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Maingear Clutch-15 gets upgraded with NVIDIA Optimus graphics switching

PC News Zone — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:26:00 +0000

It's been a while since we last laid eyes on Maingear's fine looking Clutch-15, and while it's still rocking that sexy exterior, the latest iteration has a little surprise for you under the hood. With the recent addition of NVIDIA's graphics switching Optimus technology, this portable's bringing the juice -- battery juice, that is. Aside from that, things look mostly the same, inside and out; you've still got your pick of Intel Core i3 or i5 CPUs, a 750GB HDD or 512GB SSD, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, and the same (still disappointing) WXGA display. This go 'round, however, the dedicated graphics have been bumped up a touch with NVIDIA's GeForce GT 525M GPU (1GB). If automated graphics switching is your thing, you can get your custom laptop on at the source link starting at $1,030. Full PR after the break.

MAINGEAR UPDATES ROAD WARRIOR CLUTCH-15 SERIES NOTEBOOKS
WITH NVIDIA® OPTIMUS™ TECHNOLOGY

Kenilworth, New Jersey – July 8th, 2011 - MAINGEAR, an award-winning PC system builder offering custom desktops, notebooks, workstations and media centers, has updated their Clutch-15 catering to business users and students with NVIDIA Optimus Technology. With a full HD 15.6" screen size and powered by second generation Intel® Core i3 or Core i5 series mobile processors, this diverse notebook offers the latest in portable productivity, multimedia and gaming performance.

The MAINGEAR Clutch-15 is a hybrid notebook that offers outstanding graphics performance while prolonging battery life utilizing NVIDIA® Optimus™ technology. The Clutch-15 is packed with a dedicated NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 525M GPU with 1GB GDDR3 memory, your choice of second generation Intel® Core™ i3 or i5 mobile processors, 1366 x 768 16:9 HD resolutions, up to 8GB of DDR3 1333MHZ memory, and up to 512GB Solid State Drive or up to 500GB Hybrid SSDs hard drives. Gamers and PC enthusiasts who are on the go will enjoy watching a HD movie, surfing the web, or playing the latest casual PC games with the reassurance of getting the best performance and the longest battery life.

Clutch-15 users will be able to take advantage of an optional 90 watt, charging docking station that features extra connectivity such as VGA, DVI, RJ-45, audio out, USB 2.0 x 4 ports and optional optical disc drives including Blu-ray™. The MAINGEAR Clutch-15 not only offers a 15.6" screen that is thinner and lighter than many notebooks out in the market and featuring a full size keyboard with a numeric keypad.

The sleek and lean modern profile aesthetics of the Clutch-15 sets it apart from the crowd with the unique exterior texture for an enhanced tactile experience.

MAINGEAR Clutch-15 Notebook:

15.6" WXGA (1366 x 768) 16:9 Glossy LED LCD display

Second Generation Intel® Core™ i3, i5 mobile processors

Intel HD Integrated Graphics or NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 525M 1GB Graphics

Up to 8GB DDR3-1333 memory

Up to SATA 2.5" 7200RPM 750GB, 500GB Hybrid SSD, or up to 512GB SSD

802.11g/n wireless connection, Bluetooth, 10/100/1000 Ethernet

HDMI out, eSATA, 34mm ExpressCARD support

Optional docking station includes: VGA, DVI, RJ-45, audio out and USB 2.0 x 4 ports, and a choice of Blu-ray, Super Mutli DVD, DVD-RW

Microsoft Windows 7 Operating System

Intel® Anti-Theft Technology Support, Intel® Always Aware Features, Intel ® My WiFi Technology Support

Full size keyboard with number pad

15.35"(w) x 9.8" (d) x 1.3" (h)

4.75lb (fully loaded)

Starting at price $1,029 (without docking station)

New Samsung Series 9 notebooks outed: Core i3, i5 and i7 options

PC News Zone — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 07:36:00 +0000

Samsung has outed a new range of Series 9 notebooks, with three new 13.3-inch models and two new 11.6-inch models, priced from $1,049. The new Series 9 machines keep the styling of the models that began shipping in May, but add in new Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, up to 256GB SSDs and up to 6GB of DDR3 memory. The new 11.6-inchers are the NP900X1B-A02US, with a Core i3-2357M, 2GB of memory and a 64GB SSD, and the NP900X1B-A01US, with the same processor but twice the RAM and storage. They’ll go on sale in August, priced at $1,049 and $1,249 respectively. Samsung’s 13.3-inch versions, meanwhile, are all available from today. The NP900X3A-B01US has a COre i5-2467M processor, 4GB of memory and a 128GB SSD, and retails for $1,349, while the NP900X3A-B02US has the same CPU and RAM but doubles up the SSD for $1,649 in total. Finally, there’s the $2,049 NP900X3A-A05US with a Core i7-2617M processor, 6GB of DDR3 memory and a 256GB SSD. There’s still FastStart, which Samsung reckons will see the Series 9 boot in less than three seconds, along with a casing allegedly twice as strong as aluminum and USB 3.0 connectivity. The displays are also billed as twice as bright as rivals offer.

Sony’s ultraslim 13-inch VAIO Z laptop revealed in Europe, packs external GPU for power on demand

Mark — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:05:38 +0000

Turns out those leaked shots we saw of Sony’s new VAIO Z laptop were right on the money as the company showed it off officially today for the European press. The specs reveal a 13.1-inch “ultramobile” notebook that comes in at under 1.2kg with a 2.7GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, 1600×900 screen and sheet battery borrowed from the earlier VAIO S for up to 7 hours of computing. Onboard it features only Intel’s HD Graphics 3000 solution but the VAIO Z beats other ultralights with its Power Media Dock, which contributes the power of an AMD Radeon 6650M GPU with 1GB of dedicated memory connected via “the architecture codenamed Light Peak” — Sony can’t call it Thunderbolt — when more polygons have to be pushed. The dock sports one USB 3.0 hookup plus additional USB, VGA and HDMI ports, and a slot for either a DVD or Blu-ray drive. There’s no word on a price yet, but it is promised to ship by the end of July in Europe so if the full specs (included after the break) are appealing then you don’t have much time to save up.

Update: Head over to the Sony UK site to configure one yourself — pricing starts at Â£1,434 ($2,294) with a Core i5 CPU, 4GB of RAM and no PMD. The dock is a Â£400 ($640) option with no optical drive included, while upgrading to a 1080p 13.1-inch LCD is a mere Â£40 extra.

PRESS RELEASE

Ultimate performance and design: ultra-mobile new VAIO Z Series from Sony weighs under 1.2kg
28 June 2011

Thin, ultra-light 13.1″ notebook PC with innovative new Power Media Dock

Â· 33.2cm (13.1″) VAIO Z Series: less than 1.2 kg and 16.65mm slim with stunning design and smart battery concept

Â· Business-class power with latest standard voltage IntelÂ® Coreâ„¢ i7 processors and fast SSD storage

Â· High-resolution (1600×900) anti-reflective VAIO Display Premium

Â· Optional sheet battery gives up to 14hr stamina1 with quick charge

Â· Power Media Dockâ„¢ 2 with quad video monitor support, AMD Radeonâ„¢ HD graphics, optical drive and extra ports including HDMIâ„¢ out

Â· Quick Boot gets you working in seconds

Weighing little over a kilogram, the new VAIO Z Series notebook PC from Sony is created for mobile professionals who demand absolute performance and portability.

VAIO Z blends ultra-desirable styling and premium carbon fibre with no-compromise specifications and innovative productivity features. In the office or on the road, this class-leading business notebook helps demanding users work more efficiently with the ultimate in on-the-move computing power.

All-new VAIO Z takes cutting-edge styling by Sony to new extremes, with a ‘full flat’ body and display lid that are crafted in tough, ultra-light carbon fibre. At just below 1.2kg and 16.65mm slim, the new VAIO Z is the perfect partner for business travellers who demand ultimate power with less to carry.

On-the-go usability is enhanced further by the backlit keyboard with extra-wide palm rest and ergonomic new ‘button-less’ touchpad. With a resolution of 1600×900, the 33.2cm (13.1″) VAIO Display Premium features an anti-reflective coating that cuts glare from direct light sources and ensures crisp colour reproduction.

Performance is everything you’d expect from the most sophisticated VAIO notebook yet. Latest-generation standard voltage IntelÂ® Coreâ„¢ i7 processors are teamed with speedy DDR3 SDRAM and up to 256GB SSD RAID storage to blaze through the toughest workload with ease.

As an extra refinement, Quick Boot saves precious time when you’re in a hurry, loading Genuine WindowsÂ® 7 Professional up to 50% quicker than conventional notebooks. Embedded VAIO ‘everywair’ 3G WWAN on selected models connects via your mobile broadband operator.

Power Media Dockâ„¢

The performance of VAIO Z Series is taken to new extremes by the unique Power Media Dock2, a monolithic expansion module that links with VAIO via an optical cable. The proprietary port can also be used to attach regular USB devices to VAIO when it’s not docked.

Featuring high-speed I/O data transfer based on the architecture codenamed ‘Light Peak’, Power Media Dock boosts graphics performance while adding numerous extra connectivity options. It includes an optical drive for even greater business productivity and satisfying HD entertainment. The module comes supplied with a stylish design-matched stand.

With Power Media Dock added, VAIO Z can manage up to four displays (including the notebook screen) via HDMIâ„¢ and/or VGA output ports. In this configuration, VAIO Z makes a compelling choice for design, finance and science professionals who need to work across several screens simultaneously. New-generation AMD Radeon HD graphics with 1GB VRAM effortlessly handle demanding graphics tasks, from 3D CAD to gaming.

When docked, connectivity options are boosted by additional USB ports plus VGA and HDMI outputs. Power Media Dock also sports an optical drive bay that can be specified with a Blu-ray Discâ„¢ or SuperMulti combo drive. Games and movies on DVD or Blu-ray Disc sound as good as they look with latest DolbyÂ® Home TheaterÂ® v4.

Sheet battery

VAIO Z features the innovative ‘sheet battery’ already showcased on this year’s VAIO S Series. The notebook’s internal lithium polymer battery provides power for up to 7 hours1 on-the-go computing. It’s partnered by a second thin, flat optional lithium polymer sheet battery that can be charged separately from the PC and added without removing the internal battery. The sheet battery attaches without having to switch off the PC, boosting stamina to up to 14 hours1 for day-and-night working, even if you’re far from mains power.

VAIO Z delivers a richer communication experience if you’re staying in touch with colleagues via video conference or web chat. The HD web camera powered by Exmorâ„¢ technology ensures detailed-packed video even in low light.

There’s a full range of official accessories from Sony, style-matched to complement the looks and performance of your VAIO. Many more configuration options â€“ including a Full HD (1920 x 1080) LCD â€“ are available exclusively to online shoppers at Sony Store.

The new 2011 VAIO Z Series of ultra-portable performance notebook PCs is available from the end of July 2011 (actual date of availability varies by country).

1 As measured by MobileMarkÂ® battery test

2 Power Media Dock available with selected models or as an optional accessory

-ends-
Notes to editors

Model

VAIO VPCZ21V9E

Processor

IntelÂ® Coreâ„¢ i7-2620M 2.70GHz (with Turbo Boost up to 3.40GHz)

OS

Genuine WindowsÂ® 7 Professional (64bit) with Service Pack 1

Memory

8GB DDR3 1333Mhz SDRAM

Drive

256GB SSD Flash memory (RAID 0)

Screen

33.2cm (13.1″) VAIO Display Premium (1600×900) with wide (16:9) aspect ratio

On-board graphics

IntelÂ® HD Graphics 3000

Optical drive

DVD SuperMulti Drive (included with VGP-PRZ20C Power Media Dockâ„¢ â€“ see below)

Others

WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n; 3G WWAN; BluetoothÂ® 2.1 + EDR; USB 2.0 x1, docking station/USB port x1 (supports USB 2.0/3.0 compatible devices); HDMIâ„¢ out (3D supported); stereo speakers with DolbyÂ® Home TheaterÂ® v4; HD web camera powered by ‘Exmor’ (1.3 effective megapixels); Web, VAIO and Assist buttons; touchpad with gesture support; fingerprint sensor; Quick Boot

Dimensions DxHxW

Approx. 210 x 16.65 x 330mm

Weight

Approx. 1.18kg (with standard internal battery)

Model

Power Media Dockâ„¢ VGP-PRZ20C/VGP-PRZ20A

Graphics Accelerator

AMD Radeonâ„¢ HD 6650M

Video RAM

1GB DDR3

Max. resolution

Analogue RGB: 1920 x 1200

HDMIâ„¢: 1920 x 1080

Optical drive

VGP-PRZ20C: DVD SuperMulti Drive

VGP-PRZ20A: Blu-ray Discâ„¢ Drive with DVD SuperMulti

LAN port

1000BASE-T/100BASE-T/10BASE-T x1

USB port

Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) Type A Connector x2, SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) x1

Monitor port

Mini D-Sub 15 pin x1

HDMI output port

x1 (3D Supported)

Dimensions DxHxW

Approx. 148 x 16.65 x 220mm

Weight

Approx. 0.685kg

Specifications and features vary by model. Please check VAIO laptops for more information.
For more information please contact
Sony Europe Press Centre

ASUS UX21 to be priced at less than $1,000, says Commercial Times

pcnz_admin — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 10:02:41 +0000

The ASUS UX21, that 11.6-inch cake slicer that doubles up as an ultrathin laptop, is coming in September with a price tag of less than $1,000. That’s according to the Commercial Times, which cites supplier sources in identifying ASUS’ aggressive pricing strategy. Word is that the Taiwanese company is aiming to price the UX21 at 80 to 90 percent of the cost of Apple’s competing products, namely the MacBook Air family. Of course, with a second-gen Intel Core i5 (or i7) CPU inside it, ASUS’ new laptop has a significant spec advantage over Apple’s similarly aluminum-encased laptops, so we’d argue simply matching the MBA’s price will ensure the UX21 flies off store shelves. ASUS has a fine recent history of breaking through price barriers, as shown by the $200 Eee PC X101 that was announced alongside the UX21 at Computex, so if anyone was going to give us a 17mm-thick slab of up-to-date gorgeousness for less than $1,000, it probably had to be Jonney Shih’s crew.