Acer intros Aspire R7, a laptop with an adjustable display like an all-in-one

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Acer intros Aspire R7, a laptop with an adjustable display like an all-in-one (update: video)" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/tmo0014dsc09005inline-1367592747.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">When Acer plans a global press event, asking journalists to fly in from twelve time zones away, you know it's going to announce more than just some back-to-school PCs. The company<span> just announced the Aspire R7, a 15-inch laptop whose display sits on a flexible "Ezel" hinge, allowing it to be pushed up and back so that it lies nearly flat -- yep, just like an all-in-one desktop. Similar to the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga line, too, you can flip the screen all the way back so that it faces away from the keyboard, a feature that seems especially well-suited for giving presentations.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span>In terms of specs, Acer is being a little cagey, but we have learned the R7 has a 15.6-inch, 1080p display with a choice of Core i5 and i7 processors. The whole thing weighs in the neighborhood of five and a half pounds. Also confirmed: it's up for pre-order now for $999, available exclusively at Best Buy in the US. We're told it will ship May 17th. In the meantime, we've got hands-on photos below, and we'll very shortly be adding some first impressions after the break.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">As weird as the R7 looks, it's in many ways just another Windows 8 slider -- just bigger with a hinge design we haven't really seen used on a notebook before. Still, the R7 appears to present many of the same advantages and disadvantages as other sliders we've seen: despite being a reasonably large machine, it's keyboard is about as cramped as what you'd find on a much smaller PC. That's because when the display is propped up, it eats up at least half the available deck space.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Giving credit where it's due, though, the backlit keys at least have a pleasantly soft finish, and feel nice to type on. But all these things are trade-offs, right? In exchange for the squat keyboard you get a display with truly adjustable screen angles -- something we can't say about other sliders we've tested. Also, we'll go on record saying that this is one of the smoothest, most controlled hinges we've ever encountered -- not just on slider convertibles, but on desktops, too. The question, we suppose is: how badly do you need a table-top display that you'd be willing to compromise on the typing experience?</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Terrence O'Brien contributed to this report.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><strong>Update: </strong>We've updated this post with some key specs, along with hands-on photos.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><strong>Update #2</strong>: We've confirmed the price is $999 in the US. And it will ship May 17th, not the 14th.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>

Acer intros Aspire R7, a laptop with an adjustable display like an all-in-one

When Acer plans a global press event, asking journalists to fly in from twelve time zones away, you know it's going to announce more t...

مزيد من المعلومات »

Samsung Series 9 Premium with Intel Core i7 and 1080p display available now for $1,400

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Samsung Series 9" data-src-height="302" data-src-width="600" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc01822-copy-1341503607.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Last month, Samsung outed an update to the 13-inch Series 9 that saw its 1,600 x 900 LCD display replaced with the glory of full 1080p. And starting today, that Windows 8 Ultrabook is going on sale with pretty much the same internal configuration it had in a previous, less Premium life -- save for the 2GHz Core i7 inside. For a cool $1,400, you're looking at 4GB of RAM, an integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 GPU, WiFi a/b/g/n and a 128GB SSD all neatly packed into an aluminum unibody design. So, you can do your eyes a favor (and your wallet some significant damage) by trading up now. Or stick with what you've got. Don't worry, if they don't ask, you don't have to tell Intel.</div><div class="pr_box_button" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Hide Press Release</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <strong>SAMSUNG SERIES 9 PREMIUM ULTRABOOK WITH FULL HD RESOLUTION<br /> NOW AVAILABLE</strong><br /> <br /> Laptop features 13.3-inch full HD display, Intel® Core™ i7 processor<br /> and 128GB SSD*<br /> Overview:</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Samsung Electronics America, Inc. today announced availability of the Series 9 Premium Ultrabook with Full HD (1920x1080) resolution. The laptop is available now for an MSRP of $1,399.99.<br /> <br /> Series 9 Features:</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Brilliant Screen Quality<br /> In addition to Full HD resolution, the Series 9 features a Samsung SuperBright™ display (300 nit), making it up to twice as bright as standard notebook screens. The Series 9 reproduces up to 16 million colors, making it ideal for viewing photos and videos. The wide viewing angle and matte display allow users to appreciate the rich picture quality in all lighting conditions, both inside and out.<br /> <br /> Striking Design<br /> Weighing only 2.5 pounds and measuring just a half inch thin, the Series 9 can effortlessly be carried anywhere. The build is nearly seamless, using an aluminum single shell body and featuring the well-known Series 9 hallmark polished edge. Key components such as the display panel, keyboard, motherboard, cables, fans and battery have been customized with precision to fit into the Series 9's ultra-thin body. Additionally, the Series 9 has been sand-blasted for fingerprint resistance, keeping it pristine at all times.<br /> <br /> Powerful Performance<br /> Powerful internal components, including an Intel® Core™ i7 processor and 128GB SSD*, ensure rapid startup and load times that enable users to access their content and applications nearly instantly.<br /> <br /> The Series 9 features Samsung's Fast Solutions technology, allowing the laptop to boot in less than 10 seconds and resume from sleep nearly instantly, allowing users to rapidly pick up where they last left off.<br /> <br /> The Series 9 also features an integrated Intel® HD Graphics 4000 chipset which, when combined with the Full HD screen, makes this the ultimate laptop for consuming multimedia.<br /> <br /> For maximum on-the-go connectivity, the Series 9 offers up to 5.8 hours (Mobile Mark 2012) of battery life, so users can stay powered all day without needing to seek out a power source. The combination of Samsung's PowerPlus charging technology and an advanced Lithium-Polymer battery gives the Series 9 battery a lifespan that is up to three times longer than a conventional battery.</div></div>

Samsung Series 9 Premium with Intel Core i7 and 1080p display available now for $1,400

Last month, Samsung outed an update to the 13-inch Series 9 that saw its 1,600 x 900 LCD display replaced with the glory of full 1080p. An...

مزيد من المعلومات »

Toshiba's Portege Z10t detachable Ultrabook debuts at IDF

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Toshiba's upcoming detachable Ultrabook debuts at IDF 2013 Beijing handson" data-src-height="340" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/toshiba-detachable-idf-2013.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Right after Intel's somewhat mundane announcement of the Ultrabook Convertible and Ultrabook Detachable sub-brands at IDF in Beijing, SVP Kirk Skaugen surprised us by whipping out an unnamed laptop coming from Toshiba, so we jumped onto the stage to get a sniff of the only two units at the venue. Judging by the looks of it, we're confident that this is actually the Portege Z10t that hit the FCC last month -- the vents, camera and logo on the back match those in the drawing (embedded after the break) filed in the application.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="Gallery Image" height="426" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc0332.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="426" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/toshiba-detachable-idf-2013-2013-04-10-3.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="426" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/toshiba-detachable-idf-2013-2013-04-10-4.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="424" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/toshiba-detachable-idf-2013-2013-04-10-5.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="424" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/toshiba-detachable-idf-2013-2013-04-10-6.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="424" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/toshiba-detachable-idf-2013-2013-04-10-7.jpg" width="640" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> As you can see, unlike Toshiba's previous Windows 8 convertible laptop, this second attempt is a detachable and features an absurdly large hinge sleeve, with the small release mechanism positioned in the middle of the hinge. The keyboard looks pretty slim in most parts, yet it also packs a backlit keyboard plus both a trackpad and a pointing stick; and most importantly, overall the docked device doesn't seem to be top-heavy. The 10-inch tablet itself also comes with a few handy ports, including a USB 3.0 port, a micro-HDMI socket and a full-size SD card slot, all located on the right-hand side along with the power socket, volume rocker, headphone jack and power button.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> The reps from both Intel and Toshiba were rather tight-lipped about this elusive device (the latter even said his folks have yet to come up with a name), so all we know is that this is powered by an Ivy Bridge processor (with vPro embedded security options) and it'll be available in Q2 this year. As always, stay tuned here for the eventual announcement.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Toshiba's Portege Z10t detachable Ultrabook debuts at IDF handson" data-src-height="438" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/toshiba-portege-z10t-fcc.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></div></div>

Toshiba's Portege Z10t detachable Ultrabook debuts at IDF

Right after Intel's somewhat mundane announcement of the Ultrabook Convertible and Ultrabook Detachable sub-brands at IDF in Beijing,...

مزيد من المعلومات »

How would you change Samsung's Series 9

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="copy post-body" dir="ltr" itemprop="text" style="text-align: left;"> <div class="image-container" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Samsung Series 9 review 13inch, mid2012" height="399" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/07/dsc01791-copy-1341503152.jpg" width="600" /></div>It's not that many devices that we ever really go to bat for, but Samsung's Series 9 Ultrabook has a small place in our heart. When we reviewed the mid-2012 refresh, we could only find a few problems -- the flaky trackpad, the limited storage options and the fact it was a bit on the pricey side. We've known for a while that Samsung's product engineers scour your comments for useful suggestions, so if you bought one of these, why not share your experiences with 'em?<br /> </div></div>

How would you change Samsung's Series 9

It's not that many devices that we ever really go to bat for, but Samsung's Series 9 Ultrabook has a small place in our heart. Wh...

مزيد من المعلومات »

MSI Slidebook S20 review: MSI's flagship Windows 8 Ultrabook has a flawed design

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="MSI Slidebook S20 review: MSI's flagship Windows 8 Ultrabook has a flawed design" data-src-height="410" data-src-width="617" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc05596-1364496297.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> If you've been following our reviews of Windows 8 laptops, you know we haven't been too kind to the slider form factor. It's not like we set out to pan these machines, but time and again we've found that the propped-up display ruins the typing experience. Keep that in mind as we begin our review of the Slidebook S20, MSI's flagship Win 8 device, priced at $1,200 in the US. It's a bold move from a company whose bread and butter is not ultraportables, but gaming systems. In fact, the 11.6-inch S20 is the outfit's <em>only</em> high-end Windows 8 Ultrabook. So the company must have quite a bit of confidence in that form factor, then, if it didn't bother with dockable tablets or some other kind of convertible design. Could that mean the S20 has something all the others don't?</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="DNP MSI Slider S20 review MSI's flagship Windows 8 Ultrabook has a flawed design" data-src-height="410" data-src-width="617" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc05598-1364496359.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Though we're not normally into sliders, the S20's display, ironically enough, might be our favorite thing about it. For starters, it comes stacked with excellent credentials: IPS technology for wide viewing angles, with 1,920 x 1,080 pixels crammed into an 11.6-inch panel (talk about dense). Just as important, though, MSI did a very smart thing in making the screen angle adjustable -- something you won't find on other sliders, or most dockable tablets, for that matter.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> The S20 has two speakers, each located on the bottom side, though not in any sort of symmetrical arrangement. Despite the asymmetry there, the soundstage feels balanced -- until we went hunting for the speakers, we weren't sure exactly where the audio was coming from. And that's a good thing: no one wants to watch a movie with the sensation that all the explosions and sound effects are coming from somewhere on the left. I also found that although the speakers sit on the underside of the device, the sound didn't really get muffled when listening to music with the laptop in my lap. As you can imagine, the quality itself is a bit tinny, but it's no worse than most other laptops we've tested. Keep the volume somewhere short of the top level, and you should get by without much distortion.</div></div>

MSI Slidebook S20 review: MSI's flagship Windows 8 Ultrabook has a flawed design

If you've been following our reviews of Windows 8 laptops, you know we haven't been too kind to the slider form factor. It's ...

مزيد من المعلومات »

Lenovo ThinkPad Helix slated for April release in the US

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="copy post-body" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><div class="image-container" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Lenovo's ThinkPad Helix slated for April release in the US" data-src-height="412" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/thinkpadhelix.jpg" /></div>Lenovo's still being vague about a release date for its ThinkPad Helix, but it's at least narrowed down the retail window somewhat. Though the 11.6-inch, 1080p Ultrabook had already been officially delayed and marked for a Spring release, the company is now confirming via its Twitter account that consumers can look for it to launch sometime in April. That's specifically for the US market, as no other word on overseas availability has been announced. When it does finally go on sale stateside, look for the reversible Windows 8 device to carry a $1,499 price tag and potential AT&T-friendly LTE.</div></div>

Lenovo ThinkPad Helix slated for April release in the US

Lenovo's still being vague about a release date for its ThinkPad Helix, but it's at least narrowed down the retail window somewhat. ...

مزيد من المعلومات »