Lenovo claims the IdeaCentre Q180 is one of the smallest HTPCs out there-- with a casing just 22mm thick packing a 2.13GHz Intel Atom dual-core processor, up to 4GB DDR3 RAM and either a 750GB HDD or 128GB SSD for storage.

A Radeon HD 6450A graphics card handles 1080p video output, with Blu-ray drive, 7.1 channel surround sound and DirectX 11 support. Video connections come through VGA and HDMi, as well as S/PDIF for HDTVs and sound systems.

A VESA mount allows one to fit the PC anywhere in the Continue reading...

Are your customers demanding increasingly smaller PC hardware? The latest VIA pico-ITX might fit their demands-- the ARTiGO 1150, a DIY PC kit packing a dual-core processor in a portable chassis.

Measuring 14.6 x 9.9 x 5.2cm, it carries a 1GHz VIA Eden X2 64-bit dual-core processor, together with HDMI and VGA display connectivity, HD video support, full Gigabit networking, up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM, wifi support and x5 USB ports.

It even has space for an optional SD card reader module, as well as Continue reading...

FXI Technologies wants to bring Android on nearly any device carrying a display and USB-based storage support with Cotton Candy-- an Android-powered computer inside a tiny USB/HDMI stick.

The little device packs a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 and a quad-core ARM Mali 400MP GPU and handles HD video, wifi and Bluetooth connections and up to 64GB of microSD storage.

It connects to either PCs (via USB) or HDTVs (via HDMI and Bluetooth-using peripherals), providing an Android 2.3 environment complete internet Continue reading...

W. European PC shipments total 14.8M units in Q3 2011-- an -11.4% Y-o-Y decline according to Gartner. The analyst rightfully describes the results as "unpleasant reading for the PC industry."

After all Q3 is traditional "strong" consumer quarter, being the back-to-school sale season. Thankfully, the inventory build-up slowing down the last 4 quarters appears to be clearing up.

The mobile PC market declines by -12.6% Y-o-Y-- mostly due to the sharp decrease of over -40% in mini notebook shipments-- Continue reading...

Thunderbolt technology is a new Intel high-speed PC connection technology that brings together high-speed data transfer and HD display on to a single cable.

Running at 10Gbps, Thunderbolt technology can transfer a full-length HD movie in less than 30 seconds. This Intel-developed technology comes to market via collaboration with Apple, so it’s first available on Apple's newest line of MacBook Pro. But in Q4, you’ll start seeing Thunderbolt in other brands.

Intel is working with the industry on Continue reading...

With Windows 8 aiming at more touch-friendly devices, it makes sense for Lenovo to launch the C325-- an all-in-one desktop PC with a multitouch display.

It carries a 20" 1600x 900 LED backlit display (also available as non-touchscreen), dual-core AMD E450 processor, integrated Radeon HD 6320 graphics, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD, webcam and built-in DVD writer.

Lenovo also includes the IdeaTouch touch-optimised application package, and the Eye-Distance and Dynamic Brightness System automatically adjust monitor Continue reading...

Jon Peddie Research reports WW Q3 2011 GPU shipments are behaving according to "growth quarter" seasonality with shipments reaching 138.5M units with 16.7% Q-o-Q and 18.4% Y-o-Y growth-- a change of pace in an unusual 2011.

The average number of GPUs per PCs is also on the rise-- from an average of 115% in 2011 to almost 160% GPUs, according to JPR.

Intel remains the GPU market leader through Core i5 EPG CPU, Sandy Bridge and Pineview Atom sales for netbooks, taking over 60.4% of global Q4 201 Continue reading...

EMEA PC shipments total 26.6M units in Q3 2011 according to Gartner-- a -2.9% Y-o-Y decline, the 3rd consecutive decline for the market.

Consumer demand remains weak in, with lower sell-in to the channel.

Gartner says Q-o-Q growth provides a better picture of the market due to the current uncertain environment-- in which case the market shows 17.1% Q-o-Q growth, higher than seasonally expected and a sign of potential stability after 4 weak quarters.

The Gartner totals include desk-based and mobile Continue reading...