Shuttle has announced the shipment of 6 new Small Form Factor (SFF) Windows Vista models. All the aluminum case PC systems will ship with either Windows Vista Home Basic, Premium, Business or Vista Ultimate.

“The next generation of Windows surely sets high standards for the hardware that is used in today’s PCs. With the launch of Vista, Shuttle ships a number of different models with Windows Vista for the fields of application Gaming, Home and Business,” explains Tom Seiffert, Head of Marketing & PR Europe, Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH.

All models come with their SilentX power supplies optimized to prevent noise from air turbulence which make are famous for their quiet running. The noise pollution is further kept to a minimal with their better heat solution: the Integrated Cooling Engine (I.C.E.) heat pipe technology.

Specifications of the pre-configured models include:

* Shuttle XPC P2 3700GC with Windows Vista Home Premium
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300, 1.024 MB DDR2, 250 GB SATA HDD, NVIDIA Geforce 7600GT Graphics, Gigabit-LAN, 22-in-1 Card Reader, Dual Layer DVD Writer

* Shuttle XPC G2 3200BB with Windows Vista Business
Intel Celeron D 352, 1.024 MB DDR2, 80 GB SATA HDD, Intel GMA 950 Graphics, Gigabit-LAN, 22-in-1 Card Reader, DVD-ROM

* Shuttle XPC G5 3200HC with Windows Vista Home Premium
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300, 1.024 MB DDR2, 250 GB SATA HDD, NVIDIA Geforce 7600GT Graphics, Gigabit-LAN, 22-in-1 Card Reader, Dual Layer DVD Writer

The three other Shuttle XPC models (Shuttle XPC P2 3700G, Shuttle XPC G2 3200B, Shuttle XPC G5 3200H) are individually configurable.

Product Page [Shuttle]

The worlds most exciting computer manufacturer has come up with the latest addition to their range. This time Alienware has on offer the ultimate game players machine, and it would have to be with the price tag of $5,129.

The Area 51 7500 is powered by an Intel quad core 2, extreme processor which is combined with a nVidia Geforce 8800 graphics card. This machine has a lot of power available to the user, whatever the purpose the computer is being used for, so although these machines are often regarded as gamers machines, they are a very powerful addition to any business particular those involved within the media sectors.

The Area 51 7500 comes with a storage capacity of 550 GB, RAM of 2048 MB and the primary optical drive is a Dual Layer DVD+/-RW, put together in a package that works well, even if it is on the rather expensive side.

These machines have a reputation of being loud or noisy while running and should you be consider purchasing this machine, don’t forget to buy a new monitor and some speakers as despite the hefty price tag they do are not included.

Product Page [Alienware Corp]

Apple continues to break records for revenue and profit thanks to a surge in sales of Macs and the illustrious iPod. Apple announced first quarter earnings for fiscal year 2007, ending December 30, 2006. They managed to push through over 21 million iPods during the quarter (that works out to about 162 iPods per minute!) and 1.6 million Macs. These numbers represent a 50% and a 28% increase respectively for those products versus Q1 2006. I personally helped to contribute to that number by buying 2 iPods (one video, one shuffle) as gifts for the holidays. All those Macs and iPods add up to a 78% revenue increase versus Q1 2006.

The bottom line is that Apple, the company that was pretty much written off the map 10 years ago, posted a profit (yeah, that’s actual money in the bank) of $1 billion. To me, that’s simply amazing. I know that other companies post bigger profits than that, but think about the size of the market that Apple caters to. As far as computers are concerned, Macs are barely on the map at like less than 5% of the total market. And I know the iPod has a huge market share in the mp3 market, but it’s still amazing what this company has been able to pull off in a fairly short time span.

And let me insert my disclaimer here, I am a Mac user. Yes, I am probably the biggest Apple fanboy out there (I ordered my Apple TV as soon as it was available online at the Apple Store) but you have to respect a company that has made all the right moves to become a dominant force in the computer/technology industry. And now that the company has dropped the “computer” from it’s name, I can only think they will be venturing forth into other areas.

But will Apple be able to maintain the dominance as a consumer electronics company? Could they be the new Sony? Time will only tell, but we could get a hint of that dominance in June with the (proposed) release of the iPhone (or whatever they may have to call it). I’m looking forward to seeing what Apple will do. However, my credit card is not so hopeful…

Read [Apple] via [DailyTech]

On show at the CES 2007 but not too much talk about it from the manufacturers, Alienware’s Hangar 18 is a show stopper. Rumor is that this PC home theater system may be unveiled at the Windows Vista launch.

The juicy details on what may be running under this beauty - an AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor with up to 2GB memory, slot-loading DVD/CD player/burner, 1.5 terabytes of harddrive space to store your high-def content, four TV tuners (two analog and two digital), a stereo receiver with built-in 1000W amp and subwoofer, Bluetooth, wireless 802.11a/g, and front inputs for a raft of memory standards: Compact Flash I and II, SD, Mini SD, MultiMedia Card, Memory Stick, and Smart Media.

Product [Alienware]

Ringing in the new year, Apple.com have put this little teaser on their website: “The first 30 years were just the beginning. Welcome to 2007.”

I’m touched by the greeting, but what does it mean?

Last time we had teasers like this from Apple was in 2002 which led up to the release of iPhoto and OSX, the flat panel iMac and the 14″ iBook only weeks after the teasers.

Is 2007 the year of the iPhone? iTV? A new OS? We’ll keep you updated.

Read [Apple]