Dell today upgraded its flagship XPS notebook with Intel's Core Duo chip and a new 512 MB Nvidia graphics processor. A special edition "Formula Red" device offers virtually any performance component money can buy today.
Following its (sold out) $10,000 Renegade desktop PC, Dell today replaced its XPS M170 gaming notebook with the improved M1710 version. A slightly revised case design as well as a newer generation of hardware components improves the notebook's performance "up to 35%" if compared to the predecessor, Dell said.
Specs & Features
Dual-core processors now come standard in the high-end XPS series, while the single-core Pentium M remains the only option in the multimedia-focused XPS M140 notebook. The new M1710 also offers a choice of upgraded graphics processors, either a 256 MB Go 7900 GS or a 512 MB Go 7900 GTX chip. Just in case you wondered, the graphics system is not (yet) offered as dual-graphics SLI solution.
Other hardware components include up to 100 GB hard drive space, up to 2 GB of system memory and a 17" W-UXGA (1920x1200 pixel) screen. According to Dell, the device can be equipped with up to 120 GB hard drive space and up to 4 GB of memory; however, these options are currently not offered through the online ordering form currently online.
In an effort to appeal to more gamers, the company offers two different case designs. Besides the regular black design, the Dell offers a more aggressive "Formula Red" version. Both versions include an adjustable 16-color illumination of the touchpad.
Launch & Price
Pricing starts at about $2600 for the base model in metallic black; the Formula Red versions starts at around $3400 and tops out at about $4400. If ordered now, the XPS M1710 is estimated to ship in the second week of May.
Following its (sold out) $10,000 Renegade desktop PC, Dell today replaced its XPS M170 gaming notebook with the improved M1710 version. A slightly revised case design as well as a newer generation of hardware components improves the notebook's performance "up to 35%" if compared to the predecessor, Dell said.
Specs & Features
Dual-core processors now come standard in the high-end XPS series, while the single-core Pentium M remains the only option in the multimedia-focused XPS M140 notebook. The new M1710 also offers a choice of upgraded graphics processors, either a 256 MB Go 7900 GS or a 512 MB Go 7900 GTX chip. Just in case you wondered, the graphics system is not (yet) offered as dual-graphics SLI solution.
Other hardware components include up to 100 GB hard drive space, up to 2 GB of system memory and a 17" W-UXGA (1920x1200 pixel) screen. According to Dell, the device can be equipped with up to 120 GB hard drive space and up to 4 GB of memory; however, these options are currently not offered through the online ordering form currently online.
In an effort to appeal to more gamers, the company offers two different case designs. Besides the regular black design, the Dell offers a more aggressive "Formula Red" version. Both versions include an adjustable 16-color illumination of the touchpad.
Launch & Price
Pricing starts at about $2600 for the base model in metallic black; the Formula Red versions starts at around $3400 and tops out at about $4400. If ordered now, the XPS M1710 is estimated to ship in the second week of May.
[break=Samsung lauds 'fastest, biggest' MMCmicro card]
Samsung lauds 'fastest, biggest' MMCmicro card
Samsung today claimed to have developed the "smallest, fastest and highest capacity" memory card for mobile phones, a 2GB MMCmicro device pitched as an alternative to the more commonplace MicroSD solid-state memory format.
Specs
MMCmicro cards measure 14 x 12 x 1.1mm. Samsung said it had squeezed four 4Gb NAND Flash chips into that space. The card can operate at 3.3V or 1.8V - for backward compatibility and battery-friendliness, respectively - and delivers read and write speeds of 7.4MBps and 7.1MBps respectively. MicroSD offers read and write speeds of 1.7MBps and 2MBps, Samsung said.
Of course, Samsung has yet to ship the 1GB MMCmicro it announced not so long ago. That product is due sometime this year, but Samsung declined to provide a timeframe for the 2GB card's availability in commercial quantities.
Samsung today claimed to have developed the "smallest, fastest and highest capacity" memory card for mobile phones, a 2GB MMCmicro device pitched as an alternative to the more commonplace MicroSD solid-state memory format.
Specs
MMCmicro cards measure 14 x 12 x 1.1mm. Samsung said it had squeezed four 4Gb NAND Flash chips into that space. The card can operate at 3.3V or 1.8V - for backward compatibility and battery-friendliness, respectively - and delivers read and write speeds of 7.4MBps and 7.1MBps respectively. MicroSD offers read and write speeds of 1.7MBps and 2MBps, Samsung said.
Of course, Samsung has yet to ship the 1GB MMCmicro it announced not so long ago. That product is due sometime this year, but Samsung declined to provide a timeframe for the 2GB card's availability in commercial quantities.