Laptops, Netbooks, Notebooks, NetTops, Eee PC, SmartTops, Mobile PC, Tablet PC

VIA Technologies released special design of the mini-notebook OpenBook, through which different manufacturers can produce their own devices, even more so now that the market for mini-notebooks is rising.

OpenBook is based on a mobile platform VIA of a new generation and is equipped with a 8.9-inch display. The mini-notebook can be equipped with various modules of wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, WiMAX, HSDPA or EV-DO/W-CDMA. In addition, the device may run different operating systems, including Windows Vista Basic, Windows XP and Linux.

Specifications of VIA OpenBook:

• Processor VIA C7-M ULV
• Chipset VIA VX800
• 2-GB DDR2 DRAM
• HDD or solid drive
• 8.9-inch display with resolution up to 1024×600 pixels
• Support for 3D-graphics VIA Chrome9 DirectX 9.0
• Support for MPEG-2 format, MPEG-4, WMV9, VC1 and DiVX
• HD-video
• 8 HD channel audio
• Wireless Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (WiMAX, HSDPA or EV-DO/W-CDMA optional)
• AGPS
• The ports and connectors – 3 x USB 2.0, VGA, audio-in/audio-out
• Card reader – 4 – in-1 (SD / SDIO / MMC / MS)
• 2-Mp web-camera
• Lithium-Ion battery capacity 2600 mAh
• Dimensions – 240×175×36.2 mm
• Weight – 1 kg.

Korean manufacturer Ripple has released its new DIY tablet PC known as the TN120R. The gadget features 12.1 inch LCD display at 1,280 x 800 resolution, Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 2.1GHz processor, 120GB hard drive, 1GB RAM and DVD Multi Burner.

Dell has introduced its new UMPC. Known as the mini Inspiron, the gadget features a trio of USB 2.0 ports, a memory card reader, VGA out, and an Ethernet port. There is no further details on this UMPC.

Gateway released a new stylish 15.4″ notebook M151X Arctic Bloom, which apart from its attractive technical characteristics can boast an original floral ornament on the lid.

So M151X Arctic Bloom is equipped with the Core 2 Duo processor, rigid disk capacity up to 250GB, 1.3-megapixel Web camera, Bluetooth, biometric fingerprint scanner, optional TV-tuner, graphics card Radeon HD 2400 XT 256MB and HDMI interface.

A laptop Gateway M151X Artic Bloom can be purchased for $1220.

The Dell XPS M1210 ultra-portable notebook adopts Intel’s new laptop platform, code-named “Santa Rosa”. According to rumor published on Gizmodo, the notebook will be launched on June 26 this year. It comes with a 12-inch LED backlight screen, the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processor with a 800MHz front side bus, Nvidia GeForce 8400M dedicated graphics, and a slot-loading DVD drive. Weighing at just four pounds, the M1210 is also thinner than the current M1210 based on Intel “Napa” platform.

VIA is trying to get back on the mini laptop market with new OpenBook model. This lappie features 8.9 inch screen with resolution, and based on VIA VX800 chipset running C7-M ULV processor, 2GB of RAM and a 2.5-inch HDD.

OpenBook also include WiMAX, HSDPA and EV-DA, three USB 2.0 ports, VGA out, a 4-in-1 card reader and front and back 2 MP web-cameras. You can easily run Windows Vista or your favorite Linux flavor.

A 4 cell battery will give you about 3 hours of work and the entire design is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 license.

The all new Panasonic Y7 laptop is equipped with goodies such as an Intel Santa Rosa Centrino Core 2 Duo L7300, 2GB RAM, and 160GB HDD. Weighing at just 1520grams, the laptop is currently available on their website.

Dubbed as the Intel Metro Notebook, it is claimed as world’s thinnest laptop. The laptop measures less than 0.7 inches thick and weighs only 2.25 pounds. The Intel Metro Notebook comes equipped with Wi-Fi, WiMax and cellular network chips that let you stay online all the time. The device also comes in a beautiful champagne-colored magnesium exterior.

Here’s another one of ‘em Eee PC rip off from the Philippines, the Red Fox Wizbook800. This little notebook PC was from a local Philippine PC shop distributes various machines with the RED FOX branding. Feature and specs wise, the Wizbook800 is definitely a local manufacturers take on the Eee PC. And as such its features are almost similar to the Eee PC 701:

• 400 MHZ AMD LX700 processor,
• Linux OS,
• 8-inch LCD (800×400)
• 20GB HD
• 512 MB RAM
• LAN slot RJ-45
• Wi-Fi
• SD/MMC/MS card reader
• 2 USB port
• 2.5 hours battery life

Unfortunately the Wizbook800 doesn’t seem to have a webcam. The product site doesn’t have a pricing detail though. I’m guessing it retails for around $250. The WizBook800 is available only in the Philippines and i doubt if it will be released internationally

Dell Ispiron E1505 will be the Company’s first consumer notebook PC that comes pre-loaded with Linux operating system. The company will be launching this laptop starting next Thursday, 24th May 2007. In case you didn’t know, Ubuntu 7.04 is the latest version of this popular Linux distribution. Dell Ispiron E1505 comes equipped with a 15.4-inch widescreen display, and Intel Core 2 Duo processor.

Nobody expected this to happen. All the while we thought that the biggest news coming from OLPC Laptop was when it was announced that it will be coming up with Windows-powered version. Out of the blue, the hype started, and the new OLPC XO laptop suddenly got a new brother – the XOXO (Ver.2).

From the looks department, the new XO laptop definitely looks sleeker and handsome than its predecessor. But the meat of the announcement lies in the dual touch screen feature that the new XO laptop will sport. Ted Blog quotes OLPC XO designer Yves Behar:

The XOXO is a book, a tablet, a board…and yes, a laptop too if that is what you need. The design is still green and white, but thin, simple, and un-interrupted by keyboards, buttons, speaker holes, input devices and visible connectors. And it is soft to the touch, like a piece of luggage, everyday luggage you can take anywhere.

What do you think? Are these enough to boost user interests on the OLPC XO laptop? Are these enough reason to get us all excited? Could it match up with our very own Asus Eee PC? Wish they could say something about the price though, as this was the major issue which confronted the XO laptop, and continues to confront it right now.

This Toshiba AW5 laptop features a Celeron M or Core Duo processor, up to 2GB RAM, 60GB drive, dual-layer DVD drive, PC and ExpressCard/54 slots, 4-in-1 media reader, 802.11a/b/g, and graphics up to a 128MB GeForce Go 7600. The price in Japan is ¥189,800 or about US$1,700.

iRiver P10 PMP Lanched!…only in Korea…

Behold the magnificent yet simple P10 from IRIVER. Our PMP features a 4.3” LCD with a resolution of 800×480, has 33GB of internal memory, Supports WMV and Mpeg video, DMB, and a new GUI that supports handwriting recognition similar to that found on the first Palm Pilot. It also has several dictionaries including English, Chinese, Japanese.

P10 supports PDF, Word and Excel files, and can be used as an e-Book reader. Two versions will be available in Korea, a Basic version (without DMB) for 200€, and a Pro version (with DMB) for 250€.

Dell will release the company’s Tablet PC, which will be a part of Latitude mobile computers lineup. Dubbed as the Latitude XT, the tablet is designed for educational, health care and corporate marketplace. It is “one of the lightest convertible tablets”, and features the “pen and touch” interface. Dell’s convertible laptop is expected to be available later this year and will ship with Windows Vista operating system.

Sony has designed a laptop that looks like a photo frame. Known as the LJ25L, the laptop comes equipped with 15.4 inch LCD screen, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB RAM and a 200GB hard drive. It will be available only in Korea for approx. $1,400 after conversion or 1,399,000 Won or or £700.

The new KL-PC701 comes equipped with a 7 inch true color screen at 800 x 480 resolution, XBurst 400 Mhz 32-bit processor, Linux 2.4 operating system, 10M/100M Ethernet connectivity, Wi-Fi connectivity, 128MB of RAM, 512MB NAND flash memory, SD memory card slot and a USB 2.0 port. The price tag is $195 each.

Priced at at $3,699, the XtremeNotebooks 917V gaming laptop comes with powerful Intel Xeon X3360 2.88GHz Quad Core processor. This desktop replacement offers an optional 45nm Intel Penryn CPU, Blu-Ray drive, large capacity storage system with RAID 0, 1 or 5 arrays, dual NVIDIA 8800 or Quadro FX series graphics cards in SLI, and efficient OCZ Solid State SATAII HDDs.

LG Electronics has unveiled the Z1 laptop which is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 1.83GHz processor and sports 1GB RAM, a 120GB hard drive, ATI Mobility Radeon X1350 graphics card with 512MB memory, and a 12.1 inch TFT display with 1280 x 800 resolution. This 1.86Kg laptop has a 2.5 inch Sideshow display located on the cover complete with touch sensitive buttons for navigation purposes. Pre-loaded with Vista Business, the LG Z1 provides a/b/g wireless, Bluetooth, 5-in1 car reader,and 5.1CH Dolby Digital.

Samsung 12.1 Inch AMOLED Laptop Concept comes equipped with a keyboard that has a similar keys on a mobile phone. This thin laptop concept features a thin AMOLED display with 1,280 x 768 display resolution. However, AMOLED displays are still expensive. I’m sure this desktop replacement will be expensive.

MSI Company reported that it is ready to release new notebook MSI Wind, which weighs about 1 kilogram and is based on the operating system Microsoft Windows XP.

The new company’s laptops will use widescreen LCD with 8.9″ and 10″ diagonals. Built energy-saving technologies backlight LED will be able to provide better brightness and richness of color. Resolution of the display (1024 × 600) will provide full viewing web-pages and users to create freedom in their travels over the Internet.

MSI Wind is also equipped with a comfortable ergonomic keyboard that is used by MSI laptops in size, it has increased to 17.5 mm distance between the keys that provides the greatest possible convenience.

In addition, MSI will provide Wind a Bluetooth 2.0 interface and a web camera with a resolution of 1.3 megapixels.

Reported that unlike competing models that are a compromise between memory and dimensions, laptop MSI Wind has a standard 2.5-inch hard disk drive capacity of 80GB.