News: Fujitsu A3040 Released, New LG Core Duo Notebooks, Toshiba M400 Available

Fujitsu yesterday released a new notebook in the U.S., the LifeBook A3040 desktop replacement style notebook with a 2.0GHz AMD Turion 64 processor.  The A3040 has a 15-inch screen and features the popular glossy Crystal View finish. The A3040 starts at $999, which is really cheap for a Fujitsu notebook and lower than what they usually start at.  Unfortunately, no dedicated graphics processor, but at the starting price of $999 for a Fujitsu you don' really expect such a thing.

• AMD Turion 64 Mobile Technology MT-37 (2 GHz)
• Microsoft Windows XP Home with
• 15" Crystal View XGA display
• 512 MB DDR 333 MHz SDRAM memory (512 MB x 1)
• 80 GB S-ATA, 4200 rpm hard drive
• DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
• Multinational 56K V.90 modem and Gigabit Ethernet LAN
• Integrated Atheros Super AG Wireless LAN (802.11a/b/g)
• 4 USB 2.0, IEEE 1394, MemoryStick /SD/xD slot, PC Card slot, ExpressCard slot
• Main Lithium ion battery
• One-year International Limited Warranty

(Click Images for larger view)

More: http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=A3040

LG Releases 10 New Notebooks -- 4 Based on Intel Core Duo

LG Electronics released 10 new notebooks today, 4 of which are Intel Core Duo based, forming the new Express Dual range. They are the S1, P1, M1 and T1 Express Dual notebooks.  The P1 (pictured above) features an ATI X1300, X1400 or X1600 graphics card, 15.4" widescreen.

The other six notebooks release comprise the latest models in LG's Express range and are based on the Intel Centrino Mobile platform. The Intel Pentium based notebooks released are the LW40, LW20, LW70 and two K1 models with different processor speeds. The TX1, a new ultraportable, is based on an Intel Pentium M ULV Processor.

Sadly, none of these notebooks are available in the USA.

More: LGE Notebooks Product Page

Microsoft, Intel push "ultra mobile" PCs

Industry giants Microsoft and Intel are both pushing the idea of more portable PCs today. At a mobile platform conference, Microsoft's divisional Vice President described a vision for the next class of mobile device. From Engadget:

...wearable, always on, no larger than 10-inches, connected through 3G networks, pen-based, and have a suggested retail price of $500 or less.

Moving right past the problem of building a mini-PC for under $500, when current models are four or five times that price, or the fact that a 10-inch device is not what I could consider either "wearable" or "ultra mobile," I have to ask a question: is it just me, or has Microsoft spent a huge amount of time and money pushing every half-baked product they come up with, but not one dime on their existing PocketPC platform? Air panels, smartphones, tablet PCs, and now minitablets, but they can't be bothered to promote the product that's already ultra-mobile, along the lines they're describing, and well under $500.

More: http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/02/microsoft-said-to-issue-specs-for-ultramobile-lifestyle-pcs/

Meanwhile, Intel is trumpeting the impending release of their entry in the micro-tablet market, which is supposed to include GPS and WAN capabilities, the latter probably in the form of EVDO or UMTS/HSDPA.

More: http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/02/06/intel_umpc/

The Toshiba M400 Convertible Tablet PC Notebook Officially Released in the U.S.



Toshiba this week released the Portege M400 Tablet PC in the U.S, it is now available on the ToshibaDirect.com site.  The M400 is the first Core Duo Tablet PC to hit the sales shelves.  The M400 comes in a preconfigured model, the M400-S9333, or you can customize your own at ToshibaDirect.com

Base Model Specs for the Portege M400-S933:

• Intel Core Solo Processor T1300 (1.66GHz, 2MB L2, 667MHz FSB)
  (Core Duo Available on Customized Model) 
• Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC 2005
• 512MB PC5300 DDR2 667MHz SDRAM (512MBx1)
• 12.1" Diagonal Wide View Angle XGA Display (1024x768)
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with 8MB-128MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory
• 80GB HDD (5400rpm, Serial-ATA)
• CD-RW/DVD-ROM Multifunction drive
• Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG (802.11a/b/g)
• Price: $1,699.99

More: Check out the Toshiba website for further details, a flash demo and more!

New Electrovaya Scribbler SC3100 Tablet PC Released and Reviewed

Electrovaya is a Tablet PC company based in Canada that keeps cranking out the Tablet PC hits.  Today they released a new Tablet PC, the Scribbler SC3100, a slate style Tablet PC.  Barry over at TabletPCReviewSpot.com has had this device for some time and has a review to coincide with the release.

The Electrovaya Scribbler SC3100 Tablet PC is a compact, lightweight slate that incorporates unique features. An upgrade from the SC3000 model, the SC3100 boasts a new BOE Hydis display with a 180 degree viewing angle and a faster processor. Another plus is the custom option for a 120GB hard drive for those users who need to store a lot of data.

More: Electrovaya SC3100 Review