Microsoft is working with major ARM chip makers like Nvidia and Texas Instruments to design PCs for WOA, but I suspect that the majority of the devices consumers see will be tablets.

The post is very long and offers a huge amount of information, but one thing in particular struck me:

Windows on ARM software will not be sold or distributed independent of a new WOA PC, just as you would expect from a consumer electronics device that relies on unique and integrated pairings of hardware and software.

Really?

Usually a consumer can get Windows as a disk for upgrading or installing on a computer they build themselves. Apparently the company is not up with self-built ARM computers.

Their reasoning for this is two-fold. Further down in the post the author brings up consumer-friendliness:

…you never have to worry about which DVD to install and if it will work on a particular PC.

…

While each WOA PC offered will be unique, the role of Windows is to present a consistent experience to customers while allowing the unique and innovative hardware to shine through…

And he also highlights that a great experience with WOA will depend on a tighter software/hardware integration than regular Windows:

[Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, and NVIDIA have] been working with partners that will bring WOA PCs to market. These PCs have all been designed and manufactured expressly for WOA. From the chipset through the firmware and drivers, the work is optimized to be great for WOA. Partners are working hard on creative industrial designs and form factors that will include more than tablets.

I know from experience that you can’t just slap an OS onto a device and expect it to run well just because it meets the basic specs, even moreso with the chips we’ve seen in tablets and smartphones recently. So I can see the merit in this strategy, especially for mainstream consumers.

I just wonder if this is also to keep hobbyist devs and hackers from putting Windows 8 is places where Microsoft thinks it doesn’t belong. Like on an iPad or a Galaxy Tab. I have no idea if such a thing is even possible, but you know someone is going to try.

Personally, I’d like to see if the Raspberry Pi can handle it.

Perhaps that’s part of it, too. It’s possible to build very inexpensive ARM-based devices like that. If you could get Windows 8 running on it, why buy a computer that costs more? Oop.

Not everything is an evil conspiracy, but I wonder what the end result will be? Can hackers somehow get at WOA enough to port it to another system? Will we see jailbroken WOA PCs shortly after launch?

I’ll be keeping a closer eye on xda developers to find out…

Windows 8 For ARM Devices Won’t Be Sold Separately is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

In practical terms this means that manufacturers will be able to make very thin laptops that still offer good performance and graphics. If that sounds similar to the idea behind ultrabooks, it is. AMD just can’t call them that.

Apparently they’re going with the Ultrathin moniker.

No matter what they’re called, the idea is to satisfy the market’s current desire for slim and sexy hardware. Thus the reference design by Compal Engadget spotted. We won’t see this specific laptop come to market, but manufacturers are meant to draw inspiration from it. I wouldn’t mind seeing this sexy red beast on a store shelf, for sure.

These new chips aren’t just for ultraportables. There’s a high-end model for multimedia and gaming laptops and a mainstream chip destined for thin and light machines.

The best part about the ultrathins isn’t just the form factor, but also the price. The goal is to sell them in the $500 – $700 price range, much less than the current crop of ultrabooks. That price will certainly tempt consumers even if AMD can’t deliver the same power as Intel and Nvidia. Though the company certainly aims to compete in that area, too.

AMD’s Next Generation Chips Aim For Thin Laptops, Low Prices, And Good Performance is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

What can you do with a Kinect for Windows? Not much right now. This release is more for the developer community (the Kinect Windows SDK and runtime is available for download today). It won’t be long before we start seeing some native apps that work with the Kinect that don’t involve clever hacking.

When Microsoft first introduced the Kinect for Xbox consumers fell in love. Using your body as a controller isn’t so great when moving through menus, but when playing games like Dance Central or the various fitness titles it added a new and fabulous layer to gaming.

Shortly after its introduction hackers and DIYers began poking at the Kinect to see what it was capable of. Since it connects to the Xbox via a standard USB port it could also connect to a regular computer. Within weeks someone had cracked the device and a slew of fun innovations followed. The Kinect was used as a 3D video camera, a sensor on self-driving robots, and to control a computer with gestures.

At first Microsoft appeared appalled by this turn of events, chiding people for appropriating their accessory in this way. Then within days they changed their official stance, embracing the DIYers. And soon after that they went even further and started working on a release version of the SDK, which allows developers to create apps or hook the Kinect’s functions into a program.

While the Kinect for Windows will likely bring the body as game controller thing to PC gaming, I’m more excited for other prospects. Gesture control for Windows isn’t even a far-fetched idea. Last week Josh wrote that there are already prototypes of laptops with a Kinect sensor embedded. That’s a little ways off from being a commercial product, but not that far.

I can’t wait to see what developers create for Kinect on Windows. Windows 8 in particular. Swiping around a computer as if it’s a tablet while not even touching the screen? Yes, please. And that’s a minor implementation. I expect to be wowed.

(Related: Tobii Demos Gaze Interaction For Windows 8)

Kinect For Windows Starts Shipping Today, SDK Ready For Download is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

After a ceremony celebrating the Lunar New Year chairman JT Wang talked strategy for the new year and said they would compete not on price, but on user experience. The notebook maker rose to the upper echelon in global sales a few years ago thanks to the popularity of netbooks, which put it on the map for many consumers.

Now that netbooks are no longer rising steadily, Acer doesn’t intend to let the momentum drop off. They’re going to dominate the mid market of $299 – $499 priced devices. That’s tablet and netbook country.

However, ultrabooks are the big story these days, and no one (including Acer) is selling one for anywhere near that price point. Wong claims that netbooks and ultrabooks will merge by 2014.

Does that mean ultrabooks will get down to netbook pricing by that time, as others have predicted, or that ultrabooks will also come in 10-inch sizes, thus cutting down on some costs? That would make me happy — a super thin 10-inch machine with a Core i3 CPU and maybe even Nvidia’s Kepler graphics? Sign me up right this instant.

I suspect that Wong is thinking more along price lines, not size-wise.

It’s good to know that the company isn’t abandoning netbooks completely. But i think I’ll be sad when one day they merge into the ultranetbookmachine or whatever it will be called at that point.

Thanks NebookNews!

Acer: Netbook And Ultrabook Will Merge is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

On first glance you might mistake this IdeaPad for a MacBook Pro thanks to the all-metal body, minimalist design, and skimpy port selection. Once you get beyond looks, the U400 impresses thanks to good performance and longevity. All in a package not too heavy to carry around if you need to.

Is the Lenovo IdeaPad u400 the right notebook for your needs? Read on to find out.

Who is the U400 For?

People looking for a sturdy mainstream notebook that won’t choke under heavy multitasking. Users who don’t intend to play graphics intensive games or need robust multimedia editing power. Those needing a portable yet powerful system that does more than an ultrabook yet isn’t so heavy that carrying it all day is a pain.

Design

The best way to describe the design of the IdeaPad U400 is to say: Imagine a MacBook Pro. Now put Lenovo’s logo on it.

That sounds harsh, I know. And unnecessarily reductive. But that’s not a knock on the IdeaPad. In broad strokes, the U400’s “one-piece aluminum shell”, “intelligent glass touchpad”, and chiclet keyboard all evoke the Apple aesthetic. At the same time this design is also a continuation of the U series look.

I think it’s more noticeable with the U400 because of the size. At 13.4 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches with a 14-inch display it straddles the the space between the 13 and 15-inch Apple models.

Though the notebook sports a sturdy all-metal design it only weighs 4.4 pounds. I like how the matte dusky gray aluminum feels under my fingers and hands. The lid could do a better job not picking up fingerprints, especially as there’s little to detract from them.

The bottom and back of the notebook are both smooth, so there’s no removable battery or discernible way to get at the innards to change the hard drive or RAM.

The disappointments in design come from the more practical areas. At this size the manufacturer had plenty of room to include plenty of ports, but instead we only get 1 USB 3.0 and 2 USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet and a slot-loading DVD drive. No VGA output and no SD card slot.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Not only does the U400′s keyboard look like the one found on a MacBook, it feels like it, too. It’s serviceable and comfortable, but doesn’t offer strong tactile feedback or the accuracy-upping dip in the center of the keys.

I’m used to IdeaPad keyboards not living up to the Lenovo standards given to the ThinkPad line, but I still wish for something more than “adequate” in this area.

Another annoyance is the shrunken Backspace and Shift keys on the right. They’re small to make room for a column of keys that no one needs as much as they need Backspace or Shift. I accidentally hit them so much I learned how to re-map keys to avoid the issue.

The wide glass touchpad is both beautiful and easy to use for basic mousing. The smooth glass surface offered no friction and offers precision and accuracy.

Executing typical multitouch gestures like two-finger scroll or pinch to zoom reveals how finicky and oversensitive it is for anything involving more than one finger. That sensitivity can be tweaked in the Mouse Settings of the control panel. Users will need to, as the defaults don’t offer a smooth experience.

There are additional three an four-finger gestures that mimic functions I’m more used to seeing in OS X. When you can get them to execute they’re useful.

Display

The 14.0 glossy display has a sadly typical 1366 x 768 resolution. On a screen this size I’d pay more for 1600 x 900 to take best advantage of the space.

Glossy screens tend to do well with colors and true, deep blacks, and this one is no exception. They also usually have narrow viewing angles; no exception there, either. Watching video is a pleasant experience as long as you keep the display positioned in the sweet spot.

Features

Audio quality on the U400 is impressive for a notebook. Volume is enough to rock out for real when necessary, and the bass and treble are round enough that music actually sounds as if it has layers. Still flatter than you’d get from external speakers, but better than average.

The 1.3MP webcam also offers better than average picture quality for an embedded model. Colors aren’t as deep as I’d like but are true. Plus there’s not much blur, even when you move around quickly. It’s capable of 720p video chat on systems that support it.

Multimedia fans will appreciate the inclusion of Intel’s Wireless Display Technology, which allows users to broadcast whatever is on the screen to an HDTV provided you have a the separate $99 adapter.

Performance, Graphics and Battery Life

My review unit (09932-9U) has an Intel Core i5 2430M processor, 6GB of RAM, and an AMD Radeon HD 6470M graphics processor backed by 1GB of video RAM.

In overall performance, the IdeaPad U400 did well. A monster multitasker won’t have any trouble running multiple programs and switching between dozens of tabs in Chrome or Firefox or both, as I did. Even with a traditional 5,400 rpm hard drive inside it booted in a snappy 46 seconds.

Graphics intensive tasks are another matter. Though the U400 has a discrete GPU, it doesn’t activate when needed at all times. AMD’s Catalyst Control Center utility will mark some programs as needing “High Performance” and thus activating the Radeon GPU. However, the average user won’t even know this is possible.

I discovered that the CCC didn’t think that Firefox or the image editing program Paint.net needed better performance when both of those should get it automatically. Users can manually change the settings for programs, but this is tedious and shouldn’t be necessary.

Even with High Performance activated users won’t find this satisfactory for anything beyond casual gaming on Facebook. Real games are playable, but framerates are slow enough that it’s not worth even loading them.

Video isn’t a problem, though. Even when streaming or watching 1080p clips I didn’t see any dropped frames. The notebook performed well when scenes transitioned from light to dark or with languid motion.

Whenever I used a program that taxed the GPU I noticed that the U400 got noticeably hotter. When just surfing the web and typing in Word it was cool enough to keep on my lap thanks to the breathable keyboard and vent on the left side.

But when watching streaming video or playing games the temperature went up. It got hot enough on the left side that I needed something between the laptop and my lap.

On the LAPTOP Magazine Battery Test (constant web surfing over Wi-Fi with the screen set at 40%) the U400 lasted for 6 hours and 3 minutes. A nice score from a notebook this size. With on and off use it could last you all day.

IdeaPad U400 vs. The Competition

The most obvious competitor is the MacBook Pro line from Apple. The U400 matches it in style and design easily. And at $884 it’s less than the least expensive model in the Pro line. However, when comparing graphics prowess the MacBook Pro 15-inch leads thanks to a more powerful GPU. The 13-inch Pro only comes with Intel’s integrated graphics, so the U400 has the edge.

Looking to slightly large systems, the 15.5-inch Sony VAIO SE is the same weight (4.4 pounds) and at 14.5 x 10.1 x 0.9 inches, not much bigger than the U400. The VAIO also has AMD graphics, but that GPU offered a better gaming experience. Plus you get a full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution on the display. The speakers on the VAIO are weak compared to the U400, as is the battery life.

The Bottom Line

At $884 the Lenovo IdeaPad U400 is a good value for a well-built mainstream notebook that offers excellent overall performance. If the middling graphics performance were the only drawback, it would be easy to recommend this notebook. The issues with the keyboard and touchpad are a big distraction, especially for such important components.

Gallery

Specs

Lenovo IdeaPad U400 Review is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

Intel’s ULV chips have come a long way in the past couple of years and made it possible for ultrabooks to deliver performance beyond good enough for mainstream users.

However, those of us who want a really portable machine that can also kick butt when it comes to processing video and images or maybe even playing a game or two have to look beyond ultra at the moment.

That won’t true for much longer. According to Fudzilla, Nvidia’s Kepler class of GPUs will be in some of the second generation ultrabooks.

This means users will get the benefit of a discrete graphics card but won’t have to sacrifice long battery life. This new class of GPUs will come with Optimus technology, which switches between integrated and discrete graphics automatically when needed.

Fudzilla’s sources say that Acer and ASUS will be in on this deliciousness, and Liliputing points out that the IdeaPad U410, coming in May, is supposed to have GMA 610 graphics.

If this does happen, ultrabooks will get a nice boost in performance. It’s not likely to be so great that you’ll be zooming through Batman: Arkham City at 100fps. However, if you’re a mobile professional who does some graphics work, it may mean the difference between going with an ultrabook or going with a heavier, bulkier system.

The Kepler class of chips will begin shipping in April, so we won’t see ultrabooks with switchable graphics until the spring or summer.

Switchable Graphics Coming To Ultrabooks Soon? is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

Sales are down here by 25% and embedded webcams are to blame. Almost every laptop and all-in-one comes with a webcam above the display. Though they’re usually low quality and low megapixel models, they’re apparently good enough for most people.

Logitech’s report readily admit this. They plan to raise sales by offering webcams that offer more than what you can get with most embedded models, such as 1080p video chat over Skype.

Still, I question whether this move will raise sales much. If embedded webcams are good enough for most people, why do they need 1080p video chat? HD video chatting is nice, but unless it’s an absolute necessity to see your dim living room rendered pixel-perfect, I don’t see why most people would bother.

The segment of the consumer market that needs or wants an HD webcam must be small. Even those who are very serious about video chatting or getting the best reaction video up on YouTube aren’t the majority. The larger portion of that market is in business/enterprise. Perhaps where Logitech’s energy should go.

Another aspect to consider is that HD video streaming takes up far more bandwidth than smaller, lower quality streams and taxes system resources more. Users with slower connections or older computers can’t take advantage, anyway.

Other than creating even higher definition webcams, what could Logitech do to get you to buy an external webcam?

If Embedded Webcams Are Good Enough, Why Do We Need 1080p Video Chat? is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

I know your pain. Some keys just get in the way.

The solution to this problem is simple: re-map troublesome keys so they act like different ones or turn them off all together.

You don’t need to manually edit the registry or have a lot of technical expertise to do this. There’s a program for Windows that will do it for you no matter what kind of PC you have.

Here’s how to turn off or change any key’s behavior:

Step 1: Download SharpKeys 3.5, compatible with Windows 7 on down to Windows 2000, and install.

Step 2: Make a backup of your registry just in case.

Step 3: Open SharpKeys and click Add.

The left column shows a full list of keys on your computer. Choose the key you want to change here.

You can also click the Type Key button underneath to quickly add the key in question.

Step 4: In the right column is the same list of keys. This is where you’ll choose what the key does going forward.

You can change it to a more convenient key — for example, when using the IdeaPad U400 I changed the pesky Home key to Backspace just in case I miss the real Backspace key.

If you want the key to do nothing, choose Turn Key Off (first choice in the list).

Step 5: Hit OK.

To can re-map multiple keys, start again at Step 1.

Step 6: Once you’ve added all the keys you want to re-map or turn off, click Write To Registry.

Step 7: Reboot or log off for the changes to take effect.

Now those pesky keys you don’t need will no longer trouble you. And the process is reversible. Just go back to SharpKeys again to delete or change key re-maps.

How To Turn Off Or Change Troublesome Keys In Windows is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

Another area where Chromebooks are increasing in popularity is education.

At the Florida Educational Technology Conference (FETC) ed-tech conference yesterday Google employees participated in a keynote roundtable where they discussed some of the school systems that use Chromebooks in the classroom.

Fifth grade student teaches a younger student how to use a Chromebook in the Chrome Buddy project in Tim Swick's classroom at Pontiac Elementary School in Richland School District Two. Source: Google Chrome Blog

The three highlighted districts in Iowa, Illinois and South Carolina purchased enough of the laptops to provide one to each of their middle and/or high school students. Overall schools in 41 states employ Chromebooks in the classroom.

The very aspects of Chromebooks that made the digirati scratch their heads actually make them a great solution for schools. Education-based IT directors point out that the notebooks are far easier to set up than traditional machines, don’t require technical expertise to use or troubleshoot, and students don’t need to use a specific unit each time to access past work.

Tom Cranmer of Richland School District Two in South Carolina even claims that behavior issues have gone down thanks to how “compelling” the devices are.

Something to note about the school districts Google chose to highlight: they’re all small. They appear to have just two high schools and two middle schools and, even more importantly, look to be in affluent areas. I’m curious whether any of the school districts using Chromebooks serve underprivileged students and, if so, how great a positive effect it has on their learning.

Now that Google has evidence of the popularity and effectiveness of their experiment in the field of education, I hope they consider sponsoring some programs in districts that can’t afford to provide laptops on a 1-to-1 basis.

HT: Liliputing

School Districts in 41 States Using Google’s Chromebooks in the Classroom is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

So why is it that there are still laptop designers and engineers in the world that think mucking around with keyboard layout and key size is okay? Not just on smaller systems like netbooks or 11-inch ultraportables, but on reasonably-sized 13 and 14-inch laptops?

I’m currently reviewing the IdeaPad U400. While I have mostly positive feelings about it, the positivity seeps away every time I accidentally hit the Home key when reaching for BackSpace.

I occasionally hit the PgUp key instead of Enter, but this isn’t as much of a problem. The Up Arrow crowding out my Shift key is, though.

There are two big problems with this layout. The first is that oft-used keys like BackSpace, Shift and Enter are smaller than they should be. These aren’t those funny keys people rarely use like ~ or ` or even | and \. These keys are used for almost every sentence written and most of the keyboard-based interactions one has with a computer.

Why, in the name of all that is electrically charged, would you mess with the size of these keys?

The second problem is that they’re smaller to make room for keys that do not need our time and attention. Why do arrow keys need to be that big? Why do Home, End, PgUp and PgDn need their own dedicated keys at all?

The only time I use Page Up and Down is when I’m on a laptop that has really terrible or no two-finger scroll on the touchpad. And that is a problem unto itself (and a separate post). It’s been years since I used Home or End. I stopped doing so when I started using more comfortable mice and touchpads became non-annoying.

These antiquated keys are there because they’ve always been there, but they are not as important as their placement indicates. Certainly not more important than a correctly-sized BackSpace or Shift key.

Lenovo, of all laptop makers, ought to know better. I know that the IdeaPads aren’t as robust as the ThinkPads and the keyboards aren’t the same, even when they look similar. Still, maybe the IdeaPad designers and engineers should wander over to where the ThinkPad designers and engineers work and take a peek at their keyboards. Do they have Home, End, PgUp, PgDn or arrow keys crowding out more important keys? They do not.

That’s a useful clue.

Dear Lenovo: Please Stop Making Terrible Keyboard Choices is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.