X-series
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BenQ rolls out X-series LCDs aimed at gamers
Gamers looking for an "Xtreme" display to go along with their array other Xtreme gear now have a couple of new options to consider from BenQ, which just announced its new line of X-series LCDs. On the top of the heap is the 22-inch X2200W, which boasts a 1680 x 1050 resolution, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, an 8 ms "Motion Picture Response Time" (or 2 ms gray-to-gray response), an HDMI port and, perhaps most notably, a 92% color gamut. Moving on down the line, the 20-inch X2000W will give you pretty much all the same specs (minus the 92% color gamut) in a slightly smaller package, while 19-inch X900W and X900 knock things back even further with 1440 x 900 and 1280 x 1024 resolutions, respectively, plus an 800:1 contrast ratio, and DVI and VGA ports, but no HDMI. From the looks of it, however, only the X900W has a firm US release date (this month), with the X2000W and X2200W each making their way to China and "select countries across Asia Pacific and Europe," and the X900 headed to Europe only, also this month. [Via Electronista]
Lenovo's ThinkPad X61, X61s and X61 tablet PC get official
Hearing about Lenovo's ThinkPad X61 shouldn't come as a total surprise to anyone, but while leaked information always satisfies the pallet, official details on a few new machines in the X-series shouldn't hurt. The X61 tablet will sport your choice of a 1.4GHz L7300 or 1.6GHz L7500 Core 2 Duo CPU, a 12.1-inch XGA or SXGA+ display, up to 160GB of hard drive space, up to 4GB of RAM, an optional dual-layer DVD writer (UltraBase required), Intel's GMA X3100 graphics set, gigabit Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth, WWAN, a trio of USB 2.0 ports, up to eight-hours of claimed battery life from the eight-cell Li-ion, optional fingerprint scanner, an SD reader, and a PC Card slot with 34-millimeter ExpressCard adapter. The 12.1-inch X61s touts most of the same hardware as its tablet-based sibling albeit in a laptop form, while the X61 goes up to 2GHz with Intel's T7300. All of the aforementioned units should be ready to ship next month, and the ThinkPad X61, X61s, and X61 tablet PC will purportedly start at approximately $1,484, $1,474, and $1,779, respectively. More shots of Lenovo's latest after the break.
Novogo prepping X-series GPS units
There's not a whole lot of details to go on here, but Novogo is reportedly readying a new "X-series" line of GPS navigation units, one-upping its current line of S-series devices. Though it's not clear exactly how many devices there will be in the line, all of 'em will apparently sport 4.3-inch displays, with a handsfree Bluetooth kit, RDS/TMC traffic information, and navigation software courtesy of iGo. Unfortunately, that's about all that's known about the devices at the moment, with no word on pricing or availability, though you can probably safely expect to pay a bit of a premium over Novogo's current offerings.[Via Navigadget]
3's X-Series platform reviewed on Nokia N73
With cellular providers upping fees left and right, it's refreshing to finally see a provider offer up a valuable package to its users with a halfway decent pricetag. UK's 3 has struck a nerve with 3G gurus and multi-taskers alike, and its flagship X-Series platform has received a thorough critiquing from the folks at Digital Lifestyles. Currently running on Nokia's N73 (with Sony Ericsson's W950i to follow in January), the all-you-can-download approach to utilizing 3G applications apparently did fairly well in testing. Garnering praise in the diversity and usability departments, reviewers were pleased with the inclusion of Skype, Yahoo Go!, Mobile Mail, 3's web browser, and Windows Live Messenger -- all of which performed at least up to expectations for the low £5 ($9.85) per month fee. The only major digs came from the lack of SkypeOut support (which is promised for the future), no caller ID data on incoming Skype calls, and the inability to control / watch recorded shows via SlingPlayer. Of course, the latter headache will only bother those who spring for the £10 ($19.70) monthly package, which includes the ability to purchase the Sling software for a discounted £99 ($194.95) and use OrbPC to boot. Overall, the crew was generally pleased with the service and its performance on the N73, and while it called the SlingPlayer "a pig to set up," it dubbed the X-Series platform "the future" of cellphones.
