News Bits: Samsung 64GB SSD, Systemax 4155 Notebook Announced, Laptops for GIs

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Samsung introduces 1.8-inch 64GB solid state disk

Samsung today announced at its annual Mobile Solution Forum in Taipei that it has a new 1.8-inch, 64GB SSD (Solid State Disk) using flash memory. It is based on 8Gb (eight gigabit) single-level-cell NAND, which offers significantly higher performance than conventional SSDs.

The read and write rates of the new SLC SSD are increased by 20 and 60 percent respectively compared to the 32GB SSD Samsung introduced in 2006. Samsung plans to start mass production of the 1.8-inch 64GB SSD in Q2 of this year. The SSD market is expected to reach $200 million in 2007, and increase to $6.8 billion by 2010.

Read More (Business Wire)

HP does not honor hardware warranty if Linux is loaded

According to a writeup on linux.com, a woman purchased a Compaq laptop and loaded Ubuntu Linux on it. Less than a year later when the warranty was still in effect, the keyboard was malfunctioning. She was told by an HP support representative that &quot;Sorry, we do not honor our hardware warranty when you run Linux.&quot; Gateway and Dell did not comment what they would do in a similar situation.

Read More (Slashdot)

Systemax announces Pursuit 4155 notebook with Vista Ultimate

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Systemax has announced their latest version of the Pursuit 4155 notebook, featuring an Intel Core Duo processor, 15.4&quot; widescreen display, Windows Vista Ultimate, and a 9-cell battery for just $999. The specifications are as follows:

• Intel Core Duo T2250 (1.73GHz/533MHz FSB/2MB L2) processor
• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
• 1GB DDR2-533 RAM (1GB x1)
• 60GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive
• DVD/CDRW Combo drive w/software
• 15.4&quot; WXGA display
• 3x USB 2.0 ports
• Firewire
• RJ45
• RJ11
• VGA
• S-Video
• Intel GMA950 graphics chip
• Integrated 1.3 megapixel camera

Product Link

Intel announces Classmate PCs are shipping in volume to emerging markets

Intel has announced that its Intel-powered Classmate PCs are currently shipping in volume to emerging markets. The fully functional PCs based on Intel Celeron M processors are the first educational-oriented PCs to ship in volume to Brazil and Mexico.

Intel plans to run Classmate PC pilot programs in more than 25 countries this year. The Classmate PC will be available in multiple languages.

Additional Information

Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR to be available soon

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced today from CTIA WIRELESS 2007 the details of a new Bluetooth specification. Bluetooth Core Specification Version 2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) will soon be ready for use in products. It adds the following:

• Improved Pairing - makes initial connection of Bluetooth devices easier for users by reducing the number of steps in the pairing process.
• Lower Power Consumption - further reduces the already low power consumption; it can increase the battery life of certain devices such as mice and keyboards up to five times.

The Bluetooth SIG is working with the WiMedia Alliance to incorporate ultra-wideband technology into the next version of the specification.

Additional Information

Soldier's mom donates laptops to wounded GIs

Laura Brown, the mother of a son who fought in the Iraq war, is helping to improve conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Her interest started two years ago when she had to print out her son's emails to take to him at Walter Reed because there were not enough laptops for everyone. She formed a group, Laptops for the Wounded, in order to raise money for the cause. The organization has donated 27 computers to military hospitals since it started fundraising in November 2005. 24 of them have gone to Walter Reed.

The laptops are used for other tasks besides email - they are equipped with web cameras so soldiers can see their families, and one soldier who couldn't speak was able to communicate by typing on the computer. The laptops are also used by those with eye injuries to watch movies or TV up close.

Read More (FOX News)

OQO ships model 02 UMPC

Image cortesy of DailyTech

OQO has announced it is now shipping its model 02 UMPC. The model 02 runs either Windows XP or Windows Vista and has built-in wireless communication. It is based around a VIA VX700 chipset with UniChrome Pro II IGP graphics. The processor choices include a 1.2GHz or a 1.5GHz VIA C7M ULV processor; memory options are 512MB or 1GB of DDR2.

The OQO model 02's 5-inch display has a resolution of 800x480, but also supports external monitors with resolutions up to 1920x1200. Connectivity is provided by Bluetooth v2.0 + EDR, Atheros 802.11abg wireless, and optional EV-DO broadband. It weighs under one pound.

The model 02 is now shipping and starts at $1,499.

Read More (DailyTech)

 

SSD is really moving forward in leaps and bounds. Its pretty insane to think that a $200 million market will jump to $6.8 billion in only 3 short years, that is 34,000 times what is is now. Investments anyone?

 

It is nice to hear the soldiers are getting some laptops so they can stay in touch while they are in the hospital.

Every new development of SSD is really exciting!
Tim

 

thats pathetic i really think that the choice of OS is completely up to the consumer and not the manufaturer to descide so if the consumer reports a hardware fault or malfunctioning its upto hp to replace or fix it in what ever way its possible
hp should really honour their promises as made in their agreements

seems like systemax is quite backward LOL atleast as compared to their competition that is!!

a small act of kindness goes a long way, well in this case 27 laptops aint that small either
laptops for the wounded sounds like a great idea to me atleast they could stay in touch with their loved ones

 

Whoa...I did not know that. That's a deal-breaker right there. There are actually places that require you to have some version of Linux. I know my college does. Our Comp Sci department is not Microsoft-friendly and uses mostly Linux systems and some Mac's. HP should have no right to dictate to consumers their choice of operating system since HP is the hardware manufacturer/distributer. I could understand it if you tried to get some HP software or accessory to cooperate with Linux, but outright exiling entire systems from hardware support because they're not on Windows is outright wrong.

I do hope HP and the other manufacturers quickly clear up their policies about this and support Linux. This is probably a case of either Microsoft's monopoly-power abuse in action OR the technical support person overseas reading the step-by-step support prompts on their screen and not having anything to say for Linux. Depending on who you talk to you commonly get very different stories about stuff.

 

If you take a look at the recent dv8000 keyboard issues, and the dv2000 not-so-Vista-capable fiasco with non-functional audio drivers, you'll see an emerging pattern from HP that I hope will soon reverse. They look for excuses.

I haven't seen that in the business support, but that attitude is definitely in the consumer support sections...which is why I refuse to purchase a consumer laptop from HP as my main machine. Business laptop only, or another brand.

 

guess the business line is safe.....atleast for now
well if this continues theyre going to lose alot of customery verry fast
and ya seems like all theyre looking for ar excuses to "show" that it aint their fault but more of the customers fault

ye i hope they do start supporting linux too dragon_myr but dont think it will be soon enough

 

I could understand them not honouring the warranty if Linux caused the hardware defect. Like not loading fan drivers on a notebook which has a screwed up ACPI setup, but that's just ridiculous.

[ConspiracyTheory]I wonder if MS have any hand in this. "If they can't get a warranty, they'll HAVE to use Windows!"[/ConspiracyTheory]

 

not a bad theory but does microsoft acctually have the power to control the notebook makers?

 

here is a picture of that ssd...




and here goes specs:
http://www.samsung.com/PressCenter/PressRelease/PressRelease.asp?seq=20070327_0000332936#

the link above also features comparision table and market forecast.

 

if I correctly understood Intel is making competition to OLPC?

 

Intel's approach is different from OLPC specifically that Intel is working with PCs (e.g. desktops) instead of laptops. So I wouldn't say they are directly competing. Additionally, Intel is focusing on education, which I think is more important than handing out laptops to every child so that they can just go online to watch YouTube, make a myspace/facebook account, and chat all day long on AIM.

In regards to the SanDisk news - I have to agree with the others here. The SSD technology is advancing so fast it's ridiculous (in a good way)! I have to agree with SanDisk that SSD will eventually overtake the conventional harddisk approach and if Matrox, Seagate, and WesternDigital ever want to keep their heads above the water, they seriously need to start converting or investing in SSD technology themselves...

Or else they'll fall prey to massive layoffs and capital losses exactly analogous to the pernicious outcome that all the huge Detroit automakers succumbed to when they failed to maximize on hybrids and gas-saving technologies many years earlier as Honda/Toyota did.

 

Yeah SSD is clearly the future and I guess in 2008 they'll start showing up in laptops. Thats my horizon anyways for buying a new laptop. I don't mind paying $400 for the 64GB right now though. I don't see conventional drives lasting long other than for backup storage. They're wasting their time with perpendicular technology and all the newer high capacity drives. I can't wait, in 6 months I think Samsung is going to announce a 128GB SSD drive and then start mass production on that.