Laptops

Want to be really hip? Mention Gartner’s newly minted Hype Cycle. It’s “in.” So much more today than Chris Anderson’s Long Tail or Geoffrey Moore’s Chasm. MBA’s like the Hype Cycle because it lets them figure out what new idea they’re going to “develop” to make their gazillion dollars. VCs (also MBAs) use the cycle because it tells them where they should be throwing their investors’ dollars. Media folks like it because it gives them a hook for stories on what’s hot, what’s not and why companies fall on their faces.

But wait…we forgot one ingredient? The consumer! Fortunately the CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) tracks that sort of thing and people simply do not overthrow known stuff for new stuff as quickly as we would like! Read more

MSI Computer just announced that Best Buy is now carrying the MSI Wind U100 netbook. The ultra-mobile Wind (acronym for “Wi-Fi Network Device”) weighs in at just 2.3 pounds and comes with a 120GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, an ergonomically designed keyboard (only 20% smaller than a standard notebook keyboard), and was the first 10” netbook to feature the new Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor.

Priced at only $399, the Wind U100 includes Windows XP Home edition and also features 802.11b/g and Bluetooth, a built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam with mic, and the battery (3 Cells) life can last up to 2.5 hours. Read more

Are you in search for a new notebook PC? Gateway’s notebook PCs are available in many different configurations – powerful digital media-ready systems with a widescreen display as well as entry-level solutions for families on a budget.

Several models in Gateway’s notebook lines feature Intel Centrino Mobile Technology and an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, perfect for running multiple applications. The notebook PCs also all come with integrated Wifi, for wireless connectivity at home, the office, dorm rooms, classrooms and other hot spots.

Most notebooks include a handy multimedia panel integrated into the keyboard for easy access to audio and video functions such as DVD, audio, stop, fast-forward, and rewind. The DVD burner in the T, M and P-Series also features LabelFlash technology, which allows you to burn text and images on the disc label as you save your content to it. Several models have a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) for digital video and audio out. Read more

Dell just announced the Inspiron Mini 9 – a small, affordable, easy-to-carry device perfect for surfing the Web, chatting with friends, blogging, streaming content, uploading photos, viewing online videos, or playing music and games. Weighing only about 2lbs., it features a sealed keyboard, SSD memory storage, an 8.9 inch LED display, and built-in Wi-Fi. It can also be customized to include a built-in Webcam and Bluetooth.

Worried about storage? Dell has teamed up with Box.net to offer web-based file storage, including a free Basic plan with 2GB of remote storage space, expandable to 25GB. The Inspiron Mini will include a link to a Dell home page on Box.net, for an easy way to add additional online storage space for photos, videos music and documents. Read more

Traveling the world? Soon you will be able to stay connected globally with Dell’s next-generation laptops that will support mobile broadband on multiple cellular networks.

U.S.-based travelers who connect their laptops via EV-DO carrier networks (like Verizon Wireless or Sprint), will be able to connect via HSPA carrier networks (like Vodafone), a wireless standard commonly found in Europe. Today customers who wish to connect to both types of networks must use two different mobile broadband cards.

Dell’s next-generation laptops, available later this year, will support a single-card 3G network connection through Qualcomm’s Gobi solution. The software-configurable technology enables high-speed data connectivity on both UMTS and CDMA networks, and allows users to switch between network carriers. The built-in Gobi solution will be offered across Latitude, Dell Precision, and consumer laptops. Read more

At the Macworld Conference & Expo 2008, Apple just announced MacBook Air, the world’s thinnest notebook. MacBook Air measures only .16-inches at its thinnest point, while its maximum height of 0.76-inches is less than the thinnest point on competing notebooks. MacBook Air features a 13.3-inch LED-backlit widescreen display, a full-size and backlit keyboard, a built-in iSight video camera, and a trackpad with multi-touch gesture support so users can pinch, rotate and swipe. MacBook Air is powered by a 1.6 GHz or 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB L2 cache, and includes as standard features 2GB of memory, an 80GB 1.8-inch hard drive, and the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi technology and Bluetooth 2.1.

Also available is the MacBook Air SuperDrive, a compact external drive for $99. The MacBook Air SuperDrive is powered by MacBook Air’s USB port, eliminating the need to carry a separate power adapter. Many MacBook Air users will not find a need for an optical drive now that they can wirelessly rent movies from the iTunes Store, wirelessly backup files with Time Capsule and access the optical drives on remote PCs or Macs to wirelessly install software. Read more