News Bits: Penryn In ThinkPads, Cloudbook Delayed, Intel Discontinues Some Processors

Lenovo ThinkPad R61 now with Penryn

(view large image)
The new Intel Penryn 45nm Core 2 Duo processor is now available in the Lenovo ThinkPad R61 notebook. The R-series ThinkPad is the value-oriented ThinkPad, available with 14- and 15-inch widescreens. The R61 with the Penryn option starts at $777 as of writing. Available processors include the T8100, T8300, T9300, and T9500.

NotebookReview.com Review for the ThinkPad R61
Product Page (Shop.Lenovo.com)
Special thanks to forum member Han Bao Quan for submitting this bit

Everex Cloudbook delayed until February 15

(view large image)
The Everex Cloudbook, originally scheduled to be launched on Jan. 25, has been delayed until February 15. The Cloudbook is an ultra-mobile PC that runs a Linux-based open source operating system from gOS. It weighs 2 pounds, has a 1.2GHz VIA C7-M ULV processor, 30GB hard drive, and a 7-inch display.

NotebookReview.com coverage of the Everex Cloudbook
Read More (Engadget.com)

Nvidia launches 8800M-GTX SLI notebook graphics

As mentioned in earlier articles on NotebookReview.com, Nvidia has announced that its new 8800M-GTX graphics card will be available in dual-GPU SLI setups from leading manufacturers such as Sager, Dell, Alienware, Eurocom, and Rock in North America and Europe in the next few weeks. The Sager NP9262 is one of the notebooks that will be available with the SLI setup. The 8800M-GTX SLI has already been benchmarked and is pulling over 12,000 points in 3DMark06.

Read More (LegitReviews.com)
Forum Discussion

Backlit keyboards may come to Dell, HP notebooks

According to a DigiTimes report, Dell and HP are likely to adopt backlit keyboards for notebooks. Dafron, an LCD TV inverter and notebook keyboard maker, is expecting its notebook keyboard shipments to top 46 to 48 million units this year, or 30 - 40% market share.

Read More (DigiTimes.com)

Qumonda shipping 1GB and 2GB DDR3 SO-DIMMS for notebooks

Qimonda has announced it has started to ship 1GB and 2GB DDR3 SO-DIMM modules for next-gen notebook computers. DDR3 promises higher power efficiency than DDR2, allowing for increased performance at lower power levels. The DDR3 modules are manufactured in 75nm technology and run on 1.5V instead of the 1.8V required by DDR2. DDR3 SO-DIMMs have 30 to 50% less power consumption compared to DDR2.

Press Release (Qimonda.com)
Special thanks to forum member Atomicdeluxe for submitting this bit

Some Intel Core 2 Duos to be discontinued

Intel has announced that some of its older Core 2 Duo and Celeron M processors will be discontinued. Chips headed for termination include the 65nm T5500, T5600, T7200, and T7600. The T7400 will be the last remaining 4MB, 667MHz FSB Core 2 Duo. It will most likely be dropped shortly after. Other CPUs headed for the chopping block include the Core 2 Duo LV T7200 and the Celeron M 520/530.

Read More (RegHardware.co.uk)

 

Still waiting for Lenovo to update their Canadian website....

T series is also configurable with Penryn on US site btw.

 

Why start shipping DDR3 memories when no laptop boards have DDR3 support? Unless we'll be seeing DDR3 laptops coming out this year.

 

Montevina will support DDR3 in May/June.

 

The backlit keyboard coming from Dell and HP would be fantastic. I hope they sell the new keyboards for current models and just not there up-coming line.

 

Is it better to wait for the 2nd generation of Eee PC or buy a Cloudbook???
any suggestions?

 

Are there even any information on 2Gen EEE PC yet?

These are what I heard, but could be rumors:
- Using new processor (and will be fanless)
- 8 or 9 inch Touchscreen
- Everything else the same

 

The CPUs are available on the T series (including the P) and cost more on the T than on the R.

 

Finally! Backlit keyboards!

 

The Cloudbook was again delayed back to Feb. 25. Check www.everex.com.

 

There isn't any detailed info on the specs of the second generation Eee PC yet. That said, we're cautious about recommending the Cloudbook until we get our hands on a review unit.

The Cloudbook uses a slow hard drive ... the same one used in the 30GB iPod Video units (which have been known to have failure issues). The 1.2GHz Via processor used in the Cloudbook is actually slower than the Intel 900MHz processor used in Eee PC 4G and 8G models. We'll have to see if the increased storage capacity balances out the decreased performance.

Honestly, subnotebooks like the Eee PC and the Cloudbook shouldn't even be considered as "primary" notebooks ... they're really built just for travel use and short-term web browsing. I use an Eee PC 4G (with 8GB SDHC card) running Windows XP as my travel notebook and for when I'm watching TV and want to check something online. For that purpose it's PERFECT ... but I have a Dell Latitude D630 notebook and a full-featured desktop that I use when I'm not traveling or sitting on the couch.

If storage is an issue you can always get a 320GB or larger USB external hard drive, but why would you need that kind of storage with a subnotebook like the Eee PC or Cloudbook?

Anyway, back to your original question. We won't know for sure about the Cloudbook until it's released, but on paper it might not have the performance needed to kill the current generation Eee PC. If the second generation Eee PC is even better, then the Cloudbook is going to have some serious problems.

We'll just have to wait and see.

 

Heh, then just exchange the 30GB HDD with something better and the C7 CPU with VIA's new Isaiah CPUs (which are pin compatible).

Actually, I was wondering if the CPU could be upgraded in such a way.

 

I'll let you know when I get my hands on a Cloudbook review unit. I suspect that the Via processor is soldered to the motherboard not unlike the Intel processor on the Eee PC. Still, "if" the processor uses a non-soldered socketed mount then that would be something that puts me in favor of the Cloudbook because you could upgrade the processor.

 

You just addressed some points abou the Cloudbook I was concerned about Jerry. I was talking about it on another board where some people were on board with the 4200 RPM HDD

Sure, it runs slower so it'll use up less power but on the other hand what are you going to need to put on the system to use up that 30 GB? Then again, this was a gaming website so most of the people who were talking about the Eee PCs were wanting to put Diablo 2 on them

Still, I was looking forward to the NBR review of the Cloudbook. I think I'm fairly committed to getting an Eee PC at this point but I was wanting to see what the competition could offer. Not too confident in Everex though and the machine doesn't look as purty as the Eee PC either :/

 

Just FYI, I'm using my 3EPC dual-screened to an external monitor as my main setup, and even got Warcraft 3 to install on it and it's really playable even when video-out'ed to monitor.

My point is, 3EPC can be a main rig, not just a sub-notebook, for those of us who aren't really interested in playing the latest games like Crysis.

One last thing -- 3EPC does not run at 900mhz as claimed; it's uderclocked to 633mhz y default and you either have to downgrade BIOS or overclock it with software to get the claimded 900mhz.

 

So, which Thinkpad T61p BIOS supports Penryn...?

 

VIA is using a BGA package, which by it's very nature is soldered to the motherboard. The pin compatibility is for the convenience of their partners and themselves.

Isaiah is definitely exciting, here's a new interview regarding it, with Glenn Henry. It looks like they're planning a new northbridge to roll out with the CPU itself in addition to compatibility with current chipsets. I really wouldn't expect anything for at least 6 months, though.

 

Are Lenovo trying to push the R series or can't they afford high end tech on Ts yet?