Hasta La Gadget!

The previously phased out 11.1-inch Sony Vaio T has shown back up over at Sony Style Japan. The good news is that this time, it’s a Windows 7 CULV on the inside, even if it looks the same on the outside. The new Vaio Ts come with processor options including a dual core 1.2GHz Celeron SU2300, a 1.4GHz dual core Core 2 Duo SU9400, or a 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo SU9600, and they boast Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics, plus 4GB or 8GB of RAM, an up to 512GB SSD or 500GBhard drive. There’s also optional extras like Blu Ray, 802.11n WiFi, a fingerprint scanner, and digital TV tuner. The laptop’s life is rated at about 11 hours when equipped with the standard battery, or 17 with the large capacity. So far, we’ve only seen these bad boys in Japan, where they’re retailing for ¥129,800 (that’s around $1400).

Sony Vaio T makes a comeback, and this time it’s a CULV with major battery life originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hey, now this isn’t your average, everyday, boring netbook now is it? Well, at least not in looks, anyway. The Sheng T108, which has recently been spotted in Shenzhen, China, has a brushed aluminum chassis that makes it stand out from the crowd, to be sure. Internally, you’ll find this 10.1-incher boasting an Intel Atom N280 CPU, 2GB of DDR2 memory, and a 250GB hard drive — nothing volcanically surprising, but not too shabby either. It’s also got a 3-cell battery, a VGA port, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi support, a built in webcam, and a SIM card slot for 3G connectivity. The pricing is said to be somewhere in the realm of $300, and while there’s no word on availability of this puppy outside of China, we’ll certainly keep our eyes peeled for you. One more shot after the break.

Continue reading Sheng T108 brushed aluminum netbook appears

Sheng T108 brushed aluminum netbook appears originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The dual-touchscreen XO-2 was a fantastical concept. But it’s nothing on OLPC’s XO-3, a hot, messy wet dream of a tablet: All semi-flexible plastic, multitouch, backlit and reflective ereading modes, thinner than an iPhone and $75.

In other words, it’s everything people have been fantasizing about in a tablet—durable, thin, multitouch, multiple screen modes for computing and reading—but for just 75 dollars. And Nicholas Negroponte, large head of the OLPC, wants it by 2012.

Remember, this is the organization that didn’t just scrap the XO-2, but couldn’t even tack a touchscreen onto the current XO-1 laptop, which isn’t anywhere near a hundred bucks. (Hey, at least they gave up on the dual-touchscreen idea.) I think this sadly says everything about the likelihood of it happening, as much as I’d love to see and play with this thing: “We don’t necessarily need to build it,” Negroponte told Forbes. “We just need to threaten to build it.”

Well, I can’t wait to see the XO-4! [Fuse Project, Forbes]

We’ll stop there with the Netbook 101, but looking at the past is necessary in realizing what a game-changer the ASUS Eee PC 1201N really is. The 1201N’s dual-core Intel Atom processor, NVIDIA Ion graphics, Windows 7 Home Premium, and 2GB of RAM make it the most powerful netbook to ever grace the purchase pages of Amazon. But does the $500 machine fix all the issues and frustrations we’ve ever had with netbooks when put to the test? Can it make us forget about cramped keyboards, strained eyes and sluggish video performance? Find out in our full review.

Continue reading ASUS Eee PC 1201N review

ASUS Eee PC 1201N review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Many of us prop laptops on blankets or pillows to avoid the heat, but these inevitably obstruct air circulation and cause overheating. This DIY stand made from a bistro tray and a bit of wood helps keep your computer—and legs—cool.

This step-by-step guide from DIY web site Instructables is far from difficult—all it requires is a few household tools, along with some thin pieces of wood and, of course, a stylish bistro tray. Plus, not only can you use the extra space to store flash drives, power cords, or other miscellaneous computer items below the laptop, but you can also still use the tray to carry drinks and such when it’s not holding your laptop—and where once the tray was stylish but prone to spillage, it is now a spill-free multitasker.

We had a tough time finding the exact tray used in the post, but it looks to be this one from CB2. IKEA has similar trays that could work, though, if you’re looking for something a bit different. If you find one that you like, feel free to share in the comments.