Bamboo-bodied Asus notebooks available for preorder

If you have a thing for wood-garnished electronics, you'll be pleased to know that Asus finally plans to open shipments on its long-anticipated bamboo-encased notebooks. Two of the company's bamboo notebooks – the U43F and U43JC – are now readily available for preorder via Best Buy, with an ETA of late July, early August. The first is priced at $950, while the second is $1,000.

The least expensive model features a 14-inch LED-backlit display, a 2.26GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, 640GB of storage, and a DVD burner. Rather than rough it with Intel's integrated graphics, the pricier U43JC has a 1GB Nvidia GeForce 310M with Optimus technology. Although some people can get by without discrete graphics, for an extra $50 it seems silly not to opt for the U43JC.

Both units weigh about five pounds and have gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n, three USB 2.0 ports, HDMI-out, up to five hours of life, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

Gateway preps 11.6" LT32 netbook with AMD CPU, graphics

HP's not the only one showing the Althon Neo some love, with Gateway adding a new AMD-powered ultraportable to its growing roster of notebooks. The Acer subsidiary has announced its 11.6-inch LT32 netbook, which bears a striking resemblance to the Pavilion dm1z HP slipped out today.

It too packs a 1366x768 screen, a single-core Athlon Neo II K125, an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4225 IGP, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, and the typical array of connectivity, including mobile broadband and HDMI for 1080p output – just as you'd expect from a so-called "ultra-mobile entertainment powerhouse."

The LT32 isn't all about consuming high-def media, though. It's at least partly aimed at Web socialites, with a function key providing quick access to social networking services like Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr. It also has an "HD webcam" versus the dm1z's VGA camera, which could be useful for video-conferencing.

Gateway has priced the LT32 at $450, but the company has yet to disclose a ship date.

HP quietly intros AMD-based variant of Pavilion dm1

HP quietly welcomed a new AMD-based offshoot of the Paviliom dm1 to its online store today, which starts at $450 and scales beyond a grand depending on the configuration. The base Pavilion dm1z includes an 11.6-inch 1366x768 LED-backlit display, an Athlon II Neo K125 1.7GHz with Mobility Radeon HD 4225 integrated graphics (capable of 1080p playback), 2GB of DDR3 RAM, a 320GB 7200RPM HDD, and Windows 7 Home Premium x64.

Optionally, you can outfit the system with a dual-core Athlon II Neo K325 or Turion II Neo K625, 3GB or 5GB of memory, up to a 500GB HDD or 128GB SSD, an external Blu-ray reader, Bluetooth, WWAN via Verizon, AT&T or Sprint, and Windows 7 Professional. Universal specs include a webcam, a mic, three USB 2.0 ports, VGA and HDMI output, a 5-in-1 card reader, Ethernet, 802.11n wireless, and a 6-cell battery offering 5 to 7 hours of battery life.

Samsung's new Q-series notebooks headed to the US

Previously announced for the UK, Samsung has confirmed that its three new Q-series notebooks, the 13.3-inch Q330, 14-inch Q430 and 15.6-inch Q530, will also reach international markets. All of the systems are geared toward multimedia playback and feature LED-backlit 1366x768 displays, Intel Core i3 and i5 processors (2.13GHz to 2.4GHz), up to 4GB of RAM, 320 to 500GB of storage, and Bluetooth 3.0.

Both the flagship 15.6-incher and mid-sized model are outfitted with an Nvidia GeForce GT 330M graphics chip and are mostly identical apart from size. The Q330 has 3GB of RAM, a GeForce 310M and appears to be the only one with Nvidia's Optimus graphics switching solution. Systems weigh between 1.97 and 2.39kg and they all have around 6 to 7 hours of plug-free usage.

Pricing is expected to start at £599 (the equivalent of about $900), and units should be in stock at some point this month. It seems Best Buy already has a version of the Q430 available for $800, although it features a GeForce 310M instead of the GT 330M that's mentioned in Samsung's press release.

HP Mini 110, 210 HD quietly upgraded with new Atom CPUs

HP has quietly updated a couple of its netbooks today, adding newer Intel Atom chips and more. Both the HP Mini 110 and Mini 210 HD have received the 1.66GHz Atom N455 and the 1.83GHz N475 as processor options. Interestingly, the Mini 110 seems to be equipped with 1GB of DDR2 system memory (you can swap it for a 2GB stick on your own) instead of taking advantage of the new Atom's DDR3 support, while the Mini HD 210 lists 1GB or 2GB of DDR3 RAM.

The Mini 110 starts at $280 and has a 10.1-inch 1024x600 LED-backlit display, 160GB or 250GB of storage, a webcam and mic, wireless n, optional mobile broadband, a three or six-cell battery, Windows XP SP3 or Windows 7 Starter. At a pricier $330 base, the Mini 210 HD adds a Broadcom Crystal HD accelerator, a 1366x768 display, an embedded GPS module with HP Navigator software, Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit, and more colors.

MSI announces Wind U135DX netbook with Atom N455

MSI has announced the arrival of its new Wind U135DX netbook, which appears to recycle much of the Wind U135's external design, except for the "all new Color Film Print coating" and a 20% wider touchpad. Internally, the new unit supports DDR3 memory thanks to the use of Intel's 1.66GHz Atom N455 processor.

It also comes equipped with a 10-inch 1024x600 LED-backlit display, up to 2GB of RAM occupying a single memory slot, a 160GB hard drive, a 0.3-megapixel webcam, a three or six-cell battery, and Windows 7 Starter. I/O includes a 4-in-1 card reader (SD, MMC, MS, MS Pro), VGA-out, three USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, and audio jacks.

MSI says the Wind U135DX has a maximum battery life of around seven hours, and if you're not concerned about runtime, it features the company's TDE turbo drive overclocking technology.

Acer ships dual-core AMD Turion II ultraportable to the U.S.

Looking for an ultraportable system packing a bit more power than your average netbook but at an affordable price tag? The new Acer Aspire 1551 might be right up your alley. Externally, the laptop looks a lot like Acer's Intel-based 1810 Timeline, measuring 11.22 x 8.03 x 1.01 inches with an 11.6" screen, but inside there's a dual-core AMD Turion II K625 processor running at 1.5GHz, alongside 4GB of RAM and an M880G chipset with Radeon HD 4225 integrated graphics.

The K625 CPU is part of AMD's new Nile platform, which is manufactured using 45nm process technology and has a fairly low 15W thermal envelope. Other specs include a 320GB hard drive, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, three USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, multi-card reader, 1.3MP webcam, a 6-cell battery and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

The Acer Aspire 1551 is available for $550 on Newegg. A lower-end model sporting a 1.3GHz AMD Athlon II Neo K325 processor, 3GB of memory and a 250GB hard drive is also available for $480.

Sony adds new signature VAIOs for Summer 2010 Collection

Sony has kicked off the warm season by flooding the North American market with 10 new Signature Collection products, including an upgraded version of the newly redesigned 8-inch VAIO P. The VPC-P118KX/B packs a zestier 2.0GHz Intel Atom Z550 processor, a higher capacity 256GB SSD, both GPS and Verizon mobile broadband, colors have been restricted to only black, and the asking price is $1,500.

The summer 2010 collection also includes an updated version of the 11.1-inch Black Carbon X, which also sells for $1,500 with the same specs as the VAIO P except with 128GB of storage. The Glossy Premium Carbon X seems to feature a higher quality finish for another $100.

Meanwhile, VAIO Metal Shield Z costs $2,020 and has a 13.1-inch screen, a 2.4GHz Core i5, 4GB of RAM, two 128GB SSDs, an Nvidia GeForce GT 330M, and Verizon mobile broadband. This can be increased to an i7-620M, 8GB of RAM, two 256GB SSDs, a Blu-ray burner, and a 1080p display for $4,170.

The Glossy Premium Carbon Z includes those higher end specs outright as well as a carbon finish and Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit for a hefty $4,800.

The black, pink and gold iterations of the 14-inch Arabesque are identical apart from color. Pricing starts at $920, which gets you a 2.26 i3-350M, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB HDD, and a DVD drive. Optionally, you can install an i5-520M, i5-540M, 6GB or 8GB of RAM, a 500GB HDD, and a Blu-ray drive.

The Black F and White J are the final two systems in the collection. The former is a well-stocked 16.4-inch notebook priced at $2,300, while the latter is a $1,550 all-in-one touchscreen desktop. All of the mentioned systems are either already shipping or will begin to do so tomorrow, June 25.

Maingear launches eX-L 17 desktop replacement notebook

Custom PC builder Maingear has launched a new 17-inch desktop replacement notebook, fully equipped with today's finest hardware. There are three base models of the eX-L 17, one which uses an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870, another with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 480M, and the last uses an Nvidia Quadro FX 2800M. All of the systems come with your choice of five laser-etched designs and are priced at $1,900, $2,500 and $3,000, respectively.

Besides the GPU, little if anything else varies between each model. They're all available with a 17.3-inch 1080p display, five Core i5 and i7 processors (i5-520M through the i7-820QM), 4GB or 8GB of DDR3 1333MHz RAM, up to two mechanical (750GB max) or solid-state storage (512GB max) drives, a DVD burner or Blu-ray reader, a 2.0-megapixel webcam, and Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate 64-bit.

There is one thing that differs between the machines, which is that only the GTX 480M version comes with USB 3.0 ports. Other connectivity includes HDMI and DVI-out, IEEE-1394 Firewire, eSATA, S/PDIF-out, a 7-in-1 card reader, an ExpressCard 34/54 slot, a 56k modem, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, as well as audio jacks. All three variants of the eX-L 17 are available right now with an estimated ship date of July 7.

Gateway intros new thin ID notebooks, revamped LT netbooks

Gateway (subsidiary of Acer) has launched its "uber-chic" ID notebook series, which comes in 14-inch or 15.6-inch iterations. The ID49 and ID59 start at $680 and $800, and feature an inch-thick aluminum housing along with an aqua-blue touchpad that glows when touched, and a "social networking button" for quick access to your Facebook, YouTube and Flickr accounts.

Other common specs include an LED-backlit (1366x768) display, an Intel Core i3 or i5 processor, up to 8GB of RAM, an optional Nvidia GeForce GT 330M GPU with Optimus graphics switching technology, up to 500GB of storage space, a DVD burner, a multi-card reader, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, gigabit Ethernet, and 802.11b/g/n wireless connectivity.

In conjunction with the launch of its new ID laptops, Gateway has redesigned its LT netbook line. The 10.1-inch LT23 netbook series boasts an aesthetic refresh, Intel's Atom N450 processor, up to 250GB of storage, has the above-mentioned social networking buttons, provides eight hours of battery life if you're lucky, and starts at $330.

Acer expands Aspire line with budget, multimedia notebooks

Ever determined to supplant HP in the PC market, Acer unleashed a volley of Aspire notebooks today, ranging from budget to full-bore multimedia machines. Starting at $700, the 15.6-inch Aspire AS5745 and 17.3-inch AS7745 make use of Intel's Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, up to 16GB of RAM with all four slots populated, 250GB to 500GB of storage, and some carry Blu-ray drives.

The AS5745 can be had with Nvidia's GeForce GT 330M, while the AS7745's secondary drive bay can be occupied by another 500GB HDD, and it uses ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 for discrete graphics. Iterations with hardware such as i7 processors, dedicated graphics, secondary storage and Blu-ray drives run upward of a grand. A sub-model, the AS5745PG starts at $900 and features a multi-touch display.

If you're more the AMD type, Acer has also announced various value-based Aspire notebooks with the underdog's Phenom II, Athlon II, Turion II, and V series chips. Naturally, those processors are paired with ATI graphics solutions, including the Mobility Radeon HD 4250 IGP, as well as HD 5470 and 5650 discrete GPUs. The AMD-powered offerings are due to launch later this month and top out at $900.

In addition to expanding its mainstream Aspire line, the company is now shipping the 18.4-inch Aspire 8943G and the upgraded ultraportable TimelineX series to US customers.

Dell introduces new Inspiron R series laptops

Dell has updated its media-centric Inspiron R notebook series today with flashy new paint jobs and a few improvements under the hood. The lineup has mainly the same internals as existing models, with Core i3 and Core i5 processors, but Dell has also thrown in Intel Wireless Display as an option. We saw the technology in action back in January at CES, and though it had its limitations, it's still a very interesting and hassle-free approach to outputting PC to TV wirelessly.

The R series comes in 14, 15 and 17-inch varieties sporting a glossy and metallic-looking finish in black, blue, red, or pink hues. Prices start at $479 for a base model with an Intel Pentium P6000 processor and 2GB DDR3 memory. As usual you can configure its internals to your heart's content, though -- including adding up to 8GB DDR3 RAM, up to a 640GB hard drive, and ATI Mobility Radeon HD graphics with 1GB video memory.

Other features include 802.11n wireless networking, a webcam, Bluetooth, two or three USB ports (depending on the model), an eSATA / USB 2.0 combo port, 6-cell battery and optional Blu-ray optical drive. The Inspiron R also has forward-positioned hinge, like the last batch of Mini 10 netbooks, which allows you to open the display further than before and gives the laptop a uniform thickness. The new Inspiron R series is available today at retail and on Dell.com.

Toshiba celebrates laptop milestone with new models

Toshiba is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its first laptop with a second wave of mobile releases this month, following the various new models that we detailed a week ago including their first 3D-capable Satellite notebook. Two of the most interesting releases of the day are new Portege R700 13-inch thin and light system and the eye-catching new Libretto W100 UMPC that sports dual 7-inch multitouch screens.

The Libretto W100 is expected to become available in August, powered by a 1.2GHz Intel Pentium U5400 processor, 2GB RAM and a 64GB solid-state drive running Windows 7 Home Premium. The W100's dual 1024 x 600-resolution touchscreen design reminds us of Microsoft's Courier concept that was recently cancelled. The Libretto will carry a built-in sensor so that the dual screens can be used in both horizontal and vertical positions. One of the screens can also act as a full keyboard with haptic feedback. For those of you thinking running Windows 7 is going to be too painful on such a small footprint, an Android-based device is also being announced today. The AC100 netbook will use a Nvidia Tegra 250 processor, 512MB RAM and 10.1-inch LED-backlit display, claiming instant on boot ups and an eight hour battery life.

Finally, the Portege R700 is a customizable 13.3-inch ultraportable that can pack quite the horsepower for the size. Choose from an Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 CPU, hard drive or SSD, an optical drive comes standard, multiple USB ports, multitouch trackpad and HDMI support. The Portege R700's pricing can range from $999 to over $1700 depending on features chosen.

Acer intros new Intel and AMD-based netbooks

Acer launched a pair of updated Aspire One netbooks yesterday to include better graphics and -- for the first time -- AMD processors. The 10.1-inch AO521 and 11.6-inch AO721 both use the 1.7GHz Athlon II Neo K125, a single core chip with 1MB of Level 2 cache and an 800MHz bus, as well as the Radeon HD 4225 integrated chipset with 384MB of dedicated memory and a 250GB 5,400RPM hard drive to store data on.

Either should be about under an inch thick and weight around 3 pounds with the six-cell battery installed. The main difference, besides screen size obviously, is with the installed operating system and included memory. Whereas the 10.1-inch AO521 is limited to 1GB of RAM and Windows 7 Starter, the larger model packs 2GB of RAM and Windows 7 Home Premium. It also includes a standard full-size keyboard rather than a 93-percent sized keyboard on the former.

In terms of connectivity, both netbooks will get you 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Ethernet LAN and Bluetooth, as well as a webcam and digital microphone for video conferencing, and an HDMI-out port for connecting to an HDTV. These AMD-powered netbooks will reportedly start shipping today ship today at prices of $350 for the AOD521 and $430 for the AOD721.

For those Intel fans out there Acer also announced the Aspire One AOD260 and Aspire One AO533 with Intel Atom processors. The first is a slim model with a patterned look and a just over 2.4-pound weight. It carries the 1.66GHz Atom N450 processor, while the AO533 is just a bit heavier and features the newer 1.83GHz Atom N475. Both will be available later in the month, priced at just $298 for the AOD260 and $330 for the AOD533.

Toshiba intros new NB250 netbook, updates the NB305

Toshiba's really cranking out the hardware this week, now launching the new 10.1-inch Mini NB250 netbook as well as updating the NB305's firepower. The company says it designed the NB250 to be "as easy on the budget as it is to carry" – and at $299, it is quite wallet-friendly.

Key specs don't drift far from the norm, and both clamshells pack a similar kit: an LED-backlit 1024x600 display, a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455, up to a gig of DDR3 RAM, up to a 250GB HDD, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, a couple USB 2.0 ports, and a three or six-cell battery. Both ship with the Windows 7 Starter, although it appears XP is also an option for the NB305.

Priced at $379, the NB305 has a few niceties absent on the NB250. For instance, one of its USB ports supports Sleep-and-Charge, it has Bluetooth 2.1 and mobile broadband connectivity, a 3D impact sensor for data protection, and stereo speakers. It's also more efficient, boasting 11 hours of life on a six-cell battery versus the NB250's 8.5 hours.

The NB250 will be available this summer in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, but a release date for North America isn't clear.

Lenovo intros 3D-equipped IdeaPad Y560d

On the brink of 3D mania, Lenovo is hoping to ride the wave of consumers looking to invest in extra-dimensional visuals with the launch of its first 3D laptop. The 15.6-inch IdeaPad Y560d has a 1366x768 display capable of churning out 3D imagery (requires glasses, which are included) and hardware options include up to an Intel Core i7-940QM processor, a 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730, up to 8GB DDR3 RAM, and 250GB to 750GB of storage.

A range of other Core i3 and i5 CPUs are also listed, you can toss in a 32GB or 64GB SSD boot drive alongside the standard HDD, and the Y560d can be configured with a Blu-ray drive. Other specs include a 6-in-1 card reader, a 34mm ExpressCard slot, three Mini PCIe slots, three USB 2.0 ports (one eSATA combo), VGA and HDMI-out, gigabit Ethernet, wireless n, a 1.3MP webcam, a six-cell battery, and your choice of Windows 7 Basic, Premium or Professional.

The IdeaPad Y560d will be available through Lenovo's website by the end of the month with a base price of $1,200.

Eurocom ships 18.4" Fermi-equipped X8100 Leopard laptop

If you have deep pockets and a fondness for speedy mobile silicon, Eurocom began shipping its X8100 Leopard gaming/workstation-grade notebook earlier this week. We mentioned the Leopard along with several of its siblings back in early May when it was discovered that they (optionally) employed a mobile iteration Nvidia's Fermi GPU.

The Leopard is highly configurable and the base machine starts at $2,299, which nets you an 18.4-inch 1680x945 display, a 1.60GHz Intel Core i7-720QM, a 1GB GeForce GTX 280M or Radeon Mobility HD 5870, 4GB of DDR3 1333MHz RAM, 250GB of storage, and a DVD burner. Naturally, 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth, HDMI output (and input, interestingly), DVI, USB 2.0 and eSATA are also present.

The premium menu consists of a 1080p display, a 2.13GHz i7-940XM, a 2GB GeForce GTX 480M (Fermi) and dual-GPUs with the GTX 280M or HD 5870, 8GB of RAM, up to 2.6TB of storage via quad-HDDs (not to mention various SSD and RAID options), and a Blu-ray burner. A maxed-out X8100 breaks $10k barrier, and the machine truly beckons those with an insatiable thirst for all things "extreme."

We're all aware of Fermi's appetite for electricity, and the X8100 ships with a measly four-cell battery, which ought to give you just enough time to scramble for the wall outlet should the Leopard ever come unplugged. Also, the system weighs over 12lbs (or more than half a dozen Sony VAIO X notebooks). Hop on over to the product page for more information.

Toshiba refreshes notebook lineup, ships 3D model to US

Toshiba refreshed its notebook lineup this morning, adding various new models as well as polishing some existing offerings. Most of the new units are standard fare, but a few stand out: the 3D-capable Satellite A665 and the Optimus-equipped M645.

Packing a 15.6-inch 120Hz display, the A665 can handle stereoscopic 3D via Nvidia's 3D Vision kit and features an Intel Core i7-740QM processor, an Nvidia GeForce GTS 350M graphics chip, 4GB of RAM, a 640GB HDD, a Blu-ray player, and a 12-cell battery. Pricing starts at about $1,600 for the 3D iteration, but if you've already dismissed 3D media as a fad, other A66x-series notebooks start as low as $799.

The 14-inch M645 is a scaled down build of the A665 with a wide range of CPU options, including Core i3, i5 and i7 chips as well as AMD's Phenom II Quad Core processors. It uses Nvidia's Optimus GPU switching technology to auto-toggle between the GeForce 310M or 330M and the IGP. Other specs include a Blu-ray drive, a 7200RPM HDD, and the connectivity we've all come to expect.

The M645 has a base MSRP of $730 and both above-mentioned notebooks are expected to be available through retailers, e-tailers and Toshiba's own online store come June 20.

MSI intros 14-inch AMD Vision-based notebook, CX410

MSI has added the CX410, a new AMD-based machine, to its Classic notebook series. The matte black 14-incher carries a 1366x768 LED-backlit display, and it's powered by AMD's Vision (Danube) platform, complete with an unspecified Athlon II dual-core processor and an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 545v graphics chip with 512MB of GDDR3 VRAM.

The notebook supports up to 8GB of DDR3 1066MHz RAM spread across two slots, but there's no mention of how much comes preinstalled. Inside, you'll also find a 250GB, 320GB or 500GB hard drive, a 4-in-1 (MS, SD, MMC, MS Pro) card reader, HDMI and VGA outputs, three USB 2.0 ports, audio jacks, wired and wireless network connectivity, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, and a 0.3-megapixel webcam.

Total system weight amounts to less than 2.2kg (under 5lbs) with a six-cell battery, and the CX410 features MSI's "exclusive ECO engine power saving technology" with five power profiles: Gaming, Movie, Presentation, Office, and Turbo Battery. Word is mum on pricing and availability.

Archos 13 ultra-portable with dual-core Atom now available

Archos is now readily welcoming orders via its online French store for its new Archos 13. Priced at €399.98 (~$480), the ultra-thin treads dangerously close to being cast aside as "yet another Atom-based netbook," but it doesn't come without a few perks. For starters, the 13.3-inch (1366x768) display is a bit larger than you'd expect from a netbook, and the system packs a dual-core Atom D510 processor, which is typically reserved for compact desktops.

Other specs include 1GB of system memory, a 160GB hard drive, a 1.3-megapixel camera, 10/100 Ethernet, an integrated modem, wireless b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, VGA output (no HDMI), three USB 2.0 ports, an MMC/SD/SDHC card reader, and audio jacks. Unfortunately, there's no HD-capable graphics, such as Nvidia's Ion or even a decoder chip from Broadcom. With a six-cell battery the machine weighs about 3.5lbs, measures just over an inch thick, and runs Windows 7 Starter.