News Bits: Dell adds Ubuntu to Inspiron 1525, Toshiba Discontinues HD DVD, Samsung UMPC

Intel to use Centrino 2 branding for Montevina platform

In order to differentiate the upcoming Montevina platform from its previous platforms, Intel will use Centrino 2 branding to clear up confusion for consumers. Centrino has been used for four generations of Intel mobile platforms; because the brand name has not changed, consumers are unaware of the technology differences. Notebook makers approve of Intel's choice; by changing the name, it will increase brand recognition and hopefully increase demand.

Intel is planning to officially launch the Montevina platform at Computex Taipei 2008. It did not comment on the Centrino 2 branding.

Read More (DigiTimes.com)

Toshiba discontinues HD DVD

Toshiba has given up the format war and will no longer be pursuing the HD DVD business. It will still support all existing HD DVD products. The firm will cease shipping players and recorders by the end of March 2008 and end production of the products around the same time.

Toshiba is still committed to the standard DVD format, and will maintain the relations it formed with various companies while developing HD DVD.

Toshiba Press Release

Dell adds Ubuntu to Inspiron 1525 internationally, not in US

Dell is now offering the Inspiron 1525 notebook with Ubuntu Linux 7.10 pre-installed. Built-in DVD playback capability is included. The Ubuntu-equipped 1525 is available internationally in the UK, France, Spain, and Germany; later this month, it will become available in the US as well.

NotebookReview.com review for the Inspiron 1525
Read More (Direct2Dell.com)

Microsoft giving free development software to students

Microsoft is offering free development software to students as a part of its DreamSpark program. The program is offered in 11 countries, and students in those countries can get a variety of tools for free. The products include SQL Server, Visual Studio, Windows Server 2003, and others. To get the free software, students need to have a Windows Live ID and be verified as a student every year. This can all be done on Microsoft's DreamSpark website.

Read More (HEXUS.net)

Samsung P9, the Future UMPC?

Samsung debuted its concept design for a multi-functional UMPC. Unlike most UMPC that simple serve as compact notebooks, the P9 is designed to be a portable computer, gaming device and media player. There is no word at this time if we will ever see this concept on the market or even a spec sheet. It looks very interesting though and the innovative split design gives this device an edge over some of the competition. Check out the video over at TabletPCReview.com to see the Samsung P9 in action.

TabletPCReview.com coverage of the Samsung P9

 

Samsung UMPC is definitely going to kick ass if they come out. Biggest electronics company in the world is finally getting some innovation out =D

As for HD DVD, tough luck, it was power fight between Sony, Samusng, Dell Vs Toshiba, LG, HP.... HD dvd had bad rep to start the fight with. Now I get to laught my friend's ass off who bought all these hd-dvd drive built in computer, hd dvd player and spent hundreds.

 

The Samsung UMPC looks good on paper, but that holds no guarantees as to how it's going to be when it comes out. Portable gaming device? What kind of GPU would be required to have that tagline? (I'd say none because a manufacture can equip a computer with 4MB VRAM and still call it "portable gaming device" but that is not going to fly lolololol) If there's a half decent GPU in it, then how is the heat output going to be? How's the battery life going to be affected? Guess I've to wait and see.

Sucks for HD DVD, but at this point all the consumer should really look for (or care for) is the price point of HD equipment, especially since there are sub-100 dollar upscaling DVD players.

US last on Dell's list? Weird.

 

why doesn't it called centrino 5? if it is the 5th generation of centrino? i mean... they never release coreduo for the desktop market... they go straight to core2duo. even better.... why dont just put the code name of the chipset... centrino montevina?

ah finally the format war is over *YAY!* it does comes quite quick... i saw the whole event at engadget... shocker isn't it? i'll be so mad/disapointed if i was the hd dvd buyer... i almost buy the hd dvd player through qosmio... lucky i didn't

 

Let the plethora of price inflated Blu-ray player announcements begin!!!

 

I doubt it, but for sure we won't see a price drop in the near future.

 

there goes the need for my HD-DVD player... oh well.

 

I thought Toshiba were only considering it as apposed to confirming?

 

Exactly. There will be many manufacturers of BD equiptment which wll lead to price, feature, and style competition. It's not like it's only Sony who makes them.

 

The prices of Blu-ray will go down but it will be atleast a year.

 

Fixed, lulz.

I think I'll wait for somewhere around 1-1.5 years to get a player that plays this Sony proprietary crap. Or whenever they become affordable on laptops.

 

Microsoft is apparently fuming over the HD-DVD loss. Sure, they got their Xbox360 out before the PS3, but it likely cost them to lose the format war due to the lack of a built in HD-DVD drive. Ouch. Microsoft and Toshiba were heavily pushing the format. Personally, I don't see the need to move from DVD to these new HD formats. I don't want my movie-playing hardware to connect to the internet--I just want to watch a movie that I paid for. I also don't want to pay such ridiculous prices for bad movies and the occasional good movie. I just don't "want" the new format(s).

Microsoft must really be hurting for sales if they're giving away even more software to students. The open source and free software communities must be making a huge dent since this move seems very desperate. I don't think it's going to have the desired effect of generating "lifetime customers" as Microsoft wants.

 

Oh yes, it was a risk worth taking getting a blu-ray compatible laptop.

 

Samsung UMPC youtube video is no longer availbale. Alternative links?

 

I for one am very glad the format war is over. I plan to buy my first HDTV this holiday season and hopefully by then there will be plenty of choices on Blue-ray drives. I won't replace my whole DVD collection, but I definitely want to watch my favorite movies in hi-def and my future movie purchases will all be Blue-ray now (until Internet2 makes downloading true hi-def practical).

 

where teh free software?

 

I thought that "Microsoft" and "Free" words can`t be used in a same sentence????

 

Oh btw, the Samsung P9 is neither a Samsung nor a P9. It's not even a UMPC. 'Tis a concept video by a person going by the name of "Umang Dokey" - and it's inspired by HTC Shift, apparently.

Teh source lulz