It looks like Alienware's decision to announce its latest laptops today was hardly an arbitrary one, as it just so happens that NVIDIA has also chosen the date to get official with its new GeForce 8800 GTX and GTS laptop GPUs, which the Alienware systems are based on. Described as the "World's Fastest Notebook GPU," the 8800M GTX and GTS are each largely identical, with the notable exception of 96 stream processors in the GTX model, as opposed to 64 in the GTS. Otherwise, you can expect full DirectX 10 support from each, along with NVIDIA's PureVideo HD engine for your HD decoding needs, up to 512MB of dedicated memory, and NVIDIA's trademark "PowerMizer technology," which promises to "intelligently" balance battery life and performance. According to NVIDIA, in addition to Alienware, you can also expect Eurocom, Gateway, and Sager to offer laptops equipped with the GPUs in North America before too long, with a handful of other companies also set to trot out systems in other parts of the world.

[Via Laptoping]

It may not be much to look at, but PC Microworks' new 17-inch Black-Hawk XR5 laptop certainly looks like it has the specs to get the job done, including room for three SATA 300 hard drives and a pair of NVIDIA's new Geforce Go 8800GTX graphics units in SLI mode. Otherwise, you can expect a range of configurable options, including your choice of Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad processors, up to 4GB of 800 MHz DDR2 memory, and an optional Blu-ray burner, to name a few. Look for this one to start shipping sometime next month, with PC MicroWork's default system setting you back $2,779 (although some of those aforementioned options will cost you considerably more than that).

It looks like Dell recently expanded its line of Precision "mobile workstations" a bit further, with its new 14-inch M2300 model squeezing in just under the larger M4300 and M6300 models. That 14-inch display is of the WXGA+ variety (or 1440 x 900), which gets complemented by some pretty decent specs across the board, including a choice of four Core 2 Duo processors between 2.0 and 2.6GHz, up to 4GB of RAM, a max 200GB hard drive, and NVIDIA Quadro FX 360M graphics. Those looking to join the SSD crowd can also opt for a speedy 32GB drive, although you'll have to pay a hefty $550+ premium for that pleasure. On the other hand, those slightly less demanding can snag one with the base configuration right now for $1,439.

[Via Notebook Italia]

Optiarc (the joint venture between Sony and NEC) has already pumped out quite a few Blu-ray drives for both desktops and laptops, and it's now let loose yet another model, with this one promising to make Blu-ray accessible to "mid-range" laptop models. That accessibility comes at the expense of Blu-ray burning, although the drive (dubbed the BC-5500A) will burn CDs or DVDs at speeds ranging from 8x to 16x depending on the format. If that's not too much of a compromise for you, you should be able to grab one around $335 right now -- or, more likely, wait for some laptop manufacturers to start offering 'em as a standard option.

It looks like Sony's about to add yet another addition to its VAIO line-up, with NotebookReview now reporting that the company will soon be releasing a pair of laptops in its new NR Series. Apparently headed for Europe first, these will each boast 15.4-inch WXGA displays, with the higher-end charcoal-colored model packing a 2GHz T7250 Core 2 Duo processor and the lower-end silver-colored model scaling things back to 1.5GHz T5250. Otherwise, the two seem to be more or less identical, each relying on the standard Intel X3100 graphics, and each coming equipped with a 200GB hard drive, along with the usual ExpressCard and memory card slots. While there's no official word on pricing or availability just yet, NotebookReview speculates that they could be coming this fall for as little as $899 for the base configuration.

If Lenovo's Olympics-inspired laptop is just a tad too flashy for you, you may want to consider the company's new N220G-SX model, which boasts the same 12.1-inch screen in a somewhat similar, though decidedly duller form factor. Under the hood you'll find a 1.8GHz T7100 Core 2 Duo processor and a standard 1GB of RAM, with Windows Vista Home Basic serving as the OS. While other details are unfortunately pretty light at the moment, it doesn't look like the laptop will demand too much of a premium, costing the local equivalent of $1,200 when it hits China in the presumably near future.

Hope you're not tired of HP gear yet, 'cause the company's also got a trio of new laptops competing for your attention today. Those include the 14.1-inch 6520, 15.4-inch 6720s model, and the 17-inch 6820s model, each of which boast your choice of Core 2 Duo or Celeron processors, along with hard drives up to 160GB and RAM up to 2GB (or 4GB on the 17-inch model). Otherwise, you can expect the usual Intel GMA X3100 graphics on the two smaller models or ATI Mobility Radeon X1350 graphics on the 17 incher, with a Blu-ray drive also an exclusive option to the 6820s, and an ExpressCard slot, SD card slot, and built-in Bluetooth standard across the board. Still no word on pricing of availability, although each are said to be "affordable."

Just in case you haven't seen enough of Dell's, um, eye-catching XPS M1730 gaming laptop, the folks at LaptopSpirit have kindly let loose a slew of new pics of it in the wild, with the laptop's various color options on full display. In addition to the stylish red option above, you'll also be able to get the laptop in your choice of Sapphire Blue, Bone White or Smoke Grey, each of which should attract varying degrees of askance glances from passers-by. Thankfully, the laptop's innards are a good deal more attractive than its exterior, including your choice of top-end Core 2 Duo processors, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8700M GT graphics, up to 4GB of RAM, and an optional Blu-ray drive among other desirable options. Those still undecided about a purchase can get a better look at the laptop by hitting up the read link below.

[Thanks, Matthias]

It looks like NEC has dialed things back somewhat after its experiment with 3D paint jobs, with its new L series LaVie laptops sporting some slightly more subdued color options. If you want one those new colors, however, it looks like you'll have to settle for the lower-end LL550KG model of the line, which comes loaded with a Sempron 3400+ (as opposed to a Turion 64 X2 TL-52) and drops the 1seg tuner of the higher end models. Otherwise, the various laptops appear to be identical, with them each boasting a 15.4-inch WXGA display, 1GB of RAM, a 120GB hard drive, a DVD burner, and slots for ExpressCards and FeliCa cards, in addition to the usual array of memory cards. Look for these to trickle out in Japan this month and next for between ¥160,000 and ¥175,000 (or roughly $1,400 to $1,530).

[Via Akihabara News]