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Sony VAIO SA and SB show up at European e-tailers with 13-inch screens, Core i5 / i7 CPUs, SSD options
Looks like Sony is preparing to freshen up the top end of its laptop range with a pair of new VAIO series, the SA and SB. An Intel Core i7-2620M is found populating a listing for an SA1X9E/XI model, alongside 4GB of DDR3 RAM, 128GB of SSD storage, AMD Radeon HD 6630M graphics, and a 1600 x 900 resolution squeezed into a 13.3-inch screen. All that for a measly £1,571 (nearly $2,500). What's intriguing about that 2.7GHz dual-core CPU is that Intel lists a February 20th launch date for it, potentially giving us a hint as to when Sony will put the trigger with its refresh. The VAIO SB laptops are set to be the tamer offering, being built around the latest Core i5 chips, though we've yet to know for certain what any of these new machines will actually look like. So, for your speculative pleasure, we've embedded a video after the break with some prototypes spotted at CES that could end up slapped with the SA / SB labels.
Digital Storm's slim Enix desktop takes Sandy Bridge to 4.7GHz
Overclocked, custom-built PCs are nothing new, and neither is 4.7GHz from the factory. But Digital Storm has managed to take one of Intel's newest Sandy Bridge chips to that height, and it's doing so in a case that's far sleeker than most of the towers out there. The all-new Enix relies on a Micro-ATX system board, vertical heat dissipation and a mobo that's rotating 90 degrees -- a move that's being made in order to "take advantage of heat's natural tendency to rise." Consumers can order one starting today, with the $1,132 base unit boasting a Core i3-2100, 4GB of DDR3-1600 memory, NVIDIA's 1GB GeForce GT 220, a 1TB hard drive and a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium. The high-end model tops out at just north of two large, with each model offering a hot-swap bay and a pair of USB 3.0 ports. Eye candy is below, and the source link shouldn't be ventured to unless you're fairly immune to impulse buys. %Gallery-114981%
Acer building Sandy Bridge tablets for Android, will use them to 'phase out' netbooks
You'd be forgiven for expecting that the dual-core Tegra 2 that swept all before it at CES would be the king of tablet processors for a good while, but Acer is already plotting ways to overthrow it. Admittedly, Acer is kind of cheating by jumping into x86 land and snatching some unspecified Intel Sandy Bridge silicon, but are you really going to complain about getting multi-core grunt under the hood of your well-lubricated Android machine? An official from the company has promised two to three new tablets, sized at either 7 or 10 inches diagonally, for the first half of this year -- a tasty morsel of information, which he garnishes with the forecast that netbooks will eventually be phased out in favor of such touchy-feely slate devices. If you can fit a full second-gen Core CPU inside a tablet, why the heck not? Updated: Acer's US team has clarified for us that the Android tablets it announced in November are still set to hit in April. Obviously, these Sandy Bridge versions would be farther off, but we've also heard from another source that Acer would likely wait for Intel's ULV-based Sandy Bridge processors, which aren't due until the spring / summer timeframe. We'll let you know if we hear more.
Dell implants Sandy Bridge CPUs within biz-minded Vostro 460 mini tower
Tried booting your corporate PC lately? Dollars to donuts it takes longer than three minutes to complete. The point? You need Sandy Bridge, and you need it now. Dell's hoping your IT department will agree, with the introduction of the Vostro 460 mini tower bringing along Intel's second generation Core processors (Core i5 and Core i7 options are available), Turbo Boost 2.0 and an understated design. Customers can also load it up with as much as 3TB of storage, a Blu-ray drive, 1GB NVIDIA or AMD discrete graphics card and a USB 3.0 expansion card. You'll also get a tool-less chassis, eight USB 2.0 ports, inbuilt security services from Trend Micro and a starting price of $599. Surely that fits into the Q1 budget somewhere, right?
Intel's Sandy Bridge hits the desktop realm: Dell, CyberPower, Digital Storm and more
For the most part, Intel's Sandy Bridge introduction at CES made a giant impact in the outlook of future laptops, but not as much was said over in the desktop world. Quietly, a slew of custom PC makers have slid out revised towers with the second generation Core lineup, with Dell's XPS 8300, Digital Storm's entire family, Cyber Power's Gamer Xtreme 1000 / 2000 and iBuyPower's Chimera XLC seeing the new Core i5 and Core i7 chips. Care to dig in deeper? Hit the source links below, and be sure to bust out your credit card -- Intel's fastest doesn't come cheap, you know.
NextComputing's Radius 'portable' workstation infused with Sandy Bridge
Not news: NextComputing's Radius portable workstation is still stretching destroying the bounds of what's actually considered mobile. News: But now, the Radius is a lot more powerful than the prior iterations. The newfangled Radius is now available with Intel's Sandy Bridge processors, with the latest model of the all-in-one workstation offering multiple full-length / full-height PCI Express slots, multiple terabytes of storage and an integrated display. As for applications? It's still aimed at those who need serious oomph in the field, and frankly, editing political commercials or crunching SETI data in the Amazon sounds far more enjoyable than doing so in [insert your city here]. No offense of anything.
Samsung's ultrathin 9 Series laptop coming in February
We didn't have a date for Samsung's 9 Series when it became official a couple of days ago, but now we do: it's coming next month. Sammy's press release makes sure to run us through all the bodacious specs of this 13.3-inch machine, including the LED-backlit display with 400 nits of brightness, 128GB SSD, 1.4GHz Core i5-2537M CPU, and MacBook Air-like proportions, before disclosing its arrival month as February 2011. The starting price is still a high and mighty $1,599, but then you do get a pretty stellar laptop for your cash money. Check out the full announcement after the break. [Thanks, Mario]
Samsung 9 Series hands-on preview (video)
Do we deliver or what? Just as promised, we went back for seconds with the Samsung 9 Series laptop, and man, it is one beautiful laptop. As you already know, it is incredibly thin, but it also has a very rigid construction thanks to its duralumin build. (Fun fact: apparently they build planes out of the same stuff.) As you will see in the video below, the design is very clean and the sharp edges have been designed to make the system look even slimmer. The lead designer of the system YeoWan Yun told us that the 9 Series was inspired by nature's beauty, including waves, leaves, and water. But it's not just the outside of the system that's beautiful -- the matte 400nit, 13-inch display is incredibly bright and crisp and the viewing angles are just top notch. Below that screen is one very nice chiclet keyboard with matte keys. Sammy's gone with a single button ClickPad, which in our short time with the laptop seemed fine for navigating with our index finger while keeping our thumb on the bottom. Naturally, we weren't able to get a real sense of the Core i5 performance, but we did notice that the system resumed from sleep rather quickly thanks to its 128GB SSD. Truth is we haven't been this excited about a Windows ultraportable since the Dell Adamo XPS, we just hope the 9 Series really brings the brawn and battery life with the beauty. %Gallery-113134%
Dell Alienware M17x and Aurora hands-on
It's true, Dell unleashed two new Alienware systems this morning, and naturally we just had to check out the two epically powerful rigs in person. We spent the most time with the new 17-inch M17x, and while the chassis has been updated, it's still loaded with lots of LEDs, a trippy color-changing backlit keyboard, and chrome accents. The lid and edges have been given a more chiseled aesthetic, so we'd say it looks more muscular than ever. Obviously, the big story with the M17x is that it is now 3D capable. The full HD display is seriously beautiful, and while we didn't get to check out a Blu-ray 3D movie on the rig, we can only imagine how breathtaking the experience is going to be. We did, however, get to check out its new integrated 1080p streaming capability, which actually is based on an integrated WHDI solution SiBEAM WirelessHD. You'll need to pick up an extra box and hook it up to your TV, but in the demo we saw there was absolutely no lag between the clip of Final Fantasy on the laptop and on the TV. The unit we saw hanging around was packing a new Core i7 CPU and NVIDIA graphics, but it will apparently be available with AMD's latest graphics as well. We also caught sometime with the new Aurora desktop, but like we said it wasn't much. The tower is still crazily-lit, but has been updated with the most powerful overclockable Intel Core i5 and i7 Sandy Bridge processors as well as new NVIDIA graphics that support 3D Vision. The Aurora should be available this month for a starting price of $1,799 and the M17x for $1,499 on January 10th. Hit the break for some more images and the source link for Engadget Spanish's short video. %Gallery-113117%
Dell refreshes Alienware M17x, Dell XPS 17 with 120Hz 3D HD screens, Sandy Bridge CPUs
Got a hankering for some NVIDIA 3D Vision in a new laptop PC? Dell's making it happen with some component upgrades on its high-end Alienware M17x and XPS 17 laptops. It seems Round Rock came across a few shipments of a 17-inch, 1080p panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, perfect for interfacing with NVIDIA's shutter glasses, and is including it (along with a new NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M for the XPS 17) as premium options. They'll also both sport Intel's new Sandy Bridge processors. Dell's press release doesn't specify if a set of 3D glasses will come with the new laptops, nor how much the upgrade will cost, but a 3D-capable M17x will start at $1,499 starting January 10th, and a stereoscopic XPS 17 will run $1,449 on February 1st. You do the math. Updated: We got to check out the XPS 17 3D after the presser. Those looking for 3D in the XPS chassis won't be dissapointed -- Alice in Wonderland looked pretty great in three dee. We also got to check out the M17x -- hands-on with that one here. %Gallery-113125%
Sony intros new VAIO L Series Touch HD PC/TV all-in-one and VAIO F 3D laptop
It's about time Sony brought some of its Bravia learnings over to the VAIO side of things, and both the new L Series all-in-one and VAIO F 3D laptop clearly show Sony's home theater roots. The L Series may appear to be just another multitouch 24-inch AIO, but the display is surrounded by a new infared border that contains shortcuts for closing windows, opening programs or shutting down the machine. What's the point of that? Sony tells us it was built to take advantage of the extra screen real estate and add some easy shortcuts on top of Windows 7. Besides that, the Core i7-powered system has HDMI in and out ports in case you want to just use the system as a display and can be configured with a Blu-ray drive/burner for writing all those recorded Jersey Shore episodes. We told you it was more like a TV than previous versions. Starting at $1,200, the L can be configured to your liking, but all models will come with NVIDIA's latest GeForce GT500M graphics, Dolby Home Theater speakers as well as a wireless keyboard and mouse. On the more mobile side, Sony's brought its 3D talents down to the 16-inch VAIO F Series. Packing Intel's second generation quad-core Core i7 processors and NVIDIA's latest GeForce GT540M GPU, the F isn't just a mother of a gaming rig, but its built-in 3D transmitter, Full HD 3D LED backlight, and its 1920 x 1080-resolution display provides one heck of a viewing experience. Sony is using NVIDIA's 3D technology at the core, but it's also done some significant tweaking on top to enhance refresh rates and viewing angles. Oh, and did we mention that it has a 3D button to convert 2D video and Blu-ray and DVD to 3D in real time? It's pretty much the multimedia laptop of the year, but be prepared to set aside $1,700. Both the F Series 3D and L Series will be available next month from Sony, but it shouldn't be too long before we can bring you some more impressions from the show floor. Until then enjoy dreaming up what you'd do with either one of these with the shots below and the press releases after the break. %Gallery-112288%
Samsung RC512 snatches up Intel's latest Core i7 CPU, RV511 sticks to older cores
Sure, Samsung's Series 9 is all beautiful and thin, but Sammy's rounding out its laptop family with two slightly heftier and more affordable systems. First up is the RC512 (pictured above), and the 15-inch machine is all about power -- it packs Intel's newest Core i7-2630M processor, 6GB of DDR3 memory, discrete NVIDIA GeForce 430 graphics, a Blu-ray drive, and a 750GB hard drive. For $1,150 it sounds mighty nice and even better it should be available in the coming weeks. Looking for something for half the price? The $600 15.6-inch RV511 (picture after the break) may do the trick -- well, if a Core i3-380M CPU, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive works for you. That's all we've got for now on the duo, but if they're anything like the QX410 we recently reviewed, Samsung's going to be finding itself near the top of our favorite laptop manufacturer list.
Toshiba updates Qosmio X505 with new Core 2011 processors and NVIDIA graphics
Update 'em all! That's Toshiba's laptop motto here at CES. Along with the A and M series, Toshiba's plugged its Qosmio X505 with the latest Intel Core i7-2630QM and Core i5-2410M processors. The powerhouse multimedia laptop is still just that, and in fact, its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M graphics with 1.5GB DDR5 discrete graphics memory can support NVIDIA's 3DTV Play, which lets you output 3D content or games over HDMI to your living room's 3D display. Other than that the X505 still has all the high end features you'd ever want in a 18.4-inch chassis, including a 1920 x 1080-resolution display, Harman/Kardon speakers, HD webcam, and a Blu-ray drive. The rig will be available in the coming months for $1300 to $1900 -- hit the break for one more picture.
Toshiba refreshes Satellite L Series with Intel's latest processors
Toshiba's CES laptop flood continues with a refresh of its L Series Satellites, including the 13.3-inch L635, the 14-inch L645, the 15.6-inch L655 and the 17.3-inch L675. All models will be available in a variety of colors in the Helios pattern you've come to know and love from Toshiba. Spec-wise, you'll have a choice of Intel or AMD dual-core CPUs, including Intel's Core i3-380M, Core i5-480M, and the 2nd generation Core i3-2310M and Core i5-2410M on the L650 models. AMD options include the dual-core Athlon II and Turion II, and both dual and quad-core Phenom II CPUs. All models can pack up to 4GB of DDR3 SDRAM, and up to 640GB hard drives, plus they all have built-in webcams. Select models will also boast Bluetooth and HDMI out. The refreshed Satellite L Series laptops will be available some time in the first half of this year, for prices ranging from $469.99 to $849.99. %Gallery-112721%
Fujitsu unleashes four LifeBooks with new Intel processors, AH572 promises 3D viewing and recording
The Intel Core 2011 laptops just don't stop rolling in here at CES, and today Fujitsu is jumping on the Sandy Bridge train with four new LifeBook laptops. We'll start with the most intriguing of 'em all -- the 15.6-inch AH572, which not only boasts 3D viewing with included polarized glasses but can record 3D video through its dual integrated cameras. For $999, there's no doubt that the 3D features sound pretty awesome and we're planning to go hands-on with that all later tonight, but let's not forget about the rest of the impressive package -- it packs a Core i5-2410M processor, Intel's WiDi 2.0, and supports up to 6GB of RAM. Not enough power for ya? Chin up, Fujitsu's got the 17.3-inch NH751 too, which boasts an quad-core Core i7-2630QM processor, NVIDIA's fresh 500M graphics, and a Blu-ray drive for $1,200. In true Fujitsu spirit, there's also a convertible tablet; the 13.3-inch T901 is powered by Intel's latest Core i5 and i7 processors and is the first tablet to include NVIDIA's Optimus graphics. Like most of Fujitsu's other tablets, it has a multitouch display with an active digitizer for taking notes as well as a modular bay for swapping in a second battery or hard drive. This one will retail for about $1,900 and won't be available until this spring. Last but not least is the 12.1-inch P771, which is all about packing power into a smaller chassis. The black glossy system is powered by Intel's latest Core i7 processors, has a USB 3.0 port as well as a dual-layer DVD drive. There's no word on pricing on the last of the four, but if you're dying for a few more details on the LifeBook quadruplets head on down below for the full press release. %Gallery-112290%
Samsung 9 Series laptop unveiled, ready to slice some MacBook Air
Oh yes, that up there is Samsung's new 13.3-inch 9 Series laptop, and yes, it's said to be the "thinnest and lightest 13-inch notebook available." Revealed ahead of Samsung's CES presser, the duralumin machine weighs just 2.89 pounds and measures .68 inches thick -- in comparison, the 13-inch MacBook Air measures 0.11 to 0.68 inches thick and weighs 2.9 pounds. Those specs seem pretty darn comparable to us, but there's no denying this thing is rail thin, so we guess we can let Samsung slide with its lofty marketing claims. Unlike the others that have attempted to craft incredibly thin Windows laptops (see: Adamo XPS), Samsung has managed to cram this thing with power, ports, and features. There's no optical drive, but it has Ethernet, HDMI, and USB sockets and a headphone jack. Perhaps even more impressive is what's Inside -- it's got a brand new Core i5 2537M processor, 128GB SSD, and 4GB of RAM. Not enough for you? Its backlit keyboard, 400 nit LED-backlit display, and two 1.5-watt speakers and a sub-woofer should seal the deal. So, how much for that beauty? Samsung says it should be around $1,600, though it isn't providing a release date right now. We are bursting at the seams to get our hands all over that daring black chassis -- stay tuned for some hands-on impressions. %Gallery-112392%
Toshiba's Satellite E305 packs a new Core i5 CPU and WiDi 2.0, coming only to Best Buy
Best Buy and Toshiba have always shared special kind of love with their Blue Label laptops, and now both are continuing that partnership to bring you the next one of those systems -- the Satellite E305. Like the previous E205 version, the system packs all the latest technology from Intel, including a new Sandy Bridge Core i5 processor and WiDi 2.0, which as you may know by now supports full 1080p video. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, Tosh has equipped the system with a hybrid hard drive system -- it pairs a 5GB flash drive for the OS and a 7200RPM hard drive. It also has a USB 3.0 port and Blu-ray drive. It pretty much has everything you've ever wanted except say for discrete graphics, but has drastically revamped the 5-pound rig with a alumnium finish, backlit keyboard, and new ClickPad. It's all great news until you realize that it won't actually hit those Best Buy shelves until the Spring. Sadly no word on pricing either, but hit the break for some nice hands-on shots. %Gallery-112653%
Origin PC takes Genesis and Big O gaming desktops to 5GHz with overclocked Core i7 2600k
Who says you need a vat of liquid nitrogen and a voided warranty to push your gaming rig to 5GHz? Here at CES, Origin PC has just announced one killer upgrade for its Genesis and Big O desktop range: an overclocked Core i7 2600k processor that's pushed to 5GHz from the factory. Naturally, the release coincides with Intel's new Sandy Bridge rollout, with this particular chip touting Turbo Boost 2.0 and an integrated memory controller. You'll also get three-way SLI, a customized liquid cooling setup (phew!) and a refreshed EFI BIOS from ASUS that features "convenient mouse controls and an entirely new user interface." If you're looking for something a wee bit more portable (but not exact bantam), you'll be thrilled to know that its Eon 15 and 17 gaming laptops will also start shipping soon with Intel's second-generation Core i5 / i7 CPUs; pair that with a GeForce GTX 485M, an optional TV tuner and four slots of DDR3 memory, and you'll have yourself a sufficient little LAN party rig. There's no mention of dollars and cents, but we're confident the build sheets will be updated soon on Origin's order pages.
HP updates Envy 17, dv6, and dv7 with Sandy Bridge, gives Mini 210 some new threads
No surprises here -- HP just updated a bunch of its consumer laptops here at CES, and the biggest change is that the Envy 17 and Pavilion dv6 and dv7 have been kicked over to Intel's Sandy Bridge second-gen Core processors. In addition to the new chips, the Envy 17 is getting HP CoolSense cooling and switchable AMD Radeon 6850M graphics with support for Intel Wireless Display -- pricing and availability haven't been determined yet, but we wouldn't expect it to be cheap. On the other hand, the dv6 and dv7 are mostly the same apart from the processor bump, and they'll be $899 and $999 when they hit on January 9th. Oh, and the Mini 210 is getting two new pink plaid case lids, which is almost as cool as new processors. Right? Right. Look at those after the break.
Multiple Intel Core 2011 PCs spotted at Vancouver Future Shop, yes it's still the present
Ooh, what's this? A couple of desktops rocking Intel's latest and greatest, available for purchase perhaps a few days too early? Matthew T. spotted these machines at a Vancouver Future Shop, advertising Core i7 2600 and Core i5 2300 processors, which fall squarely in the Intel Core 2011 (née Sandy Bridge) family. Both come from Gateway and both offer all that core 2011 has to offer, which in the case of these desktops isn't too much since neither has a Blu-ray drive to take advantage of the new 3D HDMI 1.4 support and neither has much use for WiDi 2.0 wireless displays. But, don't let that stop you from being the first on your block to Core it up 2011 style. [Thanks, Matthew T.]
