11/05, 1:00pm
Adamo XPS thinner, slower than Apple rival
Dell today officially launched the Adamo XPS, the highest-end version of its designer ultraportable. The system is championed as the thinnest notebook ever and measures just 0.39 inches at its thickest point. Dell accomplishes the feat by tucking most of the computer components into the display section and relying on a unique hinge that opens underneath and acts as a built-in prop . In spite of its slimness, the notebook still has a removable battery, two USB ports and DisplayPort output but also weighs slightly more than its MacBook Air rival at 3.2 pounds.
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11/04, 3:15pm
HP working on Envy 14 notebook?
A support page on HP's website indicates that a third Envy notebook, the Envy 14, may be on the horizon. If so, the notebook would slot in between the Intel Core 2 Duo-powered Envy 13 and the Core i7-packing Envy 15 as it would, presumably, be equipped with a 14-inch screen size. It would also most likely be powered by Intel's new mobile Core i5 chips, which are due for an early 2010 release.
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11/03, 1:15pm
Toshiba outs updated Windows 7 notebooks
Toshiba released updated Satellite Pro, Tecra and Portégé business notebooks on Tuesday to get its work PCs onboard with Windows 7. The Satellite Pro line features new screen sizes, including traditional 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch displays as well as a 13.3-inch touchscreen. Most of these business-oriented notebooks will ship with Windows XP Professional and Windows 7 Professional on separate DVDs so businesses can upgrade whenever they are ready. The new Satellite Pro U500 Touch has a multi-touch display and ships with Toshiba's touch-ready productivity software, LifeSpace.
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10/28, 2:10pm
Lenovo shows pro all-in-one
Having just introduced its IdeaCentre B500 all-in-one, Lenovo today quietly provided a teaser on its Flickr account for a new ThinkCentre counterpart. The lone photo has few details but does confirm built-in speakers, a webcam and a wireless keyboard and mouse combo. Most ThinkCentre PCs are higher-end and are likely to involve Core 2 processors.
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10/27, 10:05am
Dell intros first multi-touch rugged tablet
After only a brief tease, Dell today formally unveiled the Latitude XT2 XFR. It's characterized as the first rugged convertible tablet to use capacitive multi-touch and is seen as ideal for use outdoors or at work where natural gestures, such as pinching to zoom into a map or flicking to scroll through a page, are more preferable to a pen. It nonetheless still works with a stylus and has a more outdoor-ready display that's more readily viewable in broad daylight.
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10/26, 2:25pm
Lenovo upgrades Idea PCs for Windows 7
Lenovo today sparked life in its IdeaCentre desktops and IdeaPad notebooks by refreshing them for Windows 7 and adding a few completely new models. The IdeaCentre B500 is one of the few all-in-one PCs built for gamers and high-end media use with both a Core 2 Quad, unnamed but dedicated graphics and a built-in JBL speaker system. It also brings a 23-inch 1080p display, 1TB of disk space and a motion remote for an unspecified price.
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10/23, 2:55pm
Adamo XPS may still be slow
New rumored hardware details for the Adamo XPS suggest the system will be only a mild upgrade to the existing Adamo 13 that trades larger speed gains for its extra dimensions. The ultra-thin model should sit in between the two upgraded current models with ultra-low voltage Core 2 Duo processors between 1.4GHz and 1.9GHz versus the minimum 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo S in a challenger like the MacBook Air. The Engadget tips also claim the built-in solid-state storage will be less than for current Adamos with either a 128GB or 180GB solid-state drive.
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10/23, 1:10pm
Lenovo shipping 11.6-inch IdeaPad U150 in Japan
Lenovo has officially launched a new 11.6-inch IdeaPad notebook in Japan, the U150. The portable is one of Lenovo's first CULV systems and runs a 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo processor with 2GB of RAM. Making the CPU upgrade gives it a faster GMA 4500 graphics core that can better handle the 1366x768 native output. A 250GB hard drive is standard fare, and the IdeaPad is one of Lenovo's first with Windows 7 to come stock.
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10/23, 10:45am
Toshiba adds four new Windows 7 Satellite Pros
Toshiba UK on Friday launched four new business notebooks in its Satellite Pro series, all preloaded with Windows 7 Professional. The additions include the 13.3-inch U500, the 15.6-inch L500, the 17.3-inch L550, 15.6-inch L450 and the same-sized L450D. Each includes Toshiba's LifeSpace application suite just for Windows 7-powered Toshiba notebooks, which helps users to organize their appointments and help them find up to 5,000 recently accessed files visually.
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10/22, 9:55am
Inspiron One 19 runs 2.93GHz chip, Win 7
Dell used the occasion of Windows 7's launch to unveil the first all-in-one desktop since Apple's new iMacs. Showing initially in Japan, the Inspiron One 19 returns to an easel-like design and is meant as a faster alternative to a notebook without taking up much additional space. The PC carries an 18.5-inch, 1366x768 display and uses desktop processors that scale up to a 2.93GHz Core 2 Duo.
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10/21, 5:15pm
New Lenovo Windows 7 notebooks arrive in US
Lenovo today began shipping two of its ThinkPad SL series notebooks with Windows 7. The SL410 and the SL510 have 14-inch and 15.6-inch LED-backlit LCD screen, respectively, while sharing the same processor options. Either can be had with dual-core Celerons to Core 2 Duo CPUs.
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10/21, 2:20pm
ViewSonic intros Viewbook CULV notebook range
ViewSonic has recently unveiled some of its first portables above the netbook class in its Viewbook series. The 12.1-inch VB120, 13.3-inch VB130 and 14-inch VB140 Pro are all powered by Intel's CULV chips, with the VB120 getting a 1.3GHz Core 2 Duo and 2GB of RAM. It also has a 250GB hard drive preloaded with Windows 7.
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10/21, 10:40am
Fujitsu shows off new Windows 7 notebooks
Earlier this week, Fujitsu added more notebooks to its line preloaded with Windows 7. The line centers on the 12.1-inch LifeBook T4310 and T4410 tablets with multi-touch capability, the 15.6-inch LifeBook A1220 mainstream notebook, and the 10.1-inch M2011. The T4310 and T4410 are meant for use by students and mobile professionals, respectively, each with 12.1-inch multi-touch screens with a 1366x768 resolution, 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo processors and 2GB of RAM.
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10/20, 12:45pm
Apple speeds Mac mini to 2.53GHz
Apple today brought out its second update in a year for the Mac mini and changed its focus significantly at the high end. The new line scales up to a 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo and, in a special configuration, comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server pre-installed as well as with a second hard drive in place of the optical drive; the option gives those running clusters a much more capable computer. All versions have more RAM and hard drive storage than their predecessors.
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10/20, 12:25pm
iMac redesigned for 16:9, Core i7
Apple today completely revised its iMac with a new design and much faster performance. The series now switches to wider 16:9 aspect ratio, LED-backlit displays and a new look with edge-to-edge glass and a seamless aluminum body. The displays are also much denser and start at 1920x1080 (1080p) for a 21.5-inch display and an extremely sharp 2560x1440 for a new, largest-ever 27-inch model. Both now use color-accurate IPS (in-plane switching) displays versus the cheaper TN (twisted nematic) panel from the old 20-inch iMac.
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10/20, 11:35am
Athlon II X2, X3, X4 updated
AMD this morning sought to challenge Intel's control of the low-end processor space with eight new Athlon II processors. The new range pushes costs and power use lower, and is headlined by the Athlon II X4 600e and 605e. These clock at just 2.2GHz and 2.3GHz each but have four cores that combined use at most 45W of power and fit in very tight spaces; they also only cost $133 and $143 in bulk.
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10/19, 5:20pm
Dell Adamo finally gets Core 2 Duo S
Dell has quietly upgraded the Adamo 13 to better compete against other ultra-thin notebooks like the MacBook Air. The high-end Desire model reviewed here has had its ultra-low voltage 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo replaced with a much faster 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo S like that found in Apple's faster notebook. It has also had its solid-state drive double in capacity to 256GB and Windows 7 replace Vista as the stock OS.
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10/15, 2:30pm
Rumor has iMac using quad-core Nehalem
A tentative rumor ad mid-day suggests that Apple's anticipated iMac redesign may draw on Intel's mobile Core i7 processors. Most other details aren't provided in the AppleInsider tip, but any release before early 2010 would require that Apple use some or all of the quad-core "Clarksfield" designs on the market and produce the first non-workstation quad-core Macs.
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10/14, 6:15pm
Acer Aspire Z5610 desktop with multitouch screen
Acer today prepped for the upcoming release of the Aspire Z5610, its first all-in-one desktop with multi-touch input support. The system draws on Windows 7 for its extra touch features and has a relatively large 23-inch, 1080p display to work with. Processing power is basic and comes from a dual-core 2.6GHz Pentium, but the system brings both 4GB of RAM and relatively fast graphics from an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570.
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10/14, 3:20pm
Toshiba unveils Win 7 PCs with no clutter
Toshiba on Wednesday updated its notebooks with Windows 7 and a rare promise among Windows PC makers. The company promises that all of its systems running the new OS, including its touchscreen models, will go without any icons on the desktop except for the default Recycle Bin. System performance should get a boost as the PCs will run as little software in the background as possible, in many cases only running anti-virus tools.
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10/14, 10:25am
Acer intros Windows 7 touchscreen Aspire, more
Acer on Wednesday announced it will soon launch a number of new Windows 7 powered PCs, including its first multi-touch notebook, the 15.6-inch Aspire AS5738PG notebook. At the same time, Acer updated its Timeline series of Aspire notebooks with dual-core CULV processors and the new Microsoft OS.
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10/14, 10:15am
Toshiba bows M505 Touch, U505 Touch
Toshiba this morning refreshed its notebook line for Windows 7 but centered its attention on its first two touchscreen models. The Satellite M505 Touch and U505 Touch both have multi-touch displays both to use Windows 7's more touch-aware interface as well as Toshiba's own custom touch apps. A bulletin board app provides a space for calendars, notes and photos, and a ReelTime app provides a visual file search that uses a thumbnail timeline to find content by when it was created or changed.
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10/13, 5:20pm
Fujitsu outs desktops, notebooks with multi-touch
Fujitsu in Japan is showing off a range of new desktop and notebook PCs, including the Deskpower F/ER-series all-in-one desktop and MT Series and Biblo NF/ERs notebooks. The F-series offer a model with a 23-inch, 1920x1080 or 20-inch, 1600x900 multi-touch display. Powering either is Intel's 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, along with 4GB of RAM. Options include a Blu-ray model, 1TB of combined hard drive space and a choice of digital and analog TV tuners.
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10/13, 12:00am
HP launches TouchSmart 300 and 600
HP early today is making an aggressive push into touchscreen PCs with two key updates to its TouchSmart home all-in-ones. The TouchSmart 300 and 600 add true multi-touch input and have significantly expanded use for the technology: they can not only use pinch-to-zoom, flicks and other gestures in the general operating system thanks to Windows 7 but in several new touch apps for the systems' custom front end. They can now navigate Hulu or Netflix streaming video, stream Pandora or Rhapsody music, or update and follow Twitter feeds all primarily using touch.
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10/13, 12:00am
HP TouchSmart tx2 and 9100 made for Win 7
HP in gearing up for Windows 7 added two newer touchscreen PCs to its mix. The TouchSmart tx2 convertible tablet now makes better use of its multi-touch display both in the OS as well as in the new apps specific to HP's TouchSmart front end; users can watch Hulu or Netflix from the touch interface as well as update Twitter or stream Pandora and Rhapsody music. Unlike most such screens, the tx2's input isn't solely finger-oriented and will work with a stylus as well.
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10/12, 3:50pm
BFG intros Deimos gaming portable
BFG on Monday ventured into mobile computing for the first time with the Deimos, an 18.4-inch desktop replacement notebook meant for gamers. Like the Phobos desktop, video performance is the centerpiece and always has at least dual GeForce GTS 260M graphics; top-end models have twin GeForce GTX 280M chipsets. Unusually, none of the systems use Core i7, capping off at a 2.53GHz Core 2 Extreme, but in return they all have at least two RAID-striped hard drives with the option of a third drive for either a backup or to make 1.5TB of combined space.
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10/09, 9:10am
Ion 2 to run twice as fast, support CULV
NVIDIA's Ion 2 chipset is still due to ship before the end of year and could provide a significant boost not just to netbooks but to notebooks using Intel's CULV (Consumer Ultra Low Voltage) processors as well, an update from the company has shown. In addition to supporting the timeframe, an executive heading chipset development has reportedly confirmed rumors that the next-generation Ion will support processors other than the Atom, including the Celeron, Core 2 and Pentium processors that make up CULV as well as VIA's competing Nano design.
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10/07, 8:20pm
Sony launches VAIO CW
The last of Sony's three notebook updates Wednesday evening was the VAIO CW. It brings a 16:9 aspect ratio 14-inch display (versus 16:10 before) and is the first mid-range Sony notebook to carry Windows 7. In keeping with earlier VAIO C systems, the CW is style-centric and comes in glossy colors both on the outer shell and on the palm rest.
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10/07, 7:40pm
Sony VAIO L brings touchscreen, Blu-ray
Sony at an event tonight launched a trio of new systems, starting with its first touchscreen PC. The VAIO L supports Windows 7's own multi-touch elements for scrolling and zooming through content without needing special software. Like Gateway and HP, Sony has its own custom touch portal, here called Media Gallery, that lets users rely on touch to edit photos and videos.
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10/07, 12:05pm
Adamo XPS briefly teased in real world
Dell at a press gathering today briefly offered an in-person look at its Adamo XPS ultraportable. True to its teaser graphic, the system is overall thinner than the MacBook Air it's designed to compete against (0.4 inches maximum) and appears to rely on a unique, underside hinge to reach its dimensions. As with very early Adamo and Inspiron 11z teasers, the company didn't provide any specifications or release information.
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10/07, 10:30am
Windows 7 convertible tablet from Acer due?
A recent leak reveals Acer may soon release a version of its Timeline 1810T notebook that has a double-hinged and rotating screen as well as a multi-touch screen. To be called the Timeline 1820T, the upcoming notebook would depend on Windows 7 for touch features and is expected to use an 11.6-inch, 1366x768 display. The same Intel CULV 1.4GHz Core 2 Solo CPU and 2GB of RAM should also be carried over from the original Timeline.
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10/07, 8:25am
Gateway One ZX series debuts
Gateway today preempted its rivals with one of the first fully multi-touch all-in-one desktop lines. The One ZX series' staple feature lets them both take advantage of the pinch-to-zoom, scrolling and other features inherent to Windows 7 as well as a custom touchscreen front end for music, notes, photos and content sharing.
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10/05, 6:35pm
Sony VAIO X may be ready in November
Sony's VAIO X ultralight could be ready next month and have a second notebook follow along if a rumor tonight proves true. The 1.5-pound notebook would ship in November, according to CrunchGear, and would be a direct replacement for the VAIO TT. A strategy of the sort implies it will use a low-voltage Core 2 Duo, which would support Sony's claims of extra-long battery life.
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10/05, 2:30pm
Gateway bringing Windows 7 convertible tablet
A number of images and specs for Gateway's upcoming convertible tablet PC, the EC18T, have been revealed ahead of any official news from the system builder. Outside of the new OS, a Monday Engadget leak reveals the 11.6-inch tablet will ship with an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU and up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM. Graphics will be handled by Intel's integrated GS45 Express chipset.
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09/29, 1:00pm
Panasonic adds new ToughBook models, Win7
Panasonic on Tuesday morning debuted six new Let's Note models in Japan, which are the equivalent of the maker's ToughBook rugged notebook PCs in North America. There were updated versions of the F8, R8, T8, W8 as well as two new models in the S8 and N8. The main change is the inclusion of 32-bit Windows 7, with some models getting the option to downgrade to Windows XP. The new S8 and N8 PCs also get much more powerful processors, with Intel's 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo, whereas the R8 makes do with a low-power 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo. The main difference between the S8 and N8 is the inclusion of a DVD drive in the S8 and a lack of one in the N8.
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09/29, 8:45am
Dell Latitude Z official
Dell today unveiled a new flagship business notebook that should mark a number of firsts not just for itself but for the industry. The Latitude Z is the thinnest and lightest mid-size notebook to date at just 0.57 inches deep and 4.4 pounds despite its 16-inch display, courtesy of its use of ULV Core 2 Duo processors. However, it's also one of the first that can charge wirelessly: an inductive charging plate in the notebook bottom can power the system as quickly through contact with an optional charging stand as quickly as the optional AC adapter, Dell claims.
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09/24, 2:50pm
New iMacs said imminent
Apple could be on the verge of launching its increasingly rumored redesigned iMacs as early as next week, a new rumor suggests today. A pair of sources for AppleInsider say the company has already been assembling the new all-in-ones for the past two weeks and that large-scale buyers have been given discounts in an effort to clear excess stock. These would only last one week.
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09/23, 1:05pm
Intel Core i7 mobile now official
Intel at its second Developer Forum keynote officially unveiled its first Core i7 processors for notebooks. Once codenamed Clarksfield, the quad-core processors share the same Nehalem architecture and 45 nanometer process as the desktop part but are designed to consume much less power, although more at peak than the Core 2 Quad. The top-end Core i7 Extreme consumes 55W where regular quad Core i7 mobile chips will use 45W.
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09/21, 11:25am
MSI X610 uses low-power AMD CPU
MSI on Monday announced the upcoming release of the X-Slim X610 ultrathin notebook, an AMD-powered version of its currently available X600. The same 15.6-inch, 1366x768 resolution screen is used, though the Intel Core 2 CPU and related mainboard are replaced with AMD's Congo platform with an Athlon Neo processor. Other specs are shared, including the 1-inch thickness, 4.6lb weight and standard six-cell battery.
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09/18, 12:15pm
Quad Core i7 much faster in benchmarks
Intel's upcoming Core i7 four-core parts for notebooks, nicknamed Clarksfield, should be much faster per clock cycle compared to their existing Core 2 Quad counterparts based on tests published today. Although normally clocked at just 1.73GHz, the mid-range Core i7-820QM is seen in PCPro benchmarks often coming close to, matching or outperforming the 2.53GHz Core 2 Extreme that costs significantly more than the expected $750 for the newer chip. The edge comes despite extra handicaps on the test system versus the Dell M6400 Covet used for comparison, as the Core i7 system had just half the RAM (4GB), a slower-spinning 5,400RPM hard drive and a more mainstream GeForce GT 240M graphics chip versus the workstation-grade Quadro FX 3700M in the older PC.
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09/17, 10:15am
LG's WIDEBOOK series offers LED backlit displays
LG on Thursday announced the release of its WIDEBOOK family of notebooks, made up of the R380, R460, R480, R560, and R580. All have a 16:9 HD LED-backlit display and a choice of Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs. The R380 has a 13.3-inch display with a 1366x768 resolution, the R460 and R480 have 14-inch displays with the same resolution, while the R560 and R580 use 15.6-inch LCDs with 1366x768 panels or an optional 1600x900 display.
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09/15, 8:30am
Lenovo ThinkPads get multi-touch displays
Lenovo today became the latest PC vendor to enter the multi-touch game with updates to both the ThinkPad T400s and the X200 Tablet. Both now recognize at least two fingers and, besides being better-suited to Windows 7, have a new companion app known as SimpleTap that provides quick finger-driven shortcuts to simple but important tasks like changing the volume, toggling Wi-Fi or putting the system to sleep.
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09/15, 12:00am
HP ProBook 5310m and Pavilion dm3
As part of a shift to ultra-thin notebooks, HP tonight launched two crossover 13.3-inch notebooks that it hopes are both fast and portable. The ProBook 5310m is unofficially the most portable full-performance notebook ever with an 0.93-inch thick body (versus Apple's 0.94 inches) and a 3.8-pound weight; it accomplishes the feat through an aluminum shell without an optical drive and, unusually, by giving the option of a full-speed 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo as well as a CULV-based 1.2GHz Celeron dual-core. Using the Celeron gives the system as much as 7 hours of battery life using the stock 4-cell battery.
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09/15, 12:00am
HP Compaq 6000 Pro business desktop series
HP on Tuesday announced the release of its new family of desktop PCs aimed at businesses, in the form of the Compaq 6000 Pro and HP Compaq 6005 Pro. The main difference involves the choice of CPUs, with the Compaq 6000 Pro available with a number of Intel chips, including various Core 2 quads, Core 2 Duos, dual core Pentiums and Celerons, while the Compaq 9005 Pro can be had with chips from AMD's Sempron, Athlon II, and dual-core, triple-core or quad-core Phenom II processors.
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09/15, 12:00am
New HP Envies bring Core i7, more
HP this morning revived its sleeping Envy label for two new systems targeted at the same slim but high-speed designs as the MacBook Pro. The Envy 13 and 15 are both housed in aluminum-and-black shells and drop the usual optical drive to shed weight and thickness: the 13-inch model is relatively light at just over 3.7 pounds and is 0.8 inches thick, while even the larger 15-inch system is slightly over 5.1 pounds and under an inch. Both also draw on Monster's Beats PC audio to produce better built-in audio than most notebooks, get color accurate displays, and have a MacBook-like trackpad nicknamed the "clickpad" that hides the main button underneath the surface.
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09/11, 5:05pm
Vigor gaming PC gets NVIDIA Ion, dedicated GPU
PC maker Vigor has recently released its Stealth NE gaming PC, which is unique in that it combines NVIDIA's Ion platform together with a choice of dedicated NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards. It also has an Asetek liquid cooling system built-in that quietly dissipates heat through a 120mm radiator. CPU choices themselves range from a 2.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo to a 3GHz Core 2 Quad.
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09/09, 3:05pm
Adamo XPS teased without details
Dell today quietly put up a teaser site for the Adamo XPS. While it gives few clues, the site touts a 9.99mm (under 0.4in) thickness that would make it far thinner than the Adamo 13 and significantly thinner than the MacBook Air the Adamo series has often fought against. The side profile image shows a uniformly metal (likely aluminum), tapered design unlike the block-shaped original.
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09/08, 4:20pm
ASUS outs 7 CULV notebooks
ASUS has begun the week by launching an entirely new line of notebooks centering on Intel's CULV processor mix. The UL series uses a relatively thin (about 1 inch) and lightweight aluminum shell that renders it much easier to carry even with the DVD burners present in most models. As with most CULV systems, they all have particularly long battery life and in some cases run for up to 12 hours on a charge.
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09/08, 1:50pm
Dell Inspiron 14z and 15z
Dell today grew its budding CULV (Consumer Ultra Low Voltage) notebook line with two mid-sized models. The 14-inch Inspiron 14z and 15.6-inch Inspiron 15z together use the slower but also much cooler and more efficient processors to both slim down significantly from the regular systems while also shedding weight and extending their battery lives: the systems can last over eight hours (8.5 on the 14z) on a six-cell pack.
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09/04, 12:00pm
ASUS notebooks get Windows 7, paper foam speakers
ASUS on Friday announced it will soon add two notebooks to its multimedia N-series, including the 16-inch N61 and 17.3-inch N71. Among the improvements, ASUS is touting a new SonicMaster amplification system that includes new paper-foam cones for the speakers that are said to improve sound quality. Both the N61 and N71 will be available with Intel's Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad CPUs and with up to 4GB of RAM.
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