HP Pavilion dv3000 Series
March 20, 2008
Looks like the Dell XPS M1330 is going to get a serious challenge, in the form of the upcoming HP Pavilion dv3000 series. HP.com is listing quite a few models (from the dv3000tx through dv30013tx), however those are probably North America-specific. This is the first in the Pavilion dv series to have a display under 14 inches - the display is a 13.3″ widescreen (no word on LED-backlighting), with an NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS graphics chipset with 256MB of dedicated video memory. CNET Asia is reporting the first models in Asia will be available for $1399 (USD) in May. Since there are a lot of references on the North American HP website, it’s pretty safe to say that it will be available in the US/Canada sometime in the next few months as well.
The model listed by CNET Asia is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn 2.5GHz processor, and comes with 2GB of memory. It has 802.11a/b/g/n wireless networking.
Some of the features:
- Built-in webcam
- HDMI Output
- Mini remote control (fits in ExpressCard slot)
- Can play certain media (DVD, MP3, etc.) without computer being fully turned on
- HP 3D Drive Guard (protects hard drive in case of fall)
- eSATA port
Dimensions:
Width: 12.6 inches / 320 mm
Depth: 9 inches / 228 mm
Height: 1.5 inches / 38 mm
Weight: 4.4 pounds / 2 kg
Articles:
- Crave / CNET Asia
- HP.com - HP Pavilion dv3000 CTO Manuals
Review: Dell XPS M1330 Penryn (LAPTOP Magazine)
March 12, 2008
In addition to the Sony VAIO VGN-SZ791N/X review, LAPTOP Magazine also published another review of an Intel Penryn-powered 13.3″ LED-backlit laptop, this time, the Dell XPS M1330 that was recently updated.
Unlike other manufacturers, Dell has kept the same series name (M1330) and updated the CPU and added an LED-backlit display as options (some manufacturers would proclaim such changes to be worthy of an entirely new name for the line, I think it’s smart on Dell’s part to keep the branding and naming schemes simple).
At a price of under $2000 (USD), they consider this to be the sweet spot of notebooks (not just for the 13.3″ and under crowd either), giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars and their Editor’s Choice award, saying
Sure, it’s not as thin as the MacBook Air or ThinkPad X300, but the XPS M1330 has more features than the former and a much lower price than the latter. This is the ultimate sweet-spot notebook for consumers.
- Full Review (LAPTOP Magazine)
Review: Sony VAIO VGN-SZ791N/X (LAPTOP Magazine)
March 12, 2008
LAPTOP Magazine has published their review of the Sony VAIO VGN-SZ791N/X, the high-end model of their 13.3″ LED-backlit series.
This model is sporting an Intel Penryn-based Core 2 Duo T9300 (2.5GHz and a full 6MB of L2 Cache).
In the graphics category, it’s one of the most unique laptops in the 13.3″ and under market - it has both a Mobile Intel X3100 intregrated graphics chipset, and an NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS. You can literally flip a switch to change between the too (the Intel X3100 for battery life, the GeForce 8400M for graphics performance) although you do have to reboot. The NVIDIA chipset makes it a legitimate gaming ultraportable (with a carbon-fiber casing it manages to weigh in at just four pounds, even with an internal dual-layer DVD writer).
- Full Review (LAPTOP Magazine)
Announced: Samsung P200
March 4, 2008
Another announcement at CeBIT 2008 in Germany - the Samsung P200, a 12.1″ widescreen Intel Penryn-powered ultraportable (1.89kg). It’s available in Europe for 999 Euros (around $1520 USD) and may only be available in Europe, and possibly Asia (although it may make an appearance elsewhere under a different brand).
It’s got some standard features (Intel 965 chipset, ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 graphics chipset) with some protective features: “Protect-o-Edge” casing
and “Protect-o-SoftGrip” rubberised lid.
Then there is this:
Finally, like all new Samsung notebooks, the P200 features an amazing new technological development - Silver Nano Technology. By sprinkling incredibly small, nano-sized silver ion powder on the keyboard the P200 system will remain completely “bacteria free”.
For those of you in Europe who are worried about bacteria on your notebook keyboards, your ship has arrived.
Articles
- Akihabara News - Press Release
- Engadget - More pictures
Intel’s New Integrated Chipsets - Up To Twice the Performance as GM965
February 27, 2008
VR-Zone is reporting that Intel’s new Centrino 2 platform with integrated graphics will increase performance by up to twice as much over the current Mobile Intel GM965 chipset.
It’s slated for the second quarter of 2008. Given how many manufacturers are using integrated graphics/chipsets, it’s safe to say this will end up in many ultraportable laptos (see a list of current graphics chipsets being used). The GM47 Express chipset will probably end up in 13.3″ laptops, with the 12.1″ and below laptops/UMPCs utilizing the GM45 Express.
Both will be able to use DDR2 or DDR3 and will either have a Front-Side Bus of 1066MHz or 667MHz. The GM47 Express chipset will run the graphics controller at 640MHz while the GM45 Express will run it at 533MHz.
They utilize Intel’s GMA X4500HD graphics chipset, a chipset designed for HD video, using either HD-DVD or Blu-Ray. The GM47 chipset is twice as fast as the current GM965 chipset and has better DirectX 10 support.
Apple MacBook Upgrade to Penryn
February 26, 2008
Apple has upgraded the Apple MacBook this morning.
As expected, it moved to the Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn CPUs (45nm), running either at 2.1GHz or 2.4GHz. The Hard Drive options were also bumped up to 120GB, 160GB, or 250GB. The 13.3″ WS glossy display was not upgraded to an LED-backlit display, and the graphics remained the same as the November Santa Rosa refresh (Intel GMA X3100).
The price remained the same, as did all other options. The 15″ and 17″ MacBook Pros saw a significant upgrade. In addition to the storage/hard drive upgrade, and the Penryn upgrade (in the case of the MBP, 2.4GHz, 2.5GHz, or 2.6GHz), there is now the option for an NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics chipset with either 256MB or 512MB of dedicated video memory.
Another big change in the MacBook Pro that the MacBook did not get, is the addition of a Multi-Touch trackpad that uses the same technology present in the iPhone, iPod Touch, and MacBook Air.
New MacBook Models:
- MB402LL/A - $1099, White, 2.1GHz, 1GB Memory, 120GB Hard Drive, DVD/CDRW
- MB403LL/A - $1299, White, 2.4GHz, 2GB Memory, 160GB Hard Drive, 8x SuperDrive (Dual-Layer DVD Writer)
- MB404LL/A - $1499, Black, 2.4GHz, 2GB Memory, 250GB Hard Drive, 8x SuperDrive (Dual-Layer DVD Writer)
It’s now available at the Apple Store US as well as Apple Store Canada
as are the new MacBook Pros.
