News Bits: Microsoft Warns Us About Windows 7, Sony VAIO With VIA Processor, New WD HDD

Western Digital introduces Scorpio Black 7200RPM HDD

Western Digital today announced it is now shipping its new line of Scorpio Black 2.5-inch 7200RPM hard drives for notebook computers. The new drives are available in capacities up to 320GB, have a 16MB cache, and a SATA 3.0Gbps interface.

The highest-priced drive will be the 320GB version at $249.00.

Western Digital Scorpio Black Product Link

Sony to introduce mini-laptop based on VIA processor

According to a PCWorld report, Sony is ready to introduce a mini-laptop based on a VIA OpenBook reference design announced last week. Sony is having Quanta Computer contract manufacture the devices, and they will ship in the third quarter of this year.

If the notebook Quanta is producing is actually for Sony, it will be a significant boost for VIA. VIA processors are targeted toward low-cost devices such as mini-notebooks and have done quite well, but are now facing competition from the Intel Atom processor. The Sony mini-notebook will feature a 1.6GHz VIA C7 processor.

Full Story (PCWorld.com)

Microsoft warns hardware makers to start Windows 7 testing immediately

Microsoft, appearing to learn from the compatibility problems that have plagued Vista from the beginning, is warning hardware makers to start testing their devices with Windows 7 as soon as the first beta version is available. Microsoft has not given a timeframe for a beta release of Windows 7.

Full Story (InformationWeek.com)
Via (Engadget.com)

ClubIT is back

NAOC Holdings has acquired PC Club and ClubIT and put them back in business.

ClubIT Announcement
Special thanks to forum member harpreet1988 for submitting this bit

 

Isn't the Sony VIA OpenBook just speculation? I heard someone had a VIA OpenBook on show, and in one of the documents open on the screen there was Sony listed as the manufacturer, and when they noticed they took the OpenBook off show and refused to comment. A good indication but I don't think there's any official word about it.

 

that 320 hdd price is too high
i think

 

interesting the openbook design is based on the Isaiah C7 right ? which is faster as the 1,6Ghz atom now they have toe change to show what they can or does the HP mini note also use the Isaiah ?

 

The Clubit bit has been known for over a week or so now, I even made a thread for it.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=250659

Its called search and Google.

That and I have sources on the inside since I used to work for the company.

 

Practically all the HDD manufacturers have announced 2.5" 7200rpm 320Gb drives, but none are available at the moment or are they? Haven't seen the 7K320 nor the 7200.3 anywhere. Any idea when they'll be released? I'm really itching to get 2 of em for my Thinkpads.

 

No, the Isaiah and the C7 are different. The C7 is slower than the Atom and even Celeron M, while the Isaiah itself is now called "Nano" and is faster than the Atom.

 

This is the HP mini-note all over again.
Good laptop, nice keyboard and a design which makes the competitors hide in a corner; but the poor processor dooms the laptop to failure. If the HP's processor was on-par with the EEE's, or even a 'cheap' duel core, the mini-note could of easily killed the EEE. But the poor C7 has left the HP behind.
I'm afraid to say that Sony is making the same mistake , shame that the C7 has killed yet another good laptop.

Also, the Windows 7 news isn't really news. Shorely testing hardware with Beta's is just common sense, or are manufactures relay that stupid?

 

You'd think that they would learn after so many failures.

I guess Sony is trying to establish that their brand name can blind people from its products' specs? We'll find out.

 

Sony will have to establish a really good price point with the OpenBook to make it sell, though if it comes close to the original price the EEE was meant to be of $200, Sony would make a huge impact, and I think they could do it (though they are unlikely to)

 

I'm guessing the Win 7 part means the beta will be released in the next year or so.

 

Dang that is a high price tag. Will have to wait for it to drop ...

 

Dell has begun to offer them in the M1730, but I haven't seen them available retail yet.

 

Thanks for the reply.

Has there been any announcement as to their release into retail? Much googling only reveals news of the announcements of the drives.