i want one

Dell Introduces New Goodies at CES 2010

Posted Mon, 01/11/2010 - 12:02 by tux

Dell took the opportunity this year at the Consumer Electronics Show to introduce a bunch of new gear that's got us drooling.  Included in the mess of goodness are a few brand new items, like their 5-inch tablet concept and a Dell Android-based smartphone.  They've also got some updates to their existing lines of PCs and laptops, including the new Alienware M11x laptop and the Alienware OptX AW2310 23" 3D Full HD widescreen monitor, which enables stereoscopic 3D effects when paired with a supported NVIDIA 3D video card.

Here are some specifics on a few of the items that will ship this year.  For more information on all the new stuff from Dell, click here.

Alienware M11x

At less than $1000, Dell is boasting graphics comparable to a 15-inch notebook in an 11-inch formfactor.  The magic is the NVIDIA GT 335M GPU that's slated to run graphics in the little bugger.  With switchable graphics modes, the M11x should be able to run for up to 6 hours, according to Dell dog-and-pony show at CES.  With an HDMI port outputting 720p to your favorite HD monitor or television, the M11x seems like a very viable option for gamers on the go.

Alienware M17x and M15x

Dell's Alienware division is also releasing updates to their 17- and 15-inch laptop lines with the M17x and M15x, respectively.  The M17x will rock an Intel Mobile Core i7 processor and dual graphics systems, which Dell feels makes it "the most powerful 17-inch gaming laptop in the universe".  The M15x won't be far behind with optional NVIDIA GTX 260M graphics and its own Intel Core i7 processor.  These beasts can be had starting at $1,799 for the M17x and $1,399 for the M15x.

Dell Inspiron and Studio

Both the Inspiron and Studio lineups are getting refreshed as well, with Inspiron 14, 15, and 17-inch laptops receiving a redesign that includes a thinning chassis, 16:9 aspect HD displays, and Intel Mobile Core i3 or i5 processors.  The Inspiron desktop lineup also receives the upgraded processor choices, as well as some funky new colors. 

Dell's Studio family of computers got upgrades that include the new Intel Core i5 and i7 processors.  The laptop version of the Studio also took on some new multimedia features, including True HD screens and enhanced audio.  Finally, Dell introduced the new Studio XPS 8100, which features the new Intel Core i5 processor and THX TruStudio PC sound.

The Level 10 From Thermaltake – When Weird is Beautiful

Posted Thu, 12/10/2009 - 22:27 by tux

For the latest in desktop tower design, look no further than the Thermaltake Level 10.  But be warned, this case is like nothing you’ve seen before.  Ever.

Designed jointly by Thermaltake and BMW Group DesignWorksUSA, the Thermaltake Level 10 Extreme Gaming Station picked up the IDEA 2009 Bronze Award.  That means cutting edge and unique.  Which really doesn’t even begin to describe the design.

The first time you see the Level 10, it looks like it’s missing parts.  The case doesn’t follow normal, mainstream design concepts.  Instead, the designers decided to focus on functional parts.  The whole thing is designed around a giant vertical heatsink, which acts as one of the sides of the case.  The rest of the design take a modular approach, with components occupying their own individual space.  The end result is a case that appears to be made out of large black Legos.  The overall effect, however is a modern modular masterpiece.

Some of the features of the Level 10 Extreme Gaming Station include, as stated above, a modular, easy-to-access design, a built in handle, and a locking system to help protect individual parts from theft.  It will support ATX and Micro ATX form factors with up to 8 expansion slots.  The case also includes space for up to six hard drives, including 3.5”, 2.5” and SSD drives.  The whole thing measures 24.17 x 12.52 x 26.22 inches and weighs in at 47.11lb.

To read more about the Thermaltake Level 10 Extreme Gaming Station, and drool over some major eye candy, check out the website devoted to the subject @ http://www.ttlevel10.com.