CBB Series

Can anyone shed some light on the CBB (i) series offered by Compal?

I noticed on this site, they list them seperately. It sound like a good idea, and I like the look of them a little better than the others. (Maybe it's just the pictures though).

http://www.marasst.com/product-1-HEL80-CBB.htm

I'm going to be ordering sometime in the next two months. I'm hoping the HGL31i comes out before then as well. I'm weighing the pros/cons of the smaller lighter unit since I'll be lugging it around constantly.

 

CBB series is basically the "Verified By Intel" models. As such, they have to use some of those common parts (like those on the Asus S96J) which is why they look a bit different from their non CBB counterparts.

 

Actually, the CBB and Verified by Intel are two different, but similar, projects.

CBB stands for Common Building Blocks and there are several ODMs that have been conforming to this initiative since last Fall, but they are not in the VBI program.

It is an attempt to standardize certain parts within a manufacturer's model lineup.

At this point Compal is actually distinguishing its line up as VBI or CBB, the CBB models being outside of the VBI program. So, they call the currently available HEL80 their CBB version with the VBI version coming out later.

 

ehh? this is all confusing now
although all I care about at the moment is which one will use the better screens

any new news on the HGL30?

 

The non VBI will tend to have the better components including LCDs. One of the major objectives for Intel in the VBI program is to build down to a price point. Notice the pricing is pretty spectacular.

All we can get out of Compal is that we won't see the HGL30 this month. Hopefully this will mean we will see it in July, but we may not see it until August.

 

So the ones you have on your site are the CBB versions? The pictures on your site look like the other one though

 

Yes, the PowerPro L 8:15 and Crown P 15:2 (Compal HEL80) are the CBB versions...not VBI

What "other one" are you referring to?

 

I think he means the black one with aluminum lid.
the CBB version in the Marasst site was all silver.

 

Marasst does not represent the US market, and I also thing Marasst may be using the VBI and calling it CBB.

 

interesting. Does the US get its Compals from Anadem then?

 

That's what I was starting to think too. I actually like the all silver one better. I'm not sure how much I like the stainless steel look (it may look better in person though).

I may hold off for the HGL30 if it comes out in the next month or two.

 

All Compal's come from the same place, but different markets have different models supplied to them based on what their consumers demand. Asia typically wants small, Europe wants cheap, and US wants looks and power and doesn't seem to care much about size until this last year where the market demand is downsizing.

 

lol, this analogy sounds like it could easily be applied to automobiles too!

 

The Maraast is definately the VBI version. Notice the recess in the LCD cover for the VBI panel. Also notice that it doesn't have the IOMP buttons on the left of the keyboard, etc. Less content, less cost.

I don't know why they don't call it VBI, but then that is Europe so who knows how Intel is handling the program over there.

 

you know, I was always wondering. Why does Compal only seem to make 14-15.4" laptops? pretty much all the other ODMs, Arima, Asus, Clevo, MSI, and Uniwill seem to do a wider range of screen sizes for their whitebooks

 

compal seems to make all sizes from 10-17 inch. I mean, for the other companies. if you mean using the compal brand that must be true. They have not marketed enough under their compal name to have a huge line yet...


CBB is 7 peices,

hard drive, optical drive, lcd, power supply,battery , keyboard, and the um blank lcd lid you can put a sticker on

if a machine has all the cbbs, it will be called a verified by intel machine.

If a machine has some of the cbbs, i guess its up to them to decide what they call it. in the hel 30 it might not use the same battery, right? Paladin? but still use the same power supply and lcd? in this case it has common building blocks just not the complete deal.

 

yes, I did mention whitebooks yes?