Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

It wouldn’t be quite right to put everyone through the re-acclimation process if there wasn’t some giveaway gear attached, now would it? So in honor of today’s makeover and the launch of Switched we’re giving away a spankin’ new HTC Shift UMPC. You know the details of the machine already, read the rules below for your opportunity to take home that $1,500 HTC-made portable.

• Leave a comment below. Feel free to shout out what you’d use this UMPC for. “Browsing Engadget” is a completely acceptable answer.
• You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you’ll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
• If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you’ll be fine.
  
• Contest is open to anyone in the 50 Says, 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
• Winner will be chosen randomly. That winner will get a brand new HTC Shift. Package includes all retail hardware, but may not have manuals or software. Approximate value is $1,500.
• Entries can be submitted until Friday, April 18th, 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
• Full rules can be found here.

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Filed under: Laptops

Well, it looks like that recently released BIOS update may not have been the cure-all solution that many Alienware M15x users were hoping for, with at least some of ‘em now reporting that the update did nothing to fix the so-called “downclocking” problems that many were experiencing. Adding further confusion to the situation is that many users, as evidenced by the discussion on the Notebook Review forums, initially seemed to think that the update had fixed the downclocking problem, only to discover that it had reappeared a week or so later. For its part, Alienware is apparently aware of the ongoing problems and one rep from the company has even chimed with offers of help in on the forums, although there’s no indication as to when the problem might be fixed once and for all.

Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

Kohjinsha’s UMPCs have remained largely unchanged over the years — an SSD here, Intel CPU boost here — but the firm’s latest has managed to accomplish something few UMPCs would even dream of. That’s right, this 7-incher includes a full-fledged dual-layer DVD writer, which tags along nicely with the 1,024 x 600 resolution LED-backlit panel, 1.3-megapixel camera, 60GB hard drive, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth and 800MHz A110 processor. It’s also filled with 1GB of DDR2 RAM, Ethernet, a duo of USB 2.0 ports, VGA output, audio in / out, 3-in-1 multicard reader and a pair of battery options promising 3.5 / 7.2 hours of life. The 2.4-pound machine looks to be available at the end of this month (albeit rebadged as a Vye Mini-V S37) for around $1,500.

[Via Ubergizmo]

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Filed under: Displays, Laptops

Got a hundred bucks to burn? Lucky you, ’cause that Benjamin will now take the stock 15.4-inch 1,440 x 900 display of Dell’s XPS M1530 and squeeze in a full 1,920 x 1,200 pixel resolution. Toss in the optional $500 Blu-ray Disc drive and you’ve got yourself a sweet portable HD rig pumping Intel’s Penryn at the core. Another $50 and you’ve added a presumably brighter, LED backlit display but you’re now back to the original 1,440 x 900 resolution. Oh decisions, decisions.

[Thanks, Jonaid]

Filed under: Laptops

Don’t know about ya’ll, but our eyes tend to glaze over with apathy as soon as we see “desktop replacement” in a laptop press release. Nevertheless, here’s LG’s take on the semi-portable: the 17-inch X-R700 and 19-inch X-S900. They’re big — much bigger than the average mini-skirt found on Korean product waifs. The ₩1,699,000 (about $1,744) Model X-R700 XP50K sports a WXGA display with integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam, 3GB of memory, 512MB of nVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics and a 1.83GHz T5550 Core 2 Duo pumping away under the hood. The ₩1,390,000 (about $1,436) X-S900 KP55K model packs the same 1,366 x 768 resolution and processor but slaps in 256MB of ATI Mobility Radeon HD2400 graphics, 2GB of memory, and bumps the disk from 250GB to 320GB spinning at 7,200rpm (thanks Fujitsu). While the laptops are a bit meh, at least you’ll notice how much bigger the images are on the new and improved Engadget layout.
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A reader pointed us to this video showing what happens when the Portal world meets World of Warcraft. It’s quite interesting to say the least. Continue reading to watch.

What exactly happens when GLaDOS is installed into a Mechanostrider? Find out in this video which mixes Portal and World of Warcraft

Via Techeblog

Iron Man, based on the 2008 movie, “will be released on May 2nd 2008 to coincide with the release of the film in cinemas — confirmed enemies are A.I.M (Advanced Ideas Mechanics), Iron Monger and Titanium Man.” Video after the break. Click here for first picture in gallery.

Via Techeblog

Similar to Microsoft Surface, the BumpTop 3D Desktop pushes the desktop metaphor with physics, piles and the pen. Available later this year. Video after the break.

BumpTop is different from things like Surface for the simple reason that it’s software driven and requires no special hardware. You can use it with your mouse, or two mice to emulate a multitouch display

[via OhGizmo!]

Via Techeblog

Yes, someone actually made a custom Master Chief My Little Pony hybrid toy that sold for a hefty $151.57 on eBay. Auction page. Click here for first picture in gallery.

Once upon a time, a little Pony named Lily met Halo hero Master Chief. They fell in love - for little Lily’s feminine side complemented Master Chief’s machomanness— and had a son named Halo Silver

[via Gizmodo]

Via Techeblog

In this Fifth Gear segment, the crew pits the 2008 Nissan 350Z against the 2008 Honda S2000 to see which is the better daily driver. Find out which vehicle wins after the break.

Via Techeblog