Filed under: Laptops

Intel’s Montevina mobile processors will get a significant bump in the 2nd quarter of 2009 with the 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo T9900, and the 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo P8800. A completely separate, slightly more suspect Digitimes rumor tells of a possible Core 2 Quad Q9600 CPU of unknown speed and power. Regardless, we won’t get to bask in their awesomeness for very long, as the switchover to the Calpella platform (and Clarksfield) will follow quickly in the 3rd quarter of 2009. Will the rumor-mill never cease to torture us?

[Via Electronista]

Read - Intel Clarksfield & Ibex Peak-M Chipsets In Q3 ‘09
Read - Intel planning Montevina Refresh

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Filed under: Laptops

From what we can tell, Fujitsu’s spent the industrial design budget for the LifeBook P8020 on one thing and one thing only: trimming those sides. We really do love to see a laptop with a keyboard and screen flush with the edges, seemingly wasting zero space. The resulting product is a tad chubby (1.1- to 1.5-inches) and lacks a certain charm, but there’s all sorts of goodies under the hood, and the 2.9 pound weight is certainly passable. The 12.1-inch ultraportable packs a Centrino 2 processor, 320GB HDD (or a 64GB or 128GB SSD), 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, gigabit Ethernet, a fingerprint reader, DVD burner, gesture-friendly trackpad and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. There’s also a 6-cell battery and no 3G to drain it, so you should be able to expect some decent battery life when this hits in November, with a starting price of $1,799.

[Via SlashGear]

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Filed under: Tablet PCs

Now that we think about it, it’s been a hot minute since we’ve seen a new Stylistic tablet flow from the doors of Fujitsu-Siemens, but it has finally hit back with a new unit to keep the family alive. The Centrino 2-based ST6012 has been revealed on the firm’s website without much fanfare, though the specs are decent enough. We’re talking a Core 2 Duo SU9400 ULV processor, 12.1-inch WXGA (1,280 x 800) non-glare display, up to 4GB of RAM, optional WiFi / WWAN / Bluetooth modules, your choice of a 64GB SSD / 120GB to 320GB HDD, a built-in multicard reader, biometric scanner and a rather industrial motif. Mum’s the word on a price and release, and quite honestly, we can’t imagine those details ever being blasted from the rooftops.

[Via TabletPCReview]

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Filed under: Wireless

Back in June, we heard that Sprint would be going live with its XOHM WiMAX service in Baltimore, um, this month. As of today, it’s pretty clear that the service won’t be rolled out fully before October dawns, but at least some progress is being made. Based on a survey sent out to select (read: lucky) Baltimore-area residents, it seems that Intel and Sprint are willing to give away free laptops in order to trial the XOHM service in the city. Unfortunately, the lappies won’t even be given out until late October, and the trial itself is set to last 30 days, so frankly, we’ll be lucky to see XOHM hit the general populace before Santa takes to the friendly skies. Though, why are we not surprised?

[Thanks, Anonymous]

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Filed under: Laptops

We all know the X300 was fairly widely praised, though that price tag was mighty prohibitive. Still, if you’ve got the coin to play around with ultrathin ultraportables, the X301 is a welcome upgrade. According to Laptop Mag, the Centrino 2 platform and built-in DisplayPort made an “already excellent machine even better.” Most of the basics from the X300 are still here, but critics couldn’t help but swoon over the new inclusions. Regrettably, the battery life was said to be an hour or two short for their liking, so it sounds as if you’ll want to factor in an extra pack if you’re the type who strays from power outlets. Hit the read link for the full rundown, just don’t expect anything out of the ordinary.

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Filed under: Laptops

ASUS took a break from cranking out an endless series of Eee PCs to revamp some of its traditional laptop lines today, here’s what you need to know:

• B50A business laptop: 15.4-inch screen, Penryn Core 2 Duos on Intel’s GM45 Express chipset with ASUS’s Expressgate SplashTop implementation and integrated X4500 graphics, max 4GB RAM and 320GB drive, spill-resistant keyboard, Bluetooth, WiFi, dual-layer burner, 1.3 megapixel webcam.
• F8 laptops (pictured): 14.1-inch WXGA screen, Penryn Core 2 Duos with 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470 graphics with Express Gate, TV tuner with remote control, up to 4GB RAM and a 320GB drive, 1.3 megapixel swivel webcam, five available colors.
• F6 “scented” laptops: 13.3-inch screen, lids feature five available graphics and fragrances (really), Penryn Core 2 Duos with 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470 graphics with Express Gate, TV tuner with remote control, up to 4GB RAM and a 320GB drive, fingerprint scanner.
• G71V and G50V “Republic of Gamers” laptops: 17-inch (G71) and 15-inch (G50) gaming laptops with up to Intel Core 2 Quad QX9300 processors and 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GT graphics, 4GB of RAM, 2x 500GB hard drives, dual-layer burner, 2.0 megapixel swivel webcam, LED lighting effects, gaming hotkeys.

No pricing or ship dates yet, but we’ll get you those as they come in.

Read - B50A
Read - F8
Read - F6
Read - G71V and G50V

[Via i4u, thanks Vinit]

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Filed under: Laptops

MSI has clearly been busy with its Wind here lately, but that doesn’t mean it has forgotten entirely about the gaming crowd. The 15.4-inch GX620 and 17-inch GX720 were both made official today, even though they made their debut at CeBIT. Now that the specifications are nailed down, here’s what you’re looking at: an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, NVIDIA’s 512MB GeForce 9600M GT, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a 2-megapixel webcam, gigabit Ethernet, WiFi, a 320GB SATA drive, an optional Blu-ray drive, 6-cell battery and the usual assortment of ports. Sadly, there’s no mention of prices just yet, but click on past the break for the full release.

Continue reading MSI gets official with Centrino 2-based GX620 / GX720 gaming laptops

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Filed under: Laptops

Maybe it’s the 16.4-inch panel, or maybe it’s the built-in Blu-ray drive. Whatever it is, Sony’s VAIO FW has garnered quite a bit of attention. Just a fortnight after getting (extra) official, this nimble monster made its way into the loving arms of NotebookReview, where critics couldn’t resist giving us a sneak peek before penning the fleshed-out review. We’ll just get it out there — initial impressions are really positive. Fit, finish and build quality were all deemed “excellent,” and the overall design was dubbed “beautiful.” Performance seemed to be above par during limited testing, though the screen is apt to be one of those love it or hate it ordeals. Check out the read link if for nothing more than a couple more shots.

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Filed under: Laptops

We’re beginning to wonder if Panny’s long-standing CF-52 and CF-74 will ever be replaced, but so long as folks keep biting, we suppose there’s nothing wrong with perpetual makeovers. As with nearly every other laptop manufacturer, Panasonic has also decided it prudent to freshen up the aforesaid pair of Toughbooks with larger hard drives, 802.11n WiFi, expanded graphics capabilities and Intel’s Centrino 2 platform. Aside from that, you can still expect the same rugged exterior, shock-mounted HDD and spill-resistant keyboard, but you’ll pay dearly for those safeguards. Both the 15.4-inch CF-52 and 13.3-inch CF-74 will be available next month starting at $1,949 and $3,199, respectively.

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Filed under: Laptops

For those who won’t even glance in the general direction of a gaming laptop unless it weighs in at 12+ pounds, you’ll probably be unable to take your retinas off of Maingear’s forthcoming beast. Word on the street has it that the aptly-titled eX-L will posses a potent 3.06GHz Core 2 Extreme X9100 CPU, which will predictably be overclocked by an undisclosed amount. Graphically, we’re told to expect a couple of ATI GPUs or a single NVIDIA unit, while the 17-inch display, built-in speakers (with subwoofer) and 802.11n WiFi are pretty much par for the course. Pricing and availability details are still being withheld, but it sounds like this one won’t be coming your way cheap.

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Filed under: Laptops

All the big names might have gotten their Centrino 2 lappies out the door today, but there hasn’t been much action from the shady rebranders and fly-by-night system builders we love so dearly — good thing OCZ is here with its Centrino 2-based OCZNBIM17A “whitebook” reference design. Get ready to see this bad boy appear in the back of vans everywhere with random company names on it — you’ll recognize the 17-inch laptop’s boxy shape and available X9100 Core 2 Extreme processor, or perhaps the dual CrossFire-capable graphics slots with HDMI output will tip you off. Pricing will vary wildly depending on how various system builders configure this thing, but we’ve got a feeling generic doesn’t mean cheap when it comes to this particular machine.

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Filed under: Laptops

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Filed under: Laptops

Get ready for a flood of Centrino 2 laptops, kids — hot on the heels of Intel’s big announcement and Sony and Lenovo’s updated lineups comes Toshiba with the new Satellite Pro S300, Tecra M10 and A10, and Qosmio X305, F55 and Cell-based G55. The Qosmios actually aren’t that new — all three of them were initially announced back in June, but they’re actually available now, with the gaming-oriented X305 exclusive to Best Buy. The $1,299 Satellite Pro S300 (pictured) is a little more interesting, with a 2.4GHz P8600 Core 2 Duo on Centrino 2’s 1066MHz bus and Intel 4500MD integrated graphics powering a 15.4-inch display, as well as sleep-and-charge USB ports and a docking port. The more business-oriented Tecra lappies also get a similar Centrino 2 treatment, sharing a motherboard design to reduce repair costs. The $1,399 M10 sports a 14.1-inch screen, while the 15.4-inch A10’s pricing hasn’t been announced. Pictures of the new Tecras after the break.

Read - Satellite Pro S300
Read - Tecra A10 and M10
Read - Qosmio X305
Read - Qosmio G55
Read - Qosmio F55

Continue reading Toshiba announces Centrino 2-based Satellite Pro S300, Tecra M10 and Tecra A10

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Filed under: Laptops

Just when we were about to forget about you, Centrino 2, here you come with your efficient bad self. Intel finally announced the new 802.11 Wi-Fi, integrated graphics-packing mobile platform after delays related to the wireless tech. Centrino 2 will come in two varieties: one for consumers and the vPro platform for the briefcase crew. The chipset can be configured for gamers, using a discrete graphics chip rather than the integrated set, if that’s your thing. Of most import (or amusement) is Intel’s HUGI (Hurry Up and Get Idle), which it say is the tech behind the Centrino 2’s uber-efficiency — faster speeds mean less time spent doing stuff, of course. It notes that the tech allows for an entire Blu-Ray disc to be played back for two hours on one battery charge. Finally, Intel promises a WiMax version this fall, so if you have the patience, you may want to wait for that barring further delays.

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Filed under: Laptops

Just when we were about to forget about you, Centrino 2, here you come with your efficient bad self. Intel finally announced the new 802.11 Wi-Fi, integrated graphics-packing mobile platform after delays related to the wireless tech. Centrino 2 will come in two varieties: one for consumers and the vPro platform for the briefcase crew. The chipset can be configured for gamers, using a discrete graphics chip rather than the integrated set, if that’s your thing. Of most import (or amusement) is Intel’s HUGI (Hurry Up and Get Idle), which it say is the tech behind the Centrino 2’s uber-efficiency — faster speeds mean less time spent doing stuff, of course. It notes that the tech allows for an entire Blu-Ray disc to be played back for two hours on one battery charge. Finally, Intel promises a WiMax version this fall, so if you have the patience, you may want to wait for that barring further delays.

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Filed under: Laptops

We’ll start this by suggesting you take everything from here on out with a healthy dose of salt, but given that Sony has a history of updating its VAIO laptop line in one fell swoop, there’s enough credibility here to pass it along. With everyone that hopes to remain relevant in the laptop sector going to Montevina as soon as feasibly possible, it’s no shock to hear that Sony’s VAIO FW, Z, SR and BZ series units will be making the same leap this summer. Currently, there aren’t a whole lot of specifications floating about, but we do know the VGN-FW line will sport an atypical 16.4-inch display while both the VGN-Z and VGN-SR lines check in as subnotes. For a wee bit more on the supposedly forthcoming crew, surf southwest to the read link.

[Via Laptoping]

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Filed under: Laptops

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Filed under: Laptops

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Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Packard Bell unleashed a big ol’ set of machines in Italy today. Among the new laptops, the EasyNote RS65 13.3-incher cued some unusual design elements like red and chrome highlights and circular touchpad. It packs an Intel Centrino 2 and dedicated video card with DVI and HDMI. Other machines include the multimedia-friend ML (15.4-inch) and SL (17-inch) based on the Puma platform. Also of note are the MT (15.4-inch) and ST (17-inch) laptops, which include a “Battery Boost” button that allows you to switch between dedicated video and integrated Intel GMA chipsets in order to conserve unwired time. Finally, the TN line (pictured above) is set to appeal to a younger audience with low prices and multimedia features. In the desktop category, Packard Bell intro’d new i-Media, family-Extreme, and i-Max machines that run the gamut from diminutive budget boxes to gamer-friendly powerhouses. Peep the read link (in Italian) to get a deeper scoop.

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Filed under: Laptops

Looks like Intel and ASUS are gearing up to demo some Centrino 2 (Montevina) gear at Computex, as Intel’s Senior Technical Marketing Engineer for Corporate Demonstrations blogged on Intel’s site about running around using the yet-unreleased M51VA with WiMAX in Taipei. Sounds like he sure is enjoying the hardware his company produced, even despite the recent delays which are keeping it out of the hands of non-Intel folk like you and us.

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