With all the Black Friday deals this year, a cell phone carrier would probably be the last place on your list of places to visit.  Verizon realizes that, and is offering its Back Friday deals from Friday to Monday.  Not a bad idea for those who are busy running to other retailers, and also those who need a bit more time to decide on buying anything with a two-year contract.

Included in Verizon’s Black Friday deals is a price drop for the Gateway LT netbook.  The netbook usually runs $100 with a two-year contract but will cost only $30 for the weekend.  Also included in the deals are $10 smartphones, including both the HTC OZone and BlackBerry Pearl.  Not the newest smartphones, but for $10, not a bad option.  Not only will one be $10, but a second, identical smartphone, will be free, though will likely require a second contract.  Other deals include $30 buy-on-get-one-free feature phones like the Nokia Twist and LG Versa in addition to a $50 mail-in rebate fr the MiFi, knocking it down to $50.

Overall, the deals from Verizon aren’t too bad.  They definitely knock the price down for some decent devices.  A $30 netbook isn’t bad at all if you plan on getting one with a two-year contract.  $50 for a MiFi, even after a mail-in rebate, is a decent deal as well, and probably the most useful out of the bunch for many people.  With those exceptions, chances are you can most of the deals any other time of the year, though they might not have the buy-one-get-one-free deals, and they might come from other retailers, which can be an issue for some people.

Read [Electronista]

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The New York Times has recently begun offering a $100 off on the purchase of a new Samsung Go netbook. Of course, the catch here is that you need to become a NYT subscriber in order to get that $100 savings.

Basically, the offer is simple—become a Times Reader 2.0 subscriber and get $100 off on a Samsung Go netbook.
The Times Reader 2.0 subscription will set you back $179.40 for a one-year subscription and then you will get your “Times Reader Coupon” which will entitle you to purchase the Samsung Go by way of J&R for $279.99.

In terms of the netbook, feature wise it has a 10.1-inch display, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive and is running Windows XP Home.

All things considered, this is not that bad of a deal, assuming you were already planning on becoming a Times Reader 2.0 subscriber. That said, I would not subscribe just to save the $100 on the netbook. Of course, if this was on a more portable, or more reading focused device such as an ebook reader I may be more enticed.

Read [Times Reader] Via [GottaBeMobile]

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I first saw the LG X120 netbook back in January of this year during CES, and although it looked to be a decent offering design wise there were a few points that kept me from really being interested. First, it was nothing out of the ordinary in terms of specs, and second it was not available here in the US.

That said, things change with time, and although the specs have remained the same as when I first saw the X120, it is now going to be available here in the US.

So moving on, the fortunate or unfortunate part here, depending on who you ask is that the LG X120 will be tied to AT&T. In other words, it is coming 3G-equipped, and that means it will require an AT&T DataConnect plan.

Anyway, the X120 will be found exclusively at Radio Shack and will set you back $179.99. And as I mentioned, the DataConnect plan is required, which means you will sign a two-year agreement at $60 a month.

Feature wise, the X120 has a 10.1-inch display, 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive and is running Windows XP. The one nice part here is that the X120 also features the SmartOn interface which means you can boot up and connect quickly.

Basically, if you are looking for a subsidized netbook then this appears to be a nice option, but at the same time I have to offer just three words of advise; “Get a MiFi.”

Keep reading to check out the full press release…

LG Netbook Debuts Revolutionary SmartOn Interface That Takes a Shortcut to the Fun Stuff and Puts Users at the Center of Their Social Universe

AT&T’s 3G Mobile Broadband Service to Help People Stay Connected

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/—LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) announced today the newest addition to their innovative product line-up with the launch of the LG X120 netbook. The first of its kind from LG, the LG X120 delivers the benefits of netbook functionality and gives users a shortcut to the fun stuff with a unique SmartOn(TM) interface that makes staying connected faster, easier and just seconds away. Available at RadioShack, the LG X120 is the perfect computing companion for social networkers, college students and young professionals on the go.

Weighing only 2.8lbs, the slim and stylish LG X120 provides the computing power of a laptop with the freedom of a mobile device. Equipped with an innovative SmartOn interface that loads in seconds, the LG netbook connects to web and photos, instant messaging and MP3 player with just the touch of a button. Designed with a sleek white matte exterior and fashionable blue trim, the LG X120 delivers 7 hours of battery life and built-in AT&T 3G wireless connectivity. Users can explore the internet, update blogs and download music from just about anywhere, anytime on the nation’s fastest 3G network.

The LG netbook also features 1GB RAM and 160GB hard drive that offers users ultimate storage space for music, photos and gaming while a generous 10.1” screen with crystal clear LED backlighting creates a viewing experience perfect for watching videos and reading e-mails while on the run. A built-in 1.3 megapixel camera and HD stereo speakers provide clear, more precise video chatting and conferencing with friends and colleagues.

“We created the LG X120 to allow consumers to stay connected on their own terms,” said Ehtisham Rabbani, vice president of product strategy and marketing for LG Mobile Phones. “The SmartOn button puts consumers seconds away from the fun stuff such as showing off your vacation photos or picking your fantasy football line-up.”

LG X120 also includes a traditional start up feature booting the complete Windows XP Operating system that allows users to plan a budget or build a basic presentation on professionally based applications. No longer limited to Wi-Fi hotspots, 3G HSDPA provides on-the-go connectivity giving users instant access to all the tools that keep them connected and make them unique.

The LG netbook will be available at select Radio Shack stores nationwide and online at www.RadioShack.com for $179.99 with a 2-year AT&T DataConnect service agreement, a $60 monthly 5GB plan. AT&T DataConnect subscribers also receive access to AT&T Wi-Fi service, which includes more than 20,000 Hot Spots nationwide.

Limited-time offer. Other conditions & restrictions apply. See contract, rate plan brochure and rebate form at store for details. Subscriber must live & have a mailing address within AT&T’s owned wireless network coverage area. Up to $36 activation fee applies. Equipment price & availability may vary by market & may not be available from independent retailers. Early Termination Fee: None if cancelled in the first 30 days, but a restocking fee may apply; thereafter up to $175.

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Anyone looking for a deal on a netbook may want to check out one of the latest offerings coming courtesy of Dell. The netbook that is on sale is the Dell Vostro A90 and can be purchased for just $184.

Of course, there are a few points that may cause people to think twice—this particular model is running Ubuntu 8.04 and has a smaller (8.9-inch) display. Otherwise, the features are pretty much the netbook standard. The Vostro A90 sports an 8.9-inch display with a 1024 x 600 resolution, an Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 8GB SSD drive, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and a 4-cell battery.

All things considered, this is certainly not the best, fastest or most powerful netbook available, but for $184 it seems like it would make a nice addition to someones living room. Its always nice to have that extra PC laying around for the kids or guests.

Of course, getting back to that one point—Ubuntu 8.04—personally I would suggest switching this over to the latest version of Ubuntu Netbook Remix or Jolicloud, both of which are available for free and also supported on the A90.

Product [Dell] Via [Liliputing]

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After a few months of speculation, Google today finally decided to show us just what Chrome OS is going to be.  Contrary to what some were hoping, there is no real beta to be had as of now, and Google doesn’t expect to have one for another year.  What we do get today, is an outline of what Google is trying to do with the new OS, and what it would do.

First thing you need to know about Chrome OS, as Google stated before, is that as of now it is mainly focused at secondary computers like netbooks and laptops.  The idea behind Chrome OS is that it will launch in seconds, bringing you straight to the Internet before most computers even boot.  The entire OS is based around the Internet, including all of the apps.  There will be no apps actually stored on Chrome OS, instead all of your apps will be web apps.  There’s no need, according to Google to store anything on the netbook, the main focus is to use Chrome OS as a secondary computer to access web apps and the Internet.

While there is no beta as of now, it is possible to compile your own version of Chromium OS, as the source code was put up today just prior to the Chrome OS event (Chromium is the open-source, developer-focused section of Chrome).  There are instructions on how to compile the OS from source.  It might be a bit long and confusing for some, and it does require a Linux OS to compile it, but it looks to be a worthwhile weekend project if you happen to have a netbook with an SSD to wipe.  While there are certainly arguments for and against having an OS that is only a browser if anyone can pull it off, it might be Google.  Either way, I know I’ll be spending part of my weekend compiling code to try it out.

Read [Official Google Blog]

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SquareTrade set off an ambitious study to compare netbooks and laptops failure rates of their customers.  SquareTrade provides warranties on electronics as an aftermarket sale, so when something fails, they should know, right?  Their study shows Asus and Toshiba tops the list in reliability but just how reliable are these devices?

The study performed by SquareTrade included laptops with sales over 1,000 units in an attempt to provide statistical significance.  Unfortunately, we don’t know if there were 1,001 Asus machines vs 11,000 HP (who scored worst in the study).  So there is some wriggle room.  Overall, the 3-year malfunction rate for Asus is 15.6% while HP was 25.6%. 

The study also shed light on some other interesting questions.  What is more reliable: netbooks or laptops?  The study’s answer is in the 3-year range, netbooks have a 25.1% malfunction rate while laptops score 20.6% and premium laptops rate 18.1%.  In short, the more you spend, the more reliable you gear is.

Overall, 1 in 5 laptops fail in the first three years.  The brand info is interesting but take it with a grain of salt.

Study page: [SquareTrade]

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While phone freaks are all up in arms about Dell’s decision to launch the Mini 3 touchscreen smartphone in China and Brazil before even mentioning when it will come home to the US, an Android-powered tablet, called Streak, looks to be headed to AT&T next year according to the Commercial Times.

Geek.com says not only will one tablet hit the US carrier next year but the company is hard at work on multiple screen sizes as well.  This news comes on the back of CNN Money discussing the rumored Apple tablet as if it were coming and we should hold back some cash for when it does come.

Unfortunately, Commercial Times doesn’t hold a good track record.  Earlier this year, the paper predicted an Apple tablet would be shown off in Q3.  That, of course, didn’t happen.

The Dell shown here raises some big questions.  Would an internet tablet of similar size to the iPod touch sell with an always-on connection?  If so, wouldn’t AT&T tap Apple to get the iPod on the network?  A knee-jerk response would say no, AT&T doesn’t want to detract from iPhone sales, right?  Well, if that is case, going with #2 Android tablet would circumvent cannibalized iPhone sales but then they are stuck pedaling products the compete with the market leader.

$30 a month for data sounds like a lot for the iPod touch crowd.  Especially if they are already paying for a cell phone and broadband at home.  What do you think?  Let us know in the comments.

Read:[Geek.com] and [DigiTimes]

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Now preferred to be known as the Shack, Radio shack is offering the Acer Aspire One, A0751h-1279, for $100 less on Black Friday.  This netbook will sell for $249 instead of $349.  This model has some noteworthy upgrades over other notebooks.

Introduced back in May of this year, the Aspire One A0751h-1279 comes close to meeting the expectations of a typical laptop.  The screen on the A0751h-1279 is 11.1 inches vs. 10 inches for most netbooks.  Pre-loaded with Windows Vista, users will find 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive.

David Coursey of PCMag reviewed the Aspire One and had this to say on the form factor:
“The larger keyboard works for my large hands while the bigger screen may be easier on my post-age-40 eyes. The weight and battery life are important too, as I can carry this machine in my briefcase without a heavy power supply, in many cases, and not notice the added load. Again, what’s not to like?”

Coursey goes on to lament netbook makers place as they up-end the laptop market by providing machines for what people do most: web surf, easy word processing, one task at a time use.  Users who stick to these tasks might fall in love with the Aspire One.  For users demanding more power, look elsewhere.

The news breaks from notebooks.com but offers not sources for the info.

Read: [Notebooks.com]

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I cannot stress one device enough—a MiFi. They allow you to take a 3G connection with you and share it with up to 5 devices at any time and they can be found with Verizon Wireless and Sprint.

That said, there must be something to these 3G-enabled netbooks because the new offerings keep coming in.

The latest is the Samsung Go netbook, which is heading to AT&T on November 22.

As of now, neither Samsung or AT&T have announced the pricing, but feature wise the Samsung Go will offer users a 10.1-inch display, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive.

Additionally, the Samsung Go netbook weighs in at 2.8-pounds and will come with a 4-cell battery that is said to offer up to 4 hours of battery life. Finally, the Samsung Go will be available with the midnight blue exterior.

Read [Samsung]

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The Samsung X120 with Intel’s new ULV chip got a hands-on and the result: there is lots to love.  It is small, not much bigger than a netbook, packs lots of computing power (it can handle Windows 7) and a multi-touch trackpad.

The hands-on demo came up with a battery life of just 2.5 hours, troubling as the official spec is 4 hours but a six cell battery is available for a suggested 9 hours of run time.  The notebook also boasts a 3-in-1 card reader as well as a HDMI input/output so you can connect to your high-def TV with ease.

Mobile Computer Mag is smitten with the device.  In the UK, it sells for £470.  Word is Samsung has not decided to ship this unit to the US yet.

Read: [MobileComputer]

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Despite not hearing much in terms of the OLPC project recently it seems that they are still seeing their fair share of success. According to Walter Bender they have topped one million downloads on Sugar Labs.

“I had been meaning to mention that already several weeks ago we exceeded one-million downloads from activities.sugarlabs.org. We are now over 1.1 million.”

Of course, it should be pointed out that the one million number does not really represent individual users, but total downloads. But still reaching, or in this case, topping one million downloads is still impressive.

With that, it does make you wonder just where the OLPC project is going, and thanks to a recent New York Times article we are being given a look at just that. It seems that we are going to see the release of the OLPC 1.5 sometime next month. Which, the OLPC 1.5 will be the follow up to the current XO1. According to the details, the OLPC 1.5 will offer “double the speed and four times more memory.”

It was also noted that a future model is currently in development that will come “with double screens to enable several kids to work on each one.”

And for those wondering, as of now nothing has been mentioned in regards to another round of the G1G1 program for 2009.

Read [New York Times] and [Walter Bender] Via [OLPC News]

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Courtesy of a Best Buy Reward Zone member advertisement, we now know that the Nokia Booklet 3G will be available as of November 15. Which is of course much nicer than the previous time frame of sometime during the holidays.

For those interested, the Booklet 3G will set you back $299.99, but that price does required a two year commitment. Otherwise, those looking to make the purchase contract free can expect to pay the full retail price of $599.99. And yes, for good or bad that contract is with AT&T.

Additionally, although we did know many of the details and features surrounding the Booklet 3G, except the actual release, I did at least get a nice little chuckle from the

“Windows 7 operating system is crazy fast”

comment in the ad. Crazy fast, really? That is the best they can do.

Anyway, for those waiting, well for those that are also a Reward Zone member, you can now head out to Best Buy and get your pre-order in.

Read [Nokia Mobile Blog]

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Finding a new way to store power in our mobile devices has been a problem for quite some time.  We’ve been stuck with Lithium-Ion batteries for a while now, and unless a device is using ULV or is a netbook, chances are the battery life could be a lot better.  There’s been promises of several types of new battery tech recently, but none has really taken off.  Now yet another new possibility has come as the replacement for the Lithium-Ion.

The new technology is called Metal-Air Ionic Liquid.  It works by conducting electricity through an ionic liquid salt.  Without getting into too much detail, it means that batteries can be made with metals heavier than the zinc used in zinc-air batteries.  To put it into perspective to Lithium-Ion batteries, one kilogram or MAIL can hold about 11 times more watt-hours than the same weight of Lithium-Ions.  The main idea of MAIL batteries will be for cars, but they could easily benefit our laptops can netbooks.

The promise of being able to hold up to about 11 times the charge of a Lithium-Ion battery could easily mean that our laptops and netbooks can last for close to a day, or even multiple days.  It will probably be a while before we start seeing anything with MAIL batteries, but it might be worth the wait.  With Intel pushing it’s ULV chipsets, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see standard laptops running for days at a time when combined with MAIL.  We can only hope that this, like so many other battery improvements, doesn’t end up falling away into obscurity or becomes to unfeasible.

Read [jkOnTheRun] Read [Electronista]

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Call it karma or something else, the interesting relationship between Microsoft and Gizmodo continues to yield exclusive looks at the leaked tablet.  Microsoft’s Courier was shown by the site in a video and now that video has been sliced to show how users interact with the Courier.

The user interface highlights different fingerswipes, tablet functionality such as geotagging and timestamping, camera focusing and cropping, handwriting recognition, ereader capabilities and more.  The main purpose of this device looks to be “life” as the product seems to touch on many aspects.  Clearly, this tablet is built for more than just surfing the web or playing some games.

Gizmodo shows off several images with user options and actions on each page.  It is interested, but if you saw the video then you might have expected much of this.  The pages look like little more than still images from the video, giving us no indication how far from reality this is.

Read: [Gizmodo]

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If there’s one thing we can all agree we hate about cell phone contracts, it would have the be the Early Termination Fee.  The ETF has long been the bane of anyone who cannot stick to a single phone or carrier for any extended period of time.  Up until now they’ve ranged anywhere from about $175 to $200, but for some Verizon Wireless customers that’s about to change.

Starting November 15th, Verizon Wireless will be raising the ETF for devices like smartphones and netbooks to $350.  That number will decrease by $10 for every month or service, so even if you want out of the contract at month 23 you’ll have to pay $120.  The reason for the change makes sense for Verizon, smartphones and netbooks cost much more than feature phones do.  Verizon subsidizes the phones, and makes it’s money back through the monthly payments.  A smartphone that costs the buyer $99, like the BlackBerry Bold or upcoming Droid Eris, is paying much less than what Verizon paid for the phone, so this is really just Verizon trying to make that money back.

No matter how much business sense it makes, the change won’t make consumers any happier.  The ETF is already frustrating enough, and there are those who don’t want to be stuck with the same smartphone on the same network for two years.  Especially not Verizon’s network which until the Droid has had fairly poor choices of smartphones.  Of course there are those who don’t mind having the same phone on the same carrier for two years who won’t be affected.  It’s likely this give customers even more reason to stick with their plans until they run out, or just not use Verizon.

Read [USA Today]

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Redfly makes a small, instant on netbook-size device that brings your small phone screen to a bigger screen complete with larger keyboard.  Redfly has worked with Windows Mobile phones for some time and now the company announces BlackBerry support.  For users that needs more than the small keyboard and screen a phone offers, this could be a life-saver.

Available in both 7” and 8” models, the Redfly connects to your WinMo or BB smartphone allowing you to bang out emails even faster.  Browsing the web is also possible, though reviewers were not so happy with the results.  Redfly can be used with the BlackBerry Bold 9000, BlackBerry Curve 8900 and BlackBerry Tour 9630.

We’d suggest this device for those who travel often and could use just a little more space.  We’d love the device to be a lot thinner (think Macbook Air thin) a bigger keyboard and a bit more upscale look.  If you are going after business class, you can’t look like economy.  That’s just my opinion though.

There is a contingent that believes this is the wave of the future.  Palm thought this but was ahead of the curve and pulled the program before launching.  As our phones become more powerful and capable, connecting to them seems logical.  To get on the wave, you’ll need $200 or $250 for the 7” and 8” respectively.  Or you can try to win one from Crackberry here.

Read: [Brighthand]

Image credit: Brighthand

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Sprint has announced it will begin offering a mobile broadband equipped Dell Inspiron Mini 10 in select markets across the country.  The netbook is similar to those already offered by Verizon and AT&T and comes with a built in EVDO Rev.A wireless service. It weighs just over 2.5lbs, offers a bright 10 inch screen, 160GB HDD, 1GB of RAM, and in addition to the built in broadband, includes Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11g connectivity.

“Dell Inspiron Mini 10 is a fun way to easily access the speeds of Sprint’s network to catch-up on email, surf the Web and more,” said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president – Product Development, Sprint. “We are excited to add this great Dell product to our industry-leading portfolio of devices available from Sprint that work on America’s most dependable 3G network. It offers an affordable way to stay in touch and stay connected.”

Sprint is offering the netbook for $199 after a $100 mail in rebate and requires you sign up for their $59.99 a month data plan as well, which comes with a 5GB cap.  Since Dell sells the Mini for $299 on their website it may not be the best deal for your buck.  A data card will give you the freedom to use it with any device you want rather than being locked into a single one, and Sprint’s Mi-Fi portable access point allows up to 5 devices to share the connection.

Still, if you’re in the market for a netbook and mobile broadband anyway and don’t mind being locked to once device, it’s worth checking out.  Sprint’s data service is among the best in the business.  For now, Sprint is only offering the Dell Mini in Baltimore, Phoenix, Indianapolis, the Twin Cities and the Bay Area, but it wouldn’t be unrealistic to see it become available nationwide as the holiday season unfolds.

Read [Business Wire]

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Only one week removed from the release of Windows 7 we have yet another new operating system.  Canonical today released the newest version of its popular Linux distribution, Ubuntu 9.10 “Karmic Koala.”  The new version doesn’t pack in as many changes as an X.04 update does, but it does have more stability and more refined features than the previous version, Jaunty Jackalope.

Perhaps the biggest improvement with Ubuntu 9.10 is the inclusion of Ubuntu One.  Ubuntu One is essentially Ubuntu’s version of Dropbox with some MobileMe-esque syncing included for good measure.  It allows for 2GB of online storage, public sharing of files, syncing of Tomboy Notes and contact syncing, all for free.  The service can be upgraded to 50GB for $10 a month, just like Dropbox.  Other features include faster, prettier boot-ups, improved sound control across applications, and improved battery usage for Ubuntu Netbook Remix.

Karmic Koala, while not exactly featuring a lot of new things, promises to be a great upgrade or a good starting point for new users.  Contrary to popular belief, Ubuntu Linux is actually quite simple to use, some might even say it’s easier to understand that Mac OS X for those who only ever used Windows.  While Windows 7 is certainly a good OS, it might be worth the 25 minutes to install Ubuntu, or just use VirtualBox to try it out.  If nothing else, the Ubuntu Netbook Remix is worth a shot for anyone tired of trying to run XP on a netbook and doesn’t want to try and instal 7 onto it.  The interface is incredibly simple, and uses Firefox, so it shouldn’t be too foreign.  If nothing else, its a decent way to change up your netbook experience while waiting for Chrome OS.

Read [Ubuntu]

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If you’ve been issued a laptop from your company, thoughts of how to turn this quasi-mobile device into a passable workstation immediately springs to mind.  Logitech answers the call with their MK605 Notebook Kit.  The kit includes some smart parts to make your in the office time a bit more bearable.

The Logitech kit includes a wireless keyboard, wireless mouse and notebook riser.  The wireless keyboard features a number pad for banging through spreadsheets, the mouse is classic M505 and the riser helps put the laptop or keyboard at angle more suitable.  The kit costs a manager-agreeable $99 and is available now.

Product page: [Logitech] via [Uncrate]

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Today, as you probably already know, is the release of Windows 7.  The day comes not only with the new OS, but with a number of new computers to go along with the release.  One of the biggest features is that Windows 7, unlike Vista, works fairly well on netbooks, which means today there’s a few new netbooks being released.  It only makes sense then, that the cellular networks would take advantage of it.

Verizon Wireless has announced that it is now carrying two new HP netbooks that are released today.  The new netbooks are the HP Mini 311-1037NR and the HP Mini 110-1046NR.  The Mini 110 is a standard netbook running Windows XP, while the Mini 311 runs Windows 7.  The Mini 110 will sell for $199 and the Mini 311 will sell for $249, both after a $100 mail-in rebate.  The extra $50 will get you an extra GB of RAM (The 311 has 2GB, compared to 1GB) in addition to the upgraded OS.  The plans for both are the same as the current Verizon Wireless netbook plans, which is to say expensive.

It’s great to see that Verizon is supporting the new OS on day one so users don’t have to try to find a way to get 7 to work nicely with the network after upgrading.  What would be nice, would be if Verizon lowered the price of the data. $60 a month for 5 GB of data is not a good deal at all.  Plus, its locking users into the same netbook for two years.  It might just make more sense to get a new Windows 7 netbook with a Sprint MiFi.  There’s no usage caps, you can upgrade the netbook, and the data is usable by more than just the one device.

Read [PR Newswire]

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The notebooks riding the Windows 7 train continues as we now have an announcement coming courtesy of Toshiba.  I should also point out that a few of these latest models from Toshiba will also have a touchscreen displays.

Touchscreen models

Lets begin with the new touchscreen display models, these are the Satellite M505 and the Satellite U505 notebooks, both of which feature widescreen TruBrite TFT touchscreen displays.  They M505 will have a 14-inch display and also be HD while the U505 is slightly smaller at 13.3-inches.  Other features of the new touchscreen Satellite notebooks include Windows 7 Home Premium, 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processors, Intel 4500MHD Graphics Media Accelerators, 4GB of RAM, 500GB hard drives, slot-loading SuperMulti DVD optical drives, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Ethernet, HDMI-CEC, two USB 2.0 ports, a combo eSATA/USB port, 6-cell batteries and more.

As far as pricing and availability for these two models, the M505 will be available on October 22 with prices starting at $949.99, and the U505 will come a little later on November 1 and have a starting price of $1,049.99.

Updated models

Moving on, Toshiba has also updated their existing models including the NB200 series netbooks as well as the Satellite U500, M500, A500, P500, L500 and T100 series notebooks.  These models include notebooks ranging in size from 13.3 up to 18.4-inches and are priced (starting) from $449.99 and going up to $799.99.  Additionally, the NB200 netbook series is priced from $399.99 with a 10.1-inch display.

Toshiba has also updated the Qosmio X500 series which are priced at $1,1449.99 and $1,899.99 for the 18.4-inch X505-Q830 and the 18.4-inch X50-Q850 respectively.

Finally, these latest notebook and netbook updates will be available beginning October 22, which is the same as the earlier mentioned Satellite M505 notebook.

Keep on reading to check out the full press release…

Toshiba Satellite, Qosmio Laptops and Netbooks to Feature Windows 7
Laptops to Meet Every Need and Budget Feature New Stylish Color Options and Latest Processors from Intel and AMD

IRVINE, Calif. – Oct. 14, 2009 – Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced its line of Satellite and Qosmio consumer laptops will be available with Windows® 7 beginning October 22. The new line of versatile laptops, pre-installed with Windows 7, are designed to match every budget, with the latest processors and spacious storage, in a wide range of screen sizes and styled for every taste.
“From faster performance and extended battery life to simplified navigation and connectivity to new ways to share media, Windows 7 greatly enhances the PC experience,” said Carl Pinto, vice president of product development, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. “With Windows 7 and our new laptops, people can get exactly what they want, innovations they can see and touch, at prices they can afford.”
Toshiba’s range of consumer laptops with Windows 7 Home Premium includes the following:
Compact and Stylish: Satellite® U500 Series
The Satellite U500 Series are not just lightweight, highly mobile laptops, they are a fashion statement. With a vivid 13.3-inch high-def diagonal widescreen display, a unique textured finish on the outside and impressive multimedia performance on the inside with dual-core Intel® processors, these ultraportables fuse function with style and travel well with great battery life and a starting weight of just 5 pounds. The Satellite U500 Series will be available in four color finishes to match your personal style – Luxe Red, White, Pink and Brown. A touch-screen model is also available. Pricing starts at $698.99 MSRP.
More information and detailed specifications about the Satellite U500 Series can be found at laptops.toshiba.com/thenewU500.
Multimedia on the Go: Satellite M500 Series
The Satellite M500 Series are versatile, upscale multimedia performance laptops for work and play for home users, students and mobile enthusiasts. With Toshiba’s Fusion™ Finish with Sonic Pattern in new Red Onyx and White Onyx finishes as well as the original Black Onyx, this laptop packages performance-class technology with a 14-inch diagonal high-def LED backlit display perfect for enjoying digital media and entertainment. A touch-screen configuration is also available. Pricing starts at $699.99 MSRP.
More information and detailed specifications about the Satellite M500 Series can be found at laptops.toshiba.com/thenewM500.
High Definition Entertainment: Satellite A500 Series
Perfect for home users and tech enthusiasts, the Satellite A500 Series are entertainment-packed performance laptops that combine performance-class processing with Toshiba’s latest design elements. The sleek Satellite A500 Series features a 16-inch diagonal widescreen HD Edge-to-Edge display on select models, harman/kardon® speakers, optional Blu-ray® disc players and Fusion Finish and high capacity hard drives. Intel® Core™ 2 Duo or AMD Turion™ II Ultra processor configurations and choices of integrated or discrete graphics are also available. Pricing starts at $589.99 MSRP.
More information and detailed specifications about the Satellite A500 Series can be found at laptops.toshiba.com/thenewA500.
Desktop Replacement: Satellite P500 Series
Featuring a brilliant 18.4-diagonal widescreen HD TruBrite™ display, the Satellite P500 Series is designed with digital media enthusiasts and mainstream PC gamers in mind. The premium Satellite P500 Series offers more than an ordinary laptop. Featuring harman/kardon speakers, as well as sleek slot-loading DVD drives and Edge-to-Edge displays in select models, this high-performance desktop replacement also incorporates powerful processing muscle with either Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Turion II processors, and choices of integrated or discrete graphics. Select models also include a Blu-ray disc player and/or illuminating LED backlit keyboard. Pricing starts at $799.99 MSRP.
More information and detailed specifications about the Satellite P500 Series can be found at laptops.toshiba.com/thenewP500.
Everyday Value: Satellite L500 Series
The Satellite L500 Series laptops are ideal for students, home users and anyone looking to enjoy digital media, staying productive, connecting online or casual gaming. Satellite L500 Series laptops are available with either a 14-, 15.6-, 16- and 17.3-inch diagonal display sizes and come equipped with powerful processor options from Intel and AMD, including the new Turion II and Athlon™ II, hard drives ranging from 250GB to 500GB and Toshiba’s popular Fusion Finish. Starting prices range from $504.99 to $579.99 MSRP.
More information and detailed specifications about the Satellite L500 Series can be found at laptops.toshiba.com/thenewL500.
Also to include Windows 7 Home Premium are Toshiba’s recently announced ultra-thin Satellite T100 Series laptops (starting at $449.99 MSRP1), which offer the performance, flexibility and functionality of a standard-sized laptop, yet in a highly portable package, and the recently announced enthusiast-class Qosmio® X500 Series line of performance laptops geared for high definition multimedia and gaming that feature the new Intel Core i7 processor and Blu-ray disc players.
Toshiba will offer the Qosmio X500 laptop in two configurations. The Qosmio X505-Q830 laptop features a stunning 18.4-inch HD TruBrite diagonal widescreen display with 1680 x 945 native resolution, a high-speed 7200RPM 320GB hard drive, 4GB of memory and is priced at $1,449.99 MSRP1. The Qosmio X505-Q850 laptop features an 18.4-inch HD TruBrite diagonal widescreen display with 1920 x 1080 native resolution, a dual hard drive configuration with a 64GB solid state drive and a high-speed 7200RPM 320GB hard drive, 6GB of memory and is priced at $1,899.99 MSRP.
Toshiba will also feature Windows 7 Starter on its popular line of netbooks.
Small in Hand, Big on Innovation: Toshiba mini NB200 Series
The follow-up to Toshiba’s award-winning, super-compact netbook is now available with Windows 7 Starter. The Toshiba mini NB205 will continue to feature a 10.1-inch diagonal widescreen display, full-sized keyboard, laptop-sized touchpad and nine-hour battery life. Toshiba will offer the mini NB205 in multiple configurations with either 160GB or 250GB hard drive configurations and a choice of five color finishes: Sable Brown, Frost White, Indigo Blue, Posh Pink and Onyx Black. Prices start at $399.99 MSRP.
More information and detailed specifications about the mini NB205 can be found at laptops.toshiba.com/thenewNB205.
Availability
The new Toshiba consumer laptops will be available at major retailers and direct from Toshiba on toshibadirect.com on October 22, 2009.

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The details on the Nokia Booklet 3G have finally dropped and they are interesting to say the least.  The Intel Atom powered laptop will cost $299 if you get it with a two year contract from AT&T.  It will run Windows 7, has GPS, Nokia Ovi store access, Wi-Fi, and, as the name says, 3G.  Buying the computer outright will cost $599.  Even with its 16-cell battery (and 12 hour battery life), computers with better stats can be had. 

Randall Bennett, Clayton Morris, and I talked over the Nokia Booklet 3G.  Who exactly is this for and is this a good idea at all?

Read: [InformationWeek]
Watch More: [TechVi.com] http://techvi.com

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Wireless charging is finally a reality.  At CTIA, PureEnergy is showing off wireless charging of popular netbooks from HP, Lenovo, Acer, and Dell.  Their product is a charging mat, much like the Powermat Iyaz reviewed on Gadgetell.  The PureEnergy product will charge up to 2 netbooks and five mobile phone simultaneously.

Typically, wireless charging involves an adapter or jacket for your gadget so it can receive the wireless power and PureEnergy offers several of these to fit popular phones as well as jackets for phones to remove a step for users.  Adding netbooks to the list of gadgets that can be charged wirelessly is a handy move.

It looks like PureEnergy’s strategy is to hook up with a carrier and provide their goods rebranded with the carrier’s name.  That could be a tough sell as carriers are very leery to add significant cost and without products designed specifically for wireless charging, like the Palm Pre, the benefit of simple wireless charging starts to fade into the background.

From Iyaz’s review of a similar product, “If you a person who carries multiple electronics or live in a house with more than one cell phone, the Powermat is pretty much a no-brainer.”

Press release: [PureEnergy]

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If there’s one boring thing about netbooks, it has to be that they all have essentially the same specs.  That will be changing soon with the Pine Trail Atom processors that Intel will be shipping soon, but that’s not enough for Colombian manufacturer Haleron.  Haleron set out to make a netbook that’s more useful to students and professionals who do a lot of multitasking, while keeping it affordable to those in South America.  The result is the Swordfish Net 102 Dual.

The Swordfish Net 102 Dual has, for the most part, standard specs: 10” screen, 4-in-1 card reader, 2 GB RAM, 3G (WCDMA) module etc.  What Haleron did differently, however, is modify the Intel M945 chipset to accept two Atom processors.  The dual processors are meant to work much like dual-core CPUs do, split the workload between the two cores to increase the efficiency of both.  What they don’t offer, however, is the Atom’s superior battery life, with Haleron claiming a three-cell battery will last two and a half hours, and a six-cell battery will last four and a half hours, neither of which are all that great.

The idea of a dual-Atom netbook, while nice at first, seems to just defeat the entire purpose.  Yeah, netbooks aren’t great for multitasking, but that hardly seems to be what they were designed to do.  A netbook is meant for using the Internet, and maybe one or two applications on top of that, which shouldn’t put too much strain on the Atom processor.  It makes more sense to just buy a small laptop if you really need to do any sort of multitasking.  The Swordfish Net 102 Dual does only cost $449, so that is a plus, and great for those who can’t afford anything better, but there’s a reason why few students have netbooks: they have other laptops that they carry around with them instead.

Read [InfoWorld]
Read [Haleron]

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With the economy still on a downturn, tech retailers are preparing for the upcoming holiday season by offering a variety of cheap gadgets.  With no hot new must have gadget this year and consumers not as willing to snap up pricey gadgets, retailers are hoping that cheap gadgets will have enough appeal to keep their sales up.

Netbooks, digital cameras, digital picture frames and speakers are some of the items retailers are hoping will be big sellers for the frugal set.  Best Buy is also hoping to cash in on the growing popularity of e-books by setting up sections in stores dedicated to several varieties of e-readers all going for less than Amazon’s Kindle.  RadioShack is offering a 7 inch portable TV for $199, and Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have all slashed prices on their video game consoles. Walmart meanwhile has dropped the price of some Blu-ray players to $99.

Some retailers, such as Sears and Kmart, are hoping their layaway programs will help encourage consumers to make some big ticket purchases.  Electronics are already the most popular items placed on layaway.  Sears also plans to follow Best Buy’s lead and offer e-readers this holiday season.

While experts agree that most consumers will be budget conscious this holiday season, and predict sales will be the second worst in 42 years, manufacturers still plan to push some high ticket items such as the new LED ultra thin TVs that go for upwards of $2000.  Vizo is hopeful its latest model, which connects to the internet and comes with a roll out keyboard, will be a hot seller but the $1700 price tag may turn off many.  Most consumers will be looking for deals on small ticket items rather than splurging.  Retailers plan to appeal to this mindset by offering BOGO deals and promoting add-ons and accessories.

What are your plans for this holiday season? Do you plan cut back on gift buying? Let us know what your holiday shopping plans are!

Read [Wall Street Journal]

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New rumored details emerged today about tablets from two competitors: Apple and Microsoft.  iLounge says they have 10 new pieces of info on Apple’s tablet while Gizmodo seems to have received yet another exclusive video detailing what Microsoft is thinking.  The two are at opposite ends of the tablet spectrum but overall, I am sensing they both miss the mark.

Apple iPad (like they’ll actually pull one out)

iLounge says Apple has been playing around with three different tablets that run iPhone OS.  That makes good sense as Apple would be foolish not to leverage the 85,000 and growing far too fast, applications currently residing in the Apple App Store.  Word is the tablet isn’t meant to compete with netbooks, rather it is more a big iPod touch with and without a 3G radio; think “light communication device”.

Windows Courier (it doesn’t run Vista, yay!)

Meanwhile, over at Gizmodo, the new video shows off how much Microsoft loves Nike.  Or at least how much the Courier team wants to design shoes.  The Courier uses a combination of inputs to move data around: finger swiping and the infamous stylus for text entry.  The double screen is right at home as a journal-like companion.  The thing looks gorgeous.

And I’m done with tablets

Here’s the rub, neither machine solves a problem.  The Apple is an extension of the iPod, the MS is trying to create another device to lug around.  Neither says, “hey you, stop carrying that [insert favorite device name here], use this instead.”  Neither makes me smack my head and say, “Hot damn, I need that.”

Yes, all the sneaker designers want the Courier and the geek in me would love to play with these gadgets, but at the end of the day, if neither product solves a problem, they’ll spend their lives behind glass.  Neither makes a compelling argument to get me to buy them.

The bigger problem is between my smartphone and PC, I don’t need a third screen.  Or at least, these incarnations don’t make it clear why I need that third screen.  Yes, it is totally unfair to judge these before even their manufacturers will confirm them, but really: why?  For surfing I don’t feel like doing on my phone, the PC is usually there.  A mid-range screen seems a bit gluttonous now, doesn’t it?

Think tablets are the next pet rocks?  Let us know if you’ll be sleeping in the street to get a hold of these, if, you know, they actually make it to market.

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

For the past year the Intel Atom processor has been the default netbook processor.  It’s small, efficient, and fast enough to run the small machines.  The next version of the Atom, code named “Pine Trail” is due out by early 2010 at the latest.  It will feature graphics on the CPU and as a result be more energy efficient.  Now it looks like Intel wants to make the Atom processors faster.

According to Intel Executive Vice President Sean Maloney, the next generation of the Atom will prove to be faster than the 1.6GHz versions we have right now.  This would put the Atom on a similar “tick-tock” routine that the other processors now follow.  The tick-tock refers to each year alternating between advancing the architecture and the manufacturing process technology.  For netbooks, however, it’s unlikely well see more than just speed increases.  As of now, dual-core Atoms use far too much power and are better suited for the nettops they call home now.

Faster Atom chips would certainly be a welcome addition to netbooks.  Sure, they’re only meant for light usage, but faster processors will make them that much better.  There are some users who treat netbooks as more than what they are and load them up with data and applications, which will cause them to run even slower than usual.  Faster Atom chips would certainly help in that regard.  Next all they need is 2 GB of RAM to be standard to go with those faster processors and perhaps netbooks could be more usable to more people.

Read [CNet News]

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The world of tech is filled of business decisions that could only be fueled by some kind of drug-induced lunacy.  This is the column that calls out the companies that might need to hit rehab.  Today, we’re looking at you, Palm, Microsoft, Verizon, and Intel.

Celebrities to move Pixis?

A lot of us in the tech community have a soft spot for Palm.  Their PDAs were an excellent execution of simplicity in technology.  Somewhere they got lost in the shuffle as smartphones came in to eat Palm’s lunch when Palm clearly had their lunch labeled with a black marker on a brown bag at the fridge of the company kitchen.  Then in a sink or swim situation back in January 2009, Palm introduced the Palm Pre with its webOS.  Many people were thrilled that Palm was on its way back.

Recently, the second webOS phone was announced, the Palm Pixi.  To promote their product, they ran a series of teaser trailers and got the phone in the hands of reviewers and the public right away.  No, wait, that did not happen.  Palm did get a bunch of celebrities to hold the Pixi.  Then Palm took pictures of the event so people will know that Palm products are da bomb, dog.  Is this going to move products?  How about landing deals with as many carriers as you can instead of wasting time that you do not have on photo ops?

Microsoft Secrecy

Pictures of the Microsoft booklet computer, the Courier, and the rumored Pink phone were floating around the web this week.  Why?  Because Microsoft is apparently the anti-Apple when it comes to security this week.  Maybe their people in charge of secrecy were sniffing glue in the corner when someone came in to swipe a PowerPoint presentation. 

Also, the Pink and the Courier crushed the spirits of the Associate Editor of Gadgetell, JG Mason, to the point where he was unable to write this column.  He is sitting in the corner mumbling about styli on the Courier and the overall cheap look of the supposed Pink phones.  Why would you need a stylus to use a computer these days?  Aren’t we living in the future with flying cars, wireless power, and monkey butlers? 

Verizon: We hate you, Palm Pre.

Way back in July 2009, Verizon was touting that they would have the Pre.  Now, it looks like it just won’t happen.

Verizon, that company with an awesome network without a superphone, thinks the Pre is not good enough for them. Why would Vz say no to the Pre?  The Pre just doesn’t sell enough.  Crazy idea, Verizon.  Maybe people do not want to buy the Pre right now because they were waiting for it to come out on another carrier.  You see, perhaps a Verizon Palm Pre would be the answer to those sales woes. 

We know that the head of Verizon is reading this - maybe you want to rethink denying the Pre. 

Intel’s Moblin

You can tell netbooks are here to stay when operating systems are tailored to them.  Microsoft Windows 7 is built to work on these underpowered machines.  Then there is Intel’s Moblin.  The initial version of this mobile Linux operating system was the exact opposite of a smash hit.  Over at the Intel Developer Forum, Intel brought out its new version of Moblin - and get this - Dell will have a netbook running Moblin soon.  Why is Intel in the software biz?  Perhaps they are just trying to tick off Microsoft to the point where Microsoft builds its own hardware using Tegra processors and ditches Intel altogether.  Wait a second.  Didn’t that happen with the Zune HD?  Would Microsoft even contemplate building machines without packing an Intel processor?  Wait, they did that with the Xbox 360. 

For those of you who think Gadgetell is on crack for doing this column without JG, he’ll be back next week. 

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The Intel Developer Forum looks to be an excuse for Intel to show off all the cool stuff they’ve been cooking up and let PC makers show off some of their products.  Of course there’s a multitude of technical sessions each day, though those probably won’t interest many people outside developers and engineers.  Today we have two new announcements from Intel: a formal announcement of new processors and a new optical cable technology as well as an interesting syncing technology.

Why the Core i7 Mobile is a big deal

The first announcement comes in form of the official announcement of the Intel Core i7 Mobile Processor.  We’ve already seen laptops that use the Core i7 Mobile and now Intel is showing it off.  According to Intel, the Core i7 Mobile will bring the power of a desktop PC to a laptop, allowing for much more complex tasks like audio mixing, multiple camera video editing, and high-end gaming.  Having seen the difference a Core i7 in a desktop can make, Intel’s claims should be more or less true.  Now all we need is for more companies to put these into laptops, a MacBook Pro with a Core i7 Mobile would be fantastic.

Light Peak to replace wires

The second announcement is Intel’s new Light Peak, a new way of connecting devices.  Those devices can include anything from peripherals, computer, hard drives, displays, and docking stations among others.  It’s all done through optical wires about the width of a human hair, which can replace any sort of wire and can even connect through current connections like USB.  Light Peak can transfer data at 10Gb/s when it will be released in 2010 and will be scalable to 100Gb/s over the next decade, which should be able to handle just about any size file with amazing speeds.

Sync computers regardless of OS

In terms of non-Intel announcements, we have Syncables which is showing off its cross-platform syncing application.  Syncables Desktop is truly cross-platform, working on Linux as well as Windows and Mac, and allows you to fully sync multiple machines.  This includes media, bookmarks, email and any other documents you want to sync.  The application also has Facebook and YouTube integration for easy uploading of media.  The company is showcasing NetworkSync at IDF, which allows for easy collaboration and streaming through any network.

Read [Intel Core i7 Mobile Processor]
Read [Intel Light Peak]
Read [Syncables]

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Today, at the Intel Developer Forum, Dell announced the new Dell Mini 10v as the first netbook to use Intel’s Moblin operating system.  Moblin is Intel’s idea of what a netbook OS should be and with the coming version 2.1, Moblin is designed for smartphones and Mobile Internet Devices as well.  With the OS receiving so much attention, it might be worth knowing just what exactly it is.

What’s Moblin?

As mentioned above, Moblin is meant to run exclusively on devices with smaller screens and less processing power.  There isn’t much to find in the current build that isn’t somehow based on cloud computing.  It can pull in data from a variety of sources on the main screen, whether it be a Twitter feed, RSS feed, or web-based calendar.  It also has a strong media base, with the OS designed for easy navigation of all media on the device and other devices connected to your wireless network.

Moblin 2.0

While this is Moblin 2.0, which is still in beta, it’s only now that it reaches a state that anyone would want to use.  To say 1.0 was slow to start is an understatement.  Sure, the community behind the project supported it, but there was nobody else using it.  Even now it’s not the greatest choice for everyone. 

What will be the netbook OS of choice?

Having tried Moblin 2.0 several times, it just doesn’t seem as the best option.  The interface, to me, is quite clumsy, and it chokes when displaying any webpage with flash on my Eee PC 901.  With Intel behind it, there is a lot of promise, though it just doesn’t seem as desirable as Jolicloud (the battery hog that is is).  Perhaps it might work better on the next generation of Atom chips, but for now the flash issue kills it for me, and also the fact that with such little storage I have no media to really consume on my netbook.  If you’re still looking for the perfect Linux for your netbook, it’s worth a shot. Having major PC manufacturers shipping it on netbooks is certainly a good sign of the support to come.

Read [Engadget]
Read [Moblin Project]

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The Intel Core i7 laptops keep coming.  Toshiba just announced its new Qosmio X500 series laptops with the Core i7 that will arrive on October 22, 2009 (a.k.a. Windows 7 launch day).  What’s the rundown on this new series?  Blu-ray drives, a monster 18.4-inch screen, harman/kardon speakers, HDMI out, DDR3 RAM, NVIDIA’s GeForce GTS 250M with 1GB of VRAM, also a configuration with 2 hard drives will be available if you want lots of space.  Plainly, Toshiba is going after gamers and folks who like movies on their laptops.  The multi-touch trackpad has gesture support and seeing as this is a giant of a machine, there is a number pad as well.  Pricing info will be available on October 13, 2009.  Hang tight.

*[Update] We just found out that he Qosmio will start under $1500.  How much under?  We don’t know yet.  Stay tuned. 

Product site: [Toshiba Qosmio Line]

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Today began the Intel Developer Forum, a chance for Intel and a number of other companies to debut their newest computer technology.  It’s the perfect opportunity to see what’s coming up next in terms of computer hardware and will likely see a lot of new Windows 7 machines throughout the conference.  Today, as the opening day, saw a lot of announcements during the keynote presentation.

The biggest announcement for Intel looks to be the new Intel Xeon 5500 series of processors.  Intel is saying these new chips will power everything from the Internet to research oriented supercomputers.  They look to be quite fast and smart enough to clock the multiple cores to handle the task at hand through the new Intel Turbo Boost Technology.  Intel is saying the chip series is the most important processor innovation since the Intel Pentium Pro which was released nearly 15 years ago.

For processors, Intel also brought on stage a wafer of its 22nm chips that are due for release in 2011.  The technology is said to push Moore’s Law further than some have thought possible with the scaling wall nowhere in sight.  The new technology would allow for 2.9 billion transistors in the area of a fingernail and will make for even faster, more efficient computers.

In terms of more pressing consumer matters, Intel has announced the new Intel Atom Developer Program.  The program is meant to draw developers into making apps for netbooks and later MIDs and smartphones that use Intel Atom processors.  The idea is that the program will create more applications that are designed to fit on netbook-sized screens, and will be cross-platform using platforms like Silverlight and Flash.  Some companies like Acer are planning on putting app stores for such apps onto future netbooks.  It’s not clear why that is needed, however, as the idea of netbooks always seemed more like a portable web browser and maybe word processor, apps seem like they could be redundant or rarely used.

Read [Xeon 5500 series]
Read [Intel Atom Developer Program]
Read [22nm chips (PDF Link)]

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The MSI Wind, a favorite for Hackintosh enthusiasts, has a new model out called the Wind U110 ECO.  MSI touts the battery life at over 15 hours on a 9-cell battery.  The specs are pretty much what you expect out of a netbook these days: Intel Atom processor (1.60GHz), 10-inch display at 1024 x 600 resolution, webcam, and a 160GB hard drive.  This model has 802.11 b/g/n for Wi-Fi, so you can get some nice speeds on this machine if you have a N router.  At 3.2 pounds and 1.24-inches at its thickest point, this netbook stays on the thin and light side even with the 9-cell battery.  The Wind U110 ECO costs $429.99 and comes in any color you want as long as that color is silver. 

Company Site: [MSI US]

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Welcome back to InterrupTech where we catch you up on the most important tech stories.  This week there’s plenty to cover:

• HP’s new Envy13 and Envy15 are here.
• HP’s not-a-tablet HP DreamScreen.
• All HP news at Gadgetell.com.
• Kindle book outsells hardcover.
• Facebook tops 300 million users and will be profitable soon.
• Microsoft drops the ball on the Zune again.
• Android gaining some steam in the tech world.

The best part about the show?  Topics move quickly, but if you don’t like a topic, just skip it.  Keep an eye on that timer to help you along.  Enjoy the show.

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The New York Office of the Attorney General has announced Dell will pay $4 million to settle a lawsuit the AG filed against it back in 2007.  The suit accused Dell of misleading customers by making false promises of cheap financing and refusing to honor rebates and warranties.  In May of last year, the New York State Supreme Court found the company guilty of fraud, false advertising, abusive debt collection practices, and deceptive business practices.

Along with the settlement, Dell is required to disclose detailed information about the level of service their customers will receive and the percentage of customers that qualify for low cost financing.

“Today’s announcement is the final step in ensuring New Yorkers harmed by Dell’s deceptive and illegal business practices are fully compensated,” said Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo said in a statement announcing the settlement.

If you are a New York resident you can go online to the AG’s website and file an application for restitution.

Read [PCWorld]

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HP is pushing the limits on what a “mini” is with an 11.6-inch HD screen on the Mini 311, but it’s a looker.  Additionally, HP has built a budget and style conscious laptop called the Pavilion DM3 that goes for under $600 and it’s under 1-inch thick and weighs only 4.2 pounds.  How do these new notebooks look in real life?  Take a look.

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

HP introduced the HP Mini 110 designed by Studio Tord Boontje to go after the fashion conscious (and budget conscious) netbook user.  On the other side, HP also introduced the ProBook 5130m, a laptop designed for the very mobile business person.  Take a look at these laptops getting manhandled by Gadgetell.

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Vivian Tam has company.  HP has just introduced a brand new fashion netbook, this time designed by Studio Tord Boontje.  The pattern is applied in multiple layers - the more you look, the more you see.  HP calls it “HP Imprint 3D” and the “industry’s first three-dimensional surface technology.”  It’s actually a pretty cool effect.  Think of the old Apple iBooks with the clear shell with a pattern on the case, a pattern on the inside of the plastic, and a pattern on the front of the plastic shell and you can sort of picture the HP Imprint 3D.  What’s the pattern?  A design of of plant life and endangered animals is on this white-on-white artwork.  There are also 15 wallpapers included designed by Tord Boontje.  The Vivian Tam HP was criticized for a high price tag.  That won’t happen here.  The HP Mini 110 by Studio Tord Boontje will start at $399.  There will also be a line of companion mice and bags to match the design. 

Company Site: [HP.com]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

How’s this for a set of specs?  An 11.6-inch display with 1366 x 768 resolution powered by NVIDIA ION, HDMI out, 3.22 pounds, 1.60 GHz Intel Atom, 1GB of DDR3 RAM, and 6 hours of battery life at $399.  Sounds pretty good to me.  The downsides: this netbook still can’t handle streaming HD video, there is no wireless n (only b/g), some crapware is preinstalled like AOL Portal and MSN Toolbar.  Then again, at that price, it’s hard to complain. 

Selected Specs:
• Processor: Intel Atom Processor N720
• Memory: 1024MB DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm), Max supported = 3072MB
• Graphics: NVIDIA ION LE for Windows XP with up to 319MB total graphics memory
• Networking: 802.11b/g, 10/100 NIC
• Card reader: 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, or xD Picture cards
• Connectors: 3 USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, 1 VGA (15-pin), RJ -45 (LAN)

Company Site: [HP.com]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Netbooks are so 2008.  Get ready for the new wave of must-have devices dubbed “smartbooks.”  These smartbooks are small netbook sized devices running on ARM microprocessors used in smartphones.  Why would you build such a beast?  They’re cheap.

According to PC World, Foxconn is developing less than five different models of these inexpensive devices that aim to be in the $100- $200 range.  Young Liu, special assistant to the CEO at Foxconn was quoted by the magazine as saying, “that’s a lot lower than a netbook,” he said. “There will be a lot of demand for a sub-$200 device.”

The assistant said demand was coming out of China and other places where these cost-sensitive devices might have the biggest impact.  Users can expect basic functionality, WiFi, and slower processing speeds.  The screen size would be in the 7-10 inch range.

Others have shown plans for similar smartbooks at last June’s Computex.  Largely, these are built for other manufacturers and will be rebranded.  Foxconn is the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer.

Read: [PC World]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »