Sony VAIO Z series 2011 includes hybrid graphics option via a docking station

For the seasoned Linux users, the Sony VAIO Z series has seen 3 updates in the last 3 years, the sony-vaioz-09, sony-vaioz-10, and now the sony-vaioz-11, sporting a docking station with a discrete AMD graphics card:

 

 

Sony’s New VAIO Z Series Is Available Now, Lightest 13-inch High Performance Notebook

Sony’s much anticipated VAIO Z Series ultraportable notebooks have arrived. This new VAIO Z Series is touted as the “world’s lightest 13-inch standard voltage PC” and features an ultra slim design that’s thinner and lighter than the MacBook Air while packing in high performance specs with Intel’s latest Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 processors.

 

The new VAIO Z Series notebook is designed to work in tandem with a Power Media Dock that delivers the power of an AMD Radeon HD 6650M graphics card with 1GB VRAM, a slot loading optical drive, one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, and VGA ports. Thanks to this pairing, the new Z Series is now a half pound lighter than its predecessor and weighs only 2.5 pounds.

The sleek chassis measures just 0.66-inch thin and is made of a combination of aluminum and carbon fiber. It is designed to be fully flat without any protruding ports or unnecessary seams. Battery life is rated for up to 8 hours and can be boosted to 16 hours with the purchase of an optional large-capacity sheet battery that attaches flush on the bottom.

The notebook is equipped with the latest Intel Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 processors that can be turbo boosted to 3.4GHz and has dual-channel SSD drives with RAID tehcnology. It also sports Intel’s Light Peak port, also known on Apple products as the Thunderbolt port, that promises up to 10Gbps of blazing fast bi-directional data transfer speeds.

Other things to note include the notebook’s 16:9 aspect ratio display that’s available in either 1920×1080 or 1600×900 resolution levels with anti-glare coating. The notebook comes in three colors carbon black, carbon indigo, and premium carbon black. It is available now for pre-orders at Sony’s website and retails starting at around $2000. 

Ultrathin Asus U36 with nvidia optimus @ www.engadget.com

Remember to check-out http://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux for Linux nvidia optimus support and http://launchpad.net/~asus-u-series for ASUS U-series in Linux.

ASUS U36 ultraportable laptop now available in UK, £699 for 'world's thinnest standard voltage i5'

The nanometer-coated ASUS U36 is the world's thinnest notebook with standard voltage Intel Core i5 processor

The U36 notebook is the world's thinnest laptop to harness the power of a standard voltage Intel® Core™ i5 processor, giving you the freedom to stay light and connected on the move without compromising on mobile performance.

ASUS Super Hybrid Engine (with the ability to switch off USB 3.0 functionality) combined with NVIDIA graphics and Optimus technology saves power for when it's needed most to deliver an incredible 11.5 hours battery life*.

With an ultra-thin chassis (only 19mm thick) made from lightweight magnesium alloy with nanometer coating, the U36 is not only practical by repelling dirt, water and fingerprint marks, but is a head-turning accessory for even the most fashion-conscious users, both at home and on the go.

Two videos, including a hands-on demonstration of its key features, are available at http://techinstyle.tv/products/the-stunning-u36-ultra-portable-notebook-launches-in-the-uk.

The U36 is priced at £699 inc VAT and is available now in-store and online from Micro Anvika (www.anvika.com/product/asus-u36jc-rx197x-13-3-w7p-4gb-500gb/asu14503) and before the end of June from Comet www.comet.co.uk

Key Features:

* Standard voltage Intel® Core™ i5 processor

* Ultra-thin chassis only 19mm thick and weighing 1.44kg

* Up to 11.5 hours battery life*

* ASUS Super Hybrid Engine with USB 3.0 toggle

* NVIDIA Graphics with Optimus technology

* Magnesium alloy finish with nanometer coating

* 13.3" HD TFT display (1366 x 768)

* 500GB storage

* 802.11 b/g/n wireless

* 5 in 1 card reader

Enjoy maximum power without the burden:

Unlike other ultra-thin notebooks (which use low voltage CPUs to gain cooling and power consumption benefits) the U36 has broken the mould in design innovation by unleashing the superior performance of a standard voltage Intel® Core™ i5 processor from within a delightfully sleek 19mm chassis.

This bold step forward is owed to ASUS's dual heat pipe design, which effectively dissipates heat from the processor without adding any extra bulk – keeping the notebook cool and your bag even lighter.

Up to 11.5 hours battery life for all-day computing:

The U36 notebook integrates ASUS's Super Hybrid Engine technology which intelligently manages energy consumption based on whether you're simply checking emails and browsing the net, or using more power-hungry applications such as video editing or playing games.

The NVIDIA graphics card ensures movies and games are blasted out in crystal clear quality for a smooth, uninterrupted experience, whilst Optimus technology cleverly switches between onboard or discrete graphics without any user intervention, so it won't waste power where it's not needed.

With up to 10 hours battery life* as standard, the U36 also offers the ability to switch off USB 3.0 functionality in order to squeeze an extra 1.5 hours on top for a whopping overall 11.5 hours* battery life and the reassurance that you won't be left in the dark away from home.

Stay on trend with the sleek and soft magnesium alloy finish:

The U36's slender chassis is just 19mm at the thickest point, and is designed using ultra-light magnesium alloy for a truly chic finish that is incredibly lightweight (1.44kg).

What's more, with a soft-touch nanometer coating the U36 is repellent of dirt, fingerprints and even water (no more panic when it starts to drizzle), whilst the seamless chiclet keyboard is easier to clean and prevents the build-up of dust. This thoughtful design helps to keep the laptop looking beautiful even after hours of exposure to every kind of environment from the home to trains or when stowed in hand luggage.

With metallic choices in silver or black, the U36 is bang on-trend this season and the ideal choice for a tech chic style both at home and away.

Pricing and Availability:

 

 

The U36 is priced at £699 inc VAT and is available now in-store and online from Micro Anvika (www.anvika.com/product/asus-u36jc-rx197x-13-3-w7p-4gb-500gb/asu14503) and before the end of June from Comet www.comet.co.uk

Asus UX21 and Linux: I don't want two computers. I want one which is perfect

The Asus UX21 is in the ultrathin range but with a powerful CPU. It's specs will make the Macbook air like a droopy eyed armless puppy, being way more powerful than your average netbook. And it's not Apple hardware, so will make a great Linux-compatible laptop:

http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/30/asus-outs-ux21-ultrathin-laptop-with-up-to-core-i7-cpu-video-ha/

We are very hopeful it will have great Linux support, for what we have seen so far from Asus U-series laptop owners.

Powerful Asus U41JF with nvidia optimus in a thin and light design @ www.asus.com

Here are the specs for the Asus U41JF model, another powerful hybrid-graphics laptop from ASUS:

U41JF

Intel® Core™ i5 Processor

ASUS U41 Series brings power in a thin and light design

 

• Powered by a Super Hybrid Engine-boosted standard voltage Intel® Core™ i3 or i5 processor
• Super Hybrid Engine extends battery life to 10 hours for all-day, on-the-go computing
• Elegant design that comes in under an inch thick for maximum portability.

 Add To Compare List Print

Aspire TimelineX AS3830TG with hybrid graphics @ www.engadget.com

Acer announces redesigned Aspire TimelineX Series laptops, prices start at $599

By Dana Wollman posted Jun 7th 2011 12:01AM

If Acer's current Aspire TimelineX notebooks look a little too dull for your tastes, have a peek at that industrial-looking number in the picture above. The company just redesigned its line of skinny laptops, and refreshed them with Sandy Bridge processors while it was at it. The 13.1-inch 3830T, 14-inch 4830T, and 15.6-inch 5830T all have that two-tone aluminum design (also available in black), along with USB 3.0, a choice of Core i3 and Core i5 CPUs, and Acer's clear.fi software for sharing media among DLNA devices. The 14- and 15.6-inch versions have onboard optical drives and number pads, and, on select models, you can choose a discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT520M or GT540M card. However, the screen resolution is going to be 1366 x 768 regardless of which you pick. The 3830T, 4830T, and 5830T are available now, starting at $799, $699, and $599, respectively, and you can find specs for a handful of models after the break.

Acer Aspire TimelineX 3830T, 4830T, and 5830T

Acer Aspire TimelineX series hands-on

Acer Aspire TimelineX AS3830TG-6431 ($779.99)
_ 2nd Generation Intel Core i5-2410M Processor 2.30GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.90GHz
_ 13.3" HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit display (1366x768 resolution, 16:90 aspect ratio)
_ Mobile Intel HM65 Express Chipset
_ 4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz Memory
_ NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M with 1GB DDR3 VRAM
_ 500GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
_ 1.3 Megapixel HD Webcam
_ Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
_ 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
_ 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
_ Bluetooth 3.0+HS
_ Dolby Advanced Home Theater v4 Audio Enhancement
_ Two Built-in Acer 3DSonic Stereo Speakers
_ High Definition Audio Support
_ 2 - USB 2.0 Ports & 1 - USB 3.0 Port
_ 1 - HDMI Port with HDCP Support
_ VGA Port
_ Multi-Gesture Touchpad
_ Media Control Function Keys
_ 6-cell Li-ion Battery (6000 mAh)
_ Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
_ Microsoft® Office Starter 2010
_ 4.12 lbs. (system unit only)

Acer Aspire TimelineX AS4830T-6642 ($699.99)
_ 2nd Generation Intel Core i5-2410M Processor 2.30GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.90GHz
_ 14" HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit display (1366x768 resolution, 16:90 aspect ratio)
_ Mobile Intel HM65 Express Chipset
_ 4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz Memory
_ Intel HD Graphics 3000
_ 640GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
_ 8X DVD-super multi double-layer drive
_ 1.3 Megapixel HD Webcam
_ Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
_ 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
_ 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
_ Bluetooth 3.0+HS
_ Dolby Advanced Home Theater® v4 Audio Enhancement
_ Two Built-in Acer 3DSonic Stereo Speakers
_ High Definition Audio Support
_ 2 USB 2.0 Ports & 1 - USB 3.0 Port
_ 1 HDMI Port with HDCP Support
_ VGA Port
_ Multi-Gesture Touchpad
_ Dedicated Numeric Keypad
_ Media Control Function Keys
_ 6-cell Li-ion Battery (6000 mAh)
_ Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
_ Microsoft Office Starter 2010
_ 4.88 lbs. (system unit only)

Acer Aspire TimelineX AS5830T-6862 ($599.99)
_ 2nd Generation Intel Core i3-2310M Processor 2.1GHz
_ 15.6" HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit display (1366x768 resolution, 16:90 aspect ratio)
_ Mobile Intel HM65 Express Chipset
_ 4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz Memory
_ Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 128 dedicated system memory
_ 640GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
_ 8X DVD-super multi double-layer drive
_ 1.3 Megapixel HD Webcam
_ Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
_ Dolby Advanced Home Theater v4 Audio Enhancement
_ Two Built-in Acer 3DSonic Stereo Speakers
_ 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
_ 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
_ Bluetooth 3.0+HS
_ High Definition Audio Support
_ 3 USB 2.0 Ports & 1 - USB 3.0 Port
_ 1 HDMI Port with HDCP Support
_ VGA Port
_ Multi-Gesture Touchpad
_ Dedicated Numeric Keypad
_ Media Control Function Keys
_ 6-cell Li-ion Battery (6000 mAh)
_ Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
_ Microsoft Office Starter 2010
_ 5.6 lbs. (system unit only)

ASUS ultrathin UX21 @ www.engadget.com

ASUS outs UX21 ultrathin laptop with up to Core i7 CPUs (video hands-on!)

By Vlad Savov posted May 30th 2011 3:59AM

Hands-On

Breaking News

The thickest part of this new laptop is 17mm, its entire body is built from an aluminum alloy (weighs 1.1kg / 2.4lb), and the CPUs can be specced as high as Core i7. Anything else you need to know before drooling all over yourself? How about a two-second resume from sleep, thanks to ASUS' proprietary software, a SATA III SSD, USB 3.0 connectivity, and the ability to hybernate for up to one week? The trackpad is made out of glass, while the keyboard keys are all metal. ASUS projects the launch of its shiny new UX21 in September, and you can see more of it in the gallery below or video after the break.

ASUS UX21 hands-on

ASUS UX Series ultraportable notebooks

Show full PR text

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Sony Vaio SA ultraportable @ www.engadget.com

Sony announces VAIO SA series ultraportable, puts VAIO F series up for pre-order

Having trouble keeping Sony's slim VAIO S series laptops straight? It's okay, we are, too, especially now that the company's officially unveiled the SA series, a 13.3-inch ultraportable that's poised to go toe to toe with the skinnyLenovo ThinkPad X1. Although it's got almost the same magnesium-and-alloy chassis as the VAIO SB series we saw at CES, the SA is a hair thinner, at 0.95 inches, and comes standard with AMD Radeon HD 6630 graphics and 1GB of video memory, 1600 x 900 resolution, a 500GB hard drive, fingerprint reader, and a Blu-ray drive. You can also trick it out with a dual channel solid-state drive, which promises to help let you work up to 16 hours unplugged if you combine it with a $100 sheet battery. If you fork out a minimum of $1,650, you can snag one with an SSD.

If the SA's $1,350 starting price is more than you're willing to spend, there's still the SB series, though the $969 base model naturally has less impressive specs, including 512MB of video memory, 1366 x 768 resolution, a DVD player, and a Core i5 -- not Core i7 -- processor. For what its worth, its color options now include pink and navy, if that floats your boat more than the high-end SA's black, silver, and brown palette.

In other news, Sony's also taking orders for the VAIO F Series, which comes in two flavors: one with a 16-inch 3D display with a 2D-to-3D conversion button, starting at $1,659, and a 16.4-inch 2D model with a more modest $1,100 base price. But if you want a 2D display with 1080p resolution and a Blu-ray drive, you can expect to pay at least $1,169. Both these and the SA series are up for pre-order today, with gussied-up photos below and full PR and past the break.

Sony VAIO SA series

Sony VAIO F series

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 @ www.youtube.com

Samsung SF310 with nvidia optimus @ www.pcmag.com

Samsung SF310 Review & Rating | PCMag.com

product 0.3

May 10, 2011

Samsung SF310

• editor rating good

• Write a
  Review

• 
• 
• 

VIEW SLIDESHOW 

• Pros

  Intel Core i5-480M processor. Nvidia GeForce 310M graphics with automatic switching. Lots of extra features, like Bluetooth 3.0, Sleep-and-Charge, and quick restarts. Good battery life.

• Cons

  Covered ports are less accessible. Wimpy speakers. Middling performance. Internal battery can't be accessed or replaced by buyer. Small hard drive.

• Bottom Line

  Some buyers will be intrigued by features like Bluetooth 3.0, Sleep-and-Charge funcationality, and quick restarts, but more discerning buyers may shun the Samsung SF310 for its underutilized components and small hard drive.

Optimus on Linux with Bumblebee -- using both your intel and nvidia with 3D acceleration

Optimus on Linux Problem Solved | Martin Juhl's Blog

One of our Linux hybrid-graphics team members has found a neat trick to enable both the integrated (Intel) and discrete (Nvidia) graphics cards in Linux using a VirtualGL. As it works in version 0.2, the Intel card is running the Desktop interface and the nvidia card can be used to offload specific applications with the command "optirun32 <application>" or "optirun64 <application>" depending if you use 32bit or 64bit code.

There is still no load balancer to automatically decide which applications should run on which card, and the nvidia card is constantly running, but bumblebee now enables the discrete graphics card for hybrid laptops running Linux, even for those models with no mux to switch the card in the BIOS menu.

For more info:

https://github.com/MrMEEE/bumblebee/blob/master/README

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 slim to the extreme @ www.engadget.com

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 spotted in the wild -- Engadget

By Donald Melanson posted May 6th 2011 1:06PM

We've already seen it pictured and detailed, but Chinese website Mydrivers.com has now scored what appear to be the very first in-the-wild shots of Lenovo's new super-slim ThinkPad X1. As you can see above and in a few more shots at the source link below, the laptop is indeed pretty thin -- 21.5mm, or 0.85 inches thick, apparently -- but Lenovo still found room to squeeze in a backlit keyboard (check it out after the break), not to mention the ThinkPad's trademark pointing stick. Unfortunately, Lenovo has yet to officially say anything about it itself, so we still only have that rumored May 20th launch date to go on for the time being.

[Thanks, leungxd]

Cloned in China

Mydrivers.com