Hasta La Gadget!

It was one thing when Google’s Chrome apps managed to break out of the browser and become real, offline apps, but clearly that is not Google’s real long-term play. A recent update to the developer version of Google Chrome basically runs Chrome OS inside of Windows 8.

Read more…

Microsoft Japan announced that they will release Windows 8 Pro built-in Tablet PC “Surface Pro” on June 7.

It is already being sold in other countries, however, “Surface Pro” released in the Japanese market will have “Office Home and Business 2013″ as standard and also 2 models (128GB and 256GB) will be available. Other countries are selling 2 models as well but they are 64GB and 128GB models.

Magnesium alloy is used for the body, which makes the body strong, thick and slick. ClearType full HD display (resolution 1080p) and Core i5 processor CPU are built-in.

128GB model – ¥99,800
246GB model – ¥119,800

In March, we announced the release of the Surface RT.

Panasonic’s “Let’s note” compact laptop series will release 3 new summer models: SX2 (Core i7, Core i5) models, NX2 and B11 on May 17.

All the new models increased their HDD capacities (up to 750GB for SX and NX, up to 1TB for B11), and 128GB SDD is newly added to the SX Core i7 model.

Panasonic says it is proud to retain the “Made in Japan” tag for the Let’s note series. They are manufactured in Kobe, Japan.

SX series (Core i7 model)
OS: Windows 8 Pro
Display: 12.1 inch wide HD (1600 x 900 dot)
CPU: Core i7-3540M vPro
Memory: 4GB (Max 8GB)
Storage: SSD 128GB
Optical Drive: Super multi drive

SX series (Core i5 model)
OS: Windows 8 Pro
Display: 12.1 inch wide HD (1600 x 900 dot)
CPU: Core i5-3340M vPro
Memory: 4GB (Max 8GB)
Storage: HDD 750GB
Optical Drive: Super multi drive

NX series
OS: Windows 8 Pro
Display: 12.1 inch wide HD (1600 x 900 dot)
CPU: Core i5-3340M vPro
Memory: 4GB (Max 8GB)
Storage: HDD 750GB
Optical Drive: None

B11 series
OS: Windows 8 Pro
Display: 15.6 inch wide full HD (1920 x 1080 dot)
CPU: Core i7-3635QM
Memory: 4GB (Max 8GB)
Storage: HDD 1TB
Optical Drive: Super multi drive

Microsoft launched its curious Surface Pro hybrid earlier this week, but it turns out that actually trying to buy one was a bit more problematic than people had hoped. Folks looking to get their hands on one of the 128GB models had it especially rough — the $999 device sold out in Microsoft’s online store and some of the company’s retail outlets, not to mention some Best Buy and Staples locations.

Well, according to a tweet from Surface GM Panos Panay, the process of snagging a 128GB Surface Pro will be much easier in just a few days — he confirmed that units were on their way to Best Buy and Microsoft retail stores and that they would be ready to sell by Saturday.

Naturally, Panay didn’t let that tentative timeframe slip uncajoled — he engaged the masses on Twitter in an hour-long chat earlier today that also saw him tackle questions about the Surface Pro’s stylus and the company’s toe-tapping commercials. It wasn’t until a user named @EvanSturdivant pressed Panay on the generic statement about Surface Pro availability he had previously issued that the truth finally came out.

At first glance, all these reports of Surface Pro sell-outs seem to point to a considerable amount of demand for the product — Paul Thurrott noted the existence of “Apple-like lines” in some Microsoft stores — but we’ve since learned that the scarcity of the Surface Pro may have had more to do with limited supply than overwhelming demand. Both 64 and 128GB Surface Pros were apparently in short supply when some people called around asking for them, and one unlucky ZDNet writer had to schlep to a Microsoft Store 50 miles from where he lived because it was the only place he could find a 128GB model. As is usually the case, some people began to cook up some strange conspiracy theories (like one that claimed Microsoft deliberately limited supplies in order to say that it had sold out of Surface Pros), but I seriously doubt that’s the case. Sure, the whole rigmarole was a headache for people itching for a high-end Surface Pro, but the smart money’s on all this being an issue of mismanagement and not malice.

It has been quite some time in coming, but aren’t you glad that all of that waiting is about to pay off when February 9 rolls around to meet you on the horizon? Basically, the fanfare surrounds the Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro is legit, as folks can pick up this tablet device from the mentioned date in February onwards in the United States and Canada, where dropping by all Microsoft retail stores, or taking the online route such as microsoftstore.com, in addition to Staples and Best Buy in the US and a number of locations in Canada, should be able to see you snag one Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro tablet for yourself.

Well, just what kind of hardware do you get underneath the hood of the Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro? For starters, it will come with an Intel Core i5 processor, and unlike the Surface Windows RT tablet, this puppy will be able to run Windows 8 applications without missing a beat, in addition to existing Windows 7 desktop applications to boot. The Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro will arrive in 64GB and 128GB models, where the former will be priced at approximately $899, although we do not yet have pricing details for the latter.

Other kinds of hardware “companions” include a Surface pen with Palm Block technology which was specially designed to work with the Surface tablet so that users are able to edit, collaborate and get things done. A little bit of news on the side though – folks will also be able to purchase Surface Windows RT in 13 additional markets worldwide in due time, which is more than double the number of markets where the Surface can be found at the moment.

If you are looking out for a new tablet, would you want to take the tried and tested route of the iPad family, or join forces with Samsung and their interesting releases such as the Galaxy Note 8.0, or settle for Microsoft’s Windows 8 environment?

Press Release
[ Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro available from February onwards copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]