Around the Web - Apple, Apple KiIlers and Apple

Engadget reports that Duetsche Bank ditches the BlackBerry for the iPhone. I am not too surprised. 2011 is the iOS and Android year.  RIM needs to get QNX to the market fast.

Villman's has stocks of the Lenovo IdeaPad U260, one of the MacBook Air "killers" hitting the market. It is an interesting enough offering from Lenovo, with a 12.5-inch (yep 12.5-inch) screen. It maximum thickness is just 0.70 inches, just 0.02 inches thicker than the 2010 Macbook Air's, and a 3 pounds it weighs just 0.1 pound more than larger 13.3-inch Macbook Air. 

Price Php44,900, with an i3-330UM processor inside. A bit on the high side if you ask us. Our favorite MacBook Air alternative is the 11.6-inch 3 pound Acer TimelineX 1830T which can be had for as low us Php28,500 and give 6 hours of battery life. 

Laptop Mag has a reviewed of the IdeaPad U260 (i5 version) here. Quick take. Beautiful laptop but the battery runs dry in 4 hours, the U260's Intel HD Graphics cannot match the MacBook Air Nvidia graphics, and temps can hit 107F near the vents.

Laptop Mag also reviewed the new Asus U36J, another reputed MacBook Air killer. Asus confirmed the units are incoming to the Philippines, but we have been able to find one on the shelf yet. This has a 13.3-inch screen, is 0.76 inches thick and weighs in a 3.8 pounds. 

Okay is it a bit on heavy side to be considered a MacBook Air killer. But with an Intel i5 inside and Nvidia Optimus with Nvidia's G310M graphics, plus a battery that runs over 6 hours, it makes a good alternative. Given the slim design, temps can run hot, as high as 110F. 

How much? Our guess is Php49,990 to Php54,990. You can read Laptop Mag's review here.

Techie.com.ph reports that Apple is now the third largest PC Manufacturer in the world going past Dell and Lenovo, and Acer does not look to safe in second place.

Love Apple, hate Apple, it must be conceded with the iPad, iPhone, App Stores and the MacBook  Airs, Apple has been charting the direction of the mobile industry for the past three years.  We should not forget Asus and the netbook and Google and it's services and Android OS. Between those three companies, they brought mobile to where it is today.

Oh, and by the way. Happy birthday iPad. Things will never be the same again.

Posted in: Odds and ends,Smartphones,Tablets,Ultraportables (under 4lbs.)