HP Launches Mini 1104 Cedar Trail-based Netbook

Category: Prebuilts, Small Form Factor
Posted: January 23, 2012 02:46PM
Author: Daryn Govender

HP has launched its latest netbook dubbed the HP Mini 1104. The new netbook is designed for education and business applications, packing in a near full-sized keyboard, up to nine-hours of battery life and a multi-touch trackpad. The Mini 1104 is powered by a dual-core Intel Atom N2600 'Cedar Trail' CPU running at 1.6GHz, up to 2GB of memory and Intel Integrated GMA 3600 graphics. Storage is covered by a 320GB hard drive operating at 5400RPM. Other features include a 10.1" 1024x600 pixel display and a VGA webcam, along with three USB 2.0 ports, a media card reader, a VGA output, an ethernet port, audio in/out ports, a microphone and stereo speakers. WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0+HS connectivity is included with the option of adding HSPA+ mobile broadband and GPS. The HP Mini runs on either Windows 7 or FreeDOS and will be priced from US$399.

HP Unveils ENVY 14 Spectre Ultrabook

Category: Prebuilts, Small Form Factor
Posted: January 10, 2012 01:12AM
Author: Daryn Govender

HP has unveiled its latest ultrabook dubbed the ENVY 14 Spectre. The new ultrabook is crafted from scratch-resistant black and silver glass to create a striking look. As the name suggests, the ENVY 14 Spectre has a 14" high definition "HP Radiance Display" for vivid colour and better viewing angles, all packed into a 13.3" body. Audio is supplied by Beats Audio mesh speakers coupled with an analog aluminium volume dial. HP Wireless Audio technology allows uncompressed audio streaming to the ultrabook from up to four external devices. The ENVY 14 Spectre is equipped with an Intel Core CPU, up to 256GB of storage space and a backlit keyboard with proximity sensor. Connectivity includes USB 3.0, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort and Gigabit Ethernet ports. The ultrabook has a quoted battery life of up to nine hours. The ENVY 14 Spectre weighs under four pounds, is 20mm thin and should be available on February 8 in the United States, starting at $1,399.99.

DEONET Unveils 'Smallest USB Stick in the World'

Category: Storage / Hard Drives, Small Form Factor
Posted: December 23, 2011 03:24AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Dutch firm DEONET has unveiled what it calls the 'smallest USB stick in the world.' The new memory stick features the Micro UDP-chip, a memory chip which DEONET claims is half the size of a 'classic' memory chip. This Micro UDP-chip has dimensions of 18.5x14.5x2.9mm, giving DEONET the ability to produce ultra-compact USB sticks.

Rob van Berkom, CEO of DEONET said "For years, DEONET noticed a high demand for user friendly and compact USB sticks. With the development of the Micro UDP-chip, we continue being innovative in the USB market. This new technique enables us to introduce very small USB solutions. The main advantage is that the USB stick is small enough to keep it in a wallet or hang it on a bunch of keys. In addition, the smallest USB-stick from DEONET is so small it barely protrudes of the USB port of the PC and laptop. This makes it possible to leave the USB-stick in the laptop, even if it's stored in a bag."

The new USB stick will be available in 4GB, 8GB and 16GB capacities, and will be released at the PSI Düsseldorf business fair next month.

LG Unveils Xnote Z330 13.3" Ultrabook

Category: Prebuilts, Small Form Factor
Posted: December 7, 2011 03:47AM
Author: Daryn Govender

LG has unveiled the thinnest ultrabook in its line-up dubbed the Xnote Z330. The new ultrabook packs in a Core i5 (1.6GHz) or Core i7 (1.7Ghz) processor, 4GB of RAM and a 120GB or 256GB SSD for storage. This hardware coupled with LG's "Rapid Start Technology" enables a 10 second boot time on Windows 7. The Xnote Z330 also features Intel HD graphics displayed by a 13.3" High Definition LED screen. Connectivity is covered by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, along with USB 3.0 and HDMI out ports. The LG Xnote Z330 measures 315x215x14.7mm, weighs in at 1.2kg and has a rated battery life of six hours. LG did not release details regarding the availability or pricing of the Xnote Z330.

ZOTAC Unveils ZBOX Nano VD01 Series Mini-PCs

Category: Prebuilts, Small Form Factor
Posted: October 6, 2011 08:18PM
Author: Daryn Govender

ZOTAC today unveiled its latest product, a "palm-sized" mini-PC dubbed the ZBOX nano VD01 series. The new ZBOX packs in a VIA Nano X2 U4025 CPU paired with the VX900H chipset, enabling excellent performance and low power consumption.

Carsten Berger, marketing director at ZOTAC International said that "ZOTAC is pleased to expand its mini-PC lineup with the addition of a VIA platform. The VIA Nano X2 with VX900H chipset enables us to deliver an affordable energy-efficient mini-PC that is ideal for digital media consumption and home server use with the ZOTAC ZBOX nano VD01 series."

VIA's Vice President of Marketing also mentioned that "ZOTAC is an industry leader of innovative mini-PC solutions. VIA is proud to partner with ZOTAC for the ZBOX nano VD01 series that highlights our energy efficient Nano X2 platform."

The ZBOX supports fluid playback of high definition video formats such as Blu-Ray, MPEG 2 and H.264. The mini-PC requires a 2.5" SATA hard drive and one DDR3 SO-DIMM memory stick, although the ZBOX nano VD01 Plus models are preinstalled with a 320GB hard drive and 2GB of DDR3 memory. Connectivity is covered by an ethernet port along with USB 2.0, USB 3.0 and eSATA support. ZOTAC did not disclose details regarding the availability or pricing of the ZBOX nano VD01 series of mini-PCs.

Toshiba Prepares Thrive 7" Tablet; Coming December

Category: Prebuilts, Small Form Factor
Posted: September 28, 2011 01:46AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Toshiba is busy preparing its latest Thrive tablet, this time a smaller 7" offering. The Thrive 7" tablet features a high resolution touchscreen (1280x800) coupled with Toshiba Adaptive Display and Resolution+ technology to enhance video and image quality. The Thrive packs in a NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core CPU and 1GB of RAM, along with either 16GB or 32GB of on-board flash memory. Other features include a microSD card slot for extra storage, two cameras (one 5MP rear with LED flash and one 2MP front), and micro HDMI and USB ports. All the basics such as WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth support are also covered. Android 3.2 is the OS of choice. The tablet also includes a gyroscope and stereo speakers, and weighs in at 0.88 pound. The Toshiba Thrive 7" tablet should be available in December, although Toshiba did not disclose details regarding the pricing of the new tablet.

NEC Announces LaVie Touch 10.1" Windows 7 Tablet

Category: Prebuilts, Small Form Factor
Posted: September 12, 2011 03:26AM
Author: Daryn Govender

NEC today announced its latest tablet, named the LaVie Touch. The new tablet packs in a 10.1" 1280x800 IPS panel, Intel's Oak Trail platform including a 1.5GHz Atom Z670 CPU, 2GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD. Connectivity is covered by 802.11b/g/n wireless, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, two USB ports, a HDMI port, a SDHC card slot and a 1.3MP camera. The LaVie Touch runs on Windows 7 Home Premium and has a quoted battery life of 10.6 hours. The tablet will only be bundled with a "Multistation," a combination between a stand and a DVD-drive, along with a wireless mouse and keyboard. The NEC LaVie Touch will be available in Japan next month for around US$1,230, including the Multistation accessory.

Lenovo Unveils ThinkPad and IdeaPad K1 Tablets

Category: Small Form Factor, Gadgets
Posted: July 22, 2011 09:58PM
Author: Daryn Govender

Lenovo has unveiled its first-ever tablet offerings in the form of the ThinkPad and IdeaPad K1 tablets. The new tablets are both based on the NVIDIA Tegra 2 platform, with the OS of choice being Android 3.1 (Honeycomb).

First up is the IdeaPad K1, which is targeted at general consumers. The IdeaPad K1 is powered by 1GB of DDR2 RAM and up to 64GB of flash memory for storage, supplemented by a microSD card slot. Connectivity options include 802.11b/g/n WiFi, optional 3G and Bluetooth support, along with a micro HDMI output. A front-facing 2MP camera and a rear-facing 5MP camera make video chatting simple. The IdeaPad K1 itself weighs in at 750g, and is equipped with a 10.1" 1280x800 resolution touch screen. Battery life is up to 10 hours with the provided two-cell battery.

Next up is the ThinkPad tablet, designed with business users in mind. It features a Gorilla Glass touchscreen, helping protect the screen from bumps or scratches. The ThinkPad also features a thicker design (14mm) and includes GPS-support, one USB 2.0 port and an optional digitizer pen for the multi-touch IPS screen. Battery life is rated at up to 8 hours, with WiFi enabled.

The IdeaPad K1 will be available in August from US$399 (WiFi-only, 16GB version) and the ThinkPad will start at US$499 (16GB model), excluding a digitzer pen. Both tablets are available now for pre-order.

Verbatim Unveils Store 'n' Stay USB Flash Drive

Category: Storage / Hard Drives, Small Form Factor
Posted: July 12, 2011 02:22AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Verbatim today unveiled an interesting contraption, a nano-USB flash drive dubbed the Store 'n' Stay. The new drive is tiny, only extending 5mm from the USB port, and is intended for long-term storage using the USB 2.0 interface.

Verbatim's Flash Memory Product Manager, Mark Rogers, went on to say that "the low-profile, snag-free design makes it [the Store 'n' Stay flash drive] the optimal USB flash drive choice for laptop users who want the ability to transfer, store and share their favorite files on impulse. It's meant to be left in the USB port for always-ready storage, and can be easily removed to share videos, photos, and music whenever the occasion arises!"

The Store 'n' Stay USB flash drive is available in 4GB, 8GB and 16GB variants, retailing for $19.99, $29.99 and $59.99 respectively. All variants include a limited lifetime warranty and are available now from the Verbatim online store.

Samsung Releases Spinpoint M8 1TB Notebook Hard Drive

Category: Storage / Hard Drives, Small Form Factor
Posted: June 9, 2011 09:36PM
Author: Daryn Govender

Samsung today released its latest notebook hard drive, the Spinpoint M8. The new hard drive packs in 500GB per platter, for a total of 1TB. This is achieved while maintaining a compact form factor measuring 9.5mm high, allowing the M8 to be used in a variety of mobile applications including notebooks. Samsung developed the Spinpoint M8 by using Advanced Format Technology (AFT) to enable a higher platter density. The M8 also boasts an eight percent decline in power usage and a seven percent increase in data speeds, both achieved by a more streamlined design. The hard drive features the SATA 3Gb/s interface and an 8MB buffer, along with EcoSeek and NoiseGuard technology to reduce noise output for a quieter computing experience. The Samsung Spinpoint M8 hard drive is available now for around US$129.00.

HP Releases 15.6" Pavilion g6s Sandy Bridge Notebook

Category: Prebuilts, Small Form Factor
Posted: May 22, 2011 09:21PM
Author: Daryn Govender

HP today released its latest Sandy Bridge offering in the form of the Pavilion g6s notebook. The new 15.6" notebook is based on Intel's Sandy Bridge platform, packing in a second-generation Intel Core CPU (ranging up to a Core i7-2620M) supported by up to 8GB of memory and either Intel HD 3000 or Radeon HD 6470M graphics. Storage is provided by a conventional hard drive, up to 750GB. Other features include a DVD writer (8x), Altec Lansing audio and all the basics: LAN, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth (optional) and a 6-cell battery promising around 4 hours of battery life. On the outside the g6s includes a 15.6" display (1366x768), a sleek keyboard and a borderless touchpad. The HP Pavilion g6s is available in five colours, priced from US$549.99.

Kingston Unveils DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 G2 Flash Drive

Category: Storage / Hard Drives, Small Form Factor
Posted: May 19, 2011 01:33AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Kingston today unveiled its latest USB 3.0 flash drive, the DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 G2. The new drive uses a native USB 3.0 controller, enabling speeds of up to 100MB/s (read) and 70MB/s (write) through a USB 3.0 port.

Andrew Ewing, Kingston's flash memory business manager said that "Kingston is committed to help drive market adoption of the new USB 3.0 standard and make it more accessible to the mass market. The growing number of platforms and computers supporting the USB 3.0 standard as well as the benefits of the single chip controllers that allow better compatibility and performance are helping drive the adoption of USB 3.0 technology."

The flash drive is enclosed in a durable case and measures in at 73.7x22.2x16.1mm. The DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 G2 will be available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants, retailing for $77, $116 and $213 respectively. All models are backed by a five-year warranty.

Apple Pushes for Smaller SIM Cards

Category: Mobile, Small Form Factor
Posted: May 18, 2011 07:36PM
Author: IVIYTH0S

Apple made a proposal for a new SIM card standard that shall be smaller than the SIMs currently in use in iPhones and iPads. With a SIM card shrink Apple may be able to fit more into the same form factor or make its devices thinner yet. Apple is not a new kid on the block in the mobile market anymore, so this would help deepen relations with mobile providers by offering up an idea that will benefit all SIM-based mobile hardware. Generally for a new hardware standard to take effect, it takes longer than a year depending on how well the rest of the industry receives the new idea. A few mobile operators, Orange in particular, are openly embracing the new idea. Anne Bouverot, Orange's head of mobile services, expresses the company's delight that Apple is planning to downsize SIM cards and wants everyone to follow suit. Devices sporting the little SIM cards may begin shipping early 2012 and other phone manufacturers will likely adopt the technology to lower the weight and size of their handsets.

Samsung Launches 13.3" Huron River-based Laptop

Category: Prebuilts, Small Form Factor
Posted: May 11, 2011 01:35AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Samsung today launched its latest laptop, named the QX412. The new laptop is based on Intel's Huron River platform and packs in a 2.5GHz Core i5-2520M CPU along with 4GB of memory, a 320GB hard drive and a NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M 1GB memory card. On the outside the laptop features a 14" LED-backlit screen (1366x768) with a 1.3MP webcam, a DVD writer, a Gigabit ethernet port, a card reader, a USB port and a HDMI output. Connectivity is covered by 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 3.0 support. The laptop features a DuraCase aluminum cover and is powered by both Windows 7 Professional 64 bit and a six-cell battery. It is worth noting that this laptop is the size of a 13.3" laptop although it has a 14" screen. The Samsung QX412 is available now in Europe for around US$1,370 (€950).

HP Releases 14" Pavilion dm4x Sandy Bridge Laptop

Category: Prebuilts, Small Form Factor
Posted: May 5, 2011 01:41AM
Author: Daryn Govender

HP today released its latest Sandy Bridge-based (Huron River) laptop, the Pavilion dm4x. The new 14" laptop is powered by either a Core i5 or Core i7 CPU, up to 8GB of memory and a Radeon HD 6470M GPU with 1GB of GDDR3 memory. Storage is provided by one HDD (5400 or 7200RPM) up to 750GB. Connectivity is covered by 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Gigabit ethernet, a HD webcam, a media card reader, three USB 3.0 ports, one VGA port and one HDMI port. The dm4x is finished in brushed metal and features a "chiclet keyboard" along with a 14" 1366x768 LED display. Windows 7 64-bit (Home Premium or Professional) is the OS of choice, while juice is provided by a 6-cell battery. The HP pavilion dm4x is available now, starting at US$730.

Kingmax Unveils Waterproof 64GB SDXC Memory Card

Category: Storage / Hard Drives, Small Form Factor
Posted: April 26, 2011 01:43AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Memory-vendor Kingmax today unveiled a waterproof and dustproof 64GB SDXC (Secure Digital eXtended Capacity) memory card. The new Class 10 memory card offers a combination of durability and speed along with large capacity. Apart from being waterproof and dustproof the memory card offers speeds of up to 65MB/s (read) and up to 40MB/s (write). A huge 64GB capacity makes the card perfect for storing large files. The card also uses the exFAT (extended File Allocation Table) file system, allowing the card to overcome the limitations of the FAT32 system, and store files larger than 4GB. Other features include built-in ECC (Error Correction Code) and RoHS compliance. Kingmax did not reveal information regarding the availability or pricing of the 64GB SDXC memory card.

Verbatim Announces Store 'n' Go USB 3.0 Flash Drives

Category: Storage / Hard Drives, Small Form Factor
Posted: April 20, 2011 07:13PM
Author: Daryn Govender

Verbatim today announced its latest USB 3.0 offerings, in the form of three Store 'n' Go flash drives. The drives feature incredible transfer speeds of up to 70MB/s (write) and up to 120MB/s (read) via the USB 3.0 interface. As always, the drives are backwards compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 ports, albeit with slower data rates. The Store 'n' Go drives have a 'push and pull' design, helping to protect the USB connector and eliminating the need for a cap.

Hans Christoph Kaiser, Business Development Manager Flash Verbatim EUMEA, went on to say that "USB 3.0 drives make a lot of sense because they are 100 percent compatible with USB 2.0 and offer far superior speeds to devices that have USB 3.0 ports. We are expecting the bulk of the premium USB flash storage market to migrate to USB3.0 within the next 18 months."

The Verbatim Store 'n' Go flash drives will be available this month in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants.

Silicon Power Unveils Blaze Series USB 3.0 Flash Drives

Category: Storage / Hard Drives, Small Form Factor
Posted: April 20, 2011 06:47PM
Author: Daryn Govender

Flash memory vendor Silicon Power today unveiled the Blaze series of USB 3.0 flash drives. The new series offers read speeds of up to 70MB/s, perfect for accessing data such as videos, images or music. The drives are finished in blue with rounded edges and also feature a unique colour-changing pattern. The colour of the drive changes from blue to red depending on the operating temperature, using heat-sensitive ink. Weighing in at 9.5g and measuring 72.4x17.4x10.0mm, the Blaze series is both portable and stylish. The Blaze series will consist of 8GB, 16GB and 32GB models, to suit all budgets.

The new drives will be backed by a lifetime warranty and include free access to Silicon Power's widget software, featuring applications such Norton Internet Security (60 day trial).

Acer Prepares Aspire One 722 11.6" Fusion-based Netbook

Category: Prebuilts, Small Form Factor
Posted: April 18, 2011 09:12PM
Author: Daryn Govender

Acer is preparing an updated version of its Aspire One 522 netbook, dubbed the Aspire One 722, or AO722. The AO722 brings a few updates, most notably a 1366x768 11.6" display, a larger battery offering up to 7 hours of use and one extra speaker. Apart from those changes, the AO722 is essentially the same on the inside as the AO522, featuring a 1GHz AMD C-50 dual-core APU and Radeon HD 6250 graphics. The netbook will also have a water drop design similar to the AOD257. Windows 7 Starter will be the OS of choice. I'd expect to hear more details regarding the Aspire One 722 in the coming weeks.

MSI X370 Fusion-based Laptop Available in the U.S.

Category: Prebuilts, Small Form Factor
Posted: April 15, 2011 12:55AM
Author: Daryn Govender

AMD's Brazos platform is gaining momentum, with MSI releasing its latest laptop featuring the upcoming platform. The new laptop, named the X370, packs in a 1.6GHz E-350 dual core APU including Radeon HD 6310 graphics (supporting DirectX 11), 4GB of memory and a 13.4" 1366x768 LED-backlit display. Storage space is provided by a 500GB hard drive, while connectivity options include Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 support. A 1.3MP webcam and two SRS 2W speakers along with VGA and HDMI outputs complete the multimedia experience. Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit will be the OS of choice. The MSI X370 features an 8-cell battery and is available now from Newegg, retailing at $600.

Sony Calls Nintendo Handhelds Toys

Category: Mobile, Gaming, Manufacturers, Small Form Factor
Posted: April 11, 2011 07:13PM
Author: IVIYTH0S

Sony's CEO Jack Tretton has been openly belittling Nintendo's entire Gameboy line of game systems, as well as many of its users. Tretton goes as far as to say that anyone using a Gameboy in public should feel ashamed and that only small children should be playing a Gameboy.

It is unclear whether Sony is looking at just starting up some kind of drama before the launch of the NGP or simply tightening up its target audience. What does not make sense is why Sony would want to offend future and current customers. It would do Sony no good to alienate a younger age group from wanting or "deserving" its portable game systems. What is interesting, and ironic in a way, is Nintendo's 3DS system currently has far more interest than Sony's own upcoming NGP. Only time will tell whether Tretton's masterplan comes together as intended or if this publicity stunt is a shot in the foot to Sony's portable market.

Stealth LPC-670

Category: Small Form Factor
Posted: April 10, 2011 09:13AM
Author: Jeremy Holstein

A new model in Stealth's LPC series has just been released, the LPC-670. These LPCs are small form factor computers, which is probably why they are called Little PCs. And when I say small, I mean small. But don't judge this computer by its size, this tiny computer packs a lot of power.

Equipped with either a Core i5-520M, Core i5-580M or Core i7-620M and up to 8GB of RAM, this thing can do a lot of damage. It also includes a DVD player or Blu-ray burner and up to 750GB storage. Like I said, this computer has a lot of power.

Before you go out and add 10 to your shopping cart, keep in mind the base model starts at $1650. This might be something to buy if you like playing Crysis in the car.

Packard Bell Prepares Liberty Tab

Category: Small Form Factor, Gadgets
Posted: April 8, 2011 03:03AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Tablet sales are booming and each manufacturer is jostling to get a slice of this lucrative market. Packard Bell is no different, preparing its first tablet named the Liberty Tab. The 10.1" Liberty Tab features a generous 1280x800 touch screen, backed by Nvidia's Tegra 2 SoC (System on a Chip), featuring two cores running at 1GHz. A rear 5MP camera, a front 2MP webcam, GPS capability, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 and 3G support complete the device. Other features include stereo speakers along with the expected; a microSD card slot, USB support and a HDMI output. Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) is the operating system of choice. Hardware aside, the Liberty Tab has a partial metal trim and a glossy back. The Liberty Tab is set to release in June although its pricing is not yet known.

False Alarm, Delay On NGP Averted

Category: Mobile, Gaming, Manufacturers, Small Form Factor, Gadgets
Posted: April 6, 2011 06:07PM
Author: IVIYTH0S

Recently we were led to believe that due to the catastrophic blow Japan had recently received, its plans for the NGP's initial release were brought down to a far smaller opening market. To our delight, it seems that SCEJ is still pushing forward with the NGP release dates on time. It is great to know that Japan is still going strong and keeping promises it made despite its forced predictament. Sony seems to really want to keep the momentum and hype of the NGP intact to secure a strong foothold in the handheld gaming market. With Nintendo unaffected by the earthquake and tsunami double team, Sony is smart to keep on schedule and not get behind on the new portable's release.

Green House Unveils PicoDrive F3 USB 3.0 Flash Drive

Category: Storage / Hard Drives, Small Form Factor
Posted: April 5, 2011 02:07AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Tokyo-based manufacturer Green House today unveiled three flash drives, all featuring USB 3.0 support. The new flash drives, dubbed the F3, are part of the Green House PicoDrive series. All drives offer data transfer rates of up to 120MB/s (read) and 80MB/s (write). The flash drives measure 73.2x19.75x9mm (WxDxH) and weigh in at 13.5g. The PicoDrive F3 drives feature a capped design and will be available in three variants retailing for US$71 (16GB), US$140 (32GB) and US$235 (64GB).

Dell Alienware M14x Laptop Pictured

Category: Prebuilts, Small Form Factor
Posted: April 5, 2011 01:50AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Dell's latest Alienware creation, the M14x laptop has been pictured, thanks to Chinese site zol.com.cn. The sleek M14x is targeted at the gamers, bearing the Alienware brand name. Packed inside the M14x obtained by zol.com.cn are a Core i7-2820QM quad-core CPU, NVIDIA's GeForce GT 555M including a whopping 3GB of DRR5 memory, backed by 4GB of RAM. Storage is sorted by a 7200RPM hard drive up to 750GB or a SSD up to 256GB. A 14" screen with a resolution of 1366x768 or 1920x1080 and a back-lit keyboard complete the machine. Other features include Klipsch speakers, a slot optical drive and all the mainstays: Gigabit ethernet, WiFi, HDMI, VGA and mini DisplayPort connectivity. An 8-cell battery will power this behemoth. It is worth noting that the M14x will be customisable, and most of the specs listed here can be changed. I'd expect Dell to reveal more official information on the M14x in the coming weeks.

Thanks to zol.com.cn for the pictures of the M14x. (Link in Chinese)

ViewSonic Releases ViewPad 10 Tablet; Brings Dual OS Support

Category: Prebuilts, Small Form Factor
Posted: March 9, 2011 07:55PM
Author: Daryn Govender

ViewSonic today released its latest tablet in North America, the ViewPad 10. The new tablet brings an array of features, most notably dual operating system support for both Google Android and Microsoft Windows 7. The 10.1" tablet is powered by an Intel Atom CPU clocked at 1.66GHz coupled with 2GB of memory. A LED-backlit 1024x600 pixel display with multi-touch capability, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 and a 1.3 megapixel webcam complete the tablet.

ViewSonic Americas vice-president of marketing, Adam Hanin went on to say that "the lines of professional and personal life are blurring, which creates a need for devices that are suited for both sides. The ViewPad 10 delivers just that by enabling users to merge business productivity with personal enjoyment anywhere, anytime. We are proud of our 10-year tablet history and are dedicated to further extending our tablet product portfolio to meet every individual need."

The Viewpad 10 will be available in two versions, either Windows 7 Home Premium (with a 16GB SSD), or Windows 7 Professional (with a 32GB SSD), both including Android 1.6. It is worth noting that both models also include a micro SD card slot, providing up to 32GB of extra storage. The Windows 7 Professional and Home Premium versions will retail at $679 and $599 respectively. Both models are available now.

Transcend Unveils Portable SSD with USB 3.0 Support

Category: Storage / Hard Drives, Small Form Factor
Posted: March 7, 2011 11:31PM
Author: Daryn Govender

Conventional portable hard drives are a relatively cheap way to move large quantities of data, but lack the speed of their flash memory counterparts. Transcend Information is going one step further, unveiling a portable SSD with USB 3.0 support. The new portable SSD, dubbed the SSD18C3 features NAND flash memory coupled with a unique device driver, which once enabled offers data transfer speeds of up to 260MB/s via the USB 3.0 interface. As with all SSDs, the new drive has no moving parts allowing it to withstand shocks and vibrations, while running silently. The SSD is cased in a protective silicone outer-shell further enhancing it's durability. A One Touch auto-backup button is included for quick and simple data protection using the preloaded Backup Manager Utility. The SSD18C3 Portable Solid State Drive is available now, priced at $224 and $448 for the 64GB and 128GB models respectively.

Sparkle Prepares Single-Slot GTX 570 Video Card

Category: Video Cards, Small Form Factor
Posted: March 4, 2011 01:27AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Sparkle is preparing a single-slot variant of NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 570 video card, perfect for HTPCs or compact gaming systems. The new card is thin, but is estimated to be around 13 inches long to compensate for its small width. The single-slot GTX 570 is dubbed to be the first air-cooled single-slot GTX 570, an impressive feat which requires numerous heatsinks, along with a fan which expels air to the rear of the card. The card has clock speeds of 752MHz (core), 1504MHz (shader) and 4000MHz (memory), all higher than the stock speeds. As always, this GTX 570 will include the GF110 40nm GPU, a 1280MB GDDR5 memory buffer and 480 CUDA cores. The card will support DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort connectivity. This new single-slot GTX 570 should be available by next month.

Plextor Unveils 500GB Portable Hard Drive with USB 3.0 Support

Category: Storage / Hard Drives, Small Form Factor
Posted: March 4, 2011 12:57AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Plextor today unveiled a new 500GB portable hard drive which supports the USB 3.0 interface. The hard drive, named the PX-PH500U3 is based on the 2.5" form-factor and weighs a mere 162g for easy portability. The drive is finished in aircraft-grade aluminium and will come with a data back-up and restore utility, FNet PC Clone EX. The PX-PH500U3 portable hard drive will be bundled with a one-year warranty and a carry case, retailing at around US$139 (€99). A larger 750GB variant (PX-PH750US) will be released next month, costing approximately US$188 (€135).