Evesham Voyager C550 Review
Trusted Reviews take a look at the C550 from Evesham. This is not a company I am familiar with, as they seem to be a UK company not marketed in Canada, but they earned a slightly above average rating on their new Centrino Duo laptop.
As the dust settles on the Intel Centrino Duo launch, several machines based on the new technology have started to appear on the market. After the Acer TravelMate 8204WLMi our second Centrino Duo laptop comes from a UK company - not what you expect when you have massive players like Dell, IBM and HP on the case. The Voyager C550 is actually rather cunningly using an established Asus chassis and this is why Evesham has a product available so soon after the launch.
If you want all the technical details about the new platform I’d suggest you go and read the Acer review as it covers all the basics of what the new Centrino Duo platform has to offer. The Voyager C550 isn’t as highly specified as the Acer, but it also cost a lot less as a result. The processor is an Intel Core Duo T2400 clocked at 1.83GHz, which in itself isn’t bad. But the T2400 also represents the best value in the Core Duo range, offering great performance while costing considerably less than the 2GHz T2500 seen in the Acer.
It looks like everyone is jumping on this new processor, but without Intel supplying more of the components of the laptop, will it have the performance and battery life that Intel was hoping for their new super-mobile processor?
MacBook Pro Review Mashup
For all of you out there looking for reviews on the new MacBook Pro laptop series, wondering if it is worth your money, I have compiled a list of a few resources you might want to read before you make that final decision.
Mike Rundle and his article entitled MacBook Pro: Not Pro Enough chimes in saying:
I’m as big of a Mac fan as anybody else, but the new Apple MacBook Pro just doesn’t sit with me as well as I thought it would. I never expected that Apple’s pro-level laptop would be one of the first machines with an Intel chip in it, but I, and many rumor sites, were wrong. I’m currently in the market for a new laptop since I sold my previous PowerBook and iBook, and I was seriously looking into purchasing the new MacBook Pro but I’m a bit turned off after sniffing around a bit.
Perry Longinotti from NotebookReview.com says:
The PowerBook was a powerful brand, so it is a little bit surprising that Apple would abandon it. The shift from ‘Power’ to ‘Mac’ might be seen across the board as Apple works harder to differentiate their products from those of Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba and others. Even Apples can run Windows natively (as soon as Vista ships) but only Apples can run the MacOS so it makes to underline this distinction in the naming conventions.
I am not a product manager at Apple, but I will try to articulate their target audience for the MacBook. It does not appear that Apple is shifting its focus, they are clearly targeting this notebook at the same crowd the PowerBook was designed for: mobile professionals.
Lastly we have a small snippit from the review on ZDNet where they had this to say:
Bar none, the best thing about the MacBook Pro is that Apple has shelved IBM’s plodding G4 PowerPC processor in favor of Intel’s new Core Duo. We’re also psyched to see a decent graphics card onboard, ATI’s Mobility Radeon X1600 with 256MB of memory, along with x16 PCI Express architecture.
Overall the attitude towards the new machine is mixed, though it seems there are a few more people ready to put it down than praise the new changes, but I found those articles mostly shortsighted, save for Mike Rundle’s piece. It should be interesting to see how the MacBook Pro plays out, and if as many people that loved the PowerBook, are converted into MacBook lovers.
Xtreme Notebooks Dual GPU Laptop
BIOS Magazine takes a look at the Xtreme Raptor 766X a dual GPU laptop for a little more than two thousand dollars.
Virtually all laptops include only one graphics system (either a dedicated chip from nVidia or ATI), or a lower-profile chip integrated into the motherboard that delivers less powerful performance, but will stretch out the battery life.
The machine has both a GeForce Go with 256MB of dedicated DDR VRAM and Intel 910 so you can select one or the other from a converted Wireless On/Off switch on the front of the system. The only caveat is that the system must be powered-down to switch between the two modes or it will cause Windows to crash.
A very interesting concept allowing the user to change between a gaming mode, or a longer lasting word processing mode in one laptop. Smart idea in my opinion.
HP Pavilion dv8000 Review
Laptop Magazine has reviewed the HP Pavilion dv8000, a nice Turion 64 17″ laptop.
In the Pavilion dv8000, HP basically borrowed the same stellar design and QuickPlay feature for instant music and DVD playback from its smaller cousins and added a bigger screen, Turion 64 processor, and ATI graphics. The result: a notebook that will appeal to home users looking to ditch the desktop without spending a fortune.
The dv8000’s 15.6-inch wide frame has plenty of room for a spacious keyboard to complement the separate numeric keypad. The touchpad is smooth and responsive, integrates a scroll zone along the right side,
In the end they give it a four out of a possible five, and for the price of around $1,500 USD, it is definetly worth looking at.
Samsung X60 Dual Core Notebook
BIOS Magazine takes a look at the new X60, a dual core “Yonah” based laptop.
Samsung has joined the dual core laptop party. The X60 (£899 ex. VAT) and R65 (£999 ex. VAT) both feature Intel’s new dual core processors (codenamed Yonah) and are pitched at home users.
Key features of the X60 include a weight of 2.4kg, 15.4-inch SuperClear display featuring Samsung’s exclusive Digital Natural Image Enhancement (DNIE) for ‘outstanding’ image quality, as well as embedded PCI-Express Gigabit LAN solution, guaranteeing a stable network connection without the use of a PCI device.
‘Laptop users increasingly demand powerful but stylish products that combine the functionality of a desktop PC with the portability of a laptop,’ said Mark Jennings, Notebook Marketing Manager at Samsung Electronics UK. ‘The inclusion of Intel’s recently launched dual core processor in these two laptop enables Samsung to meet this demand and offer more computing power, increased battery life and complete connectivity, without compromising design and portability.’
I am so excited about the new Yonah based notebooks to see what they can do in the real world. Hopefully, as many manufacturers create machines with these processors, we can get some decent benchmarks in on how much better they are than the previous generation.
Samsung X1 Laptop Review
Pocket-Lint takes a look at the Samsung X1 ultraportable notebook and in the end gives it a seven out of a possible ten in their rating scale.
The Samsung X1 is a novel new take on the idea of the ultraportable, but can it deliver the goods?
Samsung is a name better associated with more consumery devices such as televisions or mobile phones rather than computer equipment but its notebook line has under gone something of a re-invention of late.
At one time, the company was happy to simply offer notebooks similar to other vendors – it has even licensed Sony’s Memory Stick technology – but if the X1 is anything to go by, those days may be drawing to a close.
One of my favorite things about the X1 is its great battery life at around five hours with the larger battery and a good four hours with the smaller battery.
Mike Rundle Not Impressed with MacBook Pro
Mike Rundle, a very prominant blogger, has put up his thoughts about the MacBook Pro on BusinessLogsand it is probably safe to say, he is not impressed.
I’m as big of a Mac fan as anybody else, but the new Apple MacBook Pro just doesn’t sit with me as well as I thought it would. I never expected that Apple’s pro-level laptop would be one of the first machines with an Intel chip in it, but I, and many rumor sites, were wrong. I’m currently in the market for a new laptop since I sold my previous PowerBook and iBook, and I was seriously looking into purchasing the new MacBook Pro but I’m a bit turned off after sniffing around a bit.
Let’s hope someone likes the MacBook, or else Apple is going to be hurting.
Fujitsu LifeBook N Series
Fujitsu Enriches the Mobile Experience Announcing New Desktop Replacement Notebooks Powered by Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology
LifeBook N Series and LifeBook E Series notebooks among first systems to demo new dual-core mobile processors at the 2006 International CES
Fujitsu Computer Systems today announced new LifeBook N Series and LifeBook E Series desktop replacement notebooks, among the first products powered by Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology. Debuting at the 2006 International CES, the LifeBook N6410 and LifeBook E8110 notebooks are equipped with the new dual-core, power-efficient Intel Core Duo processor, Mobile Intel 945 Express Chipset and next-generation Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG wireless technology, which combine to deliver an outstanding entertainment experience, advanced performance for handling multiple compute-intensive applications, improved battery life and expanded connectivity.
“Based on Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology, these new Fujitsu notebooks deliver a generational leap forward in power and performance,” said Keith Kressin, director of marketing, Intel’s Mobile Platforms Group. “The new Fujitsu LifeBook N Series notebooks enable an immersive entertainment experience for consumers, while the LifeBook E Series can provide business users with advanced performance to handle today’s demanding business and security applications while enabling improved battery life.”
The flagship of the Fujitsu consumer line, the LifeBook N6410 notebook, which features Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, offers the best in home entertainment, personal productivity, creativity and mobility, while the LifeBook E8110 notebook, the stable commercial powerhouse, provides a highly flexible platform that can be configured to meet a diverse array of business demands. Both notebooks will be available in the first half of 2006.
“Consumers and enterprises alike demand better performance from their mobile systems and don’t want to compromise power for portability,” said Paul Moore, director of mobile product marketing, Fujitsu Computer Systems. “With the array of powerful features in the LifeBook N6410 and LifeBook E8110 notebooks, along with Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology, no compromise is necessary.”
(more…)
Apple MacBook Pro
The big news has finally been released and it looks like the new Intel Core Duo processor powered Powerbook replacement is out. The MacBook Pro (yes, that’s its actual name), will feature the new codename “Yonah” processor dubbed the Intel Core Duo that promises up to four times the performance of the PowerBook G4. The new MacBook Pro, will be available in February.
At just one inch thick the new MacBook Pro is thinner than the PowerBook it replaces, and it weighs only 5.6 pounds. It includes a built-in iSight video camera, and the Apple Remote for Front Row software.
“MacBook Pro delivers dual-processor desktop performance in a thin, sleek notebook”, said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “The new MacBook Pro, with its Intel Core Duo dual-core processor, delivers the performance of not just one, but two G5 processors in the world’s most stunning 1-inch thin design”.
The new MacBook Pro features a 67% brighter 15-inch display, which is now as bright as Apple’s Cinema Displays, and offers a completely new system architecture for faster performance, including a 667 MHz front-side bus that is four times as fast as the PowerBook G4 and 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory expandable to 2GB that is twice as fast as the PowerBook G4.
Each MacBook Pro comes standard with ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 PCI Express graphics, with either 128MB or 256MB of dedicated GDDR3 graphics memory.
Each MacBook Pro includes built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), integrated AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g Wi-Fi wireless networking, a scrolling TrackPad and Apple’s Sudden Motion Sensor that is designed to protect the hard drive in case of a fall.
The new 15-inch MacBook Pro will be available in February through the Apple Store (http://www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorised Resellers.
Visitors to the Apple Store (http://www.apple.com) can pre-order MacBook Pro beginning today.
The 1.67 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1799
(US), includes:
- 15.4-inch widescreen 1440 x 900 LCD display with 300 cd/m2 brightness;
- 1.67 GHz Intel Core Duo processor;
- 512MB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB;
- 80GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion
Sensor; - a slot-load SuperDrive(TM) (DVD+/-RW / CD-RW) optical drive;
- PCI Express-based ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 128MB GDDR3 memory;
- DVI-out port for external display (VGA-out adapter included,
Composite/S-Video out adapter sold separately); - built-in Dual Link support for driving Apple 30-inch Cinema HD Display;
- built-in iSight video camera;
- Gigabit Ethernet port;
- built-in AirPort(R) Extreme wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
- ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot;
- two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire(R) 400 port;
- one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both
- scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard;
- the infrared Apple Remote;
- 60 Watt hour lithium polymer battery; and
- 85W AC power adapter with MagSafe magnetic power connector.
optical digital and analog;
The 1.83 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,499
(US), includes:
- 15.4-inch widescreen 1440 x 900 LCD display with 300 cd/m2 brightness;
- 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo processor;
- 1GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB;
- 100GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion
Sensor; - a slot-load SuperDrive (DVD+/-RW / CD-RW) optical drive;
- PCI Express-based ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 256MB GDDR3 memory;
- DVI-out port for external display (VGA-out adapter included,
Composite/S-Video out adapter sold separately); - built-in Dual Link support for driving Apple 30-inch Cinema HD Display;
- built-in iSight video camera;
- Gigabit Ethernet port;
- built-in Airport Extreme wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
- ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot;
- two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port;
- one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both
optical digital and analog; - scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard;
- the infrared Apple Remote;
- 60 Watt hour lithium polymer battery; and
- 85W AC power adapter with MagSafe magnetic power connector.
Additional build-to-order options for the 15-inch MacBook Pro include the ability to upgrade to 120GB (5400 rpm) or 100GB (7200 rpm) hard drive, up to 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, Apple USB Modem, and the AppleCare Protection Plan.
Falcon Northwest FragBook DR 6800
Falcon Northwest is not a cheap place to get a notebook, so if you are going there, you better have some serious money to spend, especially if you want something decent. Well the FragBook DR6800 is pretty decent, and Laptop Magazine had a look at it recently giving it at 4.5/5.
If the first-class features don’t knock you off your chair, then the price will. Falcon Northwest’s FragBook DR 6800 is a gaming and multimedia monster that’s as powerful as it is expensive, complete with an automotive-class finish to the case. Stuffed with a desktop processor, the most powerful graphics solution available, and topped off with a gorgeous 17-inch Wide-UXGA display, the good news is that this desktop replacement notebook delivers on its promise of ultimate performance and style.
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