Archive for April, 2007
Sony will refresh its notebook PC line in July with a new 15.4-inch, 13.3-inch and 11.1-inch widescreen VAIO FZ, VAIO SZ5 and VAIO TZ series, according to forum members on NotebookReview web site. In addition, a widescreen 14-inch VAIO CR laptop and another 13.3-inch widescreen series - CZ - are rumored to come out at the same time.
The specifications summaries of forthcoming Sony VAIO notebooks indicate that FZ series will feature Intel’s next generation “Santa Rosa” platform and the new Core 2 Duo “Merom” processors, a 2GB of main memory, and up to 200GB hard drive.
Sony VAIO SZ5 series will feature current Core 2 Duos, 2GB of RAM and up to 200GB HDD, while the ultra-portable TZ laptops will be powered by Core 2 Duo ultra-low voltage CPUs.
All of these VAIO notebooks will have an integrated web camera.
There are no specifications of the VAIO CR and VAIO CZ available.
NotebookReview
[Source: laptoping.com ]
April 30th, 2007
Mobile computing solutions provider Data Evolution Corporation (DEC) has announced Cathena CX, its first ultra-mobile PC (UMPC). The 2.2 pounds convertible notebook-like Cathena CX, with suggested retail price of $799, is powered by an AMD Geode LX800 processor and features a 7-inch touch-screen with 800×480 resolution.
The Cathena CX has a 512MB of SDRAM expandable to 1GB, and ships with 40GB, 80GB and 100GB hard drive capacities. It is equipped with an 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, an Ethernet LAN and a Bluetooth 2.0, as well as with two USB ports, a Memory Card Reader (SD/MMC/Memory Stick/CF) and a video output providing 1600×1200 resolution on external display.
A Lithium Polymer Battery in Cathena CX UMPC enables five hours of continuous operation between charges, according to DEC.
Regarding input devices, there are a 77 key QWERTY Keypad (USA), a Touch Pad and a 5-way Directional Joystick, along with the mentioned touch-screen display.
DEC’s Cathena CX comes pre-loaded with Microsoft Windows XP Home, Professional or XPe (embedded) editions.
DEC says its UMPC is made for North American market. There is no information on its availability date.
DEC
[Source: laptoping.com ]
April 30th, 2007
Along with AirCard 875U USB mobile broadband modem, AT&T has announced the Option GT Max 3.6 Express ExpressCard, enabling notebook users to connect to AT&T’s 3G network.
The Option GT Max 3.6 Express and Sierra Wireless AirCard 875U, the products in AT&T’s LaptopConnect portfolio, can be used in conjunction with AT&T BroadbandConnect in more than 165 major markets ?— where users can download a 1MB file in about 15 seconds on average. Also, these modems provide the connectivity outside 3G-coverage areas on AT&T’s nationwide EDGE high speed wireless data network, according to the company.
In addition, both devices can be used in 125 countries, where AT&T has international data-roaming agreements, and are the only single-device, single-rate-plan and global 3G solution offered by a U.S. wireless carrier for their device types, AT&T says.
The Option GT Max 3.6 Express has been designed to work in newer notebooks with ExpressCard slots, and it features a flip-up antenna and Advanced Receiver Technology for improved 3G performance. The GT Max 3.6 supports Microsoft Windows XP, 2000 and Vista.
Option GT Max 3.6 Express is available for as low as $49.99 with a two-year contract and mail-in rebate.
AT&T
[Source: laptoping.com ]
April 29th, 2007
The “One Laptop per Child” (OLPC) project said on Thursday it might sell versions of its school children-friendly “XO” notebook in the United States, reversing its previous position of distributing these computers to only the poorest nations, Reuters reports.
“We can’t ignore the United States. … We are looking at it very seriously,” a OLPC founder Nicholas Negroponte told analysts and reporters.
The OLPC’s XO notebook, which was earlier claimed to be a “$100 laptop”, for now costs $175, and it will be able to run Windows in addition to its Linux based operating system, the report says.
Negroponte expects mass production of XO laptop, powered by AMD?’s processor, to begin by October.
Some reports say Asustek Computer Inc has scheduled for launch in the second half of the year its similar budget notebooks based on Intel?’s Classmate PC platform.
CNet
[Source: laptoping.com ]
April 28th, 2007
PC World in the United Kingdom has offered an innovative Philips X200 ultra-portable laptop with extendable display panel, which is “perfect for those users who need to be closer to their laptop screen without moving”.
Along with 12.1-inch widescreen display mounted on notebook’s “neck”, Philips X200 has Intel Core Duo ULV2500 ultra-low voltage processor at 1.2GHz, 1GB of main memory, and an integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator with up to 128MB of shared video memory. Regarding storage, X200 sub-notebook has 100GB hard drive and a DVD burner. The laptop features wireless connection and a 56k modem, but there is no information on Ethernet LAN support.
According to product specifications, Philips X200 has two USB ports, PCI Express slot and Firewire.
It has claimed battery life of up to 3 hours and weighs around 3.96 pounds.
The X200 comes with Windows Vista Home Premium OS pre-installed.
Philips X200 costs ??849.99 (around $1,700) at PC World’s UK store. Currently there is no information on its availability in the United States.
PC World UK
[Source: laptoping.com ]
April 28th, 2007
Fujitsu will enter the ultra-mobile PC market with its UMPC device, which design was showcased at Intel Developers Forum in Beijing last week, Tablet PC Review reports.
Fujitsu’s UMPC will feature the latest Intel “Stealey” A100 or A110 processor reportedly. Since “Stealey” is designed for use with Intel’s Ultra Mobile Platform 2007, codenamed ?“McCaslin?”, we assume the device will be based on that platform.
Fujitsu’s forthcoming ultra-mobile incorporates 5.6-inch (1024 x 600) display, 1GB of main memory, 40GB hard drive, two cameras and SD reader, according to report.
The UMPC is equipped with two-core battery and optional four-core battery that can last seven hours.
“It seems to have a nice Tablet PC design, since the screen rotates and lays flat over the keyboard. No word on pricing or when exactly this will be available, but rumors are saying maybe this summer,” Tablet PC Review says.
Tablet PC Review
[Source: laptoping.com ]
April 28th, 2007
Apple has released Battery Update 1.2 for MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops. The patch “updates battery firmware and improves battery functionality” and is released after the company discovered that some batteries used in its notebooks may have battery performance issues. However, if the affected batteries do not work properly after the installed Update, Apple will replace these batteries free of charge.
The factors causing the performance issues do not present a safety risk, so users may continue to use current batteries, according to Apple.
This battery update should be run on all MacBook and MacBook Pro computers and extra batteries that were purchased between February 2006 and April 2007.
If, after you have installed the battery update, your battery has any of the symptoms listed below, please make a reservation to bring your computer with its battery to your local Apple Retail Store, or contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP), or call your local Apple Support Contact Center. If Apple or an AASP determines that your battery is eligible for replacement, you will receive a new battery, free of charge, even if your MacBook or MacBook Pro is out of warranty.
For MacBook and MacBook Pro systems with Intel Core Duo processors, this program extends repair coverage on the battery for up to two years from the date of purchase of the computer.
Affected batteries will have one or more of the following symptoms:
* Battery is not recognized causing an ?“X?” to appear in the battery icon in the Finder menu bar.
* Battery will not charge when computer is plugged into AC power.
* Battery exhibits low charge capacity/runtime when using a fully charged battery with a battery cycle count (as shown in System Profiler) of less than 300.
* Battery pack is visibly deformed.
If your MacBook or MacBook Pro battery does not have any of the symptoms noted above, your battery does not need to be replaced.
Apple Battery Update Page
[Source: laptoping.com ]
April 28th, 2007
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Acer America Corporation, today announced a voluntary program for the replacement of certain notebook computer lithium-ion batteries containing Sony-made cells.
“As announced previously by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there have been 16 reports of notebook batteries overheating. These reports were associated with earlier recalls by other notebook computer manufacturers of batteries containing these Sony cells. These previous reports involved only minor property damage and two minor burns. None of these reports involved batteries in Acer notebook computers,” Acer published.
The following Acer notebook computer models sold in the United States and Canada may have battery packs affected by this recall:
Acer TravelMate Series Beginning with: 242x, 320x, 321x, 330x, 422x, 467x, 561x, C20x.
Acer Aspire Series Beginning with: 556x, 560x, 567x, 930x, 941x, 980x.
The battery packs included in this program were sold in the United States and Canada through authorized distributors as part of the identified TravelMate and Aspire notebook computers. In addition, these battery packs may have also been provided in response to service calls. The affected battery packs were shipped to distributors beginning in May 2004 and may have been sold at retail through November 2006.
“We encourage you to check to see if your Acer notebook may have one of these battery packs and, if it does, we will replace your battery pack for a new one at no cost to you,” the PC maker says.
The users of notebooks with affected batteries should only power their laptops using AC power until a replacement battery pack is received.
Last fall, when the world’s largest PC vendors recalled Sony laptop batteries used in their notebooks because of reported fire hazards, Acer said it won?’t need to make any recall related to that battery overheating problem.
Acer Battery Recall Web Site
[Source: laptoping.com ]
April 28th, 2007
Sierra Wireless today announced the AirCard 875U USB modem will be available from AT&T. The AirCard 875U USB modem offers tri-band UMTS/HSDPA connectivity for PC and Mac users, making it compatible with mobile broadband networks worldwide, with data speeds up to 3.6 megabits per second, Sierra Wireless published today.
?“As notebook computers become ever more compact, there are many users without a PC card slot who are looking for an alternative,?” said Dan Schieler, senior vice president, Worldwide Sales for Sierra Wireless. ?“The AirCard 875U offers the same reliable, high quality performance customers have come to expect from our AirCard products, and the flip-out USB connector allows customers to purchase it with the confidence that it will be compatible with not only their current laptop, but also with one they may be planning to buy in the future.?”
The Sierra Wireless AirCard 875U USB modem will be available May 7 in Cingular Wireless retail stores, online at www.cingular.com, through AT&T?’s wireless business-to-business sales organization and select national retailers. The Sierra Wireless AirCard 875U is available for as low as $49.99 with a two-year contract and mail-in rebate, according to Sierra.
[Source: laptoping.com ]
April 28th, 2007
Samsung has announced today the R55, the first laptop featuring hybrid hard drive, which combines a standard hard drive with built-in flash memory.
Along with 80GB hybrid drive at 5400rpm with 256Mb of OneNAND Flash memory, the 15.4-inch widescreen Samsung R55 incorporates Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 CPU at 1.83GHz, nVidia GeForce 7400 graphics card, Super Multi DL optical drive and Windows Vista Premium operating system.
When used for small chunks (up to 10Mb) of data in R55, Samsung claims hybrid hard drive had 26% improvement on data reading and 71% improvement of data writing speed, 32% lower power consumption and increased HDD longevity by 10%.
Samsung R55 is made for Korean market and is priced at around $1923. Currently, there is no information on its availability in the United States. Select Samsung laptops are available in U.S. via importers such as Dynamism.com.
Engadget | PC Joint
[Source: laptoping.com ]
April 25th, 2007
Previous Posts
