Hardware

This notebook, also known as model NP540U3C-A01US, is not the thinnest beast on the block, nor is it the lightest. But it’s no monster, either. Instead what you’re getting is a 12.4 x 8.6 x 0.6-inch notebook made from a mix of aluminum and plastic parts, certainly sturdy enough – and aesthetically pleasing enough on the outside – to be your daily driver in a public place. As an Ultrabook such as this will likely be used by you for doing work first and foremost, it’s important to take a peek at the keyboard right out of the box.

What you’ve got here is a top-class keyboard that’s not unlike what we’ve seen from the generation of Samsung notebooks that’ve come out over the past year. If you’re used to working with a MacBook, not a PC, you’ll still feel rather at home with this layout and pressure sensitivity. The keyboard features a real no-nonsense set of keys as well, so no worries pecking away at the bits you’re not wanting to hit.

The display is certainly nice looking, and if you’re not used to the ultra-high-definition eye-shattering screens that are also out there on the market today, you’ll have a great time with the 1366 x 768 resolution here with LED HD technology and 10-finger touch. That means that if you’ve got an app that needs every single one of your fingers at once, you’ll be able to do it here. Covering this display you’ve got Corning Gorilla Glass – resistant against scratches and damage like a pro. This display is also 300 nits bright, working with SuperBright Technology so you know you’re backed up by a brand that means business.

Inside you’ll be working with 8GB of system memory, a hard drive of 128GB (SSD), and a find little web camera peeking up at you above the screen. You’ve also got Intel HD Graphics 4000, perfectly generous for your everyday movie watching, and you’ll be connecting to the web either wirelessly with Intel WiDi and Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235 802.11 a/b/g/n or wired with this machine’s built-in ethernet port.

Next to your ethernet port (which pops open or closes down for a more compact experience, mind you), you’ll see one USB 3.0 port, HDMI out, and your very own headphone/microphone jack. Lucky you! On the right you’ve got another two USB 2.0 ports and a multi-card reader (SD/SDHC/SDXC). Altogether you’ve got a really solid package, certainly one you can bring home to mother.

Hands-on

This device is only surprisingly heavy because I’m so very used to handling computers now that are lighter than they have any business being. When you’re working with Ultrabooks and MacBook Airs and the like every single day of the week, having one like this UltraTouch will seem like a slight change. But as it is with most notebooks and such, the weight and the shape of this machine feels natural rather quickly.

The location of each of the ports feels quite natural, and though it does still feel a bit odd to be pulling open the ethernet port on the left hand side whenever it’s needed, it’s not been a burdon in any way. Toss this and the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and the GALAXY S 4 in your pockets and backpack and you’re set!

Software

Samsung is particularly proud of its collection of apps made specifically for Windows 8, including such winners as Quick Starter. With Quick Starter, you’re able to grab your own toolbar and start button (otherwise willfully yanked from your life by Windows 8) so you’ll have a more familiar user interface if you’ve never used Windows 8 before. You’ll also have all kinds of awesome AllShare Play action going on – particularly awesome if you’re a Samsung Galaxy S III or GALAXY S 4 or Galaxy Note user.

With AllShare Play you’ll be connecting with your mobile devices with ease, sharing your media from device to device in a personal mobile network instantly. This interface also works with Samsung Smart TVs and tablets as well as smartphones.

Above and you’ll also find some read-outs we’ve taken of the notebook. You’ll see some additional details about what this Ultrabook is packing as well as some benchmark results from our standard test: Geekbench. Feel free to head back to our archive of reviewed devices to compare and contrast as well!

Battery Time

Off the wall connection we’ve found the Samsung Series 5 UltraTouch to be getting a little over 5 hours of battery life. That’s without streaming video – if you’re going to be doing heavy processing tasks, this may not be the workhorse for you. Instead you’ll find this device best for daily work on-the-go without demanding a full 8-hour workday spread without power.

That said, battery life on this device isn’t all that different from the rest of the Ultrabooks out there right now. You’ll find a machine like the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 working with essentially the same amount of battery time where the newest era of MacBook Air units are some of the only mobile notebooks we’ve worked with that last longer in the field. Choose wisely!

Wrap-up

With the Samsung Series 5 UltraTouch you’ve got an Ultrabook that’s ready to be your best buddy in college, your friendly office companion, or your coffee shop cohort. While the Samsung notebook line doesn’t hold quite the “cool” factor their smartphones and tablets have earned over the past few years, they still connect in more ways than any other machine – particularly if you want to work with the oddity that is AllShare.

The model we’ve reviewed here will cost you a cool $859.99 USD and is available everywhere fine Ultrabooks are sold. We’d recommend, as always, heading out to your local notebook dealer to see how this unit feels before picking one up for yourself. Samsung has made a fabulous notebook here, and you’re going to want to take it out for a test drive before you make the big jump.

Hardware and Design

You could easily mistake the Surface Pro for the ARM-based Surface at first glance, given how aesthetically similar each tablet is. Look a little closer, though, and the key differences become apparent. Microsoft has used the same VaporMg treated magnesium alloy for the casing, and it still feels great in the hand: smooth and easy to hold, but still sturdy and scratch-resistant.

Surface Pro is a little bigger than the original Surface: at 10.81 x 6.81 x 0.53 inches, it’s slightly taller and noticeably thicker, a side-effect of accommodating PC-class components and a bigger capacity battery. That makes it heavier, too, a smudge under 2lbs versus the 1.5lbs of Surface. It’s still comfortable to hold, but for single-handed use we found ourselves cradling the slate in the crook of our arm, rather than gripping it by the bezel as we might do with an iPad. The fact that Windows still prefers landscape to portrait orientation emphasizes that too.

Microsoft’s approach to cooling is an interesting one. Rather than a patch of obvious grills for ventilation, there’s a slot that runs all the way around the edge of the Surface Pro, and from which warm air is pushed out while cool air is pulled in. Two fans, rather than one, have been used to dynamically adjust the airflow depending on what’s hottest and how you’re holding the tablet. Altogether, the design makes it difficult to figure out where, exactly, the tablet is venting from; plus, it helps mask the noise of the fans. In regular use, the Surface Pro is near silent, in fact.

On the back, there’s a kickstand to prop the Surface Pro up on your desk. It actually snaps out to a slightly different angle – a little further reclined – than the stand on the Surface RT, though whether you’ll notice the difference in day-to-day use is questionable. More interestingly, there’s a change in the selection of ports Microsoft spreads around the slate: you now get a full-sized USB 3.0, rather than USB 2.0, as well as a Mini DisplayPort instead of the Surface RT’s HD video output. Otherwise, there’s still a headphone jack and a microSDXC card slot, along with a magnetic cover port for attaching the same Touch Cover or Type Cover keyboard accessories as we’ve seen before.

Specifications

Where the Surface RT ran its pared-back Windows on NVIDIA’s Tegra 3, the Surface Pro has far more familiar fare inside. An Intel Core i5 3rd-gen processor is the tablet’s beating heart, with Intel HD Graphics 4000 driving the 10.6-inch display (more on which later). Memory is doubled, to 4GB, while two storage versions are offered: 64GB and 128GB.

Here, though, is the first of the issues the Surface Pro runs into. Windows is a notorious drive hog, and when coupled with the default applications and the mandatory recovery partition – provided in-lieu of recovery discs or, as Apple includes with its recent driveless notebooks, a USB stick with the OS – there’s a surprisingly small amount of space left for users themselves. On the 64GB version, in fact, only around 23GB of space is actually available, while the 128GB model does a little better with 83GB free.

Microsoft points out that owners wanting more capacity can throw in a memory card – a 64GB microSDXC can be had for around sixty bucks – but it’s still likely to be a surprise for those expecting closer to the number printed on the box. There’s also cloud storage, such as Microsoft’s own SkyDrive, which could help fill in the gaps, though without an integrated cellular modem you’d need to be within range of a WiFi network in order to actually access it. It’s possible to create your own bootable USB drive, and then delete the recovery partition manually, but we can’t help wishing Microsoft had done this for us.

In addition to the USB 3.0 port, the Surface Pro has WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. Inside, there’s an ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, and a digital compass, though no hardware GPS. Microsoft has found space for stereo speakers, as per the Surface RT, but only a single microphone against the RT version’s dual mic array. The pair of 720p HD cameras – one on the front, one on the back – remain.

Pen and Display

Microsoft had high hopes for its ClearType-blessed display on the original Surface, but we found the 1366 x 768 resolution to be underwhelming in comparison to better-than-HD panels on the iPad and Nexus 10. Happily, the Surface Pro brings with it a far better screen: still 10.6-inches and 16:9 widescreen, but running at 1920 x 1080 Full HD.

The difference is vast. Where once we had slightly fuzzy text, everything is now crisp. Viewing angles seem better too, and we’re impressed by the richness of the colors. It might not be the Retina-level resolution of the latest iPad, but it’s far more in keeping with what, at upwards of $899, is most definitely a premium tablet.

The Surface Pro’s talents don’t end at a great display, though. In addition to 10-finger multitouch – double what the Surface RT can recognize – there’s also pen support. Not the fake-finger capacitive styli offered for the iPad and other tablets, but a special pen that works with an active digitizer embedded in the screen.

Usually, the pen clings to the right side of the tablet, magnetically attached. It’s a firm grip – Microsoft says it purposefully increased the magnet strength from what holds the keyboard on – and should keep it in place even if you drop the whole thing into your bag. As the nib gets within a few millimeters of the display, the usual capacitive touch is shut off and everything is controlled via the pen instead: you can wave it above the surface of the screen to move the mouse pointer, and then tap to mimic a left mouse click. A button on the side does right mouse click duty.

On the opposite end to the nib is an “eraser” which, as long as the app recognizes it, allows you to rub out mistakes. Just as you’d expect, there’s palm-rejection that means you can lean your hand on the screen and not have it skew your digital ink. The pen is battery-free, too, getting its power from the digitizer layer in the Surface Pro itself.

Microsoft obviously intends for the pen to play a big role in the Surface Pro experience: it’s included as standard in the box, whereas the Touch Cover and Type Cover are both optional extras. Windows tablets aren’t exactly unfamiliar with stylus control, but in the early years of the iPad modern tablet use got associated with finger control, and the technology fell from favor. Since then Samsung has restarted interest in what can be done with a digital pen, with the Galaxy Note series, and the Surface Pro can wear its stylus with pride.

Windows 8

Special screen and VaporMg chassis aside, the Surface Pro is basically just another Windows PC. We’ve already comprehensively reviewed Windows 8, though it’s worth noting that the tile-based UI makes far more sense when you’re swiping and tapping through it with your fingers than it does when navigated using a mouse.

As you’d hope from a Core i5 processor and 4GB of memory, there are no noticeable slow-downs and the Surface Pro handled any app we threw at it. Capacity concerns aside, Microsoft’s use of flash storage also lends a welcome boost to software load times, while multitasking is instantaneous, flipping between apps without delay.

Slot on a Touch Cover or Type Cover, meanwhile – the same accessories for the Surface RT will work with the Pro – and you’ve got a workable ultrabook alternative. We still prefer the Type Cover for anything more than the basics of text-entry, mind; the zero-profile keys of the Touch Cover, while an improvement over on-screen typing, nonetheless lack the responsiveness that makes extended use comfortable.

An alternative to both is using the Surface as the hub of a desktop setup, something that’s easy to achieve if you opt for a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. The Surface Pro is more than capable of powering a large display over Mini DisplayPort, leaving the USB 3.0 port free for hooking up an external drive or other peripherals. Since this is full-fat Windows, there’s no making sure that your accessory of choice is on Microsoft’s “approved” list, as is the case with Windows RT.

When the Surface Pro really comes into its own is when the pen gets involved. Frustratingly, Microsoft hasn’t really done everything it can to demonstrate what benefits a stylus brings: the obvious showcase app would be OneNote, which was offering Evernote-style digital notetaking functionality long before Evernote sprouted in the cloud, but Surface Pro buyers will need to cough up $69.99 for a copy (or get it as part of Office 2013 or an Office 365 subscription).

It’s worth it, though, as is trying out a digital art app, such as the copies of Autodesk SketchBook Express Microsoft and Fresh Paint Microsoft had loaded onto our review device. The Wacom stylus can differentiate between 1024 different levels of pressure, automatically adjusting the thickness of the on-screen ink depending on how hard you press, for instance, and it’s a far more user-friendly way to sketch out ideas (even if your art skills fall short). Surface Pro also supports being turned into a graphics tablet of sorts: hook up an external display and you can tell Windows 8 to map your pen movements on the tablet to the external screen by default, mimicking a standalone Wacom tablet.

More patchy are plain Windows apps, which lack distinct touchscreen support and, as a result, can be a little more difficult to control with your fingers. Browsers are a good example: Microsoft’s own Internet Explorer gives the best touch experience, while others – Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc. – generally expect you to be using a mouse, and hence navigate by using the scroll bars on the side of the screen rather than flicking and pinch-zooming. In the traditional Windows desktop you can optionally enlarge the scroll bars to give yourself a bigger target, but it still lacks the immediacy of, say, the iPad’s Safari browser.

Where the Surface Pro’s internet experience does pull ahead is in speed. We expected strong browser performance from the grown-up processor and full OS, and sure enough the SunSpider results – the test of JavaScript performance, where faster results are better – delivered. In IE, the test was complete in 144ms, while Safari and Chrome took a little longer, at over 240ms apiece. Contrast all three results, though, with the 4th-gen iPad with Retina display, which took 879ms to complete the same test.

The Surface Pro’s integrated graphics – rather than a discrete GPU – preclude any serious gaming or video editing, unfortunately. Still, we were able to load up Photoshop and complete some of the more day-to-day tasks without the tablet stumbling to a halt.

It’s in day-to-day use that the Surface Pro arguably shows its full hand. The combination of the kickstand and the broad display viewing angles meant the tablet generally followed us around the home, stood up on whatever surface was nearby. The kitchen counter was a particular favorite, at which point the Windows 8 Live Tiles showed their merit. Surface Pro sits quietly updating, flagging up new messages and the like; however, it’s also a great at what we’d call “natural discovery,” where content you might have forgotten about or overlooked is brought to the fore.

A good example of that is the photo integration. Windows 8′s abilities to bring online galleries through to the Live Tiles and cycle through photos meant we rediscovered whole folders-worth of images, including those shared by friends. It’s an engaging way to interact with the Surface Pro, and helped by the fact that software in the Metro-style interface co-exists neatly with what’s running on the traditional desktop. So, we could have the full Spotify app playing music in the background, while using the more finger-friendly UI to browse the web and flick through galleries.

Battery

To say Microsoft is shy on making battery life predictions is an understatement: beyond the confirmation that it’s a 42Wh pack inside the Surface Pro – up from the 31.5Wh of the Surface RT – there’s little indication of what sort of runtime owners might expect. Still, with specifications akin to a mainstream ultrabook, it comes as little surprise that the Surface Pro manages roughly ultrabook-length longevity.

In a test with the display permanently on, and playing streaming media constantly, the Surface Pro lasted for between 4.5 and 5 hours. In a slightly more mixed test, with a combination of web browsing while listening to Spotify, as well as streaming via Netflix and YouTube, that rose to six hours.

Both of those scenarios are probably some of the biggest battery challenges the Surface Pro might be expected to take on. More typical daily use, then, could see the tablet run for a few hours more, especially if you’re predominantly web browsing, emailing, and using art apps.

Wrap-up

With a new 128GB iPad with Retina display on the scene, it’s easy to make comparisons between Apple’s tablet and the Surface Pro. In practice, however, they’re very different beasts. The iPad is focused resolutely on the mass market, and if you want one you have to be willing to concede to Apple’s Way: their decision about what apps are worthy of the App Store, their decision about what accessories can be used, their decision about what, exactly, you can do with the tablet you just spent more than a few hundred dollars on. In contrast, the Surface Pro is a paragon of freedom. If you have unusual requests of it, you can probably find the software and/or hardware to achieve them. It is, after all, a touchscreen ultrabook wearing a different costume.

If you actually need a full Windows PC that you can strum with your fingers is the question. Not being limited to pared-down versions of apps is a big bonus if there’s particular software you need access to; however, that flexibility comes with its fair share of compromises, such as the limitations on battery life compared to ARM-based slates, the increase in bulk, and the higher price.

The Surface Pro is slickly designed, its digital pen a joy to use – if you have the need of it – and it comes without the software niggles that dampened our enthusiasm about the Surface RT last year. Think of it as a touchscreen notebook with an optional keyboard and it makes the most sense. That may be semantics, but it also means the Surface Pro is more likely to cannibalize ultrabook sales than eat into Apple’s iPad market. Whether that’s the market Microsoft was aiming for, we’re not sure, but the Surface Pro makes considerable sense for the prosumer.

The teams call those stacks “PaperTabs” and the eponymous slate can show several of them, on-screen, at the same time. That streamlines workflow, so for instance you can easily attach a photo to an email by previewing them at the same time and simply tapping them.

However, there’s also support for less traditional methods of control. For instance, flex-sensors allow for an email to be sent if the top corner of the screen is bent; you could also trigger a send by dropping the PaperTab into your outbox tray on your desk.

Multiple PaperTab units can be placed side-by-side, with the on-screen interface automatically extending to take advantage of the extra real-state, while the UI can be stretched out with simple gestures. There’s also interpretation of physical distance: for instance, when the PaperTab is out of reach, the interface switches to an icon mode to show what’s happening across all apps.

As you might have guessed, PaperTab is just a prototype right now, though Intel, Plastic Logic, and the Queen’s University team say the technology is all functional. Exactly what sort of battery life you could expect from a commercial product based on the hardware, and what kind of price you’d be looking at, is unclear; we’ll find out more at CES 2013 this week.

Inside, there’s a choice of up to 1TB of HDD storage or a 256GB SSD. Intel’s HD Graphics 4000 keep your display going – via an HDMI output, among other things – plus there’s wireless connectivity in the shape of WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0.

There’ll also be a Mac mini Server version, with a 2.3GHz Intel quadcore Core i7 processor instead. It’s paired with 4GB of RAM and twin 1TB hard-drives. Up to 16GB of RAM can be specified.

The Mac mini Server will be priced from $999. It’s up for sale from today. Keep up with all of Apple’s news today at our Apple Hub.

There’s also WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth, a 1-megapixel front-facing camera, and a 5-megapixel main camera good for 1080p HD on the back. USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt is also onboard, and Acer will throw in an HDMI-to-VGA adapter if you’re not quite up to speed with the latest display connectivity. Storage is either a 64GB or 128GB SSD.

However, it’s the cradle which is perhaps most eye-catching, Acer’s asymmetrical design making slotting the W700 in straightforward, and opening up plenty of extra ports. It’ll also recharge the battery, which Acer says is good for eight hours of runtime.

Pricing will begin at $799.99 for the Core i3 model, rising to $999.99. More on the Acer Iconia W700 in our full hands-on.

Supporting the discrete grey casing there’s a multi-adjusting desk stand that can be pushed back for regular sitting work, or then pulled up higher so that those standing can use it more comfortably. Dell actually launched the XPS One 27 back in May originally, but the touchscreen interface makes much more sense now that it runs Windows 8.

Inside there’s a choice of Core i5 or i7 processors, along with optional NVIDIA discrete graphics to augment the standard Intel HD 4000 GPU. There’s up to 16GB of RAM, up to 2TB of storage, and an optional mSATA flash drive for speedier app loading. Connectivity includes both HDMI input and output, together with gigabit ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0 and USB 3.0.

No word on pricing at this stage, though we’re guessing the updated XPS One 27 will start at around the $1,399 point just as its Windows 7 predecessor did.

The Precision M6700 uses its extra bulk to accommodate an optional AMD FirePro M6000 with PCIe x16 Gen 3 for even more graphical crunching abilities, while the special Covet Edition optionally adds in a Phoenix Red casing and edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass 2. Both models get the option of NVIDIA Optimus graphics, and RAID 0/1/5 storage with up to 1.8TB of total capacity (spread across three bays) in the M4700 and up to 2.8TB (spread across four bays) in the M6700.

Up to 32GB of 1600MHz DDR3 memory or 16GB of 1866MHz memory can be specified, as well as up to 512GB of SSD storage. Ports include two USB 3.0, two USB 2.0 and one eSATA / USB combo, along with VGA, HDMI and DisplayPort 1.2. There’s also power for up to three simultaneous displays when undocked, or five when docked in a Latitude E-family station.

Screen options include a choice of WLED and IPS RBG LED displays, including some with more than 100 percent Adobe color gamut. The M6700 will also be offered with optional 10+ finger multitouch, though that SKU won’t arrive until a few months time. NVIDIA 3D Vision Pro can be specified for the M6700 as well.

The magnesium alloy and aluminum chassis meet MIL-STD 810G standards, and can be paired with an optional slice-battery for extended runtimes.

The Dell Precision M4700 is priced from $1,649, while the company is asking from $2,199 for the M6700 and from $3,579 for the M6700 Covet. Orders are being taken from today.

The PC comes with a Core i5 processor by default, but there’s options for Core i3 and Core i7 chips as well. 4GB of RAM comes as standard, as does a 500GB HDD. The integrated HD 4000 GPU will handle high-definition video with ease via the HDMI output, and there’s a VGA output as well. The company has thrown in a remote control for good measure, and you can boot the PC using the remote too.

Ports for the PC include 4x USB 2.0, and a single USB 3.0 jack. In addition, there’s gigabit Ethernet, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth, and a multi format card reader. Still, you’ll be paying a little more for the extra horsepower, with the default build costing around $520. Giada hasn’t said exactly when the i53 will be shipping, but you should be able to pick it up from Amazon or Newegg in the not too distant future.

The design of the PC otherwise remains unchanged. The 23-inch display has a 1920×1080 resolution and is capable of 250 nits of brightness. It’s also touch enabled, which will come in handy when Windows 8 drops later this year. The Series 7 adds JBL speakers for improved sound, and features a DVD drive, HDMI input so that it can double as a television, and its own HDTV tuner.

This refreshed version looks to be a Korean only model for now, with the PC costing 1,740,000 WON (~$1,529). You’ll just have to sit tight for now and hope Samsung brings the new version to the United States.

Storage is either HDD (up to 500GB) or SSD (up to 256GB), paired with low-voltage RAM. As for the display, that can be outfitted wiht either a resistive touchscreen layer of a combo resistive/active digitizer panel. It has a transflective LCD for outdoor use without active backlighting, which Panasonic says is the equivalent of a 6,500 nit backlight without actually using any power.

Connectivity includes Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, and an optional HSPA+ modem. Those playing it old-school with their hook-ups will be pleased to know that there’s a serial port and a PC Card slot.

Ruggedization meets MIL-STD 810G for drops, and IP65, MIL STD 810G for water, dust, vibration and temperature protection, thanks to a magnesium alloy casing, HDD damping and heating, and foam packing for flexible seals. If your idea of dangerous use involves lurking unseen in the shrubbery, there’s a “Concealed Mode” that shuts off the backlight, any status LEDs, the speakers and the wireless options.

All this doesn’t come cheap, mind. The Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 goes on sale in July, priced from €2,950 ($3,709).

The Tech Report stopped by Computex to get a little bit more info about the tiny computer. Intel says it has seen a strong demand for the product, and expects internet retailers to offer it when the box launches in the third quarter. It’s expected to cost around $400.

It won’t be competing head-to-head with the Raspberry Pi, then, but the application usage and power behind each platform is completely different. Intel say that multiple configurations of the NUC will be offered, ranging from complete systems to just the motherboard. Up to 17W processors can be dropped into the system, supporting mobile Sandy Bridge chips right now, and that it will come with three USB 2.0 ports, two HDMI outputs, dual so-DIMM slots, mini PCIe, and WiFi/Bluetooth.

If you’re a little disappointed not to see USB 3.0, an updated version with support for the superspeed transfer port will come later that will also add Thunderbolt into the mix. There may also be a cheaper, Celeron-based version in the future, and Intel was demoing an Ivy Bridge variant at Computex, even if it did hit peak temperatures of 79c. Right now, Intel is putting the finishing touches on the case and cooling, something it’s working on with third-party case makers.

The 15-inch Ultrabook will feature the same 400-nit 1600×900 display, but with some upgraded internals. The processor gets a bump to a Core i5 3317U clocked at 1.7Ghz, and you’ll get the improved HD 4000 GPU too. A 128GB SSD will serve up all your content, and 8GB of DDR3 RAM will hopefully mean you can leave all those tabs open for even longer.

Again, there’s word on when you’ll be able to pick the refreshed Series 9 up, or how much it will cost either. The 13-inch versions hit the UK back in February, but the 15-inch has been suspiciously absent, possibly so it can receive the Ivy Bridge bump. The current 13-inch model goes for around £1,199 (~$1,940) at Amazon and John Lewis, so that should give you a rough idea of what to expect when the 15-inch does grace virtual and physical shelves.

[via Engadget]

You’ll have the ability to implement Intel’s new 22nm process in your new custom-made computers from AVADirect at a price that’s not only lower than before, but will have greater performance as well. Here you’ve got Ivy Bridge “K” series processors that’ll have you unlocking multiplayer capabilities as well as a 100Mhz boost for your GPU clock. You’ve got integrated Intel graphics and CPU clock boosts of the same type as well.

Though hyper-threading will continue to be restricted on i7 and i3 processors, here the i5 will be left without hyper-threading at all. For non-k series processors you’ll also have exclusive feature support for VT-d as well as Intel TXT. Along this line you’ll be working with AVADirect Budget, Value, vPro, and Mainstream series desktops that’ll be showing off the i3 as well as the i5 series Ivy Bridge chips.

AVADirect will also be featuring Intel HD 4000 graphics with their custom HTPC configurations and will busting at the seams with DirectX 11 support. You’ll be able to get in on all of the fun at avadirect.com right this second – and don’t forget to pick up a Batman game or two while you’re at it!

Configure your own Ivy Bridge-toting Desktop PC or your own Ivy Bridge-toting Laptop right now!

Thanks to a standard CPU slot and regular heatsink and fan, any Core i3 or Core i5 chip can be dropped in, meaning that as well as outclassing the Raspberry Pi in terms of raw speed – the “$25 computer” runs at 700MHz – it can run any regular x86 software. Intel is apparently positioning it as a digital signage device or the basis of a standalone kiosk, but even with HD 3000 graphics it could still be enough to do HTPC duty.

Pricing hasn’t been confirmed, at least not publicly. Intel told Just Press Start that the NUC will “not be in the hundreds and thousands range” and is considering “different kinds of SKUs”; whether any of those will be targeted at the home market remains to be seen.

Similarly unclear is whether Intel is expecting to slot an Ivy Bridge upgrade into the NUC, though with low-power versions not expected for a little while yet, it’ll probably be at least a few months before that happens. One thing’s for sure, there’s a whole lot of flexibility in this palm-sized box.

[via Extreme Tech]

The EA deal will see Battlefield 3 gamers get custom lighting effects when playing the title on their Alienware notebook. The Dell-owned company offers up an AlienFX API to allow developers to hook gameplay events into the LED backlighting on the logos, keyboard and trackpad; in Battlefield 3, that will include “unique loading and menu and player health lighting effects.” There’s also be an exclusive Alienware Arena dog tag.

Alienware has used mSATA solid-state storage to boost performance without the huge cost of a traditional SSD. Various sizes of flash memory paired with regular hard-drives can be used to speed up Windows 7 boot times and provide quicker access to commonly-used files.

The Alienware M14x, M17x and M18x with 3rd Generation Core i5 and i7 options are available to order from today. They’re priced from $1,099/£999, $1,499/£1,299 and $1,999/£1,699 respectively in the US and UK. Full specs are below.

Alienware M14x
· 2nd and 3rd Generation Intel Core i5 and i7 Processor Options

o Intel Core i5-2450M 2.5GHz (3.1GHz w/Turbo Boost, 3MB Cache) (Standard)

o Intel Core i7-3610QM 2.3GHz (3.3GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)

o Intel Core i7-3720QM 2.6GHz (3.6GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)

o Intel Core i7-3820QM 2.7GHz (3.7GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)

· Powerful NVIDIA Graphics Card Options

o 1GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M using NVIDIA Optimus technologyii (Standard)

o 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M using NVIDIA Optimus technologyii

· 14-inch WLED HD display (1366X768) (Standard) or optional 14-inch WLED HD+ display (1600X900)

· Configure with up to 16GB of DDR3 Memoryii (6GB Standard); 2x 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM SDRAM Slots

· Configure with up to 750GB 7200RPM driveiii (500GB standard) or up to 512GB Solid State Driveiii

o RAID 1 and 0, and Dual Drive options available

o mSATA Boot and Caching Drive Options available

· Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate available

· 1.3MP HD Camera with dual digital microphones

· Slot-Loading DVD drive (Standard) or optional Blu-ray Disc Reader

· Creative Sound Blaster Recon3Di High-Definition 5.1 Audio with THX TruStudio Pro Software (Standard) or 2.1 Speaker configuration with Subwoofer Audio Powered by Klipsch; 7.1 Digital Audio out using HDMI out connection or S/PDIF Optical port

· Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet NIC and Integrated Wireless-N with Bluetooth 4.0 (standard)

· USB 3.0 (2); USB 2.0; Mini-Display Port; HDMI 1.3 Output; VGA Port; 9-in-1 Media Card Reader; Audio/Microphone In; Audio Out; RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet

Alienware M17x
· 3rd Generation Intel Core i7 Processor Options

o Intel Core i7-3610QM 2.3GHz (3.3GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache) (Standard)

o Intel Core i7-3720QM 2.6GHz (3.6GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)

o Intel Core i7-3820QM 2.7GHz (3.7GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)

· Powerful NVIDIA and AMD Graphics Card Options

o 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GT 660Mii (Standard)

o 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GT 675Mii

o 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 7970Mii

· 17.3″ WideHD+ (1600 x 900 ) WLED LCD (Standard); optional: 17.3″ WideFHD (1920 x 1080) WLED LCD or 17.3″ 120Hz WideFHD (1920 x 1080) WLED LCD w/3D Bundle

· Configure with up to 32GB of DDR3 Memoryii (6GB 1600MHz Standard); 4x 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM SDRAM Slots

· Configure with up to 1TB (2x 500GB) RAID0 7200RPM driveiii (500GB standard) or up to 512GB Solid State Driveiii

o RAID 1 and 0, and Dual Drive options available

o mSATA Boot and Caching Drive Options available

· Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate available

· 2.1MP FullHD Camera with dual digital microphones

· Slot-Loading DVD drive (Standard) or optional Blu-ray Disc Reader

· Creative Sound Blaster Recon3Di High-Definition 5.1 Audio with THX TruStudio Pro Software (Standard) or 2.1 Speaker configuration with Subwoofer Audio Powered by Klipsch; 7.1 Digital Audio out using HDMI out connection or S/PDIF Optical port

· Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet NIC and Integrated Wireless-N with Bluetooth 4.0 (standard)

· USB 3.0 (4); USB 2.0 and eSATA combo port; Auto-sensing jacks for Line-out (3); Microphone In; Mini-Display Port; HDMI 1.3 Output; HDMI 1.3 Input; VGA Port; 9-in-1 Media Card Reader; RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet

Alienware M18x
· 3rd Generation Intel Core i7 Processor Options

o Intel Core i7-3610QM 2.3GHz (3.3GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache) (Standard)

o Intel Core i7-3720QM 2.6GHz (3.6GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)

o Intel Core i7-3820QM 2.7GHz (3.7GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)

o Intel Core i7-3920XM 2.9GHz (3.8GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)

o Intel Core i7-3920XM Overclocked Turbo Boost (8MB Cache)

· Powerful NVIDIA and AMD Graphics Card Options

o 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GT 660Mii (Standard)

o 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GT 675Mii

o Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 7970M – AMD CrossFireXii (coming soon)

o Dual 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M – NVIDIA SLIii

· 18.4 inch WLED WideFHD display (1920 X 1080)

· Configure with up to 32GB of DDR3 Memoryi or 8GB 1866MHz (4GB 1600MHz Standard); 4x 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM SDRAM Slots

· Configure with up to 750GB 7200RPM SATA driveiii (500GB standard)

o RAID 1 and 0, Dual and Triple Drive options available

o mSATA Boot and Caching Drive Options available

· Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate available

· 2.1MP FullHD Camera with dual digital microphones

· Slot-Loading DVD drive (Standard) or optional Blu-ray Disc Reader

· Creative Sound Blaster Recon3Di High-Definition 5.1 Audio with THX TruStudio Pro Software (Standard) or 2.1 Speaker configuration with Subwoofer Audio Powered by Klipsch; 7.1 Digital Audio out using HDMI out connection or S/PDIF Optical port

· Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet NIC and Integrated Wireless-N with Bluetooth 4.0 (standard)

· USB 3.0 (4); USB 2.0 and eSATA combo port; Auto Out Ports (2); Microphone In; Mini-Display Port; HDMI 1.3 Output; HDMI 1.3 Input; VGA Port; 9-in-1 Media Card Reader; RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet; Combo S/PDIF Optical output / Analog Headphone Line Out

The Intel Core i7-3700K has proven so popular that it’s already sold out on Newegg, but still seems to be in stock at other retailers. The top of the line chip currently commands a $349.99 price tag, although Microcenter seem to be applying discounts to the Ivy Bridge chips already. They’re offering the i7-3700K available for $289.99.

In fact, all of the Ivy Bridge range has been discounted by Microcenter. If you’re a bit more modest in your processor requirements, the i5-3450 will set you back $199.99 on Newegg and $204.99 on Amazon, but only $159.99 at Microcenter. You’ll only be able to pick up one item as part of the deal, and although the website shows the reduced prices, the system won’t let you checkout, so it seems to be an in-store deal only.

The new Ivy Bridge range of processors are built using 3D transistors for increased performance and reduced power consumption. Intel has also upgraded the integrated GPU, with the HD 4000 offering up increased frame rates over the HD 3000. Quick Sync also sees an upgrade to 2.0 for even faster video decoding/encoding, and Ivy Bridge motherboards feature native USB 3.0 support.

[via The Verge]

Both Intel Core i5-2467M and Core i7-2657M options are on offer, along with a standard 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD. The display runs at 1366 x 768, and there’s a Mini DisplayPort, single USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 connections, WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 along with a headphone port and microSD card slot.

Mouse Computer reckons users will see up to 5.5hrs of runtime out of the battery, but since the unit is sealed up there’s no replacing it. You also lack a backlit keyboard, unlike the current-gen MacBook Air - with which the LuvBook X is shown back-to-back in the image below – but you do get 985g weight which undercuts the Air by 95g.

Pricing is expected to come in at 89,800 yen ($1,110) when the LuvBook X goes on sale in Japan, for the Core i5 model, though international availability is unlikely to be on the roadmap. Considering Ivy Bridge for ultrabooks is fast approaching, that’s perhaps not necessarily a bad thing; we’ll happily wait for the second-gen version with updated chips for a little extra CPU and GPU grunt.

[via Ultrabook News]

First have a peek at the HP Omni 27, a lovely all-in-one which we’ve had a chance to have a look at in full before: HP Omni 27 Review. This computer may seem like a touch screen-capable beast, but it’s not: it’s mostly just gigantic. Next is ASUS all-in-on effort with the ASUS ET27, another legacy model that’ll be upgraded with Ivy Bridge very soon – and it DOES have a touch panel.

For those of you that like to build your own towers, there are a couple of options being teased thus far, the first of them being the CyberpowerPC team with their lovely bright red lights and simple rectangular beast casings. Then there’s the Maingear team with little to no information other than the ability to choose your own paint colors and lots of cooling methods.

There’s an MSI GT70 gaming laptop that you’ll want to lie your hands on as fast as possible. Pre-configured models there start at $1,500 and go up to $2,500 for the beast models – stock is already low! Lenovo has the most massive touch-panel computer with Ivy Bridge thus far with the Lenovo A720 – play the keyboard in new-age style! Finally check out the rest of Acer’s gear with a double-tower lineup complete with spec-less models and fully tricked-out case stylings.

You’ll also want to check out our official launch post for Intel 3rd Gen Core Ive Bridge Processors, feature on Intel’s new “tick-plus” Ivy Bridge architecture, and of course the info everyone was waiting for: Intel integrated HD Graphics 4000 doubling gaming power. Stay tuned to SlashGear’s main news feed as we’ll be covering Ivy Bridge on its quick and massive overtaking of the PC world – expect it!

3D Tri-Gate is Intel’s system of decreasing die size while simultaneously fitting in more transistors. Rather than the existing 2D layout of flat transistors, Intel festoons the chip with raised fins – hence 3D – onto which the transistors are applied. That allows for three transistors – front, back and top – on each fin, despite minimal footprint.

As well as making better use of space, the 3D Tri-Gate technology actually performs better than previous systems. Despite the increased complexity, though, the increase in price per chip has been only minor, Intel insists: in the ballpark of 2- to 3-percent, in fact.

The Intel HD Graphics 4000 supports Microsoft DirectX 11, OpenGL 3.1 and OpenCL 1.1, along with Intel Quick Sync Video 2.0. The latter, the second-gen iteration of the technology, will allow users to convert their videos up to twice as fast than with Sandy Bridge chips. Systems will also have USB 3.0 support integrated into the Series 7 Platform Controller Hub (PCH), and there’s PCI Express 3.0 integrated into the processor too.

As for security, there’s Intel Secure Key and Intel OS Guard. The former uses a digital random number generator to create “truly random” numbers to strengthen encryption algorithms, while OS Guard helps defend against privilege escalation attacks, such as when a hacker remotely takes over the user’s system.

The first systems based on the Intel 3rd Generation Core processor series will go on sale from today, with firms including Acer, Lenovo, Sony, ASUS and others all expected to jump onboard. Apple, too, is tipped to be readying an Ivy Bridge refresh of its MacBook Pro range. Meanwhile, boxed versions of the chips will also go on sale this month.

Other 3rd-gen chip versions, for ultrabooks and laptops among other products, will arrive later in 2012.

500GB of HDD space is standard, upgradable to a 2TB 7,200rpm drive, and there’s a DVD burner with a Blu-ray burner option. Connectivity includes USB 3.0, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth as standard, along with gigabit ethernet and a memory card reader.

In fact, the only drawback to going the all-in-one route is the graphics; unlike MAINGEAR’s other gaming-centric PCs, the Solo is a little less ambitious in the GPU department. The only option is Intel HD Graphics, certainly enough for the basics but not likely to impress anyone into their gaming.

Still, perhaps the range of case color options – including red, white, green or a custom hue of your choosing – will prove sufficient distraction from that. The MAINGEAR Solo kicks off at $999, but throw a touchscreen, maxed-out Core i7 chip and full RAM at it, and you’re looking at around $1,500. Shipments begin later this month.

This computer’s least costly model is again $1399 and includes a Core i5 processor running at 1.6GHz per core with 4GB of memory and a lovely 128GB of SSD. That’s more space than any normal person could possibly want, yes? You can upgrade to a full Core i7 processor for $200 more if you wish, and if you’re in the mood for more space you can get another whole 128GB for $300 more. Any setup you get at the moment will be set to ship on the 17th of February, 2012, so get em in now!

As for how lovely this device is in person – we’ve got you covered! We had a look at this laptop of true power back at CES 2012 and we’d just love to let you in on some hands-on knowledge. Though this laptop certainly isn’t the thinnest Ultrabook in the world at the moment, it more than makes up for it in odd bits and pieces. Have a look here in our hands-on video or head down to the timeline to get all the information you need!

[via HP]

Alternatively, one of those PCI cards can be used to slot in a separate graphics card, or indeed you could use Sandy Bridge‘s onboard GPU capabilities to drive up to four displays simultaneously. Using an mSATA-SSD, fitted into the Mini-PCIe slot on the mainboard, means the system can take advantage of Intel’s proprietary Smart Response Technology, exclusive to the Z68 desktop chipset, to bolster the performance of the regular hard-drive.

Such drives can be fitted into the XPC SZ68R5′s two 3.5-inch bays (one internal, one external) or into the 5.25-inch bay (which otherwise could be used for an optical drive). Motherboard connectivity includes two SATA 6 Gbit ports, two SATA 3 Gbit ports, two USB 2.0 and an RS232 port, while on the outside there are four USB 3.0, six USB 2.0, an eSATA/USB combo, 7.1-channel analog audio, and S/PDIF digital audio. The standard PSU is a 500W unit, and one of the front USB ports gets 2 Amps for charging power-hungry devices like your iPad.

Shuttle is asking €301 ($397) for the XPC SZ68R5, though that doesn’t include a processor, RAM, any standalone graphics cards, optical or hard-drives, or SSD memory for the Smart Response Technology boost.

The company even finds room to slot in a DVD burner, with a Blu-ray drive as an option. Storage is courtesy of a 1TB 7,200rpm HDD, and there’s room on the Mini-ITX motherboard for up to 8GB of DDR3 memory.

Connectivity includes gigabit ethernet along with WiFi a/b/g/n, six USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, audio in/out, HDMI 1.4, a pair of digital audio ports (optical and coax) and standard analog audio. The dinky desktop is supplied with a 250W PSU as standard, but those keen to overclock the X51 can specify a 330W PSU instead.

Vertical or horizontal positioning is supported, and unlike many SFF chassis there’s the promise of easy access to the guts of the system for upgrades and general tinkering. The traditional Alienware lighting is present too, with customizable zones, and the Alienware Command Center app is preinstalled to handle power management and other performance aspects.

The Alienware X51 is available direct from Dell now, priced from $699. That gets you a Core i3 chip and 4GB of memory.

Graphics are courtesy of whichever Intel Sandy Bridge Core i3, i5 or i7 processor you slot in, so basically HD Graphics 2000 or 3000, and the XH61 can take a CPU with a maximum TDP of 65W. Ports include HDMI, D-Sub, three audio outputs (with 7.1-channel surround sound support), gigabit ethernet, six USB 2.0 (two up-front behind a drop-down panel) and two PS/2 for legacy peripherals.

The box can be positioned upright or flat on your desk, or even screwed into a VESA mount on the back of your display, and while it may look nowhere near as slick as the aluminum Mac mini, there’s plenty of flexibility for turning it into a media center PC or something similar.

The Shuttle XH61 is priced at €146 ($186) though you’ll have to supply your own processor, memory, hard-drive and optical drive on top of that. Drop a Core i7 inside and you might have quite the little slab of potency.

The XPS 13 isn’t Dell’s first ultraportable notebook but, as Tim Peters – CSMB Client Business Strategy and Planning at Dell, pointed out to us, previous models have had more than their share of compromises. “Adamo… beautiful thin, but no substance. Two thousand dollars! We had XPS which we had to crowbar in the technology, very chunky.”

“We looked at XPS and a key trend of consumerization of IT … You had a consumer that wanted aesthetic appeal, premium design, craftsmanship and a lightweight design, and Apple’s MacBook Air came and in really hit that hard. They always wanted the instant-on, accessible data and location-aware of a device like a tablet. Then they also wanted horsepower and substance: I don’t want to compromise on taking a Core i3 only, I want something real to be productive. And, I’d like to be able to use this as my personal device, and the only way an IT manager would allow that to happen is that if it’s data-secure.”

The display is a 13.3-inch 1366 x 768 panel running at 300-nits, and covered in a sheet of edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass, powered by Intel HD 3000 graphics. Above is a 1.3-megapixel webcam and dual-array digital microphone. Connectivity includes WiFi a/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0, a single USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, mini DisplayPort and a headset jack. Unlike some rival ultrabooks, Dell has managed to squeeze in a full-sized backlit keyboard.

“We started our development a year and half ago,” Peters explained, “it’s taken us a lot of time – in fact we’re the last ones to come out with an ultrabook – because we were crafting something a level above in terms of innovation.” Although Dell obviously had other ultrabooks in mind when it designed the XPS 13, Apple’s MacBook Air has obviously also been a consideration. The new Dell’s display actually offers a similar viewing area to that of the 13-inch Air, but in a 15-percent smaller device.

Rather than solely rely on aluminum, like Apple, HP and others, Dell turned to carbon-fiber for the XPS 13′s base. “Carbon-fiber has two functional performance benefits,” the company says, “it dissipates the heat better – it’s cooler on the lap and in the hands – and it’s lighter.” That improvement in heat management has meant Dell can slot in up to Core i7 chips without worrying about overheating. In fact, Dell mentioned that the company’s engineers are actually working on a fanless version, though there’s no telling when that might arrive.

Hands-on, it feels impressively light and thin. The keyboard is nicely spaced and the keys themselves have reasonable travel given the limits of the keytray. There are plenty of neat details, like the battery gage on the side, while Dell tells us that the machined aluminum lid saves even more weight compared to some rival’s punched-aluminum production. The speakers are embedded underneath the keyboard, creating a surprisingly loud and clear soundstage, though unsurprisingly they lack some bass.

LIke other ultrabooks, the XPS 13 has Intel Rapid Start for boot times of around 5s, and instant-on resume from standby. However, Dell also implemented Intel SmartConnect, which periodically wakes the ultrabook to check calendar, email, social networking accounts and other data so that you’re up to date as soon as you open the lid. There’s also location-awareness, setting up apps for nearby restaurants, ATMs and other POIs with your current position.

Enterprise customers get Dell’s usual array of custom imaging and BIOS settings, along with asset tagging and BitLocker data encryption with TPM. There’s also ProSupport, with Dell Command Center support for speedy repairs and replacements. As for all the labels and stickers most Windows laptops are plastered in, on the new XPS they’re hidden away out of sight.

Dell expects the Core i5 version of the XPS 13 – with 4GB of memory and a 128GB SSD – to start at under $1,000 when the ultrabook ships in February. Final pricing will be decided just prior to launch.

“It’s the world’s best ultrabook” Peters concluded, “the smallest, the most powerful, the most aesthetically pleasing, the best to touch, the best at being enterprise-ready… the best of any product out there.” We’ll have to wait until we can put the XPS 13 through its paces in the full SlashGear review to find out whether we feel the same.

The IdeaPad U310 is 0.7-inches thick and 3.74-pounds, with Intel Core processors paired with GMA 3000 HD graphics powering its HD 16:9 aspect display. The IdeaPad U410, meanwhile, is 0.83-inches thick and 4.18-pounds, with processors from the same Intel range but paired this time with NVIDIA GeForce 610M 1GB graphics.

Each supports Intel WiDi for wireless display streaming, and they’ll come in a choice of “fun colors”: Aqua Blue, Cherry Blossom, Graphite Gray, Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue and Spearmint. Software-wise it’s Windows 7 with Lenovo’s Smart Update tool, which automatically keeps your mailbox, IM and social media messages up to date, even when the IdeaPad is in sleep mode.

Battery life is up to eight hours, Lenovo claims. The Lenovo IdeaPad U Series will go on sale in May, priced from $699.

LG says that’s a matter of “powerful performance and sleek design unseen in ordinary ultrabooks” though we’ll have to wait until we get some hands-on playtime before we can judge quite how successful the company has actually been on those fronts. The Z330 has a 13.3-inch 1366 x 768 LED-backit display, a choice of Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processors, 4GB of DDR3 memory and HD 3000 graphics, along with either a 120GB or 256GB SSD, 10/100 ethernet, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0+HS.

The LG Z430 boosts the display to a 14-inch panel, though running at the sam resolution as its smaller sibling, and increases the maximum supported RAM to 8GB. Storage is different too, with a standard 500GB HDD paired with an optional 16GB or 128GB of SSD storage; we’re guessing the 16GB is used for speedy resume, just as with Samsung’s Series 5.

Ports on both models include a multiformat memory card reader, single USB 3.0, two USB 2.0 and HDMI, along with audio in/out. There’s a 1.3-megapixel webcam and a 4-cell battery, though LG isn’t talking runtimes yet. The Z330 measures in at 315.4 x 214.7 x 14.7 mm and 1.21kg, while the Z440 is a little larger at 329.4 x 226 x 19.9 mm and 1.5kg.

No word on pricing at this stage.

Samsung’s Series 5 uses the ultrabook name, though it doesn’t quite conform to all of the original minimum specifications Intel mandated. The ultraportable uses a 500GB hard-drive, rather than SSD storage, but pairs that with 16GB of ExpressCache that is used to pare down boot times; Samsung reckons users will go from hibernate to the desktop in seven seconds, or from sleep mode in two seconds.

Otherwise there’s Intel HD Graphics 3000, WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0+HS and WiDi support, along with gigabit ethernet, a multiformat memory card slot, 1.3-megapixel webcam and 4W speakers. Connectivity includes a single USB 3.0, two USB 2.0, a combo audio in/out and HDMI, and the whole thing measures 12.4 x 8.6 x 0.58-0.69 inches.

J&R isn’t saying when the Series 5 is expected in stock, only that it’s “coming soon”; still, it’s pricing is competitive (compared to both the converted Korean pricing and Samsung’s own Series 9 range).

[Thanks Deron!]

Unfortunately you don’t get room for an internal TV tuner, which means you’re stuck using external USB tuners if you want to play or record broadcast video. Options include a Blu-ray drive and a Core i5 processor. Tranquil is positioning the MMC-12 as a good option for network streaming and IPTV, using services like Netflix, Hulu Plus and iPlayer.

Ports, meanwhile, include two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0, ethernet, HDMI and DVI, along with audio input/outputs.

Pricing kicks off at £649 ($1,005) for the entry-level model with a Media Center remote and a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium; you can also get the barebones chassis, with no CPU, RAM, drives or OS, for £278 ($430). If storage is a deal-breaker, there’s the matching SU0 external drive unit for up to four HDDs, priced at £279 ($432).

[via PCLaunches]

There’s also WiFi b/g/n, HDMI, USB 3.0 and Dolby Advanced Audio, along with 9.25 hours battery life from a full charge. Gigabit ethernet and Bluetooth round out the main specs, and the whole thing is said to be semi-ruggedized so that it should stand up to some semi-rough treatment in your rucksack or briefcase.

RRP for the HP Folio 13 is from $900, though thanks to our friends at Logicbuy there’s a $200 deal to be had. Follow their instructions and you can net the Core i5 1.6GHz version for $703.49, an impressive saving if you’re in the market for an ultraportable without an Apple logo.

The 15-inch model is 1.11-inches thick and tips the scales at 5.79 pounds, while the 17-incher is 1.28-inches thick and 7.37 pounds. Then there’s the Envy 17 3D, which throws in a full HD Radiance 3D 120Hz display, a pair of active shutter 3D glasses and a Blu-ray HD player.

The ENVY 15 is meant to start at $1,100, but Logicbuy has a coupon for a Core i5 version at $949.99; meanwhile the ENVY 17 is meant to be from $1,250, but the deals site has a coupon for it from $1,099.99. Finally, the ENVY 17 3D has an RRP of $1,599, but Logicbuy has details on how to get it for $1,172.99.

Inside there’s a choice of Intel’s Core i5-2467M or Core i7-2637M processors, paired with 4GB of RAM and a choice of 120GB SATA 6Gbps SSD or a 256GB SATA 3Gbps SSD. Graphics are courtesy of Intel’s HD GPU, while connectivity includes WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0+HS, Intel WIDI, USB 3.0 and a microSD card reader.

LG is particularly pushing the Xnote Z330′s rapid boot abilities, with the ultrabook being ready to go in just 7s (resume time). It’ll also shut down quickly too, being off in 9.9s. The company reckons the combination of the speed fettling, the second-gen Intel chips and the SSD storage makes the Z330 20-percent faster at multitasking than its ultraportable predecessors.

Pricing is set at 1.7m – 2.6m Won ($1,509 – $1,863) depending on processor and other specifications when the notebook arrives in South Korea in the middle of this month. No news on when we might see the LG Xnote Z330 arrive in the US.

This Gigabyte Booktop T1132N has an 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 pixel capacitive touch display with discreet graphics, and will just be lovely for when you switch over to Windows 8 and all of its touch-ready goodness. You’ll be able to plug in up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, you’ve got HDMI, D-Sub, Ethernet, and audio ports, and a 2.5-inch hard drive bay. You’ve got one single USB 2.0 port and a set of four speakers, two of them bass woofers, and you’ve got the option of hooking this whole rig up with 3G connectivity. Of course you’ve also got the option of a 802.11b/g/n WiFi connection as well.

The dock station has a built-in DVD burner and you can plug the whole mother in to your own HD monitor at your own discretion. You’ve also got a few other ports on the desktop dock including HDMI. Play some gigantic games with your integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 and NVIDIA® GeForce® GT520M 1GB GPU.

The price has not yet been revealed, but you can bet it won’t just be a few hundred bucks. This look like something you’d be willing to use on a daily basis? Anyone have a need for a machine that acts as several different kinds of PC? What about loading Linux?

[via Gigabyte]

There’s also a choice of up to 750GB 7,200rpm hard-drives or a 256GB SSD, along with WiFi a/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0. Intel WiDi is supports, along with up to six hours and 49 minutes of runtime with the 8-cell battery. That’s all in something that measures a compact 0.9 x 13.19 x 9.21 inches and weighs 4.36 pounds, made from anodized aluminum and magnesium alloy.

The XPS 14z follows its 15-inch sibling, the XPS 15z, which itself offered the sort of display size you’d expect on a larger notebook in a slick aluminum chassis. In the US the Dell XPS 14z will be priced from $999, while in the UK it will be priced from £799.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro now has a dual-core Core i5 2.4GHz chip as standard and a 500GB 5,400rpm hard-drive. $1,499 gets you an upgrade to a 2.8GHz dual-core Core i7 processor and 750GB 5,400rpm hard-drive. Both use Intel HD 3000 graphics and have 4GB of 1333MHz RAM.

As for the 15-inch models, the entry-level starts at $1,799 with a 2.2GHz quad-core Core i7 processor, and the $2,199 version has a 2.4GHz quad-core Core i7. Both have 4GB of 1333MHz RAM, 500GB and 750GB hard-drives respectively, while the more expensive model gets AMD Radeon HD 6770M graphics with 1GB of video memory. Lastly, the 17-inch MacBook Pro kicks off at $2,499 with a quad-core 2.4GHz Core i7 processor and HD 6770M 1GB graphics, along with 4GB of RAM and 750GB hard-drive.

Both the 15-incher and the 17-incher can be specified with a 2.5GHz quad-core Core i7, while other options include the same 512GB SSD storage. Each new model is listed as in-stock and ships free.

There are no huge changes planned: the new MacBook Pro models will look the same, and there will still be two 13-inch, two 15-inch and one 17-inch pre-configurations on offer. However, although unconfirmed, the changes are expected to be faster Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, with Apple keeping pace with its PC notebook rivals, along with Bluetooth 4.0 as found in the iPhone 4S launching today. Internally the new versions are known as K90IA (13-inch), K91A (15-inch) and K92A (17-inch).

Bluetooth 4.0 is special because it marks a shift to far lower power requirements. Thanks to that extreme frugality – and new profiles which allow devices to wake each other wirelessly – a persistent link is possible without instantly running down the battery. The current Mac mini desktop and MacBook Air ultraportable already come with Bluetooth 4.0 support.

Apple’s updates, therefore, could well be a precursor to Siri gaining a foothold on your OS X desktop. Those with an iPhone 4S – which comes with the intelligent voice control system – could use their smartphone as a gateway for the AI to also take control of their computer, with Bluetooth 4.0 being the low-power glue that holds the whole ecosystem together. That’s unlikely to happen straight away, however.

It’s particularly hard to escape the MacBook Air comparisons with the UX21; let’s be generous and call it half-homage, half-necessity based on fitting an acceptable amount of connectivity into a slimline form-factor. Just 3mm at the front (flaring to 17mm at the back) and 1.1kg in weight, it’s not quite as thin as the 1.08kg 11.8-inch Air, and it has an 11.4-inch display running at 1366 x 768 so is slightly smaller. ASUS also has a Zenbook UX31 with a larger, 13.3-inch display running at 1600 x 900.

The aluminum construction is solid and the hinge – always a worry with these slimline machines – is solid. Audio quality is surprisingly high, too, thanks to ASUS’ pairing with Bang & Olufsen: the ICEpower stereo is impressively strong, with some decent bass for an ultraportable.

ASUS Zenbook UX21 hands-on:

There’s no shortage of power, either. ASUS has slotted a choice of Core i5 or i7 processors inside the Zenbooks, and the i5-2467M in the unit we played with was certainly fast enough to handle browsing and multimedia duties. A microHDMI port makes hooking up an external display straightforward, and ASUS slips ahead of ultrabook rivals with its USB 3.0 connectivity (along with a USB 2.0, mini VGA and a combo audio in/out port).

Battery power is the ultrabook promise, and ASUS reckon 5hrs of active use for the UX21 (7hrs for the larger UX31). The company is particularly proud of its standby time, too, a full two weeks with a resume back to the Windows 7 desktop in just 2s. That’s shorter standby than the Acer Aspire S3, certainly, but a far faster resume time than the S3′s deep-sleep resume of 20 seconds. When the battery dives to 5-percent the Zenbook automatically saves your currently open data to the 128GB SSD. Both sizes have 4GB of RAM, and there’s WiFI b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0.

The ASUS Zenbook UX21 is priced from £849 in the UK, while the Zenbook UX31 is from £999. Both will go on sale from next month. Core i7 processors will be offered as upgrades, along with more memory.

Update: Some live shots of the ASUS Zenbook UX31 added to the gallery below.

Microsoft is putting more emphasis on the software than the tablet itself, though the eagle-eyed might recognize it from earlier in the month. As well as the slate, there’s a docking station and a wireless keyboard; you also get a contentious stylus, since Windows 8 works with both finger-touch and a digital pen for more accurate handwriting recognition and sketching.

Windows 8 Tablet hands-on:

Windows 8 is packed with interesting tweaks that lend themselves to the slate experience – though Microsoft is keen to point out that it’s the new desktop platform too, and will of course be found on more PCs and notebooks than tablets.

The on-screen keyboard is well laid-out and responsive, and there’s a clever lock-screen system where you choose your own photo and then sketch out lines, circles or swipes across it with your finger or the pen. To unlock the slate, you simply replicate those swipes: straightforward for you, but difficult for others to guess.

Like Windows Phone, there’s a Live Tile based desktop and a lock-screen with a custom wallpaper and day/time along with battery life and wireless status.

The Metro UI works well on the larger screen; for instance, the RSS reader lays out different posts as tiles, and then shows the articles themselves in a stripped-down format with simple side-swipe navigation. A swipe from the right edge pulls in a bar of five “charms” - Search, Share, Start, Device, Settings – from which you can navigate back to the homescreen among other things, as well as showing the date/time status display.

The multitasking system is also very impressive, building on the thumbnails in Windows Phone but taking advantage of the larger display real-estate to show concurrently running apps in a sidebar with the primary app taking the bulk of the screen. Some software is obviously designed for the regular Windows homescreen, with the standard desktop and Start bar. There are still some dialogs – particularly context menus – that follow the old UI style, though it’s worth noting that the touchscreen on this particular tablet is precise enough to allow us to tap each option with a fingertip. Still, it’s an occasional reminder of Windows’ desktop origins, and does mar the tablet experience somewhat.

Nonetheless, as you can see in the video, Windows 8 is far, far more tablet-friendly than any previous version of the platform. You could feasibly stay immersed in among the tablet features and avoid the regular desktop for the most part, and Microsoft’s touch interface is consistent and slick. We’ll have more on Windows 8 for tablets soon, so until then enjoy the hands-on gallery and video!

The keyboard is a little short on travel in comparison to larger machines – no surprise given the relatively shallow key tray on offer – but we’ll forgive Toshiba since they used the space to add an 8-cell 47Wh battery. The keys themselves are backlit, too, and water resistant, while above the 13.3-inch display looked bright despite the strong show lighting and the necessarily compact backlighting.

Unlike, say, Apple’s MacBook Air, the Z830 gets an ethernet port, and both HDMI and VGA. There’s also an SD card slot and three USB ports, two USB 2.0 and a USB 3.0 for higher-speed data transfers. Audio in and out round out the main ports, plus there’s WiFi b/g/n inside.

Toshiba Portege Z830 video:

Toshiba isn’t talking pricing yet, but if it can bring the Portege Z830 in at under the $1,000 mark – as Intel originally promised for ultrabooks – with similar specifications to what Apple offers on the MacBook Air, then we can see the company having a hit on its hands. Release date isn’t announced at this stage, but you know SlashGear will be waiting.

Toshiba Portege Z830 walkthrough:

There’s also an optional DVD burner and 3G or 4G mobile broadband, together with Bluetooth 3.0 and gigabit ethernet. Up to 500GB of storage is supported, and there’s a 1.0-megapixel webcam, integrated digital microphone and HDMI port, as well as two USB 3.0 ports and a hybrid USB 2.0/eSATA connector.

A 4-cell battery is standard, but can be upgraded to a 6-cell pack if you want the longer runtime. Intel WiDi rounds out the main specs. The Celeron machine is $499 but expect to pay $100 more for a Core i3 chip or from $799 for a Core i5.