The ASUS G74 comes in two configurations, which both include a quad-core Core i7-2630QM CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M graphics with 3GB of video memory, 12GB DDR3 RAM (out of 16GB), dual 750GB 7200RPM drives, a 1080p display, Blu-ray player, backlit keyboard, and a USB 3.0. socket (along with three 2.0).

The G74SX-A1 is $1,745. There’s also a $1,979 version with a 3D display, called the G74SX-3DE. You can pre-order them now.

Toshiba has announced the new X770 Qosmio gaming laptop. This one has a more metallic enclosure compared to it’s predecessor and shrinks the display from 18.4 inches to 17.3 inches (1920 x 1080), which is obviously easier to carry around.

The standard configuration gives you a Core i7-2630QM processor, 8GB of RAM, 1.25TB of storage from a pair of hard drives, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M graphics. You can also get a separate X770 3D model, which sports a 3D webcam and gives you a pair of active shutter glasses. Both will be available in the next few weeks, starting at €1,300 ($1,850).

IBM’s Watson computer triumphed over its human competitors on Tuesday’s special episode of Jeopardy. The computerized trivia-playing machine finished out with a total of $35,734 in winnings with the next runner up at $10,400 and 3rd place at $5,000. One more day of competition will determine an overall winner to a $1 million prize.

The man vs machine competition has drawn quite a bit of attention with two Jeopardy! champions taking on the IBM supercomputer named ‘Watson’. The first special episode which aired Monday night turned out to be the highest rated episode since early 2007 and the second most program of the night.

Looking for a new gaming notebook? The MSi GT680R-008US, which is equipped with Intel’s new Sandy Bridge platform might be what you want. It’s powered by an Intel Core i7-2630QM CPU with 8GB of RAM and a total of 1TB of storage from a pair of 500GB 7200 rpm HDDs. It also packs an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M with 1.5GB of DDR5 RAM.

Other features include 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, THX TruStudio Pro, MSI TDE technology to help squeeze the most from your machine with accelerated CPU performance and MSI Cooler Boost technology. It also has USB 3.0 ports, built-in 720p HD webcam, and HDMI output.

Toshiba is launching a 3D notebook just like everybody else, with the Launch of the Toshiba Dynabook T441/D8B, which is one of the companies first 3D notebooks. The Toshiba dynabook 3D features a 15.6 inch LCD display with a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels, an Intel Core i7 2630QM 2GHz processor and a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics card.

Other specifications include 8GB of DDR3 RAM, a 750GB hard drive, a 0.3 megapixel web camera, one USB 3.0 port and three USB 2.0 ports. It also features HDMI, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and it will come with Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.

3D is still the in thing for manufacturers and now Fujitsu Japan is planning to offer another 3D item. The ESPRIMO FH/99CM desktop computer features a naked-eye 3D display, with the screen measuring in at 23-inches and it supports Full HD resolutions.

It should be available over in Japan starting February 25th for $3,100. Some specs include: A Blu-ray drive (3D Blu-ray support), Core i7-2630QM (2.00GHz) CPU, Intel H65 Express chip set, 4GB memory, 2TB HDD, IEEE 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, 2x USB 3.0 ports, four USB 2.0 ports and Windows 7 Home Premium (64bit).

Acer has announced the Aspire AS8950G-9839, which packs in some serious performance with a serious pricetag. The notebook starts at $1599.99 and boasts the new Intel Core i7-2630QM processor with Turbo Boost 2.0, ATI Mobility Radeon 6850 GPU with 2GB of dedicated video memory, 8GB of DDR3 dual-channel memory (upgradeable to 16GB).

Other features include an 18.4-inch edge-to-edge glass LED back-lit display with 1080p HD, and a Dolby optimized Acer CineSurround sound system with five built-in speakers and a dedicated subwoofer. If you have the money, you won’t have long to wait. The AS8950G-9839 will be available next week.

Acer has announced several new laptops, including the new Aspire 5750, 5750G and 7750G. The trio all feature Intel’s 2nd gen Core i7 2630QM CPUs. The Aspire 5750 and 7750 have up to 6GB of memory, while the 5750 is upgradeable to 8GB using two 4GB modules. The 7750G has a hard drive capacity of up to 750GB, while the 5750 has up to a 640GB HDD.

The 5750G comes with NVIDIA’s new GeForece GT 540M graphics, while the 7750G comes with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 6550 or 6650 graphics standard. All three models also boast LED, backlit displays, with the Aspire 5750 and 5750G measuring 15.6-inches, while the 7750G is a 17.3-incher with a resolution of 1600 x 900.

Toshiba has just launched several new laptops featuring Intel’s new processors. There’s the 15.6-inch Satellite A665 which has several processor options including the Core i7-2630QM and AMD Phenom II Dual and Quad Cores. Then there’s the 14-inch Satellite M645 that features the Intel Core i5-2410M as standard. Both have multiple graphics options up to NVIDIA GeForce or GT 525M with Optimus, up to 8GB of DDR3 SDRAM, and up to 640GB hard drives.

How about a Satellite A665 3D Edition which features a full HD, 3D-ready display and comes with NVIDIA’s active shutter 3D glasses and #D Vision IR emitter? Right now we don’t have any specific info on availability, but they will arrive in the first half of the year.

ASUS is ready to release five new laptops using Intel’s latest. The first is a gaming rig, the G73SW. It has an Intel Core i7-2630QM processor, 8GB of DDR3, Geforce GTX 460M graphics, USB 3.0, dual storage bays, and a 17.3-inch LCD with 1920 x 1080 resolution. It should start around $2,500.

Then there are the four less gamer-oriented models in the N53SV and N73SV series. All feature the same 2GHz processor and all have the new GeForce GT 540M processor and either a 15.6-inch, 1366 x 768 display or the larger 17.3-inch, 1080p display depending on the model.

Cheap Trick are living up to their name. Their latest trick is that their newest album will be released on an 8-track tape. Hows that for gimmicky marketing? On one hand, no one will ever hear your songs, but on the other, your stunt will get all kinds of publicity for when the tracks hit iTunes.

It will cost you $30 if you still own an 8-Track player. The new album is comprised of 12 songs broken into four sets of three songs each. It must have been hard to edit them to adhere to the four 10-minute slots on a standard 8-track.

Apple may act like the Microsoft Laptop Hunters ads are no big deal, but behind the scenes the company had a different response, according to Microsoft’s Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Turner. Turner says that he knows the ads are working because “two weeks ago we got a call from the Apple legal department saying [...] ‘Hey, you need to stop running those ads, we lowered our prices.’”

Turner also noted that “they took like $100 off or something,” and that it “was the greatest single phone call in the history that I’ve ever taken in business” He did however think it was a joke at first.

Today Dell filled out its mainstream notebook line with the Inspiron 17. The desktop notebook is rocking the same 16:9 aspect ratio display and thinner, more efficent LED backlighting as newer Inspirons but, matching its 17.3-inch size, has a higher 1600×900 resolution as standard. Processors are also faster and scale up to a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo.

The base price is just $499 with by a 2GHz Pentium dual-core, 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, Intel integrated video and Vista Home Basic. The battery is a minimal 4-cell pack. Buyers can choose Home Premium as well as up to 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, Blu-ray, a 6-cell battery and a dedicated 256MB Mobility Radeon HD 4330 graphics core.

Last month we learned that Circuit City may rise again, thanks to a buyout from Systemax Inc. That prophecy comes true within the next few days.

In a video embedded on the temporary splash page, the Systemax CEO claims that the new Circuit City will feature lower prices, a better selection, 24/7 customer service and faster shipping (which starts at $1.99). We’ll find out soon is it’s all talk or if they are going to walk the walk.

Looking for a neat place to hide those game codes as well as your various tiny trinkets and doodads? Well, here it is. A trinket box in the form of an original classic NES controller.

It’s from Etsy seller GeekGear. All of the buttons are glued into place, making look just as it did before it was modified. Great for keys, spare change, a thin usb stick may even fit inside. It’s storage is a little limited since the inside plastic has not been sanded down, but we love the simplicity of it.