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Verizon ships first 4G LTE-enabled HP notebook

If you want to enjoy fast (super fast, that is) cellular Internet access on the go now, you can either get the LG VL600 modem or the Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot and use it with your laptop. But what if you also need the laptop itself?

In this case, it might be a better idea to get what Verizon is about to ship, the first 4G LTE-enabled PC, the HP Pavilion dm1-3010nr Entertainment PC.

The 4G LTE-enabled laptop was first introduced during CES 2011 with the idea that it would allow customers to stream high-definition content, play games, do … Read more

Chromebook, Netbook, iPad: Which would you rather spend $500 on?

Yesterday's formal introduction of Chromebooks marked yet another category of portable computing gadget in a landscape that's starting to feel overrun.

For $499, the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook has its work cut out for it--namely, because tablets and "high-end" 11- and 12-inch laptops and Netbooks (some with faster processors) have already occupied the same landscape.

It's a question we've been pondering for a while now, writ again: what truly constitutes the perfect small-screen portable? Suddenly, instead of one or two OSes to consider, there are four: Windows 7, Apple's iOS, and Google's Android and Chrome.

While the high end of the computer spectrum remains relatively stable (desktops, laptops), the increasingly fertile (or, perhaps, unstable) ground between laptops and smartphones has bred a variety of tech forms that all, in some way, are portable. Options have never been more diverse, or confusing.

Which one would you rather spend about $500 on? Well, let's see what you get.… Read more

MacBook Air too pricey? Thin HP laptop hits $399

Hewlett-Packard is offering a good deal on a well-received ultraportable that is less than half the price of Apple's least expensive MacBook Air.

Why the mention of Apple's MacBook Air? Apple's 2.3-pound laptop is the standard by which all other ultraportables are judged. Like it or not, that's the way things are.

But let's get to the topic at hand. The HP Pavilion dm1z can be had for as little as $399 direct from HP after entering a coupon code. That's a pretty good deal for a laptop that is a cut above … Read more

How do they game? Intel Sandy Bridge and AMD Fusion graphics, overview

Both Intel and AMD, the two main companies that make the vast majority of computer processors, have new platforms for 2011. AMD's Fusion and Intel's second-generation Core i-series (formerly code-named Sandy Bridge) share a common goal: to package improved integrated graphics on the chipset that work much better than the previous generation, making it possible to play better games and stream more HD content without the need for a dedicated video card.

For most people, computers with integrated graphics are the default, because they cost less. Unless you're a serious tech enthusiast, you don't want to … Read more

CES: LG's M50D monitor/TV

LAS VEGAS--Monitor TVs seem to be growing in popularity at a pretty fast clip--not really surprising, as most consumers see them as an opportunity to get both a monitor and a smallish TV at a reasonable price.

LG continues to support these consumers with the M50D, a monitor/TV combo that sports a stylish design and the ability to play media through its USB port without requiring a PC.

Incoming specs:

1,920x1,080 resolution 250 cd/M2 brightness VGA, DVI, HDMI connections Component, VGA, HDMI, Audio in/out

Built-in speakers

Look for more info in the coming months.

iHome's 'Sound Sleeve' iPad case has built-in speakers

If you're looking to augment the sound of your iPad's speakers but don't want to buy a full-fledged speaker dock to tote around, iHome's splitting the difference with its upcoming iDM70 "Sound Sleeve" case that includes built-in rechargeable flat NXT stereo speakers.

At its core, the company says the iDM70 is a protective faux-leather case and six-position stand, but it also has those integrated powered speakers that recharge via USB. The system does weigh in at 1.2 pounds, which almost doubles the weight of your iPad, and it's arguably more cumbersome to … Read more

BYD to unveil plug-in SUV, e-bus in Detroit

Chinese automaker BYD (Build Your Dreams) will debut two new SUVs and an electric bus at the 2011 North American International Auto Show next month. The world premiere of these vehicles is part of the manufacturer's "Three Green Dreams" lineup--which includes not only vehicles but other green technologies as well--and adds to the F3DM plug-in hybrid sedan that's currently being tested by the Los Angeles Housing Authority.

The 2012 E6 Premier is an all-electric crossover with a top speed of 87 mph and a range of 186 miles. The five-seater can be fully recharged in 6 … Read more

A peek inside a new HP Netbook and ultrathin

Small laptops aren't necessarily getting any smaller, but they are getting more powerful. Here's a quick look at the power-efficient engines purring inside the latest laptops from Hewlett-Packard.

The newest welterweight laptops from HP, introduced on Wednesday, offer more than flashy new skins. Inside is Intel's newest chip technology that offers more performance without a significant hit to battery life.

First up is the 3-pound Mini 210. This Netbook offers, for the first time, a dual-core Atom processor, a break from a long line of single-core-only Atom Netbook processors. Dual-core processors are better at handling multiple data streams than single-core processors and thus boost performance significantly for certain applications.

Despite having two cores, Intel's 1.5GHz Atom N550 has a thermal envelope of only 8.5 watts, only two more watts than its single-core N455 cousin. And this thermal envelope is even more impressive when you consider the fact that it also includes the 200MHz graphics chip, which is built onto the same piece of silicon as the main processor.

HP claims up to 10.75 hours of battery life with a six-cell battery. That said, even if HP is overstating battery life, anything within the ball park of eight to ten hours is decent for a Windows dual-core laptop.

The HP Mini 210 is available in the United States with a starting price of $329.

Pavilion dm3 squeezes Intel's higher-performance mobile processors into a slim form factor

The just-announced HP Pavilion dm3 laptop boasts an Intel Core i series chip matched with a new design that keeps the laptop cooler.… Read more

New HP Pavilion laptops add optical drives, AMD processors

Remember "thin and light?" The idea almost seems like a 2009 concept nowadays, as many manufacturers seem to be shifting back to more old-fashioned mainstream machines that emphasize optical drives over system weight. The newly announced lineup of HP Pavilion laptops, covering a wide range of models, was notable for not offering anything slimmer than the Pavilion dm3 a sleek thin notebook we reviewed and liked quite a bit. That system had no optical drive, but the new HP Pavilion dm4 adds one back in despite being under an inch thin. An etched metal chassis and new wider … Read more