Hasta La Gadget!

Gigabyte loves to pull out all the stops at Computex, and this year is no exception: the company just unveiled 11 (mostly) new laptops and tablets. According to a brochure on hand at the computer maker’s demo table, the emphasis is chiefly on slimmer portables with both Haswell-era Core processors and some dedicated graphics firepower. The P34G and P35K Ultrablade models are equally 0.83 inches thick, but pack gaming-friendly GeForce GTX 760M (P34G) and 765M (P35K) video. More pedestrian Ultrabooks get a boost as well: both the touchscreen U24T (pictured above) and the non-touch U24F wield a mid-tier GeForce GT 750M. If you don’t mind bulkier laptops, the Q2546N, Q2556N, U35F, P27K and P27W scale from the GeForce GT 740M through to the GTX 770M while allowing for more storage and Creative Sound Blaster audio tuning.

The tablet updates aren’t nearly as extensive. Most of Gigabyte’s energy centers on the 10-inch Slate S10A, a spin on the S1082 with an AMD Temash-based A4-1200 processor that delivers up to 14 hours of battery life. Other refreshes are even subtler: the 11.6-inch U21M convertible is similar to the U2142, while the dockable S1185 returns virtually unchanged outside from a new Padbook nickname. Release dates and prices aren’t immediately available for any of the new systems, unfortunately, but you can peek at a few of the fresh models in our hands-on photos just below.

Zach Honig and Mat Smith contributed to this report.

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, AMD, Intel

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It was a year ago at Computex that Acer unveiled the Aspire S7, a skinny sliver of a thing that turned out to be one of our favorite Ultrabooks of 2012. Now, 12 months later, the company is unveiling… the Aspire S7. A much-improved S7, to be precise. Going into the second half of the year, there’s only to be a 13-inch version (the 11-incher’s been discontinued), and it has much the same industrial design, with a lightweight chassis and Gorilla Glass lid. The difference is that it will now be offered with a 2,560 x 1,440 screen, which will be standard in certain regions, like Europe. (Elsewhere, a 1080p IPS panel will continue to be the base option.) As you’d expect, Acer’s upgraded the S7 to Haswell CPUs (Core i3, i5 and i7), but it also squeezed in a bigger battery — 47Wh, up from 35Wh. Between that bigger cell and new chipset, Acer is rating the battery life at seven hours, which, if true, would correct one of the OG model’s biggest shortcomings. Rounding out the list, Acer moved the mics to the front, and also updated the cooling system with the promise of less fan noise.

Meanwhile, Acer thoroughly revamped the mid-range S3 Ultrabook so that it looks more like the S7. The main differences are that this has no Gorilla Glass on the lid, and the entire machine is noticeably heavier (1.67kg vs. 1.3). Part of the reason for that chunkier shape is that it will be offered with beefier components, including optional NVIDIA GT735M graphics and a 1TB hard drive (you can also get it with an SSD). Additionally, the S3 steps up to Haswell CPUs, along with a 1080p IPS touchscreen — the same kind that the S7 had when it first launched. Design-wise, as we said, it looks like the S7, particularly with the lid shut, and it’s now made from one piece of aluminum, instead of several. The keyboard looks different from the S7’s, though, and is also a bit clackier, for whatever reason. In Europe, at least, the Aspire S7-392 will start at €1,450, and the S3-392 will go from €999. Both will arrive in July. No word yet on US pricing. For a closer look, check out our hands-on photos and video, both embedded after the break.

Update: US pricing for the S7 will start at $1,400 and go up to $1,700, depending on the configuration.

Filed under: Laptops, Acer

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Origin PC makes a point of embracing game-friendly technology as soon as it arrives, and you’d better believe it’s welcoming Haswell-based processors with open arms: virtually all of its computer line is making the jump to the faster Intel hardware. The raw CPU power is the main highlight for the Chronos, Genesis and Millennium desktops, while those buying the larger EON15-S and EON17-S laptops get a few additional treats. Origin PC is adopting NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 765M, 770M and 780M graphics for the portables’ mainstream editions. It’s also letting the truly storage-addicted run two simultaneous RAID configurations if their laptop has four drives. The Haswell upgrades bump EON15S-S and EON17-S prices by about two Benjamins to $1,722 and $1,784 respectively, but players who just have to stay current can pay the premium today.

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming, Laptops, NVIDIA

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Source: Origin PC

Haswell is hardly a secret at this point: there’s been a steady drip-drip of demos and technical leaks since as far back as 2011, and just a month ago we brought you the low-down on its integrated graphics. But today, finally, we have official pricing for a number of variants, a concrete date for availability (this coming Tuesday, June 4th) and, perhaps most importantly, some detailed benchmark claims about what Haswell is capable of — particularly in its mobile form.

Sure, Intel already dominates in MacBooks, Ultrabooks (by definition) and in hybrids like Surface Pro, but the chip maker readily admits that the processors in those portable PCs were just cut-down desktop chips. Haswell is different, having been built from the ground up with Intel’s North Cape prototype and other mobile form factors in mind. As a loose-lipped executive recently let slip, we can look forward to a 50 percent increase in battery life in the coming wave of devices, with no loss of performance. Read on and we’ll discover how this is possible and what it could mean for the dream of all-day mobile computing.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Tablets, Intel

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Toshiba is releasing 2 models of the Windows 8 Ultrabook “dynabook V713″ (V713/28J and V713/27J). It features the ability to split the keyboard from the LCD panel as needed so that it can be used as either a PC or a tablet to match your purpose.

The handwriting input function using the included stylus is something that Toshiba says it has put a lot of effort into. They worked on “4 important elements of the feel of a good pen”:
– smoothness
– pen pressure equilibrium
– display position of the tip of the pen
– pen pressure responsiveness

The CPU is an Intel Core i5-3339Y processor that reduces the amount of heat generated and helps the battery run longer, and it features an 11.6 inch full HD LCD touch panel (1,920×1,080 dot). High-rigidity resin is used for the body to make it strong in the event of dropping.

Price is open price.

The specs are very similar for both models:

V713/28J
OS: Windows 8 64bit
CPU: Intel Core i5-3339Y Processor
Memory: 4GB
SSD: 128GB SSD
Display: 11.6 inch full HD LCD touch panel (1,920×1,080 dot)
Wireless connection: Wi-fi (IEEE802.11a/b/g/n), Intel wireless display, Bluetooth
Weight: 870g (as a tablet), 1.47kg (as a PC)

V713/27J
OS: Windows 8 64bit
CPU: Intel Core i5-3339Y Processor
Memory: 4GB
SSD: 128GB SSD
Display: 11.6 inch full HD LCD touch panel (1,920×1,080 dot)
Wireless connection: Wi-fi (IEEE802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth
Weight: 825g (as a tablet), 1.43kg (as a PC)