ThinkPad T410: another powerful and reliable business laptop from Lenovo
Alexandra | 12:28 pm | June 14, 2010 | Laptop News, New Laptops
A 14-inch ThinkPad T400 was good in everything: an excellent, powerful, non-killable device for working. While developing a new model, ThinkPad T410, they at Lenovo tried to improve all the main characteristics. Apart from powerful Intel Core i-series processors the updated laptop has got several new features such as enlarged touchpad area with MultiTouch support and the Gobi 2000 3G-module. The time of autonomous performance has been improved too; the new extended ThinkPad battery now provides up to 22 hours of runtime.
Performance
ThinkPad T410 is available with the Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors. The version with powerful Core i7 provides the maximum performance while the Core i5 models offer a better balance between performance and the duration of work off mains. These processors also support the so-called Intel Turbo Boost technology , where the frequency can be automatically accelerated.
Intel Core i3 doesn’t support the Turbo Boost technology but at the same time it is a very powerful processor that beats the Core 2 Duo of the previous generation in all tests.
Connectivity
ThinkPad T410 is equipped with the maximum set of all possible ports for connecting gadgets and devices. The DisplayPort interface to connect an external monitor has now become the standard for T-series. If necessary, the monitor can be connected with the help of the DVI or HDMI cable using an adapter. Apart from four usual USB ports (power is permanently supplied to one of these ports even when a laptop is switched off), the eSata and FireWire mini slots are in place. Additional modules can be also installed into a 34-mm Express Card slot.
Reliability
The display lid is equipped with the stiffening frame from highly elastic polycarbonate (HEPC) and the motherboard and hard disk are protected by the frame made of magnesium alloy. The keyboard is protected from ingress of moisture; spilt over the keys liquid is deduced from the laptop through special channels without touching electronic components. And, of course, ThinkPad T410 is equipped with the legendary trade-mark keyboard that guarantees an incredible comfort at typing.
Battery life
T410 is one of the most suitable laptops for long autonomous work. You can buy a laptop with ordinary accumulators that come with 6 or 9 cells. With a 6-cell battery, the machine will work for about 6.6 hrs which is not that bad! The extended 9-cell battery provides 11 hrs of work from one charge. Though that is not it, the new prismatic battery developed primarily for new T series is connected to the dock station and can be used along with the standard battery. Thus, with two 9-cell batteries at a time, the laptop will be able to work without charging for 22 hours. Both accumulators will be charged simultaneously – there’s no need in replacing batteries or buying an external AC Adapter.
“Nanotecnological” laptop only for $99
Alexandra | 2:04 pm | May 10, 2010 | New Laptops
Nanotechnologies are entering our life at incredible speeds. The device Ben NanoNote seems to present by itself the limit of miniaturization in the class of laptops. Having the price of $99, the weight of 130 gr and the size of 99х75х17.5 mm this gadget can boast the practically full-bodied QWERTY keyboard.
However, the rest doesn’t impress so much. The display resolution is 320х240 pixels, the RAM capacity is 32 Mb, the frequency of the XBurst Jz4720 processor is 336 MHz. Of course, there’s no hard disk, but one 2-Gb microSD flash card instead.
There’s a speaker, a microphone, a slot for headphones and one USB port. The battery capacity is 850 mAh. The working platform of the device is Linux.
The manufacturer thinks Ben NanoNote is an excellent media-player, a memo book and a reader. Of course, any modern smartphone will give good headstart to this odd device in terms of functionality and convenience. Still, Ben NanoNote can be a very cool present, a nanotecnological one.
HP 2010 laptops for small and medium businesses
Alexandra | 12:36 am | April 8, 2010 | New Laptops
The new line form HP includes 6 new models presented — a transformer EliteBook 2740p with touch screen and multi touch support, a light 12-inch EliteBook 2540p with the weight of 3.3 pounds and four models of the ProBook line with the S index which mainly differ by the screen diagonal — 13, 14, 15 and 17 inches. All models support the Intel i3, i5, i7 processors with Turbo Boost technology, can use up to 8 GB of memory, work with hard drives with up to 500 GB of capacity (apart from the tablet computer) and optionally all the models are equipped with webcams and biometrical sensors.
The transformer HP EliteBook 2740p has a 12-inch touchscreen with 1280х800 resolution, and weighs a bit over 3.7 pounds. The optical drive is not included in the set and can be bought separately with an external connection. There are ExpressCard slots, a slot for SD cards and three USB ports, one of which supports the power supply (!). In the given model accumulators with the support of Smart SATA II up to 320 GB can be used. The price in the base configuration is US $1600.
HP EliteBook 2740p
The HP EliteBook 2540p laptop weighs only about 3.4 pounds in its basic configuration, and has a price tag of US $1100. The Intel i7 processor version is also equipped with the optical drive, and has a 1.8-inch hard drive with the capacity of 500 GB.
HP EliteBook 2540p
The new line of laptops ProBook 4х20s looks more attractive thanks to unusual case colors. But everything is pretty standard otherwise.
HP ProBook 4320s
The resolution of the 13-inch model HP ProBook 4320s is 366х768 pixels. The weight of this laptop is 4.4 pounds without the optical drive.
All these models are equipped with 16:9 screens, HDMI slots and one USB port are combined with eSATA. They also have stereo input for a microphone. The release dates of the two previous models are known already (April, 2010), the prices and time for the ProBook line launch will be announced later.
The HP ProBook 4420s model differs only by a 14-inch screen and a weight of 4.7 pounds. Will optical drives disappear in simple notebook models at all as it happened to 3.5-inch slots for diskettes? We’ll see…
HP ProBook 4420s
The 15-inch model HP ProBook 4520s of the new line can also be supplied without the optical drive but it has one interesting option in the form of an additional digital keyboard.
HP ProBook 4520s
At last, the 17-inch model HP ProBook 4720s is equipped with a 1600х900 resolution screen. The size of this beast is 28×411x266 mm and it weighs about 6.6 pounds.
HP ProBook 4720s
Alex PC – the simplest laptop for your grandparents or children
Alexandra | 4:44 pm | March 5, 2010 | New Laptops
Almost all of us sooner or later are faced with the need of purchasing the first computer for grandparents (parents) or children. In this case you think about price and simplicity much more than about technical characteristics. So, meet Alex PC, the simplest laptop for those who are baffled by modern day technology. It was developed by the Broadband Computer Company in the UK and is based on the upgraded version of the 15-inch Clevo M760T laptop.
Alex PC uses the Linux operating system, but access to all the necessary functions is simplified as much as possible. To run a player client, a text or graphics editor just press one of the large icons tightly pinned to the desktop. All the new software versions will be downloaded to your laptop without asking any annoying questions (this point can be also considered as a problem for those who pay for internet traffic).
Users will not find usual user accounts with logins and passwords on Alex PC, instead of them each family member can use a personal password protected USB flash drive with desktop settings, personal files and other useful stuff.
The laptop is based on Intel Celeron T1600, has a 1 GB RAM, a hard disk of 120 GB, a Wi-Fi module, 1.3 megapixel webcam and a DVD-drive. All this user friendliness will set you back about 620 dollars.
The near future of high-tech industry (your excursion to CES 2010)
Alexandra | 7:39 pm | January 26, 2010 | New Laptops
The last Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has become the main source of information about new technologies and products from the world’s largest product designer and manufacturers. The show was held in Las Vegas, and this place wasn’t chosen by chance. The U.S. market is traditionally considered as one of the most important for many large companies that design and produce electronics.
Judging by the general show trends, 2010 will be the year of Android smartphones, Tablet PCs, and rapid development of three-dimensional television. And like a year ago, at CES 2009, manufacturers introduced a lot of notebooks and netbooks in a classic form factor. Developers still believe that this market is very promising. For example, MSI management expects 50% growth of notebook shipments in 2010.
Lenovo attracted visitors by the unusual Ideapad U1 laptop. This device, which is actually a hybrid of tablet and netbook, has a 11.6″ display that can be disconnected from the keyboard and work independently as a Tablet PC. Ideapad U1 is expected in shops this summer at a price of about $ 1000.
You could see new netbooks based on Intel Pine Trail hardware platform from all major manufacturers at CES 2010. Most of those devices had similar characteristics and were running Windows 7. The Samsung N127 netbook based on OS Moblin can be mentioned as an exception.
One more piece of news from Intel. The company launched AppUpCenter, a new online store of applications for compact portable computers. All users of netbooks with OS Windows can join this service.
Among the huge number of laptops that were presented at CES 2010 there are some unusual ones. Samsung demonstrated a prototype laptop with a 14″ transparent OLED-display. It’s difficult to imagine who may need such a computer, but this invention of South Korean engineers may find application in other industries. Also Dell showed a workable concept of Studio with a 16″ OLED-display, which response time is 0,004 ms. And Asus amazed visitors by its new NX90 Bang & Olufsen edition laptop.
So CES 2010 gave us a general idea of what devices we should expect this year. Evidently experts expect the increase in sales of portable computers (both netbooks and notebooks). Marketing specialists pin hopes on tablet PCs, but demand for them will depend not only on technical specifications, but also on pricing policies.
“One Laptop Per Child” – Now in Uruguay
oleg | 2:01 am | November 12, 2009 | Laptop News, New Laptops, Uncategorized
Thanks to One Laptop Per Child, a non-profit North American association, 380,000 primary school pupils in Uruguay have been issued this year with a free personal laptop.
The XO-1, (previously known as the $100 Laptop), is an inexpensive laptop model that was developed by Quanta Computer Incorporated, a well-known manufacturer of notebook computers. Its customers include ACER, Apple Inc., Cisco, Compaq, Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Sony, Toshiba and other major brands. The XO-1 was designed and built especially for children in developing countries, considering everything from extreme environmental conditions to local language support. It is being described by its producers as “extremely durable, brilliantly functional, energy-efficient, and fun”.
It is about the size of a textbook and lighter than a lunchbox. The integrated handle is kid-sized, as is the sealed, rubber keyboard. Extra-wide touchpad supports pointing, as well as drawing and writing. Its LiFePO4 or NiMH extended life battery cells contain no toxic heavy metals. It is also compatible with alternate power sources, such as car chargers. Children may also have a second battery for group charging at school while the laptop is in use. Yet, each machine costs only about $260 (including teacher-training and connection charges) plus annual maintenance of $21.
Their efficiency will be tested for the first time when Uruguayan first year pupils will take online exams later this month. The first country in Latin America to provide free, compulsory schooling, Uruguay will now become the first again to find out whether supplying a whole generation with laptops is a good investment. The government of neighbouring Peru, a bigger, but at the same time poorer country, is currently trying something similar.
But is this program really the best use of money? There have been several voices arguing its success. The first 50,000 laptops arrived in Uruguay with software in English, instead of Spanish. Many of the pupils managed to break their machines, usually by cracking the screen or snapping of the WI-FI antennas. When a poor, rural child wrecks his, he often chooses to keep his new toy rather than risk sending it by post where it could be easily stolen. Every two out of five schools in Uruguayan countryside are located in remote areas with poor internet connectivity. Moreover, many of the teachers in Uruguay are of advanced age and therefore find it difficult to cope with the new technology.
Skeptics would rather prefer the government hiring more teachers instead of introducing new technologies. But the officials’ response is that the laptops are still worth a try.”We shall see a rapid shift away from memorization to critical analysis,” says Edith Moraes, the official in charge of elementary schools. And the “One Laptop per Child” program will certainly conribute to better schooling.
5 Things You Need To Know About Macbook Air
Boris | 11:58 pm | January 17, 2008 | New Laptops
Apple started year 2008 by introducing MacBook Air, the new ultra-thin notebook. Rumors ran wild the weeks before the show, and not surprisingly a lot of them came true. A trademark Apple feature, MacBook Air is recognizable more for what it doesn’t have than what it does.
All the people who don’t like the new notebook automatically assume that Apple was targeting them and missed horribly. Well, this was not intended to be a mainstream hit. The paper thin laptop is marketed to a specific market, one where weight and portability is of utmost concern.
2. World’s thinnest notebook
MacBook Air is so thin that it fits in a regular post envelope. It measures an unprecedented 0.16 inches at its thinnest point, while its maximum height of 0.76 inches is less than the thinnest point on competing notebooks.
3. No User Replaceable
Selling devices that are not owner serviceable is now the Apple way, after people tolerated this in the iPod and reluctantly accepted it with the iPhone.
With MacBook Air you can wirelessly borrow the optical drive from any other computer or rent movies from the iTunes Store. Even Apple haters should appreciate the way Apple introduces new and bold concepts that has the competitors tiptoeing behind.
5. Limited Connectivity
Getting that thin has meant sacrificing connectivity, ports and storage. There is no Ethernet, no Firewire, no express card or PCMCIA slot either and single USB port. What you get is 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.0 + ERD connectivity, micro-DVI socket, headphones jack and iSight webcam.
“Thinness” being the major selling point is a doubtful advantage, with the price of over £2000 for a solid state harddrive version, enough to buy seven Asus Eee Pcs for every day of the week. Still, you don’t loose inches overnight, there is some groundbreaking advanced technology inside that fragile body, and it comes with the price. Air might not be a revolution, but it certainly is a remarkable innovation.
3 Screens And a Strawberry Margarita
maksim | 12:52 am | December 22, 2007 | New Laptops
If there was a New American Dream, a dream of e-generation, what would that be like? What do we, people that are free of sex and family constraints of 20th century, are able to travel around the world, and are financially independent from young years, want? A mortgaged house in suburbs, a strong family, a stable job, a car? We, kids of postmodernism, would rather print that on our toilet paper.
We are the victims of choice. We are too spoiled with alternatives. We don’t want a house because we don’t want to settle in one place and instead we travel more. We don’t want a family because we want to spend as much of our Me Time on ourselves as possible. Just being together, being committed to a person is hard for us, with sexual freedom reaching new heights every day. And we don’t want a stable job because with so many alternatives around we are constantly looking for a better one, preferably with us in charge.
And, speaking of a decent job, we don’t want an ordinary-looking office either. A bungalow on the coast of west
Source: Acme Portable
The Beauty vs The Beast
maksim | 4:18 am | December 21, 2007 | New Laptops
Two extremes of the same territory, two laptops that could not be further away apart- today we compare Asus Eee PC and Getac A790- the Snow White and the Terminator of the laptop world.
Difference starts with the price. Asus Eee Pc is famously the cheapest laptop in the world, with the price of 200 dollars. Getac costs 30 times more, just below 6000 dollars.
Small and light, Eee Pc has a processor to match, Intel Celeron-M 900MHz. Getac, in spite of its seemingly awkward shapes, has an impressive Intel Core Duo 1.66GHz.
Elegantly small 4gb harddrive of Eee Pc is not prepared to waste its space on something as unglamorous and time-wasting as movies or games. Getac, a road warrior, has shock-resistant 80gb, and options for more if needed.
For wireless connectivity, Eee Pc has WiFi, simple and effective, job done. Getac is a jungle kid and WiFi can never be enough- it also has Bluetooth, GPS, and a GSM/GPRS support.
Never meant to leave civilization for too long , Asus has a reasonable battery life lasting over two hours. Getac, a companion of night shifts and field trips, has a maximum possible battery life of around eight hours.
Graceful Eee Pc has a webcam on its list of additional features, and that is all it needs. Getac wants much more. Fingerprint scanner, optional touchscreen and sunlight readable display, dustproof keyboard, fully waterproof case with sealed ports and connectors, vibration resistance and extra strong magnesium alloy case.
Sources: Asus Eee Pc and Getac A790
Laptop of Mass Destruction
maksim | 2:27 am | December 5, 2007 | New Laptops
In never-ending battle between chic and cheap, the chic front has come up with a weapon of mass destruction. MSI PR200 Crystal laptop is set to kill other portable devices of all kinds around you on a serious scale.
The laptop wonder is armed with 20 crystals on the lid that form a circle in the middle, emphasising its pearl-white body. Additional crystal-fitted USB Flash drive and colour-matching mouse complete the arsenal. If placed strategically against the sun rays, it can be used with great effect to dazzle unsuspecting owners of ordinary, grey-white-black stuff.
The laptop is not out yet; the release in the
Essential specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
12.1” Screen
2GB Memory
160GB Harddrive
Fingerprint reader
Webcam
Optional TV Tuner
Pear-White Mouse
1GB Crystal Flash Drive
