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Packard Bell drops "dot" netbook in favor of new, unannounced model
Well, it looks like Packard Bell's "dot" netbook just didn't capture that trademark Packard Bell flavor the company was looking for, as it has now officially ditched the netbook in favor of a new, as yet unannounced model. As you may recall, the dot was essentially just an original Acer Aspire One in disguise, with it packing an 8.9-inch display, an Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and an optional 3G module, among other standard fare. Unfortunately, Packard Bell doesn't seem to be saying anything at all about the new model just yet, with it only going so far as to tell Pocket-lint that there will be "some changes made to the brand." [Via Electronista]
Packard Bell dot spotted in UK
Oh, look! It's another netbook in the wild! This one is Packard Bell's dot, and according to the boffins at Pocket-lint it's now available for purchase across the pond by anyone who can find a reason to care. The Aspire One-like specs and style are just what you'd expect (do we really need to recount the Atom 270 processor, 1GB of RAM, and 160GB hard drive yet again?), and while there's the promise of being able to add internal 3G connectivity at some point in the future, right now the only thing setting this one apart is the red dot on the hinge. (Which, we confess, is a nice look.) Still no mention of when or even if this one will be appearing domestically -- though if it does it'll probably be as an Everex anyhow.
Packard Bell debuts "dot" netbook
Well, it looks like Acer's considerable influence is starting to have an impact on Packard Bell's "trendy" new ways, with the company now trotting out its new "dot" netbook, which bears more than a passing resemblance to Acer's own Aspire One. Those similarities also extend down to the netbook's specs, which include an 8.9-inch 1024 x 600 display, the usual Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, a 6-cell battery, a built-in webcam and card reader, and a slightly bigger than average 160GB hard drive. Somewhat notably, you'll also apparently be able to snag an optional 3G module, and it looks like Windows XP is your only OS option on this one. No word on a release 'round these parts just yet, unfortunately, but those in Europe can look for it to land there in November with a starting price of €399 (or about $580, though that'd no doubt be cut down for a US release).[Via PC Launches]
Packard Bell looks to reposition self as 'trendy' lifestyle brand (no, really)
Packard Bell, what a wild ride it's been... you've gone to Europe, you've been bought out by Acer,and you've hit back stateside with some truly gnarly gaming PCs. But this latest scheme of yours is really a stretch: you intend to reposition yourself as a "lifestyle brand." Long gone, you say, are the days of bizarre case designs, with their peripherals jutting out of the machine at odd angles. You will have new designs -- designs that exemplify the elegance and "alchemy" of your company. And alchemy, you say, is "a mixture of science and magic, to generate emotion." We expect great things.
Gateway's new MC Series shown off, signs of life spotted
No bull whatsoever -- we're really digging this so-called MC Series that Gateway's busy showing off in Budapest. According to Laptop Mag, who was on hand for the event, the family is designed to go after those mildly spectacular HDX rigs from HP and Sony's FW crew. The model on display was packing a 16-inch widescreen LCD, color customizable lid with a leather strip running down its center, a backlit keyboard and a brushed metal palm rest. Also of note, editors spotted both AMD and Intel-powered versions, and while no pricing information was available, we're told to keep an eye out for a November release. Head south to the read link for more pictures and a hands-on vid.
Packard Bell's iPower GX laptop for hardcore gamerz. Sniff.
Following in the vaunted footsteps of Packard Bell's ugly-ass iPower X2.0 desktop, PB has swiped Gateway's well-received, if already-gaudy P-7811 FX gaming laptop and turned it into pure gamer stereotype: the iPower GX. As far as oppressed people groups go, "hardcore gamers" have had some of the worst aesthetics known to man foisted upon them, and this is no exception. We don't know how they can keep on keeping on -- we would've given up and bought a MacBook to play WoW years ago. Lucky for us, Acer-owned Packard Bell is still Europe-only for the time being, so maybe everything's going to be okay.
Packard Bell reveals gargantuan ipower X2.0 gaming desktop
Wait a second -- are absurdly large, overdecorated gaming desktops making a comeback? With Acer's Aspire Predator and ASUS' ARES CG6155 lighting up eyes everywhere, we're beginning to think yes -- particularly when you take one glance at Packard Bell's elephantine ipower X2.0. Revealed at the Electronic Sports World Cup in Paris, this beast features a tremendously large, high-gloss chassis, a liquid cooling system, a dedicated lock to keep PCB snatchers at bay and a nice array of components including Intel's Core 2 Quad / Extreme processor, a Blu-ray optical drive, hybrid TV tuner, up to 3TB of storage, a NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GX2, a 21-in-1 card reader and a gaming keyboard / mouse. Somehow, Packard Bell is managing to offer this thing up for anywhere between £999 ($1,979) and £infinity, but don't count on securing one 'til Christmas. [Warning: PDF read link][Via Trusted Reviews]
Packard Bell busts out new Puma laptops, trio of new desktop lines
Packard Bell unleashed a big ol' set of machines in Italy today. Among the new laptops, the EasyNote RS65 13.3-incher cued some unusual design elements like red and chrome highlights and circular touchpad. It packs an Intel Centrino 2 and dedicated video card with DVI and HDMI. Other machines include the multimedia-friend ML (15.4-inch) and SL (17-inch) based on the Puma platform. Also of note are the MT (15.4-inch) and ST (17-inch) laptops, which include a "Battery Boost" button that allows you to switch between dedicated video and integrated Intel GMA chipsets in order to conserve unwired time. Finally, the TN line (pictured above) is set to appeal to a younger audience with low prices and multimedia features. In the desktop category, Packard Bell intro'd new i-Media, family-Extreme, and i-Max machines that run the gamut from diminutive budget boxes to gamer-friendly powerhouses. Peep the read link (in Italian) to get a deeper scoop.
Everex's CloudBook arrives in Japan with touchscreen, Bluetooth
The FIC manufactured Everex CloudBook has finally made its way to Japan. What's interesting is not its US-rooted Everex branding but the fact that the ultra-portable picked up a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and 802.11a (to augment the existing b/g WiFi) along the way without any change to the CE1200J model number. All the other specs remain true to the original right on down to the 1.2GHz VIA C7-M proc and 30GB hard disk. We'd chalk this up to a typo(s) if it wasn't for the new, tax-inclusive price of ¥59,800 or about $600 -- a stiff bump from the $399 touchscreen-less, Stateside model. Let's see if the March 22nd release in Japan brings the additional options for North America and Europe.[Via Impress]
Acer: Eee PC killer on track for Q2/Q3
We had the chance to corner Acer at CeBIT to ask them about their plans for that Eee PC killer. We received confirmation from Stefan Engel, Managing Director and Country Manager for Acer Germany, that they were on target for a Q2/Q3 release. Incidentally, they will continue to offer the 7-inch Packard Bell EasyNote XS (aka, Everex CloudBook, NanoBook, FIC CD260) along side the Acer branded 7- to 9-incher even though Packard Bell is all but officially an Acer subsidiary.
Acer gobbles up 75% of Packard Bell
Just like expected, Acer has formally bought into Packard Bell, snapping up 75% of PB Holdings, Packard Bell's parent company. Things got a bit hairy for a bit there when Packard Bell started speaking with Lenovo as well, since Acer fears losing its strength in Europe to the Chinese giant. Luckily for Acer, Gateway was the real clincher here, since Gateway started talks with Packard Bell before getting bought by Acer itself, and had nabbed the right to counter any offers Packard Bell might get from other companies. The deal officially went through on Wednesday for $45.8 million.
Everex's $399 CloudBook wannabEee: now February 15th
Everex's site has been updated with a new CloudBook ship date. The little 9-inch, Via-based laptop with 7-inch display, 30GB disk, and 5-hours battery is now expected to pop with a gOS Rocket on Walmart.com and ZaReason.com February 15th. A day earlier would have required a pink version which nobody wants... at least not yet.[Thanks, David]
Hands-on with the Packard Bell EasyNote XS / Nanobook
Well, we've finally gotten some face time with the Packard Bell EasyNote XS / Nanobook / Cloudbook / FIC CE260. Sure, it's hard to keep tabs on the various re-brands and name changes of this thing, but one thing is for sure -- it's got the potential to give the Eee a run for its money. The ultraportable feels pretty good -- if a bit plastic-y -- in your hand, and it seemed to handle XP with relative ease. We kind of wish we'd seen some gOS on this puppy -- but hey, you can't have it all. Check the gallery below and see it yourself.%Gallery-13013%
Everex's CE260 / CE261 ultra-portable tracking for Q1 release
Remember that other ultra-portable announced during the month of the Eee Pc and Palm Foleo? Right, the 7-inch Via / FIC (parental unit to Everex) collaboration first shown as the NanoBook reference design or CE260 / CE261 when touted by FIC. Having already cleared the FCC, FIC is saying that US and European shipments of the VIA C7-M device will begin in Q1 of 2008 and will include either Windows XP or Linux preloads on that 1.8-inch 30GB disk. It's supposed to be priced similar to the Eee PC which has carved a nice little niche for itself in the ultra-portable market. With any luck, it'll show up at Wal-Mart with a sub-$300 price tag sporting Everex's lovely new gOS.
Packard Bell unveils Compasseo 700-series GPS units
Packard Bell's latest trio of Compasseo navigators aren't likely to thrill any Americans, but for those camped out on the other side of the pond, you could certainly find some utility here. The flagship model in the 700-series (the 780 T+) sports a 4.3-inch LCD, 400MHz CPU, 2GB of SDRAM, a battery good for around three hours, NAVTEQ maps covering all of western Europe, speed camera alerts, TrafficLive Plus, built-in media player, a SiRFstarIII GPS chipset and a MMC / SD expansion slot. As for the 750 T+, it steps it down by only including 256MB of SDRAM and maps that cover just the UK / Ireland, while the low-end 750 strips away the live traffic support. We're not seeing any hard pricing details just yet, but word on the street has the forthcoming trifecta arriving soon for £129.99 and up. [Via Pocket-Lint]
Packard Bell intros Fresh, Eclipse media players
We're not exactly sure what's up with the chewing gum-inspired names here, but apparently, Packard Bell thinks they're pretty "original." All laughs aside, the 1GB / 2GB Fresh DAP (shown after the jump) could easily be a distant cousin to the FunKey Town, and it weighs in at just 23.5-grams, plays back MP3s, sports a blue backlit screen and should last around half a day on a single AAA cell. As for the Eclipse (available in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB), it's reportedly the very first media player from the firm that handles video, and more specifically, it's designed to understand MP4, WMV, XviD, MP3, WMA and WAV file formats; additionally, it sports a 2.2-inch color display, a rechargeable Li-ion, USB 2.0 connectivity and six equalizer presets. If you're wondering how much loot it'd take to snag one of these European-bound units, word on the street has the Fresh landing for €30 ($43) / €40 ($59), or you could opt for the much more versatile Eclipse if you're cool with unknown pricetags. [Warning: PDF read link][Via Electronista, image courtesy of Notebook Italia]
Acer completes Gateway acquisition -- GTW delisted
It's official, Acer has acquired nearly 90% of Gateway shares bringing an end to Gateway's pioneering independence. The $710 million deal makes Gateway a wholly owned subsidiary of the Taiwanese PC maker and brings an end to the GTW listing on the New York Stock Exchange. With Gateway ready to gobble up Packard Bell, Acer becomes a solid, global number 3 powerhouse behind HP and Dell.
Wokka wokka wokka: Acer to acquire Gateway to acquire Packard Bell
The rumor was spot-on: Gateway has delivered a binding offer to acquire all shares of PB Holding Company S.à.r.l. from Lap Shun (John) Hui and Clifford Holdings Limited. If approved, Acer would nab themselves an improved foothold in Europe as part of their acquisition of Gateway announced back in August. Final regulatory approvals for the three-way love-in are expected before the end of the year or Q1 at the latest.
Packard Bell's EasyNote XS 7-inch laptop
Just in case you hadn't noticed, there's a real bumper crop of super-tiny 7-inch laptops this year, and it looks like Packard Bell didn't want to miss out on the fun. The new EasyNote XS eschews the Linux of some of its peers for some vanilla XP Home action, and runs on a VIA C7-M Ultra Mobile Platform. There's a VGA webcam, built-in WiFi, 4-in-1 card reader, 30GB HDD and even a friendly 1GB of RAM. Packard Bell expects this 1.2-inch, 2 pound unit to get 3 hours of battery with WiFi on, and hopes to hit the UK market by the end of the year. Hopefully the price is right.
Lenovo, Acer reportedly sizing up Packard Bell
Packard Bell may not have the most illustrious of histories, but that hasn't stopped the company from attracting a number of potential suitors over the years. Now it seems that two more companies are eying the old school brand, although both seem to be far from a done deal. The first, and apparently further along of the two, is Lenovo, which has announced that it's entered a "Memorandum of Understanding" with an unnamed "independent third party" to purchase the PC maker. According to Reuters, Lenovo would use Packard Bell to give a boost to its European business. The other company in the mix is Acer which, as Reuters reports, said in April that it was planning to buy a PC company in three to five months. Recent speculation, however, has pegged Packard Bell as Acer's target, although it has yet to get as official as Lenovo with its intent.Read - Reuters, "PC makers Lenovo, Acer eyeing Packard Bell: report"Read - Press release, "Lenovo Announces Memorandum of Understanding to Acquire Packard Bell"
