Wednesday, January 6, 2010

SONY VAIO


Sony has updated its Vaio P line of netbooks. The new models will have Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 7 Professional as against the previous models which had Windows Vista. Sony has also upgraded the hardware. The new specifications aren’t totally new. Many of them were already available on Japanese models.

The upgraded models will run on Intel Atom Z5xx series processors clocking at up to 2GHz. They will also have up to 256GB of solid state flash storage. All models in the series have 8 inch display with 1600 x 768 pixels.

The processor is still an Atom Z5xx series processor, and it seems, Sony has no intention of upgrading it to the better N2xx series processor. The integrated GMA 500 graphics delivered reasonable performance during some demo sessions, but don’t expect it to handle high end games.

The biggest problem with the Sony Vaio P – its price – however remains unsolved. Even the cheapest models with a 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 CPU, 2GB of RAM, and an 80GBhard drive still cost around $849.99.

HP MINI 311


HP Mini 311 is now available subsidized from US wireless carrier Verizon. Sign up for a 2 year wireless broadband plan and you will be able to buy the netbook for $199. Of course you have to spend $60/month for the broadband service.

HP Mini 311 is famous for being the first netbook to have NVIDIA ION graphics. Like the regular HP Mini 311, the Verizon model too has an 11.6 inch display with 1366 x 768 pixels resolution. It is powered by an Intel Atom processor with NVIDIA ION Light Edition graphics. The Verizon model has 2GB of RAM and built-in 3G module. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium. The XP model comes with 1GB of RAM.

Design
In many aspects, the Mini 311 looks similar to HP’s larger notebooks. The lid is available in both black and white and bears HP’s Swirl pattern. The Mini 311 is almost the same size as the MSI Wind U210 and Acer Aspire 1410. The notebook measures around 3.2 pounds.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The HP Mini 311 comes with slightly intended square silver keys. The keys are comfortable to type on and you will be able to reach your normal tying speed almost immediately. The touchpad buttons are a bit stiff. The touchpad surface also shows some friction.

Ports and Slots
The HP Mini 311 has the regular array of ports. There are 3 USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, VGA, headphone/mic and 5-in-1 memory card reader. There is also an HDMI port for transferring video to an external monitor.

HP MINI 210 MORE DETAILS EMERGE


More details regarding the HP Mini 210 have emerged. We have been hearing about this little computer for a while. And now online retailer eCost has created some product pages for the laptop.

The promotional shots of the computer indicate that the lid will be less glossy than the HP Mini 110 lid. The touchpad, it seems, has been completely redesigned. The touchpad buttons are now integrated into the bottom of the touch area to save space.
Each model in the series will have a 1.66Ghz Intel Atom N450 processor, Intel GMA 3150 graphics and a 10.1 inch flush glass display. Other specifications include 1GB of RAM, 802.11b/g/n WiFi and 160GB/250GB hard drives. The machines will ship with Windows 7 Starter Edition.

Pricing and Availability
The laptops will be available in silver, red, blue and black. The base version may start at $321.99. No word on a release date.

HP

HP dm3THP is a recognized brand in computer technology; thus, the release of an all-new HP dm3T opens up a lot of useful functionalities and portability for students and other consumers who want comfort without sacrificing quality of the laptop's performance. If you are currently shopping for the best laptop to buy, then you should include this one on your list and might even end up as your choice too.

Features

One distinction that HP has over other laptop manufacturers is that they believe in the importance of looks and design as one of the major buying factors that consumers use. Since it is one of the first few things they see, it initially impacts the kind of impression they have about a laptop. If they don't like the physical build or design, they would not even consider checking out its technical features andspecifications . This is a strong point being addressed by developers with HP dm3T such that they have equipped it with an attractive design and finish.

The 13.2-inch screen looks very modern and sleek, thus ideal for students and professionals alike. And more impressive is that it comes with 1366x768 WGA screen resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio, thus it is HD format friendly for quality LCD TV experience. Moreover, this is a backlit screen variety so you can enjoy vivid and bright colors.

Weighing only approximately 4 lbs, HP dm3T offers no burden to the user in terms of carrying it with you wherever you maybe. And yet, you can avail of that for a comparatively affordable price tag of only $599.99. The overall construction and the keyboard area all emit efficiency and convenience too. The keyboard comes in a chiclet style, but it is very reliable when you are embarking on a typing job and intuitively assigned their spots for convenient typing. It is not equipped with fancy buttons and flashy lights, just clean look on the top.

The case for HP dm3T is also very rigid, such that it won't flex even if you grab at it using only one hand. The keyboard and ports area are also made out of silver colored plastic molding and the overall construction certainly does not look cheap at all. There are also lots of port selections for HP dm3T and is ideal for the busy individual so you can perform multi-tasking. There are up to 4 USB ports, 1 microphone-in port, 1 headphone out port, HDMI, VGA, Ethernet LAN, and a 5-in-1 card reader.

As for the technical performance, HP dm3T runs on a 1.3HGz Core 2 Duo processor, which is good enough for productivity applications like checking or sending e-mail, running office applications, web surfing, and other vital functions at an efficient speed rate. However, this is not something for the serious gamer though, but that does not take anything away from this media powerhouse.

Final Thoughts

If you only have a limited budget to spend, HP dm3T is a good option for you such that it is a powerhouse laptop despite being quite affordable. And yet, it has certain features that top even more expensive models in the market.

MORE HP LAPTOPS LEAKED


Close on the heels of HP uploading support documents for the Mini 210, more HP mini-laptops have been leaked. These machines are not yet available for purchase, but looks like they are definitely in the pipeline.

The new models include HP Mini 210HD and Compaq Mini CQ10.

The HP Mini 210HD has the same specifications as the Mini 210. It is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor and GMA 3150 graphics. But unlike the regular Mini 210, this netbook is capable of handling HD video including 1080p, thanks to the Broadcom Crystal HD video accelerator. It is expected to retail for about $329.99.

The Compaq Mini CQ10 is a low-end model starting at just $259.99. It is also powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor and GMA 3150 graphics. Other specifications include up to 250 GB of RAM and 10.1 inch display with 1024 x 600 pixels. Both 3 cell and 6 sell batteries are available. The netbook will support WiFi 802.11b/g.

DELL TO OFFER LAPTOPS IN NAIL POLISH COLORS


Dell has always been fond of making its laptops colorful. Now the PC maker is taking that fondness to yet another level. Dell has teamed up with nail polish experts OPI with the objective of creating 26 new color choices for its laptops. Users are allowed to choose the new colors when they customize the notebook in the Dell Design Studio. The new colors will be available on Dell’s Studio, Inspiron and Inspiron Mini line of notebooks.

Of the 26 colors 6 will be holiday themed. So is this a smart move by Dell? Well, the new nail polish colors will not improve the functionality of your computers, but they will certainly help you personalize your machines and make them look different from the numerous notebooks out there.

ASUS UL20A NOTEBOOK REVIEW


With its 12.1 inch display, the Asus UL20A isn’t much different from a typical netbook, but the machine offers the functionality of a full sized notebook.

The UL20A is thin and light. It also gets good battery life when compared to many laptops larger in size. Performance is snappy. There are no discrete GPUs, but the machine is still capable of decoding HD movies. And the larger display features a higher resolution than that is found in laptops of similar size.

The UL20A is the cheapest laptop in the Asus UL line of notebooks. It is also the smallest. Unlike the 13 inch UL30A, the UL20A doesn’t have Bluetooth or HDMI. On the plus side this machine is cheaper than its bigger sibling by almost $200.


UL20A specifications:
Processor: Dual-core 1.3GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor
Graphics: integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD
Memory: 2GB of RAM
Storage: 250GB hard drive
Display: 12.1 inch display with 1366 x 768 pixels
Other notable features include WiFi 802.11b/g/n

Performance
The UL20A is powered by a dual-core CULV processor. CULV processors are known for being power efficient. They also deliver better performance than the Intel Atom processors found in most netbooks. Performance is snappy. Boot times are good, and applications load almost instantly. The UL20A has enough power inside its chassis to be your primary PC. There are no discrete graphics cards, so you can’t play high-end games on this PC.

Conclusion
The UL20A is worth considering if you are looking for an ultraportable laptop priced in the upper range of a typical netbook. The notebook is now available from Amazon for $581. And there is currently a promotion wherein buyers will get Amazon gift certificates worth $75 with the purchase of UL20A.