ultraportable
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The 12.1-inch Averatec 2371 laptop runs Vista and AMD
While we don't have any clear word on when or if to expect Averatec's 6700 laptop we just spotted to hit the States, things are a bit more promising with the Averatec 2371, which the company is also announcing today. The ultraportable is a slight bump to the 2300 line we spotted last year, and Averatec's first laptop for the States running Vista. Along with Home Premium, the 2371 runs 1GB of RAM, a 120GB HDD, dual-layer DVD burner, 802.11b/g WiFi, an ExpressCard/54 slot and a 4-in-1 card reader -- not too bad for a 1.3-inch thick, 4 pound, 12.1-incher. The screen runs at 1280 x 800, and there's a 1.6GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-52 processor under the hood. Prices range from $900 to $950.
Philip's new X200 ultraportable laptop sticks its neck out
Perhaps its the extra lovin' Philips has given to stylings here, but somehow that extendable screen arm doesn't seem like as much of a gimmick this time around. The new X200 ultraportable sports a 1.73GHz Core Duo U2500 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 100GB HDD, DVD combo drive, 1.3 megapixel webcam and Windows Vista. The 12.1-inches of widescreen LCD probably aren't enough to get in the way of regular tray table use -- a favorite example of extenda-arm proponents -- but at least you won't have to do as much hunkering in front of this laptop when it's on your desk, thanks to the extra inches of vertical. The laptop looks to be shipping now in the UK for £850, about $1,700 US.[Via PClaunches]
Clevo's new 12-inch ultraportable rocks the HSDPA
Clevo, original source for many hundreds of OEM laptops, has just announced a model that's sure to be a hit among the rebadging crowd, as it offers a pretty compelling feature set in a sub-four-pound package. Besides being the first notebook to sport SiS' new SiSM671 "high performance" Northbridge chipset, the 12.1-inch M721S/M720S also offers a choice of Core 2 Duo processors, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, and sweetest of all, a built in 3G modem for UMTS / HSDPA action. Price and release remain a mystery (still no mention of this one on the Clevo site), but even if you miss it the first time around, you can rest assured that it will show up in countless other branded iterations.[Via Laptop Logic]
Fujitsu's LifeBook S2210 and P7230 laptops reviewed
It'd probably be tough to find anyone eying an ultralight laptop that hasn't given either the S2210 or P7230 (pictured after the jump) at least a glance, but just in case you're only moments away from pulling the trigger on either, you might want to reconsider. Unfortunately, it sounds like both of Fujitsu's latest LifeBooks underperformed in the areas that mattered most, and as PCMag put it, shoving a full-fledged PC (with an integrated optical drive, no less) into a three- to four-pound frame requires quite a few tradeoffs. Reviewers found the choice of processors somewhat necessary considering the tight spaces, but the sluggish performance within Vista was irritating to say the least. Additionally, upgraded machines tended not to be good values, as boosting the RAM, hard drive capacity, and optical drive drove the price "beyond the reach" of most business laptop customers. Still, the highly portable nature of both machines is impossible to knock, so if you're willing to be a tad more patient whilst working, and don't mind unusually small keyboards, both machines should handle whatever you throw at it -- albeit at its own lethargic pace.Read - Fujitsu's LifeBook S2210 ReviewRead - Fujitsu's LifeBook P7230 Review
Hands-on with the Flybook V ultra-connected ultra-portable
Unlike CES, there is no shortage of newly announced UMPC devices here at CeBIT. Perhaps that's due to this being the 1st anniversary of the platform's launch. But if you're looking for the ultimate in QWERTY portability, then look no further than the new FlyBook V5. This 1.2kg pup packs pretty much everything the discerning road-warrior could want: 1.06GHz Intel Core Duo ULV U2400 processor; up to 2GB of DDR2 memory; Intel 945GM graphics; 8.9-inch, 32-bit color, 1024 x 600 (WXGA) touchscreen display which works with the touch of a finger or included stylus in both landscape and portrait (tablet) modes; 40GB hard disk; 1.3 megapixel swivelling camera built-in to the bezel; Gigabit LAN; stereo speaker; and fingerprint reader. It also brings a reasonable mix of expansion which includes Express card, 2x USB 2.0, and TV-out. The best part, however, is the number of radios packed into this ultraportable. It starts with Bluetooth 2.0, sprinkles in some 802.11a/b/g WiFi, and and then smothers it all with 3.6Mbps UMTS/HSDPA and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM. The V5 measures just 235 x 163 x 30-mm and packs a 1.2kg heft making it feel solid, not heavy in the hand. Good thing too, cause those controls you see between the keyboard and display allow you to pick the unit up while in a traditional laptop config and continue navigating the display. The miniature 80-key keyboard of the working prototype v5 that we tapped upon was seriously springy. The reduced size and key bounce would certainly take some getting used to. A sacrifice we'd be privileged to make if we could call this unit our own. Still, things might stiffen up before the April release – The Netherlands and Italy first with the rest of Europe to follow "soon" thereafter. Sorry, no definite plans for a US release date making us want one even more.%Gallery-2185%
Rumor rehash: Apple MacBook ultraportable coming soon
As much as we'd like to see Apple try its hand at the subnotebook game once more (and don't y'all haters deny that at the time the 12-inch PowerBook was a subby), we are getting a little bored that the rumor, much like the iPhone before it, refuses to give way. AppleInsider is re-reporting by way of supposed insiders that Stevie's engineers are hard at work on a new MacBook with the fresh set of specs we've heard many a time to date: no integrated optical drive, solid state disk (resulting in increased battery life and system performance), sleek, slender body, widescreen display, and now a mid-year launch, presumably aligned with WWDC. We've heard this song and dance before (and we'll surely hear it again), so keep your wallet-carrying trousers on.
Fujitsu unveils Vista-equipped LifeBook S2210
As if you haven't had enough Vista-equipped lappies thrown your way, here's another one to mull over if you're digging the ultralight composition and the built-in optical drive. Fujitsu's latest LifeBook sports a sleek, black and silver enclosure, the standard array of multimedia controls, a 13.3-inch LCD, and the obligatory palm rest stickers to boot. Internally, you'll find an AMD Sempron 3200+ processor, 1GB of RAM, 100GB of hard drive space, dual-layer DVD burner, and Windows Vista Home Premium pre-installed. Additionally, you can reportedly expect around 3.4-hours of battery life from the six-cell battery, and if you won't need the skills of your DVD writer for the day, you can whittle the weight down to around 3.6-pounds. No word on price, but for those camped out in Seoul, keep an eye out for the S2210 to land soon.
ASUS gets official with its LED-backlit U1F lappy
All the same sexy, but this time we've got a bit more info on the upcoming U1F 11.1-incher from ASUS. Of course, that LED backlight inside the 5mm thick LCD is the highlight, but there's plenty more to love inside this 18mm thick laptop (0.7-inches, though it tapers up to 1.1-inches thick). Oddly enough, one of the neatest highlights is the optional external disc drive. This one ain't no stripped down combo drive number, but instead houses a Blu-ray / DVD super multi burner for the ultimate in optical goodness. We're not sure what you'd be doing with a Blu-ray movie on this WXGA LCD, and there don't seem to be any HD outputs for slapping video onto a big screen, but we like the chutzpah all the same. Under the hood there's a Core Duo U2400 processor with a Intel 945GM Express chipset and Intel a/b/g WiFi. Hard drive options range from 40 to 80GB, the webcam is of the VGA variety and connectivity includes gigabit Ethernet and Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR and A2DP. With a 3-cell battery on board, the U1F weighs 2.2 pounds, thanks to the magnesium-aluminum / carbon fiber built case and an LCD about half the thickness and 1/3 lighter than the traditional kind. The LED backlight also boasts of better luminance, faster response time and lower power consumption than the traditional LCD, and combined with some fancy ASUS Power4 Gear eXtreme power management should have battery life up 20-25 percent over traditional laptops. Still no word on price or availability, but you'll be able to get this thing with Vista Home Premium or Vista Business when it does ship.[Via DailyTech]
Fujitsu LifeBook P7230 hits North America
Fujitsu's been teasing us with this one for a while now, first showing it off late last year without so much as a mention of specs or availability, then announcing that it's been released in Taiwan but giving no indication when we might be able to get our hands on one over here. Well, it looks like those looking for a little of that ultraportable action won't have to be going the importing route, with Fujitsu today announcing availability of the LifeBook P7230 in the U.S. and Canada. The specs, of course, remain the same, with a 10.6-inch LED-backlit widescreen display, Intel Core Solo U1400 low voltage processor, Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics, up to 2GB of RAM, a maximum 80GB hard drive, and a promised 9.75 hours of battery life with the second battery slotted in, all in a package that weighs in under three pounds. You'll also get your choice of "Leather Black" or "Leather White" color schemes, with prices starting at $1,699 for the base configuration.[Via Laptoping]
System 76 unveils Ubuntu-powered Darter ultraportable series
It looks like the barrage of Vista-equipped laptops has subsided just a bit, which means it's the perfect time for System 76 to bust out a new Ubuntu Linux laptop to appease the open-source crowd. The Darter series boasts a trendy white paint job, a 13.3-inch widescreen WXGA display, and weighs a very manageable 4.3-pounds. Aside from booting directly into Ubuntu, this ultraportable machine boasts Intel Core 2 Duo options up to 2.33GHz, as much as 1.5GB of DDR2 RAM, 40GB to 100GB hard drives, a dual-layer DVD burner, 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth, Ethernet, 4-in-1 card reader, ExpressCard slot, VGA / S-Video out, a trio of USB 2.0 ports, audio in / out, FireWire, and a six-cell Li-ion battery that chugs along for around 4.5-hours per charge. Not so surprising, however, is the slightly higher than average price, as this little fellow starts at just under a grand, but soars to nearly $2,000 when adding all the highly coveted niceties that are oh-so-hard to resist.[Via CoreDuoNews]
Asus set to unveil LED-backlit U1F laptop at CeBIT
Apparently, Asus didn't have quite enough fun dishing out swank new laptop gear at CES, as the firm is now prepared to unveil its first LED-backlit machine at this year's CeBIT Show in Hanover, Germany. The ultralight U1F weighs in at just 2.2-pounds, and sports an 11.1-inch WXGA+ LED-backlit screen, steel edges, leather-clad palm rests, black motif, an ultra-low voltage Intel Core Duo processor, and of course, will come pre-loaded with Windows Vista. Unfortunately, Asus isn't spilling any more details on this one until the time is just right, but hopefully this noticeable move towards LED-backlit lappies will persuade a few other firms out there to follow suit, and soon.[Via Laptoping]
Fujitsu launches its LifeBook P7230 ultraportable in Taiwan
We were a tad bit curious as to exactly what this LifeBook P7230 was packing when we spotted it late last year, and now that Fujitsu is busting this thing out in Taiwan, it doesn't look like we'll be too terribly disappointed. The unit sports a 1280 x 768 10.6-inch LCD, 1.2GHz ULV Core Solo U1400 processor, the Intel 945GMS Express Chipset and PRO 3945ABG WiFi, DVD super-multi burner, 1GB of RAM, an 80GB HDD, Bluetooth 2.0 and VGA webcam. Other perks include gigabit Ethernet and a PCMCIA slot, but the real excitement is the 6 hours of battery life, 1.2-inch thickness and 2.6 pound weight -- not bad at all for a laptop packing an optical drive. If you happen to be kicking it in Taiwan, you can pick one of these up for $66,800 TWD, about $2,024 US, but hopefully Fujitsu will be keeping the Q2010 "world's most desirable laptop" company Stateside before too terribly long.[Via Core Duo News]
Falcon unveils flame-painted FragBook TLX gaming laptop
Falcon Northwest has unveiled the FragBook TLX which, as you can probably tell by the name, targets Falcon's traditional audience of hardcore gamers. Similar to its FragBook desktop replacement brethren, the TLX is based around a 17-inch, 1680 x 1050 LCD; but unlike the DR model, the TLX has a relatively diminutive design. At only 1.5-inches thick and weighing 7-pounds, it's certainly not what you'd call an ultraportable, but then again, most ultraportables don't feature the TLX's 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo processor, up to 160GB of hard drive storage and 2GB of RAM, nor the nVIDIA GeForce 7600 GO graphics card with 256MB of video RAM. The combination of thinness and performance doesn't come cheap though, as the starting price of the TLX is $3,516. Those of you who really want to burn money -- and be able to prove that you did so -- can opt for an optional flame painted color scheme for $426.[Via Techie Diva]
DosPara unveils snow white ultraportable: the Prime A Note Cressida NB
There's nothing like a PC wrapped in Apple's white clothing, and DosPara's latest ultraportable sports a glossy WXGA display, dual-core processor, and a decent pricetag to go along with the trendy white finish. While the company has unveiled a few larger offerings of late, this 12.1-inch gem features a 1.6GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-50 CPU, 512MB to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, 80GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive, dual-layer DVD burner, an option for NVIDIA's GeForce Go 6100 graphics, three hours of battery life, and built-in 802.11b/g -- all in a knapsack-friendly four-pound package. On the sides, you'll find VGA out, a Kensington lock port, 4-pin FireWire, audio in / out, Ethernet, a 56k modem, and a trio of USB 2.0 connectors. Sans an operating system, the basic Prime A Note Cressida NB will run you ¥109,980 ($957), while tossing in Windows XP Home (with a discounted upgrade to Vista, mind you) will cost ¥121,980 ($1,061).[Via Akihabara News]
MIU's M*Free: all in one never looked so bad
Sometimes you just can't be all things to all people, something or someone is going to suffer. Still, that hasn't stopped MIU technology from developing this new M*free HDCP -- Hybrid Dual Portable Computer. This Windows XP device features a QWERTY thumbpad and VGA screen of unspecified dimensions. Nothing unusual so far. However, if you flip it over, you'll find a slot for installing a cartridge with digicam/webcam, MP3 player, portable storage, and USB cable with a promise of more functionality (by way of additional cartridges) to come. That's not all. Flip the main display over and you'll find a smaller panel and keypad for making IP-based calls which, according to MIU, are cheaper than those made from conventional cellphones with better quality than VoIP. MIU's CEO, Joonsoo Oh, then increases the hyperbole by stating that his company is developing the, "next generation portable device that can complement all the defects of existing convergence products." Well then, we'll start saving our rubbles now for the 700,000 to 800,000KRW (up to about $875) these will cost when launched in the first half of 2007. Bigger, better pics after the break.
Samsung partners with SK Telecom, launches Q40-HSDPA
While it hasn't been too awfully long since Samsung doused its Q40 ultraportable in pink, the company is now looking to grab the attention of HSDPA fans by shoving such support into the lappie (and toning down the color scheme, too). Partnering with SK Telecom, the Q40-HSDPA will offer T-Login connectivity throughout South Korea (unless Kim Jong Il illegally snags one just North of the divide), and will also pack a 12.1-inch WXGA display, Intel's U1400 Core Solo processor, 1GB of RAM, a smallish 60GB hard drive, and a T-DMB receiver to boot. The machine will weigh in at just 2.6 pounds, and should be hitting the streets of Seoul soon for a slightly painful 2,300,000 KRW ($2,472).
Trigem's new Averatec 1500 ultraportable
Trigem really likes to cover its Averatec bases, and this time around it's hitting on the teensy end of laptopdom with the new Averatec 1500 11.1-inch laptop. The little portable sports a WXGA screen, 1.0GHz Core Duo ULV U2400 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM and a 100GB SATA HDD. About the fanciest spec this thing can boast of is a/b/g WiFi, though 3.44 pounds isn't too shabby for an ultraportable weight, and 1.2-inches of thickness isn't terrible considering the general squeeze on the other dimensions. Still, at roughly $1,969 US for this thing, we're guessing our Korean friends could do a bit better for a bit less. At least it's shiny.
Rock rolls out Merom-packed, 13.3-inch Pegasus 335 laptop
If you like your lappies like your music, then Rock's latest addition to its Pegasus series is sure to please. Hot on the heels of its mammoth-sized Xtreme SL Pro comes the much more portable 13.3-inch Pegasus 335, which is marketed as a mobile entertainment center and comes bundled with a USB DVB-T TV tuner to capture those sparkling British OTA broadcasts. Beneath the hood lies your choice of Intel's T5600/T7200/T7400 Core 2 Duo processor, up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, up to 160GB SATA hard drive, an 8x dual-layer DVD burner, built-in 802.11a/b/g, a 4-in-1 flash card reader, and a WXGA display. Among the assortment of ports is 4-pin FireWire, gigabit Ethernet, 56k modem, S-Video out, audio in / out, PCMCIA, VGA, and a trio of USB 2.0 connectors to boot. Including a three-year warranty, prices range from £722.55 ($1,404) to about as much as your credit card can stand, and is available now for holiday delivery.[Via RegHardware]
Panasonic's 3G-equipped Toughbook CF-W5 reviewed
True road warriors tend to be willing to sacrifice that FPS-boosting power for "just a few more minutes" of battery life, and having an always-on 3G connection sure makes things easier, too. Panasonic's wee Toughbook CF-W5 replaces the slightly heavier W4, and performed quite admirably in the longevity / portability departments during Laptop Mag's prodding. Reviewers marveled at the 12-inch LCD, "rigid" nature of the 1.8-inch thick machine, and its ability to withstand the typical bumps and bruises you'd expect, say, while trekking through through the woods or camping out for a Playstation 3. Another nice touch was the combo drive's automatic shut down feature after three minutes of inactivity, but they were none too pleased to find that a DVD burner wasn't even an available option. Further criticizing the specs, the (admittedly paltry) 60GB hard drive and 512MB of RAM were scoffed at, and the "cramped" keyboard wasn't exactly made for cranking out dissertations. Overall, however, the machine accomplished its main goals -- staying tough and toughing it out -- by offering up 8 hours and 28 minutes of realizable battery life with wireless options inactive, and still mustered just about 5 hours while surfing the 'net. So if you're rarely near a power outlet, and come across cellphone towers entirely more often that WiFi hotspots, the Toughbook CF-W5 just might be your "ideal candidate."
Haier's 12.1-inch W12N laptop
If Haier's 14-incher is just a bit too unwieldy for ya girlie-man then how about trying on their svelte, new 12-incher? Oh yeah ultra-portable lovers, the W12N 12.1-inch laptop goes WXGA (1366 x 768) and loves on the T5600 Core 2 Duo processor, integrated Intel 945GM graphics, 512MB DDR2 RAM, 80GB disk, CD/DVD combo drive and slaps a 2 megapixel swivelin' camera up in the top bezel. Niiice. Still, without dimensions, price, and launch date well, we're going to keep our pawn shoppe hearts in check for now.
