Hasta La Gadget!

We’ve heard plenty of chatter about something thin and sexy being added to Acer‘s laptop lineup, and finally the company has unveiled the Aspire TimelineX 1830T. It’s under an inch thick and weighs 3lbs, with an 11.6-inch screen offering 1366 x 768 pixels and driven by integrated graphics. Acer simply lists an Intel Core 2 Solo processor, but others are reporting that it will feature a Core i5 520UM processor which can range from 1 to 1.8GHz to offer decent performance along with great battery life — eight hours worth according to Acer, but we’ll believe that when we see it. Wireless is over 801.11a/b/g/n WiFi, there’s a VGA webcam in the bezel, three USB ports, and even HDMI output, making it a relatively port-heavy ultralight. What Acer is not saying is how much it will cost or when we’ll be able to get our meaty paws on the thing, but we hope to learn those details soon.

Update: Acer sneaked in a bunch of other TimelineX models as well: the 13.3-inch 3820T, 14-inch 4820T, and 15.6-inch 5820T, each with your choice of Core i3, i5, or i7 processors, all under an inch thick, and again offering eight hours of battery life for frugal computers. No prices on any of ’em, though!

Acer unveils its thin and light Aspire TimelineX 1830T (update: other models too!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You picked up an Okoro media PC last month, didn’t you? If you’re nodding up and down in a worried fashion, you’re probably better off ignoring everything else we’ll say in this post. For the rest of you HTPC hounds, the boutique outfit has something that’s very likely to pique your interest (and kick that upgrade itch into high gear). Announced today, the company is adding Core i3 and Core i5 processors to its 2010 media center PC lineup, and as if the extra horsepower weren’t enough, users will also find native bitstreaming of TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio on every system save for the Q100. You’ll also get a 64-bit copy of Windows 7, up to 8TB of internal storage space, optional Blu-ray playback, quad CableCARD support and the new holy grail of transfers, USB 3.0. You can hit up the outfit’s webstore now to configure your dream machine, and if you so desire, you can check out its dedicated trade-up program that’ll last through May 31st.

Okoro Media Systems upgrades HTPC range with Core i3 / i5 CPUs, bitstreaming and USB 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’re starting to bank on the small business-oriented Vostro for a really compelling blend of features and price. Sure, it’s usually not the sexiest kit on the block (though the Vostro V13 would beg to differ), but it’s hard to argue with the stellar pricetags. Dell’s just thrown down a big 3000 series refresh to the Vostro lineup, with the Core i5 and Core i7 options across the line, and even a Core i7 Quad Core option for the 17-inch Vostro 3700. And it isn’t just spec upgrades — the 13-, 14-, 15- and 17-inch boxes all are available in silver, red or bronze, and are made of fairly sturdy stuff. Though the 17-inch 3700 is the mightiest of the bunch, we’re particularly taken with the 13-inch 3300 which starts at $699 and boasts a rather thin chassis, onboard optical drive and Core i5 power. Thankfully, all of the models are available with discrete graphics options, ramping up to a 1GB NVIDIA graphics option on the 3700. It sounds as if there will be some killer deals to be had, and you should be able to configure these puppies on Dell.com starting today. In the meantime feast your eyes on the colorful systems below and hit the break for the official press release.

Continue reading Dell jazzes up Vostro lineup with new look and Core 2010 processors, keeps prices in check

Dell jazzes up Vostro lineup with new look and Core 2010 processors, keeps prices in check originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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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