Smart offers the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, other laptops and tablets starting at Plan 499

Getting a new tablet or laptop doesn’t have to be hard and expensive. With Smart’s new Gadget Plus Plans, they are making that true and available to everybody. So if you’re in for a new tablet or laptop with bundled internet connection for your on-the-go moments, check this one out.

Starting at just P499 a month, you can already get a 7-inch Acer Iconia B1 tablet running on Android Jelly Bean and a mobile Wi-Fi with 30 hours of internet.

For P200 more, you can either have an Alcatel T7HD, an HP Slate 7, a Starmobile Engage 7 HD, or a Huawei Media Pad Youth 7-inch Android tablet, plus a mobile Wi-Fi with 50 hours of internet for just P699 a month.

If you want a more capable device bring with you, check out the devices on Plan 999. Available in this plan is the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 with P2,000 upfront payment, the Samsung ATIV Book 2 for P1,500, the Acer Aspire V5 122P Touch for P2,500, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 for P2,000, or the iPad mini 16GB for P1,500. These also come with 50 hours of internet hours per month.

If you want to get a trio bundle, look for these devices on Plan 1299. One bundle includes the Samsung ATIV Book 2, a Samsung wireless printer, and a mobile Wi-Fi device. The other bundle is the Acer Aspire V5 122P Touch, an Acer Iconia B1, and a mobile Wi-Fi. The two bundles come with a P1,000 upfront payment each and also have 50 internet hours per month.

If you’re worried about exceeding your allotted internet hours, well, fret not. Once you consume a certain number of hours on your plan, it will automatically switch to unlimited data. You can check out the table below for more info.

If you want to know more about the Smart Bro Gadget Plus Plans, visit their website.

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Samsung unveils the ATIV Q, combines Windows 8 and Android in one convertible

In the Samsung Premiere event at London earlier, Samsung’s DJ Lee announced their first Windows 8 and Android hybrid tablet yet. the Samsung ATIV Q.

The ATIV Q, first of all, is by no means a laptop. Instead, it is a tablet with an integrated portable keyboard which you slide out when you need to use it. Aside from that, it can also has what they call the floating mode in which the display floats up in the air with the hinge supporting it, and the stand mode wherein the display is flipped to the back for functions like watching movies and presentations.

 

The highlight of the ATIV Q is the fact that it can run both Windows 8 and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean at the same time. From what I’ve seen in various hands-on videos, it looks like the Android part is being emulated on top of Windows using some special virtualization software.

Despite that, though, the Android experience seems to be smooth thanks to the powerful 4th-generation Intel Core i5 processor along with the 4GB RAM. Samsung also says that users will be able to seamlessly share files between the two OS’s. For example, you can take a photo stored in your Windows hard drive and share it with Instagram on Android. Apart from that, apparently, you can also pin Android apps on the Windows Start screen. There is all a full access to the Google Play Store, which means you will be able to download and use many of the Android apps that you’ve always loved.

 

The ATIV Q sports a 13.3-inch screen with a 170-degree viewing angle, with a monstrous 3,200x1,800 qHD+ resolution at 275ppi, and a 128GB SSD. It has a single USB 3 port, another one for USB 2, an HDMI port, a headphone and microphone combo, a microSD card slot, an RJ45 dongle for Ethernet connectivity, and the S Pen. The battery is rated at 9-hours, which is not bad when you consider what’s packaged in this device. It weighs 1.29kg and has a thickness of 13.9mm including the keyboard.

Samsung ATIV Q Specifications and Features
13.3-inch 3,200x1,800 resolution at 275ppi
170-degree viewing angle
Intel Core i5 (4th-generation)
Intel HD Graphics 4400
4GB DDR3L RAM
128GB SSD
720p HD camera
Up to 9 hours battery life
L/W/H - 327.0x217.8x13.9mm
1.29kg
1xUSB3.0, 1xUSB2.0, HDMI,RJ45 (dongle), headphone/microphone combo, micro SD

Overall, I kind of like the ATIV Q. It is mobile enough to be used as a tablet and it has a keyboard which you can use for work. I’m also hoping that this will have LTE support too. What we need to know now is the pricing and availability, which Samsung hasn’t announced yet.

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Lenovo launches the IdeaPad Yoga 11S, S210 Touch, Z400 Touch, S400 Touch, IdeaCentre B540, and C440

Lenovo announced today in their media event the launch of the IdeaPad Yoga 11S, an 11-inch multimode Windows 8 transformer laptop, and several other Windows 8-powered devices such as the IdeaPad S210 Touch, Z400 Touch, S400 Touch, IdeaCentre B540, and the C440 desktop.

"We are continuing to develop the Yoga franchise with the IdeaPad Yoga 11s, another unique flip and fold, multi-mode convertible which crystallizes our commitment of continued innovation with Windows. Alongside the IdeaPad Yoga 11s, we are introducing our latest range of touch-enabled devices that will create and define a new computing experience for our consumers. The advancements in touch optimization and processing power make today the right time for these new form factors to take off and gain rapid adoption. They will empower the Doers of today to work and play with digital content like never before," Vicky Agorrilla, General Manager of Lenovo Philippines said.

IdeaPad Yoga 11S
The IdeaPad Yoga 11S gives its users options on how they would like to use the device, be it on the ‘tent or stand mode’ for watching movies and browsing through the photo gallery, a touchscreen tablet for using Windows 8 apps, or as a laptop with the full-fledged keyboard and track pad for productivity.

The IdeaPad Yoga 11S is equipped with the 3rd-generation Intel Core i3 processor, providing the users a full Windows experience. This means you can run your legacy desktop software like Adobe Photoshop, Firefox, and such. It comes with an 11.6-inch HD IPS 10-point multitouch display with wide-viewing angle and a motion-based feature aptly called the Motion Control which lets you glide your hands over the screen to interact with it.

IdeaPad S210 Touch, Z400 Touch, and S400 Touch
Lenovo also announced the IdeaPad S210 Touch, Z400 Touch and S400 Touch which offer consumers great multimedia experience: music, movies, email, and video, among other features.

The IdeaPad S210 Touch packs a 4GB RAM, 500GB storage, and a Unified Memory Architecture GPU which enhances the laptop’s processing speed. Its 10-point multi-touch feature is user-friendly and optimizes efficiency through reduced response time.

Also having a multitouch screen, the IdeaPad Z400 and S400 are both optimized for Windows 8's touch-centric user interface, and come with up to 3rd-generation Intel Core i5 processors. They both feature a 14-inch HD display, as well as VeriFace, a face recognition technology for log-in security and OneKey Rescue System for easy backup and recovery of your data.

IdeaCentre B540 and C440 desktop
In addition, the company launched the IdeaCentre B540, offering an all-in-one entertainment experience from a desktop that merges slim, modern design with state-of-the-art multimedia features.

It boasts of the same multitouch screen for users to interact on, an HD webcam, Blu-ray RAMBO drive, HDMI out, USB 3 ports, and internal power adapter for tidier cable management and easy access to internal components for simple upgrades.

The Lenovo C440 desktop, meanwhile, is sleek, responsive and space-saving with its 21.5-inch display which takes little space on the desk. It offers HD graphics support, a RAMBO drive, stereo speakers with Dolby Advanced Audio v2, a 6-in-1 card reader, optional HDMI out, and advanced webcam software that tracks and auto-zooms on faces, enhances pictures, and adds cartoon effects to make the webcam experience more fun and interactive.

The IdeaCentre B540 and IdeaPad Z400 Touch are now available in Lenovo Exclusive Stores nationwide. The B540 retails for P54,900, and the IdeaPad Z400 Touch for P35,995 for the Intel Core i3 model and P39,995 for the i5 model.

The IdeaPad Yoga 11S and Lenovo C440, which will be available in Pentium Dual-Core Processor (PDC) and Intel Core i3 models, will be hitting LES by second and third week of June respectively. The IdeaPad Yoga 11S will retail for P44,995 while the Lenovo C440 will cost P31,990 for the PDC model and P37,990 for the i3 model.

The IdeaPad S400 Touch, with the i3 processor and i5 processor options, will be available for P27,995 and P32,995 respectively in mid-June.

The IdeaPad S210 Touch will soon be available with pricing that starts P21,995.

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MacBook lineup gets huge price drops

Apple announced last week the price drop across all MacBook models along with slightly updated processors.

Some models got a significant drop in retail price, such as the MacBook Air which got as much as P8,000 off of it’s previous price, the MacBook Pro which is now cheaper by up to P3,000. The MacBook Pro with Retina display received the biggest drop in price, with savings of as much as a whopping P18,000! You can check out the new full pricing matrix below.

MacBook Air
11″ MacBook Air / 1.7Ghz i5 / 4GB Ram / 64 GB Flash / Intel HD4000 – from 47,990 to P46,990
11″ MacBook Air / 1.7Ghz i5 / 4GB Ram / 128 GB Flash / Intel HD4000 – from 52,990 to P50,990
13″ MacBook Air / 1.8Ghz i5 / 4GB Ram / 128 GB Flash/ Intel HD4000 – from 57,990 to P55,990
13″ MacBook Air / 1.8Ghz i5 / 4GB Ram / 256 GB Flash / Intel HD4000 – from 72,990 to P64,990

MacBook Pro
13″ MacBook Pro / 2.5 Ghz dual core i5 / 4GB Ram / 500 GB / Intel HD4000 – from 57,990 to P55,990
13″ MacBook Pro / 2.9 Ghz dual core i7 / 8GB Ram / 750 GB / Intel HD4000 – from 72,990 to P69,990
15″ MacBook Pro / 2.3 Ghz quad core i7 / 4GB Ram / 500 GB / GeForce GT 650M 512MB – from 87,990 to P84,990

MacBook Pro with Retina Display
13″ MacBook Pro with Retina display / 2.5 Ghz dual core i5 / 8GB Ram / 128GB SSD / Intel HD4000 – from 82,990 to P69,990
13″ MacBook Pro with Retina display / 2.5 Ghz dual core i5 / 8GB Ram / 256GB SSD / Intel HD4000 – from 97,990 to P79,990
15″ MacBook Pro with Retina display / 2.3 Ghz quad core i7 / 8GB Ram / 256GB SSD / GeForce GT650M 1GB - from 107,990 to P102,990
15″ MacBook Pro with Retina display / 2.6 Ghz quad core i7 / 8GB Ram / 512GB SSD / GeForce GT650M 1GB – from 137,990 to P130,990

The MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Pro with Retina display are available direct from Apple Online Store and Apple Resellers like Digital Hub and Beyond the Box.

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ASUS announces the VivoTab Smart tablet

ASUS today announced their new tablet, the VivoTab Smart running Windows 8. It has the full PC experience unlike other tablets, which means you can run your existing software on this device. It is powered by a dual-core Intel Atom Z2760 processor. The screen measures 10.1-inch IPS panel with a 1366x768 HD resolution.

The Vivo Tab Smart can be attached to an option keyboard, called the TranSleeve Keyboard which also doubles as a stand and protective cover when not in use. It has an 8-Megapixels camera on the back which can do 1080p full HD video recording. On the front there is a 2-Megapixels shooter for video calling and other uses. The WI-Fi only model has a 9.5-hour battery life, while the Wi-Fi + LTE model only has 8-hours.

ASUS VivoTab Smart Specifications and Features
10.1-inch (1366 x 768) display
Intel® Atom™ Z2760 dual-core processor
2GB RAM
64GB onboard storage
802.11 b/g/n
265.5 x 171 x 9.7mm
580g
9.5 hours of battery life (8.5 hours for Wi-Fi + LTE model)

The ASUS VivoTab Smart will be available here in the Philippines this Q1 2013. It will come in white and black and will retail for P25,995.

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Review: Lenovo S405

Ultraportable notebooks or simply ultrabooks which take beautiful designs, and offers mobility with their light weight have been starting to grab a lot of attention this year, but what seem to prevent them from taking off is their high price tags. The Lenovo Ideapad S405 carries those characteristics sans the expensive price.

The IdeaPad S405, which comes from Lenovo’s line of ultraportable notebooks, offers a balance between performance and mobility, this line of laptops are the in-betweens of the ultrathin and the powerful, yet larger variants. It’s exterior is of practicality and overall functionality. It boasts a thickness of only 21.9mm making it a snug fit to any backpack or laptop bag. Having a weight of only 3.97 lbs. the S405 proves to be a good computing buddy for travelers and those on the go. It features a metallic finish available in a variety of colors including, crimson red, silver grey and cotton-candy pink.

The system packs a punch as it is powered by an AMD A-series processor that is bundled with a Radeon HD chip. Through AMD’s Fusion Technology, the central processor and graphics processor are molded together into one chip, making the heat distribution and power consumption more manageable.

Thinking of the needs of its user, Lenovo’s S405 employs a number of peripherals for faster and more comfortable usage. The device employs a USB 3.0 for high-speed data transfers and also a pair of USB 2.0 ports. For storage, the laptop comes with a hefty 500 GB or 1TB disk space. It also has a 32GB SSD variant for faster loading and responsiveness. It comes with an HDMI port, a 14-inch HD widescreen display, stereo speakers and Dolby Advanced Audio v2 certification. The setup makes the unit perfect for entertainment.

The S405 comes with a boatload of Lenovo’s application designed for the convenience of the user. One of such is the Intelligent Touchpad, a feature that allows the user to zoom, scroll, and manipulate files through gestures. In case of drive failure, the OneKey Rescue System comes to rescue which resets the computer back to its factory state at a press of a button.

Be it at work, entertainment, or for gaming, the Lenovo’s IdeaPad S405 proves to be a welcome companion made for any application at any given time. The marriage between AMD’s processor and Lenovo’s systems makes the S405 a powerful machine that conserves both space and time, not to mention cheaper compared to its counterparts. Undoubtedly, Lenovo’s Ideapad S405 gives you the best deal when it comes to price, power, and comfort.

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Acer also offering P700 gift card for Windows 8 upgrades

It seems Acer is also feeling generous for their customers holiday Windows 8 season and is now handing out gift cards to cover the Windows 8 upgrade for recent buyers.

Customers who buy an eligible Acer notebook or desktop from October 10 to November 30, 2012 will receive a gift card worth P700, just enough for the $14.99 (approximately P630.00) Windows 8 upgrade. Just refer to the images below for the complete details.

Eligible Models

Terms & Conditions

Source: Acer

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HP offering P1,000 gift card for eligible notebooks towards Windows 8 upgrade

Do you recently purchased an HP notebook that came preinstalled with Windows 7 and felt bummed to find out that you have to shell out $14.99 just to upgrade it to Windows 8?

Well, get happy now as HP is offering a P1,000 gift card to buyers of eligible notebooks from October 23 until November 30, 2012 to cover the amount.

If your notebook happen to belong to the eligible models listed below, just ready the following: Photocopy of End-user invoice showing the date of purchase/transaction, SR name, invoice number, end-user name and contact details (including email address), product model purchased with serial number, reseller name and branch location, the original cut-out serial number sticker, and a photocopy of end-user’s valid ID and present it to the claim point which is located at the HP Store SM Megamall and claim your gift card. You can then use it to purchase Windows 8 Pro for $14.99 (approximately P630.00) at http://windowsupgradeoffer.com/en-PH. The gift card is valid until December 31, 2013 but the $14.99 Windows 8 upgrade period is only until January 31, 2013, take note of that.

Eligible HP Notebooks
HP Envy 4-1003TU
HP Envy 4-1009TX
HP Envy 4-1047TX
HP Envy 4-1048TX
HP Envy 4-1054TX
HP Envy 4-1055TX
HP Folio 13-1001TU
HP Folio 13-1013TU
HP Pavilion G4-1204AX
HP Pavilion DM1-4012TU
HP Pavilion DM1-4209AU
HP Pavilion DM4-3001TX
HP Pavilion DM4-3107TX
HP Pavilion DV4-3106TX
HP Pavilion DV4-3107TX
HP Pavilion DV4-5012TX
HP Pavilion DV6-6157TX
HP Pavilion DV6-6168TX
HP Pavilion DV6-6c06TX
HP Pavilion DV6-7014TX
HP Pavilion G4-1214TX
HP Pavilion G4-1215TX
HP Pavilion G4-1314TX
HP Pavilion G4-1342TX
HP Pavilion G4-1345TX

Source: HP

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ASUS outs touch-powered VivoBook series with Windows 8

ASUS just announced two new notebooks belonging to their VivoBook series — the X202E and S400.

The Asus VivoBooks are all full-featured notebooks with a slim form-factor and is also optimized for the mostly touch-based Windows 8 while still retaining the good ol’ keyboard. They feature 2-second instant on, 32GB of WebStorage for 3 years, and the ASUS SonicMaster audio.

The ASUS VivoBook X202E will come in two flavors: one with a third-generation Intel Core i3 processor with 4GB of RAM, and the other one having the Intel Celeron processor and 2GB of RAM. Both models will have a 1366x768 screen resolution on a 11.6-inch panel and 500GB of hard drive capacity. The Ivy Bridge model will be priced at P26,995 while the Celeron model will go for P20,995 and both will be available starting first week of November.

On the other hand, the larger ASUS VivoBook S400 will feature a third-generation Intel Core i5 processor, a 14-inch screen with the same 1366x768 resolution, a choice of 2GB or 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB of hard drive plus 24GB SSD. It’s priced P34,995 and will be coming in this November as well.

Introducing the Touch-Powered ASUS VivoBook Series
Offers customers uniquely intuitive experiences, enhanced computing and multimedia, and a highly mobile premium design

Manila, Philippines (October 23, 2012) ― ASUS VivoBook form the beginning of a series of devices in screen sizes ranging from 11.6” to 14”, all developed around natural touch as key to incredible user experiences and greater customer happiness. Optimized for Windows 8, ASUS VivoBooks showcase an attractive, durable, and very portable design. They integrate ASUS SonicMaster audio and 2-second instant on, and all models include 32GB of WebStorage cloud space for three years. ASUS VivoBooks embody a new way of offering enjoyable and intuitive notebook experiences to customers, with additional models joining the series by the end of the year.

VivoBooks add greater happiness to lives
Providing the finest touch technology for more natural and rewarding interaction, VivoBook X202E and S400 models reinforce the ASUS Customer Happiness 2.0 spirit, offering technology perfectly-tuned to create better, more enjoyable, and more rewarding lifestyles. All VivoBook Series products have been designed with stand-out aesthetics, true-to-life sound, and instinctive touch. They are ideal for the increasingly cloud-based nature of computing, supporting seamless connectivity and usage on the go while specifically aimed at making people happier through the use of technology they can rely on wherever they may be.

Design principles
To achieve the attractive VivoBook look, ASUS designers opted for a slim and light form factor across the entire series. The all-glass screen offers a more elegant and immersive appearance, while the chassis uses durable yet artful metal to maintain consistency with fellow ASUS innovations such as ZENBOOK, incorporating the same tapered design. At the same time, VivoBooks have their own distinct feel, encouraging customers to use and carry them with pride. They have been fashioned to be as comfortable to carry as a book, with all edges rounded and smoothed for a reassuring feel. VivoBook is available in a selection of vibrant colors.

All about intuitive touch
From a technology and engineering standpoint, the primary purpose of VivoBook is to provide completely intuitive touch experiences optimized for Windows 8. Touch is much more than just a feature: it is the very essence of the VivoBook experience. All models employ highly responsive multi-point touch panels, and the larger touchpads likewise encourage smooth haptic input, incorporating ASUS Smart Gesture technology. The compact VivoBook uses a touchpad sized for 14” notebooks, giving customers more input space. Combined, these guarantee fully-satisfying user experiences based on touch.

Living sound with SonicMaster
True to their name, VivoBooks deliver lifelike experiences in every way. For audio, they are equipped with exclusive ASUS SonicMaster technology, generating powerful sound with wider range, deeper bass, and clearer vocals. VivoBooks improve multimedia, benefitting from the hardware and software optimization experience of ASUS audio engineering, with the addition of Technical Grammy-winning MaxxAudio sound processing tools. Once more, the X202E receives upsized hardware. Although 11.6” in size, its speakers were designed for 14” to 15” models, resulting in more powerful and immersive sound than that offered by much bulkier standard notebooks. 

Made for the cloud and incredibly responsive
True 2-second instant on resume from sleep mode gives customers near-instantaneous access to Windows 8 even after prolonged periods away from devices, removing the need for lengthy waits as the system reboots. Battery efficiency lengthens standby time to 15 days on VivoBook. This seamless experience integrates well into a cloud-centric design, as VivoBooks have been created with cloud computing in mind. All models include 32GB of ASUS WebStorage space at no charge for three years.

Local Availability
The ASUS VivoBook X202E will be initially available in the Philippines by 1st week of November in two configurations. One with an Intel Core i3 Processor for SRP Php26,995 and one with Intel Celeron Processor for Php 20,995. While the S400 will available for SRP Php35,995 this coming November as well.

Specifications

Model	ASUS VivoBook X202E	ASUS VivoBook X202E	ASUS VivoBook S400
Processor	Intel® Core™ i3 Ivy Bridge	Intel® ULV Celeron® 847	Intel® Core™ i5 Ivy Bridge Ultrabook Processor
Operating system	Windows 8	Windows 8	Windows 8
Display	11.6" 16:9 HD (1366 x 768) LED backlit	11.6" 16:9 HD (1366 x 768) LED backlit	14" 16:9 HD (1366 x 768) LED backlit
Graphics	Intel HD Graphics	Intel HD Graphics	Intel HD Graphics
Memory	4GB 1333MHz DDR3 RAM	2GB 1333MHz DDR3 RAM	1600MHz DDR3 up to 8GB (onboard 2GB/4GB + 1 DIMM)
Hard drive	500GB, 5400rpm	500GB, 5400rpm	500GB 5400rpm + 24GB SSD (cache)
Optical drive	N/A	N/A	N/A
Dimensions	30.3cm x 20.0cm x 21.7mm	30.3cm x 20.0cm x 21.7mm	33.9cm x 23.9cm x 21mm
Weight	1.40Kg (with 38W/h polymer battery)	1.40Kg (with 38W/h polymer battery)	1.8Kg (with 44W/h polymer battery)
SRP	Php 26,995	Php 20,995	Php 35,995

Product specifications and features may change without prior notice. Check www.asus.com for further details.

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Western Digital shows 5mm thin hybrid hard drive sampling

Western Digital showcased their new 5mm hybrid hard drive samples during their Investor Day last September 13.

The drive is 2mm slimmer than the hard drives included in the ultrabooks released earlier before, which measure 7mm. It will be available in 500GB and 1TB (plus a separate 8-32GB of NAND storage) configurations , though the latter will still be 7mm thick. As these hard drives are just sample versions, we may not see them shipped with new ultrabooks soon. Asus and Acer both signed up for the waiting list however, so in case you’re eyeing on getting one new Zenbook or Aspire ultrabook in the future, you don’t need to worry.

Photo credit: AnandTech

WD® CREATES WORLD’S THINNEST 2.5-INCH HYBRID HARD DRIVE
New 5 mm Standard Slashes Storage Footprint by Almost 50% Compared to Traditional 2.5-inch Hard Drives

MANILA, PHILIPPINES. – September 10, 2012 – WD®, a subsidiary of Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ: WDC), today announced it is sampling a 5mm-thin hard disk drive featuring hybrid technology. WD has developed hard drives slim enough for integration into today’s thinnest notebook PCs, which provide high-capacity storage and robustness while featuring instant-on and application performance similar to today’s client solid state drives (SSDs). The new technologies will be showcased during WD’s Investor Day, Sept. 13, 2012.

“Mobile devices are becoming smaller, thinner, lighter and more responsive,” said Matt Rutledge, vice president of client storage solutions at WD. “Working with our technology partners, WD has developed new 5 mm hard drives that enable high capacity storage along with excellent performance and superior economics to allow our customers to expand their thin offerings.”

With device volumetric efficiency is a key concern for system makers, WD began shipping 7 mm height hard drives for thin-profile notebooks earlier this year (historically, standard notebook hard drives have been 9.5 mm). WD 5 mm hybrid hard drives will enable the market’s thinnest computers to offer 500 GB of capacity, utilizing almost 50% less volume compared to current 9.5 mm hard drives and at one tenth the cost of similar capacity SSDs.

“Acer is partnering with WD to bring advanced notebook performance and capacity in the smallest form factor,” said David Lee, associate vice president of Mobile Computing Product business unit at Acer. “It’s a part of our ongoing commitment to present leading technology that ultimately improves the total user experience of our customers.”

“We are seeing a shift in the computing world to more powerful mobile computing solutions,” said SY Shain, senior vice president of ASUS’ notebook business unit. “With this in mind, ASUS and WD are collaborating to create slimmer and more mobile notebook solutions — without sacrificing capacity or performance — to deliver smaller form-factor to consumers.”

Hybrid Technology and Client Tiered Storage

WD’s innovative hybrid technology pairs MLC NAND flash storage for fast SSD-like data throughput and instant-on responsiveness with magnetic disks for efficient, high-capacity storage. Similar to the practice of multi-million dollar enterprise systems, WD’s hybrid technology utilizes the concept of tiered storage. Data accessed most frequently (often referred to as ‘hot’ data) is managed using speedy NAND flash to ensure fast response times, while data accessed less often (‘cold’ data) resides on the robust magnetic disks. The tiered design of hybrid hard drives, compared to current dual-drive solutions, also provides a redundancy benefit for users. The magnetic disk backs up all files residing in the NAND, protecting the user from inevitable NAND wear and preserving it for the more hot data handling. WD’s hybrid technology works in conjunction with the PC operating system to deliver higher performance than current hybrid offerings while minimizing NAND wear to allow the use of less expensive MLC NAND.   

Hybrid hard drives combine NAND flash and magnetic disks, simplifying storage-element integration for OEM customers and providing a host of end user benefits: superior performance, responsiveness, lower power consumption, greater operating shock tolerance, and data protection. And unlike dual-drive designs, WD’s hybrid technology provides single-unit design homogeneity that OEM system manufacturers have long sought from the storage industry.

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Intel Shows Nikiski Laptop Prototype with See-through Touchpad and Palmrest

Intel recently revealed their plans for their ultrabooks lineup just a couple of minutes ago at CES, and look at their star of the night! You are looking at the Intel Nikiski prototype which has a transparent touchpad and palmrest that transforms into a small touchscreen when it is closed. I never expected that Windows 8 could work this way. That surely looks sweeeeeet!

More photos for the pleasure of your eyes below!

UPDATE: A hands-on video is now available! Oooooooooh!

Source: The Verge

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