Google bans term "netbook" from Adsense ads
Google has banned the term “netbook” from being used in ads placed on its wildly popular Adsense network. Why, you ask? Well apparently, the term “netbook” is a trademark owned by Psion.
Anyone remember Psion’s Netbook Pro? No? You aren’t alone. Last year when the netbook world started heating up, Psion was warning manufacturers that it owned the trademark on “netbook” and I suspect that, considering the Psion netbook is nothing but a memory of a little bag of fail, the company may be looking to sell the trademark. Either that or they are hoping to launch a netbook people will actually buy and want to have the only “netbook” on the market.
Tech world prepares for cut-price Apple laptops
Apple is next week expected to unveil new notebook computers, perhaps even a laptop with an $800 (£475) price tag.
The company has sent out invitations to reporters and analysts for an event next Tuesday with the message: “The spotlight turns to notebooks”.
The tech community has been buzzing as rumours of a new manufacturing process called “brick” have gained attention. It is thought this might refer to a new aluminium casing for the new range.
Panasonic Toughbook CF-F8
Panasonic’s Toughbook Executive range has just got a whole lot more desirable with the launch of the new ultra-portable F-series, which replaces the existing Y-series in the UK. Rather than the more utilitarian styling of previous models, the new Toughbook CF-F8 is designed to be appealing as well as tough. We got a hands-on look at the global launch in Japan, a month before its 22nd October 2008 UK launch.
The main thing that stands out with the CF-F8 is the large carry-handle that slides out from the front, so you can carry it around without a bag. It may sound a little odd, but it’s actually a really easy way to carry the 1.6kg laptop around, and you’re less likely to drop it that way, too.
Sony Announces Featherweight VAIO TT Ultraportable
Writers will be fighting hard not to reference the Audi TT Roadster when writing about Sony’s latest ultraportable, but their efforts will be futile. Perhaps it’s because the company is calling it the TT series—a 2.9-pound ultraportable that measures less than one inch thin. It’s a new line, replacing the previous Sony VAIO VGN-TZ298N, and integrating the first Blu-ray reader (or writer) on an 11-inch ultraportable.
Although 11-inch widescreens have been on the market for a while now, they reflect the movement to the 16-by-9 form factor, as seen on the HP HDX 18, the Acer Aspire 6920G-6071, and the Sony VAIO VGN-FW198U. The TT Series’s 1,280-by-768 resolution is consistent with the TZ298N’s, and the screen is energy efficient and bright, thanks to the use of LEDs behind the display.
Samsung announces R610 laptop with Blu-ray drive for only £799
Samsung’s been a busy little company, launching the X360 just a couple of weeks ago, and now the R610 laptop, which measures 16″ in size, and is aimed at those who want a desktop laptop for watching films and TV shows on.
With an inbuilt Blu-ray optical drive and 16:9 aspect ratio, the R610 laptop gives users full 1080p viewing, meaning you don’t have to spring for an expensive LCD or Plasma TV.
The 7.1 channel surround sound just adds to the HD extravaganza, coupled with the 2 x 2 watt stereo speakers and Enhanced Digital Sound it all promises some rather nice sound – and for only £799 too.
S3000, A6000 & M8000 Pavilion Slimline by HP
Three new models of desktop PC series have been launched into the market by HP. The three models of the Pavilion Slimline series are s3000, a6000 and m8000. The first one comes with 1GB of RAM, and you can pick either a AMD CPU or an Intel CPU, but for the later you have to pay an extra 50$. If not you can buy it for 500$. The PC can be set with a low graphic card, maybe a TV tuner and a Pocket Media Drive.
You can buy the a6000 at a lower price then the s3000. It’s just 330$ but you would be throwing off some memory because it has only 512 MB of RAM. But the bright side is that it comes with an Intel CPU, a Pocket Media Drive and a graphics card. But the “jewel of the crown” is the m8000. And the price says so to. At 950$ it has a DVD drive and again you can pick between a dual core AMD or Intel processor. All three models have Windows Vista preinstalled.
MacBook Air
For a long time, Apple fans have been hoping for a slim and lightweight version of the MacBook to come along. Even the lightest MacBook was over 4.5 pounds (2kg). Debut at the MacWorld 2008 yesterday, the MacBook Air is currently the world’s thinnest (and may I add, the coolest) notebook in the market, measuring a mere 0.76-inch (1.94cm) in height and 3lbs (1.36kg) in weight.
The Goodies
It packs a punch as well, sporting a 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of memory, 80GB PATA hard disk drive, 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display, MacBook-style keyboard with backlighting, super-cool iPhone-like multi-touch trackpad, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+, and an awesome 5-hours battery life on Wi-Fi.