Today Intel took the covers off the next Intel processor, Ivy Bridge. This new processor will begin production later this year and will likely find their way into your next notebook or mobile device in 2012. These new processors are able to come in smaller than the current processors thanks to the new 3D Tri-Gate Transistors which Intel claims will deliver a 37% increase in speed and use half the power of the normal 2D transistors.

2D vs. 3D - Close Up Inside Your Electronics

So, what does this mean for you? Well, because Intel was able to cut the power needed, it will be easier to deliver better battery life on Ivy Bridge. Thanks to the power enhancements, you’ll also get better performance, which is something that we have come to expect from new processors.

You can see a demonstration of the new Ivy Bridge Processors in action in the demonstration video below, which shows off gaming on these new processors.

If you want to see how small these new 22nm processors and the new Tri-Gate transistors are, you should squint and lean in really close to this page. Or, you could watch Mark T. Bohr get shrunk down to size to show you just how small the transistors are.

Intel Ivy Bridge 22nm CPU’s Announced, Feature “3D” Transistors (video) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Notebook battery life can be a big deal, and while many models offer long life and the ability to swap out a battery there are a wide array of external notebook battery solutions that can extend your life even longer. Tom’s Hardware has rounded up and tested 15 external notebook batteries that will help your notebook last longer.

Many average consumers won’t find the need for a portable power solution like one of these external notebook batteries to go with a $500 notebook, but if you are traveling, an outdoor enthusiast or really do need to stay powered for hours more than your traditional notebook battery allows, then these 15 batteries offer a glimpse at everlasting battery life — or at least as close as you can come today.

Tom’s Hardware tested the following external notebook batteries:

• Amstar MedXP 140
• Amstar MedXP 300
• Brunton Sustain
• Brunton Impel
• Digipower Universal Laptop Battery
• Electrovaya PowerPad 95
• Electrovaya PowerPad 130
• Energizer XP8000
• Energizer XP18000
• Lenmar PPU916
• PowerTraveller MiniGorrila
• PowerTraveller PowerGorrila
• Tekkeon MP3750
• Tekkeon MP3450
• Tekkeon MP3450i

The nice thing about these external notebook batteries is that if you can find a notebook that meets all of your needs except battery life, you can fix that with a relatively small purchase. Because these are external options that work with a number of computers, you can use them with several notebooks and when the extra weight is a problem, leave the battery in your car or at home.

Personally, battery life is a ranked higher than high end performance so I am always drawn to notebooks that can deliver long batter life on their own, but the ability to double battery life with a slice battery or an external notebook battery, is always a plus. Just watch out, as Apple like’s to make it difficult for battery makers like HyperJuice who produce external MacBook battery packs.

Via LaptopThoughts

External Notebook Battery Review Roundup and Showdown is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

There’s a winter snow storm coming for over a dozen states and if it actually delivers on the weather that is being forecast many of our readers are in for a period of isolation and possibly a lack of power or internet connectivity. Thankfully you can take a few steps right now to prepare yourself for the impending snowstorm so that you and your family are well prepared.

First and foremost you should make sure you have a good amount of food and if possible a way to keep warm if the power goes out. Popular options for keeping warm include space heaters that are powered by fuel rather than electricity and the fireplace. Unfortunately if you don’t have either of these you may have trouble finding them now since many stores are already sold out.

Another option is a small generator which can be used to power the essentials while you wait for power to return. Again these may be hard to find in the heart of the storm areas, but try your local hardware stores and rental locations if you can’t find one anywhere else. Milo.com is a good tool to use for finding local stores with stock left, but be prepared to call to verify that they have it in stock before you venture out.

As far as keeping your electronics charged so that you can track the storm on your phone, ipad or laptop you have a few options. If possible look for an extended battery for your phone or laptop. You can also get a USB cable to charge your phone from your laptop in case your local power is out and you need to top up. You can also get a power inverter which plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter and allows you to charge your laptop or phone with a regular power adapter.

If you don’t have a battery powered radio, or a gadget with one built in you should pick one up so that you can stay abreast of local news and weather information.

We recommend getting your items all charged up right now while you can, but also to make sure they are plugged into a surge protector so that they don’t get damaged by any surges or other electrical issues.

As far as keeping you and your family entertained, make sure that you have all of your favorite movies and games downloaded now in case you lose internet access. That means grabbing the DVDs, hitting up your local Redbox or video store and downloading some movies from iTunes rather than trying to stream Netflix and Hulu.

If you need to get online and the power and Internet have gone out you can use a MiFi device if you have one, or if you have a smartphone you may be able to plug it in and tether or turn it into a wireless hotspot to share your connection with the rest of your house.

The tethering or hotspot features are commonly found on Android phones from Verizon. You’ll have to call in and pay an extra fee for this ability, but you can cancel that portion of your plan after the next month if need be. There are ways of getting this for free by rooting your Android phone or by jailbreaking your iphone, but these aren’t the best steps to take the day before a snow storm unless you know what you are doing.

What do you do to keep connected and entertained when a storm is approaching?

How to Prepare for a Winter Storm: Tips to Keep Connected & Entertained is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The Alienware M17x is an incredibly powerful gaming laptop that is experiencing another round of performance issues. This time around users in the Notebooks Review forums are reporting stuttering audio when the graphics processor is under a heavy load, such as while playing popular games like Just Cause 2, Crysis and others.

Alienware is a Dell-owned high-end gaming laptop brand. Their computers have powerful specs and that may be part of the problem. The Alienware M17x is a 17-inch notebook with up to an Intel Core i7-940XM 2.13GHz processor and either an NIDIA GTX 285M GeFore or ATI HD5870 graphics processors. They can also be configured with up to 8GB of RAM and either 1.2GB of 7200rpm hard drives and/or a 512GB SSD. They are potentially powerful systems at premium price, starting at over $1,750.

Dell fixed a similar issue recently involving stuttering audio, but with that fix came a very similar problem that occurs when the system is maxed out. Dell has fixed the problem for new shipments but users on the Notebooks Review forums say Dell is not quick to replace previously shipped laptops with the problem nor have they issued a driver/software patch.

Below is a hands on video with the Alienware M17x:

Via Engadget

Alienware M17x Power Problem Causes Stuttering Audio is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The new Lenovo IdeaPad U550 features a 15.6″ screen which makes it the largest Lenovo consumer notebook to be available with an Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) processor, although you can opt to bump it up to an Intel Core2Duo processor if you need the extra power.

Speaking of power the U550 offers a helpful switch to manage your power usage. The U550 lets users switch between integrated and discrete graphics in an instant to better control their power usage and easily switch from work to play. There’s also an ambient light sensor that will adjust screen brightness based on your surroundings for better viewing and battery life.

The IdeaPad U550, which typically retails from $650, includes a 1.3 MP webcam, integrated fingerprint reader and weighs just over 5 pounds with the included 6 cell battery (6 hours).

KEY SELLING FEATURES

• 15.6inch HD screen (1366×768), 16:9 widescreen
• Up to Intel Coreâ„¢2 Duo processor technology
• Switchable Graphics switch between integrated Intel GMA X4500MHD and discrete ATI Radeonâ„¢ HD4330 512MB
• Up to 8GB DDR3 memory
• Up to 500GB HDD storage
• Integrated DVD drive
• Integrated 802.11agn/bg Wi-Fi, optional 3G
• From 24mm thick, weighing 2.4kg
• Ambient Light Sensor
• Fingerprint Reader
• Dolby® Sound Room surround sound
• OneKeyâ„¢ Rescue System 7.0 data recovery tools
• VeriFaceâ„¢ face recognition technology
• Lenovo Enhanced Experience for Windows 7 a faster, richer and easier way to use your PC

The IdeaPad U550 has the following ports and connection options:

• Connectivity: Ethernet 10/100/1000M, Wireless LAN, Intel® WiMAX/WiFi Link 5150 AGN (1×2), Intel® WiFi Link 5100 AGN (1×2), Lenovo b/g WLAN, Wireless WAN
• Ports: Kensington lock, 3xUSB, stereo headphone, built-in microphone, VGA, HDMI, RJ-45, 2xMini-PCIe, Wireless WAN SIM, 4-in-1 card reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS Pro), SIM

Additional images of the IdeaPad U550 are below:

Lenovo Announces IdeaPad U550; Easy to Switch From Work to Play is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Here’s a quick look at the XPal Power booth at CES 2009. The company makes extended batteries and solar panels for your notebook and other mobile gadgets.

Check them out in this 30-second video:

Learn more and buy direct from XPal

Xpal Power- Extra Power On the Go is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.