Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Limited Edition Review

The second generation of Samsung's Galaxy Tab has been longer in the making than the company anticipated. Reportedly, after the launch of Apple's iPad 2, Samsung felt that the planned (and already shown-off) Tab 10.1 was "inadequate." Now they've revamped the Tab's design to make it thinner, lighter, and more of a direct contender to the iPad, not to mention every other Honeycomb tablets on the market. However, design alone does not a great tablet make. Read on to see how the Tab 10.1 stacks up against Apple's tablet and the rest of the Android field.

Editors' Note: The Galaxy Tab we tested was a special limited edition given to attendees of Google's I/O conference. The general consumer version will have a different back, slightly different hardware, and will come with Samsung's TouchWiz interface and an updated versions of Samsung Apps. When that version is available, we'll post another full review.

1,000 laptops given out to students from 10 secondary schools1,000 laptops given out to students from 10 secondary schools

TAWAU: About 1,000 students from ten secondary schools in the Kalabakan parliamentary constituency each received One Malaysia Computer (laptop) yesterday morning.

Kalabakan member of Parliament Datuk Seri Panglima Hj Abdul Ghapur Bin Hj Salleh officiated at the computer distribution ceremony at Umno Kalabakan Building, Jalan Dunlop here.

Ghapur said computer is a tool to gain knowledge from the Internet.

He believes that with the laptop the students could achieve excellent academic results.

“I urge all the students to be careful with what they are searching in the Internet or using Facebook which they should not abuse.

“The government is responsible in providing various facilities for the people either in the urban or rural areas. Whatever facilities that can be enjoyed by the people in towns can could be enjoyed by the the rural folk,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Sabah/Labuan Federation deputy director Juslly Elis also disclosed that the government had distributed 1.2 million computers to the people and 14 per cent of them were in Sabah.

This means 175,000 computers have been distributed to Sabahans via three phrases. For the first phrase last year, Juslly said 10,000 computers were distributed to schools in Sabah while 49,832 computers were distributed under the second phrase this year and 112,500 computers will be distributed this coming July under the third phrase.

For the third phase, 52,000 computers will be distributed to secondary school students in Sabah and another 60,000 computers will be distributed to the public.

“I hope the students could gain knowledge in cyberspace as it tends to bring positive impact in developing more IT literacy and improving their studies. Therefore, I urge the students to use the computers properly by searching utility information without misusing it such as selling it or searching immoral information,” he said. — Bernama

Juslly also urged the parents to monitor their children from time to time and ensure that they are using the computers for their own benefit.

Tawau Municipal Council president Ismail Mayakob was also present.

Air beware: 2.3-pound Samsung laptop hits stores

Samsung's aluminum-clad, 11.6-inch ultraportable is shipping from retail stores in the U.S., the second Series 9 laptop that takes precise aim at Apple's MacBook Air line.

Samsung seems to be on a mission to--let's put this carefully--emulate Apple. First Samsung came out with the 13.3-inch Series 9. Like the 13.3-inch MacBook Air, it is carved out of aluminum, is super thin at 0.64 inches (the MacBook Air is 0.68 inches at its thickest point), weighs just less than 3 pounds (2.88 pounds) and has a great display (with 400 nit brightness).

Now, Samsung has come out with a likeness of the 11.6-inch MacBook Air. And just like the the Air, it is 2.3 pounds. Hmm...I'm beginning to see a pattern here.

The 11.6-inch Series 9 is now listed as "in stock" at stores like Amazon. Previously, it had been listed as pre-order only.

there are some important departures from the Apple template. First, the Series 9 uses Intel Core i series processors, not the older Core 2 Duo Intel chips in the MBAs. Second, it has a USB 3.0 port (the Air only has USB 2.0, no Thunderbolt ports--yet). Third, it packs 4G WiMax capability (Air has Wi-Fi only).

A few Samsung Series 9 11.6-inch highlights:

• Weight/height: 2.3 pounds, 0.65 inches
  
• Materials: "arching duralumin" enclosure
  
• Processor: Intel Core i3-380UM, ultra-power-efficient Core i chip
  
• Storage: 64GB solid-state drive
  
• Memory: 2GB
  
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0; WiMax 4G
  
• Ports: USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, MicroSD
  
• Battery life: specified at 7 hours
  
• Software: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
  
• Price: $1,199 (though this list price is discounted at Amazon)
  

That's a pretty impressive spec sheet. Not only matching Apple on design but besting it on hardware in some areas.

Not everything comes up roses, though. The $1,199 11.6-inch MacBook Air packs a 128GB solid-state drive, twice that of the Samsung. And despite the high-end design, Samsung still must contend with the formidable Apple brand.

DOE bids out laptops

Guam Department of Education has invited businesses to bid for a contract to provide "an indefinite quantity" of laptops and mobile computer labs for Guam schools.

The department is looking to acquire 1,700 laptops for teachers, as well as laptops for mobile computer labs in more than a dozen schools, said Vincent Dela Cruz, data processing manager for the Department of Education.

The mobile computer labs, which will each have about 30 computers, will only be set up in 12 to 13 schools with adequate security measures.

The move seems to contradict an earlier announcement, made in April by Vince Leon Guerrero, the Calvo administration's education liaison, that laptops wouldn't be purchased for schools for at least another two years, citing security measures.

Security

A recent spate of school vandalism and burglaries has hit various public schools, some of which have been hit multiple times, including Astumbo Middle School, C.L.Taitano Elementary School and George Washington High School.

M.U. Lujan Elementary School in Yona has been hit 19 times in the past year, and sustained at least $10,000 worth of property damage. Items taken from the school included laptops, a public announcement system, a projector, cameras and camcorders, according to the Pacific Daily News files.

About $25 million in State Fiscal Stabilization Funding, which aims to support, modernize and renovate public schools, would've been available to Guam schools for technology upgrades.

The upgrades would have included the installation of about five computers in each middle and high school class, the purchase of mobile laptop carts that can be wheeled from one elementary class to another, and the purchase of laptops for most students in middle and high schools, according to the Pacific Daily News files.

But a federal funds monitor expressed concerns in investing in the computers, citing security issues, and a third-party fiduciary agent, which oversees federal funds given to Guam DOE, said it would not allow the purchases until schools prove they have security measures in place.

Laptops

Although schools with security measures such as vaults, windowless rooms with hardened walls, doors made out of metal or with security locks, are slated to receive laptops, Dela Cruz declined to say how much of the federal funding would be used on the technology upgrades.

The department hopes to acquire the computers before the start of school in August.

He said the computers are needed for teachers so they can implement an electronic student management system, which takes attendance and manages student demographics, discipline records and other student information.

"We'd like to be able to provide teachers with tools to be able to enhance teaching and learning," said Dela Cruz.

Currently not all teachers have computers, although some schools provide access to computers at a centralized location in the school, said Dela Cruz.

A survey given to school system employees in 2008 revealed that 40 percent of classrooms and offices don't have computers. Of those classrooms that did have computers, 44 percent didn't have Internet access, according to Pacific Daily News files.

Dela Cruz said maintenance and technical support for the new computers would be included in the contract with the vendor providing the computers. The technical support agreement would last three years. The intent is to have technology upgrades every three to five years, said Dela Cruz.

Buying guide: A laptop for the busy exec

Prashant Bharadwaj is a senior executive with a multinational with an itinerary that could include two to three different cities in a single day. Needless to say, he spends a considerable amount of his time collecting air miles, and even visas on his passport.

His days are defined by high-profile meetings, presentations, analysis reports and an insane amount of electronic communication, whether in the form of emails or video conferences.

When he gets the time, he unwinds with Pink Floyd, Clapton and Alan Parsons. And he is a big fan of old black and white movies, Scorsese, Guy Ritchie and Tarantino.

Given the nature of his work and his basic entertainment needs, the 37-year-old needs a laptop that is powerful enough to get the job done, is sturdy — yet lightweight — and has looks that adds to his aura of a power player, especially when he's out and about meeting international counterparts.

What Prashant needs

A mid-range processor: Prashant often multitasks with several programs open at the same time. He also needs to make sure that his laptop doesn't stutter and choke when he is crunching figures on an obscenely large Excel worksheet, or accessing his company's myriad databases from its extranet.

Almost any modern processor can handle this kind of workload. But just to be on the safe side, it is advised that he picks a laptop that has (at least) the Core i3-2310M processor. This number cruncher belongs to the latest range of Intel chips called Sandy Bridge that are a perfect foil for modern workloads. All Sandy Bridge processors are numbered with a prefix of i3, i5 or i7 followed by four digits starting with 2xxx.

RAM: More RAM means better multitasking, whether its spreadsheet calculation or watching HD movies. While 2GB may prove sufficient for Prashant, it is better if he picks a laptop with at least 3GB RAM.

Hard disk: Prashant will mostly store office documents on his laptop. They don't take much space and any laptop with over 160GB will be fine for his needs. A notebook with a solid state drive (Flash-based memory) is not a necessity – but if it exists, it can significantly improve boot or application launch time, helping him work more efficiently. Of course, if he wants to store movies and music on his laptop, a 320GB drive would be advisable.

Lightweight: Weight is the most important factor for the travelling exec. He needs a device that's light to carry about. This limit means that Prashant will have to buy a laptop that has a screen size of not more than 14 inches. Bigger screens mean more weight. He should also avoid a laptop with very small screen, because that could hamper his productivity (and his movie experience). Ideally, the business notebook he picks up should have a screen size of at least 13.3 inches, and weigh-in at around 2kgs.

Sturdy and stylish chassis: Prashant will use his laptop outdoors a lot. Besides, he will also need to maneuver it about quite a bit at airports, what with the security checks and all. His laptop will therefore require a sturdy chassis. Ideally, Prashant should look for laptops with an aluminum or magnesium alloy chassis. They are not only more durable than those made of plastic, but also look stylish. Features such as a shockresistant hard drive or a spill-resistant keyboard will help.

Battery life: A travelling executive needs a laptop with dependable battery life. Ideally, notebooks give between five to six hours on a single charge. Prashant should consider upgrading to a nine-cell battery (if the standard issue is 6 cell), or an extra battery pack for his travel needs.

Special features : Since the executive will constantly be dealing with data that is sensitive and crucial to his company, he should consider a laptop that has added security features such as a fingerprint reader and options to encrypt data. On the operating system front, he should settle for Windows 7 Professional edition.

How much will it all cost: Good business laptops don't come cheap. Yet, if Prashant is looking for a budget purchase, he could consider something like the Dell Vostro 3350 that costs somewhere around Rs 38,000. If cost is not a factor, he could consider Lenovo's robust ThinkPad series, or perhaps the MacBook Pro 13.3" or Dell Latitude E6420 that cost around Rs 70,000. If he can spend over Rs 1,00,000, he can even consider laptops like those belonging to the Samsung 9 Series.

The Cranko MP3 player twists our panties in a knot

You know what kids in developing nations need besides water, vaccines, and schools? MP3 players... and laptops, lots of laptops. Meet the Cranko, at least that's what we're calling it since Thanko's "Cranking MP3 Player" bores us to the point of Wal-marting razor blades. The 1GB capacity player from Thanko features a flashlight and 10 minute charge per minute of cranking. You know, just in case your spelunking adventures take you too far away from a USB port. Yours now for ¥6,000 or about $60.

Via- [http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/27/the-cranko-mp3-player-twists-our-panties-in-a-knot/]

Eee PC Revisions: Intel Processors, Windows XP, Bigger SSDs and More...

Joanna over at Laptop Mag just published an interview she held with Jerry Shen, Asus' CEO. She questioned him regarding the future of the Eee PC, and he sure did outline some interesting plans for future revisions. Jump for the low down on what Jerry Shen had to say.

• Although we already knew the 8.9-inch model was confirmed to be coming to market, the souped up edition will also come with 8GB, 12GB or 20GB SSD options. The 8GB model will run Windows XP, whilst the other two will support Xandros. Whether the OS will be fixed to those particular models only is not entirely clear.

• Asus will move away from the VIA processors, instead adopting Intel's Atom platform in Q2, this year.

• Additional colors will be added to the current selection. However, those will not be the only cosmetic changes; Shen promised a "very stylish" makeover, which will have a "New York city sleekness" about it. He coined May or June as dates for the newer, potentially sexier Eee PC.

Shen speculated that Asus were playing with the idea of offering HDD versions of the Eee PC, too. Unfortunately, he did not go so far as to confirm any plans on that front. Nevertheless, it all sounds very promising—1024 x 600 resolution, bigger SSDs, Intel Atom and a face job.

Via- [http://gizmodo.com/365670/eee-pc-getting-major-revisions-intel-processors-windows-xp-bigger-ssds-and-more]

Notebook Sales Get a Boost from Retailers

Hewlett-Packard and Acer have drawn on a strong retail presence to post growing market share of PC shipments, analysts said.

The trend is dovetailing with the interests of retailers because notebooks deliver a better profit margin and take up less shelf space than desktops, said John Jacobs, director of notebook research at DisplaySearch. The falling prices of notebooks are also attracting buyers. A notebook with plenty of storage, graphics and performance can be bought for US$999, and prices continue to fall, Jacobs said.

Until a few years ago, 70% to 80% of the laptops shipped were to enterprises, but now it's equally split between enterprises and consumers, Jacobs said. That has raised the importance of retail stores to computer makers, redefining the distribution strategy of companies like HP, Acer and Dell, Jacobs said.

HP outpaced Acer and Dell in notebooks shipped in the fourth quarter of 2007, according to research from DisplaySearch released on Wednesday. HP shipped 6.6 million notebooks, growing 42% from the previous year and representing a 20.1% market share. Acer overtook Dell for second place, shipping 5.25 million units, growing 32% with a 15.9% market share. Dell shipped 4.64 million units, growing 32%, with a 14% market share. In the fourth spot was Toshiba, followed by Lenovo, Fujitsu-Siemens, Sony and Asus. Apple was ninth, shipping 1.34 million units, growing 38% over the previous year.

Overall, notebook shipments totaled 33 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, growing 41%.

Acer used a strong retail and channel presence in Europe and Asia to increase its notebook shipments and overtake Dell, Jacobs said. Acer recently acquired Packard Bell and Gateway to expand its presence in Europe and North America. Dell has, to a degree, neglected its retail strategy by placing far more focus on enterprises, Jacobs said. However, Dell is signing more retailers and placing products on more shelves, which could boost the company's notebook shipments.

During a recent conference call, Dell CEO Michael Dell said that notebooks are outselling desktops six to one, and that the company's PC sales are getting a boost from the retail strategy it introduced last year. Dell is now selling PCs in about 10,000 retail stores worldwide. Most of Dell's retail sales have been in the U.S., though the company's agreements with European retailers are starting to take effect, Dell said. The company signed up European retailers including Carrefour and Tesco to sell PCs.

Dell's retail strategy took off in the fourth quarter of 2007 and will expand this year, said David Daoud, research manager at IDC. HP sold 2.67 million PC units in the U.S. through retail in the fourth quarter of 2007, much larger compared to Dell, which sold 225,000 PCs. Dell is witnessing an uptick with every quarter, and its growing retail presence could bite into HP's numbers this year, Daoud said.

Dell rules online notebook sales, but the strength of HP and Acer in stores pushed them ahead of Dell in market share, Daoud said. Consumers tend to research online but are increasingly going to retail outlets to buy notebooks.

Retailers prefer notebook PCs because of better margins, DisplaySearch's Jacobs said. Retailers are also finding better margins in selling notebook accessories, such as backpacks, and components, such as extra memory, Jacobs said.

Moreover, the days of users blindly buying notebooks online have slowed -- buyers need to touch, feel and customize a notebook to their liking before buying it. "It's critical to have that look-and-feel, that touch presence. At the end of the day, the physical experience is very important," Jacobs said.

Desktops are more about configuration -- the processor, memory and graphics card -- than notebooks, which have more style, IDC's Daoud said. People want mobile products that represent them, and notebooks fit that profile, Daoud said. PC makers have been slow at paying attention to style and customization of laptops, which could be a potential growth area, he said.

Offering notebooks also brings more customers into retail outlets such as Best Buy and Staples, which have better exposure by offering more brands, Daoud said.

Via- [http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,143243-c,notebooks/article.html]

Killdeadpixel- Fix Stuck Pixels on Your Monitor

Fix stuck pixels on your LCD monitor with web site Killdeadpixel. Like previously mentioned JScreenFix, Killdeadpixel unsticks pixels by displaying a quickly changing, high-contrast graphic over the pixel—but Killdeadpixel does it with a neat little draggable graphic, so you can just place the unobtrusive graphic over your stuck pixel and let it do its work.

Despite the site's name (which is a misnomer), a stuck pixel is normally stuck showing red, green, blue, or a combination of those colors, and that is what this site can help with. A dead pixel, on the other hand, will display only black. Luckily dead pixels can be fixed with another method.

Source- http://lifehacker.com/357117/fix-stuck-pixels-on-your-monitor-with-killdeadpixel

Intel's Amazing Laptop Spiral

What better way to show off your company's processors than by creating a laptop spiral -- at Intel's CES booth in this case.

Yes, you'll even spot a Packard Bell somewhere in there.

Source- http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/ces-2008-intel-s-amazing-laptop-spiral-video-

Lenovo launches IdeaPad- Laptop and desktop lines

Lenovo's Think brand (ThinkPad, ThinkStation) has gotten the company far, but it was clear those boring numbers (3000, 2000) just weren't cutting the mustard. Say hello to Lenovo's new global portable and desktop computing brands: IdeaPad and IdeaStation, respectively. While details on the IdeaStation desktop lineup are still pretty sparse, the laptop lineup has three machines running the gamut of sizes -- the Y710 (17-inch gaming rig), Y510 (15-inch workhorse), and U110 (11-inch ultraportable) -- all featuring VeriFace (facial recognition software), media keys, textured lids, and flush bezels, and available in April. Too bad none have WWAN -- that really would have made our day. Check out the specs:

Y710

* 17-inch WXGA (1440 x 900) CCFL VibrantView display
* Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 (2.5GHz)
* ATI Mobility Radeon HD2600, 256MB
* Up to 4GB RAM, up to 500GB in drives
* Game Zone keyboard lighting, and auxiliary display with resource usage and performance controls
* Blu-ray reader with dual-layer CD / DVD burner
* 802.11a/b/g/n (but no Bluetooth, apparently)
* HDMI, VGA, S-Vodeo
* (4) USB 2.0, ExpressCard, 1394, media reader
* 1.3 megapixel camera
* Dolby Home Theater sound: four speakers + subwoofer
* 15.6 x 11.2 x 1-1.5-inches, 7.9 pounds
* Starts at $1,200.
U110 (the rest of the specs are still pending)

* 11-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) CCFL display
* 0.7-inches thick, 2.3-pounds
Y510

* 15.4-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) CCFL VibrantView display
* Intel Core 2 Duo T5550 (1.83GHz)
* Intel GMA X3100 graphics (up to 256MB)
* Up to 4GB RAM, up to 250GB drive
* Dual-layer CD / DVD burner
* 802.11a/b/g/n (but no Bluetooth, apparently)
* VGA, S-Vodeo
* (3) USB 2.0, ExpressCard, 1394, media reader
* 1.3 megapixel camera
* Dolby Home Theater sound: four speakers + subwoofer
* 14.3 x 10.2 x 1.1-1.4-inches, 6.4 pounds
* Starts at $800.

Source- http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/03/lenovo-launches-ideapad-ideastation-laptop-and-desktop-lines/

USB Credit Card: Making it even easier to spend money

As if we needed another way to make spending money even easier, Shinhan Card has unveiled a new USB Credit Card that will work both in-stores and online. The credit card will be a contactless card in store allowing you to just swipe it over the payment system and for online purchases you can just put the card into the USB drive to have it automatically enter the card details. The new USB card will not be available, at least yet, in the US and sadly the USB credit card is just that, there is not any user storage on the device.

Source- http://www.gadgetell.com/tech/comment/usb-credit-card-making-it-even-easier-to-spend-money/

HP, Acer Beat Up on Dell in PC Sales

Hewlett-Packard grew its lead, while Acer snagged second place in laptops in the third quarter.

Hewlett-Packard expanded its PC market share lead over Dell, and Acer snatched the number two ranking in laptops away from its beleaguered rival during the third quarter, market researcher iSuppli said last week.

HP's market share rose to 19.2% as it widened its lead over second place Dell, which held a 14.6% share, iSuppli reported in preliminary figures. It's a remarkable difference from the same time last year, when HP first captured the top spot from Dell with a 16.5% market share, versus 16.3%.

Dell has suffered from a host of troubles over the past two years, including financial restatements and leadership changes. But its main problem has been a failure to grow as fast as rivals despite strong global PC market growth. The company's quarterly earnings conference last week highlighted this issue. Despite strong revenue growth, rising costs cut into profits and the company warned that future earnings could be hurt by cautious PC buying among financial customers.

Dell's stock fell 9.9%, or US$2.78 to $25.36 in after-market stock trading Thursday after the report.

Rivals have taken advantage of its troubles.

HP has surged under new leadership from CEO Mark Hurd. The company's third quarter PC shipments grew 32.7% compared to last year to 13.1 million units, iSuppli said. Dell's increased just 1.5% to 9.9 million.

Acer added to Dell's woes in the quarter, snatching away the second place global ranking in laptop PCs on strong shipment growth. The Taiwanese company gauged the strongest growth among all top PC vendors in the third quarter, up 68.8% year-on-year, mainly due to strong notebook PC sales.

The market for notebook PCs is growing far faster than desktops, and offers far better profit margins for companies. Laptop shipments grew 33.5% year-over-year in the third quarter, while desktop PC shipments grew just 3.4%, iSuppli said.

Acer captured a 7.9% share of the global PC market in the third quarter, but the results did not include Gateway, which Acer recently obtained. Gateway figures will be included in fourth-quarter figures, iSuppli said. The addition of the U.S. Company’s sales will narrow the gap between Acer and Dell in global rankings.

Notebook shipments should continue to boost Acer. Goldman Sachs Wednesday revised its target for global laptop shipments up to 11% quarter-on-quarter growth in the fourth quarter, compared to a previous forecast of 9%. The investment banking firm also sees the potential for the best laptop shipment performance in six-years in the first quarter of next year.

iSuppli predicts worldwide PC shipments will grow 12% year-over-year in 2007.

The global PC market grew 13.8% year-on-year in the third quarter as companies shipped 68.1 million PCs, iSuppli said. Chinese PC vendor Lenovo retained its third place global ranking in the PC market in the third quarter with an 8.1% share, while Acer took fourth and Toshiba placed fifth at 4.3%.

Source- http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,140188-c,researchreports/article.html

Acer - Ferrari 5000 Notebook

This Acer laptop is made with AMD Turion Mobile Technology. This Official Licensed Product comes with:-

• a 160GB hard drive
• 2GB DDR2 667 SDRAM
• Intergrated Acer OrbiCam camera
• Bluetooth
• plus a 5-in-1 card reader.

Presently this gadget is going for $2,499. User comments are most welcome.

Source- http://www.loopygadgets.com/acer-ferrari-5000/

Guitar modded to integrate laptop with music visualizer

Old laptops are a geek modder's best friend: this particular example is one of the better mods we've seen to incorporate an old lappie, with a guy called Ben sticking his old machine behind the strings of an electric guitar. He then linked up the sound produced by the guitar to a visualizer in the laptop, allowing it to pump some psychedelic-looking sound waves out to onlookers. Beats the usual sticker decorations, dontchafink?

Source- http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/25/guitar-modded-to-integrate-laptop-with-music-visualizer/

Acer launches state-of-the-Art gaming laptop

Acer, the third largest vendor in the global PC market today launched the Aspire 7720G, a new gamers notebook series.


The Aspire 7720G comes with a new and powerful set of features designed to take overall system performance to unprecedented levels, and let you experience endless hours of games.

'Today's gamers demand the best, and the Aspire 7720G meets that demand,' said Mark Prosser, Product Marketing Manager, Mobility Products, Acer Computer (M.E) Ltd. 'Designed specifically to enhance the gaming experience of not just average users, but also of gaming enthusiasts who have come to expect only the best from Acer,' added Prosser.

'The Aspire 7720G will surprise gamers, we wanted to offer something extraordinary, incorporate many state-of-the-art technologies, the 7720G is a value-added product that will excite users,' added Prosser

To start with, the Aspire 7720G is equipped with Centrino 2 Duo processors and with the latest graphics engine: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 512 VRAM. This powerful graphics card, compatible with Microsoft Direct X10, manages a 17-inch screen with CrystalBrite technology. In addition, the Aspire 7720G can be specified with up to 4GB of dual-channel memory for non-stop multimedia power.

For a truly immersive gaming experience, Acer has equipped the Aspire 7720G with Dolby-certified Home Theater Virtual Surround Sound speakers and a subwoofer, to deliver an extraordinary audio-visual experience.
Multimedia-
Acer knows that gamers are also intensive multimedia users who build huge digital archives: for this reason the Aspire 7720 can be equipped with up to 500GB of hard disk space (2 hard disk drives of up to 2 x 250GB ). For the optical drive, users can choose between the excellent DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive and an HD-DVD drive . In addition, for easy and speedy data transfer, the Aspire 7720G sports a comfortable 5-in-1 card reader that supports the most common memory card formats.

The Aspire 7720G comes with integrated Acer Arcade, a DLNA compliant intuitive multimedia suite that greatly improves usability for enhanced TV and entertainment.

All multimedia functions can be controlled via the six touch-sensitive Media keys positioned to the right of the keyboard that offer convenient, one-button control over all your multimedia entertainment and instant access to the Aspire Arcade multimedia suite.

Videoconference-
If you need to add voice and video to your communication, Acer has equipped the Aspire 7720G series with Acer Videoconference, a solution that supports VVoIP (Voice and Video over IP) and includes Acer CrystalEye, a webcam integrated into the top of the LCD display frame, Acer VisageON face-tracking technology and Acer PrimaLite technology - in addition to the optional Acer Bluetooth VoIP phone that automatically recharges itself directly from the ExpressCard slot. This handy device can also be used as a normal phone connected to the Notebook through optional Bluetooth connections. Used in combination with the integrated camera, the VoIP phone guarantees real-time videoconferencing and effortless broadcasting.

To stay connected everywhere, the Aspire 7720G comes complete with full wired and wireless connectivity options: WLAN with Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN IEEE 802.11 a/g/n that delivers wireless speeds of up to 5 times faster than the current ABG standard and LAN connection with Gigabit Ethernet cards. Highest antenna performance is guaranteed by Acer SignalUp Technology that ensures the very best signal quality.

All notebook functions can be efficiently managed with Acer's Empowering technology, an intuitive interface that gives users easy control over their notebook's security, performance, settings and communication with a single touch of the Empowering Key.

The Aspire 7720G series comes with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium or Home Basic preinstalled. Additional installed software includes Microsoft Works 8.5 w/Office Home and Student 2007 Trial, Acer Empowering Technology, Acer GridVista, Acer Arcade and Arcade Deluxe, Adobe Reader, Norton Internet Security and CyberLink Power DVD and Power Producer, and a lot more.

All Acer notebooks come with a standard 1-year Carry In warranty, which can be extended to 3 years' cover with the Acer Advantage service that also covers accidental damage to the notebook, plus (ITW) International traveller's warranty.

Source- http://www.ameinfo.com/139117.html