Dell Studio XPS 8000, 9000 Desktops

via Gizmodo by Danny Allen

The sleek multimedia PCs can be configured with Intel's new "Lynnfield" Core i5 and Core i7 processors. The 9000 takes-over from the Studio XPS 435 with new "performance graphics options", while the 8000 has a smaller, but similarly-styled case design.

The Studio XPS 8000 starts at $800, and that includes a 500GB hard disk, 4GB of DDR3-1066 RAM, and Intel's new Core i5-750 (2.66GHz) processor. That's not too shabby, and early Core i5-750 tests suggest its shaping up to provide some respectable bang for your buck. If that's not enough grunt for your games, the Core i7-860 (2.8GHz) and Core i7-870 (2.93GHz) CPUs will cost you an extra $170 or $380. RAM capacity goes up to 16GB, and you can also opt for up to 2TB of storage (RAID 0).

As you'd expect with mainstream gaming/multimedia themed PCs, Blu-ray is also an option for both PCs. The 9000 isn't up on Dell's site yet, but it's expected to start at about $900, and have slightly higher-end CPU and graphics options.

Fujitsu Esprimo Mini PC

via Gizmodo by Jack Loftus

Things you could do with the Fujitsu Esprimo Mini PC if you didn't really care all that much about the data contained inside: Play hockey, rest a cold drink on a warm day; balance a wobbly table.

You see, the Esprimo is tiny. Almost hockey puck tiny. Get it? But in that tight little form factor is a wealth of surprisingly robust features, like 4GB of memory and a 320GB hard drive for all your tiny file saving needs. Also inside is a Blu-ray optical drive and an accompanying HDMI port, which makes sense. The Core 2 Duo tops everything off.

One last caveat: All those features above are found in the "higher end" model, which is weird to type because the base model will cost a cool grand when it arrives in Germany in late September.

Medion X9613: A Multitouch PC that Longs to Be Your Home Theater

via Gizmodo by Mark Wilson

If you can handle its 24-inch screen, the Medion X9613 all-in-one certainly looks the part of a perfectly contained HTPC.

Loaded with Windows 7, the X9613 features a multitouch screen, Core 2 Quad Q9000 processor, Nvidia GT240M graphics, 4GB of RAM, Blu-ray drive and even a second Sideshow monitor (that box you see on the bottom, we believe). But it's the system's glossy, touch-button and fingerprint-friendly design that would make it an aesthetically welcome addition to one's typical array of home theater equipment.

Announced for Europe only at the moment, the X9613 is priced between $2,100 to $2,700 after conversion.

Maingear eX-L 18: The World's Fastest Laptop

via Gizmodo by Mark Wilson on 7/24/09

I don't know that anyone is going to double check Maingear's claims that their eX-L 18 laptop is the world's quickest. But if the glowing lower back tattoo is any indication, it's as "fast" as any Dell I've met.

The 18.4-inch laptop is powered by configurations including an Intel Core 2 Extreme quad processor, dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M graphics cards, 8GB of RAM, three 2.5" SATA or SSD drives (in RAID if you wish), and Blu-ray�setups that start at $3,000 but easily run up to $6,500.

Ports include eSATA, HDMI, USB 2.0, and FireWire, but we know why you're interested. It's the glowiest, most irresistible toy you've spotted since your neighbor's bug zapper.

ASUS Eee Keyboard

via Gizmodo by John Herrman on 7/2/09

Asus's amazing-looking Eee Keyboard, which is a home theater PC stuffed inside a keyboard, complete with wireless HDMI and a secondary touchscreen, is dropping in May or June. And for only $400-$600!

Asus CEO Jerry Shen says they're working on two models, one wired and one wireless. The wired version will run about $400 while the wireless should run somewhere south of $600.

The keyboard is packing a 5-inch built-in display, a 1.6 GHz Atom processor, 1 GB of RAM, 16/32 GB SSD, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. As far as ports, it's got wireless HDMI, 2 USB 2.0, VGA, HDMI, and audio in/out.

Edelweiss PC is Absolutely Stunning

via Gizmodo by Adam Frucci on 6/26/09

Holy crap, is this an awesome looking computer. The Edelweiss, created by Pius Giger in Switzerland, is one of the coolest custom rigs I've ever seen.

I don't have any details as to the components in this thing, but really, who cares? This is more of a piece of art than anything you'd sully by playing Solitaire on.

Viliv X70: A 7-Inch Netbook Without the Keyboard

via�Gizmodo�by Mark Wilson on 6/9/09

The Viliv S5 was�sort of charming�in its own way�a tiny Atom-powered touchscreen MID that went for $599. Well the�Viliv X70�is the S5's bigger cousin, and it runs just $599, too.

Featuring a 7-inch WSVGA screen (that's more than 2 inches larger than the S5), the X70 also includes an Atom 1.2/1.3GHz processor, 16/32GB SSD, optional HSPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Sirf Star3 GPS, 5-second XP booting and 5.5 rated hours of video playback. And yet the X70 measures less than an inch thick and but 1.4lbs in its anti-heaviness.

I still could never see myself using the keyboardless munchkin, but in case you are interested, Dynamism has the systems on pre-order.

ASUS Mars GPU may be the world's fastest

via�DVICE�by Kevin Hall on 6/1/09

ASUS decided to skip all the incremental one-upmanship that's a graphics card industry standard and knock it out of the park with its Mars 295 Limited Edition GPU. The�gorgeous�pair boast a performance bump of 21% more power than the standard dual-core GTX 295 from NVIDIA, while housed in a sweet looking�cooling�sleeve. ASUS will only roll out a limited number of them and, if you can't see it up there in the corner, this one reads 1/1000.

All told, the new card�boasts�all 240 shader processors on each GPU, a full 512-bit GDDR3 memory interface, 32 memory chips for 4GB total (2GB accessible per GPU), and the same core/shader/memory clockspeeds as the GTX 285 (648/1476/2400 MHz). By comparison, a traditional GTX 295 sports 896MB of GDDR3 per GPU on a 448-bit memory bus with core/shader/memory clockspeeds checking in at 576/1242/2000 MHz.

Engadget, via�VizWorld, via�MaximumPC

Solid-state drive teams up with blazing-fast RAM for incredible speed

via�DVICE�by CharlieWhite on 5/5/09

Our jaws are still agape over�that lightning fast ioDrive Duo�solid-state drive we showed you last month, but now here's one that can beat it, the DDRdrive X1. It combines the blazing speed of 4GB of RAM with the backup confidence of 4GB of flash memory right next to it.

You don't want to keep your data in RAM, because it will go away as soon as you turn off your PC. That's why it's great to have it paired up with some really fast flash memory, keeping everything you're doing saved. It can either back up or restore all your data in 60 seconds.

The result? Mind-numbing�speed on random reads and writes. That's one thing that makes a PC really feel fast. But all that speed has a downside, as you may have guessed. This measly 4GB drive costs $1495. Yes, that's crazy, but this is another one of those pieces of bleeding-edge tech that gives you a peek into what the rest of us could be using a couple of years from now.

PC Perspective, via�Engadget

Man Burnt to Death by Exploding PC

via�Gizmodo�by matt buchanan on 4/6/09

I've heard of�exploding computers�before, but not like this: The charred body of an Indian software engineer was found sitting in front of a computer he'd been working on after a loud blast.

His body was found sitting in front of the "completely damaged" and burnt computer by his roommate, who had rushed out of the shower after he heard a blast. He fainted at the sight.

The investigating officers said, "It sounds quite unbelievable. We have not heard of such a case before. But the scene of the accident seems to suggest that the youth was killed in an accident as his body was in the sitting position in front of the burnt computer."

God, that's so horrible. [Times of India�via�Hard OCP]

P.S. PC pictured is not the computer that killed the man, just an illustration.