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Seven new laptops from PC-Koubou
Japanese manufacturer PC-Koubou has just released seven new laptops, including two featuring Core Duo processors. The 12-inch Lesance NB QU207IW-DUO laptop seen here comes loaded with a Core Duo T2300 1.66GHz processor, 512MB RAM, 60GB HD, and Intel 945G chipset in a 2 kg package (4.4 pounds) retailing for 139,980 Yen (or just over $1,240US). The other Core Duo-based unit, the CL516IN-DUO-GT, packs the same specs in a larger laptop with a 15-inch SXGA screen and is a bit cheaper at 129,980 Yen, or about $1,150US. Also somewhat notable is the CL511RN-M, which features a Pentium M 750 (1.86GHz) processor, 1GB RAM, and slightly more capable ATI Radeon Mobility X700 graphics, along with a glossy 15-inch SXGA screen - it runs 149,980 Yen ($1,330US). The remaing four are all fairly run of the mill, with all but one using Celeron M processors and ranging in price from 81,980 to 129,980 Yen ($727 to $1,150US). As you've probably guessed, these are all available only in Japan.
Asus A7J 17-inch Core Duo notebook reviewed
PC Perspective got a chance to check out Asus' massive A7J Core Duo notebook for a review and found that if you like your laptops big, it may be just what you're looking for. The A7J is heavy on both specs and size, with a 17-inch display, Intel T2300 Core Duo CPU, 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1600, 1GB RAM, 100GB HD (only 5400 rpm, though), and an 8x DVD±RW Dual Layer drive, all in a nine pound package that retails for about $1700. And despite a few design quirks -- like a power adapter that can sometimes block the DVD drive -- and a battery that only lasts about two hours, PC Perspective still gives the A7J their recommendation, saying it should meet the needs of just about any user, even gamers. That is, if they don't mind lugging it around.
VoodooPC's 17-inch, dual-core Envy u:734 notebook
If VoodooPC's $5,000 Envy u:909 gaming laptop is a bit too rich for your blood, the company has come out with a more reasonably-priced 17-inch model that still manages to pack in a dual-core processor and top-of-the-line graphics card. The new Envy u:734 starts at "just" $3,800 and features a T2400 Core Duo processor (upgradable to the T2500 or T2600), nVidia GeForce Go 7900 GTX video card, 1,900 x 1,200 pixel widescreen display,1GB of RAM (2GB max), an 80GB HDD (160GB possible), 8x DVD burner, and the usual suite of ports, card readers, and wireless radios (three flavor WiFi and Bluetooth). You can place your order for this 8.1-pound desktop replacement starting today, and as usual, you can choose from about a million different color schemes along with numerous tattoo options for shlocking up personalizing your rig.[Via DailyCE]
Sotec's new WinBooks: Core Duo DN7000 and Turion 64 X2 DN6000
Sotec just announced two new WinBook laptops for the Japanese market: the DN7000 and DN6000. Ok, not really two, since the DN7000 and DN6000 are essentially the same slab, only with your choice of Intel or AMD processors as is the rage these days. The DN7000 is the 1.66GHz Core Duo T2300E model with Intel 945GM graphics while the DN6000 nuzzles up to the 1.6GHz Turion 64 X2 and ATI Radeon Xpress 1100. Both feature a 15.4-inch, 1280 x 800 LCD and base-level configs with 512MB of DDR2 RAM, 40GB SATA disk, and dual-layer DVD burner. The DN6000 will set you back about ¥99,800/$889 while the DN7000 will demand another Benjamin for that proud Intel sticker. Available today for our Japanese brethren and the more resourceful amongst you.
Gaming products dominate top tech list [update 1]
PC World's list of top 100 tech products of the year praised our sister blog Engadget and gave Apple lots of love but the categorical winner of the list is undoubtedly gaming. The following products aren't all directly gaming related (you could use some of them to run spreadsheets) although there's a quite clear video gaming subtext underlying many of the choices. Lets just say that they're as close to being gaming technology as Uri Geller is to being locked up in an asylum. 1. Core Duo - the first chip to enable desktop level performance in games on laptop computers.2. Athlon 64 X2 - for that ultimate gaming rig you always wanted (but couldn't, and still can't, afford).10. Boot Camp - Apple's Mac gaming solution.16. GeForce 7600GT - hits that price/performance sweet spot.19. Guitar Hero - we think that this is some kind of video game.55. Raptor X - 10,000RPM Hard Drives were invented for gaming.58. X1900 XTX - ATI's biggest, baddest GPU. Stupid name though.63. A8N32 mobo - it's all about the SLI, baby.89. Xbox 360 - we've heard of this! Isn't it designed to hold your lunch?92. GeForce 7900 GTX - nVIDIA's biggest, baddest GPU. Stupid name though.I personally own several products identical or similar to products on this list (a MacBook with a Core Duo CPU running Windows via Boot Camp is being used to write this post - I'm off for some Eve Online in a sec). Do you agree with these choices? What's missing?P.S. If anyone from PC World is reading this, I apologize for desecrating your logo.[Update: "top tech," not "top ten tech". Thanks Ahms!]
Unannounced Vaio TX800 surfaces at FCC
Our pals at the FCC have let another laptop slip, and this time it looks like a Core Duo upgrade to the TX790 and company. There's no hard facts on the specs, but according to the manual it doesn't look like this first wave will have 3G data, just the usual 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth good times. Core Duo News is guessing Sony will stick with Core Solo ULV 1.06 and 1.2GHz chips for now, and wait for those Core Duo ULV chips coming this fall. There's an 11-inch screen and plenty of similarities to the current TX series, including a nicely skinny form factor, but we'll just have to sit tight to learn any more.[Thanks, Staska]
Lenovo's compact V100 reviewed
Yeah, we're officially removing any "ultracompact" or "ultraportable" marketing speak that might have slipped in to describe the V100 from Lenovo, but there's plenty else to love about this slightly bulky compact notebook. First off, at 1.25-inches thick and weighing 4.4 pounds, the laptop is no X60 (which doesn't contain the DVD burner of the V100), but it does look positively skinny beside Dell's new M1210. The V100 features a nice glossy 12.1-inch WXGA screen, and a built-in 1.3 megapixel camera that captured his smarmy mug much better than those featured on the M1210 and MacBook. Lenovo also doesn't seem to have as much trouble keeping the Core Duo cool as Apple is; the V100 ran plenty cool even though it doesn't have the low-voltage version of the chip run by its X60 brother. The plastic case build is a bit drab and not near as sturdy as a ThinkPad, but it should hold up fine. However, the 3 to 4 hour battery life seems barely acceptable. There's an ExpressCard 54 slot, so you might want to hold off until an EV-DO solution comes along. The integrated graphics really limit the gaming options, but the V100 really does provide a lot of functionality for the price, especially if you're not up for lugging an external drive around and want some of that Core Duo power.
Next-gen AOpen MiniPC unveiled
It seems that the engineers over at PC manufacturer AOpen have been studiously reading the reviews of the first generation of their Mac mini ripoff homage, the miniPC, as the latest version is promising to eliminate the loud whine that made its predecessor almost unusable. The company has just formally announced the Core Duo-powered version of what is now called the MiniPC (with the capital "M" presumably meant to further differentiate the box from its Apple counterpart), which is essentially the same machine that was being shown off at CeBIT 2006, except with a black case that makes it look less like an external DVD burner. Besides Yonah CPU support and a slight bump in RAM speed, the MiniPC model MP945-VXR sports nearly identical specs to the MP-915 (version one), although you do get a built-in mic and the Media Center Edition version of Windows XP. The price this time around, however, is decidedly less "mini," with AOpen claiming a MSRP of $955 -- compared to only $500 for the 915 -- whenever the new model hits stores.[Via Reg Hardware]
MSI releases 12.1-inch, dual-core S271 laptop
MSI has just released another 12.1-inch dual-core laptop, and the specs seem very similar to their S262 ultraportable that we spotted earlier this year, except that the Core Duo processor has been replaced with an AMD Turion 64 X2. Like the S262, the S271 ships with integrated graphics, 256MB or 512MB of RAM (expandable to 2GB), 4-in-1 memory card reader (really just 2-in-1, as it accepts only SD/MMC and MemoryStick/MS Pro formats -- where's the xD love?), and a "Super Multi DVD" drive, but manages to shed a few ounces and add a 200GB HDD option. Available immediately, this model will set you back around $1,500.
Dell XPS M1210 gaming notebook on sale in Japan
Not that we really doubted that the specs and pictures were fake, but now we have confirmation that Dell's XPS M1210 gaming laptop is indeed real, and already on sale in Japan. NotebookReview, who's been following this 12.1-inch UXGA model ever since it was leaked onto the web last month, reports that Dell Japan is offering the M1210 in configurations that max out with a 2.0GHz T2500 Core Duo processor, a hefty 4GB of RAM, 120GB of HDD space, NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 graphics, an ExpressCard slot, and the usual assortment of ports and wireless radios. Using our superior knowledge of feature sets, we had predicted that this model would be cheaper than its 17-inch big brother, the $5,000 M1710, and sure enough, you'll be able to shell out at as little as $1,189 for the opportunity to become a proud member of the XPS club.[Via NotebookReview]
AMD launches Turion 64 X2 to fight Core Duo
Now it's on. After letting Intel run amok with the performance per watt crown for a few months with that well received Core Duo processor of theirs, AMD is jumping into the game with their new Turion 64 X2 chips. The chips range from 1.6GHz to 2.0GHz, and range in price from $184 to $354 in bulk purchases. Of course, it's just not nice these days to call a chip by its clock speed, so the models go by names like TL-50 (1.6GHz), TL-56 (1.8GHz) and TL-60 (2.0GHz). Turns out the wattage, when in an active state at least, is a bit higher than that of the Core Duo, but AMD claims that the Turion 64 X2 won't zap as much power in the down times, so it might turn out to be a wash. No matter how it works out for performance per watt per dollar per lame model number scheme, more competition in the mobile space should be fun. At least for our benchmarks if not for our wallets.[Via MobileMag]
Toshiba's 12.1-inch Tecra M6 Core Duo-powered laptop
'Tis the season for ultraportables, and now yet another Core Duo-powered model has hit the market, the 12.1-inch Toshiba Tecra M6. Also available with either Celeron or Core Solo processors, the M6 seems like a slimmed-down version of the 14.1-inch M5 we spotted earlier this year, as the $1,059 base configuration only gives you 256MB of RAM, no WiFi, a 40GB hard drive, and that pokey 1.6GHz Celeron M. It costs a little over $1,600 to put together a decent system, which includes a 1.83GHz T2400 Core Duo chip, 1GB of RAM (which also gets you a free Vista-ready logo!), 100GB HDD, 802.11a/b/g, and Bluetooth, but only integrated graphics and no DVD burner. Targeted more towards the light-traveling businessperson than the hardcore gamer, the M6 also sports such security-conscious features as a fingerprint reader, Trusted Platform Module, and a Security Assist Console, as well as hard drive protection, a spill resistant keyboard, and shock absorbing design for turbulent plane rides.[Via Core Duo News]
Toshiba's Satellite U200 ultra-portable
With Apple and Sony generating all the portable hubbub bub, let's take a moment to check-in on some of those other laptop manufactures. Toshiba, for instance, just dropped their new U200 series of ultra-portables into their Satellite range where quality and affordability are meant to merge. Starting at just 4.1-pounds and measuring-in at 1.4-inches thick, this 12.1-inch laptop maxes-out with a 2.16GHz Core Duo T2600 CPU, 4GB DDR2 RAM, 100GB of 7200 RPM SATA disk and still manages to slap in a pair of stereo speakers, 6-in-1 media adapter, fingerprint reader, 802.11a/b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR, and DVD dual-layer writer. All that goodness and yet they only offer measly Intel 950 graphics acceleration. Of course, if you can only muster the $929 starting price, your config will drop considerably to a Celeron M, 256MB RAM, 40GB disk, and CD-RW/DVD-ROM sans Bluetooth or WiFi. Yeah we were thinking the same, that entry-level $1,099 MacBook or $699 Dell D520 are both looking pretty sweet right about now. [Via CoreDuoInfo]
MacBook Pro gets speed bump, glossy display
Not to be outdone by its younger brother, the MacBook Pro received an update today as well. Specifically, the 2.0GHz model has been replaced by a 2.16GHz version (at $2499US), and the 1.83GHz model now sports an 2.0GHz Intel processor (at $1999US). Also, both MacBook Pro models now feature the new "glossy" display that was introduced (minutes ago) with the MacBook.Such a busy day in Mac Land.[Via Macworld]
Supposed MacBook ad accidentally posted to Apple site
See that pic up there? Word around the Internet is that it shows an ad for the upcoming MacBook laptop that Apple "accidentally" posted to its website before quickly taking it down. Nothing in this supposed screencap -- which shows a starting price of only $999 and black or white case options -- immediately screams fake to us (they gotta release the darn thing sometime), but then again, it wouldn't be very difficult to mock up something like this in Photoshop, either. Real, fake, we surely can't tell -- but if Apple doesn't show us the goods sometime this week, they're gonna have some serious 'splaining to do to their legions of anxious fans and weary tech bloggers.Update: Ah oui, comments on French site Mac4Ever confirm what most of you have already concluded, which is that this is no screencap but another Photoshop hoax.[Thanks, Phlash65]
Lenovo's Z-series ThinkPads to get Core Duo options in the Z61t and Z61m
If you've been bugging your corporate IT department for a new laptop, try to hold off a few more days before making the final push, because Lenovo is set to upgrade its Z-series line of ThinkPad notebooks with dual-core processor options on Tuesday. Both the 14.1-inch Z60t and 15.4-inch Z60m will be bumped to the Z61t and Z61m, respectively, and offer three varieties of Core Duo procs (maxing out at the 2.0GHz T2500) or two flavors each of the Core Solo or Celeron M chips. All the other specs on both models seem to remain unchanged: you still get WXGA widescreen displays (at the minimum), integrated graphics (along with the option of upgrading to ATI Radeon cards in the m), 256MB of RAM to start, your choice of hard drive capacities and speeds, all three 802.11 standards, optional Bluetooth, and of course, the option of built-in EV-DO which have made the Z-series so popular. No word yet on exact pricing for these new models, but you can expect them to start around the same price points as the Z60 models did when they were first released.
ASUS launches Core Duo-powered W7J ultraportable
Even though everyone and his/her mom are releasing Core Duo-powered ultraportables these days, there are very few that you can actually play decent games on because of the integrated graphics. Not so with the just-released 13.3-inch, 4.2-pound W7J from ASUS, a model we first spotted back in March -- and incorrectly called the W7V -- which features a nVidia GeForce Go 7400 graphics card sporting 256MB of RAM along with that T2600 processor running at 2.16GHz. Other nice touches which you don't always see on a lightweight notebook are a built-in dual-layer DVD burner, 1GB of RAM standard, 100GB HDD running at 5,400 RPM, and all three flavors of 802.11 plus Bluetooth 2.0. Oh yeah, and these models will start at less than $2.000 ($1,935, to be exact) -- um, where do we sign up?
LG's dual-core, super-slim 14-inch XNOTE T1 laptop
Here's another dual-core ultraportable to add to your drool-list (probably just due to its looks): LG's latest superslim XNOTE laptop, the 14.1-inch T1. Unfortunately you'll probably never see this piano black, 21.5-millimeter thick notebook over here in the States, which is a shame considering how many features they managed to cram into just a 4.2-pound package, most notably a dual-layer DVD burner, 5-in-1 media card reader, plus Bluetooth and 802.11a/b/g. Performance, though, is nothing to write home about, with the low end L2300 1.5GHz Centrino Duo processor, integrated graphics, and pokey 4200RPM 60GB or 80GB PATA drives probably making this model a non-starter for gamers or serious multitaskers. For simple web browsing, emailing, or DVD watching on-the-go, however, the 512MB to 2GB of RAM and optional 1,440 x 900 WXGA+ screen should prove more than adequate.[Via Core Duo News]
Five new Compaq business laptops from HP
Because we know that you can never get tired of reading laptop specs, we have five more HP models to drop on you, including the waif-like 12-inch nc2400 (pictured) which weighs in at a mere 2.8-pounds. All five of these Compaq-branded notebooks are targeted at business users, and all but the 15.4-inch (WXGA or WXSGA+) nx7400 series -- which can also be equipped with a Celeron M -- sport one of several Core Duo or Solo flavors. Graphics here range from integrated (the 12.1-inch nc4400) to ATI Mobility Radeon X1300 (14.1-inch, WXGA or WXGA+ nc6400) to an ATI Mobility FireGL V5200 card available in certain configurations of the15.4-inch nw8440 series. All these machines offer WiFi and a minimum of 512MB RAM and a 40GB HDD out of the box, with some models sporting extras like a fingerprint reader, 7200RPM hard drive, and LightScribe dual-layer DVD burner. No prices are known for the nc2400 or the nc4400, which are coming on May 22nd, but the other models are available immediately with prices starting at $1,549 for the nc6400, $740 for the nx7400, and $1,599 for the nc8400 series.Read- nc2400Read- nc4400Read- nc6400Read- nx7400Read- nc8440
Three from HP: dv2000 and v3000 laptops, tc4400 tablet
You could say that we're a bit "lappy happy" today (ugh, that was terrible), as we have two more notebooks -- and one convertible tablet -- from HP to show you, to join the Toshiba Qosmio, Sony VAIOs, and pair of Alienwares we brought you earlier. Both 14.1-inch laptops are replacements for previous HP models -- the redesigned dv2000 (pictured, left) replaces the dv1000 in the Digital Entertainment Center line and the Compaq Presario v3000 (pictured, right) puts the v2000 out to pasture -- with the main upgrades coming under the hood, where each model now offers you a choice of Centrino Duo or Core Duo processors from Intel or the Mobile Sempron or Turion 64 X2 from AMD. Also rocking Core Duo (in three flavors: 1.83GHz, 2.0GHz, or 2.16GHz) is the Compaq tc4400 tablet, which sports a 12.1-inch XGA display with digitizer, integrated graphics, 512MB to two gigs of RAM, 60GB, 80GB, or 100GB hard drive, WiFi, PC Type I/II and SD card slots, and the usual assortment of inputs and outputs. The tablet, which you can peep after the jump, will be available on May 22nd for an undisclosed sum of money (but it's safe to assume that it'll be more than the $1,550 Pentium M-sporting tc4200), while the Intel-based notebooks will ship this month -- with the AMD models following shortly after -- all starting at around $1,049 after rebates and junk.Read- dv2000 and v3000Read- tc4400
