Grabbing a laptop with a built-in Blu-ray drive isn't at all difficult; finding one that's reasonably affordable, however, is. Starting today, users looking to pick up a new BD-equipped lappie can get their kicks for under nine bills, as the base model Inspiron 1525 can be fitted with a Blu-ray combo drive (and the requisite 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo T5550 processor) for the low, low price of $879. Kicking things up to a Blu-ray burner will tack on another $200, and given the 1,280 x 800 screen resolution, we get the idea you'll be utilizing that HDMI output in order to enjoy the 1080p capabilities (if it'll even reach above 720p). Still, the aforesaid configuration is pretty lacking in most respects (1GB of RAM, 80GB HDD, and a woefully underwhelming GMA X3100 graphics accelerator), but hey, at least you'll have Blu-ray! Grab yours now if you're situated in Canada, Europe or the US of A.

If you've been toying with the idea of ordering up one of Dell's XPS 420s, now wouldn't be a bad time to pull the trigger -- particularly if you're into CableCARD. Effectively immediately, users can configure their XPS 420 with single or dual ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuners, and each one will only add $180 to the bottom line. Reportedly, the option will become a mainstay on the model, and if you're cool with the basics, you can snag a CableCARD-equipped tower for just $1,079 right now. Decisions, decisions.

[Via Chris Lanier's Blog]

Yeah, so it's been a tick since we first got wind of Dell's master plan to equip the XPS 410 with CableCARD support, but it's good to see the wares finally available for purchase. Starting now, users interested in picking up a mid-range XPS desktop with single or dual ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuners can select either option when configuring their machine. The cost? $236 per tuner, which ain't too bad in the grand scheme of things.

[Via MSMVPS]

According to unconfirmed reports stemming from Taiwan (where else?), Michael Dell is pulling his company out of the LCD TV biz to return focus to its core PC efforts. Unlike Apple's ridiculous desktop display markup, Dell has concentrated on providing low-cost computer and home theater offerings, something particularly dangerous in the cutthroat LCD TV market, so it's not a total surprise to see 'em bail now. Dell is purportedly set to stop manufacture this month, so we should know soon enough how legitimate these reports are, a Dell spokeswoman wouldn't comment on the rumors, only stating that Dell currently sells LCD TVs in a limited number of markets.

Ever since Alienware's Hangar 18 popped out of hiding at CES, we haven't really heard mention of the name again -- until now, that is. Apparently, the company is planning to launch the Hangar 18 HD Entertainment Center "this week," but unfortunately, no specifics beyond that were doled out. In an interview with Bryan de Zayas, consumer segment marketing manager, and Marc Diana, desktop product marketing manager, it was noted that the firm was heading in a more "design-focused" direction, and while neither would discuss pricing, it was insinuated that base figures may not be as high as anticipated. Of course, this is Alienware we're talking about, so if you've been dreaming of a Hangar 18, there's purportedly just a few days left to scrounge up pennies from underneath stale cushions.

Get ready for hot, hot convergence kids 'cause the DisplayPort 1.1 specification was just approved. The new VESA-approved digital interface standard is meant to replace DVI and VGA ports while co-existing with HDMI for HDTV connectivity. As you can see in the picture above, it's about the size of a USB connector yet offers 2x the performance of DVI in a much smaller package. They also bake in a nasty dollop of HDCP 1.3 content protection to keep the Blu-ray and HD DVD kiddies happy. The wee size allows the interface to be included in smaller handheld electronics while enabling direct-drive LCD panels thereby eliminating the need for non-panel LVDS electronics in the monitor designs. Of course it also supports pass-through of DVI and HDMI signals via simple adapters similar to DVI-to-HDMI variety on the market today. So which of our esteemed manufactures will bite first? We're not sure, but VESA isn't shy about using Dell's high-end XPS systems in their marketing collateral. Of course, the question they don't answer is, why not just move everything to HDMI? For that, you just have to look at who backs royalty-free DisplayPort (the PC industry) and who backs HDMI (the consumer electronics industry). Yeah, we know.

Doth our eyes deceive us? Have we finally happened upon a real life computer with real life CableCARD after all these years? It looks like PC Mag's finally got that early review up of the Dell XPS 410 with ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner (and Blu-ray, to boot!), which we've come to find out is, unfortunately, still just a working prototype (read: not hitting the market just yet). That didn't stop them and their dual CableCARD tuners from jacking into some serious HD cable though. Interesting notes:

• Dell claims that the sales rep who takes the order for your CableCARD-equipped Dell box will also schedule an appointment with your local cable company to have the CableCARDs delivered and installed the same day your system comes. (Really? We're skeptical.)
• The initial CableCARD install apparently took three friggin hours to drop in, provision, and get running; one of the two tuners continually didn't work for PC Mag, which caused lingering issues. Both the cable company and Dell eventually had to reflash the tuner and CableCARDs.
• HD (and some SD) video had problems: "stuttering and video artifact issues". Bummer.
  
• Dell said "the company went with Blu-ray instead of HD-DVD [sic] simply because BD-RE is a writable drive now" -- does that mean when writable HD DVD drives are more commonplace Dell will offer both?
• Streaming live and recorded TV to your Xbox 360 works flawlessly, as expected.
• Blu-ray playback worked well with 3rd party apps, but like HD DVD, it can't yet be done in Media Center (yay DRM)
• The system hit some performance limits when playing back Blu-ray flicks and streaming or recording media. More power!
• We don't agree with PC Mag's assessment that "TV on Vista's MCE interface is still a niche product". Perhaps because many millions of Media Center PCs have been shipped -- but let's not split hairs.

There, are you as stoked as we are for this? Problems and crappy CableLABS DRM and CableCARD issues and all?

So Vista's been out for a little over a month now, yet hardware supporting one of its most anticipated features -- CableCARD compatibility -- is still nowhere to be found; we'd assumed that big names like Niveus and VidaBox would have had products ready at launch, but apparently the certification process is taking longer than they anticipated. Well the good news is that at least one manufacturer is planning to offer a compatible box in the near future: PC Magazine reports that Dell just sent them a pre-production XPS loaded up with ATI's TV Wonder Digital Cable tuner (external or internal is not made clear). The brief teaser article doesn't mention anything about a possible launch window, though, so don't go tossing your Series3 TiVo out just yet.

[Via Gearlog]

As you may have seen in our coverage of that other keynote going on today, Dell seems to have gotten into a bundling mood, announcing the Dell Home Media Suite set to launch soon after the release of Vista later this month. At the core of the setup is the familiar-looking XPS 410 desktop, packing a Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of memory, a 1 terabyte RAID disk array, and, especially notable, a digital cable tuner so you can fill up all that space with recorded HD programming. Dell's also not skimping on the monitor, throwing its just-announced 27-inch LCD into the mix, alongside a slew of other peripherals, including a set of Creative speakers, a Creative Live! Voice webcam, a Dell Photo All in One 966 printer, a Linksys Draft N router, and a Linksys powerline AV bridge. While Dell hasn't announced how much it'll cost to get all that delivered to your door just yet, if you add it up the parts (even with the inevitable discounts) you know it isn't going to come cheap.

Now that Dell's riding high on the Blu-ray bandwagon, what more could you ask for when picking up that now-BD-equipped M1710? How about a free flick from Mark Cuban? While we can hear the groaning in the back, ole Mark has decided to plug his very own HDNet by partnering with Dell and tossing in a free Blu-ray title -- "HDNet World Report Special: Shuttle Discovery's Historic Mission" -- with each XPS M1710 notebook. Although further details on the deal weren't readily available, it was implied that future Blu-ray equipped machines would also grace buyers with free BD titles of Cuban's choosing, and while you might not agree with Mark's antics, you can't really complain with free.

While Panasonic, Acer, and Sony all beat 'em to the punch, Dell is finally ready to get tangled up in Blu. The Texan computer giant has just announced the XPS M1710, its first laptop decked out with Blu-ray, which will read and write CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs, and will do 1080p at 48 Mbps. It also includes an Intel Core 2 Duo T7600 or T7600G processor, an NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 FTX 512MB video card, up to 4GB of RAM, and up to 160GB of storage. But that tall order won't come cheap, no sir -- we're talking starting prices at $3,700. However, Dell says it'll have 'em ready worldwide just in time for the holidays. Just hope your loved one doesn't already have a library of HD DVD movies sitting around if you choose to give one as a gift.

[Via Laptoping]

Sometimes it isn't the size that matters, but rather the quantity that is more impressive. Dolphin Stadium may have their gigantic HD billboard but, the home of the Dallas Mavericks is going to have nearly 500 Dell HDTVs installed in it. That's right, we said Dells. The tally starts with 185 42-inch plasmas for the luxury suites and commons, 23 50-inch plasmas for the more 'up-scale' areas, and 276 23- and 32-inch LCDs on the concourse. This is starting to be the trend and most major venues have flat-panels installed but not many use Dells. This could be a big coup for the computer maker. The American Airlines Center can hold 19,200 fans during the basketball season (18,00 during hockey) so that makes a whole lot of people staring at these Dell screens while they are waiting for their $6 beers.

We are sure you have seen the headlines all across the 'net about the latest acquisition in the technology world: Dell buying Alienware. But this is a high-def blog so what does this purchase do for us? Dell currently is selling the majority of what  Alienware's does but Dell does not offer any home theater style media centers; Alienware does. In fact, Alienware sells high-def media centers.

Hewlett Packard has been selling HD media centers for sometime now but they just have not marketed them well. Dell however, is a marketing giant. If anyone can put high definition media centers in American homes, Dell can.

Dude! You got a high-def Dell.

Oh that Dell. A few of you may remember way back in August when Dell conducted a double blind study of their plasmas vs Sony's. Their point was kind of...well...pointless due to Sony does not make consumer plasmas anymore so they did the same study but this time with Panasonic. 308 consumers were asked in 4 malls across the country which picture they preferred more. The brands were of course hidden but the price was not.

According to the study, Dell felt that there is little difference between Panasonic's TH50PX500U and Dells own W5001C. The results? Well when the Dell is shown with a $500 difference in the price it is preferred 57.4% of the time but when there is only a $100 difference it is preferred 60.2% of the time.

Now, I have never seen the Dell in person but I have seen the Panasonic a lot and can tell you it is a great TV as many of you already knew. Has anyone seen these two sets next to each other? Your conclusion?

[via TMCnet]