Acer to join the Moblin Linux bandwagon

Moblin — the Intel lovin’ Linux flavor we’ve heard so much about recently — just got some major support from Acer, who plans on slapping it on laptops, desktop PCs, and its Aspire One nettops. According to PC World, a press conference held today saw a wide range of Moblin versions (including Suse, Xandros, Linpus, Red Flag, and Ubuntu Moblin) installed on netbooks from companies that included HP, Asustek, MSI, and Hasee Computer; MIDs by the likes of BenQ and Compal; and even an Eee Keyboard. Not too bad for an OS that wasn’t even an OS when we first laid eyes on it, eh? We’ll keep our eyes peeled for those machines from Acer. In the mean time, how about that Tony Hawk Ride? Man, that looks sweet.

Filed under: , ,

Acer to join the Moblin Linux bandwagon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

HP shows off softer, flexible side with new eSkins reflective display tech

As history has proved time and time again, you can never have enough obscure display technologies of questionable use, and HP has really delivered with its new eSkins or “Electronic Skins” tech. The flexible, reflective color film can be printed with a roll-to-roll manufacturing technique on plastic substrates, and actually uses proprietary color “inks” in the printing process to infuse the seemingly monochrome display (HP doesn’t specify) with a particular color in the PANTONE spectrum. The “print quality” colors are visible in direct sunlight, and can even shift to a transparent state to show whatever’s behind the eSkins film. HP will be unveiling more info about the technology this coming week, and hopes to offer the tech for use in phones, cameras, netbooks and so forth — no mention of ebooks, but that seems a likely scenario as well. Everybody reads.

Filed under:

HP shows off softer, flexible side with new eSkins reflective display tech originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

HP’s Mini 1101 up for order, customizations nowhere to be found

We know the Mini 1101 is the more business-centric of the new HP netbooks, but unless the company has a sudden change of heart, it looks like you’ll be getting the base configuration or nothing at all. Starting today, HP is enabling eager consumers to purchase one of the $329 machines, but the only “customization” options are external accessories and peripherals. Hit the read link to see if what’s offered fits your bill, and if not, the Mini 110 XP and Mini 110 Mi alternatives should be popping up soon.

[Thanks, Richard]

Filed under:

HP’s Mini 1101 up for order, customizations nowhere to be found originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 31 May 2009 13:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

HP Mini 110 netbook gets examined on video

We’ve already gotten a decent look at HP’s new Mini 110 courtesy of the usual carefully chosen press shots, but the folks at Tech65.org recently had a chance to get up close with the netbook, and they’ve now thankfully provided a thorough hands-on video for folks considering it or those simply curious. While there’s not exactly a whole lot of surprises, we do get a good look at the new, slightly recessed “anti-glare” display, along with the revised trackpad, the new LCD-intergrated speakers, and the rearranged port and card slots. Head on past the break to check it out for yourself.

Continue reading HP Mini 110 netbook gets examined on video

Filed under:

HP Mini 110 netbook gets examined on video originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 May 2009 02:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

HP unveils Mini 1101, Mini 110 XP / Mi editions with optional HD video accelerator

HP’s got more additions to its Mini netbook lineup coming your way with the 1101 and 110 XP / Mi. All three models sport a 10.1-inch widescreen LED, autosync software for easier connectivity to your primary PC, and the standard 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 / 1.66GHz N280 processor options with GMA 950 graphics, VGA output, 3 or 6 cell batteries, and 802.11b/g. The Mini 110 XP edition takes the trend even further with — and we’re sure you’re surprised here — 1GB RAM and 160GB HDD or 32GB SSD, as well as optional WWAN and a Broadcom Crystal HD Enhanced Video Accelerator, which HP claims will let you watch 1080p video smoothly — yeah, we’ll believe it when we see it. Those who go with the company’s Linux-based pet Mi can bump up to 250GB HDD and 2GB memory. As for the Mini 1101, it looks like it’s basically the business-centric 110 with XP and Vista as your OS choices and no apparent video enhancer. As for pricing and availability, the Mini 1101 is coming at ya on June 1st with a base price of $329, while Mini 110 will follow shortly after in black swirl on June 10th, and white swirl / pink chic on July 8th. Those will start at $279 with Mi and $329 if you want Windows XP instead.

Filed under:

HP unveils Mini 1101, Mini 110 XP / Mi editions with optional HD video accelerator originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 May 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

HP recalls another 15,000 laptop batteries, this time in China

HP just recalled a hefty 70,000 laptop batteries earlier this month, but it looks like it still has a few more fires to put out, and it’s now recalled another 15,000 batteries sold in China. No reports of any actual “flames / fire” this time around but, as with countless other recalls, the batteries are apparently prone to overheating, and can indeed pose a pesky fire hazard. Word of specific models affected is also a bit hard to come by at the moment, but the batteries were apparently used in laptops manufactured between late 2007 and early 2008, and include models sold under both the HP Pavilion and Compaq Presario brands. If that sounds like your laptop, you can get in touch with HP China for a free replacement battery.

Filed under:

HP recalls another 15,000 laptop batteries, this time in China originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 May 2009 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

HP’s MediaSmart Server LX195 reviewed: impressive, but flawed

After being introduced to the world late last month, we’ve heard little else about HP’s lower-end MediaSmart Server LX195… until now, obviously. This little media streamer made its way into the HotHardware labs for a little Q&A, and it managed to escape with lots of praise, a mild amount of criticism and a price tag that’ll likely be too steep for most to swallow. As for performance and features, the LX195 was found to shine; the Media Collector, iTunes server and Time Machine backup functionality all worked great. Unfortunately, the “endless loop of updates” seen during the initial setup and the lack of an April update — which was sent out to the EX series last month — left somewhat of a bitter taste in reviewers mouths. Overall, the system delivered and worked as advertised, but the $360 to $400 street price is apt to turn all but the hardest of hardcore HP fans away, not to mention that the aforesaid EX update (which will hit the LX195 this fall) will require users to completely wipe their HDD and start over from scratch. Check the read link for the full writeup.

Filed under:

HP’s MediaSmart Server LX195 reviewed: impressive, but flawed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 May 2009 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

HP triumphantly returns to AT&T with iPAQ K3 “Obsidian”

Tears well up in our eyes when we think back to the early days of Windows Mobile and HP’s dominance; in recent years, the company has all but vanished from the scene, trudging along with a handful of poorly-marketed, underexposed devices that haven’t launched on any US carrier. Turns out we haven’t said our last goodbyes, though, because the iPAQ K3 — codenamed “Obsidian,” seemingly — is scheduled for November 30 retail availability on AT&T. The device would launch with Windows Mobile 6.5 onboard and feature a 2 megapixel camera (a second cameraless version for high-security businessfolk might be available, too), 256MB of RAM, a half gig of ROM, microSD slot, GPS, triband HSDPA and quadband EDGE, WiFi, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a QVGA display to complement the full QWERTY keyboard. Looks like it won’t be the most exciting smartphone on the carrier’s shelves, but it might be a sensible choice for businesses and really, really boring people. Follow the break for a couple renders of the phone in action-packed angle shots!

Continue reading HP triumphantly returns to AT&T with iPAQ K3 “Obsidian”

Filed under: ,

HP triumphantly returns to AT&T with iPAQ K3 “Obsidian” originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 May 2009 18:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tweetlog: HP Pavilion dv6t (1030us)

dv6t.jpgIf you don’t mind a little crapware, the HP Pavilion dv6t (1030us) (http://tinyurl.com/p7aqg4) is a budget beaut with plenty of features.

Verizon HP Mini 1151NR hands-on and impressions

We got our hands on the Verizon HP Mini 1000 (or, as it’s more properly known in this form, the 1151NR) recently, and we’ve taken the little guy — and its built-in 3G card — for a spin. The Mini itself has a standard enough spec sheet: a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270, 1GB of RAM, an 80GB HDD, two USB 2.0 ports, 802.11b/g, SD slot, and Windows XP, and there’s no special Verizon branding to be found anywhere on the unit. We can’t really take issue with the choice of machine, which is a fairly well-loved netbook with generally pretty solid performance. The important thing here, of course, is the addition of the big V’s hardwired 3G. Did we fall in love with it? Does it make sense in the face of products like Verizon’s MiFi 2200 EV-DO router? Will it alter future events forever? Read on to find out.

Continue reading Verizon HP Mini 1151NR hands-on and impressions

Filed under:

Verizon HP Mini 1151NR hands-on and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 May 2009 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments