Archive for: Hardware
Custom PC building is about to get a lot more mainstream thanks to a new partnership announced today between Walmart and iBuyPower. Starting at $578, customers will have to chose between 5 different computer cases, AMD and Intel K-series processors, 3 different memory and hard drive configurations (each), AMD and Nvidia graphics cards, a trio of optical drives, and finally, three different versions of Windows 7. All systems will feature a standard 1-year warranty on parts and labor.
Hardcore PC enthusiasts may balk at the stripped down selection, but that’s the ticket here. Enabling an easier and more beginner level approach to custom PC building is a great idea in getting more people into the hobby. With that said, what better way than to buddy up with Walmart?
For now, the new partnership is online only. Hopefully sales go well enough that this DIY approach can creek into local stores. Interested parties can check out the configuration page now live on Walmart’s website. Also be sure to check out the handy graph just after the break which shows every hardware option available…
The 1366/X58 platform may be nearing an EOL later this year, but that isn’t stopping Intel from wringing every last dime they can from said platform. Re-kindled rumors peg the processor giant releasing a new flagship processor in Q3 of this year. The official retail name is not currently known, though is believed to be the 995x or 1000x. Like it’s other 1366 flagship predecessors, this new 995x/1000x would be a 32-nm 6-core design with a reported 3.60GHz clock speed that ratchets up to 3.86GHz under Turbo Mode. The remaining specs are also identical to the current flagship processor, the 990x — Hyper-Threading, 6.4 GT/s QPI, and a TDP of 130W. As is customary on top of the line Intel processors, an unlocked multiplier comes along for the ride ensuring 4.0GHz+ overclocks are easily reached.
Pricing for the new silicon will likely take the current 990x’s $999 price point. The X58 replacements to the now 2+ year old platform, X79 and LGA2011 are slated for release in Q4 of 2011.
Is this just another case of Intel wringing customers for money, or is this a legitimate upgrade?
Google may not be playing nicely with devs chomping at the bit to get the official Android 3.0 Honeycomb source code, but that doesn’t mean ASUS will follow the same path. Interested parties looking to get at least some partial Honeycomb goodness need look no farther than ASUS’ official Eee Pad Transformer page for the goods.
The release on ASUS’ site carriers the version of “V8.2.2.6″ and tips the scales at 97MB. While it’s not the full source code, it’s certainly better than nothing as it will allow devs to begin developing for Honeycomb right now as opposed to whenever Google feels like it. Get to it…
If fraggin’ foes and portability are your top two concerns in life, the newly revealed Alienware M14x looks to be your best weapon. A nice balance between the smaller M11x and larger M17x, the M14x gets the job done thanks to a bevy of higher end features including an Intel Core i7-2820QM humming along at 2.3 GHz, Nvidia GT555M, options for upto 750GB 7200 RPM HDD or SATA2/SATA3 SSDs up to 256GB, 1366 x 768 or 1920 x 1080 display resolutions, Klipsch speakers, and LTE/WiMAX cellular connectivity.
Sign us up!
If you’re in the market for a futuristic transparent computer monitor, Samsung has two models that may tickle your fancy. The two models come in at 22″ and share a 1680 x 1050 resolution, with the only main difference being one monitor does black & white while the other displays full color. Contrast ratio (500:1) may seem low at first until you consider ambient light is the only backlight to be had. Besides the new age lighting, the two Samsung monitors in question feature HDMI and USB output/input as well as a claimed 90% energy savings over traditional monitors.
Pricing and specific release are as of now unknown.
As we draw closer to the BlackBerry Playbook’s eventual release, information is becoming easier to come by considering RIM has done a pretty good job keeping things tight lipped — until now that is. Jordan over at BlackBerryEmpire managed to get in on a BlackBerry PlayBook webinar that’s being given to PlayBook retail launch locations. Part of said webinar was a parting package of 5 documents divulging just about anything and everything one could possibly want to know about RIM’s uber tablet. Everything from FAQs to drilled down features of the hardware itself are included. The full manual set can be found here. (PDF) Happy reading!
Aprils 1st will not see the release of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play on UK carrier O2. The much awaited PlayStation Phone which was announced back in February at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona apparently has a few minor yet critical issues according to O2:
“As the head of O2’s device testing team, my team and I see every phone that O2 will be selling before it goes on sale. Our job, as I mentioned in my last blog post, is to make sure these phones are ready for our customers before they go on sale,” explains Stuart Hibberd, head of O2’s testing team. “We’ve been testing the phone non-stop for weeks and have found some bugs in the software that, if they’re not fixed, means customers won’t have a great experience. We’ve been working with Sony Ericsson to get these bugs ironed out, but haven’t been able to get them fixed in time for us to be able to launch the phone on April 1st as we originally planned.”
The statement by O2 doesn’t include any specifics as to what the exact bug(s) are. Nonetheless, it’s a bummer for O2 customers looking to get their hands on a very popular Android device that has been rumored as in the making for years. However, we must applaud Sony Ericsson in not simply rushing the Xperia Play to market and instead taking the time to iron out as many bugs as possible before shipping said phone. Contrary to popular belief, such a scenario isn’t the norm.
It doesn’t seem like all that long ago that we were praising the Samsung Galaxy Tab for finally cracking the Android tablet market. With a four-carrier spread, consumer demand was sure to be met thanks to the various cellular options. Combined with carrier availability, the hardware inside of the Samsung Galaxy Tab was world class and top of the line — and this all inside of a smaller, more pocketable 7″ form factor.
Fast forward to early 2011 and the tables are already turning. Tablets such as the Motorola XOOM offer a bigger size, more performance, and most importantly, an all new experience thanks to the tablet-specific OS, Android 3.0 (Honeycomb). The two devices are worlds apart in terms of hardware. With that said, is the Samsung Galaxy Tab still worth it’s price (as of writing ~$250 w/ 2-year contract)? Maybe, just maybe…
In wake of the horrible events occurring in Japan over the past week, Apple has decided to delay the launch of their 2nd generation iPad so that cities, families, and individuals can get their lives back on track. Per Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris:
“We are delaying the launch of the iPad 2 in Japan while the coutnry and our teams focus on recovering from the recent disaster”
At this time, Apple has not made any mention of a new release date.
News of iPad 2 launch delays may be more the norm than originally planned. Earlier today, it was reported that the ship time for new iPad 2 devices has been pushed back to 5 weeks.
