Intel Atom Shortage, VIA Sales, Nano Shipments
July 3, 2008
Couple of quick articles on Intel and VIA CPUs for the netbook market.
First off, DigiTimes mentions the impact the Intel Atom shortage is having on the netbook industry. They mention that because of the shortage, that LCD panel makers who handle the manufacturer of the 7″ to 10″ LCD panels for these devices are concerned about shipments of these devices (i.e. people waiting for specifically for an Intel Atom device). It’s not helped by the fact that there is a battery shortage (which might ease up this month - note the word “might“). The Intel Atom shortage on the other hand could last through the fall (into September).
DigiTimes mentions that for 8.9-inch displays, AU Optronics (AUO) and Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) are the primary suppliers. When it comes to the 10.2-inch displays, Chunghwa Picture Tubes (CPT) and HannStar Display ship the majority of those. Kind of interesting little bit of information. Another company, Innolux Display, is ready to start producing panels for the low-cost / sub-notebook market.
Sony VAIO SR140EB (SR Series) Spotted At Circuit City
June 30, 2008
The new 13.3-inch Sony VAIO SR series briefly made an appearance yesterday at CircuitCity.com.
It would appear the pages have been taken down (the product pages for the Sony VAIO SZ series are still up), but some photos were saved. The SR series definitely looks like an upgraded SZ series.
The model spotted was the VGN-SR140EB.
If you’d like to see the images of the SR that were saved:
Sony VAIO SR Gallery at Small-Laptops.com
Read: NotebookReview.com
Announced/Leaked: Sony VGN-SR, VGN-Z Series
June 23, 2008
In what could be a replacement for the Sony VAIO SZ series, a couple of manuals for new Sony laptops were published on Sony.com and found by PhilFlow of the NotebookReview.com forums, as well as some technical specifications. Both have 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit displays.
The Sony VGN-SR is oriented towards consumers and appears to start at 1250 Euros/US Dollars, while the Sony VGN-Z, with it’s 13.3-inch 16:9 display with HDMI output is oriented towards professionals/prosumers. The VGN-Z series starts at 1766.39 Euros/US Dollars.
Sony VGN-Z Highlights:
- 16:9 13.3-inch LED-backlit Display
- Latest Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs
- Stamina and Speed mods (hardware switch)
- HDMI Out
- Possible Blu-ray option
Sony VGN-SR Highlights:
- 13.3-inch LED Backlit display
- ATI Mobility Radeon HD3470 GPU
- Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 (2.26GHz, 3MB L2 Cache)
- Built-in MOTION Eye Web camera
- “Switch Functionality” - Three modes to customize your environment (with different wallpapers for each mode)
- Maybe a Blu-ray optical drive option
Others in Sony’s 11.1-inch series could be updated later this year.
Read:
- NotebookReview.com - Forum Thread
- Sony VGN-SR Series Manual (Sony.com) (PDF)
- Sony VGN-Z Series Manual (Sony.com) (PDF)
Sony to Ship Via-Based Netbook?
June 2, 2008
According to PC World, Sony is going to be jumping into the netbook / sub-notebook competition with a low-cost laptop using a VIA Technologies CPU (similar to the one used by the HP 2133 Mini-Note).
PC World reports that Quanta Computers (an OEM for laptop sellers) was displaying a prototype that was based on the recently announced VIA OpenBook reference design / form factor. Quanta says that it will be shipping in the third quarter of this year.
Somebody checked the properties window of the prototype (it was running Windows Vista Home Basic) and it just so happened to list Sony as the manufacturer. When this was pointed out, the Quanta executive in charge closed the window and refused to comment about the matter. As PC World points out, even though Quanta is producing the computer, it’s normal for the customer (whether it be Sony or Apple or whoever) to be listed as the manufacturer.
Should it stay true to form and follow the VIA OpenBook form factor, it will have an 8.9-inch widescreen display (1024×600), with VIA’s C7-M 1.6GHz CPU, and VIA’s VX800 chipset.
Read: PC World
Sony VAIO VGN-SZ691N/X - $1050 Off at Amazon
May 5, 2008
Amazon has an ultraportable 13.3-inch Sony laptop up on their “Today’s Deals” section, with quite a large one day only discount. It’s the Sony VAIO VGN-SZ691N/X (although it has been discounted this heavily in recent weeks, probably to be phased out for the Sony SZ7 series).
$1,549.99 at Amazon, which is $1,050 off (40%)
Specifications:
- 13.3-inch Display
- Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7700 (2.4GHz)
- 2 GB RAM
- 200 GB Hard Drive
- Microsoft Windows Vista Business
- Dual-Layer DVD Writer
- Black Carbon Fiber case
This is one of the more unique laptops that weighs in at four pounds or less - it has a “hybrid” graphics system that allows you to toggle between NVidia’s GeForce Go 8400M or the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (which gives you a bit more battery life than the 8400M).
The VGN-SZ650N/C model is also discounted substantially : ($1,855.91 at Amazon $843.09 - 31% off), it comes with an Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz), 2GB Memory, 160GB HDD with ReadyDrive Hybrid System (256MB Flash RAM), and Windows Vista Business
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).
