Intel's 34nm X25-M runs like a thoroughbred SSD, costs less

It was only two days ago that they finally became official, but already we've got a couple of reviews springing up to tell us all about the second generation X25-M SSDs from Intel. PC Perspective kick things off with a full examination of the new drive, finding plenty of good (improved random reads and writes), some bad (minor fragmentation issues under extreme use scenarios) and pretty much no ugly. Not to be outdone, Anandtech have dissected the drive and compared its innards with the older generation hardware, while also running a few benchmarks for good measure. The conclusion in both camps is that while Intel has improved the hardware side of things, it is the drastically reduced price that makes the X25-M G2 the best choice in the consumer SSD space. Navigate past the break for a pricing chart, but remember that retail cost will be a bit steeper, should you be able to snag one in the wild.

Read - PC Perspective review
Read - Anandtech preview

Continue reading Intel's 34nm X25-M runs like a thoroughbred SSD, costs less

Filed under: Storage

Intel's 34nm X25-M runs like a thoroughbred SSD, costs less originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NEC VersaPro VS-7 netbook manhandled, makes one reviewer positively giddy

You know that new ultra-light, ultra-thin, and ultra-portable laptop from NEC you got an eyeful of way back in May? Of course you do. You've been obsessing, actually -- and frankly, we've been worried about you. Still, we'd be remiss in our duties if we didn't turn you on to this mini-review that Akihabara News scored of the VersaPro VS-7. And we must say, the kudos are flowing pretty freely over there: "freaking light," (that's right: freaking), "slim and robust." The reviewer is simply "amazed" at the netbook's performance. Even in full screen mode HD video plays "just fine," and 720p DivX video playback is characterized as "flawless." But that ain't all -- hit the read link for the full, unexpurgated tale. But not before peeping the video after the break.

Continue reading NEC VersaPro VS-7 netbook manhandled, makes one reviewer positively giddy

Filed under: Laptops

NEC VersaPro VS-7 netbook manhandled, makes one reviewer positively giddy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles

MIT's electric vehicle prototype may be a long way off from being completed, but if we let that stop us from discussing EVs, we might never talk about them. The headline ambition of this project is a full recharge within 10 minutes, which would eliminate somewhere between four and ten hours of waiting. Speedwise, the Electric Vehicle Team is aiming for a 100 mph top speed from a 250-horsepower / 187 kilowatt AC induction motor, and a not unheard of 200-mile cruising range. To achieve their rapid juicing ambition, the students will strap 7,905 lithium iron-phosphate cell batteries from A123Systems to a gutted 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid body. The batteries' low internal resistance is what makes things possible, but further hurdles, such as finding a sufficiently powerful energy source, would have to be overcome before any sort of widespread use may occur. Video after the break.

[Via PC World]

Continue reading Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles

Filed under: Transportation

Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viliv X70 EX Premium 3G on sale now in Hong Kong

The folks behind the Viliv brand of consumer electronics don't ever stop swinging, it seems. They hit us with the beloved X70, the keyboard-sportin' S7, and before we have a chance to blink they're back in the ring with the X70 EX Premium. Currently on sale in Hong Kong, this bad boy features optional 3G (in which case you should ask for the X70 EX Premium 3G) and sports a 1.3GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor, 1GB RAM, a 32GB SSD, and an SDHC slot for extra storage. As you've probably guessed, the display is your standard 7-inch with 1024 x 600 resolution. Throw in Windows XP, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, and a GPS, and this guy is yours for $6,898 in Hong Kong bucks (roughly $890 US). No word yet on a Stateside release.

[Via Gadget Mix]

Filed under: Handhelds

Viliv X70 EX Premium 3G on sale now in Hong Kong originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AspireRevo rebranded as the Atom 330-based Gateway QX2800

Looks like the kids in Taiwan will be able to take everyone's favorite Ion-based nettop for a spin sometime soon. Except, instead of being known as the Acer AspireRevo, its been rebranded as a Gateway QX2800. Actually, that isn't the only difference -- the CPU on this new guy has been upgraded to an Atom 330 dual core, and storage is now 500GB. But besides that, its the same kid: NVIDIA Ion 9400M graphics chipset, 4-in-1 card reader, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, HDMI output, and six USB 2.0 ports. According to PCADV, the dual core processor could give this machine a 40% performance increase over the AspireRevo. To ship with Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 at some vague point in the not too distant future.

[Via iTech News Net]

AspireRevo rebranded as the Atom 330-based Gateway QX2800 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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