Chip Chick » Laptops

UMID mbook Now Available in Girly-Girl Pink

Chip Chick — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:44:19 +0000

The UMID mBook isn’t a new UMID device, but now it has made an effort to become female friendly. Originally available in black, the $449 device is now also available in a very girly pink version. In case you’re not familiar with this MID device, it has got a 4.8″ WVGA Touch screen LCD with a 1024 x 600 resolution, a 5 hour battery life, it’s powered by an Atom Processor, and manages to fit in a QWERTY keyboard while still managing to weigh just 0.69lbs. So if you were thinking of getting the girly-girl in your life a netbook for Chrismas, you might want to wow her with the mBook since it’s super purse friendly.

Win the Hercules eCafe EC-1000W Netbook with Windows 7

Chip Chick — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:00:43 +0000

The world of netbooks is getting crazy crowded, but Hercules new eCafe EC-1000W aims to stand out by sporting a unique floral cover design, a solid feature, set along with a complete custom software suite, and an affordable $399 price tag. Want to win one for yourself? E-mail us a note about what you like best about the eCafe EC-1000W. Or you can enter by Tweeting “@chip_chick Win the Hercules eCafe EC-1000W netbook http://bit.ly/1F0qXw”

The eCafe EC-1000W netbook features a “unique “in-mold” designed cover with a high gloss finish and mirror effect that causes a visual interplay of metallic and non-metallic colors, so that the eCAFÉ EC-1000W never looks the same, changing with each moment of use. Aside from the spiffy chassis, the system’s specs are pretty standard with a 10.1″ (1024×600) screen, and inside it is running on the Atom N270 1.6ghz processor, 1GB Ram, a 250GB hard drive, a built-in web cam, 3 USB ports and a memory card reader. It also comes with 50GB of online storage. The system runs Windows 7 Starter edition and it also comes with a one-of-a-kind custom software suite, that includes a complete Office suite as well as anti-virus software.

Regulations: Hercules and ChipChick.com are not responsible for any lost packages or incorrect shipping addresses. The prize is not redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded. Approximate value of prizes may vary. By claiming the prize, the winner authorizes the use, without additional compensation of his or her name and/or likeness and/or voice/photograph and municipality of residence for promotion and/or advertising purposes in any manner and in any medium (including without limitation over the internet and picture data storage).

AMD Vision Looks to Make Computer Purchases More Transparent for Consumers

Ali — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:27:50 +0000

This past week we got a hands on demo of the new AMD Vision concept. Basically, AMD will be cutting out all of the complicated noise involved in choosing a processor by telling people exactly what they want to know when they buy a computer. Earlier in the year, Intel had hinted about making this leap too, but it seems AMD has beaten them to the punch.This new marketing system will be broken down by AMD Vision, AMD Vision Premium, and AMD Ultimate. Consumers will be able to go to the AMD Visions website, select some options of what they intend to use their computer for, and AMD will then tell you which ‘AMD Vision’ is perfect for you. Of course for more technical users, the specs and details of the chipset etc will still be available. However for the average consumer that just wants to know if it plays games, can handle Blu-ray, or edit video – choosing the right system for their budget, will now be much clearer. This will be a much simpler way of purchasing a computer and I think that this is a welcome innovation to the average consumer who just wants something fast and doesn’t get GHz vs Mhz. Now we just have to wait and see if HP, Dell, and every other desktop manufacturer that offers AMD chips will adopt this new Vision of AMD.

AViiQ Portable Laptop Stand is as Light as a Smartphone

Chip Chick — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:14:08 +0000

Laptop stands make your work much more enjoyable by improving your ergonomics. Unfortunately they tend to be heavy beasts that aren’t as practical to carry around as your laptop is. Fortunately the new AViiQ isn’t just a laptop stand, it’s a portable laptop stand that weighs just 5.5 ounces, which is is about a heavy as a smartphone. The stand is made from Hylite, a composite material comprised of aluminum sheets bonded to a polypropylene core. The AViiQ also folds up to just 1/4-inch for easy storage, it supports up to 17″ laptops and it supports a keyboard angle of 12 degrees. The AViiQ portable laptop stand is available for preorder for $79.95.

Dinglab Multimodular Laptop Sock Doubles as a Winter Hat

Chip Chick — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:00:30 +0000

Dinlagb’s multimodular laptop sock is not your ordinary laptop sleeve. This snug-fitting case wraps around your laptop like a cozy sweater. But it won’t just keep your laptop warm this winter, it will also keep you warm! The multimodular laptop sock can also transform in to a full length scarf or a beanie to keep your noggin warm. Designed for 12″-17″ laptops, you can pick up the multimodular laptop sock for $48.

(Via MacLife Magazine)

Sony Vaio Nebula FW Series is Newest Member of The Signature Collection

Ali — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:49:52 +0000

We are no strangers to the Signature Collection of notebooks from Sony. It appeared a few weeks ago that all the limited editions had gone up and vanished since a lot of the ones available were no longer. But to our surprise Sony has replenished their stock and the standout model happens to be the Nebula FW Series. Exclusively at Sony Style, the Nebula FW Series is a perfect match of science fiction and technology. The Sony Vaio Nebula FW is a limited edition series that starts at a base price of $809.99 but can be customized if need be. For those not familiar with the FW series it sports a Blu-ray player, Dolby Surround Sound, 16.4″ display, Windows 7, and a 3.06 Intel Core 2 Duo processor. This is the perfect specimen to watch the new Star Trek Blu-ray movie on – Spock never looked so good!

Hands on with the HP Envy 15 Beats Limited Edition

Chip Chick — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:31:56 +0000

Today at the Fast Company’s Masters of Design event at the Chelsea Art Museum in Manhattan, we got to take a good look at the stunning HP Envy 15 Beats Limited Edition. The system is one of the best looking laptops we’ve ever laid eyes upon, and we’ve eyed many. However it also happens to be a fingerprint magnet, but it’s worth the sacrifice for all its beauty. The laptop also of course compliments the Beats by Dr. Dre headphones perfectly. We’re starting to think that there just aren’t enough black/red colored combo gadgets out there, and maybe there should be. Anyway, check out the gallery for more up close pics.

iiView A2 Netbook Arrives in the US and Still Looks Like a Macbook Air

Chip Chick — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:45:59 +0000

ii-View announced today the availability of the A2 netbook computer on October 22nd in the USA. Looking very Apple-esque in its all white casing, the iiView A2 sports an Intel Atom N270 1.6 GHz processor, 2GB DDR2 RAM, 320GB HD, 12.1 inch LCD Widescreen Display, Wireless IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n, and Webcam. Best part is the price as it will retail for $399 and also include a full version of Windows 7. Right now its only available to buy on its site via Paypal.

Hands on with the Nokia Booklet 3G Netbook

Chip Chick — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:28:44 +0000

Nokia has officially entered the netbook market with the launch of their Nokia Booklet 3G. The netbook is sporting a 10.1″ display, an Atom Z processor, and it will be running Windows 7. The Booklet 3g has a nice clean design with a glossy cover that comes in a choice of blue, white or black. But what really makes this netbook stand out is its claimed 10-12 hour battery life. The system also features a neat fanless design, it comes with Ovi software, and it will also come with built-in A-GPS and AT&T mobile Broadband. You’ll be able to pick up the Booklet 3G on October 22nd for $299 with a 2 year AT&T Mobile broadband contract. Unsubsidized, it will cost you a whopping $599. The netbook will also remain an exclusive to Best Buy through out the holiday season. If $60 a month seems hard to swallow, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Today at the Nokia Booklet 3G’s press conference, AT&T let it slip that there are likely to be more affordable netbook mobile broadband plans coming soon.

New Compaq PCs Offer Value for the Money and Still Manage to Look Nice

Chip Chick — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:17:27 +0000

HP’s Compaq PCs have been doing very well overseas in countries like India where affordable pricing and value is essential. Now HP is further expanding the Compaq brand to the U.S. where they’re hoping that these PCs will appeal to first time computer buyers, families with young kids and small businesses. Fortunately, despite the low price tags, this new Presario line is looking pretty slick. Check out the gallery for more details.

HP ProBook 6545b and 6445b ProBook Notebook PC Are Spill-Resistant

Chip Chick — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:11:31 +0000

The ProBook 6545b and 6445b aren’t just for business users, they’re also suitable for klutzes. The systems are made out of tough magnesium alloy for increased durability and they even feature an island style spill-resistant keyboard with drain. Under the hood you can expect AMD processor options that can deliver up to 5 to 8 hours of battery life. Also unique to these ProBooks is the HP Power Assistant software that helps you conserve power, stretch your battery run time, and even monitor how much power you’re using by modifying some component settings. For example, if you’re low on battery life, the software will help you figure out how much lowering the brightness on the display will give you in battery life.

And this software not only helps you figure out how to save battery life when you’re on the go and away from an outlet, but it can also help you save some money on your electricity bill by showing you how much power you’re consuming. Expect to see this software pop up on more of HPs computers soon too. The ProBook 6545b comes with a 14″ display, and the ProBook 6545b comes with a 15.6″ display. Both systems are also compatible with new HP docking stations which add not only a plethora of ports, but also room for an extra hard drive to use of backup. Pricing for the laptops begins at $799.

HP TouchSmart tx2 Now Preloaded with Slick TouchSmart Software

Chip Chick — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:00:23 +0000

The new HP TouchSmart tx2 stands out from among the Tablet PC pack because it has the world’s first tablet PC to sport Multi-Touch capabilities with a capacitive screen, that means that you can use two fingers to navigate the PC. The tx2 has been updated and it now comes preloaded with TouchSmart software that is very similar to the TouchSmart All-in-one PC’s software suite. That set of software applications, combined with Windows 7 Multi-Touch support, and the tx2’s capacitive screen, make it a “true” tablet PC. The tx2 weighs 4.65lbs, with a 12.1″ display and a system running on the AMD Turion dual-core processor. Pricing begins at $799.

HP Envy 15 Beats Limited Edition Gets the Dr Dre. Treatment

Chip Chick — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:29:40 +0000

If you you thought the HP Envy 15 was already a sexy cutting edge laptop well it just got a whole lot sexier. The new limited edition HP ENVY 15 Beats PC with integrated Beats Audio emerged today and is once again a collaboration between Dr. Dre, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records and Beats co-founder Jimmy Iovine, and now HP. The design features a sleek, piano black high-gloss finish and famous Beats design as found on the Beats by Dr. Dre headphones. The HP ENVY 15 Beats limited edition comes with Native Instruments’ Traktor LE software and Audio 2 DJ. It weighs 5.19 pounds and is 1-inch thick, and features the Intel Core i7 mobile processor. You will also be able to choose between two different displays. A 15.6-inch HP BrightView high-resolution LED backlit display, including the full high-definition LED HP Ultra BrightView Widescreen Display. The HP ENVY 15 Beats limited edition will be available on Oct. 22 with a starting price of $2,299.

HP Mini Pink Chic Accessory Bundle Supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Chip Chick — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:30:52 +0000

In honor of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, HP has pledged $1 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure for each HP Mini Pink Chic Sleeve and HP Mini Retractable Pink Mouse sold between 9/20/09 and 12/31/09. Even better, you can now pick up these stylish pink accessories along with the matching HP Pink Chic netbook all bundled in a package at BestBuy for just $379.99, which is $10 more than you would pay for the HP Mini Pink Chic alone. The HP Mini Pink Chic is a lovely netbook with a 10.1″ screen, 1GB of ram, and a 160GB hard drive, all running on Windows XP Home in a form-factor that weighs just 2.57lbs.

Toshiba Uk Announces The Satellite T110 and T130 With 11 Hours of Battery Life

Chip Chick — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:57:24 +0000

Toshiba UK today announced the Satellite T110 and T130 which will be the first Toshiba laptops to feature the Intel CULV (Consumer Ultra Low Voltage) processors. What this means for the consumer is better performance and a battery life of up to eleven hours. The T130 is available with a 13.3” screen and the T110 offers an 11.6” alternative.  While both the Satellite T110 and T130 will feature a thin, compact design, the Satellite T130 is available with the choice of Intel Pentium, Intel Single Core or Intel Celeron Single Core ultra low voltage processors, and the Satellite T110 has the option of either an Intel Pentium or Intel Celeron Single Core ultra low voltage processor.The ultra low voltage CPU allows you to be able to enjoy up to eleven hours of use on a single charge.
Some other features include a shock resistant hard drive and a multi-touch control pad which enables users to pinch, zoom, swipe and rotate objects simply by moving their fingers.
Available in late October, both the Satellite T130 and T110 will retail starting at £429 ($684.97 US)

Satellite T110
·       Intel® Pentium® or Intel® Celeron Single CoreTM ultra low voltage processor
·       Up to 3GB (DDR3)
·       250GB HDD
·       11.6″ LED Backlit 1366 x 768 Screen
·       Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n
·       Integrated Web Camera with Face Recognition
·       3 x USB 2.0 Sleep and Charge, 1 x HDMI
·       1.58kg
·       Available in Precious Black or Iron Red Metallic

Satellite T130
·       Intel® Pentium®, Intel® Single Core or Intel® Celeron Single Core ultra-low-voltage processor
·       Up to 4GB (DDR3)
·       Up to 500GB HDD
·       13.3″ LED Backlit 1366 x 768 Screen
·       Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n
·       Integrated Web Camera with Face Recognition
·       3 x USB 2.0 Sleep & Charge, 1 x HDMI
·       1.76kg
·       Available in Precious Black, Iron Red Metallic or Luxe White Pearl

Satellite Pro T130
·       Intel® Celeron Single CoreTM or Intel Core 2 Duo ultra-low-voltage processor
·       Up to 4GB (DDR3)
·       Up to 320GB HDD
·       13.3″ LED Backlit 1366 x 768 Screen
·       Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n
·       Integrated Web Camera with Face Recognition
·       3 x USB 2.0 Sleep & Charge, 1 x HDMI
·       1.76kg
·       Available in Precious Black

MSI Wind U110 Eco Netbook Boasts a 13+ Hour Battery Life

Ali — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:09:21 +0000

I know, I know another netbook – groan… well the new MSI Wind U110 ECO may not have all the bells and whistles of the other Netbooks we have mentioned lately but it does have a whopping battery life of around 13+ hours. Now that’s pretty impressive. It also weighs only 3.2 pounds, features the Intel Atom Processor Z530 (1.60GHz), a 160GB HDD and a 10” backlit LCD with a 1024×600 resolution, high definition web cam, 2 speakers, built-in mic, and Bluetooth. You’ll be able to Tweet and Facebook all day long while watching Kanye embarrass himself on the VMAs. The MSi Wind U110 is available now and retails for $429.99.

Hercules eCAFÉ EC-1000W Netbook Features a Floral In-Mold Cover Design

Chip Chick — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:38:00 +0000

The new Hercules eCAFÉ EC-1000W netbook is following in latest trend of stylish notebooks that have been coming out recently, which we like to call fashionbooks. The eCAFÉ EC-1000W features a “unique “in-mold” designed cover with a high gloss finish and mirror effect that causes a visual interplay of metallic and non-metallic colors, the eCAFÉ EC-1000W never looks the same, changing with each moment of use.” Aside from the spiffy chassis, the system’s specs are pretty standard with a 10.1″ (1024×600) screen, and inside it has the Standard Atom N270 1.6ghz processor, 1GB Ram, a 250GB hard drive, a built-in web cam, 3 USB ports and a memory card reader. It also comes with 50gb of online storage. The system will be running Windows 7 Starter edition. EC-1000W also comes with a unique custom software suite, and it even comes with a complete Office suite and anti-virus software. Check out the gallery below for more about the suite. The eCAFÉ EC-1000W will be available on October and it will be available for $399.

HP Mini 110 by Studio Tord Boontje is Covered in Endangered Animals

Chip Chick — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:07:04 +0000

Like the Vivenne Tam Digital Clutch, the new HP Mini 110 by Studio Tord Boontje is a an extra-special netbook that is a result of a collaboration with HP and a designer. This time, Tord Boontje has teamed up with HP to transform a netbook in to a truly extraordinary piece. The netbook features a flora design that weaves delicately around endangered animals. When you study the design in person, you can’t help but marvel at the layers and level of detail that is involved in the design. This netbook features the first ever three-dimensional surface technology that HP is calling Imprint 3D. The design even spills on to the palm rest and touchpad and the system comes with 15 wallpapers designed by Boontje, as well as a custom theme, screen saver and icons. Pricing begins at $399. More images after the jump.

HP Pavilion DM3 is a Slick Update to the DV2

Chip Chick — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:02:09 +0000

We reviewed the HP Pavilion DV2 a little while back, and considered it to be a well-rounded affordable multimedia laptop that is perfect for students. The DM3 is basically the DV2’s replacement, and although it will have a similar price tag, it improves on the Dv2 in many areas. For starters it has a slick aluminum design that makes it look much more expensive than it really is. It also has a new keyboard and mousepad that are more comfortable to operate than the DV2’s. The laptop will weigh 4.2lbs, be just 1 inch thin with a BrightView 13.3-inch LED screen, it will improve on the dv2 with up to a 10 hour battery life, and it will be available with both Intel and AMD laptop configurations with discrete graphics options. Pricing will start at $549.

HP Envy 13 and HP Envy 15 Tout Unparalled Design, Performance and Battery Life

Chip Chick — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:01:16 +0000

HP has a slew of slick new laptops and netbooks to unveil this week. At the highend, is the new Envy series. These two new laptops are essentially a brainchild of HP and their Voodoo Envy line. The new Envy13 sports HP’s new radiance display that is exceptionally bright and colorful to behold in person. This is definitely one of the best laptop displays on the market. Weighing just 3.74lbs, measuring 0.8 inches with a 13.1 inch screen (16:9), this high performance laptop comes with 7 hours of battery life that can be extended up to a whopping 18 hours using an ultra-high capacity battery slice, that discreetly covers the bottom of the laptop. This is the laptop for long plane flights and road trips – never fight for a seat at Starbucks near an outlet again! Under the hood you can expect the latest Intel SL9000 series Core 2 Duo processor and an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 512mb video card. The Envy13will start at $1,699.

The Envy15 is HP’s most powerful laptop ever, so it’s hard to believe that it manages to be just 1 inch thin and 5.18 lbs in weight. It has got a laser-etched all aluminum chassis and is running on the future Intel Core i7 Processor. You can configure this system with up 16gb ram, two hard drives (for optional RAID configuration), and a 1GB dedicated video card! Pricing starts at $1,799.

Members of the Envy line will come in super minimalist packaging which is not only good for the environment, but easy to unwrap. The systems don’t come with paper documentation, instead all of the documentation is included on an SD card. Envy owners will also benefit from an exclusive support line that promises shorter holding times. Plus, the Envy13 and Envy15 feature HP QuickWeb which is an instant-on system that lets users surf the web, listen to music, view pictures, and watch videos without having to boot in to Windows. Beats Audio (as in Beats by Dr. Dre) is also featured in both systems in order to provide you with the best audio experience possible. “The world-class BeatsTM audio system offers crisp stereo sound with one-button bass enhancement to make your music sing. Its powerful audio profile is tuned specifically for ENVY’s exceptional audio components and tested by Interscope musical artists. It provides amazing, crystal-clear sound, with deep controlled bass that can be accessed with a single key stroke.”