Features:

• Accommodating all laptops—including the 17-inch-wide models
• effortlessly folds down to 1/4-inch for exceptional storage and portability
• crafted from four lightweight, aluminum plates
• helps better dissipate heat to promote improved battery life and enhance machine longevity
• MSRP of $79.95

Pros:

• Super lightweight, easy to use, and easy to carry
• Helps make laptop use ergonomical and comfortable in any situation
• The included carrying bag doubles as a screen cleaning cloth

Cons:

• Pricey

Review
The AViiQ portable laptop stand is a lightweight aluminum stand that folds down to about the size of a standard ruler, and weighs five and a half ounces. Folded up, it takes up almost no space, and as such is extremely easy to pack into any laptop bag. It comes with a bag into which the folded stand can be stored, which helps protect the sharp edges of the stand from scratching anything inside your laptop bag. Plus, the bag doubles as a screen cleaner!

Unfolded, the AViiQ sports enough space to comfortably hold any laptop, large or small. The top portion folds over, and under, to create a twelve degree slant that is comfortable for prolonged computer use. I normally just throw my laptop on a desk, and then wonder why my wrists are sore after some period of use. With the AViiQ, I found my laptop usage to be much more comfortable for longer periods of time.

The feet at the bottom of the stand, and the little tabs that protrude through the slots, are rubber coated and do a great job at keeping your laptop in place on the stand, and the stand in place on the desk. I had no trouble with slippage or movement. The aluminum construction helps dissipate heat. If you’ve got some power hungry heat producing laptop, this is an important consideration.

Product Page: AViiQ Portable Laptop Stand

The industry is all a buzz with the latest entry in the “I’m the thinnest laptop” competition. The latest Dell Adamo is definitely a strong contender, at 9.99 mm at some points. Of course, that’s just the official figure. I would have tested it myself but I forgot my calipers.

The Adamo definately does the sleek, simplistic look well.  About two inches bigger in both directions than a sheet of paper and only 3.2 lbs, you could almost forget you were carrying this thing around. Although forgetting you have $1800 in your arms might not be the most desirable…

Dell replaced the usual manual cover latch with a heat-sensitive capacitor. Just swipe your finger across the front edge and the lock disengages. When you open the Adamo, the screen doesn’t so much fold up as the keyboard folds down. It rests in the crazy position you see below. And it’s not just for looks, kids. The open space under the unit allows for more effective airflow, meaning no more burning laps while you work. The keyboard has full sized, metal keys, and the angle didn’t interfere with my typing at all. The touchpad on the other hand, is a little on the small size. This thing has multitouch support, but even my small hands found trouble getting multiple fingers on there. Another thing I didn’t like was that when you adjust the angle of the screen, it moves the angle of the keyboard as well.

Now I’m sure the question you’re all wondering is how in the world does this thing sit on your lap? Its actually pretty comfortable, and you can type without fear of knocking it off your lap with each keystroke. However, it does only have two points of contact so its not as secure against people bumping into you as other laptops.

As for the device’s internals, nothing jumps out at the eye. The screen is 13.4″. Powered by a 1.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with integrated graphics and 4 GB of DDR3 RAM. You get 128 GB of SSD, no word on whether that is upgradable yet. Wireless comes in two flavors, 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1. The only ports on the laptop are 2 USB 2.0 jacks, audio, and a DisplayPort out. Ethernet, HDMI, and the like can connect through the use of an external dongle.

Another cool feature is the replaceable battery. But you’ll have to be replacing it every 2 and a half hours. Not very long for a laptop that is designed for maximum mobility, but at that size? Can’t beat it.

You can expect the Adamo sometime this holiday season. Windows 7 comes standard as well as the diamond-etched logo on the cover. If you’re into that sort of thing.

BFG is new to the laptop world, and it kind of shows. The box was very basic, without all the pointless extras that some manufacturers include. I’m fine with that, I don’t particularly feel a need to have a BFG hat or mouse pad. I’m here for the gaming performance.

The machine looks good. And it’s not ridiculously heavy like certain other gaming laptops. It’s still huge, but not in an overwhelming way. More importantly, everything works. Sure, there’s isn’t any gimmicky “facial recognition,” but that hardly ever works right anyway. First impression is a solid machine with enough bling to keep me happy. I have to admit, I’m a sucker for blue LEDs.

So I’ve fired up my Steam account, I’m downloading some machine-melting games, and looking forward to putting this thing through its paces. As always, I’ll ask: any particular questions about the machine? Anything you’d like me to take a look at in particular in the full review? Also, if you like the look so far, keep in mind you can get 10% off the price if you pre-order by this Friday.

So here’s what we know. The XPS will be running either a 1.4 or 1.9GHz dual core Intel CPU, integrated X4500MHD graphics, and 4GB of DDR3. You’ll be able to choose from either a 128 or 180GB SSD, and the screen only comes in a 13.4 inch size. There is some bad news (which might be why Dell is holding back currently), the machine apparently comes back with a Windows 7 Experience test rating of 3.3, which is not a good thing.

Additionally, that fancy flip screen thing won’t work if the batteries are dead. Not a huge issue, since I’m not sure why you’d need to open your notebook if it’s got no power, but still a little odd.

[via Engadget]

Toshiba announced a number of laptops [JP] for the Japanese market today, with a high-spec Qosmio and two powerful netbooks among them. But the company is also ready to roll out two new models in the Dynabook TV and three models in the TX series, with (almost) all of them coming with a Blu-ray drive.

The Dynabook TV series (pictured above) consists of the TV/68 and TV/64. Both come with a 16-inch LCD screen with 1,366×768 resolution, a built-in TV tuner, a remote control and Windows 7 Home Premium as the OS. But only the TV/68 has a Blu-ray drive, a Core 2 Duo P8700 (2.53GHz) processor and a 500GB HDD (price: $2,000). The TV/64 comes with a Celeron T3000 (1.80GHz) CPU, a DVD drive and a 320GB HDD but costs $450 less.

The Dynabook TX notebooks (pictured above) feature a 16-inch LCD screen with 1,366×768 resolution, Windows 7 Home Premium and a Blu-ray drive (they lack a TV tuner and the remote control of the Dynabook TV series). The TX/67 and TX/66 (price: around $1,800) have a 500GB HDD on board, while the TC/65 only has 320GB (it costs over $100 less).

All the notebooks of both series will go on sale in Japan on October 22, but Toshiba hasn’t said yet whether they will ever be sold outside Japan, too.

Toshiba Japan has announced a slew of new and updated notebooks today, and one of them [JP] is a monster of a notebook (more will be posted later). The Qosmio G60/97J is basically a high-end computer, digital TV and Blu-ray player rolled into one.

The notebook is powered by a Core 2 Duo P8700 processor (2.53GHz) and has 4GB of RAM, a 500GB HDD, GeForce GT230M, Ethernet, IEEE 802.11n Wi-Fi, Ethernet, an HDMI port, and Windows 7 on board.

It also features  a 18.4-inch full HD LCD screen, not one but two TV tuners (so that you can record a TV program while watching another), a Blu-ray drive, harman/kardon speakers and Toshiba’s self-developed SpursEngine processor (which is supposed to boost the quality of video recordings). Toshiba also throws in a remote control.

The Qosmio G60/97J weighs 5kg and is sized at 442.6×294.2×41.5mm. It will hit Japanese stores at the end of next month for $3,200. A trimmed down version, the GX/G8K, with weaker resolution (1,680×945), a 400GB HDD and no TV tuners or SpursEngine processor, will be available for $800 less.

No word yet from Toshiba concerning a possible worldwide release.

Hungry for the ultraslim Sony X series thin and lightbook? It will be coming to SonyStyle stores next month, replacing the current TT line.

Our tipster also reports that a touchscreen laptop – not a tablet – is hitting Sony stores at the same time. Not sure on the model number but it should use Windows 7’s touch capabilities.

The Envy 13 reflects a few trends in Windows hardware. First, consumers are realizing that notebooks are garbage. They are willing to pay a premium for a more powerful computer in a sexier case. Second, Windows 7 is here and it’s ready to kick posterior and jot down identifying information.

The model we tested was running Windows 7 Professional and had an Intel Core Duo 2 L9600 processor running at 2.13 GHz. It also had 3GB of 1067 Mhz memory. Its GeekBench score was 2375. To put this into perspective, this ToughBook scored 1893 and something like the MSI Wind it 837. This is, needless to say, a full-bodied machine. Battery life hit about 3 hours of movie watching.

The Envy is definitely quite a looker. Clad in metal alloy it’s not quite unibody but it does have some very slick design queues that tell you it’s a higher end machine. First, the glass on the screen is flush with the edges of the lid and melds seamlessly a la the Macbook. Then you have some nice dotted detailing on the wrist wrest which, I suspect, will be full of crud after a few weeks. The keys are a bit mushy but the keyboard is big enough for daily use. Then you come to the trackpad.

Your friends won’t “envy” this trackpad. It has two buttons, one on either bottom corner, and a central finger sliding area. It also supports limited gestures including two-fingered scroll but to activate them you need to tap the trackpad. Botton-scrolling is nigh on impossible because your thumb starts to touch the upper touchpad and results in all sorts of scrolling mess. HP tried to make a buttonless trackpad (like another laptop, ahem) but they failed. The trackpad is also very large and very sensitive, resulting in missed tracking every few swipes. This is the Envy’s biggest problem but something that can be accepted and even embraced given enough time and patience.

Like a lover, the HP Envy opens itself slowly and you come to realize the true majesty of future Win7 laptops. The operating system is specially tweaked to match the Envy’s style and the menu bars and buttons all flash for a moment before settling down. This is a nice touch.

The Envy also includes an instant-on OS which allows you to surf the web, run Skype, or listen to music. Is there value in this? That’s debatable, but it’s nice to know it’s there, I suppose.

The fan was a little noisy at boot-up and during major activities but nothing major. There is no optical drive but it has an SD card slot along with HDMI-out, two USB ports, and a headphone port.

Overall I was pleased with the Envy 13. It’s a small laptop with a minor trackpad quirk but it proves that the big guys like HP can still make a quality product without pandering to the Wal-Mart lowendization of the market. That said, guess how much this thing costs. $1,800 in this configuration. Oof.

Given that the cheapest 13-inch MacBook (I know, that word again) costs $1,199, the premium placed on this laptop is a little rough. Presumably this one is for the trendy early adopters, those who want Win7 Pro the very first week it’s on the market, and, to be fair, there’s a lot of machine here for the size.

Bottom Line
Windows 7 is going to be the belle of the ball in the next few months so expect lots of machines like the Envy to hit stores. While that price is fairly rough, there will be few options for folks who want the Win7 Pro experience on a laptop and those few options will be expensive. Manufacturers will have to clear out their Vista/XP netbooks before moving to Win7 and even then they won’t want to come down much in price. It’s the premium play all over again and it will suck for a while.

Also remember that this is based on the higher-end Voodoo Envy, a machine with a high price tag. Can HP take out the Voodoo DNA and sell laptops under the same branding without losing customers? Debatable, but we’ll have to see.

However, if you’re looking for a stylish, fairly powerful notebook with enough horses to run Win7, this is one of the better models out there. Give it a second look.

Product Page

Before Marc shut down the company however, he sent us one of his products to review. We are still going to do a review of the product, just to be fair to Marc. Perhaps it was a great concept that everyone made fun of? There was another great idea that people made fun of. It’s called the airplane. And those two boys at Kitty Hawk went ahead with their idea, despite the fact that everyone told them that man wasn’t supposed to fly. So maybe we made fun of Marc, and maybe, just maybe, man is meant to sit under a sheet and use his laptop after all.

So watch for our upcoming video review, where we’ll give you our honest opinion of the LaptopBurka or “Geeksheet” as it was going to be known. And give innovation a chance.

Love the Earth? Love plastic bags? Why not melt them together and add an old t-shirt for the lining in order to create a laptop case? Using an iron and a bunch of crinkly bags you can create sheets of plastic that you can then sew together to create a bag, jacket, or pants, thereby save the Earth and showing the world how much you like bags in one fell swoop.

The Instructable is fairly straightforward but it does require some sewing skill.

HP announced the Mini 5101 back in late June and we just got one into the ‘Gear office for review. As John noted back when it was announced, the 5101 isn’t a netbook and it’s fallen into the relatively new category of ultralights. I really liked the Mini 1000 and 2140, but the 5101 might be my new favorite.

Here’s a quick rundown of the specs for the review unit we were sent:

• Windows XP
• 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 processor (512KB L2 cache, 533MHz FSB)
• 1GB of RAM
• 160GB HDD
• 10.1-inch LED WSVGA
• 6-cell battery

HP tells me this particular setup runs about $425 with the 6-cell battery, but I haven’t been able to replicate it on the HP site.

First Impressions

The all black magnesium and brushed aluminum shell is gorgeous. However, it appears to be prone to smudges so you’ll want to keep a cloth handy to wipe it down. The (almost) full sized keyboard is leaps and bounds better than the Mini 1000 or 2140. I love the keyboard. Love it. I dislike the trackpad at the moment. It’s a bit too sticky for my tastes, but better than other HP laptops that I’ve had in the past. Two quick launch buttons (Internet, E-mail) are located near the power button, which is now located above the keyboard.

So far, so good. The 5101 ultralight is a gorgeous little laptop. It’s lightweight despite the 6-cell battery and HP really nailed it in the looks department with this one. We’ll have a full review in a week or so.

Are rugged notebooks becoming a trend? Can anyone stand up to Panasonic and their Toughbook line? Getac thinks it can. Well, they’ve been doing this ‘rugged’ thing since 1989, so there’s that.

Announced earlier today is the 9213, which Getac claim is the smallest and lightest business-rugged notebook. Encased in a full magnesium alloy chassis and case, the 9213 comes with a shock mounted HDD and LCD. Other ‘rugged’ essentials include a spill-resistant keyboard, touchpad and “surrounding surface.” Under the hood, a 45nm Intel C2D Penryn runs the show and 9213 boasts up to eight hours of battery life. Up to 12 hours without the optical drive, says Getac.

I don’t know what a TPM security module is but the 9213 comes with one built-in. There’s also a finger print scanner, 1.3-megapixel camera, LED backlit 13.3-inch WXGA TFT LCD, 3GB of RAM and a 160GB HDD (or 250GB).

The Getac 9213 rugged notebook is available now starting at $1800.

Getac 9213 [Getac]

Fujitsu Laboratories, the company’s R&D subsidiary, has announced the development [press release in English] of a transistor for the power supply units of servers that can help reduce electricity consumption of computer hardware and home electronics significantly.

In the case of data centers, for example, Fujitsu speaks of a 12% decrease in power consumption. For its home market of Japan, the company claims this alone would help save 330,000 of CO2 yearly.

Fujitsu’s transistors are made from a gallium nitride material (instead of silicon). Whereas conventional transistors lose around a third of the input supplied power to heat, the new version cuts this number by around 66%.

What’s more interesting from a consumer point of view: A Fujitsu researcher has also said [JP] his company aims at reducing the size of their energy-saving to be able to supply it to makers of notebooks, home electronics and electric vehicles by 2013 or 2014.

This almost sounds too good to be true. But first Fujitsu Laboratories’ own data centers will get the new transistors after mass production starts in 2011.

I’ve been rounding up a lot of ultralights – I wouldn’t call this a netbook – and this looks to be one of the purdiest of the bunch. The 5101 will cost about $449 and runs an Atom processor. It has a 10-inch screen and full keyboard.

Look for more of these “ultralights” to pop up this year. Notebook manufacturers have realized that selling a tiny laptop for $5 and a few bottle caps was not a very good strategy and so they’re rethinking this whole “netbook” moniker. You’ll see ultralights – smaller notebooks with more powerful hardware – and MIDs like the iPod Touch or whatever Nokia is planning.

HP Blends Functionality, Durability and Style with New HP Mini PC

PALO ALTO, Calif., June 24, 2009 – HP today unveiled its top-of-the-line Mini PC for on-the-go professionals who demand a stylish, yet durable fully functional companion PC.

The HP Mini 5101 features a sturdy, lightweight anodized aluminum display enclosure with a black, brushed finish. Complementing the aluminum is the use of magnesium alloy in the lower case of the Mini frame. Soft-touch paint on the base and palm rest further advance the PC’s look and feel. This combination of materials, an industry first in the netbook category, not only delivers an eye-catching design, but also improves durability.

Furthering the stylish look of the HP Mini 5101 is a newly designed, spill-resistant keyboard that is 95 percent of a full-size QWERTY keyboard. It features a visually open and spacious keyboard design with keys raised from the surface. HP DuraKeys, a clear coating over the keys, makes the keyboard 50 times more resistant to visible wear than keyboards without it.(1) In addition, the mouse buttons are located in the traditional space below the touchpad, making for a familiar user experience.

“HP Mini PCs have no equal when it comes to industrial design, use of innovative materials and overall feature sets,” said Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager, Notebook Global Business Unit, Personal Systems Group, HP. “The HP Mini 5101 is truly a work of art, a sophisticated companion PC crafted for the trend-savvy mobile professional who needs functionally, durability and style.”

Starting at 2.6 pounds,(2) the fully functional and durable HP Mini 5101 is an ideal companion PC for the on-the-go professional. It features a large 10.1-inch diagonal LED display available in either WSVGA or high-definition (HD)(3) resolutions. Customers can also choose either the four-cell battery for lighter weight or six-cell battery for longer battery life. When configured with the optional six-cell battery, the HP Mini 5101 delivers up to eight hours of battery runtime.(4)

Mobile professionals can stay ultra-productive with the HP Mini 5101 PC’s small, low-power Intel® Atom processor, which enables the unit to run cooler, use less power and improve battery life. A fast-performing 7,200 RPM hard drive comes standard with the unit. Alternatively, an optional Solid State Drive (SSD) is available in either 80 or 128 gigabytes.

An optional, integrated Gobi-powered HP Mobile Broadband module allows users to conveniently access the Internet, corporate intranet, email and other critical information around the world.(5) Other wireless technologies include integrated Wi-Fi Certified WLAN(6) and optional Bluetooth® 2.0. An integrated 2-megapixel webcam allows for easy still-image capture, web-conferencing or video-enhanced instant messaging(7) with no additional hardware.

HP QuickSync software, planned to be available as a web download in September, allows quick synchronization of the HP Mini with notebooks or desktops so users can avoid maintaining multiple documents, media files and email. Information also can sync to portable storage devices.

The versatility of the HP Mini 5101 can change how students learn and is the practical answer to providing each student continuous access to a PC in one-to-one computing. Its suite of wireless, (6) multimedia and security capabilities allows students to learn wherever they have Wi-Fi access – from the classroom, to the library, to their homes.

The HP Mini 5101 is built to last, featuring HP 3D DriveGuard, which offers a three-axis digital accelerometer chip that sends a signal to shut down the hard drive upon sudden movement or shock. The HP Panel Protection System includes a scratch-resistant acrylic LCD cover and magnesium hinge bracket for added durability in demanding environments.

The HP Mini 5101 has been engineered for reduced impact on the environment by eliminating or reducing substances of concern, using fewer resources and reducing energy consumption. Configurations of the HP Mini 5101 are ENERGY STAR qualified and are identified as HP Mini 5101 ENERGY STAR on HP websites and on www.energystar.gov. In addition the Mini 5101 is EPEAT Gold registered in the United States.(7)

New accessories designed for use with the HP Mini include a USB 2.0 port replicator that adds a variety of audio, networking and USB ports to allow greater productivity. A lightweight, functional messenger bag designed specifically for the HP Mini or a neoprene slip case offer added protection for professionals while on the go. Other accessories available for the HP Mini include a USB 2.0 docking station, external optical drive and USB-powered external speakers.

More information on HP Mini 5101 product specifications, images and other HP mobility solutions is available in an online press kit at www.hp.com/personal.

Pricing and availability
The HP Mini 5101 starts at $449(8) and is expected to be available in late July.

via Giz

SSDs are picking up steam in the computer market (although there were some bad news), and so it comes as no surprise that today Toshiba announced the world’s first laptop featuring their self-developed 512GB SSD [JP]. The Dynabook SS RX2/WAJ went on sale in Japan today already and costs $4,000.

Spec-wise, buyers get a Core 2 Duo SU9400 CPU (1.40GHz), 3GB of RAM, a DVD super multi drive, a 12.1-inch WXGA LCD screen, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, WiFi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n, Gigabit Ethernet and 12 hours of battery life.

The SSD (which costs $1,500 by itself and is pictured above) features 230MB/s reading speed and 180MB/s writing speed. Toshiba says this is 2.5 to 3 times better than a comparable HDD.

The Dynabook weighs just 1095g and is sized at 283×215.8×19.5〜25.5mm. Toshiba is yet to speak about their plans to export the notebook to overseas markets.

A 14.1-, 15.6-, and 17.3-inch are all available in the S-Series line with the larger options sporting a numeric keypad. The trio includes an optional Blu-ray drive, HDMI-out, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 GPU, and the option of either an AMD or Intel CPU. Plus, customers can choose from either Windows Vista or Linux operating systems. (No XP love?)

Specific model pricing and availability hasn’t been released just, but we do know the base price will start out at $529 and will be available early summer ‘09.

It kind of looks like the dv2 that Devin has for review, but it’s slightly chunkier, if only a smidge. The dv3t (wth does the ‘t’ stand for?) is now available from HP with a starting price of $799. The 13.3-inch notebook measures in at 1.25 inches thick and weighs in at 4.93 lbs and is being marketed as an entertainment notebook with its 16:9 HD (1280×800) screen.

Under the hood lies an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz proc (T6400), which can be upgraded all the way up to a 2.66GHz proc (T9550). No SSD for this bad boy so you’ll have to pick between a 320GB or 500GB HDD. There’s a 250GB HDD, but you get the 320GB drive as a free upgrade. All three are 5400RPM models. RAM up to 8GB, but you get 3GB to begin with. Graphics are handled by an Intel 4500MHD and an Nvidia GeForce G 105M with 512MB of dedicated memory.

It comes with a 6-cell battery that should last up to four hours, but you’re probably better off with the 9-cell that lasts up to seven. Per the usual, a webcam is on board as well as a combo Wireless-N mini-card with Bluetooth if that’s what you’re into. Otherwise you can opt for a Wireless-G with Bluetooth or either without Bluetooth. Optional HP Mobile Broadband cards are available from Verizon or AT&T.

Other notables include an HDMI 1.3b port and SRS Premium Sound enhanced Altec Lansing speakers. This can all be yours for around $1000 based on HP’s recommended setup, which is usually what you want anyway. Oh, it comes in “Espresso Black” or “Moonlight White.”

HP dv3t

You’ve seen the second commercial from Microsoft’s Laptop Hunters series, right? You know, the one where G-diddy picks up the HP HDX 16 over a MacBook Pro. I won’t get into the PC vs Mac argument, but Giampaolo chose poorly because he didn’t know what he actually wanted.

Specs on our review unit are as follows:
• Intel C2D T9600 2.8GHz
• nVidia GeForce 9600M GT w/ 512MB DDR2 dedicated memory
• 16-inch HD HP Ultra BrightView Infinity Display (1920×1080)
• 320GB 5400RPM HDD
• 4GB of DDR2 SDRAM
• Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100 network connection and Bluetooth
• Blu-ray ROM w/ SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer
• 6 cell lithium-ion battery
• HP Webcam
• Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit

Performance

We use Primate Labs Geekbench for benchmarking and the HDX 16 scored 3179 overall. Just to give you a frame of reference, the last-generation MacBook Pro with the same processor scored a 3671 on Geekbench. The complete breakdown can be found in the gallery.

Because of the fancy graphics card from nVidia I used 3DMark03 to see what sort of score we’d get out of it. The GeForce 9600M GT managed to score a 12,847. I played a few minutes of Sega’s Iron Man and it was pretty smooth.

Start up takes approximately 66 seconds while shutting down is about 40 seconds.

Battery Life

This where the HDX 16 underperforms and it’s something that should weigh heavily on your decision making process. Off the charger, the HDX 16 gets roughly 58 minutes during Blu-ray playback. For our “real world” test, I cruised the web for about three minutes, literally, and watched 26 minutes worth of Chuck on Hulu, which amounted to one hour and 27 minutes off of the remaining battery time under HP’s “balanced” power plan.

You’d expect more out of the 6 cell battery compared to others in the market, and we suspect the HD screen is juicing it for all its worth.

Hardware

• Dimensions – 14.9×10.0×1.70 inches and a whopping 7.06 lbs. It’s not portable and hurts my back.
• Speakers – Altec Lansing handles the audio on the HDX 16 and the entire speaker system is laid out across the top section of the bottom panel. They’re certainly loud, but start to crackle when maxed out. However, you can adjust bass and treble with the touch controls above the keyboard. Located on the bottom of the laptop near the power connector is an HP Triple Bass Reflex Subwoofer that you really wouldn’t know was there unless you flipped the laptop over.
• Controls – located just above the keyboard are touch controls for wireless, bass/treble, volume, media playback and MediaSmart. They’re a bit finicky and you’ll need a bit of finesse and patience.
• Ports – located along the left side are the following ports: VGA, expansion port 3 connector, RJ-45, HDMI, eSATA/USB, USB, 1394 FireWire and an ExpressCard/54 slot. Along on the front are the following: 5-in-1 memory card reader (SD, MS/Pro, MMC, xD), IR and a mic/dual headphone port. Located on the right hand side of the laptop is the power connector, Kensington lock slot, USB, optical drive, TV antenna and the fourth USB port.
• Keyboard – Like other HP entertainment notebooks, the HDX 16 comes with a full-size keyboard with numpad. The keys have a nice finish to them and are very grippy.
• Track pad – The main issue with the track pad is it causes a lot of friction, so you’ll need to boost the speed of the cursor to actually get something done.

Screen

HP’s 16-inch HD screen is brilliant, but it’s far too glossy and I spent more time primping my hair than watching Chuck. It handles Blu-ray playback just fine with brilliant colors and sharp lines.

Conclusion

As a multimedia machine, the HDX 16 performs admirably, but the lackluster battery life and size make us long for something leaner and meaner. It can also get quite loud during graphics intensive processes, like, watching videos or playing games. But as a stationary machine (ie: plugged in) with a Blu-ray drive and HD screen it’s more than capable of keeping a multimedia junkie happy.

Product Page

The 13.4-inch Adamo will be the first in the series and comes in a oh-so-sexy aluminum package. The whole thing weighs a pound more than the Apple MacBook Air, but manages to measure in at .65-inches. Sadly it seems that this guy doesn’t pack the goods where it counts to justify the $1999 price though.

Within the ultra thin body is a 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo U9300 with integrated Intel X4500 graphics, 2GB of memory, with a 128GB SSD and optional mobile broadband. This notebook might even pack a five hour battery life. Just like the Air and other ultra thin notebooks, the optical drive will be external but available in both the standard CD/DVD or Blu-ray flavor.

Those keeping track will note that while this notebook comes with a 128GB SSD, which Apple charges $500 for on top of the $1,799 base price, everything else within this Windows Vista machine is sub-standard for that pricepoint. Besides that SSD, the $1799 base price of the Air nets you a faster CPU, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics, and an OS that isn’t Windows Vista. Or, the Voodoo Envy which has similar specs and size, but is a tad less expensive.

Maybe the next incarnation of the Adamo will come packing the with something other than just good looks. And maybe some modern specs to justify the very high price. As it stand right now, there doesn’t seem to be any reason to purchase this notebook when it launches on March 26th over the equally sexy Voodoo Envy or OS X-running MacBook Air.

ROUND ROCK, Texas, March 17, 2009 – Style-minded people who place a premium on precision craftsmanship and design can now add Adamo to their list of must-have items for 2009. Dell today unveiled the world’s thinnest laptop as a kick off to the new Adamo by Dell brand.

Adamo, derived from the Latin word meaning “to fall in love,” will serve as a flagship in a line of products created to disrupt the personal computing space with the combination of new design, aesthetics, personalization choices and sought-after technologies.

The News:

Adamo is the pinnacle of craftsmanship and design and features:

· A chassis milled from a single piece of aluminum featuring precision detailing and a scalloped backlit keyboard

· Striking high definition edge-to-edge glass display

· Fully connected with WiFi, Bluetooth(tm) and optional integrated mobile broadband* and full complement of connectivity ports with no compromises

· Cool, quiet and robust solid state drives

· Available in Onyx and Pearl colors with a broad range of complementary accessories

· Price starting at $1999

Quotes:

“Great design needs to be timeless and evoke emotion in people”, said Alex Gruzen, senior vice president of Dell’s consumer products. “While a premium computing experience was assumed for Adamo, the intent was for people to see, touch and explore Adamo and be rewarded by the select materials and craftsmanship you would expect in a fine watch.”

“Dell continues to signal a commitment to design and personalization across its entire product line and has made significant strides forward in the past year,” said Rob Enderle, Principal Analyst, Enderle Group. “The Adamo laptop is a showcase for this commitment and a flagship product that will draw buyers to the brand.”

People who choose Adamo will be offered a unique color matched collection of Adamo by Dell branded peripherals and accessories including, in the U.S. an exclusive line of bags from TUMI. Choices will include:

· External storage option with 250GB** or 500GB** external hard drive.

· External DVD+/-RW or Blu-ray disc drive.

· 8GB** USB drive.

· Connectors and cables including DisplayPort to HDMI, DVI, and VGA.

· Adamo Premium Service (US Only):

o 24/7 access to Dell’s best trained technicians

o Consistent communication with a dedicated personal team

The Adamo by Dell brand is being supported by innovative and new approaches to marketing and promotion for Dell. Designed to challenge people’s perceptions of what a computer is, the Adamo by Dell brand was inspired by fashion, luxury brands and timeless design.

Dell has looked beyond traditional approaches to reaching computer shoppers and launched a provocative campaign featuring:

· A stylish worldwide print campaign shot by acclaimed British-based photographer Nadav Kandar and featuring high-fashion models that reinforces the “fall in love” positioning. Kander, whose work is celebrated in galleries worldwide, also shot the moving portfolio, “Obama’s People,” which appeared in The New York Times Magazine earlier this year.

· AdamoByDell.com , the centerpiece of the campaign and a highly stylized site where viewers can learn about Adamo, register for updates and, beginning today, place orders. Since its launch last month, AdamoByDell.com has attracted nearly 800,000 unique visitors from around the world and more than 1 million page views.

· Artful packaging in which the product arrives “floating” in a clear box with minimal clutter – a beautiful experience for a sophisticated product.

Product Specifications:

· Intel® Core 2 Duo processors with Intel® Centrino ® technology

· DDR3 system memory

· 13.4-inch 16:9 HD display

· Draft-Wireless N

· High-performance solid state drives standard

· Bluetooth 2.1

· Mobile Broadband* option

· Up to 5+ hours of battery life (preliminary)***

· 2 USB ports, 1 USB/eSATA combo port, Display Port, RJ-45 port

· Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-bit

Available for pre-order today at www.adamobydell.com and shipping worldwide starting March 26, 2009, Adamo will be available online for purchase in 24 countries including U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, U.K. France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, ANZ, China, Honk Kong, India, Korea, Malaysia/Singapore, Japan, and Indonesia.

Boston-Power announced earlier today that their line of Sonata Li-ion batteries for 18 HP notebooks (about 70 percent of HP’s lineup) are now available directly from HP. The Sonata batteries were the first to be Nordic Ecolabeled, which essentially means they pollute less by being high capacity, longer lasting and having the “smallest amounts of detrimental heavy metals.” They boast a three lifespan and HP is backing that up by providing a three-year warranty, which is the only one in the market to do so. It’s available now for the following models for $150.

HP Pavilion dv4, dv5, dv6; HP HDX 16; HP G50, G60, G61, G70, G71; Compaq Presario CQ40, CQ45, CQ50, CQ60, CQ61, CQ70, CQ71

HP