Tatum and Denim blog

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

It looks like Intel has come to the realization that its product naming scheme has gotten a little out of hand and, as Ars Technica reports, it’s now taking some measures to simplify things a bit. Apparently, Core 2 Quad, Core 2 Duo, and Core 2 Solo will all simply be known as “Core 2″ starting on January 1st, 2008 (presumably with some other means to differentiate then), and Intel Viiv Processor Technology and Intel vPro Processor Technology will henceforth be known as Intel Core 2 Duo Processor with Viiv (or vPro). Further on down the line, Pentium D and Pentium Dual-Core will both be shortened to just “Pentium,” while the server-centric Itanium 2 gets demoted to plain old “Itanium.” According to Ars, Core 2 Extreme, Celeron, and Xeon will all stay as they are. Simple, right?

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Desktops

Calm down, you haven’t overslept by a couple of months or anything, as the Wolfdale we’re talking about here is in fact simply a 2.33GHz engineering sample of the forthcoming dual-core processor. Nevertheless, HKPEC labs was able to pit it against the 2.33GHz E6550, and the results weren’t too shabby. In a slew of tests including PC Mark, CineBench, Science Mark, SiSoft Sandra, and individual application trials, the Wolfdale managed to best the E6550 in every single facet. Of course, it didn’t exactly blow the current Core 2 Duo out of the water, but increasing performance by nearly 11-percent in Doom 3 and Far Cry, 5.53-percent in PC Mark, and around 8-percent in Office applications isn’t anything to sneeze at. Still, we’ve got quite a ride ahead before seeing a finalized Wolfdale, but feel free to humor yourself with the preliminary benchmarks below.

[Via The Inquirer]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

It was but a few weeks ago that we caught Fujitsu’s LifeBook N6460 showing off in Singapore, and now it looks like the beastly machine has made its way stateside for all of us Americans to enjoy. This 17-incher touts an XGA+ panel, Intel’s 2GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 CPU, ATI’s Mobility Radeon HD 2600 graphics set, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, up to 400GB of hard drive space, an optional Blu-ray drive, integrated fingerprint scanner, a remote control, 56k modem, gigabit Ethernet, WiFi, and a plethora of ports including five USB 2.0 connectors, FireWire, a multicard reader, and an ExpressCard opening to boot. Granted, you can certainly opt to customize the aforementioned specifications to fit your budget, but pre-established configurations range from $1,499 to $2,599 and look to be shipping right away.

[Via PCLaunches]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

Asus appears to be adding a new laptop called the F8S to its fairly crowded lineup (although we’re almost certain this one isn’t gigantic and made of wood). The new model is a Santa Rosa-based, 14.1-inch widescreen offering, built around an Intel PM965 chipset, with a Core 2 Duo T7300 processor, up to 4GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and either an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600, or NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics chipset. Word on the street is that the F8S will additionally sport 802.11a/g/n, a TV tuner, built-in webcam, fingerprint reader, and will hit for around €2000. Stay tuned for more info as we get it.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Media PCs

If you can force your brain to remember back to January, you may recall Sony’s curiously designed TP1 HTPC. Interestingly enough, it seems that Sony has indeed launched the device and didn’t even bother to tell anyone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be brought up to speed. Be warned, however, that Living Room PC does not equate to high-end AV center, as this modestly-spec’d machine lacks an HD optical drive and CableCARD option. Internally, you’ll find a 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo chip, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, a 300GB 7,200RPM SATA hard drive, dual-layer DVD writer, ATSC / NTSC TV tuner, GMA 950 integrated graphics set, and HDMI / DVI / VGA outputs. Moreover, Sony included a 4-pin FireWire connector, audio in / out, four USB 2.0 ports, Memory Stick / SD slots, 802.11b/g, and Vista Home Premium to run the show. So if you’re still intrigued by this ho hum (albeit Viiv-certified!) PC, you can snag it right now starting at $1,599.99.

[Via CNET]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Desktops

Intel is giving a lot of cheap speed-freaks cause for celebration today, as the company has just announced some deep price cuts to its line of quad-core CPUs (and a few other price snips here and there). The chipmaker has knocked down the price of the 2.93GHz Core 2 Quad QZ6800 with a 1066MHz FSB to $999, the 2.66 GHz Q6700 to $530, and the 2.4GHz Q6600 to $300 (shaving off almost half of its price). With these new drops, the Q6600 has become the cheapest quad-core chip on the market, thus making chumps of the people who bought it a month ago, but those who’ve been waiting for the cuts will be glad they did. Additionally, Intel has reduced the cost of some of its Core 2 Duo processors, taking around $20 off of the cost of the 2.2GHz E4500 and the 2GHz E4400. Be sure to check out InformationWeek’s complex breakdown of the cuts, and where to find the best deals.

[Via The Inquirer, thanks Tech L]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

A recent leak from Intel has revealed the chip-maker’s plans for its Penryn mobile processor line, detailing all the sweet news in a roadmap which has made its way into the waiting public’s hands. On the sheet are the details of four new Core 2 Duo chips and one new Core 2 Extreme that Intel will be shepherding into the market in the near future (or so we hope). All of the chips feature the Santa Rosa-standard 800MHz frontside bus, with the C2Ds clocking in at 2.5GHZ and 2.6GHz with a 6MB cache, or alternately 2.1GHz and 2.4GHz with a 3MB cache — the C2E delivers 2.8GHz with a 6MB cache. No word on pricing or availability, but you’ll know as soon as we do.

[Via Reg Hardware]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Features, Laptops, Wireless

Obviously unaware that we’re not exactly the classiest folks around (we were the only ones there wearing shorts and a T-shirt), Sony invited us to a decidedly swanky “product unveiling” at Rockefeller Plaza’s 66th floor Top of the Rock observation deck, replete with such pricey fare as caviar, salmon canapes, crab salad, tuna tartare, and grilled shrimp, along with four varieties of champagne (from a 2000 Veuve Clicquot Reserve Rose to a 1996 Bollinger R.D., if you must know) to wash it all down with — and as if that weren’t enough booze, several bottles of well-aged scotch sat prominently atop a fully stocked bar. This whole luxury theme was meant to sway our coverage about reflect the high-end status of the company’s 11.1-inch VAIO TZ, whose $2,200 minimum price tag gets you a waif of a Santa Rosa-based ultraportable featuring a carbon fiber exterior, 32GB SSD, WWAN in the form of EV-DO Rev. A, and a MacBook-style keyboard, among other goodies. Sorry to cut this short, but we’re off to shower and shave with the pleasant smelling men’s products that Sony stuffed in our gift bag (we gave everything else — cigars, lip balm, four dollar bottled water, book on wine — away to elevator operators and people on the subway), so this would probably be a good time to check out the gallery below. And, as a special, one-time only bonus, we’ve also included photos of the recently announced VAIO-branded LF-V30 LocationFree streamer, whose component jacks enable HD place-shifting, and with which the entire VAIO lineup will soon be compatible thanks to pre-loaded software…

Gallery: Hands-on with Sony’s VAIO TZ superultraportable notebook

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

‘Round these parts, we can’t help but show a little extra love for anything slapped with an oh-so-coveted “limited edition” label, and for folks in the market for a new HP laptop (and residing in Japan, by the way), here’s one especially for you. The dv6500 CT Special Edition is said to be limited to 1,000 units and will reportedly sport a 15.4-inch LCD, an Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 processor, VGA output, several USB ports, and a 1,280 x 800 resolution panel — but it sounds like everything else can be customized to your liking. The most glaring difference here, however, is the snow white casing and Special Edition badges, which will surely incite envy in those who didn’t quite get their orders in on time. Prices start at just ¥119,700 ($979) for the most basic of configurations, but you may as well splurge on the CTO extras if you actually manage to secure a unit, no?

[Via AVing]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

If the 17-inch behemoth that NC Digitech rolled out last month was a tad too large for your tastes, the ultraportable PR200-040KR may fit just fine. This 12.1-incher sports a black / silver motif, WXGA panel, Intel’s T7300 Core 2 Duo processor and GMA X3100 integrated graphics, 2GB of RAM, 802.11a/b/g, a 1.3-megapixel webcam in the (far too thick) bezel, Ethernet, audio out, a number of USB ports, and HDMI for good measure. Best of all, this wee machine weighs in at just 3.97-pounds, and while the price doesn’t seem to be readily available at the moment, it’s entirely likely those outside of South Korea won’t even have a chance to spend their allowance on it.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

At long last, Dell’s ultraportable Latitude D430 is getting official, and just so it doesn’t have to brave the new world alone, the Precision M4300 mobile workstation is tagging along. The 12-inch D430 will of course boast a widescreen WXGA display, up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, Intel’s GMA 950 integrated graphics, an Intel Core 2 Duo (or Solo) processor, an optional 32GB SSD, 802.11n WiFi, optional fingerprint reader, magnesium alloy casing, Strike Zone hard drive protection, and a slew of ports to boot. The beefier M4300 comes stocked with up to 2.4GHz of Intel Core 2 Duo power, a 15.4-inch display, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, NVIDIA’s 512MB Quadro FX 360M graphics, up to 160GB of hard drive space, and 802.11n WiFi. Both units are available to configure as we speak, and while the 12-incher starts at $1,509 sans many luxuries, the M4300 rings up at $1,750 before you start bumping up the specs.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: HDTV, Laptops

We can just imagine the smiles creeping over the faces of FPS freaks everywhere as they dream about owning a laptop with twin 512MB NVIDIA GPUs, and thanks to Alienware’s refreshed m9750, you can now replace those visions with an actual order. The newly revamped 17-inch machine still offers up a WXGA+ or WUXGA display, up to 400GB of internal HDD space in a RAID 0 array, Blu-ray support, and a plethora of connectivity options, but it now includes Intel’s 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo and a delightful pair of 512MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX graphics cards for all the battery-drainin’, high-rez gaming you can handle. The freshened up system is due to ship late next month, and while you can get your own for $2,099, the upgraded graphics rig alone will set you back another $600.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

You already knew that Toshiba was doling out the HD DVD love to the X205, but a purported Satellite X200 machine has apparently been apprehended by a Frenchman (or woman) and revealed to the world. Reportedly, this “desktop replacement” starts off with a 17-inch 1,440 x 900 resolution LCD, and packs a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, a 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8700M GT, 2GB of RAM, a 200GB hard drive spinning at 4200RPMs, Harmon Kardon speakers, Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi, a DVD burner, 1.3-megapixel camera, hordes of USB 2.0 connectors, fingerprint reader, an ExpressCard slot, and even a numeric keypad thrown in for good measure. While we’ve seen nothing official, word on the street has this bad boy landing next month for around €1,599 ($2,147), but for now, click on through for the rest of the show.

Continue reading Beastly Toshiba Satellite X200 laptop gets spotted

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

Note to Gateway: don’t pass along secretive information about unannounced tablets (even to students) unless you don’t mind it getting out. That being said, it seems like a new 295 series of tablet PCs could be hitting the education market (and beyond) real soon, as the device was candidly spotted in numerous education order forms. Dubbed the E-295M by the University of South Dakota, the convertible apparently comes stocked with a 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, a 60GB 5400RPM hard drive, modular DVD burner, seven-in-one multicard reader, a PC Card slot, FireWire, a trio of USB 2.0 connectors, and Intel’s GMA x3100 integrated graphics. You’ll be staring at a 14-inch WXGA display and fiddling with the included stylus while ignoring lecturers, and the gigabit Ethernet and 802.11b/g WiFi should keep you well connected to the things that matter most. Of course, pricing details for the general public are likely to change, but those headed to USD can place their order for $1,699.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

According to what appears to be a leaked product roadmap, it’s beginning to look like a hot summer if you’re a laptop gamer, on-the-go video editor, or need to crunch some seriously large numbers while traveling. From the looks of the roadmap it appears Intel is planning updates and price cuts for laptop CPUs through September 2nd, including the introduction of a couple Core 2 Extreme chips (2.8GHz X7900 and 2.6GHz X7800, featuring 800MHz FSB/4MB L2 cache) as previously reported. All told, the processor overlords will apparently debut nine new chips and cut the price on four, with slight changes in pretty much every category. Of note is the addition of the budget Celeron M540 and M550, which according to “sources” are designed for the much-loved Santa Rosa chipset. Stay tuned, as we’ll be bringing you more laptop-obsoleting news on this next round of chips as soon as we get it.

[Via laptoping]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Desktops, Media PCs

MSI isn’t stopping with a longevous DAP at Computex, as the firm is also taking the opportunity to announce a new desktop and HTPC. The compact Hetis 965 offers your choice of Intel’s Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Extreme, or Core 2 Quad processors, handles up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, touts Intel’s GMA X3000 integrated graphics set, and also includes MSI’s Specific Linear Fan Speed Control to intelligently vary fan speeds based on current cooling needs. For the AV crowd, the Media Center PC is powered by AMD64 dual-core processors, features AMD’s Cool ‘n Quiet and AMD Live! technology, and includes a mysterious NVIDIA integrated graphics set, HDMI output, 7.1-channel surround sound, 12-in-1 card reader, built-in DVD optical drive, and a host of USB 2.0 ports as well. Per usual, there’s no word on price nor availability at the moment.

[Via 64-Bit-Computers]
Read - MSI Hetis 965
Read - MSI Media Center PC

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

General Dynamics Itronix certainly has the rugged computer gig down pat, but the GoBook VR-2 scales things back a bit and only gets the “semi-rugged” treatment. Don’t think this bad boy’s not a workhorse, however, as this machine was reportedly designed to “meet the demanding needs of mobile workers in a variety of commercial, field service, public safety, and military markets.” Among the niceties that make the day-to-day a bit easier is a 13.3-inch XGA DynaVue touchscreen display, Intel’s 2GHz T7300 Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB of RAM, up to 120GB of hard drive space, an optional HDD heater for those chilly morns in Killington, DVD burner, PC Card slot, optional ExpressCard slot, VGA output, audio in / out, four USB 2.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/g/n, integrated fingerprint reader, optional WWAN / GPS, Bluetooth, and a three-year warranty that should keep you feeling secure. Of course, this beast can handle a decent amount of shock, dust, and humidity too, but we wouldn’t expect anything less with a base price of around $3,500. Click on through for a few on-the-job snaps.

Continue reading Itronix’s semi-rugged GoBook VR-2 gets a day job

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

Shortly after revealing that a quad-core laptop chip was indeed in Intel’s pipeline for 2008, the firm has decided to go public with even more laptop-based processor details over at Computex. Intel’s executive vice president Sean Maloney had the honors of “unveiling” the 3-Series chipset family (formerly known as Bearlake), which will of course support DDR3 RAM, PCI Express 2.0, HDMI, and can come stocked with G33 / G35 Express integrated graphics. More importantly, the outfit formally introduced plans for an Intel Core 2 Extreme mobile processor that should be released in Q3 of this year. According to Mr. Maloney, the chip is targeted to be the company’s “highest-performing mobile dual-core processor that still includes energy-saving power features for laptop designs.” No word just yet on whether or not this CPU will cost more than the rest of your laptop components combined (but we wouldn’t be surprised).

[Via Laptoping]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

Not even a week after unveiling the HDMI-equipped m-Book PR200S and PR200X laptops, Mouse Computer is at it again with the budget LuvBook PL lineup. The low-end 500BH and 500S machines are throttled by a 1.46GHz Intel Celeron M 410 processor, but the 500XH and 500X step things up with a 1.66GHz Core 2 Duo T5500, up to 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 80GB of hard drive space, a dual-layer DVD burner, 15.4-inch WXGA glossy display, ATI’s Radeon Xpress 200M graphics set, and Windows Vista running the show. Moreover, you’ll find audio in / out, a trio of USB 2.0 ports, VGA output, Ethernet, and a Li-ion cell that purportedly lasts about 1.75-hours before calling it quits. All four models should be available in Japan real soon, and will run between ¥79,800 ($656) and ¥99,750 ($820) depending on configuration.

[Via Impress]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

While most of the Lenovo attention of late has centered around the mysterious Reserve Edition and Olympic-trained lappies, the firm hasn’t forgot about the budget set in the meantime. The 3000 series is seeing the new V200 machine get a jolt with Santa Rosa, and aside from the 1.8GHz T7100 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, this 12.1-incher now boosts a 160GB SATA drive, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, a WXGA VibrantView display, built-in 1.3-megapixel camera, and up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM. Furthermore, you’ll find Intel’s X3100 integrated graphics set, a dual-layer DVD writer, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, a three-cell Li-ion battery, and a weight of just around four pounds. A few extra touches include one-touch system recovery, a fingerprint scanner, Windows Vista, a trio of USB 2.0 ports, 5-in-1 multicard reader, audio in / out, stereo speakers, 4-pin FireWire, an ExpressCard slot, VGA output, and a 56k modem for fetching internet the old fashioned way. The V200 looks to be shipping in “one to two weeks,” and the while the base configuration will run you $1,199, those oh-so-necessary upgrades will elevate that figure quite a bit.

[Thanks, Naveed]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: HDTV, Media PCs

Exceptional Innovation’s endeavor into the media center PC realm was apparently about more than just fitting in, as the Life|ware Life|media machines pack some seriously potent hardware with matching pricetags to go along. The high-end machines will be packing hardware such an Intel’s 2.13GHz Core 2 Duo or 2.4GHz quad-core CPU, up to 4GB of RAM, 4.5TB of hard drive space in a RAID 5 array, CableCARD, NTSC / ATSC tuner options, forthcoming HD DVD and Blu-ray drive choices, optical audio out with Dolby Master Studio decoding, a 28-in-1 multicard reader, NVIDIA’s GeForce 8800 GTS, and a host of ports including HDMI, DVI, S-Video, composite, serial, USB 2.0, FireWire, IR controller, and 12V trigger relays and contact closure devices “for screens, shades, contacts, relays, etc.” Of course, all of the units (LMS-300, 400, 500, 600, and 700) will run Windows Vista, and while these Life|media servers start at around $4,500, there’s honestly no telling what the top-end configuration will set you back when it lands this summer.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Desktops

Itching for something to match real pretty with your $1,195 Stealth Computer keyboard? If so, the very same company has recently unveiled a miniature PC that costs just marginally more than the ‘board itself, but the LPC-450 packs some pretty decent specs into a battle-ready 5.7- x 9.9- x 1.65-inch enclosure. The slightly unattractive case can pack a wide range of Intel’s Core 2 Duo processors, up to 1GB of RAM, a DVD writer, between 80GB and 160GB of hard drive space (or an SSD for a serious upcharge), your choice of operating system, Intel’s GMA950 integrated graphics set, gigabit Ethernet, and a plethora of ports including audio in / out, VGA out, a trio of USB 2.0 ports, RS232, FireWire, and even a parallel printer port for kickin’ it like it’s 1995. The case itself is said to be made of “rugged extruded aluminum,” and the only fan noise should come from the one keeping the CPU from getting too toasty. Stealth’s wee machine can be picked up now for just under $1,400 in the base configuration, but specing it out like you truly desire will push things quite a bit higher.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

Although you’re probably still focused on how ashamed Toshiba should be of itself for hyping up this so-called SED TV for ages only to delay things once again, checkin’ out the Qosmio F40W isn’t a half bad way to get distracted. The 15.4-inch multimedia-centric machine sports a 1,280 x 800 resolution, Intel’s Core 2 Duo T7300 (2GHz) CPU, up to 4GB of RAM, 120GB of hard drive space, a dual-layer LabelFlash-enabled DVD writer, built-in terrestrial digital TV tuner, and NVIDIA’s new 128MB GeForce 8400M GS to handle the DirectX 10 action. Additionally, you’ll find four USB 2.0 ports, a 4-pin FireWire connector, ExpressCard slot, a multicard reader that handles SD, SDHC, MMC, xD, and MSPro, 802.11a/b/g, Ethernet, VGA / S-Video / HDMI outputs, S/PDIF audio output, and a Li-ion cell that purportedly lasts a paltry 1.3-hours. Of course, no word of an American release, but those over in Japan should be able to snag one within the next week or so for ¥259,800 ($2,136).

[Via Impress]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

Joining the Santa Rosa party a bit after the fashionably late crowd is Japan’s Mouse Computer, which is kicking out a duo of m-Book PR laptops with Windows Vista and HDMI outputs. The m-Book PR200S gets us started with a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 processor, a 12.1-inch WXGA display, 1GB of dual-channel DDR2 RAM, an 80GB SATA hard drive, dual-layer DVD writer, multicard reader, Intel’s X3100 graphics set, 802.11a/b/g/n, 1.3-megapixel camera, fingerprint scanner, and a bevy of ports include VGA, HDMI, audio in / out, FireWire, gigabit Ethernet, a 56k modem, ExpressCard, and a trio of USB 2.0 connectors to boot. The m-Book PR200X mimics the its lesser-spec’d sibling in most ways, but does manage to up the RAM to 2GB, the hard drive to 120GB, and you get Vista Premium versus Home Edition. These ultraportables should be hitting the Japanese streets early next week, and while the PR200S will run you ¥149,940 ($1,235), the minor upgrades in the PR200X demand an additional ¥19,950 ($164).

[Via Impress]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

Granted, Sony’s BX-series of VAIOs has been around for quite some time, but the long-standing business lappie is getting a makeover in Europe that includes a hop over to Santa Rosa. This 15.4-inch widescreen machine packs a 1,280 x 800 resolution X-black LCD, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, WiFi, a multi-function drive bay that houses your choice of a dual-layer DVD writer or a secondary hard drive, Intel’s T7300 Core 2 Duo processor, ATI’s Mobility Radeon HD 2300 handling the graphics, and up to 2GB of RAM. Additionally, users will notice a fingerprint scanner, Sony’s G-Sensor HDD shock protector, Ethernet, a 56k modem, VGA out, stereo speakers, SD and MS flash card slots, a number of USB 2.0 ports, and a 4-pin FireWire connector to boot. Unfortunately, the VGN-BX41VN currently lacks an official price or release date, but there’s plenty of similar alternatives already out if you need something on the double. Click on through for a couple more glimpses.

[Via PCLaunches]

Continue reading Sony’s business savvy VAIO BX40 officially hits Europe

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming

With Dell’s XPS 720 getting ready for showtime, it’s quite possible that a few of you out there are eying a slightly different kind of animal, and for the Halo faithful, look no further than A-Power. The AP-Halo machine sports a fully customized Halo 2 chassis to go along with the game’s PC counterpart, but it manages to look fairly good on the inside as well. Beneath the metal you’ll find an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor, up to 640GB of SATA II hard drive space, Asus’ P5K Deluxe motherboard, a Samsung dual-layer DVD burner, Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer sound card, gigabit Ethernet, a 768MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTX handling the DX10 duties, a 700-watt power supply, and to cap things off, it also comes bundled with Microsoft’s own Reclusa keyboard and Habu mouse. Of course, it’ll come pre-loaded with Vista Ultimate and Halo 2, and deep-pocketed gamers can add on an Xbox 360 PC controller if they choose. The Halo 2-themed system is slated to launch on May 22nd, and while the base price sits at CAD$1,659 ($1,505) sans a monitor, those hardware upgrades will send that figure quite a ways north.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

We shouldn’t all act surprised that Clevo of all companies is cranking out yet another desktop replacement that would likely burn through even the thickest jeans (and potent batteries) in no time flat, but the firm’s 901C ups the ante over the previous rendition with a few notable hardware bumps. Coming just months after the already wicked 900C, this sucka includes your choice of Intel’s Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Duo Extreme X6800 processors, a 17.1-inch WXGA / WSXGA+ display, up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, NVIDIA’s 512MB GeForce Go 7950GTX or the 8700M GT, room for a trio of SATA II drives hooked up in RAID, a full size keyboard with numeric pad, 12-cell battery, digital audio out, built-in microphone, four integrated speakers, and a seven-in-one card reader. Furthermore, you’ll find ports for FireWire, USB 2.0, S-Video / VGA / DVI, gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, 802.11n WiFi, an integrated webcam, 56k modem, and a TV tuner to boot. Apparently, there’s no word just yet surrounding price or availability, but we wouldn‘t count on this powerful 11.9-pounder to run you cheap.

[Thanks, Bazald]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Desktops

Joining Epson and a growing host of others in the miniscule PC arena, enano is throwing its own offerings in the hat while boasting about greenness all the while. The generation e2 lineup sports “book sized” enclosures, a sleek black paint job, and four different models to suit your fancy (and budget). All four units rely on one of Intel’s Core 2 Duo processors, but apparently, none are sporting the Santa Rosa love just yet. The machines can be configured with up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, 160GB of SATA hard drive space, an integrated TV tuner, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g, 7.1 surround sound audio, and feature Intel’s GMA950 integrated graphics set, an SD / MS / MMC card reader, a total of four USB 2.0 ports, one 4-pin FireWire connector, DVI or VGA out via adapter, S-Video out, and audio in / out ports to finish things off. The box itself weighs in at just three pounds and measures 8.8- x 6.8- x 1.65-inches around, and while the company claims that you’ll save a bundle on energy costs with this power sipper, the up front charges ranging from around $1,200 to near $2,000 probably makes up for it.

[Via CNET]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

While details surrounding Sony’s SZ series leaked long ago, the firm is now busting out two new machines in its VAIO lineup that we’ve yet to witness. On the laptop side, the N30 (pictured after the break) sports a carbon fiber frame, 15.4-inch WXGA display, Intel’s GMA 950 graphics set, an Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 or T7400 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 120GB shock-mounted hard drive, dual-layer DVD burner, 802.11b/g, a bevy of bundled software including Office 2007 and Vista Premium, an integrated webcam, fingerprint scanner, and optional HSDPA via ExpressCard. On the desktop side, the LA3 shows off its stylish good looks and packs a 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 CPU, 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, NVIDIA’s GeForce Go 7600 graphics card, a 19-inch WSXGA+ LCD, 802.11a/b/g, and Vista Premium to boot. Of course, both systems are customizable to the hilt, but the April-bound VGN-N31M/W and VGN-N31Z/W will run you €899 ($1,213) and €999 ($1,347) respectively for the basics, while the base VGC-LA3 will ring up for €1,999 ($2,696) when it lands in May.

[Via TrustedReviews]

Continue reading Sony kicks out VAIO N30 laptop, sleek LA3 desktop

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

While Acer did make a quick stop to confirm that this Gemstone brouhaha was indeed becoming a reality, the firm has apparently gotten around to fleshing out the rest of its healthy Santa Rosa lineup. On the consumer side of things, the the Aspire 5720 touts a 15.4-inch CrystalBrite display, integrated CrystalEye webcam, Dolby Digital Live audio, and a choice of ATI graphics cards. The 7720 steps it up by packing more powerful Core 2 Duo processors, a 17-inch widescreen display, an ATI graphics card with up to 512MB of RAM, webcam, and an optional DVB-T tuner, while the 9920 takes things to the extreme with a 20-inch screen, NVIDIA’s DX10-capable GeForce 8600M-GT, and an HD DVD drive to boot. Meanwhile, the TravelMates are also seeing updates, as the 6592 packs a Core 2 Duo CPU, 802.11a/b/g/n, dual-layer DVD burner or HD DVD drive, ATI’s Mobility Radeon X2300-HD graphics, and a 15- or 15.4-inch display. The 6492 loses an inch of screen space, steps down to integrated X3100 graphics, but sports up to 8.5-hours of battery life with a secondary cell installed in the media bay, and the 6292 wraps things up with a 12.1-inch display, WiFi, ezDock II compatibility, and a lightweight design. No word just yet on pricing or availability, but at least you’ve got a smattering of choices on the Acer horizon to decide upon.

Read - Acer TravelMate lineup
Read - Acer Aspire lineup

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

Not wanting to feel left out of the mad Santa Rosa rush we’ve seen over the last few days, Panasonic has introduced its first Let’s Note model to sport Intel’s new chipset, the CF-Y7. This 14.1-inch upgrade features a 1,400 x 1,050 display, 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo L7300, 1GB of RAM, four-flavor WiFi, and a super multi drive, and ships with Windows Vista Business. Also on board are an 80GB hard drive, SD reader, and a claimed 7.5-hour battery, but only a PCMCIA slot instead of the preferred ExpressCard. Hitting Japan on May 18th — and possible the US as a Toughbook in the future — the Y7 is expected to go for around ¥275,000 ($2,227).

[Via Engadget Japanese and Impress]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops, Wireless

Just in case the leaked specs weren’t solid enough for you, Lenovo has finally opened up and revealed the 14.1-inch T61 to the world. In what’s being dubbed the “strongest, coolest, and quietest ThinkPad ever,” the T61 comes sheathed in a magnesium alloy frame (Top Cover Roll Cage in Lenovo lingo), and touts an “improved cooling system, enhanced wireless connectivity with Ultra Connect II, and up to 15-percent longer battery life through its Battery Stretch control option.” Furthermore, you’ll find a WXGA+ display, a wide range of Intel’s Core 2 Duos, up to 160GB of 5400RPM HDD space (or 100GB at 7200RPM), NVIDIA’s 128MB Quadro NVS 140M graphics set, an optional Blu-ray drive, gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, 802.11a/b/g/n, and even an option for WWAN connectivity via EV-DO or HSDPA; additionally, there’s a four-in-one media card reader and your choice of Windows XP / Vista. It looks like the May timeframe we had heard about earlier will actually stay true in this case, and while you can price this bad boy as high as you can dream, the base machine will run you $1,399.

[Via LaptopLogic]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: HDTV, Laptops

Nah, it shouldn’t surprise you one bit that Sony’s officially squeezing in yet another option in the VAIO laptop lineup, but this 15.4-incher packs a media-centric attitude into a (debatably) lightweight package, and moreover, sports a pricetag that’s very un-VAIO-like. Aside from the typical black / silver motif, you’ll notice a widescreen XBRITE display, a bevy of multimedia controls atop the keyboard, Intel’s Core 2 Duo processors, NVIDIA’s GeForce 8400M graphics card, support for 802.11n, HDMI out, audio in / out, USB 2.0, VGA and S-Video outs, 4-pin FireWire, and the obligatory Blu-ray drive for watching HD flicks on the go. Additionally, the FZ will include an integrated webcam, LocationFree placeshifting niceties, an ExpressCard slot, and a Memory Stick reader. Fortunately for you, this fairly well appointed machine won’t break the bank as you may expect, as the non-BD-equipped rendition will start at $1,400, while the “Premium” flavor comes in just $2,000.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

If you haven’t noticed by now, the laptop industry is going Santa Rosa crazy today, and for good reason: Intel’s next-gen chipset is officially “out” as of now, following up the Napa / Yonah combo of last year. Intel is sticking with the Core 2 Duo “Merom” processor for the time being, but is releasing new, faster versions that take advantage of Santa Rosa’s faster front-side bus, which is up at 800MHz, compared to 667MHz of prior versions. The new processors are odd-numbered to set them apart, and include the 1.8GHz T7100, 2GHz T7300, 2.2GHz T7500, 2.4GHz T7700, 1.4GHz L7300 and 1.6GHz L7500 — with the latter two being low-voltage versions. As seen on many of the models announced today, or leaked in the recent weeks, the new Intel 965 Express Chipset includes more than the FSB goodies, with support for the new DirectX 10 and Vista-friendly Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics and the Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN 802.11n chip. That’s the gist of the consumer-oriented Centrino Duo, while the Centrino Pro adds in a Gigabit Network Connection that supports remote wake-up over WiFi. Unfortunately, while the processors and front-side bus are all ready to go, laptop memory is still stuck at 667MHz, and Intel hasn’t made it clear whether the Santa Rosa platforms will be able to handle the 800MHz memory due to launch later this year.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

Just a day after seeing the Amilo Pi2515, a few FCC sleuths have discovered that a different pair of Fujitsu machines are waiting for release here in the US. Looking to add to new options to the LifeBook lineup, the E8410/8490 should tout a 15.4-inch WUXGA or WSXGA display, Intel’s 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo T7700 processor, and a WM3945ABG Mini-PCI WLAN module that completely shuns 802.11n. The LifeBook A6030 looks to posses the same CPU as its more expensive sibling, but chops the resolution on its 15.4-inch screen down to WXGA. Unfortunately, that’s all the dirt that the existing documentation was able to spill on these up and coming lappies, but after this paperwork get ironed out, it shouldn’t be too long before it happily joins the ever-growing Santa Rosa population here in America.

[Via PCJoint]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

The folks over at PC Perspective finally got their hands on the Asus G2 gaming lappy we first saw all the way back in October, and while it’s got a couple trick features, it’s also hot, heavy, and held back by a midrange GPU. Based on the massive Asus A7J, the G2 bumps the processor to a 2GHz Intel T7200 Core 2 Duo and the GPU to a 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1700, repackaging the whole deal in a slick metal case with an integrated OLED screen (no SideShow though, bummer), 1.3 megapixel webcam, and side-mounted red LED strips that throb with DirectX activity. Flossing all that gamer style doesn’t get you anywhere if you can’t run with the big boys, though, and that’s where PC Perspective found that that X1700 just wasn’t always up to the task, slowing down considerably during some of their tests. But despite this and some other potential dealbreakers (like being the heaviest 17-inch laptop PC Perspective has ever tested and requiring near-total disassembly to upgrade the RAM) the G2 left a favorable impression, offering competent, if not great, performance with more than a dash of style for $1900. Peep the read link for the full review.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

The Panasonic laptop division is in high gear this week, first recalling some 6,000 batteries in Japan, and now revving its ultraportable line with dual-core 64-bit capable 1.06MHz U7500 Core 2 Duos across the board. The $2,109 W5a features a 12-inch screen, a gig of RAM, an 80GB HD, and that snazzy top-loading DVD writer, while the $1,898 T5a drops the optical drive in favor of longer battery life (13 hours vs. 10 for the W5a). If that’s sounding good to you but for some reason you also need to drop your laptop up to 30 inches into a puddle, Panny’s got you covered with the 2.1-pound R6a, a $1,772 10.4-inch machine with a 7.5 hour battery. All three machines are expected to drop in Japan on May 18th.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

Considering that Zepto isn’t exactly “the name” in full-blown gaming laptops, we certainly hope this one won’t turn out like ones prior, but the Znote 6625WD purportedly packs a plethora of lavish innards if it proves legitimate. The 15.4-inch machine is based around Intel’s Santa Rosa, er, Centrino Pro platform, and sports a WSXGA resolution, Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, Bluetooth 2.0, NVIDIA’s 512MB GeForce Go 8600 graphics card, DirectX 10 support, an optional HD DVD writer, 802.11a/b/g/n, HSDPA compatibility, and to top things off, an HDMI output. The company will supposedly be taking customized orders in May to satisfy your wildest dreams, and while the bottom-end of the bunch could land at around “$1,100 to $1,200,” we imagine that some of the aforementioned luxuries will ratchet that right on up.

[Via Laptopical]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

Clevo, original source for many hundreds of OEM laptops, has just announced a model that’s sure to be a hit among the rebadging crowd, as it offers a pretty compelling feature set in a sub-four-pound package. Besides being the first notebook to sport SiS’ new SiSM671 “high performance” Northbridge chipset, the 12.1-inch M721S/M720S also offers a choice of Core 2 Duo processors, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, and sweetest of all, a built in 3G modem for UMTS / HSDPA action. Price and release remain a mystery (still no mention of this one on the Clevo site), but even if you miss it the first time around, you can rest assured that it will show up in countless other branded iterations.

[Via Laptop Logic]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Desktops

So, 45nm sounds hip-cool and all, but what does that mean for performance? Intel’s coming forward with some Penryn numbers — with the help of Reg Hardware looking over its shoulder to make sure the tests are legit — and it seems we’re in for a decent speed bump, but not necessarily a revolution. Dual core and quad core 3.33GHz Penryns, each with a 1333MHz frontside bus, were pitted against the current desktop-leading 2.93GHz Core 2 Extreme QX6800 on a 1066MHz bus. Tests were run on top of a well decked test system, running Vista Ultimate. Naturally, the quad core Penryn took the top spot in all the tests, with varying margins depending upon which app was used — no surprises there. The dual-core Penryn took third behind the spendy QX6800 for the most part, other than the single-threaded Half-Life 2 and the SSE 4-capable DivX test, which capitalized upon the media-friendly instructions Intel is adding to its new processors. Looks like we’ll be seeing much more from these processors as more SSE 4 apps hit the market, but for now you shouldn’t be feeling too bad about buying a QX6800 — it’s not obsolete by a long shot.

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!