ASUS Eee PC 1015PE, 1015P and 1001PQ hands-on

Oh, you thought we were done with ASUS’ new Eee PC models at CeBIT. That’s cute. In addition to launching the aluminum 1018P and 1016P, ASUS has also quietly released the 1015PE and 1015P (or Diary series as it says on the units), which look to be joining the Seashell line with some minor design tweaks. The 1016PE’s faux dark wood lid has a more professional look, and its shape reminds us somewhat of HP’s Mini 5102. On the other hand, the 1015P has a white, softer-looking matte lid and an updated touchpad with integrated mouse buttons. Inside it appears they will be available with Intel’s Pine Trail Atom N450 and N470 processors, and apparently the forthcoming N455 and N475 CPUs. Last but not least, ASUS also seemed to whip out the race car-inspired, kid-intended 1001PQ that has the same specs as the 1005PE we reviewed awhile back. We don’t know about you, but we’d actually dig that design for ourselves. Until the next Tales from ASUS’ Eee PC booth update, we leave you with the hands-on pictures below.

ASUS Eee PC 1015PE, 1015P and 1001PQ hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Sony prepping new line of handhelds, including PSP phone?


You know who knows everything? People familiar with the matter. In particular, they know everything when “the matter” happens to be Sony’s handheld strategy for 2010, which is said to finally include an honest-to-goodness PSP with phone capabilities — something the world’s been demanding for as long as they’ve wanted a Zunephone. According to the WSJ, the device is apparently part of a larger push by Sony to create an iTunes-like Utopian ecosystem of products this year that connect to Sony Online Service, an ecosystem that would also include a hybrid portable of some sort that “blurs distinctions among a netbook, an e-reader and a PlayStation Portable.” Details aren’t offered on this particular monster — but turning our attention back to the phone for a second, it’s claimed that Sony’s working with it in conjunction with the folks at Sony Ericsson under the direction of Kunimasa Suzuki, an exec largely responsible for the VAIO line who’s also involved with the PlayStation team. Of course, SE’s already taken some baby steps toward corporate harmony by bundling Remote Play support with the Aino, but everyone knows that PSP compatibility is the panacea; Microsoft finally buckled on the Zunephone thing with the introduction of Windows Phone 7 Series, and there’s no reason why Sony shouldn’t follow suit.

Sony prepping new line of handhelds, including PSP phone? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Phone Scoop  |  sourceThe Wall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments

Sony Vaio M surfaces… unofficially

Well, what do we have here? It’s the Sony Vaio M series netbook, as yet unannounced but sitting here getting detailed all the same. The 10.1-inch netbook, which looks, well, pretty much identical to the Sony Vaio W series, is apparently going to boast a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 CPU, 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM, a 250GB hard drive, plus 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, and a built-in webcam. There’s no pricing information or dates of availability for these bad boys yet, but there’s one more shot after the break to gander at — if you’re so inclined.

Continue reading Sony Vaio M surfaces… unofficially

Sony Vaio M surfaces… unofficially originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Sony Insider  |  sourceNotebook Review Forum  | Email this | Comments

HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition leaps off the runway and into our hands

Paging all butterfly-admiring netbook lovers! With spring upon us, HP’s officially launching the Mini 210 Vivienne Tam edition that it previewed back at September’s Fall Fashion Week, and, well, it sure is unique looking. We actually got to take a peek at it a few weeks ago, and while the butterfly adorned cover may only appeal to a certain sex type, the gold covered keyboard is what you’d expect kings and queens to type on. Okay so, the design wasn’t really in line with our tastes, but at least we’re comfortable with the internal specs which are identical to the Mini 210 we recently reviewed (sans the Broadcom Crystal HD). And apparently the Mini should sound as good as it looks — HP’s updated Vivienne’s netbook with Beats by Dr. Dre audio software, which to date has only been found in the company’s Envy line. Interesting move, but of course it’s still very hard for us to understand why anyone would spend $600 on a netbook that’s got an extremely frustrating touchpad and only a three-cell battery — but we’d guess that it probably has to do with that whole ‘beauty is pain’ thing. The full press release is after the break.

Continue reading HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition leaps off the runway and into our hands

HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition leaps off the runway and into our hands originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Keepin’ it real fake, part CCLIX: X-Slim X340 KIRFed, MacBook Air empathizes

The secret to a great KIRF is that it represents not just a knock-off but an homage to a beloved product (at least, that’s what we tell ourselves when we sit in our workshop, trying to build the first ever shanzhai Grippity). Recently spotted in the stalls of Shenzhen, the above device is reminiscent of the MacBook Air, yes, but more tellingly, the MSI X-Slim X340. This 13-inch (1366 x 768) bad boy features a 1.2GHz Intel ULV processor, 1GB of RAM, up to 250GB of HDD, WiFi and Bluetooth, an SD card slot, three (count ’em!) USB ports, and HDMI out. You can expect to spend about $350 if you ever manage to track ‘er down — or you can just say the hell with it and go back to reading Garfield Minus Garfield. Either way, we support you. Get a closer look after the break.

Continue reading Keepin’ it real fake, part CCLIX: X-Slim X340 KIRFed, MacBook Air empathizes

Keepin’ it real fake, part CCLIX: X-Slim X340 KIRFed, MacBook Air empathizes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceMIC Gadget  | Email this | Comments

Acer Aspire One 532G with ION 2 priced at an aggressive 379 euros

Now that’s how to get our attention. While the English-speaking portion of the Acer press conference left much to be desired, the second half, decidedly more German in vernacular, had a couple great tidbits. Most notable is a price of Acer’s AspireOne 532G, the ION 2-equipped netbook initially espied at Mobile World Congress. The slide says it all, sort of: 379 euros — mighty aggressive, and if history tells us anything, there’s a good chance it’ll be about $379 when it comes stateside, too. No word on release date as far as we can tell, but you’ll definitely want to keep an eye out for this one.

Acer Aspire One 532G with ION 2 priced at an aggressive 379 euros originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Coby $85 smartbook feels like a hundred bucks (hands-on)

Funny how our tune on smartbooks totally changes when one’s got an $85 price tag. We happened upon Coby’s booth at CeBIT this morning and of all the fairly cheap feeling laptops the company had on display it was its 7-inch NBPC722 smartbook that cozied right up to us. Okay, so it isn’t as thin or attractive as the $499 Lenovo’s Skylight, but again let us remind you that it costs about as much as a couple of new printer ink cartridges. Inside the little guy packs a 624MHz Marvell PXA303 processor, 2GB of flash storage and runs Windows CE which all should be good enough for some light Web browsing and e-mail writing. There was actually a YouTube shortcut on the desktop, but the NBPC722 wasn’t connected to try it out. Apparently this inexpensive laptop should be making its way stateside this spring, but until the flowers start blooming you’ve got the video below.

Continue reading Coby $85 smartbook feels like a hundred bucks (hands-on)

Coby $85 smartbook feels like a hundred bucks (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Averatec outs light as air 10-inch netbook, can move move move any mountain

Averatec‘s just outed its super thin, super light, 10-inch netbook, the N1200. Available in silver or black, it’s a good looking little package which weighs in at just 2.2 pounds. It boasts an Atom N450 CPU, a 160GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM which is expandable up to 2GB, plus a webcam and 802.11n Wi-Fi. You can get this bad little dude with either XP or Windows 7 Starter. The battery life is apparently about 3 hours, though you can upgrade to a better, 6 hour battery. The N1200 starts at $330. The full press release is after the break.

Continue reading Averatec outs light as air 10-inch netbook, can move move move any mountain

Averatec outs light as air 10-inch netbook, can move move move any mountain originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Smartbook’s laptops hands-on: a MacBook and a VAIO walk into a bar…

Bewildering. We’re pretty sure that’s the only way to describe our adventure at Smartbook’s CeBIT booth. First off, let us just clear up that there are absolutely no smartbooks on display — don’t forget that this is the company that’s going after Qualcomm’s jugular for using the term smartbook in the first place. Now that that’s out of the way, the German outfit introduced two new 11.6-inch laptops at the show, both which are clearly a rip on Apple and Sony laptops. What’s confusing there? Well, the fact that they are actually nice. First you have the Atom N280-powered Razor that’s clad in a brushed aluminum that feels impeccably similar to the unibody MacBook. Sure, it will run like a last-generation Windows 7 netbook, but it felt seriously solid in hand. Next up is that ULV-packing Logo we told you about last week, and with a glowing power button embedded in its circular hinge there’s no doubt that it was Sony VAIO “inspired.” Again, the make is actually quite good, and we were shocked to feel how sturdy the chiclet keyboard was. Both KIRFs the Smartbook Logo and Razor should go for about 699 Euros when they become available in Europe this spring. Not amused yet? The pictures of the Swarovski covered netbook below should just about do it — and we have video proof after the break, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Continue reading Smartbook’s laptops hands-on: a MacBook and a VAIO walk into a bar…

Smartbook’s laptops hands-on: a MacBook and a VAIO walk into a bar… originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Gigabyte T1000 takes a new twist on life with Atom N470 and a multitouch display

Ever get the feeling that what you see on paper just isn’t going to be as good in person? That’s sort of how we felt today when we stopped by Gigabyte’s CeBIT booth to get a look at its newly announced T1000 netvertible. On the spec front the T1000 has everything we could possibly want in a netbook — a new 1.83GHz Atom N470, 2GB of RAM, a chiclet keyboard and a 1366 x 768-resolution multitouch display — but in our few minutes of use things were far from rainbows and butterflies. The resistive touch panel required a pretty firm press, and when in slate mode there’s no buttons (or accelerometer) for rotating the device. While we liked the chiclet keyboard, we’ll never understand why Gigabyte has kept the two mouse buttons on the sides of the touchpad. We realize that we may be jumping to conclusions too quickly here, so we’ll let you decide for yourselves with the help of a short video after the break.

Continue reading Gigabyte T1000 takes a new twist on life with Atom N470 and a multitouch display

Gigabyte T1000 takes a new twist on life with Atom N470 and a multitouch display originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGigabyte  | Email this | Comments