The ZX310 was teased to us at CES but we’ve got the full lowdown on this new MacBook Air like super slim laptop. Where you’d think the Apple version of this style of laptop would be the dearer one(much like all Apple’s products. This new Samsung one actually costs more. Now obviously there’s a reason behind that so lets take a look inside and see what this one has to offer over its rival.

Firstly it has the same size 13” screen as the MacBook Air and a similar brushed metal look of the MacBook Pro. Powered inside by Intel Core i5 1.4GHz processor it also has 4GB of RAM. Operating system wise it’s Windows 7 and you have the option of the on board SSD at 128GB or 256GB. Well looking at that it’s still as good as a MacBook Air, not better.

Available in the states in February they will retail at $1599 (£1050 ish to you and me) However this isn’t the first time Samsung has slapped a heavier price tag on its product that is obviously in direct competition with an Apple product. The Galaxy Tab was priced higher than an iPad on it’s release. Are Samsung nailing the market? Are they the true rival to Apple? Only time will tell.

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Samsung ZX310 Superslim laptop

Well as we all know Tablet PCs are the in-thing. We tell you enough about them here on MightyGadget but that’s just because everyone else seems to want a part of them. If you want to blame someone blame Apple for the iPad, simple. The next one in line is the Motorola Xoom another Android 3.0 toting device shown off this week at CES. Not only did Motorola show it (obviously) but Google’s main man Andy Rubin actually used this tablet pre-Motorola showing, to show off Android 3.0, read into that what you will, but i reckon he thinks it’s pretty good. I’m sure you will too.

Speccage :

• Nvidia Tegra 2 Dual-Core (yes Tegra 2 Dual-Core) processor.
• 10.1” 1280 x 800p display (16:9 cinema aspect ratio too)
• Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS
• 2MP Front Facing Camera
• 5MP Rear-Facing Camera
• 720p Video Capture
• Full Adobe Flash 10.1 compatability
• 32GB on board storage expandable via microSD
• WiFi and 3G as standard

Now as you can see ther this surely is a tablet to be reckoned with, everything about it screams greatness from the dual-core processor to the Flash support to the new Android OS. Motorola have said the XOOM “redefines the tablet device category by providing more ways to have fun, connect with friends and stay productive on the go”. They have also said it will be available in the States in the first quarter of this year but haven’t named any prices as yet or when we will get a UK release.

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CES : Another Android 3.0 Tablet–Motorola XOOM

It wasn’t that long ago we told you all about Toshiba’s foray ointo the tablet PC market with the Folio 100. Sadly the Folio 100 didn’t live up to expectations whatsoever and was pulled from sale at top high street chain Currys/Pc World due to the fact nearly all of them were coming back as faulty. Well hopefully Toshiba have learned from their mistakes and have improved themselves with their next tablet PC, an unnamed affair that will be sporting Google’s latest version of it’s popular Android 3.0 or Honeycomb if you want to use it’s food based codenames.

At 10.1” it’s already bigger than your iPads and your Galaxy Tabs not to mention the capacitive touchscreen with a whopping 1280×800 resolution. With a rear-facing 5MP camera and a front-facing 2MP camera it’s got the skills to pay the bills when it comes to video capture or video calling etc. Connectivity isn’t an issue either. A USB port and a mini-USB port alongside that ever useful HDMI port and an SD card slot for memory expansion(details of what it’s starting memory are a little thin). It also will have an accelerometer and ambient light sensor.

Toshiba have gone on to say that it will get released in the early half of this year, and will be at a “competitive price” whether that’s competitive to the iPad or the Galaxy Tab we’re not entirely sure. Please let’s hope its better than the Folio 100.

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Toshiba Tablet : Android 3.0 Honeycomb

CES has been the talking point this week for all our up and coming gadgetry, whether it be cameras, mobile phones or computers. MSI have announced some new models from varying series of it’s top quality laptop, netbook and tablet range. So here they are click on for the goods.

G SERIES – Speed

• 17.3” GT720 and 15.6” GT680 and GE620
• High performance discrete graphics
• MSI Turbo Technology
• Dual SSD (RAID 0 Architecture)
• 720p HD Webcams
• THX TruStudio Pro Cinema Sound
• 16:9 LED Display
• USB 3.0

F SERIES – Performance

• Intel Core Processors
• DDR3 Memory
• 500GB HDD
• 720P HD Webcams
• USB 3.0
• HDMI 1.4

C SERIES – Multimedia

• 15.6” CR650, CR640 and CX640
• Intel Core processors (CR640 and CX640) and AMD Dual Core (CR650)
• SRS PC sound
• 720p webcams
• USB 3.0
• LED Displays
• Turbo Battery+ Power Saving Technology

U AND X SERIES – Portability

• 10” Wind U160 DX netbook, 12” 16:9 Wind U270, 13” X-Slim X370
• Wind U270 and X-Slim X370 use AMD Dual-Core Processors
• Lightweight and Super Slim
• Crystal diamond seal technology

WINDPAD – Tablet PC

• 100A and 100W tablet
• 100A runs Google Android, 100W runs Windows 7 Home Premium edition
• 10” Multitouch display
• 100A ARM processor , 100W Intel mobile processor
• GPS, ALS light sensor and WiFi (3G connectivity also available)
• 100W has 32GB SSD

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5 New MSI Series Laptops,Netbooks and Tablets

The MacBook Air lets remember is stupidly thin and weighs a meagre 2.9 pounds. Makes you wonder how on earth it works and how small technology can actually get. Well in the race for the thinnest and then obviously most portable laptop Apple are still in the lead but if you’re not into what Steve Jobs has to offer you have a look at the new Asus U36.

Ok it’s not as small and thin as a MacBook Air but it nearly is and it has a few of its own tricks up its proverbial sleeve. This 13.5” notebook is just a little bit heavier at 3 pounds and only a fraction thicker at 0.75” at it’s thickest point. Processor wise you get the choice of Intel i3 or i5 and the NVIDIA’s super smart Optimus graphics. However what the U36 does have over Apple for sure is the battery performance. The four-cell battery in this baby boasts a 10 hour life on full charge whereas the MacBook Air only manages 7 hours.

Sadly thats all we know for now and it’s all Asus is letting in on but certainly keep your eyes on this if you’re after a non-Apple super portable notebook.

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Asus U36 : Super Slim MacBook Air rival

Acer the computer manufacturer has teamed up with Mr Gates’ Microsoft and unveiled this beauty of a Laptop/Tablet PC opting for a dual-screen device rather than your standard one screen plus physical keyboard one.

With Dual 720p WXGA14” displays, both touchscreen the Acer Iconia is running Windows 7 Home Premium. Now with both screens being touchscreens this shows that the Iconia is opting for a software keyboard which can be placed or used on either screen.

Other Specs :

• Intel Core i5 processor
• 4GB of RAM
• 640GB HDD
• 2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0
• HDMI
• 3G
• WiFi
• 1.3MP WebCam

Looking at them it’s not a bad little machine however it appears to have a slight downfall in having a small four-cell battery only capable of 3 hours off mains use.

The Iconia will be available in the UK in January and will set you back a cool £1500. Acer have also said to keep your eyes out for smaller 10”, 7” and 5” Iconia models in the future.

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Acer Iconia : Dual Screen Laptop/Tablet

LG is certainly pushing the boat put with it’s forays into the new tablet PC market. With the soon to be here LG Optimus Android Tablet there’s certainly a lot of potential from the Koreans, but now they’ve unveiled another, a Windows 7 based one with Atom processing power.

After appearing in a recent FCC database the news came out on the not too catchy named as yet LG E-Note H10008. With a choice of 1.1GHz Atom Z510 or the more powerful 1.6GHz Atom Z530 there will be plenty of speed under the 10.1” 1366×768 capacitive touchscreen hood. Enough to power Windows 7 Starter Edition anyway. Portability is great too with a weight of 850g and it’s only 14.5mm thick too. Also the E-Note will back connectivity to the max with USB 2.0 WiFi b/g and Bluetooth 3.0. Memory Wise a 16GB SSD will be present but also can be expanded via an SD card reader.

At the moment it’s only available in LG’s native Korea and is retailing around the £530 mark.

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LG E-Note H10008 : Windows 7 Tablet PC

Another day, another tablet PC, this time from across the channel it’s the boys from Archos. At the end of the day before Apple came with the iPad and the iPod Touch, Archos were making touchscreen PMPs and Tablet PCs and good ones at that so you can be sure that they have the knowledge and ability to make ones capable of competing with the mighty iPad.

First thing to note about the 101 is that it has a 10.1” screen. Ample enough right? Secondly it runs Android 2.2 which comes with full Flash support making your browsing experience better than that of an Apple product. Bundle this with WiFi, Bluetooth and HDMI out it’s got plenty of connectivity options. Third great fact is it’s only 12mm thin so extra portable and last but by no means least it’s memory size. Available in two sizes 8GB and 16GB the memory can also be expanded by that wonderful invention the SD card.

The 8GB is retailing at £269.99 while the 16GB one at £299.99 certainly both reasonable prices in my opinion in comparison to the higher priced iPad.

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Archos 101 Tablet PC

Continuing with the tablet updates from last week, Toshiba recently released the FOLIO 100 on our shores as it’s iPad beater. The price is reasonable at £329 so if you’re looking for a good Christmas present this could be one for you .

Specs Wise :

• 10.1” 1024×600 multi-touch capacitive touchscreen
• Android 2.2 Froyo OS
• Flash 10.1 support
• HDMI connectivity
• 1.3MP Front Facing WebCam
• USB 2.0, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity
• SD slot – storage upto 32GB

The Folio 100 also has a music service called “Music Place”. This is a digital service provided by the HMV owned online store 7Digital(who supply Spotify with their choons) which offers an alternative to iTunes where the user can access a massive catalogue of music and purchase tracks to download to their slate.

Available from most high street electrical stores, as said the price is a very reasonable £329.

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Toshiba FOLIO 100

Yes that’s right another tablet for you. Our close friends from Creative’s turn this time to have a go at the Android powered touchscreen iPad rival and have unveiled them today in two sizes. Creative products in my opinion are always of a high standard so they could be a real competitor in this new market.

Available in 7” and 10” screen sizes and storage capacities, powered by Android 2.1 will also have front facing cameras presumably for video calling/skype etc built in microphones and Full Wi-Fi connectivity. The touchscreens however are resistive which are never the best so it’s definitely worth having a go on one or reading the reviews when they’re available to see how responsive they are. The tablets wioll also sport Bluetooth, an accelerometer and a microSD slot for memory expansion.

Being Creative, the audio quality has obviously been given some care and attention. With X-Fi Crystalizer and X-Fi Expand from Creative, the ZiiO will certainly pack a good punch when it comes to it’s audio output whether from mp3 or video playback to sound from the apps or web.

The 8GB 7” model starts at £199.99 and the 16GB goes up to £219.99. The 10” starts at £249.99 for the 8GB and £369.99 for the 16GB model. The Creative ZiiO will be available on shelves just in time for Christmas.

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Creative ZiiO – Android Tablet