Archive for the ‘Desktops’ Category

Dell’s Inspiron One 19 pops official in Japan

It won’t be the first time we’ve seen an all-in-one from Dell launch first in Japan, and if we were the betting type, we’d guess it won’t be the last. The Inspiron One 19 has just popped up over on the outfit’s Japanese website, and unless our eyes are badly deceived, this definitely isn’t the same as the Studio One 19. Offered up in two basic configurations, consumers can get one outfitted with a 2.6GHz or 2.93GHz Intel processor, Windows 7 Home Premium, 2GB or 4GB of RAM, an 18.5-inch display (1,366 x 768), a 320GB or 500GB SATA hard drive and a DVD burner. It also looks to ship with a budled keyboard and mouse, and unless someone in the back has gone crazy with the Photoshop eraser, both of those connect sans wires. The new AIO can be ordered up now starting at ¥69,980 ($770), though only time will tell when (or if) this one will head stateside.

Filed under: Desktops

Dell’s Inspiron One 19 pops official in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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7 Things You Should Know About Upgrading to Windows 7

Thursday is a big day for Windows users. Microsoft is finally making Windows 7 publicly available, and the number of preorders for the operating system on Amazon.com has already surpassed orders for Harry Potter in the UK.

Not bad for an operating system that costs $120 and doesn’t even have any magic wands or dragons in it.

That’s a good indicator that a ton of people are upgrading, and we’re sure there will be even more that follow after consumers spread the word about the vast improvements in Windows 7 over its predecessors. Here’s a simple guideline of tidbits you should know to ensure your upgrade process is smooth — from purchase to install.

1. The Upgrade Is Worth It
We’ve written about Windows 7’s strong points as well as the weaker points of Windows 7. On balance, we’re confident saying this is the best Microsoft operating system yet. If you’re running any earlier version of Windows, you’ll almost certainly want to upgrade — and you should feel no hesitation about buying new computers preloaded with Windows 7.

2. But It Will Cost You
Apple offers an upgrade to its latest operating system, Snow Leopard, for $30 — and you can even take advantage of it if you don’t have the previous version, Leopard. Not so with Microsoft: You’ll need to pay $120 for the upgrade — or even more, depending on which version you get (unless, of course, you’re a smart shopper and can find a discounted price. See tips 6 and 7 below for details on which version to buy and how to find discounts.) As with previous versions of Windows, Microsoft has created a bewildering array of variations.

3. Double-Check Compatibility With Your Hardware
Paranoid about losing access to some of your third-party accessories and software after upgrading? You should be, at least a little bit. Microsoft claims Windows 7 will work smoothly with most third-party gadgets and software, but to be on the safe side, you should check out the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. The tool automatically scans your system and provides a report of any potential issues that arise, as well as steps to resolve them.

4. Scout for Computers Shipping With Windows 7
If you’ve been shopping for a new computer — but waiting for Windows 7 to come out first — there’s a Microsoft tool to help search for new computers that ship with Windows 7. It’s called PC Scout, and it searches for computers based on your preferences. As of this writing, the results don’t bring up Windows 7 systems (since Windows 7 isn’t officially released yet), but the website clarifies all the computers listed in the database are eligible for a Windows 7 upgrade. That means if you purchase one of those computers today, all you have to pay is $10 for shipping, and you get the Windows 7 upgrade free. By the time Windows 7 ships, the PC Scout should be showing results for computers that include Windows 7.

Amazon customers shopping for Windows 7 computers: There’s a web page just for you. Amazon breaks down lists of netbooks, notebooks and desktops specifically shipping with Windows 7, so definitely check those out.

5. Upgrading From XP? Back up Your Data, Wipe and Migrate
Windows XP users cannot do a straight upgrade; they’ll have to back up their files, format their hard drive and perform a clean install. After your fresh copy of Windows 7 is on your computer, Microsoft offers a tool called Easy Transfer to migrate your files.

(If you’re a Vista user, you’ll be able to upgrade without doing a clean install — though fresh installations are generally recommended for optimal performance anyway whenever you switch to a new operating system.)

6. Know What You Want
Disregard the awful, intimidating Windows 7 upgrade chart when you’re picking a version to buy. Choosing the right version really isn’t as complicated as Microsoft has made it sound in the past. Consumers: The vast majority of you should go with Windows 7 Home Premium. Business users: Most of you will want to go with Windows 7 Professional. (There’s a Windows 7 Ultimate edition, but that’s aimed at a very niche audience of ultra geeks who want to do everything they could possibly imagine doing with their computers.) Again, if you want to be safe, use the Upgrade Advisor to check your hardware and software compatibility.

7. Look for Limited-Time Discounts
If you’re buying Windows 7 while it’s brand new, you shouldn’t be paying the full price. Microsoft and its partners are holding a weeklong sale called “7 Days of Windows 7.” Companies offering Windows 7 discounts with Microsoft include Best Buy, Dell and Acer. You can sign up to hear about daily offers on Windows.com. Also, you can check discount-aggregation sites such as PriceGrabber.com or Froogle.com to find the cheapest Windows 7 deals.

See Also:

• 7 Good Reasons to Switch to Windows 7
• 7 Reasons to Avoid Windows 7
• First Look: Windows 7 Shapes Up as Microsoft’s Best OS Yet …

Sweet Refurbished Deals: $850, $900 MacBooks

Here’s what defines me as an Apple customer and not an Apple fanboy: I eagerly anticipate new Apple gear not for the new products, but for the great deals that appear for previous-generation gadgets in the refurbished section.

Think of it this way: Just yesterday, that speedy aluminum MacBook Pro you’ve always wanted was way too pricey for you. But the day Apple releases upgrades, your Mac of desire instantly drops hundreds of dollars in the refurbished section.

That’s smart shopping to me. Granted, with refurbished gadgets you run the risk of getting a unit that was returned because it was a lemon. But on the other hand, there’s a chance you’re getting a Mac that was returned with zero problems (perhaps a person with bad credit). I’ve owned two refurbished MacBook Pros in the past four years, and neither of them had any problems requiring servicing. Plus, refurbished products are covered by one-year warranty. Refurb is the way to go!

With that said, here are two hot refurbished Mac deals that popped up after Apple released new Macs today:

• Refurbished white 2.13-GHz MacBook for $850 (originally $1,000)
• Refurbished unibody 2-GHz MacBook for $900 (originally $1,100)

Expect more to come over the next few weeks as Apple, as well as third-party Mac vendors, continue to clear out inventory of “older” Macs. See any other great refurb deals out there? Add your finds in the comments below.

See Also:

• Apple Unleashes New Macs, Multitouch Mouse
• Latest Rumors Point to New Macs on the Horizon

Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com

Apple Unleashes New Macs, Multitouch Mouse

Apple on Tuesday released a family of new Macs, including upgraded iMacs, a unibody white MacBook and Mac Minis. The newest addition to the Apple product line is a wireless, multitouch mouse.

The Magic Mouse (below), which ships with new iMacs released today, features a completely touch-sensitive top side. Multitouch gestures can trigger left- and right-click functions, as well as 360-degree scrolling.

The mouse also detects swiping gestures: Swiping left takes you back a page in Safari; swiping left and right in iPhoto browses the previous and next photos, respectively.

Apple added two screen sizes for the iMac, a 21.5-inch model and a 27-inch model. They feature new LED backlit displays with a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. The 21.5-inch model starts at $1,200 and features a high-resolution 1920-by-1080-pixel display. The 27-inch iMac starts at $1,700 and features a 2560-by-1440-pixel display, which offers 60 percent more pixels than the previous 24-inch model, according to Apple.

Priced at $1,000, the solo MacBook (top) remains white, but it gains a unibody enclosure like the MacBook Pros. It sports a 2.26-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, a 13.3-inch LED backlit glossy widescreen display and a multitouch trackpad.

The Mac Mini received minor updates. There are two configurations: A $600 model features a 2.26-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB of 1066-Mhz RAM and a 160-GB hard drive. An $800 model sports a 2.56-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4 GB of RAM and a 320-GB drive. Both feature NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphic chipsets. If you want to use Mac Minis as servers, the 2.53-GHz configuration has a $1,000 option that includes Mac OS X Server and two hard drives.

Lost in the flurry of releases, Apple’s remote control received a makeover, sporting the aluminum-and-black aesthetic to match the new iMacs and MacBooks. The remote can control not just Macs, but iPods and iPhones as well. It costs $19.

See Also:

• Latest Rumors Point to New Macs on the Horizon

Photo: Apple

Apple iMac Hands On [Apple]

The new iMac comes in two sizes, 21.5 and 27-inches. The screens are 16:9 with the same edge to edge glass of the Macbook Pro and they’ll come out with both Core2Duo and new i5/i7 quadcore chips. And Unibody.

The first thing I noticed when playing with the new iMac was the screens feel bigger and wider, as they should. Secondly, I noticed the black screen and aluminum smaller “chin”. Thirdly, I noticed the wireless keyboard, which was missing the numeric keypad and the Magic Mouse. The computer itself has a few things going on that aren’t apparent at a glance.

The screen is IPS (In Plane Switching), as in the 24-inch display port Cinema Display, which is great for edge to edge viewing without color distortion. The iMac’s displayport has a new trick, too — it can act as a second screen, receiving video (but not audio) input from DVD players or a Macbook. Apple said it was HDCP compliant so it should be fine for watching blu-rays on, via the port, via a separate player.

The larger chassis allowed Apple to do two main things over the previous generation’s 20 and 24-inch models: fit in 4 RAM modules, for a total of 16GB max memory, and increase the quality of sound using the both acoustics of the case and better components. There’s a noticeable difference.

Apple Unveils New iMac With 21.5 and 27-inch Displays

Features LED-Backlit Displays, Available Quad-Core Processors & the New Wireless Magic Mouse

CUPERTINO, Calif., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple® today unveiled an all new iMac® line featuring brilliant LED-backlit 21.5 and 27-inch widescreen displays in a new edge-to-edge glass design and seamless all aluminum enclosure. The new iMac line, starting at $1,199, is the fastest ever with Intel Core 2 Duo processors starting at 3.06 GHz, and Core i5 and i7 quad-core processors for up to twice the performance.* Every new iMac ships with a wireless keyboard and the all new wireless Magic Mouse, the world’s first mouse with Multi-Touch™ technology pioneered by Apple on the iPhone®, iPod touch® and Mac® notebook trackpad.

“The iMac is widely praised as the best desktop computer in the world and today we are making it even better,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With brilliant LED displays and the revolutionary Magic Mouse, the new iMac delivers an amazing desktop experience that we think customers will love.”

The new iMac features stunning LED-backlit displays with a 16:9 aspect ratio, ideal for watching high definition movies and TV shows from iTunes®, or editing and watching your own videos or photos using iLife®. The new 21.5-inch iMac features a high resolution 1920-by-1080 pixel display. The 27-inch iMac features a beautiful 2560-by-1440 pixel display that offers 60 percent more pixels than the previous 24-inch model. Both 21.5 and 27-inch displays use IPS technology to deliver consistent color across an ultra wide 178 degree viewing angle.

The iMac comes standard with a wireless keyboard and the new Magic Mouse featuring Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch technology. Instead of needing mechanical buttons, scroll wheels or scroll balls, the entire top of the Magic Mouse is a seamless Multi-Touch surface. Using intuitive gestures, a user can easily scroll through long documents, pan across large images or swipe to move forward or backward through a collection of web pages or photos. The Magic Mouse can be configured as either a single button or two button mouse, according to the user’s preference. The wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse work seamlessly with the iMac’s built-in Bluetooth capabilities to provide a clean, cable-free desk top.

The iMac features improved graphics across the line with NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics or ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics in the 21.5-inch model, and ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics or ATI Radeon HD 4850 discrete graphics in the 27-inch model. The new iMac line now also features 4GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 memory and capacity up to 16GB across four SO-DIMM slots. Every iMac features a built-in iSight® video camera, mic and stereo speakers integrated into the thin aluminum and glass design. iMac includes built-in AirPort Extreme® 802.11n Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet, a total of four USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire® 800 port and a new built-in SD card slot.

Apple today also announced that the Mac mini, the world’s most energy efficient desktop,** is now faster, offers more storage and comes standard with double the memory. Starting at $599, the entry level Mac mini features a faster 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2GB of DDR3 1066 MHz memory, a 160GB hard drive, five USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics and a SuperDrive®. The $799 Mac mini features a 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of memory and a larger 320GB hard drive. Apple now offers a $999 Mac mini that is specially configured with Mac OS® X Snow Leopard® Server. Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server features two 500GB hard drives for a total of 1TB of server storage in the tiny 6.5-inch square by 2-inch tall Mac mini enclosure.

Continuing Apple’s commitment to the environment, both iMac and Mac mini extend their leadership in green design. iMac and Mac mini meet the new, more stringent Energy Star 5.0 requirements and achieve EPEAT Gold status.*** The new iMac now features LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. Both iMac and Mac mini use PVC-free internal components and cables, contain no brominated flame retardants, use highly recyclable materials, and feature material-efficient system and packaging designs.

Every Mac comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, new core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto®, to easily organize and manage photos; iMovie® with powerful easy-to-use new features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand® which introduces a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar.

Pricing & Availability
The new 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo iMac and Mac mini lines are now shipping and available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The Intel Core i5 and i7 quad-core iMacs are available for order and will begin shipping this November. Mac mini with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server is available from the Apple Store and Apple’s retail stores.

The new 21.5-inch 3.06 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,199 (US), includes:
21.5-inch 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit display;
3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache;
4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
500GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+ / -R DL/DVD+ / -RW/CD-RW);
Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
built-in iSight video camera;
Gigabit Ethernet port;
four USB 2.0 ports;
one FireWire 800 port;
SD card slot;
built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

The new 21.5-inch 3.06 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:
21.5-inch 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit display;
3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache;
4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics; with 256MB GDDR3;
1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+ / -R DL/DVD+ / -RW/CD-RW);
Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
built-in iSight video camera;
Gigabit Ethernet port;
four USB 2.0 ports;
one FireWire 800 port;
SD card slot;
built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

The new 27-inch 3.06 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,699 (US), includes:
27-inch 2560 x 1440 LED-backlit display;
3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache;
4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics; with 256MB GDDR3;
1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+ / -R DL/DVD+ / -RW/CD-RW);
Mini DisplayPort for video input and output (adapters sold separately);
built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
built-in iSight video camera;
Gigabit Ethernet port;
four USB 2.0 ports;
one FireWire 800 port;
SD card slot;
built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

The new 27-inch 2.66 GHz Core i5 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:
27-inch 2560 x 1440 LED-backlit display;
2.66 GHz Intel Core i5 quad-core processor with 8MB shared L3 cache;
4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
ATI Radeon HD 4850 discrete graphics; with 512MB GDDR3;
1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+ / -R DL/DVD+ / -RW/CD-RW);
Mini DisplayPort for video input and output (adapters sold separately);
built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
built-in iSight video camera;
Gigabit Ethernet port;
four USB 2.0 ports;
one FireWire 800 port;
SD card slot;
built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

Build-to-order options for the 27-inch Core i5 quad-core iMac include a 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 quad-core processor.

*Based on estimated results of industry-standard SPECint_base2006 and SPECfp_rate_base2006 rate tests. SPEC® is a registered trademark of Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC). Testing conducted by Apple in October 2009 using preproduction 27-inch iMac Intel Core i5-based 2.66 GHz units and shipping 24-inch iMac Intel Core 2 Duo–based 3.06 GHz units. Performance tests are conducted using specific computer systems and reflect the approximate performance of iMac.

**Claim based on energy efficiency categories and products listed within the EPA ENERGY STAR 5.0 database as of October 2009.

***EPEAT is an independent organization that helps customers compare the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. Products meeting all of the 23 required criteria and at least 75 percent of the optional criteria are recognized as EPEAT Gold products. The EPEAT program was conceived by the US EPA and is based on IEEE 1680 standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. For more information visit www.epeat.net.

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