After Intel’s prized second generation of SSDs suffered a deadly bug that affected over 99% of its user base causing it to be recalled over two weeks ago, Intel has finally issused a firmware fix. The non-destructive flasher ISO for the new 8820 firmware can be found here. Meanwhile, for those of us who didn’t snag one of these puppies before the recall, things aren’t looking too good. Newegg is still awaiting stock for both the 80GB and 160GB variants.

Intel X25-M SSDSA2MH080G2C1 – Out of Stock (ETA 8/28/09)

Intel X25-M SSDSA2MH160G2C1 – Out of Stock (No ETA)

If you’re willing to sacrifice a little bit of speed, durability, and future TRIM support, newegg is still selling Intel’s G1 SSDs at reduced prices:

Intel X25-M SSDSA2MH080G1 – $229.99 w/ Free Shipping

Intel X25-M SSDSA2MH160G1 – $445.00 w/ Free Shipping

Engadget recently took a look at the Dell Studio XPS 13, the XPS M1330’s glossy brother. It’s slightly improved over the M1330, with an nVidia 9500M GS graphics card, a stylish glossy-plastic-and-leather- lid, edge-to-edge glass on the display, and a matte keyboard. The Studio XPS seems to be not a replacement for, but a compliment to, the M1330. It feels like a more serious and substansial and machine–and it is. But it does have its flaws, including the small, oddly-placed touchpad and its weight–4.9lbs, one pound heavier than the M1330.

Being an M1330 owner, I wouldn’t give it up for one of these if I could exchange it for free. I prefer the M1330’s brushed aluminum palmrests, properly-aligned trackpad, and sexy red matte lid. The M1330 looks (and probably feels) much more slick than the Studio XPS 13, and despite its slightly slower specs, still remains Dell’s superior offering for mobility.

Legit Reviews took two of Intel’s new Nehalem-based Xeon server processors for a test drive today. These processors boast all of the advantages of the i7 series, including new instructions, Intel Turbo Boost, Hyper-Threading, and improved power management.  Two of these bad boys blow the Core i7 965 out of the water.

[Read Full Review]

What does $65 million buy you these days? How about a company named SiliconPower which is a big force in the SSD market? Western Digital thought it was a good deal. They purchased the company yesterday and they will be rebranding it as WD Solid-State Storage. They will produce drives for “netbook, client and enterprise markets”. Let’s hope WD brings some fast, affordable SSDs into the fray.

Measuring in at just 22mmx22mm, Intel’s shrunken Core 2 Duos are seriously small and seriously low-power, with a TDP of just 10W. They are scheduled to be released on April 19th for $152 per 1000, and about $70 to large notebook manufacturers. This follows their subtle release of low-power Core 2 Quads with 65W TDP. The new chips are to be used in ultra-portable PCs, which fall in between laptops and netbooks in terms of performance and power consumption.

[via X-Bit Labs]