Following the successful launch of the ultrathin and light Vostro V13, Dell is offering business customers even more choice with the stylish Vostro 3000 series – a range of new thin, lightweight and durable laptop computers. Featuring powerful processors, high-end graphics and built-in security, the Vostro 3000 series is designed for small businesses that require robust mobile computing solutions.

“Small and mid-sized firms are returning to the PC market after a year in the recessionary wilderness, and they are ready for the kinds of capabilities, including Microsoft Windows 7, that will get them to the next level of productivity.”

Today’s SMBs and entrepreneurs want notebooks that are powerful and attractive, and the new Vostro 3000 series was designed to meet and exceed both those needs. For the most demanding tasks, the Vostro 3000 series sports the latest powerful Intel® Core™ processor technology, including, the optional, Core i7 Quad Core processor available on the Vostro 3700. For those that demand portability and productivity, the Vostro 3300 is one of the industry’s thinnest commercial 13-inch laptop with an integrated optical drive. For those that can’t afford to be chained to their desks, the 14-inch Vostro 3400 offers a full day of mobile productivity with up to eight hours¹ of battery life with an optional nine-cell battery.

“To succeed, small businesses need simple, reliable and affordable technology solutions,” said Alex Gruzen, SVP, Consumer, Small and Medium Business, Dell. “These entrepreneurs want technology that makes them more productive and helps them compete, and the Vostro 3000 delivers in a package they will be proud to show off in the airport or the boardroom.”

“Dell continues to sharpen its focus on SMB customers with the new Vostro 3000 series,” said Ray Boggs, VP of SMB Research at IDC. “Small and mid-sized firms are returning to the PC market after a year in the recessionary wilderness, and they are ready for the kinds of capabilities, including Microsoft Windows 7, that will get them to the next level of productivity.”

“As the first PC brand designed exclusively for small businesses, over the last year, Dell has introduced several new Vostro laptops and desktops to serve their distinctive needs. Ranging from our recently announced, super dependable Vostro 230 or future-proof and powerful Vostro 430 desktops, or the ultra-thin Vostro V13 laptop, Vostro products are designed for small businesses helping them stretch their budget and protect their data, and come with dedicated small business services and support to keep a small businesses moving,” added Gruzen.

Worry-Free Business IT

All of the Vostro 3000 laptops have an embedded webcam and microphone for collaboration through videoconferencing, while the Vostro 3500 and 3700 offer the option of high definition WLED screens and the 3700 offers the option of up to 1GB of NVIDIA® GeForce® discrete graphics to help ensure one of the best visual experiences. With the built-in HDMI port, users can even make high definition presentations to clients when required.

These new Vostro notebooks are also backed by a dedicated and specially trained small-business sales and support team of experts, which is a key pain point for small businesses that typically have little or no IT support. Inclusion in Dell’s FastTrack program enables select configurations of the Vostro 3000 series to ship within 48 hours of ordering², further removing worry from buying a new laptop.

Durability is another feature more customers are demanding from their laptops. The Vostro 3000 series laptops sport durable hinges and are encased in aluminum for extra protection while away from the office. Shipped with a 30-day return policy³, the Vostro 3000 notebooks also feature a suite of customizable service and support solutions to keep business data protected and business moving at an affordable price.

Vostro 3000 Series: At a Glance

• Stay in Touch: With the integrated webcam and microphone⁴, users can make Internet calls, conduct video conferences and remotely exchange files to help increase productivity.
• Always Be Connected: Users can go wireless with a full range of connectivity options: 802.11g/n wireless LAN, Bluetooth, and WWAN mobile broadband⁵.
• Memory to Spare: Run Windows® 7 effortlessly while performing everyday tasks quickly with support for up to 6GB⁶ of DDR3 SDRAM memory⁷.
• Protect Your Work: Keep your critical data under lock and key with optional fingerprint reader and full-data-encrypted hard drives.
• “Set & Forget” Online Data Protection: Easy, secure and automated Dell DataSafe online backup protects and helps recover business-critical data.
• Coverage Now and Later: Users can extend their basic Limited Hardware Warranty⁸ from 1-3 years to stay covered into the future.
• Remote On-Call Support: Small businesses can get help when they need it with DellConnect⁹, which allows tech-support agents to troubleshoot and help resolve system issues remotely.
• ProSupport to Simplify IT: Businesses can choose their own level of 24×7 IT support with optional Dell ProSupport™¹⁰services.

Available in the US and parts of Asia starting from today and available in Europe and Latin America and other geographies from March 16. Visit www.dell.com/vostro for additional information.

About Dell

As the visionary outcome of a true entrepreneur, Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) is committed to helping small and medium businesses solve their technology challenges, ease business pain points and draw greater value from IT. Honored for technology deployment by the 2009 IDC SMB Excellence Awards, Dell is here to support entrepreneurs every step of the way with ProManage-Managed Services, Optiplex desktops, Latitude laptops, the designed-for-small business Vostro line, energy-efficient PowerEdge servers and Small and Medium Business Solutions Center.

Dell, Vostro, Datasafe, DellConnect and ProSupport are trademarks of Dell Inc.

Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.

Pricing may change without notice.

¹ Based on lab testing. Varies by configuration, operating conditions and other factors. Maximum battery capacity decreases with time and use.

² Limited quantities. Only available for orders placed by 5:59 PM CT Mon-Thu. System ships the day after an order is placed via next business day delivery. Subject to order approval.

³ Available in US only. If you cancel your Vostro purchase for any reason within 30 days, we will refund your purchase price. You are responsible for the costs of shipping your product back to us.

⁴ Not available in all regions. Dell Video Chat may not work in certain countries due to country specific regulatory restriction and/or certain service providers’ network architectural constraints.

⁵ Subject to wireless provider’s broadband subscription and coverage area; additional charges apply. Accessibility to company networks may be affected by firewalls or other privacy measures.

⁶ A 64-bit operating system is required to support 4GB or more of system memory.

⁷ Significant system memory may be used to support graphics, depending on system memory size and other factors.

⁸ Limited Hardware Warranty: For a copy of limited warranty, write Dell USA LP, Attention Warranties, One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682 or visit www.dell.com/warranty.

⁹ DellConnect is not used for all incidents. Internet connection required. Go online for details at www.dell.com/dellconnect.

¹⁰ Availability and terms of Dell Services vary by region. For more information, visit www.dell.com/servicedescriptions.

Hello and Happy New Year. We are going to be posting interesting news from our friends all over the world starting today! The news is a chance for you to get a look at some of the other stuff out there that you may not know about. News will be posted often, so be sure to check back.

Video Cards:

ASUS EAH5750 1GB FORMULA Graphics Card Review @ Vortez.co.uk

HIS Radeon HD 5770 1GB Video Card @ TweakTown

ECS GeForce GT240 512MB Video Card Review @ Motherboards.org

HIS Radeon HD5750 iCooler IV Video Card Benchmarking @ Legit Reviews

Adobe Flash HD-Video GPU Acceleration Guide @ Benchmark Reviews

Cooling, CPUs, and Related:

Noctua NH-D14 CPU Cooler @ DragonSteelMods

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev. 2 Review @ High Tech Reviews

Arctic Cooling NC @ Hardware Bistro

Enermax Apolish LED Case Fan Review @ [OC]ModShop

Swiftech Apogee XT High End CPU Water Block Review @ Madshrimps

Storage, Flash and Memory:

ANTEC MX-25 Aluminum Hard Drive Enclosure @ PCShopTalk

SanDisk 32GB Extreme III SDHC Memory Card Review @ Legit Reviews

Kingston 16GB DataTraveler Locker+ Flash Drive Review @ Bigbruin.com

WD Black 2TB @ InsideHW

Sound:

SteelSeries Siberia v2 USB Headset @ BCCHardware

Teufel Concept B 200 USB Speaker Review on Technic3D

Sony MDR-570LP Headphones @ hardwareZone

Hisoundaudio AMP3 Pro. 2 Review at CCE Reviews

PC Cases:

NZXT Lexa S Case @ Rbmods

LanCool PC-K56W Mid-Tower Computer Case @ Benchmark Reviews

Motherboards:

Tyan S5502 Server/Workstation System Board Review @ TechwareLabs

GIGABYTE P55A-UD4P @ Bjorn3D

Gigabyte P55A-UD6 Motherboard @ Hardware Secrets

Gaming, Games Etc:

GTA4: Ballad of Gay Tony Walkthrough @ [OC]ModShop

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (PC DVD) @ Barry’s Review Blog

Review: Xbox 360 Starter Pack @ Xbox360Digest

Cooler Master Storm Sentinel Advance Gaming Mouse @ techPowerUp

Left 4 Dead 2 @ LanOC Reviews

Logitech G27 Racing Wheel @ Techgage

SteelSeries XAI Laser Gaming Mouse @ PCShopTalk

FINAL FANTASY XIII Hands On Preview @ TweakTown

Power Supplies:

SilverStone Strider Plus 1000 Watt Power Supply @ TekArcade

Thermaltake Evo_Blue 750 watt PSU @ Bjorn3D

COOLER MASTER SNA 95 UNIVERSAL POWER ADAPTER REVIEW @ APH NETWORKS

Corsair HX750 Power Supply Review @ High Tech Reviews

Neuigkeiten auf DeXgo | Xigmatek NRP-PC602 600 Watt

Ultra X4 600W and 1050W Power Supply Review @ Rbmods

Mobility Related:

Advent ADV800XM 4" Touchscreen Portable GPS Navigation System @ MobilityDigest

Archos 5 Internet Tablet@ hardwarezone
Nokia X6 – The Premium Music Phone @ Hardwarezone

Dell Alienware m15x: Aliens Beware! @ hardwarezone

HTC Touch2 Smartphone Review @ t-break

Assorted Stuffs:

SKYlasers 125mw Green Laser Review @ TechwareLabs

Fujifilm FinePix REAL 3D W1 Digicam @ hardwarezone

2009: A Year in Review & Looking Ahead @ hardwarezone

Canon PowerShot G11 Review @ Digital Trends

Oppo BDP-83 Review @ Digital Trends

Digital Trends’ Best of 2009 Awards @ Digital Trends

Blu-ray Release Line-up for 2010 @ TweakTown

HotHardware’s Best Of 2009 Awards @ HotHardware.com

Win a Pentax Optio E80 10MP Digital Camera in the Bigbruin.com NFL Pool

ASUS RT-N13U SuperSpeed N Wireless Router @ TweakTown

Plextor PX-B320SA 8X Blu-ray Disc Drive @ LanOC Reviews

Ubuntu 32-bit, 32-bit PAE, 64-bit Benchmarks @ Phoronix

USB 3.0: What You Need To Know @ techspot

Today I’ve got a rather brief review for you of what I think would be considered a case for your laptop. It’s from Belkin and it’s called a SleeveTop, it’s an odd name yes, but it’s really a combination of a sleeve and a carrying case so I guess that’s where the name came from. The Belkin SleeveTop is nicely made, it’s very simple to use but it’s got a major design flaw in that it has no pockets at all. A laptop case with no pockets makes no sense to me…

Specifications:

Belkin Laptop SleeveTop – Green

Belkin SleeveTop lets you easily open and use your laptop without removing your laptop from the case. Protects your lap from your computer’s heat when you are using it; safely stows your laptop when you’re not. Belkin SleeveTop makes it easy to take your laptop with convenient handles.

Key Features
- Uniquely designed for comfortable laptop use on a couch, bed or table
- Closes to protect your laptop when not in use
- Opens for use quickly; you never need to remove your laptop from the case
- Protects your lap from a hot computer
- Premium finish is both stylish and also complements your home decor
- Built-in cooling pads prevents heat retention under the laptop
- Features durable, hand-washable material
- Works with laptops with 15.4" widescreens or smaller
- Comes with a Lifetime Warranty

Price: $16.00 (US Dollars)

Unboxing:
There’s no fancy packaging for the Belkin SleeveTop,  just a plastic bag.  Attached to the case is a product identification tag with the specs and features listed.

The case is actually very well made, the material is thick and it seems durable, but it really isn’t padded as you might expect, it’s more hard than padded. You basically just slide your laptop into it and you’re done. There are zippers on both side of the sleeve to open it up.

When you open the sleeve up you’ll only find two rubberized strips and that’s it, no pockets of anything like that. The strips are rubber as I mentioned, this helps keep your laptop from sliding around, but they’re raised as well to allow some airflow under your laptop.

Usage:
The only large sized laptop I have is my older Dell Latitude C640, it’s a 14.1 inch Intel P4 based laptop. It’s older but it still works fine.

Here’s a couple close up shots of the laptop sitting on the strips, there’s a very small bit of clearance beneath the laptop to allow airflow. It seems to work, my laptop was only a couple degrees hotter than if it was sitting on a table, and the case also will insulate your lap if you use it to work on your lap. The case is hard so it works like a platform to help keep the laptop stable on your lap, but the top really doesn’t lock into place so it can just fall down forward onto your laptop.

..and here’s my laptop inside of it. There’s really no room for anything else at all inside of this case so don’t expect to take a power supply with you or any accessories. You could toss some papers or folders in there, but I wouldn’t put anything hard as it might damage your laptop.

To carry it you just grab the handles and go.

Personally I don’t care for this product at all, I have to take stuff with me, especially a power supply, I never leave home without one really.

Not having any pockets at all is a major design flaw in my opinion, everyone is going to be taking something with them I think.

I also don’t case for that fact that you’re laptop really isn’t secure at all inside, no straps or anything hold it in place. So if you just toss this on your car seat or wherever it can just slide right out of the case.

Yes it’s inexpensive coming in at about $16, but for a few dollars more you can get something with pockets I’m sure.

That’s me though, I need to take stuff with me, but if you’re not like me then you might appreciate this product.

Conclusion:
Well I’m not sure about this product really. I mean I guess if you don’t need to take anything with you other than your laptop then you’ll be fine, but I think most of us always take stuff with us. Personally I don’t like this product at all, but that’s just my opinion.

It’s inexpensive, but i don;t think that makes up for the flaws of not having pockets or not having any way to actually secure your laptop inside of it.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive, well made and very minimalistic case then you might want this one.

Pros:
+Nicely made 
+Seems durable 
+Inexpensive
+Can use laptop without removing from case

Cons:
-Doesn’t really secure laptop inside 
-No pockets or anywhere for accessories 

I would like to thank GearZap for the opportunity to review the Belkin Laptop SleeveTop and for their support of Laptop Reviews Central.

Disclosure: This product was given to Laptop Reviews Central for review by the company for review purposes only, and is not considered by us as payment for the review, we do not, and never will, accept payment from companies to review their products.

Dell’s hot-selling Inspiron Mini 10 netbook is getting better with a fresh new look and longer battery life to go along with technology enhancements and easy connectivity capabilities that make it a fashionable and functional must-have for on-the-go people. Updates to the Mini 10 include optional high definition entertainment bundles that deliver rich, smooth playback of streaming HD video in addition to Web surfing, email, listening to music and sharing user-generated content in real time. Dell expects the redesigned Inspiron Mini 10 to be available the first part of January 2010.

“With an even better look and great battery life, we think Mini 10 is the perfect companion PC for anyone who wants to be entertained and connected wherever they go.”

The new design with 10.1-inch display includes a textured, smudge-resistant palm rest, sculpted keys and, for the Inspiron Mini 10 mobility bundle, extended-life battery offering up to 9.5 hours of operation. The Mini 10 can be personalized with a broad range of optional colors or hundreds of optional custom artwork designs available in the Dell Design Studio.

The Inspiron Mini 10 will be offered in the coming weeks in a selection of bundles with distinct features like an HD display, Broadcom Crystal HD media accelerator, surround sound capability, built in HDTV tuner for over-the-air local HD broadcasts, or built-in Wi-Fi location enabled GPS that provides people with real time information to nearby restaurants, landmarks, maps and entertainment.

Built-in wireless connectivity¹ provides easy, quick access to the Internet and e-mail. Some models feature Bluetooth and Mobile Broadband communications², too.

Highlights:

• New Intel Atom N450 processor at 1.66 GHz
• 10.1-inch display with standard (1024×600) or High Definition (1366×768) display available in coming weeks
• Built-in speakers with available SRS Surround sound
• HDTV tuner and location-aware GPS configurations available in coming weeks
• Bundles with Broadcom Crystal HD for smooth HD playback coming in Q1
• Built-in 802.11 b/g wireless with available Bluetooth and Mobile Broadband
• 1GB³ DDR2 memory at 800MHz
• 160GB⁴ or 250GB hard disk drive storage
• Choice of 3 or 6-cell integrated battery with up to 9.5 hours of battery life (Inspiron Mini 10 mobility bundle only).
• Choice of Windows 7 Starter or Windows XP Home, Ubuntu operating system option available in the coming weeks
• Lightweight: Starting at about 2.75 – 3.1 pounds⁵ with a 3-cell battery⁶

The Dell Inspiron Mini 10 is expected to be available in early January from Dell and select configurations will be available in retail outlets worldwide in the coming weeks. Prices start at $299.

Quote:

“The Inspiron Mini 10 continues to offer some of the best mobile entertainment options available in a great-looking, compact and lightweight design,” said Brian Pitstick, general manager of Dell’s mobile products. “With an even better look and great battery life, we think Mini 10 is the perfect companion PC for anyone who wants to be entertained and connected wherever they go.”

Links:

www.dell.com

www.dell.com/mini

www.flickr.com/photos/dellphotos

About Dell

People worldwide can buy Dell online, by phone and more than 50,000 outlets.

¹ Connectivity: Where wireless access is available. Additional access charges apply in some locations.

² Mobile Broadband: Subject to wireless provider’s broadband subscription and coverage area; additional charges apply.

³ Memory: Significant system memory may be used to support graphics, depending on system memory size and other factors.

⁴ Hard Drive: GB means 1 billion bytes and TB equals 1 trillion bytes; actual capacity varies with preloaded material and operating environment and will be less.

⁵ Starting at Weight: Weights vary depending on configuration and manufacturing variability.

⁶ Battery Life: Based on preliminary lab testing. Varies by configuration, operating conditions and other factors. Maximum battery capacity decreases with time and use. Battery life of 9 hours and 34 minutes for the Mini 10 Mobility bundle is achieved using Mobilemark2007 battery life testing benchmark with a system configuration that includes 60WHr 6 cell battery, Windows 7 Starter Operating system and 250GB Hard Drive.

Dell today unveiled the industry’s smallest 12.1-inch rugged convertible tablet PC that is the first with a multi-touch display, the Latitude XT2 XFR. The system is designed to meet the unique and demanding needs of customers in the military, police, border patrol, field service organizations, factory fulfillment and first responders.

The Latitude XT2 XFR adds to Dell’s Rugged Mobility Solution offering that includes the fully rugged Latitude E6400 XFR and the semi-rugged Latitude E6400 ATG laptops. It also joins purpose-engineered products like the Latitude Z, Latitude 2100 netbook for education and Dell Precision™ M6400 mobile workstation as another step in Dell’s strategy to develop differentiated form factors and solutions that meet specific customer usage needs.

The News:

• Inspired by discussions with the defense, law enforcement, homeland security communities, field service departments and utility companies, Dell developed a convertible tablet that can adapt to changing mission requirements and withstand harsh environments. Features of the Latitude XT2 XFR include:
  • At 1.5 inches (38.1 millimeters) it is the thinnest 12.1-inch rugged convertible tablet and starts at 5.4 pounds (2.45 kilograms) with four-cell battery and solid state drive¹, it is engineered and independently tested to meet MIL-810G standards for operation in harsh environments. Dell expects MIL-810G certification in the coming weeks.
  • Compression-sealed and rugged I/O doors, LCD, and keyboard, provide an IP54 level of Ingress Protection, or resistance to moisture and dust.
• The Latitude XT2 XFR can be installed in police or first-responder vehicles where critical information can be accessed with one hand. The Latitude XT2 XFR is also ideal for field-service and industrial manufacturing workforces who need an easy to carry, rugged system that can stand up to drops, spills and temperature extremes.
• The Latitude XT2 XFR is available with Dell’s optional remote management capabilities and next business day service and support.²
• The rugged tablet shares common images and components with the Dell Latitude XT2 tablet for easy integration into existing environments. The Latitude XT2 XFR also includes:
  • Intel Core 2 Duo processors with up to 5GB³ of DDR3 1066 MHz memory.⁴
  • QuadCool Thermal Management System enables excellent performance, even in extreme temperatures from minus 10 degrees to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Four-, six- and nine-cell battery options.
  • Standard data security features that include Dell ControlVault and Dell ControlPoint, as well as optional solid state and spinning disk drives with full disk encryption.
  • Impact resistant, sunlight viewable, 12.1-inch wide LED display with capacitive multi-touch gestures-enabled or optional resistive touch screen.
  • Optional hot-swappable modules including GPS (in the coming weeks) and webcam.
  • Optional expansion sliver provides camera/light, serial, and RJ11 inputs.
  • An extensive range of optional accessories and services that include mobile rugged docking and mounting solutions in the coming weeks.
  • A full complement of wireless connectivity options including wireless LAN 802.11 a/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 and mobile broadband.
• The XT2 XFR is available in the U.S., Canada, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Germany and Italy via all of Dell’s sales channels, including PartnerDirect. It starts at $3,599 and more information is available here.

Quotes:

“The Latitude XT2 XFR is more than a laptop, it’s a key part of our mobile command and data-center solutions for field service, defense and first-responder customers,” said Paul Bell, president, Dell Global Public-Sector Business. “These unique solutions, coupled with our service model, make those communities more effective, enabling them to focus on their core missions instead of managing technology.”

“We are listening and delivering purpose-engineered products based on unique usage models within customers’ environment,” said Steve Lalla, vice president and general manager, Business Client Product Group, Dell, Inc. “The Latitude XT2 XFR is a perfect example where feedback told us that customers needed the innovative functionality of the Latitude XT2 with the ability to perform in rugged environments.”

LINKS

www.flickr.com/dellphotos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAOlue68In0

http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2009/10/27/the-world-s-thinnest-rugged-convertible-tablet-pc-is-unveiled.aspx

www.dell.com/xfr

www.dell.com/latitude

www.dell.com/public

About Dell

Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services they need and value. For more information, visit www.dell.com.

Dell and Latitude are trademarks of Dell Inc. Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.

¹ Weights vary depending on configuration and manufacturing variability.

² Availability and terms of Dell Services vary by region. For more information, visit www.dell.com/servicedescriptions.

³ A 64-bit operating system is required to support 4GB or more of system memory

⁴ Significant system memory may be used to support graphics, depending on system memory size and other factors.