Hasta La Gadget!

When Paul Allen isn’t busy writing memoirs or suing everyone, he’s… providing insightful operating system commentary? While “software reviewer” isn’t normally part of his job description, Allen has seen fit to dissect Microsoft’s Windows 8 interface and learn how the company he co-founded is getting along without him. It’s coping gracefully, thank you. The industry pioneer has decided the OS has a lot of promise for tablets, where the touch interface and legacy Windows support could provide the best of both worlds. He doesn’t spare his former coworkers from criticism, though: he warns that the split between the Windows 8-style UI and the traditional desktop is potentially confusing, notes the absence of useful Android and iOS features like touch-friendly app folders, and doesn’t find the conventional Windows interface very practical with fingers alone. It’s hard to ignore the soft spot Allen likely has towards the platform he fostered for years, but his preview still offers a unique perspective on what many of us will see in three weeks.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Tablets, Software, Microsoft

Paul Allen takes a look at Windows 8, finds his ex-workmates mostly doing well originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Announced last august, Sony new Windows 8 Ultrabook is in the flesh a great little device! Sure we did not have much time to play with this little convertible but first impressions are just great. The Vaio DUO is indeed light, comes with a stunning 11.6” screen with a mate finish making it ideal both in and outside packed in a sturdy body… Yep I can’t wait to get this little baby in hands to try!

Model
VAIOTM Duo

Processor
Intel® Core™ i7-3517U, Intel® Core™ i5-3317U or Intel® …

Computer manufacturers may be launching new ultrabooks left and right, but it turns out that consumers may not be all that interested in them. IHS iSuppli has revised predictions from earlier this year, when the company said it expected 22 million ultrabooks to ship during 2012. Now ZDNet says that IHS has brought that prediction down to just 10.3 million shipments, which is pretty significant decrease.

IHS senior principal analyst for compute platforms Craig Stice says part of the reason for the hefty decline is that manufacturers are having a hard time getting people excited about ultrabooks, especially when smartphones and tablets are at the center of the public’s attention. Price plays a role too, with some ultrabooks sporting price tags that are far more than the average consumer is willing to spend.

There are a few glimmers of hope for the ultrabook, though. It’s important to remember that the holiday shopping season is right around the corner, which should bring in over half of the year’s ultrabook sales. IHS also expects 44 million ultrabooks to be shipped in 2013, which is a far cry from this year’s new prediction of 10.3 million, but still short of the company’s previous 2013 prediction of 66 million shipments. IHS lowering its predictions for 2013 isn’t exactly good, but 44 million is still a lot better than the expectations for this year.

Will ultrabooks receive a sales boost once Windows 8 arrives? That’s hard to say. On the one hand, we would expect a boost in ultrabook sales simply because people are excited for Winodws 8, but on the other, those consumers could just as easily pick up a less expensive tablet running Windows 8 or Windows RT. It will certainly be interesting to see what happens with the ultrabook market in the coming months and throughout next year, so stay tuned.

Ultrabook shipments in 2012 set to fall below expectations is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

In the Q&A session at today’s Sony VAIO event in Tokyo, a spokesperson expressed that while his company has yet to officially give Windows RT a whirl, it is still under consideration for future VAIO products. The rep added that he believes there’s an optimum timing for picking up this ARM-friendly version of Windows 8, but he didn’t elaborate further. Perhaps Sony’s just getting all too comfortable with Android.

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, Sony

Sony: We are still considering Windows RT, but optimum timing is also key originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 04:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I am quite the klutz, where toys that have been working just fine all these years, when handed down to me, would apparently arrive at the end of their lives without me having to make an effort. I am not quite sure just what this is the case, perhaps it is some sort of subconscious thing, or has my family been secretly plotting to have me believe that I am a true blue klutz? Having said that, I have yet to drop a mobile phone into the toilet bowl all these years, and I do not intend to start. I did crack a screen on my smartphone before, but that was a one-off experience that I shall not venture into. Having said that when it comes to computers, one too, might want to be more careful, especially since notebooks are not the cheapest things in town that you can purchase a replacement when you break yours. Panasonic has racked up quite a reputation for itself in terms of rugged notebooks, and today, we hear of them upgrading the Panasonic Toughbook 53.

The semi-rugged Toughbook 53 notebook has proven itself to be a reliable and versatile servant over the years to many people in demanding industries such as the insurance market, those who deal with construction sites, as well as battle hardened folks in the military. The updated Toughbook 53 will be the latest model that will be made available with an Intel Core i5-3320M vPro processor (3MB cache, up to 3.3 GHz) with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, where some of the other enhancements will include expanded storage and improved connectivity options.

Other hardware features of the Toughbook 53 include a spill-resistant keyboard, and this particular puppy has been certified by an independent third party to pass nine MIL-STD-810G tests, ranging from surviving 3 foot drops on 26 faces. Having said that, the high-definition, 14” LED display still went strong without a crack, and you can also opt to splash more cash to enjoy viewing the optional 2-850 nit sunlight-viewable Panasonic CircuLumin touchscreen display coupled with an adjustable backlit emissive keyboard so that you can work even if there is no light or the environment is just way too bright for normal notebooks.

The Toughbook 53 will also come with a range of embedded wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and optional 4G LTE or 3G Gobi mobile broadband so that you need not worry about being disconnected no matter which part of the world you are in.

Depending on the hardware configuration of the Panasonic Toughbook 53, prices start from $1,399 upwards and it comes with a standard three-year limited warranty.

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[ Panasonic Toughbook 53 upgraded copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]