Are these the specs of the upcoming refresh of the MacBook Air?

Looking forward to the refreshes of Apple's MacBook Air? If you have, you will be interested to know that specs of the upcoming MacBook Airs have been leaked, which could possibly be rumors or the real thing, but we'll let you decide that for yourself.

For starters, most of us probably know that the refresh of the MacBook Airs will most probably be featuring OS X Lion, and some have speculated that the delay in the refresh was due to Apple wanting to wait for OS X Lion to be finalized before installing them on the new MacBook Airs. Other common speculations have also been about how the new MacBook Airs will feature Intel's Sandy Bridge processors, which seems to make sense as the Core 2 Duos are practically ancient. It has also been speculated that the new laptops will feature a Thunderbolt port along with backlit keyboards, a feature that was missing in the previous generation's MacBook Air.

According to 9to5 Mac who quoted Mr X., who is supposedly a reliable source, the new MacBook Airs will feature:

11.6 inch models:

The base model will include a 1.6 GHz processor, 2 GB of RAM, and 64GB of flash storage.
The more expensive standard configuration also includes a 1.6 GHz processor but upgrades the RAM to 4GB and the storage space to 128 GB.
A built to order model will also be available from the online store. This option includes a 1.8 GHz processor (first for an 11.6 inch MacBook Air), 4GB of RAM, and for the first time in an 11.6 inch MacBook Air, 256 GB of flash storage.

13.3 inch models:

The base standard configuration includes a 1.7 GHz processor, 4GB of RAM, and 128 GB of flash storage
The more expensive standard configuration also includes a 1.7 GHz processor, 4GB of RAM, but upgrades the storage to 256 GB.
A built to order option will also be available and this includes a 1.8 GHz chip, 4GB of RAM, and 256 GB of flash storage

Naturally this is merely speculation, and it could be false for all we know. Given that OS X Lion will be hitting the stores today, many seem to think that the new MacBook Airs will not be far behind, but for now, this is pretty much all that we have to go on for now. Since it's impossible to call these facts, for the sake of discussion purposes, what is your take on the supposedly new hardware?
source: Ubergizmo

Specs of the Mac Mini refresh revealed? (Updated)

A couple of hours ago we reported on what appeared to be the new specs of the upcoming refresh of Apple's MacBook Air line of laptops. For those who have been following the tech news and also the progress of OS X Lion and the new hardware refreshes, you guys are probably aware that apart from the refreshes of the MacBook Air, there has been word that the Apple Cinema Display, the Mac Mini along with the Mac Pro might be seeing hardware refreshes too.

As it turns out, 9to5 Mac later revealed that the Mac Mini's specs have also been leaked by the same source of the MacBook Air leaks, Mr. X. Once again this is probably just speculation and we will not have a confirmation until Apple actually releases something. For the sake of discussion, and also for those who have been dying to see what the refresh will bring to the table for the Mac Mini, the supposed specs are:

The base model will include a 2.3 GHz processor with 2GB of RAM, and 500 GB of hard drive storage space
The more expensive model will include a 2.5 GHz processor with 4GB of RAM, and 500 GB of hard drive space.
Finally, the new Mac mini line will also include a new server model with a 2.0 GHz processor, 4 GB of RAM, and two 500GB hard drives of storage. This new server model should include OS X Lion server, but that's just a reasonable assumption.

Processor wise the Mac Minis are said to be sporting the Intel Sandy Bridge chipsets and should also feature Thunderbolt ports. Since the rumors are pointing at a release tomorrow or by the end of the week, I guess we will not have to wait long to find out how reliable Mr. X really is.

Update – As it turns out, Mr. X was indeed correct. The base model of the Mac Mini will cost $599 while the more expensive model will go for $799.
source: Ubergizmo

Newer, Faster MacBook Airs Launched, Old Plastic MacBook Killed Off

As expected, Apple has updated the MacBook Air. The super-portable laptop has now become a serious rival to its big brother, the MacBook Pro. In fact, read the specs and you'll wonder why you would bother to buy a Pro ever again. And if you want a white plastic MacBook, you'd better rush to your local reseller — Apple has discontinued it.

The biggest internal changes are the processor and the new Thunderbolt port. The latter replaces the Mini DisplayPort of the previous Air, duplicating its video-out functionality and adding support for the high-speed I/O protocol which Apple first added to the new iMacs. Right now there are almost no Thunderbolt-compatible accessories to be bought, but that should change soon enough.

The processors have received a serious bump. The older Airs used 1.4 GHz and 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs. Now, you get Core i5 as standard (1.6GHz and 1.7GHz on the 11 and 13-inch models respectively), with an option to upgrade to 1.8GHz Core i7 on both models.

RAM has been bumped to 4GB on the 13-inch, and remains at 2GB on the 11-inch Air, and on both models graphics are now taken care of by Intel's HD Graphics 3000 processor instead of the Nvidia GeForce 320M used previously.

Storage remains the same, with SSDs of 64 or 128 GB on the 11-inch Air and 128 or 256 GB on the 13-incher.

And good news! The Airs now feature backlit keyboards. This sounds like a small thing, but once you're used to light-up keys, it's a real pain not to have them.

Finally, the new Airs ship with OS X 10.7 Lion, which has also launched today and is available in the App store as a $30 download. These Lion-ready Macs have lost the Exposé and Dashboard keys, replaced by Mission control and Launchpad.

Why would you bother to buy a MacBook Pro? Reasons may include wanting a 15-inch screen, or a FireWire port, or an optical drive. Another reason could be that you want a heavier computer, or enjoy less battery life. What it clear is the the Pro MacBooks are on their way out, destined to be the iPod Classics of Apple's laptop line.

The new Airs are available today, from $1,000 and $1,300. The old MacBook is dead, and the Pros continue their overweight existence. For now.

MacBook Air Specs [Apple]
source: Gadget Lab

Apple updates MacBook Airs, and Mac minis, brings big cat Lion from Safari

It wasn't exactly a secret, but now the proverbial big cat is out of the bag. Apple has just updated the company's best-selling computer product, the MacBook Air with a Core i5/i7 option, better storage, Thunderbolt port, and finally, a backlit keyboard (again). Mac minis are updated as well, at long last bringing them up to speed with current processors and features.

The other big story is obviously OS X Lion which is Apple's most iOS-like release yet, and it slowly starts to bridge PC and post-PC devices. Lion is a major OS update with more than 250 new features, and it's available for $29 through the Mac App Store starting now.
source: Boy Genius Report

Apple's OS X Lion and Updated Mac Mini and MacBook Air Now Available

I saw that the Apple store was offline for a while early this morning, so I assumed that today was going to be release day for Lion. When the store finally came back online, I immediately purchased my copy for $29.99. It's been downloading for a while now, and I finally see the slightest hint of color on the download status bar. This is going to take a while.

Apple also released new models of the MacBook Air and the Mac Mini. These computers have the newest “Sandy Bridge” Core i5 or Core i7 processors and Thunderbolt ports. The Airs have 2 or 4GB of memory, 64-256GB solid state drives. Prices start at $999 for the 11″ Air and at $1299 for the 13″ Air. The Mac Mini has a Core i5 with 2-4GB of memory and a 500GB hard drive. Prices start at $599. The server version of the Mini has a Core i7 and 4GB of memory; price starts at $999. All these new computers ship with Lion pre-installed.
source: The Gadgeteer

New Mac Minis, Now Without Optical Drive

The new Mac Mini gains a Sandy Bridge processor and loses the optical drive

Along with the new MacBook Airs, Apple has also updated the Mac Mini line. Out go the year-old Core 2 Duo CPUs, replaced by 2.3GHz or 2.5GHz Core i5 (“Sandy Bridge”) chips.

Also gone is the NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics, replaced by an Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor or AMD Radeon HD 6630M graphics processor, depending on the model you choose.

And out goes the optical drive, replaced by… Nothing. If you have a silver disk you need to access, you'll either have to buy an external drive or pop it into the DVD tray of a Mac or PC on the same network.

Normally I'd say good riddance, especially as you can fill the leftover space with both a 750GB HDD and a 256GB SSD in the same enclosure. But as many Mac Minis are used as home media servers, it was always convenient to be able to slot in your rented DVDs. But at least you get a Thunderbolt port, which looks to the future as much as the optical disk looks to the past.

The speedy new Mac Minis are both available now, for $600 and $800.

Mac Mini Specs [Apple]
source: Gadget Lab

WaterField Smart Case protects your MacBook Air

The updated MacBook Air was just launched today and case manufacturers certainly aren't wasting any time in introducing their new goods for the laptop. WaterField Designs has just announced the launch of its new lineup of cases designed for the brand new MacBook Air. Called the Smart Case, it doesn't fold up into a triangle to act as a stand for the laptop, but what it does is protect your MacBook Air while keeping it stylish and sleek looking at the same time.

Available in two sizes (11.6 or 13.1 inches), the Smart Cases are lightweight and protective, features a nylon exterior that is water-resistant, has a padded interior, an Ultrasuede scratch-free liner to keep fingerprints away, eco-friendly distressed brown leather flanks, high-impact, rigid, plastic inserts for additional protection, and a stretch back pocket for holding power adapters and cables.

The WaterField MacBook Air Smart Case is available in six colors and can be purchased now for $79 (for the 11″ MBA) and $89 (for the 13″ MBA).
source: Ubergizmo

Llano-powered ASUS A43TA Notebook

ASUS has recently started selling the Llano-powered A43TA laptop in Asia. The 14-inch laptop features a glossy LED display with a native resolution of 1366×768, a 1.4GHz AMD A6-3400 quad-core processor, an 8GB DDR3 memory, a 500GB 7200RPM hard drive, a 1GB AMD Radeon HD 6650 graphics and a DVD burner. The rest of the ASUS A43TA specifications list includes 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, a webcam, a card reader, 3 USB 3.0, a multi-gesture trackpad, VGA and HDMI. Users have the option of choosing between a 6-cell and an 8-cell battery pack. The A43TA retails for around $643. [Softpedia]
source: TechFresh

2011 Apple MacBook Air

Apple today released the new 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air. Both models now feature the latest generation of Intel processors, the Core i5 and i7. With speeds up to 1.8GHz and faster memory, the new MacBook Air gains up to 2.5x the processing performance over its predecessor. The 2011 MacBook Air has the Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor that includes an on-chip engine for video encoding and decoding. The new model supports the Thunderbolt I/O port, which is capable of transferring data up to 12 times faster than FireWire 800 and up to 20 times faster than USB 2.0. The display even charges your MacBook Air, so there is no need to unpack and unravel your power adapter. Other specs include Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 800, three USB ports, a FaceTime HD camera, 2.1 stereo sound, and a built-in microphone. The 11-inch MacBook Air starts at $999 (for the 2GB RAM model) and $1199 (for the 4GB RAM model), with the 13-inch model is priced at $1299 (for the 4GB RAM and 128GB storage model) and $1599 for the 4GB RAM and 256GB storage model.
source: TechFresh

Apple releases a slew of new products, Christmas in July in Cupertino

Unless you're living under a rock, you should have noticed that Apple was extremely busy yesterday. The company that you either hate or love had an army of hardware releases and refreshes, along with the launch of its new desktop operating system, OS X 10.7 Lion. In case you missed all the news, here's a round-up of everything. Also, all of the below computers come preloaded with Lion, so if you've been holding off for a new Mac, now's the time to take the plunge.

OS X Lion

The first announcement, which word spread Tuesday, was the release of OS X 10.7, a Mac App Store exclusive for $30. The new operating system will also be available next month on a USB flash drive for $69. If you recently purchased a new Mac, like I did, make sure you check if you're eligible for a free upgrade to Lion with the Up-To-Date Program.

MacBook Air

The MacBook Air finally got a refresh, as both sizes of Apple's ultra-slim laptop got updated with a Thunderbolt port, Sandy Bridge i5 and i7 processors, and backlit keyboards. The MacBook Air starts at $999. Also, while we're talking about MacBooks, the white MacBook, not the Pro versions, got officially discontinued as well.

Mac mini

The Mac mini got updated with Core i5 and Core i7 processors, a Thunderbolt port, AMD Radeon HD graphics, and the loss of an optical drive. Users requiring an optical driver will need to use either Remote Disc capabilities or purchase an external SuperDrive. Pricing does return though to starting at $599, which cheaper is always good.

Apple Thunderbolt Display

Last, but certainly not least, Apple announced its Thunderbolt display, the only new product not immediately shipping. This 27-inch display, being called ” the ultimate docking station,” uses a single Thunderbolt connection and packs a 2560 x 1440 res 16:9 IPS display, FaceTime HD camera and Mic, a Thunderbolt port, integrated 2.1 speaker system, Firewire 800 slot, Gigabit Ethernet, three USB 2.0 ports and MagSafe charging for your laptop. It will be shipping within the next 60 days at the steep price of $999.
source: Akihabara News

ASUS Lamborghini VX7SX 15.6-inch Laptop

Here's a look at another upcoming 15.6-inch laptop from ASUS, the Lamborghini VX7SX. Featuring the Lamborghini emblem on the lid of the machine, this powerful system is packed with a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit display, a 2.0GHz Intel Core i7-2360QM quad-core processor, a 1.5GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M graphics card, up to 16GB DDR3 RAM, a 750GB hard drive or 500GB hybrid drive, a 2.0MP webcam, a DVD or Blu-ray drive, an 8-in-1 card reader, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, a USB 3.0 port, an HDMI port and is pre-loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OS. Price will start at 1,995 Euro (about $2,825). [LaptopSpec]
source: TechFresh

ARM to challenge Intel's dominance in notebooks

Market research firm IHS believes that Intel's 30-year processor dominance in notebooks may get serious competition from ARM. By 2015, ARM will have captured a notebook share of 23%, IHS predicts.

"Starting in 1981, when IBM first created its original PC based on Intel's 8088 microprocessor, the X86 architecture has dominated the PC market," said Matthew Wilkins, principal analyst of computer platforms for IHS. "Over the next generation, billions of PCs were shipped based on X86 microprocessors supplied by Intel and assorted rivals – mainly AMD. However, the days of X86's unchallenged domination are coming to an end as Windows 8 opens the door for the use of the ARM processor, which already has achieved enormous popularity in the mobile phone and tablet worlds."

By 2015, ARM notebook shipments will hit 74 million units, up from an estimated 7.6 million in 2012, according to IHS. Windows 8 is predicted to be the major driver of ARM notebook sales. Microsoft announced last January that Windows 8 will also be running on ARM systems. IHS believes that ARM will be most successful in the value notebook space and devices that cost less than $700. ARM chip suppliers will include Nvidia, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Apple refreshes MacBook Air with Sandy Bridge, Thunderbolt, and backlit keyboards

Finally, the highly anticipated update for the MacBook Air has arrived. No ARM processors, no new looks, just some speed bumps, Disney bolts, and trendy backlit keyboard. But that's good, because that's what we like about the MacBook Air. Oh yeah, Lion's tagging along this time!

Apple's gone and freshened up its 13-inch and 11-inch ultraportables — the second such update in nine months. Although the industrial design hasn't changed much since the last generation, both models step up to Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 processors, Thunderbolt ports, backlit keyboards, and, of course, OS X Lion.

The 11.6-inch flavor starts at MYR 3,099 with 64GB of solid-state storage, 2GB of memory and a 1.6GHz Core i5 processor. The higher-end of the two configurations costs MYR 3,699, with the extra six hundred ringgit doubling your RAM and storage. Yes, it is expensive to own an Apple, but I'm pretty sure you don't care when you're getting this.

The 13-inch Air, meanwhile, starts at MYR 3,999 with a 128GB SSD, 4GB of RAM, and a 1.7GHz Core i5 CPU. Step up to the MYR 4,999 model and you'll get a 256GB SSD instead. That's a grand's bump for doubling the size of your SSD. Your choice, of course.

Regardless, you're looking at Intel HD 3000 graphics across the board, along with FaceTime webcams, two USB ports (plus an SD slot on the 13-inch version), 802.11n WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0. The two differ when it comes to resolution and battery life: the 11-incher has a 1366 x 768 panel and is rated for up to five hours of battery life, whereas the 13-inch model has a 1440 x 900 screen and promises up to seven hours of juice. And it's still bloody thin.

As for that 1.8GHz Core i7 CPU, it'll set you back an extra MYR 304 on the 13-inch version, and MYR 457 for the 11-inch version. Whichever size you choose, it's only an option for the higher-end configuration. Hit the source link to view the limited specs to choose from, and buy one to join the Mac gang.
source: 2DayBlog.com

White MacBook killed for consumer, only for educational institute, we salute

Do you notice anything above? New MacBook Air, new Mac Mini, and the Mac OS X Lion screen. But there's also something missing. Looks like Apple may have dropped one important product from its store during today's new product rush. It seems as if there may indeed be some meat to those recent rumors that the company is doing away with its white plastic piece of laptop goodness — at the very least, the thing is nowhere to be seen in its current online lineup. Apple has confirmed that the MacBook has, in fact, been discontinued. However, while the notebook will be discontinued for individual consumers, Apple will continue to make it available to educational institutions. Is the MacBook Air overshadowing its elder sibling, or is Apple up to something else?
source: 2DayBlog.com

Chromium OS running on a MacBook Air, the perfect notebook with the perfect OS? Not quite.

I've to admit, the Apple MacBook Air is indeed a perfect ultraportable notebook, but what about Mac OS X? Some may, but some won't agree. Anyway, does it hurt your brain to look at the picture above? That'd be Chromium OS — running on a MacBook Air! Pretty much the definition of “worlds colliding,” this feat is brought to you by Hexxeh, whose most recent mind-warping project put Chrome on an iPad. The platform-mixing maestro says in this case everything works except Bluetooth, owing to a lack of support. But hearty souls who seek to follow in his footsteps, take heed: there's no dual-boot option, and you will lose OS X — so perhaps this is a job for your now outdated model. Click the source link for 14 easy steps to turning your svelte laptop into Frankenstein's monster. And oh yeah, that thing behind on the left, that's a Chrome pillow. Jelly?
source: 2DayBlog.com

Apple Mac Mini gets speed bumps, and slim down too, but no more mouth to eat your disc

The Mac mini is yet another Mac to be updated with Intel's Sandy Bridge CPUs and Thunderbolt. The Mini saw its last update on June 15th 2010 so a refresh was widely expected and also a bit overdue in Apple's traditional product lifespan cycle. There are no major chassis changes to the new Mac mini (sans the missing CD/DVD slot). Like the previous generation, there are three models: two consumer variants and a server. The Mac mini lineup has been like this since late 2009 when the server model was first introduced.

The most obvious change is a drop in price: the entry-level Mini is now MYR 1,899 and the high-end is MYR 2,499. The server model retains its MYR 3,099 price tag. This is definitely good news.

As for the hardware updates, the two most obvious ones are Core i5 and Core i7 Sandy Bridge CPUs and Thunderbolt. Those are dual-core Core i5 processors by the way. Every Mini now comes with one Thunderbolt port as well, which replaces the Mini DisplayPort, just like in the 2011 MBPs. A smaller update is that all models now come with 1333MHz DDR3, similar to the rest of the Mac lineup. The consumer models also come with 500GB HDDs instead of 320GB while the server model's storage remains unchanged (2x500GB 7200rpm).

Now let's see what the 'surprise' is this time. First, the high-end Mini now comes with a discrete AMD Radeon HD 6630M GPU. This is the first Intel Mac mini to adopt a discrete GPU. The old PPC Mac minis used discrete GPUs but since the transition to Intel CPUs in 2006, the Mac mini has been stuck with IGPs – first Intel GMAs and then NVIDIA since early 2009. It will be interesting to see how Apple has managed to find space for the discrete GPU and its cooling, especially because the Thunderbolt controller is a discrete chip as well. We applaud the move though. While Intel HD 3000 was great improvement from Arrandale graphics, it's still not all that great for gamers. Talk about a super tiny HTPC that lets you plays games at decent fps.

AMD 6630M is actually based on the same Whistler core as 6750M and 6770M found in MacBook Pros and iMacs. What you get are 480 shaders at 485MHz, which is 115-240MHz (19-33%) less than 6750M's and 6770M's. Thus the graphics performance won't be as good as in iMac and MBP but 6630M will still be a huge step up from Nvidia 320M and Intel HD 3000. There's no word on GPU clocks.

The second intriguing aspect of new Mac minis is the server model: It now comes with a quad core CPU. This appears to be the same i7-2635QM as found in $1799 15" MacBook Pro. The previous generation server model came with a 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo so this will be a huge upgrade in CPU performance. It will again be interesting to see how Apple has handled the extra heat as i7-2630QM has TDP of 45W compared to P8800's 25W.

Third, there is no more SuperDrive (ODD)! This would be the most drastic change around here. Apple is distributing nearly all of their software through Mac App Store now (including new OS versions), reducing the need for an optical drive. This move is logical and I wouldn't be surprised to see MBPs following Mac mini. There is always the option of an external ODD if you really, really need one. But hey, when is the last time you actually use your ODD?

Some of the BTO options are also new. The base model gets the option for a 750GB 7200rpm HDD but the high-end and server model can sport a 256GB SSD. That alone isn't a big deal but the high-end Mini has an option for a 750GB HDD + 256GB SSD. That's not a big surprise given that the ODD is gone now so there is space for a second 2.5" HDD. Whether there will be a second SATA port in one-drive configurations is still unknown but that would leave the option of a 3rd party SSD as a boot drive. The high-end Mini also offers an optional i7-2620M (2.7GHz dual core).

All in all, the 2011 Mac mini update is a good one. There are several welcome additions to the lineup, such as a discrete GPU. The prices are a lot more reasonable now too. Before, it made very little sense to buy Mini because a few hundred more got you an iMac with better specs and IPS panel. At MYR 1,899, the Mac mini makes sense and is a great option for a first time Mac buyer. You get great spec, a very nice package, and even authentic operating system, compared to those PCs.

The updated Mac mini comes with Lion pre-installed (Lion Server in server model) and is available from the Apple Online Store with estimated shipping time of 24 hours.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Deal of the Day - Dell Inspiron 620s 'Sandy Bridge' Core i5 Slim Tower

Today's LogicBUY Deal is the newest slim tower Inspiron 620s Core i5 with "Sandy Bridge" cpu for $499.99. Features: 6GB memory, 1TB hard drive, 1GB Radeon HD 6450 graphics, in classic black or 4 other system colors. Can be customized.

$794.99 – $125 off – $170 coupon code = $499.99 with free shipping

This deal expires July 19, 2011 or sooner. Check the above link for more details on this deal, and check the LogicBUY home page for other deals.
source: The Gadgeteer

MacBook Air gets Chromium OS port

Remember the early days when we actually saw Mac computers run on Intel-powered processors? Well, weirder amalgamations have happened in the industry since then, those that one would never have thought would happen. Today, we bring you news that the Chromium OS has been ported over to the MacBook Air, which isn't a bad thing entirely. After all, certain quarters claim that the MacBook Air is nothing but an expensive netbook with a starting price of one grand, while Chromebooks from Samsung and Acer are touted to be overpriced netbooks at $349 apiece for the cheapest model. Guess to see your MacBook Air with a Chromium OS port treads middle ground in the argument, no?

This is made possible thanks to seasoned Chrome OS hacker Hexxeh – the wonders of open source. Of course, this does not mean you will get official Chromebook capabilities all the way to the end, since no hardware-specific security features or boot speed optimizations are available. According to Hexxeh, the Chromium OS build on the MacBook Air will boot up in around 22 seconds, which is extremely zippy.

The downside to it? You will need to erase OS X first before Chromium OS is installed onto the MacBook Air's SSD. While dual-booting is an option, neither Hexxeh nor Apple are willing to step forward with official support, so proceed at your own risk if you know how.
source: Ubergizmo

Acer reveals WiDi-packed Aspire 5755 laptop for the UK

Although it doesn't pack full HD visuals with its 15.6-inch display at a 1366 x 768 resolution, one impressive feature about the 5755 is the built-in WiDi (Wireless Display technology), so you can easily view movies on a larger display without having to worry about cables strung across your living room.

Other specs include Intel Core processors up to a Core i7-2820QM, NVIDIA's Optimus-enabled GeForce GT 540M graphics, up to 8GB of RAM, up to 1TB of storage, and it's available with either a Blu-ray or DVD drive.

The 5755 is currently UK only and starts at £899 (about $1,440). We can only hope we'll see this coming stateside sometime in the future.
source: Akihabara News

HP Pavilion 2000-210US Budget Laptop

Hewlett-Packard (HP) has quietly released a new budget notebook namely the Pavilion 2000-210US. This affordable notebook has a charcoal gray chassis and a glossy BrightView screen. Based on the Intel Pentium P6200 dual-core CPU, the HP Pavilion 2000-210US features an Intel HD graphics, a 3GB RAM, a 320GB HDD, a DVD burner, a webcam, and the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium OS. Other specs include three USB 2.0 connectors, a VGA output, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, a media card reader, and a multi-touch trackpad. The HP Pavilion 2000-210US is priced at $428 at Walmart. [Laptoping]
source: TechFresh

Schenker XIRIOS W710 Mobile Workstation

Here comes a new mobile workstation from a German-based company Schenker, the XIRIOS W710. The system packs a 17.3-inch 1920 x 1080 glossy or matte finish display, up to Intel Core i7-990X Extreme or Xeon X5690 processor, an Intel X58 chipset, up to two NVIDIA Quadro FX 5010 graphics cards, up to 24GB RAM and up to three hard drives, hybrid hard drives or SSDs. Price starts at 3,568 Euro (about $5,020). [LaptopSpec]
source: TechFresh

Acer TravelMate 8481 Hits The UK Market

The Acer TravelMate 8481 delivers all the power required for serious business on-the-go via the 2nd generation Intel Core processor that not only allows to run business productivity applications 60% faster than the previous generation, but it also delivers smart performance that adapts to the task at hand, enabling more responsive multitasking while ensuring energy efficiency. The laptop features a 14-inch Acer ComfyView LCD LED backlit display with HD (1366×768) resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio, an Intel HD Graphics 3000, the Intel Wireless Display technology, up to 8GB of advanced DDR3 memory, up to 320GB of hard disk drive and up to 64GB of solid state drive. The integrated multi-in-1 card reader supporting the most used formats, simplifies data sharing and provides more storage options. Its battery offers up to 9-hour of operation time. The Acer TravelMate 8481 will be available in the UK at the end of August 2011 with an RRP of £699($1,124) ex Vat. [Acer UK]
source: TechFresh

Concept notebook wants to recharge battery by swimming

Although we highly doubt there will be a real life application of such a device any time soon as usual, the Plantbook is definitely taking a step outside the box of traditional notebook concepts and designs. Designed by Seunggi Baek & Hyerim Kim, the Plantbook is inspired from the water-soaking abilities of a bamboo plant.

This device itself looks like a bamboo stick in which the ‘screen' can be rolled in and out, splitting into two to become a virtual keyboard and a screen. As if the whole portability factor of the Plantbook wasn't cool enough, it charges itself using water! Much like a real plant, the Plantbook concept utilizes an external water tank and the process of electrolysis to produce electricity to charge the device.

We all know that water and computer hardware aren't exactly the friendliest of combinations, but the Plantbook definitely defies all logic in that regard. It may sound completely ridiculous, but the designers seem to have it all figured out:

"The system uses an external water tank, hence the Plantbook continuously absorbs water when soaking it in water and generates electrolysis using power stored in a solar heat plate installed on the top. In this process, it is operated using hydrogen as energy source and discharges oxygen. If you put it into a water bottle while you don't use the laptop, it automatically charges a battery and discharges oxygen. A leaf-shaped strap hanging on the top is made with silicon. It plays a role of a hand ring and a green LED indicates when the battery is charged. Using this LED, users can check how much spare capacity the batter has."

Unfortunately it is just a concept, so don't expect to be carrying your laptop in a water bottle any time soon
source: 2DayBlog.com

ASUS G74Sx Gaming Laptop

Gaming rigs are usually desired for their pumped up specs. But that doesn't necessarily mean that they have to be big, like a desktop rig big. Even gaming notebooks like the new ASUS G74Sx Gaming Laptop has features fitting for a desktop PC but encased in a notebook.

The ASUS G74Sx Gaming Notebook features a 2nd generation Intel core i7 CPU coupled with a NVIDIA GTX 560M GPU with 3GB GDDR5 VRAM to provide all the gaming power the user needs. Tests made on this gaming rig makes it the current fastest notebook in the land. It also supports the new Microsoft DirectX 11 graphics, ensuring that gaming experience need not lag behind.

The new ASUS G74Sx Gaming Notebook also features support for 3D video and audio. It comes with the NVIDIA 3D Vision and 3DTV Play Technology to make sure that gamers can enjoy videos in 3D or, if a larger screen is needed, can use it to connect to a larger size 3D-enabled HDTV for a bigger experience. Other features include up to 1.5 TB HDD or SSD storage options, DVD or Blu Ray playback options and on-the-fly overclocking. The ASUS G74Sx is now available in the US and starts at a base price of US$1,500.
source: Gadget.com

Rumor: MacBook Airs, OS X Lion to Arrive Wednesday

Apple CEO Steve Jobs demonstrates iOS 5, Mac OS X Lion and iCloud at WWDC 2011. Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com

Apple may be preparing to release two major products simultaneously this week: upgrades for its MacBook Air subnotebook and Mac OS X Lion, the latest Mac operating system.

The MacBook Air refresh and the arrival of OS X Lion will arrive Wednesday, possibly at 8:30am EST, sources told AppleInsider. The tip comes in line with a report last week published by All Things Digital, which also claimed the products would debut sometime this week.

The MacBook Air last got a reboot in October 2010 as a 13.3-inch and an 11.6-inch model with super slim silhouettes (0.68 inches at their thickest point, to be exact). OS X Lion, which was announced at Apple's Back to the Mac event and previewed at WWDC 2011, is supposed to marry iOS and OS X, merging some of the more successful features in iOS into their new desktop platform. (However, early reviews have not been promising.)

The new MacBook Airs will feature backlit keyboards and Thunderbolt ports, like their MacBook Pro big brothers, according to AppleInsider. They'll also include Sandy Bridge processors and come standard with 4 GB of RAM and a minimum of 128-GB storage capacity — the better to run OS X Lion with.

Apple's Steve Jobs last year said that both OS Lion and the super slim MacBook Air are taking lessons learned from the iPad and rolling them into a PC system. Indeed, Lion will incorporate some characteristics from the iPad with new multitouch gestures and a Launchpad for opening apps, which resembles the iPad's home screen. The MacBook Air's long battery life and usage of flash memory also mimic the iPad. These two products symbolize the gradual convergence between PCs and mobile products as traditional laptops become thinner, lighter, more low-powered and more dependent on web-based storage.
source: Gadget Lab

Acer Aspire 5755 15.6-Inch Multimedia Laptop

Acer has come out with another multimedia laptop called the Aspire 5755. The system packs a 15.6-inch 1366 x 768 LED-backlit display, up to Intel Core i7-2820QM processor, a NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics, up to 8GB DDR3 RAM, up to 1TB hard drive, a Blu-ray / DVD drive, an HDMI port and a built-in Intel Wireless Display (WiDi) technology for viewing movies on a larger display. Price starts at 899 GBP (about $1,440). [TechDigest]
source: TechFresh

Acer announce Aspire 5755, comes with WiDi-equipped

Always carry your laptop around for work usage, but also likes to watch some nice video contents on your home's huge ass 3DTV from your laptop? Well, sometimes the HDMI cable is a big hinder. You'll need to place your laptop near to your TV, and also mess things up. Won't it be better if all you need to do is to link both together wirelessly? Well, such technology already exists, and it's called the Wireless-Direct, aka WiDi, and Acer's latest Aspire 5755 comes with it.

This one packs a 15.6-inch display with a rather lowly 1366 x 768 resolution, but it at least boasts some built-in WiDi so you can easily view movies (or anything else) on a larger display without the need for any pesky cables. Otherwise, you'll get your choice of Intel Core processors (up to a Core i7-2820QM), up to 8GB of RAM and a maximum 1TB of storage, NVIDIA's Optimus-enabled GeForce GT 540M graphics, and either a Blu-ray or basic DVD drive — all for a starting price of £899 (or roughly $1,440). This one's available in the UK right now, but there's no news on availability on other regions.
source: 2DayBlog.com

ASUS Eee PC 1011PX Netbook With Ubuntu Linux

ASUS has rolled out the Eee PC 1011PX 10-inch netbook in Italy. Powered by the Linux Ubuntu OS, the netbook features a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 single core processor, a 2GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 250GB hard disk drive. It also has a 1024 x 600 pixel display and an Intel GMA 3150 graphics. Its 3-cell battery offers up to 4-hour of operation time. The ASUS Eee PC 1011PX is priced at €185,89($261).
source: TechFresh

ASUS Eee PC 1215P 12.1-Inch Netbook With Ubuntu

ASUS has released their latest 12.1-inch netbook ‘Eee PC 1215P' in Europe that runs on Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat operating system. Powered by a 1.5GHz Intel Atom N570 dual-core CPU, the system sports a 12.1-inch 1366 x 768 LED-backlit display, a 2GB DDR3 RAM, a 320GB hard drive, a VGA webcam, a multi-format card reader, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 (optional) and a 6-cell battery. Price is set at 279.47 Euro (about $395).
source: TechFresh

ASUS U56E 15-inch Notebook

ASUS today unveiled the new U56E 15-inch notebook. Measuring at only 1-inch thick, the laptop comes jam packed with the 2nd generation Intel Core family processor, a 1GB nVidia GeForce GT 540M graphics, USB 3.0, a fast USB Charger+ for quick charging of devices and up to 10-hour of battery life. Additional specs include a 0.3MP webcam, LAN, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, a card reader, a couple of USB 2.0, HDMI and an 8-cell battery. No word on pricing at this time. [ASUS]
source: TechFresh