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Panasonic intros CF-MX3 convertible laptop with Yoga-like design, built-in DVD drive
The category of laptop/tablet hybrids is one of the favorites among Windows PC manufacturers, including the Japan-based Panasonic. Accordingly, the Toughbook maker hosted a conference in the Land of the Rising Sun recently, where it took the time to reveal its new CF-MX3 convertible laptop. This adjustable machine comes with a 12.5-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 LCD, a removable battery that can last between 14 to 15 hours, Windows 8.1, pen support and a built-in DVD drive -- yes, a DVD drive. The entry-level CF-MX3 features a 2.6GHz Core i5-4200U CPU, 4GB RAM and a 128GB SSD, while there's also an option with double the memory and storage, a 3.0GHz Core i7-4500U CPU and a Pro version of Microsoft's OS. Furthermore, Panasonic loaded the MX3 with a ton of ports, such as two USB 3.0, HDMI, VGA and an SD card reader; all in all, it weighs in at roughly 2.65 pounds. Pricing details for Panasonic's CF-MX3 convertible are still unknown, though we do know it'll be available in Japan starting February 14th. [Thanks, Siegfried]
Thinkpad Helix appears on Lenovo's Israeli website, lends hope to a stateside or Euro arrival
It wasn't long ago that our Chinese language website reported on the Lenovo Thinkpad Helix, a convertible ultrabook that launched alongside other models, but seemed destined for China only. Now, it looks like Israeli folks might also get the device, as it popped up recently on the company's website there. We noted that it would carry Windows 8, an 11.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 detachable IPS touchscreen, NFC 3G module, stylus, 10-hour battery life and optional Core i7 processor for the top model. That would make it a pretty potent ultrabook, let alone a tablet -- making us hope that it'll power its way over to our shores.
Panasonic Toughbook 19 gets Ivy Bridge upgrade, small price bump
There's no doubt Panasonic keeps its Toughbook 19 line updated with the recent times, and today's no exception. This time out a processor upgrade is the main change, with the company announcing the rugged convertible will now ship sporting one of Intel's latest CPU creations -- a Core i5-3320M vPro, to be precise. That's not all, however, since there are also improvements in battery life, the addition of USB 3.0 ports and the option to load it with a beefier 500GB hard drive. Naturally, these nice enhancements had a mild effect on the price tag, making the jump from the previous starting price of $3,349 to a slightly heftier $3,549. But, hey, if you're already spending that much, 200 extra bucks shouldn't cause you any sweats.
Intel's full Atom 'Bay Trail' roadmap leaked: 22nm, Ivy Bridge graphics, quad-core
We saw a leaked hint of what was coming for Intel's Valleyview system-on-a-chip (SoC), but now the full plan appears to have been outed by Chinese blog Expreview. The lineup will feature four models of the 22nm chips, with the D- and M-series looking to replace the Cedar Trail 32nm SoC chips used in current netbook and low-end desktop devices. The I-series is for embedded and industrial use, while the T-series would appear in tablets and other small form-factor devices, according to the leaked slides. That model would supersede the Clover Trail SoCs, which are only just arriving themselves in upcoming Windows 8 slates like the Acer W510 or Asus Tablet 810. The chips should offer a burly horsepower bump over their predecessors, with up to four cores and clock speeds topping out at 2.4Ghz. The icing on the cake will be the integrated Gen 7 graphics engines of Ivy Bridge fame, featuring the same HD 4000 and HD 2500 GPU's as the grownup chips, but with only four "execution units" instead of the 16 you'd find there. That would offload functions like video decoding and 3D rendering from the CPU and allow simultaneous display to a TV or monitor. Bay Trail would also support 8GB of DDR3 RAM, double that of the "last" gen, as well as USB 3.0, SATA 2.0 and a host of other connection options. If the leak is accurate, the processors would arrive sometime next year, we'll just have to wait and see if that's soon enough for Intel to take a run at its formidable competition.
Archos' Transformer rival reappears, passes federal inspection, forgets its keyboard
If you cast your mind back several months, you might recall Archos unveiling a new range of tablets that can pair up with a keyboard add-on. While the French tablet maker kept quiet on the specifics at its debut-- with not even a mention of the hardware's OS -- a filing at the FCC helps plug some of those information gaps. Courtesy of the user manual, we can see that the tablet will be running Android 4.0, while the as-yet unspecified storage capacity can be expanded by microSD. There's a mini-HDMI port that looks like it will require its own proprietary cable, and the keyboard dock? Well, it's absent from this FCC gallery, but it does appear in the user manual, demonstrating a twist and lift mechanism that creates a pop-up stand for the slab. Gaze on in horror as those FCC technicians prise open the Archos 101 xs' shell and scope out the internal works -- it's all in the source below.
Intel to show third-gen Ultrabooks at Computex, makes USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt a necessity
When Intel first unveiled its grand plans for Ultrabooks at last year's Computex, many of the fireworks were consciously reserved for Ivy Bridge-based variants in 2012 -- well, they're here. This year's show in Taipei will show off the third generation of the skinny, MacBook Air-inspired platform, and Intel is toughening up the design requirements in the process. The thickness requirements are the same as last year, at 18mm for systems with screens under 14 inches and 21mm for bigger machines, but high-speed ports are now mandatory to get that coveted "Ultrabook" label and the full marketing weight of Intel's $300 million Ultrabook Fund: if a PC doesn't have either USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt, it's out of the running. Intel also wants security built-in, rather than optional, as well as guarantees that a system is quick and responsive when it's fully awake. Not that this would be terribly hard with the low-voltage Ivy Bridge processors launching at the same time, mind you. Just to reinforce the importance of it all, Intel is noting that the flood of Ultrabooks is about to pick up in a big way as the category hits the mainstream. We were promised 75 Ivy Bridge Ultrabooks this year in a presentation back at CES; that number's now up to 110, 30 of which will be Windows 8-friendly touchscreen models and another 10 opting for the convertible tablet route. At least some of those lightweight portables should pop up at Computex next week, and you can be sure we'll be investigating as many of them as we can to see just how well Intel's partners have advanced the game.
The CZC U116T: it's an Ultrabook, it's a hybrid and it's hopefully coming to Computex
Remember that Compal franken-gadget reference design we saw at CES? Well, something quite similar looks to be heading to Computex and thence to market, courtesy of Chinese manufacturer CZC Tech. The company has loaded up its Transformer-style 13.3-inch U116T with Ivy Bridge and HD 4000 graphics, the world's favorite resolution, 4GB RAM and a choice of SSD capacities. On the connectivity front you'll get one each of USB 2.0 and 3.0, a memory card slot, audio jacks, SIM slot and an optional fingerprint scanner for people who don't like sharing. What's more, all that technology is housed in the display component -- the detachable keyboard itself will apparently only add an extra battery. On the software side, CZC is promoting Windows 7 alongside a bit of future-proofing, which means the only thing left to discover is the price, availability and whether this device will have anything like the astonishing lightness of that fiber glass Compal.
Lenovo prices IdeaPad Yoga in the UK, reveals a few more laptops on the side
Lenovo has revealed the pricing for its very flexible Ultrabook -- and it's about as pricey as you might suspect for a Windows 8 tablet-laptop. Lenovo UK has the basic IdeaPad Yoga pegged at £1,200 ($1,900) -- a nudge above previous estimates -- while a meatier Core i7 model will set you back £1,500 ($2,380). Neither device has been gifted a release date just yet, but it does cement the likelihood of the 0.67-inch hybrid launching beyond Beijing relatively soon. Alongside the IdeaPad Yoga, Lenovo's U series has pulled itself together following its recent disassembly at the FCC's hands, with both the U310 and U410 also UK-bound. Prices will start from £600 but Lenovo remains similarly mute on other launch details. We'd advise working on your bank balance's flexibility now.
Archos outs G10 xs tablet line, readies Transformer Prime contenders
After releasing a teaser earlier today, Archos is now shedding a tiny bit of light on its upcoming G10 xs series. As slides from its recent Paris presser show, the upcoming tabs, of which little is known, will reportedly measure in at only 7.6mm thick, besting the silhouette of Apple's newest iPad; a figure that bumps up to only 11mm when paired with its companion keyboard dock. The convertible slates are set for a retail debut sometime this year and, despite not sharing the hinged design of ASUS' Transformer Prime, look to be aimed squarely at that same market space. No information was given as to the lineup's OS of choice (presumably, Android ICS) or specs, but we do know the devices will retail between 200 to 400 Euros, depending on the configuration. Hop on past the break for a brief video glimpse of this next generation in French-made tablet tech.
Lenovo's IdeaPad Yoga convertible tablet runs Windows 8, is set to arrive later this year for 'around $1,000'
If CES is the place where companies can demo products they don't intend to sell for another six months, what better place for PC makers to tease their first Windows 8 tablets? Though the OS isn't expected to reach its final stage until later this year, Lenovo is already showing off the IdeaPad Yoga, a convertible tablet with a screen that flips over, like a cover on a spiral-bound book. If you like, you can bend it partway so that the keyboard functions as a stand when you're in the mood to watch a movie. Based on our conversations with Lenovo reps, it's clear the company sees this as a laptop first, and tablet second. The proof is in the specs, really. It weighs "less than 1.5kg," or 3.3 pounds, making it heavier than some Ultrabooks. Not only is its display IPS, but it boasts 1600 x 900 resolution -- an unheard of pixel count for tablets, let alone most 13-inch laptops. And when this hits, it'll pack "next-generation" (read: Ivy Bridge) Intel Core processors -- albeit, of the ULV variety. Accordingly, it has a laptop price: around $1,000, when it eventually ships, sometime later this year after Windows 8 gets finalized. Fortunately, the battery life is worthy of a tablet: Lenovo says the 54Wh juicepack can last up to eight hours. If you only have five minutes, we highly suggest you meet us past the break for some hands-on impressions and not one, but two videos. Seriously, folks, even next to all the Android tablets, chubby Ultrabooks and baby scales that have been announced at CES, this is by far the most memorable thing we've seen. Do it. You know you're curious.
Gigabyte intros S1081 Windows slate and T1006M netvertible, both packing Cedar Trail
Intel told us to expect next-gen netbooks from a throng of manufacturers, but for some reason it forgot to mention little ol' Gigabyte. Perhaps that's why the Taiwanese manufacturer is being slightly standoffish when it comes to detailing its two new 10-inch slates, which both run on unspecified variants of Cedar Trail and have equally unknown launch dates and prices. What we do know is that the T1006M is a convertible tablet that sports 1366 x 768 densely packed pixels, a USB 3.0 port and what appears to be an optional 3.5G modem -- specs that are already familiar from our recent encounter at the FCC. Next comes the S1081, which is a straightforward Windows 7 business slate like its $680 predecessor and comes with a choice of HDD or SSD storage, an optical trackpad for extra "precision," USB 3.0, VGA and HDMI outputs, plus the same optional multimedia dock. Rest assured that we'll track these newcomers down on the CES floor to fill in the blanks and judge how well they stand out, now that the quiet trail has become a highway. Until then, feel free to read on for the press release -- which also reveals that the Booktop T1132, Booktop M2432 and P2532 gaming notebook are all heading to the US market.
Novero's Solana is a Cedar-Trail Inspiron Duo from the future (video)
Have a look at what we found lurking deep within IDF's technical showcase: the Novero Solana. Contrary to what its name might imply, it's not a fancy European shaver, but actually a thinner, more rectangular Inspiron Duo lookalike. Seeing as it's imprisoned behind glass -- just like that other tablet -- the only specs we can confirm are that it's Cedar Trail-based and Windows 7 powered. Want to get a little more acquainted with it? Check out the gallery below, and peek after the break for our eyes-on video. Myriam Joire contributed to this report. %Gallery-133592%
Dell's Latitude XT3 goes up for pre-order, swivels your way September 22nd
Are you a fancy suit, known to occasionally dabble in the fine art of scribbling? Have a seat bud, because Dell's gone and put up a pre-order page for the touchscreen convertible that you've been waiting for: the Latitude XT3. When we last espied the drop-top in February, we came away mighty impressed with its spiffy 13.3-inch dual-digitizer display, which recognized the attached stylus in addition to three of our meaty digits. We also liked the inclusion of the Core i3 -- upgradeable to an i5 or i7 -- which packs a punch, unlike the miserly Core 2 Duo's found in its predecessors. The magnesium-reinforced piece of kit starts at $1,789, unless you have it your way and toss in the optional $49 backlit keyboard or spring for the $100 outdoor-viewing display. We'll take ours with both, and with a ship date of September 22nd, you've got plenty of time to get a customizin' at the source below.
Dell's Latitude XT3 tablet PC gets a product page, spins around for your amusement
Well lookee here -- it's the snazzy new Dell tablet PC that we first spotted way back in February. The Latitude XT3 finally has a product page to call its own, yet another hint that it will be swiveling its way into the hands and hearts of buyers in the near future -- a notion further driven home by the convertible's recent cameo on the FCC. The 13.3-inch laptop sports an Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 processor, Windows 7, and works with a finger or stylus -- remember those? %Gallery-130059%
Dell Latitude XT3 convertable tablet hits the FCC, sneaks in with Broadcom filing
Well, look what we have here: the Dell Latitude XT3, fresh from the all-seeing eyes of the FCC. It wasn't under federal inspection on its own, mind you, but was merely tagging along with a Broadcom WLAN minicard that dropped in for certification. This notebook / tablet hybrid rocks a dual-core 2.5GHz Core i5-2520, 2GB of RAM, a sunlight-friendly 13-inch matte display, and of course, Broadcom's own 802.11g WLAN card. Pricing and availability? Still no word, but check out our hands-on for a peek at the hybrid-slate's multitouch capabilities.
Fujitsu delays TH40/D release, puts slide-out tablet dreams on hold
If you've been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the latest shape-shifting slate, it looks like you're just going to have to wait. Fujitsu's just announced that it will postpone the release of the convertible TH40/D tablet -- the Windows 7 slide-out was originally slated for a late June debut in Japan. Unfortunately, the outfit's being rather tight-lipped when it comes to details, saying simply that the holdup is due to "development delays." Of course, we'll keep you posted with details if / when Fujitsu decides to open up.
Panasonic ToughBook C1 gets upgraded with faster processor, better battery life
It may not look any different from the outside, but Panasonic has made some not insignificant upgrades to its rugged, 12.1-inch ToughBook C1 convertible tablet. That starts off with a new Intel Core i5-2520M vPro processor (2.5GHz, Turbo Boost-able to 3.2GHz), along with a standard 320GB 7,200 rpm hard drive (up from 250GB before), and some improved battery life -- Panasonic says you can expect twelve hours from a pair of hot-swappable batteries, or six hours with one. It also says its various improvements contribute to a start-up time that's 30 percent faster than the previous model, although that will obviously vary in real world use. Somewhat unfortunately, the convertible's base price tag has also seen a slight upgrade -- it'll now start at $2,599 instead of $2,499 when the new model rolls out next month
Panasonic Toughbook 19 scores upgraded internals to match its mighty shell
If it ain't broke, don't fix it -- words Panasonic has clearly taken to heart with the Toughbook 19. It's time for the rugged, 10-inch convertible tablet to get its annual refresh and not much has changed visibly. Instead, the company gave its internals a boost with some Sandy Bridge goodness and slapped a new TransflectivePlus screen in this military-grade machine for computing in direct sunlight. Impressively, the Core i5 found inside is not of the ULV variety, it's a standard voltage 2520m powering this completely sealed, fanless design. Additionally, the Toughbook 19 now comes standard with 4GB of RAM and has a pair of SSD options for added durability. You'll be able to pick one up, and use it as a frisbee, in September starting at $3,349. While you wait, feel free to check out the PR after the break.
Fujitsu's LifeBook T901 tablet PC now on sale in the US, starting at $1899
That machine looming large at the top of this page is Fujitsu's LifeBook T901 tablet PC and it's now for sale in the US of A. Powered by an Intel Core i5-2520M processor, the T901 features a 13.3-inch, 1280 x 768 LCD that supports NVIDIA's Optimus graphics. The display also rocks an active digitizer, though you'll have to pay an additional $100 for the dual digitizer that enables five-finger capacitive multitouch. For those in need of some extra life, there's a modular bay that allows you to swap in a second battery or hard drive, along with an integrated fingerprint sensor that'll keep your kids away from your precious TPS reports. Prices start at $1899, so hit the source link if you're interested in adding an yet another tactile dimension to your digital existence. [Thanks, Charles]
Fujitsu's TH40/D convertible tablet slides into Japan, packs Atom Z670 and Windows 7
A slide-out tablet running on Windows 7, you say? Not to be confused with the Samsung Sliding PC, what we have here is the Fujitsu LifeBook TH40/D that's just been announced for the Japanese market. Inside this 2.4-pound convertible laptop you'll find a 1.5GHz Oak Trail Atom Z670, 1GB of non-expandable DDR2 RAM, a 10.1-inch 1,024 x 600 touchscreen, a 120GB 4200rpm hard drive, and a battery life of around 6 hours. Other tidbits include 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, a couple of USB 2.0 ports, HDMI-out, an SD card slot, and a teeny optical trackpad placed next to the short space bar. Can't say we're digging some of the limitations on this TH40/D, but if you still want one, then be ready to fork out about ¥80,000 ($990) at the end of June.
