CES 2008

(Credit: Lenovo)

CES 2008 may not have been a show for big wows, but there was plenty to talk about, at least on the computers and hardware front. For starters, Lenovo introduced three IdeaPads, the company's first consumer-oriented laptops for the U.S. market. (Lenovo also announced a corresponding line of desktops, predictably named IdeaCentre, for release in Europe, though we expect the line to reach our shores soon.)

HP caught our attention with the sub-$1,000, HD-equipped SlimLine desktop. Dell gave us a peek into the future with its 16-inch laptop prototype and the XPS 630 gaming desktop. Gateway launched its FX gaming brand into the mobile space with three new laptop configurations, while Alienware showed off its 15-inch gamer. We saw new ultraportables from Fujitsu and Asus, plus UMPCs from Toshiba and Samsung. We even got a glimpse at the tiny, Linux-based Everex Cloudbook. Desktops got smaller as well, if the Asus Nova P22 small-form-factor PC is any indication.

On the component front, Intel made a splash with the announcement of its first 45-nanometer notebook chips, known as Penryn; we shared our early test results for the new mobile CPUs and reported on plans for Penryn from Toshiba and HP. Intel also gave us a look at three high-end PCs that feature its components. Not to be left in Intel's wake, both ATI and Nvidia announced new graphics chips, the latter offering a peek at its Hybrid SLI technology.

Accessories that caught our eye included the Logitech diNovo Mini input device for home-theater PCs, the Ricavision Vave 100 Windows SideShow Universal Remote Control, and a Zyxel digital media adapter that lets you stream HD video and music from your PC to your home theater system.

This year's show also saw new storage devices, monitors, and security devices; click here to read all computers and hardware coverage from CES 2008.

Dell's 16-inch laptop prototype.

There's a well-worn axiom in journalism that finding three examples of the same thing in short order officially constitutes a trend. With that in mind, take a look at this prototype Dell XPS laptop being shown under glass at the Dell booth. It's a 16-inch laptop, called the XPS 630i, and the unusual size displays images in a true 16:9 screen ratio (like your HDTV), rather than the 16:10 screen ratio found in most 14.1-, 15.4- and 17-inch laptop displays.

While Dell is the only PC maker showing off a 16-inch prototype to the public, it's not the only company interested in new laptop screen sizes. We can think of at least two other brands (and possibly more) that are all working on both 16-inch and 18-inch laptops, which makes this an official trend in our book.

Voltaic Systems on Tuesday is set to announce a bag with a 14-watt solar panel for charging laptops at the Consumer Electronics Show, a company representative said.

(Credit: Voltaic Systems)

It's expected to be released this spring and will cost $599.

A wide variety of solar chargers are available to power up cell phones, iPods, or other gadgets.

As it turns out, I spent many hours during my Christmas vacation researching solar-powered laptops. (News.com will be running a column and photo gallery later this week.)

According to retailers, a 14-watt panel will be good for charging up the laptop when not in use. But running it directly from the sun would require larger, and more expensive, panels.

Still, it looks like Voltaic Systems has done a good job of putting together the charger and bag in a neat package. And it ties into the green theme at the Consumer Electronics Show this week.

(Credit: Gateway)

In addition to two new gaming desktops, today Gateway announced its first FX-branded gaming laptop. The 17-inch wide-screen P-170 FX will be available in three configurations, all with Nvidia GeForce Go 8800M graphics. The lowest-cost version will include an Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 CPU, 3GB of 667MHz RAM, and a 250GB, 5,400rpm hard drive for $1,599. The awesomely named P-170FX MAX, meanwhile, includes a top-of-the-line Intel Core 2 Extreme X7900 processor, a massive 400GB of 7,200rpm hard drive space, and an HD DVD drive for $2,999. The costlier model also gives you a slight bump in screen resolution, from WXGA+ to WUXGA.

A third model, priced at $1,999, occupies the middle ground with a Core 2 Duo T8300 CPU and a 200GB, 7,200rpm hard drive.

Made from aircraft-grade aluminum with a high-impact finish, the P-170FX's lid includes a large copper "FX" on the cover, which Gateway hopes will appeal to gaming enthusiasts who tend to like a bit of brand bling. Other key features around the case include an HDMI connection, a multimedia panel with precision-cut keys on the keyboard deck, and a touch-sensitive volume slide.

The laptops should be available for purchase soon at Gateway's Web site, but the most interesting model may be the retail model coming soon to Best Buy retail stores. That version of the Gateway P-Series FX Edition knocks down the CPU a few notches, but keeps the Nvidia GeForce Go 8800M graphics for only $1,350.

Could 2008 be the year of the ultraportable? Just a few days after Lenovo launched the tiny IdeaPad U110, Fujitsu has announced its own featherweight laptop. The LifeBook P8010, which weighs less than 3 pounds, manages to pack a 12.1-inch backlit-LED display and a DVD burner into a footprint the size of a piece of paper.

While Fujitsu's previous P-series ultraportable, the 10.6-inch LifeBook P7230, came stocked with a Core Solo CPU that provided middling performance, the LifeBook P8010 will come equipped with a Core 2 Duo processor. And the company is promising up to 6.5 hours of battery life with the standard six-cell battery.

The P8010's glossy black lid with silver accents will mark a new look for the P series. Aside from the distinct physical appearance, all the standard Fujitsu business-system features are here: optional Webcam, Trusted Platform Module, and a fingerprint reader that doubles as a scroll button, plus a spill-resistant keyboard and hard drive shock protection.

Pricing for the LifeBook P8010 starts at $1,699. The laptop won't be available until February, but we'll be taking a look at the P8010 this week and reporting back with our first impressions.

The LifeBook U810 is one of the first notebooks offered with HSUPA connectivity.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Road warriors and geeks without power rejoice: soon you'll be able to buy a laptop that's equipped to tap into AT&T's BroadbandConnect High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) network. Today Fujitsu announced that it would be adding the high-speed cellular data connection as an option on its UMPC-like LifeBook U810 and its 12.1-inch ultraportable tablet, the LifeBook T2010.

According to Fujitsu, the faster connection, with upload speeds between 500 Kbps and 800 Kbps, should make it easier to send e-mail attachments or upload videos and photos when you're beyond the reach of Wi-Fi. For Web surfing, both notebooks also support enhanced High Speed Downlink Packet Access, which typically provides download speeds ranging from 600 to 1,400 Kbps. Fujitsu is the first manufacturer to launch notebooks with HSUPA technology.

Though you can currently purchase both the LifeBook U810 and the LifeBook T2010, the HSUPA-equipped models are planned for March.

One of three new entertainment laptops, the IdeaPad U110 features a textured red lid.

(Credit: Lenovo)

Getting a jump on the product-launch blitz that is CES 2008, Lenovo has announced a whole new brand of consumer-oriented laptops and desktops. Called IdeaPad and IdeaCentre, the lines are intended to complement the company's flagship business-oriented ThinkPad and ThinkCentre lines. While today's announcement does not include any specifics on desktop models, we learned plenty about the new IdeaPad laptops.

Watch the Lenovo Idea Pad U110 video on CNET TV.

The first full line of entertainment-oriented Lenovo laptops to hit the United States (we saw one consumer model, the Lenovo 3000 Y410, sneak into the States last fall), IdeaPads include such welcome design touches as textured lid finishes and a sleek "frameless" screen that's ergonomically situated a bit farther away from the keyboard than most laptops. Also key to the IdeaPad look are touch-sensitive media controls above the keyboard and a bright orange button, called the Shuttle Key, which can be used on its own to control volume or in combination with the touch controls for additional functionality (somewhat like a Fn key). There's Front Row-like media software, called Shuttle Center, and Dolby Home Theater sound. Every IdeaPad is also outfitted with a built-in 1.3-megapixel Webcam, VeriFace software for biometric security via face recognition, and a ThinkVantage-like Novo key that provides quick system recovery should you ever encounter a data-destroying virus.

Tonight's announcement includes the first three laptop models in the IdeaPad line: the 17-inch Y710, the 15.4-inch Y510, and the 11.1-inch U110. Individual specs and details after the break. ... Read more