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Western Digital has taken the wraps off their new Scorpio Black notebook hard drive lineup. The 2.5-inch drives range from 80 up to 320GB in capacity, providing a wide variety for every type of laptop user.  The drives spin at a speedy 7,200RPM and sport 16MB of cache. Both of these things in conjunction, provide for speedy drive in just about any situation. The entire Scorpio Black lineup connects through a 3GB/s SATA connection.

This large, quick data storage device is brought to you by WD’s IntelliSeek and SecurePark Technologies. IntelliSeek uses optimal seek speeds for lower power consumption. SecurePark parks the read/write heads during low power idle mode. There are two versions of the drives; those with and those without free-fall sensors, which lock up the drive when immediate impact or a free-fall is detected in order to better protect your data. The Scorpio Black hard drives top out at $250 for the 320GB model.

Via [SlashGear]

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by Darren Murph, posted Jun 3rd 2008 at 3:43PM
Talk about being behind the eight ball. With the Eee PC 901 and 1000 getting official, not to mention the onslaught of potent competitors, GeCube’s 10.2-inch alternative isn’t likely to steal much of the spotlight in Taipei. Nevertheless, the seemingly unnamed machine is ready to fight the losing battle with a 1.6GHz VIA C7-D processor, 512MB of DDR2 RAM (with an additional slot open), 1,024 x 600 resolution panel, 80GB SATA hard drive, stereo speakers, Ethernet, WiFi and three USB 2.0 jacks. Reportedly, the unit will come loaded with gOS (but it will support Windows XP if that’s more your style), and while no price is mentioned, we’d suggest keeping it remarkably low until a Nano / Atom shows up inside.

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Filed under: Laptops

by Joshua Fruhlinger, posted Jun 3rd 2008 at 11:27AMWith the Atom-based mini laptop orgy that has become synonymous with 2008, it’s no surprise that Intel has had problems meeting demand for the new processor. That should end soon, however, says Sean Maloney, executive VP and GM of Intel’s Sales and Marketing Group. Maloney points out that Intel now has four 300-millimeter manufacturing plants that he says will be doling out the silicon wafers en-masse by September. “We’ve got four 300-millimeter fabs, so we can really hose this stuff out,” he told PC World. With the expected popularity of the ASUS Eee PC 901, this news is coming just in time.

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Filed under: Laptops

Remember that lawsuit filed by Amazon against the state of New York’s new tax policy requiring online stores to collect sales taxes? Well, that tax policy has gotten a new detractor in the form of another big online retailer, Overstock. Following in the footsteps of Amazon, Overstock has also filed a lawsuit challenging the new tax law. Overstock officially joined Amazon in calling the new law unconstitutional and asked the New York Supreme Court for an injunction, due to the potential of the law being unconstitutional.

Although Overstock has already informed its New York-based affiliate advertisers that they would no longer provide advertising for Overstock beginning June 1, the online store is still hoping that they will win the case and hopefully won’t be required to collect the 8.75% sales tax to its New York customers anymore. On the other hand, Amazon has already begun charging the sales tax.

Incidentally, the Amazon case remains unresolved, and this new lawsuit filed by Overstock might trigger other online retailers to follow Amazon and Overstock and file their respective complaints against the law. Should that be the case; Will New York state repeal the implementation of the law? We could only hope so, and we’re not even from Amazon or Overstock. Of course, this law seems a little against the current, as New York State residents are already required to claim any “untaxed out-of-state purchases” when filing their annual taxes.

Read [Reuters]

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by Joshua Topolsky, posted Jun 3rd 2008 at 11:59AM
Just when you thought iPod docks couldn’t get any cooler — bam! — along comes iHome with the “world’s first” computer speakers for an ipod. Yes, we also started to pound out an uncontrollable rhythm on the snooze button the first time we heard about these, but don’t forget that the iH69 and iH70 allow you to dock, charge and jam out to your iPod without adding any extra fuss to your decked out computer audio superstation. The dock / speakers are available for pre-order at $99.99 and $129.99, respectively, and will be on store shelves “soon” — which we assume will be sometime this month.

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Filed under: Peripherals

by Nilay Patel, posted Jun 3rd 2008 at 2:11PM
It looks like that mysterious listing on Dell’s support site for a “Studio 1535″ laptop is evidence of a larger branding push soon to come — we just got a tip that says Dell’s planning on creating an entire Studio line as “a midpoint between performance XPS systems and entry-level Inspiron systems.” The first machines out of the gate will apparently be those rumored 1535 and 1735 laptops we caught a glimpse of last month (the 1435 appears to have been canned), but we’re being told that eventually there’ll be Studio desktops as well, and that the 1535 will get an AMD-based 1536 twin. All still rumors for now, but they dovetail nicely with the recent merger of the XPS and Alienware teams and Dell’s hints at “new directions” for XPS — and based on the obviously-related design language of the XPS m1530 and Studio 1535, we’d even go so far as to guess that the Studio line is destined to replace the XPS line, not simply supplement it. We’ll see when we see — any other theories out there?

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Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 3rd 2008 at 11:00AM
Not like we weren’t totally expecting this or anything, but Canonical has chosen Computex as the expo where it will officially showcase Ubuntu Netbook Remix. Hailed as a “reworked desktop image of Ubuntu built specifically for a new category of portable internet-centric devices,” the operating system will probably not be too foreign for those familiar with the standard Ubuntu Desktop Edition. We are told that this flavor will feature a launcher that enables users to “get online more quickly and have faster access to their favorite applications,” and that it “leverages Moblin technologies optimized for the Intel Atom processor.” Unfortunately, devices pre-loaded with UNR aren’t apt to ship until “later in 2008,” though OEMs interested in getting in while there is still room on the bandwagon are encouraged to hit up Canonical. Full release waiting after the jump.

Gallery: Canonical makes Ubuntu Netbook Remix official at Computex

Canonical Showcases Ubuntu® Netbook Remix at Computex

Canonical Now Delivers for OEMs a Rapid Route to Market For Netbooks Powered by an Intel® Atom™ Processor

Computex, Taiwan June 3, 2008: Canonical, the commercial sponsor of Ubuntu®, today announced that it will be demonstrating a reworked desktop image of Ubuntu built specifically for a new category of portable Internet-centric devices – netbooks. These affordable, power-efficient, small screen devices, based on the ground breaking low-power micro-architecture of the Intel® Atom™ processor, and Ubuntu allow consumers to enjoy email, instant messaging, Internet surfing and on-line access to photos, videos or music with an affordable, reliable device.

Ubuntu Netbook Remix is built to provide a superb user experience leveraging Ubuntu’s reputation for delivering operating systems that ‘just work’ in the desktop environment. The remix is based on the standard Ubuntu Desktop Edition but with a launcher that allows users to get on-line more quickly and have faster access to their favourite applications. Ubuntu Netbook Remix will enable device manufacturers to get to market rapidly with a compelling software solution on netbooks, as they have a standard user interface (UI) that is built on a widely used operating system underpinned by a globally recognised brand. Canonical is also working with ISVs to ensure that popular desktop applications are certified on Ubuntu, and will run on the Ubuntu Netbook Remix.

Canonical is already working with a number of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to deliver the software into the market on devices later in 2008. Demonstration versions will be available at Computex.

Ubuntu Netbook Remix leverages Moblin technologies optimized for the Intel Atom processor. Intel and Canonical are working to create a next generation computing experience across a new category of affordable Internet-centric, portable devices; including Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), netbooks, nettops and embedded devices based on Intel Atom processor technology. Canonical is a founding contributor to Moblin and will continue to work with Intel to ensure the best open source applications become available to users and OEMs through Moblin.

“Our goal is to deliver a superb user experience while making it simple and cost-effective for device manufacturers to be able to bring their devices to the consumer marketplace,” explained Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Ubuntu. “Ubuntu has in a very short period transformed the perception of the Linux desktop experience. Many more people will experience Linux for the first time through these devices so working with Canonical, using our UI and leveraging software from the Moblin project is the best way to ensure the netbook experience is a success.”

“At Intel, we see netbooks as an opportunity to expand basic Internet usage throughout the world through simple and affordable devices for consumers,” said Doug Fisher, vice president, Software and Solutions Group for Intel. “The combination of Ubuntu Netbook Remix with Moblin technologies optimized for the Intel Atom processor will deliver a good Internet and media experience on Intel-based netbooks.”

Availability: OEMs looking to ship Ubuntu Netbook Remix should contact netbooks@canonical.com.

About Canonical Ltd
Canonical Ltd, the commercial sponsor of Ubuntu, is a global organisation headquartered in Europe, committed to the development, distribution and support of open source software products and communities. World-class 24×7 commercial support for Ubuntu is available through Canonical’s global support team and partners. Since its launch in October 2004, Ubuntu has become one of the most highly regarded Linux distributions with millions of users around the world.

Ubuntu will always be free to download, free to use and free to distribute to others. With these goals in mind, Ubuntu aims to be the most widely used Linux system, and is the centre of a global open source software ecosystem. For more information visit www.canonical.com or www.ubuntu.com.

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Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

by Donald Melanson, posted Jun 3rd 2008 at 4:14PM It’s not quite shooting for the world’s smallest title, but Foxconn’s new PD-S2900 DLP projector will certainly turn quite a few heads nonetheless, with it boasting a form factor of just 4 x 3.6 x 1.4 inches and a weight just under a pound. That’ll still give you an SVGA resolution though, along with a whopping 55 lumens of brightness and an apparently decently-sized image from a few feet away. No word on a price just yet, but you can look for this one to hit Taiwan sometime in the third quarter of this year.

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Filed under: Displays

Here’s some great news for all of you “Paranoid Androids” out there who might or might not be afflicted with “The Bends”. It seems that Radiohead and Apple have finally reached an agreement on the band’s entire catalog. An agreement that has unleashed the entirety of the Radiohead album collection for purchase through the iTunes Music Store.

The release of the Radiohead catalog through iTunes is done in correlation with the release of the band’s new greatest hits compilation, The Best Of Radiohead, which was released today. Although hardcore fans are panning the new album as an injustice to Radiohead’s album-styled music, we’re waiting to see the albums fly up the charts.

Each album is also available for purchase with iTunes’ Plus service, which allows users to download tracks DRM-free. This is not too big of a surprise since the band’s newest album was sold online with a “name-your-own-price” promotion and the tracks were completely DRM-free independently.

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With consumer’s growing interests in the so called ultra-low cost PC (ULPC) market, it seems only logical for data storage companies to take advantage of the situation and come up with something that is very essential for most ULPCs available on the market today. We’re talking about solid state drives (SSD), and SanDisk has come up with its 16GB pSSD to add to its line-up of flash-memory based SSD’s.

In addition to the 16GB model, SanDisk’s new pSSD is also available with 4 and 8GB capacities. Regardless of which model you get, the SanDisk pSSDs all boast a 39mbps read speed and 17mbps write speed. The SanDisk pSSD’s were built using multi-level Cell and Single-Level Cell flash memory.

If you’re wondering about the pSSD’s other features, we are glad to inform you that the pSSD are packed inside a memory device which is 1/10 of the weight of a 1.8-inch HDD. The pSSD is also rugged, reliable and fast, is also utilizes a standard low power interface and form factor. These new pSSD’s from SanDisk should definitely help boost the popularity of future ULPC’s.

Via [Electronista]

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