News Bits: Dell Retail Stores, MSI S271 Notebook, AMD Aims for More Notebooks, HP Notebook Skins

Dell going Retail (Kind of)

Dell is venturing out into the wild and is finally going retail - to an extent. Dell's 'experiment' consists of two stores in Dallas and New York. Each store will have 3,000 square feet of space, much larger than the kiosks they have scattered in mallsthroughout the country. Dell plans to have about 36 products in all of that space.

There will be no inventory in the store, but customers will be able to place orders there. It may seem as Dell is drifting away from their business strategy, but Dell calls it "a physical extension of the direct model." In their minds, nothing has changed.

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MSI S271AMD dual-core powered notebook

May 23<SUP>rd</SUP> - MSI announced the worldwide availability of its S271 notebook, based on the AMD Turion X2 processor and an ATI chipset, the X200M. Retail price is slated to be ~$1,498 (NT$47,000).

"MSI chairman Joseph Hsu expects notebook demand in the second half to grow 30% from the first half. The company estimates its notebook sales in the second quarter to reach 150,000 units, rising from 100,000 in the first quarter. MSI aims to ship 500,000-600,000 notebooks in 2006 up from the 250,000 notebooks the company shipped in 2005."

Full specifications for the S271 are as follows:

• AMD Turion X2 CPU
• AMD 485M + SB460 chipset
• ATI Integrated graphics
• 12.1" WXGA display
• 256 to 2GB of DDR2 400/533/667 RAM
• 4-in-1 card reader
• 80/100/200GB HDD, 5400RPM
• Weight: 1.9kg (4.2lbs)

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AMD aims to take 15% of notebook market

AMD has big plans for 2006; they plan to have 12 million notebooks use their CPUs this year, about fifteen percent of the global notebook market according to industry sources.

Intel has dominated the notebook market for years, with AMD having had less than 10% of the market. However, with the recent addition of the Turion 64X2 processors to its product range, AMD is now well equipped to boost its market share, the sources commented.

Sources also revealed that over half of HP notebooks use AMD CPUs, mainly for the American and European markets. Acer's AMD notebook percentage is about thirty-five.

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Could Vista be pushed back further?

During a press conference with NEC in Japan Steve Ballmer seemed to alludethat the launch date for Vista could slide even further than it already has. In March, Microsoft said Vista would not be ready until January 2007, but now that could changebased on how you interpret Steve Ballmer's words to NEC:

[I]"Certainly, when Windows Vista comes to the market next year, and it will be next year, we will make sure that we make a high quality product, ship a high quality product, when it's ready."[/I]. [p]Microsoft is in discussions with computer manufacturers about when is the best time to ship Vista. [p][I]"What we are discussing ... with hardware partners is when they would really like it - early January, late January, February. We are on track for shipping early in the year."[/I]. [p][URL=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/05/24/ballmer_vista_delay/]Read More[/URL] [p] [p][B]The MIT $100 laptop[/B] [p][img]http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/12498.jpg[/img] [p]The first working prototype of the MIT $100 laptop, intended for use in poorer 3rd world countries,was unveiled at the Seven Countries Task Force Meeting on May 23<SUP>rd</SUP>. See photos of it [URL=http://www.flickr.com/photos/pete/sets/72057594143224765/]here.[/URL] [p][I]Special thanks to forum member [/I][URL=http://forum.notebookreview.com/member.php?u=28961][I]NB_Noob[/I][/URL][I] for submitting this story. [/I] [p] [p][B]HP Notebooks now availablewith skins from Skinit[/B] [p][img]http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/12502.jpg[/img][br][/br]([URL=http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/12507.jpg]view large image[/URL]) [p]Skinit, Inc announced new vinyl skins for HP notebooks. "Modding" a notebook is often an expensive process, but the new vinyl skins offer a quick and inexpensive way to totally change the looks ofa notebook. The skins are available for both HP and Compaq Notebook PCs in hundreds of different designs, including stock images and licensed sports and entertainment brands. [p]Each skin is custom cut to the model number of the computer - warranties are not affected for using one of the skins. HP skins are available [URL=http://www.hp.com/go/skins]here[/URL]. Prices start at $7.95. [p] [p][B]New Report shows consumer electronics/video games becoming more entrenched in kids lives[/B] [p]According to a report released by the NPD, kids ages 4 to 14 are using consumer electronics six months earlier than they were in the 2005 study. The report shows that both consumer electronic and video game systems are becoming more entrenched in the lives of kids today. [p][URL=http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=1397630#post1397630]Read More[/URL] [p][B]Dell 2400MP and 1200MP Projectors Released at competitive prices[/B] [p][img]http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/12506.jpg[/img][br][/br]([URL=http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/12505.jpg]view large image[/URL]) [p] [p]Dell today released a couple of new projectors that can be used in conjunction with a notebook, or simply as a standalone mounted solution for displaying TV. Priced at $1,099, the Dell 2400MP is an XGA (1024x768) resolution projector and the only product in its class priced less than $1,100. It features a 3,000 ANSI lumens brightness rating and a 2,100:1 contrast ratio that enables distinct black colors. The 2400MP features Texas Instrument's new color-processing technology, BrilliantColor, which generates sharp text and accurate color reproduction even in well-lit rooms. The projector also combines DarkChip DLP Technology, BrilliantColor and high brightness to produce crisp images from a compact device weighing only 5.5 pounds. [p]The new 2400MP projector includes a full featured remote control and extensive connectivity includingS-video, composite video, component (HDTV) video and RS-232 connectors. [p][URL=http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&amp;newsId=20060525005045&amp;newsLang=en]Read More[/URL] [p][URL=http://www.bargainspots.com/scripts/redirect.asp?merchantPricingID=2331699&amp;merchantID=6196899&amp;productID=50774&amp;siteName=+Lite+Price]Product Page[/URL] [p] [p][B]Interesting Links[/B] [p][URL=http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/05/24/half_life_2_episode_one_goes_gold/]Half Life 2: Episode 1 goes gold[/URL] [p][URL=http://dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2508]ATI and Nvidia release new beta drivers for Windows Vista[/URL] [p][URL=http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060523-6894.html]Schools block MySpace, kids fight back[/URL] [/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p]

 

Wow that's pretty interesting with the skins. You could get a single colored one (say black maybe) just to put something over the lid and protect against scratches and fingerprints. Are they removable once applied or are you done after you put on?

Really, the Dell stores just sound like two more giant kiosks like the one here in Orlando at the Mall of Millennia. Nothing in stock just go in and order.

 

"These PC skins are using a high-quality adhesive from 3M. They are easily adjustable and can be replaced at any time."

from the hp website..

 

Good to know they are.

 

Nice stuff, those $100 laptops look cooler than some of the high-end ones, but maybe that's just the little kid in me talking. =X

Anywho..

My school is blocking MySpace as well, I believe some kids were accessing pornographic images through it. Either way, I hate MySpace, it just prooves the majority of the people on Earth are self-centered idiots. >.>:

 

I actually wish I can buy the $100 laptop for my 3 yr old

 

hehe the $100 look interesting.

I really like those SkinIt vynls!!! Diamond Plate!!! Go Raptors!!!

I wonder if you can apply them to any laptop... just order them, and put it on, aslong as you got the right size.

Thanks for the nice news bit,

MysticGolem

 

Is it possible for there to be a notebook launched in Asia that doesn't have several scantily clad girls ogling over the laptop? Not that I'm complaining, it's just kinda funny how standard fair that approach is.

 

Makes me wanna buy...guess it works

 

They ever give them 'MSI' temporary tatoos, atleast I hope there temporary.

 

the best way to attract attention to a notebook....position them between two pairs of breasts ;p

 

I will be doing a review on those HP/Compaq Skins. Wish me luck.
Tim

 

what the bleep cares about the notebook! screw that! more girls

 

Lmao... XD!

 

You are darn right that is the best way.... it has always been, it still is and it will always be..

I for one, check out the chicks thoroughly before I reluctantly peal my eyes off onto the plasto-metalic gizmos they are holding..

 

The simple answer to that question is: No, it's not. Nor is it possible for any desktop, computer peripheral, digital camera, MP3 player, mobile phone, TV, DVD player, cigarette, beer, car... It's all so very refreshingly politically incorrect and that's, well...that's the way it is here. I like it.

 

... AND it certainly beats having two scantly clad guys!

 

i disagree!

 

haha, shame the MSI notebook only comes with an integrated graphics cards, would have been nice if it had come with something with a bit more bite

What can the ATI card handle?

 

Actually that will work if the females are willing to be more technologically inclined. The manufacturers should design more notebooks that cater to the females and have 2 scantally clad guys posing next to them??

 

Well, integrated graphics are to be expected in such a small notebook, although the number of dedicated graphic cards in 12" notebooks are rising. I think the X200M should handle most games at low quality and all the eye candy turned off.

 

I think if they want to make a laptop that caters to females, they should make it look nicer and more customizable (like with skins), girls like accessories. Choice of accessories can even be enough of a reason to buy something over its competitor. It'll go farther than sandwich it between 2 guys. I don't trust their (whoever they are) choice of men.

I actually was looking at Skin It's site a week or so ago cause they make skins for Scooba that I don't have but want, and I looked at their other skins. Their selection is pretty lame (with few exceptions), but HP turned it around and put added nice HP stock imagery. And at $8 it can't be beat! Gooo HP!

But I don't have an HP... I guess I'm stuck with this stupid $30 daisy skin that doesn't even cover up the whole laptop (the advertised dimensions were off by an inch) arrg! And those bums wouldn't even write back to me!

Malia

 

lol..I think those vinyl sticky things are pretty pointless...just makes the laptop look rather stupid in my opinion.