January 8 - 8:05pm EST   Targus is demonstrating new products at both CES and Macworld Expo. In San Francisco, the accessory maker unveiled a new line of "eco-friendly" laptop cases and bags for the Aluminum MacBook Pro and at CES, Targus is touting a new line of laptop cooling devices for PCs and Macs. [full story]

January 4 - 11:50pm EST   As anticipated by earlier reports, Lenovo on Monday officially launched the first dual-screen laptop. The ThinkPad W700ds offers a 17-inch screen along with a secondary 10.6-inch display that slides out from the main screen. Measuring almost 40 percent of the 17-inch primary screen, the 10.6-inch second screen slides out from the PC cover behind the primary screen. While it gives users extra screen real-estate measuring approximately the size of a Lenovo IdeaPad S10 netbook, it only adds less than half of an inch in additional thickness to the mobile workstation over its predecessor (the ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation). [full story]

October 14 - 3:25am EDT   Toshiba’s on Monday announced two new Satellite Pro notebooks: both the Satellite Pro S300M and Satellite Pro S300 are value-/entry-level business laptops and now ship with a two-year warranty and port replicator support for (hot) docking. The 14.1-inch laptops include Fingerprint readers, business card reader software, and face recognition software for security by using the integrated webcam to grant/deny access to the laptop as well as fourth-generation EasyGuard Technology with PC Health Monitor, a preventative maintenance utility that continuously checks the performance and functionality of a laptop’s critical hardware components and will alert users when the system ... [full story]

August 3 - 10:00am EDT   Laptop case-maker CODi has introduced the CODi Phantom - CT3, its new airport check-point-ready bag. The bag uses a butterfly design that separates the laptop from other items for a clear x-ray scan, allowing the laptop to remain in the bag for a faster checkpoint experience. The butterfly design also allows for a one-handed lift and seal of the bag (the split compartments come together and seal using Velcro attachments), leaving another hand free for any other scanned items. The Phantom CT3 is available now for $225. [full story]

July 30 - 7:55pm EDT   Readers of PC Magazine have awarded top scores to Apple Products, during a recent survey on electronic products. Apple received the highest ratings in all of the categories it was involved in, laptops, desktops, routers, cell phones, media players and tech support. In all of these categories Apple received Readers Choice status and performed "significantly better than average." This year the iPhone was named the "ultimate smartphone" and topped other competing smartphones such as the BlackBerry Curve and Pearl. [full story]

July 28 - 11:55pm EDT   HP on Monday addressed which of its laptops were impacted by the recent Nvidia defect, citing 24 different models that range as far back as November 2007, when HP began covering failed GPUs under warranty. The issue affects HP's Pavilion dv2000, dv6000, and dv9000 series laptops, and the Compaq Presario V3000 and V6000 series as well. HP is offering an updated BIOS for the affected machines, and is offering customers a complete set of diagnostic instructions, for determining whether a model is affected by the problem. [full story]

July 21 - 11:35pm EDT   On Monday a new line of ergonomic rests for wrists were introduced by Computer Intelligence, offering users comfort and pain relief from typing on a hard surface. The Intelligel is placed directly on the case of a laptop where a user would normally rest the heels of their hands. In the center of the rest is a one-size-fits-all cutout that allows access to the computers integrated touch pad and mouse buttons. Intelligels offers two different, yet simple versions of the wrist rests, SoftGEL and SoftFOAM. [full story]

July 16 - 5:35pm EDT   In brief: We've posted a review of The Contour Balance Roller, MacForensicsLab certification training, Jumsoft offers iWeb templates, "Simple" Photoshop tutorial debuts, and FMCode Shares FileMaker Code ... We have posted a review of The Contour Balance Roller, which uses a nylon-like microfiber material that seems durable and water-resistant, yet soft. The lining lends itself to doubling as a diaper bag, although I wouldn't recommend storing your computer with dirty diapers. The lighter weight (5.3 lbs) makes wrangling your 15" laptop easier, especially if it isn't your only piece of luggage. Plenty of pockets for spare batteries, mice, or other peripherals grace the ... [full story]

July 12 - 1:45pm EDT   Koyono has announced the its new Booq Mamba Compact Back Pack, a laptop backpack capable of carrying up to a 17-inch MacBook Pro. It offers 420D Polyester with a water-resistant coating and protects the laptop with a half-inch of high-density foam padding, and scratch-resistant linings. The new bag offers easy-access side pockets, a number of mesh pockets and zippered compartments for large and small items,with a zippered accessory pouch for cables. [full story]

July 11 - 5:35pm EDT   STM this week unveiled three new case products for Apple portables and accessories – the Slip, Sort, and Raincoat. The slip is a briefcase-style bag with optional shoulder attachments, and allows the user to compute with the laptop in the unzipped bag, as it holds the device in place. The Slip is available for 13-, 15-, and 17-inch laptops, with various color combinations. STM did not release pricing for the product, but has a list of resellers on its website. [full story]

July 9 - 7:50pm EDT   Mac laptops are not really more expensive than their PC competitors, according to an analysis by one of the major Windows-centeric computer magazines. PCWorld set out to answer that question through some head-to-head comparisons and in most cases the answer was “no.” Writer James Martin says he owns a MacBook Air but also uses Windows machines, and sees benefits in both formats. WIth no particular axe to grind, Martin says he wanted to see whether the commonly-held belief that Macs are always pricier could really be proved. [full story]

July 2 - 9:05am EDT   Macessity on Wednesday announced SlimKey V2, a new display stand with an integrated powered USB 2.0 Hub. Designed to match Apple's Cinema Display, the SlimKey sports an 'Apple centric' powder coated aluminum finish. Macessity says the stand can support up to 35 pounds, has an easily accessible 4-port side access USB 2.0 hub, and a recessed storage space suitable for Apple's new 'slim' keyboard. Shipping with a compact power adaptor and USB 2.0 cable included, the SlimKey V2 is priced at $65 and available to pre-order now. [full story]

June 30 - 2:40pm EDT  High-priced upgrades have long been a collective burden of shopping at the online Apple Store. A new article from CNET UK has a run-down of pricing comparisons, noting that Apple's direct upgrade prices are, on average, about 200% that of Dell's. For instance: Going from a 120GB 5,400rpm drive to a 250GB 5,400rpm drive for a MacBook will set you back £90.01 from the Apple configurator. Doing the same upgrade with a Dell XPS M1330 costs just £30.01 on the Dell site. Likewise, buying a MacBook and switching from 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 to 4GB will cost an extra £120 from Apple. Doing that same swap with the Dell XPS M1330 costs just £40.01. [full story]

June 25 - 7:10pm EDT   Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.” Solo is hoping to do just that with a new strap for laptop cases promising a “no-trip” experience. The company says its Smart Strap bags come with a patented retractable shoulder strap designed to stay out of the way when not in use. Anyone who regularly carries a laptop knows how much of nuisance case straps can be. [full story]

June 17 - 4:55pm EDT   Fujitsu's newest laptop has been spotted early and in an unlikely place, as the T4220 replacement recently popped up on the Virginia Tech University Bookstore. The Tablet PC features a 13.3-inch 1280x800 (WXGA) display, and is expected to run an Intel Centrino 2 vPro chip of unknown speed along with 2GB of DDR3 RAM. [full story]