Eager to get your digits onto an NC20 keyboard? Sadly, we can’t help you there, but we have the ability to point out something to whet your appetite until shipment day dawns. Samsung’s UK branch has hosted up the NC20 user manual, and while it doesn’t really offer too many nuggets that we weren’t already aware of, it still proves that this here netbook will arrive with the oh-so-promising 1.3GHz VIA Nano U225 CPU. Additionally, you’ll find a 12.1-inch WXGA display (1,280 x 800), VIA Chrome 9 HC3 graphics, a multicard reader, Ethernet / USB 2.0 ports, optional WiFi / Bluetooth and your choice of HDD or SSD. Check out the links below for more on the hardware details and a new load of press shots, and begin saving you pennies now, ’cause early estimates put this one at around $500 or so.

[Via NotebookItalia]

Filed under: Laptops

Samsung publishes NC20 user manual, new images surface originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So it looks like wannabe cloner Psystar’s supposedly hotshot law firm of Carr and Ferrell regrouped for a deep think after pumping out some fairly weak arguments in its case against Apple — according to a new draft of Psystar’s countersuit, the Florida-based personal reseller should be allowed to sell whitebox Mac OS X machines because it legally purchased duplicates of Leopard at retail. That’s the first sale doctrine, if you’re into copyright law — it says that the purchaser of copyrighted materials (like a book) can sell or dispose of them however they want. Here’s the thing though: a massive part of Apple’s case (but not all of it) is based around the fact that consumers license OS X under the terms of the EULA — and courts are basically up in the air over whether the first sale doctrine should apply to software transactions. It’s an interesting tactic with a ton of repercussions beyond Apple if it’s successful, but we honestly can’t see it working — in the cases where first sale has been used to overcome a EULA, it’s generally been for used software, not companies like Psystar, who are modifying and installing new copyrighted software sold by a first party. We’ll see how Apple responds — things just got interesting again.

Update: World Of Apple notes that this argument has been present from the outset, but it sounds like Psystar’s really pushing it now. We’d say so — we think it’s the only plausible one we’ve heard so far.

[Thanks, iB3nji]

Disclaimer: Nilay’s a lawyer and about to fall over from CES, but he’s not your lawyer, and this isn’t legal advice or analysis.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Psystar’s lawyers regroup, try another tactic against Apple originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony’s VAIO P netbook ultraportable isn’t slated to start shipping until February here in the States, but those absolutely certain that they want one stuck in their coat and / or rear pants pocket can get in line starting this day. The pre-orders are open for Sony’s 1.4 pound VAIO, with $899.99 to $1,499.99 securing your spot on the launch list. They’re available in a whole heap of colors (garnet red, emerald green, onyx black, crystal white and classic black), and there’s even an engraving option if you’re already thinking about a rather spectacular Valentine’s Day gift. Hint, hint, gentlemen.

[Via thegadgetsite, thanks K.C. Kim]

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Sony’s VAIO P up for pre-order in all sorts of hues originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel’s latest and greatest Classmate convertible Computer swung by the FCC in late November, and now it’s time for the general populace to get their paws on one. M&A Technology has just announced that it is currently hosting the so-called Companion Touch up for sale to anyone who’s interested, and packed within will be a 1.6GHz Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, 60GB hard drive, an 8.9-inch touchscreen, Windows XP Home, 1.3 megapixel camera, Ethernet, WiFi and a 4-cell battery that’ll last for around 3.3 hours. Optionally, you can downgrade to a 30GB hard drive, add in a 6-cell Li-ion (good for 5 hours of life) and opt for Linux over WinXP. It’s yours for the taking at $499.

Filed under: Laptops

M&A Technology offering Intel’s Classmate convertible on the internet for $499 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As you might or, more likely, might not, remember, Acer introduced a pair of TravelMate 6593 and 6493 laptops way back in July of last year, but it looks like the company isn’t one to let a good model number go by the wayside, and it’s now rolled out some new, seemingly updated models aimed specifically at corporate customers. From the looks of it, the new models will also only be available in some stock configurations, with the 15.4-inch TravelMate 6593 packing a Core 2 Duo T9500 processor, 4GB of RAM, the usual integrated Intel graphics, and a 250GB hard drive, while the 14.1-inch 6493 comes equipped with a Core 2 Duo T8300 processor and 3GB of RAM, along with mostly similar specs across the board. You”ll also be able to pair each with an ezDock II or ezDockII+ and, yes, you can get your hands on ‘em right now (for between $1,099 and $1,499).

[Via Personal computer Launches, thanks Vinit]

Filed under: Laptops

Acer kicks out TravelMate 6593, 6493 laptops for the corporate set originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We don’t have a lot to go on, but a machine called the VAIO GS just popped up in the FCC database, along with the usual nasty gub’ment photos. Doing some extremely rough back-of-the-napkin calculations, it looks like it’s Sony’s answer to the Dell Mini 12 — 11 inches wide with a 12ish-inch 4:3 screen. We’re also seeing an optional built-in optical drive, WiFi, Bluetooth, three USB ports, a Personal computer Card slot (that’s what it’s marked — let’s hope it’s really ExpressCard), a Memory Stick slot, Ethernet and modem ports, and VGA out. We’re guessing the optical drive explains the netbook-ish hinge battery placement, but nothing explains how hideous this thing is — let’s hope the downgrade in style from the VAIO P comes with a corresponding downgrade in price. A few more shots after the break.

Update: As a few astute commenters have pointed out, this could be an updated US-bound version of the Japan-only VAIO G from 2006 — if things haven’t changed too much, you’re looking at a two-pound machine with a 12.1-inch display. We’ll see — the exterior is definitely a little different, and we don’t think the market is right for the VAIO G’s original $2,000 pricetag.

Continue reading Sony VAIO GS series pops up in the FCC — a cheap Sony ultraportable?

Filed under: Laptops

Sony VAIO GS series pops up in the FCC — a cheap Sony ultraportable? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If Apple’s no-fee licensing wasn’t enough to entice manufacturers, the Mini DisplayPort connector is now being added to VESA’s DisplayPort 1.2 specifications. The update will also double the available bandwidth to 5.4Gbps, which can be used for 1920 x 1080 stereoscopic 3D imagery, four 1920 x 1200 screens, or one huge 3840 x 2160 display. According to Register Hardware, the 1.2 standard will be published by the middle of this year.

[Via Mac Rumors]

Filed under: Desktops, Displays, Laptops

DisplayPort 1.2 adds Apple’s mini connector, stereoscopic 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sure, the Atom N270 has done great things for humanity during its brief tenure powering pretty much every netbook that comes down the pipes, but it’s time for a change, and it looks like the N280 from Intel — already slated for a couple Eee Computers — could provide just the sort of marginal boost we’re looking for. The single core chip bests the N270’s 1.6GHz clock with blazing 1.66GHz speeds, and a 667MHz bus over the original’s 533MHz. What could perhaps be much more interesting is the promised Intel GN40 chipset that accompanies the N280, which there’s currently very tiny info on, but hopefully does a tiny bit towards competing with NVIDIA’s ION — or at least pepping up that game of solitaire we’ve been working on.

[Thanks, Jagslive]

Read - N280 shows up on some new Eee PC models
Read - N280 netbooks to hit the market between 2Q09 and 3Q09

Filed under: Laptops

Details on Intel Atom N280 start to surface, are short on excitement originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft has pushed out its first patch for the Windows 7 public beta. The update saves your MP3s from a rather nasty bug that trims seconds off any song that’s been edited, either by you or via automatic updates from Windows Media Player. If you’ve got afflicted files, there’s a chance they’re salvageable via properties window, according to the patch notes — and if not, then here’s hoping you backed up your library. Additionally, a new update has gone out to Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and Server 2003 / 2008 that repairs some vulnerabilities in the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol. Beta users won’t get their fix until the next public release, explains Microsoft Security Response Team’s Christopher Budd, since it’s only considered a “moderate” risk for the new OS.

Read - Microsoft issues first Windows 7 beta patch
Read - Patch notes / how to mend afflicted MP3s
Read - Security update

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Windows 7 beta update saves your MP3s, all other versions get security patch originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Archos is completely getting in on the netbook game with the announcement of their own branded model (actually just a re-packaged Hasee MJ125), the Archos 10. This little 10.2-incher (with 1024 x 600 resolution) is going to pack a 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive, with a 3-cell battery, WiFi, and three USB ports — nothing to get too excited about, for sure, but we’ll wait with breath bated for word on pricing and availability.

[Via DAPreview]

Filed under: Laptops

Unimaginative Archos 10 netbook announced originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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