Asus Unveils New Thin and Light Notebooks With Sandy Bridge

Asus has just revealed their latest thin and light notebooks and they're now packing Intel's "Sandy Bridge" CPUs. There's three of them right now and it's the U31E, U31SD, and the U36SD. They're all packing Intel Core i3 / i5 CPU options and the U31E is the most basic option with only integrated Intel graphics. The U31SD (here) steps it up with an optional GeForce GT520M GPU. The U36SD is another model that'll be available next month and specs should get official soon.

[Engadget]

Samsung Announces the Rugged Series 6 Notebook With Core i7 CPU

Samsung has just announced their latest notebook and it's the new Series 6 which is quite rugged. It has been tested extensively and reached the MIL-STD-810G standard to withstand quite a bit of shock. The notebook is built out of Duracase ProMG magnesium which can withstand 1 ton of pressure and it packs a spill-resistant keyboard and anti-shock HDD tech. Internals include: a Core i7 CPU, a Nvidia GPU, USB 3.0 ports, an integrated webcam, and an anti-reflective LCD display.

[Samsung Hub]

Acer Releases New TimelineX Notebooks With "Sandy Bridge" In Taiwan

If you live in Taiwan then, lucky you! Acer has just released their latest TimelineX notebooks over there and they're packing the new Intel "Sandy Bridge" CPUs which is much faster than the old models of last year. The whole line-up has been refreshed, so that's the 13.3, 14, and 15.6-inch models. The smallest model features an Intel Core i3-2310M CPU while the other two pack a Core i4-2410M which is great.

Inside you'll find Nvidia's GT540M GPU, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, a 640GB HDD, USB 3.0 ports, and there's a 1,366 x 768 LED-backlit display that you'll be staring at all the time. Of course, being thin and light notebooks they're pretty expensive starting at around NT$32,900 ($1,133 USD) to NT$39,900 ($1,374 USD). Pick one up if you want to; we don't know when it'll hit North America yet.

[Engadget]

24-Inch Acer Aspire Z5761 All In One PC Packs Intel Core i5 / i7 CPUs and Nvidia GPUs

Acer has just announced their latest and greatest all-in-one PC, the Aspire Z5761. This one's fairly capable of running Windows 7. Beneath the 24-inch touchscreen display (1,920 x 1,080 resolution) you'll find an Intel Core i5 / i7 CPU, up to 8GB of RAM, Nvidia GPU options, up to 1.5TB of HDD storage, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR / WiFi b/g/n support, a 2MP webcam, hybrid analog / digital TV tuners, and even a Blu-ray reader / DVD burner.

It's quite a powerhouse so this could be a desktop replacement if you need it. It also has eight USB 2.0 ports, a VGA port, and a memory card reader. This will be available in early May (next month) starting at £799 ($1,300 USD).

[Slash Gear]

Lenovo's T420s and W520 Notebooks Now Available With Intel "Sandy Bridge" CPUs

Two Lenovo notebooks are now available and it's the 14-inch T420s and the 15.6-inch W520. They're both packing Intel "Sandy Bridge" CPUs which should be no surprise. The T420s packs a 1,600 x 900 resolution display, an Intel Core i5-2520M 2.5GHz CPU, and Windows 7 Home Premium in the base model. That's pretty good but it doesn't look like there's an option for a Core i7 CPU which could be bad if you crave for more speed.

The other notebook is the W520 which starts at $1,449. Fortunately, the base model features an Intel Core i7-2620M 2.7GHz CPU, a Nvidia Quadro 1000M GPU, and Optimus technology. Unfortunately, the display only sports a 1,366 x 768 resolution which isn't amazing. Thankfully, you're able to customize it to a 1,600 x 900 or a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution if you want it. Whenver you're ready check out the T420s here and the W520 here.

[Engadget]

Acer Iconia With Dual 14-Inch Displays Will Be Available In April For $1,199

With all the tablet hype you might have forgotten about the Acer Iconia notebook which sports dual 14-inch displays. Yes, it might be a hint at what the future will be bringing more of. You'll be able to type using an on-screen keyboard on Windows 7 and it's powered by a speedy Intel Core i5 CPU. Of course, it has support for all types of different multitouch gestures. If you're looking to pick one up then it'll be shipping this April for $1,199 which actually seems like a reasonable price.

[Crunch Gear]

Fujitsu LifeBook AH572 Notebook Packs a 15.6-Inch 3D Display and "Sandy Bridge" For $999

Fujitsu has just unveiled a new notebook which is actually pretty great. Normally, Fujitsu overprices their notebooks but not this time around. They have announced the LifeBook AH572 which sports Intel "Sandy Bridge" CPUs as well as a passive 3D display and even a 3D webcam which is pretty awesome if you're into the hype. Of course, you'll need the glasses to see March Madness in 3D.

Other specs for this notebook include a 500GB HDD, a Blu-ray drive, and Windows 7. Like I said, this one isn't overly expensive checking in at $999. If you want, you can check it out at Fujitsu.

[Engadget]

Core i3 Powered Toshiba Portege R830 Pre-Orders Kick Off At $899

It was unveiled more than a month ago and it looks like you can now pre-order the Toshiba Portege R830 if you want to. This 13.3-inch notebook features a 1,366 x 768 LED-backlit display, an Intel Core i3 CPU ($30 more for a Core i5-2410M), 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a DVD burner, and just integrated Intel graphics which is the bad news. Furthermore, pre-orders for this notebook start at $899 so if you don't need to do any gaming then you might want to check it out. Check it out on Toshiba if you're in need for a new notebook.

[Engadget]

15.6-Inch Gigabyte P2532 Is the World's Thinnest Notebook With 2nd-Gen Core i7

Gigabyte has just unveiled the P2532 which you actually might be interested in. This notebook is said to be the world's thinnest notebook sporting a second-gen Intel Core i7 CPU. Beneath the 15.6-inch display (Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 resolution) you'll find a GeForce GT550M GPU, Optimus tech, a 500GB HDD, a DVD burner, two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, and Windows 7. The notebook also has interchangeable lids if you just can't stick to one colour. This is definitely a powerful laptop but who knows when it will go on sale and for how much. In the meantime you can check out the video below.

[Engadget]

Alienware M11x R3 Specs Leak, Quite a Beast

We already know that Dell and Alienware are planning to launch an updated M11x gaming notebook in the near future. Well, Slash Gear has reportedly picked up specs for this notebook. They, apparently, include an 11.6-inch LED-backlit display with a 1,366 x 768 resolution, Intel Core i5 / i7 CPU options, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, up to a 750GB HDD / 256GB SSD, and Windows 7. The GPU inside is still unknown right now but it should be fairly powerful.

Furthermore, there's said to be options for 3G along with LTE / WiMAX if you're into the whole 4G thing. Models will be coming in black and red and it's expected to look like the M17x which is pictured above - just smaller, of course. Price is unknown right now but it should be launching sometime next month - April.

[Slash Gear]

Sony Reportedly Working On VAIO Hybrid PC and Chrome OS Netbook

Sony Insider has mentioned a bunch of things that Sony might actually be launching this Summer. They reportedly include a VAIO Hybrid PC and a VAIO running the Chrome OS, which is pretty expected since they're the only company that ships their PCs with Google Chrome. The website is hearing about some specifications on both devices too and, of course, we'll sum it up for you.

The VAIO Hybrid PC is said to feature an ultraportable thin body along with Intel's Thunderbolt tech, a Core i7 CPU, and 8 to 16.5 hours of battery life. Other specs reportedly include SSD options, an HDMI output (with 3D support), an AMD GPU, Blu-ray drive, and other standard ports (VGA / USB).

Sony also reportedly has a Chrome notebook on the way as well. This one's said to feature an 11.6-inch display (1,366 x 768 resolution), a Tegra 2 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of flash storage, a GeForce GPU, WiFi, and an 8-hour battery life. Remember that it won't have an HDD inside to speed up things because you'll be relying on the cloud to save your information. Of course, that could be risky so the decision is yours.

[Sony Insider, Engadget]

Dell Updates Inspiron R With "Sandy Bridge", Chiclet Keyboards, and New Design

Dell is back it again and they have just launched their new Inspiron R notebooks which, of course, pack the new Intel "Sandy Bridge" Core 2011 CPUs. This includes their 14, 15.6, and 17.3-inch models and they have new swappable lids for the artsy people out there. They also now all feature chiclet keyboards, HD webcams, and a new design that makes it look more like their XPS line-up. Of course, they're all highly customizable so you have up to 8GB of RAM, Blu-ray drives, USB 3.0 ports, various HDD options, and 6 / 9-cell battery options. The smallest model has AMD Radeon HD 6000M graphics, while the larger two has a GeForce GT525, which is pretty good. They'll be up for pre-orders later today and the Inspiron R starts at $529.

[Engadget]

Dell Updates Four Vostro 3000 Models With New Intel Core 2011 CPUs and Chiclet Keyboards

Dell has updated a bunch of their latest notebooks and this time it's the Vostro 3000 line-up. This includes the 13, 14, 15, and 17.3-inch models and they're now all packing Intel "Sandy Bridge" Core i3 / i5 / i7 CPU options which is great. Inside the aluminum body and matte displays you'll find: HDD / SSD options, up to 8GB of RAM, and even a 9-cell battery if you want. Of course, these notebooks come packed with SRS Pro sound, HD webcams, and new backlit chiclet keyboards. Going in size order, they'll cost you $599, $499, $499, and $549, which is definitely quite reasonable. Yes, the smallest model is the most expensive one because they cramp powerful processors in a small body and you'll get more battery life from it.

[Engadget]

Asus U30S Notebook Spotted With Intel "Sandy Bridge" CPUs

A new notebook from Asus has just been spotted in Europe and it looks like it's the U30S. This notebook is said to be sporting Intel Core i5-2410M (Sandy Bridge) CPU, up to 8GB of RAM, Nvidia's GeForce GT520M GPU, Optimus tech, an 8-cell battery, and Windows 7. The notebook should be pretty great when it actually gets released - whenever that is. Joanna Stern from Engadget has mentioned that it looks exactly like the U30Jc that she reviewed. Pretty awesome stuff, let's hope the price is right!

[Engadget]

Asus' CEO Says They're Working On a 3D Tablet, MeeGo and Android Netbooks and WP7 For 2012

Asus has just announced something that sounds pretty darn great. Apparently, the CEO, Jerry Shen, has mentioned that they're working on a few products. They include: a 3D tablet, MeeGo and Android Atom powered netbooks, and even a Windows Phone 7 handset which actually won't hit the market until 2012. Nothing else has been mentioned but it would be surprising for the 3D tablet not to run Android so you can get excited if you don't want the LG G-Slate / Optimus Pad.

[Engadget]

Intel Holding Light Peak Event On Thursday Signalling Apple Refresh; White MacBook To Die

Intel has announced something that could be pretty great and it's a sign of the future - and also a sign that new Apple MacBooks and MacBook Pros could be refreshed with something big soon. Intel has announced that they're going to be holding an event for their Light Peak technology on Thursday of this week. This is also the same day where Apple is expected to refresh pretty much their whole notebook line-up. Everything will finally be cleared up on Thursday - which is actually tomorrow.

Update: According to Electronista, the white MacBooks may actually be dead after Thursday. The MacBook Air will satisfy the low-end consumer while the MacBook Pro will come in the standard 13, 15, and 17-inch models. Specs can't be confirmed right now but the 17-inch model may actually get a new Intel Core i7 CPU as a standard. Prices for these notebooks may actually be the same as they currently are but they'll be faster this time around. It seems like a pretty good move.

[Electronista]

10-Inch Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 To Sport "Oak Trail" and Win7 Professional, Expect It At CeBIT

Fujitsu has mentioned a bit more details regarding their Stylistic Q550, which is a weird name for a Windows 7 based tablet. Well, said tablet will be fully unveiled at CeBIT 2011 which takes place next month (March) and it'll be powered by an Intel "Oak Trail" Atom CPU which is good news if you're looking for a cheap tablet. Furthermore, it's going to be running Windows 7 Professional on its 10-inch LED display but I wonder if "Oak Trail" can handle that.

Other specs include a 32GB / 64GB SSD, dual cameras, a smartcard slot, a fingerprint reader, a USB port, an optional 3G module, and a battery life that will apparently last up to 8 hours. Expect the unveiling next month and you can check out the video below if you want to see more.


[Engadget]

Dell "Rosemount" Windows 7 Tablet Will Sport an "Oak Trail" Atom and Dual-Digitizer

The Dell "Rosemount" leaked on the company's roadmap just yesterday and Engadget is hearing some pretty juicy details regarding the Windows 7 based tablet. Apparently, the 10-inch tablet will be sporting a dual-digitizer so that you'll be able to touch your way around the UI or you'll also be able to use a stylus if that's what you want to do. Other rumoured specs for now include an Intel "Oak Trail" Atom CPU, software encryption, remote wipe, and a removable battery. This tablet may actually be a part of their Latitude line-up so it could be perfect for the enterprise or a business environment.

[Engadget]

11.6-Inch Samsung 9 Series Notebook Confirmed By Engadget's Contact

Engadget has managed to confirm that there will be an 11.6-inch model of the Samsung 9 Series notebook. This popped up late last night on Provantage and their contact was able to confirm that it'll stay true to the specs that leaked so it's sporting an Intel Core i3-380UM CPU for sure. Price and release date haven't been officially announced yet.

[Engadget]

Apple's MacBook Air Notebooks To Be Updated With "Sandy Bridge" In June?

There's no way to confirm this news right now but there's word that Apple intends to update their MacBook Air notebooks in the middle of this year - sources are saying June. These notebooks will be updated with Intel's new "Sandy Bridge" line-up of chipsets which include Core i3 / i5 / i7 models. This is great news for consumers since the current Airs are using CPUs that are over a year old at this point; these "Sandy Bridge" models should be much, much faster than the current batch of MacBook Airs. If Apple can keep the price of these notebooks the same as they currently are then the PC industry will be shaken up for sure.

[CNet News]