Laptop Blog

Samsung recently rolled out its updated UMPC sporting a split-QWERTY keyboard and long-lasting battery life. Samsung’s latest Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC), called Q1 Ultra has now been availed almost a year after the original Q1 was debuted.

One of the noteworthy characteristics of the updated model is the addition of a QWERTY keyboard, which is split down middle and can be seen on both side of the 7-inch screen. Samsung says that the keypad can be accessed easily with your thumbs enabling quick typing. Besides, the Q1 Ultra is also claimed to give support to external keyboards and the on-screen keyboard discovered on the Q1.

The Q1 Ultra, under the hood integrates in an Intel Ultra Mobile Processor with a clock speed ranging from 600 to 800 MHz. The UMPC also comes integrated with 1GB of DDR2 high-speed memory, and as said by Samsung, has almost 4.5 hours of battery life. The Q1 ultra is featured with a gamut of connectivity alternatives, comprising Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 and an optional HSDPA modem. The Q1 Ultra also claims to support Windows Vista and XP Tablet Edition. The Samsung Q1 Ultra is somewhat lightweight at 1.5 pounds and keeps up the complete appearance of the original Q1. The 7-inch touch screen LCD with a resolution of 1024 by 600 keeps center stage, and sports LED backlighting.

The Q1 Ultra also characterizes a fingerprint reader for security and quick logins for apps and Websites. The Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC can currently be availed for about $800.

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We already know about Apple’s plans to introduce MacBook Pros that will come rocking more multihued displays with the new backlight technology. The MacBook Pros will swing from cold cathode fluorescent backlights (CCFLs) to LED backlights. They had plans to announce the LED backlit LCD screens sometime this year but now some sources say that two companies have already got sample units tested for certification by Apple. Moreover, it has been confirmed that they are working with 15-inch and 13-inch screens. Earlier, 13-inchers were just under consideration. The rumors are not confirmed at the moment but we might see Apple Mac units shipping with LED backlit screens sometime soon.

By the end of this year or in 2008, we would have notebooks featuring widescreen 3D LCD panels. The biggest downside with such displays is that they consume a lot of power and reduce the brightness too.

But, it would surely get a warm welcome from the gaming community. US-based notebook vendors are showing keen interest in such 3D displays.

Samsung Korea has revealed that the 3D display market will surpass US$2 billion in 2010. iZ3D has already launched such 3D LCD monitor models in the market.

Although the idea looks great but who will go for the shorter battery life? Certainly, not me!

Via: UberGizmo

Intel lately released a video on how the future UMPCs might look like or it could be just a hallucination. Intel has now predicted that in the midst of the year 2009, we will be seeing the ultra-mobile devices that will consume 20 times less power than those available in 2006. Their upcoming Moorestown platform is scheduled to be launched in 2009. Moorestown will let the devi9ces to run for full 24 hours before going for a recharge. They will accomplish the task by integrating CPU, GPU and memory controller functions into one chip. Anyhow, it hasn’t been revealed whether the Moorestown will sport DX10 graphics and next-gen WiMAX technologies or not.

Via: Dailygadget

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The hottest news in the air in the laptop dome is that HP is going to take wraps off a 20-inch notebook dubbed the Pavilion HDX. This is not for the very first time that we will be witnessing a 20-incher machine but the new HDX Pavilion surely calls for attention as it features more than enough space to house both a full-sized keyboard and a windows media remote. The details are scarce but it is expected to feature the new Santa Rosa chipset, GeForce Go 8000 video card, HDMI out, and HD DVD functionality. The bid notebook weighs 12 lbs and is said to be a powerful gaming machine. There is no info about the pricing and availability at the moment.

Via: Engadget

After rejecting Nicholas Negroponte’s proposal of $100 laptops for school children, HRD ministry plan to build $10 laptop might turn true with two proposed designs but public sector undertaking Semiconductor Complex is also showing their interest to become a part of the project.

Until now, one laptop including labour charges is costing $47 but the ministry forecasts that the price will radically come down when the demand will rise to manufacture one million laptops. An official from HRD ministry said:

The cost is encouraging and we are hopeful it would come down to $10. We would also look into the possibility of some Indian company manufacturing the parts

The final year engineering student of Vellore Institute of Technology in conjunction with researcher from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has proposed two designs to the ministry.

By keeping in view, Intellectual Property Rights of the two designer’s ministry has not released full details of designs except some major details. According to sources, these laptops will be developed on a single board to enable engineers to rectify the problems with ease.

The meeting between industry and academia will also take place in IISc, Bangalore, sometimes later this month to analyze two proposed designs and to invite more suggestions. Semiconductor Complex, a Chandigarh-based PSU has also told HRD ministry that they are also interested to be a part of this project but HRD ministry has also invited the company to get involved in the production of laptops.

The ministry formed six anchor groups to assist experts in critical areas and to remove regular blockages. Institutions like IITs and IISc are also selected as anchor institutions for the project and are assigned with different tasks regarding research and development of low-priced laptops.

Sources also reveal that it will take another two years to launch this $10 laptop breakthrough as a reality. According to one of the officials:

We do not want to rush into it. Many issues remain to be resolved like royalty to the designer after the design is patented. Prototyping would also take time. We would even conduct destructive testing and create a proper maintenance network

According to sources ministry also received proposals from some big multi national companies but none of them was willing to develop laptop with $10 cost tag.

Via: Timesofindia

Some things in this world seem to get better and better all the time, same is the case with Santa Rosa based notebook series by Fujitsu Siemens. They have come up with their latest Amilo Pi2515 notebook so as to give a hot competition to their rival companies like HP, Lenovo and Sony. They are simply getting smarter day by day.

They weigh a bit over six pounds which make them somewhat overweight as in comparison to the other notebooks in it’s class.
They flaunt a 15.4-inch WXGA display, one can make a choice between T7100 or T7300 Core 2 Duo processors, Intel GMA X3100 graphics, a maximum of 2GB RAM, a 200GB HDD, a dual-layer DVD burner, and an ExpressCard slot. Regrettably, the company has not featured their price and availability options on this series.

Via: Engadget

This one seems to appear a ‘Gem’ of an offer by Acer. The all-new Acer Aspire range of notebooks comes up with classy outlook and a better CPU. Their extravagant designs speak highly of Acer’s rising reputation.

The ‘Gemstone’, as they have named it, incorporates a unique rounded design with opal contours and edges, white keyboard with brilliant sapphire blue keys and what surprises me the most is that Acer has not yet given a slightest hint on its features.

I am sure they will soon be letting out a detailed performa of specifications for this new ‘Gemstone’ range.

Via: Akihabaranews

Why should we content ourselves with same old Laptop appearance for years? The irony off course, is that we would go to any lengths to change the appearance of our mobile phones as often as we possibly can. Why this discrimination? Apparently, this is the same question that GelaSkins asked itself.

To provide an answer, this company has come out with great stickers to stick on your laptop and give it a chic look. The great thing is that the stickers are as easy to peel off, as they are to stick. So you aren’t stuck with a same look for too long. These stickers are designed to fit both Apple and PC notebook computers. Moreover, they come in a variety of sizes and the choice of designs is awesome. Priced at $32.95, these aren’t cheap. But there are some things only money can buy. Well, this happens to be one of them.

Source: Ubergizmo

Quanta Computer Inc. that is subjected to build OLPC laptops has announced a hardware update to these laptops. Now these laptops will be able to run windows XP but nothing comes for free and therefore the price will also increase from $100 to $ 175.

Nicholas Negroponte, the former director of the MIT Media Lab, who now runs the nonprofit One Laptop Per Child project revealed these updates. The organization takes $3 per computer and will start the production as the order mark reaches to 3 million. Currently Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Pakistan, Thailand, Nigeria and Libya showed interest in being part of the first wave of OLPC XO computers.

Via: ubergizmo