Barnes & Noble announced Monday that it would be launching its own e-bookstore and a partnership with Plastic Logic, maker of an eBook Reader due in early 2010.
Barnes & Noble said it will offer not only 700,000 titles, with bestsellers priced at $9.99, but also more than 500,000 free public domain books from Google as well. B&N hopes to have over a million titles available for downlowad within a year. This is compared to the Kindle Store at Amazon.com with 300,000 offerings and Sony’s ebookstore with 200,000 titles (although they offer Google’s 500,000 public domain works too.)
Books purchased from the new store would be viewable on Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch, BlackBerry smartphones and most Windows and Mac computers. (more…)
In an attempt to help small business owners fight the headache caused by cluttered desks and overcrowded workspaces, Dell announces its first all-in-one PC designed specifically for the small business owner. The Dell Vostro All In One’s compact, sleek design allows buyers to maximize their desk space. When used with the optional VESA mount, customers can save up to 79 percent of their desk space. With the optional integrated Wi-Fi capability and a wireless mouse and keyboard, users can enjoy a complete wire-free desk. (more…)
Let’s face it. Size does matter. However, in the 21st century, smaller is definitely better when it comes to certain gadgets such as our laptops. Here’s a rundown of a few notebooks that are guaranteed to be easy on your back, and extremely easy to carry anywhere you need to go. They are actually pretty power packed, much more so than a netbook or UMPC.
These are the 10 Thinnest and Lightest laptops on the planet.
1. MacBook Air
Also known as the MBA, the MacBook Air has brought the ultra slim trend closer to home. Apple’s tiniest laptop measures a very sleek 12.8 x 8.94 x 0.76 inches and weighs 3 pounds. A 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2GB of DDR3 SDRAM flow through the Air. Although on the small side, the 120GB SATA hard drive should be more than enough to fit your everyday storage needs. The battery should also last you at least 5 hours.
Intel’s new Metro laptop was designed by Ziba, and it measures just .7 inches thick. That’s a bout the size of a penny. It weighs just 2.25 pounds and it has flash based memory which is a big part of the reason why boasts a 14 hour battery life. The Metro laptop has not been released yet but it should be out by then end of 2009.
The Dell Adamo is the latest “MacBook Air killer” contender. Slightly thinner than its rival at 13.03 x 9.5 x 0.65 inches, the Adamo is currently the world’s thinnest laptop at 4 pounds. The keyword to remember here is “thin” since it is a tad longer and wider than the Air. The Adamo’s 1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor is slightly slower than the Air while its 2GB memory and 128GB solid-state drive (SSD) keep the Adamo within striking distance. The average battery life is measured at 4.5 hours.
With Lenovo’s 12.5 x 9.1 x 0.9 laptop, you can tell that the corporate world has been bitten by the ultra slim bug. At 3.2 pounds, mindless drones will no longer have an excuse not to have their laptops stuck to their bodies. The X301 comes with a good Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 1.4 GHz processor coupled with 2GB of SDRAM memory. The 64GB SSD keeps its storage capacity small but terrible while its battery life can last up to only 4.3 hours.
Although the latest version of the Envy dates back to 2008, it’s thin 0.70” inch depth still makes it ultra slim worthy. The 12.65 x 9.04 x 0.70 dimensions complement its light 3.37 pounds. The SP 7700 Intel Core 2 Duo processor clocks in at 1.8GHz and is paired with roughly 2 GB of memory. The downsides to this gorgeous looking laptop are its low 80GB storage capacity and short life span of about 3 hours. (more…)
Michael Arrington, of TechCrunch fame, is rumored to be holding an event by the end of this month to release the CrunchPad. So, what is a CrunchPad and why should you want one?
A CrunchPad is a low-cost Tablet with a touchscreen—think iPod Touch with a 12″ screen. The device has one purpose and one purpose only, to surf the Web. When you turn it on, it opens a browser with links to favorite web services: Facebook, Flickr, Myspace, Twitter, YouTube, GMail, etc. and that’s it. There’s nothing but the browser.
Why purchase this and not the long-rumored Apple Tablet? One very big reason, Flash. Secondly, Apple will surely charge a premium and set the price of any such device well above the price of the iPhone ($699 without a contract.)
A caveat for some, the CrunchPad utilizes a virtual keyboard, but a prototype did have a USB port, so perhaps a physical input device could be attached.
The CrunchPad is rumored to cost $299 and will be available in several colors.
For some it’s just a way to make that ugly beige computer tower on your desk look better, and add something to the aesthetics of your work space. For others, it’s a labor of love modifying their computer cases to create an amazing work of art. And then there are those who need to carve a bit more utility out of their computer cases. For everyone else, there are pictures…of the creations these folks have devised.
So sit back, grab some popcorn, don’t forget to get a cold drink from the fridge, and take a look at 13 amazing computer case mods.
Dodge Charger PC Case(Pre Fabbed) A marriage between car and computer never looked so good. The company behind this case mod has built a fully functional computer and put it inside a car model. The headlights and taillights blink and the hood ornament serves as the power button. Featuring Intel Core 2 Duo processors, these sharp looking computers actually boot up to the sound of a HEMI engine. For those that like to change the look of their PC often, the outer shells of these bad boys are interchangeable. Want a Dodge Magnum body instead? It’s easy to change because the components are all mounted on one standard frame.
The Giant Tetris Case This case comes to you from the creative minds of a Spanish gaming group. There are several computers that actually make up the display as seen in the picture above. The colorful Tetris blocks are actually acrylic panels built to attach to each other to form the pile of blocks.
Computer Desk and Case in One This case mod brings a whole new meaning to the words “Computer Desk.” The senior technology editor over at Popular Mechanics set out to create the ultimate computer desk. The result is a beast of a machine with all the latest and greatest components they could find. The transparent desktop allows you to see the innards of the computer, and the blue lighting really adds to the displayability of the desk. Just make sure you have a cloth handy to wipe down the finger prints.
In the the quest for netbook relevancy and superiority, Acer has always been in the tech news talking about the integration of Android to run on netbooks. Actually, the whole netbook manufacturing industry is showing good interest with using Android.
Now, the first netbook maker to break news about the use of Android into its netbooks is Acer. (more…)
If you’re a gadget-geek, you’ve likely got quite a few gadgets and accessories to carry around. From phones to mp3 players, chargers, cables, styluses (styli?), headphones and whatever else lying around in piles under your bed, in your car, or in your backpack.
When you travel, the last thing you want is for airport security to be rummaging around in your stuff, pulling out handfulls of wires and messing up the careful organization system you’ve got going on (try archaeological: the oldest stuff on the bottom…)
Coccoon has an answer in their GRID-IT gadget-bag system, which is basically a thick divider covered in dozens of wide elastics, sized to fit into their stylish laptop bags and cases. The grid is designed to hold all of your small stuff, neatly and securely, and the pockets are designed to fit game consoles, phones, and various media. (more…)
Imagine being able to watch TV on the one screen while you are working on a sales report on another screen. Until now this would only be possible with an external secondary screen. However, Lenovo has changed all this.
The Lenovo w700ds looks like a standard laptop until the user pulls out the secondary 10.6″ WXGA side screen. The primary purpose of this second screen is to give photographers the ability to have a full screen of their photo while their photo editing tools are on the second screen. Although this laptop is geared toward professional photographers looking to have a laptop for their work without sacrificing desktop functionality, I believe that in the future it will become a standard in higher-end laptops/mobile-desktops. (more…)
So you find yourself in the market for a new laptop computer. Your last one was a complete beast and incredibly heavy to lug around. Being the savvy business man you are, you decide that this time you want something light and easy to open up just about anywhere to catch up on your email or go over the spread sheet figures from the sales meeting. Maybe you are a designer looking for a lightweight laptop to take with you so that you can show off your portfolio to potential clients or to wow a current client with your latest designs.
It’s a good thing for you that you stumbled across this list, because we’re about to show you 15 well performing highly portable netbooks and laptops that won’t break your budget.
ASUS Eee PC Need a netbook that you can pound on all day long? Look no further. The Asus Eee PC EPC1000HE will last you up to 9.5 hours, more than sufficient for just about anyone. It boots quickly, running off of an Intel Atom 1.66GHz processor with 1GB DDR2 memory, and you can add another stick of ram for even more speed. The 10” viewable widescreen and integrated Intel graphics allow you to view movies and more. While you’re not going to be playing the latest and greatest games, you can still get your game on with some of your favorite older titles.It comes standard with a 160GB hdd, as well as integrated WiFi, and Bluetooth for connectivity on the go.
Asus has been in the netbook industry for quite some time, and it really shows. The hinges are solid and will last for a very long time. With a price tag of around $389, this little buddy is rock solid and won’t hurt your budget.
MSI Wind U100 MSI is traditionally known for making motherboards, and they’ve come out swinging with their line up of netbooks. The MSI Wind is powered by Intel’s Atom N270 processor running at 1.60GHz. Combined with 1GB of ram and Intel GMA950 integrated graphics and you have yourself a nice platform for staying productive even while away from the office. The included 3 cell battery only gives this netbook a solid 2 hours of stress usage, but the availability of an optional 6 cell battery really adds value to it.It has a wider keyboard than most of the netbooks out there, and because it is a larger netbook it does drain a little more on the battery than most. It has a 10.0” LCD screen and includes an 160GB hdd. For staying connected, integrated WiFi or Bluetooth is a big bonus. Weighing in at 2.9 lbs, it is a little bit heavier than some of its competition, but the price tag of just over $320 makes this netbook nicer on your wallet when compared to some of the others.
HP Mini 1035NR With one of the brighter screens on the market, the 1035NR also gains accolades for a well done keyboard. Its 10.2” WSVGA displays a resolution of 1024×600, and the Intel Atom 1.60GHz processor along with 1GB of DDR2 memory provides plenty of power for keeping up with your office productivity. As with several of it’s brethren, it relies on a hard drive instead of solid state. At 60GB and only 4200rmp, it is also has less storage and accesses information slower than a majority of the competition. Boot up time tends to be a little slower than many of the other netbooks out there because of this.It does come with integrated Bluetooth and WiFi allowing you to stay connected that much easier. The lack of a 6 cell battery might be a drawback for some, and requiring an adapter for VGA display certainly places a bit of a damper on what could be a rock solid offering from HP. With a recommended price tag of around $450, it may just be the most pricy netbook around with the least amount of features.
Acer Aspire One AOD150-1165 The Aspire One netbook comes in with a $329 price tag. Standard features include an Intel Atom 1.60GHz processor, 1GB DDR2 ram, integrated graphics and Wifi. Everything you need to stay productive on the go is included. You’re certainly not going to be gaming or doing any serious graphic designing on this netbook, but if you’re planning on purchasing a machine with that in mind, then you’re probably not looking for a netbook anyway.It does not have integrated Bluetooth, which is something of a let down, and like most netbooks, it does not have an integrated optical drive. Getting your digital media onto this unit is a challenge, but the computer savvy person should have no issues with this.
Lenovo Ideapad S10e Always known for their quality products, Lenovo brings this netbook to the table. Integrated Bluetooth, WiFi, a netbook camera, and a 6 cell battery with up to 5 hours of operation are a great start. Add in the Intel Atom 1.60GHz processor, 1GB DDR2 memory and a 10.1” widescreen displaying at 1024×576 resolution makes the whole deal that much sweeter.
Puzzling though is the 160GB standard HDD in lieu of a solid state drive and sole choice of Windows XP Home. A 3 cell battery places the S10e behind a few of its cousins on this list. Priced at around $350, the quality of the S10e seems to overshadow the included features. (more…)
Ben Reitzes, an analyst with Barclays Capital, believes that Walmart is flirting with the idea to begin selling Apple computer products in their store in the future.
Apparently they are looking to fill the gap that now defunct electronics retailer Circuit City left. Walmart is working on revamping and doing a hefty makeover of their electronics section by expanding their HDTV and Blu-ray selections and expanding their smartphone line up. Walmart is also one of the select stores where you can buy the new Palm Pre in June. (more…)
A CrunchPad is a low-cost Tablet with a touchscreen—think iPod Touch with a 12″ screen. The device has one purpose and one purpose only, to surf the Web. When you turn it on, it opens a browser with links to favorite web services: Facebook, Flickr, Myspace, Twitter, YouTube, GMail, etc. and that’s it. There’s nothing but the browser.
This case comes to you from the creative minds of a Spanish gaming group. There are several computers that actually make up the display as seen in the picture above. The colorful Tetris blocks are actually acrylic panels built to attach to each other to form the pile of blocks.
This case mod brings a whole new meaning to the words “Computer Desk.” The senior technology editor over at Popular Mechanics set out to create the ultimate computer desk. The result is a beast of a machine with all the latest and greatest components they could find. The transparent desktop allows you to see the innards of the computer, and the blue lighting really adds to the displayability of the desk. Just make sure you have a cloth handy to wipe down the finger prints.
Need a netbook that you can pound on all day long? Look no further. The Asus Eee PC EPC1000HE will last you up to 9.5 hours, more than sufficient for just about anyone. It boots quickly, running off of an Intel Atom 1.66GHz processor with 1GB DDR2 memory, and you can add another stick of ram for even more speed. The 10” viewable widescreen and integrated Intel graphics allow you to view movies and more. While you’re not going to be playing the latest and greatest games, you can still get your game on with some of your favorite older titles.It comes standard with a 160GB hdd, as well as integrated WiFi, and Bluetooth for connectivity on the go.
MSI is traditionally known for making motherboards, and they’ve come out swinging with their line up of netbooks. The MSI Wind is powered by Intel’s Atom N270 processor running at 1.60GHz. Combined with 1GB of ram and Intel GMA950 integrated graphics and you have yourself a nice platform for staying productive even while away from the office. The included 3 cell battery only gives this netbook a solid 2 hours of stress usage, but the availability of an optional 6 cell battery really adds value to it.It has a wider keyboard than most of the netbooks out there, and because it is a larger netbook it does drain a little more on the battery than most. It has a 10.0” LCD screen and includes an 160GB hdd. For staying connected, integrated WiFi or Bluetooth is a big bonus. Weighing in at 2.9 lbs, it is a little bit heavier than some of its competition, but the price tag of just over $320 makes this netbook nicer on your wallet when compared to some of the others.
With one of the brighter screens on the market, the 1035NR also gains accolades for a well done keyboard. Its 10.2” WSVGA displays a resolution of 1024×600, and the Intel Atom 1.60GHz processor along with 1GB of DDR2 memory provides plenty of power for keeping up with your office productivity. As with several of it’s brethren, it relies on a hard drive instead of solid state. At 60GB and only 4200rmp, it is also has less storage and accesses information slower than a majority of the competition. Boot up time tends to be a little slower than many of the other netbooks out there because of this.It does come with integrated Bluetooth and WiFi allowing you to stay connected that much easier. The lack of a 6 cell battery might be a drawback for some, and requiring an adapter for VGA display certainly places a bit of a damper on what could be a rock solid offering from HP. With a recommended price tag of around $450, it may just be the most pricy netbook around with the least amount of features.
The Aspire One netbook comes in with a $329 price tag. Standard features include an Intel Atom 1.60GHz processor, 1GB DDR2 ram, integrated graphics and Wifi. Everything you need to stay productive on the go is included. You’re certainly not going to be gaming or doing any serious graphic designing on this netbook, but if you’re planning on purchasing a machine with that in mind, then you’re probably not looking for a netbook anyway.It does not have integrated Bluetooth, which is something of a let down, and like most netbooks, it does not have an integrated optical drive. Getting your digital media onto this unit is a challenge, but the computer savvy person should have no issues with this.
Always known for their quality products, Lenovo brings this netbook to the table. Integrated Bluetooth, WiFi, a netbook camera, and a 6 cell battery with up to 5 hours of operation are a great start. Add in the Intel Atom 1.60GHz processor, 1GB DDR2 memory and a 10.1” widescreen displaying at 1024×576 resolution makes the whole deal that much sweeter.
