It looks like Compaq has added a big-daddy to its line of Presarios just released, tacking on the 17-inch CQ70 to the gang. The new laptop (currently available at Circuit City) sports a 2GHz dual-core Pentium T3200 CPU, 3GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, a 1440 x 900 widescreen display, 802.11b/g/n, a 5-in-1 card reader, and a bunch of other expected goodies (you know, like USB ports). The CQ70 is listing for $729.99, but after a series of shocking rebates at the aforementioned giant electronics retail chain, it can be yours for $579.99.

[Via Electronista]

22-inch monitors have generally been stuck at a 1,680 x 1,050 resolution for years with just a few notable exceptions. Now it looks like Dell is about to change that with the introduction of a newly designed, S2209W monitor with rumored 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution. The evidence stems from that prototype pictured above as well as drivers already available on Dell's support site. Still not sure how we feel about the piano-black, Samsung-esque design, though. One more snap after the break.

[Thanks, Alex P.]

Read -- Dell drivers
Read -- Prototype

Although the iWear AV310 Widescreen from Vuzix isn't the first 3D HMD we've come across, or the largest virtual display (likened to a 52" screen viewed from 9-feet), it's the first 16:9 widescreen version to hit the market. Equipped for use with both NTSC and PAL, this unit will run you about $250 and has a mysterious "video" input for use with a wide range of devices, though there's currently nothing to say what style of connector can be used or what resolution it runs at. Oh well... we're still waiting on a headtracking version anyway.

Update: As a commenter pointed out, this likely isn't the first "widescreen" HMD, though the company is claiming it's the first 16:9 model.

[Thanks, Greg]

The term "widescreen" is one of the most notoriously confusing monikers (this side of Full HD) used to describe a display's specifications. Widescreen generally translates to a 16:10 aspect ratio when discussing computer LCDs (monitors or laptop displays) or 16:9 if you're talking about the living room TV. Of course, it can also refer to the 2.35:1 ratio often used for films or something entirely different if you're Apple touting the wonders of your new widescreen iPhone. Fortunately, we're trending towards at least some convergence around the 16:9 aspect. DisplaySearch predicts that by 2010, 16:9 panels will make up 90% of new laptop displays and 67% of new monitors. Acer has been at the forefront of this transition with products like its Gemstone Blue laptops and the Acer P224W monitor pictured above. The move is being driven by panel manufacturers' desire to maximize production efficiency -- something they should have realized before the glass sizes diverged in the first place. Regardless, the end result should be more pennies saved by you, Joe Consumer, and that's a good thing.

The industrious Boy Genius has apparently unearthed more juicy tidbits about that rumored BlackBerry touchscreen device. Word from BG is that the new iPhone-ish handset is now internally dubbed the "Thunder," and will come to Verizon and Vodafone as an exclusive device. The phone will reportedly have four physical keys (send, end, menu, and back), sport a hybrid CDMA EV-DO Rev. C / GSM HSPA radio, and could come equipped with a 4G LTE component. Outside Waterloo's labs, the device could be known as the BlackBerry 9500 -- though it's possible that designation could change. BGR has included a self-made mockup (above) of what the device may look like, but as of now, no one has laid eyes on this mythical creature.

Lenovo's the latest laptop vendor to go to a mostly-widescreen lineup today, as it retires the 4:3 14.1-inch ThinkPad T61. All that's left in the standard ratio are the 12.1-inch X-series laptops, and even those are something of a novelty in today's 13.3-inch dominated market. It's not a formal move and there's no announcement, but it's clearly a growing trend -- Apple, Sony, and HP don't offer any 4:3 laptops either -- and it's got us wondering what people prefer. Just amongst Engadget editors there's no clear agreement: some of us prize vertical real estate, while others say tiling windows horizontally provides maximum multitasking power, and one ed rocks both 16:9 and 4:3 displays side-by-side -- but that's probably crazy. What's your aspect ratio of choice? Hit us up in comments!

Once we heard that Dell was showing off the XPS 630i "compact" desktop and 16-inch, 16:9 XPS laptop concept at its booth / lounge, we headed right over the moment that the show floor opened. Unfortunately the notebook was locked behind a glass case, precluding any real face time with the prototype widescreen system, but luckily we were able to get right up in the grille of the 630i to check out all the angles. Of course, you'd rather peep some pictures then hear us drone on about our impressions, so check out the gallery below for the full package.

The 3008WFP widescreen LCD, everyone's favorite, 30-inch, DisplayPort-rocking Dell monitor is up for review, and we've got a roundup to prove it. If you'll recall, the behemoth is the first Dell monitor to sport the emerging DisplayPort technology, and it also offers a fairly impressive set of other connectivity options, including dual DVI ports, HDMI, VGA, S-Video, component, and composite. The folks at Hot Hardware weren't totally stoked on the setup process, but loved the screen's performance and flexibility. The cats at Computer Shopper seemed pleased as well, though not head-over-heels in love, particularly with the high price tag and color / grayscale "weakness." CNET Australia had similarly high marks, praising the number of inputs, super-high resolution, and sheer size, though they took issue with the screen's reflectiveness, the need for a high-end graphics card, and gradient handling. Still, none of the minuses stopped them (and Hot Hardware) from bestowing their "Editor's Choice" award on the monitor. Don't take our word for it, though -- hit the links and see for yourself.

Read - Hot Hardware (Editor's Choice)
Read - Computer Shopper (8.0 out of 10)
Read - CNET Australia (8.9 out of 10)

As is our way sometimes, we happened to stumble upon a pair of photos (read: a source sent us some pictures) claiming to be an unannounced, widescreen PMP from Creative. Kinda like a Zen or Vision W, but without the asymmetrical controls on the side. And yep, the full-screen player looks to be touch-sensitive, and may or may not sport WiFi, which has been a winning combo for several other devices that we know and love. Check out the other shot after the break.

Update: Certainly does look a lot like a Cowon Q5 all photoshopped up, innit? Thanks Connor.

Look, the LCD monitor market is hot. How hot, you ask? Well let's just say that panel manufacturer Chunghwa Picture Tubes (or CPT) has decided to circumvent the battle for ultimate supremacy in the 19-inch market by creating a totally new size of monitor: an 18.4-inch widescreen display. The new size will feature a 16:9 aspect ratio, 1366 x 768 resolution, a contrast ratio of 1000:1, and a response time of 5ms. The benefit of the slightly smaller size is that the cost to consumers will be lower than its 19-inch brethren, thereby giving CPT a cleaner shot a some market share. The first company to bite on the new size is Acer, which will be using the new panels in a Quanta-made laptop set to hit Europe in the second half of 2008.

Tired of bulky media players? Hate having to lug around your iPod Nano? Well, welcome to the Thomson A1, a tiny PMP that the company claims is the "world's smallest," (which of course we recommend you take with multiple grains of salt). Truth be told, it is rather petite, clocking in at just 3-inches and weighing only 87 grams. Somehow, they managed to slap on a 16:9 display and cram 4GB or 8GB capacity into the little guy, and of course it plays all your favorites, like MP3, WMA, WAV, and AVI, plus it rocks an FM tuner. The only real question is this; what are those colored "nubs" in the photo, and what exactly are they doing? The A1 will hit China first, going for around $106 for the 4GB and $120 for the 8GB, but no word on when or if we'll see this Stateside.

[Via Tech Digest]

Major chain kingpin Best Buy has teamed up with Envision, makers of illustrious, cheapo displays, to bring you the next step in frugal monitor technology -- the 22-inch G218a1. The widescreen LCD sports a 700:1 contrast ratio, 5ms response time, resolutions up to 1680 x 1050, VGA, D-sub and DVI-D inputs, and a set of built-in stereo speakers. Best Buy is selling the monitor exclusively for the "bargain-basement" price of $279.99, which will undoubtedly have you scratching your head, since you can get monitors of comparable quality for considerably less.

Asus appears to be adding a new laptop called the F8S to its fairly crowded lineup (although we're almost certain this one isn't gigantic and made of wood). The new model is a Santa Rosa-based, 14.1-inch widescreen offering, built around an Intel PM965 chipset, with a Core 2 Duo T7300 processor, up to 4GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and either an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600, or NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics chipset. Word on the street is that the F8S will additionally sport 802.11a/g/n, a TV tuner, built-in webcam, fingerprint reader, and will hit for around €2000. Stay tuned for more info as we get it.

It wouldn't really be a Samsung release party without some monitors, now would it? -- and true to form, Sammy included a pair of 22- and 24-inch widescreen models in today's slew of announcements. The 245BW (pictured above) offers up a pretty standard 1920 x 1200 resolution, 5-millisecond response time, 1000:1 contrast ratio (3000:1 dynamic contrast), and 400 cd/m² of brightness, while the 226CW (pictured after the break) also features the expected specs, including 1680 x 1050 res, 300 cd/m² brightness, 1000:1 contrast ratio, and rather snappy gray-to-gray 2-millisecond response time. Sammy is also playing up this latter unit's Wild Color Gamut CCFL backlighting technology, along with each model's suite of Magic-branded fine-tuning options that we're all so familiar with. Both monitors are shipping immediately, with the 24-incher retailing for $550 and the 22-incher asking $380.

If you thought the 3.5-inch GPS market was getting a tad way oversaturated, apparently you weren't alone. According to a blurb at GPSPassion, Garmin has just recently let loose whispers of a widescreen four-inch version of the nüvi 200 and 250, both of which will don Ws at the end of their names to signify the extra real estate. The display itself will supposedly pack a 480 x 272 resolution, and while we can only assume that the actual software and feature sets will remain essentially the same, there's no way of knowing just yet. Notably, it's not yet clear if the North American-friendly nüvi 270 will end up gaining a bit of width too, but the 200W and 250W should hit European shops in the near future for an estimated €299 ($402) and €349 ($469), respectively.

[Via NaviGadget]