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Apple planning replacement for California "mini" Apple Store
Most Apple stores are spacious, but there are some older locations that are teeny, tiny mini-stores. Many of these smaller stores were opened in 2004 and need a facelift. According to ifoAppleStore, one mini-store in Santa Rosa is moving to a new location that'll give it six times more space than it currently has. The Santa Rosa Plaza store is 450-square feet and badly needs this extra space. Photos of the location show employees helping customers on the mall benches and customers lined up in the mall hallway, waiting for service. The increase in sales and support requests for Apple products makes it difficult to keep these smaller stores. Four of the original nine mini-stores have expanded into larger locations, and it's only a matter of time before the remaining stores move to a bigger and probably better place.
ASUS brings the U6 laptops Stateside
For those of you infatuated by the Eee's stylish looks, but in need of something a little more powerful, it looks like ASUS may be answering your prayers today. Enter the U6S and U6E laptops, two handsome new models that should fit your power-hungry needs. The systems are built atop the much-loved Santa Rosa chipset, Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs (in a variety of speeds), up to 2GB of RAM, 250GB hard drives, and offer either the NVIDIA GeForce 8400M G or Intel's GMA X3100 GPU, 802.11a/b/g/n or 802.11a/b/g, plus a whole nasty mess of ports, jacks, inputs, outputs, and assorted doohickeys. Both are available now, starting at $1,749. Oh yeah, the laptops also utilize their built-in webcams to verify users via face recognition -- hit the videos after the break to see Engadget Chinese easily fake out the security.
Dell's Inspiron 1525 / 1526 leak out, set to land next month
Those pondering the purchase of an Inspiron 1520 / 1521 should probably hold off for a month or so if you can, as it looks like suitable successors will soon be available for both. The 6.6-pound 1525 and 1526 machines are the 15.4-inch replacements for the aforementioned pair and should target small businesses / low(er)-end consumers. Initial specs sheets reveal that the 1525 will be based on the Santa Rosa architecture, while the 1526 gets AMD-powered and offers up an ATI Radeon X1270 graphics set. Furthermore, the pair will feature up to 4GB of RAM, WXGA / WXGA+ / WSXGA+ panel choices, SATA hard drives, an optional Blu-ray reader (1525 only), built-in WiFi, optional WWAN and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR. You'll also find four USB 2.0 ports, a 4-pin FireWire connector, Ethernet / 56k modem, VGA out, optional HDMI, audio in / out, a 8-in-1 multicard reader, ExpressCard slot and your choice of Vista or Ubuntu Linux. Not much looks to have changed in the design department, and apparently, you'll still be able to order 'em with a custom lid color. Also, there's no definitive word on price just yet, but you can safely expect 'em to land in the same neighborhood as the units they are replacing when the duo ships to nearly every corner of the globe in mid-December.
MacBook Update
It looks like the rumors were right. Well, sort of right. The MacBook line has been updated. Before you get too excited, please note that this is a pretty minor update. The MacBooks can now be properly branded as utilizing the Santa Rosa platform (note: platform, not chipset - Santa Rosa is a branding term, like "Centrino"). The processor choice is now either the Core 2 Duo 2.0 or 2.2 GHz, with an updated 800 Mhz front side bus and the new integrated graphics use the updated GMA X3100 (the successor to the GMA 950 that has been used for far, far too long) with 144 MB of shared memory. Stock RAM, hard drive and SuperDrive options remain the same - though the new MacBooks have the capacity to be upgraded to 4 GB of RAM. Prices remain unchanged from the previous revision, so $1499 gets you a 2.2 // 1 GB // 160 // 8x SuperDrive instead of a 2.16 // 1 GB // 160 // 8x SuperDrive.
Panasonic launches four new Toughbooks
Panasonic is getting funky-fresh on everyone today with word of a new lineup of Toughbooks making their way out to store shelves. The company is launching four different models of the hard-as-nails laptops (W7, T7, R7, Y7), all of which are based on Intel's Santa Rosa chipset. The new over-performers are said to be able to withstand a 76-centimeter drop (about desk height) while switched on and continue working, versus the previous model's 30-centimeter rating (which applied only when turned off). The Toughbooks also have an "irrigation system" for the keyboard which can route water away from important bits to a "drain" at the base of the computer. Keep reading after the break to see a rundown of all the new models and specs.[Via Impress]
Voodoo launches the ENVY M:152 Core 2 Extreme laptop
Love to be beaten to a bloody pulp by your overpowered laptop? Looking for performance that would make even the strongest bodybuilder collapse in fear? Have you been feeling let down by game speeds which don't actually rip open a hole in the space-time continuum? Well, luckily for you, Voodoo exists... and its made a new laptop. Check into the ENVY M:152, the company's latest entry into the gamer-centric laptop world, which showcases a Core 2 Extreme X7800 CPU, Intel's murderous Santa Rosa chipset, a 15.4-inch, WSXGA+, 1680 x 1050 display, the NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT video card, up to 4GB of RAM, a wide array of hard drive options, plus Bluetooth, a built-in webcam, and style to spare (or so we hear). No word on pricing or street date, but you can expect the systems soon.
Intel announces "Santa Rosa Refresh," other future laptop plans
Intel looks to be keeping all of its bases covered at its Developer Forum in San Francisco this week, with the company announcing a slew of future plans for desktops, handhelds and, now, laptops. The biggest news on that front is Intel's announcement of its forthcoming "Santa Rosa Refresh," which will be based on the company's upcoming 45nm Penryn mobile processor and is set to hit in January of next year. As with current Santa Rosa laptops, the updated platform will be based on Intel's 965 Express chipset, and will include all the usual networking and other options associated with it. Further on down the road, Intel is touting its Montevina platform, which will also be based on the 45nm Penryn processor, with added support for DDR3 memory, integrated HD-DVD/Blu-ray support, and integrated WiMAX in addition to the standard WiFi. What's more, Intel says the Montevina components will be about 40% smaller, opening up the possibility for a range of different laptop form factors. According to Intel, a number of companies including Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Panasonic and Toshiba have already "expressed intent" to embed WiMAX in future laptops of theirs, which could become a reality sometime in 2008, although it doesn't look like there's any firm word on that front just yet.
Sony debuts the VAIO CR20 and NR10 series laptops
Looking to get personal and intimate with a new laptop? Looking for a moderately powered system that comes in custom colors? Well check it out, dudes and dudettes, Sony is back on the scene with the VAIO CR20 (pictured) and NR10 series, 14.1-inch and 15.4-inch (respectively) portables that are going to quasi-rock your world. Both new systems sport an Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 2GHz CPU, coupled with the always-thrilling Santa Rosa chipset, 2GB of RAM, a 200GB hard drive, and an ATI Mobility Radeon X2300 (the CR20), or the Intel X3100 integrated graphics chip (NR10). The CR20 sports 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.0, plus an integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam, while the NR10 does plain-old 802.11a/b/g. Both new systems come in a variety of colors, with the CR20 offering stylish choices like "Luxury Pink," and "Sparkling Sand," while the NR10 supposedly invokes the "soft fabric which was its inspiration" by touting silver and brown color schemes. The new models will be available Autumn 2007, no word on price.
HP's WWAN-equipped Pavilion dv2500t now official
We've known for quite awhile that HP was conjuring up a dv2500 of some sort, but now the machine is ready to roll straight from the firm's webstore. Specs wise, you'll get a 14.1-inch WXGA BrightView display, your choice of Intel Core 2 Duo processors, between 1GB and 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS, 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth, up to 250GB of HDD space, and a dual-layer DVD burner to boot. Moreover, users can opt for an ExpressCard digital / analog TV tuner, 12-cell Li-ion battery, and integrated WWAN (supported by Verizon BroadbandAccess). You'll also find the usual array of ports, including FireWire, S-Video out, a multicard reader, 56k modem jack, Ethernet, VGA out, and a trio of USB 2.0 sockets. Interested? Get your order in now starting at $1,199.99, as machines are slated to ship out in just under a fortnight.[Thanks, Kevin]
Toshiba's Tecra M9 laptop to get HSDPA?
Granted, nothing looks to be set in stone just yet, but if FCC documentation leads to results, Toshiba's Tecra M9 could be getting HSDPA. Apparently, the FCC has tested a version of the lappie with a WWAN module built right in, and more specifically, the test reports show that a module manufactured by Tyco Electronics is the culprit. The "CDMA Cell-PCS Module" reportedly supports GSM 850/1900, GPRS, EGPRS, WCDMA 850/1900, and WCDMA+HSDPA, and while we've no idea when these newly-equipped machines will be launching, it ought not be long now.[Via PCJoint]
Epson intros Endeavor NJ5100Pro laptop
Epson's Endeavor laptops may not turn many heads (save for the odd Hello Kitty invasion), but the company's latest at least packs some decent specs, as well as a range of configuration options. On the top end, the 15.4-inch NJ5100Pro packs a 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo T7800 processor, along with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 or Mobility FireGL V5600 graphics, some Intel Turbo Memory to speed things up, a max 2GB of RAM, and a 250GB hard drive. You can also get your choice of WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) or WXGA+ (1,440 x 900) displays, and your choice of Windows XP or Vista, among other options. Look for it to be available in Japan immediately, with prices starting at ¥149,940 and going up to ¥228,690 (or roughly $1,300 to $2,000).[Via Impress]
Dell intros 17-inch Precision M6300 laptop
If you've been waiting patiently on Dell's monster of a laptop, the 17-inch, Santa Rosa-based behemoth known as the Precision M6300, feel free to get really excited. Very soon, all of you business boys and girls will be able to get your hands on the company's new enterprise-centric laptop (a follow up to the M90), that rocks a Core 2 Duo X7900 CPU (2.8GHz with an 800MHz FSB), Nvidia's Quadro FX 1600M graphics chipset, up to 4GB of RAM, and a 120GB or 200GB hard drive. Dell also plans to make a SanDisk 32GB SSD available for the road-ready laptop, and is offering a DVD, DVD-RW, or Blu-ray writable optical drive. Of course, the M6300 has all the regular bells and whistles, like 802.11a/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0, DVI, Firewire, plus a not-so-usual optional AT&T HSDPA card. You can also choose between XP, Vista, or RedHat Linux for the OS. No word on price of availability, though it appears these will be landing sometime this month.[Via DailyTech]
Intel readying slew of 45nm Penryn mobile CPUs?
Hot on the heels of Intel's mobile Core 2 Extreme X7900 comes word that the chip maker has eleven 45-nanometer CPUs in the backroom just waiting to take the laptop scene by storm. DigiTimes has it that Intel will indeed launch the five Penryns we heard about recently "in the first quarter of 2008," and also notes that Q2 holds six more chips destined for the Montevina platform. More specifically, "sources at motherboard makers" suggested that the Q2-bound processors will consume between 25 and 35-watts of energy, sport a 1,066MHz front-side-bus, boast between 3MB and 6MB of L2 cache, and feature clock speeds ranging from 2.13GHz to 3.06GHz. As expected, no model numbers have been assigned just yet, and considering that Intel "declined the opportunity to respond to this report," we suppose you should tuck this all away in the rumor folder for the time being.[Via TGDaily]
Toshiba unveils Satellite U300 lineup
On the heels of the U305 announcement, Toshiba has quietly upped a pair of U300 machines to its website. The Satellite U300 and Satellite Pro U300 don't differ too awfully much, but the two do sport differing color schemes and arrive with varying levels of RAM, hard drive space, and battery capacity. Regardless, both machines come stocked with Intel Core 2 Duo processors, at least 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 120GB to 200GB of HDD space, a dual-layer DVD burner, a 13.3-inch WXGA display, Intel's GMA X3100 graphics accelerator, and the usual array of ports including VGA, USB 2.0, audio in / out, and a multicard reader. Prices look to start around £595 ($1,177), and all signs point to these things being ready to ship out as we speak.[Via TechDigest]Read - Toshiba Satellite U300Read - Toshiba Satellite Pro U300
Meet the New Macs, A Little Faster Than the Old Macs
Personally, I crave speed. No, not the kind that can often be purchased on some local street corner in that part of town on the wrong side of the tracks. No, I'm referring to processors, front side buses, RAM and other factors that go into calculating the raw, unbridled, number-crunching power of the latest and greatest Macs.No doubt you are aware that Apple recently released an updated version of its flagship prosumer desktop iMac as well as an updated Mac Mini too. The new iMacs feature changes both external and internal with increases to the clock speed of its Intel Core Duo 2 processors as well as a switch to the faster Santa Rosa chipset. Yes, that all sounds great but what does it mean in terms of the new iMac's ability to crunch those numbers?Well, according to Primate Labs' tests on the new 24" iMac, as featured at Apple Insider, it doesn't help a great deal unless you're using one of those math-intensive apps like Photoshop or Aperture. In that case, according to the article: "If you're running memory-intensive applications you'll certainly notice an increase in performance with the new 24-inch iMac. Heck, the fact that the new 24-inch iMac supports 4GB of RAM while the old 24-inch iMac supports 3GB of RAM might be enough to convince you to get one." Good point. More RAM is a good thing.
Apple's 2.4GHz 24-inch aluminum iMac gets benchmarked
Although we certainly noticed that Apple's latest iMac felt snappy enough, the folks over at Primate Labs have cranked out a few numbers for the data freaks in the crowd to chew on. Granted, these benchmarks do not include the Core 2 Extreme iMac nor are they the most complete set of tests we've ever seen, but they do seem to give those on the fence a decent look at what level of performance increases they'll be dealing with. Put simply, the new 2.4GHz 24-inch iMac posted "modest gains" across the board compared to the previous iterations that clocked in at 2.33GHz / 2.16GHz, and while the results don't seem earth-shattering, those who rely on "memory-intensive applications (like Aperture or Photoshop)" would likely benefit most from the improved "integer, floating point. and memory / stream performance." As you'd expect, the full skinny on the test results await you in the read link.[Via AppleInsider]
Asus U3 laptop gets official
The Asus U3, which we told you about back in the hot and humid days of July, has gotten its official announcement from the company -- and it looks pretty sweet. The Santa Rosa-based, 13.3-inch laptop still rocks a Core 2 Duo processor (in T7500, T7300, T7100, T5450, T5250, CM540), a Nvidia GeForce G8400M G External graphics chipset, up to 2.5GB of RAM, and a 160GB SATA hard drive. In the communications department, the U3 packs 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.0, but apparently the GPS we mentioned will be offered as an option along with 3G connectivity and turbo memory. The system also includes a slew of ports, like eSATA, HDMI, GPS RF in, USB, Firewire, VGA/D-Sub, and TV out, plus rocks a built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam and fingerprint reader. Luckily for you fashion plates, Asus has stuck with the leather-bound hand rests and "piano black" exterior, all wrapped up in a magnesium aluminum alloy, which the company thinks is perfect for "metropolitan professionals." The laptop is rumored to be available in September for around $2000.[Via Laptoping]
Asus announces the F8 Infusion laptop
Our good buddies over at Asus have decided to get all press-release-y on us about the F8 "Infusion" laptops which we mentioned recently. According to the very busy manufacturer, the 14.1-inch widescreen laptop is going to feature the ubiquitous Santa Rosa 965 chipset, a selection of Intel's Core 2 Duo processors (T7700, T7500, T7300, T7100), and will sport 802.11a/g/n connectivity. Additionally, you can expect either an ATI Mobility Radeon HD2600 or an NVIDIA GeForce8600M GS for graphics, up to 2GB of RAM, a SATA hard drive up to 160GB, plus a built-in webcam, hybrid TV tuner, and fingerprint reader. No word yet on pricing or availability, but you'll know when we do.[Via Laptoping, thanks Danijel]
Asus Santa Rosa-based F8S coming soon
Asus appears to be adding a new laptop called the F8S to its fairly crowded lineup (although we're almost certain this one isn't gigantic and made of wood). The new model is a Santa Rosa-based, 14.1-inch widescreen offering, built around an Intel PM965 chipset, with a Core 2 Duo T7300 processor, up to 4GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and either an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600, or NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics chipset. Word on the street is that the F8S will additionally sport 802.11a/g/n, a TV tuner, built-in webcam, fingerprint reader, and will hit for around €2000. Stay tuned for more info as we get it.
BenQ's showy 15.4-inch Joybook R56 laptop
Another month, another Joybook. Thankfully, BenQ's workin' overtime to keep things fresh in its ever-growing laptop lineup, and the flashy R56 doesn't disappoint. The machine sports a 15.4-inch WXGA widescreen display with an eight-millisecond response time, HDMI output, and NVIDIA's GeForce 8400M G to boot. Additionally, you'll find an Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 processor, 512MB to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, up to 160GB of SATA hard drive space, an optional dual-layer DVD writer, six-cell Li-ion battery, 802.11a/g/n, built-in stereo speakers / subwoofer, and a slew of ports including Firewire, Ethernet, VGA, audio in / out, eSATA, ExpressCard, and four USB 2.0 connectors. Unfortunately, BenQ's not handing out any pricing or availability deets just yet, but click on through for a few more angles of this stylish machine.[Via Electronista]
