A Japanese press release distributed by Toshiba (translation) reveals that the company plans to showcase the “world’s thinnest and lightest” 10.1-inch tablet and 13.3-inch ultrabook next week during CES 2012.

According to reports, Toshiba’s 10.1-inch Honeycomb tablet will only measure 7.7-mm thick and feature a 1280 x 800 resolution. Other hardware specs will include a 1.2 GHz dual-core TI OMAP4430 SoC, a rear-facing 5MP camera, a front-facing 2MP camera, micro-HDMI output, and storage capacities of 16 and 32 GB.

Additional reports claim that Toshiba will also showcase an unnamed 7-inch tablet that will be completely different than the current Thrive model. It will reportedly feature Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a rear camera, microSD and microUSB ports. This one will likely take on Amazon’s Kindle Fire, a “budget” tablet packing a dual-core Qualcomm SoC. In fact, this gadget will probably be one of MANY sub-$200 tablets we’ll see at CES this year.

As for the 13.3-inch Toshiba ultrabook, there’s speculation that the company could be referring to the Portege Z855. However in addition to the tablet and ultrabook, Toshiba reports that it will also showcase an 7-inch OLED reference tablet with wireless power charging and a water-resistant construction, and a 55-inch QFHD glasses-free 3D HDTV.

The X1 combines the feature set of a traditional notebook with that of netbook or tablet. In addition to its Core i3, i5 or i7 processor, the device also integrates a “battery-stretching” Instant Media Mode (IMM), which is based on a Qualcomm processor, 16 GB of memory and a Linux OS. According to Lenovo, the 13.3-inch, four-pound X1 hybrid will deliver a battery life of up to 10 hours and recharge to a level of 80 percent within 30 minutes.

The Thinkpad T430u, Lenovo’s first business ultrabook, is just 0.8 inches thin and weighs less than four pounds. It comes with a choice of Core processors and Intel- or Nvidia-based graphics, SSD or HDD storage, and six hours of battery life. The T430u follows the design heritage of the Thinkpad and features a matte finish and an aluminum top cover.

The Thinkpad X1 Hybrid and ThinkPad T430u ultrabook will be available starting in the second and third quarter 2012, respectively. The X1 Hybrid will sell for prices of $1599 and up, while the ultrabook will start at $849.

A source at HP just dropped a mysterious teaser video of a so-called Spectre laptop, a heretofore unannounced notebook that looks to be the company’s next Ultrabook. In our wildest dreams, this rig has a dual-LCD setup — similar to Toshiba’s Libretto W100 and Acer’s Iconia-6120 — but perhaps the creators here were just coincidentally interested in showing us lots of glass panes. We’ll be digging for more details, but for now, lose your mind in the video just past the break.

SOURCE via Engadget

Yes, AMD. They’re still alive you know? Choosing is hard. And in the case of ASUS’ forthcoming netbook line, totally not necessary. Just days after Intel snuck out details surrounding the next generation of its Atom line, out flows shots and information about what’ll undoubtedly be one of the first next-gen netbooks to use ‘em. The Eee PC Flare line is expected to supplant the long-standing Seashell range at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, with a smattering of models to be lining ASUS’ booth. Outside of lively, sleeker exteriors, we’re told to expect models with the new N2600 and N2800 Atom CPU line, a 12-incher powered by AMD’s Fusion APU line and the token chiclet-style keyboard that we’ve all grown used to. It’s also possible that we’ll see revised 10-inchers alongside the big boys, with the 1225B, 1225C, 1025C and 1025CE named in particular. Oh yes, “netbooks are back, baby!”

SOURCE via Notebook Italia

Various reports are pointing to an Asus netbook that proves the company still has plans for the allegedly dying form factor in 2012. Simply labeled as the Eee PC 1225B, the upcoming device refreshes the specs listed for the previous Eee PC 1215B and is based on AMD’s Brazos chipset.

According to the specs, the Asus Eee PC 1225B will arrive in two flavors: a dual-core AMD E450 APU clocked at 1.65 GHz and a dual-core AMD C60 APU clocked at 1.0 GHz. It will also feature one slot for memory, offering 2 GB or 4 GB of DDR3, depending on your wallet. Graphics will be handled by a Radeon HD 6320 or Radeon HD 6290 discrete core.

“With the embedded ATI Radeon HD 6320/6290 graphics, the Asus 1225B provides users the best portable multimedia enjoyment for its size. DirectX 11 support – exceptional 3D performance allows users to play games and video smoother than ever before,” the product description read. “Also, users can enjoy smooth, Full HD 1080p content through the HDMI port to an HD display without any latency. Connect it to a home theater system to enjoy true 7.1 Surround sound playback alongside the Full HD content for the ultimate viewing experience.”

As for other features, the new netbook will sport an 11.6-inch LED-backlit WXGA screen (1366 x 768), HDD capacities of 320 GB, 500 GB or 750 GB, 802.11 b/g/n connectivity @ 2.4 GHz, optional Bluetooth 3.0 + HS, a 0.3MP camera, and a 6-cell 56Wh Li-ion battery promising up to 7 hours. Ports include one USB 2.0, two USB 3.0, one Ethernet, one HDMI output, an SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC card reader, VGA and more.

While the product page is up for viewing, actual availability in 2012 and pricing is unknown, so stay tuned

Remember the hotly anticipated Razer Blade gaming laptop that didn’t make it into your hands for Christmas? I’ve got good news and bad news. Bad news first of course; the laptop is getting delayed further all the way until middle to late January before you will actually be able to see it in your grubby little paws. Good news? The reason behind the delay is that Razer is swapping the 320GB HDD for a 256SSD without having to increase the US$2,799 list price. On top of that, for every Razer Blade order, Razer will be throwing in a Razer Orochi Blade Edition absolutely free. Details for that can be found on Razer’s Facebook page here.

It goes without saying that benchmarking something pre-release requires a cavalcade of sodium-chloride, but our curiosity was piqued at the prospect of some Cedar Trail sneak-peeks. Netbook Live has been at it again, pitting a 1.6GHz Atom N2600-touting ASUS Eee PC X101CH, against machines sporting 1.66GHz Atom N570 (ASUS 1015PX) and 1.0 GHz AMD C-50 (ASUS 1015B and Tosh NB550D) chips. The initial reports suggest that the 32nm-based N2600 is a touch behind the N570 in general CPU terms, but forges confidently ahead when it comes to graphics. The C-50 showed mixed results in CPU tests, with the N2600 falling behind on graphics this time round. The take-away being if you need more CPU oomph go for the meatier 1.83 GHz N2800. Hit the source link for the blow by blow breakdown.

SOURCE via Netbook Live

Consumers will probably see fewer notebooks and netbooks from Acer and Asus in 2012 to make decision-making simpler. Acer and Asus are reportedly taking a cue from Apple and will simplify their notebook and netbook lines for 2012. According to original design manufacturer (ODM) contractors, the two want to trim costs and improve their overall profit by having fewer but clearer models, reducing inventory risks. They are also seeking to raise brand power in 2012 by offering focused products rather than a wide spread.

One of the factors in this decision is the emerging ultrabook market. Contractors claim that Asus already has at least 50 notebook and netbook projects on the table, but these will reportedly be thinned out to squeeze in ultrabook development over the next three years. These ultrabooks will supposedly be crammed within its mid-range notebook projects.

For the beginning of 2012, Asus is expected to reduce the number of Eee PC models down from ten to just a maximum of five. These will be divided by entry-level, mid-range and high-end designs. However the number may be reduced even more in the second half of 2012.

Sources also claim that Asus plans to maintain profitability by launching several high-performance/price ratio non-ultrabook models in the $499 to $699 price range during 2012. The company also plans to focus on high-end performance gaming notebooks for the gamer-on-the-go.

As for Acer, ODM contractors said the company will focus on competitive and profitable products in 2012 rather than launch numerous projects. Like Asus, Acer too wants to reduce its number of notebook projects by 3Q12.

Two laptops touting the AMD’s as-yet-unreleased HD7000 series graphics of chips have been listed in sales brochures and driver download sites, according to German website PC Games Hardware.

According to the site, the chips have been listed as part of the specification in the forthcoming ASUS’ X53TK and a new 17inch HP Envy. The ASUS features an HD7670M to supplement its Fusion processor, while the HP has the higher performing Mobility Radeon HD 7690M on board.

Neither company, nor AMD, have commented on the story, and the parts remain officially unannounced. Drivers are available for download from HP’s site, though.

The important thing is that while there’s not a lot to choose between AMD and NVIDIA graphics on the desktop at the moment, when it comes to laptops mid-range Mobility Radeon cards have been performing far better for the price recently – even though they’ve been strangely difficult to find on sale. The X53TX

Sadly, as far as we know, this is unlikely to be the first outing for AMD’s forthcoming GPU architecture that it’s calling Graphics Core Next (GCN – also known as Southern Islands). GCN has a completely new internal design to the one which AMD has used (with modifications) since the launch of DirectX 10. While the entire HD7000 series of GPUs was originally planned to be based on GCN, recently leaked slides suggest that only the top end HD7900s will use it, leaving most of the range as a die shrink to 28nm of the existing designs.

Or could it? There’re plenty of rumours flying around about GCN and its ilk – as well as suggestion of a prelaunch event sometime this week.

SOURCE via Thinq

What’s the best way to attack both the notebook and tablet market without losing the best features of both? Release an ultrabook with a touch-based, swiveling display. Unnamed industry sources are now reporting that Asus will do just that next year, and reveal the first model during Computex Taipei in June.

The news follows previous reports that ultrabook manufacturers are incorporating touch-based screens into their designs starting next year to support Windows 8′s touch-based features. To make this possible, back-light unit (BLU) manufacturers are reportedly mounting lighting devices, optical films, and light guide panels onto the upper covers of ultrabooks by using an open cell (which depends on the lid of the ultrabook for protection) or hinge-up process. This is to reduce the thickness of touch-based ultrabooks and keep them in line with Intel’s sub-0.83-inch specification.

That said, an ultrabook twisted into a tablet mode won’t be quite as thin as an actual tablet, but consumers will have the option of pulling the keyboard back out once typing on the touch screen gets too annoying. The Asus ultrabook making its appearance in June is already slated to launch alongside Windows 8 when it’s offered by Microsoft for public consumption in September… and it probably won’t be the only swivel ultrabook on display.

The swivel screen idea reportedly stems from Intel itself who is offering a handful of design ideas to its “downstream” partners for their upcoming ultrabooks. Future models will also sport Intel’s Ivy Bridge as of May 2012 which is expected to reel in even more demand for the new form factor. Still, the combination of Ivy Bridge and a swivel touchscreen may just be what the ultrabook market needs to pull consumers away from the lure of tablets — if they’re kept at a reasonable price point, that is.

Just recently, Acer president Jim Wong said that ultrabook prices will drop down to $799 to $899 USD by 2Q12, and then to $499 USD in 2013 — this is partially due to a $100 subsidy finally provided by Intel. But will touch-based swivel ultrabooks be just as cheap? Probably not, so there’s a good chance we’ll begin to see two tiers of ultrabooks come September 2012.

SOURCE via DigiTimes