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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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.

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.

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The Dell Inspiron M101z: Netbook or Not?

Dell announced that the new Inspiron M101z is available to order now and will begin shipping soon. This ultra-portable laptop has tons of great features including some that might lead you to believe it is a netbook. It has an 11-inch screen and a price tag under $600 that makes it seem very netbook-like, but if you dig deeper, there is a lot more to the M101z.

With the Inspiron M101z it’s up to you to decide how you want your laptop to look. There are over 200 different designs that you can pick from for the lid of your device. The laptop was designed to be ultraportable so, as mentioned previously, it has an 11-inch screen, and it only weighs 3.4 pounds. The M101z has a fantastic full-size keyboard with keys that are widely spaced apart, and the two mouse buttons have been engineered so that the clicking noise is completely gone.

So, what’s under the hood of the Inspiron M101z, you might ask? Well, it features a dual-core AMD Athlon processor, 1080p HD-capable graphics, 4GB of memory, and 320GB of hard drive. It comes with pretty standard ports including 3 USB ports, Ethernet, VGA, HDMI port, and a media card reader. The only disappointment is that the battery life isn’t as good as it could be. It only lasts about 4 and a half hours, which may not seem too bad, but compared to laptops like the Asus UL80VT-A1 that has close to 10 hours of battery life, the M101z’s battery may seem a bit shabby.

There are several things that really set the M101z apart from most other average netbooks. Its 1.3GHz AMD Athlon K325 dual-core processor is an upgrade from the standard single-core AMD processor that can be found in similar netbook-like devices. The M101z also features 4GB of memory instead of the usual 1GB that can be found in netbooks.

Coming in at $580, the Dell Inspiron M101z is not as cheap as most netbooks, but that’s probably because it isn’t exactly a true netbook. It has some amazing features that put it a step above most netbooks. Although it doesn’t have the best battery life, there are plenty of features that make up for it. The M101z is definitely a good option to consider if your looking for a cheaper laptop with some great features.

Looking for a laptop under $500? Check out a list of the top 10.

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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.

Samsung's First 1TB Hard Drive

Computer-maker Samsung has announced that it is launching its first 1TB hard drive for laptops. The 2.5-inch hard drive, which is part of the Spinpoint-series, is being called the Spinpoint MT2 and it uses a 12.5mm form factor, as well as 333GB platters. If you need lots of storage space, this hard drive is your dream come true!

According to Samsung, the new hard drive works at 20% increased performance and uses about 4% less power than other similar hard drives currently on the market. However, reviewers say that the hard drive isn't very fast. It spins at just 5,400 RPM and features a last-generation 3.0Gb/s interface.

Even so, Samsung's vice president of storage marketing, I.C. Park, says the hard drive offers, "the largest capacity in what has previously been offered as an option for portable digital devices."

Generally, any hard drive that is part of the Spintpoint series features SilentSeek and NoiseGuard, which are used to drop noise levels during use. They also feature shock resistance of up to 400G while operating and 800G while not in use. You should expect these features in the new hard drive, along with Samsung's balancing technology, which, according to the company, offers "enhanced stability and reliability."

Unfortunately, with a thickness 12.5 mm, the hard drive is likely to present another problem: it won't fit into every laptop, so there may be a lot of disappointed people out there.

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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.

Acer, ASUS gaining ground against HP and Dell.

In the world of laptops a few brands have always been the most popular: Sony, Toshiba, HP and Dell. A few years ago, Acer and ASUS jumped on the scene, producing moderately priced, quality laptops. Those smaller brands started inching their way towards the top. Now it appears worldwide consumers are trending away from paying high dollar for the brand name. Especially when the technology is advancing faster than you can pay your credit card bill.

According to Gartner, which tracks worldwide shipments of laptops and analyzes trends, Acer is gaining ground on the worlds most popular laptop brand, HP. During the 2nd quarter of 2010, HP had about 17% of the market share, while Acer had 13%. That's not very stunning until you compare the same two companies' market share from the 2nd quarter of 2009, HP had 18% and Acer had 12%. (It should be noted, at this time last year, Acer was trailing Dell, 12.6% M.S. in worldwide sales.) To round out the top 5, after Dell is Lenovo, followed by ASUS, which bumped Toshiba out of the top 5 in worldwide sales.

When you look at the US sales statistics, you notice that US sales don't necessarily mimic the worldwide trends. HP still sits atop the list with 25.7% of the market, followed by Dell, 23.7%, Acer, 11.3%, Apple 9.8%, and Toshiba rounding out the top 5 with 8.7%.

In EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) sales are vastly different. Acer takes the the number 1 spot away from HP, with 21.3% of the market. That's up from 18.9% last year. HP is in 2nd place with 19.7%, down from 20.8%. But then there's a dramatic drop off between 2nd and 3rd, Dell sits with only 9.2% of the market in the region, while ASUS, 8.5%, and Toshiba, 5.7% place 4th and 5th, respectively.

These trends could be a result of the worldwide economic downturn, as more and more consumers are tightening their belts and looking at wallet friendly alternatives to fit their laptop needs.

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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.

iBuyPower Has Entered the 3D Laptop Business

To be "in" these days, you have to offer 3D products, whether you sell anything from laptops to plasma TVs. Well, it looks like another computer-maker - iBuyPower - has thrown its name into the 3D laptop business. The company, which is known for its excellent gaming laptops, announced today their new Battalion 101 W860CU-3D.

The new laptop has a 15.6-inch HD screen with 1366 x 768 pixels, and it's capable of displaying 3D images. You can get the computer with a Core i5 or Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM and a hard drive with 750GB capacity. Other options include a 512GB SSD. The Battalion 101 W860CU-3D also includes a DVD player/Blu-ray drive, a NVIDIA GTX285 discrete video card, and a 3D Vision package, which contains 3D software and a pair of 3D Vision active shutter glasses. It runs the Windows 7 Home Premium operating system.

As far as a starting price for the new gaming laptop, you can expect to pay between $1,600 and $1,900, depending on where you purchase it and what kind of specifications you're looking for.

The new laptop wasn't the only announcement iBuyPower made today. The company also announced the launch of two gaming systems that will feature NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 460. They are the Paladin E370 and F860.

The Paladin E370, which starts around $834, will have a Core i5 750 CPU, 4GB of RAM, a 500 GB hard drive, and 24x DVD writer in addition to the GeForce GTX 460. The Paladin F860 is priced at $1,849 and includes the GeForce GTV 460, a Core i7 930 processor, 6 GB of RAM, 1TB of storage space, and a 8x Blu-ray combo drive.

For more info on any of these computers, visit iBuyPower.com. For more information on laptops or laptop rentals, visit Rentourlaptops.com.

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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.

Lenovo's 3D Laptop Now Shipping

3D is all the rage these days and now it's coming to your laptop. The IdeaPad Y560d, from Lenovo, is the company's first 3D notebook, and it's shipping now. The new laptop has a 15.6-inch screen, 16:9 high definition, a Core i7 processor running at 1.60 GHz, 4GB of RAM, and a 500 GB HDD.

A different configuration will be available at a later date. It will include an i7 at 1.86 GHz, a Blue-ray drive, and a "RapidDrive," a hybrid 64GB SSD and 750GB HDD for quicker booting.

The laptop uses TriDef 3D technology (TriDef Media Player) software that turns the standard movie into a 3D movie, using the TriDef Photo Transformer. The same can be done to standard photos, however it does not work on Blu-ray or HD-DVD content.
The laptop will also come with a 3D screen and 3D glasses.

It's currently selling for $1500.

Looking for more 3D information? Check out A Monitor Blog for information on 3D televisions, 3D computer monitors, and other display technology information.

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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.

Starbucks to Offer Free Wi-Fi

Starbucks made a big announcement today. As of July 1st, the company will be offering free Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi will be provided by AT&T and is available for any Starbucks customer with the simple click of a button. Starbucks CEO Howard D. Schultz made the announcement today at a press conference in New York. According to The New York Times, he described it as "a way to bridge the online world and real-world coffee outlets."

Ironically, most coffee shops already offer free Wi-Fi. Starbucks is a little late to the game. Starbucks customers could buy and registered a Starbucks card that would allow them two hours of internet access. Beyond those two hours, or if you did not have the card, you had pay $3.99 per two hours.

On the other hand, the coffee shops who do have free internet access seem to be working on telling customers who use their tables as their own personal offices to get out sooner rather than later. Whether they are posting signs telling customers they must purchase something if they plan to stay or covering power outlets with tape so that people may not charge their laptops up, most less recognizable shops are doing just the opposite of what Starbucks is about to offer.

Currently, Starbucks says their customers usually use about an hour of Wi-Fi on average. They don't expect that number to change, even with the free Wi-Fi. Stephen Gillett, the chief information officer at Starbucks, as well as the general manager of Digital Ventures, a business unit created by Starbucks, will manage the network.

So, is Starbucks' move just a way to drive the economy? In January, after announcing a same-store sales increase of 4% after many months of declines, Starbucks said the improvements are due to its "role as an office for the unemployed." The company said many people use their stores as a place to work on resumes or work on freelance writing jobs.

In addition to the new free network, Starbucks is partnering with Yahoo to give customers more digital content. The Starbucks Digital Network will give customers free access to sites such as The Wall Street Journal, as well as allowing downloads from sites such as iTunes. Customers will also get content from sites such as Zagat, and Patch by AOL.

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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.

HP Recalls Thousands of Laptops

Hewlett Packard has announced that it's recalling 54,000 laptop batteries. The lithium-ion batteries could possibly overheat and catch on fire. The batteries, which were made in China, came with laptops purchased both in stores and online from August 2007 to July 2008. Many were also sold independently.

According to HP, less than 3% of the laptops have the defective batteries and they company will replace them for free. The batteries can burn someone or catch on fire. The company released a statement saying, "HP fully stands behind the products it makes and has taken a proactive approach to this situation to ensure the safety of our customers and the integrity and quality of our products."

In May of last year the company recalled 70,000 laptop batteries, due to overheating, but the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that more batteries than originally thought were overheating. The recall spans over 31 different brands of computers. Initially, two different consumers complained but later an additional 38 complaints were filed by people injured by handling the batteries and laptops.

HP is not alone in recalling laptop batteries. Over 10 million Sony batteries were recalled between 2006 and 2008. 4 million of those were recalled by Dell, 1.8 million by Apple, 340,000 by Toshiba and 338,000 by Fujitsu. Lenovo, Acer, Sharpy and Sanyo also recalled their laptops. According to Consumer Product Safety Commission spokesman Scott Wolfson, said that almost any laptop battery can overheat if charged too long or if laptops don't have good ventilation systems.

If your laptop battery has been recalled and you ned a temporary back-up, why not consider a laptop rental?

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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.

Thin is In When it Comes to Laptops

According to iSuppli, a market research firm, 2010 will be all about netbooks and ultra-thin laptops. As a matter of fact, even though the market experienced a 19% increase in sales last year (up from 2008), numbers for this year are expected to be even higher. They also expect this trend to carry on for the next four years, into 2014.

Laptops, Ultra-thin laptops, and Netbooks

In 2010, over 34.5 million netbooks are expected to ship (an increase of 30%) and in 2014, those numbers are expected to reach 58.3 million units sold. When it comes to the newer ultra-thin laptops, 14.5 million units are expected to ship this year, which is a 93% increase from the 7.5 million units shipped in 2009. As for standard laptops, they still dominate the market (160.5 million units are expected to ship in 2010), but growth is only about 21%. It's expected that notebooks will continue to dominate the market over the next few years, but thinner versions are definitely on their way up.

Acer is Number One

When it comes to computer-makers, Acer remains number one. The company, based in Taiwan, was at the top in 2008 and 2009, and iSuppli expects that to be the case in 2010. 37% of all laptops shipped last year came from Acer, which drives sales with competitive pricing, strong channel distribution, and quick production to market time. Asustek Computer came in at number, while Hewlett Packard, Samsung, and Dell rounded out the top five. However, the number two spot will potentially see Samsung or HP taking over. Those five companies alone make up 90% of the laptop market.

Another reason for Acer's popularity is it's creation ultra-thin laptops in 2009, something other companies hadn't yet started making. The company shipped around five million ultra-thin laptops in 2009. Asustek shipped about 700,000 ultra-thin unites, and together with Acer, dominated the market. Companies such as HP, Dell, and Toshiba didn't get into the ultra-thin game until late in the year, but they are expected to do so in 2010, which means lots of changes and competition to be number one.

Total Numbers

If iSupply's data is any indication, laptop popularity, as a whole, will continue to grow and dominate the computer market, with more and more people trading in their powerful standard laptops for netbooks and ultra-thing models. Rumor has it some companies, such as Toshiba, will be working to make thinner laptops more powerful.

In 2009, 166.9 laptops were sold. This year, 209.5 unites are expected to sell, with 371.5 units being sold in 2014.

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