Ultrabook Prime; they're here

Subject: Mobile | October 25, 2011 - 12:32 AM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Zenbook UX311, Zenbook UX21, acer, ultrabook, asus, Aspire S Series

 Those of you who are strangers to the PC Perspective Podcast, or who do not remember the CULV may be disappointed by the retail release of the Ultrabook form factor from Intel.  Those of you who have watched us describe the woes of the manufacturers who needed to design and retail the Ultrabook for under $1000 probably already know the ending of this tale.  There are Acer models available at $900 and though they lack an ethernet port they certainly carry a citrus aura. ASUS seems to have put together a slightly better version with a fair choice of ports available, though with more dongles required than necessary (>0),  but still too many sacrifices have been made for an aluminium clad ultra-thin form factor.  Both companies produce better notebooks at a much lower price if you are willing to squeeze in a few extra milimetres.

"You know a product is a dog when it is available widely in stores long before reviewers get sent some. Ultrabooks are no exception, the only thing they have is hype and consumer ignorance."

Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:

   More Mobile Articles

• ASUS Zenbook (UX21) @ AnandTech
• Dell Inspiron 14z Laptop Review @ HardwareHeaven
• Dell XPS 14z Laptop Review @ HardwareHeaven
• HP Pavilion dv7-6195us Review @ TechReviewSource
• Dell XPS 14z @ AnandTech
• Cooler Master Notepal X-Slim Notebook Cooler Review @ Neoseeker
• Hanjung Grip100-S and Grip110-U2 Notebook Cooling Pads Review @ FrostytechE
• Amazon Kindle (4th Gen) @ AnandTech
• HTC Sensation Android Smartphone Review @ HardwareHeaven
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus takes aim at the Iphone 4S @ The Inquirer
• Android USB Tethering Shared Internet Access @ Benchmark Reviews
• Sony Reader Wi-Fi (PRS-T1) Review @ TechReviewSource
• Iphone 4S vs Galaxy S II head to head @ The Inquirer

Alienware asks why you shouldn't have CrossFire on a laptop

Subject: Mobile | October 18, 2011 - 02:26 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: alienware, Alienware M18x, 18.4, crossfire, hd 6990m

Why shouldn't you stick a pair of HD 6990M's in an 18.4" laptop, as long as you don't mind lugging around a 12lb laptop from power outlet to power outlet.  Seeing as just a few years ago 12lbs was not an uncommon weight for a laptop that does represent a great design on Alienware's part.  The comparison that AnandTech was most interested in was between NVIDIA's GTX 580M and AMD's 6990M to see who can hold onto the dual GPU mobile performance crown.  Who shall triumph?  Read on to see.

"In our first run with the Alienware M18x, we sat down and took a look at the notebook itself along with NVIDIA's current top shelf mobile graphics part, the GeForce GTX 580M. We came away from the experience with mixed impressions of the M18x itself, a notebook that is by all means incredibly powerful but also seems to lose a lot of the balance that made the M17x R3 so desirable. On the other hand, the GeForce GTX 580M wound up being the fastest mobile GPU we'd yet tested, made only more formidable through the SLI configuration the M18x enables."

Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:

Mobile

• Alienware M14x Gaming Notebook Review @ Hardware Canucks
• Sony VAIO Z Series Review @ TechReviewSource
• ASUS Slider Android Tablet (SL101) Review @ HardwareHeaven
• TechSpot's Smartphone Buying Guide: Q4 2011 Update
• id America Gasket iPhone 4 Case Review @ ThinkComputers
• iPhone 4S: A Siri-ously slick, speedy smartphone @ Ars Technica
• Apple iPhone 4S (Sprint) Review @ TechReviewSource
• Apple iPhone 4S Review @ HardwareHeaven
• Apple iPhone 4S Siri Demo @ Tech-Reviews
• Gaming on the iPhone 4S @ Tech-Reviews
• How not to wipe your Iphone when upgrading to IOS 5 @ The Inquirer

The OLPC project is still alive

Subject: Mobile | October 13, 2011 - 12:43 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: XO-1.75, OLPC

The One Laptop Per Child program has been in the works for a while now but we have not really heard much from them lately until now.  The idea to provide an inexpensive low powered laptop to children in developing countries is very altruistic but perhaps not very realistic.  However the project continues and Phoronix had a look at what might just be the final 7.5" prototype.  The hardware reflects the price limit of $200, with an Armanda 610 SoC that has a 800MHz ARMv7 Marvell Sheva processor with an onboard 3D engine for light gaming and which is purported to be able to handle 1080p video, there is also 512MB of RAM and the long term storage is handled be a 4GB NAND flash chip. 

"Last month at XDC2011 Chicago, I managed to get my hands on what should be the production hardware model of the XO-1.75 laptop that is expected to be released in the coming months by the OLPC project. The low-cost OLPC laptop targeted for students is now ARM-based and consumes very little power."

Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:

Mobile

• Samsung Series 9 Ultra Portable Notebook @ SPCR
• ASUS G74SX: Noteworthy Updates to ASUS' G7 Series @ AnandTech
• ASUS Republic of Gamers G74Sx 3D Gaming Laptop Review @ HardwareHeaven
• Dell Latitude E6320 Review @ TechReviewSource
• HP EliteBook 8460p Notebook @ Techgage
• Samsung Chromebook... A Guide @ HardwareHeaven
• Lenovo IdeaPad Y570 15.6-inch Laptop Review @ ThinkComputers
• Mobile GPU Comparison Guide @ TechARP
• Video walkthrough of Symbian Belle @ t-break
• Storage Options miScroll Tablet Review @ eTeknix
• Amazon Kindle 4 @ The Inquirer
• Amazon Kindle (2011) Review @ TechReviewSource
• SGP Liner Color Series Case for iPhone 4/4S Review @ Tech-Reviews
• Apple iPhone 4s – What You Should Know @ ThinkComputers
• Motorola Droid Bionic @ AnandTech
• iPhone 4S: How Does It Stack Up? @ Techspot
• ASUS Eee Pad Slider @ AnandTech
• HTC ChaCha Review @ t-break
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 w/ Verizon 4G LTE Tablet Review @ Legit Reviews
• Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray @ The Inquirer
• Speck Burton Fitted Case for iPhone 4/4S Review @ Tech-Reviews
• HP TouchSmart 520xt Review @ TechReviewSource

If you were to drop $3000 on a laptop ... who would you go with?

Subject: Mobile | October 4, 2011 - 03:47 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: razer, razer blade, alienware, alienware M17X

While you probably have the same reaction to the question of which $2800 + tax laptop is the best one to chose as hardCOREware, the fact remains some people will buy them.   At that price range, a lot of the price is for show and not for value.  Having a laptop resembling a UFO or Italian racing car might make it look fast but has no effect on the actual performance of the laptop.  With so much focus on the exterior and the reasonable assumption by the manufacturer that anyone willing to pay that price tag has little knowledge of what components make the fastest gaming machine the question stands; if someone has their mind made up to spend this money, which laptop should you recommend.  Read on to see how  the internals of Alienware and Razer's gaming laptops compare.

"I was recently asked on Twitter what I thought of the Razer Blade, a 17" gaming laptop which will become available later this year for a staggering $2800. My first thought was "LOL" but then I realized that some people really would spend $2800 on a laptop.

The question is, if you were to spend that on a proper gaming laptop and not a hyperbole-inducing showcase piece to get blogs to drool all over your brand, how much better will the specs look?"

Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:

Mobile

• Asus Automobili Lamborghini VX7 laptop @ The Inquirer
• Asus U36SD-A1 Review @ TechReviewSource
• Alienware's M18x, Part 1: NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 580M in SLI @ AnandTech
• Amazon Kindle Fire: A $199 Kindle Tablet @ AnandTech
• MSI WindPad 110W Tablet + Windows 8 @ Techspot
• Hornettek Rotating iPad 2 Case Review @ ThinkComputers
• Choosing a new smartphone: Blackberry or the others? @ t-break
• Innergie mCube Slim 95 @ XSReviews
• Third Look: LG Optimus 3D – Tri-Dual Technology @ t-break
• iPhone 4 App Review - Megastunt Mayhem @ t-break
• Motorola Atrix Cell Phone Review @ Hardware Secrets
• A look at Windows Phone Mango update @ t-break

Panel Self Refresh; a new way to save power

Subject: Displays | September 30, 2011 - 01:27 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: mobile, low power, panel self refresh

The idea behind Panel Self Refresh is a sound one, when displaying static images there is no need for the GPU portion of your processor to be refreshing it at full speed.  If you simply leave the displayed image in the frame buffer you can turn off the GPU and get significant power savings.  It will not help when you are streaming media but if you are reading emails or a pdf file or even browsing pictures, you should see some extension to the life of your battery.  Hardware Secrets describes the technology in their article here.

"Manufacturers are always looking for innovative ways to save battery life on laptops. With the embedded DisplayPort 1.3 interface (eDP 1.3), VESA, the Video Standards Association behind DisplayPort, came up with a new idea, the Panel Self Refresh (PSR). Let's see how it works."

Here are some more Display articles from around the web:

Displays

• Samsung T27A950 HDTV Monitor @ Overclockers Online
• Samsung T27950 LED Monitor Review @ t-break
• Dell U2311H: E-IPS, Full Adjustments, and DisplayPort @ AnandTech
• Samsung SyncMaster T27A950D Review @ TechReviewSource
• Asus PA238Q Monitor Review @ t-break
• OHKI 42-inch Full HD 3D TV with PVR @ Tweaktown
• Samsung UN46D8000 Review @ TechReviewSource

The birth of the $600 gaming laptop; thank you AMD

Subject: Mobile | September 28, 2011 - 06:10 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: llano, amd, A6-3400M, HD 6720G2, HD 6650M, HD 6520G, asus, A53T

Asus' A53T is powered by the Llano A6-3400M and 6GB of DDR3-1333 with graphics from the discrete HD6520G and the built in HD 6650M, which is apparently labelled as the HD6720G2.  A 15.6" 1366x768 LCD gives you decent resolution on the road and the HDMI and D-Sub out give you better resolution when you are at home.  The Tech Report were not incredibly impressed with the battery life, during movie playback it died after a bit over 3 hours, though still long enough to get through Avatar.  Gaming was more than satisfactory at the native resolution of the monitor and will handle higher resolutions with the video out acceptably well.  Head on over for the full review.

"Here we have our first example of a genuine, honest-to-goodness consumer laptop powered by AMD's latest and greatest accelerated processing unit. How does it perform?"

Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:

Mobile

• Toshiba Satellite P755-3DV20 Review @ TechReviewSource
• ASUS U36SD-A1 Notebook Review @ Hardware Canucks
• MSI GT780 Gaming Laptop Review @ Madshrimps
• Alienware M18x Laptop @ kitguru
• Cooler Master 120W Universal Laptop Charger Review @ HardwareHeaven
• ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101 Tablet Review @ Legit Reviews
• Hands-on With The Galaxy Tab 8.9 @ AnandTech
• Sony Tablet S (Android 3.2 16GB) Review @ HardwareHeaven
• Speck CandyShell Wrap for iPad 2 Review @ Tech-Reviews
• Cygnett WorkMate Pro iPhone 4 Case Review @ ThinkComputers
• Waterfield IPad2 Suede Jacket Sleeve Case @ PCSTATS
• Apple iPod Touch 5 Specs – What to expect @ Tech-Reviews
• Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro Review @ t-break
• Initial impressions using Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) @ t-break
• Nokia N9 hands-on preview @ t-break
• Windows Phone 7.5 Mango @ The Inquirer

Don’t touch my wife! VIA sues Apple for patent infringement

Subject: General Tech, Mobile | September 24, 2011 - 04:08 AM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: VIA, Patent, htc, apple

Do not let the title deceive you: we probably also find Apple and Patent Infringement stories as boring as you do; this case on the other hand makes it through our tightly meshed sift and into our news feed. VIA is best known for chipsets and specialty x86 processors. VIA’s influence was recently felt through the introduction of the netbook craze as a result of their VIA Nano CPU line which lead to the rise of the Intel Atom processor line. Recently VIA decided that they would set their sights on Apple and sue them over three patents. This is one of those cases where the what is not nearly as funny as the alleged why.

Did Apple take a bite out of VIA’s forbidden fruit?

(Image from Wikipedia, modified)

If it seems to you that VIA is suing Apple over seemingly no reason then you probably are correct. There does not appear to be any public reason for VIA to go after Apple. HTC on the other hand has many reasons to sue, technically counter-sue, Apple. For those wondering where HTC came from in this discussion: the chairperson for HTC is the wife of the CEO of VIA Technologies. It very much seems like the whole reason for the VIA lawsuit is to protect his wife's company in their own lawsuits. If these patent lawsuits continue on their current trajectory then we might just be forced to sit every company down and settle like we did with similar issues back in the 90’s: Springer.

Did Apple bite off more than they could chew? (Registration not required for comments)

PCPer Live! Alienware M17x with Radeon HD 6990 Unboxing and Early Test

Subject: Editorial, General Tech, Mobile | September 23, 2011 - 05:07 PM | Ryan Shrout
Tagged: pcper live, m17x, hd 6990, alienware

UPDATE: Shows over folks!  Thanks to those of you that stopped by and we'll be doing more of these types of things in the very near future.  Feel free to watch the reply hosted on YouTube if you want.

So, here we go.  After weeks of screwing around with a complely new studio setup at the PC Perspective office, we are going to try something new.  Consider this an ultra-alpha-beta if you will.  Come stop by our Live Stream channel below to watch us unbox and play around with the new Alienware M17x gaming laptop complete with Radeon HD 6990 graphics!  You can even use the Justin.tv chat located at http://justin.tv/pcper to talk with us live and ask questions, etc. 

Oh, and we are going to give away some random stuff sitting around the office to those of you that comment in the Justin.tv chat too, so there is that as well.  :)

Just as a side note: this is our first attempt at something like this so it might be perfect but it is more than likely going to be a bit rough arond the edges.  I am most curious though to get some feedback on what you liked, didn't like or would like to see additional or changed in this kind of process.  We aren't going to focus only on "unboxings" and stuff - far from it.  Instead expect to see live demonstrations of hardware, overclocking attempts, multi-display gaming setups and more.  If you can, please leave some feedback in the comments below!!

Note: We should be underway by 5:25pm ET or so!

Everyone's favourite Transformer

Subject: Mobile | September 21, 2011 - 04:06 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: asus, eee pad transformer, Transformer

You had better not think this refers to Bumblebee.  The real Transformer you shold be be thinking about comes from ASUS, the ARM based Tegra 250 T20 powered Eee Pad Transformer.  More than a tablet thanks to the special dock, which turns the tablet into a netbook with a full keyboard, this device has received a lot of positive press.  TechSpot had a chance to use one, powered by Honeycomb 3.2, and they agree with the other reviewers; considered as a simple tablet it isn't quite as good as the iPad but the real selling point of the Transformer is the keybaord.  Read on.

"The Eee Pad Transformer goes beyond what most tablets are capable of by doubling as a Honeycomb-based netbook. Based on that premise and an attractive price since launch, it quickly became one of the most attractive Android tablets around.

If you are willing to look past the widely dominant iPad, we are paying another visit to Android Honeycomb (currently on version 3.2) along with one of the most popular and well regarded tablets under its umbrella."

Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:

Mobile

• Mobile GPU Faceoff: AMD Dynamic Switchable Graphics vs. NVIDIA Optimus Technology @ AnandTech
• MSI X460 Laptop @ kitguru
• Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Review (with battery slice 39+) @ kitguru
• Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim Notebook Cooler @ Tweaktown
• HP Touchpad Performance Hacking @ Benchmark Reviews
• Root Hacking the HP Touchpad Tablet PC @ Benchmark Reviews
• Maxell Air Voltage Wireless Qi Charging Mat and Sleeve Review @ Tech-Reviews
• Nokia X7 Smartphone Review @ Tech-Reviews
• Quick Look: Three iPad 2 covers @ t-break
• PowerSkin iPhone4 battery case @ HardwareBistro
• How to replace cracked iPhone 3GS screen @ Tech-Reviews
• LG Optimus 2X Review @ Tech-Reviews
• Konnet iCrado Plus Sync and Charge Dock Review @ Tech-Reviews
• Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray Smartphone Review @ t-break

IDF 2011: Live Blog of Keynotes, Technical Discussions

Subject: Editorial, General Tech, Processors, Chipsets, Systems, Storage, Mobile, Shows and Expos | September 15, 2011 - 12:15 PM | Ryan Shrout
Tagged: live blog, Intel, idf 2011, idf

PC Perspective is all over the 2011 Intel Developer Forum and we'll be covering it LIVE here all week.  Expect to hear news about Ivy Bridge, Sandy Bridge-E, SSDs, X79 chipsets, 22nm tri-gate transistors and more!  We will have specific news posts about the major topics but if you want to keep up with our information to the minute, then you'll want to migrate to this page throughout Tuesday, Wednesay and Thursday morning.  

You can also hit up http://www.pcper.com/category/tags/idf to see all of the posts relating to and coming from IDF this week!

Feel free to leave comments for me on what exactly you want to know and I will do my best to address your questions as the day progresses. 

Add Ubuntu to your HP Touchpad

Subject: Mobile | September 14, 2011 - 03:31 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: hp, hp touchpad, ubuntu

If you are like Scott and think that the cut rate price of the HP Touchpad is just too good to resist you might want to put on an OS that you know will still be around in a year or two.  Techware Labs have written a guide on how you can install Ubuntu on your touchpad in addition to WebOS so you don't have to wipe out the Touchpad's original functionality.  Make sure you back everything up however as you will be spliting the storage media into two partitions, one for WebOS and one for Ubuntu.   Happy modding.

"You have your Touchpad in hand and are feeling adventurous, where do you go from here? Into the wide world of Linux of course! In this tutorial I walk you through how to install Ubuntu on your HP Touchpad so that it can run along side the existing WebOS operating system."

Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:

Mobile

• Kensington launches Ipad and Iphone security products @ The Inquirer
• Dell Vostro 3550 Review @ Tech-Reviews
• ASUS N53SV Laptop Review @ HardwareLOOK
• Sony VAIO S Series: All Day Consumer Computing @ AnandTech
• Asus G74SX-A2 Review @ TechReviewSource
• Evercool Battle Hero Review @ HardwareLOOK
• Enermax Aeolus Notebook Cooler Review @ HardwareLOOK
• Cooler Master NotePal U Stand Notebook Cooler @ Tweaktown
• Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi + Verizon Wireless Tablet PC Review @ Legit Reviews
• HANNspree HANNSpad 10.1" Android Tablet Review @ HardwareHeaven
• Lenovo K1 Honeycomb Tablet Review @ t-break
• Motorola Droid Bionic Hands-On Impression @ TechSpot
• Owning the stack: The legal war to control the smartphone platform @ Ars Technica
• Smartphone season has kicked in @ t-break
• Hornettek Vader Aluminum iPhone 4 Case Review @ ThinkComputers
• Otterbox Defender Series for iPhone 4 Review @ Tech-Reviews
• iPad App of the Week – Crimson: Steam Pirates @ t-break
• Apple iPhone 4 Sound Amplifier Review @ TechReviewSource
• LG Optimus 3D vs HTC Evo 3D head to head @ The Inquirer
• Samsung Galaxy S 2 (International) Review - The Best, Redefined @ AnandTech
• Motorola Droid Bionic - A Quick Preview @ AnandTech
• Thermaltake DH 202 Touch Review - HTPC with Touch Panel @ HardwareHeaven

IDF 2011: ASUS UX21 Ultrabook Still Sexy, I Still Want It

Subject: General Tech, Processors, Mobile | September 14, 2011 - 11:48 AM | Ryan Shrout
Tagged: idf, idf 2011, asus, ultrabook, ux21

Yes, I realize the ASUS UX21 was first shown at Computex in June, but this was my first chance to get my hands on it and I have to say after using it for just a few minutes and comparing it to the aging Lenovo X201 that I am typing this on, I am in love with the form factor.

I don't have anything else to report yet - no performance metrics, no real-world testing, but I couldn't pass posting these few pictures of it.  Enjoy!

Podcast #169 - SSD Decoder Update, Antec SOLO II, ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, Ultrabook news and a Drobo contest!!

Subject: Editorial, General Tech, Graphics Cards, Processors, Storage, Mobile | September 8, 2011 - 03:23 PM | Ryan Shrout
Tagged: ultrabook, ssd, podcast, eee pad transformer, drobo, decoder, asus, antec

PC Perspective Podcast #169 - 9/08/2011

Join us this week as we discuss the MARS II combo on Newegg, an update to the SSD Decoder, the new Antec SOLO II chassis, our review of the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer tablet, news on Ultrabook development and even announce a new contest partnership with Drobo!

You can subscribe to us through iTunes and you can still access it directly through the RSS page HERE.

The URL for the podcast is: http://pcper.com/podcast - Share with your friends!

• iTunes - Subscribe to the podcast directly through the iTunes Store
• RSS - Subscribe through your regular RSS reader
• MP3 - Direct download link to the MP3 file

Hosts: Ryan Shrout, Josh Walrath, Jeremy Hellstrom, Allyn Malventano

This Podcast is brought to you by MSI Computer, and their all new Sandy Bridge Motherboards!

Program length: 1:23:36

Program Schedule:

1. Introduction
2. 1-888-38-PCPER or podcast@pcper.com
3. http://pcper.com/podcast
4. http://twitter.com/ryanshrout and http://twitter.com/pcper
5. MARS II Combo  for $4000!
6. SSD Decoder Update
7. Kingwin Stryker 500W Fanless Power Supply Review
8. Video Perspective: Antec SOLO II Chassis Review
9. ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101 Review: Assemble!
10. This Podcast is brought to you by MSI Computer, and their all new Sandy Bridge Motherboards!
11. Zotac Releases New ZBOX Nano AD10 Series Mini PCs
12. Toshiba Unveils Portege Z830 Ultrabook Series
    1. Acer Unveils Super Thin Aspire S3 Ultrabook at IFA in Berlin
    2. Silly Intel, the high price and limited availability were the parts your Ultrabook was supposed to drop
13. Bulldozer Infused Trinity APU Specifications Confirmed
14. Intel Unveils 16 New 32nm Processors
15. AMD Ships Bulldozer for Revenue- Interlagos though- will write up after the podcast and post on front page.
16. Magma Unveils the First Three-Slot Thunderbolt Expansion Chassis
17. Drobo contest
18. Email from Wes about GPU selection
19. Email from Chris about GPU whine
20. Email from Lee about SSD security
21. Email from a mystery writer about GPU stuttering
22. Finally, a VIDEO QUESTION from David!
23. Hardware / Software Pick of the Week
    1. Ryan: Blackmagic Intensity Pro
    2. Jeremy: Coil gun revolver with laser sty ((sight?) so there)
    3. Josh: Thermaltake eSports Shock Spin Diamond Black
    4. Allyn: Surefire LED flashlights
24. 1-888-38-PCPER or podcast@pcper.com
25. http://pcper.com/podcast   
26. http://twitter.com/ryanshrout and http://twitter.com/pcper
27. Closing

Not an Ultrabook but it could be, Samsung's Series 9

Subject: Mobile | September 6, 2011 - 04:59 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Samsung, Series 9, ultraportable

If you are in the market for an ultraportable Intel notebook, instead of waiting to see what becomes of the Ultrabook you could consider the Samsung Series 9.  A 13" notebook powered by a Core i5-2537M with 8GB of DDR3-1333 and a 256GB Samsung SSD pretty much matches anything that is on the market.  At $1300 it is a bit expensive but for a 12.9" x 8.9" x 0.64" notebook with that much power you have to expect a steep entry fee.  The Tech Report were impressed overall with some negative points from the keyboard's quality and the battery life which was not as long as they had hoped, you can't expect much more than four hours from the notebook.

"This 13" notebook has much in common with Apple's MacBook Air—an almost impossibly slim chassis, a very light weight, a low-voltage Sandy Bridge processor, and solid-state storage. Did Samsung hit a home run with this laptop, and is it worth the money?"

Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:

More Mobile Articles

• Dell XPS 15z: Sincerely Flattering @ AnandTech
• MSI GE620 Gaming Laptop @ KitGuru
• Samsung Series 9 NP900X3A Notebook Review @ Hardware Canucks
• Lenovo IdeaPad Z370 Review @ TechReviewSource
• Asus U36JC Laptop Review @ Tech-Reviews
• MSI CX640 Back to School Laptop @ Madshrimps
• Mobile CPU Comparison Guide @ TechARP
• Mobile GPU Comparison Guide @ TechARP
• Casemate Brushed Aluminium Barely There Case for iPhone 4 Review @ Tech-Reviews
• Motorola Atrix Smartphone Review @ t-break
• First Look: LG Optimus 3D – 3D Recording & Conversion @ t-break
• Running ARM Linux Benchmarks On The HP TouchPad @ Phoronix
• Sony Tablet S and Tablet P hands-on review @ The Inquirer
• Velocity Micro Cruz T301 7-inch Android Tablet Review @ ThinkComputers

Acer Unveils Super Thin Aspire S3 Ultrabook at IFA in Berlin

Subject: Mobile | September 3, 2011 - 08:03 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: ultrabook, ssd, Intel, acer

Hot on the heels of the Toshiba and Lenovo ultrabook announcements comes a new ultrabook from Acer. Engadget recently got their hands on the new Acer Aspire S3 ultrabook at the IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin) technology showcase in Berlin. The 13.3” computer carries some impressive specifications, including a 7 hour long battery life, metal chassis, and the latest Intel processors.

To be more specific, the Acer computer is a 13.3” ultrabook composed of a magnesium alloy chassis measuring 13mm thick. Inside the metal frame lies an ultra low voltage Core i3, i5, or i7 Sandy Bridge processor, DDR3 RAM, and an interesting storage solution made of a 20GB SSD and 320GB mechanical hard drive combination. Acer is promising a 7 hour battery life, and a 1.5 second resume from sleep time. Further, the ultrabook features a glossy 1366 x 768 resolution display, and a chicklet keyboard whose keys Engadget notes feels like plastic.

While their is no word on US pricing, Acer has released the European starting price at €799. Compromises have been made to reach the price point (mainly in the keyboard); however, if the specifications and design hold up it looks to be a solid competitor in the ultrabook market.  More photos as well as a video tour of the ultrabook can be found here.

Toshiba Unveils Portege Z830 Ultrabook Series

Subject: Mobile | September 2, 2011 - 01:08 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: z830, ultrabook, toshiba, sandy bridge, portege, Intel

There has been quite the buzz over ultrabooks for the past few weeks, and it seems as though Toshiba is ready to grab their slice of the news pie (actually, can we have cake?) with the announcement of their Portege Z830 series of, you guessed it, ultrabooks.

Powered by Intel Sandy Bridge processors, the ultra (slim) book is housed in a magnesium alloy chassis measuring 15.9mm (0.63 inches) thick. Slated to be 20% lighter and 40% thinner than their previous ultraportable Portege R830 series, the company has reinforced the chassis with a honeycomb ribbing (I’m sure Josh is making a joke out of that right now) and some new internal shock dampening structures.  The company stated that the Z830 would weigh less than 2.5 lbs, though the number may vary depending on the specific configuration.  Because the notebook is so thin, they needed to go metal for the chassis to prevent serious warping and bending of the computer (and is coincidentally one of the items that caused manufacturers to complain about the sub-$1,000 requirement). Other chassis features include a full size LED backlit and spill resistant keyboard.

Other hardware details about the computer are scarce in that Toshiba has not released much. The ultrabook will contain a 128 GB solid state drive and DDR3 memory. From photos of the ultrabook, the computer supports (likely Gigabit) Ethernet, USB, and HDMI ports. Stereo speakers by Waves Audio, Toshiba’s High Speed Start and USB Sleep and Charge technologies are also featured.

The Protege Z830 ultrabook series will be available in November 2011, and will carry a MSRP of less than $1,000 USD. Stay tuned to PC Perspective for more ultrabook coverage.

MSI slims the notebook but doesn't trim the features

Subject: Mobile | August 25, 2011 - 12:45 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: msi, x-slim x460, ultraportable, 14

The 14" MSI X-Slim X460 Ultraportable laptop hides a little more power than the Ultraportable portion of its name implies.  The 2GHz Core i7-2630QM adds some serious processing power and also provides the graphics, making the machine good for video but not so good for gaming.  While TechSpot is unsure if the model they reviewed may be different from retail models, they saw 4GB of DDR-1333 and the storage was handled by a 500GB 7200RPM Western Digital Scorpio Black in their review sample.  Battery eater showed a range of battery life, from 63 minutes when fully stressed by gaming to 5hr 41min under the reader benchmark.  If you are looking for a laptop in the range of $1100 that is worth what you pay for, this laptop bears further investigation.

"MSI recently expanded its ultraportable offerings with the addition of two last generation X-Slim notebooks. Although they're designed to be lightweight and compact, the X460 notebooks also strive to be powerful, courtesy of Intel's Sandy Bridge processors. The flagship model comes with Intel's Core i7-2630QM, packing the quad-core chip while boasting an 8-hour battery life.

There's also the X460DX, which can come configured with Core i3 or i5 processors and the Nvidia GeForce GT 540M GPU. Both the X460 and X460DX share the same dimensions using a 14" LED backlit screen. While ultraportable laptops generally carry a 12 to 13" display, MSI says the X460 strikes a fine balance between mobility and performance.

With enough power to put the average desktop PC to shame, the MSI X460 flagship model costs roughly $1,100. Even so, that price tag makes the X460 one of the cheapest second-gen Core i7 notebooks money can buy."

Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:

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• ASUS G74SX-A1 Gaming Notebook Review @ Hardware Canucks
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• Dell Vostro V131 Review @ TechReviewSource
• HP Elitebook 2560p Review @ TechReviewSource
• HP EliteBook 8760w: Color, So Dreamy @ AnandTech
• MYTHLOGIC Pollux 1400: Clevo's W150HR Tested @ AnandTech
• How to speed up an aging MacBook with a solid state drive @ Ars Technica
• Cooler Master Notepal U Stand Review @ Neoseeker
• Cooler Master Notepal U Stand Review @ OCC
• Logisys iStand S3 Tablet Stand Review @ TechwareLabs
• Cooler Master NotePal U-Stand Aluminum Laptop Cooling Stand Review @ Hi Tech Legion
• Cooler Master Notepal U Stand Review - A Laptop Cooler Living Up To Its Name @ The SSD Review
• Cooler Master NotePal U Stand Review @ ThinkComputers
• Cooler Master NotePal U-Stand Laptop Cooler @ Pro-Clockers
• BlackBerry Torch 9860 Review @ t-break
• HP TouchSmart 610 Review @ t-break
• iPhone 4 App of the Week: Phoenix HD @ t-break

AMD Adds Three New Fusion APUs to Mobile Lineup

Subject: Processors | August 22, 2011 - 10:53 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: mobile, fusion, E-Series, APU, amd

AMD today announced three new Accelerated Processing Units (APU) to bolster up the mobile lineup. Specifically, two new E-Series and one new C-Series APU are inserting themselves into the lineup. The new chips bring enhanced graphic capabilities, HDMI 1.4a, and DDR3 1333 support. "Today's PC users want stunning HD graphics and accelerated performance with all-day battery life and that's what AMD Fusion APUs deliver," said Chris Cloran, vice president and general manager, Client Division, AMD.

According to MaximumPC, the new E-450 APU takes the top slot, bringing two CPU cores clocked at 1.65GHz, a Radeon HD 6320 GPU clocked at a base of 508MHz and maximum of 600MHz, and a power sipping TDP of 18 watts. The second new E-Series APU carries the same 18 watt TDP and dual CPU cores as the E-450; however, it is clocked at a lower 1.3GHz. Further, the chip’s Radeon HD 6310 GPU is clocked at 488MHz.  The new E-Series APUs feature battery life increases to the tune of up to 10.5 hours of Windows idle time.

The new C-Series APU is the C-60, and is a 1GHz dual core chip with a Radeon HD 6290 GPU. The APU is able to turbo its CPU cores to a maximum of 1.33GHz, while the GPU has a base clock of 276MHz and a maximum clock speed of 400MHz. Further, the chip has a 9 watt TDP, and boasts 12.25 hours of “resting battery life,” which AMD benchmarked using Windows Idle on a C-60 based netbook.

Currently, AMD has shipped more than 12 million APUs, and more than five million of the C-Series and E-Series processors in Q2 2011. More information on the specific benchmarking metrics AMD used can be found here.