Acer has rolled into CeBIT with a few all-new systems, but it’s also taken the chance to introduce some updates to its existing models, including six new revisions to its Aspire and TravelMate lines. Leading things off are the high(ish)-end Aspire 8942 and Aspire 5942, which pack 18.4 and 15.6-inch displays, your choice of the latest 2010 Core processors, an integrated TV tuner, up to 8GB of RAM, up to 1.2TB of storage (courtesy of to 640GB drives), and some niceties like a multitouch trackpad, and a CineSurround sound system with a “Tuba CineBass” booster. It’s joined by the TravelMate 8372 Timeline series, which is itself available in 13.3-, 14-, and 15.6-inch varieties with Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, and the 15.6-inch Acer TravelMate 6594, which packs a Core i5 or i7 processor and ATI Radeon HD 5670 graphics. Rounding out the standard laptops are the 17.3-inch Acer TravelMate 7740 and 15.6-inch 5740, which come equipped with Core i3 or i5 processors, up to 8GB of RAM, and either integrated or ATI Radeon HD5470 graphics.

As if that wasn’t enough, Acer has also introduced the new 11.6-inch Aspire One 752 netbook, which actually packs a Celeron ULV processor instead of the usual Atom, and the Aspire Predator G7750 gaming PC, which finishes things off in a suitably over-the-top fashion with a Core i7 Extreme Edition processor, liquid cooling, dual LAN connectivity, swappable hard drive bays, and support for Acer’s GD245HQ 3D monitor. Hit up the gallery below for a closer look at some of the offerings.

Filed under: Laptops

Acer kicks out laptop, netbook upgrades aplenty at CeBIT originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer has rolled into CeBIT with a few all-new systems, but it’s also taken the chance to introduce some updates to its existing models, including six new revisions to its Aspire and TravelMate lines. Leading things off are the high(ish)-end Aspire 8942 and Aspire 5942, which pack 18.4 and 15.6-inch displays, your choice of the latest 2010 Core processors, an integrated Television tuner, up to 8GB of RAM, up to 1.2TB of storage (courtesy of to 640GB drives), and some niceties like a multitouch trackpad, and a CineSurround sound system with a “Tuba CineBass” booster. It’s joined by the TravelMate 8372 Timeline series, which is itself available in 13.3-, 14-, and 15.6-inch varieties with Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, and the 15.6-inch Acer TravelMate 6594, which packs a Core i5 or i7 processor and ATI Radeon HD 5670 graphics. Rounding out the standard laptops are the 17.3-inch Acer TravelMate 7740 and 15.6-inch 5740, which come equipped with Core i3 or i5 processors, up to 8GB of RAM, and either integrated or ATI Radeon HD5470 graphics.

As if that wasn’t enough, Acer has also introduced the new 11.6-inch Aspire One 752 netbook, which actually packs a Celeron ULV processor instead of the usual Atom, and the Aspire Predator G7750 gaming Computer, which finishes things off in a suitably over-the-top fashion with a Core i7 Extreme Edition processor, liquid cooling, dual LAN connectivity, swappable hard drive bays, and support for Acer’s GD245HQ 3D monitor. Hit up the gallery below for a closer look at some of the offerings.

Filed under: Laptops

Acer kicks out laptop, netbook upgrades aplenty at CeBIT originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Laptops or desktops stuck with only VGA output often need a little help to get their content onto an HDTV, and Atlona is there for them. It’s introducing another in a storied line of HDMI adapters, this one taking VGA input and turning it to HDMI output. That’s not particularly special, but that this one does it powered only by a single USB port is. It’ll also pull in analog audio over a 3.5mm plug and add that to the mix, then pump the results at a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1200. Of course, all that functionality is going to cost you: $120 for the adapter, but it does at least include a six-foot HDMI cable. They’re up for order now ahead of a date with the postman next week, and there’s another picture waiting for you after the break if you’re really into the orange and black scheme.

Continue reading Atlona’s VGA to HDMI adapter ditches the brick, does 1080p on USB power

Atlona’s VGA to HDMI adapter ditches the brick, does 1080p on USB power originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Laptops or desktops stuck with only VGA output often need a tiny help to get their content onto an HDTV, and Atlona is there for them. It’s introducing another in a storied line of HDMI adapters, this one taking VGA input and turning it to HDMI output. That’s not particularly special, but that this one does it powered only by a single USB port is. It’ll also pull in analog audio over a 3.5mm plug and add that to the mix, then pump the results at a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1200. Of course, all that functionality is going to cost you: $120 for the adapter, but it does at least include a six-foot HDMI cable. They’re up for order now ahead of a date with the postman next week, and there’s another picture waiting for you after the break if you’re really into the orange and black scheme.

Continue reading Atlona’s VGA to HDMI adapter ditches the brick, does 1080p on USB power

Atlona’s VGA to HDMI adapter ditches the brick, does 1080p on USB power originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

One of the conundrums facing device makers this day is how to add wireless connectivity to their products. E-readers such as the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook use world wide web access primarily for selling you more content, so it can be absolutely subsidized. Laptops, on the other hand, can consume huge amounts of data, and so plans can run $60 per month and have capped bandwidth, even at that price. Apple and AT&T’s iPad pricing scheme attempts a compromise: a $15 prepaid for a minimal 250 MB per month that could serve the needs of many users (especially with a Flash-less browser and sideloaded video delivery), along with the option of a $30 unlimited plan.

For many users, though, there is another option: bring your own broadband. Last year, Novatel Wireless’s MiFi, launched in the U.S. by Sprint and Verizon Wireless, opened up the possibility for virtually any WiFi device to access the web over 3G connections. Laptops without 3G cards could access the internet from a vehicle and the iPod touch became a functional iPhone — and in some parts of AT&T’s alleged network coverage, more functional than an iPhone.

Continue reading Switched On: I, hotspot

Switched On: I, hotspot originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he’ll explore where our industry is and where it’s going — on both micro and macro levels — with the very special wit and insight only he has the ability to provide.

We live in a world of diverse mobile devices. Laptops, smartphones and everything in between define the mobile experience of the 21st century. But what’s the killer application for mobile computing? We all know the theory of killer apps — they’re the reason and the purpose people invest in new devices. The killer app in the early days of PCs was the VisiCalc spreadsheet. PageMaker and the creation of desktop publishing were the killer apps for the GUI-based PC, most notably the Macintosh. But for mobile, it’s not as clear; some people think the killer app for mobile is email, while other say it’s the mobile web. Personally, I don’t think there’s one specific killer application — I think the killer app for mobile is simply context.

Continue reading Entelligence: Context is the killer application for mobile

Entelligence: Context is the killer application for mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he’ll explore where our industry is and where it’s going — on both micro and macro levels — with the very special wit and insight only he can provide.

We live in a world of diverse mobile devices. Laptops, smartphones and everything in between define the mobile experience of the 21st century. But what’s the killer application for mobile computing? We all know the theory of killer apps — they’re the reason and the purpose people invest in new devices. The killer app in the early days of Computers was the VisiCalc spreadsheet. PageMaker and the creation of desktop publishing were the killer apps for the GUI-based Computer, most notably the Macintosh. But for mobile, it’s not as clear; some people think the killer app for mobile is email, while other say it’s the mobile web. Personally, I don’t think there’s one specific killer application — I think the killer app for mobile is simply context.

Continue reading Entelligence: Context is the killer application for mobile

Entelligence: Context is the killer application for mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The original MSI Wind is so two years ago, but an Insanely Wind forum member with the handle of ac0ff33 figured out a way to make it so two years from now. Taking a cue from slider phones, the modder has managed to flip the Wind’s 10.1-inch display around, fit it on top of the keyboard, and add a resistive touchscreen. He appears to still be working on getting it to slide up to reveal the keys, but from the comments in the forum he’s got a pretty solid plan to make it all happen. And if all that isn’t good enough, he’s also added a plastic power button next to the screen, along with a key for choosing either Win 7 or OSX when booting. We’re looking forward to seeing how this project comes along, but in the meantime check out the two videos below of the touchscreen performance in both Win 7 and OSX.

Continue reading MSI Wind modded with sliding keyboard and touchscreen

Filed under: Laptops

MSI Wind modded with sliding keyboard and touchscreen originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Popularity: 1% [?]

When we received an e-mail from a very agitated reader detailing that the wireless card and the screen on his HP tx2000 stopped working just a convenient few days after his warranty expired we felt bad, though didn’t think much of it. But then we started doing a bit of research, and it turns out these issues go all the way back to the tx1000 and that there are thousands — if you can trust the petition numbers — that have been encountering these problems. The cause? Most likely the overheating NVIDIA graphics card and chipset that was used in both models, and which was actually the reason for Sony, Dell and other HP laptop recalls last year. So, what gives, especially after the warranty of these tablets has gone up? Not much, unless you are handy with a motherboard, some thermal compound and tinfoil like the guy in the video after the break (spoiler: he fixes his tx1000!) We wish we had better news, but if you’re an unfortunate owner of one of these txs your best bet is to hit one of the links and sound off. The more noise, the more likely HP will be to finally recall these puppies.

[Thanks, Artur T.]

Continue reading HP tx2000 suffering from dead screens and wireless, NVIDIA to blame?

Filed under: Laptops

HP tx2000 suffering from dead screens and wireless, NVIDIA to blame? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Michael Dell may not be a fan of netbooks, but you wouldn’t know that from the newest Mini 10. Joining the current Mini 10v, Dell’s completely overhauled the chassis and added Intel’s new Pine Trail processor. But that’s not all: come February the tiny laptop will be available with Broadcom’s Crystal HD accelerator, which promises full HD playback on a high-res 1366 x 768 display. But does the $425 package rid us of our tireless complaints that Atom can’t handle HD, and does it rival netbooks based on NVIDIA’s Ion platform? And perhaps more importantly, can we count on the Mini 10 to be a valuable member of the growing Pine Trail netbook fraternity when it comes to battery life and ergonomics? on to find out!

Continue reading Dell Mini 10 with Broadcom Crystal HD Accelerator review

Filed under: Laptops

Dell Mini 10 with Broadcom Crystal HD Accelerator review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Popularity: 2% [?]