Santech can't wait for CES, lists a bunch of Sandy Bridge CPUs on new N67 laptop

Man, who needs to go to CES anymore? Intel's frailly maintained secrecy around Sandy Bridge processor identities has been blown to smithereens today by Italian systems integrator Santech. The company lists a now familiar Core i7-2630QM (quad-core, 2GHz) alongside an i7-2720QM (2.2GHz), an i7-2820QM (2.3GHz), and an i7-2920XM (2.5GHz), confirming once and for all that Intel has completely lost its mind when it comes to naming chips. Other specs include up to 16GB of DDR3 RAM, up to 750GB of magnetic storage or 160GB of the solid state stuff, a pair of USB 3.0 ports, and a 15.6-inch display that can be either glossy or matte, with a resolution of either 1366 x 768 or 1920 x 1080, depending on your preference and budget. Deliveries are said to start on January 27th and prices range between €1,200 ($1,577) and €3,000 ($3,943).

Source Engadget

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DIY Tron Laptop-Bag Project Will Leave You Glowing

Looking for a quick geeky task to keep you busy this Christmas? If so, then look no further than this neat DIY project which takes your average laptop-bag and transforms it, Tron-style.

We've covered a couple of Tron related stories these past few weeks,including the very real $55,000 lightcycle, but none have grabbed our attention quiet as much as this one; so much so that it even got a mention in our recent podcast. But why, you ask? Because, Tronifying your own laptop-bag is cheap and fairly straightforward — with more than just a little sewing and soldering required.

The cool glowing effect (pictured) is made possible due to the use of electro-luminescent (EL) wire and a tucked-away small battery pack. If you're not familiar with EL wire, it's a relatively cheap, flexible product that glows when a current passes through it. Thankfully, the end result looks pretty neat, meaning you won't look like this guy.

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Computing on the Go: A Road Warrior Survival Kit

The traditional notebook and netbook PCs have been joined by tablets like the iPad, and increasingly powerful smartphones to make computing while tethered to a desk almost a foreign concept. But, there is still a difference between a little Web surfing or text messaging on the go, and a business professional that relies on mobile technology to get the job done: a road warrior.

An Apple iPad might suffice as a mobile computing device for some--even the iPhone or top Android smartphones like the Droid X can do the trick in a pinch. Road warriors, though, have different needs and need a different bag of tricks to stay productive on the go. Here are a few things any stalwart road warrior could use in their survival kit:

Mobile Broadband Hotspot. One thing that desk workers sitting in an office take for granted is being connected to the network and the Internet. Mobile professionals can use public Wi-Fi hotspots like those at Starbucks or McDonald's--but those have some additional security concerns and may not always be conveniently located (although near my house you can find one or both in any given quarter mile radius).

A mobile broadband hotspot like the Clearwire Puck or the Virgin Mobile MiFI let road warriors set up personal Wi-Fi hotspots that connect over 3G or 4G cellular networks to access online resources from virtually anywhere.

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