Blu-ray

ALSO NOTED: Vaio laptops get upgraded to Penryn, Blu-ray; DoCoMo considering Android handset for Japan;

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:59:51 -0500

> NTT DoCoMo considering Android handset for Japan. Article
> Via launches 64-bit, low-voltage CPU. Article
> Vaio laptops get upgraded to Penryn, Blu-ray. Article
> India's BSNL to deploy massive WiMAX network by 2010. Article
> Eee PC launches in Japan...with Windows XP as the standard. Article

And Finally... More details on the mysterious, blurry Palm 800w. Article

ALSO NOTED: Blu-ray Macs coming at MacWorld?; Samsung 1TB drive boasts world's highest storage density;

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:59:51 -0500

> Samsung 3.5" 1TB drive boasts world's highest storage density. Article
> Blu-ray Macs coming at MacWorld? Article
> A 500GB drive fit for a laptop. Article
> HP launches tiny, cheap Linux media server. Article

And Finally... Microsoft patents group spying tech. Article

HP launches new laptops, tablets

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 06:59:58 -0500

As you know, we were pretty impressed by HP's svelte 2710p tablet when we got our grubby little mitts all over it at CTIA. So we're happy to hear that the company is looking to update its entire lineup of convertible tablets in the near term. Above you'll see the all new Pavilion tx1400us tablet, which packs a 12.1 inch touch screen, 2.2Ghz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-64 CPU, 2GB of RAM, Geforce Go 6150 graphics, DVD burner, 802.11n and Bluetooth into a 4.5 pound, $1200 package. Not to shabby, eh? Word on the street is that these puppies are already available for pre-order on some sites and that further updates to HP's Pavilion tx1300 tablet line are forthcoming.

In other portables news, HP announced updates for eight different Pavilion laptops, just in time for the holidays. The new 14.1 inch dv2700t, dv2700tbw, and dv2700tse models, 15.4 inch dv6700z, dv6700t, and dv6700tse machines, and 17 inch dv9700t and dv9700z will all replace earlier models, bringing a handful of modest hardware upgrades to the table. The 14.1 inchers will get a NVIDIA 8400M GS card with 128MB of RAM, the 15.4 inch models will get the same but with 256MB of RAM and the 17 inch units will get NVIDIA 8600M GS graphics with 512MB of RAM. What's more, all eight models are now available with an optional Blu-ray/DVD burning combo drive, for all you budding auteurs out there.

For more on HP's newest hardware:
- see this Engadget article on the tablets
- and this Notebook Review article on the laptops

Rumor: $1500 ultraportable Mac, 3G iPhone

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:59:54 -0500

Okay folks, now we're really cooking. While MacWorld rumors--most notably rumors about an ultraportable MacBook Pro--have been trickling in over the last month or so, we haven't had anything really juicy to discuss...until now. CNBC is reporting that January's MacWorld Stevenote will bring both an ultraportable MacBook Pro and a 3G iPhone. According to CNBC's sources, the laptop will be half an inch thick, will sport a SSD in lieu of a mechanical hard drive and will retail for--get this--$1500. An ultraportable, SSD-sporting Mac laptop for $1500? Pinch me, I'm dreaming.

On the iPhone tip, they're claiming that Steve will announce the 3G iPhone at MacWorld but that it won't be released until late May or early June. As you'll recall, that's pretty much exactly what they did at this year's MacWorld, to avoid an outing of the phone by the FCC. A May/June launch would also make a lot of sense because it would be almost a year after the release of the original device.

Admittedly, CNBC isn't the foremost source on Mac rumors but both of these yarns seem to make a lot of sense. The ultraportable MacBook Pro is pretty much a given at this point and we already know that a 3G iPhone is going to appear sometime next year. I'm not sure about that $1500 price point, though...Apple isn't known for low prices and they'll have to be willing to roll with some pretty slim margins if they want to sell an ultraportable machine with a Core 2 Duo and a SSD for less than $2000.

So, where's the love for the desktop crowd? Good question. Did Apple somehow forget that they haven't updated the majority of the MacPro lineup in more than a year? Hopefully not. According to French rumor site MacBidouille, Apple is still planning to launch a new lineup of MacPros, topping off with that 8-core, 3.2Ghz Penryn-sporting model we've been waiting for. Additionally, the machines are said to rock optional Blu-ray burners and NVIDIA QuadroFX graphics. Finally, MacBidouille states that Apple will deliver OS X 10.5.2 during MacWorld and that it will be "the largest and most important intermediate system update ever released by Apple." I'm not sure about the whole Blu-ray thing but the rest of those predictions sound spot-on to me. Apple has been hurting for some new Pro-level boxes and an announcement at MacWorld makes a lot of sense--especially if the new machines sport a complete redesign like we've been hearing. Plus, waiting until January will ensure that there will be a large enough yield of top-bin Penryns from Intel, because there's certainly going to be a lot of pent-up demand for these machines.

For more on the rumors:
- see CNBC's predictions
- and MacBidouille's rumor write-up

Dell unleashes Penryn workstations

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 06:59:59 -0500

We've already seen Penyrn-based workstations from the likes of HP and Lenovo but let it not be said that Dell doesn't love the high-end market just as much. Welcome the newest members of the Dell Precision workstation family, the T5400 and T7400 towers. Both models are available with up to two 45nm Penryn CPUs (topping off with the 3.20Ghz X5482), up to two 1.5GB nVIDIA Quadro FX5600 graphics cards, up to 4GB of RAM, up to 3TB of storage in five drive bays and an optional Blu-ray burner. If that sounds like your cup of tea, you'll be happy to hear that these beasts are available now starting at just $1600, though the rig of your dreams is likely to run a bit higher than that.

For more on the new workstations:
- check out Dell's website

Dell M1530: Multimedia monster

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 06:59:54 -0500

Dell just unleashed its latest multimedia-centric laptop, the M1530 and judging by the looks of it, this seems to be a solid deal for anyone looking for power on the cheap. The 15.4 inch machine sports a 1280 x 800 display, up to a 2.6Ghz Core 2 Duo T7800 CPU, up to 4GB of RAM, up to 320GB in storage, an optional 64GB SSD, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 and an optional 3G data card. What about the multimedia part? Try the HDMI-out port, the optional slot-loading Blu-ray drive and the capacitance touch-sensitive media controls on for size. While the M1530 starts at a very reasonable $999, you're going to have to shell out a bit more if you want to pack in any of those optional goodies--a fully spec'd out unit tops off at just under $3500. Then again, you know what they say: you get what you pay for.

For more on the M1530:
- check out Dell's website

Dell prepping new 15" laptops

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 06:59:58 -0500

Dell sure has been busting out a whole lot of new products lately and if recent rumors offer any indication, that trend is set to continue well into December. According to the latest leaked info, Dell will be replacing its Inspiron 1520 and 1521 lappies next month with two new models: the 1525 and 1526. These 15.4 inch, 6.6 pound machines will be aimed squarely at the low-end consumer/SMB market--but that doesn't mean that Dell has totally skimped in the specs department. The 1525 will sport Intel's Santa Rosa while the 1526 will be based on an AMD/ATI combo; both machines will support up to 4GB of RAM, your choice of display panels (WXGA/WXGA+/WSXGA+), WiFi, a SATA drive of your choosing, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, optional WWAN connectivity and even a Blu-ray reader (available in the 1525 only). As far as an OS is concerned, these will apparently ship with either Vista or Ubuntu Linux and it's believed that you might even be able to customize the color of the machine's lid (as we've seen on some other Inspirons). If you've been mulling an Inspiron 1520/1521 purchase, you might want to wait until mid-December, when these new machines are rumored to ship.

For more on the rumor:
- see this Engadget article

Dell XPS One gets real

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 06:59:59 -0500

Oh Dell, you should know by now that you can't play coy with us. Try as you did to maintain an air of secrecy around your XPS One all-in-one PC, we still knew everything there was to know about the machine well in advance of your official announcement. At any rate, here it is: the XPS One in the flesh and ready to be pre-ordered. These 20" display-sporting machines can be configured with Core 2 Duos with speeds up to 2.33Ghz, up to 4GB of RAM, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, up to 500GB of storage, a Blu-ray burner, a digital/analog TV tuner and an ATI Radeon HD 2400 Pro graphics set. These puppies should start shipping around the end of the month and will set you back $1500-$2400 depending on options.

For more on the XPS One:
- visit Dell's website

ALSO NOTED: Alabama students getting OLPC XOs; Philips/Lite-on announce $199 Blu-ray PC drive;

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 06:59:51 -0500

> Polaroid markets Zink portable photo printer. Article
> Alabama students are getting OLPC XOs. Article
> Google to buy Sprint? Not likely, says Ars Technica. Article
> Philips/Lite-on announce $199 Blu-ray PC drive. Article
> A fire-proof safe... for your hard drive. Article

And Finally... OLPC XO, meet the Roomba robotic vacuum. Article

ALSO NOTED: Dell going retail in China; Google Calendar gets friendly with the iPhone;

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:59:51 -0400

> Sony rolls out a few more Blu-ray-equipped laptops. Article
> 800Mhz G4 Macs to be Leopard incompatible? Article
> Dell launching retail sales in China. Article
> SKTelecom gives Helio $270 million in life support. Article
> OS X getting ready to go Gold? Article
> Google Calendar gets friendly with the iPhone. Article
> Dell eliminates "crapware" applets on some machines. Article

And Finally... 1GB of storage, then and now. Photo