Dell Slashes the price of their XPS 10 Windows RT Tablets ... you now get one for $299.

"Microsoft bet big on Windows RT as a tablet operating system for devices running ARM processors. So far, that bet hasn't really paid off with consumers staying far away from Windows RT devices. Some major computer manufacturers have abandoned their plans to launch Windows RT tablets while others have admitted disappointment in demand.

One Dell executive admitted in April that demand for Windows RT tablets has been disappointing. As a result, Dell has announced a significant price cut on its XPS 10 Windows RT tablet. The new entry-level price for the tablet has been slashed $299.99 -- before the price cut, the entry-level tablet went for $449.

The XPS 10 includes a 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S 4 processor, a 10.1-inch screen (1366x768), and a 28 watt-hour battery. The large battery promises up to 10 hours of use per charge and the tablet has front and rear cameras along with 32 GB of storage.

A memory card slot is included for storage expansion and the tablet can be optioned with a removable keyboard dock. The entry-level $299.99 price point does not include the case or keyboard dock accessories. For $329.98, you can get the tablet and a case. If you want the tablet and the keyboard dock it will cost you $349.99."

Source: Dailytech

Improved processor, storage, battery life and connectivity advance productivity for mission-critical mobile professionals

Secaucus, NJ, May 15, 2013 – Panasonic, an industry leader in rugged, reliable mobile computers since 1996, today announced upgrades to the Panasonic Toughbook® H2, the industry's most rugged handheld tablet PC. The MIL-STD-810G1 and IP651 certified device includes a faster processor, expanded storage and other improvements, while retaining critical features to enhance usability and durability

– including the ability to survive a 6-foot drop. With these upgrades, the Toughbook H2 delivers an improved return on investment for businesses with mobile workforces and greater performance for clinicians, field service workers, first responders and other mission-critical mobile professionals.

Looks pretty cool ... super thin and packed with features.

"Sony's no stranger to the odd e-ink device, but its latest prototype creation isn't targeted at the bookworm, it's intended to educate. The e-paper slate is quite a lot bigger than most tablets, let alone e-readers, sporting a 13.3-inch screen (1,200 x 1,600) to match the standard A4 size of normal, boring paper.

That display is also an electromagnetic induction touchscreen for poking at menus and scrolling, but more importantly, it supports stylus input for scrawling notes and annotating PDFs (the only file format it currently supports). The prototype device is also only 6.8mm (0.27 inch) thick and weighs 385g (13.6 ounces) -- perfect for slipping into school bags. There's 4GB of on-board storage (with a microSD slot to increase that) and WiFi, which Sony plans to use for sharing notes with those who didn't make it to class on time."

Source: Engadget

Asus will dominating the up-and-coming Computex show in Taiwan. Watch out for their heavily marketed "Transformer" tablets PCs.

"Sporting a "We Transform" tag, its first one for 2013 features the spun metal casings, touchscreen laptops, convertibles, tablets and phones we've become accustomed to from the company. So what's next? The video doesn't appear to provide any hints -- other than an oddly blacked-out tablet with stylus about 30 seconds in -- however the press page linked below includes a countdown to ASUS' press conference June 3rd, and blank spaces for four more videos to come.

We'll keep an eye out for anything else that fills in the blanks (US release info for the Transformer Book would do the trick), check the video after the break to "transform your expectations of technology."

Source: Engadget via Youtube

Acer predicts that more than 50% of their notebook sales will be feature touchscreens. Not surprising considering they're really pushing their notebooks with Windows 8.

"Acer is set to raise the shipment proportion of its touchscreen notebooks from 12% of the total volume in the first quarter to 50% by 2014 and 70% by 2015, according to Acer vice president Scott Lin.

Lin noted that in the second quarter, Acer will see its proportion rise to 20%, the same as IDC's forecasted global average for 2013, and percentages will rise even higher in the second half of the year. IDC also forecasted that the shipment proportion of global touchscreen notebooks will reach about 30% in 2014, a lot lower than Acer's goal."

Source: Digitimes

$199 for some pretty good specs ... 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, and a 9" 1920x1280 display and 32Gb storage.

"Nook HD+ now priced at $179.99 and $199.99 respectively for 16GB and 32GB models. Barnes and Noble introduced the Nook HD+ last year in an effort to thwart the momentum that Amazon was gaining in the relatively low cost tablet arena with the Kindle Fire HD.

 
The Nook HD+ is backed by relatively stout hardware, bringing with it a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, and a 9" 1920x1280 display. The tablet is available in 16GB and 32GB models, and if that isn't enough storage space, a microSD slot is also included for digital media packrats."

Source: Dailytech via  Barnes and Noble

HP laptops ain't that bad ... though I do like Dell as well. Take look at the specs and see for yourself.

"The ProBook 430, 440, 455 and 470 range in size from 13.3 inches to 17.3, and are made of aluminum, with spill-resistant keyboards and a soft-touch paint job. With the exception of the 430, which ships in July with Haswell, they'll arrive this month with a mix of Ivy Bridge CPUs and AMD Richland chips. (Specifically, only the 14- and 15-inch models will be offered with AMD.)

Other particulars: they all have 1,366 x 768 matte displays (non-touch), with the 17-inch model stepping up to 1,600 x 900. All but the 430 can be had with an optional optical drive; if you skip it, there's a weighted placeholder sitting where the DVD burner would be."

Source: Engadget