First Dual Core Laptop
Engadget is reporting that WidowPC claims to have manufactured the world’s first dual core laptop:
The spec sheet for this monster 11.3-pound rig reads like a gamer’s wish list (please excuse us while we catch our breath): AMD 64 X2 Dual Core 4800+ (other options are available as well), 17-inch widescreen 1900 x 1200 WUXGA+ SuperBrite LCD, nVidia 7800 GTX graphics card with PCI-Express, up to 2GB of 400 MHz dual channel DDR RAM, dual SATA drives for as much as 240GB of storage, dual optical drive bays for optional dual-layer DVD burners, 7-in-1 memory card reader, optional TV tuner with remote, front panel LCD with media controls, built-in webcam, 2 FireWire ports, 4 USB 2.0 ports, serial port, infrared port, parallel port, external keyboard/mouse port, DVI, S-Video in and out, audio in/out, digital audio out, and 802.11a/b/g.
The machine weighs in at a large 11.3 pounds, enough to break your back if you try to travel with it on your back for more than 100 paces.
$100 Laptop Is Here
Nicholas Negroponte brings the $100 to reality. Here’s a link roundup of all the news and commentary surrounding the recent events:
The $100 Laptop Coming Soon?
There was a long piece in the WSJ today on the race to build the $100 laptop:
A novel plan to develop a $100 laptop computer for distribution to millions of schoolchildren in developing countries has caught the interest of governments and the attention of computer-industry heavyweights.
I follow this type of news closely for two reasons:
- I’m interested in seeing the rapid evolution of technology. 3 years ago they said that the $1,000 laptop wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. Boy were they wrong.
- Computer access should be available to all. I don’t want to sound preachy here, but I think we’re all better off if we can give children across the world access to a computer and an Internet connection.
The article goes onto to say that heavyweights like Microsoft, Dell, Apple, and Intel are all pushing for the initiative. And what’s more interesting is that the bottom line isn’t really of concern to these companies.
Sure, everyone’s out to make a buck, but Dell would barely make a profit on a $100 laptop. MP3 players sell for more money than that. We’re close to reaching that $100 price point. Hopefully lots of deserving people will be able to benefit once we get there.
The History Of Laptops
I was digging around on Digg when I found a link that outlines the history of laptops:
It is a little hard to determine what was the first portable or laptop computer, the first portable computers did not look like the book-sized and folding laptops that we are familiar with today, however, they were both portable and lapable, and lead to the development of notebook style laptops.
20-inch Laptop Screens
Laptop screens are going to get larger. According to CNET:
Dell, a major partner of Samsung, could easily adopt the large screen format for its high-end XPS laptops. And, LG Philips is also touting its 20-inch LCD displays for laptops, Shim said.
The problem though is that as screens get larger, the laptop gets heavier becoming too difficult to carry, even to class.
For example, Dell’s high-end XPS laptop starts at 8.6 lbs. Since it’s a power guzzler, you’ll need to take the 3 lb power brick when you travel. Oh, and the premium 17″ laptop bag that holds the beast weights about 6 lbs.
Total weight for a 17″ laptop: almost 20 lbs
I wonder how much a 5th generation 20″ widescreen XPS would weight?
Upgraded Powerbook
Apple launched upgraded version of their 15- and 17-inch powerbooks. The 15-inch laptop now supports 1440×960 resolution and the 17-incher does 1680×1050.
Along with the screen improvements, the powerbooks get an additional extra hour of battery time and dual-layer DVD burner that is now standard issue. The best part of this whole deal is that the price hasn’t changed: $1,999 for the 15-inch and $2,499 for the 17-inch.
The 12-inch powerbook doesn’t get an upgrade, but does get a price drop to $1,499.
Dell Inks Deal With Cingular For HSDPA Network
Dell can’t get enough of the cellular wireless networks. Shortly after announcing the deal with Verizon, Dell is now cozying up with Cingular to market laptops with HSPDA cards.
HSPDA is like a WiFi internet connection, except the connection signal is carried through the cell phone carrier’s network.
The competition is heating up as to who will provide consumers with wireless laptop Internet access, and charging us accordingly. What ever happened to the Utopian dream of placing wireless routers on every block to give unlimited wireless access to everyone in the city? Oh wait, there’s not money in that business model.
Via: ITworld
Dell EVDO Laptop
MobileTracker is reporting that Dell will be manufacturing laptops with built-in wirlesss EVDO (wireless-area networking protocol) cards. EVDO is Verizon’s choice wireless network protocol. The company currently has sold over 600,000 EVDO wireless networking cards that enable Internet access through the Verizon network.
In May, Sony began marketing some Vaio laptops with built in EDGE networking (Cinglurar’s wireless protocol).
Fujitsu Lifebook P1500
The Fujitsu Lifebook P1500 is the industry’s smallest and lightest portable. 2.2 pounds, which is about half the weight of some of the lightest laptops on the market right now.
The 8.9″ screened portable runs on Windows XP Tablet edition. Cost: $1,529. Ultra-portable tablets are entering the average consumer price ranges, which probably means that the ultra-portable warrior is ready to challenge the desktop-replacement gamer in laptop functionality.
Via: [Engadget]
AMD Turion 64 Chip
Intel is the dominent laptop chip maker. However, AMD is ready to challenge Intel with the AMD Turion 64 processor.
The Turion CPU is AMD’s answer for the wildly successful Pentium Centrino CPU. The company has focused on the desktop and server markets in the past, neglecting to compete with Intel in the notebook arena. Performance should rival the Intel Centrino chip. However, the Turion is a 64-bit chip (vs Centrino’s 32-bit) that should provide improved performance for future applications like Microsoft’s upcoming Windows iteration, Vista.
Rumors claim AMD is planning on launching a dual-core Turion mobile chip in 2006. But the company is keeping a tight seal on dual-core details.
For detailed tech specs, check out Tom’s Hardware Guide.