Dell launches Inspiron 15z for Rs 41,990

Dell launched a new laptop, Inspiron 15z, for Rs 41,990. The ultrabook comes with a 15.6-inch LED display with a resolution of 1366×768 pixels. The aluminium chassis is 2.1 cm thick and the laptop weighs 2.17 kg. Another model, which is 2.3 cm thick and weighs 2.46 kg, comes with a touchscreen.

Inspiron 15z runs Windows 8 and comes with a 1-MP web camera.

The laptop has Intel’s third generation Core-series processor and Nvidia GeForce GT630M 2GB graphics card and 500 GB storage (HDD), but users can also opt for faster solid state drives (up to 256GB). The keyboard has backlighting and is water resistant. The touchpad is optimised for Windows 8.

Connectivity options on the Dell Inspiron 15z are Intel WiDi, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0, ethernet, HDMI and a slot for various memory cards. It has Skullcandy speakers.

Shishir Singh, Director, Product Marketing, Dell India said, “We at Dell always strive to come up with something innovative which addresses all the needs of our consumers. The Inspiron 15z combines upscale style and features in a sleek and glamorous design with best-in-class technology.”

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dell-launches-inspiron-15z-for-rs-41990/1072635/

EXCLUSIVE – Southeastern joined by other Dell investors: source

At least three of Dell Inc’s (DELL.O) top 20 shareholders support Southeastern Asset Management’s decision to vote against the $24.4 billion buyout of the No. 3 PC maker led by CEO Michael Dell, a person close to the matter said.

Among the holders who support Southeastern are Harris Associates LP, Yacktman Asset Management LP and Pzena Investment Management LLC, which between them hold roughly 3.3 percent in Dell, the person said.

Harris and Yacktman were not immediately available for comment. Pzena’s chairman, Richard Pzena, said a Dell deal should be in the $20 per share range or the company should explore other options.

Source: http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/02/08/dell-southeastern-idINDEE9170HJ20130208

Lenovo launches two Windows 8 laptops – Ideapad Y500 & Z500

Lenovo has launched two Windows 8 laptops called the IdeaPad Y500 and Z500. Both laptops have third-generation Intel processors and their high-end models come with graphic cards.

Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 comes with an UltraBay that lets users add an extra graphics card, hard disk drive or an additional fan for cooling. The 15.6-inch laptop has a carbon fibre cover, and a backlit keyboard with a touchpad. Users should face no problems typing in dark rooms as the keyboard has backlighting. The IdeaPad Y500 costs Rs 64,290.

Lenovo claims IdeaPad Z500 is among the slimmest laptops available in market. It is also a 15.6-inch device, but has less powerful hardware when compared to the Y500. It costs Rs 48,990.

The key specifications for both laptops are as follows.

Lenovo IdeaPad Y500

Up to third generation Intel® Core i7 processor

Up to NVIDIA® GeForce GT 650M 2GB DDR5 graphics

Up to 16GB DDR3 memory, up to 1TB HDD storage

Up to 750GB interchangeable HDD storage bay

Bluetooth, 802.11n Wi-Fi connectivity

USB 2.0, USB 3.0 and 6in1 card reader

Always-on USB port – lets you recharge a mobile device even when the notebook is powered off and unplugged

Interchangeable DVD reader

JBL speakers and Dolby Home Theater v4

Lenovo IdeaPad Z500

Up to third generation Intel Core i7 processor

Up to NVIDIA GeForce GT 645M 2GB graphics

15.6″ Backlit LED HD display (1366×768), 16:9 widescreen

Up to 8GB DDR3 memory, up to 1TB HDD storage

Bluetooth & 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity

Intelligent Touchpad optimised for Windows 8, with easy scroll, zoom and rotate functions

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/lenovo-launches-two-windows-8-laptops—ideapad-y500—z500/1069696/0

Intel to shutdown desktop motherboard business

It looks like Intel has shifted its focus entirely to its CPU business, as the chip giant has announced it will be shutting down its desktop motherboard business.

The world’s biggest manufacturer of CPUs has announced that it will be ramping down its secondary business, desktop motherboards, to a complete halt in the next three years. So, essentially, in three years time, there will be fewer Intel-branded motherboards being floated into the market, until the maker eventually pulls the plugs on the machines spitting out these boards.

The last board to slide off the Intel assembly line will the one for their upcoming Haswell chipset, post which Intel will stop shipping boards. The decision comes in light of the fact that Intel’s motherboard business wasn’t one to rake in much profit, so the company has decided to focus on just their CPU business.

The good news here is that Intel will not be reducing its work-force, a normal outcome of any division shut-down. Instead, the plan is to have all the employees be absorbed into various other departments.

If you’re wondering what’s going to happen to motherboards after three years, fret not. Intel will continue developing reference designs for boards for their internal testing and research, and these designs and of course Intel chipsets will make their way to third party manufacturers for making new boards. Overall, this is good news for Intel chipset-based motherboard manufacturers, given that Intel was a strong, if not a fierce competitor in the motherboard segment.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Parts-Peripherals/Intel-to-shutdown-desktop-motherboard-business_13222.html

Microsoft in talks to invest up to $3 billion in Dell: CNBC

Microsoft Corp is in discussions to invest between $1 billion and $3 billion of mezzanine financing in a buyout of Dell Inc, CNBC cited unidentified sources as saying on Tuesday.
Private equity outfit Silver Lake Partners is trying to finalize a bidding group to take the world’s No. 3

PC maker private, and has opened discussions with potential equity partners, sources familiar with the matter have said.
Dell also has formed a special committee to take a close look at any potential deal on the table, multiple sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. If successful, it would be one of the largest corporate buyouts since before the global financial crisis.

Microsoft, which accelerated its foray into computer hardware in 2012 with the launch of the Surface tablet, will provide the capital in the form of mezzanine financing according to CNBC, which is a hybrid of debt and equity.

Microsoft and Dell both declined to comment on the CNBC report. Shares in Dell gained climbed 2 percent to $13.08 in late morning trade.

Indian Made eTouch Pen Converts Old Monitors Into Touch Screens

Bangalore: Touch screen devices relish the digital era, and the demand for the same has increased especially after the introduction of the touch centric Microsoft Windows 8 operating system in the market. Majority of the PC/ laptop users are in a state of dilemma thinking of how to make the best use of Windows 8 system. In an attempt to make use of the growing demand, Bangalore- based Jeswill Hi-Tech Solutions has come up with an innovative stylus ‘e-touch Pen’ to facilitate the conversion  of non-touch based PC or laptop into a touch screen devices.

The e-Touch Pen is designed for the Windows 8 with non-touch devices, as the new Microsoft operating system provides the ultimate user experience on touch devices. The device can also be used on PC’s running on Windows 7.

The device works based on a combination of ultrasound infrared technology and doesn’t require drivers for installation. It includes components like a cordless electronic pen and a detachable base unit with a USB cable connector. It has a receiver that can be clipped on to a screen and a stylus pen that acts as a transmitter. Apart from that, a small magnetic strip is stuck onto the side of a screen.

The receiver is clipped on to the magnetic strip and connected to the computer through a USB port. Since the clipped on receiver is an infrared device, it helps in positioning the stylus. The stylus transmitter is a battery- operated, ultrasonic device which has few brushes at its tip which attracts the vibrations when the pen is moved on the screen. The signals are subsequently transmitted to the receiver. The receiver transmits the input to the PC which completes the action accordingly.

There lies a price gap between a touch screen PC and a non-touch PC which is more than 10, 000 in market, but the new i-Touch pen can bridge the gap as it costs around to 5,000.  It works on a maximum screen size of 22-inch with a resolution of 100 DPI.

According to Mr. Sylvester P. Moorthy, Chairman, Hi-Tech Solutions, the e-Touch pen was designed especially for Windows 8. He also said that users will be able to write, draw, and edit pictures on the screen as well as perform certain other functions using this device.

No More Intel Motherboards For Desktop

Bangalore: Intel, the chip maker, is planning to fade out from the traditional desktop motherboard business, as it centers its resources on mobile products.

“We disclosed internally today that Intel’s Desktop Motherboard Business will begin slowly ramping down over the course of the next three years,” said the company in a note. Eventually, Intel is trying to devote its resources towards Ultrabooks, tablets and phones rather than the PC system which was considered to be the Best Buys of the World at a certain point of time.

Further, Intel said, “The internal talent and experience of twenty years in the boards business is being redistributed to address emerging new form factors.”

Although Intel addresses “emerging”, the designs will mostly be mobiles rather than the desktops. With the launch of Intel’s upcoming “Haswell” chip generation in summer, the company will stop expanding its business in Desktop boards.

The products like the tiny Intel NUC board and the all-in-one is in budding stages in the mobile world. Even though Intel stops its production of Desktop boards, Asus and Gigabyte, considered being the trendsetters as motherboard makers are expected to actively participate in the market.

Intel will continue to create high-performance chips for the extreme performance systems. The company made this official disclosure following the rumors that Intel would stop creating board connectors like Land Grid Array (LGA) Socket for desktops after the arrival of future generation processors beyond Haswell, codenamed Broadwell. However, Intel refused to remark on these rumors.