Apple cuts price of flash drive MacBook Air

Apple has quietly reduced the price of the flash memory version of the MacBook Air by S$799 (US$587.50).

Appleinsider tipped us to the new price, which can be found at the online Apple Store. Before today, you would have paid a S$5,088 (US$3,741.18) premium if you wanted a MacBook Air with a solid-state hard drive, but Apple has reduced that premium to S$4,289 (US$3,153.68). It's also now cheaper to upgrade the processor from 1.6GHz to 1.8GHz at S$370.10 (US$272.13), on the standard hard drive version (the SSD model comes with 1.8GHz by default).

PC companies have been interested in flash memory hard drives for some time, but it's not clear how well they are selling. Using flash memory instead of moving parts to store data improves the reliability of the system; hard drive failures are one of the most common problems experienced by notebook users.

But it's still very expensive to choose a flash drive over a regular hard drive, and potential customers might not be able to justify spending that extra dough. Reliability is important, but so is price, and recent news that flash-memory drives are actually a drain on battery life won't help sell them as an upgrade option.

Via CNET Crave

Nvidia mobile GPU getting hot under the collar

For those of you happily shooting and looting away on your laptop's Nvidia GeForce 8M series graphics processor, take note. Turns out there is a bad batch out there made from defective materials which may fail before its time.

When contacted, Nvidia was unable to disclose exactly which vendors have received these products due to confidentiality agreements. However, the hardware company has assured us that its production line has shifted to a more robust die/packaging material set which will prevent this issue from occurring in the future. In the meantime, Nvidia is working with OEM partners to develop system management software that will provide better thermal management to the graphics card.

At this time, neither Nvidia or laptop vendors are recalling defective sets.

Fujitsu laptop strikes (pink) gold

All laptop makers have joined the fashion bandwagon--some later than others--so it's no surprise that Fujitsu is continuing to experiment with its runway persona. The Japanese company has gone through some interesting evolutionary phases of its designer laptops, from finishes in ubiquitous pink to an odd cedar and now precious metals, at least in name.

The Fujitsu LifeBook P8010E has already gotten a good review from us, but its new Limited Pink Gold Edition is trying to sell beauty as well as brain and brawn with such aesthetic features as a high-gloss finish and chrome hinges to go with its unusual color. Like the base model, it has a 12.1-inch widescreen, Intel Dual-Core processor, 250GB hard drive, and 2GB of memory, all under 3 pounds. It does add a few internal specs from the previous version, according to BornRich, including a 3G mobile broadband option.

But let's cut to the chase, as Fujitsu does on its site: This laptop, it claims, will "ensure that you'll always be the center of attention". Isn't that what it's all about?

Via CNET Crave

Everex to introduce 3G/WiMAX 10.2-inch Cloudbook?

Even as Everex prepares to ship its much-awaited 8.9-inch Cloudbook Max with WiMAX later this quarter, rumors are already spreading that the company will launch a 10.2-inch model to compete in the same space as the ASUS Eee PC 1000 and MSI Wind. The leak, which is said to come from within Everex's manufacturing partner FIC, also indicates that the new Cloudbook will feature onboard 3G connectivity and optional WiMAX.

It is not firm whether the new 10.2-inch Cloudbook will use an Intel Atom or VIA processor or that it will run on Windows XP or Linux, but the information revealed so far suggests a maximum of 2GB RAM, 1,024 x 600-pixel display and a 1.3-megapixel Web camera. Connectivity-wise, in addition to 3G and optional WiMAX, it will come with 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, two USB ports, an ExpressCard slot and a 4-in-1 memory card reader. The Everex notebook, which has a 263 x 185 x 32mm footprint and weighs 1.2kg, is said to be bundled with a four- or six-cell battery.

According to the leak, the 10.2-inch Cloudbook is slated for a November launch this year. There is no word on whether it will make it to Southeast Asia. The 8.9-inch Cloudbook Max is expected to be launched in Taiwan and Japan next month, followed by the US in September.

Via SlashGear

ASUS Eee PC 904HD confirmed

At least one model of the rumored new Eee PC lineup has been confirmed by PCretail with one new detail. The Eee PC 904HD will, like the Eee PC 1000H, come with a conventional spinning harddisk instead of solid state storage.

Essentially a Eee PC 1000H with an 8.9-inch display, the main draw for this device seems to be the cost and larger keyboard. The rumored pricing is around £250 (S$676.46), making it even cheaper than the Eee PC 900. The report only states that the unit will hit UK stores in a matter of weeks. We're still awaiting news from ASUS on when this unit will roll out in Asia.

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