PC MicroWorks Corporation introduced the Black-Hawk XR5 Quad Core Super Notebook. The company claims the XR5 is first the notebook to utilize dual NVIDIA Geforce Go 8800GTX GPUs in SLI mode. This notebooks has some extreme specs, including triple hard drives and available Core 2 Quad processors under its carbon-fiber lid.

The 17-inch Black-Hawk XR5 has the power normally reserved for desktops, which isn’t surprising considering it’s built on a desktop platform. This makes it possible to upgrade its PCI express graphics cards, processor, memory and hard drives.

The Black-Hawk XR5 starts at $2,779, but upgrades to 4GB of RAM, 750GB of hard drive capacity, Blu-Ray Disc RW burner, an EVDO or HSDPA WAN card, GPS adapter, TV tuner and dual operating systems can push the price north of $6,000.

Here’s the specs on he XR5 you can configure for $6120:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 (2.66GHz/1333MHz/4MB)
4096MB Ultra Speed DDR2 800MHz Extreme Performance Memory
750GB @ 16,200RPM SATA150 Storage RAID 0 (3 x 250GB 5400RPM)
No External Storage
HD Blu-Ray-RW Dual Layer Next Generation Drive
SLI Dual nVIDIA Geforce GO 8800GTX 1GB DDR3 X-TREME GPU **Will ship in Dec.**
17″ WUXGA+ 1920×1200 Ultra Resolution GlassVision Wide Screen Cinema Display
8 Channel Advanced SRS WOW Surround Sound System
High Speed 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit Networking Adapter
Internal High Speed V90k Dial Up Modem
Built In 802.11AGN 300mbps Ultra Speed Wireless Adapter
Integrated Advanced Bluetooth Wireless Adapter
Included Advanced HSDPA High Speed Internet Connection (Subscription Required)
Included GPS Location Technology Adapter
Advanced TV Tuner + Remote Control

XR5 product page

PC MicroWorks Black-Hawk XR5: Quad-Core Processor, 3x HDD, 2x GPU is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

Rock Computing, announced a new 20-inch notebook designed for hardcore gamers and design professionals. The Xtreme SL PRO boasts a AMD Turion X2 dual core mobile processor, dual NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX graphics cards with SLI, and up to dual 160GB drives.

Rock Announces 20″ Gaming Beast is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

The OtterBox Rugged Laptop case is can stand up to almost any abuse you can throw at it. Or, if your prefer, you can just throw it. This case is all about safety and security, with no silly frills like iPod pouches or pen organizers. The hard-shelled case isn’t the prettiest thing in the world , but it definitely does its job.
The OtterBox is made of a resilient plastic, similar to a football helmet and lined with Velcro. Three sets of rubber bumpers stick onto the lining and adjust to fit notebooks with up to 15-inch screens. A strap cinches the notebook in place.
Two heavy duty latches keep the case securely closed and there’s a lock for extra protection. The one soft spot on the case is the neoprene strap, which is surprisingly comfortable and helps make up for some of the added weight.

 The OtterBox will keep your notebook safe from 4ft. drops onto concrete, or more likely clumsy baggage handlers. It is alsowaterproof and even floats, just in case you drop it while boarding your yacht. The case is rated to keep your notebook dry for 30 minutes at a depth of one meter.

Users can still use their notebooks in the case thanks to low-profile sides and a removable rubber plug on the bottom of the case you can run cables through. While this isn’t exactly the most comfortable way to operate a computer, it sure beats putting your high-priced notebook on a rough or dirty surface.
While this might sound like too much of a case for the average user, the OtterBox is a wise investment for anyone that works or travels in less than ideal conditions.

We decided to put the OtterBox case through a few tests of our own to gauge exactly how tough this case is. On a rainy day in San Francisco we dunked the case in the bay, dragged it over rocks, jumped up on down on it, kicked it down some concrete steps, threw it down the street and beat it with a hammer. After abusing the case and enclosed notebook, we fully expected to crack the LCD or bust the thing in half.

The damage? A couple of scratches and one small dent to on Otterbox case. The notebook was fine except for a chipped PCMCIA card slot ejector that was jarred loose and rubbed up against one of the rubber bumpers. We did get a couple of drops of water in the case, but it was nothing that put our notebook at risk. A company rep said water can drip into the case when opening it after being dunked in water, so we should have dried off the exterior before opening it.
Check out the video and keep in mind the top of the notebook started out a little wet from some drizzle.

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We highly recommend the OtterBox as relatively affordable insurance against mother nature.

The OtterBox Laptop Case is available for $169 from OtterBox

product page link

—Here’s a letter from one OtterBox owner I thought was interesting and an example of someone who really needs a rugged case.

Dear OtterBox -I recently acquired an OtterBox laptop case to take with me on
assignment in Greenland for Popular Photography Magazine. As a digital
photographer, I need my laptop in the field to download and review
images. In the past, soft cases have left my laptop vulnerable to
crushing and bruising and waterproof bags needed for zodiac trips ashore
have been equally unsatisfactory. On small bush planes, I’ve had to
carry the laptop by hand because I knew even the hard cases I had
couldn’t protect it in the baggage holds.I was incredibly impressed with the OtterBox case. The slim ballistic
shell not only survived the rigors of small plane travel (I even used it
as a footrest!), two weeks aboard an arctic expedition ship and a hike
onto the Greenland ice cap, but came in handy in an unexpected way on my
return flight. When terrorism threats triggered carryon restrictions, I
backed up my harddrive on DVDs and reluctantly packed my laptop into the
OtterBox case and stuffed it inside my duffle bag as checked luggage. I
expected the worst, so you can imagine my joy when I opened my duffle
five airports and two days later to find the OtterBox shell had
completely protected my laptop.

I now consider the slim shell a critical piece of my digital field
darkroom. Thanks for producing such an indestructible case for field
work, that is also handsome enough for me to take into an editor’s
office in New York.

Cheers,
Jad

Review: OtterBox Laptop Case Goes Swimming is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

Asus is busting out two extreme notebooks designed for gamers inside and out. The G1 (15.4-inch WXGA/WSXGA) and G2 (17-inch WXGA) can handle any WASD action you can throw at it, with your choice of top of the line Core 2 Duo processors and massive GPUâ€â„¢s- Nvidia GeForce Go7700 with 512MB (ASUS G1) and ATI Radeon X1700 with 512MB (ASUS G2).
Lots of features are specifically designed to please gamers including highlighted WASD keys, front/side speakers, Direct Flash sidelights are activated for intense moments and an extra LED can display instant messages, system status and reminder alerts with zero distractions to accommodate full screen gaming.
The ASUS G1 and G2 come with up to 2GB of memory and up to 160GB drives. Thereâ€â„¢s a built-in 1.3 MP webcam, Bluetooth 2.0, abg wireless and plenty of ports.
These notebooks are for serious gamers and the price will reflect that. But if you need some serious muscle your next LAN shootout, take a look at the G1 or G2.

ASUS G1 and G2 Sidelights

ASUS G1 & ASUS G2 Gaming Notebook Series Specs:
Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology
- Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7600/T7400/T7200/T5600/T5500
- Mobile Intel 945PM Express Chipset
- Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
Up to 2GB of memory
15.4″ WXGA/WSXGA (G1)/ 17″ WXGA (G2)
NVidia GeForce Go7700 512MB l VRAM (G1)
ATI Mobility Radeon X1700 512MB VRAM (G2)
SATA 80 to 160GB HDD
DVD Super-Multi, Light Scribe
1.3MP webcam
Bluetooth V2.0+EDR (optional)

ASUS G1 & G2 Notebooks Light Up Gaming is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

Almost all the notebooks news for the past few days has been about deeply discounted notebooks, coupons and rebates. While the notebooks weâ€â„¢ve written about are economical, it gets a little boring bargain shopping and trying to explain to readers that noâ€ÂÃƒâ€šÃ‚¦there wonâ€â„¢t be any rebates on the sub-$400 notebooks. I treated myself to a little online window shopping to see what I could buy if money were no object.
I visited six manufacturerâ€â„¢s web sites and started with the most expensive model available. We then maxed out all the hardware specs, forgoing external accessories and software upgrades. The end result was an average price tag of $5,061, with the most expensive notebook topping out at $7,361. Youâ€â„¢ll have to drop over $30k if you decide you want one of each.

1. Apple MacBook Pro 17â€ÂÃƒâ€šÃ‚

The MacBook Pro is the gold standard in the graphic design and creative world. The stereotype of Appleâ€â„¢s notebooks being overpriced didnâ€â„¢t hold up in this virtual shopping trip. In fact, the Macbook Pro 17â€ÂÃƒâ€šÃ‚ was the cheapest fully-loaded notebook we found. The Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz MacBook Pro starts at $2,799 and has few configuration options. Bumping memory up to 3GB costs $575 and a 200GB drive is $100, for a $3,474 total.

2. Gateway M685-E

All of Gatewayâ€â„¢s notebooks have relatively low base prices, but things start to add up as you customize them. We started with the 17-inch Gateway M685-E business notebook, with a $1,699 base price.
Upping the CPU to a 2.16 GHzCore 2 Duo costs $250, while a GeForce GO7900 GS GPU with 256MB adds $125. By far the most expensive option is the $1,750 upgrade to 4GB of RAM, 1 gig more than XP can even recognize. Opting for the Ultrabright screen is $100, Bluetooth is $50 and a 12-cell battery is only $40 extra. For $3,764 this setup could be yours.

3.Sony VAIO AR290G

The Sony VAIO AR290G is a beautifully built 17-inch machine, with a Blu-Ray Disc player. The stylish multimedia powerhouse starts at $3,039, with specs that are more than capable of being your living roomâ€â„¢s media center. Adding dual 200 GB hard drives ($370), an extra gig of RAM (2GB total ffor $150) and upping the Core 2 Duo processor to 2.33 Ghz ($550) make it sexy inside and out. Itâ€â„¢s annoying Sony makes Bluetooth ($50) optional for notebooks in this range, but that barely budges the price to its $4,209 total. These machines sure look great when playing Blu-Ray discs, but weâ€â„¢re still recommending buyers to wait for the format wars to settle down before investing in a Blu-Ray or HD DVD notebook.

4. Alienware Aurora mALX- Dual Graphics SLI 19â€ÂÃƒâ€šÃ‚ Notebook, AMD Turion ML44

The Aurora mALX is Alienwareâ€â„¢s most expensive gaming notebook, running on a AMD Turion ML44 processor. It comes with a massive 19â€ÂÃƒâ€šÃ‚ WSXGA wide screen display and dual 512 MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 SLI enabled GPUâ€â„¢s (single GPU standard, $350 for dual). Fast RAID drives (2x200GB) cost another $500 and upgrading to 2GB of memory is another $300. With a maximum price of $5,649, airbrushed graphics come standard. Alienware throws in a matching backpack, portfolio, polo shirt, keychain and pen to say thank you for the massive purchase.

5. Voodoo
The Vodoo Envy u:909 is an exotic notebook that will put most desktops to shame. A massive 19-inch WSXGA screen and other larger than life specs contribute to the $4,529 base price. The Envy u:909 comes in your choice of 22 colors, some of which are seasonal and add $213 to the bill. To further stylize your gaming notebook, you can chose from a variety of âہËÅtattoosâ€â„¢ ($220) that can be painted on the lid. Upgrading to an AMD Turion ML44 processor costs $235, 2GB of RAM is $131 and $60 will get you a 160GB hard drive. Adding a second second NVIDIA Geforce 7800 GTX 256MB GPU costs $573. Paying $5,961 means you get one of the best gaming notebooks in the world.

6. Dell

The Dell XPS M2010 is a 20.1-inch monster and more expensive than any other we priced.. Itâ€â„¢s more of a 19-pound foldable desktop with removable Bluetooth keyboard. Itâ€â„¢s unique design is sure to make it a conversation piece wherever you bring it. The M2010 starts at $2,999, but itâ€â„¢s expensive upgrades can push that price to more than double the price. Going with the 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7600 costs $550, but thatâ€â„¢s nothing compared to the upgrade to 4GB of RAM ($3,000). Next to the RAM options, the other upgrades required to max out the M2010 seem downright affordable. A draft N wireless card is $59, a TV tuner card is $100 and a Verizon EVDO card is $179. For $7,312 you get a pretty amazing computer that looks great in any home of the future.

6 High-End Notebooks for $30k is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

Asus will start shipping this sexy âہËÅGolden Editionâ€â„¢ VX1 Lamborghini notebook tomorrow. Combining style and speed, the Golden Edition VX1 features a 2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, 15.2-inch SXGA+ widescreen display, up to 2 gigs of memory, and 160 GB drive. The high-gloss notebook  is available in yellow or black, and available only in Japan for now. Only 200 will be sold, each with a metal tag embossed with its production number. These kinds of looks donâ€â„¢t come cheap, lucky buyers will have to fork out over $3,300.

Asus Lamborghini Golden Edition VX1 is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

The Panasonic Toughbook is a military-spec Tablet PC that cops and armed forces use in the field. The case is completely sealed to keep the components safe from the elements. This video shows the notebook being dropped from about four feet and getting wet without missing a beat.

Toughbook CF-18

Video: Panasonic Toughbook CF-18 is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

Cleaning gets boring for everyone, even for robots. iRobot, the maker of the Roomba and Scoomba are working on a project called Sentinel that combines some bad-ass robots with a Tablet PC.

The current generation of robots are controlled just like remote controlled cars, meaning one human must be dedicated to operate each robot. But this new networked technology will allow a single operator to simultaneously control and coordinate multiple semi-autonomous robots via a touch-screen computer. The Sentinel technology includes intelligent navigation capabilities that enable the robots to reach a preset destination independently, overcoming obstacles and other challenges along the way without intervention from an operator. Sentinelâ€â„¢s capability will allow warfighters and first responders to use teams of iRobot PackBot robots to conduct surveillance and mapping, therefore rendering dangerous areas safe without ever setting foot in a hostile environment The Packbots have been used in Afghanistan and Iraq to perform recon and bomb disposal missions.

Tablet PC Controls Army of Robots is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.