Hasta La Gadget!

AMD is due to release a batch of new Llano APUs next month that are specifically tailored to desktops rather than laptops. The most powerful among them will be the 2.9GHz A8-3850, which has already caused a stir on the review circuit for one simple reason: it pulls off a brutal “one shot one kill” on Intel’s HD 3000 integrated graphics. AnandTech raised an impressed eyebrow at the fact that all its benchmarking games were playable on the $135 AMD chip, which roughly doubled frame rates in titles like Modern Warfare 2, Bioshock 2 and World of Warcraft compared to the more expensive Sandy Bridge i5 2500K. TechSpot declared the APU its “new budget king,” with graphical performance “on another level” compared even to an i7.

However, the superlatives quickly evaporated once reviewers shifted their focus to the CPU. TechReport spotted that pure CPU performance per dollar was actually lower than what you’d get from a lowly i3. Moreover, it reckoned you’d only have to spend an extra $70 to buy a much more powerful CPU and a separate graphics card — an option that comes “awfully close to making the A8-3850 seem irrelevant.” Ouch. Nevertheless, if an affordable processor with integrated graphics is what you’re after, then it’s fair to say this one sets the standard. Click the source links below for full reviews.

AMD Llano desktop APU gets reviewed: the best integrated graphics in town originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, what do we have here? From the looks of it, we’ve got ourselves launch dates for a slate of new Lenovo tablets. A little note from the outfit’s Affiliate Program, pictured above, shows the Android-packing IdeaPad K1 will, unsurprisingly, debut in late June or July, with a June 28th arrival being pegged for its rumored ThinkPad tablet. What’s more, we could see a refresh of the company’s IdeaCentre nettop coming our way August 30th. Looks like this summer could be a hot one for Lenovo, but we’ll just have to wait and see how things pan out.

Update: We just heard from the folks at Lenovo, and they’re saying the dates here are “no longer valid.” Unfortunately, that sounds like an unwanted delay to us, but we’ll keep you posted as we hear more.

Lenovo ThinkPad, IdeaPad tablets coming later this month? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 11:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The folks at Sony clearly couldn’t decide whether they wanted to give the world a new 3D HDTV or desktop PC — and thus the latest addition to the VAIO L all-in-one line was born. The newly announced system plays television and features a 24-inch 3D multitouch display, a Blu-ray player, a bezel with built-in touch controls, 1080p HD playback, USB 3.0, and an HDMI port, so you can plug your PS3 into the thing. The system will start hitting stores on July 13th, for around $1,420, a price that includes a wireless keyboard and mouse, plus one pair of active shutter 3D glasses. Thankfully, you won’t need those to view the press release after the break.

Continue reading Sony’s new VAIO L all-in-one thinks it’s a 3D TV

Sony’s new VAIO L all-in-one thinks it’s a 3D TV originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A show as packed to the walls will shiny new technology as Computex could surely benefit from a few space saving devices, like, say, this new all-in-one from LG. With the high-end configuration you’ll get a second generation Intel Core i7 processor, AMD Radeon HD 6650M graphics, a 750GB hard drive, 8GB of RAM, and a Blu-ray player all packed inside the system’s slender 1.8-inch thick frame. The V300’s multitouch 23-inch Film-type Patterned Retarder (FPR)-enabled display offers up 3D with the aid of polarized glasses. The AIW is set for a Korean launch in July, followed by trips to Europe, the Middle East, and other parts of Asia. No word on if or when it’ll hit desks in the States, but at least you won’t have to find much room on your desk when it does.

Continue reading LG V300 does multitouch, 3D, all-in-one

LG V300 does multitouch, 3D, all-in-one originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP may have announced its TouchSmart 610 all-in-one just a shade too soon for it to ship with Core 2011 processors, but that doesn’t mean the company was above pushing out a refresh just a few months later. Now, this 23-inch beast is on sale with a variety of quad-core Core i5 and Core i7 Sandy Bridge CPUs. To recap, what makes the 610 special is its rigid hinge, which allows the 1080p display to slide down so that it’s face-up, and nearly flat at a 60-degree angle — a more ergonomic position for poking ’round the TouchSmart software while standing. Like pretty much every other HP computer on the market, it comes standard with Beats Audio and, depending on how much money you’re willing to shell out, you can trick it out with up to 16GB of RAM, 2TB of storage, and your choice of NVIDIA or ATI graphics with up to 2GB of video memory. Those Sandy Bridge models are available now starting at $1,100, though as always, you can get an entry-level configuration with quad-core AMD innards for $900 and up.

HP gives TouchSmart 610 a second crack, this time with Sandy Bridge CPU options originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 May 2011 14:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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