Asus to launch 5-6 Intel-powered Ultrabooks in October

Asus will launch as many as six Ultrabooks in October, Asus chairman Jonney Shih said on Monday. The notebooks will offer screen sizes between 11.6-inches and 13.3-inches. Intel detailed its plans to introduce a new category of notebooks, which it dubbed “Ultrabooks” in May. The chip maker hopes the new category will dominate 40% of the consumer notebook market by the end of 2012 and says the devices will combine the performance of today's laptops with a tablet-like experience. Earlier reports suggested that mass production of Ultrabooks will begin in September and Intel recently invested $300 million in an effort to speed up the process of creating the devices. The first such device to hit the market is largely expected to be the ASUS UX21. Acer, Asus and Lenovo have all detailed plans to launch sub-$1,000 Ultrabooks during the fourth quarter but Shih said the six from Asus will be priced between $900 and $2,000.
source: Boy Genius Report

Toshiba Ships Qosmio F755-3D290 Glasses-Free 3D Laptop

The Toshiba Qosmio F755-3D290, the only available glasses-free 3D laptop on the market today, can be purchased now.

Another interesting thing is that the new Qosmio can run both 2D and 3D content on its screen at the same time, and this is the first laptop ever to have that capability. Also supported is 2D-to-3D video content conversion.

Regarding other components, the gaming- and entertainment-class Qosmio F755-3D290 features the Intel Core i7 2630QM quad-core processor, NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M 1GB dedicated graphics, 6GB RAM, a 750GB hard drive, Blu-ray burner, harman/kardon stereo speakers, HDMI with 3D output capability, and a USB 3.0 port.

The battery life lasts up to 3 hours and 4 minutes, according to the specifications.

The Toshiba Qosmio F755-3D290 is priced at $1,700 and can be bought direct from Toshiba.
source: Laptoping.com

Apple could introduce ‘absolutely different' Mac by end of 2011

Apple may be working on an entirely new Mac product, according to macotakara.jp. The website cites an “anonymous Apple supplier” who says that Apple is working on a new Mac family that will be “absolutely different” from what the Cupertino-based company currently offers. It is unclear what “absolutely different” parts the computers will have, but we suspect it could involve an entirely revamped industrial design and upgraded internal hardware. Apple most recently updated its MacBook Air and Mac mini lines and also introduced a sub-$1,000 iMac for education. However, we have yet to see an updated Mac Pro, which was originally rumored to launch in August with Intel's new Sandy Bridge processors. Apple typically doesn't announce new Macs during its iPhone or iPod events, so we're not sure we'll hear about this in September either. It remains purely a rumor… for now.

source: Boy Genius Report

Samsung's N102 is an N100 clone, ditches MeeGo for Windows 7 Starter

Were you mostly on board with the N100, but wished Sammy would have held the MeeGo? Those of you in India or Russia are apparently in luck, as Notebook Italia has spotted its Windows-toting twin: the N102. Identical to the N100 in every other way, 10-inch netbook kicks the open source OS to the curb, opting instead for the pared down Windows 7 Starter Edition. Naturally, you'll pay a little extra for the privilege, as the 8,930 Roubles (around $320) gizmo is about 50 bones more than its MeeGo-wielding doppelgänger. Or, you know, you could just buy the N100, bask in open-source goodness and then put that half-Benjamin toward the purchase of a real copy of Windows.

source: Engadget

Acer Aspire Ultrabook Has a Familiar Air About It

This Acer ultrabook sure rings a bell...

I can't quite place it, but these leaked photos of Acer's upcoming Aspire 3951 are curiously familiar. The ultrabook, which weighs just 1.4kg and measures 13mm at its fattest point, should hit stores in October.

Even the features of this light-as-Air laptop give me a sense of déjà vu. It has a 13.3-inch screen, wakes from sleep in just 1.7 seconds and has a battery that will last for six hours when awake and 30 days when snoozing. The wedge-shaped case is made from aluminum, the keyboard is in the “sunken chiclet” style, the trackpad is huge, the drive can be specced as an SSD and there's no optical disk player.

If only I could remember what it reminds me of. It's on the tip of my tongue…

There are a few things in here that seem less familiar. The ports are around the back, making them tricky to reach (such a tiny machine is unlikely to be chained to a desk and permanently attached to peripherals), and it packs in an HDMI port as well as Dolby Home Theater sound.

According to SOHOA — the Vietnamese Web site which carries the leaked photos — the price will be between 16 and 20 million Dong, or $770 to $960. That sounds pretty good, but of course Acer won't sell anybody because, as Acer founder Stan Shih said last week, ultrabooks, along with tablets, are nothing more than a passing fad.

But the best part of this story is the complete hash that Google translate makes of the first comment on the original SOHOA post. I usually try to keep away from teasing machine translators, but this one is just too good:

Few bananas a little silver question, this little baby if you want to use the lamp is connected via any children?

MacBook Air rivals coming out from Acer [SOHOA via Engadget]
source: Gadget Lab

Upcoming Acer Aspire 3951 Ultra-Thin Laptop

Here's a look at another upcoming ultra-thin laptop from Acer, the Aspire 3951. Measuring only 13mm thick and weighing just 1.4kg, the system comes with an aluminum casing, a 13.3-inch display, a 2nd generation Core processor, up to 500GB hard drive or 160GB SSD, an HD webcam, a 2-in-1 card reader, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, an HDMI port and a 6-hour battery. The Acer Aspire 3951 is expected to be released in October 2011 for a retail price between $768 and $960. [Sohoa]
source: TechFresh

Panasonic outs Toughbook S10 with Sandy Bridge, USB 3.0, and 12.5-hour battery life

If you were Panasonic and had already whittled a 12-inch laptop down to three pounds while keeping the optical drive intact, what would your next move be? If you guessed make it manilla envelope-thin, you'd be wrong. The outfit just announced the Toughbook S10, and while it looks awfully similar to the three-pound S9 it's replacing, it ushers in a series of welcome (and predictable) changes on the inside. This time around, it steps up to a Sandy Bridge Core i5-2520M processor, 4GB of RAM, USB 3.0, and a battery that promises up to 12.5 hours of juice -- the longest in its class, according to Panasonic. Other I/O options include HDMI and VGA output, a USB 2.0 socket, and support for SDXC cards. Like the last generation, it can withstand a 2.5-foot operating drop, has a spill-resistant keyboard and shock-mounted 320GB hard drive, and can take more than 220 pounds of pressure on its lid and base. As always, though, 12.1-inch laptops with a built-in DVD drive and enough magnesium alloy armor to survive a fall from the conveyor belt don't come cheap: this bad boy will set you back no less than $2,449 when it hits stores next month.

Press Release:
PANASONIC UNVEILS TOUGHBOOK® S10 12" PC – A MERE THREE POUNDS WITH DVD DRIVE

The next-generation device features an enhanced processor and 12.5 hour standard battery life – the longest in its class

Secaucus, NJ, August 10, 2011 – Panasonic Solutions Company, provider of collaboration, information-sharing and decision-support solutions for government and commercial enterprises, today announced the Panasonic Toughbook® S10. Powered by an Intel® Core™ i5-2520M vPro™ processor, the Toughbook S10 delivers up to 12.5 hours of standard battery life – the longest in its class – and weighs only 3.0 pounds. The notebook offers optional Gobi2000™ mobile broadband and other enhancements to increase performance and drive return on investment. This lightweight device is ideal for road warriors and other highly mobile workers in a variety of markets.

Additional Enhancements for Improved Performance

Panasonic has designed the Toughbook S10 for the most demanding mobile users, offering exceptional battery life, connectivity, security features and performance. The Toughbook S10 also supports both USB 3.0 and 2.0, analog (VGA) and digital (HDMI) video and the latest SD card standard (SDXC) to enable faster file transfer speeds and greater flexibility. A host of security features, including an optional fingerprint reader, are available to keep your data protected and secured while on the road.

"The vast majority of business notebooks lack the durability to survive a hectic travel schedule; however, the Toughbook S10 is designed to address the needs of business professionals with the integration of security and remote management capabilities, protection against drops and spills, and exceptional performance and battery life," said Kyp Walls, director of product management, Panasonic Solutions Company. "The Toughbook S10 provides road warriors a reliable and lightweight device that allows them to work virtually anywhere."

Business-rugged Durability

In order to withstand a highly mobile work environment, the Toughbook S10 is designed to survive drops, bumps and spills. Due to its magnesium alloy case and shock-mounted flex-connect hard drive, the device can handle up to a 30" drop to the base of the unit while operating. The Toughbook S10 also features a spill-resistant keyboard that can protect against spills up to six ounces (200 cc).

Embedded Wireless Connectivity

The Toughbook S10 offers a variety of embedded wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® and optional Gobi2000™ 3G mobile broadband technology from Qualcomm, allowing workers to stay connected virtually all of the time.

Panasonic Toughbook S10: Select Features and Specifications

Genuine Windows 7® Professional (32-bit or 64-bit)

Intel® Core™ i5-2520M vPro™ Processor (2.5GHz)

Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz

Intel® Smart Cache 3MB

320GB 5400rpm shock-mounted flex-connect hard drive

4-8GB RAM

12.1" widescreen WXGA (1280 x 800) LCD display with LED backlighting

Anti-glare screen treatment

12.5 hours of battery life with standard battery (MobileMark 2007)

3.0 lbs.

DVD drive

HDMI and VGA video outputs

Magnesium alloy case

Business-rugged1 30" operating drop (to base only)

26 sides 12" drop (non-operating)

220 lb compression-resistant

Spill-resistant keyboard/touchpad (protects against 6 ounce spills)

Embedded Connectivity

Optional Gobi™2000 3G mobile broadband

Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N 6205 802.11a/b/g/n

Bluetooth® v2.1 + EDR (class 2)

Integrated Security Features

o Cable lock slot

o Trusted platform module (TPM) security chip v.1.2

o Computrace® theft protection agent in BIOS®

o Intel® Anti-Theft technology

o Optional fingerprint reader

11.1" (H) x 8.3" (W) x 0.9-1.5" (D)

Pricing and Availability

In the United States, the Toughbook S10 is expected to be available in September 2011 from authorized Panasonic resellers starting at an estimated street price of $2,449.

The Toughbook S10 is backed with a three-year limited warranty, parts and labor.

Images of the Toughbook S10 can be found on the brand's Flickr page, and a post discussing mobile computing needs for road warriors can be found on the brand's blog - Toughbloggers.com.

Follow the Toughbook Brand

The Panasonic Toughbook brand can be followed on various social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and via our blog on mobile technology, Toughbloggers.com.

For more information on the Toughbook S10 and other Toughbook mobile computers, go to www.toughbook.com.
source: Engadget

HP 2000z 15.6-inch Laptop With AMD Fusion

If you are searching for a new affordable laptop, then check out the HP 2000z 15.6-inch laptop. Powered by a 1.0GHz AMD Dual-Core C-50 APU, the laptop features a 2GB DDR3 memory, a 320GB hard drive, a DVD burner, a 15.6-inch (1366×768 pixels) widescreen LED display and an AMD Radeon HD 6250M discrete graphics. What's more, the HP 2000z also provides a webcam with an integrated microphone, Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Altec Lansing speakers, 3 USB 2.0 ports, VGA, a 6-cell battery, and the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OS. The HP 2000z 15.6-inch laptop is priced at $349.99. [PCLaunches]
source: TechFresh

Apple like Acer uncovered in Vietnam

Images of the new rival to the Apple Air have been leaked on to the internet by the Vietnamese site Sohoa. The images of the new Acer Aspire 3951 show a 13.3inch slim line ultraportable notebook weighting approximately 1.4kg and will be roughly 13mm thick.

The Aspire 3951 will be powered by a Sandy Bridge Intel Core processor and a selection of different hard drives ranging from the standard 250GB or 500GB HDDs to the optional 160GB SSD. The new ultraportable will also feature a HDMI port, USB and a memory card reader. Bluetooth 4.0 and an HD ready webcam.

Sohoa expects the price of the new Acer Aspire 3951 to be in the region of $768 to $960 when it's released in October.
source: Akihabara News

This is the Acer Aspire 3951 Air-like Ultrabook

Images of Acer's answer to Apple's MacBook Air - the Acer Aspire 3951 sporting Intel's ultra-sleek ultrabook design - have found their way online. The shots were provided by Vietnamese site Sohoa, and reveal an extremely thin chassis that looks too brittle to be real. Still, that's the point of Intel's sexy ultrabook design: a hot, super-thin body packed with impressive hardware for under $1000 USD.

The Acer ultrabook is reportedly slated for October (seems to be a hot month for gadgets) and will sport a 13.3-inch screen, an aluminum chassis and an overall weight of less than 3.09 pounds. It will also supposedly measure just 0.51-inches thick - roughly the equivalent size of Apple's impressive MacBook Air 13-inch model. The images provided by Sohoa confirm that most of the device's ports are located on the rear just under the hinge.

Under the keyboard, the ultrabook will feature Intel's second-generation Core CPU, 250 GB or 500 GB of HDD, optional 160 GB of SSD storage, a memory card reader, HDMI output, USB ports, Bluetooth 4.0, an HD webcam and more. The device will jump out of sleep mode in 1.7 seconds and even have a standby time of 30 days. Actual runtime should be around 6 hours.

So far rumors are pointing to a pricetag ranging from $768 to $960 USD, depending on the configuration.
source: 2DayBlog.com