News Bits: eMachines Wal Mart Laptop, Sony VAIO F TV, Intel 45nm Processors

Another Wal Mart Laptop (Not $400) - TheeMachines W4620 Turion 64 Laptop

eMachines W4620 (view larger image)

Gateway bought out eMachines over a year ago now and it was assumed that the notebook line of eMachines would disappear in favor of the Gateway branding. But a new eMachines notebook has been announced by Gateway and is now available at Wal Mart. The eMachines W4620 is a 15-inch screenAMDTurion 64 notebook with an ATI X300 card, 80GB HD and 512MB of RAM. Below are the full specs

eMachines W4620 Notebook Configuration:

• AMD Turion(TM) 64 Mobile Technology MT-32 64-bit Processor
• 15-inch XGA Ultrabright Display
• ATI(TM) Radeon(R) X300 based graphics
• 512MB DDR Memory
• 80GB Hard Drive
• Multi-Format, Double-Layer DVD+/-RW Optical Drive
• Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home
• 802.11g Wireless with SecureEasySetup(R)
• 4-in-1 media card reader, three USB 2.0 ports and an IEEE 1394 port
• Weighs 5.5 pounds
• Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $895.00 available exclusively at most Wal-Mart locations

Here's a link to the laptop at WalMart.com: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4545568

Sony VAIO F TV Series Notebook<!--StartFragment -->

Aimed at the home entertainment/multimedia market, the F TV series laptops ship with a built-in TV tuner, 15.4" (WXGA 1280 x 800) screen and alarge 160GB hard drive.

Sporting impressive minimum specs - 1.66GHz Intel Duo Core CPU, a dual-layer DVD burner, and MPEG card for recording TV to the hard drive - the F TV series runs on Windows XP Pro rather than Windows Media Center Edition.

Sony Vaio F TV laptops will be available in a range of configurations and made available in Japan over the next few weeks. No word on a U.S. release date, if ever.

More: Sony Japan VAIO F TV website

Interview With Nebosja Novakovic about Intel, AMD and Future Processor Technology

DigiTimes.com has an interesting interview with Nebojsa Novakovic, a consultant in high-end computing systems. This is a five part interview and in Part III Novakovic talks about the upcoming MeromIntel processor and inPart IV Novakovic talks about the future of multicore processors from both Intel and AMD. He focuses a lot on who will lead with processor technologies in the months and years ahead:

The processor wars Part III, Waiting for Merom, Conroe and Woodcrest: Q&amp;A with Nebojsa Novakovic: http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20060125PR200.html

The processor wars, Part IV, "The turn to multicores": Q&amp;A with Nebojsa Novakovic: http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20060126PR201.html

Intel to Gear Up 45nm Processor Manufacturing by 2007 -- 5x Less Power Leakage

Intel is right now manufacturing its chips based on the 65nm fab and by 2007 they hope to move to an incredibly small 45nm that they promise will provide 5x less power leakage.

Full production of 45nm chips using 300mm wafers are scheduled to start in 2007 according to Intel representatives. Intel also states that 45nm processors will have power leakage levels five times lower than processors that are currently shipping. This move will further increase battery life on mobile platforms and plays right into Intel's newfound vigor for efficiency.

45 Nanometer wafer being held by Intel engineer

More: http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=441

MSI Solar Powered Notebook in Development

We've all used solar powered calculators, and since basic calculators are not power hungry devices then light is enough to power such an electronic instrument. But what about a solar powered laptop? MSI thinks they can do this, according to MSI

With a solar energy panel on the cover of the solar-powered notebook, solar energy would deliver power to the system, according to the company. Solar-powered notebooks would be aimed at responding to increasingly tougher environmental regulations and minimizing waste of natural resources, noted the company. However, the schedule for volume shipments of the product has not been decided, as the product is currently in the developmental stage.

So there's no pictures of an actual laptop yet, but good luck to MSI in producing such a notebook.

More: http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20060109PR210.html

Dell to Expand Malaysian Operations Where 95% of Dell Notebooks are Shipped From

Dell CES Kevin Rollins announced today in Malaysia that they'll be hiring more people in Penang -- they plan to add a 4-hectacre facility next to the existing 3.64-hectacre facility that already exists there. 95% of all Dell notebooks are assembled in Penang. Dell's total output of products from Malaysia last year made up 30% of the total of all electronics shipped from Malaysia. Dell says they need to expand to meet increasing demand for notebooks.

A new Dell ECC center in Malaysia opened today

Rollins made this announcement today as he was in Malaysia to open a new Enterprise Command Center (ECC)that will serve businesses relying on Dell servers and storage products in Australia, New Zealand and South Asia.

Dual LensKodak EasyShare V570 Digital Camera Review

Dual core notebooks are great, but how about dual lens digital cameras? Pretty cool also. DigitalCameraReview.com has a review of the newKodak EasyShare V570. With some nice retro styling, it's a definite eye-catcher. The dual lens set up provides one lens for an ultra-wide angle (equivalent to 23mm in a 35mm camera) and the other lens provides a 3x optical zoom from 39-117mm (35 mm equivalent).

Kodak V570 Digital Camera (view larger image)

 

Regarding the Vaio's "generous 15.4" wxga screen": HOW is that generous? The size and resolution are quite mundane. I detest 'marketing speak'.

 

I got the Emachines laptop and additional 3 years warranty for $1000. Laptop is a good performer. Only issue is it gets hot. I dunno why.

 

lol, spoken like a true engineer. it was text from a press release and i overlooked that term, i agree that generic terms that have either no meaning or doesn't make sense but sounds catchy should be left out

 

I don't blame you guys, lest you wonder. I try really hard not to shoot messengers

The other one that gets on my nerves is the laptop that's 1.75" thin or 6.8 lbs. light. BAH! What nonsense.

 

Don't blame the marketers. You can never emphasize negative attributes of your product which is why it's focusing on the positive. I know you guys find it destestable, but put yourself in their shoes. They aren't deceiving you because numbers are numbers. It's just taking what you're given and trying to portray it in the best light without lying.