News Bits: $378 Laptop, Dell AMD Notebook, Nascar Laptop, New Inspiron B130

The $378 HP ze2308wmLaptop Wal Mart Friday Special

The rumor was for a $398 Wal Mart laptop, but the price might be even lower for where you are. In many areas the HP Pavilion ze2308wm 15" screen notebook will be sold for $378. Wal Mart will be selling this laptop on FRIDAY 11/25 IN STORE ONLY (NOT ONLINE). It's important to note, some Wal Marts are not honoring this price, you'll need to Click here to see the Wal Mart ad for you areaand type in your zip code to see what the price is at stores near you. Also, Wal Mart employees are saying that inventories are very low on this notebook, one Super Wal Mart has 25 of the notebooks and another regular Wal Mart has only 13 so it's going to be tough to get if a lot of people know about it in your area.

The specs will be:

• AMD Mobile Sempron 2800+ processor (1.6GHz)
• 256MB DDR SDRAM memory
• 40GB 4200RPM hard drive
• CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive
• 802.11b/g wireless built-in
• 15-inch TFT XGA screen

I'm actually surprised it has built-in wireless 802.11b/g at that price. 256MB of RAM is really poor and you'd definitely want to upgrade that, but that's a cheap upgrade and you simply won't beat this deal -- anywhere.

Here's a review of the HP ze2000z notebook (similar to what Wal Mart is selling): HP ze2000z Notebook Review

For more Notebook Deals and discussion on thisvisitthe NotebookReview.comNotebook Deals Forum

Dell AMD Processor Notebook Rumors Continue

There's been a lot of talk lately about Dell incorporating AMD processors into its PCs and notebooks. AMD is gaining ground against Intel in overall sales of processors and Dell is sort of the last large manufacturer that AMD has yet to crack inside of. DigiTimes.com reports that ODM manufacturers in Taiwan have received instructions from Dell to prepare for the manufacturing of AMD based processor servers and notebooks. In particular, Quanta computer has received orders for an AMD based notebook from Dell:

"The paper also stated that Quanta is in the process of designing notebook models based on AMD processors and that the three contract makers were informed by Dell that shipments of AMD-supporting PCs will need to be ready for a global debut anytime in the future."

More: http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20051121PR205.html

InitialYonah Processor Clock Speed Details

The Inquirer revealed the clock speeds and naming for the upcoming Intel Pentium M processors. Below is a table of the chips that will be initially available in notebooks starting in January. The DC stands for "Dual Core" while the SC means "Single Core". Notice the FSB speed has taken a step up from 533MHz, the fastest speed of 2.16GHz is no faster than what is currently available, but keep in mind it's the dual core component that's going to give the greatest speed boost and not the actual clock speed.

	No.	GHz	FSB	Cache	Price
Yonah DC	T2600	2.16	667	2MB	$640
Yonah DC	T2500	2	667	2MB	$420
Yonah DC	T2400	1.83	667	2MB	$295
Yonah DC	T2300	1.66	667	2MB	$240
Yonah SC	T1300	1.66	667	2MB	$210
Yonah LV DC	L2400	1.66	667	2MB	$325
Yonah LV DC	L2300	1.5	667	2MB	$285

More: http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=27770

Laser Etched Apple PowerBook

People are always looking for ways to customize their notebooks and make them look a little different. If you have a metal cover laptop and just so happen to have access to a laser etching machine then checkout what they've done over at makezine.com with the Apple PowerBook:

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2005/11/laser_etched_powerbook.html

Nascar Branded AMD Turion 64 Notebook

Yee ha! It's a Nascar branded notebook at CompUSA, and the specs on this notebook are actually quite good, but the manufacturer that makes it, Cisnet,is completely unknown. You get a notebook with loads of Nascar stickers on the outside and the Windows XP even has built-in Nascar branded skins.

You get a free Nascar optical mouse with it, and rumor has it a free bottle of Jack Daniels also (kidding on that last one).

• AMD Turion 64 Mobile Technology ML-30
• 512 MB RAM
• 80 GB Hard Drive
• ATI Integrated Graphics
• DVDRW
• 802.11 b/g Wireless
• PCMCIA/IEEE 1394
• Memory Card Reader
• Modem/Ethernet
• NASCAR PC branded Logitech Mouse
• MS Windows XP Home w/ NASCAR PC branded Skins

Link to Product: http://www.compusa.com/specials/nascarpc/default.asp?credir=1

New Dell Inspiron B130, Dell Inspiron 1300 and Dell Inspiron 710m Released

Dell Inspiron 710m (Canada Dell website)

Dell Inspiron B130 (USA Dell website)

Dell released a couple of new notebooks, the Inspiron B130 is sold in the USA and the Inspiron 1300 is sold in Canada & Europe but are exactly the same notebook. They're 15" widescreen budget style laptops. We'll be reviewing the B130 (same as Inspiron 1300)next month.

The Inspiron 710m is simply the 700m with an updated look, there's no white finish around the edges of the 710m, it's all silver. Other than that, the notebook is the same as the 700m.

Dell Inspiron 710m (notice the white area the 700m had is now gone)

The new Dell Inspiron B130 (in the USA)/ Dell Inspiron 1300 (in the Canada and Europe)

 

Ugh, a NASCAR notebook? I'll stick with the Ferrari thanks

I love the assault on the $400 price point for notebooks though. The big question is whether or not there will be any stock. It makes a great advert, but if every store only gets a few, the benefit isn't there for many.

 

So, dual core Yonahs ARE coming at a premium eh?
Those prices are likely to be for 1,000 units, and right now the cheapest Pentium M retails for around $200. I bet we'll be seeing Yonah based systems some $100 more expensive than current ones.

 

I am wondering why intel is asking more for the low voltage version of the 1.66 GHz dual core (L2400)? Also wonder if you couldn't just buy the T2300 and undervolt it for the same performance. All that aside, it looks like computing just keeps getting better and better

 

Wow, a lot of nice information up there.

I love the $400 notebook, I may have to pick one up...that is, if I get up early enough on Friday.

I wouldn't be surprised if Dell does come out with an AMD-based notebook....they just started selling AMD processors a while ago. Maybe this is the next evolutionary step?

Nascar notebook - saw that in the Circuit City ad. It has decent specs, however, the graphics card is pretty poor. I wouldn't buy it, since there is nothing known about the manufacturer, support, etc. Only time will tell.

 

One question: Is this Black Friday event happening in Wal-Marts accross Canada as well? Or is it restricted to the U.S. only? Those are great deals I see and I wouldn't mind getting in on the savings.

 

I'm pretty much sure that it is a US-only deal...you guys don't have Thanksgiving up there lol!

 

I would strongly consider picking up that $400 notebook as a gift. But, it's for sale in Wal-Mart, on Black Friday, and...you fill in the rest.

People get killed and/or severely injured many times this time of year at my local Wal-Mart. I refuse to shop there for anything at any time because it's just too big, too crowded, and too hard to use. I really don't like the idea of having to park out in several other stores' parking lots to shop at Wal-Mart either. Then be shoulder to shoulder with other people, have to dodge idiots who ram into people with carts, and the variety of other shoppers there...plus the hour long or more queues for the registers. I think mine is the #2 or #3 in the country right now. :/

And the NASCAR laptop? Well, that's not so bad. But I wouldn't want the desktop. I'd rather get one of those laser etched things, but that sounds really expensive.

 

Uhhh, I give thanks everyday. Yes, yes quite right. Man, why can't I score a discount like that? How much is that HP notebook at regular retail price? And what other laptops are superior to it in the same price bracket?

 

I just saw a TV commercial for the Wal Mart notebook. I wonder how many units stores have. The store by me doesn't even sell notebooks, wonder if they'll toss them on a pallet by the front door.

 

I may have posted a reply to this in the wrong place, so this will be a duplicate.

I received a Wal Mart circular yesterday and thought it had a small box under the HP notebook stating that it would also be available at walmart.com.

I'll have to look closer at it tonight when I get home.

 

Yes, please do so. But I went on the Wal-Mart website and I believe it said "not available online": in regards to all Black Friday sales. Not sure though. If you could confirm that though, it would be great. I wonder if they would ship to Canada?

 

I think they need to have at least 20 on hand to be "legal". Fighting 200 rednecks at 5am in a WalMart parking lot to get a crappy laptop is not my idea of a good deal.

 

The amount of notebooks per store is dissappointing, I agree. They were originally supposed to have 50-100 per store, with Wal Mart's flagship stores having the most. But now, only 20? Those will be sold out before you can snap your fingers.

I will definitely buy one if they are avaliable online.

 

I saw an add for a $200 laptop at Circuit City. Then was infuriated to read the ultra small fine print on a darker green background that stated you needed to sign up for AOL. What a joke. Deceptive advertising to the max there.

My local Walmart Ad also shows a "also available at walmart.com" thing under the laptop, but I think that is for the laptop bag and not the actual laptop itself. I personally would not be willing to fight people over a gift item like this. No wonder they're trying to do away with Christmas. It's really not Christmas anymore when you and the next person are out to get each other in any way possible so that you may get that final instock item in which the store had a bare-minimum of because they wanted to advertise a low price and make people come in and fight in the hopes they'll buy other stuff while there.