In case you missed anything, here’s a quick weekend roundup of the news that powered AllThingsD this week:

1. Sources say that Apple is pulling engineers from the next version of OS X and assigning them to its mobile OS in order to get a preview ready in time for next month’s Worldwide Developers Conference.
2. By 2017, more than half of companies will require their employees to supply their own devices on the job, according to a new Gartner report.
3. A California court has ruled in Facebook’s favor versus “typosquatters” who benefited from registering domain names with misspellings like “gacebook” and “dacebook.”
4. Speaking of Facebook, it’s growing — but that growth rate has seen a slow decline over the past year.
5. As it tries to convince consumers that the iPhone and Android aren’t the only options, Microsoft released a hard-edged, humorous ad for Windows Phone.
6. Buying a laptop is all about timing; if you can, you might want to wait.
7. “This is just like another language, just a different set of life skills than if you learned French or Spanish.” That’s Krishna Vedati, CEO of Tynker, a platform aimed at teaching children to code.
8. Consumer electronics warranty provider SquareTrade says Samsung’s new Galaxy S4 is more breakable than both the S3 and the iPhone 5.
9. In AllThingsD Must-Reads, Bizo CEO Russell Glass writes, “There is a revolution brewing in the enterprise and it’s starting right at the desk of the chief marketing officer.”
10. To show off its ability to precisely move and manipulate individual atoms, IBM released the smallest movie ever made: An animated short called “A Boy And His Atom.”

To stay on top of the latest, follow AllThingsD on Twitter and Facebook, and subscribe to our daily email newsletter.

That was my first thought when I heard about Acer’s new Aspire R7 Windows 8 notebook.

Unveiled today at an event in New York, the Aspire R7 is a Windows 8 laptop, but its design is unique.

Part notebook, part all-in-one PC, part tablet, the machine features a 15.6-inch, 1,920 by 1,080-pixel touchscreen that’s mounted on an “Ezel” hinge so you can reposition the display to your liking. You can angle it to use it like a regular laptop, flip the screen over to watch movies, or lay it on top of the keyboard to use it like a tablet.

Acer also switched the location of the keyboard and trackpad: The trackpad is now located at the top of the laptop, with the backlit keyboard just below it. WTF, right?

Acer’s thinking is that you can simply angle the display right to the edge of the keyboard, and use the touchscreen rather than the trackpad to launch applications, click on items and so on.

I get what Acer was going for, but I’m not entirely sold on this design. There are still times where a trackpad might be more useful than a touchscreen, and having to reach over the keyboard to use it seems awkward and uncomfortable.

While PC manufacturers have been toying with these new hybrid designs of late, they come with compromises, and many times you’d be better off going with a standalone notebook or tablet. But I’ll reserve judgment on the Aspire R7 until I’ve actually used it in person.

As far as the guts of the machine, it has an Intel Core i5 processor, a 500 gigabyte hard drive, a 24GB solid-state drive and 6GB of memory. Ports include three USB ports, HDMI and an SD card reader.

The Aspire R7 will be available exclusively at Best Buy on May 17, with a starting price of $1,000. You can preorder one starting today.

In addition to the R7, Acer announced the 7.9-inch Iconia A1 Android tablet and the Aspire P3 Windows 8 Ultrabook convertible, a slimmed-down version of its Aspire V5 notebooks and Aspire V7 Ultrabook.

The partnership with HP is noteworthy because this is the first time the Leap motion controller will be integrated into computers. The San Francisco-based startup already has plans to sell the Leap as a standalone device for $80. In January, Leap Motion also announced a deal to bundle its sensor with some Asus notebooks and PCs.

“When we first introduced the product, we knew the peripheral was great, because you could take your existing Mac or PC and transform it into a gesture-based machine,” said Michael Zagorsek, vice president of marketing at Leap Motion, in an interview with AllThingsD. “But we felt the future of motion control was being in as many devices as possible, and this partnership with HP is a step in that direction.”

The deal has the potential to be beneficial to both parties. As the world’s market leader in the PC sector, HP can get Leap in front of people at a larger scale. Meanwhile, Leap’s technology can help HP differentiate itself from its competitors. In fact, Zagorsek said that HP first approached them about bringing Leap to its products.

The companies did not share details about specific devices or release dates at this time, but did say that select HP products bundled with the Leap motion controller will start shipping this summer. Then they will launch laptops and PCs embedded with the technology. All Leap-enabled HP devices will also come preloaded with Airspace, Leap Motion’s application store.

As for what’s next, Zagorsek said the company really wants to concentrate on the PC and laptop market for now and is talking with other computer manufacturers, but mobile devices are definitely part of the strategy.

“Obviously, the world is going mobile, so smartphones and tablets are on our road map,” he said. “We want to make sure we’re in as many places as makes sense.”

Designed primarily for the education market, the Acer C710-2055 promises up to six hours of battery life and carries four gigabytes of RAM. The original C7 has 2GB RAM and up to four hour of battery life.

With the upgrades, the C710-2055 is slightly more expensive than the original model, at $280 versus $200. It’s available starting today.

The rest of the laptop’s features are unchanged from the C7. It has an 11.6-inch, 1,366 by 768 pixel display, a dual-core Intel Celeron processor and an HD webcam.

The three-pound laptop also comes with USB 2.0 ports, HDMI and VGA connectors and an SD card slot.

Like other Chromebooks, the C710-2055 isn’t meant to be a primary computer. Instead, it’s aimed at being a companion device, and it relies heavily on an Internet connection to provide access to Google’s various services.

In addition to Acer, Google has partnered with Samsung, HP and Lenovo on Chromebook models. But the company recently stepped out on its own with the $1,300 Chromebook Pixel, a higher-end model aimed at power users.

Update: An earlier version of this story stated the Acer C710-2055 had a touchscreen. It has a non-touch display. Apologies for the error.

1.) This Is the Site Likely Responsible for the Recent Major Tech Company Hacks

2.) Yahoo CEO Mayer Now Requiring Remote Employees to Not Be (Remote)

3.) Microsoft Could Make Billions From Office for iPad

4.) Confirmed: Pinterest Completes $200 Million Funding at $2.5 Billion Valuation

5.) NFC: What You Need to Know

6.) I Love You, Man: Gates Lashes Himself to Ballmer Over Microsoft’s Mobile “Mistake” (Video)

7.) For $19, an Unlimited Phone Plan, Some Flaws

8.) Tesla Owners Hit the Road to Prove Long-Distance Can Be Done

9.) Why Google Made Its Own High-End Laptop, the Chromebook Pixel

10.) When Mayer Called Yahoo’s Mobile Revenue “Nascent,” She Wasn’t Kidding (And Here’s the Actual Number She Left Out)

For more of the week in review, you should follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Previously, Google partnered with the likes of Samsung, Acer and HP to build its Chromebooks, but when thinking about the next generation of devices, the company decided to build its own machine to compete at the higher end of the market.

Designed for power users, the Pixel features a 12.85-inch touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio. It’s the first Chromebook to offer a touch display, but that’s not what makes the laptop newsworthy.

With the launch of Windows 8, many device manufacturers, including HP, Dell, Samsung and Sony, have released a wide range of touchscreen laptops and hybrid devices.

Instead, Google claims the Pixel has the highest pixel density of any laptop screen on the market today. It has a resolution of 2,560 by 1,700 pixels at 239 pixels per inch (ppi). By comparison, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display has a resolution of 2,560 by 1,600 pixels at 227 ppi, and the 13-inch MacBook Air has a resolution of 1,440 by 900 at 128 ppi.

Google said the goal of the Pixel was to make the pixels disappear, so users could have the best Web experience.

The laptop is made from anodized aluminum alloy and has a backlit keyboard and a touchpad etched from glass. There is a 720p Webcam for video chats, and three built-in microphones to cancel out background noise. That said, the third mic doesn’t work with all services, such as Google Hangouts, just yet.

Available in a Wi-Fi and a 4G LTE version, the Chromebook Pixel is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor and has a 32 gigabyte solid-state drive (64GB for the LTE model). In addition to 4GB of DDR3 RAM, users will also get one terabyte of free storage on Google Drive for three years. Battery life is estimated at five hours.

The features are an improvement over previous Chromebook models. Google says the Chromebook Pixel is meant to compete with the likes of the MacBook Pro. It’s a lofty goal, considering that the Chromebook doesn’t have some of the power and graphics capabilities of the MacBook, and only runs Web-based apps, which aren’t as robust as native desktop apps. Factor in the high price, and it might be a tough sell.

The Wi-Fi version of the Chromebook Pixel costs $1,299, and is available today from the Google Play store; it starts shipping next week. It will also be sold at Best Buy. Meanwhile, the LTE version is priced at $1,499 and is expected to be available in April.

Available now, the Pavilion 14 has a 14-inch, 1,366 by 768-pixel display, which HP boasts is wider than any other Chromebook on the market today. The Samsung Chromebook and Acer C7 both have 11.6-inch screens, but they also cost less, at $249 and $199, respectively. The Pavilion 14 is priced at $330.

The Chromebook is powered by a 1.1GHz Intel Celeron processor and features a 16 gigabyte solid-state drive and 2GB of RAM (expandable up to 4GB). With the purchase of the Pavilion 14, customers also get 100GB of free storage on Google Drive for two years.

The unit weighs just under four pounds and comes with three USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI port, Ethernet jack and media-card reader. Battery life is rated at four hours and 15 minutes.

While Lenovo’s Chromebook, the ThinkPad X131e, is aimed primarily at the education market, HP sees the Pavilion 14 as more of a companion device to your main computer, providing easy access to Google’s various services like Gmail and YouTube.

Samsung and Acer also designed their Chromebooks as second computers, and their affordable price tags made them a more attractive option. It remains to be seen whether consumers are willing to spend a little more for the Pavilion 14’s larger screen.

Targus, the Anaheim, Calif.-based company known for its laptop and tablet cases, has acquired Sena Cases, another Southern California company that makes premium phone cases.

One of Sena’s leather iPhone 4/4S cases.

The 30-year-old company announced today that it had bought Sena for an undisclosed amount.

A spokesman for Targus said that Sena would continue to operate under its own brand name, and that Sena’s co-CEOs, brothers Ramsey and Fevzi Oten, will continue to lead the company.

For Targus, buying Sena (pronounced “Senna”) helps the company expand into the the phone accessory market, specifically high-quality cases. Until now, Targus has mainly focused on laptop and, more recently, tablet bags. Thirteen-year-old Sena Cases, on the other hand, makes fine leather and luxury smartphone cases (like the one I mention in this wallet-case roundup).

Last month, Targus made its own foray into phone accessories, with three different styles of cases for iPhone 5.

“You see physically the difference,” CEO Paul Jacobs said Wednesday during a meeting with a handful of reporters. “It’s not a theoretical thing. It’s right there in your face. This one over there has a fan and it’s thicker and it has this battery life and this one is thinner.”

If anything, Jacobs said, he is more convinced after seeing the first crop of Intel-based Windows 8 tablets.

Computers running both new flavors of Windows go on sale Friday, with Microsoft’s Surface PC the best known Windows RT machine, though it uses a chip from Nvidia. Qualcomm has designs with Samsung and Dell, though the ETA on Samsung’s model is unclear.

The biggest issue with Windows RT, Jacobs concedes, is the availability of apps, since, with the exception of Office, Windows RT runs only apps designed for the new-style Windows.

“Everybody knows it,” Jacobs said. “We’ve been focused on it. Microsoft has been focused on it.”

For his part, Jacobs said he is pretty happy with the app selection, though he concedes he personally wants a program for watching live ESPN programming.

“Yeah, I want WatchESPN,” Jacobs said.

Qualcomm has sponsored a contest to encourage developers to write Windows RT apps as well as, in some cases, help to fund their development. Jacobs said that Microsoft isn’t really being given the benefit of the doubt here, despite its long track record of attracting developers.

And over time, Jacobs said, all big software makers will have to rewrite their apps to have modern attributes such as touch support and the ability to remain connected to the network while using only a small amount of power.

Jacobs said that people should not assume a lack of interest in Windows RT just because there are only a handful of devices.

“There’s a lot of people waiting in the wings,” Jacobs said, but noted that Microsoft is still limiting the number of hardware makers that any one chip firm can work with. Qualcomm, for example, is working with Dell and Samsung.

“To be fair, they are trying to manage their resources,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs also doesn’t believe too many PC makers will be scared away from Windows RT just because Microsoft is doing its own tablet with Surface.

“I would say the manufacturers are already dealing with an environment in which some form of verticalization is happening,” Jacobs said. “I think it is probably fair to say some of it is driven by Apple’s success.”

Google, he notes, bought Motorola, so Android device makers have the same sort of issues.

For Qualcomm, it’s an opportunity to be in a place it has wanted to be for ages — inside PCs and tablets.

“We’ve talked to Microsoft for many, many years about ‘what do you guys think about porting Windows to ARM,’” Jacobs said. “I think the growth of the tablet market actually caused them [to make] the decision.”

None of the products were a surprise, but they still drew oohs and ahhs from the audience, particularly the iMac.

The new iMac is the thinnest desktop computer Apple has made to date, measuring just 5mm at the edges — 80 percent thinner than the previous model, if you’re counting. It’s also eight pounds lighter than its predecessor and making the old iMac look like, as AllThingsD’s Peter Kafka aptly puts it, “a sad fatty hanging out with Louis C.K. at the Cinnabon.”

Inside the sleek all-in-one PC is a new Apple Fusion Drive, which combines 128 gigabytes of Flash with a one terabyte or 3TB hard-disk drive (HDD). Combining hard drives and flash storage isn’t a new concept; hybrid drives do the same thing. But what appears to be different about Fusion Drive is the software intelligence behind it.

Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller explained during the presentation that Fusion Drive figures out what stuff should go over to the Flash drive and what should be relegated to the HDD. The company claims that this system helps improve performance and requires no extra work on the part of the user. “You just use it, it works,” said Schiller.

The new iMac has also been upgraded with Intel’s Ivy Bridge Core i5 and Core i7 processors. The computer will ship without an optical drive, but Schiller noted that it will offer a separate drive option for those who are “stuck in the past.”

Pricing for the entry-level, 21-inch iMac starts at $1,299, and ships in November; the 27-inch iMac costs $1,800, and will ship in December.

Next up is the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. It joins the 15-inch MacBook Pro version, which was introduced in June, and features a 13.3-inch screen with a 2,560 by 1,600 pixel resolution — four times the number of pixels than the previous generation.

It’s also 20 percent thinner than its predecessor at just 0.75-inch thick and includes Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 ports, dual microphones and a headphone jack on the left side, and a second USB 3.0 port, HDMI out and an SD card reader on the right side. It’s the lightest MacBook Pro ever, at 3.5 pounds — a full pound lighter than the previous MacBook Pro.

The notebook can be configured with Intel’s third-generation Core i5 or i7 processors, and ships with Mountain Lion, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Battery life is estimated at around seven hours.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display starts shipping today, with a starting price of $1,699.

The Mac mini, which Apple touts as the most energy-efficient desktop computer on the market, also got a refresh today. The small sandwich-sized device is now even smaller than the previous Mac mini model, last updated in July 2011.

It has HDMI, Firewire and four USB 3.0 ports, in addition to Thunderbolt and an SD card reader. It’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled, and is built with either dual- or quad-core Intel i5 or i7 Ivy Bridge processors. It has up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of hard-disk storage.

The 500GB model with 4GB of RAM costs $599. A more expensive $999 Mac mini comes with a 2.3GHz Core i7 Ivy Bridge processor, and more storage and memory.

At the beginning of the event, Apple CEO Tim Cook noted that the Mac outgrew the PC market seven times in the past year and has outgrown the PC market for six years straight. And although Macs claim the No. 1 spot for desktops and laptops in the U.S, Apple is not resting on its laurels.

Today’s Mac announcements come just days before Microsoft is set to release its new Windows 8 operating system and Surface tablet on Oct. 26.

“We’re pleased with momentum of the Mac but we’re not standing still,” Cook said.

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Today, Google introduced its new Samsung Chromebook, which will cost just $249. The companies’ previous Chromebooks cost between $300 and $550.

Based on Google’s cloud-based Chrome operating system, the Chromebook features an 11.6-inch, 1,366 by 768-pixel display, measures 0.8 inches thick and weighs 2.5 pounds. It’s equipped with two USB ports (USB 3.0 and USB 2.0), an SD card memory slot, an HDMI connector and a headphone jack.

The laptop comes with a 16 gigabyte solid-state drive, which helps speed up start times. Google says the Chromebook can boot up in less than 10 seconds and resumes instantly from sleep mode. The laptop also comes with 2GB of memory, plus an additional 100GB of storage with Google Drive.

Battery life is estimated to be around 6.5 hours.

The new Samsung Chromebook will be available next week from the Google Play store and online retailers, and is available for preorder today from Amazon, Best Buy and other retailers.

Today, the company took the wraps off its Vaio line for fall, which includes Sony’s first hybrid Ultrabook and tabletop PC.

The Sony Vaio Tap 20 is probably one of the most exciting Windows 8 products I’ve seen yet, and to be amped up over an all-in-one PC is saying something.

The Vaio Tap 20 features a tilting 20-inch, 1,600 by 900-pixel IPS touchscreen than can be laid flat on a table, and isn’t bound by wires since it has a built-in battery. It reminded me of a mini Microsoft Surface (not this Surface, but that Surface) — one that doesn’t cost a fortune (prices start at $880) and actually has practical use in the home.

In its upright position, you can use it for everyday tasks like working on documents, surfing the Web and checking email and social networks. The Vaio Tap 20 comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse, and an app called Fingertapps Organizer that lets you share calendars and leave messages for family members.

Then, for a little fun, you can unplug the Vaio Tap 20 and place it flat on a coffee table to play games. When I met with Sony a couple of weeks ago, they demoed several games, like jigsaw puzzles and doodling apps for kids, and since the screen offers 10-point mulitouch, more than one person can use it at once.

The company said it is working with developers to create more compatible games, such as My Daily Clip, a movie trivia game, and claims that the Vaio Tap 20′s battery can last around three hours before needing a recharge.

I thought it was a very clever and useful way of expanding the design and capabilities of a traditional desktop PC. One thing I asked Sony about is larger touchscreen models, since I felt the 20-inch display could get a little crowded with more than two adult users. The company said there weren’t any specific products in the works, but did not rule it out for the future.

For those who need a more mobile product, and one better suited for business users, there is the Sony Vaio Duo 11.

The Windows 8 PC transforms from an Ultrabook to a tablet using a slider mechanism. Sony says it has put the hinge through hours of testing, which I’m sure is true, but I’m always wary of this type of design for long-term durability.

In all, the Vaio Duo 11 weighs 2.84 pounds and features an 11.6-inch, full-HD touchscreen. It’s also equipped with a backlit keyboard and optical sensor, and comes with a pressure-sensitive stylus. At the high end, the machine can be built with eight gigabytes of memory, a 256GB solid-state drive and Intel’s Core i7 processor. Ports include USB 3.0, VGA, HDMI and an SD card reader. Pricing begins at $1,100.

In addition to the Vaio Tap 20 and Duo 11, Sony announced several touch-enabled versions of its existing Vaio laptops, including the Vaio T13 Ultrabook and Vaio E 14P.

All of the products are expected to be available at the end of October.

This summer, the company launched its own line of laptops and all-in-one PCs that focused on design and value, and this week, I tested one of its Ultrabooks: The Vizio Thin + Light CT15-A1.

With a starting price of $950 (Vizio also offers a 14-inch model starting at $800), the Ultrabook packs in some great features, such as a full HD 15.6-inch display and Microsoft’s Signature version of Windows 7, so it’s not bogged down with trial software. The Vizio is also a fast machine that can handle everyday tasks without a problem. But it’s plagued by some design missteps and short battery life.

It’s also worth mentioning that Windows 8 will launch next month, along with a slew of new devices. Vizio says all of its current PCs will be upgradeable to Windows 8 for $15 but, unlike the new hardware, won’t have a touchscreen to take advantage of the operating system’s touch-friendly interface.

The Vizio Thin + Light makes quite a first impression with its sleek, minimalist design. It has an all-aluminum construction and a soft-touch finish on the bottom that makes it less slippery and easy to grip.

At 14.9 inches wide, the Vizio isn’t something I’d want to carry around with me every day but when you do have to travel with it, it helps that it’s thin and light at 0.68 inch thick and 3.96 pounds. The edges are also tapered, which adds to the Ultrabook’s overall slimness, but also make it difficult to open the notebook. I really had to dig my nails in to pry it open.

The 15.6-inch full HD non-touch display is gorgeous. It has a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, and text, photos and videos looked bright and sharp. Web pages and documents are easy to read, and the display’s matte finish help reduce glare.

Samsung offers a 15-inch Ultrabook in its Series 9 line ($1,400), but the screen resolution maxes out at 1,600 x 900 pixels, while the HP Envy 6 Sleekbook’s 15.6-inch display has a 1,366 x 768 pixel resolution, so you don’t see as much on the screen, and using it requires more scrolling.

I had mixed feelings about the Vizio’s keyboard. The company opted to forgo the chiclet-style keys that are popular on today’s laptops, including the MacBook, and instead went for a flatter layout. As a result, the buttons didn’t spring back as much as I like, but because of the spacious layout, I had no problems typing on it.

I was disappointed that the keyboard isn’t backlit. Vizio told me that it wanted to include a backlit keyboard, and explored several designs, but none met their standards — either the lighting wasn’t consistent or there was too much light bleed. It is a feature that the company is actively looking at for future products.

The bigger issue with the Vizio is its touchpad. When I first started using it, it was erratic. At times, the slightest swipe of the touchpad would cause the cursor to jump all over the place, making it hard to click on links or to select text.

I downloaded a software update that was supposed to fix the problem, but it made the touchpad less responsive instead. This time, it needed more guidance to get the cursor in the right place, and multitouch gestures, like pinch-to-zoom, required several tries. There were even a few times where the cursor got stuck for a few seconds. Adjusting the sensitivity didn’t help, and it really made this Ultrabook frustrating to use.

On the left side of the Vizio is a power connector, a 3.5mm headphone jack and USB 3.0 port. There’s a second USB 3.0 port on the right side along with a full HDMI port, but no Ethernet jack or SD card reader.

This Vizio Thin + Light CT15-A1 model comes with a third-generation Intel Core i5 processor, four gigabytes of memory and a 128GB solid-state drive. You can also configure it with a Core i3 processor, or go with a top-of-the-line Core i7 processor and a 256GB solid-state drive for $1,150.

The machine felt very responsive while doing everyday tasks. Typically, I would use the computer to browse multiple Web pages, watch videos, check email and work on Word documents, and it never slowed down. In addition, I never felt the Ultrabook overheat.

I really like the fact that the Vizio comes loaded with a clean version of Windows 7, without all the extraneous apps and annoying pop-ups — just Microsoft Office Starter Edition, Microsoft Security Essentials and Skype. It made for a nice clutter-free experience, and also helped the computer to boot up faster.

From a cold start, it took just 18 seconds to boot up, and six seconds to wake from sleep mode. It’s almost as fast as the MacBook Air, which fired up in 15 seconds, and certainly quicker than the Sony Vaio T13’s 29-second, cold-start time.

Unfortunately, the battery is also quick to drain. The Vizio has an estimated battery life of around seven hours with power-saving mode on. In my tests, where I turned off all power-saving features and left Wi-Fi on, set the display to full brightness and looped a music playlist while running an email application in the background, the Vizio only delivered three hours and 50 minutes of battery life.

With normal usage, you should get about an additional hour of battery life, but even so, I wouldn’t have much confidence using the Vizio on the road.

For Vizio’s first attempt at the laptop market, the company got a lot of things right. The beautiful HD display, premium design and clean user experience are all worth a mention. But given the battery life and touchpad problems, it’s hard to recommend the Vizio Thin + Light CT15-A1. Hopefully, the company can resolve those issues with its next wave of devices.

]]> http://allthingsd.com/20120906/vizios-laptop-debut-dazzles-then-fizzles/feed/ 9 http://allthingsd.com/20120904/five-trends-youll-see-in-windows-8-pcs/ http://allthingsd.com/20120904/five-trends-youll-see-in-windows-8-pcs/#comments Tue, 04 Sep 2012 17:11:01 +0000 Lauren Goode and Bonnie Cha http://allthingsd.com/?p=246974 Microsoft Windows 8, the new operating system slated to launch Oct. 26, isn’t just bringing in a new, tile-like, touch-friendly interface. It’s also ushering in a slew of new hardware styles and features, as PC makers look to woo consumers and jump-start sales, which, except for Mac, have slowed considerably the past few years.

So companies like HP, Samsung, Lenovo and Toshiba have been showing off their holiday season goods over the past week, and based on what we’ve seen, here are five key trends to look for in the upcoming offerings:

More Ultrabooks

Ultrabooks, so far, have been too pricey to really move the needle for PC makers. Unfortunately, that’s not going to change much when it comes to some new PCs. Some of the Ultrabook models we’ve seen — like the HP Spectre XT TouchSmart — are still hitting $1,000 or more.

It’s not all bad news for cost-conscious consumers, though, says Gartner research director Michael Gartenberg. Given that Ultrabooks can cost anywhere from $500 to over $1,000, “there’s a lot of room for vendors to carve out spaces. Ultrabook is a fairly broad term,” Gartenberg said, “so we expect to see vendors working to capture both the lower end of those devices as well as the high end.”

Samsung Series 5 Ultra

Samsung and Lenovo are two such vendors. Samsung’s newly announced touchscreen Series 5 Ultra models will range in price from $799 to $849, while Lenovo’s new IdeaPad U510 Ultrabook starts at $549.

And some “older” Windows 7 Ultrabooks, like the Sony VAIO T Ultrabooks, the Samsung Series 5. and the Acer Aspire S3 range can be found in the $650 to $750 price range.

Upcoming products: HP Spectre XT TouchSmart Ultrabook, Samsung Series 5 Ultra, Toshiba Satellite U945, Lenovo IdeaPad U510.

Touchscreens

Up till now, touchscreens have largely been a feature of tablets and smartphones. But soon, you’ll see them on more notebooks and all-in-one PCs, as well. Already, HP, Toshiba, Asus and others have announced that they will launch touchscreen PCs this fall.

The reason for the shift is to help users better take advantage of Windows 8. Microsoft’s new operating system features a very touch-focused interface, so, as with mobile devices, you’ll be able to navigate though menus by swiping the screen, launch applications with a simple tap of the display, and view more detail using the pinch-to-zoom feature.

HP Envy TouchSmart Ultrabook 4

Some manufacturers, like Samsung, are also incorporating hand-gesture-recognition features that enable you to perform functions without even touching the display.

Of course, if you’re not ready to go all-touch just yet, you can still use your keyboard, mouse or touchpad.

Upcoming products: HP Envy TouchSmart Ultrabook 4, Asus Zenbook Prime UX21A Touch, Samsung Series 7 All-in-One PCs.

Convertibles

Call it a midlife crisis for PCs (minus the sporty red vehicle with a V8 engine).

While PC makers have been trying to shape up and slim down, they’ve also been playing with different form factors to appeal to consumers who want the weight and touchscreen capabilities of a tablet, and the productivity features of a laptop. One example is Toshiba’s U925t, which has a slide-out display that can be propped up to create a laptop, and then lay flat on top of the keyboard to offer a tablet viewing experience.

Dell XPS Duo 12

A few things worth noting: The hybrid PC isn’t a new thing — remember the 2010 HP EliteBooks, the Dell Latitude Xt3 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X220t? These are just a few of the Windows convertibles that PC makers have been pushing the past couple years.

Secondly, it’s hard to manage expectations when convertibles can be really thick in tablet mode. The HP Envy x2, for example, with its 11-inch diagonal display, looks like a tablet from afar, but carries some of the weight and bulk of a full laptop. It’s hard to say whether consumers will adopt these newer models.

Lastly, like an actual convertible, there’s no guarantee that these laptops will make you feel young and hip again.

Upcoming products: HP Envy x2, Toshiba U925t, Dell XPS Duo 12, Samsung Series 5, Series 7 Slate PCs.

New all-in-ones

Since the days of the original iMac, all-in-one PCs have become a popular alternative to the traditional desktop PC, as they combine the monitor and base unit into one sleek package.

Lenovo IdeaCentre A520

This design allows you to place the PC in other parts of your home, such as your living room or kitchen. Device manufacturers are also adding features, such as near field communication (NFC, see below) and TV tuners, that make them media and entertainment hubs, in addition to being a personal computer.

That said, there are some drawbacks to all-in-one PCs. Because of their design, customization and upgrade options are more limited than for traditional desktop PCs, and they’re more expensive, as well.

Upcoming products: Toshiba LX835, Samsung Series 5 All-in-One PCs, Lenovo IdeaCentre A520.

NFC

NFC is most often associated with mobile payments. Some Google Android smartphones, for example, have this technology built in so users can pay for things with the Google Wallet app. But NFC has been finding its way into PCs, too.

With laptops and all-in-ones, the idea is that users will be able to tap their NFC-enabled smartphones — or a smartphone sporting an NFC sticker — against the chassis or palm rest of a computer to quickly transfer photos and other media, or share a URL to open it on a browser on a bigger, better display.

Toshiba Satellite U925t

It’s not totally seamless yet. In some instances, a third-party application is required on both the smartphone and the desktop or laptop in order to, say, efficiently share photos via NFC. And NFC isn’t the “pipe,” so to speak, that’s transferring your data, so you may still need a Wi-Fi connection to share your media that way.

And some PC makers, like Lenovo, are still taking a wait-and-see approach to see how NFC is adopted, before sticking it in new laptops.

Upcoming products: Toshiba Satellite U925t Ultrabook, HP Envy Spectre 14 Ultrabook (already on the market).

]]> http://allthingsd.com/20120904/five-trends-youll-see-in-windows-8-pcs/feed/ 4 http://allthingsd.com/20120831/lenovo-unleashes-windows-8-laptops-all-in-one-pcs/ http://allthingsd.com/20120831/lenovo-unleashes-windows-8-laptops-all-in-one-pcs/#comments Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:30:45 +0000 Bonnie Cha http://allthingsd.com/?p=246965 Yesterday, Lenovo revealed its refreshed IdeaPad S series of laptops, but the China-based PC maker has more — a lot more — up its sleeve.

Lenovo IdeaPad U510 Ultrabook

At the IFA Consumer Electronics Show in Berlin, Germany, today, Lenovo announced a slew of Windows 8 products, including five new laptops and four all-in-one PCs.

The IdeaPad U510 Ultrabook is for those who don’t want to sacrifice the features of a laptop but desire a more portable design. It measures 0.82 inch thick and weighs 4.8 pounds, which is on the heavier side for an Ultrabook, and has a 15-inch display. But unlike some of its competitors, it is not a touchscreen.

However, you can configure it with a DVD or Blu-ray disc drive. Other options include a third-generation Intel Core i7 processor and one-terabyte hard disk drive. Lenovo estimates the Ultabook’s battery life at six hours.

The IdeaPad U510 will be available in September; pricing starts at $679.

Lenovo IdeaPad Z400

Also shipping in September is the IdeaPad Z500 for $549 and above. It’s not an Ultrabook, but Lenovo touts it as being 25 percent slimmer than a standard laptop without sacrificing any power or graphics performance.

The Z500 has a 15.6-inch LED-backlit HD non-touch display; you can also opt for a 14-inch screen with the Z400 ($549; shipping in November). Both are configurable with third-generation Intel processors and NVIDIA graphics technology and come in a variety of colors, including white, brown, pink and blue.

Next up are the IdeaPad Y400 and Y500. Designed for mobile gaming and multimedia, the Y400 and Y500 offer more graphics power, increased storage space and an additional fan for cooling to handle heavy tasks, such as editing video and playing games. The Y400 has a 14-inch widescreen HD non-touch display, while the Y500 has a 15.6-inch display, and both offer third-generation Intel processors, backlit keyboards and JBL speakers and Dolby technology for enhanced sound.

Lenovo IdeaPad Y400

The IdeaPad Y400 and Y500 will ship in October with prices starting at $649.

Lenovo IdeaCentre A520

Finally, if you’re in the market for an all-in-one PC, the IdeaCentre A520 comes with a 23-inch, 1080p HD multitouch screen with IPS technology for wider viewing angles. The display can also be tilted between five and 90 degrees and at the higher end can be built with an Intel Core i7 processor, a 1TB hard drive and a Blu-ray Disc drive.

Lenovo’s B Series all-in-one PCs kick the entertainment level up a notch with 3-D displays, and each model comes with two pairs of 3-D glasses — the B340 and B345 have 21.5-inch touchscreens, and the B545 has a 23-inch touchscreen. In addition to the aforementioned Intel processors, the series can be built with AMD quad-core processors and the B340 includes an option for an NVIDIA graphics processor. If you want access to HDTV, a TV tuner is also available for extra.

The IdeaCentre A520 has an availability date of October and costs $999 for the base model. The IdeaCentre B340 and B345 also go on sale in October and start at $599. The B545 is available now for $699 and above.

Updated on Sept. 1 with more information about the IdeaPad displays.

]]> http://allthingsd.com/20120831/lenovo-unleashes-windows-8-laptops-all-in-one-pcs/feed/ 7 http://allthingsd.com/20120830/toshiba-adds-to-windows-8-smorgasbord-with-slide-out-convertible-laptop/ http://allthingsd.com/20120830/toshiba-adds-to-windows-8-smorgasbord-with-slide-out-convertible-laptop/#comments Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:00:51 +0000 Lauren Goode http://allthingsd.com/?p=245650 Adding to the mountain of new products shown off at the IFA Berlin consumer electronics show this week is Toshiba, with its Windows 8-friendly laptops and tablets.

Toshiba Satellite U925t

The most notable is probably the one that’s already out of the bag, as it was unveiled yesterday: The Toshiba Satellite U925t Ultrabook convertible, with its slide-out display that lies flat against the keyboard to transform into a tablet. (The display is then exposed on top of the laptop, which makes me think it could get scratched easily, but Toshiba says it’s made with Corning Gorilla Glass to protect the display.)

The Satellite U925t weighs 3.2 pounds, is .78 inches thin and has a 12.5-inch diagonal HD touchscreen display. Running on a third-generation Intel Core i5 processor, it’s got front- and rear-facing cameras, two USB 3.0 ports and an HDMI port, and comes with a 128 gigabyte solid state drive. And, of course, it is running Windows 8.

Toshiba is also launching a Windows 8 version of its extra-widescreen laptop, the U845W, which has a 14.4-inch screen with a 21 x 9 aspect ratio for widescreen media viewing and multitasking, the idea being that two browser windows or applications can be viewed side by side. That one weighs 3.5 pounds and also runs on a third-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor. The version running Windows 7 is already available on the market for $999.

The Satellite U945 brings an Ultrabook to the mix, while the Satellite P845t has a traditional clamshell form factor with a Windows 8-friendly touchscreen display. The LX835 is Toshiba’s new, 23-inch all-in-one, with a full HD, 1080p-resolution touchscreen and optional built-in TV tuner.

The product announcements come just a couple weeks after Toshiba said it was scrapping its plans for a Windows RT tablet and notebook, due to delays in the supply chain.

All of these products come to market Oct. 26, when Windows 8 launches, and while Toshiba hasn’t given exact price points yet, they’ll be pretty much in line with some earlier models, Toshiba says. The U925t will probably cost slightly more than the $1,000 price point of the U845; the LX835 all-in-one is also expected to cost north of $1,000.

]]> http://allthingsd.com/20120830/toshiba-adds-to-windows-8-smorgasbord-with-slide-out-convertible-laptop/feed/ 3 http://allthingsd.com/20120829/hp-takes-wraps-off-windows-8-ultrabooks-hybrid-pc/ http://allthingsd.com/20120829/hp-takes-wraps-off-windows-8-ultrabooks-hybrid-pc/#comments Thu, 30 Aug 2012 04:01:53 +0000 Bonnie Cha http://allthingsd.com/?p=245903 The parade of Windows 8 devices continues this week with Hewlett-Packard’s introduction of three new consumer notebooks: The HP Envy x2, the HP Spectre XT TouchSmart Ultrabook and the HP Envy TouchSmart Ultrabook 4.

Due out this holiday season, they are the first products announced by HP to run Microsoft’s latest operating system, and all feature multitouch screens and ultraportable designs.

The HP Envy x2 is the most interesting of the bunch, as it sports a hybrid design, but if you’re after an everyday or high-perfomance machine, there’s some of that, too. Here’s a breakdown of each device:

HP Envy x2

It’s a tablet! It’s a notebook! It’s both! Dubbed a “hybrid PC” by HP, the Envy x2 consists of a tablet with an 11.6-inch display and an attachable keyboard.

The keyboard has a magnetic hinge that keeps the tablet in place when you want to use it as a notebook, and weighs about 3.1 pounds. When you want to switch to just the tablet, you can press a button on top of the keyboard to remove it from the hinge.

The 11.6-inch touchscreen allows users to more easily navigate the Windows 8 touch-friendly interface and uses technology called In-Plane Switching (IPS) to provide wider viewing angles than standard displays. Above the display is an HD Webcam; on back, there is an eight-megapixel camera.

The Envy x2 uses solid-state memory to provide faster start-up times, and includes Near Field Communication technology (NFC), which will allow users to share content like contacts and photos with other NFC-enabled devices, such as smartphones, with a simple tap.

HP did not announce pricing or a specific release date for the Envy x2 at this time.

I had a chance to check out the Envy x2 briefly last week, and I have mixed feelings about the device. On the one hand, I’m all about reducing the number of gadgets I carry around with me, and the Envy x2 certainly does that. Although, to be fair, HP isn’t the first to come up with this design.

Companies like Asus have come out with similar products for their Android tablets, but the Envy x2 feels a bit more substantial — like a real notebook — and has a roomier keyboard layout.

That said, an 11-inch tablet is too big for my taste. The larger screen has its benefits, but it’s not something I’d feel comfortable holding while trying to read the news or browse the Web.

HP Spectre XT TouchSmart Ultrabook

The Spectre XT TouchSmart is a premium notebook with a starting price of $1,400.

For the money, you get a 15.6-inch multitouch HD display with IPS technology and edge-to-edge glass, as well as an all-metal design. HP added a soft-touch finish on the bottom to make it less slippery and easier to grip; in terms of size, it measures 0.7-inch thick and weighs 4.77 pounds.

The Spectre XT TouchSmart is HP’s first notebook to feature Intel’s Thunderbolt port, which allows you to transfer music, photos, movies and other files from your computer to external devices at a faster rate. In addition to Thunderbolt, it comes with an Ethernet jack, USB 3.0 and HDMI ports.

The Spectre XT TouchSmart Ultrabook will be available in December.

HP Envy TouchSmart Ultrabook 4

Coming in at 0.9-inch thick and 4.77 pounds, the Envy TouchSmart Ultrabook 4 offers a 14-inch multitouch screen and a backlit keyboard. It’s powered by Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge processors and can also be configured with an AMD graphics card.

The notebook includes Beats Audio technology for enhanced sound, and promises up to eight hours of battery life.

HP said pricing for the Envy TouchSmart Ultrabook 4 will be revealed at a later date.

]]> http://allthingsd.com/20120829/hp-takes-wraps-off-windows-8-ultrabooks-hybrid-pc/feed/ 9 http://allthingsd.com/20120829/samsung-series-5-series-7-slate-pcs-with-windows-8-detachable-keyboard/ http://allthingsd.com/20120829/samsung-series-5-series-7-slate-pcs-with-windows-8-detachable-keyboard/#comments Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:01:21 +0000 Bonnie Cha http://allthingsd.com/?p=246097 Who says you have to decide between a tablet or a laptop? Certainly not Samsung.

At the IFA Consumer Electronics Show in Berlin, Germany, today, the company announced its Series 5 and Series 7 Slate PCs, which convert from a notebook to a tablet, thanks to a detachable keyboard. Both devices run on Microsoft’s latest Windows 8 operating system.

The Series 5 and Series 7 slates both feature an 11.6-inch touchscreen (the Series 7 display has a 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution, while the Series 5 display is 1,366 x 768 pixels) that docks into the keyboard via mechanical hinges. Samsung said it chose mechanical hinges instead of magnetic ones (like those some of its competitors use) to ensure that the tablet would stay securely in place.

You can close it like a regular laptop, making it easier to carry and store the device. The Series 7 weighs 1.89 pounds; the Series 5 weighs 1.65 pounds.

Like the Samsung Galaxy Note and Galaxy Note 10.1, the slates come with an embedded stylus, which Samsung calls the S Pen, so you can take handwritten notes, draw sketches and more.

The Series 7 is built for the power user, offering a third-generation Intel Core i5 processor, more memory and a 128 gigabyte solid-state drive for quicker start-up times. The Series 5 is designed more for the everyday user, with an Intel Atom processor and 64GB solid-state drive.

In addition to the Slate PCs, Samsung introduced a touchscreen version of its Series 5 Ultra notebook. The design of this Ultrabook remains much the same as the non-touch model, which debuted late last year. But the addition of the multitouch display will help users take advantage of Windows 8’s touch-friendly user interface.

The Samsung Series 7 Slate costs $1,199. The Series 5 will come in two versions: One with the keyboard dock for $749, and one without for $649. Pricing for the touchscreen Series 5 Ultra will range between $799 and $849. All of the products will be available on Oct. 26.

]]> http://allthingsd.com/20120829/samsung-series-5-series-7-slate-pcs-with-windows-8-detachable-keyboard/feed/ 4 http://allthingsd.com/20120808/youve-come-a-long-way-thinkpad-lenovo-unveils-new-ultrabooks-windows-8-tablet/ http://allthingsd.com/20120808/youve-come-a-long-way-thinkpad-lenovo-unveils-new-ultrabooks-windows-8-tablet/#comments Wed, 08 Aug 2012 23:01:12 +0000 Lauren Goode http://allthingsd.com/?p=239376 On the 20th anniversary of the ThinkPad line of laptops, China-based computer maker Lenovo has officially unveiled two new Ultrabooks alongside a tablet designed for the upcoming Windows 8 operating system.

One of the new laptops, the 14-inch ThinkPad X1 Carbon, was reviewed in full by AllThingsD’s Walt Mossberg here. Walt described it as a “high-end, thin and light Ultrabook model with a high price tag.”

The other Ultrabook is the ThinkPad T430u, geared more toward small business users. If you vaguely recall getting your geek on with a graphics-friendly Ultrabook at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year, this laptop was probably it. It boasts Nvidia discrete graphics with Intel third-gen processors and claims a battery life of seven hours. It has a 14-inch HD display, is .83 inch thick and weighs just over four pounds. Pricing on that model is $779 — much less than the X1 Carbon price of $1299 — and it is expected to hit the market sometime this month.

But let’s talk tablets: When Microsoft launches its Surface tablet in October, Lenovo will be right there alongside it with its 10-inch Windows 8 ThinkPad Tablet 2. (The first version of the ThinkPad Tablet was running a Google Android OS.)

The Intel Atom Processor-based ThinkPad Tablet 2 weighs just over a pound and is a third of an inch thick. While the 10.1-inch screen supports multi-finger touch, Lenovo is also throwing in an optional digitizer and stylus, and will offer a keyboard and dock option for the touchscreen-averse. It has both rear and front-facing cameras and USB and HDMI ports. Lenovo says the tablet will get 10 hours of battery life.

Lenovo declined to put a price point on the ThinkPad Tablet 2, for now.

And in terms of connectivity, it’s unclear right now which wireless carriers if any will support this 3G and 4G-compatible tablet. As AllThingsD’s Ina Fried covered here, Lenovo in June began selling its own wireless broadband service, for consumers and business users constantly on the go, so it’s likely the tablet will work with that service to start.

]]> http://allthingsd.com/20120808/youve-come-a-long-way-thinkpad-lenovo-unveils-new-ultrabooks-windows-8-tablet/feed/ 8 http://allthingsd.com/20120719/sonys-first-ultrabook-targets-the-budget-conscious/ http://allthingsd.com/20120719/sonys-first-ultrabook-targets-the-budget-conscious/#comments Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:00:12 +0000 Bonnie Cha http://allthingsd.com/?p=231522 If you’re shopping for a new laptop, you might find the term “Ultrabook” popping up a lot during your research. An Ultrabook is thinner and lighter than a regular laptop, but it doesn’t sacrifice such features as a full keyboard, and it uses a different kind of memory instead of traditional hard drives to offer speed and good battery life, so you can use it as your main computer for everyday tasks like browsing the Web and working on documents. After a trend started by Apple’s MacBook Air, Windows PC makers such as HP, Dell and Samsung offer them, and now Sony has joined the fray.

Over the past week, I’ve been testing the Sony Vaio T13, the company’s first Ultrabook, and what makes it stand out from the pack is its affordable price tag. The cost of Ultrabooks still hovers in the $1,000 range but the Vaio T series starts at $770. By comparison, the similarly featured Dell XPS 13 costs $999 and up, while the 13-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,199.

For the price, the Vaio T13 offers Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge processors, a plethora of ports and four gigabytes of memory. To keep costs down, there are some tradeoffs, such as a lower resolution screen, but overall, I found the Vaio T13 to be a speedy machine. It’s a good value to be sure, but there are some downsides, such as a subpar keyboard and loud fan, that holds it back from excellent.

The Vaio T13 measures 12.7 inches wide, 0.71 inch thick and weighs 3.54 pounds, so it’s heavier than a number of ultrabooks on the market. For example, the Dell XPS 13 is 2.99 pounds and the MacBook Air weighs 2.96 pounds. That said, I didn’t find the extra weight to be a huge problem. I was able to carry it around in my backpack without it weighing me down.

Also, while it’s thicker than the Air, I appreciated the selection of ports available on the Vaio. This includes an Ethernet jack, two USB ports, HDMI and VGA ports if you want to connect to a TV or monitor and a Memory Stick Pro Duo/SD card slot.

The Vaio T has a 13.3-inch display with a 1,366 by 768 pixel resolution. Colors looked a bit dull, and pictures and videos weren’t overly bright or sharp. The lower resolution also means you have to scroll a bit more to see what’s onscreen, but you do get a decent-size touchpad that supports multitouch gestures to help you navigate various pages and switch between tasks. It worked well in my tests as I was able to return to the desktop by swiping down on the touchpad with four fingers and move between Web pages and photos by swiping left or right with three fingers.

But I didn’t like the Ultrabook’s keyboard. There’s plenty of spacing between the keys, so it doesn’t feel cramped. But the buttons are stiff and squishy, so I really had to punch at the keys. It’s something I got used to after a while, but it led to a lot of mistakes and frustration at the beginning. I also wish the keyboard was backlit for easier typing in darker rooms.

The $799 Vaio T13 I reviewed is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor and features a combined 500GB hard drive and 32GB solid-state drive. (You can configure the ultrabook with a faster i7 processor and up to 8GB of memory.) A number of Ultrabooks feature only solid-state drives — or flash memory — that improve speed and battery life but limit storage capacity. They are also more expensive, which is why Sony used this hybrid option.

Even so, I found the Vaio T13 to be a responsive computer and you get the bonus of extra storage capacity. It took the Ultrabook 29 seconds to boot up from a cold start and seven seconds to wake up from sleep mode. The MacBook Air started up in 15 seconds and awoke in five seconds, so there isn’t that much of a difference in the latter test.

At one time, I had at least a dozen tabs open in my Web browser, streamed a YouTube video and downloaded an album from the Google Play Web store while working on a Word document. The Vaio T13 was able to handle all those tasks without slowing down. However, its fan does tend to make a lot of noise. It’s annoying, but I suppose it is doing its job, as the Ultrabook never got warm, even when I was viewing entire TV shows on Hulu.

Sony estimates the Vaio T13′s battery life to be around seven hours and 30 minutes with power-saving mode on. In my tests, where I turned off all power-saving features and left Wi-Fi on, set the display to full brightness and looped a music playlist while running an email application in the background, the Vaio delivered four hours and 20 minutes of battery life.

The battery performance is middle-of-the-road compared to some of the other Ultrabooks we’ve tested at AllThingsD, with the Dell XPS 13 being the worst at under four hours and the Lenovo IdeaPad U300s being the best at five hours. With more normal usage, I expect you should get about an additional hour of battery life from the Vaio T13.

The Vaio runs Windows 7 and comes preloaded with a starter edition of Microsoft Office 2010, which offers basic versions of Word and Excel, and a 30-day trial of Kaspersky Internet Security. There are also various Sony apps, such as the company’s Music Unlimited store and PlayMemories multimedia gallery — all of which you can access from a pull-down menu at the top of the desktop screen.

For those on a budget, the Sony Vaio T13 is certainly worth a consideration. It’s fast and offers a good amount storage. But if possible, I’d definitely recommend going into a store and trying out the keyboard to see if it’s to your liking.

]]> http://allthingsd.com/20120719/sonys-first-ultrabook-targets-the-budget-conscious/feed/ 10 http://allthingsd.com/20120614/tv-maker-vizio-launches-first-laptops-and-all-in-one-pcs/ http://allthingsd.com/20120614/tv-maker-vizio-launches-first-laptops-and-all-in-one-pcs/#comments Fri, 15 Jun 2012 03:13:05 +0000 Bonnie Cha http://allthingsd.com/?p=220598 Vizio is a company known for its televisions and home entertainment products, but it’s now expanding into the laptop-and-desktop computer business.

After announcing it at CES 2012, Vizio officially debuted its new line of personal computers today, which includes two thin and light notebooks, a 15-inch laptop and a pair of all-in-one PCs. All will be available later this summer, with prices for each system starting at $898.

In a market that’s already crowded with competition from the likes of Apple, HP and Dell, Vizio is hoping that it can lure new customers by offering products that combine high performance and stylish design.

For those looking for something ultraportable, the company’s Thin + Light series can meet those needs. You can choose between a 14-inch or a 15.6-inch HD display; both models sport a slim aluminum unibody design.

Designed for use on the go, Vizio promises up to seven hours of battery life, and the inclusion of a solid-state drive should also help speed up boot times.

The Ultrabooks also have HDMI ports, so you can connect your laptop to a TV to view your content on a bigger screen.

However, for more of a multimediacentric laptop, there is the Vizio Notebook. It offers a 15.6-inch HD display and is slightly thicker than the Thin + Light models, but it also packs in a more powerful graphics processor.

Last but not least, there are the 24-inch and 27-inch all-in-one PCs. Each model has a 1080p HD display and comes with a wireless keyboard and touchpad with multi-touch support.

Surround sound audio is also onboard, as well as dual HDMI ports, so you can connect your cable box, Blu-ray player or gaming console and turn it into a mini entertainment hub.

All of Vizio’s laptops and all-in-one PCs feature Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge processors and ship with the Signature Edition of Windows 7, which means you won’t get any bloatware or unnecessary applications.

The computers will be sold at major retail stores, including Target, Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club and Amazon.

]]> http://allthingsd.com/20120614/tv-maker-vizio-launches-first-laptops-and-all-in-one-pcs/feed/ 2 http://allthingsd.com/20120611/so-long-17-inch-macbook-pro/ http://allthingsd.com/20120611/so-long-17-inch-macbook-pro/#comments Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:18:30 +0000 Bonnie Cha http://allthingsd.com/?p=219006 Apple’s MacBook Pro line gained several new additions today, but it also lost a member of the family with the discontinuation of the 17-inch model.

Once the current supply runs out, the 17-inch MacBook Pro will be a thing of the past. Apple did not immediately provide an explanation behind the laptop’s cancellation, but given its expensive price tag and larger size, the 17-inch MacBook Pro was never as appealing to consumers as its smaller siblings.

First introduced in 2006 and always sporting high-end specs, the 17-inch served as the flagship model in Apple’s MacBook line — that is, until today, when the next-generation MacBook Pro with Retina display was announced at WWDC.

The new model’s 15-inch screen boasts four times the resolution of its predecessor at 2880×1800 pixels, plus a lighter and thinner form factor. The laptop also comes equipped with Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge processors and an HDMI port.

Pricing for the next-gen MacBook Pro starts at $2,199, while the new MacBook Pro models start at $1,199 for the 13-inch version and $1,799 for the 15-inch laptop. All are available now.

Meanwhile, the 17-inch MacBook Pro has already been pulled from Apple’s Web site, but you can still buy it through other online retailers.

]]> http://allthingsd.com/20120611/so-long-17-inch-macbook-pro/feed/ 3 http://allthingsd.com/20120605/dell-adds-ultrabook-ivy-bridge-goodness-to-inspiron-laptop-line/ http://allthingsd.com/20120605/dell-adds-ultrabook-ivy-bridge-goodness-to-inspiron-laptop-line/#comments Tue, 05 Jun 2012 21:06:24 +0000 Bonnie Cha http://allthingsd.com/?p=216912 School’s out for summer, but Dell is already thinking about the back-to-school season with its latest Inspiron laptops.

Today, the company revealed six new laptops: The Inspiron 13z and 14z for students, the Inspiron 15R and 17R for families, and two Inspiron R Special Edition models for lovers of multimedia. All can be configured with Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge processors.

The Inspiron 14z is Dell’s second Ultrabook, measuring just 0.83-inches thick and weighing 4.12 pounds. It features a 14-inch HD display and promises up to seven hours of battery life, with fast boot-up times. Pricing for the 14z starts at $699.99; the laptop comes with a brushed aluminum finish in either silver or red.

Students looking for a little more flair might find the Inspiron 13z, with its interchangeable lids, to be a better fit. Pricing starts at $599.99; it comes with a 13.3-inch HD display and a 500 gigabyte hard drive.

While portability is a key aspect of both the Inspiron 13z and 14z, the Inspiron 15R and 17R are about bringing entertainment to the home. The two laptops feature advanced audio technology to produce the best sound for watching movies or playing games.

If you want to up the ante, the Special Edition Inspiron 15R and 17R models add more graphics power and the option of a 3-D display, as well as an anodized aluminum exterior.

The Inspiron 15R begins at $549.99, and the Inspiron 17R starts at $599.99. Meanwhile, pricing for the the Special Edition 15R and 17R begins at $899.99 and $1,099.99, respectively.

All of the new Inspiron laptops will be available starting June 19.

]]> http://allthingsd.com/20120605/dell-adds-ultrabook-ivy-bridge-goodness-to-inspiron-laptop-line/feed/ 1 http://allthingsd.com/20120515/sony-expands-vaio-e-s-series-laptop-family/ http://allthingsd.com/20120515/sony-expands-vaio-e-s-series-laptop-family/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 18:56:57 +0000 Bonnie Cha http://allthingsd.com/?p=208455 Lenovo isn’t the only company updating its line of laptops today. Sony is also getting in on the action, with the announcement of two new Vaio E series models and an update to its Vaio S series.

Due out this summer, the Vaio E Series 15 and 17 laptops offer revamped designs and technology to speed boot-up times after the computer has been in sleep mode. The new models join the previously announced Vaio E Series 14, but bring with them the option of larger displays — the Vaio E Series 15 sports a 15.5-inch screen; the Series 17 has a 17.3-inch screen.

The laptops feature a wraparound design with rounded corners, and will be available in white, black or silver. Each of the new models has a large trackpad; some include a backlit keyboard.

A feature called Rapid Wake + Eco promises to have your laptop up and running in seconds after it has gone into sleep mode. The Vaio E Series 15 and 17 also offer a built-in Webcam and technology to boost speaker volume. If you want to watch movies from your laptop, there’s an option to add a Blu-ray disc drive.

In general, the E Series is designed for everyday tasks and is built with families and students in mind, so if you’re looking for something a little more portable and powerful, Sony’s Vaio S Series would be a better fit — and it just so happens that there are two new members in that family, too.

The Vaio S Series 15 and 17 laptops offer a 13.3-inch display and a 15.5-inch display, respectively, and are made from lightweight materials including magnesium, aluminum and carbon fiber. The Series 15 weighs less than 4.4 pounds, and also has the benefit of an HD display with wide viewing angles.

A smaller size doesn’t mean less power, though, as both the S Series 15 and 17 will get a boost from the latest processor from Intel, called Ivy Bridge. Sony will also offer optional accessories, such as a docking station and an extended battery.

Like the E Series, the S Series models are expected to ship this summer, but pricing and specific release dates for all the laptops have not been announced at this time. Current E Series models run in the $500 to $600 range, while laptops in the S Series cost between $725 and $1,500.

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