Toshiba first LED tablet PC

What's not to like about LED-backlit screens? Despite a lower power consumption, they provide a brighter display compared with conventional LCD technology. Moreover, the smaller LEDs allow for a slimmer design as well.

The latest tablet PC to hop onto this technological bandwagon is the Toshiba Portege M700. This convertible tablet PC targets the corporate sector and hence incorporates the Toshiba EasyGuard system which aims to provide greater physical and data security. The 12.1-inch laptop has a spill-resistant keyboard, shock-absorbing chassis together with a Trusted Platform Module security chip. It runs off a full-power Core 2 Duo processor with an integrated graphics solution and has a built-in DVD writer under the hood. The unit will hit retail shelves in Asia Pacific late this month and prices start at S$3,599 (US$2,646.32).

Dell Inspiron goes on a diet

When we first laid eyes on the 15.4-inch XPS M1530, we were surprised that Dell could create such a slim mid-sized notebook. Its equivalent in the cheaper entertainment series, the Inspiron 1520, was like an overweight cousin in comparison.

The new Inspiron 1525, announced in the US today, combines the best of both models. At a price point similar to the bulkier Dell 1520, the new laptop now weighs an acceptable 2.7kg (versus the 2.9kg Inspiron 1520) and only measures 25.4mm at its thinnest point. The design is sleek and clean while maintaining the strong entertainment functionalities of the Inspiron series. Taking a page out of HP's Imprint technology, the Dell 1525 is not only available in four colors, but each shade comes with an unique design laminated into the top cover.

So will this new model eat into the sales of the Inspiron 1520 and the XPS M1530? Dell did a nice marketing move by eliminating the discrete graphics card option in the Dell 1525. Hence, the new product targets users who wants a slim, reasonably-priced 15.4-inch machine and who doesn't care a whit about graphics performance. The XPS M1530 retains its role as a premium gaming notebook while the Inspiron 1520 sits between them as a cost-effective portable with a mid-range video card option.

The Dell Inspiron 1525 starts at US$499 in the US and will be hitting Asian markets soon, though a firm date is not given.

Early Macworld bets: Notebooks, Blu-ray, and iPhones?

After a holiday spent freezing in the wilds of Connecticut and pondering the mysteries of the chip industry, I felt it was time to take stock of the latest Macworld Expo rumors.

The craziness is just 12 days away and undisturbed this year by that big gathering (CES 2008) in the desert taking place the prior week. The predictions are starting to come in, and the early bets have mobility in mind.

For months, the betting odds have favored the introduction of new MacBooks at Macworld. It's been awhile since Apple tweaked the basic hardware design of the MacBook, and with new mobile processors expected from Intel this quarter, it seems like a natural fit. But what kind of notebook are we talking about?

The most persistent rumor is that Apple will release an ultraportable notebook, or a sub-notebook, or whatever you want to call it. Think small and thin, a 12-inch or smaller screen and a weight of less than 1.3kg. This is a small segment of the overall notebook market, but it's one of prestige and it's not hard at all to imagine Apple wanting to put its stamp on the thinnest and lightest category of notebook computing.
Read more »

HP software update vulnerable to hacking

It is a little ironic that the very software which is supposed to keep your system in tip-top condition turns out to be a possible conduit for hacking. According to a report by ComputerWorld, this is exactly what's happening with HP's Software Update application.

A Polish security researcher who uses the alias "porkythepig" claims that an ActiveX bug in the software allows malicious attackers to delete or corrupt system files, thereby rendering the notebook unable to boot up. He states that HP laptops using Internet Explorer 6 and 7 are vulnerable to this attack. Since HP Software Update is compatible with Windows only, other operating systems are not subject this this exploit. No fix has currently been released, and the advice is to disable the Software Update application till the issue has been resolved. CNET Asia has contacted HP and are awaiting a response.

New ASUS Eee PC to be announced at CES 2008

If there's one product that had us jumping around like kids on a Wii last year, it was the ASUS Eee PC. With a 7-inch screen, it's unbelievably tiny, at under £250 it's dirt cheap, and (unburdened by Windows) it works beautifully. But even though it really impressed us, some of us felt it needed more--and ASUS hasn't disappointed us.

This year at CES (the big technology show starting next week in Las Vegas) ASUS is planning to launch the new and improved Eee PC. According to the ASUS Web site and various tech blogs, the new Eee PC will feature WiMax and a larger 9-inch screen.

The WiMax bit isn't so exciting for people in the UK and Asia as there are hardly any WiMax networks in place just yet, but the larger screen definitely gets our juices flowing. No more scrolling sideways to view pages or having to squint at documents.

Of course, more features mean a more expensive price tag, but it should still be absolutely bargainous. Keep an eye out on all our CES 2008 coverage for further details and hopefully a hands-on video.

Via Crave UK

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