MSI X-Slim X340 photographed, benchmarked in mysterious hotel room

We’ve seen plenty of photos of MSI’s X-Slim X340 floating around as of late — but these ones — which were taken in a Las Vegas hotel room at CTIA, are pretty interesting, artistically speaking. More interesting, however, is the fact that the lucky chap from Laptop Magazine also did a little preliminary benchmarking of the laptop as well. He found the display to be quite satisfactory for viewing videos from any angle, though the speakers (housed on the bottom of the system) produced disappointingly weak sound, and that performance-wise, the CULV CPU is speedy enough to run Windows Vista without any hitches. Applications also loaded quickly, and things like multiple browser tabs didn’t strain the system either. They’re planning on running the full battery of benchmarks at a later date, but hit up the read link for further impressions. Also, there’s one more snap after the break.

[Via Slashgear]

Continue reading MSI X-Slim X340 photographed, benchmarked in mysterious hotel room

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MSI X-Slim X340 photographed, benchmarked in mysterious hotel room originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell launches freshened Vostro 1320, 1520 and 1720 laptops

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).

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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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Acer reportedly launching laptops based on Intel’s CULV platform

We don’t doubt that Acer‘s cooking up a few laptops based on Intel’s forthcoming consumer ultra low voltage (CULV) platform, but we do have serious reservations about ’em coming out next month. Last we heard, the platform was still on track for a summer release, and at least in our hemisphere, April ain’t summer. For what it’s worth, Taiwan Economic News is reporting that Acer is looking to launch 11.6-, 13-, 14- and 15-inch machines with CULV processors within, and if rumors prove true, at least some of ’em will make their debut next month. Don’t bet the farm, but you’re probably safe to pencil it in.

[Via NotebookReview]

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Acer reportedly launching laptops based on Intel’s CULV platform originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 02:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maingear unloads BD / SSD-equipped mX-L 13.3-inch laptop

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.

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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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Maingear Etches Your Mugshot On A Laptop

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This isn’t a new concept, but Maingear just launched the mX-L, its latest 13-inch laptop, which lets you customize the lid with any photo or image. With the M.A.R.C laser-etching technique, customers can simply upload the image or logo of their choice, and Maingear laser-beams it permanently on the lid.

This is a laptop first, of course, so it comes with a razor-thin 13-inch LED widescreen, the option of a Blu-Ray drive, and an Intel solid-state drive. You have your choice of the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors, integrated graphics, and up to 8GB of DDR2 memory. The base price starts at $1,099, but with the above parts, we know it’ll climb higher than that.

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

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

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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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Cheap Geek: Archos Media Player, wiRevo Bluetooth Adapter, Toshiba Laptop and HP Printer

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Before most of us make a purchase, the question “Do I really need this?” comes into play. The answer could be yes, but you can mull that over while checking out these bargains. Here are Gearlog’s deals for Wednesday, March 11:

1. Amazon.com has a hell of a deal on the 30GB Archos 605 Wi-Fi Portable Media Player. Normally $299.99, today, the Archos is just $159.99. You can record TV shows, stream and watch videos from your PC, and download movies and music directly. The deal ends today, so move fast.

2. Today’s deal at sellout.woot is the wiRevo A100 Stereo Bluetooth Adapter for iPod and iPhone. Originally with a list price of $99.99, the cheapest I’ve seen it is $19.99, but today’s deal brings it down to $9.99. The adapter allows you to stream audio from an iPod to a Bluetooth stereo headset so you can listen to music wirelessly from your iPod or iPhone.

3. Looking for an inexpensive laptop? The Toshiba Satellite AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core 2.0GHz 15.4-inch notebook is on sale at OnSale.com for only $449.99 after a mail-in rebate of $50 for the notebook. But that’s not all, you can also get a HP Deskjet Color Inkjet Printer in the $450 bundle. The printer comes with a $70 mail-in rebate as well, saving you $120 off the total price. Both rebates expire March 28. [Via Bargainist.com]

Dell Latitude E6400 XFR Can Survive A Hurricane

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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…..

Gateway slips out 17-inch P-7808u FX multimedia laptop

Gateway’s been on a roll of late with its bargain-minded laptops, so it’s no shock to see the trend continue with its latest addition to the FX lineup. The P-7808u FX is a 17-incher that’s geared towards multimedia freaks, and aside from the lackluster WXGA panel, the specs aren’t half bad for the price. We’re talkin’ a 2GHz Core 2 Quad CPU, NVIDIA’s GeForce 9800M GTS graphics card (1GB of GDDR3 included), 4GB of DDR3 memory, an 8x dual-layer DVD writer, 500GB SATA hard drive, 5-in-1 multicard reader, a stately nine-cell battery, WiFi, three USB 2.0 sockets, FireWire, eSATA and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR. All 9.05 pounds can be ordered up from J&R right now for $1,699.99, and hey, they’ll even cover the shipping. Bonus score.

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Gateway slips out 17-inch P-7808u FX multimedia laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The ASUS N50Vn-B1B: A Laptop Family Value

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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.