MSI EX300 Quietly Released
December 5, 2008
MSI has quietly released a new 13.3″ laptop, the MSI EX300. It’s based on Intel’s Penryn platform, and comes standard with 4GB of RAM, a 250GB SATA HDD, and an internal SuperMulti DVD Writer. It also features an HDMI port and a eSATA Port. The HDMI port is handy, given that the graphics chipset is the ATI HD3450, with 256MB Dedicated RAM.
Bluetooth 2.0, Gigabit ethernet, and 802.11b/g/n are standard on both models currently available.
Dimensions:
Width: 11.9 inches / 302 mm
Depth: 9.1 inches / 231 mm
Height: 1.18 inches / 29.97 mm
Weight: 4.1 pounds / 1.85 kg
It is currently available at Amazon.com:
- MSI EX300-018US (Red), $999 (available)
- MSI EX300-024US (Blue), $999 (pre-order)
Both models are $999 (USD), which indicates it’s likely oriented towards budget/consumer customers. It also mentions some Blu-Ray support (perhaps through the decoding chipset, as well as a different DVD drive).
Thanks to Tim for the email.
Apple MacBook Air Review - SlashGear
November 30, 2008
Vincent over at SlashGear has posted a review of the new Apple MacBook Air that was just introduced last month.
Even though the externals looked the same, the internal parts of the MacBook Air underwent a radical change over the MacBook Air that was was first introduced earlier this year, and that was the main focus of this review.
With the changes, this time around the MacBook Air is capable of being a primary laptop, and SlashGear even recommends the faster Solid State Drive (SSD) version (when the Air first came out, they recommend the lower-end version with a 1.8″ SATA drive).
Read: SlashGear
Toshiba Satellite Pro 400 Hands-On (SlashGear)
June 27, 2008
Bree over at SlashGear has posted their hands-on experience with the Toshiba Satellite Pro 400, Toshiba’s latest 13.3-inch laptop. The unit reviewed had one of Intel’s latest CPUs, the Intel T8100 Penryn 2.1GHz processor.
They compared it to a regular Toshiba Satellite, and while it lacked some of the multimedia features of the regular, the non-glossy finish held up much better - it looked more “professional” and more importantly, hid fingerprints (something that bugs a lot of people).
They found the keyboard to be sturdier than others in its class, and felt the price was a good value (in fact, the price for non-Penryn models at some online retailers such as Amazon has dropped to $877).
Read:
- SlashGear - review
- SlashGear - Unboxing
ThinkPad SL300 - Details
June 9, 2008
Along with details about the ThinkPad X200, it would appear that Lenovo is also intent on launching a cheaper, more consumer-oriented 13.3-inch ThinkPad that would represent a new line sort of - it’s the low-end version of the ThinkPad X200 series, but it won’t be competing with the ThinkPad X300 which is a premium/high-end 13.3-inch laptop and which targets a different audience than the X200 series.
Details about the ThinkPad SL300:
- Low-end version of the ThinkPad X200 Series
- 13.3-inch Widescreen
- Intel Core 2 Duo
- Optional Blu-ray optical drive
- Two graphics options - Intel GMA or NVIDIA GeForce 9300 (similar to what some Dell models carry)
- Possible integrated GPS module
Read:
- ThinkPad.cn (Chinese)
- ThinkPad.cn (Translated into English)
Via: Forums.ThinkPads.com
ThinkPad X200 - Details
June 9, 2008
More details about the Lenovo ThinkPad X200 have finally surfaced. The X200 is the widescreen 12.1-inch replacement for the well-respected ThinkPad X61 / X61s lineup. Previously, the 12-inch ThinkPad X series were using a 4:3 “square” display and when the 13.3-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X300 was released, it was expected that the ultraportable end up of the X series would follow suit.
Models:
- ThinkPad X200 - Mid-range
- ThinkPad X200s and X200T (X200 Tablet) - high-end
- ThinkPad SL300 - Low-end (13.3-inch)
Details that emerged yesterday:
- 12-inch widescreen display
- 45nm Intel Core 2 Duo, including 2.4GHz (which means it’s probably the Core 2 Duo T8300 with 3MB L2 Cache and an 800MHz FSB)
- Depending on CPU, settings, and battery pack, up to 9+ hours of battery life
- Choice of drive storage, including Solid State Drive (SSD)
- DDR3 Memory (we are iffy about this)
- Weight starts at under 2.93 pounds
It’s also being mentioned that it will have a DisplayPort connector, a relatively new video/audio connector.
We have some additional details that we are trying to confirm and will post them tomorrow (June 10, 2008) once we have confirmation.
Read:
- ThinkPad.cn (Chinese)
- ThinkPad.cn (Translated into English)
Via: Forums.ThinkPads.com
Apple MacBook Overhaul, Universal Battery Charger
May 19, 2008
Is Apple getting ready to overhaul the popular MacBook line? Keep in mind that the MacBook was just upgraded to an Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn CPU back in February of this year.
AppleInsider is reporting that the MacBook will be receiving a complete revamp in the upcoming months that will be available sometime after the end of June. Based on information from DigiTimes, as well as AppleInsider sources, AI is claiming that the 13.3-inch MacBook will receive its first structural and aesthetic changes since being introduced as an Intel-based replacement for Apple’s iBook line over two years ago and that Apple will do away with the plastic enclosures (currently available in white or black) for aluminum and stainless steel.
This will follow the overhaul the iMac recently received, and the iMac, like the MacBook, is considered to be more “consumer” oriented versus the professionally-oriented MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.
Finally, Macworld has news for those who have either multiple Apple laptops or who carry around multiple batteries: FastMac has announced the U-Charge, a 45-watt universal battery charger that sells for $69.95 (USD) and that should be shipping before the end of June.
It connects directly to the battery (hence the low 45-watt - it doesn’t have to power the laptop while charger), and it covers a substantial number of Apple portables: iBook, MacBook, MacBook Pro and PowerBooks.
Asus W7Sg in Korea
May 6, 2008
Asus is set to launch it’s new ASUS W7Sg in Korea. The W7Sg has a widescreen 13.3-inch display and weights just under 2 kg (4.3 pounds).
The W7Sg is an upgrade of the ASUS W7S, with additional CPU options as well as an upgraded graphics chipset. It’s based on the same Intel PM965 - Intel Mobile 965 Express chipset as the W7S, however it offers Intel’s Penryn-based CPUs, which offer between 3MB and 6MB of L2 cache as well as better (and cooler) performance. CPU options include: Intel Core 2 duo T9500 (2.6GHz, 6MB L2), T9300 (2.5GHz, 6MB L2), T8300 (2.4GHz, 3MB L2), T8100.
The upgraded graphics chipset is the NVIDIA GeForce 9300M G with 256MB of dedicated memory.
Source: AVING.net
Toshiba U405-S2830 Review (LAPTOP Mag)
April 18, 2008
LAPTOP Magazine has publised one of the first reviews of the latest 13.3-inch model in Toshiba’s Satellite line, the Toshiba Satellite U405.
The model reviewed is the U405-S2830, which has 3GB of memory versus 2GB and an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.1GHz T8100 CPU versus the 1.83GHz T5550 of the U405-S2820. The price is around $200 (USD) more as a result (the model reviewed here was $1149).
They discuss the redesign of the U405 (versus the Toshiba Satellite U305 it’s replacing) as well as some of the upgraded features (LED lighting for some of the keys, etc. and give it a rating of 3.5 out of 5.
Review: LAPTOP Magazine
