Notebooks / Accessories

Today, Cloud Engines introduced its second take on the rather excellent Pogoplug multimedia sharing device, which is, essentially, NAS for Joe Computer.  The new version, which is compatible with Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows, offers several new features that look to improve the Pogoplug experience. These include:

• Four USB 2.0 ports (up from one)
• Improved transcoding, and wider support for streaming video to the Web or Pogoplug iPhone app
• The ability to automatically sync content from iPhoto, iTunes, Windows Media Player
• Tighter Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter integration
• Automatic organization of music, photos, video

All in all, these sound like very nice additions to an already winning device, and we’re digging the more streamlined design (if not the very neon pink cradle). If you’re interested in giving the new Pogoplug a go, it will be available for purchase before the end of year for $129.

This morning Digitimes reported that Apple has pushed back the launch of its tablet from the first quarter of 2010 to the second. The site is also claiming that the device will have a 9.7-inch OLED display, which would mean less power consumption but at a greater price. How does $1,200 – $1,500 sound? Or $2,000? Take the poll below and tell us how much you’d pay.

I’m less excited for this tablet by the day. Not just because it keeps getting more and more ridiculously expensive, but also because it keeps floating further and further away.

I don’t know if I’m ready to jump on board with Ian Paul of PCWorld who says that the tablet is dead, vaporware, and the dream of Apple fanboys who really want such a device and have convinced themselves that Apple is making it. Then again, there is a long history of Apple tablet rumors. It’s not looking good.

Apple may bring out a tablet or they might not. But due to everyone assuming they would there is now more interest in slates than there have been in many years. Other tablets that actually exist are coming out soon, and next year may be as filled with tablet announcements as the last two years were with netbook announcements.

So, am I excited about a $2,000 Apple tablet? No. Are you? I suspect not. The results of the poll below may surprise me, but I’m sure most people don’t want to pay that kind of money for something without a real keyboard.

It seems everyone is enamored with the Nvidia Ion-powered HP Mini 311–and rightfully so. This Graphics chips are responsible for processing all images sent to your computer?s display.
Learn Moregraphics chip has changed the game for mini-notebooks, enabling full HD video playback, mainstream 3D games, and even video editing chops without adding too much cost. And while we’ve yet to review the Ion-enabled Samsung N510 or Lenovo IdeaPad S12, ASUS’ new entry could trump them all.

Today we got a first look at the Eee PC 1201N, which will sell for $499 with Windows 7 Premium. This 12.1-inch system looks a lot like a larger 1008HA, a design we like. It’s a sleek 1.3 inches thick, only 3.2 pounds, and sports the same dimpled trackpad as the 1008HA but the chiclet-style keyboard seen on the 1000HE.

The port spread is standard but includes HDMI for attaching the 1201N to a high-def monitor or TV. With this GPU and the addition of Flash 10.1, owners will be able to output full 1080p video from the 1201N and watch full screen HD Hulu and YouTube clips without a hitch, as we’ve proven.

In addition to the Ion GPU there’s an intriguing CPU: a dual core Intel Atom N330. This processor is usually found in nettops, and we’re psyched to see how this processor will affect performance and battery life. Add in 2GB of RAM and a 250GB The storage device that holds your OS, programs, and data.
Learn Morehard drive and you have a very well equipped machine for $499. In fact, the 1201N costs $80 less than a similarly configured HP Mini 311, and that netbook has a single-core processor.

This is shaping up to be one compelling Ion netbook. Full specs and more details after the jump.

Everyone was disappointed when the One Laptop Per Child project promised to usher in a new age of $100 notebooks, only to fall flat with its underwhelming XO laptop selling for well over $200. But that was over two years ago, and the for-profit netbook market has been hugely successful at pushing price points lower. Now, fresh for the holiday season, we see powerful netbooks selling right now for under $300.

These aren’t underpowered systems running some unheard-of Linux flavor either. These systems all have 1GB of RAM, a standard Intel Atom N270 or N280 CPU, and either Windows XP or Windows 7 Starter edition. Many of them even have 6-cell batteries.

Here’s a sampling of what’s available right now:

• The Samsung N120 can be bought for just $295. The N120 is one of the best netbooks around, because of its extremely-wide keyboard and 7+ hours of endurance. It’s available with a 1.6 GHz CPU, 6-cell battery, and 160GB.
• The Samsung N130 is now available for $285 and sports a 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 160GB The storage device that holds your OS, programs, and data.
  Learn Morehard drive, Windows XP home and a long-lasting 6-cell battery. We have not reviewed this system, but other Samsung netbooks, such as the Samsung N120 mentioned above and the Samsung N110 and have been among our favorites, because of their awesome keyboards and long battery lives.
• Acer’s Aspire One AOD250 is on sale for a mere $254.99 if you’re willing to settle for 3 hours or less of endurnace. The system comes with a 3-cell battery and also has Windows XP, a 1.6 GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, and a 160GB hard drive.
• The HP Mini 311 is a splurge at $399 but offers an 11.6-inch screen and Nvidia ION graphics that make it capable of playing HD video.

If you want more information or none of these appeal to you, check out our detailed list of netbook gift ideas.

We won’t get to see the product in person until CES in January, but I’m getting more and more excited about ICD’s Vega tablet every day. This device has all the elements of a great tablet — I hope it lives up to them. Let’s see, there’s the Nvidia Tegra processor, HD media, touchscreen, 3G connectivity,  Android OS, and even three sizes (and price points): 7, 11 and 15 inches. It’s also a good-looking machine.

We’ve seen what Tegra can do with the Zune HD, and the possibility of that in a larger form factor with more power behind it is exciting. Vega may not be alone in this regard (it doesn’t appear to be the same tablet Nvidia’s CEO was waving around last week), so it will be interesting to see how ICD will make it stand out.

Sure, this tablet line will likely be overshadowed by a certain product coming from Cupertino, but at least we know it’s real. And we’re all for competition.

Our full review of the Hercules eCAFÉ EC-1000W is now live. We’re still impressed with the netbook’s aesthetics and most aspects of the design (the mouse buttons are a weak point) and we like that it comes bundled with some useful software, including OpenOffice. Not so impressive is the performance, including the battery life. Though it outlasts some other Windows 7 systems, it’s still below the average longevity of netbooks with 6-cell batteries.

Still, it is a nice looking machine. If it lasted longer and didn’t perform so poorly on graphics tasks I’d make it my cafe netbook. It would look good sitting on a little table next to a latte and a fancy cookie, don’t you think?

2009 has been a good year for notebooks from widescreen desktop replacements all the way down to netbooks. New operating systems for both Macs and PCs, batteries lasting longer and longer while getting thinner, and new chips to make everything run better made for great selection this year.

We did our best to test every one of the dozens of notebooks and netbooks released, and after all those months of work we’re ready to reveal the laptops we’ve deemed the Best Notebooks of the Year. We chose a winner and finalist that represent the best in class in seven categories:

• Thin-and-Light
• Budget
• Netbook
• Ultraportable
• Business
• Gaming
• Touch

The laptops that made our list not only embody new innovations in hardware and software, but surround them with designs that are attractive and comfortable to use for extended periods. It’s this combination of cutting-edge components, aesthetics, and ergonomics that separates the best of the best from the also-rans.

Click here to see which notebooks won the day in their respective categories. Did your favorite make the list?

Just yesterday Mark took tech manufacturers who don’t traditionally make notebooks to task for jumping on the netbook bandwagon with systems that included severe flaws. Flaws anyone who was paying attention should have been able to avoid. Just as that post was going live a new netbook arrived in our offices: the Hercules eCAFE. If you’re unfamiliar with Hercules, don’t fret. They’re hardware and accessory makers and the eCAFE was their first foray into laptop land.

It doesn’t follow that the eCAFE is a bad netbook simply because it doesn’t come from a traditional computer manufacturer. I’ve spent a few hours with this system and my initial impression is that it’s a solid entry into the netbook market, though not likely to set the category on fire.

Click here to read our first impressions.

As we mentioned in order recent battery life post, the HP Mini 311 with Windows 7 did get less battery life than its XP-bearing sibling. However, that’s not the whole story of this updated netbook. Though there is a loss in longevity, users gain 3G connectivity if they buy the system from Verizon Wireless. At $199 with a two-year contract, the benefits could outweigh the drawbacks.

The Mini 311 still has the NVIDIA Ion LE Graphics chips are responsible for processing all images sent to your computer?s display.
Learn Moregraphics chip and 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, but comes with 2GB of RAM instead of just 1. It’s also not hampered by Starter Edition as HP thankfully opted to load it up with Home Premium. While overall performance didn’t blow us away, graphics performance scores went up.

Click here for the full benchmark scores and our impression of the 311’s 3G capabilities. It may be worth shelling the $59.99/month for some users, but others aren’t going to look too kindly on spending over $1,000 for a netbook over time, even one that approaches notebook performance.

Chances are the if you’re reading this blog, you know a thing or two about netbooks, the low-cost, lightweight PCs that have become the darlings of the laptop industry. If you were unfamiliar with the category, however, and were in the hunt for a new computer, you might turn to your friendly neighborhood retailer for guidance–but is it a valuable source of information? Not based on our encounters.

Over the past week or so, I’ve made the rounds of various computer-carrying retailers to see which store employees could give me an accurate description of netbooks and their capabilities. Although netbooks are a relatively new class of notebook (we did just celebrate the pioneering Eee PC’s second birthday, after all), we expected the salespeople to be at least somewhat familiar with the products on their shelves. Sadly, many were not.

Here are some of the gems the salespeople at Costco, Best Buy, Staples, and Wal-Mart told us when we came in, posing as an average customer:

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