Laptop News Blog

Apple Mac Mini Updated with Intel Core Duo Processors

                                                

                                                      
Apple has unveiled the new upated Mac Mini which now comes equipped with Intel Core Solo and Core Duo processors.

The Mac Mini comes in either the 1.5GHz Intel Core Solo or the 1.66GHz Core Duo processor and offers up to 2-3 times increase in overall speed over the G4 Mac Mini.

1.5Ghz Intel Core Solo Model Specs:

• 1.5GHz Intel Core Solo processor
• 2MB L2 Cache
• 667MHz Frontside Bus
• 512MB memory (667MHz DDR2 SDRAM)
• 60GB Serial ATA hard drive
• Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
• Built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0
• Apple Remote
• Retails for $599

1.66Ghz Intel Core Duo Model Specs:

• 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo processor
• 2MB L2 Cache
• 667MHz Frontside Bus
• 512MB memory (667MHz DDR2 SDRAM)
• 80GB Serial ATA hard drive
• Double-layer SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
• Built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0
• Apple Remote
• Retails for $799

Included in both updated Mac Minis are the Apple Remote with Front Row, up to 2GB RAM, Intel GMA950 graphics, DVI, 120GB hard drive, built-in gigabit Ethernet, USB & FireWire, iLife 06' and Mac OS X Tiger.

iBook Line To Adopt Magnet Technology

                                                         

                                           

Mac maker Apple Computer, has quietly been incorporating magnetic innovations to its computer systems over the last six months and we can expect another to be launched soon.

The new notebooks will contain a magnetic latch rather than a movable latch to close, according to sources.

The Intel-based iBook, which could debut under a new product name such as MacBook, will likely resemble a smaller version of the MacBook Pro with a 13 inch display. The new iBooks may also contain a built-in iSight video camera, Apple Remote, and Front Row media software.

Although unconfirmed, the new notebooks are rumored to have a 1.67GHz Intel Core Duo or Solor processor.

Source

Lenovo Goes Global with 3000 Series

                                                 

 

China's Lenovo Group Ltd. has gone global with the introduction of their own brand computers outside China.

The Lenovo Thinkpad has gained recognition as sales were prodominantly in the higher-margin enterprise sectors.  Lenovo now aims to go global targetting small enterprises with the release of their new Leonovo 3000 desktops and laptops starting at $350 and $599 respectively.

Lenovo has incorporated "IT convenience tools" into their new 3000 line since acquiring IBM's PC business two years ago.    With the new tools and agressive advertising on Winter Olympics broadcasts, Lenovo aims to offer a "value proposition" for small enterprises and  intends to leverage their 26% market share in China to grab a bigger share of the global market for small-enterprise computing.

Lenovo 3000 models include 802.11 a/b/g wireless capability and desktop models will offer microprocessors from both Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). 

via EETimes

 

Lenovo 3000 C100 Notebook Announced

                                                   

Lenovo has officially announced their Thinkpad C100 Notebook, a high quality laptop at a reasonable price.  The Lenovo 3000 series encompasses both notebooks and desktops and the C100 is the first in the series of several notebooks to come.  It is offered in five configurations, all with Intel processors.

Specs

Model 761-22U:

• Celeron M370 1.5GHz
• 256 MB
• 40GB / 5400 RPM
• 15" XGA
• Intel 915 GM      
• DVD/CDRW      
• ThinkPad a/b/g
• 8 Cell      
• XP Home
• $599

Model 0761-2BU:

• Celeron M370 1.5GHz      
• 512 MB     80GB / 5400 RPM
• 15" XGA 
• Intel 915 GM
• DVD Multiburner    
• ThinkPad a/b/g 
• 8 Cell      
• XP Home    
• $699

Model 0761-23U:

• Celeron M370 1.5GHz
• 512 MB     80GB / 5400 RPM
• 15" XGA
• Intel 915 GM    
• DVD/CDRW    
• ThinkPad a/b/g
• 8 Cell
• XP Pro
• $749

Model 0761-25U:

• Pentium M 740 1.73 GHz 
• 512 MB     80GB / 5400 RPM
• 15" XGA
• Intel 915 GM
• DVD/CDRW
• Intel a/b/g
• 8 Cell
• XP Pro
• $899

Model 0761-26U:

• Pentium M 740 1.73 GHz
• 512 MB     80GB / 5400 RPM    
• 15" XGA    
• Intel 915 GM    
• DVD Multiburner
• Intel a/b/g      
• 8 Cell
• XP Pro    
• $999

via NotebookReview

Asustek Lamborghini Notebook Available in April

                                                   

                                                
Look for Asustek Computer's Lamborghini-series notebooks to become available this April.  They are expected to come in both yellow and black. First previewed at CES 2006 in Las Vegas, the notebooks will likely boost Asustek's market share in the US. 

However the Asus Lamborghini will hardly compete with the launch of the Intel Core Duo notebooks since it contains an unimpressive 15" SXGA+ screen (1400x1050) with x700 graphics and is Pentium M based. 

via DigiTimes

 

 

Toshiba Announces Qosmio G35-AV600

                                                       

Toshiba has announced their newest multimedia entertainment laptop, the G35-AV600.

Specs:

• Intel Core Duo Processor T2400 (Dual 1.83 GHz, 667 MHz FSB, 2MB L2 cache)
• 17-inch diagonal widescreen Ultimate TruBrite Display
• Mobile Intel 945PM Express Chipset
• NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300 with 256MB GDDR2 discrete
• graphics memory
• 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM memory
• 160GB (5400 rpm) Hard Drive
• Integrated Intel Pro/Wireless Network
• Connection 3945ABG (802.11a/b/g); Bluetooth(R)
• version 2.0 plus Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)
• 4 USB v. 2.0, RGB, TV out (S-Video and component
• via D-connector cable), AV IN (S-Video and
• connector and composite/monitor/line-IN), RJ-45
• LAN port, RJ-11, i-Link(R)1394, S/PDIF Optical
• Audio Output
• Integrated Toshiba TV Tuner

Available for $2399 at ToshibaDirect
Also available are the Toshiba Qosmio F25-AV205 and Qosmio G25-AV513 notebooks.

OS X Second Worm Found

OS X sees its second worm, but the spread of it is unlikely.  This latest vulnerability, a worm called OSX/Inqtana-A, takes aim at OS X's Bluetooth stack.

Experts at Sophos have issued protection against a second worm for Mac OS X in less than a week.

"It's disturbing to see a second worm for Mac OS X so soon after the first, but it should be remembered that this is only two compared to well over 100,000 viruses for Microsoft operating systems. The good news is that Inqtana is not going to spread successfully in the wild, but this announcement will still be a shock to those in the Mac community who thought hackers were not interested in their operating system," said Graham Cluely, a consultant for Sophos.

 

via ITVibe

What You Didn't Know About Dual-Core Processors

TechWeb has written an interesting piece regarding five things you didn't know about Dual Core processors.  You may not know that AMD and Intel were not the first to launch the new processor design, IBM was.

"The widespread assumption is that the dual-core duel has been fought solely on the PC front, with AMD and Intel vying for the title of first to market. That's incorrect. In fact, IBM beat both companies to the multicore punch, albeit with a non-X86, server processor. That occurred when Big Blue rolled out its dual-core Power 4 chip in 2001, for use in IBM's RISC servers, in 2001."



Five things you didn't know:

•     Intel and AMD weren't the first to ship dual-core processors.
•     Dual-core was forced on the industry by technical challenges, not proactively embraced.
•     Dual-core won't necessarily make your computer's clock speed faster, but it will boost your   PC's throughout.
•     Almost half of all PC users are still clueless about dual core.
•     Dual-core isn't the last word on cutting-edge computing.

via TechWeb

FON Wi-Fi Ships FON Ready Routers

                                                       

FON Technology plans to build a global Wi-Fi community that allows members to share Wi-Fi hotspots and with the backing of Google and Skype, the company is now shipping "FON Ready Routers,"  configured with the FON software.  If you already have a router, there is no need to purchase one of the new ones, a simple firmware download will make the router FON compatible.

Secret Drawer for your Notebook, StashCard

StashCard from Wireless Garden is a nifty secret compartment that inserts into the PC slot of your laptop. Great for storing money, stamps, memory cards or whatever you just want to stash away.