News Bits: Intel Merom Extreme, Nvidia Preface Platform, Sony VAIO G11 in Europe

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Intel rumored to be readying Merom Extreme Edition notebook CPU

Intel is rumored to be readying two Core 2 Extreme processors for notebooks. It is codenamed &quot;Merom XE&quot; and has 4MB of L2 cache and an 800MHz FSB (the next-generation Intel Santa Rosa platform will incorporate an 800MHz FSB, so expect to see it on that platform).

The first processor, the Core 2 Extreme X7800, is slated to come in Q2/Q3, and will have a claimed 2.6GHz clockspeed. It has an MSRP of $795 according to sources. The second Extreme CPU, the X7900, is slated for Q4, and will run at 2.8GHz. Pricing is unknown.

Read More (RegHardware)

Sony VAIO G11 12.1&quot; Vista notebook announced in Europe

(view large image)

The Sony VAIO G Series was launched in Japan last year. It's a super thin and super light 2.1lb 12.1&quot; screen laptop that runs on an Intel Core Solo processor. The same notebook is now available in Europe as the G11 and has a few changes in the form of a black colored lid, faster 1.33GHz Core Solo processor, and Super Multi DVD burner (integrated). The G11 ships with Vista Business and is available in Europe now. No word on a U.S. release, we expect eventually it will make its way to North America though.

Read More (Sony Europe)

Nvidia Preface platform for Windows SideShow

Nvidia's preface platform is a low-power media and display subsystem that extends the capabilities of Windows SideShow, adding features such as audio, imaging, video, and data syncronization. The display can be embedded into the notebook's lid, keyboard, or integrated into Bluetooth wireless-enabled devices.

Nvidia claims that the Preface platform is so power efficient that it can run for &quot;hundreds of hours&quot; without draining the notebook's battery. Essentially, the Preface display provides the user with a window through which they can access whatever they want at anytime.

Read More (Nvidia press release)

Apple to release smaller MacBook with unique optical drive placement

Image courtesy of Laptop News

AppleInsider says that Apple has been working on ways to make their notebooks smaller. One way they have come up with is to change the placement of the optical drive, moving it to the very bottom of the laptop. It will be called the balky optical disc drive, and will soon be patented by Apple.

The idea has been questioned because it makes using the optical drive more difficult. However, Apple will compensate for this by making the laptop thinner.

Apple MacBooks coming with this new optical drive concept will have a mobile motion module, which will prevent accidental opening of the drive. A sensor will use user contact to control the opening of the drive.

Read More (Laptop News)

How to get a clean install of Vista using the upgrade version

Would you like to do a clean install of Windows Vista? Take a look at this forum discussion for an install workaround. Apparently it involves installing Vista twice, but the end result is better.

PositivePRO allows for secure web-based VPN access from handheld devices

January 31^st - PositiveNetworks today released PositivePRO 3.5, through which any browser-enabled handheld device can securely access data and applications. It provides true Web-based VPN service wherever there is wireless service. It currently works on any cell phone with a web browser. WebTop, the Web-based VPN service, adapts to browsers in handheld devices automatically and allows secure access to email, file shares, and intranet sites.

Read More (Business Wire)

 

The Merom Extreme Edition sounds interesting.

Didn't expect Intel to do another Extreme Edition for notebooks.

 

Wow didnt know intel would do that. awsome!

 

The G series is such a tasty addition to the TX and SZ lines.

 

My opinion is that the G series is nice but the screen totally kills it, I cannot stand fullscreen now in laptops and it only has a pitiful 1024 x 768 resolution.

 

Thanks for pointing this out. I agree with you.

PS: Is you TX OK?

 

I wonder if the merom XE with have it's multipliers unlocked. It wouldn't matter to notebooks but if there are people on desktop who wants to OC it. 800FSB would be interesting and easier to OC for the motherboard than the 1066FSB of the desktop C2D.

 

That means I won't be able to upgrade my Yonah computer to one of the Core 2 Extreme processors. ****...

 

I am interested in this smaller Macbook. Will it be the same 13" model but thinner and having a smaller profile or will it be a 12" or even smaller? I would love to see a 11.1" Macbook like the Vaio TX but so many Macbook fans wouldn't want it that small.

EDIT: Yay, 3000th POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Does the notebook have to be on standby in order to use Sideshow? I'm really curious to see how they can achieve hundreds of hours of usage without draining the battery. Sounds too good to be true...

And the Apple Optical Drive seems promising. Ultraportables would be much more attractive to me with integrated ODs.

 

So Goodbye AMD in mobile platform

 

Im really think the nVidia Slideshow think would be useful. It really will improve portability. At present, Notebooks are things you would sit down and use. The new addition will make them more versatile, like mp3 players.

 

I would think not - it will probably function as some sort of multimedia panel when the notebook is on. I'm sure the info is on the Internet somewhere. Either way, SideShow is totally cool and I plan to have it on my next notebook. I'll be interested to see just how many notebook manufacturers/brands will put this technology into their notebooks.

 

Agreed, here's hoping nVidia takes a lesson from Nintendo and make it detachable from the notebook's lid for increased functionality.

 

Haha, was thinking the same thing!

 

nVidia and Intel are leaving AMD and ATI for dead. ATI still have not released a Desktop Dx10 GPU, and there processor manafacturing process seems to be a long way behind Intel's.