NetbookTech

Who says you can’t game on a sub-12 inch notebook platform? Certainly not Dell as they’ve announced the availability of the Alienware M11x which provides the graphics power typically found on larger laptop systems with the form factor and battery life of thin-and-light notebook systems.

According to Dell, the 11.6 inch Alienware M11x scores over 6100 with the 3DMark06 benchmark – easily crushing integrated graphics performance typically found on competing 11.6 inch systems. What makes this all possible is the use of a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M graphics card. Don’t need the graphics performance of the GeForce GT 335M? No problem. The M11x comes with switchable graphics allowing you to easily switch between discrete graphics to integrated graphics. Switching to integrated graphics also means the M11x can enjoy upwards of 8.5 hours of battery life.

At the heart of the Alienware M11x notebook is an Intel CULV processor (either the Intel Pentium SU4100 processor clocked at 1.3GHz or the Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor clocked at 1.3GHz). These processors provide just enough horsepower for most gaming needs while also remaining power-efficient for long battery lives.

Other features and specs include:

• 2-8GB of memory
• Choose from 160GB to 500GB SATA HDD or 256GB Solid State Drive
• 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M graphics
• 11.6 inch 1366 x 768 WLED display
• Internal HD surround sound
• Ethernet port
• 1.3 megapixel webcam
• DisplayPort and HDMI output
• Available in either Cosmic Black or Lunar Silver

Prices for the Alienware M11x start at $799 (which includes 2GB of RAM and the Intel Pentium SU4100 processor. Switch to the Core 2 Duo SU7300 and the system price will rise to $899.

So why even consider this notebook if you can possibly get cheaper notebooks with even better graphics? It comes down to a balanced mix of portability, graphics performance, battery life, and price. Need graphics power? Switch on the NVIDIA graphics. Need long battery life? Switch to integrated graphics.

Pretty sweet.

[Check it out]

For those of you who believe that nail polish colors rule, you’ll be thrilled to hear that Dell has added six new nail polish shades to the Inspiron Mini 10 netbook as part of a partnership with QPI. The six colors, all inspired by the city of Hong Kong, are Dim Sum Plum, Hot & Spicy, Jade is the New Black, Meet Me on the Star Ferry, Red My Fortune Cookie, and Suzi Says Feng Shui.

Dim Sum Plum:

Hot & Spicy:

Jade is the New Black:

Meet Me on the Star Ferry:

Suzi Says Feng Shui:

Dell announces a new “beauty” for the corporate world with yesterday’s introduction of the new thin-and-light Latitude 13 notebook. Taking design cues from the popular Vostro 13, the Latitude 13 is supposedly the “world’s thinnest 13 inch commercial client laptop” and comes with many of the same internal guts as those found on the Vostro 13.

Additional corporate features on the Latitude 13 include:

• Support for Broadcom TruManage technology and Dell ImageDirect service which lets IT create, update, and deploy system images 24/7 from a secure online location
• Desktop virtualization through certification from Citrix and VMware
• Customized security offerings including solid state drives, full-disk encryption, Trusted Platform Module control, and Computrace software
• Complete range of connectivity options including optional WWAN mobile broadband, Bluetooth, and 802.11 g/n Wi-Fi
• Optional external Blu-ray drive
• 13.3 inch display
• Weight of 3.36 pounds
• Intel ULV processor support
• Choice of Windows 7 or Windows XP

The Latitude 13 will be available in the coming weeks.

While the primary focus of the upcoming Google Chromium OS is the netbook form factor, this doesn’t mean Google isn’t considering other form factors for the browser-based OS. If you head on over to http://dev.chromium.org/chromium-os/user-experience/form-factors, you’ll find a variety of possible form factors for the Chromium OS – everything from tablets to laptops to desktop systems to large-screen displays. For each form factor, Google outlines the changes to the user interface one might expect with the Chromium OS.

On the netbook front, one would expect:

• Full Screen, Compact/Classic/Sidebar UI
• Omnibox may autohide on devices with limited vertical height
• Docking panels
• Tabs and Windows

Tables with 5 to 10 inch screens, one would expect:

• Full screen, touch-enabled UI
• Docking panels
• Tabs only
• High-resolution display
• Visual exploration

Laptops with 15 to 17 inch displays, one would expect:

• Windowed, classical UI
• Overlapping, or tiled window management
• Floating or docking panels

Desktops with 24 to 30 inch displays, one would expect:

• Windows, classical UI
• Overlapping window management
• Floating or docking panels

And finally for large display sized 40 to 60 inches, one would expect:

• Full-screen displays
• Auto-hiding Omnibox
• Docking panels
• Split screen
• Tabs only

Since everyone’s just a bit crazed over tablets these days, Google decided to show off concept renderings of what the Chromium OS would look like on a Tablet form factor. Here are the renditions.

[Reprinted from Krunker.com]

A new study by ABI Research predicts up to 4 million tablets will ship this year growing to 57 million annually by the year 2015.

According to senior analyst Jeff Orr,”Apple’s iPad is not the first media tablet..But it does help define this new device category. The main focus of media tablets is entertainment.”

Furthermore, Orr expects tablets to remain as a “premium or luxury product for wealthy industrialized markets for at least several years” with units not expected to replace laptops, netbooks, or even mobile phones.

Of course things could very well change in a short order especially if additional third party vendors jump into the ring with cheaper, capable devices. We know Windows 7-based tablets will continue to grow but you can be sure Google Chome-based tablets will enter the fray within the next year or two.

On the flipside, Orr believes third party manufacturers will have a hard time generating awareness of their products among consumers/buyers.

“New entrants to this market are at a disadvantage since they lack the retail relationships and network operator agreements already built by the more mature vendors. Surprisingly, Apple may have done them a favor by raising the public profile of the whole media tablet category.”

It’s certainly not surprising when you consider what Apple did for the smartphone industry. Until the advent of the Apple iPhone, smartphones were relegated to the tech-savvy and business-oriented audiences. Now, it seems like everyone has an iPhone or at least some sort of touch-based smartphone.

In our heads, the real question isn’t how many units will ship. The real question is – does anyone actually need a tablet? Forget the price, or units shipped, or availability but focus in on purpose. Buying an iPhone makes sense since nearly everyone needs or wants a mobile phone. Buying an iPod makes sense since most of us enjoy the concept of portable music. A tablet? The case for one still stands on shaky ground – at least until a real killer application or purpose is made available.

[Check it out]

Yeah it’s been awhile since we ran a “Netbook Deals of the Day” posting – mostly because the holiday season was over and the transition to the new Pine Trail platform was upon us. However, with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, several e-tailers are running netbook deals that you might be interested in, so without further ado, let’s check out them deals!

In the thin-and-light category, Newegg is selling the Toshiba Satellite T135-S1305 notebook for a mere $549.99 ($150 dollars off the original price of $699.99). Specs for this thin-and-light include an Intel Pentium SU4100 ULV processor clocked at 1.3GHz, a 13.3 inch 1366 x 768 resolution display, 3GB of RAM, Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics, Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit, 320GB HDD, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, built-in stereo speakers, and full-sized keyboard. The notebook measures 12.7" x 8.78" x 0.87-1.35" and weighs a reasonable 3.88lbs. The Pentium SU4100 will provide 2-2.5x more processing power than your typical Atom N270 processor so this is certainly a notebook to consider if you want a bit more oomph in your everyday needs.

The other notable Newegg.com deal is for the ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005HA-PU1X-BK Crystal Black 10.1" WSVGA Netbook – priced at $319.99 ($30 dollars off the original price of $349.99). This netbook features the Intel Atom N280 processor (it’s a pre-Pine Trail netbook), a 10.1 inch LED-backlit display, 1GB of RAM, a built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, built-in speakers, media card reader, and a 6 cell battery for approximately 10+ hours of battery life.

Let’s move over to Geeks.com, a great place to find new and refurbished units.

We’ve never heard of the company, but Geeks is offering the PeeCee Mini M02 Atom N270-based netbook for a low price of $259.99. This system (which is almost gone) features:

• Intel Atom N270 processor
• Windows XP Home Edition
• 1GB of RAM
• 160GB SATA HDD
• Intel GMA950 graphics
• Built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam
• Ethernet and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• 10.2 inch widescreen LCD display
• Built-in 3 in 1 card reader
• Measures 10.35 x 7.24 x 1.36 inches and weighs 2.78 pounds

Should you buy it? If you’re not sure of the brand then you might want to reconsider.. but if you have cash to blow and you’re adventurous, then why not check it out!

Fans of the original MSI Wind U100 will definitely want to check out the current deals over at Geeks.com where the company is offering 3 cell versions for a mere $279.99. They have them in pink, white, and black. The specs are:

• Intel Atom N270 processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 160GB SATA HDD
• Intel GMA 950 graphics
• Ethernet and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• 1.3 megapixel webcam
• 10 inch WSVGA display
• Windows XP Home Edition
• Media card reader

If you’re a fan of convertible notebooks, then check out the Geeks.com deal on the ASUS Eee PC T91 here on their website. The 8.9 inch system features the Intel Atom Z520 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 16GB solid state drive, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, 0.3 megapixel webcam, and Windows XP. Perhaps even funnier is the comparison chart that Geeks put up on the site comparing the T91 against the newly announced Apple iPad. Here are snippets from the chart (keep in mind, I’m merely copying what THEY put up. I am stating this myself so don’t go flaming me for this!):

Heh.. the sad thing is – yes the T91 supports Adobe Flash thanks to Windows XP.. but can the Atom Z520 handle HD flash video.. uhh.. don’t think so.

Alright, the final “deals” come from Dell where they’re currently offering the Dell Mini 10 and 10v at low starting prices. In fact, starting prices for both the Mini 10 and the 10v come in at $279. The Mini 10 has the updated Pine Trail platform while the Mini 10v is using the older Atom platform featuring the Atom N270 processor. Both systems feature similar specs as well as a small 3 cell battery. Want a 6 cell battery for that Mini 10?  You can get one for $299 which still isn’t a bad price. Finally, Dell is also offering a Mini 10 model with a built-in GPS for a price of $399.

OK, our final vendor of the day is PC Mall where they’re offering the Lenovo IdeaPad U350 thin-and-light notebook for a mere $469.99. OK the check out price is actually a tad-bit higher at $519.99 (the actual price is $569.99 minus an instant rebate of $50 dollars and then a mail-in rebate of $50 dollars. Yes, we hate mail-in rebates too). The U350 features an Intel Pentium SU4100 processor, a 13.3 inch LED backlit display, 3GB of RAM, 320GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, a 4 cell battery, and an HDMI port.

We’re honored and absolutely thrilled to announce that NetbookTech has won a 2010 Golden Retrevo Award for outstanding achievement in the “Laptops, Netbooks, & Desktops” space at Retrevo.com.

In case you’re not familiar with Retrevo, they’re one of the top consumer electronics shopping and reviews sites out there with more than 5 million visitors a month.

Getting an award from Retrevo is truly an honor and we’d like to extend our sincerest thanks to everyone at Retrevo and the general public for this incredible recognition. We’d also like to thank you, our incredible readership, for making us one of your stopping points on the web.

Finally, please make sure to check out the many other top independent gadget bloggers featured at Retrevo.com.

Yes, we’ve got our hands on a new netbook, and it’s none other than the HP Mini 210 (specifically the Mini 210-1095NR) in Sonoma Red. This netbook features:

• 10.1 inch WSVGA anti-glare widescreen display
• 160GB 5400RPM HDD
• 1GB DDR2 SDRAM
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• 6 cell Lithium-Ion battery
• Intel Graphcis Media Accelerator 3150
• 5 in 1 media card reader
• Intel Atom N450 processor clocked at 1.66GHz
• Windows 7 Starter 32 bit edition
• Built-in webcam

Stay tuned for our review but do not it’ll take some time because we do like to use the netbook for a bit to get a good feel for the system. In the meantime, check out the unboxing pictures in all its glorious detail.

PC Magazine has two new netbook reviews out on their website – one for the Toshiba Mini NB305-N410 and one for the new ASUS EeePC 1201N netbook.

The Toshiba Mini NB305 is essentially an update to the extremely popular Mini NB205 – keeping the great features of the NB205 while updating the system to the new Intel Pine Trail platform. The NB305 features the Intel Atom N450 processor, a 10.1 inch LED backlit display, 1GB of RAM, a 250GB SATA HDD, a full-sized keyboard, a spacious multi-touch enabled touchpad, Wi-Fi, and Windows 7 Starter. The best part? The NB205 maintains its incredible battery life while shrinking the battery form factor (aka the protruding battery is no more). Here’s what PC Magazine thought of the NB305:

“The Toshiba mini NB305-N410 netbook carries over many of the qualities that made its predecessor, the mini NB205 so lovable, and it’s still the netbook that gives you the most for the least amount of money.”

The ASUS EeePC 1201N is an entirely different kind of netbook – eschewing battery life in favor of processor and graphics performance. The 1201N dumps the Intel Atom N270 processor in favor of the higher-performing Atom N330 dual-core processor, making the 1201N the first netbook to feature the dual-core processor. Other features include a 12.1 inch LED backlit display, NVIDIA ION graphics, HDMI output, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity, 2GB of RAM, full-sized chiclet keyboard, integrated webcam and microphone, and Windows 7 Home Premium.  As you might expect, the 1201N has a fairly low battery life of around 4 to 5 hours but if that’s the least of your concerns, then the 1201N is certainly an interesting system to look at. Here’s what PC Magazine thought of the unit:

“The ASUS EeePC 1201N is the fastest netbook money can buy, but its tradeoff is battery life just 4 hours of it.”

[Reprinted from Krunker.com]

Ending months of speculation, Apple officially announced the iPad device today at a special press event held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Let’s quickly go over the facts, features, and specifications about the new iPad. We’ll save our editorial comments for a later post.

We’ll start things off with what the iPad delivers.

The iPad is essentially a slate format computer measuring 9.56 x 7.47 x 0.5 inches and weighing a mere 1.5 pounds (tack on 0.1 pounds for the 3G model).

The device features a bright LED-backlit multi-touch-enabled 9.7 inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 768. Unfortunately this is not a 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio display.

It has a built-in rechargeable battery with approximately 10 hours of battery life and in typical Apple fashion, it is NOT user-replaceable.

Inside, you’ll find a custom-built Apple processor (System-on-a-chip) clocked at 1GHz.  Storage wise, you’ll be able to choose from 3 options – 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB.

There will be two models consumers can choose from – a Wi-Fi model and a Wi-Fi + 3G model. Each model will have the above three storage options to choose from.

Prices for the Wi-Fi models are:

• 16GB – $499
• 32GB – $599
• 64GB – $699

Prices for the Wi-Fi + 3G models are:

• 16GB – $629
• 32GB – $729
• 64GB – $829

Yes, that means you’ll be paying a $130 dollar premium for the 3G data support (and on top of that you’ll need to purchase Mobile Broadband service too).

The iPad will feature several applications (12 in total) redesigned from the ground up to take advantage of the new device form factor. Some of the more interesting new apps include:

Mail:

Put the iPad in landscape orientation, and your mail will automatically shift to a split-screen view with incoming messages on the left and the current message on the right. Use a virtual soft keyboard to type out messages (the keyboard is nearly the size of a full-sized keyboard). If you want to view a single message by itself, rotate the iPad to portrait mode.

Photos:

Photo Albums are now displayed as stacks of photos. Tap or pinch to open up a stack and then flip through pictures using your fingers. Tap to zoom in or out, or watch a slideshow using the application.

YouTube:

YouTube UI has been redesigned and the iPad supports YouTube HD videos too.

iPod:

Yes, you’ll get the iPod with the iPad including all the features you’ve come to expect from the iPod.

iTunes:

Browse and buy music, TV shows, and podcasts, or buy and rent movies directly from the iPad.

App Store:

The iPad will run nearly all of the 140,000 apps currently found in the App Store. Existing apps can run centered on the display or full-sized taking up the entire display. There will also be apps designed specifically for the iPad’s form factor.

iBooks:

iBooks is a new free app from the App Store which you can use to buy books from the built-in iBookstore. Once you’ve purchase a book, it will be displayed on a virtual bookshelf. Double-tap to read the book.

Other new apps include Maps, Notes, Calendar, and Contacts. There’s also support for Spotlight Search on the iPad.

In addition, Apple announced a new version of iWork designed specifically for the iPad. You’ll be able to purchase Pages, Keynote, and Numbers directly from the App Store for $9.99 each.

Let’s now talk about the technical specifications for the iPad.

Display:

• 9.7 inch LED backlit glossy wide-screen multi-touch display with IPS technology
• 1024 x 768 resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)
• Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating

Storage:

• Choice of 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive

Processor:

• Custom-designed 1GHz Apple A4 processor (system on a chip) – this is a direct result of their PA-Semi acquisition from a few years back

Sensors:

• Accelerometer
• Ambient Light Sensor

Battery:

• Built-in (aka non-user replaceable) 25Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
• Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
• Charge via power adapter or USB connection to computer

Input/Output:

• Dock connector
• 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack
• Built-in speakers
• Microphone
• SIM card tray (on the Wi-Fi + 3G model only)

Connectivity:

There will be two iPad models – one with Wi-Fi and one with Wi-Fi + 3G support (to ship 30 days after the Wi-Fi model ships)

• Wi-Fi model comes with 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Wi-Fi + 3G model supports:

• UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
• GSM/EDGE (850, 900,1800, 1900 MHz)
• 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

Location-Aware Services:

• Wi-Fi
• Digital Compass
• Assisted GPS (on the Wi-Fi + 3G model only)
• Cellular (Wi-Fi + 3G model only)

Audio playback:

• Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz20Hz
• Audio formats supported: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
• User-configurable maximum volume limit

Video playback:

• Support for 1024 x 768 with Dock Connector to VGA adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Composite A/V Cable, 576i and 480i with Apple Composite A/V Cable
• H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

Mail attachment support:

• Viewable document types: .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel)

Accessories for the iPad include:

iPad Keyboard Dock:

The iPad Keyboard Dock combines a full-sized keyboard with an iPad dock connector which means the iPad can also be charged while you’re using the keyboard. The dock has a rear 30 pin connector allowing you to connect the dock to a USB power adapter, a computer, or other accessories.

iPad Case:

iPad Dock:

Lets you dock and charge the iPad as well as connect the iPad to the outlet, a computer, and other accessories.

iPad Camera Connection Kit:

Allows you to import photos and videos either via a USB cable or via an SD card reader.

iPad USB Power Adapter:

Charge the iPad using an electrical outlet.

OK – so what’s not in the iPad:

• 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio display
• No built-in webcam
• HDMI support
• Adobe Flash support
• Multi-tasking

Now as for availability – the iPad is expected to be available in 60 days from today (a.k.a. approximately two months).

There you have it folks – the iPad facts.