MSI Releases The Fastest Gaming Laptop at CES 2011(review)

MSI announced that they will be unveiling a laptop computer at the January 6 through 9 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada which will be the quickest laptop computer than ever before. This new laptop computer will be called the GT680 plus is going to be speedy to satisfy the video game enthusiasts want for performance.

The GT680 has computer MARK Vantage tests was 18,162 points which according to the company, said that it “smashed speed records.” The Vice President of global sales at MSI, Eric Kuo, said that “ GT680 is the world’s most powerful laptop computer.”

The GT680 has a high end graphics card, plus four DDR3 memory slots expandable to 16GB of memory. The hard drive storage is dual hard dis architecture which doubles the amount the laptop computer can store as well as increase the read-write speeds by up around 70 percent. The laptop computer also comes with at Turbo Drive Engine+ expertise that can be turned one at the keyboard to speed up both the CPU plus the GPU simultaneously.

Other laptops will on display from MSI booth number 30559 at the CES show. they also will be showing off their MSI WindPads which is a tablet computer that makes use of the Win-Tel plus Android platforms. There will be four models on display of the tablets computers.

The U1 hybrid tablet/notebook that Lenovo showed at CES in 2010

Lenovo today officially denied any definite timetable or operating system plans around tablet PCs to be shipped outside of China, while confirming that an Android-based LePad tablet will be released in China later this year.

"We plan to introduce our consumer slate the LePad in China later this year and intend to expand to other parts of the world with slate-based products in the future. While the LePad is based on the Android platform, we are evaluating all options for operating systems to address different customers in different markets," Lenovo said, in an e-mail to TabletPCReview.

Lenovo issued the e-mail in response to requests for confirmation of a flurry of press reports over the past few days, giving varying accounts of where Lenovo is heading with tablets in 2011, including the company's intentions to completely drop Windows 7 from its future tablet lineup.

In reports popping up all over the Web, Xiong Wen, Lenovo's senior business director, has been quoted as telling attendees at a trade show in China that Lenovo will deliver two tablets in China this year, and the same two devices in the US next year.

These two PCs include the LePad consumer tablet, along with the IdeaPad U1, a tablet first demo'd at CES 2010 running both Windows 7 and a Lenovo-devised version of Linux dubbed Skylight.

In other reports, executives of the US arm of Lenovo have been quoted as suggesting that Lenovo will deliver the LePad in the US during 2011, but that the release of a hybrid U1 gadget running Windows 7 as one of its OSes could be growing less likely, due in part to touch interface issues.

While not specifically denying any remarks reportedly made by Lenovo executives, a Lenovo PR rep told TabletPCReview that some publications have been "misconstruing" Lenovo's intentions.

"Lenovo Remains Committed to Windows 7"

In its e-mail response, Lenovo refrained from commenting very specifically about which OS will be supported on its tablets, except to state that the LePad released in China will run some edition of Android.

Lenovo also replied "No" when asked whether plans have been scuttled for a UI hybrid laptop outfitted with both Skylight (or Android) and Windows 7.

"Lenovo remains committed to Windows 7 and for any future products we will make our decision on which operating system is used based up what's right for our customers," according to the e-mail.

In addition, the U1 hybrid isn't an "announced product," anyway, according to Lenovo. "The U1 hybrid is [a] tablet/notebook that Lenovo showed at CES in 2010. Availability has not been announced for this product, and it's not our practice to discuss details of unannounced products," Lenovo told TabletPCReview.

BY: Jacqueline Emigh, TabletPCReview.com Contributor

The CTL 2goPad SL10 10-inch Windows 7 Tablet

The CTL 2goPad SL10 10-inch Windows 7 Tablet review

The 10-inch CTL 2goPad tablet was announced just the other day. The 2goPad has since then sold like hot cakes and is already out of stock according to CTL. The CTL team has put up a notice on the 2goPad’s product page that states among other things that the next shipment of SL10′s is expected to arrive in Mid December.

With that said now onto what this post was intended for, Engadget has managed to get a 2goPad too review. To remind you of the 2goPad SL10′s main features; a 10-inch (1024 x 600 resolution) capacitive touchscreen display, a 1.50GHz Intel Atom N450 CPU paired with Intel GMA 3150 integrated graphics and 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive. The reviewer over atEngadget gave the 2goPad SL10 Windows 7 tablet a 5/10.

Acer Netbooks to Dual-Boot with Windows 7, Android

Over the past few months Acer has released two Netbooks that provide dual-booting for Windows 7 and Android, the Aspire One D250 and Aspire One D260. But according to DigiTimes, the company isn't stopping there.

At a launch press conference for the new devices, Acer reportedly said that all of its upcoming dual-core netbooks will be running the two OSes.

The idea behind this dual-boot system is to give users the flexibility of having the Microsoft OS and all the desktop apps with which they are familiar, while also providing the Android OS as an option when they want to use their netbook for Web surfing, messaging, and multimedia. These rumored netbooks apparently will be running an Intel Atom N550 processor, DigiTimes said.

There's no telling if this adoption of the Android OS on Acer laptops will be successful; Dell tried something similar with Linux Ubuntu OS on some of its laptops, with mixed results. However, the Android platform certainly does have more popularity and less of a learning curve.

"Since adopting Google's operating system does not cost much, but will provide more efficiency to its consumers, the strategy is expected to stimulate demand," Acer reportedly told DigiTimes.

Dell Mini 1018 Netbook Now available in the US

The Dell Mini 1018 Netbook that we first saw in late August has now made its way to the U.S. and is available for order from Dell. The Mini 1018 is a 10.1″ netbook using an Intel Atom N455 processor and sporting a stylish design. The DellMini 1018 is made with casual users in mind at starts at $399.

The Dell Mini 1018 is available in two configurations with the defining features being hard drive size and battery life. The $300 Mini 1018 comes with a 160 GB hard drive and a 3-cell battery while $350 will net you a 250GB hard drive and a 6-cell battery rated at 7 hours.

he Mini 1018 offers less customization then you’ll find on the Mini 1012, like an HD screen or HD accelerator, but looks like an attractive package for users looking for a basic netbook.

Dell Mini 1018 Specs:

• 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 processor
• 1 GB DDR3 RAm
• Windows 7 Starter
• Intel NM10 Graphics
• 10.1″ Display with 1024 x 600 resolution
• 160GB or 250GB hard drive
• 3-cell or 6-cell battery options
• .3MP webcam
• built-in mic

Toshiba launches powerful 3D-capable laptop

Toshiba has announced the launch of the 3D-capableSatellite A665 this week, powered by Nvidia's Vision tech.

The laptop is not "cheap," but will pack some very impressive specs. The Satellite A665 has a 15.6-inch diagonal TruBrite LED backlit LCD display, a 120Hz refresh rate, a rewriteable blu-ray Disc drive and integrated stereo Harman/Kardon speakers.



Under the hood is a intel Core i7 processor with TurboBoost, a Nvidia GeForce GTS 350M, 1GB of GDDR3 video memory and an LED backlit keyboard. Additionally, the device has 4GB DDR3 RAM, a 640GB HDD, runs of Windows 7, has 802.11b/g/n wireless, 10/100/1000 Ethernet, Bluetooth V2.1 + EDR10, an HD impact sensor, a 12-cell battery, one eSATA/USB combo port with USB sleep-and-charge, three USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI port and integrated webcam with face recognition.

Bundled with the computer is the Nvidia 3D Vision kit, which is an emitter, wireless active shutter glasses, and 3D playback software.

Says Nvidia (via TG): "Consumers are embracing 3D...There is clearly a huge amount of pent-up demand for games, films (like Avatar) and other content. [Now], we at Nvidia want people to get excited about 3D because it is better, not different. And they are - because we are driving PC gaming and entertainment to a whole new level, right now, in 2010."

The laptop will sell with a base price of $1600.

Onkyo DX1007A5B Dual-Display Laptop review

We have known about Onkyo’s DX dual-screened netbook for quite awhile, but it’s another thing entirely to see it extend its two 10-inch screens in person. On display at the Microsoft booth here at Computex, the Onkyo is still a rebadge of the Konjinsha DZ that we saw at CEATAC last year.

The Onkyo DX1007A5B netbook offers a 10.1 inch screen LCD with a resolution of 1366 × 768 pixels, larger than the model gives us Kohjinsha (1024 x 600 pixels) and without increasing the total size of the notebook . It has an Athlon processor MV-40 Neo running at 1.6 Ghz, ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics, WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, 3 USB ports. Oknyo begins offering 2 GB (1 GB is not in the model ZD) standard memory expandable to 4 GB, 320 GB disk 5400 rpm (not 160GB), Gigabit Ethernet and Winodws Home Premium 32-bit.

Watch Onkyo DX1007A5B Notebook Demo at Computex,

Toshiba’s new UX600 Cinema Series line of LED TVs is Windows 7 certified

Toshiba’s new UX600 Cinema Series line of LED TVs is the first of its kind to receive a compatible with the Windows 7 operating system certification. What this means is that the UX600s have the ability to use Window 7’s “Play To” feature to play music, pictures, and videos by connecting to your home network through Ethernet or wireless connectivity.

This series features 3 models at 40”, 46”, and 55” size at $1400, $1700, and $2400 respectively. Each model however features Toshiba’s ClearFrame 120Hz screen, 24 fps cinema mode, 4 HDMI ports, 3,000,000:1 contrast ratio along with both an Ethernet port and a Wi-Fi adapter for easy network connectivity. For more information about their specs, check out

Lenovo ThinkPad X100e with Low-Octane Performance review

In the old days, buying an ultralight ThinkPad meant cashing in the kids' college fund. Designed for executives looking to make a statement, the lightweight machines were showy, expensive, and hardly designed for serious, all-day computing.

With the X100e, Lenovo hasn't addressed the performance issues that plague mini notebooks, but it has at least taken a serious stab at the price concern while keeping the elegance and sophistication of the ThinkPad line intact. Typically, a top-of-the line X-series ThinkPad will easily run more than $2,000, but the newest sibling in the X family will set you back just $500 or $600.

The X100e may be stripped down (how could it not be?), but mind you, it's still a ThinkPad, not a lower-end IdeaPad. A step up from a netbook, the machine features a basic graphics card (an ATI Radeon HD 3200), 2 GB of RAM, and a 160-GB hard drive. Powering the thing is a 1.6-GHz AMD Athlon Neo, a chip that's generally thought to be a step up from Atom if still a long way from Intel's Core series.

But more importantly, the X100e looks like a ThinkPad, with the executive lines and no-frills design indicating this isn't somehalf-baked laptop with a ThinkPad logo stuck to it. The only noticeable design departure is the X100e's chiclet keyboard — and it quickly proves to be a smart one. For an 11.6-inch laptop, the X100e has one of the best keyboards we've ever used, with great response and substantial stroke depth.

Sadly, performance is remedial-level as opposed to honors-class. Benchmark scores are only modestly (10 percent) better than those on Atom-based netbooks and are a bit worse than the cheapie Core 2 Solo machines we've tested, though graphics scores were in the usable range. All told, it can get the job done for basic tasks, which is probably all anyone would be using a laptop of this size for, anyway.

WIRED ThinkPad looks at Aspire prices. Outstanding keyboard for a machine this small. Red shell option provides 20 percent more bling for the buck.

TIRED Lackluster screen, with washed-out colors. Difficult to open (and impossible with one hand). Some troubling bugginess: Machine occasionally wouldn't reboot without removing and replacing the battery. Uninspired performance.

Kingston DataTraveler 310 Flash Drive Offers 256GB of Storage

Kingston DataTraveler 310 Flash Drive Offers 256GB of Storage

Do you need to move a lot of files with reasonable portability? then the storage gurus at Kingston have got you covered with their new DataTraveler 310 flash drive which offers a whopping 256 GB of storage. It’s obviously one of the biggest commercially available flash drives out there currently.


There isn’t really anything special to say about the DataTraveler… it’s a flash drive, albeit, one with a huge storage capacity. It’s compatible with almost any OS you could want, including all versions of Windows newer than Windows 2000, versions of Mac OS X newer than Panther, and any Linux OS that uses any kernel later than v2.6.
Oh yeah, it even supports ReadyBoost. ReadyBoost is the feature that’s included with Windows Vista and 7 that lets you use flash mass storage devices for disk cache. 256GB is the maximum amount of storage that ReadyBoost can use and apparently, you can plug the DataTraveler 310 into your Windows 7 PC for a little boost of 256GB of Page Cache.
There’s just a little catch, Kingston is selling the DataTraveler 310 at enormous cost. It’s set to retail for $1,108. New sizes of flash drives are always pricey, though, just imagine what a 1GB flash drive would of cost in the year 2000. So, unfortunately due to the cost, the DataTraveler 310 will only be used by people who really need portable 256GB memory, for now.

MSI Wind U135 Netbook add Pine Trail

Acer has a prime competitor in the ultra-affordable Netbook market, and that's MSI. The just-announced MSI Wind U135 doesn't add much that's new to the Netbook equation, swapping out the previous Atom N270 processor for a next-generation battery life-extending N450, nicknamed Pine Trail. Starting at $309.99, the Wind U135 comes with a 160GB or 250GB hard drive, plus 1GB of RAM.

The very Netbook-looking Netbook comes in charcoal, silver, ruby, or sapphire, aka black, silver, red, or blue, with a film-printed shiny coating. New to the Wind U135 is a raised chiclet keyboard, so that the Netbook joins the ranks of nearly every other laptop nowadays. A new, larger touch pad has also been added. Five different power management settings are built in--not that we have ever had to concern ourselves with power efficiency on a Netbook.

A 10-inch screen with a standard 1,024x600-pixel resolution, three USB ports, a 1.3 megapixel Webcam, and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi round out the features. And, of course, for a price this low, the Wind U135 runs Windows 7 Starter.

written by Scott Stein, a New York Jets fan and CNET senior associate editor

Acer Aspire One 532h performance review

Acer Aspire One 532h Performance

Powered by the new 1.66-GHz Intel Atom N450 processor and 1GB of RAM, the 532h scored 1,332 on PCMark05, which is 145 points below the netbook category average, and about 50 points below the Toshiba mini NB305. On Geekbench, the 532h saw a score of 896, which is close to 60 points above average, but nearly 30 points below the NB305. Still, the 532h performed well for a netbook; windows opened quickly, and we had no problem browsing the Web, watching videos, or listening to music.

Compare PCMark05 results with similar laptops

Using HandBrake, the 532h was able to transcode a 114MB MPEG-4 video in 29 minutes and 18 seconds, about 15 seconds faster than average. When we performed the same test using Oxelon Media Converter, which handles multiple threads, the task took just 5:50, about 10 seconds faster than the NB305.

The 5,400-rpm, 250GB hard drive booted into Windows 7 Starter Edition in a quick 51 seconds, and duplicated a 4.97GB folder of multimedia at a rate of 22.4 MBps, 6.6 MBps faster than the netbook average. That places it between the NB305 (20.6 MBps) and the Eee PC 1005PE-P (26.4 MBps).

The performance of the 532h’s Intel GMA 3150 graphics chip was about the same as other netbooks of its ilk; on 3DMark06, its score of 153 was nearly identical to that of the NB305 and the 1005PE. Hulu videos, such as The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien and an episode ofHeroes streamed fairly smoothly, but not at full screen.

Compare 3DMark06 results with similar laptops