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Sony kicks out VAIO N30 laptop, sleek LA3 desktop
While details surrounding Sony's SZ series leaked long ago, the firm is now busting out two new machines in its VAIO lineup that we've yet to witness. On the laptop side, the N30 (pictured after the break) sports a carbon fiber frame, 15.4-inch WXGA display, Intel's GMA 950 graphics set, an Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 or T7400 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 120GB shock-mounted hard drive, dual-layer DVD burner, 802.11b/g, a bevy of bundled software including Office 2007 and Vista Premium, an integrated webcam, fingerprint scanner, and optional HSDPA via ExpressCard. On the desktop side, the LA3 shows off its stylish good looks and packs a 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 CPU, 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, NVIDIA's GeForce Go 7600 graphics card, a 19-inch WSXGA+ LCD, 802.11a/b/g, and Vista Premium to boot. Of course, both systems are customizable to the hilt, but the April-bound VGN-N31M/W and VGN-N31Z/W will run you €899 ($1,213) and €999 ($1,347) respectively for the basics, while the base VGC-LA3 will ring up for €1,999 ($2,696) when it lands in May.[Via TrustedReviews]
ABS Mayhem Blackhawk is 3.8 pounds of Merom and GeForce goodness
It's not always easy to balance power and portability when it comes to gaming notebooks, mainly because gamers want to stuff as many graphics cards, fans, and sticks of RAM as possible into a big screen package. Well ABS Computer Technology's new Mayhem Blackhawk may only offer a 14.1-inch XGA display, but it makes up for the relatively low resolution by offering a Core 2 Duo processor, NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 graphics, up to 2GB of RAM, and 160GB of storage in just a 3.8-pound enclosure. Also on board are a DVD burner, three-flavor WiFi, your choice of XP or Vista, and of course the all-important 56.6kbps modem. All this and more -- like a free Logitech headset, Age of Empires III, Far Cry, and MS Works 2004 -- can be yours starting at $1,500.[Via Computer Shopper]
Toshiba's Satellite AW6 and CW2: Core 2 Duo and Celeron, together at last
Toshiba just gave a full-digit jump to their Satellite AW5 and CW1 laptops. The AW6 offers the same 15.4-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) display but bests its predecessor by offering the 1.66GHz Intel T5500 Core 2 Duo proc, a 256MB GeForce Go 7600 GPU, up to 120GB disk, and dual-layer DVD mult-drive on top of the usual smattering of WiFi, ExpressCard, memory card, USB, and Firewire capabilities we've come to expect. Yet with all the bumps, the AW6 still maintains the price of ¥189,800 or about $1,700 US. The low-end, 14.1-inch CW2 comes configured with choice of Celeron M410 or T2300 Core Duo processors, Radeon Express 200M or Intel 945GM Express graphics, and up to 1.5GB of memory, 100GB of disk, and dual-layer multi-drive for prices ranging from ¥109,800 on upward to ¥149,800 (about $937 to $1,278). Both released today in Japan with a Stateside launch expected soon. You can check the CW2 after the break.
Acer's HD DVD-equipped Aspire 9800 laptop released
Sure, LG's got a 15-inch laptop for HD DVD lovers, and Toshiba has a 17-inch model sporting one of those sweet HD optical drives, but if you want this tech in a 20-inch notebook, then Acer's Aspire 9800 is the only way to go. Just released today, the 9800 has a lot more going for it than just that high definition drive, including a Centrino Duo chipset, nVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 graphics, and a 1,680 x 1,050 CrystalBrite display. You're also getting up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, 240GB worth of HDD storage (or 120GB in a RAID 1 configuration), a hybrid analog / DVB-T TV tuner, and for piping those HD DVD movies out to your big screen, an HDCP-enabled HDMI output. All in all, a pretty attractive set of features -- but really, you should expect nothing less from a $2,800 machine.[Via laptoping]
ASUS' A8Jm Core Duo laptop reviewed
According to Notebook Review, ASUS' 14.1-inch A8Jm Core Duo-powered laptop is a powerful, feature-filled machine that provides good value for its $1,550 pricetag -- but you also have to factor the cost of potential Geek Squad service calls into that price, because ASUS' tech support options, both online and over-the-phone, are judged to be pretty mediocre. Still, even after having no luck -- and getting no help -- figuring out why the InstantON button on his unit was causing the notebook to boot directly into Windows, the reviewer doesn't hesitate to recommend the A8Jm almost without reservation, citing its video capabilities (a nVidia GeForce Go 7600 card pushing 1,280 x 800 pixels), connectivity options (WiFi, ExpressCard, card reader, and FireWire, DVI, S/PDIF, and five USB 2.0 ports), quiet operation, and most importantly, the speed of its 1.83GHz T2400 processor and 667MHz DDR2 RAM. Besides that buggy InstantON button, the lack of built-in Bluetooth seems to be the only real knock against this model (especially since European versions have it while North American ones don't), but that's an issue you can easily remedy on your own.
Acer Aspire 9510 and 9110 HD-DVD-sporting laptops
Along with the 15.4-inch 5670 and 20.1-inch 9800 notebooks that we'd already known about, Acer formally unveiled at Computex two other HD-DVD- and Centrino Duo-toting models from the Aspire line that we hadn't seen before: the 17-inch 9510 and 15.4-inch 9110 (pictured). All four models are being billed as all-in-one multimedia centers, and with all but the 5670 sporting 1,920 x 1,080 resolutions, S/PDIF and HDCP-capable HDMI outputs, optional analog and DVB-T tuners, and of course those high-def, backwards-compatible optical drives (still waiting on those Blu-ray models, though), it sure sounds like Acer knows what it's talking about. Both of the new-new notebooks also offer up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM and nVidia graphics cards, but the 9510 rocks the GeForce Go 7900 GS with 512MB of RAM and up to 240GB of hard drive space, while the 9110 has to settle for the GeForce Go 7600 with 256MB of RAM and a HDD that maxes out at 120GB. Unfortunately, Acer was so busy selling us on the benefits of all these new machines that they forgot a few important details, so both pricing and release dates for each and every one remain a big fat mystery for now.[Via Notebook Review]
