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Thunderbolt on Windows gets hands-on, lacks Mac's hot-swapping
Thunderbolt's 10-gigabit interface is only just making its way to Windows after spending more than a year as a Mac-only feature, so it's not surprising that a lot of questions surround how well the Apple- and Intel-developed connection works for those of a Microsoft persuasion. A thorough test at AnandTech of one of the first motherboards to support the spec on Windows PCs, an Ivy Bridge-ready board from MSI, has shown some positive signs along with a few flies in the high-speed ointment. The good news? Most general storage devices will work as expected with a minimum of fuss, and you can even get some features of Apple's Thunderbolt Display working if you're willing to accept a lack of pre-supplied software brightness controls and USB support. The bad news comes mostly in the absence of true hot-plugging like on the Mac: if a device isn't plugged into the Thunderbolt port on boot, Windows won't see it. Professionals who need everything to be just perfect will want to wait, then, but bandwidth lovers will still find something to like if they're willing to build Thunderbolt-equipped PCs themselves.
HP intros three Compaq desktops, two displays for the business set
In addition to all the laptops and printers HP announced today, it also has a few goodies for the cube monkeys out there. The company just outed a trio of business-grade desktops, along with two monitors. First up, there's the Compaq Elite 8300, which is aimed squarely at large businesses with IT-friendly tools like TPM, Intel's vPro technology and remote management via LANdesk. The Compaq Pro 4300, meanwhile, targets small businesses with its compact form factor and features like HP's Chassis Security Kit. The mid-size Compaq Pro 6300 aims to please both groups, with TPM protection, HP's BIOS solutions and the same 15-month life cycle program offered on the higher-end Elite 8300. Regardless of the model, you're looking at Ivy Bridge CPUs coupled with Intel's most up-to-date integrated graphics. Expect the 6300 and 8300 to land on June 4th, priced starting at $579 and $679, respectively. You'll have to wait a bit longer for the 4300, though: it'll arrive in Asia on the 22nd, and make its way to the US sometime this fall. As for those monitors, HP's introducing one with a touchscreen, and another more nondescript model. Starting with the former, the Compaq L2206tm has a 21.5-inch (1920 x 1080) multitouch display with a VGA port, two USB 2.0 sockets and DVI output with HDCP support. Meanwhile, the Compaq LA2405x has a 24-inch, 1080p screen, along with VGA, DVI and DisplayPort output -- not to mention, a pair of USB 2.0 ports. Either way, they both have a 72 percent color gamut, 250-nit brightness level and viewing angles rated for 170 degrees across and 160 degrees vertical. The LA2405x is available today for $269, while the finger-friendly L2206tm is coming June 4th for $279. All those details and more in the press release after the break.
ASUS intros three new ROG TYTAN gaming desktops, Ivy Bridge on board
Those of you looking for a fresh, Ivy Bridge-powered gaming rig may want to look ASUS' way. The Taiwanese outfit just welcomed a trifecta of new ROG TYTAN machines to its lineup, which include the CG8580, CG8270 and CM6870 -- all sporting similar aesthetics as that CG8490 we showed you a while back. For starters, the higher-end CG8580 packs a quad-core, 4.6GHz Core i7-3770k CPU alongside a single-touch Turbo Gear button for overclocking, a twin 128GB SSD and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX680 graphics card. As for the CG8270 and CM6870, you can choose between Intel's third-gen Core i5 or i7 for processing power, up to 16GB of RAM and, of course, a DVD or Blu-ray player. ASUS hasn't given official pricing yet, but we're sure that's going to depend heavily on how souped-up you want your future gaming beast to be.
Lenovo swings out diminutive ThinkCentre M92p Tiny, bevy of all-in-ones and VoIP-ready ThinkVision display
Lenovo's going all-out on Ivy Bridge-based ThinkCentre pro desktop updates this evening, and the centerpiece is the smallest of the lot. The ThinkCentre M92p Tiny -- yes, it's officially nicknamed Tiny -- is about as thick as a golf ball at 1.4 inches and ready to tuck behind your display, but packs up to a third-generation Intel Core chip, vPro for IT control and your choice of spinning or solid-state hard drives. The M92p Tiny and a lower-end M72e should arrive in June, although what the respective $799 and $499 prices will get you are still mysteries. There's no shortage if you prefer your desktops slightly more upsized. The all-in-one pack is topped by the 21.5-inch ThinkCentre Edge M92z, an uncommonly thin (2.5 inches) desktop using an IPS-based LCD with optional multi-touch that's due in July for $699. The 20- and 23-inch M92z AIO models start off at $799 for their June releases and pack up to 1TB of storage and dedicated AMD Radeon HD graphics, while a more modestly equipped, 20-inch M72z AIO will appear the same month for $599. And if you've just got to have a traditional box, Lenovo will gladly sell you the budget ThinkCentre Edge 72 ($439) or slightly uprated ThinkCentre M82 ($599). Everyone has the option of the 23-inch ThinkVision LT2323z display, which touts an IPS-based LCD and a webcam with Lync VoIP-certified, noise-cancelling microphones. The screen's price hasn't been set, but it does have a locked-in June release. You can delve into the full details of Lenovo's massive ThinkCentre revamp in the releases after the break.
Origin PC upgrading pre-Ivy Bridge orders with new silicon, asking nothing in return
Sure, you may need to shop around to find a replacement for that 11-inch number Dell pulled off the shelves, but that doesn't mean you need to miss out on a free Ivy Bridge upgrade. Origin PC tells us that it's offering the very same silicon swap as Dell to folks who pulled the trigger on any of its laptop and desktop PCs before Intel's big launch. If your order hasn't shipped yet, you're looking at an upgrade. Now if only we could find a manufacturer willing to hand out free GPU upgrades.
HP announces six Ivy Bridge desktops, available April 29th from $699
We've already seen a number of laptops from HP sporting Intel's 22nm micro architecture, most commonly known as Ivy Bridge, but now the company is giving its desktop lineup a similar refresh with six quad-core models that'll be available directly from the manufacturer on April 29th. Of the group, three will feature all-in-one form factors, which include the Omni 220qd -- a rig with Beats Audio and a cantilever design that'll start at $999 -- along with the Omni 27qd, which features a 27-inch display and a $1,199 price tag. The third model will bring a refresh to the TouchSmart 520xt, which features a touch-enabled 23-inch display that'll retail for $999. The remaining updates are stand-alone desktops, which consist of the HPE h8t, available for $699, and the HPE h8xt -- a more powerful unit that'll start at $799. Those looking to delve a bit further into the high-end will find the HPE Phoenix h9t, which will metaphorically rise from the ashes at $1,149. Curiously, the Phoenix is the only unit that'll simultaneously hit retailers on April 29th -- the five other models won't get their taste of brick and mortar until June 24th.
Acer dips its toes into Ivy Bridge, refreshes two of its desktops with new processors
Now that the Ivy Bridge cat is out of the bag, you can expect to see a deluge of press releases from PC makers over the coming weeks, each of them saying that this computer or that is getting refreshed with Intel's latest processors. From Acer, at least, we expect multiple announcements: it's only ready to talk about a couple of desktops today, with news around laptops and Ultrabooks coming later. Right now, you can choose from several configurations of the Predator AG3620 gaming tower, with the top-shelf $1,200 model packing a 3.4 GHz Core i7 3770 CPU, NVIDIA GT630 graphics, 16GB of RAM and 2TB of storage space. On the budget end, the $799 Gateway D4860-UR14P will feature a 3.1 GHz Core i5 3450 processor, 6GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive. Both are available now -- you know, if you've been waiting for precisely this sort of thing.
Digital Storm launches Marauder series of desktop PCs for gamers on a budget
Digital Storm gets plenty of coverage for its boutique gaming PCs and coma-inducing prices, but its latest Marauder lineup serves as proof that it's willing to also build quality, affordable rigs for the masses. Consumers may choose between four configurations, which feature AMD processors on the low-end and Intel counterparts on the high-end. For example, the entry-level Marauder sells for $799 and offers a quad-core 3.6GHz AMD FX-4100 CPU and a Radeon HD 7750 GPU, whereas the most expensive variant sells for $1,299 and includes a quad-core 3.3GHz Intel Core i5 2500K CPU and a Radeon HD 7870 GPU. Regardless of system, consumers will fetch a Corsair Vengeance C70 case, a similarly respectable Corsair GS 600W power supply, 8GB of Corsair Vengeance RAM and Windows 7 Home Premium. In every case, the prices rival the DIY alternative quite well, and if you'd like to take a look at the full array of configurations, just hop the break for a spec sheet and the PR.
Toshiba outs LX815 / LX835 all-in-ones with Ivy Bridge, overhauled design
Toshiba was fairly late to the all-in-one party, only releasing its first US model last year. Less than twelve months later, though, the outfit's already revamping its design: the company just announced the LX815 and LX835, which will replace its current 21.5- and 23-inch offerings. Both models sport 1080p TN displays, and sport an overhauled chassis with matte surfaces and recessed ports. Spec-wise, expect "third-generation" Intel Core processors (read: Ivy Bridge), up to 3TB in HDD storage, a max of 16GB of RAM, dual USB 3.0 ports (plus four 2.0 sockets) and HDMI-in. At the high end, you'll also be able to scoop one up with a capacitive touchscreen. Look for these starting sometime in Q3 at which point the 21-incher will go for $600 while the 23-inch model will command northward of $880.
Maingear reveals Solo 21 all-in-one, customize your 21.5-inch machine starting at $999
Is an all-in-one more your style? Looking to welcome a new one to the fold? If so, Maingear is looking to oblige. The PC maker has just added all-in-ones to its arsenal with the Solo 21. A 21.5-inch 1080p LED backlit display packs a 3.3GHz Intel Core i3, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB HDD with 32GB of SSD caching out of the box. However, the company has rolled out the upgrade options allowing you to spring for a 10-point touchscreen display, i5 or i7 processors, up to 16GB of memory, and a HDD of up to 2TB. You'll also be able to choose between six stock colors or a custom scheme for the chassis of your machine -- we're opting for Citrus Fire. Pricing for the base model starts at $1000 and heads north for the kit that's estimated to ship March 23rd. For more details, peak at the PR below or to get your order in, hit the source link to make your selections.
Call of Duty case mod has spinning gatling gun, energy drink fridge (hands-on)
We've had our fill of Ultrabooks and tablets at CeBIT, so now it's finally time to move on to the crazy stuff. This over-the-top case mod was awaiting unsuspecting attendees at the far back end of the China pavilion, of all places, and only caught our eye (or ear, rather) thanks to its squeaky gatling gun. It seems that this case first made an appearance at the Taipei Game Show last month, and has now landed on German shores, making a miraculous pass through EU customs to settle here, hidden amongst a hodgepodge of accessories on the outskirts of Hannover. This Thermaltake Level 10 GT chassis was modded by Brian Carter, and is highlighted by a six-barrel rotating gatling gun. There's a bazooka up top where the handle would be, a .50 caliber cartridge on the side and a combination energy drink / hand sanitizer compartment just below. Yes, hand sanitizer. The rotating (and rather noisy) gatling gun makes our hands-on video a must-watch if you're looking to get the full mod experience, so jump past the break and check it out.
Canalys: More smartphones than PCs shipped in 2011
2011: the year Smartphones supplanted computers, at least according to the bundle of spreadsheets that just arrived from Canalys Research. Vendors shipped (shipped, not sold) 488 million of the devices, compared to 414.6 million "PCs," which erroneously includes Tablet PCs of all shapes and sizes. Looking at Smartphones exclusively (IDC's numbers from yesterday concerned all mobile handsets), Apple remains king of the hill having shipped 93.1million iPhones. Samsung is close behind, with 91.9 million and Nokia is kicking along in third with 19.6 77.3 million. For all of the doomsaying around RIM, it's nestled in fourth, although Canalys chose not to include its numbers. Framing the research as "PCs versus Smartphones" isn't the wisest, given the fragmentation and hybridization prevalent in the market today. Drilling down into those numbers, we learn that 63.2 million tablets were pushed out last year, cannibalizing netbook shipments (dropping 34.5 percent in a year), but desktop and laptop movements remained relatively stable. We've included the full report and the most relevant table of data for your perusal and insight (hint: there's no points for saying netbooks are on the way out). Correction: Nokia sold 19.6 million phones in the last quarter, but sold 77.3 million in total last year.
Stat Alert: More connected phones than computers in key markets, says Google (updated)
There are obvious stats, bizarre ones, and then the good old informative ones. New data from Google revealed by Ad Age, falls into the latter category. According to Goog's numbers, more people have a mobile internet-capable device than a PC or laptop in the five key markets it tested (US, UK, Germany, France and Japan). In the US, this figure is nearly 10% more, some 76% against 68%. The numbers were taken in September and October last year, which means any impact Christmas may have had won't be taken into account. The trend away from feature phones towards smartphones is also drilled home, but that won't be news to many people 'round these parts. No matter how you connect these days, any savvy netizen will tell you: it's quality, not quantity that counts anyway.Update: The complete report is now up online and, while smartphone and tablet use is skyrocketing, it doesn't appear to be eating into PC sales. Check out the more coverage link for all the slides.
Tim Cook: The tablet will be bigger than the PC one day
This probably shouldn't shock too many people but, Tim Cook believes the future isn't with the PC, but with the tablet. After shipping 15.4 million iPads in Q1 Cupertino is clearly comfortable with the idea that tablets are taking off and, as we begin to demand our devices become more mobile, it only makes sense that these finger-friendly slates will one day outsell less portable options like laptops and desktops. When might that day come? Well, Mr. Cook refused to speculate, but he was confident that the tablet market will be bigger, at least in terms of units sold, than traditional computers. Cook is already seeing a shift, with the iPad cannibalizing some Mac sales, but he does believe "there's more cannibalization of Windows PCs by the iPad," a trend he clearly loves. We hope, for their own sake, Dell and HP are ready for the coming revolution.
Samsung Series 9 monitor and all-in-one eyes-on
After spotting a powered-off Series 9 display at a CES press event earlier this week, we told you we'd revisit it if we could actually show you that 27-inch, 2560 x 1440 panel in all its billion-color glory. Well, folks, here she is. Samsung's first PLS display for the consumer market is arriving in March or April for $1,199, and is arriving with a refreshed design that trades last year's slick surfaces for an aluminum base. We'll let those hands-on photos speak for themselves, but hopefully from where you're sitting you can still appreciate those wide viewing angles, deep blacks and rich colors.And what of last year's Series 9 monitor? Samsung recycled the glossy, asymmetrical design, added a slot-loading Blu-ray drive and turned it into a high-end all-in-one. The 27-inch display has 1080p resolution, and the same kind of Ultra Clear panel Samsung uses in its televisions to make sure that glossy finish isn't too reflective. And though Samsung doesn't have too many specs to share, we know it has a quad-core Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a TV tuner and an unspecified AMD graphics card with 1GB of video memory. As you'd expect, it also comes with a wireless mouse and keyboard, the latter of which has some surprisingly cushy keys, given the island layout and all. No word on pricing or availability, though a Samsung rep told us the company has no plans to bring this stateside.Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.
Apple bucks declining PC shipment trend, according to latest estimates
Apple remains conspicuous by its absence (again) at this year's CES, but preliminary shipment estimates for PCs sold in Q4 2011 show that the company appears to be bucking the generally declining trend. Worldwide shipments dropped 1.4 percent compared to the same period last year, with the US seeing a 5.9 percent decline. The global drop includes an estimated 16.2 percent decrease from HP while Acer battled an 18.4 percent loss in shipments. Staving off any decline, both Lenovo (23 percent) and Asus (20.5 percent) managed an increase. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Mac shipments -- including both desktop and notebook models -- saw a 20.7 percent increase since Q4 2010. Who needs booth babes?
A closer look at Origin PC's Phase Change cooling system (and its new gaming laptops too)
Believe it or not, we just spent 45 minutes with two of Origin PC's founders and weren't treated to a gaming demo. Then again, the company isn't here at CES to brag about 3DMark11 scores. Instead, it's showing off its new Phase Change cooling technology, which enables the Genesis desktop to be overclocked to 5.7GHz, and which pushes that desktop's starting price from $1,337 to $4,499. So how does that $3,000 feature work? As it turns out, not unlike an air conditioner. The setup relies on a compressor to compress gas, which liquifies first and then evaporates, absorbing heat along the way. The Little Devil chassis used for the purpose of this demo has an LED screen displaying the -40-degree operating temperature, but you won't need it: the system automatically shuts down if it gets too cold, and it won't boot into Windows until Phase Change is up and running. In addition to all this, the Genesis uses liquid cooling around the motherboard, and an air-based system on the video cards. While we were there, we also checked out the EON15-S and EON17-S laptops, which will be available with an updated design sometime this quarter. Though the interior should look familiar to anyone who's ever laid eyes on a Clevo, Origin remodeled the lid, adding a matte finish option and race car-inspired molding (to evoke the idea of speed, natch). As for specs, Origin's founders directed us to the company's website, which suggests the internals won't change along with the design (certainly, the prices remain the same). Expect these to start at $1,539 for the 15-incher and $1,590 for the larger model -- prices that now include 24/7 free lifetime support. Find some photos below and continue on past the break for a video where you can see (and hear) that Phase Change setup in action.
Lenovo announces IdeaCentre A720 all-in-one with a multitouch display that lies nearly flat
Now that Lenovo's let it all out, it's easy to understand how it approached CES, and the days leading up to it. Thursday was ThinkPad day, yesterday was for all manner of consumer swag and today, Monday, is all about eye-catching designs. In addition to unveiling the Yoga convertible tablet, the company introduced the IdeaCentre A720, what it says is the world's thinnest 27-inch all-in-one. Similar to the HP TouchSmart 610, which debuted around this time last year, it has a display that can be tilted between 5 and 90 degrees, the idea being that that 10-point multitouch panel will be easier to use if it's lying at a near-flat angle. Spec-wise, it'll be offered with various Intel Core i processors, discrete NVIDIA graphics and up to either a 1TB HDD or a 64GB solid-state drive. Expect it to hit sometime in the first half of this year, starting at $1,299.
Maingear says it will offer the AMD Radeon HD 7970 in its Shift, F131 and Vybe desktops
When AMD announced its latest flagship, the Radeon HD 7970, we knew it was fast and efficient (because reviewers said so!), but gamers were told they'd have to wait until the new year to try it themselves. Now, precisely on schedule, the card is available for purchase, and we're starting to hear word of systems that will be refreshed to include the 28nm card. Maingear just said that it will offer the 7970 inside its Shift and F131 desktops, followed by the Vybe at some later date. If you recall, the card has a 925MHz engine that can be overclocked to 1.1GHz, 2,048 stream processors and an unusual 384-bit memory bus serving 3GB of GDDR5 -- not to mention, it's capable of a mere 3W power draw in "long idle" mode. Need even more of a recap on how awesome this card is? Find the full PR after the break.
Lenovo outs IdeaCentre B340 and B540 all-in-ones, H520s and IdeaCentre K430 towers
Ultrabooks might be the belle of the ball at this year's CES, but that doesn't mean you won't see a few desktops thrown in for variety's sake. Lenovo just unveiled a quartet of stationary machines, including two towers and a pair of touchscreen all-in-ones. Beginning with those touchscreens, the IdeaCentre B340 and B540 are essentially the same system, except the former has a 21.5-inch screen and the latter expands to 23. Both have 1080p displays and can be configured with up to 8GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, an optional Blu-ray drive and 3D tech. The only variation in specs, so far as we can tell, is that the 21.5-inch version maxes out with a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce 615M card, whereas for the 23-incher the top-shelf offering is the GeForce GT 650M with 2GB of video memory. Lenovo's also bundled its finger-friendly IdeaTouch software, whose OneKey TV feature lets you toggle between your desktop and TV mode using a picture-in-a-picture. Look for these in June, with an entry price of $699.Shifting gears to towers, the IdeaCentre K430 is aimed at gamers and other users of the powerful sort, with room for up to 32GB of DDR3 memory and either a 128GB SSD or as much as 4TB in HDD storage, with optional twin hard drives arranged in a RAID0 configuration. And, unlike with Lenovo's more mainstream desktops, you'll get a choice of graphics: a 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX660 or, from AMD's camp, a 2GB Radeon HD 7750. Don't need that much muscle? The H520 tower has a compact shape and still accommodates up to 2TB of storage space and 8GB of RAm, along with either a 2GB AMD Radeon HD7570 or a 2GB GeForce GTX630 card. Expect the K430 to arrive in May for $599, and the H520s to follow in June for $499 and up.Sean Cooper contributed to this post.
