USB 3.0 Notebooks Start to Trickle Out, Let the Buying Begin

It doesn't take a visionary to know that USB 3.0 - having distributed peripherals with faster data access than hard drives of the recent era - is just around the corner and is shaping up to be a game changer. Since we will all likely find a good use for USB 3.0 very soon, whether to buy or not may be hinged on the inclusion of the interface. There's also the option of ExpressCard USB 3.0 cards, but even those are a bit of a hassle compared to built-in hardware. For those of you smartly putting off a purchase waiting for USB 3.0 included in a laptop, here are your current options.

The HP Envy 15 and the Asus NX90 were making the rounds at CES, and both sport SuperSpeed USB ports. They are both standard-sized notebooks carrying some of the hottest new technologies. The Asus NX90 is a multimedia behemoth; the 18" laptop is capable of 1080p display, and boasts the hot Core i7 processor. Along with e-SATA and HDMI output, USB 3.0 is packed inside this bad boy. There's also dual touchpads for a variety of soon to be imagined uses. The Asus may cost a bit more than the standard laptop ~$2000, but the rest should be pretty nominal. More should be on the way soon if those don't tickle your fancy. The Asus laptop and another from Fujitsu carry the USB-IF stamp of approval, more should follow soon.

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