Toshiba’s NEW and the BEST Mini Notebook: NB205-N312

Toshiba's reasonably priced NB205 is packed with a collection of fantastic features and more than 9 hours of battery life. With 1.6GHz Intel Atom N280 CPU, 1GB of RAM, and a 160GB 5400-rpm hard drive, NB205 has become the best recommended 10.1 inch notebook. The 3.1 x 1.6 – inch touchpad is the largest in 10-inch class.
Toshiba NB205 comes with Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition (SP3) operating system. Also, In addition to Toshiba’s HDD Protection and Zoom Utility software, Bluetooth Stack (for easy Bluetooth setup), ConfigFree (for connecting to a network), and PC Health Monitor (for keeping the notebook running smoothly) are included.
Above the display screen is a 0.3-megapixel webcam, which provides extremely clear images in a video chat. Hidden below the front edge of the system are the dual stereo speakers.

With pass-through USB port, that enables users to charge USB-powered devices while the computer is off, and weight starting at 2.93 lbs, it is also the best solution for folks on the go. This notebook also provides an internal accelerometer to protect the hard drive in case of falls and offers wireless WAN support.

Mini NB205-N312 specs are:
Intel Atom Processor N280
Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition (SP3)
1 GB of RAM
10.1 - inch widescreen
160GB 5400-rpm hard drive
Atheros® Wireless LAN (802.11b/g)
Bluetooth® V2.1 + EDR
Webcam and microphone built into LCD bezel
Headphone jack (stereo), Built-in monaural speaker, Microphone jack (mono)
Li-Ion (5800mAh, 6-Cell) Battery with 9 hours of battery life
2-USB (2.0), 1-USB (2.0) with Sleep and Charge

With great oversized touchpad, comfortable keyboard, amazing battery life and sleep-and-charge USB ports, Toshiba’s NB205-N312 is the perfect solution for everyone.

Toshiba NB205-N312 is available in stores with 1 year of warranty on battery, parts and labor.

Dell Adds to its Vostro Notebook Lineup

On Tuesday July 2, Dell revealed the latest addition to its growing line of Vostro laptops, the 12-inch Vostro 1220. Sporting a shiny red or black casing, Dell’s newest notebook is built for the budget-conscious consumer who doesn’t need all the high-end features, such as the Centrino vPro platform.

This compact, stylish laptop weighs in at just 3.35 lbs. and delivers up to 9 hours of battery juice, making it the perfect solution for on-the-go business travelers. As for the price tag, consumers have a choice between three different packages.

Here are the specs for the Vostro 1220 Base Package ($799):

• Intel Celeron 900 processor
• 160 GB SATA hard drive
• 2GB of RAM
• Windows Vista Home Basic

Here are the specs for the Vostro 1220 Business Package ($899):

• Intel Core 2 Duo T6670 processor
• 250 GB SATA hard drive
• 3GB of RAM
• Windows Vista Home Basic

Here are the specs for the Vostro 1220 Ultimate Performance Package ($1029):

• Intel Core 2 Duo T6670 processor
• 320 GB SATA hard drive
• 4GB of RAM
• Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit

In addition to these features, all three versions of the Vostro 1220 come with an ExpressCard, SD card slot, and Integrated Ethernet Network. According to recent research, worldwide shipments of 12-inch notebooks are expected in increase approximately 35 percent from the year 2008 to 2009. In response to this trend, Dell has designed their latest laptop for superior performance, enhanced security, and increased battery life.

The Vostro 1220 model comes with a 30-day no-obligation return policy, and it’s available on store shelves now.

Possible Family Pack for Windows 7

According to recent reports, Microsoft will offer consumers a “Family Pack” edition of Windows 7, which will include a shared license for three computers in one household. The following clause will allegedly appear in the license details of the Family Pack for Windows 7:

“If you are a ‘Qualified Family Pack User,’ you may install one copy of the software marked as ‘Family Pack’ on three computers in your household for use by people who reside there. Those computers are the licensed computers and are subject to these licensing terms.”

On the other hand, retail copies of Windows 7 Home Premium include this agreement:

“One Copy per Customer. Except as allowed in Section (2), you may install one copy of the software on one computer. That computer is the ‘licensed computer.’”

So what are the system requirements for Windows 7? Generally speaking, laptops and desktop computers will need the following features in order to run Microsoft’s latest product:

• 1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
• 1GHz or faster processor (32-bit or 64-bit)
• DirectX graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher drive
• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB hard disk space (64-bit)

In 2007, Microsoft offered a two-license Family Pack for Windows Vista Home Premium, which was retailed at $159. However, the company has refused to confirm or deny rumors about an upcoming Family Pack for Windows 7.

Experts predict a $189 price tag, since it would undercut Apple’s multi-license bundle by ten dollars. Of course, there’s no real way for Microsoft to prevent widespread abuse, such as business users three single students splitting the cost three ways.

The official release of Windows 7 is set for October 22 of this year, but you can still pre-order the software for a discount price through July 11.