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Toshiba Portege R400 getting HSDPA too?
GSM fanboys, rejoice: Core Duo News was trawling the FCC website when they caught the EV-DO-packin' Portege R400 convertible tablet making another run through the certification process, but this time around, it's looking to get an HSPDA modem cleared for takeoff. This being the FCC and all, we can't tell if any of the other specs on this 12-inch, somewhat underpowered notebook have changed along with the 3G standard, but we think it's safe to assume that the only difference is a Novatel PCI Express Mini Card taking the place of whichever Verizon-compatible modem was once there. So grab your checkbooks, Cingular and T-Mobile subscribers, because there's a good chance that the re-spec'ed R400 will hit the scene any day now. And if not, hey, it's never too late to jump on the CDMA bandwagon.[Via Core Duo News]
Latest Apple rumor: super-slim 12-inch MacBook Pros on the way?
Macworld Expo 2007 is only a few weeks away, and so the Apple rumors are starting to fly, although this one apparently won't come to fruition until closer to February. According to MacScoop, "sources believed to be very reliable" say that Apple is currently working on a super-slim widescreen 12-inch MacBook Pro (17-inch model, pictured), which would still contain the optical drive and that dual-core processor action we've heard so much about. The details on this particular rumor are similarly skimpy -- all we've got is a potential price point of somewhere around $1,700 or $1,800, and that if this product exists, it apparently won't be out until February 2007. As usual, folks, we suggest that you remain as skeptical as we are about this bit of gossip for the time being. Believe it or not, the rumor mill's been known to be wrong from time to time.
A Mac on the cover of Playboy
These days you can't turn on a TV, open a magazine or walk down the street without spotting an Apple product or at least an ad for one, and now it seems Apple's expanding popularity has even landed the company on the cover of October's Playboy (Zinio link, semi-safe for work). In the quest to leave their photoshopped mark on everything that adorns the magazine, Playboy (or Apple?) felt the need (or jumped at the chance) to add a personalized touch to what looks like a 12-inch PowerBook, and swapped out the Apple logo for Playboy's (let's see PowerBook laser etching pull this off).TUAW reader Travis Smith tipped us off to the appearance, and from the cover (no, we don't have a subscription) it doesn't look like this is some 'Bunnies love Macs' special issue or anything. Still, it's nice to see Apple getting some love from the Hugh and crew.
12-inch PowerBook batteries can catch fire, too
It looks like Dell isn't the only company who can have a little fun with laptops that get just a little too hot. Apparently, the battery of a Norwegian design firm employee's 12-inch PowerBook worked just a little too hard and caught ablaze itself, resulting in the image you see here. Let's hope this is not much more than an example of what can happen if you don't participate in those battery recalls that Apple's issued in the past.[via Engadget]
Sotec's budget e-three laptops, the 12-inch HS310 and 15-inch HA310
We just saw their WinBook DN800 17-incher, and now Sotec is filling in the other end of the spectrum with their e-three HS310 12-inch and HA310 15-inch laptops. Sporting an XGA display, up to a Pentium M 770 2.13GHz processor, and other piddling specs, the HS310 starts at $1040, while the HA310 bottoms out at $867. For those prices you'll get a mere Celeron M 380 processor, 256MB of RAM ad 40GB HDD, and XP Home. Optical drives are optional for both units, and things don't get much more exciting in the build to order options, but at least the HS310 keeps it thin and light at a mere 3.6 pounds. Hardly sounds like a 2006 release, but we're sure Sotec will find a few budget buyers of the lappys all the same.[Via Impress]
