Dell has updated the Alienware M15x and M17x gaming laptops, which now both include Intel’s Core i5 and i7 processors.

The 15.6-inch M15x and 17-inch M17x are configurable with the dual core i5-520M, i5-540M and i7-620M CPUs, as well with the quad core i7-720QM, i7-820QM and i7-920XM chips. The quad core processors had been already available on the Alienware M15x, while the M17x is additionally offered with the older Core 2 Duo CPUs.

Regarding graphics, the M15x comes with the NVIDIA GeForce GT 240M 512MB or GeForce GTX 260M 1GB dedicated video cards, whereas the M17x GPU options include single or dual GTX 260M, dual GTX 280M 1GB or single or dual ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 1GB.

The Core i5/i7-powered Alienware M15x and M17x start at $1,199 and $1,799, respectively, at the Dell online store.

The Acer Aspire AS5740, a 15.6-inch laptop with the new Intel Core i3 processor, is now available in the US.

E-tailers currently offer four AS5470 models – the AS5740-5513, AS5740-5144, AS5740-5255 and AS5740-5749, all with the Intel Core i3 330M 2.13GHz processor which includes the GMA HD integrated graphics. The notebooks also feature 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 6-cell battery for “up to four hours” of run time, a 1366×768 display, and Windows 7 Home Premium OS.

The AS5740-5513, S5740-5255 and AS5740-5749 have a 320GB hard drive, whereas the AS5740-5144 has a 500GB HDD. The S5740-5255 additionally includes Bluetooth, while the AS5740-5749 has a Blu-ray Combo drive, instead of a standard DVD burner in other models.

Acer’s new Aspire laptops sport built-in web camera and microphone, stereo speakers, Dolby Home Theater audio technology, 802.11n WiFi, an HDMI output, and a multi-touch trackpad.

The available models feature a blue lid and weigh around 6.16 pounds.

The Acer Aspire AS5740-5513, AS5740-5144, AS5740-5255 and AS5740-5749 are priced at $616.75 (Amazon), $649.99 (Amazon), $629.99 (TigerDirect), and $699.99 (Newegg).

Samsung has unveiled recently its laptop lineup for this year, including the R480, R580, and R780, as well as the R430 and R530 notebooks.

The 14-inch R480, 15.6-inch R580, and 17.3-inch R780 are based on the Intel Core i3 and i5 processors, whereas the 14″ R430 and 15.6″ R530 include a Core 2 Duo CPU.

Samsung’s R480 and R580 come with the i3-330M or i5-430M processor, 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 500GB hard drive, a DVD burner or Blu-ray combo drive, and 1366×768 LED backlight displays. The R480 comes with Intel’s GMA integrated graphics, while the R580 laptop includes the NVIDIA GeForce GT 310M dedicated GPU. The R780 has the i5-430M CPU, the GeForce GT 330M video card, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 500GB HDD, a DVD burner, and a 1600×900 display.

The lower-end R430/R530 series feature the Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 processor, the GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics, 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 320GB hard drive, and 1366×768 displays with LED backlight. There’s no info on optical drive choices.

All of the announced notebooks sport built-in web cameras, stereo speakers, 802.11n WiFi, and Samsung’s “Touch of Color” gradation finish with various patterns.

The Samsung R430 and R530, priced at around $670, and the $929 R780, are already available, according to Samsung. However, we were not able to find the notebooks at online retailers in the US at the time of this writing. The R480 and R580 are expected to be available from March at price points of $829 and $949 respectively.

Hewlett-Packard’s recently announced netbook for business users, the 10.1-inch HP Mini 5102, is available now.

The Mini 5102 comes with the Intel Atom Processor N450 at 1.66GHz, the Intel GMA HD graphics, optional Broadcom Crystal HD Enhanced Video Accelerator for high-def video decoding, up to 2GB of DDR2 memory, up to 320GB of hard drive space or up to 80GB of solid state drive storage, a 4- or 6-cell battery, and Windows 7 Starter OS.

The netbook’s 10.1-inch LED-backlit display has a resolution of 1024×600 or 1366×768 pixels. It is also expected to be available with an optional capacitive multi-touch display.

Other features include an optional handle, a 95% full-size keyboard, a built-in web camera, stereo speakers, 802.11n WiFi, Gobi mobile broadband connectivity with GPS, optional Bluetooth, a LAN port, three USB ports, a media card reader, and a VGA output.

The 0.91-inch thin HP Mini 5102 starts at 2.64 pounds. It has an anodized-aluminum display enclosure and is available in three colors: red, blue, and black.

The cheapest Mini 5102 configuration has a price tag of $749 at the HP website.

Apple has officially unveiled the iPad, the company’s long awaited tablet device.

The Internet- and multimedia-centric iPad, which can be also used as an e-book reader, features a 9.7-inch multi-touch display, an on-screen keyboard, a 1GHz Apple A4 chip, 16 – 64GB of Flash memory storage, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth and optional mobile broadband 3G connectivity. Regarding software, the iPhone OS-powered tablet comes with 12 iPad-specific applications and is capable of running unmodified iPhone apps.

The device is 0.5-inch thin, and weighs 1.5 pounds.

Prices range from $499 for a 16GB model to $829 for a 64GB model with 3G module.

The iPad will be available in March, with 3G models scheduled for release in April.

Link

Here’s the press release:

“Apple today introduced iPad, a revolutionary device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and much more. iPad’s responsive high-resolution Multi-Touch™ display lets users physically interact with applications and content. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds— thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for the iPad, and will run almost all of the over 140,000 apps in the App Store. iPad will be available in late March starting at the breakthrough price of just $499.

“iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”

iPad features 12 next-generation Multi-Touch applications. Every app works in both portrait and landscape, automatically animating between views as the user rotates iPad in any direction. The precise Multi-Touch interface makes surfing the web on iPad an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer. Reading and sending email is fun and easy on iPad’s large screen and almost full-size “soft” keyboard. Import photos from a Mac, PC or digital camera, see them organized as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad’s elegant slideshows. Watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD or flip through pages of an e-book you downloaded from Apple’s new iBookstore while listening to your music collection.

iPad runs almost all of the over 140,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone or iPod touch. The iTunes Store gives you access to the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 11 million songs, over 50,000 TV episodes and over 8,000 films including over 2,000 in stunning high definition video. Apple also announced the new iBooks app for iPad, which includes Apple’s new iBookstore, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device. The iBookstore will feature books from major and independent publishers.

Apple also introduced a new version of iWork for iPad, the first desktop-class productivity suite designed specifically for Multi-Touch. With Pages, Keynote and Numbers you can create beautifully formatted documents, stunning presentations with animations and transitions, and spreadsheets with charts, functions and formulas. The three apps will be available separately through the App Store for $9.99 each.

iPad syncs with iTunes just like the iPhone and iPod touch, using the standard Apple 30-pin to USB cable, so you can sync all of your contacts, photos, music, movies, TV shows, applications and more from your Mac or PC. All the apps and content you download on iPad from the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore will be automatically synced to your iTunes library the next time you connect with your computer.

iPad’s brilliant 9.7-inch, LED-backlit display features IPS technology to deliver crisp, clear images and consistent color with an ultra-wide 178 degree viewing angle. The highly precise, capacitive Multi-Touch display is amazingly accurate and responsive whether scrolling web pages or playing games. The intelligent soft keyboard pioneered on iPhone takes advantage of iPad’s larger display to offer an almost full-size soft keyboard. iPad also connects to the new iPad Keyboard Dock with a full-size traditional keyboard.

iPad is powered by A4, Apple’s next-generation system-on-a-chip. Designed by Apple, the new A4 chip provides exceptional processor and graphics performance along with long battery life of up to 10 hours. Apple’s advanced chemistry and Adaptive Charging technology deliver up to 1,000 charge cycles without a significant decrease in battery capacity over a typical five year lifespan.

iPad comes in two versions—one with Wi-Fi and the other with both Wi-Fi and 3G. iPad includes the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi, and the 3G versions support speeds up to 7.2 Mbps on HSDPA networks. Apple and AT&T announced breakthrough 3G pre-paid data plans for iPad with easy, on-device activation and management.

Continuing Apple’s dedication to designing and creating environmentally responsible products, each iPad enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy-efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. iPad contains no brominated flame retardants and is completely PVC-free.

Apple today released a new Software Development Kit (SDK) for iPad, so developers can create amazing new applications designed to take advantage of iPad’s capabilities. The SDK includes a simulator that lets developers test and debug their iPad apps on a Mac, and also lets developers create Universal Applications that run on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

Pricing & Availability

iPad will be available in late March worldwide for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, $699 (US) for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + 3G models of iPad will be available in April in the US and selected countries for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. International pricing and worldwide availability will be announced at a later date. iBookstore will be available in the US at launch. ”

The recently announced Lenovo G560 15.6-inch “Essential G Series” notebook is available now.

The offered G560 model (06792AU, Black) comes with the Intel Core i3-330M processor at 2.13GHz, the Intel GMA HD graphics, 4GB of DDR3 memory, 320GB of hard drive space, a DVD burner, a 6-cell battery, and Windows 7 Home OS.

The notebook’s 15.6-inch LED-backlit display has a resolution of 1366×768 pixels.

On its website, the PC maker didn’t provide info on networking options, as well as on ports and slots.

The Lenovo G560 configuration has a price tag of $849 at the Lenovo website.

MSI announced today the 14-inch CX420 and CR420, and 17.3-inch CR720 laptops, all based on Intel’s Arrandale processors.

Along with the 2010 Intel Core i Series CPUs, the notebooks include up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, and up to 500GB of hard drive space.

The MSI CX420 features the ATI Radeon HD5470 1GB dedicated video card, whereas the CR420 has the Intel GMA HD integrated graphics. Both 14-inchers have a resolution of 1366×768 pixels and stereo speakers.

The CR720 uses the GMA HD graphics. It has a 1600×900 display and stereo speakers with a subwoofer.

MSI’s new laptops also sport built-in web cameras, 802.11n WiFi, HDMI ports, and Windows 7 OS.

We have no info on pricing and availability.

Dell announced today the Latitude 13 business ultraportable, “the world’s thinnest 13-inch commercial client laptop”.

The Dell Latitude 13 features various corporate-class technologies, such as remote manageability, desktop virtualization through certification from Citrix and VMware, full disk encryption, and Trusted Platform Module (TPM), as well as Dell ImageDirect service which “lets IT create, update and deploy system images 24/7 from a secure online location.”

Dell’s laptop supports mobile broadband connectivity and 802.11g/n WiFi, and features optional solid state drives, optional external Blu-ray drive, and built-in webcam and microphone.

Dell also announced addition of the Intel Core i5 and i7 dual-core processors to the Precision M6500 17″ mobile workstation. The M6500 is currently available with the quad-core Core i7 CPUs.

The Latitude 13 and the dual-core Precision M6500 will be available for order in the coming weeks, the PC maker says.

MSI has announced the 15.6″ CX620 and CR620 Classic Series laptops, both based on Intel’s Core i Series processors for 2010.

Besides the Intel “Arrandale” CPUs, the MSI CX620 and CR620 include up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, and up to 500GB of hard drive space. The CX620 features the ATI Radeon HD5470 1GB dedicated video card, whereas the CR620 has the Intel GMA HD integrated graphics. Both 15.6-inchers have a 1366×768 LED backlit display. There’s no info on optical drive choices.

MSI’s new laptops also sport a chiclet-style keyboard, a built-in 1.3MP web camera, stereo speakers, an HDMI port, 802.11n WiFi, Ethernet LAN, Bluetooth, three USB ports, and a 4-in-1 media card reader.

The notebooks weigh less than 5.5 pounds with the standard 6-cell battery and run Windows 7 OS.

We have no info on pricing and availability.

Intel has announced the 2010 Intel Core vPro technology for business-class laptop and desktop PCs.

Desinged to “keep downtime and desk-side visits to a minimum,” the new vPro version features improved remote manageability, security, and anti-theft functionalities. It comes with the Core i5 and i7 processors with TurboBoost and Hyper-Threading technologies, the Intel QM57 and QS57 chipsets for notebooks, and new Centrino WiFi and WiMAX wireless adapters.

With the included vPro KVM Remote Control, IT workers can remotely monitor, diagnose, repair and secure vPro-enabled PCs, even if the computer is sleep or powered down, as well as perform remote system shutdowns and reboots.

Here are the features highlighted by Intel:

- KVM Remote Control allows IT to see what their customers see, reliably through all states, even beyond firewalls.

- AES-NI enables new processor instructions to accelerate and protect encryption operations.

- Remote encryption management provides the capability to remotely unlock encrypted drives that require pre-boot authentication while managing data security settings even when the PC is off.

- Intel Anti-Theft Technology, disables access to data in the event of theft or loss by delivering a “poison pill” while providing simple remote reactivation on PC recovery.

- Intel Active Management Technology (Intel AMT) allows IT to better discover, heal, and protect their networked computing assets.

- Intel Virtualization Technology (Intel VT) allows IT to remotely manage systems while providing highly secure, centralized, and virtualized IT services to end users.

- Streamline Windows 7 deployment by quickly and remotely upgrading PCs overnight, minimizing disruptions to users, and without losing access to legacy applications.

- Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 offers premium performance and innovative features with up to an 8x bandwidth.

The 2010 Intel Core vPro is already available in some business laptops, such as select Lenovo ThinkPad and HP EliteBook models.