Posts in Notebooks
HTC Shift to arrive in Asia
Reuben Lee | Mar 19, 2008
Editors' note:
It took a little longer than expected, but Singapore will be getting the first units of the S$2,188 (US$1,608.82) HTC Shift from early April. We're still awaiting word as to when the Shift will hit other Asia-Pacific markets.It's finally here. After the initial announcement way back in October last year, HTC's much-anticipated Windows Vista-based computer--the Shift--is finally set to launch across Asia from February. Unveiled at a press event today in Singapore together with the HTC Touch Cruise, the Shift will be priced at S$2,188, which puts it almost in the same price bracket as the HSDPA-enabled LifeBook U1010.
At first glance, the Shift looks very much like a larger version of its Windows Mobile predecessor, the Dopod U1000. It weighs just 800g (with battery) and comes in a portable 207 x 129 x 25mm footprint, which makes it great for traveling but not something you can carry in a pocket. Feature-wise, the Shift is comparable to tablet UMPCs like the LifeBook U1010, with its 7-inch touchscreen display, built-in Webcam, fingerprint sensor and HSDPA/UMTS connectivity. Sliding the display sideways reveals the QWERTY keyboard and the screen (like the HTC TyTN II) can be tilted for a more ergonomic desktop typing position.
What differentiates the Shift from other devices in the market is its SnapVUE function. To better understand what SnapVUE is all about, think of it as a PDA extension to the Shift. Rather than having to fully boot up into Vista to access features such as emails, SMS messages, contacts and calendar, users can now instantly access them through the SnapVUE interface at the touch of the button. Now why didn't anybody come up with something like that sooner?
Our initial impression of the Shift is that its tiny keys and touchpad will take some getting used to. The overall build quality of the device is good, though we can't help but notice the lack of connectivity ports on the machine and its limited 2-hour battery life (using Vista). The Shift comes with one USB, VGA-out, 3.5mm audio in and out as well as an SD card slot. Look out for our full review closer to launch.
Toshiba gets flash-ier: Will ship notebook with 128GB SSD
Erica Ogg | Mar 19, 2008
Japan's Toshiba announced Monday that it had bumped the specs of its Dynabook SS RX to include a 128GB solid-state drive (SSD) as an option. That's twice the size of the Air and the X300, both of which come with a 64GB SSD. (Note: It's an option for the MacBook and standard on the ThinkPad.) So far, it appears it will be available only in Japan starting next month.
The 128GB SSD is an option, and the standard is an 80GB hard drive. Other specs include a 1.2-gigahertz Core 2 Duo U7600 processor and 2GB of memory. With the hard drive, Toshiba promises battery life of just over 6 hours, and with the flash drive, 12.5 hours.
Longer battery life is one of the principal benefits of using solid-state drives in PCs, as well as faster boot times, and because they lack the moving parts of traditional mechanical drives, less chance of losing data if you drop or bump the notebook. Also, they're lighter, thereby enabling notebook makers to slim their PC design down.
There's still a downside to SSDs. Price is the biggest one by far (an SSD option can double the price of a laptop with a traditional hard drive), but it also has the potential to wear out quicker than conventional drives.
Despite that, all the top hard drive makers are getting into the flash business. Samsung's vice president of memory marketing, Jim Elliot, said the company (currently ranked 4th in total hard drives shipped worldwide) expects the market share of solid-state memory to increase from 1 percent used in PCs today to 27 percent over the next three years.
Via Crave CNET
Top 10 antispyware applications
Darius Chang | Mar 18, 2008
Most of us are intimately familiar with computer viruses--which can cause your system to crash faster than a V8-engine in the hands of a teenage driver. But with proper backups the damage can be effectively reduced. Spyware, on the other hand, is a lot more malicious.Like its namesake, it hides in your system waiting for a chance to strike. Some versions even destroy your system defence--antivirus software and firewalls--before going to work. Besides collecting private information like Web site history, cookies, passwords, etc., it can even take over system resources and force your machine to do things it would never otherwise do (like redirecting your mail Web page to a porn site).
So is a total system overhaul the only solution? Not if you had the help of antispyware programs. Our sister site in the US has reviewed and rated the 10 best spyware protection applications, some of which are even free. Check them out after the jump.
Via CNET
EasyNote XS20 picks up a touchscreen in Japan
Darius Chang | Mar 17, 2008
Known as the Everex Cloudbook in the US, the EasyNote XS20 was released soon after the Eee PC. Though it had the same dimensions and weight as the ASUS model, the Packard Bell UMPC had a whopping 40GB of harddisk storage, internal Bluetooth and, get this, a DVI output instead of a more conventional VGA port. Unfortunately, its price tag was more than a little steep, commanding a premium of over S$1,200 (US$882.35) in stores.
The units in Japan, however, are learning a new trick. Instead of a conventional 7-inch LCD, the display has been upgraded to a full touchscreen. This is, in our opinion, a strange move as the design is a straight-up clamshell and does not convert to a tablet PC. Moreover, the additional 50 percent premium over the non-touchscreen edition does not make this model any more attractive.
No news if the touchscreen edition of the XS20 will be carried by Packard Bell in this region, but we're not really holding our breaths for it.
Via Engadget
Warning: US and British customs have power over your laptop
Darius Chang | Mar 14, 2008
For those who travel to the US or UK often, beware. Apparently, privacy laws in these nations do not extend to the contents of your laptops. That's right. At immigration checkpoints custom officials not only have the legal right to turn on your notebook, but also search the contents of your harddrive. In some instances, they may even detain your portable for days or even weeks while they score your data for naughty files.
So does this mean we have to leave our computers behind while traveling to these places? Not a pleasant proposition, especially if you have mission-critical workstuff for a business trip. Fortunately, CNET News.com has an interesting article which will teach you the various ways in which to protect your data. The security guide to customs-proofing your laptop features various "alert" states which caters to the slightly paranoid as well as those with actually things to hide.
Via CNET News.com
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