Dell XPS 17 3D: Speedy, and in Stereo

It seems like only yesterday that a Dell XPS 17 last passed through the PCWorld Labs, yet here we have another one. That always seems to happen when a new CPU generation launches. Toss a capable GPU and 3D stereoscopic capability into the new model, and you have a feature-rich desktop replacement.

The XPS 17 3D reviewed here ships with an Intel Core i7 2820QM clocking in at 2.30GHz but capable of pushing to a full 3.4GHz in Turbo Boost mode. This is one of Intel's latest quad-core processors built on the new Sandy Bridge architecture's 32nm manufacturing process. It's a major improvement over past Intel quad-core mobile CPUs, offering faster clocks, more robust power management, and overall better performance.

The display provides the 120Hz refresh rate and IR emitter necessary for stereoscopic 3D. We used it with an aftermarket set of Nvidia's 3DVision glasses, and everything works quite well. Driving the display is an Nvidia GeForce GT 555M mobile GPU. Dell has beefed up the resolution of the display to true 1080p.

Most of the other features are comparable to those of the earlier XPS 17, including dual hard drives, four USB ports (the two on the rear are USB 3.0 capable), 802.11n, a Blu-ray drive, and both HDMI and mini-DisplayPort digital video output connectors.

Our test system's performance in standard desktop apps was stellar, producing one of the highest scores we've seen from a laptop on WorldBench 6, an impressive mark of 151. The new Intel CPU, coupled with a staggering 16GB of main memory, were no doubt major factors. You'll pay for this power, however: The XPS 17 3D starts at $1450, and the configuration we reviewed will run you $2389 (prices as of February 2, 2011).
Read More

Toshiba Portege R500-11B Notebook PC

Here we have from Toshiba the excellent Portege R500-11B notebook PC; this superb laptop has Microsoft Windows Vista Business operating system and is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo U7600 11B processor taking you into the next generation of performance.

The R500-11B has a 120GB hard drive and 1GB DDR2 RAM, so will be able to handle all your documents, music, images and video.Toshiba
has given the Portege R500-11B a 12.1 inch widescreen, Transflective
technology, TFT display which ensures a clear crisp view. Superb
visuals are received due to the Intel GMA 950 chipset, and networking
ability via wireless Wi-Fi.

To view more information or to purchase the Toshiba Portege R500-11B notebook PC.

Compaq N400C wireless laptop only £179: Brilliant for students

I am looking for a laptop
for less than £200? This seems to be a question we get a lot of, so not
to disappoint we have found these laptops for only £179, yes only £179.
Ok the specs are not the best in the world but if you are a student these laptops are good enough for what you need them for.

The Compaq N400c is an ultra portable laptop which is perfect for a student moving around campus. It has everything you need.

Compaq N400C wireless laptop main specs -

• Processor Intel Pentium III

• Clock Speed 850Mhz

• Hard disk drive capacity 20Gb

• 12.1″ XGA TFT 1024×768 resolution display

• Internal memory 512Mb

Everex CloudBooks to have 22 inch displays, SSD, touch and new colours

The popular low price Everex CloudBook laptops which are due to be
released soon will win the hearts of many because they will not break
the bank. The latest news is that Paul C. Kim; Director of Marketing at Everex has said that future revisions will include many other features.

Everex CloudBooks will later on feature an SSD option, female colors
and possibly 22 inch displays. Also under future consideration is
mobile broadband, already announced were the touchscreen and 9-inch
versions which we should be seeing in a couple months.

Looks like the CloudBook will be favoured by the masses.

Looks like the Dell XPS M1330 will have Blu-ray / DVD combo drive

According to the BIOS update which is titled Dell XPS M1330 System BIOS this surely means that the popular XPS M1330 lists support for an unspecified “Blu-ray / DVD +/- RW Combo Drive.”

There is no word on when we will see these for order but if you are
looking for one of these laptops, we would say hold off for a while and
wait for these Blu-ray / DVD combo drive XPS M1330 to hit the shelves.

Toshiba Tecra M9L-15R Notebook PC

From Toshiba we have the Tecra M9L-15R notebook pc which is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 processor combined with a running platform of Microsoft Windows Vista Business allowing the user to multitask with ease and assurance.

The M9L-15R
has a 14.4 inch WXGA TFT widescreen display, a superb DVD Super Multi
Drive that takes most DVD and CD formats including double-layer
recordable DVD discs, and DVD-RAM.Other great features with the Tecra
M9L-15R notebook pc are embedded stereo speakers, superb security with
Toshiba EastGuard. Password functions and Kensington Cable Lock which
add physical anti-theft protection so you know your data is safe.

· Easy Fix Components

· Durable Design

· Shock Protection Design

· Diversity Antenna

· HDD Protection (3D Sensor to protect data)

· Fingerprint Reader Single Sign On

· Toshiba Wireless Key Log-on

· Toshiba Anti-theft Protection Timer

· Toshiba Device Access Control

· Advanced Encryption

· Computrace support BIOS

· 2048 MB (2×1024 MB) DDR2 RAM

· Toshiba Security Assist

· Toshiba Power Saver utility

· Toshiba Management Console

· Voice over IP ready

· Virtualisation Technology

· 120 GB Hard Disk Drive

. TEMPO

· Execute Disable Bit Protection (XD-Bit)

· Wireless LAN 802.11 a/b/g (WiFi Compliant)

Toshiba Satellite Pro A210-16W Notebook PC

This laptop
offers a great wide range of styles for the use of home or business
uses. This excellent laptop has a superb platform for all of your computing requirements. Toshiba
laptop gives you a super multi disc drive that allows you to handle
DVD, DVD-R and many more. It also gives you an hard drive that can hold
up to 160GB which means you have plenty of space to hold up all your
documentation and much more.

There is an excellent built in security centre which protects you
from viruses and much more thanks to the Toshiba Easyguard feature
which has password functions and Kensington lock which gives you
physical anti theft protection to help stop anyone getting into your
files etc. The key features of this laptop give you a highly number of
features which include:

· 2,048 (1,024 + 1,024) MB DDR2 RAM (667 MHz)

· 15.4″ Toshiba TruBrite® WXGA TFT High Brightness display

· Genuine Windows® Vista® Stereo Business Edition

· Stereo speakers, wireless LAN aerial

· AMD Turion™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology TL-58

· 6-in-1 Bridge Media slot

Gateway Notebooks Available in Tons of Colors

Gateway will be making new colors for its M-Series and T-Series
notebooks.The new color choices include:Merlot, Silver and Arctic Bloom
as well as Garnet Red and Pacific Blue. The M-Series will get Merlot
and Silver, and both M- and T-Series will have the Arctic Bloom.
Gateway will be charging between $799.99 and $1,399.99 for these
colorful notebooks.

Acer AS5520-7A1G16 Notebook in Japan

Acer will release a new notebook in Japan called the AS5520-7A1G16.
It features a 15.4-inch screen and a 1,280 x 800 WXGA resolution. It
runs on AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core processor and has 1GB memory and
160GB HDD. Acer has released it in Japan for USD$930.

Sony Vaio Type A AV Notebook Gets Upgrade

Sony’s Vaio Type A AV notebook is receiving an upgrade. The 17”
still has a WUXGA screen and a BLu-Ray drive, but it now has a Core 2
Duo T9300 (2.5GHz), 400GB en RAID 0, Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT and a
Digital TV Tuner.

Xtreme 917V with Quad processor and 17 ” display

XtremeNotebooks company, which specializes on mobile computers, announced its new laptop of “extreme” version - Xtreme 917V.
The main feature of this model is its high productivity gained, of course, due to the configurations of this powerful gaming laptop.

Xtreme 917V can possesses a bicycle processor Intel Core 2 Duo (from E6400 to E6700), and Quad models : Q6600 and Q6700, as well as the extreme version of Core 2 Extreme X6800.

There are 3 kits of Xtreme 917V:

* FUSION;
* REACTOR;
* ACCELERATOR.

ACCELERATOR is the most powerful, so let’s speak about it.

Specifications of the laptop Xtreme 917V (ACCELERATOR) :

* Processor : Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, 2.4 GHz
* Memory : 512 MB DDR2-667 Micron, up to 4 GB
* Display : 17 “WSXGA + (1680 x 1050) Super Wide Angle Glass View
* Graphics : 1 x GeForce Go 7950 GTX PCI-E with 512 MB DDR 3
* Audio : 8-channel Realtek Intel Azalia HD Audio / AudioDJ Front Panel & MP3 (4 + subwoofer speakers)
* Hard Drive : SATA 60 GB 5400 rpm.
* Optical Drive : 8X DVD ± R / RW
* Battery : Smart Li-ion
* Cardreader : MS / MS Pro / MS Duo / MS Pro Duo / SD / miniSD / MMC
* Set : 100/1000 Ethernet LAN 802.11G + + Bluetooth 2.0 + 56 to the modem
* Ports / connectors / exits :
1 x DVI
1 x VGA
4 x HD / Surround Audio
4 x USB 2.0
1 PS2 Keyboard
1 x RJ45
1 x RJ11 Smartlink 56K (V.92)
1 x 4-Cont. 1394a FireWire
1 x SP / DIF
1 x S-Video TV out HDTV and S-Video input (TV tuner card)
1 x Express Card 54/34
* TPM Security Trusted Platform Module
* Dimensions : 29.61 x39, 06×5, 92 cm
* Weight : 5.1 kg

In this configuration the laptop will cost $3359 but the price can rise accordingly to the configuration to $ 8166.90.