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:: PC Perspective . Mobile
Apple 13-in MacBook Review - A Pro in disguise?Mobile - Aug 25, 2010 | 10:00 AM Despite the difference in materials, the MacBook essentially has the same physical specifications as the MacBook Pro. The display size is 13.3 inches, and unlike most PC laptops, the MacBook still has a display aspect ratio of 16:10. The MacBook is a powerful laptop for its size, both in terms of processing power and graphics power. 
Antec Notebook Coolers Triple Treat - Basic, Mini, and Designer ReviewMobile - Aug 09, 2010 | 03:00 PM Heat is the enemy of all electronics, and cooling a notebook properly can be a challenge. To help prolong the life of your investment, Antec has two super quiet coolers, and one passive notebook stand that help promote better airflow. Is this one insurance policy you can't afford to pass up? 
ASUS N61Jv Optimus Core i5 16-in Notebook ReviewMobile - Jul 26, 2010 | 08:00 PM The ASUS N61Jv notebook offers a lot for its $900 price tag including a 16-in screen, Core i3 processor, NVIDIA GT325M GPU with Optimus technology, USB 3.0 and a nice keyboard and touch pad combination. Battery life isn't going get you through a full day without plugging in but for a mid-range price and impressive feature set it could be the perfect back-to-school notebook.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: The Tech Report | Subject: Mobile
The ageing 300M series of embedded mobile GPUs is being updated with the predictably named 400M series. That family will consist of the GeForce GTX 470M, GTX 460M, GT 445M, GT 435M, GT425M, GT420M, and GT415M
all of which will bring more than just improved performance. They will all support Optimus technology and will support 3DVision when paired with a 120Hz screen. Walking around with nVIDIA's stereoscopic glasses make seem a bit odd but this might help nVIDIA come to the forefront of providing 3D display technologies. Drop by The Tech Report for
the detailed specs.
"At long last, Nvidia has a top-to-bottom lineup of DirectX 11 mobile graphics processors. The company has introduced seven new GeForce 400M-series graphics processors, which will complement the company's existing, GF100- based GeForce GTX 480M." Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: InsideHW | Subject: Mobile
The ASUS 1215N is a 12.1" netbook with an unexpected secret, within the casing are two GPUs. For casual usage the power saving Intel GMA 3150 and when extra graphical power is needed to make the 1366x768 LCD really work then nVIDIA's ION2 is there to take over, just as you would see in an Optimus based system. InsideHW managed to get quick peek at a display model and you can read about their impressions over here.
"The new ASUS netbook, namely the 12" 1215N model, is one of the most powerful Eee PCs to have appeared thus far. First of all, ASUS has installed Intel's Atom D525, the new dual-core hyperthreading-enabled 1.8 GHz CPU, first presented at this year's Computex fair. D525 is actually the heir to the well-known D510 Atom CPU working at 1.66 GHz, but now also contains both DDR2 and DDR3 memory support..." Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: AnandTech | Subject: Mobile
The Toshiba T235D sports some nice features behind its 13.3" 1366x768 LCD, a dual core Neo K625 @ 1.5GHz, 2x2GB DDR3-800 and it is a Radeon HD 4225 that provides the graphical power. It weighs under 4lbs with a 6 cell battery installed and is between 0.7" to 1.03" thick. The gaming performance is nothing to brag about but general performance shows improvement over the previous generation of mobile AMD solutions. If you are looking for a thin $600ish laptop and can't wait for Bobcat read the review at AnandTech and see if it peaks your interest. "Unlike the higher performance AMD parts, the Nile platform (and Geneva CPUs) compete in the ultraportable market. We've looked at a few laptops from the previous generation AMD Congo family, the Acer Ferrari One and the MSI Wind U230, but to date we haven't found anything that can seriously challenge the Intel ultraportable market. On the performance side, both Intel's CULV and AMD's ultraportables have easily pounded Atom netbooks into the ground, but where CULV laptops are able to hit 8+ hours of battery life we've yet to break the five hour mark with an AMD laptop (while using a moderately sized 6-cell battery). The Toshiba T235D changes that, and finally we have an AMD platform—and a Toshiba laptop—that we can recommend without a whole bunch of caveats." Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
Ryan Shrout | Source: engadget | Subject: Mobile
According to a story over at Engadget ASUS has announced a pair of new Eee PC's based on the newly unveiled Intel dual-core Atom Z550-series processors. It should come as no surprise though as ASUS is usually on top of these new technology releases. One of the two models will be the Eee PC 1015PEM that uses the 1.5 GHz Atom N550 processor and will feature the Intel integrated graphics and come with 2GB of DDR3 memory for about $450 US.
The second option will be basically be the same but will integrated NVIDIA's ION 2 technology for a more robust graphics solution. Expect the 1015PN to run just a bit higher in price and it should be available in September.
I am dubious as to the performance benefits the new Z550 will offer this already overwhelmed platform especially considering we have already seen dual-core processors in handful of netbooks; remember the Eee PC 1201N using the first ION platform? If Intel and ASUS can offer the same levels of performance with better battery life though, we are all for it.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: The Tech Report | Subject: Mobile
ASUS' new U33Jc-A1 is a 13.3" notebook with an interesting look as it sports bamboo panelling on the outside and below the keyboard when opened. Inside lies a 2.4GHz i3-370M, 4GB DDR3-1066
on an HM55 board with Optimus to control the GeForce GT 310M with 1GB GDDR3 that powers the 1366x768 LCD screen. The Tech Report noticed a few blemishes on the laptops software and lackluster graphics but were quite taken by the look and would happily recommend the notebook to a fashion conscious non-gamer.
"Asus' U33Jc wraps a powerful thin-and-light notebook in a luxurious mix of bamboo and brushed aluminum. We find out if this $1,000 system is really as good as it looks." Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: InsideHW | Subject: Mobile
It might historically have been the sole feeding grounds of IBM and then Lenovo but that hasn't stopped HP from making incursions into the providing office and mobile professionals with their own line of notebooks. The new HP ProBook 6540b is a 16" laptop with a dual core i5 430M @ 2.26 GHz, 2GB DDR3, a 320GB HDD and Intel's GMA HD driving the 15.6", 1366x768 display. There is a long list of connectors on this laptop, including DisplayPort which seems to be substituting for HDMI. It is fairly heavy and the battery life is not terribly long, neither of which is a disadvantage for a laptop destined to be sitting on a desktop most of its life. Drop by InsideHW for the full scoop.
"HP's ProBook series has imposed itself a great deal to business users and put potential buyers in a difficult position, having to make their pick among many options. HP has invested a lot in this segment, and good results were consequential. The popularity of ProBook worldwide is noticeable, and new models seem to keep pouring in. HP ProBook 6540b is a strictly business machine which performs all given tasks without compromise. We will underline the price of this model at the very beginning, going around 900€ ($1158-ish), since this is, after all, the basic information needed to rate and give an opinion of any notebook model…" Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Mobile
Toronto, Canada has been having a very warm summer which makes it the perfect testing ground for three new laptop coolers from Antec, the Basic, Mini, and Designer. The Basic model is very much that, a basic way to get some airflow underneath the laptop and is best suited for netbooks and notebooks under 14". Next the Mini which refers more to the size of the cooler, which is active, than to the size of the laptop expected. Finally the Designer which is also active and significantly more heavy duty than the other two cooler. Find out how well they did their job in his full review.
"The bottom line is that all three Antec coolers we've looked at today help reduce the operating temperature of the test notebook system. While the differences in temperature aren't drastic, the coolers do offer some improvement which should help in reducing some risk to premature hardware failure. The Designer and Mini coolers have fans that operate silently and can be barely heard above the notebook's own internal cooling mechanism - which is attractive to those who work in a quiet or professional environment." Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
Jonathan Hung | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Mobile
Here at PC Perspective, we've covered NVIDIA Optimus thoroughly by examining the underlaying technology and also products that integrate it (see our review of the 16" Asus N61v). We haven't been shy about recommending Optimus as something worth getting and our review of the Asus U30Jc shows it can help achieve a stunning 7+ hours of operation.
But what if you wanted an Optimus notebook with a little more CPU power, or perhaps more RAM, you may be out of luck with current Optimus offerings. Here is where Eurocom comes in. Today Eurocom is announcing the new B7110 FOX notebook - a totally configurable Optimus notebook down to your choice CPU, a second hard drive instead of an optical drive, and even your choice of thermal compound. However, you're stuck with the default NVIDIA GT 330M used by everyone else. 
The B7110 FOX comes in both 17.3" and 15.6" form factors and is highly configurable. The prices are fairly competitive to the pre-built offerings from major manufacturers. Check out the Eurocom B7110 FOX product page, or configure your own.
"Eurocom launches line of gamer-friendly notebooks with Optimus, the latest in graphics switching technology from NVIDIA.
Eurocom’s new line of gamer-friendly notebooks features NVIDIA's Optimus technology, which intelligently switches graphics between 1GB DDR3 NVIDIA GeForce GT330M and Intel HD integrated graphics to deliver optimal battery life (up to 240 minutes). It also offers a choice of 15.6” and 17.3” Full HD 1920x1080 displays and comes with Intel Core i5 and Core i7 technology. The EUROCOM Fox line is available for order today starting at $999 for 15.6" B5100M FOX and $1199 for 17.3" B7110 FOX model." 
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: AnandTech | Subject: Mobile
The MSI Wind U230 is a 12.1" notebook that has opted for the older Neo X2 L335 as opposed to one of the newer Turion based mobile processors. It features the RS780M northbridge and SB750 southbridge, 2GB of DDR2-800 and a 320GB 5400 RPM HDD, with a host of input and output connectors including HDMI. The performance is above average for this size of notebook but that comes with a price as is usual, the battery life is about 4 hours putting it far below Atom based laptops. Drop by AnandTech for the full specs. "It's an odd introduction because the MSI Wind U230 is a newer model with older hardware built in. The K10.5-based ultramobile processors from AMD are starting to trickle onto the market, but MSI is opting to offer the U230 using an Athlon Neo X2 L335 based off the older K8 core. Despite the venerable core that debuted with the Athlon 64 so long ago starting to show its age, it's still at least a reasonable alternative to people who don't want to suffer with Atom's "just enough" performance along with integrated graphics that get worse with each progressive generation (at least the GMA 950 could drive an HDMI port)." Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Hack a Day | Subject: Mobile
Over at Hack a Day is an example of ingenuity
for those who would like to be able to charge their cellphones without needing a plug and adaptor. With a little work this project will enable you to inductively charge your cellphone and you will not need to do anything that would void your warranty. The mod is external and the wiring uses the existing charging port so you do not have to worry about any soldering or other tricks, though you may end up looking for a different case or shell as the charging backplate needs to be attached to the phone somehow.
"[Derek Hughes] wanted to use inductive charging on his cellphone without voiding the warranty. He picked up a Pixi charging backplate meant for a Palm Pre and scavenged the coil and regulator circuitry from it. To make the electrical connection with his HTC HD2 he removed the mini-USB plug from a charging cable and connected it with 30 gauge wire. The whole package will fit beneath the back plate for use with a Touchstone charger (as we’ve seen with the HTC Evo) but there was one problem. The metal backplate from the HD2 interferes with the inductive charging. For now he’s using tape to hold everything together while searching for a plastic case replacement." Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
Ryan Shrout | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Mobile
NVIDIA Optimus technology is a feature that allows discrete NVIDIA GPUs to interact with integrated graphics, either on a chipset or on a CPU package like Arrandale, in such a way that allows the performance of the discrete option to be available only when it is necessary and idle otherwise. This ability allows notebook vendors to include a discrete graphics solution in their design without having to worry about have it sucking up power and bringing down battery life when not in use.
We have tested a handful Optimus-enabled machines at PC Perspective and even if we haven't always loved everything about the notebooks themselves, the graphics technology has continued to impress.
Yesterday NVIDIA posted a new blog and video that demonstrates the updated Verde driver (that is what NVIDIA calls their own packaging of the graphics driver for mobile platforms) and some of the features it introduces. One addition I liked was the ability to enabled a task bar icon that will let you know if the GPU is powered on or off more easily.
Good stuff from the NVIDIA team as they continue to try to find a way to compete and innovate in the mobile space. The only change I would personally like to see is some color changing or icon changes that will let me know if the GPU is enabled or powered down without having to mouse over the icon. Also, an overlay that the user could enabled/disable while in full screen applications (like games) would also be a plus.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Mobile
Yesterday Ryan finished up his review of the ASUS N61Jv Optimus Core i5 16" notebook. As the name implies this notebook does have Optimus technology allowing you to switch between the GeForce GT 325M GPU and the Intel HD graphics that are a part of the HM55 chipset. It is a bit on the heavy side at 6lbs, though a part of that weight is the battery which lasted 2 hours and 23 minutes
during Ryan's testing. Another feature worth mentioning is that this laptop has USB 3.0, something that can be very handy moving files back and forth when you are on the road. Check the review for a full list of the features and performance of the N61Jv.
"My overall experience with the ASUS N61Jv was extremely positive thanks to the performance the Core i3 processor and NVIDIA GT325M GPU offer, the large screen and keyboard/touch pad combination. For a 16-in notebook coming in over 6 lbs, which definitely puts it closer to the desktop replacement category than the thin and light, getting 2 hours and 23 minutes in our very strenuous battery testing was actually pretty solid making leaving without your power cord at least an option. The added goodies like USB 3.0 support definitely add the value of a notebook that sells for $899 which should make it a great option for a summer or fall college-bound consumer or anyone else on the lookout for this combination." Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
Jonathan Hung | Source: engadget | Subject: Mobile
In the most current installment of the Slate of the Nation - Your Guide to Upcoming Slate Devices, I listed the MeeGo mobile OS as something worth keeping an eye on, but not necessarily something to go out of your way to acquire because of its early development state.
Well it seems MeeGo is getting a big boost on two fronts today and we may see MeeGo being used in a lot more places than you'd expect. The GENIVI Alliance (the "IVI" portion I suspect standing for "in-vehicle infotainment") announced today they will use MeeGo as the OS of choice for their in-car infotainment system. The Alliance, which consists of big automakers like BMW, GM, Mitsubishi, and Peugeot Citroen, didn't say when or which car models will get this feature, but I suspect it will be at least 1 model year before we even see prototypes in place (MeeGo handsets haven't even reached the market yet). Additionally, Intel today is announcing that it will be setting up an Atom and MeeGo research group in China to focus on mobile technology. According to the DigiTimes, sources say that the R&D group will work with "100 of the company's embedded product partners to develop about 1,000 types of Atom-and-MeeGo combination-based applications". That's a pretty specific number of partners and a specific target for prototypes. Intel's heavy investment in MeeGo is an interesting business maneuver to distance (or diversify) Atom processors from the cumbersome, yet capable, Windows 7. Sources: Nokia Blog, via Engadget. Digitimes.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Mobile
Similar to the SSD Decoder Ring that Allyn created to bring some illumination to the internals of the new breed of hard drive, Jon spells out what you can find inside that tablet. From the OS that runs on the hardware to the internals themselves, he has covered all the current ultramobile platforms available. There is even a downloadable pdf at the end of the article so you can have a synopsis handy.
"Asus has two devices coming to market this coming quarter: the EP121 and the EP101TC. The EP121 reads more like a netbook than a slate device - it uses an Intel CULV Core2 Duo CPU and is loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium. On the other hand, the EP101TC uses Windows Embedded Compact 7 which is Microsoft’s portable device OS that is streamlined for shorter interactions." Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
Jonathan Hung | Source: engadget | Subject: Mobile
Engadget has some tasty morsels from the slate word, and first up is Lenovo.
We've been covering Lenovo and their IdeaPad U1 "hybrid" notebook for some time here on PC Perspective. While the U1 is an interesting product, it doesn't appeal to users who just want a slate and don't care for the extra notebook base. Apparently Lenovo is going to launch a slate product in China called "LePad", following the branding established by their LePhone smartphone.  
Lenovo's IdeaPad U1 Hybrid (left), and LePhone (right). While these products are for the Chinese market only, there's hope that LePad and LePhone will make it out to the rest of the world. Up next is HP.   
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer getting personal with the HP Slate during CES 2010 ... just weeks before HP canceled the product. Ever since the cancellation of the much touted HP slate, the tech media has been watching HP very closely especially with anticipation of a new Palm WebOS product. Apparently, the HP Slate 500 appeared on the HP website. While little detail was provided, it did say it was Energy Star rated. So a look through the Energy Star product database revealed that the HP Slate 500 was indeed certified and that it was using an Intel Atom Z530 1.6GHz CPU. This can mean that HP is still planning a Windows 7 device, or that HP has gone with Atom for an Android based product.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Ars Technica | Subject: Mobile
If you suddenly find yourself in need of an internet connection and are far away from a nice open WiFi signal then the cell network can save you, if you can connect to it. Two popular choices are Sierra Wireless' Overdrive 4G which can connect to Sprint's 3G and 4G networks and Novatel's MiFi 2200 which comes in a Verizon and a Sprint model, both 3G connections. Apart from the aesthetic differences between the two devices, the most important aspect is the speed of the connection. Ars Technica tried both out in a variety of tests and you can see the results here.
"Wireless data hotspots are quickly becoming all the rage among travelers and geeks who don't like to be tied down to their homes and coffee shops. Though 3G USB sticks have been growing in popularity for years, the new WiFi hotspot-type units are picking up steam because they allow users to share their wireless data connections among multiple devices or a group of friends, so long as everyone has WiFi. Two of the most popular ones in the US right now are the Novatel MiFi from Verizon and the Overdrive 4G from Sprint. We managed to get our hands on both to give them a test run, and it turns out that deciding which is better wasn't quite as easy as we expected." Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
Jonathan Hung | Source: Digitimes | Subject: Mobile
When it comes to 3D on a notebook computer, NVIDIA's 3D Vision has been getting a lot of attention. However, products using 3D Vision don't exactly appeal to the general consumer who is more interested in watching movies than 3D gaming and higher performance. According to this Digitimes report, MSI is looking to change this by adopting Dynamic Digital Depth's (try saying that 3 times fast) software which converts 2D images into 3D, and employs the use of polarized glasses.
Unlike active shutter glasses, polarized glasses are passive and inexpensive which would appeal to a broader audience. Polarized 3D technology works by restricting the angles at which images are received by the left and right eye, and can be commonly seen used in IMAX 3D movies. 
Arrows never looked more realistic than with polarized 3D! For those of you interested at a lower cost 3D gaming solution, DDD's TriDef has some game support (210 titles currently) although we have not tested this to see how well it works. Not much is known about MSI's new 3D notebook, but it appears they will aim to price it under $1000 USD. Previously, Lenovo has also announced that it will also be using DDD's TriDef technology in its upcoming IdeaPad Y560D. 
Jonathan Hung | Source: Netbook News | Subject: Mobile
During Computex, we followed Asus as they announced to the world that it was working on a 10" slate based on the enigmatic Windows Embedded Compact 7 called the Eee Pad 101TC. According to Netbook News, Asus will be switching from WEC7 to Android (presumably Android 2.2) thus making the total slate count using WEC7 a solid zero. This should be a relief to consumers as initial impressions of WEC7 were not very good.
If Asus is keeping the specs for the Eee Pad EP101TC the same as previously revealed, the Eee Android device will compete closely with MSI's WindPad 110 - both will be 10" units running NVIDIA Tegra 2. Netbook News believes we will see glimpses of the EP101TC this coming December which logically means lots of face time during CES 2011 in January. 
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: 3DCenter | Subject: Mobile
Verizon and Motorola have made the Droid X and you will soon be able to buy it, but you really might want to avoid it. One of the main attractions of this phone is that it uses the supposedly open source Android 2.1, allowing you to mod the OS and hardware and to play with a large variety of apps. How would your decision be influenced if you knew that any mod on this phone at all will kill it, requiring a hardware fix to bring it back to life. Slashdot reports on the new 'feature' offered to those who purchase rent this new phone, the eFuse will blow if there is any change to the the firmware, the kernel information or the bootloader. That wonderful feature will ensure that your phone will no longer work until you have an expensive hardware fix done for you. "If the eFuse fails to verify [the firmware information (what we call ROMS), the kernel information, and the bootloader version], then the eFuse receives a command to 'blow the fuse' or 'trip the fuse.' This results in the booting process becoming corrupted, followed by a permanent bricking of the phone. This FailSafe is activated anytime the bootloader is tampered with or any of the above three parts of the phone has been tampered with." Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
Jonathan Hung | Source: The Register | Subject: Mobile
While this is all still speculation at the moment, the impact of this possibility has some real consequences in the legions of Blackberry users - RIM may be entering the slate device market by the end of the year.
According to the report at The Register (sourced: BetaNews), it is speculated that the Blackberry slate will be a 7" device, use a Marvell Armada 610 1GHz CPU which is capable of HD decoding, and presumably Flash 10.1 and Blackberry OS 6. Apparently, the device is being pushed up from the early 2011 release to late 2010 to compete in the lucrative, yet crowded holiday buying season. If there is any weight to these remarks, you can expect to see more news of this in the coming days and weeks. PS. I have dubbed this new RIM device the "Slateberry". If this term catches, you heard it here first... and I want royalties! :) Want more news? Check out our Archive |
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