Intel to Push Ultra Low Voltage Tech into Mainstream

Channel Register posted some comments made last week during CeBIT 2009 by Intel’s mobile marketing director, Karen Regis, as well discussing the roadmap Intel is laying out for some of its mobile platforms.

First, the Montevina Plus platform, sequel to last year’s Montevina, would be rolled out by Intel starting sometime in the second quarter. This platform would see Intel Penryn CPUs clocking in at 3GHz or faster. High Definition content/video would also see a boost from Montevina Plus.

Next, and most important to those of us interested in smaller laptops/notebooks and other ultraportables, Intel would be making it’s Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) technology available to mainstream devices. The best example of Intel’s current ULV deployment includes the 13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air and Samsung X360, with the upcoming MSI X-Slim X340 being an example of the newer deployments.

Intel wants to get ULV tech into cheaper platforms, with the MSI X340 being a prime example - Intel wants to see these in systems costing around $599 - $1,000 USD. These are full systems and not scaled-down ultraportables like “netbooks” or MIDs.

Read: Channel Register

Fujitsu LifeBook P1630 at the FCC

Last week we mentioned that supplies of the convertible 8.9-inch Fujitsu LifeBook P1610 and P1620 seemed to be drying up and that a sequel might be on the way.

That sequel has shown up at the FCC in the US. It’s very similar to the past P-series models, with updated chipsets (including a major graphics chipset update) and CPUs.

The users manual is included at the FCC site.

Both Windows XP Tablet PC and Vista are mentioned in the manual, and there are two CPU choices, both still Ultra Low Voltage (ULV).

Specifications from the FCC Test model and manual:
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Lenovo ThinkPad X301 Announced

About two weeks ago, a website (hknotebook.com) mentioned the Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablet (or X200T). This got a lot of people talking, but lost in the hoopla was the same site listing a Lenovo ThinkPad X301 (along with the Lenovo ThinkPad X200s). A few of us wondered if this was an Asia-only version of the 13.3-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X300, if it was a misprint (didn’t seem like it given the specs), or if it was going to be something similar to the ThinkPad X61s setup.

It looks like it’s a stand-alone ultraportable, in the same vein as the X300. Yesterday, a few sites got wind of the X301 officially being announced this coming monday (August 18, 2008).

Lenovo’s press release claims that it’s nearly 20% better performance-wise, by moving to the fastest DDR3 memory available as well as a new Intel Core 2 Duo CPU. The HKBU website that orginally unveiled the X200 Tablet as well as the Lenovo ThinkPad X200s lists the CPU as the Intel SU9400, which is a 1.4GHz Ultra-Low Voltage (ULV) “Penryn-3M”, 45nm, with 3MB of L2 Cache and an 800MHz FSB and a really low TDP of 10W. A new SSD option has been added as well - 128GB, as well as a DisplayPort port.

Outside of new CPU, new external display options, and new storage options, the overall design remains basically the same.

The release date for the Intel SU9400 is September, 2008, but Lenovo is claiming that the X301 will be available on August 26, with a starting price of $2,599.

No word on release of the ThinkPad X200s - like the X301, it’s CPU (SL9300) is not slated to be released by Intel until September, 2008.

Read:
- InformationWeek
- SlashGear (contains official press release).

Dell Latitude E4200 & E4300 - Photos

Both Engadget and Electronista have published up-close photos of the 12.1-inch Dell Latitude E4200 and the 13.3-inch Latitude E4300.

They didn’t limit themselves to the smaller models of course, included are images of the 14-inch E5400 and E6400, and 15.4-inch E6400 and E6500. Obviously a lot of thought was put into the designs. You can also catch some of the new colors being added to laptops in the Latitude series, including Regal Red.

Engadget:
- Good image of the E4200 keyboard
- Another good image of the keyboard/right side
- An overall image of the laptop
- Monitor stand/E-port

Read:
- Engagdget
- Electronista

Dell Latitude E4200 Officially Announced

The 12.1-inch Dell Latitude E4200 has also been officially announced, although price and release date have not been mentioned (well the press release mentiones it’ll be released in a few weeks).

In addition to being released in the same colors as the 13.3-inch Latitude 4300, Mica-Brushed Metal, Regatta Blue, Regal Red, the E4200 is also being released in Quartz Pink.

The E4200 is running on the Mobile Intel GS45 Express Chipset and is powered by an Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) Intel Core 2 Duo. There is 1GB of DDR3 memory built-in, with an open slot that can handle up to 4GB of memory, for a total of 5GB of memory.

For storage, you have a choice of either a 64GB “UltraPerformance” Solid State Drive (SSD) or
a 128GB SSD. There is an encrypted hard drive option.

It has an LED-backlit 12.1″ display (1280×800) and for graphics it has an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD chipset

- Dell.com - Press Release

Dell Latitude E4300 - Officially Announced

It’s been officially announced, the Dell Latitude E4300 should be available in a few weeks.

It’s based on the Intel Montevina platform, and has a 13.3-inch LED-backlit display.

Representing a first, the E4300 will be available in various colors: Mica-Brushed Metal, Regatta Blue, Regal Red and

Features:
- Up to 8GB Memory (with Windows Vista 64-bit)
- SSD options available
- Encrypted HDD options available
- “Dell ControlVaultTM secure credential management” for business users

Dimensions:
Width: 12.2 inches / 310 mm
Depth: 8.6 inches / 217.4 mm
Height: 1 - 1.1 inches / 25.4 - 29 mm
Weight: 3.3 pounds / 2.75 kg (4-cell battery)

No word on price.

- Dell.com - Press Release

HP 2133 Mini-Note Review (TrustedReviews)

Andy Vandervell, of TrustedReviews, has posted a new review of the Linux powered version of the 8.9-inch HP 2133 Mini-Note, giving it a 7 out of 10. This version of the 2133 retails for between $500 and $600 USD (some places are changing the price almost weekly depending on supply).

A lot of people mention the HP 2133 Mini-Note as almost feeling like something Apple designed, and Andy commented on this, saying If the Eee PC borrows the MacBook’s iconic white finish, the Mini-Note PC feels far more like a product produced by the house that Steve Jobs built.

The biggest difference between this version of HP’s sub-notebook and the more expensive versions is the CPU, a 1.2GHz VIA CPU that Andy felt was underpowered when it came to video playback.

Read: TrustedReviews

Leaked: Dell Latitude E E4300

In addition to the a fore-mentioned Dell Latitude E4200, Engadget also posted the specifications of another laptop in the Latitude E series, Dell Latitude E4300. Unlike the 12.1″ E4200, this one comes with a 13.3″ LED-backlit widescreen display.

It’s also considered a sequel to the Dell Latitude D430. You saying “it’s a 13.3″, the Latitude D430 was a 12″1″, and yes, you would be correct. However, the E4300 weighs less than the D430. Unlike the E4200 which runs an Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) CPU, the E4300 will be running a full-speed/standard-voltage Intel Montevina CPU.

Some of the updates over the D430:
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