LENOVO ANNOUNCES THINKPAD X100E THIN AND LIGHT NOTEBOOK

Lenovo has finally announced its business minded budget notebook called ThinkPad X100e. The device is powered by an AMD Neo processor.

The ThinkPad X100e has an 11.6 inch display with 1366 x 768 pixels. The notebook is available with all the three processors in the AMD Neo line. Lenovo, however, has no intention to offer the laptop with an Intel processor.

The X100e supports a variety of connectivity options including Wi-Fi, 3G and WiMAX wireless. Bluetooth is also offered as an optional feature. There are 3 USB ports, a 4-in-1 card reader and VGA. There is no HDMI. The touchpad supports multi-touch gestures. There is also a touchpoint pointing stick. Lenovo offers Windows 7 Pro/Home Premium or Windows XP Pro with the notebook. The base version starts at $449.

ACER OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES ASPIRE ONE 532H PINE TRAIL NETBOOK

Acer has officially announced a new netbook called Aspire One 532h. The device is powered by an Intel Pine Trail Atom N450 processor.

The Aspire One 532h is equipped with a 10.1 inch display. Word is that Acer may offer a higher resolution display with 1280 x 720 pixels as an optional feature. Other specifications are pretty regular. You will get 1 GB of RAM, a 160GB/250GB hard drive and a 6 cell 4400mAh battery. For graphics there is the integrated GMA 3150. The device will run Windows 7 Starter Edition.

The netbook will support WiFi 802.11b/g/n. It is not clear whether Bluetooth will also be offered. The touchpad will reportedly support multi-touch gestures.

Pricing and Availability
No info on availability as yet, but the base configuration is expected to start at $299.

VIEWSONIC ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST NETBOOK WITH WINDOWS 7

Windows 7 is out and every netbook maker has released at least one model sporting the brand new OS. ViewSonic is no different. The company recently announced a Windows 7 version of its 10 inch VNB102 netbook.

The VNB102 will be released on December 18th with Windows 7 Starter. Prices start at $399. Other than the new operating system, the VNB102 doesn’t have anything to set it apart from other ViewSonic laptops. It has a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1 GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive. The 10 inch display has 1024 x 600 pixels. Other features include WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Ethernet and VGA output. The 6-cell battery is expected to give up to 6 hours of runtime.

PACKARD BELL ANNOUNCES VALENTINO ROSSI DESIGNER NOTEBOOK

Packard Bell has unveiled a Valentino Rossi edition of its dot notebook. Rossi is an Italian motorcycle racer with a huge fan following around the world. The notebook looks pretty slick and its design may appeal to both guys and gals.

No word on specs available at the moment. But the images indicate that the notebook could be a designer version of the Packard Bell Dot M/U which is actually a rebranded version of the Acer Aspire 1410. If that is indeed so, then you can expect to get an Intel CULV processor, GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics and an 11.6 inch display. You will also get a reasonable amount of storage space and memory.

ASUS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES ITS EEE PC 1201T WITH AMD PROCESSOR

Asus has officially announced its Eee PC 1201T. This is the first Eee PC model to be powered by an AMD processor and ATI Radeon graphics.

In shape and design, the Eee PC 1201T isn’t much different from the recently launched Eee PC 1201N. But while the 1201N has a dual core Atom processor and ION graphics, the 1201T is powered by a 1.6GHz AMD Congo MV40 processor and ATI Radeon HD3200 graphics. The AMD-ATI combination will give the machine enough power to handle HD video playback.

The 1201T is equipped with a 12.1 inch display with 1366 x 768 pixels. The machine will run Windows 7 Home Premium. Up to 2GB of RAM can be installed. The storage option is a 250 GB hard drive. Asus also provides 500 GB of online storage. The connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Ethernet and Bluetooth (optional). There are 3 USB ports, VGA, SDHC card slot, 0.3 MP webcam, headphone and audio jacks.

The 6-cell battery is expected to give around 6 hours of run time. The Eee PC 1201T is available in black, silver and red. The notebook weighs 3.2 pounds with the battery pack.

PACKARD BELL ANNOUNCES 10.1 INCH AND 11.6 INCH MINI LAPTOPS

Packard Bell has announced two mini-laptops featuring 10.1 inch and 11.6 inch displays.

The smaller model called Dot S2 has an Intel Atom N450 processor, 1 GB of DDR2 RAM and a 160GB SATA hard drive. It will have the regular connectivity options – both wireless and wired. The machine is likely to ship with Windows XP Home. Prices are expected to be in the range of 250-300€.

The other model – the Butterfly XS – has a faster Intel SU4100 processor, 2 GB of DDR2 of RAM and a 250GB SATA hard drive. It is equipped with a 6-cell battery and will ship with Windows 7 Home Premium. A higher-end model with a Core2 Solo SU3500 and a 320GB hard drive is also likely to be released soon.

While there is no official confirmation in this regard, both laptops are likely to have multi-touch capable touchpads.

DELL ANNOUNCES STUDIO 17 TOUCH NOTEBOOK

Dell has announced a Studio 17 Touch laptop with multi-touch capabilities. The 17.3 inch notebook is packed with features and comes pre-loaded with Windows 7 operating system.

The Studio 17 Touch can be configured with a variety of processors ranging from the Intel Pentium Dual Core T4300 2.1GHz processor to the Intel Core i7 Quad Core processor.

Up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM can be installed. The 7200 rpm hard drive comes with 1TB of storage capacity. If you tend to play a lot of games you can configure the notebook with a discrete GPU. For those of you who aren’t really into gaming, the integrated Intel GMA X4500 MHD should be more than enough. The LED backlit display comes with 1600 x 900 pixels native resolution.

There are 4 USB 2.0ports, WiFi b/g/n, FireWire, Bluetooth, HDMI and VGA ports. Optional features include Blu-ray. The notebook weighs 7.08 lbs with the 6-cell battery. Prices start at $899.

FUJITSU ANNOUNCES LIFEBOOK UH900

Fujitsu has announced a hand held PC called LifeBook UH900. The little machine is very similar to the UMID M1 MBook or the Sharp Netwalker.

The LifeBook UH900 has a sunlight readable WXGA multi-touch screen display. And at 5.6 inches, the display is 60% to 80% bigger than the display on mobile handsets. The UH900 is powered by an Atom Z530 processor. The storage option is a generous 62GB Solid State Drive. The machine weighs just 500g and offers full Windows 7 compatibility including multi-touch support. The connectivity options include integrated 3.5G and Bluetooth. There is also a webcam.

The LifeBook UH900 is available in Black, Red and Gold. No word on pricing or availability as yet, but the machine is expected to launch in January.

ASUS ANNOUNCES UL30VT

Asus plans to release an updates version of its popular thin-and-light UL30 notebook. The new version will have discrete GPU.

The UL30Vt as it is called will be powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor. Asus said that it would be possible to overclock the processor by up to 33%. The machine will also feature the Nvidia GeForce G210M 512MB discrete GPU. The graphics is switchable to the integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD.

The Asus UL30Vt will run Windows 7. It will have a 13.3 inch glossy display with 1366 x 768 pixels. Up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM can be installed. The available storage space is 500GB.

Pricing and Availability
No information regarding pricing or availability has been announced. The Asus UL30 currently sells for $799. The UL30Vt is expected to carry a higher price tag.

FUJITSU ANNOUNCES TWO P-SERIES NOTEBOOKS

Fujitsu has announced two new additions to its P-Series of notebooks. The Fujitsu LifeBook P3110 and P3010 are available in beautiful colors with attractive design.

Both notebooks have an 11.6 inch display with 1366x768 pixels. While the P3110 runs on an Intel Pentium SU4100 1.30GHz processor, the P3010 has an AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 1.60GHz processor. Both notebooks come with a DVD Burner. Other common features include WiFi, multi-touch trackpad, 1.3MP camera, Bluetooth 2.1, stereo speakers, integrated graphics and spill-resistant full size keyboard. The laptops are available in three colors – Glossy Black, Glossy Silver and Glossy Red Ruby.

The machines weigh 3lbs and measure just an inch in thickness. The included batteries are expected to give 6.7 hours of up time. No information regarding pricing or availability has been announced as yet.

ACER ANNOUNCES ASPIRE 1820P WITH MULTI-TOUCH DISPLAY

Acer Has announced an equivalent to Gateway’s EC18T, the 11.6 inch convertible netbook. The move is hardly surprising as both companies are owned by Acer.

Much like the Gateway EC18T, the Acer Aspire 1820P will have an 11.6 inch display. It is expected to have similar hardware specifications as the Aspire 1810T. The only major difference between the two models will probably be the capacitive screen on 1820P. Apparently the 1820P supports multi-touch gestures.

The Aspire 1820P is slightly heavier than Aspire 1810T. Acer will ship the tablet with Windows 7.

Pricing and availability
The Aspire 1820P is expected to hit the markets by the end of this year. There is no word on pricing as yet.

SONY ANNOUNCES VAIO CW NOTEBOOK

Sony has unveiled their newest notebook – the VAIO CW. It is available in five colors – red, pink, white, black and indigo.

Specifications
Display: 14-inch screen (16:9, 1366x768)
Operating system: Windows 7 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo processors up to 2.80GHz (T9600)
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GT 210M 256MB or GT 230M 512MB
Memory: Up to 8GB RAM
Storage: Up to 500GB hard drive space

Other features include a Blu-ray disc drive. The standard battery is expected to give 4 hours of up time. With an extended battery, you should be able to get up to six hours. The machine weighs 5.3 lbs with the battery.

Pricing and Availability
The VAIO CW should be available around the launch date of Windows 7. Prices start at $799.

ASUS ANNOUNCES LOW COST NETBOOK

Asus has released a new low cost netbook – the Asus Eee PC 1000HT. It is currently available in Japan for about $421. The new netbook doesn’t have any remarkable features. In looks it is similar to the Eee PC 1000H. But unlike the 1000H, the 1000HT doesn’t have Bluetooth or WiFi 802.11n. On the plus side Asus claims that the Eee PC 1000HT will offer up to 6.4 hours of battery life which is better than the 4-5 hours offered by Eee PC 1000H.

Specifications
Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270
Display: 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixels
RAM: 1GB
Storage: 160GB HDD
Operating system: Windows XP Home

Connectivity options are Ethernet and 802.11b/g WiFi. Other features include 3 USB 2.0 ports, Microphone, Headphone, SDHC card slot and VGA. The 6 cell battery is expected to give 6.4 hours of up time.

ASUS ANNOUNCES UL30, UL50AG AND UL50VG CULV NOTEBOOKS

The newly announced Asus UL30, UL50AG and UL50VG will run on CULV processors. Besides being power efficient the new laptops feature a thin design and promises to deliver up to 12 hours of battery life.

Design
The chassis is built of brushed aluminum which lends the laptops an aura of elegance while at the same time keeping the design thin. While the UL30 has a 13.3 inch display, the other two notebooks – the UL50AG and UL50VG – come with 15.6 inch displays.

Specifications
The laptops will be powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 1.40GHz processor with 500GB hard disk. The UL50VG will come with a switchable discrete graphics GPU. Another power efficient feature is the Turbo Boost option which improves the performance of the laptops by 33%.

The touchpad supports multi-touch gestures. Other features include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi b/g/n, webcam and Altec Lansing Speakers with SRS surround sound.

Pricing and Availability
The laptops will hit the UK market on October 22 with Windows 7. Prices start from £599 for UL30, £699 for UL50AG and £799 for UL50VG.

TOSHIBA ANNOUNCES TOUCH SCREEN NOTEBOOKS SATELLITE M505 AND U505

Toshiba has announced the launch of two touch screen notebooks. These devices will run on Windows 7.

The new touch screen notebooks will be called Satellite M505 and Satellite U505. Both notebooks will feature the Toshiba LifeSpace software package which provides users with a ‘Bulletin Board’ full of ‘touch’ features. Another useful feature is the ‘ReelTime’ software which gives a visual history with which users can find files based on when they were opened.

The M505 comes with a 14 inch display. It is due to be released on October 22nd. It will be powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 2.2GHz processor, integrated 4500MHD graphics, 4GB RAM and a 500GB HDD. The U505 is due to be released on November 1. It will have a 13.3 inch display with similar specifications.

The M505 is expected to cost around $949.99, while the U505 will sell for $1,049.99.

DELL ANNOUNCES CORE i7 PROCESSORS

Dell is one of the first notebook makers to announce products running on the Intel Core i7 quad core processors. Dell’s flagship device using this processor will be the Alienware M15x gaming laptop. Dell will also update its three other models – Studio 15, Studio 17 and Studio XPS 16 – with the Core i7.

Besides the change in the processor, the new Studio notebooks will also have better specifications. While the Studio 15 powered by Core i7 starts at $999, the Studio 17 Core i7 version carries a price tag of $1,099. The Core i7 version of the stylish Studio XPS 16 starts at $1249.

TOSHIBA ANNOUNCES ITS QOSMIS X500 GAMING NOTEBOOK

Toshiba has announced its Qosmis X500 gaming notebook. It is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor.
The Qosmis X500 has a large 18.4 inch full HD 1920x1080 TruBright display. The Core i7 2.80GHz Quad core processor is fast enough to deliver a stellar performance. It can play any game and decode HD media with minimal efforts. The graphics option is a Nvidia GeForce GTX 250MNV discrete GPU with 1GB memory.

Up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM can be installed on this laptop. The storage options are twin 500GB hard drives. Other features include Blu-ray player, Wi-Fi b/g/n, an HDMI port, three USB 2.0 ports, eSATA, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and Harmon Kardon stereo speakers.

HAIER ANNOUNCES JIAN i7 NOTEBOOK

Haier has released a CULV (Consumer Ultra Low Voltage) Jian i7 notebook for the Chinese market. The device measures just 3.2cm in thickness and weighs 3lbs.

The Jian i7 is powered by Intel’s Core 2 Duo ultra low voltage SU7300 1.30GHz processor with 2GB of DDR3 RAM. It is equipped with a 13.4 inch LED display. The hard disk capacity is 320GB and the graphics option is Intel GMA X4500MHD integrated GPU. There is an HDMI port for transferring video to an external monitor. There are 3 USB 2.0 ports, Wi-Fi, Webcam, an e-SATA port and an SD card reader. Other features include touch sensitive media keys, stereo speakers, a cylindrical sink axle and textured trackpad. There is also the option of 3G card for high speed internet access.

Pricing and Availability
The notebook is priced at around $879. No information regarding availability has been announced as yet.

MEDION AKOYA ANNOUNCES E1313 NETBOOK

The Medion Akoya has already released a number of netbooks under its E131X series. The latest addition to this series is the Medion Akoya E1313 netbook. Like other models in this series this netbook also has an AMD Sempron processor.

The E1313 is expected to be released in October/November after the release of Windows 7.
Unlike other models in this series, it has a touchscreen display which appears to be reasonably responsive. Other features on this netbook include an Expresscard/34 slot. The device with its 6-cell battery is likely to be priced between €450 and €500.

LENOVO ANNOUNCES LOST & FOUND SERVICE FOR THINKPAD OWNERS

Lenovo has announced a Lenovo Lost & Found service. As the name itself suggests this is a service that helps people return lost Lenovo notebooks to their owners. Presently the service is only available for ThinkPad notebooks that have Absolute Software's Computrace. Here is how the Lost & Found service works.

Owners who have lost their PC need to flag it with Absolute so that the device will automatically be locked. When the PC is turned on the screen will display a message indicating that the laptop is a lost one and will give a toll-free number for the finder to contact Lenovo. The toll-free number found on a sticker on the outside of the laptop can also be used for the purpose.

Upon receiving the call, Lenovo will register the laptop for Lost & Found and send a pre-paid shipping box to the finder. The finder will then send the notebook to Lenovo. Lenovo will then ship the notebook to its owner. The owner can then unlock the ThinkPad through Absolute after turning the PC on.

ThinkPad owners who bought the notebook with Absolute Software’s Computrace can avail of the service at no additional cost.