desktops

HP coupon code: 50% off HP TouchSmart IQ500t All-in-One PC (from October 14th 2009)

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Expired

50% off a customized HP TouchSmart IQ500t All-in-One PC configured at the HP Home & Home Office Store using coupon code DTTS54687. Offer limited to the first 500 coupons redeemed. 1 redemption per person or address. Not valid with other promotions, Friends & Family, or HP Academy. Restrictions apply. No combinable with instant rebates. For complete conditions, see “Coupon Information” in the “Customer Service” section at www.hpshopping.com.

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New Sony Vaio X, CW and L officially announced

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

So we have prices and specifications for these interesting computers:

The ultralight, ultrathin Sony Vaio X is not as expensive as it was expected (we expected up to 2000 USD). There are 2 configurations:

  • Common features include 11.1″ screen, 1.6 lb (0.7 kg) fiber carbon chassis, Intel Atom Z550 processor at 2.0 GHz and Intel GMA 500 graphics, integrated WWAN, GPS and 2 batteries: a slim one, providing around 3 h of battery life, and an extended one that’s much bigger and lasts for up to 14 h.
  • The 1299 USD model sports a 64 GB SSD, while the 1499 USD model sports a 128 GB one.
  • More info: Sony Vaio X
  • Pictures: Engadget

The Sony Vaio CW seems a replacement to the 14-inch Vaio CS. I was not very fond of the CS because it was heavy for a 14-inch laptop (5.7 lb, 2.6 kg), but the CW is lighter (5.3 lb, 2.4 kg) and has better optional graphics cards:

  • The 799 USD model sports an Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 and a Nvidia GeForce G 210M.
  • The 849 USD model sports the same processor but a Nvidia GeForce GT 230M. It is not a powerful card, but good for gaming most games at Medium or even High details (depending on the game)
  • The 919 USD model adds a Blu-ray player/DVD burner combo.
  • More info: Sony Vaio CW
  • Pictures: Engadget

Finally, the Sony Vaio L is a 24″ all-in-one desktop computer with multitouch-enabled touchscreen.

  • The basic model (1299 USD) sports an Intel Pentium Dual Core E5400 and a Nvidia GeForce G 210M.
  • If you want more graphics performance, you have to pay 1799 USD for the model equipped with a Nvidia GeForce GT 240M, but it has a quad-core processor too (Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400S).
  • More info: Sony Vaio L
  • Pictures: Engadget

Nothing about European models at the moment.

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ATI Radeon HD 4770: great performance/price ratio but high idle power consumption

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

ATI released today the Radeon HD 4770, world’s first graphics card built on a 40 nm manufacturing process (but the Mobility Radeon HD 4830 and 4860 were announced first). Here you have the first available reviews:

The main conclusion is that this card has an excellent performance/price ratio: with a recommended price of 109 USD its performance is higher than that of the HD 4830 and similar to that of the HD 4850.

I was personally interested on this card because I’m thinking about upgrading my HD 3450, but I see that in my case it is a bad option: my computer is on may hours, but I play games very seldom, so I’m looking for a graphics card with a very low idle power consumption and I was thinking on the HD 4670. The HD 4770, in spite of the 40 nm manufacturing process, has an idle power consumption much higher than the HD 4670. So my first option still is the HD 4670, even with a much lower performance. The power consumption of the HD 4770 under heavy load IS much lower than that of graphics cards of similar performance, so in this situation the 40 nm manufacturing process shows its efficiency.

At the moment none of my sponsors has the HD 4770 available.

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HP coupon code (02/25/2009)

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

30% off web-only coupon for the purchase of a customized HP Pavilion or HP HDX Notebook PC configured at $999 or more at the HP Home & Home Office Store. Coupon code: NB5463. Offer excludes HP G60t and HP G70t Notebooks PCs, HP Pavilion dv4t and Special Edition dv4t Notebook PCs, HP Mini series, and Compaq Notebook PCs. Offer limited to the first 1,800 coupons redeemed. 1 redemption per person or address. Not valid with other promotions. Restrictions apply. Not combinable with instant rebates. For complete conditions, see “Coupon Information” in the “Customer Service” section at www.hpshopping.com.  (Expires after 1,800 uses or 2/28)

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$250 off web-only coupon for the purchase of a customized HP Desktop PC configured at $899 or more (excluding HP Touchsmart PCs) at the HP Home & Home Office Store. Coupon code: DT4535. Offer limited to the first 450 coupons redeemed. 1 redemption per person or address. Not valid with other promotions. Restrictions apply. Not combinable with instant rebates. For complete conditions, see “Coupon Information” in the “Customer Service” section at www.hpshopping.com. (Expires after 450 uses or 2/28)

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(Expires after 500 uses or 2/28)

35% off web-only coupon for the purchase of keyboards and mice at the HP Home & Home Office Store. Coupon code: AC3474. Offer limited to the first 500 coupons redeemed. 1 redemption per person or address. Not valid with other promotions. Restrictions apply. Not combinable with instant rebates. For complete conditions, see “Coupon Information” in the “Customer Service” section at www.hpshopping.com. (Expires after 500 uses or 2/28)

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HP coupon codes (11/10/2008: expired)

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

HP has 2 NEW Coupons that launch today, Save 30% on a customized HP Pavilion Notebook PC configured at $999 or greater & Save $200 on a customized HP Pavilion Desktop PC configured at $999 or greater! Quantities are limited, so hurry!

30% off web-only coupon for the purchase of a customized HP Pavilion Notebook PC configured at $999 or greater at the HP Home & Home Office Store. Coupon code: NB3434. Offer excludes HP Special Edition Notebooks and HP Mini 1000 Notebook.  Offer limited to the first 1,350 coupons redeemed.  1 redemption per person or address.  Not valid with other promotions. Restrictions apply. Not combinable with instant rebates. For complete conditions, see “Coupon Information” in the “Customer Service” section at www.hpshopping.com.

$200 off web-only coupon for the purchase of a customized HP Pavilion Desktop PC configured at $999 or greater at the HP Home & Home Office Store.  Coupon code: DT2314. Offer excludes HP Touchsmart PC.  Offer limited to the first 540 coupons redeemed.  1 redemption per person or address.  Not valid with other promotions. Restrictions apply.  Not combinable with instant rebates. For complete conditions, see “Coupon Information” in the “Customer Service” section at www.hpshopping.com.

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Dell Studio Hybrid: Dell’s minicomputer available (at least in Spain)

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

Dell has just presented the desktop minicomputer Studio Hybrid. It is already available in Spain (and probably in other countries, but at the moment not in the US, UK or Australia).

It is a small (or VERY small, look at the size of the CD in the picture) form factor desktop computer with an appealing design. It has a good assortment of connections for a computer of this size (5 USB, FireWire, Gigabit Ethernet, DVI, HDMI, S/PDIF, card reader, line-in, speakers-out and headphone-out) but it’s not very powerful (up to Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 at 2,1 GHz, 4 GB RAM and 320 GB hard disk drive; graphics card is an Intel GMA 3100 that can’t be upgraded). Anyway, its performance should be enough for the most common needs and can be configured with BD drive.

Dell Studio Hybrid costs from 449 € with the base configuration (Celeron processor, 1 GB  RAM and 160 GB hard disk), pero under Windows Vista I recommend the first preconfigured option (Pentium Dual Core with 2 GB RAM), costing 549 €.

Watch Dell‘s site for your country, It’s likely to be available later today or tomorrow.

Update: it’s already available at dell.com, and PC Magazine has already published a review.

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