Hasta La Gadget!

Acer’s had its day (or two) unveiling back-to-school laptops, and now it’s its sister brand Gateway’s turn. The outfit just announced the 15.6-inch NV series and the 14-inch ID47, both of which include USB 3.0 and a choice of Sandy Bridge processors. (In the case of that entry-level NV, you can also opt for one of AMD’s fresh-off-the-line Llano chips.) But the company did more than just give its notebooks a spec bump — it also tweaked their designs, adding a chiclet keyboard to the NV series, while the metal-clad ID’s trackpad is 20 percent larger and no longer glows like a mood ring. The ID47 also has a 14-inch display crammed into a chassis usually paired with 13.3-inch panels, as well as a non-removable battery that promises up to eight hours of juice. (The NV is rated for up to four hours.) And, in an unusual twist, our friends in Canada will get additional choices, including a 15.6-inch version of the ID, as well as select models with NVIDIA Optimus. Both the ID47 and NV55 / NV57 are available now, with the ID starting at $629.99 and $799 Canadian, and the NV fetching $529.99 and $499 Canadian. Check out the various configurations after the break, with lots ‘o photos below.

Update: Lots of you are asking about the screen resolution on these guys. It’s not in the press release, but the answer is 1366 x 768, across the board.

Continue reading Gateway updates its ID and NV laptops with USB 3.0, Sandy Bridge and Llano internals

Gateway updates its ID and NV laptops with USB 3.0, Sandy Bridge and Llano internals originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ever feel like your WiFi devices’ battery-lives are better off when not surrounded by peers and passersby? According to Duke University grad student Justin Manweiler and assistant professor Romit Roy Choudhury, this phenomenon is due to gadgets constantly fighting to retrieve the same data. Their Systems Networking Research Group has created a program dubbed SleepWell to alleviate the congestion; it puts WiFi to rest until the path is clear for accessing the specific data it needs, and provides improved power management all the while. The tech was shown off at MobiSys 2011 this past week and reportedly works well “across a number of device types and situations.” Notably, Microsoft and Nokia (amongst others like Verizon) are backing up the project, which makes us cautiously optimistic that it could be headed for WP7 (or Windows 8, for that matter) in due time. There’s no info on whether SleepWell will ever be distributed commercially, but may we suggest an LTE version to help out big V’s poor ol’ T-Bolt?

SleepWell forces WiFi to wait its turn, keeps gadgets well-rested originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 08:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We were strolling around the Metropolitan Pavilion, enjoying the sights and sounds of Digital Experience, when, lo and behold, we spotted a pair of unfamiliar laptops gracing the thick black tablecloth at the Samsung booth. What you see above is just one member, the 12.1-inch model to be specific, of the as yet unannounced Series 3 line. These budget friendly lappies are anything but cheap looking or feeling. The entire lineup has followed in the footsteps of the Series 9, opting for soft brushed finishes that are, at the very least, metal-esque. Gone are the shiny plastics that made your notebook look like evidence at a crime scene. At the bottom end is a 15.6-inch model sporting a dual-core AMD A4 CPU and (oddly) a glossy display.

If you want to wipe the reflective sheen from that screen, jump up a notch to the $599 Core i3-sporting version. The 15.6 models reach all the way up to a quad-core Core i7 CPU for $819 and all the Intel varieties pack WiDi (as do the 12.5-inchers). The other sizes (11.6, 12.1, 13.3, and 14 inches) all sport the same premium finishes, solid keyboards, and pleasant touchpads, while being expected to be easy on the wallet. There are still some details to be worked out, and not all specs or prices are finalized but, while we wait for the official PR to roll in, check out our hands-on with the 12.1-inch and 15.6-inch models below.

Samsung Series 3 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 08:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This article was written on November 19, 2007 by CyberNet.

Dell just posted a $400 deal for the Vostro 1000 laptop computer, with Windows XP Home or with Vista Home Basic. That’s the same price of both the Asus Eee PC and the OLPC, which are no where near full-featured computers.

That magic price tag can also save you a lot of frustration if you were planning on getting one of the similarly priced laptops being offered the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday). You can order the Dell from the comfort of your own home without needing to sit in line for countless hours, just to find out that you didn’t get to the store early enough. We’ve been there and done that, and I would much rather have ordered online than sit in line.

And the specs? For the price I was rather surprised at how good they were:

• AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 Dual-Core processor TK-53 (1.7GHz/512KB)
• 15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA LCD Anti-Glare Display
• 1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHZ, 2 Dimm
• 120GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
• 8X DVD+/-RW w/Double-layer DVD+R Write Capability
• ATI Radeon Xpress 1150 256MB HyperMemory™ (integrated)
• Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Wi-Fi Mini Card

It’s important to note that this laptop is available through the Dell Small Business site, but under their terms it seems like anything qualifies for Small Business. I’ve ordered from the Small Business section for years, and when asked for the name of the company I just use my own name. I’ve never been questioned about it. Heck, if you sell stuff on eBay every now and then it’s practically a “side” business.

Note: Shipping is free, but taxes will be applied.

Vostro 1000 Laptop with Windows XP Home or with Vista Home Basic
[via SlickDeals]

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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Sony’s mainstream E and C series of laptops are getting a bit of an update with some new color options and updated processors in the case of E series. The 14-, 15.5-, and 17.3-inch Vaio E models are finally joining the Sandy Bridge brigade with second-gen Core i3 and i5s, while also adding an AMD Fusion option on the 15.5-inch version for all you Sunnyvale fans out there. The smaller members of the E family will be available in four colors (blue, pink, white, and black) while their big brother is limited to white and black. The C series is staying the same, but adding Neon Red and Thunder Blue to your selection of hues. The updated PCs will be available for pre-order on June 19th but, if you really have your heart set on that red Vaio C, you’ll have to head to select retailers like Fry’s, ABT, B&H, J&R, MicroCenter, or (wait for it…) Nebraska Furniture Mart — while you’re there, pick up a bright red sofa to match your new lappy. All the PR you can handle awaits, just after the break.

Continue reading Sony updates Vaio C series with subtler shades, E models go Sandy Bridge

Sony updates Vaio C series with subtler shades, E models go Sandy Bridge originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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