Prototype tablet PC with PCMOS chip

Remember the Probabilistic CMOS chip? You know, the one which promises faster performance while consuming 30 times less power? If not, click here to refresh your memory.

Seems like the first machines based on the new technology may start popping up earlier than expected.
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New Apple tablet rumors point to Kindle clones?

More Apple tablet/Netbook rumors surfaced Wednesday as one Apple watcher wonders what the company is doing with all those books.

Reuters is reporting that Apple has ordered 10-inch touch screens from Wintek, a contract manufacturer in Taiwan that makes the touch screens used in the iPhone and iPod Touch. The screens are expected to be ready by the third quarter of this year, setting the stage for a possible late 2009 introduction of the long-rumored Apple tablet and/or Netbook.

But one interesting possibility for that rumored device comes from longtime Apple writer Andy Ihnatko, who is wondering if Apple has some sort of Kindle clone in mind. Ihnatko told Newsarama that he has heard several times that Apple has been receiving truckloads of books--actual real paper-bound books--at its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. He cautions that this doesn't "rank as high as a rumor, but it's an interesting story that I keep hearing."

The thinking is that Apple is scanning the books as to have a library of electronic titles available when it decides to launch an e-book section on the iTunes Store, perhaps accompanied by the iTablet or MacTablet Pro or whatever Apple appears to be cooking up in its labs that isn't quite an iPhone, and isn't quite a MacBook.
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Is this the time to pick up a Netbook?

The last turning point for Netbooks was the introduction of the Atom chipset. Since then, almost every subportable in this category is based on this Intel platform, and performance has become almost standardized. With the introduction of the upcoming Intel Atom N280 1.66GHz processor and GN40 mainboard, the next evolution of Netbooks is around the corner.

So what's the big deal? After all, the jump from the older Atom N270 to the latest N280 version is a mere 0.06GHz bump. In fact, Netbooks already sporting the new processor (on the older chipset) such as the Asus Eee PC 1000HE (pictured), MSI Wind U100 and Acer Aspire One AOD150 did not really impress with a large performance increase. The key difference is really in the mainboard and integrated graphics processor. While the older Atom N270/Intel 945 bundle stuttered with high-bitrate standard-definition videos, the new Intel GN40 is capable of high-definition 720p playback.

So, with this in mind, will it still be prudent to pick up a Netbook at this time
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Asus launches three new laptop lines

In time for the upcoming IT Show in Singapore this week, Asus has launched three new laptop lines for the entertainment crowd. But instead of mere upgrades, each machine has distinct features which separate them from competitors. The Asus N51Vg is the first to use the new Nvidia graphics card, while the X61Gx brings the price point for 16-inch machines to a new low. The flagship model, the Asus W70, leads the pack with the latest Intel X38 chipset which comes with three RAM slots.

The S$2,298 (US$1,632.57) Asus N51Vg is one of the first notebooks to sport the new Nvidia GeForce G105M graphics card. According to the Taiwanese maker, this gives the 14.1-inch machine an exceptional score of 5,431 on the 3DMark06 gaming benchmark. The chipset supports Hybrid Graphics, which means the laptop can switch between the discrete Nvidia chip for better performance (3-hour uptime) and the integrated video processor for an additional hour of battery life.
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Dell hopes tough guys still buy laptops

Dell is back with a slimmed down version of its fully rugged 14-inch laptop.

Like the company itself, the XFR's second-gen improvements on the device are incremental and in some cases, slightly experimental. The E6400 XFR is the name of what used to be the Latitude XFR D630. The laptop gets an internal tuneup, boasting better processing power (Intel Core 2 Duo), discrete graphics enabled by better cooling. The new XFR also keeps most of its original features: touch screen, a solid-state drive, mobile broadband, GPS, and long battery life. In this case, Dell says an additional battery pack will keep the laptops going for up to 13 hours.

The XFR is strengthened by a new exterior material the PC maker is calling Ballistic Armor, which replaces the magnesium alloy used in its other laptops. It's allowed the machine to be trimmed down--it's now 8.5lbs instead of 9lbs--and also strengthened: It meets military specifications for ruggedness and can withstand a 4ft drop rather than 3.
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