News Bits: Apple Intel Confusion, Tablet PC Guitar, Intel 2007, Toshiba Tecra L2 Released

Confusion and Conflicting Rumors About AppleLaptopswith Intel Processors

This pastsummer Steve Jobs announced that Apple would be releasing notebooks (PowerBook and iBook line) with Intel processors in Summer of 2006. Then rumors started circulating last month it would be much earlier, even January of 2006 that we'd see these new Intel based Apple machines. ZDNet and other major media outlets, in addition to financialsecurity analysts,all jumped in and "confirmed" these rumors.

But there's now some doubt, or at least a little confusion, after a report in DigiTimes.com seems to imply that it will still be June of 2006 before we see the first MacIntel machines. All of this will be cleared up during the second week of January when Apple has the Mac World Expo in San Francisco.

The Mac World Expo is in San Francisco January 9 - 13, we'll find out more about MacIntel machines then!

Tablet PC Inside a Fender Guitar

What do you get when a Tablet PC collides with an electric guitar? Well a guitar with a Tablet PC inside it of course. Intel and Fender created a concept device that allows you to:

• Plug in headphones and listen to your tunes through the built in amp
• Record demo songs and email them to friends
• Go online to find the chords to that song someone just requested
• Stay in touch through email or Instant Messenger -- on stage or on the tour bus
• Conduct webcam interviews with friends or fans
• Download your favorite tunes and just listen - or play along

Barryover at TabletPCReviewSpot.com (a guitarist himself) has more on this guitar / Tablet PCconcept device.

Intel Roadmap and 45nm Process + Plans for 2007

TomsHardware published a great article on the future of Intel processors through 2007 and their plans to move to a 45nm process by 2007. Intel is purely focused on regaining dominance they've lost ground onto AMD in the desktop and mobile market. The plan for processor releases through 2007 includes dual, quad and eight core chips.

More: http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20051203/index.html

Diskeeper Releases Diskeeper 10.0

Diskeeper produces software for optimizing file storage on your hard drive. They recently anounced Diskeeper 10.0 that includes Intelligent File Access Acceleration Sequencing Technology (I-FAASTTM). This Disk Performance Calibration technology is a new class of disk technology that will allow users to squeeze more performance out of storage devices and is expected to deliver performance gains of 10-80% beyond defragmentation.

Diskeeper is the market leading automatic disk defragmenter, theycontinue to provide the most advanced technology to increase performance for Windows based networks.

More information on Diskeeper 10.0 is available at http://www.diskeeper.com.

Toshiba Tecra L2 Released

Toshibayesterday introduced the latest addition to the company's Tecra notebook computer family, the Tecra L2 Series. Available through Toshiba's business channel partners, the Tecra L2 Series offers exceptional value in a business-class notebook for small office/home office (SOHO) and small-to-medium business (SMB) users.

The Tecra L2 Series delivers fundamental business value by focusing on simplicity - an understated design with practical features. Built with the mobile expertise and reliability for which Toshiba is renown, the Tecra L2 includes requisite features to easily handle daily business tasks such as Microsoft Office, Internet and email.

Models offer a generous 15.0" XGA display, DDR2 memory, CD burner, and high speed wireless LAN for increased productivity at a cost-effective price. Additionally, the Tecra L2-S022 features Intel Centrino Mobile Technology, a Serial-ATA high performance hard drive, and boasts up to 4 hours, 56 minutes battery time with the optional 8-cell battery installed.

Toshiba.com Toshiba TecraL2Product Page

Is Medion Dead?

Medion is a German company that introduced Medion Akoya branded laptops into the North American market this past summer, in particular they were being sold in BestBuy locations across the USA. In the past couple of months the Akoya notebooks have disappeared from all stores, they're nowhere to be found. So we tried to contact Medion to see if they'd stopped selling notebooks in North America. But no response. Not a good sign, this probably means Medion is for sure done selling laptops in the USA. That was quick entry and exit.

This is the Medion Akoya EX with a size comparison to tennis ball,you could once buy this in BestBuy stores in the USA but canno longer be found there or any other retail store(view larger image)

 

Where's the article about Medion being dead?

 

Those Intel logos aren't so great IMO - I like the older ones. At least with them, it was easier to tell which processor is which.

Hrm, that's an interesting move for Toshiba - a silver Terca...now it looks like one of their mainstream notebooks.

 

Wow, I can't even imagine notebooks having an 8-core capacity in less than 3 years, that's mind boggling!

 

OMG, I wrote it and then must have forgotten to add it in -- I can't explain myself sometimes, sorry, I added it in there.

Just reporting on the fact they're not selling laptops anywhere we can find and when we call there's no answer, ever.

 

As a (very bad) guitarist, I can't imagine spoiling my Fender Strat by sticking a computer in it.