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Lenovo Reveals Fastest Ultraportable Notebook

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Lenovo is set to launch the industry’s fastest ultraportable notebook that weighs 1.5 kilograms, comes with an Intel i7 processor, and can last up to 11 hours.


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At over three gigahertz and under 1.5 kilograms, the ThinkPad X201 sports an extremely thin and light design. The company has optimised the X201 and outclocks competitors in its class by 25 percent and includes Intel’s normal volt Core Processors while competitors offer low volt processors. The X201 also gets extremely long battery life with up to 11 hours.

In addition, Lenovo is also introducing four new Think-branded products: the ThinkPad X201s laptop, the thinnest and lightest ThinkPad; the X201 tablet; and the powerful W701 and W701ds mobile workstations.

Lenovo Australia and New Zealand’s Product and Marketing Director, Chris Kelly said, “We’re continuing to push the envelope on innovation to give our mobile customers faster, more powerful and smarter ThinkPad laptops. These PCs incorporate the latest computing technologies and extra Lenovo features to make the PC experience more simple and productive.”   

 

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The new W Series mobile workstations come with Intel Core i7 Series processors (with Intel Turbo Boost and Intel Hyperthreading technologies) and NVIDIA Quadro FX 2800 and 3800 Series GPUs. In addition, the W701 and W701ds are the only 17 inch mobile workstations to feature an optional built-in colour calibrator to help professionals in computer aided design and digital content creation ensure accurate colours are displayed. They are also the only mobile workstations to feature an optional built-in WACOM digitiser and pen to manipulate fine details. The W701 and W701ds are certified to run the most popular applications from independent software vendors, Dassault Systemes CATIA, SolidWorks,  PTC Pro/E and more.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X201 tablet features a 12.1 inch capacitive multitouch screen with a touch-based hardware interface and Lenovo SimpleTap navigation application, dual functionality, Windows 7 Business operating system, and sports the latest Intel Core processors. It also comes with an Expresscard slot, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet connectivity, and comes with an optional DVD drive connection.

The ThinkPad X201, X201 tablet will be available early March and the W701 and W701ds will be available late March through business partners and www.lenovo.com.au.  

Pricing for the X201, X201 tablet, W701 and W701ds start at approximately $2549, $3849, $6299 and $7999, respectively. Pricing for the ThinkPad X201s is available through Lenovo business partners. 

Virtual Conferences Now In HD

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IP-based communications provider Commerge is set to provide a Telepresence solution that promises HD video conferencing.


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Telepresence is the use of cutting edge HD videoconferencing technology to create an immersive communication experience whereby users in remote locations are given the feeling of being in the same room and sitting on the other side of a conference table.
 
Unlike other Telepresence offerings on the market, the Commerge solution claims to be highly versatile as it allows a user to conduct telepresence meetings, hold regular HD videoconferencing with other standards based systems, and even use the system as a presentation tool for internal meetings. With the ability to connect to legacy standard definition videoconferencing units as well as modern IP based HD systems, the LifeSize technology delivers the best quality picture at any bandwidth.

The Commerge Telepresence offering is an industry standards based system, allowing for interoperability with videoconferencing technology from a broad range of vendors, and without the need for additional costly interfaces.

 

The system enables users to run the system via their existing Internet connections rather than requiring installation and use of expensive private networks.  The system allows for both IP and ISDN connections within the same call, enabling businesses to connect, communicate and collaborate amongst each other whilst utilising both new and legacy communications networks.
 
Commerge’s Managing Director, Mark Bannenberg said, “Communication and collaboration is core to businesses as they face increasing pressures to reduce costs and improve their environmental impact.  Businesses are searching for high quality and cost-effective ways to engage with colleagues, clients and customers across multiple sites and disparate locations. At one third the cost of similar products on the market, the Commerge Telepresence solution now puts an immersive Telepresence experience well within reach of Australian businesses.” 

See: www.commerge.com.au

LaCie Rugged Drive With USB 3.0

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LaCie has rolled out a rugged external hard drive that uses USB 3.0 for fast file transfer.


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The LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 claims to provide speeds of up to 110 MB/s – three times the speed of USB 2.0.

“This speed enhancement allows you to transfer one HD movie in less than 3 minutes (versus more than 8 minutes in USB 2.0). It offers improved power efficiency, so you only need one cable to be assured optimal performance,” added the company.

If your computer does not have USB 3.0 ports, then a user can purchase a LaCie USB 3.0 PCI Express Card or USB 3.0 Express card.

The LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 is backward compatible with USB 2.0. This means it will work with any computer or notebook that has a USB connection – offering instant usability no matter what version of USB.

The LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 500GB drive is available for $259.

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge An Affordable Option

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The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge is aimed at business users who want a notebook that is portable, easy to use and affordable. For $999, this 13-incher offers good performance, various connectivity options, and has features that will help you preserve important data files.


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The ThinkPad Edge sports a matte finish (in Midnight Black) with a silver-grey band framing the exterior. Input and output ports that include a VGA out, HDMI, Ethernet, headset jack, 5-in-1 multimedia card reader, and three USB ports are found on both sides of the notebook. One of the USB ports is powered, which means it can be used for charging devices such as an iPod instantly (even if the computer is turned off). There is no optical drive on the Edge, which may or may not be an inconvenience for some users.

Opening the lid reveals a glossy 13-inch LED-backlit screen and an all-new keyboard design. The keys on this spill-resistant, “island-style keyboard” are well-separated and curved, making it easy for us to type documents. Lenovo has also swapped the function keys, putting priority on special functions such as turning on the webcamera or increasing/decreasing the volume rather than the default F1-F12 function.

If this feature is not useful, a user can simply go to the BIOS setup utility and change the Default settings to ‘Legacy’. The unit also comes with a TrackPoint and a multi-gesture touchpad for added versatility.

The Edge is powered by a 1.5GHz AMD Athlon Neo X2 L325 dual-core processor and has an ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics card, allowing users to create presentations or show videos without problems. The unit has 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and comes pre-installed with Windows 7 Professional (32-bit), Norton Internet Security, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe Flash Player, Microsoft Office 2007 (60-day trial), Microsoft AutoCollage, Windows Live Essentials, and Skype.

 

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Lenovo has also included utilities that help you make the most out of the notebook. The Power Manager can shift between high performance and high energy savings, change sleep and display settings, and show battery status (charge completion time, cycle count, and status). The Access Connections will scan and display all available wireless networks and connects with a single click. Also available is Lenovo’s ThinkVantage Toolbox, a program that helps you keep your computer running at peak performance, diagnose hardware problems, and access all of Lenovo’s software.

The 13.3-inch LED screen is bright and produces good colours, but its reflective finish gets annoying especially when watching movies. The speakers located at the bottom of the notebook produced good audio so long as it is not pushed. Users who plan to watch TV shows or movies on the Edge can expect it to last for more than three hours (the unit lasted for 192 minutes in our video playback test).

The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge is a good notebook for business users. We loved the new keyboard layout, bright screen, touchpad and TrackPoint options, and easy to use utilities. This 13-inch notebook is available now for $999.

Panasonic Improves Tough Notebooks

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Panasonic has unveiled a new line of ruggedized notebooks that claim to have a brighter screen, increased battery life and storage space, faster processing speeds, and enhanced user interface.


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Toughbook CF-19 Mk III
The Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 and CF-30 Mk III have a magnesium alloy frame and shock-absorbent damper encasing the hard drive. The company claims that the units can withstand knocks, vibrations and sharp temperature fluctuations, while surviving falls from up to 90cm.  The CF-19 screen rotates 180 degrees, and converts to tablet form.

Panasonic Australia’s Group Manager for Toughbook, John Wood said, “Panasonic has been manufacturing purpose built, reliable and rugged notebooks for over 15 years.  We continue to listen to our customers and improve on features to maintain our notebooks’ class-leading performance.”   

The Toughbook CF-19 Mk III has doubled its screen brightness from 500nit to 1000nit, while the CF-30 continues to boast 1000nit.  With a circular polarizing touch screen and anti-reflection coating, it is easier to read under direct sunlight, ideally-suited to outdoor use. 

Both models promise a battery life of 9 hours even with the increased screen brightness, making the unit even more mobile and functional.

 


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Panasonic Toughbook CF-30 Mk III
The new Toughbooks also come with a new feature called Convert Conceal mode. With just the touch of a button, the screen display disappears immediately, protecting sensitive information from being read by unauthorised persons.  This ensures information remains confidential, an important consideration for information-sensitive industries such as Defence or the Police.

Incorporating the new Intel Centrino Core 2 Processor, the Mk III is combined with Intel vPro.  The combination of Intel Centrino and vPro can help improve manageability, tighten security and speed up performance.  In addition the hard drive and RAM has been doubled in size giving users 160GB and 2GB RAM of space respectively. 

With enhanced security features both models feature the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 chip which prevents unauthorised access, theft or loss of the HDD, while the optional fingerprint reader and/or smart card reader reduces the risk of insecure passwords.  They also feature a cable lock slot to physically secure the unit.

The Panasonic Toughbook CF-30 Mk III and Toughbook CF-19 Mk III are available now for $8,799 and $7,499 respectively.

Full HD JVC Monitor Launched

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The 42-inch Full HD JVC LCD monitor is aimed at digital imaging professionals and enthusiasts who want to take a closer look at their photographs.


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The JVC LT-42WX70 features a black leather-like texture on its bezel, with the flat rear panel finished in metallic silver without any visible screws. The monitor is supported by a curved pedestal-style stand with 3-step height adjustment.

According to JVC, this monitor features expanded colour space capacity encompassing 100% of HDTV broadcasting’s (ITU-R BT.709) colour space and coverage rate of 96% for Adobe RGB to provide ‘accurate reproduction of both video and still photographs.’

Users will be able to see their images immediately by connecting the monitor directly to an SLR camera compatible with HDMI or component connector, editing stills by connecting it to a PC via a D-sub 15-pin, or even do a round of on-screen checks in accurate colours prior to outputting images.

The LT-42WX70 claims to features 52 picture-quality adjustment properties for tweaking both still and video images source-by-source to the exact colours and tones the user prefers. It also sports an intuitive graphical on-screen display that is easy to control via the equipped remote, and touch-panel operation that makes available essential TV operations on the front bezel. The remote can also control other devices connected to the display via HDMI CEC. 

The JVC LT-42WX70 is available this month for $3,799.

See: www.jvc.com.au

Logitech Unveils Clip-On Mouse

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Logitech has launched a cordless laser mouse that lets you conveniently clip the mouse to your laptop with its Clip-and-Go dock.


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The V550 Nano cordless laser mouse also comes with a Plug-and-Forget Nano-receiver that stays nearly flush against the side of the computer, so it doesn’t have to be unplugged when you stow your laptop.

Logitech’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Control Devices Business Unit, Rory Dooley said, “Logitech research revealed that the vast majority of people who use a notebook PC are mobile both within and outside the home. To meet the demands associated with increased mobility, the V550 mouse offers a complete set of features to make it easier to use a mouse with a notebook when moving from the kitchen to the living room or from one’s desk to a meeting. Now, you won’t have to choose between grabbing your mouse or a cup of coffee.”

The new V550 mouse claims to have up to 18 months of battery life and is the only Logitech cordless laser mouse currently offering this extended level of use. It also automatically turns off when it’s docked or when the Nano-receiver is stored inside the mouse.

The V550 Nano is offered in two colours – grey with silver accents and silver with cool-blue accents. And with the purchase of the new Logitech mouse, you’ll receive two Clip-and-Go docks – one silver, one black. An included setup kit makes it easy to install the dock, and to remove it, if necessary.

Pricing and Availability
The Logitech V550 Nano cordless laser mouse for notebooks is expected to be available in Australia in late August with an RRP of $99.95.

See: www.logitech.com

Powerful Fujitsu Notebook Good For Home Office

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The Fujitsu E780 is a solid notebook that can replace your desktop with its bright and crisp screen, good speaker output, and powerful specifications.


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The E780 features a large keyboard that is well spaced and responsive. The speakers are located on both sides, which results to better audio quality. The trackpad is a bit small in relation to the unit and comes with four mouse buttons (with configurable vertical and horizontal scroll functions). There are also four hotkeys located on top of the keyboard that offers easy access to the user manual, power saving mode, monitor out, and automatic lock function.

Our review model runs on an Intel Core i7 processor (2.67GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.333 GHz), has 4GB of RAM, 500GB of storage (partitioned), and uses an Nvidia Geforce GT330M graphics card (1GB dedicated video memory). It also has a card reader, four USB ports, an E-SATA port, a D-Sub port, a Serial port, an Ethernet jack, a microphone and headphone jack, FireWire, 2-megapixel webcamera, as well as a Smart card, PC Card, and Express Card slot. The notebook also has wireless and Bluetooth built-in.

Our review unit was pre-installed with Windows 7 Professional (64-bit), CyberLink programs (PowerDirector, PowerDVD 8, YouCam), Fujitsu diagnostic tools (Hardware diagnostics, MyRecovery, Support Center), Microsoft Office (60-day trial), and a Softex application for its built-in fingerprint reader.

 

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As the LifeBook E780 comes with powerful hardware, it was able to load Windows 7 quickly. The unit managed to run our video rendering and image editing software without slowing down, and speedily convert music files on iTunes. In our 3Dmark03 test, the unit obtained a score of 18487.

The 15.6-inch screen had a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 and was glare-free. The unit did not come with a Blu-ray drive, but upgrading is easy as it has a hot-swappable modular bay. The screen was clear and had a great viewing angle, while the sound coming from the speaker was sufficient for movies and music.

The unit lasted for 145 minutes in our battery drain test (maximum volume and brightness), which means that business users who plan to bring this notebook along should also bring the adapter.

The E780 is clearly aimed at business users who want a notebook with grunt. It offers noteworthy specifications, has a lot of security features that can help you secure your files while on the go, and can be transformed into an entertainment hub.  It is available now for $2449.