Archive for April, 2007

Mobile computing solutions provider Data Evolution Corporation (DEC) has announced Cathena CX, its first ultra-mobile PC (UMPC). The 2.2 pounds convertible notebook-like Cathena CX, with suggested retail price of $799, is powered by an AMD Geode LX800 processor and features a 7-inch touch-screen with 800×480 resolution.

The Cathena CX has a 512MB of SDRAM expandable to 1GB, and ships with 40GB, 80GB and 100GB hard drive capacities. It is equipped with an 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, an Ethernet LAN and a Bluetooth 2.0, as well as with two USB ports, a Memory Card Reader (SD/MMC/Memory Stick/CF) and a video output providing 1600×1200 resolution on external display.

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Sony will refresh its notebook PC line in July with a new 15.4-inch, 13.3-inch and 11.1-inch widescreen VAIO FZ, VAIO SZ5 and VAIO TZ series, according to forum members on NotebookReview web site. In addition, a widescreen 14-inch VAIO CR laptop and another 13.3-inch widescreen series - CZ - are rumored to come out at the same time.

The specifications summaries of forthcoming Sony VAIO notebooks indicate that FZ series will feature Intel’s next generation “Santa Rosa” platform and the new Core 2 Duo “Merom” processors, a 2GB of main memory, and up to 200GB hard drive.

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Along with AirCard 875U USB mobile broadband modem, AT&T has announced the Option GT Max 3.6 Express ExpressCard, enabling notebook users to connect to AT&T’s 3G network.

The Option GT Max 3.6 Express and Sierra Wireless AirCard 875U, the products in AT&T’s LaptopConnect portfolio, can be used in conjunction with AT&T BroadbandConnect in more than 165 major markets — where users can download a 1MB file in about 15 seconds on average. Also, these modems provide the connectivity outside 3G-coverage areas on AT&T’s nationwide EDGE high speed wireless data network, according to the company.

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Apple has released Battery Update 1.2 for MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops. The patch “updates battery firmware and improves battery functionality” and is released after the company discovered that some batteries used in its notebooks may have battery performance issues. However, if the affected batteries do not work properly after the installed Update, Apple will replace these batteries free of charge.

The factors causing the performance issues do not present a safety risk, so users may continue to use current batteries, according to Apple.

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The “One Laptop per Child” (OLPC) project said on Thursday it might sell versions of its school children-friendly “XO” notebook in the United States, reversing its previous position of distributing these computers to only the poorest nations, Reuters reports.

“We can’t ignore the United States. … We are looking at it very seriously,” a OLPC founder Nicholas Negroponte told analysts and reporters.

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Fujitsu will enter the ultra-mobile PC market with its UMPC device, which design was showcased at Intel Developers Forum in Beijing last week, Tablet PC Review reports.

Fujitsu’s UMPC will feature the latest Intel “Stealey” A100 or A110 processor reportedly. Since “Stealey” is designed for use with Intel’s Ultra Mobile Platform 2007, codenamed “McCaslin”, we assume the device will be based on that platform.

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Acer America Corporation, today announced a voluntary program for the replacement of certain notebook computer lithium-ion batteries containing Sony-made cells.

“As announced previously by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there have been 16 reports of notebook batteries overheating. These reports were associated with earlier recalls by other notebook computer manufacturers of batteries containing these Sony cells. These previous reports involved only minor property damage and two minor burns. None of these reports involved batteries in Acer notebook computers,” Acer published.

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PC World in the United Kingdom has offered an innovative Philips X200 ultra-portable laptop with extendable display panel, which is “perfect for those users who need to be closer to their laptop screen without moving”.

Along with 12.1-inch widescreen display mounted on notebook’s “neck”, Philips X200 has Intel Core Duo ULV2500 ultra-low voltage processor at 1.2GHz, 1GB of main memory, and an integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator with up to 128MB of shared video memory. Regarding storage, X200 sub-notebook has 100GB hard drive and a DVD burner. The laptop features wireless connection and a 56k modem, but there is no information on Ethernet LAN support.

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Sierra Wireless today announced the AirCard 875U USB modem will be available from AT&T. The AirCard 875U USB modem offers tri-band UMTS/HSDPA connectivity for PC and Mac users, making it compatible with mobile broadband networks worldwide, with data speeds up to 3.6 megabits per second, Sierra Wireless published today.

“As notebook computers become ever more compact, there are many users without a PC card slot who are looking for an alternative,” said Dan Schieler, senior vice president, Worldwide Sales for Sierra Wireless. “The AirCard 875U offers the same reliable, high quality performance customers have come to expect from our AirCard products, and the flip-out USB connector allows customers to purchase it with the confidence that it will be compatible with not only their current laptop, but also with one they may be planning to buy in the future.”

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Dell today announced that it is offering a 1.8-inch 32GB solid state drive (SSD) from SanDisk on Latitude D420 ultra-mobile and D620 ATG semi-rugged notebooks.

“Dell sees potential for flash-based drives and is committing to offer them across next generation Latitude notebooks because they enable better reliability, increased performance and noise reduction”, according to press release.

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Everex unveiled today the StepNote NC1501, an “Energy-Efficient” $499 (update: $399 at BestBuy.com) notebook computer featuring VIA C7 M processor and a claimed battery life of up to 4.25 hours with its 6-cell Lithium Ion battery.

Along with VIA C7 M CPU at 1.5GHz, Everex StepNote NC1501 comes with 512MB of DDR2 memory, 60GB 5400rpm SATA hard drive and a DVD burner. Its 15.4-inch widescreen display providing 1280 x 800 resolution is powered by VIA Chrome9 integrated graphics with up to 128MB of shared video RAM.

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PC maker Dell will release its tablet PC in the September/October 2007 time frame, according to jkOnTheRun’s sources.

Dell’s convertible notebook will be based on the Latitude D420 laptop and will be compatible with all Latitude D series accessories such as docking stations and power adapters. Also, this tablet PC will be the last system released in the popular Latitude D series. According to jkOnTheRun’s report, the Dell tablet PC will have an active digitizer only, widescreen display and an optional wireless broadband connection.

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Samsung has announced today the R55, the first laptop featuring hybrid hard drive, which combines a standard hard drive with built-in flash memory.

Along with 80GB hybrid drive at 5400rpm with 256Mb of OneNAND Flash memory, the 15.4-inch widescreen Samsung R55 incorporates Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 CPU at 1.83GHz, nVidia GeForce 7400 graphics card, Super Multi DL optical drive and Windows Vista Premium operating system.

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Hewlett-Packard Co. has filed another lawsuit against its fastest growing rival PC maker Acer. The new suit alleges that Acer and a US subsidiary have knowingly infringed on five HP patents related to personal computers, PC Advisor reports.

In the latest lawsuit, the world’s largest PC vendor HP alleges that Acer violated PC patents related to power savings, heat management, regulating the flow of data, and improving screen picture quality.

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AMD will introduce this fall Hybrid Graphics technology, a combination of integrated and discrete graphics for notebook computers, AMD’s European technical director for sales and marketing Giuseppe Amato announced this week.

“The basic concept of this technology is the system can run power-saving integrated graphics when using battery power. When the platform is connected to a wall outlet, a discrete graphics card immediately switches on, delivering higher performance. This switching will work without a restart and its behavior should be user-configurable – at least to some degree,” DailyTech reports.

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