News Bits: Dell BIOS Update for Faulty Nvidia GPUs, Windows XP Coming to OLPC

Dell releases Nvidia GPU update for notebook owners

Nvidia said earlier this month that it shipped significant quantities of defective notebook graphics chips. Notebooks with specific Nvidia graphics have been experiencing higher-than-expected failure rates. The problem with the chips is a weak die/packaging material set, which can fail with GPU temperature fluctuations.

Dell is recommending that owners of Dell notebooks with Nvidia graphics chips flash their system BIOS. The BIOS update changes the fan profile so they regular the temperature fluctuations better. See the table below, and visit the link for downloads:

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Dell is providing technical support if you need help flashing your system.

Full Story (Direct2Dell.com)

Compal to ship 1 million notebooks in 2H'08

Compal Electronics President Ray Chen said the company is expecting to ship one million notebooks in the second half of this year. It will start mass producing Dell's E-series computers in August. Chen said he expects the company's notebook shipments to increase sequentially by 20% in the second half of this year.

Full Story (DigiTimes.com)

Gartner says $100 notebook is three years away

According to research firm Gartner, the $100 notebook is at least three years away. Analysts at the company point out that all current mini-notebooks cost significantly more than $100, and prices are not likely to fall substantially over the next two to three years (10 - 15%).

Full Story (DigiTimes.com)

Microsoft getting XP ready for OLPC

Microsoft has internally released to manufacturing (RTM) its version of Windows XP for the OLPC XO netbook, according to the company's James Utzschneider. Microsoft is on schedule for a release in September. The company said it has no plans to make XP available to those who purchased an XO through the Give 1, Get 1 program.

Full Story (Blogs.TechNet.com/JamesU)
Via (ChannelRegister.co.uk)

Sony VAIO SR User Review

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ShinyFalcon in the forums has done a nice review of the new Sony VAIO SR series notebook, based on the new Centrino 2 (codename Montevina) platform.

Our reviewer comments that the notebook is "a beauty to look at," and it "felt pretty durable."

Read the Full Review in the forums

Special thanks to forum member PhilFlow for sending in this bit

 

Re: Gartners predictions, the Inquirer has pointed out that a netbook can already be bought (in lots of 1000) for US$130.

John

 

Yeh the dell - nvidia "fix" is pretty bad imho. They basically try to remedy a bad situation by making the fan run harder. It seems like a common fix among certain types of people since my brother had a PC problem (CPU was overheating) and my mom couldn't get a hold of me so she had a friend of hers fix it and all he did turn the fan up. Talk about putting a band aid on a major flesh wound. For the record I dont blame dell on this one...

 

I'd second that issue of the NVIDIA 'band-aid fix'. Apparantly this method of 'fixing' comes directly from NVIDIA's filing with SEC as part of the procedure that'll be taken. So most of the blame should've gone to NVIDIA instead. All that they are doing is delaying the death of these GPUs and hope that it'll get swept under the rug with time..

 

Is Compal producing the new Dell netbooks or the Latitudes? They are both the E series.

 

The article does not specify; for the record, I was also confused by that. I would guess the netbooks.

 

Too late for DELL, only right move for bad VGA chip equiped Lapys is cut the price for 50%, othervise BYE-BYE Back To School season,.
Much better for HP....

 

testing...

www.google.com