Refurb Kindles now available for $329; please, try to contain yourselves

With Black Friday a thing of the past and the holiday season rapidly approaching, you want to hook up everyone you know with something nice. Amazon's trying to make that a bit easier on the wallet by offering up refurbished Kindles for $329 straight up -- a first for the funky little ebook reader. while it's not as much of a price reduction as we would have liked, it is a start, but with new devices and pricing rumored for early 2009, to us it just seems like too little, too late.


Thanks: KindleBoards

Intel VP says netbooks are "fine for an hour"

Intel's never made a secret of the fact that it developed the now-ubiquitous atom chipset primarily for mobile devices and low-powered netbooks for at emerging markets, so it's not totally surprising to hear intel sales VP Stu Pann say the company doesn't see netbooks as potentially cannibalizing sales of its existing processors -- but we are a bit intrigued by his seeming dismissal of netbooks as everyday machines. according to Stu, a netbook with a 10-inch screen is "fine for an hour. It's not something you're going to use day in and day out." That's probably true, of course, but it's harsher language than we've heard from intel in the past -- and it's more or less in line with AMD's recent decision to ignore netbooks entirely in favor of more capable machines "above that form factor." Of course, intel execs can pretty much say whatever they want as long as the company is basically the only player in the netbook game, but we think a lot of people actually are willing to use a netbook as their primary machine, especially in this economy. could you handle a netbook as your daily driver? The comment box awaits.


Thanks: jkOnTheRun

Lenovo S10 with six-cell battery gets pictured, priced

Lenovo's S10 netbook has been relatively well received since its introduction earlier this year, but the battery life has always been a bit of a sticking point, with the included 3-cell battery simply not meeting some folks' netbook demands. It looks like that situation has now been rectified, in Germany, where a new model equipped with a six-cell battery has just gone on sale for the fairly reasonable price of €329 (or roughly $425). Unfortunately, there's no indication of a release 'round these parts just yet, but you can check out some more pics of the somewhat bulky addition by hitting up the link below.

DS Lite 'New Super Mario Bros.' bundle unboxing and hands-on

Look, we know there's nothing especially fresh about the New Super Mario Bros. DS Lite bundle that's just been issued for the holidays, but we're absolutely a sucker for anything red and stamped with a big M. We have to say, after struggling with the packaging (c'mon Nintendo, it took a knife and a pair of scissors), we were a little disappointed by the lack of style inside the box. Hey, we can't all be the Omnia. Check out the really red action in the Gallery below.

Samsung's X360 ultraportable reviewed: cheaper than competition, but not as good

If Apple's Macbook Air is the poster-child for "form-over-function," and Lenovo's X300 its utilitarian cousin, Samsung's X360 falls somewhere in between on the 13.3-inch wafter-thin ultraportable family tree, serving as another solid, though somewhat underwhelming choice according to TrustedReviews' full write-up. It's not as thin as the Air, but is slightly lighter while still feeling reasonably durable, and with a full complement of ports certainly has the edge in terms of utility. It also manages to be a bit it more visually appealing than the X300, is blessed with a "superb" keyboard (which we liked, too), and the five hours of battery life in real-world usage impresses as well. But, it's hampered by a disappointing 1280 x 800 glossy screen and an under-performing 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo CPU. The thing is popping up at online retailers a bit cheaper than we'd expected (we found one for about $150 lower than Samsung's indicated $1,899 MSRP), but, in the US at least, might just be priced a little too close to its proven competitors to make it a serious contender over here.


Thanks: Engadget

• Weekend tech reading: It's all about Windows 7

ASUS' 12-inch bamboo laptop gets a price

ASUS may have been beaten to the punch by a few other companies and their bamboo-ensconced offerings, but it looks like it's now getting its first bamboo laptop out the door at long last, and it's taken the opportunity to finally get official with a price. Apparently, the first few 12-inch models will go on sale at Taiwan's IT Month exhibition on Saturday, where they'll run NT$59,900, or just over $1,800. Unfortunately, it's not clear exactly which configuration that'll get you, but, judging from the last word out of ASUS, even the base config seems to be pretty capable.

Thanks: Engadget

• Intel Core i7 benchmarks make Core 2 Extreme look like a washed-up has-been

Gateway's 16-inch MC7803u laptop reviewed: great rig for the price

We can't explain the sudden onslaught of 16-inch Laptops ps hitting the scene, but if neither the R610 nor the Aspire 6930 suited your fancy, maybe Gateway's MC7803u will. The multimedia-minded rig recently hit CNET's review bench, and generally speaking, critics were pleased with what they saw. The expansive display was found to be quite useful, the recessed touch pad was a nice touch and the "minimalist" design was thoroughly lauded. Reviewers did find time to bash the shallow key travel, the omission of a Blu-ray drive and somewhat sluggish performance in a few of the benchmarks, though. Evidently those negatives weren't enough to put a damper on the system as a whole, as it still managed to snag a 3.5 out of 5 golden star rating -- still not quite high enough to buy blind, but it's probably solid enough that you don't need to refuse shipment on the one that's already halfway to your doorstep.

Thanks: Engadget

• Pure*Gold PC is just what you think it is

Acer's 16-inch Aspire 6930 reviewed: right on the money

In the battle between new 16-inch multimedia notebooks, it's safe to say that Laptop Mag prefers Acer's rig over Samsung's R610. The Aspire 6930 (or 6930G-6723, if we're talking specifics), was said to have an eye-catching design, great Blu-ray playback and solid all-around performance suitable for a media-minded lappie. Not to mention the sub-$1,000 sticker -- that helped, too. In actuality, the only real knock was the fact that a 1080p display wasn't included at the $999 price point, but we all know that's just being greedy. These critics didn't hesitate to dish out a 4 out of 5 star rating for Acer's latest 16-incher, calling it "a winner" for anyone looking for a "relatively lightweight desktop replacement that's not too expensive."

Thanks: Engadget

• How would you change Microsoft's new Zunes / v3.0 software?

Fedora 10 goes live: your download awaits

Just six short months after Fedora 9 hit the tubes, in flies Fedora 10 to give you something new to tinker with over Thanksgiving break. The latest iteration of the Linux-based Os S bundles in OpenOffice 3.0 and touts a "wide range of improvements in areas such as virtualization management, networking, boot time and security." Don't mind us, though -- you can delve as deep as you like in the release notes while your download progresses.

Thanks: PC World

• The Only Wii Homebrew Guide You Will Ever Need [ How-to ]

Sub-$400 eMachines eMD620-5777 laptop gets reviewed

We already caught a brief glimpse of eMachines' new budget-priced eMD620-5777 laptop when it was first announced, but if you're still pondering a purchase, you may want to head on over to Laptop mag, which now has a full review of the unit. As you've no doubt surmised, there's some considerable trade-offs with this one, with the 1.6GHz Athlon processor and all around low-end specs placing a considerable drag on performance, and the battery barely managing to Top p two hours in their tests. On the upside, it's $379 price tag places it squarely in competition with the masses of netbooks out there, and its 14.1-inch screen, while glossy, should do the job just fine for those that prefer a bit t more real estate. Hit up the link below for the complete breakdown and, of course, a few more pics.

Thanks: Engadget

• Microsoft Parks "I'm a PC" Recording Kiosks Outside Apple Stores [Apple]

Samsung's 16-inch R610 laptop reviewed: more mediocre than memorizing

Among Samsung's first line of self-branded laptops in America, you'll find the 16-inch R610. Designed to be amongst the thinnest, lightest and least expensive 16-inchers on the market, the unit succeeded at its core missions. Sadly, it didn't fare so well when it came time to get to business. In terms of sheer performance, critics found it to be "acceptable" overall, but the graphics scores and HDD test results left a lot to be desired. Also, the bundled six-cell battery only lasted 2.5 hours before needing a recharge, though you could fork out a bit t extra to get nearly six hours with the 9-cell pack. At the end of the day, reviewers just couldn't recommend this over, say, Acer's feature-packed 6930G, though those on a budget may be willing to overlook the shortcomings to have the footprint they're really after.

Thanks: Engadget

• Gizmodo's Haunted Halloween Post [ thank giz it's friday ]

Lenovo ThinkPads to freeze when texted, deter thieves from getting the goods

We've seen some pretty sophisticated laptop Security y measures out here in the volatile civilian world, but Lenovo's taking things all Top p secret with its new Constant Secure Remote Disable feature. Slated to hit select ThinkPads in Q1 2009, the Phoenix Technologies, um, technology enables specially equipped notebooks to become utterly worthless if stolen -- so long as the owner remembers to text in the emergency code, that is. You see, with the Remote Disable function, proper owners can send an SMS to their missing WWAN-enabled machine in order to make it inoperable; the lappie then sends a message back to confirm that it's currently irritating the daylights out of a wannabe data thief. 'Course, said thief can track you down and implement all manners of torture to get you to reactivate it, but we suppose that's the risk you take with that sort of lifestyle. Full release after the break.

"Lockdown PC C Now." Lenovo Locks Out Thieves from ThinkPad Notebook PCs
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – November 25, 2008: Lenovo today announced plans to bring customers a new security defense against unauthorized data access on Lenovo ThinkPad notebooks. The Lenovo Constant Secure Remote Disable Feature e lets users send a simple text message command via a cell phone to render their PC useless to unauthorized users when the notebook is lost or stolen. Lenovo worked with Phoenix Technologies (Nasdaq: PTEC), a leader in embedded technologies that improve the user experience, to develop this capability. Lenovo's Remote Disable Feature e will be available on select ThinkPad notebooks equipped with mobile broadband1 starting in 1Q 2009.
According to the 2008 CSI Computer Crime and Security Survey2, 42 percent of computer attacks and incidents among U.S. organizations in both private and public sectors occurred as a result of notebook PC theft. Lenovo's new Remote Disable dramatically enhances the security of a lost or stolen ThinkPad notebook PC by speeding up the time it takes to lock the PC, helping to prevent unauthorized access to the computer's data.
To activate Remote Disable, users create a simple text message command such as "lockdown PC now" or "PC shut off" that can be used if a notebook PC is lost or stolen. A user sends the kill command to the ThinkPad notebook via cell phone to the PC's onboard mobile broadband service and the computer becomes inoperable3. If the PC is turned off when a user sends a kill command, the PC will automatically disable the next time someone turns it on. Users also receive a confirmation text message that validates when the Remote Disable technology has been successfully executed. To reactivate the disabled PC, a user enters his or her pre-set passcode created during notebook startup.
"Remote Disable dramatically reduces the anxiety and waiting people often experience when they've been the victim of a lost or stolen notebook PC," said Bob Galush, vice president, Software e and Peripherals Marketing, Lenovo." Through our work with Phoenix, we are able to reduce customers' security risks and potential exposure of their confidential data when their ThinkPad notebook is lost or stolen. Combined with features like built-in biometric fingerprint readers, full hard drive encryption and embedded security chips, Lenovo ThinkPad notebooks offer the latest industry-leading PC security technologies."
Pricing and Availability
Lenovo's Remote Disable is included in the price of the notebook at no additional charge. It will be available 1Q 2009 on select ThinkPad notebooks that are enabled for mobile broadband1. Remote Disable will be supported worldwide wherever cellular phone systems support GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) SMS (Short Message Service) text message transmission.

Thanks: Engadget

HP Mini 1000 now supporting 3G

When we got comfy with the HP Mini 1000 last month, there was talk of a full 3G spec'd version coming in December. Lo and behold we're not even out of November yet and one owner has managed to get online with his brand spankin' new 1000. User dplxy over at the Pocketables forum put in some quality time with customer support from both HP and AT&T to figure out how, saving you some minutes by describing the how-to. Full instructions are at the read link, but the gist of it is you need to download a WWAN driver from HP, manually extract and install it, and then slot your SIM card into the battery compartment. Speeds are reported to be solid but, with the lowly three cell battery struggling to keep the thing broadcasting, you'd better hurry up and find what you're looking for. It's unlikely this will work with older versions of the Mini 1000, which are believed to lack the hardware internals, but give it a shot and let us know what you find, yeah?

Thanks: Engadget

• Microsoft placing "I'm a PC" recording booths outside Apple stores

Dell adds $100 32GB SSD option to Inspiron Mini 9

Sure, the base price of Dell's Inspiron Mini 9 is pretty palatable, but good luck passing through that hard drive selection screen with this option unchecked. Yep, as now, Mini 9 buyers can opt for a capacious 32GB solid state drive (a luxury already available in Japan), which is a $100 upgrade over the standard 4GB SSD. Enticing enough to make you finally pull the trigger?


Thanks: Engadget

• In Huge Shift, Court Ruling Effectively Denies Software-Only Patent Rights [ Patents ]

MacBook and MacBookPro suffer performance anxiety once the battery is removed

Are you one of those thrifty-types who's always looking for an angle, always trying to stretch every last penny? You know who we're talking about: Montel Williams bases whole episodes around you, the kind of person who reuses tea bags and separates sheets of triple-ply paper towels. Unfortunately, it now looks like you now have one less trick at your disposal. According to Zach Honig over at Gearlog, running your MacBook or MacBookPro without its battery (trying to squeeze out an extra month or two of battery life) will cause a significant performance decrease: we're talking upwards of 40 percent. When he checked Apple's knowledgebase, it turns out that this is by design -- processor speed is reduced when the machine detects that its relying solely on A/C to prevent it from demanding more power than the adapter alone can provide (and any nasty shutdowns that would result). We don't know if we buy this line of reasoning, but one thing is certain: if you know what's good for you, you'll leave that battery where it belongs.

Thanks: Engadget

• Microsoft to unveil Windows Mobile 6.5?

Hello Kitty C1 netbook packs a lotta 'tude into a small package

There's been a serious dearth of Hello Kitty-branded products these days, but the dry-spell is thankfully at an end, with the arrival of the Hello Kitty C1. The crazy cat's apparently first-ever netbook is (as you can see in the photo) quite a looker, and it's packing a 1.6GHz Intel l Atom N270 CPU with 1GB DDR2 SDRAM, a 945 GSE Express chipset and a 120GB hard drive. The 10.1-inch netbook's also got two USB ports, a 1.3 megapixel webcam and WiFi. It's going to cost you 890 smackers to make this yours, but the sassiness alone kind of makes it worth it, doesn't it?


Thanks: CNET

• Microsoft ships Vista SP2 pre-beta build to testers

Intel's convertible Classmate PC barely makes it to FCC class

Although the third-generation Classmate PC C looked completely unprepared for the real world comin' out of IFA, Intel l has clearly hit the books during the fall term. Now, the convertible Classmate has graduated to the FCC, where we're shown a user's manual, label ID and a smattering of pathetic images. If you're thinking this bugger's just on cruise control until diploma day, you've got another thing coming, but we have heard that it's taking a job on US soil right after the holiday break.

Thanks: Engadget

• VW discusses New Midsize Sedan to be built in Chattanooga

Dell's Inspiron Mini 9 and 12 get artist makeovers

In recent months we've seen Dell's design department running wild with new colors and art for a lot of their models, such as the Studio 15 and 17 laptops, and the announcement that customizable jobs were on the table for 2009. It probably should come as no surprise, then, to see the Inspiron Mini 9 and 12 get some love, too -- this time in five patterns by artist Tristan Eaton. Otherwise the same under the hood, the paint-jobbed Minis will run you an extra $50 over the base price of each respective model -- $349 for the Mini 9 and $549 for the Mini 12. Check out two more shots of the upgrades after the break.

Thanks: Electronista

• Dealzmodo Hack: Juice Up Your Canon Digital Camera With CHDK [ Dealzmodo hacks ]

How would you change Apple's unibody MacBook / MacBook Pro?

Now that you've had well over a month to toy with Apple's latest MacBook and MacBook Pro, we're just dying to know what your impressions are. Has the glass trackpad turned you off (or just turned you off to every other trackpad on the planet)? Is the inability to order the MBP with a matte display still grating your nerves? Are you happy with the performance? Is your "S" key randomly popping off at the most inopportune times? You just spent a load of cash on what essentially amounts to a first-generation product -- you've every right to make your voice heard. Do just that in comments below.

Thanks: Engadget

• Switched On: REDFLY seeks your green before Halloween

MSI Wind U120 gets spotted, examined in the wild

We've already seen a few shots of MSI's forthcoming Wind U120 netbook, but our pals at Engadget Chinese have now taken in one of its first public appearances and, naturally, they've provided plenty of pics for folks to dive into. That includes some close-up shots of the netbook's slightly revised port situation, some comparison shots with the non-two tone U100, and even another glimpse of that 9-cell battery we've already seen floating about. MSI also had it's full-fledged Bravo EX620 laptop on display, though it's a pretty safe bet that we won't be seeing it 'round these parts anytime soon.


Thanks: Engadget

• Microsoft preps Xbox 360 'Starter Pack'
• Microsoft makes Surface look dated with SecondLight
• Possible Psystar Mac laptop clone in the works
• Asus, Intel launch WePC website, ask community to design PCs for them
• Lenovo's ThinkCentre M58 / M58p desktops keep the green scheme alive
• Lightweight Windows 7 pre-Beta on Eee PC 1000H looks very promising

HP's TouchSmart tx2z multitouch convertible tablet starts at $1,149

Oh sure, you could select Dell's multitouch-enabled Latitude XT over HP's latest, but given the $1,829 starting price of the former, we'd say the TouchSmart tx2z is looking a lot more delectable these days. Hailed as the first multitouch "consumer" convertible tablet (a claim that's certainly open for debate), the 12.1-inch tx2 gets going at just $1,149.99, though HP's "recommended" configuration starts at $1,223.99. The baseline setup includes Vista a Home Premium, a 2.1GHz AMD Turion X2, 3GB of DDR2 RAM, an ATI Radeon Hd D 3200 graphics set, 250GB of HDD space and a built-in webcam. As of now, the estimated build date shows December 8th, so we'd get that order in five minutes ago if you're looking to ensure a holiday delivery.

Thanks: Engadget

• Leaked Intel roadmap shows Centrino 2 bump just before Calpella hits
• Hardcore Computer bringing oil submersion cooling to the masses
• HP announces Pavilion Verde and Pavilion Phoenix eco-PCs, 25-inch display
• Axiotron Modservice takes your sad, disused Macbook, converts it into swanky new tablet
• How To Choose the Best Network Storage for a Mac/PC Home [How To]
• Dell XPS One 24 Updates Graphics Card, Enlarges Screen, Fights AIDS [Dell]

Epson's Endeavor Na01 mini is a netbook

Not much to say here, just an Atom N270 1.6Ghz processor, 10.2-inch 1024 x 600 LCD, 1GB of RAM, 160GB HDD and a dash of Windows s XP, doing what they always do. There's a nice complement of completely standard interfaces, like three USB 2.0 plugs, 802.11b/g WiFi, Ethernet, mini VGA out and a multicard reader, all stuffed into a slightly frumpy 1.5-inch thick enclosure, but let's not get off message: Epson's new Endeavor Na01 mini is all Microsoft-proscribed netbook and nothing more. The Japan-only computer is available today for the completely palatable price of 46,800 Yen (about $484).


Thanks: Impress Watch

• Microsoft Doubles Reward For Teen That Ran Away After His Parents Pilfered His 360 [ Xbox ]
• Why Zen Software Design Does Not Come From Japan [ Designmodo ]
• Dealzmodo: Download CrossOver Free Today Only [ Deals ]
• Microsoft Shows windows 7 Running on Asus EeePC [Windows 7]
• Dell goes industrial with new OptiPlex desktops

Fujitsu's LifeBook U820 mini tablet now on sale, starts at $999

We're still scratching our noggins in a futile attempt to figure out the LifeBook U820's real purpose on this Earth, but for those who've got it all figured out, you'll likely be thrilled to know that this puppy is now on sale. $999 buys you a mini convertible tablet with an Intel l Atom Z530 CPU, a 5.6-inch WXGA touchscreen, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 60GB 4,200RPM hard drive, built-in GPS S / Garmin Mobile PC, Ethernet, a webcam / fingerprint sensor, Bluetooth / WiFi and a 4-cell battery. There's also a $1,299 version if that other variant just isn't up to your standards, but at any rate, feel free to punch the read link and have a think before pulling the trigger on either.

Thanks: jkkmobile

• Download CrossOver for free today, run Windows Apps on Mac, Linux
• Microsoft sheds light on Windows 7 features
• Windows 7 details galore: interface tweaks, netbook builds, Media Center enhancements
• Sonos Audio System Brings Controller App to iPhone, Firmware 2.7 Update With Last.fm and 15,000+ Radio Stations [Sonos]
• Microsoft Office Documents Editing Coming to the iPhone [ iPhone Office ]
• Microsoft Bringing Office Suite Online [Microsoft]

Asus R50A finally arrives, jacks your wallet in the process

If you're looking to drop nearly $2,000 on a UMPC, well, first of all, you're nuts, but second of all, you're in luck, 'cause the Asus R50A is Shipping g at €1,475 ($1,878). They weren't kidding when they said it would be above $500, but for the price you'll be running Windows s Vista a on a handheld with a 1.33GHz Intel l Atom processor, a gig of RAM, a 32GB SSD hard drive, a 5.6'' screen at 1024 x 600, three USB ports, a microSD slot, a wireless keyboard, and an external DVD D reader / writer. Connectivity options include 802.11 b / g WiFi, Bluetooth, and 3G. These specs aren't all that different from what you'd find in a netbook (save for the SSD), except you're paying more than twice as much and you get to look like you're playing Games s on a GP2X while you're using it on the train. Maybe it's supposed to be a status symbol?


Thanks: Pocketables

• NuConomy: Next-gen web analytics
• First look at Windows Media Center in Windows 7
• Microsoft to launch web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Four-finger gestures hacked into older MacBooks

You know good and well you were instantly jealous of the multi-finger gesture support announced for those minty fresh new Mac laptops, and if you're finally ready to ditch that envy you've been harboring and just get even, have a look. Without even resorting to gangsterism, users of pre-October 2008 Apple e Laptops s can get the four-finger Expose and Application Switching working -- all's that required is the install disc from a unibody MacBook, a little tweak of the registry and a pinch of patience. We can't say for sure how far back this hack will go (we're guessing your PowerBook G3 is out of luck), but we do know that it works just fine with a January '08 MacBook Air. Give it a go if you're a risk taker, but don't blame us if your atoms start to melt.


Thanks: MacRumors

• New MSI Wind BIOS enables overclocking
• Why I wouldn't buy the new MacBook... and probably you shouldn't either
• Codeweavers makes CrossOver free today
• Looking for a portable hotkey app? Try QOpen!

MacBook innards crammed into makeshift mini Mac Pro tower

When we first laid eyes upon the slick box pictured above, we were struck with an eerie feeling of deja vu. Now, it all makes sense. After receiving an all-but-completely-dead MacBook, one particular modder decided to rip the motherboard out, break out the soldering iron, throw in a few replacement parts and shove everything into a Macally G-S350SUA aluminum hard drive enclosure. Wanna know why? Because he had a peek k at this -- a Mac Pro Mini mod that popped up here in March. Talk about taking inspiration and improving upon it.

Thanks: Hack-A-Day

• Run: Addictive Flash game asks you to do one thing - run
• XP Syspad centralizes access to Windows XP functions
• FlickrDown: bulk photostream downloader
• Facebook Exporter for iPhoto
• Microsoft launches Windows Azure: Cloud operating system
• Intelligently resize images with Seam Carving GUI

Dell's 32GB Inspiron Mini 9 netbook blushes pink and red in Japan

What's black and white and now red in Japan? Why Dell's Inspiron Mini 9 of course -- who reads newspapers? Starting tomorrow, Dell's little netbook will finally be available in red to match the initial teaser shots that had the entire laptop world looking Dell's way back in May. Pink too, to offset the decidedly more staid, obsidian black and alpine white versions available elsewhere. Japan n also nabbed an Inspiron Mini 9 Platinum Package that features a relative biggie 32GB SSD for a tax inclusive price of ?54,980 or about $565. No word d on a rest of world release date for these Mini 9 updates but we expect them go Stateside in time for Cindy-Lou Who. Mini 9 in pink after the break.

Thanks: Impress

Samsung's Q310-34P laptop reviewed: not bad for a first try

Okay, so maybe Samsung isn't entirely new to the laptop game here in the USA, but for its first line of self-branded lappies, the Q310 ultraportable didn't fare half bad in its first review. Critics over at Laptop Mag found the design of the 13.3-incher to be "handsome," the performance "smooth" and the endurance to be satisfactory enough. It also pointed out that the glossy display wasn't incredibly distracting as with other machines we've personally reviewed, and while they had a tough time finding anything major to harsh on, they couldn't help but point out that the $949 ThinkPad SL300 was likely a better value. 'Course, if money ain't a thang, you're probably safe to make a purchase here.

Thanks: Engadget

Dell's Mini 12 netbook is ready for US orders, ships in December

It was bound to happen sooner or later. We received the birth announcement, we read the reviews, and it looks like Dell is finally set to unleash the Mini 12 upon us lowly North Americans. The 12-inch netbook is pretty much what we expected specs-wise, starting at $549 for a 1.33GHz Atom processor, 1GB of memory, 40GB hard drive and standard 3 cell battery. Perhaps $758 is a little steep for a netbook, but if you're game the top-end machine sports a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 80GB hard drive and a 6 cell battery. All configurations should be shipping with Windows Vista Home Basic starting sometime in early December.

Thanks: Engadget

Dell taking Art House laptops made-to-order in 2009

Dell's been taking its design new directions for a while now, but it looks the company's war on boring is about to get personal. Ed Boyd, Dell's new Industrial Design Director, told BusinessWeek that Dell also plans on launching customizable computers with "scores of colors, patterns, and textures," and options that will "go far beyond the handful of choices available" from most rivals. We assume he just means the exterior, though that's unclear, so we'll keep our fingers crossed for that hot pink keyboard. There are also no details yet on which models will be up for customization or their pricing, but the other Art House models range from $649 to $800, so our uncle probably won't have to break the bank to unveil his edgy laptop graffiti when these hit sometime next year. Can't hardly wait.

Thanks: Engadget

Dell's Vostro A860 yours for a song (and $379)

The Dell Vostro A860 we've heard so much about has finally hit the Stateside scene, and it looks like we'll finally be able to get our hands on the laptop that those lucky folk in the "emerging markets" of Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America have been into since before it was cool (that is, late August). Starting at $379 with Dell's instant savings, the 15.6-inch, 5.4 pound laptop comes with either a Celeron or Pentium Dual Core processor, GMA X3100+ integrated graphics, up to 2GB of memory, up to 160GB storage, 1366 x 768 display resolution, WiFi and optional Bluetooth. This "speed demon" comes preloaded with Vista Home Basic or Vista Business and is available now at Dell's website.

Thanks: Laptoping

UMID's "super mini laptop" is small, shiny, super

Netbooks too big for you? MIDs too cramped? What you need is a super mini laptop from Korean company UMID, one of the sexiest entrants into what seems to be a burgeoning sub-netbook category (or subnet-books for the network admins out there). It weighs just 315 grams (a little over a half-pound) and, while exact dimensions weren't listed, seems to sit somewhere between Nintendo DS and Everun Note in terms of size (judge for yourself, more pics below). Inside it can pack a 1.33GHz Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, and up to 32GB of storage via SSD, meaning it can hold its own against the netbook hordes, and do so on the run thanks to WiBro, WiMAX, HSDPA, WiFi, and Bluetooth connectivity. It also has a 1.3 megapixel camera situated next to a 4.8-inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen and can be yours running XP, Vista, or Linux. Well, not yours, since we don't know when or where this thing will be appearing for sale first or, for that matter, how much it will cost when it does.

Thanks: jkkmobile

Acer's Aspire One A110X "Black Edition" hits the streets of Germany

The Aspire One is selling really well, in spite of the fact that it kind of gets lost in the overwhelming wilderness of more exciting (cooler, if you will) netbooks, so it's not necessarily surprising to see it appearing in new and zany colors... like black. Sure, it's exactly the same as every other Aspire One 110 we've ever seen, but this one is... all black. In fact, it's like, how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black. The special "Black Edition" has touched down in Germany for €400 (or about $500), which is a bit more than we're used to paying for the old 110, but it seems worth it to express so much with so little effort.

Thanks: Engadget

Dell's Studio 15 and 17 get art-housed for (PRODUCT) RED

Dell is set to expand upon its Art House series of Studio laptops with three new special edition designs for (PRODUCT) RED. That's right: now you can have an arty Dell and do some good at the same time, with the choice of three different artists: Joseph Amedokpo, Siobhan Gunning and Bruce Mau. The custom designs will be available on Dell's Studio 15 and 17 models for $649 and $799 respectively, and a $20 contribution will be made to The Global Fund for AIDS programs in Africa for each one sold. Dell claims that the art is "permanently infused" on the casing and totally durable, so, just like when deciding on a tattoo, be sure you're really committed before the purchase. And if you're too cool for these designs, well, maybe your slightly hip, gaudy great aunt will be interested. Regardless, they're available now online.

Thanks: Engadget

Lenovo's IdeaPad U330 reviewed: nice for the price

After launching this summer, we're heard way more about netbooks than Lenovo's shiny IdeaPad U330. For those who've refused to forget about it, the aforesaid rig has been reviewed by the kind souls over at Laptop Mag, and impressions were fairly positive overall. The biggest boon here is likely the price -- we mean, $1,199 for a 13-inch lappie of this stature isn't half bad. As with most of the other IdeaPads, the design was applauded, the mix of features and performance was satisfactory and the size (4.4-pounds) was just right. Critics did slam the mushy touch buttons and the below-average battery life, but even so, the U330 was deemed a "a compelling thin-and-light notebook that offered plenty of style and strong performance" for the price.

Thanks: Engadget

Dell Inspiron Mini 12 reviewed: bigger, not necessarily better

After toying with our heartstrings for like, ever, Dell finally gathered up the courage to formally introduce its 12-inch netbook late last month. After arriving at the testing facilities of Laptop Mag, critics quickly found a lot to love about the relatively expansive display, "excellent" battery life and spacious keyboard. In all fairness, there really wasn't anything to complain about on the surface; the first kvetching we heard was soon after bootup -- er, a fair while after bootup, we should say. The biggest knock on Dell's Mini 12 was its sluggish performance under Vista, not to mention the lethargic hard drive shoved in there. In sum, critics frankly pointed out that the "Mini 12 doesn't have the right hardware to handle this OS," and recommended holding off for one with WinXP / Ubuntu if you were dead set on the design.

Thanks: Engadget

How would you change the Voodoo Envy 133?

While low-cost laptops are all the rage right now, there's still a solid chunk of folks out there willing to pay a premium for potent ultraportables. The Voodoo Envy 133 is undeniably one of the sexier small machines we've seen of late, and the internals are rather impressive given the size of the enclosure. Still, this here rig costs a pretty penny, and we've all ideas those who splurged have a thing or two to say about it with nearly two months of usage under their belt. Has the Envy 133 lived up to your surely lofty expectations? Are there aspects there you wish were different? How could Voodoo go about tweaking things whenever it finally decides to actually launch another product at all its successor?

Thanks: Engadget

ASUS adds N80V and N50V to its ever-expanding family of laptops

Yesterday ASUS stunned and pleased our eyeballs with the announcement of the 12-inch N20A laptop, and today two more get added to the crew: the 14.1-inch N80V and the 15.4-inch N50V. Both have the option of T9400 / P8600 / P7350 Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, up to 4GB of RAM, and each pack NVIDIA's GeForce 9300M GPU with 512MB of VRAM. The N80V has an up to 320GB hard drive capacity while the N50V goes up to 500GB. The N80V boasts a WXGA display and the NV50 offers WXGA / WXGA+ / WSXGA+ options. There's also a stunning selection of ports, including eSATA and HDMI on both of these bad boys. For unequaled spec-reading pleasure, hit the read links.


Thanks: PC Launches

MSI EX623 laptop "rocks" our (proverbial) "world"

Another day, another awesome laptop announcement. This one, the EX623, a 16-incher from the hallowed depths of MSI's genius labs packs an Intel Centrino Core 2 Duo CPU, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a max 320GB hard drive, and NVIDIA GeForce 9500M GS graphics, with a 16:9 widescreen display. The "Bravo," as it's also known, is apparently being marketed as an entertainment laptop (we know this because we watched the super sweet video MSI has up on their site which shows a band totally rocking out), and as such houses things like a Blu-ray drive, an eSATA port, stereo speakers and a subwoofer, though there's no HDMI output and of course the 1366 x 768 resolution won't display 1080p HD. Still, we're pretty sure that "Breakpoint" will have never sounded so good. No word on the price or availability.

Thanks: SlashGear

Toshiba's three-GPU Qosmio X305-Q708 / Q706 laptops now available

Given that you've surely got rafts of free cash to burn through right now, we know you're eager beyond belief to drop north of four large on a new gaming notebook. To that end, we're utterly thrilled to announce that Toshiba's Qosmio X305-Q708 (starts at $4,199, goes to just under infinity) is available for purchase direct from the company. If that just seems downright insane to you, the three-GPU X305-Q706 is also available now for "just" $1,999.99. The big ticket inclusion here? An NVIDIA GeForce 9400M paired with two GeForce 9800 GTS GPUs. Or, enough to make Crysis weep.

Thanks: Engadget

Alienware's M17 gaming laptop reviewed: an interesting mix of good and bad

Alienware didn't do itself any favors by hyping up what wound up being a decidedly ho hum offering in the M17, but the open-minded critics over at CNET were able to sit the machine down for a tick and give it a workout. Reviewers tested a $1,999 configuration (it starts at $1,399) with twin ATI Radeon HD 3870 GPUs and a Core 2 Duo P8400, and overall, performance was "decent" for the price. Gaming scores were more than adequate and basic computing tasks were handled with ease, but a few niggles were still present. For instance, the smallish touch pad was blasted, and the inability to stay alive for over 1.5 hours during a video playback test was a real (albeit expected) downer. The biggest criticism, however, had nothing to do with performance; rather, critics lambasted the rig's old school design, and honestly, we find ourselves in complete agreement. Hit the read link for the full writeup.

Thanks: Engadget

LG debuts 13.3-inch XNOTE P310 premium laptop

LG may not have strayed to far from the outward appearance of the XNOTE P300 with its new P310 model, but it looks to have given the "premium" laptop a decent enough upgrade under the hood, with it now finally getting bumped up to the Centrino 2 platform. That upgrade also includes a speedier 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo T9400 processor, 3GB of DDR3 memory, 2GB of Intel Turbo Memory a 320GB hard drive, and some decent enough NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics, not to mention the same LED-backlit 13.3-inch display as before. No word on a price just yet, but we're guessing it won't be too far off the €1,599 (or just over $2,000) its predecessor demanded.

Thanks: Hallyu Tech

Apple prepping a patch for mysterious clicking issue on new MacBooks

We're normally fans of "quirky," but there's nothing more frustrating than a quirky clicking experience, as has been reported by many of the ungrateful bastages who've snapped up the new MacBook and MacBook Pros since launch. The primary reported problem was with certain physical clicks not registering on that schmancy new glass trackpad, no small annoyance. Earlier this week an email from a disgruntled user to Mr. Customer Support himself, Steve Jobs, was responded to by a call from Apple's customer relations saying that they were "researching" the issue, and a couple days later a similar request from another user was met with a terse email from Steve: "Software fix coming soon." Of course, these conversations could all be the delusional fantasies of click-addled attention hounds, but we're going to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that Apple does in fact have a fix in the works for this problem. So, while they toss that presumed update together, how has the new trackpad been treating you?

Thanks: Engadget

MSI's 10-inch Wind U100 falls to $349 at Best Buy

In an apparent effort to move every last unit before ASUS drops a $200 Eee PC in 2009, Best Buy has knocked $50 off of MSI's 10-inch Wind U100. The Atom N270-powered netbook now checks in at just $349, a price that just seems to fit so much better with the term "netbook" than, say, $500+. The real question, however, is: three fifty low enough for you?

Thanks: Wired

Windows 7 installed on a new MacBook Pro, sparks fly

It's a next-generation operating system and mirror all in one!


Thanks: Engadget