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    News Bits: Windows XP SP3, EarthLink supports citywide WiFi, Lenovo IdeaPads customizable

    Discussion in 'Notebook News and Reviews' started by Charles P. Jefferies, Apr 30, 2008.

  1. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    Toshiba says 25 percent of all laptops to have SSDs by 2011
    [​IMG]
    Toshiba president Shozo Saito is predicting that 25 percent of all notebooks will have Solid State Disks (SSDs) by 2011. Although the NAND flash memory used in SSDs is quite expensive at the moment, Saito predicts that the flash memory market will grow by 133% every year from 2006 - 2010.

    Toshiba currently offers SSDs with capacities from 32GB to 128GB, with 512GB coming in the future.

    Full Story (Macismumnews.com)
    Via (TomsHardware.com)

    Windows XP SP3 now available ... sort of
    [​IMG]
    Some websites are reporting that Microsoft today released Service Pack 3 for Windows XP, the operating system's final service pack. It is a 70MB download and only available in a limited number of languages at this time. SP3 is only for 32-bit XP; 64-bit XP will get an update at the same time as Server 2003 since the two are essentially the same.

    The version of SP3 that is circulating the web must be manually downloaded at the moment, it will not hit automatic updates until June 10. SP3 adds four Vista features to XP including a kernel change, new product activation module, and two network security features.

    Windows XP Service Pack 3 Overview (Microsoft.com)
    Via (ArsTechnica.com)

    EarthLink backing out of New Orleans WiFi effort
    [​IMG]
    EarthLink will end its participation in New Orleans' citywide WiFi project on May 18 according to a company spokesman. Before making the decision to shut the network down, EarthLink tried to sell it outright, transfer ownership to the city of New Orleans, and finally tried to transfer ownership to a third party. The company is making moves to transfer its existing WiFi networks in other cities to the cities themselves and wants to terminte all of its WiFi networks.

    Full Story (InformationWeek.com)
    Via (HotHardware.com)

    Lenovo IdeaPad notebooks now fully customizable
    [​IMG]
    The Lenovo IdeaPad U- and Y-series notebooks are now fully customizable. The Y series starts at $669, while the U-series ultraportable starts at $1,899.

    Lenovo Product Page
    NotebookReview.com review of the IdeaPad Y510
    Lenovo IdeaPad U110 Hands-On
    Special thanks to forum member Han Bao Quan for submitting this bit

    Futuremark releases 3DMark Vantage

    Futuremark has released its long-anticipated 3DMark Vantage benchmark, successor of the popular 3DMark06. It is DirectX 10-only and requires Windows Vista. It takes full advantage of multi-core CPUs and has intensive physics, AI, and graphics. The benchmark is designed to stress computers for years to come.

    [​IMG]

    3DMark Vantage has the following system requirements:

    • Dual-core processor with performance equivalent to Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (2.4GHz), AMD Athlon X2 6000+, or higher
    • Fully DirectX 10-compliant graphics card
    • Monitor with 1280x1024 resolution or higher
    • Windows Vista with Service Pack 1
    • 1GB hard drive space
    • Amount of RAM required by Vista
    The Basic edition of Vantage is $6.95, and the advanced is $19.95 for private users. There is a free version available, but it is limited to one test run only. The Basic edition is essentially like the free version of 3DMark06. The Advanced version adds custom testing options and access to all tests.

    Futuremark Product Page

     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 7, 2015
    Charles P. Jefferies, Apr 30, 2008
    #1
  2. Aleman

    Aleman Notebook Evangelist

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    Umm the IdeaPads don't seem to be fully customizable...
     
    Aleman, Apr 30, 2008
    #2
  3. SkeeteRX8

    SkeeteRX8 Notebook Deity

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    What is an 8600M-GTS...that doesn't even exist!
     
    SkeeteRX8, Apr 30, 2008
    #3
  4. Aleman

    Aleman Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm guessing it's supposed to be GS.
     
    Aleman, Apr 30, 2008
    #4
  5. lappyforphotoshop

    lappyforphotoshop Notebook Deity

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    no supposed to be GT.

    all Ideapad Y510s in Asia have the NV8600gt with 256mb GDDR3, so it is like the Dell XPS M1530 without higher resolution LCD.
     
    lappyforphotoshop, Apr 30, 2008
    #5
  6. Mippoose

    Mippoose Notebook Deity

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    To download sp3... or to wait for Auto update... That is the question.
     
    Mippoose, Apr 30, 2008
    #6
  7. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

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    SSD - Cool. :cool: What will the prices look like? That's the question.

    SP3 - Go XP! :D

    Ideapad - Meh. I'd still get a ThinkPad if I had the dough.
     
    pixelot, Apr 30, 2008
    #7
  8. Joriarty

    Joriarty Newbie

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    512GB SSD... crazy. $100,000 price tag?
     
    Joriarty, Apr 30, 2008
    #8
  9. chengdude

    chengdude Notebook Geek

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    How exactly are the IdeaPads "fully customizable"? The U110 is offered in 2 configurations, the Y710 in 3, and the Y510 in 6. That's a bigger and nicer range of choices than previously offered, but not fully customizable.
     
    chengdude, Apr 30, 2008
    #9
  10. HI DesertNM

    HI DesertNM Notebook Deity

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    Well, we are going to need SSD drives to load Vista. From the specs I've seen, they really zoom in comparison to regular HD's.

    Heres a YouTube for loading vista with SSD.. I need one of these drives. Can you upgrade an older HP notebook with SSD?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhEnHsJvUrI

    Freaking crazy this guy fires up a browser in 21 seconds.
     
    HI DesertNM, Apr 30, 2008
    #10
  11. arch983

    arch983 Notebook Consultant

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    you know what? you are right fully customizable is a f-ing joke!! i went to the site and clicked customize and it shows warrenty, bags, accessories, etc... what???? that is not customizing!!!
     
    arch983, Apr 30, 2008
    #11
  12. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    It looks like the 'customization' is only the warranties and such, however there are a large variety of models to choose from. Maybe Lenovo is trying to redefine 'customizable'.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Apr 30, 2008
    #12
  13. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

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    The red lid looks pretty... :rolleyes:
     
    pixelot, Apr 30, 2008
    #13
  14. Ever.monk

    Ever.monk Notebook Consultant

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    What do you expect putting the quickest SSD in raid. I believe that is literaly the quickest commercial setup possible right now.
     
    Ever.monk, May 1, 2008
    #14
  15. James

    James Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

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    Like hell I'm paying $7 to see how my computer stacks up to everyone else. Sorry futuremark, but the charm of all previous 3dmarks was the free version scoring system.
     
    James, May 1, 2008
    #15
  16. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

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    xpsp3 is not 70MB---the sp is 324 mb --the technet/msdn iso is 500mb+
     
    gerryf19, May 1, 2008
    #16
  17. cy007

    cy007 Notebook Deity

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    1280x1024 or above required for 3DMark Vantage? And I thought 1280x800 was standard for laptop PCs. :rolleyes:
     
    cy007, May 1, 2008
    #17