asus

Four recommendable Windows 8 all-in-ones under $1,300

If you are considering an all-in-one desktop purchase, you may have noticed higher prices for Windows 8 PCs than Windows 7 systems with comparable hardware from a year ago. Where a reasonably fast 23-inch all-in-one used to cost about $1,000, you can expect to pay $100 to $200 more for the Windows 8 equivalent today

The good news is that PC vendors seem to have finally internalized the calls for better-looking Windows PCs and more-innovative features. Those things alone don't account for the higher prices we're seeing at retail, but they do help lessen the impact.… Read more

Asus teases 'metallic miracle' for Mobile World Congress

Asus has launched a new video teasing its plans for the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona later this month.

The company's video, called "Ultimate Craftsmanship. Today." shows a UFO soaring over Barcelona and landing on a church as spectators watch in amazement. The video ends with the invite to "join Asus to embrace the metallic miracle" on February 25 at Mobile World Congress.

Exactly what Asus has in store for the show is currently unknown. However, the company's Mobile World Congress event page is titled, "In Search of Incredible." A secondary headline … Read more

Intel-based phablet on the way from Asus

Asus, the maker of Google's Nexus 7, will debut a 7-inch Fonepad at Mobile World Congress later this month, according to sources familiar with the product.

Reports say the Fonepad may be priced in the same ballpark as -- or slightly higher than -- the Nexus 7 but below the MeMO Pad, which Asus launched Friday in Asia.

Leaked photos show it with an aluminum body and an Intel badge on the back.

An independent source familiar with the product has confirmed the Fonepad with CNET.

Widely-reported specifications include Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), an Intel Atom processor with … Read more

iPad still top tablet but keeps shedding market share

The iPad remains the king of the tablet world, but Android rivals continue to carve off some of its market share.

Apple shipped a total of 22.9 million iPads worldwide last quarter thanks to demand for the iPad Mini and the availability of the 4th-gen iPad, according to IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker. That number was in line with IDC's forecast and showed a 48.1 percent jump in shipments over the same quarter in 2011.

But for the second consecutive quarter, Apple's share of the global tablet market fell. In the fourth quarter of 2012, … Read more

Eating your own, Microsoft style

Eat your own, or somebody else will. That's the new mantra in the device world.

Here's what Apple said this week on that topic.

In terms of cannibalization and how we think about this, I see cannibalization as a huge opportunity for us. One, our base philosophy is to never fear cannibalization. If we do, somebody else will just cannibalize it and so we never fear it. --Tim Cook.

This was said in response to an analyst's question during the company's first-quarter earnings conference call. Earlier in the call, Apple, in its prepared remarks, said that … Read more

Asustek set to dive into Windows Phone 8 market

Looks like Microsoft has some good news coming its way. Apparently Asustek Computer is close to committing to putting serious resources behind the Windows Phone 8 mobile platform. Specifically, the Taiwanese electronics maker plans to begin creating phones that run WP8. … Read more

Google Nexus 7 tops iPad in Japan: Is this a trend?

Google's Nexus 7 is gaining market share in Japan and topped Apple's iPad in one survey.

Japanese digital device consumers are some of the savviest in the world. So, a report Thursday showing that the Nexus 7 has bested the iPad in market share is worthy of attention.

Based on a survey of 2,400 consumer electronics stores in Japan, Google's Nexus 7 tablet had 44.4 percent of the market versus the iPad's 40.1 percent, according to Nikkei, Japan's largest business daily. The survey was done by market research firm BCN in December. … Read more

CES postscript: The touch laptop, like it or not

The laptop was reinvented at CES.

Or maybe I should say there was a vigorous attempt to reinvent the laptop. Because we won't know how successful touch has been until next year this time.

Intel's CES booth -- still a large presence in the CES Central Hall -- had one basic unmistakable message: touch has arrived.

Windows 8 convertibles, detachables, touch-screen laptops, and just plain tablets from Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Samsung, Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Toshiba, Sony, and others blanketed Intel's booth.

And just to make sure the touch message was crystal clear, Intel issued an edict to PC … Read more

HP tops Lenovo in lackluster PC market

HP is still the top dog in computer sales around the world, at least according to IDC. But those sales continue to plummet.

Released today, IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker pegged fourth-quarter global PC shipments at 89.8 million units, down 6.4 percent from the same quarter in 2011.

The drop was actually worse than IDC's forecast of 4.4 percent and marked the first time the industry saw a year-on-year decline during the holiday season. For 2012 as a whole, PC shipments were down by 3.2 percent.

Windows 8 officially launched at the end of … Read more

Nexus 7 dock to go on sale this month for $39.99

Nexus 7 owners will soon be able to pick up an Asus-made dock for their Asus-made tablet.

Citing a "reliable source," The Verge says that Asus will offer the dock in the U.S. within the next two weeks at a price tag of $39.99.

Though the Nexus 7 is branded and sold under Google's name, Asus is the actual manufacturer. Asus has been busy demoing the new dock at CES this week.

Backing up The Verge's claim on the upcoming release is a product page for the dock from Manhattan retailer B&H. … Read more