News Bits: VAIO B, Samsung M40, Alienware MJ-12m, AMD 64 Releases, Pentium M Roadmap

Sony VAIO B Series Small BusinessNotebook Available for Purchase

The new Sony VAIO B Series of notebooks is now available for purchase in the U.S. Sony introduced its Vaio B-Series notebook personal computeras a notebook for small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Sony claims the VAIO B boasts all ofthe features a working mobile professional would expect.This is a ratherinteresting move due to the fact most new notebook releases these dayscome out bragging about the the home/digital convergence functionalities, with few newer, low-cost notebooks being aimed exclusively atsmall businessmobile workers.

The VAIO B is based upon Sony's olderZ1 design concept that the VAIO B replaces, the Vaio B-Series notebook weighs about five pounds and measures 1.7-inches thick, 12.6-inches wide, and 10.1- inches deep and it features integrated wireless technology and an onboard optical drive. The VAIO B comes configurable with a range of components, including a choice of a 1.3GHz Celeron or 2.0GHz Pentium M processor, 30GB to 100GB of hard drive space (which can be bolstered to 1GB), and a combo DVD/CD-RW or DVD burner. Prices start at about $1800 (U.S) for the VAIO B.

SamsungReleases the World's Lightest 17" Sized Screen Notebook

Usually with a 17" screen notebook we assume you'll get back breaking weight built-in. But Samsung is challenging this standard. The Samsung M40 weighsonly 6.40pounds (2.9 Kg) which is about 2-3 pounds lighter than most other 17" screen notebooks. It's a looker too, very pretty design. Unfortunately this laptop is not available in the U.S. but if you live in the United Kingdom you can pick this beauty up for £1643.83 from LaptopShop.co.uk

More Information and Buying: http://www.laptopshop.co.uk/samsung-m40_hwm_745-laptop-2-n2.htm

Alienware MJ-12m Mobile Workstation Notebook Review

DigitalVideoEditing.com hasposted a review of the Alienware MJ-12m Mobile Workstation Notebook. Alienware is known for being on the cutting edge with design and notebook performance, and also for having really expensive notebooks. The MJ-12m will cost $3,000+ and is designed for gaming and digital imaging and content tasks.

"Alienware sent an MJ-12m model for review. This model mobile workstation is equipped with a 3.4GHz Intel Pentium 4 with 512k cache and an 800MHz frontside bus. It came loaded with 1GB RAM (it supports up to 2GB RAM) running Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2. Its 15.4 inch display is powered by the NVIDIA QuadroFX Go 1000 mobile workstation class graphics processing chip with 128MB RAM, and storage is provided by the Hitachi HTS726060M9AT00 7200RPM 60GB notebook hard disk drive and a Slimtype DVDRW SOSW-852S DVD burner. "

Link to Full Review

Dell Inspiron 8600 and 600m Life Extended -- No Inspiron8700 Anytime Soon

According to Dell sources, the Inspiron 8600 and Inspiron 600m will continue production into Spring of 2005. Often Dell updates its 8000 series of notebooks, which is its most popular selling, on a yearly basis. However, due to popularity of the current 8600 the lifetime has been extended and there will be no Inspiron 8700 anytime soon. The Inspiron 600m was supposed to be replaced by the release of the Inspiron 700m, but due to continuing popular sales of the 600m its production has also been extended into Spring of 2005.

More AMD 64-bit Based Notebooks Coming

According to DigiTimes.com, a news source focused on the latest manufacturer trends in Taiwan, Notebook makers there are ready to crank out more AMD Athlon 64-bit processor based notebooks than ever before.

Acer recently launched its new Ferrari 3400 notebook which is built using AMD's Mobile Athlon 64 3000+ CPU and Acer's Aspire 1520-series notebook is built using an AMD 64 as well. Acer, Asus, Quanta Computer, Compal Electronics, Wistron, Mitac Technology and UniwillComputer will all be releasing AMD-based notebooks soon. These are all major notebook makers and manufacturers.

More Information: http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20041026A1001.html

Intel Pentium M Roadmap -- Pentium 2.26GHz With 533MHz FSB by Q4 2005

AnandTech.com has posted the latest roadmap for the Intel Pentium M processor. According to the chart we can expect a 2.26GHz Pentium M with 533MHz Front Side Bus speed by Q4 of 2005. Can't wait for that one! The first Pentium M Dothan processors with a 533MHz Front Side Bus will be released in the first three months of 2005.

More Information: http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2256&p=2

Acer Ferrari 3400 Pics and Specs

AMDBoard.com has a rundown on the specs of the new Acer Ferrari 3400 Athlon 64 based notebook. They also include a few pictures.

More Information: http://www.amdboard.com/ferrari_3400.html

 

Does anyone know why Samsung is not distributing its amazing m40 or x30 to the U.S?

 

one thing I caught wind of was that some of the Panasonic notebooks on the U.S. market might actually have been a Samsung ODM. But I can't even remember where I read that so I may be dreaming [xx(]

Samsung has made a big push with their products into the U.S. market of late and are really working on their brand name, so beats me as to why they wouldn't try a go with notebooks.

the other interesting note is that LG is from South Korea just like Samsung and they seem to be selling products in Canada but it's harder to find them in the U.S. Maybe Dell and HP dominance in this country scares manufacturers off? who knows.

 

i dont think the PM part is that cool bcuz i mean, they already have a 2.1 ghz PM, and the 2.0 came out only a few months ago, so why do we wait a whole year or more just to go another 100 mhz?

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Ballin4life