Intel Core i3 530 arriving on January 4, now on pre-sale at PC Hub Gilmore

First listed on the price list of local computer parts reseller Enigma Technologies, Intel's Core i3 530 processor is now on pre-sale at PC Hub Gilmore. The asking price may still be a bit steep for some -- 5,999 Pesos -- especially for a dual-core CPU with a 133MHz FSB. This new Core i-series processor will be compatible with LGA1156 socket motherboards, which are available for as low as 5,000 Pesos. So perhaps there is a point to having a CPU this affordable and, ahem, underpowered (compared to even the i5 750). Expect the first batch of i3 530s to arrive by January 4th.

Source: [PC Hub]

Gartner forecasts PC shipments to grow this year thanks to netbooks, not Windows 7

The recent widespread adoption of netbooks (such as the LG X120) and other mobile PCs has driven global PC sales enough for Gartner Inc. to change their minds about their current outlook on the global PC market. Earlier this year, Gartner predicted an 11.9% decrease in total PC shipments for 2009, but now have changed their forecasts to say that PC sales will likely reach 162 million units this year for an increase of 15.4% over sales in 2008.

LG X120 netbook goes on sale in the US with AT&T contract

You may have known about it for literally months now and you might even own one yourself, but the LG X120 netbook is only now going on sale in the U.S., and it's going to come with a monthly AT&T 3G contract, at that. Available at RadioShack's web site and select brick and mortar stores, the LG X120 can be had for $179.99 plus the cost of a 2-year contract with AT&T that costs $60 per month. Somehow, I don't think that's the best way to spend your hard earned money this Christmas, but if you've been waiting out for this netbook then go on and help yourself. Continue reading for the full press release with more details.

Windows 7 outsells Vista by 234% during first week, PC sales not as great

In an earlier post, I told you that Windows 7 is more deserving of not just your time but also money at this point, and I'm not the only one who thinks so. During its first week of sales, Windows 7 outsold Windows Vista by as much as 234%, and that is a huge difference any way you look at it. One could infer that all those who bought Windows 7 believed that it was really a better choice for an OS, or that they just wanted to replace Vista on their computers. Either way, this is good news for Microsoft.

Not-so-good news falls on PC makers, however, as users who already own Vista-capable PCs neet not upgrade their computers anymore, so while PC sales went up by a bit, it's nowhere near as high as Windows 7 sales. One reason being cited by those in the know is that Windows 7 hasn't been successful in pushing the sales of tablets and other touch-based computers, despite its having full support for touch input and a comprehensive suite of touch-enabled programs. And the vendors themselves are the first to admit that this isn't going to change any time soon.

As for us, the users, let's just enjoy Windows 7 in the meantime regardless of whether we have it installed on a laptop, netbook or desktop computer.

Sources: [HotHardware, DigiTimes]