A look at Samsung's Series 5 550 Chromebook

Indeed, the name "Chromebook" comes from the fact that the laptop is running the so-called Chrome OS - basically an embedded version of Google's Chrome Web browser. If you've used the Chrome browser on Windows or Mac, you know that it asks you to log in, and then it syncs your bookmarks, Google identity, Google Docs, and Google Drive files. The Chromebook works the same way, except there's no way out of that browser. Apps can run on a Chromebook, but they're Web apps; they load through the browser.

That's not to say the Chromebook can't do anything offline: it can read files and play movies and music anytime. And Chrome OS has gotten better at file compatibility PowerPoint, Word docs, Excel files, ZIP files, and PDFs all load well and look great. You can't edit documents without first uploading to Google Docs, though. Photos can be viewed and even lightly edited with brightness and contrast adjustments, rotation, and cropping. The files can be resaved or uploaded to Picasa.

Our experience with the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook last year left us underwhelmed: it had smoothly running hardware and a clean operating system, but with such a limited set of uses compared with Windows, a high sticker price of over $400, and the requirement of being online to use most apps like Google Docs, the Chromebook didn't add up to a logical choice for anyone other than a Google cloud devotee. A year later, the new Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550 has slightly improved hardware and improved Chrome OS software, but its price - a whopping $449, or $549 with a Verizon 3G wireless antenna - is flat-out crazy.

Here's the biggest problem with the Chromebook: the hardware's fine, and the simplified Web-based OS is clever, and even versatile if you don't mind its limitations. Still, it's a radically reduced subset of what you can get on a Windows or Mac laptop...or even an iPad or Android tablet, for that matter. Yet, it costs more than a new iPad 2, a thinner, keyboard-enabled Android tablet like the Asus Transformer Pad, or a fully featured 11-inch ultraportable laptop like the AMD-powered HP dm1z. If the Chromebook were $99, this could have been a revolutionary product. As it currently stands, it's merely an invitation to pay a lot of money to be part of a Google experiment.

Google New Chrome Box hurdles Apple Mac Mini

Google Chromebox challenges Apple Mac Mini. Google has launched a New Chromebook laptop and a new, Mac Mini-style Chromebox that it hopes will boost its Chrome OS operating system.  The devices both use the latest version of Chrome OS, the expanded version of Google's popular web browser that can power an entire new model of computer.

Chrome OS has proved popular with some educational establishments and some businesses because it is automatically upgraded to the latest version and reduces the need for IT departments to manage anti-virus systems. Despite this, the existing laptops, made by Samsung and Acer, have failed to capture the consumer imagination, and overall sales have been low.

300,000 Chromebooks offer will be sold this year, accounting for less than 1 per cent of the laptop market. The two new devices include an improved, faster laptop, the Series 5, and a smaller box that will plug into existing monitors or televisions to provide access to the latest Chrome OS on a new platform. Google's Linus Upson said the Chromebox had been developed by engineers who "wanted something to plug in to their TVs and play media through", but denied that it challenged Google's existing Google TV products.

Many users have bought Mac Mini computers as media PCs. Chrome OS currently relies heavily on a network connection, and until recently had neither a Windows-style desktop nor a file management system. Incremental upgrades have made offline access to Gmail possible, and offline access to documents is also launching soon.

A beta version is already available. Within the next two months, Google will also integrate Chrome OS with Google Drive, which it says will automatically back up all file whenever the machines can connect to the web. It has also recently added the ability to pin apps to the taskbar and to resize windows. A growing number of Chrome apps are available and Google says it is committed to reducing the limitations on what Chrome OS can do when it does not have access to the web.

The new Chromebook runs 2.5x faster than existing models, and the Chromebox runs 3.5x faster. Both models use an Intel Core processor and contain 16gb of flash memory. They will cost £379 and £279 respectively. Models from other manufacturers are also expected to be released soon. Google said Chrome OS could now open more file types than ever before, including Microsoft Office documents and PDFs, and added that the bid to sell Chromebooks would include a new push to introduce so-called 'Chromezones' in Best Buy shops across America. London's flagship brand of PC World featured Google's first retail store.

The new models will be for sale online and in store. Prices for the New Chromebook, called the Samsung Series 5 550, are similar to those for existing models. A range of analysts has suggested that Chrome could take off as a PC for those who are unfamiliar with computers, or people needing a cheap basic laptop, but stressed that the new, second generation models were still a new concept.

Apple can handle the flow rapidly than the MacBook

Apple can handle the flow rapidly than the MacBook. Apple is bumping into supply chain issues for its upcoming MacBooks, according to the folks at DigiTimes. Citing the usual "sources from the upstream supply chain," DigiTimes says that suppliers don't have enough workers to handle the stream of orders from Apple for the new MacBooks.

As such, some are even outsourcing their orders in order to meet Apple's demand for components. Factories in eastern China have already been hit by a shortage of workers, according to Taiwan-based DigiTimes. And even though May and June are traditionally slow times, Apple's need for components for the upcoming MacBooks has left suppliers in the lurch.

Despite the shortage, shipments started last month and are expected to increase in June. The new MacBooks could debut as early as July, DigiTimes noted. That timeframe ties in with a forecast from Deutsche Bank's Chris Whitmore, who expects Apple to launch a new Lion-equipped MacBook Air the same month. 16.240.000-19.200.000 unit number of MacBook shipments could reach anywhere this year, soaring 30 percent to 50 percent from a year ago, according to DigiTimes sources.

New Netbook: Lenovo Ideapad S205s

New Lenovo IdeaPad S205s netbook with up to date 4G wireless technology and you aren’t too concerned with a 2-year contract stipulation, Sprint has got the deal that you want. The deal is for the Lenovo IdeaPad S205s.

Lenovo IdeaPad S205s has 3G and 4G WiMAX potential and costs just around $200 if you sign-up for the 2-year service plan. That is an incredible deal whatever way you slice it, and even with paying for the data plan you’re still getting a great deal on the netbook.

Full specs for the S205s include an 11.6-inch, 1366 x 768 pixel display, 1.33 GHz Intel Pentium dual core U5600 processor, 2GB of DDR3 memory, and a 250GB hard drive. Software-wise, it comes with Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit. Fully charged, it holds  about five hours of battery life, so that’s plenty of time for many of your non-plugged in tasks.

And for those of you concerned about weight, it slides in at an easy 3.3 lbs. The S205 line came out in 2011 for $500 from Lenovo, but the new Sprint version has a slightly different makeup as it has an Intel processor and mobile broadband connectivity.

You should always consider data plan costs when purchasing a laptop/wireless combo, and this situation is no different. The cheapest data plan you can buy to get this deal is $49.99/month, so the full price tag for the whole two years is around $1,400. Maybe just a $299 netbook with wifi and 3G tethering will suffice.

Available for you: AMD Radeon HD 7970M

In two notebooks, AMD Radeon HD 7970M is now available and should be shipping in 2-3 weeks according to AVADirect. The HD 7970M features 1280 pixel shaders, a 256-bit memory bus, and 2GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory. It is the single fastest mobile graphics card available. 

AVADirect is currently offering it in two Clevo notebooks: The P150EM and P170EM, which have 15.6" and 17.3" screens, respectively. Pricing starts at a tad over $1,600 for both models. The HD 7970M is a $210 upgrade over the base Nvidia GeForce GTX 675M.

P150EM Product

• Item Code: NBK-CLV-P150EM
• The current gaming laptop configuration is priced at: $1597.11
• Price shown will be adjusted in the checkout with respect to shipping and taxes (where required)

P170EM Product

• Item Code: NBK-CLV-P170EM
• The current gaming laptop configuration is priced at: $1652.11
• Price shown will be adjusted in the checkout with respect to shipping and taxes (where required)

Use custom gaming laptop build configurator at the bottom of this page to upgrade or downgrade components to fit specifications into your budget and requirements.

Review: Asus All-in-One PC ET2700INKS

The good: The Asus ET2700I is unique for its 27-inch display, a fast Core i7 GPU, and a discrete Nvidia graphics chip.
The bad: Like other 27-inch Windows all-in-ones, the Asus' 1080p resolution hurts its appeal next to the higher-resolution 27-inch iMac.
The bottom line: The Asus ET2700I will meet the needs of anyone searching for a fast, large-screen all-in-one for mainstream home entertainment and general-purpose productivity.

Review: Asus All-in-One PC ET2700INKS

HP debuted the first 27-inch Windows all-in-one earlier this year. Now Asus follows suit with its ET2700I. Like HP, Asus charges a reasonable premium for its large display, asking $1,399 for a system that might otherwise cost around $1,000 with the same components and a 24-inch LCD. None of these 27-inchers has the same high resolution as Apple's large iMacs, making them a better fit as home entertainment PCs than productivity workstations. Should you choose the Asus system over the HP? If overall performance and budget gaming capability are important to you, yes.

Asus offers a few different versions of the 27-inch ET2700I. This one is the most expensive, thanks to its Core i7 CPU, a discrete Nvidia graphics card, a Blu-ray drive and a standalone subwoofer unit that plugs into the side of the system.

I haven't seen an all-in-one with a breakout subwoofer before. It seems like a reasonable way to differentiate the system, but the effort is marred by underpowered hardware. Asus sends power and the audio signal to the sub via a single audio cable. The unit provides a slight boost to the bass output, but even at max volume and all of the various software effects enabled, the audio isn't what you would call room-filling. At the higher volume levels, the output also lost some integrity.

Cheap subwoofer aside, the 27-inch screen is the highlight of the ET2700I. The resolution tops out at 1,920x1,080 pixels. That's plenty for most non-professional users, and movies, games, and other media content will look great. You might be disappointed if you want a giant screen to cram full of open windows for multitasking. Professional digital image editors and others will also likely prefer the 27-inch iMac's denser 2,560x1,440-pixel resolution.

Also note that the ET2700I does not have a touch screen. Multiple PC vendors have told me that getting touch on a 27-inch display is prohibitively expensive. That didn't stop Lenovo and others from exhibiting touch-enabled 27-inchers at this year's CES, but whether those systems actually come to market here in the United States is another question.

It's worth noting that without touch, upgrading to Windows 8 later this year might feel rather pointless. How that might factor in to your present-day buying decision depends on what you think of Microsoft's ability to spur the development of compelling touch applications. For this system today, I expect most potential buyers won't find the lack of touch a deal killer. Get the full article >>>