Asus U36SD ultraportable laptop

Asus U36SD ultraportable laptop

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Ever since getting some hands-on time with my buddy Doug's MacBook Air, I've been itching to ditch my clunky, heavy, slowpoke laptop in favor of a super-thin, super-light ultraportable.

Why not just buy an Air, you ask? As a card-carrying cheapskate, I just can't justify the "Apple tax"--no matter how cool the product may be. (The Air series starts at $999, and that's for the rather cramped 11-inch model.) And with all due respect to Mac fans, I don't care for the Mac OS.

Thankfully, I think I've found my ultraportable: the Asus U36SD. It's razor-thin, reasonably light, plenty powerful, and getting mostly ga-ga reviews. Most stores sell it for $899.99, but TigerDirect has the Asus U36SD-A1 with adapter like Asus ADP-65DB Ac Adapter, Asus A6 Ac Adapter, Asus A7 Ac Adapter, Asus A8 Ac Adapter, Asus F9 Ac Adapter, Asus U5 Ac Adapter, Asus A6JA Ac Adapter, Asus A7J Ac Adapter, Asus A8Js Ac Adapter, Asus Z91 Ac Adapter, Asus W3V Ac Adapter, Asus Z61a Ac Adapter for $699.99, plus around $9 for shipping.

You know me: usually I cast my eye toward laptops in the $300-400 range. Why would I pay almost double for the Asus? For starters, it has enough horsepower to last me through Windows 7 and into Windows 8, starting with its Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 640GB hard drive.

Even better, the U36SD measures just 0.75 inch thick, except where its battery extrudes in a slight bump, bringing the thickness to a whopping 1.1 inches. It's a little on the heavy side at 3.7 pounds, but that extra weight nets you an 8-cell battery--which Asus claims is good for up to 9 hours of runtime.

I'm also partial to the 13.3-inch screen: not too big, not too small. (Anything larger and you're looking at airplane tray-table trouble.)

The U36SD also has one of the better warranties I've seen: two years for parts and labor, with one year of accidental-damage coverage! That's well worth a few extra bucks, IMHO.

CNET hasn't reviewed the U36SD, but the user and professional reviews at Amazon, Newegg, Laptop Magazine, PC Magazine, and PC World are exceedingly positive. The big dings are the tinny speakers and stiff touchpad buttons, but I tend to use headphones and an external mouse anyway.

Given that this is a brand-new notebook, I'm surprised to see a $200 discount on it already. Think I might just pull the trigger.

Hands-on with the Asus Zenbook UX Ultrabook

Hands-on with the Asus Zenbook UX Ultrabook

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The first wave of Ultrabooks has arrived.

At a press event in New York today, Asus Chairman Jonney Shih presented the final version of the UX Zenbook, the company's entry into the growing Ultrabook field. The two models are the 11.6-inch UX21 and the 13.3-inch UX31 with adapters such as Asus AP.T3503.002 Ac Adapter, Asus LC.ADT01.001 Ac Adapter, Asus LC.T2801.006 Ac Adapter, Asus PA-1650-02 Ac Adapter, Asus LC-T2801-006 Ac Adapter, Asus PA-1700-02 Ac Adapter, Asus PA-1900-05 Ac Adapter, Asus A6KM Ac Adapter, Asus A6T Ac Adapter, Asus A7V Ac Adapter, Asus A8F Ac Adapter, Asus F2 Ac Adapter.

If these two slim laptops look familiar, it's because they, like other Ultrabooks from Acer, Toshiba, and Lenovo, are essentially Windows versions of the popular MacBook Air. Some, like the Acer Aspire S3, are pitched as MacBook Air-style devices that cost a few hundred dollars less, while the Asus (and Lenovo) versions are around the same price as an Air, but offer more features and options.

The 11-inch UX21 ranges in thickness from 0.11 inch at the front to 0.67 inch at the rear; the 13-inch UX31 is 0.11 inch at the front and 0.71 inch at the rear. Both have an instant-on feature that Asus says will cause the system to resume from sleep in about 2 seconds, with up to 10 days of standby time. The Zenbook laptops have solid-state hard drives and use low-voltage versions of Intel's Core i-series processors, including a Core i7 option in both the 11- and 13-inch models. Unlike the MacBook Air, the UX Zenbook offers USB 3.0.

We got a chance to play around with both the 11- and 13-inch versions, and we liked what we saw. In anecdotal testing, the system did indeed go to sleep and resume almost instantly, much like a MacBook does. The design looked and felt very upscale, with solid metal construction, but still very light. The very large touch pad jumped out against the otherwise petite frame, and the circular metallic swirl on the back of the lid at least helps the Zenbook stand out from other Ultrabooks, even if it's not necessarily more attractive than the matte-silver finish of a MacBook Air.

One odd issue we had was that the Zenbook, especially the 11-inch version, was hard to open if you weren't careful. The front lip is so thin, it took some concentration to get our fingers positioned correctly, and Asus Chairman Jonney Shih had the same exact problem when trying to open a demo unit on stage.

Asus is pricing the Zenbook as a premium product, and it certainly looks and feels that part. But with very similar Ultrabooks, such as the Acer Aspire S3, priced hundreds of dollars less, it may be a tough sell.

Asus has a WiMax laptop

Asus has a WiMax laptop

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Everyone else is doing it, so why shouldn't Asus? Late Wednesday, the company announced the immediate availability of the M50Vm-A1WM, a 15.4-inch laptop with a built-in WiMax module for the recently launched Sprint Xohm data network.

Next-generation data connectivity aside, the $1,399 M50Vm-A1WM (catchy name, that) with adapter like Asus F3 Ac Adapter, Asus G1 Ac Adapter, Asus G2 Ac Adapter, Asus M2 Ac Adapter, Asus M2000 Ac Adapter, Asus M3NP Ac Adapter, Asus M6 Ac Adapter, Asus M6000N Ac Adapter, Asus M6800N Ac Adapter, Asus M6B00N Ac Adapter, Asus M6N Ac Adapter, Asus U5F Ac Adapter \ looks to be a fairly typical media-oriented mainstream machine. Its WXGA+ display should do just fine for watching movies, and we hope its Altec Lansing speakers will make it easy to enjoy music; the laptop is also HDMI ready and Dolby Home Theater certified. Inside the case, you'll find a 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 processor, 1GB Nvidia GeForce 9600M GS graphics, and a 250GB, 5,400rpm hard drive.

The company's WiMax promotional page also lists a WiMax-enabled version of its 14.1-inch F8Va laptop, though that model doesn't appear to be immediately available. So far, the company hasn't announced plans to release a U.S. version of its WiMax-enabled Eee PC 901--but we certainly expect to see it happen, as the Netbook's extreme portability seems the perfect match for next-generation wireless services.

Of course, the WiMax-enabled laptop will initially appeal to residents of Baltimore, where Sprint just launched its Xohm network. However, there will eventually be a broader market for such laptops; Sprint has plans to roll out the technology to other cities, including Chicago, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Portland, Ore., and Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas.

Get a whiff of Asus' scented laptops

Get a whiff of Asus' scented laptops

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Something to note about Eee PC maker Asus' new line of fragrant laptops: the lifespan of their scent depends on how much you use the computer with adapter like Asus V1 Ac Adapter, Asus V6V Ac Adapter, Asus W1N Ac Adapter, Asus W2 Ac Adapter, Asus W3 Ac Adapter, Asus W5 Ac Adapter, Asus W5F Ac Adapter, Asus Z32 Ac Adapter, Asus Z33 Ac Adapter, Asus W3N Ac Adapter, Asus W2J Ac Adapter, Asus W2Pc Ac Adapter. If you make an F6 your primary machine, therefore, chances are great it will gradually lose its invigorating ocean-at-dawn aroma and end up smelling like an old IBM ThinkPad.

If you can handle that possibility--and you like the idea of your PC doubling as perfume--perhaps you'll like the line. The special-edition laptops come in four designs, each with a corresponding scent.

...or opt for Morning Dew.

Floral Blossom is pink with a flowery smell; Musky Black sports graffiti art and emits an earthy musk; Morning Dew comes in pastel green and offers that refreshing early a.m. je ne sais quoi; and Aqua Ocean gives off an aquatic aroma and comes with sky and wave imagery on the cover.

The laptops come with a 13.3-inch screen, an Intel Core2 Duo processor, an integrated Webcam, up to 320GB of hard drive space, and up to 4GB of DRAM support. They also have a fingerprint scanner for secure access.

Pricing and availability on the models have not yet been announced. As far as we know, you will not have to pass a sniff test to buy one.

Dell Inspiron 14z

Dell Inspiron 14z

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Dell's Inspiron 14z is based upon the XPS 15z but with a more compact and affordable design. It still uses aluminum on things like the lid but doesn't have as nice of a fit and finish as the more expensive XPS models. The keyboard uses the new isolated layout with backlighting that works very well although it does move the home, page up, page down and end keys on the right hand side that can take some getting used to. At least the backspace and enter keys are still sizable. The trackpad is a good size with dedicated right and left buttons that work well enough if a bit stiff. One annoyance with the design is all the ports that have covers on them that help make nice smooth lines for the design but get in the way when you need to use them.

Powering the Dell Inspiron 14z with adapters like Dell Inspiron 1370 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13Z Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13ZR Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro V13 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro V130 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron N301 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro 1220 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro 1220N Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1012 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1012N Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron M301 Ac Adapter is a fairly typical Intel Core i5-2430 dual core processor. The processor does a good job at just about any task that one might have for it. It may not be as strong at some tasks or multitasking as the quad core i7 processors but the laptop is certainly much more affordable laptops packing them. Dell does help with multitasking though by providing 8GB of DDR3 memory that should make Windows 7 and programs a very smooth experience.

Storage features for the Dell Inspiron 14z are good for anyone that is looking to use this as a primary system. It offers a large amount of space for applications, data and media files thanks to the 750GB hard dive. in addition to the high capacity, the drive also spins at the 7200rpm spin rate. This gives it a bit more performance than most other drives than rely on 5400rpm drives. If this still isn't enough space for your files, it also comes equipped with two of the new USB 3.0 ports for use with high speed external storage devices. A standard dual layer DVD burner is included for playback and recording of CD or DVD media which is uncommon on many competing laptops in this size range.

One of the big features of the Inspiron 14z is the 14-inch display. What makes it unique is the extremely narrow bezel that surrounds the LCD panel. This is one of the reasons that the laptop has its relatively compact dimensions. More importantly, it gives the screen almost the whole display area of the lid. Sure, it uses your typical glossy surface that makes it less than stellar for using outdoors but frankly this is common to almost all consumer laptops. The big downside is that most of the models use the Intel HD Graphics 3000 solution rather than a dedicated graphics available in the XPS version. This puts it in the same realm as the MacBook Pro 13. It certainly won't be used for much 3D gaming even at a casual level but it does at least make up for this by providing accelerated media encoding with QuickSync compatible applications.

Dell packs the Inspiron 14z with a typical six cell battery pack that features a slightly higher 65WHr capacity rating. In DVD playback testing, this was able to yield about three and three quarter hours before going into standby mode. This is very good for a Windows based laptop but still falls short of what Apple achieves with its MacBook Pro lineup but they do cost a lot more. Expect around six to six and a half hours of more typical usage.

Dell Inspiron 1100

Dell Inspiron 1100

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Dell's Inspiron 1100 budget system is a hit or miss product. Its base configuration is nothing special, but good deals can be found through Dell's special offers.

•Often Found with Free Upgrades

Cons
•No CD Writer Capability
•Ships with Normal Capacity Battery and adapters such as Dell XPS 1340 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS PP17S Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1318 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M1330 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M1350 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1470 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 14Z Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1570 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 15Z Ac Adapter, Dell P04F001 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13ZD Ac Adapter

Description
•Intel Celeron 2.0 GHz Processor
•256 MB PC2100 DDR Memory
•30 Gigabyte Hard Drive
•24x CD-ROM Optical Drive
•15" XGA (1024x768) LCD and Intel Extreme 3D Graphics with 64MB Shared Memory
•AC'97 Audio
•v.92 56Kbps Modem and 10/100 Ethernet
•Two USB 2.0 Ports and One Type II PC Card Slot
•13.1" x 10.8" x 1.8" @ 7.8 lbs.
•Windows XP Home Operating System

Dell's Inspiron 1100 budget desktop replacement is probably one of the oldest systems available for under $1000 and its components show that age. The base configuration comes with an Intel 2.0 GHz Celeron processor which is sufficient for most computer users, but lower than most of its competitors. the biggest drawback to the system is the normal capacity battery that ships with it to reduce costs also reduces its possible battery life. The other area that it lacks is the optical storage. It ships with a 24x CD-ROM drive. On the plus side of things, Dell offers many upgrade special offers that can allow one to get memory or optical drive upgrades if they are willing to shop for the deals.

Dell Inspiron 1564 15.6-inch Budget Laptop PC

Dell Inspiron 1564 15.6-inch Budget Laptop PC

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Dell's Inspiron 1564 is the latest revision of their Inspiron 15 model that uses the new Intel Core 2010 processors. Their budget class model uses the Intel Core i3-330M dual core processor that actually provides a very strong level of performance. In fact, this processor provides more power than many of the Intel Core 2 Duo processors found in more expensive versions just months before. To cut the costs down, Dell does ship their budget model with just 3GB of DDR3 memory instead of the more typical 4GB which will impact multitasking at times.

To keep the Inspiron 1564 entry level system with a price below $600, Dell did sacrifice some features including the hard drive. It uses a smaller 250GB hard drive compared to the more typical 320GB drive. It spins at the standard 5400rpm spin rate which means that performance will also be a bit slower than those that have switched over to using 7200rpm desktop spin rate drives. A dual layer DVD burner handles all the CD and DVD playback and recording.

Dell advertises the Inspiron 1564's 15.6-inch display as having a WLED backlit. This essentially implies that the LED backlight provides a wider color range than standard CCFL backlights. Most laptops with battery like Dell XPS 1640 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS 1645 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS 1647 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M1640 Ac Adapter, Dell W298C Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 11Z Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 10 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 10V Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1010 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1011 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1010N Ac Adapter, Dell PP19S Ac Adapter are now using LED backlights so there is not much advantage and the blacks tend to be more washed out with its high brightness settings. Driving the graphics is the Intel GMA 4500MHD found on just about every budget laptop. This provides enough performance for handling HD video streaming but lacks and real 3D performance for tasks like PC gaming.

The budget class Inspiron 1564 comes with a six cell battery pack rated at 48WHr. This is fairly typical of budget class systems and means that battery life won't be as long as more typical laptops such as with the optional nine cell battery. In my DVD playback testing, the battery pack was able to achieve roughly two and a quarter hours of running time before going into standby mode. This translates into roughly three to three and a half hours of more typical usage.

With a base price tag of roughly $640, Dell offers a number of discount incentives on their systems that results in a price tag that can easily be found for under $600. This makes it extremely affordable but they did sacrifice a few other features to reach this price. With 802.11n now an official standard, most laptops include this as a standard feature. This version of the Inspiron 1564 only comes with 802.11b/g support which may disappoint those wanting high speed wireless networking.

Dell has also been known for their wide range of customization options when ordering laptops. In the case of their budget Inspiron 1564, it is considered a fast track item. This means that the internal components can not be upgraded at the time of the order. Only external peripherals can be added to the bundle.

Dell Inspiron 15 3521

Dell Inspiron 15 3521

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While much of the appearance of the Dell Inspiron 15 3521 is similar to that of the past Inspiron 15 3520, they have made a number of changes to the system which have improved the overall ability of the system. One of the big changes was in the peripheral ports. The old VGA port is gone which is a good thing as few monitors use this anymore in favor of the HDMI port. In its place, a USB 3.0 port has been added along with switching one of the past USB 2.0 to also be USB 3.0 port. This definitely gives the system an advantage as most low cost laptops either lack the new port or only provide a single one.

Another big change with the Inspiron 15 with adapters such as Dell XPS L401X Ac Adapter, Dell XPS L701X Ac Adapter, Dell XPS L501X Ac Adapter, Dell XPS L502X Ac Adapter, Dell XPS L702X Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M2010 Ac Adapter, Dell C9891 Ac Adapter, Dell J70W7 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1464 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1564 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1764 Ac Adapter, Dell 9JJGJ Ac Adapter is the processor. Rather than using a standard class laptop processor, they now use an Intel Core i3-3227U dual core processor. This is a lower voltage processor that would typically be found in inexpensive ultrabooks. It does sacrifice some performance in order to use less power but it still provides a good level of performance for that typical user that is just using their laptop to browse the web, watch media and use some productivity applications. The processor is combined with 4GB of DDR3 memory which is typical of such a low cost system and it runs well enough under Windows 8 but those that might want to do a lot of multitasking can benefit from upgrading to 8GB.

Storage features a standard for a low cost laptop. The primary storage is handled by a 500GB hard drive that provides a decent amount of storage for applications, data and media files. Performance is pretty much on par for a lower cost laptop and definitely now as quick for booting as a low cost ultrabook that will use some SSD to enhance a drive. If you do need additional space, there are the two USB 3.0 ports that were previously mentioned for use with high speed external drives. The system still has a dual layer DVD burner for playback and recording of CD and DVD media unlike the Inspiron 15z.

The graphics have been upgraded a bit from the past version thanks to the new processor. Now it features an Intel HD Graphics 4000 over the past 3000 graphics. This provides better 3D performance but it still shouldn't be considered for PC gaming beyond the most casual play at low resolution and detail levels. It does provide improved speeds for video encoding when using Quick Sync enabled applications. The display remains the same with a 15.6-inch TN based panel that offers a 1366x768 native resolution common to all low cost laptops. Viewing angles are limited as is the color and brightness such that it doesn't really stand out or feel any worse than its competition.

The weight of the Inspiron 15 has dropped to just five pounds and is primarily attributed to the reduction of the battery size from a six cell 48WHr capacity pack to a four cell 40WHr unit. This is a notable drop in battery capacity but it is using a lower power consuming processor. In digital video playback testing, this resulted in four and a quarter hours of playback before going into standby mode. This is actually longer than the previous Inspiron 15 but it still falls short of what HP's Envy Sleekbook 6 can achieve with a low power processor and larger battery pack.

Normally the Dell Inspiron 15 is priced around $450 but with various incentives can generally be found for under $400. This makes it extremely affordable compared to many similar systems. The primary competition for Dell comes from Acer, ASUS and Toshiba. Acer's new Aspire E1 is slightly more expensive and offers less storage space and peripherals ports. The ASUS X55C provides a bit higher performance but also has less running time and is larger than the Dell. Finally, Toshiba offers more storage and a bit more performance but at less running time while being thicker and heavier.

Dell Linux laptop

Dell Linux laptop

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Plenty of specialized companies out there sell PCs with Linux, but Dell is one of the very few mainstream contenders to have done so over the years. After some spotty initial offerings, it's taken a different approach with its latest Linux PC with adapter like Dell Inspiron M501 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 17R Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 15R Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 14R Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13R Ac Adapter, Dell 9T48V Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M1730 Ac Adapter, Dell PP06XA Ac Adapter, Dell Latitude 2100 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1320 Ac Adapter, Dell R893R Ac Adapter, Dell J024N Ac Adapter. Rather than try to sell Linux hardware to the masses, which the company has said typically requires support, it's focusing instead on developers, a savvy group that tends to need less help.

That's the plan behind the $1,549 Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition, an ultrabook that was born via the company's “Project Sputnik” skunkworks initiative last year combining Ubuntu Linux 12.04 Long Term Support Precise Pangolin and the company's existing XPS 13 laptop.

What started out as a pilot project turned into a real commercial product last fall, and earlier this year it got a nice upgrade. We got our hands on one recently and put this latest model through its paces.

A thing of beauty
Visually, the Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition is a thing of beauty. It's thin, sleek, and lightweight, weighing in at just under 3 pounds. With a top cover precision-cut from a single block of aluminum, the silver-toned machine features a carbon-fiber composite base surrounded with a ring of matching anodized aluminum. A comfortable magnesium palm rest features soft-touch paint.

Powering the Linux ultrabook is a third-generation Intel Core i7 processor with Intel HD Graphics 4000, 8GB dual channel DDR3L RAM, and a 256GB SSD drive. That's a nice setup for the kinds of compute-intensive tasks developers spend much of their time on, including repeated cycles of coding, compiling, testing, and debugging.

Developers will also often have many windows open, so the fact that this machine sports a full 8GB of RAM rather than the standard XPS 13's starting point of 4GB eases the burden by minimizing swapping to disk, thereby improving overall responsiveness.

The 13.3-inch edge-to-edge glossy display, meanwhile, is constructed from hardened Gorilla Glass and offers full High Definition WLED, 1080p resolution, and a full 178° viewing angle. So compact is the PC's design, however, that it actually feels a lot more like an 11-inch laptop in overall size.

Glaring Windows relic on the keyboard
The backlit, full-sized keyboard is another visually appealing element, though we found it a bit too light to the touch. That's personal preference, of course. Much more striking, though, was the fact that it featured a Windows superkey rather than an Ubuntu one.

While it's not a performance issue, the presence of a Windows-specific key on this device underscores the fact that this is still essentially Dell's standard XPS 13 with Ubuntu simply preinstalled. Developers wouldn't have any trouble doing that installation themselves, so we were alert to other distinguishing features that would set this device apart for this Linux-minded crowd.

One such feature is the XPS 13 Developer Edition's full year of included Dell ProSupport and onsite service after remote diagnostics. Also included on the device, meanwhile, are two USB 3.0 ports (one with PowerShare), a mini DisplayPort, and a headset jack. No mouse was included, so we added our own.

Ubuntu, Unity, LibreOffice included
Like many Linux machines, this one featured a nice, snappy startup; it can boot from cold in as little as 13.5 seconds, Dell says.

We did encounter an issue by which the installer crashed the first time around, but on the second attempt it worked like a charm. WiFi connected on the first try, so we got to work installing some extras, including Chrome, GIMP, and Shutter for taking screenshots.

The XPS 13 Developer Edition has competition: Lenovo’s ThinkPad, Apple’s MacBook Retina or Air, or Google's Chromebook Pixel. These machines aren't customized for Linux work, but they're technically superior in construction and software certification, and it's nothing for developers to strip what's there and install any operating system they want. It will be interesting, however, to revisit this device once it's fully loaded with all the developer tools Dell has planned.

Dell laptops are dull

Dell laptops are dull

Welcome to a laptop battery specialist of the Dell Ac Adapter

Dell laptops are dull. If you’re after something relatively lightweight but feature-packed, you’re not likely to go for one. But some leaked pics and specs have emerged on Engadget – and we can’t wait to see the real deal.

The Inspiron 1535 and 1735 models with adapters such as Dell Latitude E4300 Ac Adapter, Dell Latitude E4400 Ac Adapter, Dell Latitude E4310 Ac Adapter, Dell 8N884 Ac Adapter, Dell G800H Ac Adapter, Dell Latitude E4320 Ac Adapter, Dell Latitude E4200 Ac Adapter, Dell Y085C Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron N7010 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron N5010 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron N4010 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron N3010 Ac Adapter appear to be debuting late this month and early next, so we’d bet they’ll be sporting the next-gen version of Centrino, codenamed Montevina. The 1435 will be with us later in the year it seems.

The platform will appear alongside Intel’s Atom line at Computex in Taipei at the beginning of June. Engadget says the line will boast Penryn-class Core 2 Duos up to the T5850 2.16GHz model, while 3G data is also available on board.

Dell seems to have followed the crowd with its wedge-shaped design just over 2cm at its thinnest. But that can’t be a bad thing – at least you get an optical disc drive.

Montevina is the fifth version of the Centrino platform and, in addition to a Penryn processor, boasts an Intel Mobile 45 Express chipset with GMA X4500 graphics as well as 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi and WiMAX. Quite how many Montevina laptops will actually ship with WiMAX will be rather interesting indeed.
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Dell Pumps Up the Pixels in the XPS M1730s

Dell Pumps Up the Pixels in the XPS M1730s

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In September 2007, Dell decided to specifically compete with its own in-house boutique computer brand Alienware by launching the XPS M1730 notebook with adapter like Dell Studio 1450 Ac Adapter, Dell Studio 1457 Ac Adapter, Dell Studio 1458 Ac Adapter, Dell Studio 1558R Ac Adapter, Dell N998P Ac Adapter, Dell W358P Ac Adapter, Dell Latitude E5400 Ac Adapter, Dell Latitude E5410 Ac Adapter, Dell Latitude E5500 Ac Adapter, Dell Latitude E5510 Ac Adapter, Dell WU852 Ac Adapter, Dell PP32L Ac Adapter, a powerhouse system featuring a 17-inch display, cranked-up Core 2 Duo processors, dual drive configurations, and a bevy of ports. Also available in a custom-themed World of Warcraft edition, the original XPS M1730s sported Mvidia GeForce 8700M GS graphics controllers with Nvidia SLI technology and an Ageia PhysX processing unit; now, Dell is cranking up the XPS M1730s with an option for Nvidia 8800M GTX with dual SLI technology, which the company claims offers a 49 percent increase in benchmark video performance over the 8700M.

“The XPS M1730 has been recognized as the standard for gaming laptops,” said head of Dell’s XPS group Glen Robson, in a statement sent by email. “With the addition dual GeForce 8800M GTX graphics with NVIDIA SLI technology, the XPS M1730 delivers DX10 gaming performance approaching high end desktops.”

The Nvidia 8800M GTX with SLI technology will be available for the XPS M1730 notebooks for $700; Dell also says it will offer a graphics upgrade program for owners of current XPS M1730 notebooks, although the details and pricing haven’t been announced.

Dell Busts Out Pink XPS Notebooks

Dell Busts Out Pink XPS Notebooks

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Spring has sprung in the northern hemisphere—and naturally, that means the technologically-inclined have turned their thoughts towards pink notebooks. Fortunately, Dell is here to help, unveiling new pink editions of its popular XPS M1530 and XPS M1330 notebook computers.

“It was an easy decision for us to add pink as an option to the XPS M1330, and M1530 since pink is the second most popular color for our Inspiron laptops” said Dell’s VP of global consumer business Michael Tatelman, in a statement. “While customers appreciate the sleek, no-nonsense XPS look, they also wanted a wider variety in color options. We think they are going to love it.”

The new “flamingo pink” color joins blue, black, and PRODUCT(RED) editions of the XPS notebooks with adapter such as Dell RM680 Ac Adapter, Dell KM970 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro 3300 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro 3350 Ac Adapter, Dell NF52T Ac Adapter, Dell GRNX5 Ac Adapter, Dell Latitude XT Ac Adapter, Dell WR015 Ac Adapter, Dell PU536 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro 3400 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro 3500 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro 3700 Ac Adapter, but doesn’t come with a bump in specs; however, it does come with a $25 upcharge compared to plain old boring black. Dell seems to think most consumers will be OK with that, noting that hot pink is making the rounds as one of the season’s hot fashion colors. “Pinks are as popular with technology products as they are with clothing this spring,” said the Pantone Color Institute‘s executive director Leatrice Eiseman, in a release. “Nowadays, consumers are using and carrying colorful laptops and technology products as a way to express themselves.”

And if pink is out by September, we’re sure Dell will have more seasonal offerings on tap: might we suggest a bronze or rustic umber?