Bing, Microsoft's new search engine, is live and ready for your queries. Like all search engines, Bing is supposed to make it easier to find what you're looking for, but it is still under consturction and Microsoft has slapped a "Preview" label on it.
When the economy is this bad, the first expenditure put on the back burner is usually technology devices. Here at notebooks.com and gottabemobile.com, we understand the importance of staying connected while on the go no matter what the circumstance. So as part of the Gadget Stimulus Plan we launched in April, we are offering up a red refurbished Blackberry Pearl 8100. This unlocked phone comes courtesy of geeks.com. Read on for contest entry information:
Dell's been promoting two lines of gaming notebooks since it acquired Alienware. But things sure are changing with the introduction of the Alienware M17x. The Alienware M17x is the will be sold directly by Dell and the XPS line will no longer cater to gamers. 
LaptopMag.com did a full review of the new Mini 110 and found that HP seems to have addressed some of the issues lacking in the Mini 1000 but not without compromise. The Mini 110 has a VGA port, matte antiglare screen, and three USB ports. But it's slightly thicker and heavier than HP's first consumer netbook. 
Microsoft will release its new Bing search engine worldwide on June 3rd in an attempt to recapture some of the market share lost to Google. Bing offers a dynamic searching experience with each query having a customized refining of possible matches using an algorithm to offer several categories of search results. Your search results will be organized into different subcategories collectively called Guided Search depending on relevency to your original search terms. One of the things I dislike about the current search engines available is the sheer volume of irrelevent clutter interspersed within the results. Hopefully, Bing's technology will offer a new solution to this problem, which will increase productivity and decrease time spent clicking on links that are otherwise useless to the original search query. TechCrunch has a write-up on first impressions using a pre-release version of Bing. 
Dell announced the availability of the Studio 14z notebook aimed at providing students with a highly desirable notebook. Following industry trends, the Studio 14z is the thinnest and lightest Studio notebook to date. It features Intel's latest Core 2 Duo processors, up to 5GB of RAM, 500GB HDD, a 720p or 900p 14"HD screen, and a 6-cell battery (with an 8-cell option). Acknowledging the next generation of students' penchant for media consumption, the 14z also comes with an NVIDIA GeForce 9400 integrated graphics processor that is claimed to outperform many entry-level discrete graphics cards and 4-watt SRS 2.0 integrated speakers with separate tweeters. A 1.3MP webcam is also integrated with dual array microphones. Prices start at $649 and is available for purchase now. 
Acer updated its Aspire One line with the AOD150 not too long ago and now laptopmag.com has just reviewed the updated AOD250 we covered last week. The specs are pretty much standard run of the mill for netbooks but the AOD250 comes in at 0.3 inches thinner and over half a pound lighter than the AOD150. Unfortunately, the only thing that has really changed from the AOD150 to the AOD250 is the physical size and weight of the device. The AOD250 still uses Intel's Atom N270 processor while its competitors have started to switch to the nominally faster N280 processor. Pricing is a definite strong point for the AOD250, starting with a $289 buy-in price for a 3-cell battery unit. 6-cell battery units cost $349 and offers roughly double the battery life (almost 6 hours run time). Check out the laptopmag.com review here. 
Apple's offering students a free iPod Touch with the purchase of a MacBook, MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. The 8GB iPod Touch retails for $229, but is free after rebate as long as it's purchased directly from Apple or your school's computer store. 
HP announced a new, affordable mobile thin client today. The HP 4410t is based off of the recently released ProBook series and is designed with security in mind. Mobile thin clients look just like any other notebook, but lack local storage devices. Instead, they connect to a server to access files and applications. 
HP's introducing the Mini 110, an update to its netbook lineup. The Mini 110 has several improvements compared to previous HP netbooks including larger drive capacities, improved graphics performance and more color options. 
Lenovo announced the G550 notebook today. This is a pretty basic notebook designed for business users and will start at $599. The Lenovo G550 has a 15.6" display, Intel processors, up to 4GB of RAM and up to a 320GB hard drive.
Lenovo introduced the thin and light IdeaPad U350 today This notebook features a 13.3" display, measures less than an inch thick and weighs just 3.5 pounds. The IdeaPad U350 will be available starting in July for $649, which is pretty affordable compared to other good looking notebooks this size.
Lenovo's officially introduced the first notebook to feature NVIDIA ION graphics. This new graphics platform offers outstanding graphics performance without sacrificing too much battery life. The IdeaPad S12 will be available in the U.S. soon for $449. I got a chance to play with a pre-production IdeaPad S12 and shot a quick video.