Lenovo

Not that this will make any difference whatsoever to conspiracy theorists, but by this time next year, you won't hardly be able to find a new PC without a USB 3.0 port. Yes, we've heard all about how Intel is intentionally delaying adding native USB 3.0 support in its chipsets in order to promote its own Light Peak/Thunderbolt interface, but if even if that were true, it doesn't matter because as of right now, OEMs are content with USB.


In a phone interview with CNet, Lenovo talked up the USB 3.0 standard and how it's going to invade homes en masse next year.

"In 2012 USB 3.0 will a mainstream technology," said Jason Parrish, worldwide product manager for Lenovo ThinkPad. "And we see 2011 as the transition year for USB 3.0, as it starts to come into more and more products."

We're already seeing a number of PCs sporting SuperSpeed USB ports, and outside of select Macs, Thunderbolt is nowhere to be seen. That might not change in the near future. HP recently stated that, while it's looking at Thunderbolt, it isn't convinced it's needed and hasn't been able to find a value proposition for Intel's spec just yet.

Lenovo wasn't willing to go as far as HP, but did say it will ultimately be up to the customers to decide if they want Thunderbolt.

"[Thunderbolt] is definitely an interesting technology. It's clever to use the same connector as Mini DisplayPort," Parrish told CNet. "There's certainly not a desire to add more ports to a notebook, because it takes up space... We're talking to our customers... And assessing if Thunderbolt is the technology" they need.

Toshiba Qismio X770 Laptop

We remember being told growing up not to stare because it's rude and impolite, but we were never warned how difficult this one of many life's rules would prove to be. It's hard not to ogle over something as sleek and sexy as Toshiba's Qosmio X770 laptop, and if the real deal ends up looking anything like the pictures, this particular Qosmio will just have to get used to it


The X770 is the more powerful successor to the X500. Beauty in this case isn't only skin deep, but on the inside as well. Baseline specs include:

* 17.3-inch Full HD display (1920x1080) with optional Nvidia 3D Vision
* Intel Core i7 2630QM (2GHz, 2.9GHz Turbo Boost)
* 8GB DDR3-1333 RAM
* 1.25TB (Hybrid 500GB 7200RPM + 750GB 5400RPM)
* Nvidia GeForce GTX 560M graphics
* DVD burner (Blu-ray optional)
* 1 x USB 3.0, 3 x USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA
* 8-in-1 memory card reader
* Harman Kardon speakers
* HD webcam (3D optional)
* 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
* Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Not a bad starting point, or even finishing point as the case may be. Look for this one to ship in the next few weeks for starting at around $1,850.