New MacBook Air hits the streets, actually capable of this whole “computing” thing

The new MacBook Air has landed, and folks all over are recording their impressions of the slightly-revamped ultraportable. Obviously there's very little to note externally, with the same packaging and design to the computer -- the only real difference is the new mini DisplayPort plug to replace that totally oddball microDVI plug. What's much more exciting is what's under the hood, namely integrated graphics (NVIDIA 9400M) with enough juice to, say, play back a YouTube video without overheating the computer to a point of non-usability. Shocking, we know. Read more

Intel to Release Details on 32nm Chip Fabrication Technology at 54th IEDM

If chip fabrication continues on a shrinking trend with Intel expected to release details surround its 32nm chip fabrication technology at the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) in San Francisco on December 15.

World of Warcraft 11 Million Subscribers and Counting

As anticipation for the Wrath of the Lich King expansion mounts, Blizzard happened to mention this morning that at present, World of Warcraft has surpassed 11 million subscribers worldwide. This impressive number was reached during the MMORPG’s beta testing for the upcoming expansion, which means they’re only expected to grow once Wrath of the Lich King launches November 13. Read more

Acer Travelmate 3220 Review

Rating 9.5/10
Quick Facts
Distributed by: Acer Computer Pty Ltd.
Contact: www.acer.com.au
Price: $1050 (At time of purchase mid 2006) Read more

Lexmark new laser printers $199

Lexmark on Monday introduced a new line of monochrome laser printers compatible with Macs and Windows PCs. Prices range from $199 to $599 and up depending on features.

Read more

Acer Aspire X1700 Space Saving Desktop Computer

The launch of the Acer Aspire X1700 brings us a space-saving desktop computer with many configuration options to please both people starting out with computers and more demanding users. Those who are willing to forgo all the added extras can take home this slim PC for a fair price. There is, however, also the option to add a dedicated graphics card, Blu-ray burner and a whole load of memory, turning the computer into a veritable multimedia centre. There are also more possibilities for external additions to the computer.

Read more

HP Mini 1000 netbook

Hewlett-Packard jumped into the compact notebook space this past spring with the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC, a device that started at $499 and was geared toward the education market.

The world’s largest PC maker is expanding on that first offering with the new HP Mini 1000 family, which broadens its appeal and reaches out to more segments. And it also improves on the 2133 Mini-Note in a number of ways and sells at a cheaper price, making the device a potential big seller in this economy-depressed holiday season.

The main workhorse will be the 2.25 lb HP Mini 1000, which occupies a similar shape as the 2133 but will have some noted improvements. It has an Intel 1.6 GHz Atom N270 processor running Windows XP Home. The 2133 had a VIA processor running Linux and Vista. Both the processor and Vista drew performance complaints from some reviewers. The HP Mini 1000 should have better performance as a result.

The laptop, available now at www.hpdirect.com, will also support a 10.2-inch screen in addition to the 8.9-inch version available on the 2133. And it will have a webcam, 2 USB ports, built-in microphone and also the ability to expand storage using a HP Mini Mobile Drive, which goes up to 8 GB. The Mini 1000 will also get the same 92 percent keyboard, which got rave reviews from reviewers on the 2133.

A 3G version is expected to be available in December. The notebook comes with a 3-cell battery but an optional 6-cell Li-polymer battery will also be available in January. The HP Mini 1000 will be sold starting at $399.99 for a base model.

HP is really going after “digital snackers” with a second model, the HP Mini 100 with MIE (Mobile Internet Experience). This model, available in January at a starting price of $379.99, does away with a traditional operating system in favor of an HP developed Linux platform that is designed for specific applications. You can get e-mail through a Thunderbird client, web browsing through a Mozilla-based browser and access to all your photos, videos and music.

And for the fashion conscious, HP his also releasing a Vivienne Tam edition, the shell of which was created by the fashion designer. The red color and flower patterns along with the small footprint of the laptop give it the look of a “digital clutch”, said HP. The Vivienne Tam edition will sell for $699.99 and should go on sale in mid-December.

It will be interesting to see how well these sub-notebooks do this holiday. Will they cannibalize sales from larger laptops, especially with money so tight these days, or will it do like HP hopes and really open up new opportunities to sell laptops to children or as a second device for established laptop owners? Check back in after the holidays.

Dell New Laptop Mini 12

Dell is walking the line between ultraportable PC and traditional laptop with its latest Inspiron Mini offering.

The computer maker this week unveiled its Inspiron Mini 12, which now is available in Japan and is slated to launch globally next month. With a starting price below US$600, the Mini 12 supports the Windows Vista, Ubuntu Linux and Windows XP operating systems.

Weighing in at under 3 pounds and less than an inch thick, the Mini 12 is a sort of big brother to Dell’s older Inspiron Mini 9. Not a computing powerhouse, the Mini 12 is geared to online chatting, uploading photos, surfing and downloading music, according to Dell.

“Dell is stretching its range of offerings, which is good,” said Dan Olds, principal analyst with the Gabriel Consulting Group. “This is an improvement on the Mini 9 in that it has a good sized screen — much bigger than the Mini 9 — and standard hard drives of 60 or 80 GB. The Mini 9, with only solid state drives of 8 or 16 GB, really wasn’t usable as a general-purpose machine.”

Earlier this month, Gartner Inc. reported that mini-laptops have been keeping the PC market from sinking badly in the tough economy. A strong push from a new slew of mini-notebooks hitting the market is bolstering what otherwise would be a soft PC industry.

Gartner reported that Dell rivals Acer Inc. and Asus have been quick to get into the mini-laptop market.

And in August, Lenovo took a run at the fledgling market with an ultraportable laptop. Scheduled to be available this month, the IdeaPad S10 has a starting price of $399.? And this past June, Acer came out with the Aspire One mini-laptop.

Mini-laptops, increasingly known as netbooks, are relatively inexpensive, small-form-factor notebooks designed for basic applications, such as Web surfing, e-mailing and word processing. They’re designed to use less power than traditional PCs and laptops and aren’t robust enough for serious power users or gamers.

“Dell, here, is skirting the line between netbook and laptop, and it continues a trend for Dell getting away from the plain vanilla notebooks and desktops,” said Olds. “It’s interesting in that the Mini 9 is essentially only good as a device to connect to the Net. The Mini 12, though, is a full-fledged system, capable of handling a wide range of tasks. It won’t be a speed demon, but it’ll be fine for standard office applications, as well as downloading and listening to music.”

Olds noted that the Mini 12 is a good first notebook for kids, but also would be useful business travelers concerned about battery life, weight, and having a variety of connectivity options.