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Dell announces their own ultrabook for $999 — the XPS 13

Stefan Etienne — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:45:21 +0000

This is the Dell XPS 13 ultrabook. It sports a weight of 2.9 pounds, the laptop is .71 inches at its thickest point and .24 inches at its thinnest, with room for USB 3.0, USB 2.0, 3.5mm headphone, and MiniDisplay ports (sadly excluding an SD card slot, however). Other core specifications include a base Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM, 128GB SSD storage, a standard backlit keyboard and the slightly disappointing 1366 x 768-resolution 13.3-inch display, which has been covered in Gorilla Glass for added protection. And yet, there are still more technical terminologies I must speak of: the XPS 13 also has Intel HD 3000 graphics, a 47Wh battery rated for up to eight hours, Bluetooth 3.0, and finally Intel’s SmartConnect, which automatically finds the right network for you to connect to and updates your email and calender, alongside the usual Rapid Start tech.

The XPS 13 ultrabook launches in February starting at $999.

HP Envy Spectre 14: NFC, Gorilla Glass Radiance Display, 3.9 Pounds, $1400, All On February 8

Stefan Etienne — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:07:11 +0000

This is HP’s awesome 3.9 pound and 20mm thick ultraportable with a scratch-proof design: the Envy Spectre 14. Base specs include a 14-inch, 1600 x 900 Gorilla Glass Radiance Display (huzzah!), Core i5-2467M CPU, 4GB of RAM, a 9-hour battery, backlit keyboard, carrying case and — hold it for a second — an NFC chip built into the palm rest for transferring URLs from your phone’s browser, which HP says will work first with Android phones. Not only does the $1,400 get you all that, but an Intel Wireless Display chip, HP’s CoolSense technology, Beats, HP Wireless Audio, full copies of Photoshop and Premiere Elements and a two-year subscription to Norton Internet Security. That’s epic. Upgrade options include 256GB SSD and an extra 4GB of RAM, but that’s not even really important considering how awesome this hardware is already.

The Spectre goes sale in the United State starting on February 8, continuing towards Canada, the UK, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Chile and Mexico in March. Full PR after the break.

HP Unveils Premium Ultrabook with Extraordinary Glass Design – the HP ENVY 14 Spectre
PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 9, 2012 – HP today revealed the HP ENVY 14 Spectre, a premium consumer Ultrabook PC that commands attention with its unparalleled use of glass and stunning performance.

“Sleek, midnight black glass on the outside and stark contrast silver glass on the inside make Spectre extraordinary, defying conventional notebook design,” said Eric Keshin, senior vice president, Strategy and Marketing, Personal Systems Group, HP. “We chose the name for our first ENVY Ultrabook to evoke mystery, and we packed it with the best in entertainment technology to satisfy those who expect the unexpected.”

Tough yet beautiful, the HP ENVY 14 Spectre uses lightweight, scratch- resistant glass on the lid, display, palmrest and HP ImagePad – an industry first. A full 14-inch screen inside a 13.3-inch body means customers can get more enjoyment from their entertainment.
The HP Spectre’s high-definition (HD) HP Radiance Display offers higher resolution, richer color, better brightness and wider viewing angles than traditional notebook displays.

Equipped with a matching audio-grade speaker mesh and Beats AudioTM, an exclusive, high-performance technology developed by HP and Beats by Dr. Dre, the HP Spectre boasts an aluminum analog volume dial that acts as a visual design cue and works seamlessly with Beats Audio Manager to precisely adjust audio levels.

Built-in HP Wireless Audio turns any home into a concert hall, allowing users to stream uncompressed audio to up to four external devices or directly to any KleerNetTM-compatible device.

An HP Radiance Backlit keyboard provides outstanding illumination using individual LEDs dedicated to each keycap. The keyboard works with an advanced proximity sensor to intelligently sense a user’s presence, lighting up when a user approaches and dimming down after he or she leaves.

Uncompromising performance
The HP Spectre is blazingly fast, stunningly sleek and boasts up to 9 hours of battery life.
Powered by the latest Intel® CoreTM processors, the 20-mm-thin HP Spectre weighs less than 4 pounds and includes up to 256 gigabytes (GB) of storage. Intel Rapid Start Technology and support for two ultrafast mSATA solid state drives allow for quick boot and resume times.
The HP Spectre also comes loaded with HP exclusives, such as HP CoolSense technology, which automatically adjusts performance and internal fan settings for a noticeably cooler PC. In addition, the HP ImagePad provides precise multifinger touch navigation and the HP TrueVision HD Webcam provides brighter, cleaner HD images.

Eliminating the need for external dongles, the HP Spectre features a full array of advanced input and output options, including Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, HDMI and Mini DisplayPort.
Additionally, the Spectre offers a performance-tuned software image, full versions of Adobe Photoshop® and Premiere Elements, two years of preinstalled NortonTM Internet Security(6) and a concierge phone line for technical support that is dedicated exclusively to HP ENVY users.

Pricing and availability
The HP ENVY 14 Spectre notebook PC is expected to be available in the United States on Feb. 8 with a starting price of $1,399.99.

The HP Spectre will also be available in early March in additional countries, including Canada, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Chile and Mexico.
Additional information is available at www.hp.com/go/spectre or by calling the HP “Reserve Now” line at +1 888 291 7996.

Acer’s 13.3-inch Aspire S5 Ultrabook is “world’s thinnest”

Stefan Etienne — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:37:24 +0000

The just announced Acer S5 Ultrabook kicks off the new ultrabook genre that manufacturers are going to push at CES. It’s 13.3-incher that checks in at under 3 pounds, is 15mm thin, offering Instant On functionality, a magnesium-aluminum alloy cover (in Onyx Black), HDMI / USB 3.0 / Thunderbolt (!!!) ports and an SSD for good measure. It will ship in Q2 of 2012, and that’s all we know about it, at the moment. PR after the jump.

8 Jan 2012
Acer Unveils World’s Thinnest Ultrabook: Aspire S5Acer unveiled the world’s thinnest Ultrabook with the Aspire S5, an ultra-slim device that measures only 15 mm at the maximal point. It weighs less than 1.35 kg (less than 3 lbs.) and is built with a 13.3-inch (34 cm) LCD. In addition, it features the unique Acer Green Instant On technology for fast boot and resume, and Acer Always Connect, which lets users manage their multimedia and data on all their devices at anytime, anywhere – even from sleep.

“The Ultrabook is much more than just a product segment,” said Jim Wong, president of Acer Inc. “It’s a new trend that will become the mainstream for mobile PCs, and customers will see the unique features gradually extended across Acer’s notebook family.”

Instantly on and always connected
Innovative Acer Green Instant On and Acer Always Connect technologies enable data upload and retrieval anytime, anywhere, and deliver power-saving features as well.

Acer Green Instant On provides instant-resume functionality (in 1.5 seconds) and ensures battery life that lasts several weeks.

Acer Always Connectgets users online faster than conventional connections for better productivity and infotainment enjoyment. With their Facebook, Twitter and Outlook email accounts open, users can see updates instantly upon resuming. Furthermore, Acer Always Connect can wake up the Aspire S5 from a remote device like a smartphone. Access to all documents, music, pictures and video files is fast and always available.

Ultra-fluid contours
Adorned with a delicately curved chassis in Onyx Black, the Aspire S5′s cover rim wraps around the system body like a protective shell. A magnesium-aluminum alloy cover and palmrest provide a slimmer and sturdier form, while the metallic brushed detail presents subtle elegance. The clean and ultra-fluid contours seen from all angles make the S5 a vision of beauty.

Magical I/O port panel
The Aspire S5 is Acer’s first Ultrabook to feature a smartly designed MagicFlip I/O port panel concealed just below the hinge. This design feature enhances the overall slenderness and streamlined form of the S5. When needed, a press of the MagicFlip key opens the panel to reveal a selection of I/O ports: HDMI®, USB 3.0 and 20 Gbps Thunderbolt.

Performance and eco-friendly features
The Aspire S5 features an Intel® Core™ processor, SSD storage for speed and increased shock resistance, professionally-tuned Dolby® Home Theater® v4, long battery life via the PowerSmart battery pack (with a 3X longer life cycle1 than traditional batteries), and is equipped with a chiclet keyboard.

The Aspire S5 will start shipping in Q2 2012.

Google Sharpens Up Their Chromebooks And Chrome OS

Stefan Etienne — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 21:28:21 +0000

Want an Acer Chromebook? Well, now that’s $0 cheaper. Want the Samsung Chromebook? Well, it comes in black now, too. Do you have a prototype Cr-48, like I do? Well then, you’ll be pleased to know that the Chrome OS is getting a face-lift with multiple enhancements and user interface changes to better benefit its look and the coming holiday season. These changes may not be much, but it’s good enough to keep people from being contentious and keeps Google’s PR for Chromebooks look unsullied.

So all in all, it’s some good changes for the better. Nice.

Via: Google

HP Envy 15, 17, And 17 3D Look Really Awesome As Part Of A Redesign

Stefan Etienne — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:29:20 +0000

Three laptops launching December 7th: the Envy 15, Envy 17 and Envy 17 3D starting at $1,100, $1,250 and $1,600, respectively. What they all offer you is a really original design that has been tuned to the likes of HP quite nicely this time, and has some great specs to boot (including Beats Audio software enhancements). The Envy 15 will receive an optional 15.6-inch, 1080p Radiance IPS screen panel, built-in backlit keyboard that adjusts to light settings and a great thin design. The entire Envy line will have access to quad-core CPUs, and come standard with six speakers, a subwoofer, HP’s CoolSense technology and support for HP Wireless Audio. The Envy 17, in particular, can be configured with either a 128GB mSATA SSD or dual 1TB drives. And of course all of them have Beats Audio on-board.

As for what you were waiting for, the Envy 15 will come with the following base specs: Core i5-2430M CPU, 6GB of RAM, a 500GB 7,200RPM hard drive, 1366 x 768 display, Bluetooth, Intel Wireless Display, a slot-loading DVD burner and AMD Radeon HD graphics (HP didn’t say which one, yet), HDMI, one DisplayPort, two USB 3.0 sockets and one of the 2.0 persuasion. As for the 8-cell, 76Wh battery, it purportedly provides up to nine hours of life. The Envy 17 starting specs aren’t much different, as they add more hard drive space and more ports.

Press release after the break.

HP Debuts New ENVY Notebook PCs
PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 16, 2011 – HP today introduced redesigned HP ENVY notebooks PCs that exude power, performance, advanced technologies and precision craftsmanship.

- The new HP ENVY 15 and HP ENVY 17 deliver blistering performance and optimal sound experience in a timeless design that includes an all-metal chassis with rounded edges in a classic black and silver finish, accented by subtle red details.
- The HP ENVY 17 3D offers the best 3-D visual experience in a notebook PC.

The company also introduced two wireless accessories – HP Wireless Audio and the HP Wi-Fi Touch Mouse X7000.

Timeless design, powerful performance
Featuring a new HP Radiance Backlit keyboard, the HP ENVY notebooks provide outstanding illumination using individual LEDs dedicated to each keycap. The keyboard also works with an advanced proximity sensor to illuminate when it detects a user approaching the notebook and deactivate after the user leaves.

With six powerful speakers and a subwoofer, the HP ENVY notebooks deliver an optimal sound experience, featuring Beats Audio, an exclusive, high-performance technology developed by HP and Beats by Dr. Dre. A new aluminum analog volume dial acts as a visual design cue, working seamlessly with the Beats Audio Manager so users can easily and precisely adjust audio levels.

The HP ENVY 15 and ENVY 17 provide the powerful performance needed for even the most demanding tasks, with optional Intel® Quad Core and AMD Mobility Radeon HD graphic processors. With optional 3×3 wireless technology, the HP ENVY notebooks offer up to three times the speed and twice the range of typical network connections.

The ENVY 15 and ENVY 17 are available with optional Radiance Full HD Infinity displays – either 15.6-inch diagonal or 17.3-inch diagonal, respectively. Radiance displays offer higher resolution, richer color, better brightness and wider viewing angles than traditional notebook displays. The ENVY 17 display boasts 50 percent greater brightness than standard.

With support for HDMI and full-size DisplayPorts, users can connect up to three external displays. The ENVY 17 also offers an advanced option with support for a 128-gigabyte mSATA SSD and up to two 1-terabyte hard drives. The ENVY 15 boasts up to 9 hours of battery life, while the ENVY 17 can achieve up to 9.5 hours in ideal conditions.

Other innovations featured in both ENVY notebooks include HP CoolSense technology, which automatically adjusts performance and internal fan settings for a noticeably cooler PC, and HP ImagePad, for precise multifinger touch navigation.

Fast boot and resume times, a performance-tuned software image that includes two full years of preinstalled Norton Internet Security, and a dedicated concierge phone line for technical support deliver a premium experience to ENVY users.

Superb 3-D viewing experience
For those seeking the ultimate multimedia experience, the HP ENVY 17 3D offers the best 3-D visual experience in a notebook PC. In addition to all the features of the ENVY 17, the ENVY 17 3D provides 1080p full high-definition (HD) viewing along with improved viewing angles and color gamut for all 2-D and 3-D content.

HP 3D Active Shutter Glasses provide a seamless viewing experience by wirelessly synchronizing each frame of the 3-D content between the display and glasses, resulting in crisp 3-D Blu-ray viewing as all 3-D content appears in full HD resolution.

Superior wireless technology
The new HP Wireless Audio and HP Wi-Fi Touch Mouse X7000 deliver the best in convenience and design.

Using the same technology integrated into the new HP ENVY notebooks, HP Wireless Audio transforms a notebook or desktop PC into a full home audio system. Users can stream uncompressed audio to up to four external devices or directly to any KleerNet device. Advanced tri-band connectivity reduces interference, lag time and latency for the highest sound quality. The thumb-sized dongle attaches to any PC and the tiny receiver attaches to legacy speakers through its two analog or two digital ports.

An ideal companion to the new HP ENVY notebooks, the HP Wi-Fi Touch Mouse X7000 features a sculpted shape and glossy black finish. The standard-sized wireless mouse comes equipped with an innovative capacitive-touch scroll and six customizable buttons, including a button for one-touch uploads to Facebook. It stays connected up to 30 feet away with no wires or USB dongle required and has a battery life of up to nine months – twice as long as that of comparable Bluetooth® models.

Pricing and availability
The new HP ENVY notebook PCs are planned to be available in the United States on Dec. 7.
The HP ENVY 15 has a starting price of $1,099.99.
The HP ENVY 17 has a starting price of $1,249.99.
The HP ENVY 17 3D has a starting price of $1,599.99.

HP Wireless Audio is expected to be available mid-December for $99.99, and the HP Wi-Fi Touch Mouse X7000 is available now at the HP Home & Home Office store for $59.99.

Additional information is available at www.hp.com/go/envy or by calling the HP ―Reserve Now‖ line at +1 888 291 7996.