News Bits: Dell Low-Cost Subnotebook, Dell XPS M1530 Updates, Asus M70, PS3 Laptop

Dell to launch low-cost subnotebook in June

According to the Wall Street Journal, Dell is planning to launch a low-cost 8.9-inch mini-notebook this June. It will be an Asus Eee PC and HP Mini-Note competitor. It will be produced by Compal Electronics and carry a starting price tag of $399.

Full Story (WSJ.com)
Via (Laptoping.com)

Alienware launches new AlienNetwork digital channel initiative

Alienware is introducing a new initiative called the AlienNetwork. AlienNetwork is a digital channel Alienware designed to help it share information with the public and provide customers with a way to communicate directly with the company. A pilot episode of a new video series will be launched on April 29 featuring a question-and-answer session with top executives including General Manager Arthur Lewis and VP of Product Development Frank Azor. Questions may be submitted on the AlienNetwork home page about the new m15x gaming notebook and its upcoming counterpart, the 17-inch m17x.

Full Story (Alienware.com)

Dell XPS M1530 gets LED, Full HD display options

Dell has updated the display offerings on its 15.4-inch XPS M1530 notebook. New options include a WXGA+ (1440x900) LED backlit display and a Full HD WUXGA (1920x1200) glossy display, $150 and $100 upgrades over the stock WXGA+ glossy display respectively.

Product Link (Dell.com)
Via (Engadget.com)

Asus introduces M70 multimedia notebook

Image couresy PCLaunches

Asus today released the M70 multimedia notebook, featuring a 17-inch WUXGA (1920x1200) widescreen display. Key features include a Blu-ray drive, built-in Altec Lansing speakers, Dolby Home Theater, and an ATI Radeon HD 3470 graphics card with 256MB of memory. The notebook is based on Intel's Santa Rosa Centrino platform with available 45nm Penryn Core 2 Duo processors and up to 4GB of RAM. The M70 packs two 500GB hard drives for a total of 1TB of space.

Full Story (PCLaunches.com)
Via (Engadget.com)

Ben Heck creates PS3 laptop

(view large image)
Image courtesy Engadget

Ben Heck has created another masterpiece - this time it is a PS3 laptop. It has a 17-inch 720p display, HDMI-DVI connection, built-in keyboard, USB ports, speakers, and a headphone jack. The PS3 laptop weighs in at an astounding 16 pounds. Ben Heck donated the laptop to Engadget and they plan to auction it off for charity.

Full Story (Engadget.com)

Assassin's Creed reviewed

A comprehensive review of the new PC game Assassin's Creed has been posted in the forums by member The Forerunner. Assassin's Creed is a third person action-adventure title developed and published by Ubisoft. The game mixes stealth, action, and platforming elements to create a very unique experience. The game also incorporates real historical information and figures from the age of the Crusades. Assassin's Creed is also the very first game to make use of Ubisoft's Scimitar engine.

Continue reading in the forums

 

16 POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG, that'll crush your leg.

 

That's also the first thought that came to mind.

But let us all hope that Dell won't be using crappy VIA processors as well.

Because the EEE needs a real competitor...

 

Dell's subnotebook will probably be Atom powered.

Did anyone notice that ASUS's M70 packs in all this power and then a breathtakingly lame Radeon HD 3470? Really? That's the best we can get in a 17" multimedia notebook?

 

Noticed that, too... A big downgrade from the M50's GeForce 9500 GS.

 

I hope Dell can put the Eee back into its place, Asus is getting a bit carried away right now with no competition. I also hope it isn't a Via cpu too, a cheap AMD cpu would do nicely.

It'd be nice if they could get even cheaper but with this recession I doubt it.

 

I can only guess, but the m70 looks like it is ONLY thought to be for TVstreaming watching blu rays and that stuff, not gaming, and if only LIGHTEST gaming...
I would have expected a better graphics card, seeing that the m50 has a better one (mid lvl vs lowlvl)
A 3670 would have fitted quite nicely, but price was most likely an issue
A DELL subnotebook? would be interesting to see, does anybody know which platform it will be running on? the new AMDTI platform (which would be faster in terms of graphics) or INTEL based?
i would have like to see an 10" subnotebook, well, one cannot get evcerything i guess ^^

 

The Asus M70 geared toward a multimedia notebook while their gaming series would still be the G1/G2 series.
It's nice to see more low-cost subnotebook

 

That's right! Lenovo! Wake up, there is no leak about X100!

 

hmmm.. I like that m70... wonder how much it would set a person back...

 

Dell Subnotebook: Another "Me, too!" competitor for the Asus Eee. Let's see how it turns out.

XPS M1530 Display Update: I'll take one with a WUXGA display, please!

Asus M70: For a brief moment, it reminded me of the Dell Precision M70 that all the juniors at my school have. Lol. But yeah, the graphics on it do seem a bit weak for a 17" model.

PS3 Notebook: Why??

Assassin's Creed: My RA's been addicted to that game for a while now. I've never played it, but the graphics on it do look pretty sweet.

 

Why am I not seeing an option for an LED screen on the M1530 at dell.com ... I see an option for the WXGA+ screen for $50.. and I see the WUXGA screen.. but nothing that says LED.. are they not really up yet or not properly marked yet?

 

And the subnotebook market just got more crowded . . . welcome to the party, Dell. More competition is a great thing because it means better prices, more features, and an increased drive for more innovation.

I hear ya, WUXGA is an amazing resolution. I can't imagine using low-resolutions like WXGA on a screen as large as 15.4" anymore. It is sad to see notebooks of that size being sold with such a groveling resolution in this day and age, it really is. 12" I can understand, but anything 14" and up . . .

It's good to see that the base resolution on the M1530 is WXGA+ though, which is acceptable.

 

Some of us don't want to pull out our magnifying glasses to read text on notebooks LOL The WXGA+ is absolute highest resolution I can stand on a 15.4" notebook, and I'd still prefer a nice high quality WXGA. It would be worth it to get the screen for the LED.. assuming reviews are positive. I am very interested in this option. Especially since the rest of the screens offered on this notebook look like crap to me.

 

Agreed 100%. I'll admit, the font can be a bit small on my 15.4" WUXGA (at least I don't need magnifying glasses though, lol), but if your eyes can get used to it (or even handle it), you'll never want to go back. Even the WSXGA+ resolution on my 20.1" external monitor doesn't seem high enough to me.

 

Still don't see any option for LED screens on the dell site (both Canada and US).

 

Have Dell add their protection plan to this little computer and it will cost double what you paid for the little guy. LOL, I am glad that they are getting in on this, though - it's nice to see them jump in because I am ready to see prices keep on droppin'! I would love to see IBM, but I'll tell you, in this Dell vs. HP big-boy fight, I think I am going Dell...

 

there are m70s with the ati 3650 in fact i havent actually seen the one with the 3470 for sale but i have seen the 3650 versions for sale they are at asus dealers and newegg.com

asus doesnt make a laptop with a 256 bit card of any size.

the set ups of the version that has reached the north american market is not at all like the one described in this article.

 

So the 3650 is a competitor or the 8600mgt?

 

did you click the link provided in the first post? it takes you to the dell site that has it (small business)

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=04&kc=6W300&l=en&oc=bycwpaz&s=bsd

 

so is dell going to put the LED option in the home edition?

i want the mini wireless N card with an LED screen, this is the update i've been waiting for to push me into getting one, haha

 

Dell ultraportable.....
gahhh, I NEED more details!! Here's to hoping that they find a way to put in a cheap ULV/LV dual core and SSD HD for only 399.

 

it is the equivalent of 8600m gt and even though it has 1 gb of dedicated ram, its a gimmick, it can't use more than 256mb