HP TouchSmart tx2 Convertibile

HP’s new TouchSmart tx2 was designed for users who want flexibility. With its AMD Turion X2 Ultra Dual-Core Mobile Processor and Vista Home Premium, the convertible has a twist hinge for PC, tablet and display modes. It features a 12.1-inch diagonal BrightView LED display, is Energy Star qualified and comes with a rechargeable digital ink pen that converts handwriting into typed text. Too kewl! Get yours at HP for prices starting at $1,149.00.

Voodoo Envy 133

Now that I have used my Voodoo envy for a few weeks, it's time to share how it worked for me. Voodoo is a powerful name in PC Gaming hardware, but let's be clear: this is definitely *not* a gaming machine. The Voodoo envy is an ultra-light laptop that is really good at productivity tasks such as email, web browsing, excel and text editing. Think of it as the ultimate internet cafe machine: it is uber-light, will get you connected with the fastest WIFI, looks great on the table and is most likely a conversation starter even if conversations tend to be repetitive and start with "wow, what's that laptop?".
Physical design

The industrial design is the greatest asset of this computer. It is thinner than the Macbook Air from end to end (0.7") and it also looks so much classier. Very few people seem to have actually seen a Voodoo Envy 133 in the wild. Each time I hop into a meeting, people are watching the laptop instead of looking at the projector screen: you have been warned! Fortunately, I don't sell anything, so that's fine. There's no need for a descriptive paragraph, just look at the photo gallery, it speaks for itself.
Performance
PCMark CPU Score (performance mode)

* Core i7 3.2Ghz: 9873 (desktop PC)
* HP 2730P: 4875
* Voodoo Envy 133: 4536
* Vaio SZ120P: 4191

PCMark HDD Score (performance mode)

* Core i7, Raptor 10k rpm: 9442 (desktop PC)
* HP 2730P: 3750
* Vaio SZ120P: 2996 (Stock drive: Seagate Momentus 5400rpm)
* Voodoo Envy 133: 2767

As you can see, the Voodoo Envy's CPU is not a horserace by any means, but it is largely "good enough" for everyday applications. The hard drive is another story. Being slower than my 3 years-old VAIO stock drive (a 2.5" Seagate Memento 5400rpm) is a bit scary, but remember that the Envy 133 has a 1.8" 4200rpm drive. SSD is an option - at a high price, that said.
Battery life

During my tests, I got around 3 hours of battery life if I use the maximum power savings mode, and may be 1h15mn in performance mode. I mainly spent my time browsing the web, writing reviews and using webmail (I typically dislike using Outlook on a laptop).

I'm not a big fan of the Envy 133 power "brick" and even though it has a cool "Ethernet to Wifi-N" feature, I just wish that it was a bit smaller. In terms of volume and weight, I think that it's somewhat comparable to the power brick of my Vaio, but it is bigger than the HP 2730p tablet. After a while, I can say that I would have traded the Ethernet capability for a smaller power-brick, which would come handy as a paid add-on...

It would have been great to have a battery life similar to the amazing 6+ hours of the HP 2730p, but I can live on power-savings mode and 3+ hours. It's "OK".
Ports and connections

Despite being thinner than the Macbook Air, the Voodoo Envy does have more ports. First of all, it has two USB port. One of them also doubles as an eSATA that can be used to connect an optical drive. The same USB/eSata port can provide power (USB) and connectivity (eSata) to the optical drive. You get the high-performance of SATA and an extra USB port for the day to day use. Smart.

The Envy 133 is obviously too thin to accommodate an Ethernet plug. As we said earlier, Voodoo's solution is to have an Ethernet plug in the Power supply and have it communicate with the laptop via an AdHoc WIFI-N connection. That way, you can benefit from a fast wireless connection even if you don't have a WIFI-N router yet.
The presence of an ExpressCard port means that wireless broadband modem or memory cards can be used, which can come in handy, even if it would ruin the esthetics. There's also an HDMI port that serves as a video out. Of course, there's a small VGA adapter that comes in the package if you need to plug the Envy into a common projector. It works just as one would expect.
Voodoo Instant OS

The Envy 133 comes with Voodoo IOS (or Instant OS, based on Splashtop), a quick-boot operating system based on Linux. I don't really like using the word "instant", because it really isn't (15 seconds to a web page). It does boot a lot faster than Windows, but I found myself not using it at all. I wonder why Microsoft can't build a real instant OS based on Windows Mobile from which we would have access to Exchange, which means emails, contacts and so on. It's just a thought.
Not exactly perfect

As good as it is, the Voodoo Envy 133 isn't perfect. Take the trackpad for example: its integration in the overall design is perfect, but in the dark, it's hard to figure out where it is. A simple LED backlight would solve this. Also, I disabled most of the gestures because they don't work they way I want, except for the vertical scroll, which is really convenient.

The trackpad mouse buttons look great, but having two button using a single piece of plastic isn't the best idea. You have to click at the very edge on either side for them to work best. The keyboard is also wonderfully integrated in the design, but the keys are a little slippery. The keyboard is also a little smaller than the one on my 13.3" VAIO - because Voodoo had to make room for the speakers on each side of the keyboard. It's a weird choice because the keyboard seem to be more important than the audio and it's not like they can't put the speakers elsewhere (well, may be they can't). Talking about the keyboard, I did myself a favor and disabled the Caps Lock button (here's how to do it). First, the performance is "good" to "just OK", depending on your tolerance to battery depletion.

The hard disk speed is the main performance issue here. If you can afford it, go for the SSD, assuming that it is really faster. Note that the hard disk is not upgradeable and apparently, this laptop could not accommodate the Intel X18-M SSD. I have not taken it apart to try.
Temperature
The Envy 133 never gets hot to the point of being uncomfortable on the lap (including on the bare skin), let alone burning hot. That's true even in "performance" mode while running a 10mn torture-test. I guess that this is what happens when, unlike some competitors, there's a fan to blow out the hot air. Oh, and if you wonder, the fan is not too noisy.
Conclusion

My biggest complaint is that I have to clean my fingerprints traces to keep the surface shiny at all times. Sure, The Voodoo Envy 133 isn't perfect, but if you want to have one of the most beautiful laptop, you'll have to take the good with the... less good. As for whether or not you "should" buy one, I would say that you're asking the wrong question. The right one is do you "desire" to? One doesn't buy this laptop to "get the job done", but to do get it done in style. Voodoo did not come up with fancy taglines, but they built the sexiest ultra-thin laptop on the planet. ($2100 as tested )

Eee PC S101: A premium Netbook

Tech site HardwareZone seems to have popped the cork before the party has even begun, as leaked information on the first premium Eee PC was splashed across its site before being pulled down. According to an Asus representative, the information was actually under embargo and the aforementioned Eee PC S101 was not supposed to see the light of day until later this week.

But what's done is done: various other sites have replicated the information and the cat cannot be put back in the bag. The Eee PC S101 is the cooler and slimmer version of the Eee PC 1000H. It's equipped with an Atom chipset, 10.2-inch display and solid-state drive. What makes this model really special is its exceptional sleekness, coming in at just less than a inch thick with a 2.2-pound heft. This makes the Eee PC 1000H look bloated and heavy in comparison. Other features include:

• Intel Atom chipset
• 1GB RAM
• Up to 64GB SSD with free 20GB online storage
• 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
• Three USB, 10/100 Ethernet, 4-in-1 memory card reader and VGA ports
• 0.3-megapixel Webcam
• Multitouch trackpad
• Five-hour battery life
• Brown, champagne, or graphite color options
• Windows XP Home or GNU Linux operating system
• About 20 inches by 7 inches by just less than an inch
• 2.2 pounds

The 16GB SSD version with Windows XP system is expected to cost $699, the same as the 32GB SSD Linux edition. Bumping up the storage to 64GB SSD with Linux is an extra $100. We expect confirmation on the availability and regional pricing details to be available soon, so keep an eye on this page.

Lenovo's ThinkPad W700 gets reviewed, practicality gets questioned

You could tell from the specs sheet that Lenovo's ThinkPad W700 wasn't a common man's machine, and a review from the cats at Laptop Mag has all but confirmed that. Dubbed "a beast of a 17-inch [laptop]," this rig was marveled upon right from the get-go; after all, it's not everyday that you see a full-fledged digitizer built right into the palm rest, not to mention the integrated color calibrator. Unfortunately, such niceties weren't bundled in for free, as the review unit they had rocked a $3,802 price tag. Still, the design, build quality and performance were all stellar, but critics couldn't help but point out that this unique creature wouldn't be worthwhile for everyone. In fact, they praised Lenovo for "incorporated some truly innovative features," but they did confess that they weren't "entirely convinced of their practicality." Think long and hard before digging into your kids' college fund for this one, you hear?

HP Voodoo Envy 133 unboxing and impressions

HP's Voodoo Envy 133, first announced in June, has struggled a bit off the blocks, with manufacturing problems keeping it out of buyers hands until last month. Of course, HP has a good excuse: carbon fiber. The notoriously difficult material wasn't used sparingly on the Envy 133, and if you've been looking for a laptop dripping with the synthetic material, HP's got your number. We mention this to remind ourselves that, like the MacBook Air before it, this laptop is about looks first, function second, and the Envy 133 succeeds in that regard wildly. There's always room for taste in these things, but HP makes quite a statement here no matter what your persuasion. We're not going to run through a full review here, but we'll let you know our first impressions after the break

Acer Aspire 8930, 6930, 5735 and 4730 laptops

If you've been looking for a Gemstone, Acer's got four new ones that your eyes should really see. The top-end Aspire 8930 gets things going with a borderline ridiculous 18.4-inch HD CineCrystal display, a 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo T9400 CPU, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, NVIDIA's GeForce 9700M GT, an optional (but completely necessary) Blu-ray drive, WiFi, 320GB 7,200RPM SATA drive and a starting price of just $1,699.99. The 6930 sports a 16-inch WXGA LCD and a few less niceties, though the $699.99 is entirely more appealing. As for the consumer-friendly 5735, it boasts a Pentium T3200, 15.6-inch WXGA display, 2GB of RAM and a $549.99 sticker. Picking up the rear is the 14.1-inch 4730, which coincidentally starts at the same price point as the aforesaid 5735. The whole happy family is available right now.

Luvaglio’s First Luxury Notebook - $1,000,000

UK-based bespoke luxury goods Game-Guide-Polo creator Luvaglio has created the first million dollar laptop. It incorporates a 17″ widescreen LED backlit screen, 128GB SSD and a slot loading Blue-Ray drive. A very rare coloured diamond piece of jewellery doubles up as the power button when placed into the laptop and also acts as security identification.

Luvaglio’s initial clients will be chosen for selection as they have already established trust with them. Clients will be able to design their own laptop by visiting Luvaglio’s showrooms at two or three well known upmarket stores, whereby their selection of materials, finishes and accessories will be available to view and a choice selected.

Western Digital 500GB laptop drive

Western Digital now shipping 500GB laptop drive: $220

If you're still having trouble tracking down Samsung's SpinPoint M6 we've got good news for you: Western Digital just started volume shipments of its own 9.5-mm high, 2.5-inch laptop drive with that still amazing 500GB capacity. The $220 WD Scorpio Blue with 8MB cache churns through a SATA 3Gbps transfer rate with 12-ms access and is said to be one of the quietest (24dBA average idle / 26dBA average seek) of any 2.5-incher spinning at 5,400rpm. A 400GB version is available for $190.

Menq International $89 EasyPC E760 laptop

 

Aw yeah, it's an $89 laptop, son! And it's new! Menq International's EasyPC E760 was reportedly spotted in Berlin at IFA 2008, and one particular camera-wielding individual even gave it the showcase treatment on video (after the break). This el cheapo was seen sporting a 7-inch 480 x 272 resolution display (ouch!), a Samsung ARM processor (what a workhorse!) and Windows CE behind the scenes. In that case, we'll just pick up a pocket-sized WinCE device and save ourselves the hassle -- thanks anyway, though

Samsung X360 ultra-light laptop is awesome

This small X360 laptop from Samsung is going to spark quite a frenzy. IT is in the same ultra-light category than the Macbook Air, but it has plenty of connectors and ports : 3xUSB, 1xHDMI, 1xVGA. Of course, with this thinness it does not have an optical drive. Customers can choose to use a 120GB HDD or a 64/128GB SSD depending on their budget. I would go for the HDD, unless I had a vibration/shock constraint. Overall, it is much more attractive to me than the Macbook Air. There is no availability or pricing information yet.
Highlights

• 13.3" (1280x800) display
• No optical drive
• 2.8Lbs (0.66" to 1.2" in thickness)
• 120GB HDD 5400 or 64GB SSD or 128GB SSD
• 7-1 flashcard reader
• 3-USB ports
• HDMI, VGA
• Expresscard
• Ethernet, WIFI, Bluetooth 2.0

Source...

Ultraportable Elitebook 2530p will feature the steel wool-proof aluminum casing

HP officially announced three new ultraportables today. The Elitebook 2530p will feature the steel wool-proof aluminum casing that Peter saw back in June along with a 3.19-pound frame, 12.1-inch widescreen display, and your choice of a 1.8-inch hard drive plus optical drive or a higher capacity 2.5-inch hard drive without an optical drive.

Then there’s the Elitebook 2730p convertible tablet notebook (shown above). It weighs 3.7-pounds, is 1.11-inches thin, and can utilize an additional battery for up to 12 hours of juice or a slim dock that adds an integrated DVD burner. The 2530p and the 2730p will be available in early September, starting at $1,499 and $1,670, respectively.
HP also announced the HP Compaq 2230s, which starts at $999 and is available now.

What To Look For When Buying A Laptop

When people talk about laptops, everyone assumes that all laptops are wireless. Traveling with a laptop is easier today than it once was, the laptops have gotten smaller and lighter. The new mobile laptops make computing easy for many people. When purchasing a laptop, make sure a wireless connection is built in so you can reach the internet if you are in a wireless area. The laptop is replacing the big desktop computer; but the mobile computer needs to provide the ability to accept components for expandability. Many people today keep all of the information on their computer, so if the computer goes down many people will not have that data. In today's modern world the laptop or sometimes called notebook is a must have.

If you do not have a laptop computer yet, you should know that one of the most important aspects of having a laptop computer is having a great power supply. Every laptop computer needs to be equipped with some type of warranty; the laptop should have at least a one year manufacturer warranty. You may even be able to play movies on them with crystal clarity. Purchasing a laptop computer is not an easy job to do because there are so many important things that should be considered before purchasing.

The type of work you do can affect the screen size and type that is most suitable for you. If you are not worried about graphics a screen size of 12-14" is acceptable. If the work you are doing is graphically intensive than a 15-17" is better. Screen sizes range from 12 to 19 inches. A laptop computer with smaller screen is great option if you do not plan to use laptop too much.

Going from 256MB of RAM to 512MB of RAM will speed up your laptop. If your needs are somewhat mundane - email, spreadsheets, word processing, etc. 512 MB of RAM should be plenty. RAM is to a computer what location is to real estate.

You also need to think about the hard drive in the laptop you are considering. The hard drive is also a very important specification to consider in buying a laptop. The speed of a hard drive is normally calculated in rotations per minute. A hard drive of about 50 gb or over is a good rule of thumb.

In addition to the processor, you will probably want to upgrade your system with memory, monitor, a graphics card or video card, and pointing device and keyboard. Finding cheap components is easy today due to the internet, many sites have popped up and made all of these components accessible. The important thing to remember when shopping for components is that you need to make sure they are compatible with your system.

Laptop cases are an important computer accessory you should make sure you acquire. They have many sections that accommodate important office documents. Another important type of carrying case is the wheeled roller case. But, their safety and protection is equally important. A laptop case is specially made for carrying a laptop but a backpack is just a bottomless pit. Getting a quality bag is very important since you are carrying around an expensive piece of equipment. Your notebook is going to be at least 6 pounds, probably more. The portability of laptop computers is both a boon to busy business people. Your notebook should be sturdy and rugged. Expensive notebooks should be protected properly.