Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Mother's Day Gift Guide: Dell Inspiron 1525]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/top-12-gadget-gifts-for-mom-8/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/top-12-gadget-gifts-for-mom-8/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/top-12-gadget-gifts-for-mom-8/#commentsFiled under: ,



This laptop computer is pretty, slim and powerful. What more could a woman want from a laptop? Add to that a Mother's Day sale price starting at $649 (that's a savings of $384) and you've got an excellent gift for a Mom who needs (or wants) a laptop. The Dell Inspiron 1525 has a 15.4-inch screen, a full-size keyboard, and even a 2-megapixel Webcam (for an extra $25). Other upgrades include a DVD burner ($50) and your choice of a broadband antenna from either Sprint or Verizon ($150, but if you sign up for service with either carrier, you'll get a $100 rebate). The notebook is available in an assortment of colors, but check out the Blossom pattern or Flamingo Pink for this holiday gift.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1525DellFri, 09 May 2008 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo U110 Hands-On and Overview]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/05/lenovo-u110-hands-on-and-overview/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/05/lenovo-u110-hands-on-and-overview/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/05/lenovo-u110-hands-on-and-overview/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


After giving the new IdeaPad U110 its 15 minutes of fame in front of the camera, we got down to business. The 11.1-inch ultraportable is built like a tank -- a really, really lightweight tank. The uniquely-designed lid and (overly) glossy motif is a welcome change for Lenovo, but after a good bit of use, it's easy to see this one won't appeal to the masses. Click on for the full rundown of impressions and notes (and a video, too).

Continue reading Lenovo U110 Hands-On and Overview

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewslaptop reviewsLaptopReviewsu110Mon, 05 May 2008 12:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer's 18.4-inch Aspire 8920G Laptop Gets Reviewed]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/03/acers-18-4-inch-aspire-8920g-laptop-gets-reviewed/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/03/acers-18-4-inch-aspire-8920g-laptop-gets-reviewed/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/03/acers-18-4-inch-aspire-8920g-laptop-gets-reviewed/#commentsFiled under: ,


First things first: just in case that headline didn't really sink in, this is an 18.4-inch laptop. In other words, those of you with even the slightest of back problems should probably just pass this one right on by. If you're still with us, however, you'll likely be totally engrossed by Laptop Mag's review of the Acer Aspire 8920G. The larger of the two second-gen Gemstones was said to feature a "gorgeous" Full HD display, impressive audio output, a respectable webcam and plenty of power under the hood. They also found the unique CineDash Media Console to be quite effective, save for accidentally activating the multimedia hub on occasion. Overall, critics deemed the lappie a "stellar" machine, but we'd certainly recommend browsing through the review just to make sure you're really interested in picking up a slab this gigantic. [Source: Laptop Magazine]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerlaptopSat, 03 May 2008 17:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo U110: The Sexy Little Laptop That Could? (Video)]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/lenovo-u110-the-sexy-little-laptop-that-could-video/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/lenovo-u110-the-sexy-little-laptop-that-could-video/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/lenovo-u110-the-sexy-little-laptop-that-could-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We were lucky to get a couple of days to play around with the sexy, new Lenovo U110 ultraportable laptop. It's only 2.3 pounds and, as you can see, small enough to fit into the teeniest of backpacks. It's also one of the slickest looking notebooks we've ever laid our eyes or hands on, with oversized keys that make typing surprisingly smooth (for such a small laptop).

Handling-wise, it's not fair for us to say, since we had access only to a pre-production unit, but with up to 3-gigabytes (GB) of RAM available, the U110 has the potential to be the little computer than could....
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewslaptop reviewsLaptopReviewslenovosummerreviewsu110ultraportablesFri, 02 May 2008 12:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Ben Heck's Apple-IIGS-Inspired Laptop]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/15/ben-heck-outdoes-himself-again-with-the-apple-iigs-laptop/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/15/ben-heck-outdoes-himself-again-with-the-apple-iigs-laptop/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/15/ben-heck-outdoes-himself-again-with-the-apple-iigs-laptop/#commentsFiled under: ,


We're still reeling from Ben Heck's amazing PlayStation 3 laptop (which we'll be auctioning off for charity soon) but the man just hit us again with this amazing Apple IIGS laptop. Based off an original IIGS motherboard, the one-of-a-kind laptop features a 15-inch color screen, custom acrylic keyboard, a CompactFlash-based hard drive, and -- most importantly -- a glowing blue IIGS logo that flashes yellow during disk access. Hit the read link for tons more pics and a hot demo video -- you won't be disappointed.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ben heckBenHecklaptop newsLaptopNewsTue, 15 Apr 2008 15:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Five Essential Laptop Accessories (Video)]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/09/five-essential-laptop-accessories-video/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/09/five-essential-laptop-accessories-video/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/09/five-essential-laptop-accessories-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Laptops may fit into almost any backpack or carry-on bag, but their compact size means you'll still need a few accessories to stay productive and happy while you're on the road (or down the road, at a Wi-Fi cafe). We picked five of our favorite notebook peripherals that no road warrior should be without, and decided to go on and on about them in this here video. Take a look!
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>laptop featureslaptop guide featuresLaptopFeaturessummerfeaturesSun, 09 Mar 2008 10:12:00 EST<![CDATA[MSI's Crystal-Encrusted Luxury Laptop]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/05/msis-crystal-encrusted-luxury-laptop/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/05/msis-crystal-encrusted-luxury-laptop/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/05/msis-crystal-encrusted-luxury-laptop/#commentsFiled under: ,

MSI's Luxury Laptop Gets Crystals,

Luxury is up to the eye of the beholder these days, and for many gadgets, it seems as though luxury can be defined with crystals. Such is the case with MSI's new "PR200 Crystal Collection" line of laptops. The latest entry into this luxury line comes in a "pearl-like" white color (we'd say Mac-like, actually), a series of "fashionable" accessories, and a logo on the front that's encrusted with 120 crystals.

The white color complements a series of earlier, darker colors, but it's the accoutremonts here that add a feeling of definite luxury. The lappy comes with matching white mouse and one-gigabyte (1GB) thumb drive, along with two leather carrying cases: one for toting the PR200 and those matching "fashionable" accessories, and a second, slimmer case for just the laptop itself.

Reading through the engrish-riddled spec sheet reveals that, to match the sparklies on the back and color-coded add-ons, there's some solid firepower here under the 12-inch lid. The laptop features an Intel Core 2 Duo processor that should speed through most tasks, a DVD burner, 160-gigabytes of storage space, 802.11 N wireless capability (currently the fastest standard), and a fingerprint reader to keep the thing safe.

So, a decent machine with a clean, sophisticated look. No word on price yet, or even on U.S. availability -- and we're still wondering what exactly "Crystal is in possession of elegant essence," which we read on PR200 press release, is supposed to mean.

From Crave

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CrystalFashionLaptoplaptop newsLaptopNewsLuxuryMSIWed, 05 Mar 2008 14:28:00 EST<![CDATA[ASUS Debuts More Powerful EeePC With Larger Screen]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/04/asus-debuts-more-powerful-eeepc-with-larger-screen/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/04/asus-debuts-more-powerful-eeepc-with-larger-screen/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/04/asus-debuts-more-powerful-eeepc-with-larger-screen/#commentsFiled under: ,



At this year's CeBIT conference in Germany, ASUS debuted a new version of its popular multi-colored sub-notebook, the Eee PC, with a larger screen (8.9 inches), more memory (1GB RAM), and a larger hard drive (12 gigabytes) for storage. While the earlier generation of Eee PCs ran a version of Linux, the new Eee PC 900 will be able to run either Linux or Windows XP, and the laptop should be available this summer. Although prices haven't been announced yet, we're excited by the bigger screen space and operating system choice.

From Engadget and DailyTech

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>summernewsTue, 04 Mar 2008 10:05:00 EST<![CDATA[The 2008 Switched Laptop Buying Guide Is Here]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/03/the-2008-switched-laptop-buying-guide-is-here/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/03/the-2008-switched-laptop-buying-guide-is-here/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/03/the-2008-switched-laptop-buying-guide-is-here/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Looking for a new laptop? We've got you covered. From essential tips on what to look for in a new computer and round-ups of the handiest laptop accessories to hands-on-reviews of the latest high-end MacBook Pros and even sub-$500 Asus eeePCs, the 2008 Switched Laptop Guide will help you make the right purchases. Check back here every day for the latest laptop news and reviews, as well as a boatload of how-tos to make sure you make the most of your brand-spanking new notebook.

Happy hunting!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Laptop GuideLaptopGuideMon, 03 Mar 2008 19:09:00 EST<![CDATA[MacBook Air Selling Out Around the Country]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/03/macbook-air-sold-out-around-the-country/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/03/macbook-air-sold-out-around-the-country/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/03/macbook-air-sold-out-around-the-country/#commentsFiled under: ,

MacBook Air Sold Out Around the Country

Despite some mixed reviews, it seems that retailers just can't keep the MacBook Air in stock. Whether the reason is that the ultra thin laptop is inspiring hardcore gadget lust, or that Apple kept shipments low to give the illusion of demand remains to be seen, but one thing is definitely true: Trying to track an Air down is increasingnly touch at Apple Stores around the country, as the folks at ArsTechnica recently found out.

Amazon isn't shipping orders until March 16, while stores in Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, and all throughout Massachusetts were all reported to be out of stock over the weekend.

Apple is refreshing stock at the stores on an almost daily basis, but the laptops are sold on a first-come-first-served basis and rarely stay on the shelves for even 24 hours. Whether that daily inventory refresh is 30 laptops or three, though, is not clear. Regardless, it looks like small laptops are in.

You can check to see if your local Apple outlet has the Air in stock here.



From ArsTechnica and Engadget

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airapplebreaking+newsLaptop NewsLaptopNewsmacmacbook airMacbookAirtopMon, 03 Mar 2008 12:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Intel Launches New 'Atom' Processor For Low-Cost Laptops]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/03/intel-new-lost-cost-processor-called-atom/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/03/intel-new-lost-cost-processor-called-atom/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/03/intel-new-lost-cost-processor-called-atom/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Intel Give Low Cost, Low Power Processor a Name, AtomIntel Give Low Cost, Low Power Processor a Name, Atom

Intel is prepping to take over the low cost laptop and PC market with its newly unveiled Atom line of processors, which joins Core 2, Pentium, and Celeron in the chipmaker's lineup. Formerly codenamed Diamondville and Silverthorne, Atom is an ultra-low power, low cost chip that is aimed at machines like the ASUS Eee, UMPC's, MID's, and may have had a spot in the next version of the OLPC had Intel and OLPC-creator Nicholas Negroponte not had a falling out.

The processor is built on the same 45nm manufacturing process that powers Intels new Penryn family of processors, but is otherwise a completely different chip from it's Core 2 branded brethren. Atom was designed from the ground up to use as little power as possible and provide the highest possible yields of functional chips from a piece of silicon, keeping costs incredibly low. It will also come in a Wi-Fi-and-graphics-optimized version that will be called Centrino Atom. In other words, even sub-$500 computers will be able to see speeds and processing power typical of much pricier computers.

Intel is still mum on price points, all we know is the low end single core version is targeted at laptops in the $250-$300 range that will be out later this year.

From PC World

Related links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atomcentrino atomCentrinoAtomcloudbookdiamondvilleeeeintelLaptop NewsLaptopNewslaptopsmenlownotebooksolpcpoulsboprocessorprocessorssilverthorneMon, 03 Mar 2008 09:31:00 EST<![CDATA[The World's Littlest Laptops (Video)]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/29/the-worlds-littlest-laptops-video/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/29/the-worlds-littlest-laptops-video/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/29/the-worlds-littlest-laptops-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


They're tiny (enough for a handbag), fast (Linux) and resilient (all-solid-state memory and storage). And unlike the beauty from Cupertino, their price tag matches their stature. Check out our hands-on video with the Everex Cloudbook and the Asus eeePC.


Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>laptop guide reviewslaptop reviewsLaptopGuideReviewsLaptopReviewssummerfeaturesFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple Updates MacBook and MacBook Pro Laptops]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/26/apple-updates-macbook-and-macbook-pro-laptops/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/26/apple-updates-macbook-and-macbook-pro-laptops/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/26/apple-updates-macbook-and-macbook-pro-laptops/#commentsFiled under: ,



Following months of rumors, Apple finally upgraded its two main laptop lines with this morning's announcement of updates to both the MacBook and the high-end MacBook Pro line of laptops.

The new MacBook Pros have a larger, multi-touch mousepad similar to the one found in the MacBook Air and iPhone. While the exterior design looks much the same, the MacBook Pro line received several important hardware updates: New Penryn Intel mobile chips running as` fast as 2.6-GHz (perfect for video editing, gaming and other processor-intensive tasks), faster NVIDIA graphics cards (smoother video, gameplay and visual effects), LED backlighting (crisper, brighter colors), and increased memory and storage (great for storing movies, photos and music). It's good to see speed bumps and greater storage capacity on the entry-level the MacBooks, but we wish Apple had added multi-touch to the new models.

Available now, the MacBooks begin at $1099 and the MacBook Pros start at $1999.

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebreaking+newsLaptop NewsLaptopNewsmacbooktopTue, 26 Feb 2008 10:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Five Things to Consider When Buying a Laptop]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/18/five-things-to-consider-when-buying-a-laptop-1/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/18/five-things-to-consider-when-buying-a-laptop-1/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/18/five-things-to-consider-when-buying-a-laptop-1/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Five Things to Consider When Buying a Laptop
Buying a new laptop can be a daunting task. First off, there are many more factors to take into account when buying a laptop than when buying a desktop PC -- size and battery, for example. Budget laptops can be alluring, but will they have the horsepower you need for daily computing tasks? What difference does having an AMD or Intel processor make? And how do you make sense of the alphabet soup that is Wi-Fi (802.11a, b, g, n)? Well, dear reader, and potential buyer, Switched is here to help you wade through the spec lists you see on those Sunday circulars and help you make the best of your laptop money. Take a look at our crib sheet of five things to consider when picking out your new portable, which starts on the next page, so click below....


Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdfeaturesintellaptopLaptop Buying GuidesLaptopBuyingGuideswi-fiwifiMon, 18 Feb 2008 18:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Intel's New Penryn Processors, and Why You Should Care About Them]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/11/intels-new-penryn-processors-and-why-you-should-care-about-the/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/11/intels-new-penryn-processors-and-why-you-should-care-about-the/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/11/intels-new-penryn-processors-and-why-you-should-care-about-the/#commentsFiled under: , ,

What the Heck is Penryn? And Why You Should Care.

What is Penryn?
Those new Intel processors we mentioned during CES are finally starting to show up in laptops in reasonable numbers. Toshiba, Sony, HP, and Dell are all tossing Intel's new mobile processors, built on the chipmaker's way-smaller-than-a-human hair 45-nanometer (nm) technology, into portables aimed at the hardcore, and often media-hungry, computer-user. As we mentioned in our '5 Things to Consider When Buying a Laptop' primer, these chips will keep the "Core 2" moniker that Intel has been branding its processors with since 2006, but will have slightly different model numbers to differentiate them from the older Core 2 models.

How is Penryn different from standard Pentium Core 2 processors?
Penryn is not a revolution, but rather an evolution of Intel's Core 2 family of processors. Three new technologies have been crammed into this new square of silicon to make faster and more powerful laptops with longer battery life.

First is the 45nm size reduction of the processor's die (the tech term for a processor's casing or mold). This die shrink means the processor can have features and innards as small as 45 nanometers wide, which means that Intel can squeeze more processors out of a single slab of silicon. The newfound space not only drives down prices, but also enables the new processors to use less energy and run at cooler temperatures. Cooler-running processors mean that Intel can ramp up computing speeds without melting the insides of the computer (or burning your lap, for that matter).

When a processor's die is shrunk, however, it becomes easier for electrons to leak out wasting electricity, and counteracts some of the benefits of the size reduction. To combat this leakage, Intel has introduced a new transistor technology called High-K that reigns in much of the leakage and leads to more energy efficient processors. Tests have shown that Penryn processors can get almost a full hour of battery life over older Core 2's during normal usage and about 20 minutes more while playing back a DVD.

Lastly, is a new set of instructions called SSE4, which is aimed at speeding up media functions such as video encoding (converting video so you can edit it on your computer) and playback. The catch is that software developers must write applications to specifically take advantage of the new instructions. The popularity of the Intel processors and the dramatic performance increase guarantees that companies will get on board. Applications that are already SSE4-enabled (like the DivX video encoding suite) have seen boosts in performance of almost 40%. That's quite a difference when you're talking about cutting down what typically takes an hour to encode HD video to just over 30 minutes.

How do I know if a computer has Penryn?
Well, besides looking for the 'Penryn' logo on a laptop's spec list, make sure the model numbers start with '8' or '9' (i.e. T9500 or T8300). Penryn is the code name the new chips were developed under at the Intel labs, and often Intel chips continue to be referred to by their code name once they're released.



Do I need one now?
If you're a hardcore gamer, a videomaker or a high-def movie enthusiast with money to burn, go for it. The current models of Penryn or Core 2 9000 and 8000 series are more expensive (Penyrn-enabled laptops start at $1,000) and aimed at the upper end of the consumer market. Anyone who does a lot of video editing on the go should also seriously consider getting a Penryn-equipped laptop. Over the coming months, however, more mainstream (read: cheaper) models will be stuffed into laptops for your computing pleasure. If basic Web browsing and e-mail are your main computing concerns, then save yourself the cash and stick with the old school Core 2s.


Who makes Penryn-enable laptops now?
HP and Sony offer the most laptops with Penryn processors, each offering four different models that pack in the latest from Intel, while Toshiba has three Penryn powered models available. Dell currently only offers its XPS M1330 with the new processors, but we expect that selection to expand soon. By mid March almost every laptop manufacturer should be offering at least one model with a Penryn option and by the end of the year it should be standard on most laptops.


Related links:

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>core 2Core2intellaptopLaptop FeaturesLaptopFeaturespenrynprocessorMon, 11 Feb 2008 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[New Fujitsu Lifebook Is Smaller, Lighter, and Cheaper Than MacBook Air]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/01/new-fujitsu-lifebook-is-smaller-lighter-and-cheaper-than-macbo/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/01/new-fujitsu-lifebook-is-smaller-lighter-and-cheaper-than-macbo/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/01/new-fujitsu-lifebook-is-smaller-lighter-and-cheaper-than-macbo/#commentsFiled under: ,

Updated Fujitsu Tablet is Smaller, Lighter, and Cheaper than Air

By "Air" we mean MacBook Air, of course, and we're always a fan of a little Mac vs. PC competition here. The Fujitsu P1620 Lifebook has just been announced, an update to its earlier P1610 ultra-portable. The new Lifebook P1620 offers the same processor as its predecessor, a 1.2 gigaherz dual-core processor, two-gigabytes of memory, and 100-gigabytes of disk space. All in a package just a little over 9-inches wide, making it a reasonable alternative to Apple's latest.

It stacks up reasonably well against the Air, though it's at a disadvantage at the start compared to the Air's 1.6-gigaherz processor. The Lifebook's 2.2-pound-heft makes it almost one-third lighter than the Air and it's dimensions are smaller overall, though at 1.4-inches, it's nearly twice as thick as Apple's wunder-portable.

The screen is considerably smaller too, 8.9-inches vs. 13.3 on the Air, but the Lifebook's screen swivels around, turning the device into a tablet PC.

Then there's the battery, which is both user-replaceable (unlike the Air's) and comes in two flavors. The standard three-cell pack will deliver an estimated 3.5 hours of life while an optional six-cell pack ($45 extra) will give twice that, quite a bit more than the five hours promised by Apple for the Air. Finally the price: $1,599 to start, compared to $1,799 for the Air.

So, an Air alternative? Possibly -- but only if you don't have a preference of Apple vs. Microsoft. Clearly Mac fans will still choose the Air, but for PC fans who are on the go and looking for something similarly lithe and (arguably) more functional, the updated P1620 looks to be a good option.

From Engadget

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1620Fujitsu LifebookFujitsuLifebookLaptop NewsLaptopNewsMacBook AirMacbookAirNew ProductsNewProductsFri, 01 Feb 2008 13:27:00 EST<![CDATA[First MacBook Air Reviews In, and They're Not Entirely Positive]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/24/first-macbook-air-reviews-in-and-theyre-not-entirely-positive/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/24/first-macbook-air-reviews-in-and-theyre-not-entirely-positive/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/24/first-macbook-air-reviews-in-and-theyre-not-entirely-positive/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

First MacBook Air Reviews In, Not Entirely Positive

The first reviews of Apple's skinny and sexy MacBook Air are in. The laptop is less than two-tenths-of-an-inch thick, but such slimness comes at a price ($1800-$3000). Even that price, the Air's minimalist hardware will make the Air a poor choice for no-compromise users, according to the first reviews posted today (the Air itself won't be in stores for another two weeks).

Edward C Baig from USA Today loves the size and weight of the thing, but has a number of complaints about the hardware shortcomings, including comparatively short non-replaceable battery's life, the missing internal DVD drive, and the lack of many common ports business users might need to hook their machines up to external displays or devices.

Newsweek's Steven Levy echoes many of the same complaints as Baig, but praises the Air's low temperatures when running and indicates that it's so small and light you'll never wonder whether you should take it with you because there's really no reason not to. Walt Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal says much the same thing, indicating he loves the design but spends plenty of paragraphs describing its shortcomings -- the non-removable battery, the paltry one USB port, and the missing DVD drive that makes this impractical for those who like to pack a few discs for a long flight. Still, usual-Apple-lover Mossberg says "the result is a beautiful, amazingly thin computer, but one whose unusual trade-offs may turn off some frequent travelers."

So, is the $1,799 (and up) MacBook Air for you? Well, are you planning on using it as your only computer or will it be a second (or third) one just for trips and mobile computing? It seems it's just not quite up to the task of being your sole, go-to computing device. If you plan to get one, you should probably make it your second computer.

The Air is sexy, but just like those impractical roadsters a lot of people own but keep in the garage except on sunny afternoons, it's not really meant to be your only means of getting about.

From Engadget, USA Today, Newsweek, and Wall Street Journal

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applebreaking+newsLaptop NewsLaptopNewslaptopsMacBook AirMacbookAirnotebookssexytopultraportablesThu, 24 Jan 2008 10:32:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guys Who Waited 21 Hours to See Steve Jobs Live]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/16/steve-jobs-fan-club-members-1-5/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/16/steve-jobs-fan-club-members-1-5/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/16/steve-jobs-fan-club-members-1-5/#commentsFiled under: ,



Macworld 2008 is well underway. The biggest news, about Apple's super-slim new MacBook Air notebook and iTunes movie rentals, has come and gone, but not this post about some fanboys who waited in line to see Steve Jobs make his announcements.

Five "excited" looking dudes had their undies in an uproar since 12 noon on Monday, first in the general admission line for yesterday's Stevenote. For those without calculators in their front pockets, that's a full 21 hours before the keynote began. And for those without superegos, that's a really long time to wait for a product intro.


Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applemacbook airMacbookAirmacworld expoMacworldExpoweirdWed, 16 Jan 2008 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Dell Goes Sexy With New All-in-One Computer]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/11/dell-goes-sexy-with-new-all-in-one-computer/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/11/dell-goes-sexy-with-new-all-in-one-computer/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/11/dell-goes-sexy-with-new-all-in-one-computer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



"Give in to the power of the tea," the male model, Hansel, whispered as he seduced the overcome reporter in the epic comedy, Zoolander. That's what we thought of as we entered Armani/Casa, an ultra-hip interior design locale in SoHo where fashionistas shop for their postmodern couches and Eastern-influenced coffee tables. It wasn't a home makeover mission that brought us to Never Neverland, however, as we were there to preview Dell's XPS One, the newest all-in-one home computer, which came out on November 19th and is the latest entry in the growing area of stylish, all-in-one computers.

Picking our way through the hotly attired models and Dell executives that dotted the sleek Armani/Casa homescape, we began to understand the nature of this particular computing beast... Home computing is undergoing a transformation in character, style or that je ne sais quoi these days, and the XPS One is Dell's attempt to get sexy. And make no mistake, the folks at Dell will sell their stock to Apple before letting the competition's Gateway One and the Sony Vaio L Series overshadow their own product's libido.

All black, the machine is comprised of a 20-inch, high-definition widescreen monitor that houses the computer itself, with just one cable to plug in. The only other components are a wireless mouse and an old-school infrared wireless keyboard that triumphs over the inconsistent Bluetooth keyboards from former XPS models. In addition, the XPS boasts a built-in TV tuner, whereas most PC models of this size and type, including the Gateway One, have an external tuner or none at all, like the Sony Vaio L Series.

A couple of things that we really liked were the motion sensors that, when triggered, light up the media keys and a half-circle of blue light that illuminates the slot-loading drive on the lower, right hand corner of the monitor. We also dug the great speakers that come stock with every XPS as well as the option to include a Blu-ray drive (as long as you're willing to pay more). While the cheapest XPS One goes for $1,499, the version with all of the bells and whistles maxes out at $2,399.

Overall, this computer seems to have the it sexy factor that Dell wanted to develop. Whether you're an artiste whose closet includes clothing in black or black, or just a regular consumer looking for a home computer that looks smokin' and futuristic while doing it all without the complications, this is the all-in-one product for you.

The only downside is that the models we saw at Armani/Casa are not offered with the XPS at this time.

Gallery: Dell XPS One

XPS OneDell XPS One MediaXPS One Side ViewXPS One Thre-Quarter View


Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all in oneall-in-one computersAll-in-oneComputersAllInOneDellHolidashHoliday Gift GuideHolidayGiftGuideLaptop ReviewsLaptopReviewsPretty ThingsPrettyThingsXPSXPS OneXpsOneTue, 11 Dec 2007 16:44:00 EST<![CDATA[MacBook Design Flaw Can Lead to Permanent Data Loss]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/11/29/macbook-design-flaw-can-lead-to-permanent-data-loss/http://www.switched.com/2007/11/29/macbook-design-flaw-can-lead-to-permanent-data-loss/http://www.switched.com/2007/11/29/macbook-design-flaw-can-lead-to-permanent-data-loss/#commentsFiled under: ,



Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro owners should be aware of a design flaw that may lead to unrecoverable data loss, claims Retrodata, a data-recovery firm based out of the United Kingdom. The company says that MacBooks manufactured in China and equipped with a 2.5 inch Seagate SATA hard drive with a Firmware version 7.01 may have faulty read/write heads that become dislodged from the hard drive's arm, scratching the magnetic platter surface and causing irrecoverable data loss.

For those customers who wish to know whether they are at risk, Retrodata suggests going to the System Profiler and checking the Serial ATA for the Firmware Revision number. If the computer has Firmware version 7.01, data should be backed up immediately, the company urges. Models affected may include ST96812AS and ST98823AS.

Not so fast, say specialists from other data-recovery companies like DiskEng. While Apple has been silent and Seagate insists that they are looking into the matter, these parties suggest that thousands of instances of the same problem must first be seen and diagnosed before a design flaw can be pronounced for an entire line of hard drives. Some say specific factors such as temperature and read/write head oscillation may be to blame for damaging some computers rather than a general design shortcoming that affects them all.

Just to be safe, consumers should check whether their computer has the specific hard drive in question, and should back up their files if that is the case. Those concerned should also monitor Apple and Seagate pronouncements regarding the issue.

From Retrodata (via Engadget)

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ComputerHard DriveHardDriveLaptop NewsLaptopNewsLaptopsMacBookMacBook FlawMacbookFlawThu, 29 Nov 2007 09:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Mac Leopard Out Tomorrow, and the Reviews Are Positive]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/10/25/mac-leopard-drops-tomorrow-reviews-dropping-now/http://www.switched.com/2007/10/25/mac-leopard-drops-tomorrow-reviews-dropping-now/http://www.switched.com/2007/10/25/mac-leopard-drops-tomorrow-reviews-dropping-now/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mac Leopard Drops Tomorrow, Reviews Dropping NowMicrosoft likes to make Windows users wait for releases. It's usually a good three to five year drought between one version of its operating system to the next, with a bunch of free updates released along the way. Apple, on the other hand, likes to drop nearly annual updates of its current operating system called OS X. Each new release brings some new suite of updates and features and sells for about $130. OS X version 10.5, codenamed Leopard, supercedes last year's Tiger release, and should be hitting stores tomorrow. That means reviews are hitting the wire today, and most seem to think that the update is $130 well spent.

Most reviews focus on the biggest new addition, Time Machine, which enables you to easily and automatically back your Mac up to an external hard drive, then use the software to recover lost files by seeing how your machine looked at virtually any time.

Edward C. Baig, who reviewed Leopard for at 'USA Today' says "recovering lost files is -- thanks to beautiful special effects -- like flying back in time." He also likes the new Back to My Mac remote desktop feature, which lets you connect to one Mac Leopard machine from any other Mac Leopard machine ... at least in theory. He did find a few occurrences where the machines wouldn't connect, however.

David Pogue from the 'New York Times' also likes Time Machine, saying: "When you connect the second drive, Leopard asks if you want to use it for Time Machine. If you click O.K., that's it. One click - that's got to be the shortest setup of any backup system in history." However, he doesn't dig the new transparent menus, which can be difficult to read when appearing over text.

Walt Mossberg from 'Wall Street Journal' echoes the complaints about transparent menus, and in his review compares Leopard quite favorably to Vista when it comes to compatibility:

"In fact, every piece of software and hardware I tried on two Leopard-equipped Macs -- a loaned laptop from Apple and my own upgraded iMac -- worked fine, exhibiting none of the compatibility problems that continue to plague Vista. My old Hewlett-Packard inkjet printer, for which Vista lacks the proper software, worked instantly in Leopard, even over the network. And, unlike with Vista, it was able to print on both sides of the page. I popped my old Verizon cellphone modem card into the test Leopard laptop and it worked, too, with no software installation or tweaking."
So, the reports are good, and the only question is whether it's worth the $130 entry point. If you're the type who is lax about backing up your files, photos, music, movies, and the like, then yes, you should run out and buy Leopard tomorrow and sleep a little better at night knowing that your iTunes collection is safe. Otherwise, the upgrades here seem somewhat minor, and you're probably safe holding off until Apple's next feline-themed OS X release, which we expect, oh, sometime next year.

From USA Today, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleLaptop ReviewsLaptopReviewsLeopardMac OS XMacOsXOSReview RoundupsReviewRoundupsThu, 25 Oct 2007 10:20:00 EST