Dec 12

Lenovo IdeaPad U400 review

Posted in: CoreI7, laptop, Laptops, lenovo, review, thin and light, ThinAndLight, thinkpad, Today's Chili

If you need evidence that the Ultrabook fad isn’t impressing everybody, look no further than our inboxes. More than a few of you have been inquiring about the Lenovo IdeaPad U400, the 14-inch big brother to the IdeaPad U300s. And we think we understand why. Starting at a more palatable price of $800, it offers the same understated design as the U300s, except it brings an extra inch of screen real estate, along with an optical drive and discrete graphics. The best of both worlds, right? Beauty and a little more brawn? Not exactly. Though it looks the same, the U400 trades various components, starting with the storage disk and continuing on to the touchpad drivers. (Specs, schmecs, are we right?) So how much of a difference does this new set of innards make? Meet us past the break to find out.

Gallery: Lenovo IdeaPad U400 review

Continue reading Lenovo IdeaPad U400 review

Lenovo IdeaPad U400 review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: ,
Sep 17

Ask Engadget: best ‘real’ 11- to 13-inch laptop, with a focus on thin?

Posted in: AskEngadget, laptop, notebook, thin and light, ThinAndLight, Today's Chili, ultraportable

We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Raymond, who seems to have the ultraportable itch. If you’re looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

“Hey, what’s the best thin 11- to 13-inch laptop for portability? I need to bring it everywhere but it has to be light!”

Light. Light like that question. The world of ultrabooks is about to crack itself wide open, but if you’re not looking to wait, what’s the best non-netbook in the 11- to 13-inch category? Anyone have a particular rig that they’ve fallen for? Chime in below!

Ask Engadget: best ‘real’ 11- to 13-inch laptop, with a focus on thin? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 22:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , ,
Sep 14

Ultrabooks invade IDF 2011, Toshiba Portege Z830 makes cameo (video)

Posted in: hands-on, intel, Laptops, LG, notebook, thin and light, ThinAndLight, Today's Chili, video

While we’ve already seen Ultrabooks from a bevy of brand name manufacturers — Toshiba (which we caught on video below), Lenovo, ASUS and Acer — ODMs are now joining the thin and light party here at IDF. There’s one catch, however: this row of Ultrabooks from the likes of Pegatron, LG, Invetec and Foxconn aren’t nearly as svelte as their branded counterparts, leading us to believe that Intel’s specs aren’t quite as rigorous as we’d originally thought. Video proof after the break.

Myriam Joire contributed to this report.

Gallery: Ultrabook row at IDF 2011

Continue reading Ultrabooks invade IDF 2011, Toshiba Portege Z830 makes cameo (video)

Ultrabooks invade IDF 2011, Toshiba Portege Z830 makes cameo (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 02:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Sep 07

MSI X370 with AMD E-450 upgrade arrives stateside

Posted in: AMD, msi, notebook, Notebooks, thin and light, ThinAndLight, Today's Chili

Strip out the old E-350 Zacate APU from MSI’s thin-and-light X370, replace it with a brand new 1.65GHz E-450 Llano engine with around 20 percent higher CPU and graphics benchmarks, and what do you get? The X370-205US, that’s what, or equally the 206US white variant. The 13-incher just popped up at Amazon and Newegg with exactly the same $579 price tag as its vanquished predecessor, the same 1366×768 resolution, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, up to ten hours’ stamina and an easy-going 3.11 pound weight that will only hurt your chiropractor.

MSI X370 with AMD E-450 upgrade arrives stateside originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 06:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Laptoping  |  sourceAmazon, Newegg  | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags:
Sep 02

Dell teases XPS 14z, says it will be available ‘later this year’

Posted in: Ifa2011, laptop, Laptops, thin and light, ThinAndLight, Today's Chili

If you liked the look of Dell’s inch-thin XPS 15z but are of the mind that a 15-incher isn’t quite portable enough, listen up: here at its IFA press conference, the company just teased a 14-inch version — the XPS 14z, natch — which will be available “later this year.” From the looks of it, it has the same industrial design as its big brother (and, some might say, a generations-old MacBook Pro), which, depending on your point of view, is either a good or a bad thing.

Gallery: Dell XPS 14z tease

Dell teases XPS 14z, says it will be available ‘later this year’ originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 03:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: ,
Sep 01

Lenovo announces U300s Ultrabook, U300 and U400 IdeaPads, we go hands-on (video)

Posted in: CoreI5, CoreI7, hands-on, intel, lenovo, thin and light, ThinAndLight, Today's Chili, video, windows 7, Windows7
Lenovo announces U300s Ultrabook, U300 and U400 IdeaPads, we go hands-on (video)

The unchallenged reign of the MacBook Air on the thin-and-light domain is nearing an end — the Ultrabooks are coming, and the Lenovo U300s looks to be one of the strongest competitors we’ve yet seen. It’s a new entry to the IdeaPad lineup, the thinnest and lightest of a redesigned and reborn U Series that will also include the slightly stockier 13.3-inch U300 and the even bigger but even more serious 14-inch U400. All three are shipping in October, and we recently got a chance to try out the tiny trio. Read on for full details and our full impressions.

Gallery: Lenovo U Series hands-on

Continue reading Lenovo announces U300s Ultrabook, U300 and U400 IdeaPads, we go hands-on (video)

Lenovo announces U300s Ultrabook, U300 and U400 IdeaPads, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Sep 01

Toshiba’s Portege Z830 is an ultraslim, ultrasexy Ultrabook

Posted in: hands-on, Ifa2011, thin and light, ThinAndLight, Today's Chili, Toshiba, ultraportable
Ready for your first helping of Ultrabook? Because it’s here. Behold: Toshiba’s Portege Z830. Checking in at 2.5 pounds and 0.63 inches thick, the 13.3-inch magnesium-clad beaut that lies before you is 20 percent lighter and 40 percent thinner than its (relatively) svelte sibling, the R380. But don’t be fooled by that diminutive profile, as Toshiba still managed to cram some serious silicon (an optional Core i7 CPU), up to 6GB of RAM and an eight-cell 47Wh battery inside. On top of those guts resides a keyboard that’s both backlit and spill-resistant (!), a 1366 x 768 display and a 1.3 megapixel webcam in the lid. Also onboard are three USB ports — one 3.0 and two 2.0, one of which does sleep and charge — an Ethernet jack, HDMI and VGA output and an SD card slot. There’s also the obligatory 802.11b/g/n WiFi radio, along with optional Intel Wireless Display.

We’re still waiting for a full rundown of the various configurations and specs, but Toshiba did tell us that the Z830 line will start at under $1,000 when it goes on sale come November. Until then, hop past the break for some brief impressions of a prototype unit.

Gallery: Toshiba Portege Z830

Gallery: Toshiba Portege Z830 hands-on

Continue reading Toshiba’s Portege Z830 is an ultraslim, ultrasexy Ultrabook

Toshiba’s Portege Z830 is an ultraslim, ultrasexy Ultrabook originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags:
Aug 11

Intel Ultrabooks get $300 million investment fund, prep for low-carb diet

Posted in: intel, ipad, macbook air, MacbookAir, thin and light, ThinAndLight, Today's Chili
Intel Capital has stumped up $300 million to “drive innovation” in the burgeoning Ultrabook market. The cash will go to projects that refine user interaction (hint: more touchscreens), reduce power consumption and create devices no thicker than 21mm (0.8-inches). Intel is clearly hoping to lure back all those customers who have ditched laptops for tablets by undercutting the popular Samsung Series 9 and Macbook Air. The company’s new mantra? “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”.

Intel Ultrabooks get $300 million investment fund, prep for low-carb diet originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink CNET  |  sourceIntel  | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Aug 11

Dell intros slimmed-down Inspiron 13z and 14z laptops with aluminum lids, USB 3.0

Posted in: thin and light, ThinAndLight, Today's Chili, usb 3.0, Usb3.0
Can you blame Dell for deciding its laptops needed a makeover? After suffering some serious market share losses and earning a reputation for bland designs and questionable customer service, we can see why the company would be keen on revamping its lineup as a way of distancing itself from its not-so-sunny rap. That seems to be precisely what the outfit’s doing with the Inspiron 13z and 14z, which Dell unveiled today. Both laptops move to aluminum lids and palm rests, available in a small (and fairly toned-down) color selection, with black and red being your only choices. The two have also whittled to under an inch thick, with the beefier 14z leaving enough room for an optical drive. Not surprisingly, the resolution’s 1366 x 768 — precisely what you’d expect in a $600 laptop. Also predictable: this generation of Inspirons offers USB 3.0 and Sandy Bridge, with a choice of Core i3 and Core i5 processors. Both models start at $599.99, with the 14z available in the states today, and the 13z launching in “select” Asian countries. Curious? We’ve got a handful of hands-on shots below and the full PR after the break.

Gallery: Dell Inspiron 13z / 14z hands-on

Continue reading Dell intros slimmed-down Inspiron 13z and 14z laptops with aluminum lids, USB 3.0

Dell intros slimmed-down Inspiron 13z and 14z laptops with aluminum lids, USB 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags:
Aug 10

Sony VAIO SB Series review

Posted in: CoreI5, review, sony, thin and light, ThinAndLight, Today's Chili, vaio

We hate to break it to you, dear readers, but we’re in the throes of back to school season. In a few short weeks, lots of wide-eyed freshmen will be setting up their dorm rooms and begging off name games during orientation, which means they (and their generous parents) are stocking up on gear now. We’ve been testing a bunch of budget and mid-range laptops aimed at young folk and pretty much any other mainstream consumer who’d happily forgo some bells and whistles in exchange for a lower price. So why not start with a review of one of the best? Sony’s VAIO SB series is the 13-inch laptop for the kindele who can’t afford the VAIO Z, or even the slimmed-down SA series. It offers good specs for the money, a bright, matte display, a solid keyboard, long battery life and a (mostly) well-built design. And while we try not to spoil our reviews, we’ll say this: it’s one of our favorite mid-range Windows laptops, period. How much do we like the SB? Join us as we count the ways.

Gallery: Sony VAIO SB Series review

Continue reading Sony VAIO SB Series review

Sony VAIO SB Series review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: ,