The CrunchPad Will Cost $300-$400

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It's been a while since we've heard anything about Michael Arrington's CrunchPad tablet. With the bevy of e-reader, PMP, and tablet launches we've seen in the last few months, it's sort of fallen out of discussion. If you were worried this lack of buzz was a sign of vaporware, worry no longer. UMPC Portal reports that, in a Gilmore Gang videocast, new info about the CrunchPad was finally released.

Arrington stated that "big news" about the pad will be announced shortly. This probably means we can bet on hearing something concrete before the end of 2009. We don't yet know exactly how much this gadget will cost, but Arrington said to expect a price tag of between $300-$400. That didn't sound so bad six months ago, but it comes across as rather high now. The low price of the competition (e-readers like the nook, the Archos tablets) makes the CrunchPad a bit of a hard sell.

Posted on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:58:39 CST | by Robert Evans

Lenovo ThinkPad Netbook: Out January 5th?

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All those rumors about a Lenovo ThinkPad netbook just got a little more credence. ThinkPadToday appears to have received confirmation from someone that the first ThinkPad netbook, which will be called the X100e, will be out January 5, 2010. The slogan for this new product is purported to be, “Entry level ultra portable, the first ThinkPad of its size”.

No details about the hardware on the X100e have been released yet, and Lenovo still has yet to confirm or deny the rumors. As of right now, it's still entirely possible this product does not exist. However, the evidence against that is increasingly heavily stacked. Several images have leaked out, and rumors about the new netbooks continue to sprout like wildflowers.

Posted on Sat, 7 Nov 2009 13:27:09 CST | by Robert Evans

Is A Lenovo ThinkPad Netbook On The Way?

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Well well, it looks like some tigers do change their stripes. A recent series of leaked photos (via Engadget) has the tech world thinking that a Lenovo ThinkPad netbook might be in the offing. The first leaked image looked like it might be a photoshop, but these latest photos seem to be legit. The supposed netbook in question is the Lenovo ThinkPad x200e, and it certainly looks...interesting.

Posted on Tue, 3 Nov 2009 11:31:16 CST | by Robert Evans

Thrustmaster Ferrari Wireless Gamepad 430 Scuderia Review

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Today I am looking at the new Thrustmaster Ferrari Wireless Gamepad 430 Scuderia. This is a limited edition Ferrari branded product with cues from the exotic automobiles.

The controller is designed to allow for more precise control on driving and racing games, but will work for all genres of games. The device supports both the PC and the PS3. Read more

Posted on Tue, 3 Nov 2009 09:49:01 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Lenovo Launches Windows 7 IdeaPad/Centre Computers

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It's a little jarring to see another major PC release so soon after the slew of new Windows 7 machines launched last Thursday. Apparently Lenovo thought waiting a few days would be a better strategy than possibly getting lost in the crowd. As HotHardware points out, they've got the spotlight to themselves today.

Lenovo's new machines include three notebooks, the U150, 550, and Y550P. The Y550P is Lenovo's first Core i7 notebook. It packs Intel's turbo boost technology, Nvidia graphics, a 15.6" HD screen, and Dolby Home Theater sound. The Ideapad U150 is a more portable machine; just 13.5mm thick with an 11.6" display. It packs a low-energy Core 2 Duo processor and 8 GB of RAM. Lastly, the IdeaPad U550 has a 15.6" display, Intel Core 2 Duo processor, integrated DVD drive, and a switchable graphics card for increased energy efficiency.

Posted on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:56:54 CDT | by Robert Evans

GlideTV Navigator Wireless Palm Touchpad For HTPCs Announced

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GlideTV announced today the release of its first product, the GlideTV Navigator.
The GlideTV is shaped like a palm-sized bowl with a touchpad on top.

The GlideTV Navigator includes a remote, charging station, USB wireless receiver and is compatible with Windows PC, Apple Mac, Sony PS3 or any set-top box that supports standard mouse and keyboard HID devices. Read more

Posted on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

EFO Wireless Keyboard And Touchpad For HTPCs And Game Consoles

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The EFO Wireless Handheld Keyboard and Touchpad is an interesting input device for HTPCs and game consoles. The EFO keyboard fits in one hand offering a QWERTY keypad similar to a message pad or smartphone device.
On top of the QWERTY keypad a touchpad is located to control mouse cursor or for handwriting recognition software.
Read more

Posted on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:49:19 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Fisher-Price Easy Link Internet Launch Pad Heavy Discounted Again

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The Fisher-Price Easy Link Internet Launch Pad is on sale on Amazon.com for $14.13. This is reason enough to make it the biggest mover in the toy section (up 4,683%).
We actually had the Fisher-Price Easy Link Internet Launch Pad already featured in our shopping tips back in 2007, where it was on sale for only $11.99 Read more

Posted on Sat, 3 Oct 2009 11:07:38 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

The Asus Road-Map; Netbooks and Multitouch Pads

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Asus, one of the fathers of the netbook, has just leaked out several slides that give us a thorough look at the company's roadmap for the next two quarters. These slides are complete with detailed product information. They all look official, and I see no reason to doubt this information. German-language tech blog Netbook news has the scoop, and Engadget has it in English that wasn't run through a Google translator.

First up we've got three new 10.1" netbooks, all of the Eee PC 1005HA line. The E and V both pack Atom 270 processors and 92% keyboards. They come with 3 and 6 cell batteries respectively. The P carries an N280 Atom processor, bluetooth, and a 6 cell battery capable of 10.5 hours of use. Prices go from $300, for the E, to $389, for the P. Asus is also releasing the 1101HA-M, which packs an 11.6" monitor, an IntelMENLOW 2520 processor, and an 11 hour battery life, all for $430. All four of these new machines come with Windows XP home edition.

Posted on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:53:01 CDT | by Robert Evans

Lenovo Issues ThinkPad Battery Recall

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Do you have a Lenovo ThinkPad model R60, R61, T60, T61, X60, or X61? If so, the battery to your machine has been recalled. These batteries are causing a wide variety of problems, primarily resulting in error messages that warn of irreparable damage or an inability to charge. These batteries develop extremely short capacities and, in some cases, become unable to hold any charge whatsoever.

Posted on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:55:00 CDT | by Robert Evans

CrunchPad Specs Out.

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The tech world has been itching to get a look at the CrunchPad for months now. While we won't quite get our wish today, we are getting a detailed look and the upcoming tablet PC's specs thanks to an article in the Singapore Straits Times. The article confirmed that CrunchPad has no onboard memory, and will store all of its data and documents online.

This is definitely a cost and size effective way to make this machine as cheap and as tiny as possible. I'm still not entirely comfortable of the idea of an expensive device that becomes nothing but a brick as soon as you exit WiFi range.

Posted on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:25:00 CDT | by Robert Evans

SteelSeries Unveils Xai Mouse and 9HD Mouse Pad

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SteelSeries has announced that it has launched its new laser gaming mouse and mouse pad. The mouse is called the Xai Laser mouse and the mouse pad is the 9HD Hard Plastic Surface. The company says that the mouse was designed to provide the shape, size, and weight gamers need for an advantage.

The mouse has a sensor capable of imaging 10.8MP/second and processes 12,000 frames/second at 5,001 CPI. Xai has an ambidextrous shape, seven programmable buttons, needs no drivers, and has a LCD menu system. Read more

Posted on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

CrunchPad Coming Soon?

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Michael Arrington from TechCrunch has been talking up a tablet style MID for a while now that would feature a touchscreen and no physical keyboard. The device sounds and looks a lot like a larger iPhone and if the image that the NYT is using is accurate, the device looks like it should have an Apple logo on it too.

Arrington has reportedly incorporated a company called CrunchPad and announced that an event would be held at the end of July or in early August to make an announcement and that the device would be available for purchase as soon as possible. Read more

Posted on Mon, 6 Jul 2009 11:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

TechCrunch Founder Forms CrunchPad, Inc.

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TechCrunch Founder Forms CrunchPad, Inc.

Have you ever looked at an overpriced tablet PC and said, "Man, I could make something WAY better than this."? If so, you've got something in common with Michael Arrington, founder of the TechCrunch blog network. He's about to form his own hardware company, CrunchPad, Inc., and release a whole new type of media device.

The first CrunchPad Inc. Press release will come at the end of this month, and we can probably expect to see a demonstration of the CrunchPad prototype there. The CrunchPad is a 12" touchscreen tablet that is capable of video chatting and Internet browsing. It's got a virtual keyboard, a Linux OS, and a solid state drive. This thing is built to be fast, responsive, and quick-booting.

Posted on Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:35:19 CDT | by Robert Evans

CrunchPad Video Unbox

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Apparently, there was a bit of geek drama yesterday after what was supposedly an unboxing video of the CrunchTablet hit the Internet. The CrunchTablet is a tablet PC/netbook offering from the guys at TechCrunch.

The drama was stirred when the video was posted to YouTube and made its way around the web. According to reports some of the rub was that the unboxing was supposedly of a prototype device and not the real production device, which is said to be thinner and made from aluminum, not plastic. Read more

Posted on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

CrunchPad looks already pretty good

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TechCrunch ambitious project to develop an affordable touchscreen computer to surf the web starts to look pretty good.
In January we reported about the first prototype. Now TechCrunch showed off photos of the Launch Prototype. Read more

Posted on Thu, 4 Jun 2009 11:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Lenovo IdeaPad S12 Netbook has NVIDIA ION

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Lenovo today announced the IdeaPad S12 netbook. The IdeaPad is Lenovo's first 12-inch netbook and actually features the NVIDIA ION platform.
Lenovo promises that the IdeaPad S12 with NVIDIA's ION graphics platform will be able to let you enjoy brilliant 1080p high definition video with silky smooth playback. Read more

Posted on Mon, 25 May 2009 12:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Anywhere Multitouch: Everything's a Touchpad!

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Sensitive Object, a Paris-based start-up, today unveiled a product that could revolutionize the world of gadgets. The Anywhere Multitouch provides touch-sensitivity over the entire surface of whatever product it is used with. The Multitouch platform works on a variety of materials and is to be offered at a very competitive price.

The Anywhere Multitouch works using Sensitive Object's patented ReverSys technology, which picks up on sound waves vibrating through solid objects. The Multitouch shouldn't be difficult to fit into even the tiniest products; all it requires are two tiny sensors and a controller.

Posted on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:52:20 CDT | by Robert Evans

Sharp Mebius PC-NJ70A Offers Weird LCD Track Pad

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I have seen some odd features offered on computers and laptops over the years, but the Sharp Mebius may be the strangest offering yet. The netbook has a second LCD boasting a resolution of 854 x 480 where you would typically find the track pad.

The small LCD acts as the track pad and can reportedly recognize handwriting as well for emailing and other functions. Once you get past the strange LCD, the remainder of the netbook is what you expect to find. Read more

Posted on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

External Gesture Trackpad for PCs Unveiled

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One of the worst parts about working on a laptop for me is having to use a track pad rather than a mouse. With that said, it would be highly unlikely that you would ever see me using a track pad for my desktop in the office.

Some people really like track pads though, especially the newer type supporting gestures. If you like track pads and want gesture support for your desktop a new device called the SmartTrack Neo is available that adds a gesture track pad to your desktop. Read more

Posted on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

IBM Thinkpad X40 upgraded with KingSpec 32GB SSD beats today's Netbooks

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There are only a few notebooks that age well. The IBM Thinkpad X40 would definitely be one of them if it weren't for the very slow and noisy (clack, clack, clack) 1.8 inch 20GB HDD. Since SSD became affordable I was looking into finding a SSD that would work in my 5 year old Thinkpad X40.
There have been solutions for a while that required you to do some soldering or buy a PATA adapter that works in conjunction with ZIF type 1.8 inch SSD. I am just not into soldering at all. Now a Chinese company called KingSpec is offering drop-in replacement SSD for the IBM Thinkpad X40, X41, and X41T. Read more

Posted on Tue, 7 Apr 2009 05:52:36 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr