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<!-- Generated by XStandard version 1.7.1.0 on 2007-04-23T19:21:29 -->Samsung debuts R55, their first hybrid notebook
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Samsung today officially announced their R55 notebook featuring a hybrid hard drive. The 80GB, 5400RPM hard drive is accompanied by an additional 256MB flash drive. According to Samsung, the drive consumes 32% less power, has a 26% increase in data reading and a 71% boost in data writing compared to a conventional 2.5" hard drive.
The R55 isn't cheap, and comes in at about $1,923.
PC games show signs of rebound
PC game sales have fallen in recent years due to the introduction of new consoles, but are showing signs of a comeback. World of Warcraft now has 8 million subscribers, and sales of other titles are also making a rebound. Microsoft has initiated a program that makes PC gaming more attractive, integrating console-like features and more user-friendly online play.
An industry analyst for market research firm NPD group said that in the first two months of 2007, domestic sales of PC games was $203 million, representing a 48% increase over the $136.8 million a year earlier during the same period.
For game developers, it is only natural to put a lot of emphasis on consoles - there is a lot of hype and marketing dollars in them. Microsoft is using the "Games for Windows" term to increase the prominence of PC games in retail stores. Last month, the company announced that it would extend its Xbox Live online network to include PC gamers as well sometime soon, using the term "Games for Windows - Live." And on top of that, Windows Vista is designed to assess a computer and give it benchmark scores, which shoppers can use as an easy guide to determine if a game will play on their computer.
From a worldwide point of view where video games are a $36 billion industry, the PC is the platform of choice.
HP sees increasing growth, Dell lags behind
HP has extended its lead in overall PC world market sales in Q1 as Dell continues to fall behind. The company posted record operating profits in Q1, and saw its current PC shipment unit share reach 19.1 percent, a 3.9 percent advantage over the next closest competitor.
Acer, who has recently surpassed Lenovo to take the number three spot, has also posted impressive growth numbers. Personal computer sales for Dell have continued to fall in Q1 for overall global sales. The company's worldwide shipments fell 6.9 percent since Q1 2006 according to IDC reports. The U.S. market has posed as the biggest problem for Dell, as their PC shipments in the U.S. dropped 14.4 percent while the overall PC market grew 3.6 percent.
There key reason for HP's domination - their renewed efforts to sell low-cost PCs.
HP aims for 20% business notebook growth
HP launched a 14.1-inch widescreen notebook and a 12.1-inch ultra-slim notebook in Taiwan on April 20. The company is aiming for a 20% on-year growth of business notebooks in Taiwan this year.
The new Compaq 6515b is a 14.1-inch widescreen business notebook with an AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-60 (2.0GHz) processor and Windows Vista Business; it has a suggested retail price of NT$39,900 (about US$1,202). The 12.1-inch ultra-slim notebook is the Compaq nc2400, which has an Intel ultra low-voltage U2500 dual-core CPU and a suggested retail price of NT$50,000.
HP plans to launch two more business class notebooks in Taiwan with agressive pricing in June. AMD-powered notebooks continue to gain popularity in Taiwan.
News Bits: Samsung R55 with Hybrid Drive, PC Gaming Grows, HP Keeps Growing
Discussion in 'Notebook News and Reviews' started by Charles P. Jefferies, Apr 23, 2007.
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