ASUS Eee Pad Transformer

There’s a damn-serious amount of competition a-brewing in the PC tablet market these days, and it’s only getting started thanks—in part—to the introduction of the iPad.

The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF 101 is one of those competitors. Boasting a 10.1-inch, multi-touch LED screen (1280 x 800p), the Eee Pad Transformer features:

Wireless N compatibility with legacy G and B support
Bluetooth V2
AN NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor, Android O/S with MyCloud, MyNet, and MyLibrary built-in
1080p video playback with HDMI output and wireless streaming capabilities
Two cameras—a 5 megapixel rear-facing and 1.2 mp front-facing one
SRS surround sound with 3D dynamics
Rugged, scratch-resistant glass
An optional docking station that includes QWERTY keyboard, two additional USB ports, an SD and Micro SD card reader, and additional battery

Furthermore, the tablet’s Android O/S itself is fully Adobe Flash Player 10.2 compliant, and the optional docking station/keyboard combo provides an additional seven hours to the TF 101′s 9-hour battery.

It’s yet to be seen whether the TF 101 is a worthy competitor to exciting new tablets from companies like Blackberry, Samsung, Microsoft, and the reigning king—Apple.

$500-$1,000, Computers

By Michael Bock on May 16th, 2011

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$545 BUY

ASUS-Automobili Lamborghini VX7

Despite the name, this is not a hot sports car. Rather, this is the Lamborghini of notebooks–in name, in look, and in sheer performance. It’s a hot sports car that sits in your lap and runs Windows.

Clearly inspired by the automotive version Lamborghini and Murcielago LP640, the ASUS Lamborghini is all sleek corners and bold colors. It’s a notebook that actually looks aerodynamic, which seems kind of unnecessary but at the same time oh-so-sweet.

And it’s got specs to match. Under the “hood” are the latest 2nd generation Intel Core i7 processors–Extreme Edition, no less. The display is turbo-charged by the Nvidia GTX 4 series card with a whopping 3GB of video memory. And while we’re talking whopping, the on-board memory goes all the way up to 16GB and the hard drive is a ginormous 1.5TB, which is practically enough to store the entire contents of your brain. And naturally it’s got USB 3.0 built in as well, ten times faster than USB 2.0. Because if you own a laptop called “Lamborghini”, the last thing you want to do is wait.

$1,000-$2,500, Computers

By Doug Sinclair on May 12th, 2011

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$2,300 BUY

Acer Iconia | Dual-Screen Touchbook

Notebooks are great and all, but what’s with the clickity-click keyboard? Those might have been useful back in the middle ages, but today they’re just taking up valuable touch-screen display space. Rip that sucker out and give me another display, for crying out loud!

Acer has heeded that call with their Iconia Touchbook, a Windows 7-based “twin tablet” that ditches the traditional keyboard in favor of another 14-inch LED backlit touchscreen display. Tech specs are great, with an Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB RAM, 640GB hard drive, and 1.3 mega-pixel web-cam. But let’s get back to that second display, which is where the wicked cool comes in.

An innovative design like this requires a whole new interface, and Acer has risen to the challenge with a customized, gesture-driven experience that makes good use of both screens. You can slide stuff around with familiar multi-touch controls, select items on a “ring” by making a claw with your hand and spinning it, and pop up an onscreen keyboard when needed. It probably doesn’t predict future crimes, but maybe in a software update.

Also bundled in are a customized touch-based browser, a journal/clipping app, a social media aggregator, and various other useful media tools all specially prepared to make full use of the dual-tablet concept.

$1,000-$2,500, Computers

By Doug Sinclair on April 27th, 2011

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$1200 BUY

Apple iPad 2

For those of you who passed on the first generation of tablets in hopes of owning an iPad 2, your wait is over come March 11th. Apple has just officially released details on the device that is likely to become the benchmark to which all other tablets of 2011 are compared. Features include:

an all new design that is 15% lighter and 33% thinner than the original iPad (making it even thinner than an iPhone 4)
available in two colors – black or white
new dual-core processor (A5 chip), with graphics that are up to 9 times faster
rear and front facing cameras with “FaceTime” and “Photo Booth” software
gyroscope
iOS 4.3
HDMI out

Oh and don’t worry, Apple is releasing models that work with both AT&T and Verizon. ”The year of the tablet” or “the year of the iPad 2″… you decide.

$500-$1,000, Computers

By Jason Bacchetta on March 2nd, 2011

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$500-$830 BUY

TI-Nspire CX Handheld | By Texas Instruments

There was a time when the coolest thing you could do with your calculator was spell “hE110” out of upside-down numbers on the LCD display. Apparently kids aren’t so easily impressed anymore. Texas Instruments’ new line of “Nspired Learning” calculators, led by the flagship T1-Nspire CX, represent more than just a better way to vaguely amuse yourself during class. They’re a whole new way to teach and learn math and science.

Far from the monochrome 8-digit displays of old, the T1-Nspire comes equipped with a 16-bit 320 by 240 display that can show images and animations as well as create complex 3D graphs of whatever numbers you’re crunching. But the real heart of the system is a digital content authoring and publishing tool that allows teachers to customize interactive lessons. The handheld unit will also connect wirelessly to an in-classroom computer and allow the teacher to monitor the progress of students and customize their lessons based on individual needs.

It’s approved for use in most college entrance exams and state standardized tests, so you can use it as a vanilla calculator too. And it probably spells words when you turn it upside down, but using it that way seems kind of a waste.

$100-$250, Computers

By Doug Sinclair on March 1st, 2011

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$165 BUY

HP TouchPad

The success of the iPad proved there’s a market for tablets. Now everybody wants a piece of it. And some of the contenders have specs that might just put the iPad to shame. One of those is the HP Touchpad.

HP hasn’t even tried to hide the direct influence of the iPad. The Touchpad is almost exactly the same size and weight as Apple’s baby. They even put “pad” in the name just to make sure nobody misses the similarities. But as soon as you turn it on, the resemblance goes away and a whole new kind of cool kicks in.

It’s got a 1.2Ghz dual core processor as opposed to the iPad’s single core 1.0Ghz, and a full 1GB of RAM compared to Apple’s 256Mb. It comes armed with HP’s very impressive WebOS and its nifty “activity cards” interface, and a front-facing webcam for video calls, sorely missed on the first generation iPad. And it’ll connect to smartphones, of course, with a particular predisposition for the pre.

Computers

By Doug Sinclair on February 10th, 2011

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$TBA BUY

LG G-Slate

If you watched the Super Bowl this past Sunday, you probably saw Motorola’s weird ad for its new Xoom Android tablet. Well, it’s not the only iPad competitor to run Honeycomb this year. The LG G-Slate for T-Mobile should also provide some Honey-flavored distractions on those long train commutes and lazy Sundays.

The G-Slate is powered by a 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor and features an 8.9-inch, 3D-capable, HD display (720p with output to 1080p via HDMI).

“3D capable?” you say? Why, yes! On the back of the G-Slate are two cameras giving users the ability to record stereoscopic 3D video directly to their device, as well as 5MP still shots. You’ll have to wear those goofy glasses to get the 3D effect, but you’ll also be one of the only guys who can watch Avatar in 3D on the go! A spiffy front-facing camera takes care of any video chatting you may need to do on the road.

Expect the G-Slate to run on T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network with speeds of (very roughly) 21 Mbps down to give the Xoom and the next iPad a bit of competition later this year.

Computers

By Harry Marks on February 7th, 2011

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$TBA BUY

Microsoft Surface 2

Microsoft’s massive “Table of Doom” has been redesigned into something a little more…subtle. Resembling something akin to a flat-panel television, the new Surface 2 is ready to make your futuristic dreams come true.

Microsoft’s updated table-computer features a 40-inch LCD multitouch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. PixelSense, a technology developed my Microsoft, recognizes up to 50 simultaneous touch points on the screen, meaning you and your friends can play games or look at photos together all at the same time.

The Surface 2 also understands when certain objects are placed upon its…well, surface. For example, when a digital camera is resting on the table, the pictures within are “scattered” across it, allowing the user to view and manipulate those photos for sharing across sites like Facebook and Twitter.

It’s not the cheapest gadget on the market, but $7,600 is a lot better than the $12,500 the original Surface cost a few years ago. Just try not to spill your coffee on it.

$5,000-$10,000, Computers, Featured

By Harry Marks on January 13th, 2011

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$7,600 BUY

Motorola Xoom Tablet

Apple may have started this whole tablet thing, but Motorola is set to take it to the next level with their highly anticipated Xoom Tablet, which will feature 1 GHz of dual-core Tegra 2 computing power. The 10.1-inch screen is a little bigger than the iPad, and it also boasts 1280 x 800 resolution with video recording capabilities at 720p, which plays back at the 1080 status.

With a supposed battery life capable of handling 10 hours video, you could spend all day at the movies in front of your Motorola Xoom Tablet. But don’t stop there. This device supports full Internet browsing through WiFi and 3G access (with a 4G upgrade planned for the second quarter of the year). Storage tops out at 32GB, and the 5 megapixel camera ensures that you will always be able to capture memories as they happen with crystal clear image quality. Some of us are starting to be glad we didn’t spring for that iPad at Christmas!

Computers

By Aric Mitchell on January 11th, 2011

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$TBA BUY

Samsung 9 Series Laptop

Samsung seems to be trying to start a fight with the folks at Apple. First, the iPhone comes along; then Samsung follows suit with a smartphone of their own. Apple comes out with the iPad, and Samsung responds with a similar tablet. Apple delivers the MacBook Air, reportedly the thinnest laptop on the market, and what does Samsung do? You guessed it. They come out with the Samsung 9 Series Laptop, which is a whopping .01 inches thinner than the Air.

And like the MacBook Air, it comes with a host of plug-ins, ports, and power. Featuring the i5 2537 M core processor, 128 GB SSD, and a quatro of RAM, this sleek black beauty will get you where you need to go in a hurry–whether it’s rushing to pay an overdue bill online, or Googling all the members in your family while they sleep. At $1,600, it’s a little more than the MacBook Air, but it delivers a monitor over 13 inches diagonally, which, once again, ups the ante for Team Apple to come up with a suitable rebuttal. Can’t wait!

$1,000-$2,500, Computers

By Aric Mitchell on January 6th, 2011

... Continued

$1600* BUY

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