Ahead of any possible Ultrabook announcements, Sony’s looking to give its existing VAIO catalogue a (relatively underwhelming) shot in the arm with a bundle of hardware retweaks. The Z series looks to gain the most out of the Spring refresh, with a new off-white Carbon Fiber Silver color option set to be offered up alongside an optional LTE modem. The series also gets a processor step-up, with new Intel Core i5 and i7 options up to 3.5GHz, rounded off with the choice of SSD storage. Including the connectable drive, prices for the series refresh will start from ,950. Meanwhile, both the S (13-inch, 0, 15-inch, 0)and E series will get a similar bump to Core i7 processors, with both the S and aforementioned Z series able to lock into an extended sheet battery accessory. If minor processor improvements, more battery options and LTE connectivity enough to fork over your cash, you can expect the revitalized units to arrive early next month.

Sony VAIO series get minor processor refresh, Z series grabs LTE option on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Artefact Group has come-up with this concept (WVIL) camera that has a touch interface like the iPhone, wireless capabilities and changeable SLR optics. It is a sign of how the iPhone user interface is becoming the preferred way of interacting with digital devices. And while this is the right way of thinking about the camera of the future, it is unlikely that this kind of camera will succeed. Instead what is going to happen is that with powerful new processors and graphics, we are going to see the acceleration of the software-enabled camera revolution, which will give us access to many of the SLR capabilities.

Concept Camera: The WVIL from Artefact on Vimeo. via Swipelife.

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We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Everest, who ain’t skeered to dip his toes in the Linux sea. If you’re looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

“Hey guys! I’m building a new computer with Ubuntu Linux in mind, and was wondering what motherboards (preferably from Intel or ASUS, but any reputable brand will do) you folks would recommend with great compatibility for stuff like WiFi straight out of the box? Compatibility with the first- or second-gen Intel Core i processors would be great, too. Thanks!”

Anyone who has dabbled in Linux knows the pains of incompatibility — it’s the price we pay for being exactly who we want to be — but if you’ve got any trouble-free recommendations, comments are open!

Ask Engadget: most compatible motherboard / components for Ubuntu desktop? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Sep 2011 22:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The eye-catching P220 ultraportable isn’t the only system LG is showcasing at Computex — the Korean manufacturer is also gracing Intel’s booth with the W300, an all-in-one with a few tricks up its sleeve. Not only is that 23-inch display using a beautiful IPS panel (full HD), but it’s even 3D-capable and includes a touchscreen in some versions. Yes, this isn’t your father’s PC. A variety of processors are available including Intel’s Core i7 with room for up to 8 GB of DDR3 RAM. Some models are paired with AMD’s Radeon HD 6650M video card. Blu-ray is an option, and storage maxes out at 750GB. The computer takes some visual cues from Apple’s iMac (the stand), but still manages to have its own personality. The display is quite thin, and while the model we played with didn’t appear to offer the touchscreen option, it did feature a Core i5 CPU. Take a look at the gallery below, and hit the break for our hands-on video and LG’s press release.

Continue reading LG W300 all-in-one hands-on at Computex 2011 (video)

LG W300 all-in-one hands-on at Computex 2011 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP may have announced its TouchSmart 610 all-in-one just a shade too soon for it to ship with Core 2011 processors, but that doesn’t mean the company was above pushing out a refresh just a few months later. Now, this 23-inch beast is on sale with a variety of quad-core Core i5 and Core i7 Sandy Bridge CPUs. To recap, what makes the 610 special is its rigid hinge, which allows the 1080p display to slide down so that it’s face-up, and nearly flat at a 60-degree angle — a more ergonomic position for poking ’round the TouchSmart software while standing. Like pretty much every other HP computer on the market, it comes standard with Beats Audio and, depending on how much money you’re willing to shell out, you can trick it out with up to 16GB of RAM, 2TB of storage, and your choice of NVIDIA or ATI graphics with up to 2GB of video memory. Those Sandy Bridge models are available now starting at ,100, though as always, you can get an entry-level configuration with quad-core AMD innards for 0 and up.

HP gives TouchSmart 610 a second crack, this time with Sandy Bridge CPU options originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 May 2011 14:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell’s stylish new XPS 15z laptop surfaces originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 May 2011 15:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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