Hasta La Gadget!

We tell ya — all this tablet talk sure has us feeling like it’s 2003. You know, minus all that Y2K hangover stuff. Anywho, Panasonic has today outed what it’s calling the planet’s lightest 12.1-inch convertible tablet PC, with the Toughbook C1 offering the line’s iconic rigidity while boasting 10 hours of battery life, an optional Gobi 2000 mobile broadband module and Intel’s decidedly potent 2.4GHz Core i5-520 processor. All told, the device weighs just 3.2 pounds with a single battery (3.7 pounds with twins), and there’s full support for digitizers and multitouch. Other specs include a shock-mounted, flex-connect 250GB hard drive, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, a WXGA (1,280 x 800) LED-backlit panel, a triple hinge design and the ability to survive a 30-inch plummet. It’s available to (quite literally) smash iPads starting this June, though that $2,499 starting price may be somewhat off-putting to those without copious amounts of disposable income.

Continue reading Panasonic slips Core i5 into ‘world’s lightest’ 12.1-inch Toughbook C1 convertible tablet

Panasonic slips Core i5 into ‘world’s lightest’ 12.1-inch Toughbook C1 convertible tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If there’s one thing that bugs us about desktop component reviews, it’s that they tend to compare the latest hardware against the stuff immediately preceding it. Everyone wants to know what the improvements between generations are, but for many it’s also equally useful to know how 2010’s freshness compares to their own computers, which might have been bought or built a few years back. For those precious prospective upgraders, Tech Report have put together an extremely thorough benchmarking session which compares the venerable Pentium 4 670 and its silly 3.8GHz clock speed to a pair of new budget parts: the Core i3-530 from Intel and quad-core Athlon II X4 635 from AMD. Naturally, they’ve also included other contemporary parts like the high-end Core i7s and Phenoms, as well as a Core 2 Quad Q6600 from a couple of years ago to bridge the gap between the ancient 90nm Prescott and the 32nm young pretenders. It’s all quite fascinating in the geekiest (and therefore best) of ways, so why not hit that source link and get reading.

Pentium 4 takes on modern CPUs in a benchmarking showdown, suffers ignominious defeat originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer was perhaps the biggest believer in Intel’s Core 2 Duo ULV processors, with its Timeline range running almost exclusively on Intel’s lower voltage parts, so it’s no surprise to hear that the Taiwanese vendor is investing heavily again in Intel’s 2010 ULV variants. We’re talking Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs here, so performance should get a nice boost, but the best news is confirmation of something we’d heard earlier: the final product’s profile will be an aggressively svelte 1.9cm (0.7 inches) in thickness, which will match the headline feature of Apple’s MacBook Air. The plan is to launch “this year,” and indications are that this hero machine will figure heavily in Acer’s push to oust HP from the top spot in global laptop shipments. To say that we’re looking forward to it might be an understatement.

Acer developing ‘ace in the hole’ ultrathin, putting MacBook Air on notice originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For some among us, the VAIO E series is the pinnacle of modern mobile computing design. Then there are other, saner individuals, who prefer the understated aesthetics of what are commonly termed business laptops. For that latter group, we have a whole glut of new Toshiba notebooks to look at, highlighted by the delectable looking Portege M780 above. Much in the vein of HP’s 2730p, it’s a 12.1-inch convertible tablet PC, with a spill-resistant keyboard and rugged features (tested to withstand drops from up to 1 meter), but its biggest attraction will still likely be the Core i5 heart thumping inside. Also undergoing upgrades are the Tecra A11 (already available in the US), M11 and S11, which will come with up to 8GB of RAM, 802.11n wireless, SSD options, and of course Intel Core i7 CPUs. Check them out after the break, and expect them to arrive in Europe, the Middle East and Africa this quarter, with the M780 close behind them with a Q2 2010 release.

Continue reading Toshiba Portege M780 highlights business laptop refresh to Core i-series CPUs

Toshiba Portege M780 highlights business laptop refresh to Core i-series CPUs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In the market for new desktop machinery? Gateway‘s gone ahead and given its gaming-centric FX series a facelift for the new year — nothing Alienware-esque crazy, but we do like the accessible ports up top, right next to the control dial for LED-infused lighting effects. Enough about the superficial, let’s go inside: a 2.8GHz Intel Core i7 processor, ATI Radeon HD5850 with 1GB discrete memory, 1.5TB HDD with additional expansion bays, up to 16GB RAM, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, and a $1,299 starting price. There’s a 16x DVD drive, and if you don’t mind forking over a little extra, you can get a separate 4x BD-ROM drive. As for the rest of the lineup, while still donning old skin, the SX series has been boosted by a 2.93GHz Core i3 processor, and the DX series a 3.2GHz Core i5 and that 4x BD-ROM drive. You know the drill by now: FX glamor shots below, press release just after the break.

Continue reading Gateway’s FX series desktops revamped, SX / DX series find solace in Core i3 and i5

Gateway’s FX series desktops revamped, SX / DX series find solace in Core i3 and i5 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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