News Bits: Sony VAIO Z Series, $100 Eee PC Rebate, OCZ Introduces DDR3 RAM

New Sony VAIO Z series info unveiled

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One of our forum members, Spacecowboy, has uncovered additional screenshot information about the upcoming Sony VAIO Z series. The Z series features a 13.1-inch LED-backlit 16:9 display with an Nvidia GPU and HDMI output. It is based on the Intel Montevina platform, which will be formally released on July 14 (CPU/chipset), and early August for the full platform (wireless card included).

More in the forums
Special thanks to forum member PhilFlow for submitting this bit

ECS G10IL coming to the US in September

Image credit: LaptopMag

ECS is planning to bring its G10IL subnotebook to the United States in September, according to a blog post on Laptop Magazine's website. It will have EDGE, HSUPA, and HSDPA mobile broadband support. Two display sizes will be available - 8.9 and 10 inches. Pricing for the systems will start at $399; it is likely that the lower-priced options will not have EDGE. The G10IL will come with Linpus Lite 9.4 or Windows XP with an 8GB SSD or 80GB hard drive.
The ECS G10IL will be the first subnotebook designed and marketed for business use.

Full Story (LaptopMag.com)

ASUS clearing Celeron-based Eee PC 900s with $100 rebate

ASUS is looking to clear its stock of Celeron-based Eee PC 900s with a $100 rebate, which brings the price down to $449.99. The Atom-based Eee PC 901, which will replace the 900, is rumored to be priced at $599. Amazon and ZaReason are currently offering the Eee PC 900 for the discounted $449.99 price until July 31; the discounts should start showing up at other retailers soon enough.

Full Story (Engadget.com)
NotebookReview.com review for the ASUS Eee PC 900

Samsung introduces Montevina-based Aura and Eclipse notebooks

Samsung has introduced new Montevina-based notebooks, the Aura and all-new Eclipse lineup. The Aura R510 includes a 15.4-inch screen, new Montevina Core 2 Duo processors, integrated Intel X4500 graphics, 4GB of RAM, and a 320GB hard drive, while weighing only 5 pounds.

The Eclipse R710 includes the same specifications, except with an Nvidia GeForce 9600M-GT 512MB graphics card and a different case design. The Eclipse lineup also includes the 12.1-inch Q210 and 13.3-inch Q30. They have Nvidia GeForce 9200M-GS 256MB graphics cards and Montevina Core 2 Duo processors.

Full Story (Engadget.com)

OCZ introduces DDR3 notebook modules

OCZ today announced its new DDR3 memory modules for notebooks. They will come in PC3-8500 and PC3-10666 SODIMM configurations. According to Dr. Michael Schuette, VP of Technology Development at OCZ Technology, "From a technical standpoint, DDR3 memory technology is far superior to DDR2, from the higher frequency range resulting in better overall system performance to the energy savings at idle stemming from loss-less termination to the supply-voltage level and resulting in paramount energy savings in the typical notebook usage pattern."

Full Story (DigiTimes.com)

Hybridgear.net = PC Micro Works?

Rather strong evidence has been posted in our forums, drawing a connecting between HybridGear.net, a computer reseller that went out of business two years ago, and PC Micro Works, a new computer reseller that emerged when HybridGear went down.

Please see the full story in our forums
Special thanks to forum member Shyster1 for submitting this bit

 

Wow the Sony VAIO Z-series specs are pretty good! The screen resolution is really high though...

 

The VAIO Z certainly has a great design. Why the 9300GS though? It's even slower than the HD3200 IGP on the new Turion notebooks.

 

1600x900 on a 13" screen. Wow. Thats ridiculous, really, really ridiculous pixel density.

 

Awesome specs, although I'm guessing this thing will be in the $2,000+ range and thus not an option for me. Too bad though, it combines high screen resolution with a really small and light form factor.

 

16:9 is the screen ratio. 1366x768 is the actual resolution.

Lemme guess... you've been drinking.

edit: Two of the the three configs have the 1600x900 screen resolution option. Looks like I'm the one who's drunk afterall lol.

Yeah 1600x900 is certainly overkill. Sucks how the 1366x768 model is limited with 128MB graphics memory.

 

Hmm i seems i got all excited for nought with the 3rd picture (VGN-Z11MN/B) when it said 9600M GS on the middle right but looks like its just a typo

Seems to make mention for a Windows XP Downgrade Disc which is good.

 

I feel obsolete now.

 

I'd totally go for the 1600x900 resolution on the 13" screen. That is amazing.

 

Yes you're right, the cheaper configuration has 1366*768

Based on the European pricing, US prices would probably start around $1800 and go up to $2400. (European prices start at 1750 euros up to 2300)

It's probably because Sony does not really care about gaming performance. Sony cares about weight and battery life.

I can understand you don't like it. Games are not important to everyone though.

Well spotted. I think you're right that it's a typo. Strange typo though.

 

It's not measly "amazing" - its astoundingly, incredibly, and unbelievably stunning
If only it has TrackPoint... Lenovo?

 

1600 x 900 @ 13.1" is the same 141 pixels per inch as on the Sony TZ. There are many people who can handle that resolution and will the idea of a bigger TZ with a bigger screen. However, it would make my eyes water and give me a headache.

Sub-1.5kg weight is the other nice feature of that Z series. It should mean that we will see plenty of sub-2kg 14.1" notebooks.

Re: the new Samsung line-up, the full range I have found so far is listed in this thread. The general specs indicate that the Q210 and Q310 will also have integrated graphics options.

John

 

I really do enjoy the high pixel density on my TZ. I was disappointed to hear the Z would share the TZ's 1366x768 resolution in a larger 13" screen but am glad to see an option for 1600x900 has also been revealed.

What about the HP 2133 MiniNote? HP has said its geared towards the education market but I'd say its pretty much marketed for businesses as well, with its higher resolution screen, Expresscard Slot and options for Vista Business, XP Professional or SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop? Its even listed only on the business sections of HP's site for ordering.

 

DDR3? Heck, even most desktop doesnt use this yet.

 

9300m gs on the vaio z..

why did sony put a better graphics card (ATI HD 3470) on the SR, which is supposed to be cheaper/lower-class model than the Z?????

 

Because the nvidia 9300 is hot switchable with the Intel integrated graphics, and delivers better battery life that way.

Sony does not really cater to gamers.

 

I would too, but that doesn't make it not insane

Is it really? The Z seems much higher. But after calculating, it is roughly the same - in fact, the TZ is slightly higher. I guess thats fine then, its just a hell of a lot of screen real estate for such a small notebook. I like that the Z is so light as well, hopefully more manufacturers will follow Sony's lead and make much smaller and lighter notebooks.

 

So are these the official specs? I read in the manual of the Z some time ago that will have the blu-ray option...

 

Damn. The Z looks cool.

And the screen! It has the same hieght as a X300, but wider. In a smaller package. That's just crazy. Most 16:9 screens seem to be loosing screen real estate, compared to the 16:10 equivalent (at least wuxga vs 1080p). Especially height. If this is the replacement of 1440x900, then wooo.

 

What would 1366 x 768 @ 13.1 be equivalent to?

EDIT: never mind... looks like it's 119.63 PPI.

 

1366x768 in a 13.1" is pretty reasonable, not too much more than the standard 1280x800 on a 13.3", but the 1600x900...man, that takes the X300's high res and kicks it up a couple of notches. I'd take it, really, I would. Even if it was too high, I could always downscale it to 1366x768 if I really needed to.

 

This news has been spotted by Trusted Reviews.

John