Hardware

For those of you wondering, this device goes by the code S3-951-6432. You’ll find that the display has a perfectly bright and sharp widescreen view for your gaming, processing, and video viewing needs, but beware the glossiness of the display if you’re planning on using this laptop outdoors. Of course you’re not the type of person to go galavanting around the park with a laptop, so you’ll only be worried about your ability to have a great experience on the run. This notebook is made for your ability to both carry it around all day and provide you the power you need to use it for all of your daily activities be you a student, a journalist, or a graphic designer, all the same.

The keyboard is one made for typing rather than gaming, and you’ll find that using the return key and the arrow keys will be a bit of a learning activity at first as they’re connected in space and not separated by the surrounding base of the notebook. On the back of the device you’ll find two USB 2.0 ports, a full-sized HDMI port, and your power port. On the right you’ll find a full-sized SD card port (that also has the ability to read MultiMediaCard (MMC) units) and on the left you’ll find a headphone jack. On the bottom left and right near the front of the laptop are speakers, each of them part of the Dolby-optimized speaker system which together create a surprisingly nice sounding experience for movie-watching especially.

On the other hand, don’t expect to watch a movie with a group of too many folks to you left or two your right as the viewing angles aren’t too fantastically great here. Watch the hands-on video to see a basic view of how far you’ll be able to see, but note that it’s certainly not more than 60 degrees in any direction from straight on. Straight on though, and inside everywhere 60 degrees looks just as bright and sharp as a Core i7 processor under the hood would suggest. I’ve heard reviewers speaking on how the color accuracy isn’t perfect, and I agree, but the difference between this display and a perfectly tuned display for graphic designers and photography majors is so small that I doubt anyone in the field will have a big issue. Those of you in the photography business should take note though – perfection is needed!

Inside you’ve got Bluetooth 4.0, the multi-gesture touchpad is precise and makes for an easy to control experience all around, and the webcam is alright – good enough for video chat certainly. You’ve got 3.86 GB DDR3 SDRAM at 666MHz controlled by your HD 3000 graphics control unit, and a partridge in a pear tree. And that’s just the hardware. The whole thing looks rather nice too, if you don’t mind the similarities to the rest of the ultra-thin super-powered notebook competition out there. Take a peek at this tower of laptops to see the difference between the units your humble narrator has been using lately – up top you’ve got an 11-inch MacBook Air, next the Acer Aspire S3, a MacBook Pro 15-inch, and a gigantic mother of an Alienware gaming notebook M17xR3 complete with lots o’ lights – each of these units has a different purpose, and the size shows their power here, as it were – note that the MacBook air is from a few years ago so isn’t as pumped up as the line is today, and you can check the Alienware machine in action back at Arkham City.

Software

You’ve got Windows 7 Home Premium right out of the box and Clear.fi for all your personal cloud needs. This machine is set to bring you a personal experience for, again, the student or the everyday average user – with the i7 under the hood you’ve got the ability to play some higher powered software if you wish, but for what the machine comes with – not one whole heck of a lot – you’ll be more than prepared to run the heck out of all of it. Take a peek at this hands-on with the machine and get a glimpse of how quick the machine starts up from being off completely, how the display looks, and the basic software set you’ll get with Windows 7 Home Premium.

Performance

You’re certainly going to see the S3 knocking out the benchmarks as any i7-toting machine should, and as far as the instant-on feature goes: it really truly does make the machine seem much higher class than previous models with a much slower wake-up time. This machine is speedy, hasn’t had a real rough time working with any of the built-in apps or functions it’s got out of the box, and is OK for some random gaming here and there. Again, this machine is by no means built for hardcore gamers, but if you’re just looking to play a racing game here and there, you’ll be set.

Battery

One of the most awesome bits in this machine’s bag of tricks is the Instant-On technology Acer is employing, this allowing you to pop your machine open and have it up and running in 2 seconds. The real magic here is when you close the notebook though, as once you’ve closed the machine it goes to one level of sleep, then after 8 hours it goes into a much deeper sleep which will preserve the battery for a total of 50 days — we’ve not had the machine for quite that long, so I’ll report in on that once the battery dies. Thus far we’ve seen this machine play video for 4 hours straight before dying, and with basic functions like typing and web browsing we’re seeing closer to 6.

Wrap-up

This machine is a great example of what the Ultrabook line is meant to be: relatively light, thin, and powerful enough to knock the netbook name out of the realm of reality. With the price on this particular setup being a bit more than the standard build, you’ll need to think about what you’re planning on using the machine for – if it’s home use for the internet and simple games exclusively, you’ll want the more basic Core i5 build. If you’re attempting to run some more impressive games and maybe a bit of the ol’ video processing, this i7 build is the one you want. Toss it in your backpack and be surprised at how little it ads to your daily weight, break it out at the coffee shop and impress the denizens of the generally Apple-heavy world of public browsing. Acer has come through with a winner here, folks, make no mistake about it.

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.

There’s also a 17.3-inch Full HD LED-backlit display, and a backlit keyboard for those late-night gaming sessions. Samsung is readying both 2D and 3D models, and there’ll be both AMD and NVIDIA graphics options too.

A 5,900mAh battery probably can’t be expected to last all too long if you’re hammering the Series 7 for gaming purposes, but the onboard optical drive and that expansive display means it’ll probably be a solid multimedia notebook too. Samsung expects it to land at the equivalent of $2,228 for the 2D version and around $200 more for the 3D version in Korea, though US pricing is tipped to be from $1,799.

[via Sammyhub]

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.

Because it’s a Windows system, all regular PC games are supported and no special optimization is required. With accelerometers and an extra-sensitive multitouch screen, though, tablet-specific titles can also be played, giving mobile gamers the best of both worlds. Razer expects developers to tailor titles just to suit the combination of hardware on offer.

“The user interface we have designed for Project Fiona allows all existing PC games to be played right out of the box and also provides game developers new opportunities as they develop next-gen games on a highly-intuitive platform” Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan said of the slate. ”Both developers and gamers are going to love the new user interface that combines the best of a gamepad, multi-touch screen and accelerometers for an all-new gaming experience on-the-go.

Developer units will be available “soon” with Razer suggesting that those interested in porting a significant title to Project Fiona should get in touch.

There’s also liquid cooling, and if you’re feeling particularly flush you can pair up the Radeon HD 7970 with up to three of its friends, since quad CrossFireX setups are supported. A multitude of SSD and HDD options are on offer, including a capacious (and painfully expensive) 600GB Intel 320 Series SSD and 512GB Crucial M4 SATA 6G.

Blu-ray, various case colors and finishes and factory overclocking all allow you to customize each MAINGEAR system to suit your particular taste and budget. Both the SHIFT and the F131 are available to order – with the Radeon HD 7970 – from today.

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.

Easy access to the internal components is a given, with the whole side-panel slotting off easily. Four hard-drive bays side side-on, with a choice of HDD or SSD storage, while there’s room for two extra 5.25-inch drives up-front alongside the standard optical drive. LED lighting means not only does the Aurora look good in the dark, but it’s easy to see what you’re poking at when working on the insides.

An Intel factory overclock, optional 3D graphics and multi-display support, and tool-free component fittings round out the key points. The Alienware Aurora R4 is priced from $2,199, and will go on sale through Dell today.

Update: More specs and a UK price – from £1,999 – now added:

• 2nd Generation 3000 series Intel Core i7 Six Core Processor Options
• New Intel X79 Express Chipset with Unlocked BIOS for Overclocking1
• Single and Dual Graphics Options:
• - 1GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 68702
• - 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 69502
• - 1.25GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti2
• - 1.5GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 5802
• - Dual 1GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6870 – AMD CrossFireX2
• - Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6950 – AMD CrossFireX2
• 8GB or 16GB Quad Channel 1600MHz DDR3 Memory Options2
• Fast 7,200RPM Hard Drive Options up to 2TB; 256GB and 512GB SSD Options4
• Single and Dual Optical Drive Options; Including Blu-ray Disc Reader and Burner
• High Quality Audio Options:
• - Internal High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio with Waves MAXX Audio Software (Standard)
• - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio (Optional)
• - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium (Optional)
• System Dimensions: height: 16.77” (426mm), depth: 25.39” (645mm), width: 9.85” (250mm); weight: starting at 45lbs (20.41kg)

Otherwise specifications remain the same, which means a 17-inch display, 2.8GHz Intel Core i7-2640M processor, and 8GB of 1333MHz DDR3 RAM. Graphics are courtesy of NVIDIA’s GeForce GT 555M with NVIDIA Optimus, paired with their own 2GB of GDDR5 video memory.

More interesting, however, is the compact touchscreen that lives to the side of the backlit keyboard. That works as a secondary display and as a shortcut panel, supporting multitouch gestures, and is topped by ten user-programmable buttons each with their own display, similar to what the Optimus Popularis delivers.

[via The Verge]

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.

ASUS has a range of new motherboards using the X79 Chipset and the LGA 2011 socket, intended to be used with the Core i7-3960X and its more affordable 3.2GHz Core i7-3930K hexacore and 3.6GHz Core i7-3820 quadcore siblings (which have 12MB and 10MB of cache respectively, and can be Turbo boosted to 3.8GHz and 3.9GHz respectively). The ASUS P9X79 Series ‘boards aim for user-friendliness, with features like SSD caching, while the ROG Rampage IV Extreme is focused at enthusiasts who want its easy overclocking and 4-way NVIDIA SLI/AMD CrossFireX support.

Then there’s the TUF SABERTOOTH X79, and the professional P9X79 WorkStation Series. All four boards include multi-GPU support along with PCI Express 3.0 and compatibility with up to 64GB of quad-channel DDR3 memory via 8-DIMM slots.

All types of users should expect some boost from Intel’s new chips, with the company promising up to a 20-percent boost in video processing and up to a 14-percent increase in 3D rendering performance. All three of the chips have a 130W TDP. Prices for the update ASUS ‘boards are yet to be confirmed, but Intel’s chip-only prices at $990 for the i7-3960X and $555 for the i7-3930K; the i7-3820 will be priced when it hits the market in Q1 2012. Maingear’s SHIFT starts at $2,687 with the overclocked i7-3960X.

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.

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:

The LPC-125LPM has a VGA port, ExpressCard/34 slot, RS232 ports, an internal mini PCIe slot, and a partridge in a pear tree. It’s got a rough and tumble hard case surrounding it and comes standard with a few brackets so you can mount the device to your wall or right on to the back of your giant display. The LPC-125LPM also comes with a power interface which controls the system shutdown and startup when power to the device is interrupted. Lightening strikes, car crashes, and skateboard jumps. Mount this little guy anywhere.

What this device is meant for is machines that’ll be sitting in industrial settings, kiosks, big fabulous signs, and all manner of oddball machines that we the normal everyday consumer might never think of. Here’s my question for you – what would you use such a tiny computer for? Furthermore, what looks more appealing to you knowing the price, the design, and the abilities of both – the LPC-125LPM at $895, or the Apple Mac mini June 2011 refresh at $999? As a reminder, this price gets you the Mac mini with a 2.0GHz quad-core Core i7 inside, 4GB or RAM, and twin 500GB hard drives – plus Thunderbolt port and WiFi and what I’m certain is a design made to be out in the open instead of tucked away as the Stealth, as the name makes plain, is supposed to be.

You know which one I’d pick.

Choose wisely!

That Blu-ray drive is capable of burning the new, super-capacious 128GB disks, as well as playing 2D or 3D Blu-ray movies and upscaling 2D DVDs into 3D. There’s also a 640GB 5,400rpm hard-drive, Harman Kardon speakers, HDMI port, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0+HS and a memory card reader, while ports include three USB 2.0 and a USB 3.0.

Toshiba’s eye-tracking system uses the HD-resolution webcam to identify the user’s face and then tweak the positioning of the left/right-eye pixels behind the lenticular film, twisting the 3D image to suit their position. It’s also capable of showing 2D and 3D images simultaneously, so that you can have a 3D movie playing in one window and a 2D spreadsheet opened in another. On the downside, it’s only intended for one viewer, since the tracking system can’t handle multiple viewpoints.

The Toshiba Qosmio F750 3D will go on sale in the UK from early August 2011, priced at around £1,300. US pricing and availability is yet to be confirmed.

The new 11.6-inchers are the NP900X1B-A02US, with a Core i3-2357M, 2GB of memory and a 64GB SSD, and the NP900X1B-A01US, with the same processor but twice the RAM and storage. They’ll go on sale in August, priced at $1,049 and $1,249 respectively.

Samsung’s 13.3-inch versions, meanwhile, are all available from today. The NP900X3A-B01US has a COre i5-2467M processor, 4GB of memory and a 128GB SSD, and retails for $1,349, while the NP900X3A-B02US has the same CPU and RAM but doubles up the SSD for $1,649 in total. Finally, there’s the $2,049 NP900X3A-A05US with a Core i7-2617M processor, 6GB of DDR3 memory and a 256GB SSD.

There’s still FastStart, which Samsung reckons will see the Series 9 boot in less than three seconds, along with a casing allegedly twice as strong as aluminum and USB 3.0 connectivity. The displays are also billed as twice as bright as rivals offer.

That means, including the notebook’s own display and its HDMI output, up to four screens can be active at any one time, turning the VAIO Z Series into a performance desktop workstation. Video on the ultraportable itself is courtesy of Intel’s HD Graphics 3000, while connectivity includes WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, 3G WWAN, a USB 2.0 port and a hybrid docking station/USB 3.0 port, while there’s also a 1.3-megapixel webcam, fingerprint sensor and stereo speakers.

Battery life is up to 7hrs from the standard internal pack, but add the sheet battery – which covers the entire base of the notebook – and you can extend that to up to 14hrs of runtime. A backlit keyboard is standard, while custom configurations (rather than the VPC-Z21V9E pre-config) can be specified with a Full HD 1920 x 1080 LCD display online.

As for the Power Media Dock, as well as the AMD graphics card that also adds in a gigabit ethernet port, USB 2.0 port, USB 3.0 port and both HDMI and Mini D-Sub for displays. It can drive up to a 1920 x 1080 HDMI display or a 1920 x 1200 analog RGB panel. Unlike Apple’s implementation of Thunderbolt, which uses a Mini DisplayPort, Sony has customized the technology and used a USB port instead; they’re only referring to it as “Light Peak” based.

Both are already up for pre-order at SonyStyle UK, priced from £1,434 ($2,286) including tax for a Core i5 model with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. The Power Media Dock is from £400 ($638) as an accessory, going up to £525 if you want a Blu-ray burner. They’ll ship toward the end of July 2011.

There’s also a DVD burner and an optional TV tuner, while ports include two USB 3.0 with Sleep & Charge for powering up external gadgets like your phone even when the DX1215 is turned off, and four USB 2.0 ports. Toshiba also throws in its Sleep & Music system, which allows you to use the Onkyo stereo speakers with an external audio source even if the PC isn’t on, and there’s upscaling for DVD video to make the most of the display.

That display can also be used with outside sources, thanks to an HDMI input. It’s something we like to see on all-in-ones, as it makes them particularly handy for bedrooms where you might want a PC to double up as a display for your games console.

In the box is a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse – usefully pre-paired with the all-in-one – though we’d have liked to have seen a remote control there too. Still, you get media controls on the ‘board. The Toshiba DX1215 will drop in Best Buy stores, priced at $929.99, from July 3.

The G53SX can convert 2D content into 3D, and even show 2D and 3D windows on-screen side-by-side, “without compromising brightness, contract or color fidelity” ASUS claims. We’re not sure what that would do to our eyes, but it’s exciting nonetheless. There’s also 2GB of dedicated video memory, a 10,000rpm hybrid hard-drive with SSD partition for reduced boot times, 3DTV Play connectivity, THX and EAX 5.0 3D sound and a stealth-bomber style design.

That styling is shared by other new ASUS gaming notebooks, like the ROG G74Sx 3D, which has the a choice of Core i5 or i7 processors along with GTX 560M GPU, but a regular NVIDIA 3D Vision display demanding active shutter glasses. It has a 17-inch HD display, backlit keyboard and a new thermal design which uses twin fans pulling cool air from the front of the case and twin rear exhausts to expel warm air out the back.

The desktop ROG CG8565 Gaming System, finally, comes with a second-gen Core i7 processor with Z68 chipset and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 GPU. It has a dedicated “Level Up” overclock button on its fascia, automatically boosting performance using ASUS’ DIGI+ VRM technology.

Eventually ASUS will have a video demonstrating the new kit, but at the moment it’s still set to private. No word on pricing or availability of any of the three systems.

Press Release:

Experience a New Era of ROG with a Range of High-Performance Products for Demanding PC Gamers

Experience a New Era of ROG with a Range of High-Performance Products for Demanding PC Gamers

New Republic of Gamers products announced for 2011 include motherboards, graphics cards, high-end gaming notebooks, a headset, a powerful desktop and a stunning 27-inch 3D desktop display

Taipei, Taiwan, (Computex, 31st May, 2011) — ASUS, a global leader in the new digital era, today announced a number of exciting new products for high-performance gaming PCs to further expand its Republic of Gamers (ROG) range. Established five years ago, ROG is committed to developing the ultimate high-performance hardware.

“The ROG philosophy is based on the core ideals of class-leading performance, innovative user controls and gamer-focused design,” said ASUS Vice President and GM of Worldwide Sales, Jackie Hsu. The products announced today not only hold true to these ideals, but also introduce a host of new innovations that push high-end PC performance to even greater extremes.

Designed for hardcore gamers who want to be able to play anywhere, the G74Sx gaming notebook uses a second generation Intel® Core™ processor and NVIDIA® GTX 560M graphics for outstanding performance. The ROG G53SX Naked Eye 3D makes lifelike 3D without the need for glasses a reality on a sleek and powerful portable PC. Gamers looking for similar instant action in desktop form are well-served by the new CG8565 Gaming System with a Z68 chipset-based motherboard, stealth fighter-inspired case design and a host of easy-to-use overclocking features.

Also unveiled today are three new ROG motherboards based on the latest Intel® and AMD chipsets that bring new levels of performance for PC builders. The Maximus IV GENE-Z and Maximus IV Extreme-Z both use the new Intel® Z68 chipset to deliver unparalleled gaming and overclocking features, while the Crosshair V Formula is the first AMD 990FX-based motherboard supporting both 3-Way SLI™ and CrossFireX™, and with a graphical UEFI BIOS. Two new NVIDIA® GTX 580-based graphics cards, the MATRIX GTX580 and MARS II, further expand the ROG range.

Recognizing that a successful gaming experience depends on more than just what is inside a PC, ROG now also includes new PC peripherals. The first peripheral in the ROG family is the Vulcan ANC gaming headset with active noise-cancelling technology, which ensures an immersive audio experience, whatever the gaming environment. Combine all the great ROG hardware and attach it to an ASUS VG278H 3D 27-inch display that is designed for gaming, and gamers can become immersed in the latest titles.

Zane Ball, General Manager for Desktops at Intel, said: “We’ve had great success in the gaming market and we appreciate that a vendor like ASUS is devoted to this field. Brands such as ROG demonstrate the best practice for gaming and overclocking PC hardware, and the two new motherboards and one desktop with Intel Z68-based chipsets announced today offer exciting new performance-turning opportunities.”

Over the past five years, ROG products have been recognized by a number of renowned industrial design awards bodies such as iF Design, Red Dot and Good Design and have been well received by power PC users worldwide. Over 1,200 awards from the media are testament to the quality and innovation delivered by ROG and its commitment to delivering total domination in the high-performance PC field. Rest assured that ROG will continue to annihilate records and crush the competition for years to come.

“We are keen to provide the most innovative and powerful solutions for our users, which is why ROG has a team dedicated to researching and developing ideas that go well beyond what you might expect,” said Jackie Hsu.

Visit ASUS at Computex 2011

Please refer to the attached appendices for further details of these new ROG products, or visit the ASUS ROG Computex 2011 Booth at the Nangang Exhibition Hall. Please stop by to see the latest innovations ROG has in store or visit our Computex 2011 website for more information: http://press.asus.com/computex2011/rog/

APPENDICES

1. ROG G74Sx 3D gaming notebook

The G74Sx 3D is a high-performance notebook for gamers who don’t want to drag a full PC around to gaming events, or do not have room at home for a full desktop set up. The G74Sw 3D has the clean, angular lines of a stealth fighter and the power to match, thanks to the latest second generation Intel® Core™ quad-core i5 and i7 processors. NVIDIA® GTX 560M graphics ensure blistering frame rates at native resolutions and high detail settings on the 17-inch Full HD screen, while NVIDIA® 3D Vision offers players a new dimension to games and movies.

Powerful it may be, but the G74Sx 3D always keeps its cool with an innovative thermal design that uses twin fans to draw cool air from the front of the case and twin rear exhausts to expel warm air out the back. The gamer-friendly keyboard brings an extra edge to the playing field, too. The metallic base is does not flex, the backlit keys ensure frags in dimly lit environments and a large cursor key cluster sits away from the main keyboard to minimize mistyped keys in the midst of the action.

* More details will be revealed in early June.

World’s first glasses-free 3D gaming notebook
The ROG G53SX Naked Eye 3D makes lifelike 3D without the need for glasses a reality on a sleek and powerful portable PC. The unique technology works with a whole catalogue of games and multimedia content, even instantly converting existing 2D visuals into glasses-free 3D. Advanced research has also resulted in mixed mode, where one window can display in 2D while another shows in 3D, both on-screen at once. This is achieved without compromising brightness, contract or color fidelity, exceeding the output of older 3D technology that relies on glasses.

These figures are driven by a 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7 CPU and discrete, DirectX® 11-compatible NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 560M graphics with a massive 2GB GDDR5 video memory, specs that allow titles such as StarCraft II to run in high resolution with anti-aliasing turned all the way up. Performance is also driven by the inclusion of a solid state hybrid drive that runs at approximate 10,000rpm speeds, cutting down boot time by as much as 52%.

The ROG G53SX Naked Eye 3D ships with a full suite of 3D content creation and editing software, giving users access to advanced authoring tools, including 3DTV Play connectivity. Sound is rendered in THX and EAX 5.0 3D for pristine spatial sound in gaming and other applications, with up to 128 additional sound effects at once compared to traditional gaming notebooks.

In terms of design, the G53SX shares the same ergonomic and stylish look of its stable mates. The 5-degree inclined keyboard promotes comfort during long gaming sessions, aided by rubber-coated palm rests that prevent sweating and wrist fatigue. Oversized twin rear exhausts push heat to keep the machine cool even under load while remaining quiet at all times. Users get a cool and silent environment that makes gaming much more enjoyable.

2. ROG Crosshair V Formula series motherboard

The Crosshair V Formula with AMD 990FX chipset-based is not only the first ROG motherboard with AM3+ CPU support, but it is also the first ever AMD motherboard to support both 3-Way NVDIA® SLI™ and AMD CrossFireX™ as well as offer UEFI BIOS. The usual selection of advanced ROG overclocking tools are on hand too, while onboard SupremeFX X-Fi 2 delivers the most intense and immersive gaming audio experience. Better still, high-performance Intel® Ethernet with GameFirst technology creates a LAN connection that is fast enough to keep up with the pace of modern multiplayer gaming over an internet connection that is also used being used for other online tasks.

To really make it the ultimate gaming motherboard, the Crosshair V Formula/ThunderBolt also comes with the ThunderBolt audio/LAN combo expansion card. The class-leading XONAR™ audio technology provides dramatically better sound quality than any standard audio card, while its built-in headphone amplifier with adjustable impedance settings make it perfect for getting the drop on the gaming competition. The Crosshair V Formula/Thunderbolt also incorporates the award-winning Bigfoot Networks™ Killer™ E2100 networking platform with exclusive Advanced Stream Detect™ technology that automatically classifies and prioritizes traffic for online games, HD video and audio streams for optimum performance, even when performing these tasks simultaneously.

The Crosshair V Formula motherboard is available now; the Crosshair V Formula/ThunderBolt will be available for purchase in the end of July,

3. ROG Maximus IV Extreme-Z and ROG Maximus IV GENE-Z motherboards

Although both are based on the new Intel® Z68 chipset, the ROG Maximus IV Extreme-Z and ROG Maximus IV GENE-Z offer two different takes on the high-performance motherboard.

The Maximus IV Extreme-Z is the latest model in a long line of ROG motherboards designed from the ground up to be an overclocking enthusiast’s dream come true. The Maximus IV GENE-Z takes the successful ROG motherboard recipe and shrinks it to a microATX form factor that will appeal to speed freaks and case modders alike. Support for both NVIDIA® SLI™ and AMD CrossFireX™ offers the ultimate in flexibility for 3D graphics, but that does not mean the integrated GPU features of the Intel® Z68 chipset are wasted. Full support for the Lucid® Virtu™ graphics virtualization engine means the Maximus IV GENE-Z can seamlessly switch between discrete and integrated graphics on-the-fly as the application demands, while SupremeFX X-Fi 2 audio and Intel® Ethernet with GameFirst ensure a first-class gaming experience.

4. ROG MATRIX GTX 580 graphics card

The ROG MATRIX GTX 580 is a high-performance graphics card for enthusiasts and gamers who demand the very best with NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 580 GPU. Enhanced TweakIt, ProbeIt and Safe Mode overclocking utilities offer unparalleled hardware adjustment, while GPU Tweak provides instant settings adjustment and monitoring. The 19-Phase Super Alloy Power technology provides greater overclocking headroom with enhanced power efficiency and component durability.

ASUS DirectCU II technology also provides extremely effective cooling by combining copper heatpipes that fix in direct contact with the GPU core with two huge sound-dampened fans that suck through 600% more air and achieving 20% cooler operation than the reference design.

5. ROG MARS II graphics card

The ROG MARS II/2DIS/3GD5 elevates extreme high-performance gaming to greater heights. The dual NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 580 design ensures phenomenally high frame rates in the latest games at maxed-out detail settings, while the all-new GPU Tweak overclocking utility with real-time clock and fan speed adjustment offers unparalleled tweaking opportunities. 19-Phase Super Alloy Power technology and Direct CU dual-fan cooling makes for cool, rock-solid operation too.

6. ROG CG8565 Gaming System

With its stealth fighter-inspired design, the angular, matte black exterior of the ROG CG8565 Gaming System belies the power that lurks within. Built for gamers who want a ready-made high-end gaming experience, this stunning desktop PC delivers awe-inspiring amounts of power, thanks to the second generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor with Z68 chipset and NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 590 GPU.

Overclocking features form an integral part of this competition-destroying desktop, with a one-touch ‘Level Up’ button built directly into the chassis for an instant real-time speed boost. Exclusive ASUS DIGI+ VRM technology and innovative thermal management ensures that the ROG CG8565 stays cool even when it is pushed to the limit, while the ASUS Xonar sound card provides immersive gaming audio.

7. ROG Vulcan ANC Headset

The ROG Vulcan ANC Gaming Headset completes the new range of Republic of Gamers accessories. It is perfect for gaming in noisy environments, or just those times when external speakers are not appropriate. The Vulcan ANC Gaming Headset uses active noise cancelling technology specially designed to filter external noise from both its high-quality speakers and boom microphone. The result is crystal-clear sound quality for music, movies, games and even VoIP calls.

8. ASUS VG278 3D 27” desktop monitor

Recognizing that a successful gaming experience depends on more than just what is inside a PC; ASUS has also introduced a new range of PC peripherals to enhance that experience with the VG278H 3D display. Designed for gamers who want complete immersion in the latest titles, this 27-inch LED backlit screen has full support for 3D graphics cards via HDMI 1.4 and a built-in infrared emitter for a wire-free desktop.

To achieve that, mind, you’ll have to strap on the optional $150 “slice” battery. Without it, the S-Series is a waifish 0.95-inches thick and 3.8lbs, available in brown, black or silver. Options include a Blu-ray drive, while a backlit keyboard and Exmor-sensor equipped webcam are standard. It hits pre-order today, priced from $1,350.

Meanwhile, the new Sony VAIO F-Series gaming notebooks are also on order from today, with a 16.4-inch 1920 x 1080 Full HD display, quad-core Core i7 processor, a choice of NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M (1GB) or 520M (512MB) graphics and up to 750GB of storage. There’s also a backlit keyboard, USB 3.0, an HD webcam and S-Force Front Surround 3D technology along with Dolby Home Theater v3 support. The F-Series kicks off from $1,100.

Press Release:

SONY BRINGS MORE POWER TO GO WITH NEW S SERIES LAPTOP

Optional Sheet Battery Doubles Battery Life Up to 15 Hours

SAN DIEGO, May 25, 2011 – Sony’s newest S Series VAIO® laptop combines for the first time portability, performance and power in a thinner, lighter design perfect for everyone from students to business travelers.

The new S Series continues Sony’s efforts to offer users more personalized options and flexibility that fits their lifestyle. Select S Series models sport elegant design in burnished brown, jet black or platinum silver with magnesium and aluminum materials, and incorporate a built-in lithium polymer battery that when coupled with the advanced large-capacity optional sheet battery, can stay mobile and unplugged for up to 15 hours with solid state drive configurations. Intelligent charging enables you to charge the optional sheet battery separately and attach it to the system without shutting down for maximum flexibility.

“Users these days want a laptop that will last for hours without charging, is small and light enough to carry around with you but doesn’t sacrifice any of the performance and power that you’d find in a full-sized PC,” said Mike Lucas, senior vice president of Networked Technology and Services Division at Sony Electronics. “You can fly nonstop from Los Angeles to Tokyo or attend a full day of classes on just one charge with this S Series laptop when combined with the optional sheet battery.”

This 13.3-inch S Series is packed with powerful performance—all in a thin 0.95-inch profile that only weighs 3.8-pounds with the standard battery. Incorporating all the mobility of VAIO laptops, this new model delivers impressive portability and performance with the available second generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor. Coupled with Hybrid Graphics as well as dual channel solid state drive options (select models), the S Series laptop is truly top of the line.

Ultra Mobility and Performance

Performance is top priority with the second generation Intel Core i7 processor that delivers even more performance automatically when you need it. With Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, the processors increase speed automatically delivering the performance needed for multitasking.

AMD Radeon™ HD 6630 1GB Hybrid Graphics card (select models) with 1GB VRAM gives a premium visual quality and intense HD performance without placing huge demands on the CPU. Plus, it offers a performance boost to your day-to-day processor functions for a faster, more optimized overall computing experience.

For maximum performance and ample storage, select models feature dual channel solid state drive with RAID 0 technology.

The S Series laptop comes with one-touch VAIO, ASSIST and WEB buttons, for launching Media Gallery™ software, VAIO Care™ software and access to the web without full boot-up into Windows®, all with a touch of a button.

The new S Series models offer a built-in web camera powered by an Exmor™ sensor that allows for great low-light performance. With exceptional picture quality, the 13.3-inch (1600×900) widescreen display includes an LED backlit keyboard, illuminating the lettering for typing in low-light situations. And with the built-in microphone you can video message with family, friends and coworkers. Face tracking technology allows the camera to automatically adjust focus and follow you as you move around while video chatting.

Packed with Multimedia

Sony knows entertainment is always at the forefront and the VAIO S Series delivers. Whether you’re watching a stunning Blu-ray Disc™ movie (select models) or enjoying video captured from your compatible camcorder. The versatile Blu-ray Disc drive on the VAIO S Series laptop (select models) combines the power of HD video playback with the convenience and utility of DVD and CD read/write functionalities. Providing the best picture and the best sound with stunning clarity, Blu-ray Disc technology is the ultimate way to enjoy your entertainment.

With Intel® Wireless Display 2.0, you can sit back and experience your favorite videos, photos and music on your TV. Stop crowding around a laptop screen and view and share content from your hard drive, home network or the internet wirelessly on your HDTV utilizing the adapter (sold separately; restrictions apply).

Pricing and Availability

The VAIO S Series laptops are available for pre-sale today at www.sonystyle.com/sseries starting at about $1,350, and the optional sheet battery at about $150.

Additionally, Sony added two new colors to its existing S Series line. The new pink and blue S Series models will available at www.sonystyle.com/sseries starting in June.

MEDIA ALERT:

ULTIMATE IN MOBILE MULTIMEDIA: SONY INTRODUCES THE NEW F SERIES LAPTOP

WHO:
Sony Electronics

WHAT:
New Sony® VAIO® F Series laptop:

Made for multimedia enthusiasts who want to game, watch movies or listen to music anywhere, anytime, Sony’s new VAIO® F Series laptop is a multimedia entertainment powerhouse. This laptop packs the power and state-of-the-art performance of a full-sized PC into a portable design.

Multimedia Marvel
Experience Blu-ray Disc™ movies and games in stunning 1920×1080 Full HD 1080p on a 16.4-inch widescreen display
Enjoy cinematic sound with S-Force™ Front Surround 3D technologyand rich audio sound from Dolby® Home Theater® v3
Outstanding graphics performance and responsive game play with NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 540M (1GB) or 520M (512MB)
Type and chat in dim light with backlit keyboard and HD web camera powered by an Exmor™ sensor
Press VAIO button to enjoy your media in a whole new way with Media Gallery™ software
Connect your VAIO® PC to a PlayStation3® system and other Sony® connected devices with Remote Keyboard
A/V control buttons let you play, pause, stop and move from track to track with ease

Power and Performance
Quad Core Intel® Core™ i7 processor for visibly smart performance at its best
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium
USB 3.0 ports allow for speedy transfer to external devices
Up to 750GB HDD for extra-large capacity and storage
One touch web access without full boot up into Windows® with WEB button
Maintain and troubleshoot PC issues with VAIO Care™ software, just push ASSIST

WHEN:
Available May 25, 2011 for pre-sale at www.sonystyle.com/fseries and at select retailers around the country for about $1100. The new F Series comes in silver, matte black or a premium white Signature Collection model. Images are available at www.sony.com/news.

Although it often seems like all the attention is paid to slender ultraportables or super-fast desktop replacements, the 15.6-inch notebook segment is still where the money is. With pricing kicking off at $999 in the US or £899 in the UK, Dell reckons it has something a little different in the XPS 15z. According to EMEA director of product marketing Peter Winkle, the company used the lessons learned from the Adamo around crafting aluminum chassis and focused on bringing it down to a more affordable price point.

To that end, the XPS 15z has an aluminum outer casing with a magnesium alloy interior that frames a distinctive chiclet keyboard and larger-than-average trackpad.  The “hinge-forward” display – which basically means that the hinge section (one of the few plastic components) is pushed further toward the user, which Dell’s focus groups apparently prefer, as well as shifting those hinges further out of the way of damage – is thinner than previous Dell notebooks, and in fact the 0.97-inch thick chassis makes it the slimmest 15-incher around. Nonetheless, it still packs a slot-loading DVD burner along with HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, eSATA and a pair of USB 3.0 ports. Inside is WiFi a/g/n and optional Bluetooth 3.0.

Borrowed from the MacBook line is a row of battery status LEDs – to let you know how far through the 15z’s 8hr battery life you are – and there’s an SD card reader and gigabit ethernet ports too. Two displays will be on offer: a standard 1366 x 768 200 nit panel, and an optional 1920 x 1080 Full HD panel running at 300 nit. While we asked Winkle whether Dell would be offering a matte finish option, he said the cost impact of trying to produce matte displays in suitable volume made it economically unfeasible. Instead, he suggested, backlights were getting brighter to compensate.

Inside there’s the expected selection of Intel 2011 series Core i5 and Core i7 processors paired with up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, up to 750GB of 7,200rpm hard-drive, and a choice of NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M 1GB or 2GB graphics with support for Optimus switching. The obvious competitor is HP’s ENVY range, though Winkle insists that the X15z has a better mixture of performance and thin design. With ENVY, he suggested, HP had focused on sound (with the BEATS audio system), whereas Dell has a better level of power, pricing and screen quality. Dell is trying to avoid comparisons with the 15-inch MacBook Pro, and to be fair we can’t blame them. The XPS 15z is targeting a different segment and is priced to match.

Hands-on and – while we were using a non-final model – the XPS 15z feels surprisingly solid for a mainstream notebook. The backlit chiclet keyboard and eye-catching patterned speaker grille may not to be everyone’s taste, but it’s easy to type on and the notebook is light for its size. We were able to pick it up single-handed and comfortably hold it, which is certainly not always the case for a 15-inch machine. Sales kick off today.

Press Release:

Dell Introduces the Powerful XPS 15z – One of the Thinnest 15-inch PCs on the Planet

 Less Mass, More Appeal: the Ultimate Blend of Style and Performance
 Uncompromising Performance with 2nd Generation Intel® CoreTM i5 & i7 Processors, Optional Full HD Screens and Up to Eight Hours of Battery Life
 First in a Series of New Thin, Powerful Laptops from Dell This Year

BRACKNELL, UK, May 24, 2011 – Dell today introduced the XPS 15z laptop, one of the thinnest 15-inch PCs on the planet , and the first in a series of new thin and powerful products from Dell to come this year. With the XPS 15z, everyone from mobile warriors to students and small-business owners now have everything they need to work hard and play hard in one stunning package.

A leading-edge combination of uncompromising power and stunning design, the XPS 15z offers 2nd-generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, optional 15.6-inch Full HD (1080p) display for superior entertainment and web-browsing experiences, a backlit keyboard with adjustable brightness and up to eight hours of battery life – all housed in a luxurious, eye-catching and elegantly crafted case that is less than an inch thick.

The XPS 15z is the first in a series of upcoming thin Inspiron- and XPS-branded products that deliver the ultimate blend of style and performance so you can pursue your personal passions.

“The XPS 15z delivers uncompromising performance in our most beautifully designed laptop yet,” said Sam Burd, vice president of Dell’s Consumer and Small/Medium Business product group. “It delivers all the must-have features — from next-generation Intel Core i processors for incredible performance to optional full HD screens that are up to 50 percent brighter than standard displays – all in a stunning form factor that makes it one of the thinnest 15-inch PC on the planet.”

“The XPS 15z provides a glimpse into a series of visually stunning and powerful systems coming soon to our consumer and small-to-medium-business product portfolio,” said Steve Felice, president of Dell’s Consumer and Small/Medium Business group. “We’re committed to introducing next-generation products that help people pursue their personal and professional passions.”

Less Mass, More Appeal
A technology package perfect for pumping out spectacular, media-rich office presentations or watching the latest award-winning movies, the XPS 15z includes 2nd generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, a brilliant 15.6-inch WLED display with a Full HD option that has almost two times the HD resolution of standard HD displays, NVIDIA graphics with 3DTV play capabilities , built-in WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, USB 3.0 and a backlit keyboard.

Despite its incredibly slim exterior, the XPS 15z delivers uncompromising performance, including NVIDIA discrete graphics with Optimus technology that automatically switches to power-saving integrated graphics under reduced workloads, helping the battery last longer on coast-to-coast flights and for movie marathons. In addition, it offers ample hard drive storage and a slot-loading DVD +/- RW drive for watching the latest movies or burning music to a disc. And the optional Full HD (1080p) display brings HDTV-type quality to the laptop screen.

Advanced wireless features make XPS 15z your go-to device from the road or the living room. Built-in Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity ensure it’s fast and easy to connect with e-mail, websites, Skype and Facebook from almost anywhere . For at-home entertainment, the optional Intel Wireless Display feature enables videos and photos to be streamed wirelessly from your XPS 15z to an HDMI-equipped TV. And with the exclusive Dell Stage user interface, it’s easy to access personal content such as music, photos and videos.

At first glance, the XPS 15z design, with its clean aluminium exterior, appears to float above the surface, and the polished, brushed finishes with sophisticated accents add to a luxurious appearance.

Priced from £899 including VAT excluding delivery, the XPS 15z, like all XPS computers, is designed and built from the ground up to provide a premium computing experience with the best materials, technology, performance and reliability Dell offers.

Availability:
The XPS 15z is available today from Dell’s global online stores, including www.dell.co.uk in the United Kingdom, with retail availability to follow shortly.

Detailed Information:

 Thin (0.97”/24.68mm) laptop PC with Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium; aluminium and mag-alloy enclosure
 2nd-generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 Dual Core processor choices
 Standard HD or optional Full HD (1920×1080) WLED display
 Fast NVIDIA graphics options :
o NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 525M with 1GB graphics memory
o NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 525M with 2GB graphics memory
 Includes NVIDIA® Optimus™ technology; NVIDIA 3DTV Play technology
 4GB up to 8GB DDR3 1333Mhz memory options
 Fast 7200RPM hard disk storage, up to 750GB
 Built-in Slot load DVD +/- RW (reads & writes to CD/DVD)
 Backlit, Chiclet-style keyboard with adjustable brightness
 Optimized touchpad
 Built-in Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230 802.11 A/G/N and Bluetooth 3.0 wireless connectivity
 Intel Wireless Display-ready
 Up to 8 hours of battery life with 8-cell battery
 USB 3.0 (2), USB/eSATA with PowerShare, HDMI 1.4, Mini Display-Port, Gigabit Ethernet and audio connectors
 Built-in 9-in-1 media card reader
 Built-in 1.3MP HD Webcam with dual array digital microphones and stereo speakers
 Dell Stage software for fast access to content like music, videos and photos
 Dimensions: Height: 0.97” (24.68mm) / Width: 15.15” (384.85mm) / Depth 10.25” (260.37mm); Weight: starting at 5.54lbs (2.51 kg)

That adds up to 1.25TB of storage, with the 500GB hybrid and a 750GB regular drive. There’s also a Blu-ray drive, 8GB of DDR3 1333MHz memory, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M 1.5GB graphics. Connectivity includes WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, gigabit ethernet, HDMI – with support for Toshiba Regza Link – VGA, a single USB 3.0 and three USB 2.0 ports, along with a multi-format memory card reader and audio in/out.

The 41 x 27 x 2.8-4.2 cm, 3.4kg monster runs Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. The 3D version – the Toshiba Qosmio X770 3D – will also have a 3D-capable webcam, while the standard model will be priced from around €1,300 ($1,847).

The Blade P530 uses LG Display’s so-called “Shuriken” panel, an ultra-thin bezel design that is also tipped to show up in future Acer notebooks and possibly even make an appearance in Apple’s next MacBook Pro refresh. Unlike the Xnote, it has a 15.6-inch display (there’ll be a 14-inch P430 as well), framed by a mere 10mm surround; it’s also thinner than a regular notebook screen, just 4.5 mm thick, bringing the display section down to around 50-percent of rivals.

In fact, the screen is so slender the rest of the notebook starts to look chunky in comparison. LG says that’s not actually the case – in fact the Blade P530 is between 24.1 and 28.1 mm thick with the lid closed – and that the notebook is up to 22-percent thinner than its closest competitor, but it’s an unbalanced look all the same. Happily there’s no flex or twisting to be seen, and build quality in general from the matte aluminum chassis is solid.

Inside there’s an Intel 2011 Core i7 processor (LG will also offer Core i3 and i5 chips), up to 8GB of memory, both NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M 1GB and Intel  HD Graphics 3000 GPUs, and up to 750GB of hard-drive space. The LG Blade P530 is expected to ship in June 2011.

There’s also a second 21.5-inch pre-config model, with a 2.7GHz Core i5, Radeon HD 6770M and 1TB of storage, for $1,49. The entry-level 27-inch iMac is $1,699 and has a 2.7GHz Core i5 CPU, Radeon HD 6770M graphics and a 1TB drive. Options include up to 2TB of storage, a 256GB SSD and additional DDR3 memory from the 4GB standard.

A FaceTime HD camera for video calls with other Macs and the iPad 2/iPhone 4, SD card slot and IPS display are all standard. There are also two Thunderbolt ports on the 27-inch model, each of which doubles as a Mini DisplayPort connector; both sizes have a FireWire 800 port, four USB 2.0 ports, gigabit ethernet and audio in/out. Integrated WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR round out the key specs, and there’s a choice of a Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad along with the standard wireless keyboard.

The new Apple iMac goes on sale today.

Press Release:

Apple Announces New iMac With Next Generation Quad-Core Processors, Graphics & Thunderbolt I/O Technology

CUPERTINO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Apple® today updated its signature all-in-one iMac® with next generation quad-core processors, powerful new graphics, groundbreaking high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology and a new FaceTime® HD camera. Starting at $1,199, the new iMac is up to 70 percent faster and new graphics deliver up to three times the performance of the previous generation.*

“With next generation quad-core processors, powerful new graphics, Thunderbolt technology and a FaceTime HD camera, we’ve made the world’s best desktop even better.”
“Our customers love the iMac’s aluminum enclosure, gorgeous display and all-in-one design,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With next generation quad-core processors, powerful new graphics, Thunderbolt technology and a FaceTime HD camera, we’ve made the world’s best desktop even better.”

The new iMac features quad-core Intel Core i5 processors with an option for customers to choose Core i7 processors up to 3.4 GHz. These next generation processors feature an integrated memory controller for an amazingly responsive experience and a powerful new media engine for high-performance video encoding and decoding. With new AMD Radeon HD graphics processors, the new iMac has the most powerful graphics ever in an all-in-one desktop.

iMac is the first desktop computer on the market to include groundbreaking Thunderbolt I/O technology. The 21.5-inch iMac has a single Thunderbolt port while the 27-inch model features two ports for even greater expansion. Developed by Intel with collaboration from Apple, Thunderbolt enables expandability never before possible on an all-in-one computer. Featuring two bi-directional channels with transfer speeds up to an amazing 10Gbps each, Thunderbolt delivers PCI Express directly to external high performance peripherals such as RAID arrays, and can support FireWire® and USB consumer devices, and Gigabit Ethernet networks via adapters. Thunderbolt also supports DisplayPort for high resolution displays and works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI and VGA displays. Freely available for implementation on systems, cables and devices, Thunderbolt technology is expected to be widely adopted as a new standard for high performance I/O.

iMac includes a built-in FaceTime HD camera and Apple’s innovative FaceTime software for crisp, widescreen video calling the whole family can enjoy. The new camera supports high definition video calls between all FaceTime HD-enabled Macs and standard resolution calls with iPad® 2, iPhone® 4, the current generation iPod touch® and other Intel-based Macs. The iMac continues to feature its signature aluminum and glass design, gorgeous IPS LED-backlit high resolution display, SD card slot and comes with Apple’s innovative Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad.

Continuing Apple’s commitment to the environment, Apple’s desktop line is a leader in green design. The iMac meets stringent Energy Star 5.2 requirements and achieves EPEAT Gold rating.** iMac features LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. iMac uses PVC-free components and cables, contains no brominated flame retardants, uses highly recyclable materials and features material-efficient system and packaging designs.

Every Mac comes with Mac OS® X Snow Leopard®, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife®, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for creating and sharing great photos, movies and music. Snow Leopard builds on more than a decade of innovation and includes the Mac App Store℠ for finding great new apps for your Mac. iLife ’11 features iPhoto® with stunning full screen views for browsing, editing and sharing photos; iMovie® with powerful easy-to-use tools to transform home videos into fun theatrical trailers; and GarageBand® with new ways to improve your playing and create great sounding songs.

Pricing & Availability

The new iMac is available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The 21.5-inch iMac is available in two configurations: one with a 2.5 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 500GB hard drive for a suggested retail price of $1,199 (US); and one with a 2.7 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, AMD Radeon HD 6770M and 1TB hard drive for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US). The new 27-inch iMac is available in two models: one with a 2.7 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, AMD Radeon HD 6770M and 1TB hard drive for a suggested retail price of $1,699 (US); and one with a 3.1 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, AMD Radeon HD 6970M and 1TB hard drive for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US).

Configure-to-order options include faster Intel Core i7 processors up to 3.4 GHz, additional hard drive capacity up to 2TB, a 256GB solid state drive, additional DDR3 memory and AppleCare® Protection Plan. Additional technical specifications and configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at www.apple.com/imac.

*Testing conducted by Apple in April 2011 using preproduction iMac configurations. For more information visit www.apple.com/imac/features.html.

**Claim based on energy efficiency categories and products listed within the EPA ENERGY STAR 5.2 energy database as of April 2011. EPEAT is an independent organization that helps customers compare the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. Products meeting all of the 23 required criteria and at least 75 percent of the optional criteria are recognized as EPEAT Gold products. The EPEAT program was conceived by the US EPA and is based on IEEE 1680 standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. For more information visit www.epeat.net.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

There’s also a 17.3-inch 1920 x 1080 display, up to 16GB of DDR3 memory (spread across four slots), a Blu-ray burner, and a choice of hybrid or SSD drives for storage. Connectivity includes HDMI, optical digital out, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth, along with 7.1-channel surround. You also get an optional TV tuner, USB 3.0 and eSATA.

As you might expect, none of this comes cheap. ORIGIN offer various custom paint finishes and designs, and the base model – with a 2.5GHz Core i5-2520 dual-core, 1.5GB GeForce GTX 460M graphics and 2GB of RAM - kicks off at $1,759. If you want the 4.5GHz overclocked Core i7-2920XM quadcore then it’s another $1,144 on top, while the GeForce GTX 484M is another $495. ORIGIN expects to start shipping the EON17-S from May 9.

Press Release:

ORIGIN EON17-S Laptops Overclocked up to 4.5GHz with Turbo Boost Available Now

The Highest Mobile Processor Clock Speed in the World

Miami, FL – April 25, 2011 – ORIGIN PC announced today the availability of overclocked processors in the EON17-S. Featuring 2nd generation INTEL “Sandybridge” processors and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 485M graphics cards, the laptops are the most powerful ORIGIN laptops available with mobile processors.

The EON17-S laptops have updated B3 stepping motherboards and feature overclocking and Turbo Boost technology allowing ORIGIN engineers to successfully increase the speed and power of the processor without impacting system stability or longevity. EON17-S laptops with overclocking are fully covered by ORIGIN’s unsurpassed warranty featuring free part replacement, free shipping, and free lifetime support.

EON17-S Features and Technology:
• 17.3 Full HD Widescreen, LED Backlit, 16.9, 1920 x 1080 (1080p)
• Customizable ORIGIN top cover
• 2nd Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 Processors
• Overclocking up to 4.5GHz with Turbo Boost on Core i7 Extreme Edition processors
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M 1.5GB or GTX485M 2GB
• FOUR Memory Slots for up to 32GB Dual Channel DDR3 1333Mhz or 16GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz
• Bluray burner & reader, Hybrid and SSD drive with RAID options
• Full size keyboard with numeric pad
• HDMI Out; Optical Digital Out, up to 7.1 HD Audio with THX TruStudio support
• Built-In 802.11n & Bluetooth Support
• Bluetooth 3.0 & Wireless Video options
• Built-In TVtuner support
• Built-in USB 3.0 & E-SATA ports
• (W)16.22″ x (D)10.87″ x (H)1.65″ – 1.79”
• 8.6 lbs with the battery

“The EON17-S laptops are remarkably portable and with 2nd generation Intel processors overclocked to 4.5GHz, they are the fastest ORIGIN laptops ever built on an Intel mobile platform” said Kevin Wasielewski ORIGIN CEO and co-founder.

ORIGIN systems feature a 1 to 3 year free shipping and free part replacement warranty backed with the best in class integration, quality testing and support. ORIGIN offers a free life-time phone and online service guarantee and each customer has a dedicated support team and free life-time labor for upgrade needs.

About ORIGIN:
ORIGIN builds custom, high-performance desktops and laptops for hardware enthusiasts, professionals, and gamers. ORIGIN PCs are hand built, tested, and serviced by knowledgeable gaming enthusiasts, industry veterans, and award winning system integrators. Their staff is comprised of award-winning, experienced experts in the gaming and PC markets who want to share their passion with other enthusiasts. ORIGIN is located in Miami, FL and ships worldwide. For more information, please visit www.ORIGINPC.com or call 1-877- ORIGIN-Ø. (674-4460)

The Alienware M14X has GeForce GT 555M graphics with either 1.5GB or 3GB of dedicated memory, together with using NVIDIA Optimus intelligent GPU switching. That allows the notebook to reach up to six hours runtime on a single charge. The display runs at 1366 x 768 or, optionally, 1600 x 900; other options include WiMAX. Ports include USB 3.0 and HDMI 1.4i, while pricing starts at $1,199.

Meanwhile the updated M11x now has up to 10 hours battery life thanks to the new processors and Optimus graphics, while still finding room inside the compact chassis for optional LTE, WiMAX or 3G connectivity. It’s priced from $999. As for the Alienware M18x, that will drop in May from $1,999.

Update: UK pricing will be from £899 for the M11x and from $1,099 for the M14x.

As well as the integrated Intel HD Graphics there are NVIDIA’s GeForce GT440, GT435M and GT420 GPUs, which can be paired with up to 1.5TB of storage and a choice of hybrid analog/digital TV tuners. There’s also gigabit ethernet, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, a 2-megapixel webcam and a Blu-ray reader/DVD burner.

Ports include eight USB 2.0 (though no USB 3.0), audio in/out, VGA (though no HDMI, DVI or DisplayPort) and PS/2, along with a memory card reader. The whole thing runs Windows 7, with various preloaded apps, but there’s also a Linpus Console Mode for quick-booting and getting online fast. The display runs at 1920 x 1080 resolution.

The Acer Aspire Z5761 will go on sale in early May, priced from £799 ($1,300).

Press Release:

New Acer Aspire Z5761: A touch of style and performance

London, 6th April 2011 – Acer introduces the new Acer Aspire Z5761: combining great performance, excellent entertainment and stylish modern design, this all-in-one desktop heralds next generation computing.

Thanks to the screen with multi-touch functionality, the Aspire Z5761 not only offers a dynamic user experience, but also delivers one of the easiest ways of interacting with your PC and integrating all your multimedia contents. Starting point for this smarter way to access the PC and the web, the Acer TouchPortal provides a truly hands-on experience bringing together a full suite of touch enhanced applications and gadgets for fun and entertainment:
TouchBrowser is a touch-friendly web browser designed for searching, retrieving and presenting information from the Internet.
TouchCam features handy touch controls to add fun video effects while chatting online, or do theme-style recording and share with friends on YouTube™.
TouchMusic, lets you browse, manage and play your favourite music.
TouchPhoto integrates photo management with photo sharing capabilities and is designed to interact with both local images and online albums.
TouchVideo includes video management and sharing features. It allows you to enjoy Blu-ray or DVD movies and home videos, as well as browse and share your videos to YouTube.

But the Acer TouchPortal is not the only way the Aspire Z5761 brings your digital life together. It also comes with Clear.fi, Acer’s new media sharing system based on the idea that it’s easier if all multimedia content is simply brought into a single system with a common interface. No matter where they are. Clear.fi is a cross-platform solution that works straight out of the box, automatically detecting the Clear.fi-enabled devices connected to the wireless home network, and then allowing all digital content stored on any of these to be shared seamlessly using the Clear.fi media interface.

Featuring a modern, minimalist design, the Aspire Z5761 easily fits into any décor, gracing any living or working space with a sophisticated look and feel. Sharp-cut geometric lines set off the combination of aluminum with matt and glossy black surfaces, creating a luxurious effect. Cool blue lighting placed above the integrated speakers lights up the keyboard. When not in use the keyboard can be nicely tucked away below the PC, enhancing the overall minimalist look as well as increasing the free area in front of the desktop. Inspired by modern art, the silver stand is designed with a window for organizing cables while keeping a simple, yet stylish design.

Performance-wise, this is an advanced PC, rich of cutting edge technologies engineered to convey an enhanced computing experience. Exploiting the 2nd generation Intel® Core™ processor family, that features Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, capable of increasing perfomance in response to the most demanding tasks such as editing multimedia files, or playing fast-paced games, this desktop can deliver optimal speed enabling smoother multitasking and ensuring maximised entertainment and productivity. What’s more it combines turbo-charged computing power with energy efficiency.

Top-quality visual and audio components make the most of your entertainment. With a spacious 58.4 cm (23”) Full HD 1080p 16:9 display, fast 5ms response and powerful graphics solutions, you will catch even the tiniest details of your favourite movies, games, pictures, and digital TV thanks to ultra-sharp and colorful imagery. Captivating and immersive audio is brought about by an integrated 5W stereo speaker system and professionally tuned Dolby® Home Theater® v4.

With a Blu-ray Disc™ optical drive (optional), multi-in-one card reader, and TV-tuner (optional) these models bring together all facets of your digital life, from movies to games, from TV to pictures: an all-in-one design also in terms of entertainment.

Full connectivity is ensured by the most advanced wireless and wired technologies: 802.11b/g/n network connection, Gigabit LAN and optional built-in Bluetooth® 2.1. The built-in microphone and high definition webcam will help you keep in touch with friends and family through video chats and conference.

In terms of storage, up to 1.5TB of capacity offers plenty of space for all your digital archives. Up to 8GB of DDR3 memory ensure seamless running of the most demanding application, while a total of eight USB port supplies handy connection to all your peripherals.

The Aspire Z5761 will be available in early May with prices starting from £799 inc Vat

They show the usual chunky, angular lines we’re familiar with from Alienware machines these days, along with a backlit keyboard which can, as with the M11x, be cycled through various hues. Ports include three USB 2.0, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, VGA, ethernet, various audio in/out and a memory card reader.

As for the guts of the notebook, we already knew that there’d be an Intel Core i7-2820QM processor along with either 1366 x 768 or 1920 x 1080 displays, plus a range of HDD and SSD storage. Graphics are courtesy of NVIDIA’s GeForce GT555M GPU, and there’ll be optional embedded WiMAX or LTE.

[via Engadget]

Options, meanwhile, include up to a 1920 x 1080 display (to replace the standard 1366 x 768 panel), up to 8GB of RAM, up to 500GB of regular hard-drive or up to 160GB of SSD, and both Bluetooth 3.0 and integrated WWAN. The regular model comes with a DVD burner, 6-cell battery and WiFi b/g/n.

The obvious comparison is Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Pro, recently updated with the same quadcore processor. That comes with more hard-drive space as standard, as well as a few other niceties, but also starts from $2,199.

[via Logicbuy]

Battery life from the ultraportable is expected to be 8 to 16.5 hours, helped by the absence of an onboard optical drive. However, when you’re back at your desk, the docking section will have an AMD Whistler-XT 1GB GPU, Blu-ray burner, HDMI and VGA outputs, ethernet and USB ports, in a unit weighing around 0.68kg (so you could, feasibly, carry it around with you as well).

As for the Chrome OS machine, that will have an 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 display, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage courtesy of a memory card. It will run NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 processor and have WWAN and WiFi from the outset, with Bluetooth and GPS enabled later in its lifespan. Dimensions are 298 x 215 x 19.9 mm and the ultraportable tips the scales at around 1kg. OS is a combination of Google’s web-centric platform and some custom VAIO software, and the launch is tipped for summer 2011.

RAM is up to 8GB and there’s Intel’s WiDi for streaming 1080p and 5.1 surround sound to a nearby display. Alternatively HDMI 1.4a does the same thing for those still into wires. An HD webcam and USB 3.0 round out the key specs, along with WiFi and optional mobile broadband.

In the US, the Dell Inspiron 14R will start from $579.99, the 15R from $529.99 and the 17R from $579.99, all with black lids. Additional lids will be from $39.99. In the UK, only the 15R and 17R will be available initially, priced from £479 and £529respectively, with extra lids from £29.

Press Release:

Switch Into Spring With The New Inspiron R Series From Dell

· New InspironTM R line expands Dell’s leading-edge portfolio of products with 2nd Generation Intel® CoreTM processors

· Inspiron R is fun, stylish and fast featuring the latest technology, a superior entertainment experience, impressive battery life and a new interchangeable lid option

· Just pop.click.switch: New SWITCH by Design Studio lids allow for a new look at any moment

BRACKNELL, UK, March 17, 2011 – The new Inspiron R series joins Dell’s expansive collection of laptops and desktops equipped with the latest Intel processors and are fun, stylish and lightning quick. Available today at Dell.co.uk, the new Inspiron R 15- and 17-inch laptops deliver incredible mobile entertainment, high-definition displays and outstanding battery life, but that’s just the beginning.

The perfect combination of brains and beauty – the latest addition to the Inspiron family also introduces an innovative new design twist: new SWITCH by Design Studio interchangeable lids that switch the look of Inspiron R laptops with just a pop and a click[i]. The SWITCH by Design Studio collection includes 23 new eye-popping lids sporting vibrant colours and unique designs. Start the day with a Peacock Blue lid, and switch it out for a design-inspired look at night. SWITCH by Design Studio will be available with select lids at launch, with more options introduced in the coming weeks.

But the Inspiron R shouldn’t be judged by its cover(s) alone. Packing the latest 2nd generation Intel Core technology, the Inspiron R laptops benefit from sleek form factors, up to 13 hours of battery life[ii] with the optional 9-cell battery and incorporate the latest USB 3.0 technology to make transferring photos, videos, music and other graphics-rich files faster than ever.

Performance? Check! What about the lids? Curated collections carefully selected from Dell Design Studio are coming soon. The contemporary art and graphic designs available from SWITCH by Design Studio and will offer exclusive selections from outstanding independent artists, designers and partners including OPI and Threadless and (PRODUCT)RED™, where a portion of proceeds go to The Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa [iii].

“Our Inspiron R models equipped with 2nd gen Intel Core processors deliver the ultimate in entertainment and mobility and because customers value both performance and style, the eye-catching lids are designed to suit your mood or style at any given moment,” said Sam Burd, vice president Dell’s Consumer & SMB Product Group. “With the Inspiron-R series, we’re living up to our heritage of delivering the performance you need to do more, and with SWITCH by Design Studio, you can look good while doing it,” Burd added.

Inspiron R: The Dell Difference

With a range of entertainment, storage, productivity and show-stopping design options available on the Inspiron R, Dell makes it easy for people to go online and choose the perfect Inspiron R laptop with confidence, knowing it will be a smart investment that will deliver the ideal technology-by-design for them.

Inspiron R: Key Features

· 2nd generation Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processor options and up to 8GB of memory [iv]

· Weight starting at 2.65kg / 5.84 lbs for the Inspiron 15R[v]

· 6-cell battery included with 9-cell battery options[vi]

· SRS Premium Audio and high-definition video performance

· Intel Wireless Display technology for wireless projection of full 1080p video and 5.1 surround sound to your home theatre for a breath-taking movie-viewing experience[vii]

· Support for Blu-ray 3D movie playback when equipped with the optional Blu-ray drive and connected to your 3D TV (HDMI 1.4 required)[viii]

· Integrated Dell Stage software, providing one-click access to photos, music, videos, social-networking sites, e-books and more

· HD capable webcam

· ChicletTM-style keyboard[ix]

· Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium with option for Professional

· Optional SWITCH by Design Studio lids featuring the new India Collection and designs from OPI, Threadless.com, (PRODUCT)RED™ and various artists

Pricing and Availability

Inspiron R
The new Inspiron R models are available today in the UK on Dell.co.uk

· Inspiron 15R (SWITCH by Design Studio model with black lid): Starts at £479 inc VAT and shipping

· Inspiron 17R (SWITCH by Design Studio model with black lid): Starts at £529 inc VAT and shipping

· SWITCH by Design Studio lids: Start at £29[x]

Press Release:

Switch into Spring with the New Inspiron R Series from Dell

New InspironTM R line expands Dell’s leading-edge portfolio of products with 2nd Generation Intel® CoreTM processors
Inspiron R is fun, stylish and fast featuring the latest technology, a superior entertainment experience, impressive battery life and a new interchangeable lid option
Just pop.click.switch: New SWITCH by Design Studio lids allow for a new look at any moment
ROUND ROCK, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The new Inspiron R series joins Dell’s expansive collection of laptops and desktops equipped with the latest Intel processors and are fun, stylish and lightning quick. Available today at Dell.com, the new Inspiron R 14-, 15- and 17-inch laptops deliver incredible mobile entertainment, high-definition displays and outstanding battery life, but that’s just the beginning.

“Our Inspiron R models equipped with 2nd gen Intel Core processors deliver the ultimate in entertainment and mobility and because customers value both performance and style, the eye-catching lids are designed to suit your mood or style at any given moment”
The perfect combination of brains and beauty – the latest addition to the Inspiron family also introduces an innovative new design twist: new SWITCH by Design Studio interchangeable lids that switch the look of Inspiron R laptops with just a pop and a click1. The SWITCH by Design Studio collection includes 25 new eye-popping lids sporting vibrant colors and unique designs. Start the day with a Peacock Blue lid, and switch it out for a design-inspired look at night.

But the Inspiron R shouldn’t be judged by its cover(s) alone. Packing the latest 2nd generation Intel Core technology, the Inspiron R laptops benefit from sleek form factors, up to 13 hours of battery life2 on the Inspiron 15R with the optional 9-cell battery and incorporate the latest USB 3.0 technology to make transferring photos, videos, music and other graphics-rich files faster than ever.

Performance? Check! What about the lids? Carefully selected from Dell Design Studio’s curated collections, the contemporary art and graphic designs available from SWITCH by Design Studio offer exclusive selections from outstanding independent artists, designers and partners including OPI and Threadless and charitable partners, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and (PRODUCT)RED™, where a portion of proceeds benefit each organization, respectively3. And new with SWITCH by Design Studio, available today, are four Eastern-inspired designs from the India collection.

“Our Inspiron R models equipped with 2nd gen Intel Core processors deliver the ultimate in entertainment and mobility and because customers value both performance and style, the eye-catching lids are designed to suit your mood or style at any given moment,” said Sam Burd, vice president Dell’s Consumer & SMB Product Group. “With the Inspiron-R series, we’re living up to our heritage of delivering the performance you need to do more, and with SWITCH by Design Studio, you can look good while doing it,” Burd added.

Inspiron R: The Dell Difference

With a range of entertainment, storage, productivity and show-stopping design options available on the Inspiron R, Dell makes it easy for people to go online and choose the perfect Inspiron R laptop with confidence, knowing it will be a smart investment that will deliver the ideal technology-by-design for them.

Inspiron R: Key Features

2nd generation Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processor options and up to 8GB of memory4
Weight starting at 4.94 lbs for the Inspiron 14R5
6-cell battery included with 9-cell battery options6
SRS Premium Audio and high-definition video performance
Intel Wireless Display technology for wireless projection of full 1080p video and 5.1 surround sound to your home theater for a breath-taking movie-viewing experience7
Support for Blu-ray 3D movie playback when equipped with the optional Blu-ray drive and connected to your 3D TV (HDMI 1.4 required)8
Integrated Dell Stage software, providing one-click access to photos, music, videos, social-networking sites, e-books and more
HD capable webcam
ChicletTM-style keyboard9
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium with option for Professional
Optional SWITCH by Design Studio lids featuring the new India Collection and designs from OPI, Threadless.com, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, (PRODUCT)RED™ and various artists
Pricing and Availability

Inspiron R

The new Inspiron R models are available today in the U.S. on Dell.com and will be available through Dell’s U.S. retail partners in the coming months.

Inspiron 14R (SWITCH by Design Studio model with black lid): Starts at $579.99
Inspiron 15R (SWITCH by Design Studio model with black lid): Starts at $529.99
Inspiron 17R (SWITCH by Design Studio model with black lid): Starts at $579.99
SWITCH by Design Studio lids: Start at $39.9910

The Series 2 kicks things off with Celeron chips in the 12.5-inch models and Core i3 chips in the 14-inchers. They also get up to 4GB of storage and a 320GB HDD, while graphics are courtesy of Intel’s GMA HD chipset. As for the Series 4, both the 12.5- and 14-inchers can be spec’d with Core i3, i5 or i7 processors, along with up to 6GB of RAM and up to 500GB of HDD storage.

Finally, the Series 6 notebooks come in 14- and 15.6-inch versions with Core i3, i5 or i7 processors and up to 8GB of RAM and 500GB of storage. A 128GB/256 SSD is an option, as is NVIDIA NVS 4200M graphics. The Samsung Series 2 and Series 4 notebooks will arrive in April, while the Series 6 notebooks will follow on in May. No word on pricing at this stage.

Press Release:

SAMSUNG EXPANDS ENTERPRISE COMPUTING LINE WITH SERIES 2, SERIES 4, AND SERIES 6 BUSINESS LAPTOPS
March 16, 2011

New feature-rich notebooks combine reliability, versatility and performance for the managed-IT environment

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., — March 16, 2011 – Samsung Electronics America Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, today announced three new mobile PC lines for the workplace. The Series 2, Series 4 and Series 6 laptops combine first-rate reliability and enhanced security with features like anti-shock hard drives and pressure-resistant casings to meet the needs of a fast-paced enterprise or educational environment.

“Samsung’s new mobile PCs deliver an unrivaled experience for the workplace, with features specifically designed to meet the needs of IT managers and end users,” said Scott Ledterman, director of mobile PC marketing at Samsung Enterprise Business Division. “The new Series 2, 4 and 6 laptops present a unique opportunity for Samsung to specifically focus on the enterprise and educational channels and underscores Samsung as a global leader in the enterprise PC market.”

Comfortable, Performance-Driven Experience
With all-day use in mind, Samsung engineered the Series 2, 4, and 6 mobiles PCs to provide the most comfortable and efficient experience possible. The sleek new laptops feature the latest 2nd generation Intel® Core™ processor technology and Intel HD graphics, with select models offering optional nVIDIA Optimus Technology for outstanding graphics performance and long battery life. . Additionally, the 300-nit 16 million color SuperBright display offers a 50-percent brighter screen than conventional displays. The new enterprise-focused mobile PCs also feature comfortable keyboards and an optional TrackPoint in addition to a large touchpad to create an enhanced user experience even during periods of extended use.

Samsung’s Fast Start technology helps users take control of their work flow, allowing users to begin working within 3 seconds of opening the display or pressing the power button when in sleep mode. Samsung Fast Start also automatically saves data onto the HDD, to prevent data loss in the event the device loses power or the battery is removed. For added performance in the business world, Samsung’s Fast Browsing feature offers up to a 15-percent improvement in web response time, allowing users to quickly access information and databases online.

Samsung’s new line of business notebooks provide outstanding battery life with a high capacity 6-cell battery providing up to 7 hours of battery life on a single charge. The optional 9-cell battery provides even longer battery life for mobile professionals on the go.

Unwavering Reliability, Durability and Security
Ensuring that a workforce can perform whenever and wherever they need, durability and reliability is at the core of the new lines with a standard 3-year warranty on all models and US-based Tier 2 customer support. For education and small businesses customers, the Series 2 mobile PC offers users a durable and affordable computing option while the Series 4 and Series 6 laptops are ideal for users with more demanding computing needs.

Each of the new laptops is constructed with a super-hard external casing and metal hinges for rugged durability. For further protection, Series 6 business rugged notebooks are equipped with reinforced magnesium alloy construction for enhanced durability.

For added peace of mind, the Series 2, 4 and 6 computers all feature an anti-spill design with a sealed case, reducing the risk of damage from minor spills on internal components. Moreover, the laptops feature Samsung’s anti-shock hard disk drive (HDD) protection, which uses an accelerometer to detect movement and stop the disk from spinning, preventing potential data loss upon impact.

For CTOs and IT managers that need to ensure sensitive contents remain secure at all times, each of the new notebooks is equipped with a range of security features such as pre-boot authentication. Series 4 and Series 6 notebooks add additional security features including a Fingerprint Sensor and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip. Series 6 notebooks further enhanced security and manageability features with Intel vPro technology.

Improved Usability and Connectivity
Flawless integration with existing enterprise technology is a primary concern within an office environment. With this in mind, Samsung’s Easy Migration service allows users and IT managers to easily transfer files, settings and profiles from a user’s previous PC to one of Samsung’s newest models. Users can also rapidly backup and share data using a high-speed USB 3.0 connection.

For users that need teleconferencing capabilities, each model features enhanced audio/visual components, including a 1.3MP webcam and array microphone – making sharing business plans or presentations with clients and vendors simple and cost effective.

All three of the new lines of mobile PCs come with a standard three year warranty and Samsung Support. The Samsung Series 2 and Series 4 are scheduled to be available in April 2011. The Samsung Series 6 will be available in May 2011. All Samsung mobile PC products are available through Samsung resellers and distribution channels, which can be located by calling 1-866-SAM4BIZ or by visiting www.samsung.com.

Key Specs:
Series 2:
- Sizes Available: 12.5-inch, 14-inch,
- CPU:
- Intel® CeleronTM Processor (12.5-inch)
- Intel® CoreTM i3 Processor (14-inch)
- Operating System: Genuine Windows® 7 Professional (32 or 64 bit)
- Memory: 2GB ~ 4 GB (expandable)
- Storage (max): 320GB
- Screen:
- 12.5-inch HD LED-backlit display
- 14.0-inch HD LED-backlit SuperBright display (300 nit)
- Resolution: 1366 x 768
- Graphics: Intel GMA HD Integrated Graphics

Series 4:
- Sizes Available: 12.5-inch, 14-inch,
- CPU:
- Intel® CoreTM i3 ~ i7 Processor (3MB ~ 4MB) (12.5-inch)
- Intel® CoreTM i3 ~ i7 Processor (3MB ~ 6MB)
- Operating System:
- Genuine Windows® 7 Professional (32 or 64 bit) (12.5-inch)
- Genuine Windows® 7 Professional (32 or 64 bit) (14-inch)
- Memory: 2GB ~ 6GB (expandable)
- Storage (max): 320GB ~ 500GB 7200RPM
- Screen:
- 12.5-inch HD LED-backlit display
- 14.0-inch HD LED-backlit SuperBright display (300 nit)
- Resolution:
- 1366 x 768
- Graphics:
- Intel GMA HD Integrated Graphics (12.5-inch)
- Intel GMA HD Integrated Graphics (14-inch)
- Battery: 6-cell; up to 7 hours
- Docking station connector

Series 6:
- Sizes Available: 14-inch, 15.6-inch
- CPU:
- Intel® CoreTM i3 ~ i7 Processor (3MB ~ 6MB) (14- and 15.6-inch)
- Operating System:
- Genuine Windows® 7 Professional (32 or 64 bit) (14-inch)
- Genuine Windows® 7 Professional (32 or 64 bit) (15.6-inch)
- Memory:
- 4GB ~ 8GB (14-inch) (expandable)
- 4GB ~ 8GB (15.6-inch) (expandable)
- Storage (max):
- 320GB ~ 500GB (7200 rpm sATA)
- Optional 128GB ~ 256GB Solid State Drive (SSD)
- Screen:
- 14.0-inch HD LED-backlit SuperBright display (300 nit)
- 15.6-inch HD LED-backlit SuperBright display (300 nit)
- Resolution:
- 1366 x 768, 1600 x 900
- Graphics:
- Intel GMA HD Integrated Graphics or nVIDIA NVS 4200M
- Battery: 6-cell; up to 7 hours
- Docking station connector

That lengthy runtime is courtesy of the X220′s regular 9-cell battery paired with the ThinkPad Extended battery. The X220T, meanwhile, doesn’t last as long – it only has a regular 6-cell battery as standard – but can still manage up to 16hrs and totes and multitouch display protected by Gorilla Glass.

There’s also a choice of Intel SSDs (up to 160GB), up to 8GB of memory and USB 3.0 connectivity on certain SKUs, along with a 720p HD webcam and microphone array. Pricing will kick off from $899 for the ThinkPad X220 and from $1,199 for the ThinkPad X220T when they go on sale in April. Our X220 review unit arrived this week, so you can expect the full SlashGear review very soon!

Press Release:

New Lenovo ThinkPad Ultraportable Laptops Recharged, Reenergized and Renewed

Up to 24-hour battery life, smart PC technologies & sleek, usable design

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – March 8, 2011: Lenovo announced today the next generation of the best-selling ultraportable laptop of 20101 – the ThinkPad X220 laptop – and the X220 convertible Tablet PC. These PCs give mobile business professionals the full performance and usability found in larger laptops, but in a super ultraportable design. The PCs run up to 75 percent faster than ultraportable competitors that use low-powered CPUs2, feature smart PC technologies for incredibly long battery life up to 24 hours3 on the ThinkPad X220 and sport a clean, revamped design with hinge-based latching and a giant touchpad in a thinner laptop design. Additionally, they feature improved durability with wider drain-holes in the spill resistant keyboard and a 50% improvement in drop test performance4.

“Put simply, The ThinkPad X Series has everything a modern road warrior needs without compromises – low weight, long battery life and high performance,” said Dilip Bhatia, vice president, ThinkPad Marketing, Lenovo. “We’ve refined the mobile computing experience to make it more productive and enjoyable with features like smart PC technologies and enhanced video and voice calling.”

24 hour Battery Life for Around the Clock Computing
The ThinkPad X220 offers up to 15 hours battery life with a standard 9-cell battery. Battery life jumps up to 24-hours by adding the new ThinkPad external battery. The convertible tablet starts under four pounds with its standard 4-cell battery. When combined with a 6-cell battery and the external battery pack, the tablet can run for 16 hours continuously on one charge. Users charge the PCs on the external ThinkPad Battery when connected to the PC or separately. A battery charge indicator shows when the battery reaches a full charge.

Full-Performance Under Three Pounds
These speed-optimized PCs fit the same full-powered CPUs as bigger 14 and 15-inch laptops for full performance5, while similar weight competitors offer only low powered CPUs. Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 primes the PCs for rapid boot, shut down and resume from sleep by tuning the BIOS and other hardware settings. With Intel™ HD integrated graphics the PCs perform twice as quickly in streaming video, editing photos and loading web pages. Additionally, USB 3.0 technology on select models transfers data lightning fast, up to 10 times that of USB 2.0.

Smart PC Technologies
Equipped with second generation Intel™ Core® i7 processors, applications run fast and make multi-tasking hassle-free. The PCs come with self-aware and adaptive technologies to ensure priority components receive power for the highest levels of performance and battery life. Intel™ Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 boosts processor speed during intensive tasks, and with Lenovo Turbo Boost+, the PCs can stay in Turbo Boost mode longer by keeping processor temperatures below certain thresholds. With reduced power to non-essential hardware, the laptops achieve up to 30 percent longer battery life while playing multimedia so users can watch DVDs, listen to MP3s or stream web content longer.

Loud and Clear Voice and Video Calling
The “no compromise” performance experience continues with technologies that solve everyday challenges. For example, they incorporate several technologies for excellent voice and video conferencing, such as private chat and conference call microphone modes, keyboard noise suppression technology and a dedicated LED-lit microphone mute key.

The PCs also keep corridor warriors connected longer with Lenovo’s new Instant Resume function. This function maintains connections during sleep mode for up to 99 minutes, eliminating the need to login and reconnect between meetings. And tablet users don’t have to worry about losing their pen with the new “never-lost-pen” technology. It notifies a person when he or she moves the tablet without the pen in the pen-holder.

ThinkPad Remodels with Clean, Sharp & Durable Design
The inside of the new PCs reveal a cleaner, sharper design over previous models. Both the ThinkPad X220 laptop and X220 Tablet feature a 12.5-inch HD screen and self-closing hinges that shut the PCs. This space-saving hinge design brings several key benefits: better antenna and speaker placement for stronger thoroughput, a 45 percent larger touchpad and a cleaner visual design. The larger, buttonless touchpad gives extra room for fingers to scroll, highlight and do multitouch gestures.

For students, mobile sales forces and other mobile professionals working outside, the multitouch tablet now adds a new rough and tough feature to its super bright, 300-nit screen with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass. Already military specifications tested to meet extreme conditions, Gorilla Glass strengthens the screen so it can withstand scratches, scrapes and abuse from the field.

Ready for Business
The PCs are also business-ready: They’re easy for IT administrators to use and manage thanks to their second generation Intel™ Core® and Core® vPro processors. Common ThinkPad docking stations and batteries also allow companies to swap hardware among employees to maximize their resources and minimize cost.

Pricing and Availability6
The ThinkPad X220 laptop and X220 Tablet will be available starting in April through business partners and www.lenovo.com. Prices for models start at approximately $899 and $1,199, respectively.