Hasta La Gadget!

It’s been awhile since this family saw any updates, but we must say, Dell did a pretty laudable job with the redesign here. Make no mistake — these guys are still aimed squarely at the gamboling suits in attendance, but we could certainly see a consumer or two pulling the trigger. The freshened line includes the 13.3-inch Vostro 1320, the 15.4-inch Vostro 1520, and the 17-inch Vostro 1720, all of which come with pre-installed videoconferencing and webcam software (so long as you purchase the integrated webcam and microphone). Furthermore, users can now opt for an SSD in place of the traditional hard drive, a fingerprint reader for added security or an encrypted HDD with Wave Systems software. The whole trio is available today in North America and select South American countries starting at $569 (Vostro 1520), $629 (Vostro 1320), and $649 (Vostro 1720).

Filed under: Laptops

Dell launches freshened Vostro 1320, 1520 and 1720 laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Look out, world — a relative no-name has just showed up with a new ultraportable, and it’s darn tough to not pay attention with a specs sheet like this. The Maingear mX-L arrives with a 13.3-inch LED-backlit display (1,280 x 800), a Core 2 Duo CPU, GMA X4500HD graphics, 8GB of DDR2 RAM, 160GB Intel X25-M SSD (or a 500GB HDD for those without the cheddar), a dual-layer Blu-ray reader, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, gigabit Ethernet, WiFi, VGA output, three USB 2.0 sockets and a custom etched top that’s totally take-it-or-leave-it. The unit weighs in at 4.4 pounds and gets going at $1,099.99, but don’t expect that measly four-cell Li-ion to last you through a whole transcontinental flight.

Filed under: Laptops

Maingear unloads BD / SSD-equipped mX-L 13.3-inch laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While we’re confident you just woke up from the snore-fest that was MSI’s VX600 announcement from yesterday, we’ve got some entirely more exciting news from the outfit today. First off, there’s the 14.1-inch VR430, which comes loaded with an AMD Turion X2 dual-core CPU, an ATI Mobility Radeon HD3200 GPU, up to 4GB of RAM, a 1,280 x 800 resolution panel, DVD writer, 4-in-1 card reader, WiFi, a six- or nine-cell battery, gigabit Ethernet, 1.3 megapixel webcam, ExpressCard slot and three USB 2.0 sockets. In other news, the Wind Nettop CS120 (known as the CD130 at CeBIT) is now shipping to US soil for a tantalizing $319.99. Tucked within it is a 1.6GHz Atom 230 processor, GMA950 graphics, up to 2GB of RAM, a 160GB HDD, WiFi, oodles of ports and a slot-loading DVD burner. Check it right now from outlets like NewEgg, Amazon, J&R and Mwave, and feel free to glance the full release after the break.

Continue reading MSI ships $320 Wind Nettop CS120 to US, intros VR430 laptop

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

MSI ships $320 Wind Nettop CS120 to US, intros VR430 laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell rolled out a redesigned, fully-rugged laptop that the company claims can withstand hurricanes. The Latitude XFR series made its debut about a year ago, and now it’s getting a whole new body treatment. Dubbed “Ballistic Armor”, the rigid material is made out of a polymer hybrid used commonly in cryogenics and the automotive industry, and Dell claims exclusive rights to it. In addition to adhering to the MIL-STD-810F testing protocols– 3 foot drops, extreme temperature treatments, and high dust and moisture levels– Dell went ahead and kicked it up a notch. The newly minted XFR is now rated for 4 foot drops and can survive water jetting into it at 50MPH.

Jump to see more specs…..

The ASUS N50Vn-B1B is a 15.4-inch general-purpose laptop that our laptops expert, Cisco Cheng, sees as a good, versatile system that can serve the whole family. I tried it too and was impressed with what I saw, as well as by some unseen things–like its relatively modest price tag.