

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Dell XPS 14, XPS 15 and XPS 17 Leaked

A slew of new laptops from Dell has, despite Dell's best efforts, been leaked to the public thanks to the chummy guys over at Logicbuy. They have a nice new trio of laptops from Round Rock, and the new Studio machines are conveniently dubbed as the XPS 14, XPS 15 and XPS 17. These pre-release leaks seem to be becoming a signature of Dell.

The three laptops are said to come with a whole lot of different features including anodized aluminum shells as well as brushed aluminum palm rests. In addition to that, the XPS 14, XPS 15 and XPS 16 are also supposed to come with NVIDIA Optimus switchable graphics, which lets you go up to the GeForce GTS 445M on the XPS 17, as well as options for Blu-ray drives, 16GB of RAM and Core i7 CPUs.

From the pictures of the laptops that are out now, it would seem that Logicbuy simply stumbled upon a few prematurely published Dell pages. This is good news, however. With these pictures surfacing like they are, it just means that Dell's launch date for the XPS 14, XPS 15 and XPS 17 isn't too far away.

This is good news for Dell lovers out there as they can get there hands on what appears to be a fairly decent Dell laptop in the near future. As this is leaked information, it is limited. There has been no leaked information on an official release date nor an official price for either the XPS 14, XPS 15 or XPS 17. But keep your eyes and ears open and keep checking back here periodically for the latest details.

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Verbatim's SuperSpeed Store 'n' Go Hard Drive

Backing up your hard drive can be a huge pain in the neck. It can be a long painstaking task, but with Verbatim’s Store ‘n’ Go SuperSpeed USB 3.0 compact portable hard drive that all changes. This hard drive is much faster than the devices that have been available previously.

The Store ‘n’ Go SuperSpeed is offered in a 500GB and a 750GB capacity, which will be available later this month. In November there will also be a hard drive in a 1TB capacity. These devices offer quick connectivity whenever you may need it.

The hard drive is sleek and attractive looking with its shiny black finish. The USB 3.0 portable hard drive is bus-powered and backwardly compatible with USB 2.0 ports. This ensures that all of the content the user needs is accessible. Verbatim includes Nero BackItUp & Burn software from Windows, a completely free trial of Norton Online Backup with up to 5GB of online storage, and a seven-year warranty.

Verbatim’s Director of Marketing, Charles Klinker, said, “We’re excited to introduce the Store ‘n’ Go, the first portable hard drive in Verbatim’s USB 3.0 collection, and allow consumers to experience a significant improvement in data transfer speeds that will let them complete their tasks in a fraction of the time. With the Store ‘n’ Go users can seamlessly enter into the new generation of USB 3.0 and safely and reliably share, store and back-up their data anytime, anywhere.”
If you’re looking for a quick convenient way to back up your information, Verbatim’s Store ‘n’ Go SuperSpeed USB 3.0 hard drive could be exactly what you’re looking for.

For more information check out Verbatim’s website.

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Is the iPad Stealing Laptop Sales?

The iPad is a phenomenal technological device. It has been a huge success for Apple, but is this new gadget stealing all the laptop sales? Are consumers beginning to choose this ultraportable tablet over the much bulkier option of a laptop?

According to a survey conducted by NPD, Apple’s iPad is not having a particularly significant impact on the sales of laptops. The research group found that only 13 percent of those who purchased an iPad did so instead of buying a laptop. NPD also polled consumers who have bought these iPads and asked them if they had bought Apple’s tablet device in place of a dedicated eBook reader. Twenty-four percent of those surveyed said that they had.

When Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, first introduced Apple’s iPad in January, he said that the device was meant to be a “third screen.” What he meant by this was that the iPad was not supposed to be a replacement for a desktop computer or a laptop. The iPad was really meant to create a whole new branch of computer technology, the tablet branch. Apple was not trying to replace desktops or laptops. Their strategy was very different from that. They believed that consumers who were considering replacing or upgrading their old desktop computer or laptop might decide to put off that purchase and instead buy an iPad in its place.

The iPad is certainly a wildly successful device, but there are definitely some limitations to be found with the tablet. There are other tablet devices that companies are releasing in an attempt to add the “laptop aspects” that Apple omitted with their original iPad, but will that really allow these companies to compete with laptop sales? Apple is even planning to release a new and improved version of the iPad sometime soon, but will that really make a difference? I personally feel that the iPad and other tablets like it are incredibly fascinating devices. They are ultraportable and extremely convenient, but there are simply tasks that are much easier to do on a laptop instead of a tablet. No one is going to want to write a whole paper on a tablet. It would simply be too annoying to try to type on. Yes, there is a keyboard and stand that can be purchased for the iPad, but if you use a keyboard and a stand, doesn’t that defeat the purpose of being ultraportable?

I do not think that the laptop industry needs to feel threatened by tablets right now. Laptop sales are still fantastic, despite the various releases of new tablets. Consumers love the concept of tablets, but it certainly does not seem like they are viewing them as laptop replacements. Laptop producers have no reason to be worried. Despite their popularity, tablets will not be taking over their industry any time soon.

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Rugged Notebooks' Eagle Series

Rugged Notebooks announced yesterday the Eagle Series Rugged Notebook for public safety, military and other demanding work environments. The Eagle Series has a lot of nice features including meeting FBI user-authentication guidelines for computers accessing National Crime Information Center (NCIC) data. Because of this the Eagle Series has a built-in biometric fingerprint reader as well as a SmartCard (CAC) reader.

Among the fingerprint and SmartCard readers, the Eagle Series also includes absolute Computrace in the BIOS for asset tracking as well as theft/loss recovery. This enables tracking of the device if it has been stolen or lost and remotely deletes any or all information stored on the computer.

There are also some Ruggedized features included into the Eagle Series. Some of these features include drop/shock/spill protection tested to United States Military 810F and 810G standards, a rubber Guard Protection System which protects the LCD screen from shocks, a lock on the DVD Super Multi Drive to prevent accidental opening, attached port covers to protect against dust and moisture and a sealed touchpad.

The notebook itself is 5.5 pounds and offers a 14.1 inch WXGA/WXG LCD screen, Intel Core 2 Duo processor, HDMI port and up to 8GB high speed 800MHz RAM. Users can get optional upgrades like a touchscreen display, a propriety transflective sunlight display for viewing in bright outdoors, 10/100/1000 LAN, RAID 0/1 dual hard drive for instantaneous backup, fully encrypted hard drive, broadband 3G, GPS, Bluetooth, Webcam, an RS-232 serial port and Windows 7 or XP Professional operating systems.

According to Alan Shad, President of Rugged Notebooks, "Our Eagle series is a new breed of rugged laptop, offering users a lightweight, high performance notebook ruggedized for tough conditions in the field while being fully compliant with the latest security standards. All these features and our premiere customer support are available at a price to meet today's restrictive budgets."

If a high performance laptop that can withstand even the military is exactly what you have been looking for then you should definitely consider the Eagle Series from Rugged Notebooks. The have the power to take anything you can throw at them, literally.

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Lenovo ThinkPads Surpass 60 Million Sales

Lenovo announced today that sales of their ThinkPad Laptops will surpass 60 million units sold this month. According to the company, more than 14 ThinkPad laptops are sold every 60 seconds. This contributes to Lenovo's position as the fastest growing major PC company in the world.

Throughout the evolution of the ThinkPad, which began a mere 18 years ago to date, the laptop has recorded many groundbreaking innovation firsts like creating the very first spill resistant keyboard as well as protective roll cage. However, in celebration of reaching 60 million units sold, Lenovo is increasing the graphics of their ThinkPads by adding the NVIDIA Optimus technology to the ThinkPad T410, T410s and T510 laptops.

"Long recognized as a hallmark for innovation and excellence, ThinkPad has been the trusted laptop brand for business users around the world for nearly two decades," said Peter Hortensius, Senior Vice President of ThinkPad Product Group for Lenovo. "With Lenovo, ThinkPad has grown even stronger for quality, reliability and performance, and we'll continue to drive our commitment to innovation further as we design future ThinkPad laptops."

The ThinkPad has over 2,000 different design awards and has helped transform laptop computing and changed the way people use their PCs. Some of ThinkPad's famous first innovations include:

- First modern laptop to fly in space
- First with a spill resistant keyboard
- First with built-in CD-ROM
- First with built-in DVD-ROM
- First with built-in wireless
- First with embedded security subsystem
- First with built-in fingerprint reader
- First thinnest, lightest, full-function 13-inch laptop
- First dual screen mobile workstation

In celebration of this great milestone, Lenovo is rewarding customers with a Customer Appreciation Event which features up to 15% discounted pricing on select ThinkPad models purchased in the United States. The promotion begins today and lasts all the way through October 8, 2010.

NVIDIA Optimus technology makes graphics automatic, instantaneous and seamless. Users won't have to manually force switching to reduce performance or save battery life. Now you have the ability to extend battery life and electrify multimedia performance. ThinkPad laptops with Optimus can achieve up to 33% longer battery life per charge which comes out to about an extra hour.

According to Rene Haas, General Manager of Notebook Products at NVIDIA, "New technologies like NVIDIA Optimus are making ThinkPads even smarter. Never before has there been a solution that so effectively eliminates the tradeoffs between riveting graphics performance and long battery life. Visual content is the most popular and important form of data today, and we've built the NVIDIA NVS 3100M graphics processor to be the perfect processor for the task."

The ThinkPad T410, T410s and T510 laptops with NVIDIA Optimus technology are immediately available through business partners of Lenovo or on Lenovo's Website. Pricing starts at $1,299 for the T410 and T510 and $1,849 for the T410s.

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Is There an iMac Touch in Apple’s Future?

Could the next iMac possibly come complete with a touch screen? It has been reported that Sintek Phototronics has been sending samples of its projected capacitive touch screens to Apple. This has led people to ask questions about the next version of the iMac.

The big issue with adding projected capacitive touch screens to the iMac devices concerns the size of the screens. It is very complex to create a projected capacitive touch screen that is larger than 20-inches. iMacs come in 21.5-inch and 27-inch versions. Despite the difficulty of the task, Sintek has a 5.3G plant, which is one of the largest production lines for these screens, so it should not be too hard for the company to figure out the kinks for Apple.

DigiTimes has reported that Apple’s touch screen version of the iMac would feature the touch sensor and cover glass in one single panel instead of the traditional way of placing the cover glass over the sensor. This cuts down on the thickness and weight of the panel.

About a month before this news about Apple’s possible touch screen iMac, it was revealed that Apple had filed for a European patent. This patent was discovered by Patently Apple, but it only described the possibility of switching back and forth between a touch screen mode.

Now all of this is rumor and speculation, but there are other Apple rumors in the past that have turned out to be true. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if this one is. It would be amazing to have a touch screen iMac made available by Apple. I think that it could definitely be a huge hit. Everything is moving in the touch screen direction, so it makes sense that the iMac goes touch capable as well. Hopefully Apple will give us some sort of statement regarding the rumors soon. Until then, we will all have to wait patiently and see if this development comes about.

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Origin Eon17 Gaming Laptop

Desktop processors in a laptop may not seem as common as they once were, but that hasn't stopped Origin PC from creating a line of high powered gaming laptops, including their newest product the Eon17. The Eon17 is a seriously powerful gaming laptop that runs games as well as, if not better than, most desktops.

Inside the Eon17 you will find Intel's Core i7 processors as well as 24GB of DDR3 memory making sure nothing, not even a 100 Zergling rush, will slow you down. The Eon17 from Origin has everything you need to conquer your enemies on the field of battle or to create your next masterpiece work of art.

The Eon17 is so crammed full of stuff that it is amazing it fits into a laptop shell. Aside from the Core i7 processors you will find dual nVidia GeForce GTX 480M video cards in SLI, a Super Multi Blu-Ray Burner Combo drive and high definition audio. What will really interest you is the full list of everything you can get in your Origin Eon17 like:

- 17.3 Full HD Widescreen, 16.9, 1920 x 1080
- Up to Intel Core i7 980X Desktop Processors
- Up to Dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480M Video Cards in SLI
- Up to 24GB of Triple Channel DDR3 Memory
- Up to Three Hard Drives
- Full Size Keyboard with Numeric Key Pad
- HDMI In and Out; Optical Digital Out, and 7.1 HD Audio
- Touch Sensitive Multi-Gesture Pad and Instant Access Buttons

I don't know about you, but I now have to wipe the drool away from my face. That is one seriously intense spec list. With hardware like that there is no doubt that you will have absolutely no problem gaming whether you are heading up a raiding party with your Horde brethren in World of Warcraft, leading a charge against the deadly Zerg and mighty Protoss in StarCraft II or defending the world in Crysis.

The Eon17 from Origin is definitely one impressive machine and a serious gaming laptop that can rival some high-end desktops. The only problem is that all this power directly at your fingertips won't come cheap. The Eon17 has a starting price of $2,499. It is available now, but for that price you could build yourself two ultimate gaming desktops if you know where to get the right parts. They just won't be able to go everywhere with you.

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Store n’ Go USB Drive

Verbatim has recently designed a USB drive that can provide more functions than that of a regular USB drive. The Store n’ Go Clip-it USB Drive features a clip right on the drive. It is a great way to attach something like a business card or a folder of documents onto a presentation or other information stored on the USB. The Clip-it basically serves as a high tech paper clip.

Some may point out the fact that a USB drive is meant to eliminate paper documents, but Verbatim does not feel that this is always the case. The clip is simply an added feature that could really be useful in many situations.

The Store n’ Go Clip-it USB Drive will be available in either 2GB or 4GB form and will give you the choice of seven different colors. Pricing has not yet been announced by Verbatim.

I really feel that this is a very interesting idea. Although USB drives really do eliminate most paper documents, there are times that you simply want to attach a quick note or instructions to the USB drive. With the Clip-it, this task will be easy. It gives you the option to add anything you might want to send along with the device. If Verbatim isn’t asking a ridiculous price for the drive, I feel that it would definitely be a useful device to pick up.

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CTL's 2go Pad SL10 Windows 7 Tablet

With the success of the iPad, all major tech companies out there are trying their best to come up with the newest innovations in tablets, including CTL. CTL will soon be releasing their attempt at an iPad killer which they have dubbed the 2go Pad SL10. The 2go Pad SL10 is a 10.1-inch tablet with an Intel Atom processor as well as Windows 7 OS.

Aside from the 10.1-inch screen and the Windows 7 OS, there are a lot of reasons why the 2go Pad SL10 could be a good purchase for you. The screen is a multi-touch 1024x600 pixel LED backlight display, and the processor is an Intel Atom N450 at 1.66GHz. In addition to that, the 2g0 Pad SL10 has 2GB DDR2 memory, a 250GB hard drive, 1.3MP front-facing camera, microphone, stereo speakers, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a single Ethernet LAN port, two USB connectors, a Micro SD Card reader and a mini VGA port.

A big thing the 2go Pad SL10 has over the iPad is support for Flash Video Player. This allows you to freely watch YouTube, Netflix, Hulu and any other type of online video with a tap of the screen. The 2go Pad SL10 also comes fully compatible with HTML5 video and can even connect to an external display without the help of an expensive adapter.

The 2go Pad SL10 is also very compact and easy to travel with. The device only weighs 2.6 pounds with its 4-cell battery installed which gives you up to five hours of run time. The 2go Pad SL10 is available for pre-order now for a $499 price tag and is expected to begin shipping by October 15th, 2010.

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Dell's New Inspiron Duo 10-inch Tablet

With the recent release of the iPad, companies around the globe have been working quickly to improve on the platform that Apple has jump-started. While there has been a lot of talk from different manufacturers out there, one company has produced a very interesting product that could very well best the iPad and take it out of the spotlight.

I'm talking, of course, about the new Inspiron Duo 10-inch Tablet. You may be asking yourself right about now, "What is so special about this device?" Well, does a 10-inch Windows tablet built with a dual-core Intel Atom processor and a full QWERTY keypad that can be hidden by a swiveling tablet display tickle your fancy?

If the answer to that question was no, then you obviously care nothing about technology and thus should leave this blog right now. If what was mentioned above made you sit up in your seat and go "Whoa!", then you are in the right place.

According to Dell, they are marketing the Inspiron Duo as a consumer device capable of delivering not only entertainment as a tablet-slate but also productivity as a clamshell. Dell also threw in that the Inspiron Duo runs Windows 7 Home Premium and can support "a variety of popular Microsoft applications".

The Inspiron Duo was showcased at the IDF 2010 keynote with the demonstration showing the device navigating Google Earth with very smooth rendering. The Inspiron Duo also showed itself off by playing back a stutter-free HD version of the classic movie Up and playing some games.

All this sounds pretty incredible, but history has shown us that when a company teases us with a product like this one, we can't expect to see it anytime soon. Well, Dell is throwing that legend on its head by stating that they confirm the Inspiron Duo will be available later this year. Unfortunately, Dell did hold a few things back like pricing and an exact release date.

If things keep shaping up like they are, the Inspiron Duo could very well come out to be an iPad killer. Keeping checking back here regularly for updates on this story and the Inspiron Duo.

LaCie USB Hard Drives

Are you running out of room on your laptop or desktop computer? If so, you need an external hard drive. LaCie has just announced their newest USB 3.0 drives, the Minimus and the Rikki. Both of these external hard drives are compact and extremely portable.

The Rikki transfers data at the excellent rate of 5GB of data per second and is the smaller of the hard drives. Although the Minimus is larger than the Rikki, it provides you with even more storage. Both of the devices' cases are made of brushed aluminum. This not only gives the hard drives a sleek look but also keeps them well protected. Both the Minimus and the Rikki come complete with LaCie’s Software Suite that allows you to easily back up your data on Windows and Macintosh computers.

The Rikki can be purchased with either 500GB or 1TB of space with a starting price of $99.99. The Minimus can be found with either 1TB or 2TB of capacity and starts at $129.99. Both of these external hard drives are available now.

Not sure what you should be looking for in an external hard drive? Check out these tips on buying an external hard drive.

HP Mini 5103

The new Mini 5103 from HP is virtually the same as the previous 5102 with one huge, gigantic, overwhelming difference and that is the dual-core Atom N550 processor from Intel that the 5103 ships with. The new Mini 5103 packs the new 1.5GHz Intel Atom N550 Processor, 2GB of RAM, Broadcom's Crystal HD accelerator and runs Windows 7 Professional.

Multitasking feels faster on the 5103 than on other netbooks and the benchmarks are definitely better. Most netbooks score around 1,200 PCMark05 while the 5103 scored an impressive 1,866 PCMark05. Intel is still relying on its GMA 3150 graphics which means no real change for the 5103. On the flip side, it is said that the processor should be able to handle 720p content with no problem as well as full screen flash videos.

The processor also speeds up video encoding, converting a 27MB .mov file to .mp4 in about three minutes. You already know the 5103 can handle HD playback as it comes with Broadcom's Crystal HD which allows the playing of local 720p and 1080p video in Windows Media Player. One good thing that Intel promised is that the dual-processor wouldn't impact battery life. Surprisingly enough, they were telling the truth as the 5103 still has an impressive six hours of battery life.

Pricing is what most people are going to be concerned about with this new netbook. While HP has yet to release a final price on upgrading your existing processor to the new dual-core N550 from Intel or to acquiring the new 5103, you can surmise that it will cost no less than $600. For that price, however, you are receiving a netbook with a dual-core processor, higher resolution display, touchscreen, Windows 7 Pro and Broadcom's Crystal HD.

Buying a laptop can be expensive. Thankfully,there are places like Rentacomputer.com. Rentacomputer.com has been in the computer and AV rental business for over 20 years. You can get any type of technology rental you need, including Laptop Rentals. Just give us a call at 877-422-1907 or visit us online.

Back to School Netbook Deals

Summer is over and school is starting back up. If you’re looking for a laptop and don’t want to pay a ridiculous amount of money or lug around a heavy device all day, there are still options out there for you. Netbooks are the perfect solution for students. They’re light, portable, and usually much less expensive than laptops.

If a netbook fits your needs, here are some great back-to-school deals for you to consider.

Samsung NB30
Retail Price: $379
Sale Price: $299.99 at Amazon.com
The Samsung NB30 is a great netbook to consider. Not only is it scratch-proof, but also it is spill- resistant up to two ounces of liquid. Besides the rugged features of the NB30, everything else is pretty standard. It has a 10.1-inch display, 1.66GHz Intel N450 Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, 160GB HDD, and 6.5 hours of battery life.

HP Mini 110-1134CL
Retail Price: $349
Sale Price: $279.99 at HP.com
The HP Mini 110-1134CL has a sleek design and is perfect for someone who is looking for an attractive netbook. It has a comfortable keyboard and weighs only 2.69 pounds. It features a 10.1-inch screen, 1.66GHz Intel N455 Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, 160GB HDD, webcam, and seven hours of battery life.

Asus EeePC 1201PN
Retail Price: $500
Sale Price: $424.99 at Amazon.com
This netbook is light and features a full size keyboard, which isn’t always found on netbooks. It also has a Nvidia chip which is fantastic for 1080p HD video playback and some light gaming. It comes standard with a 12-inch WXGA LED screen, 1.66GHz Intel N450 Atom processor, 2GB of RAM, Bluetooth, Webcam, HDMI and VGA out ports, and five hours of battery life.

Lenovo IdeaPad S12
Retail Price: $549.99
Sale Price: $399.99 at Newegg.com
This laptop is really a fantastic deal to consider. It comes standard with a 12-inch screen with 1280 x 800 resolution and has a great keyboard. It also features a 1.60GHz Intel Atom N270, 2GB of RAM, 250GB HDD, webcam, and six hours of battery life.

Lenovo ThinkPad X100e
Retail Price: $550
Sale Price: $398 at Abe’s of Maine
This is a great deal from Abe’s of Maine. Not only are they offering the ThinkPad X100e, but also Abe’s of Maine is throwing in a free optical mouse. It has a great keyboard, nice screen resolution, and a speedy processor. It features an 11.1-inch screen, 1.6GHz AMD Athlon Neo Single-Core MV-40, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, and about 5.5 hours of battery life.

If you’re searching for a good deal on a netbook, these are definitely some great possibilities. They can handle all of your school needs just fine. Unfortunately, these deals won’t last forever, so you should take advantage of these back to school deals before they’re gone.

Asus Announces Eee PC Netbook with Dual-Core Atom

A few days ago Intel announced their new N550 dual-core Atom processor which is said to deliver faster processing, better graphics and be able to handle 720p video. The 45nm Pineview model is said to run at 1,5GHz, support DDR3 memory, have hyperthreading and support 2GB RAM among other things.

All these specs are coming in at a perfect time for the netbook market which, as many see it, is in need of a boost. The N550 is definitely an interesting product that has the entire tech world talking. But the big question on everybody's mind is, "Which netbook will be the first one to feature this new N550 dual-core Atom processor?"

Well, the answer to that is simple, the Asus Eee PC 1015PEM. The Asus 1015PEM has all the functionality and style that one would expect from the company who is considered to be the one who started the netbook revolution. For them this is a brilliant step forward.

The combination of speedy and portable technologies could easily put netbooks back on top. The biggest thing about netbooks gaining dual-core processors is that you can now get all the portability of a netbook with the power of a bulkier laptop, and at a far more reasonable price.

Many people are interested in how much better the Asus Eee PC 1015PEM performs compared to its predecessors. Another interesting thing is how much improvement the N550 will deliver to the netbook market. The good news is that, thanks to Asus, nobody really has to wait long to find out the answers to these questions.

Alienware's New M17x Gaming Laptop

It isn't a shock to anybody to hear the name Alienware when people talk about gaming computers. Alienware is the top company in the market for computers and laptops specifically designed for gaming glory. Whenever a new product from Alienware comes out, you can almost bet that it will have the very best components needed for making a top notch gaming rig.

Alienware has just released their newest product, the M17x, a gaming laptop that may rival some of the best desktop computers out there. If you consider yourself a connoisseur of competitive PC gaming, then you know that even the slightest lag in gameplay means almost certain death for you or your team. The M17x has the latest Intel Core i7 and i5 processors featuring Intel Turbo Boost Technology giving you dynamic, on-the-fly overclocking.

PC gamers know that the only true way to play any PC game is to play it with the graphics settings maxed out. You also want ultra-fast frame rates and with the M17x you get just that. This laptop offers one teraflop of pure graphics intensity with the ATI CrossFireX.

Alienware's BinaryGFX technology allows users to switch between discrete or integrated graphics and there is also the Stealth Mode feature. In Stealth Mode, discrete graphics cards are turned off and other components are turned down to achieve a 65W power limit.

Another cool feature is the Alienware Command Center which gives you intuitive access to exclusive control and apps including AlienFX lighting effects and AlienFusion power management. These features, as well as others, are updated automatically to the Command Center.

As an added security bonus, Alienware has incorporated AlienSense, a facial recognition software that identifies numerous distinguishing features via the M17x's integrated webcam. The software reads and verifies biometric measurements that can not be stolen or faked allowing only you to access your laptop.

The 17-inch widescreen LCD display features dual CCFL back-lit LCD with higher brightness. This allows the M17x to display a more detailed, higher-quality than a single CCFL display. An added 8ms response time makes ghosting a thing of the past. A 2.0 megapixel webcam and digital microphone allows you to broadcast anywhere with wireless capabilities always keeping you connected.

It goes without saying that this is definitely one of the best if not the best gaming laptop on the market.

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Looking for Laptop Rental information? Visit our Tech Travel Agent Laptop Rental Page for a variety of laptop rental solutions for business or personal use. Or call today at 800-736-8772.

Hewlett Packwards new laptop line: The Envy 14 and 17

Sleek and sexy is as important today as performance. Well, almost, but with its new Envy line, HP is hoping to cash in with a laptop that is both beautiful and substantial.
Let us focus on the appearance first. Both Envy's have a metal casing with subtle machined designs on the casing. The screens for both laptops are glass. The Envy 14 has a 14.5 inch screen, while the Envy 17 boasts a 17.3 inch screen. Both also incorporate backlit keyboards for those late nights. They both are around 1.5mm in size, and while not paper thin, the size is essential for the power these machines are packing.

The basic specs are as follows-

HP Envy 14. 14.5-inch screen, 5.25 pounds, Intel Core i3, i5, i7 CPUs, ATI Mobility Radeon 5650 GPU with 1GB GDDR3 RAM and BEATS audio.


HP Envy 17. 17.3-inch screen, 7.25 pounds, VGA, HDMI & Mini DisplayPort video outs, Intel Core i3, i5, i7 CPUs, ATI Mobility Radeon 5850 GPU with 1GB GDDR5 RAM and BEATS audio.

BEATS audio is an upgrade from previous models, and the Envy's also include a subwoofer, so with these machines there is no reason to worry about sub-par sound. If you need internet on the go, the Envy 14 has the option for built in wireless 3G, making connecting anywhere a breeze. Another new feature that comes with the Envy 17 is the ability to connect to multiple screens for gaming or applications. This feature is incredibly hard to find on laptops, but the Envy 17 pulls it off wonderfully, making it possible to have up to three screens connected! This is a must have for serious gamers. Both laptops incorporate optical drives, which their predecessor, the Envy 13, lacked. The USB and other ports are neatly spaced out, not cluttered in one area. Both models also offer the HP TrueVision HD webcam built it. With these new machines HP also improves their clickpad to recognize gestures such as finger scrolling and pinch-to-zoom.
Overall with its powerful hardware and improved visage, the HP Envy's are top of the line machines offering everything that a laptop user could ask for. The Envy 14 starts out at $999.00, and the Envy 17 at $1399.00. Take a look for yourself here.

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Looking for Laptop Rental information? Visit our Tech Travel Agent Laptop Rental Page for a variety of laptop rental solutions for business or personal use. Or call today at 800-736-8772.

Macbook is the Laptop of Choice for College Students

It's that time of year again! Kids are packing up and heading off to college, and they are taking their laptops with them. According to a recent study by Student Monitor, a New Jersey-based research company, the laptop of choice for college students is Apple's Macbook.

The survey consisted of 1,200 college students from 100 different schools and 83% of those surveyed owned laptops. The most popular laptop, by far, was the Macbook. 27% of laptop-owning college students have one. 87% of the students surveyed said they plan to purchase a new laptop in the future and of those, a whopping 47% of those said they planned to purchase a Mac.

Dell laptops came in second place; 24% of the laptop-owners have one. (In 2005, Dell was the top computer brand for college students.) Hewlett-Packard laptops were third-most popular at 15% and Toshiba laptops came in fourth with 10%.

Microsoft has definitely taken notice of the laptop-owning college students' declining interest in Windows-based computers. This week, Microsoft added a new "PC vs Mac" section to its website. It talks about reasons why PCs are better than Macs, with everything from the ability to play Blu-ray discs to the ability to share Microsoft Office documents. Many of the reasons appear to be aimed at young adults.

According to the website, the top reason for choosing a PC over a Mac is "having fun." It goes on to talk about enjoying "movies, games, and HDTV from anywhere in your home," and says "PCs are ready to play." The website also says, "if most of the computers in your office or school run Windows, you may find it harder to get things done with a Mac," another obvious attempt to attract young people.

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Looking for Laptop Rental information? Visit our Tech Travel Agent Laptop Rental Page for a variety of laptop rental solutions for business or personal use. Or call today at 800-736-8772.