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Centrino a go-go
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Mobile
Fujitsu has announced its Centrino-based 'thin and light' LifeBook S6000. Driven by a 1.4GHz Pentium M, the S6000 will sport a 13.3in LCD when it ships next month.
Each machine can take up to 1GB of 266MHz DDR SDRAM, and buyers can select a 30, 40 or 60GB hard drive. Modular optical drive options include CD-ROM, DVD-ROM and DVD/CD-RW. The drive bay supports all add-ins designed for Fujitsu's LifeBook S2000, LifeBook P2000 and LifeBook E Series notebooks.
The S6000 has a Smart Card reader and password-protected boot sequence for security.
Prices start from $1499.
HP's Centrino foray is the Compaq Evo N620c. Inside lies a 1.4GHz Pentium M, 256MB of memory and a 40GB hard drive. The display is a 14.1in TFT, backed by an ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 chip with 32MB of video RAM. In addition to the obligatory notebook ports and peripherals, the N620c boast built-in Bluetooth and Gigabit Ethernet.
The corporate-oriented notebook supports HP's Protect Tools Smart Card Security Manager with optional HP PC Card Smart Card reader, ensuring only authorised personnel can boot and use the machine.
Available now, the Evo is priced at $1799.
Further off, HP has said it will offer a second, more mainstream-oriented Centrino-based notebook "later in Spring.
A single Centrino-based notebook isn't enough for Toshiba - it has launched five: the Satellite Pro M15, the Satellite Pro M10, Tecra M1, Tecra S1 and Portege R100, spreading the new mobile processor platform throughout its product line and across all segments of the market.
The M15 and M10 are aimed at multimedia buffs. Each provides a 15in display, Nvidia GeForce 4 420 Go graphics and built-in Harmon Kardon stereo speakers. CD and DVD playback are supported through dedicated buttons, and there's a TV-out port. A 1394 connector and SD card slot complete the feature-set.
Designed for corporates, the Tecra M1 focuses on connectivity, with a Gigabit Ethernet port, Bluetooth and a dual 802.11a/b option. A one-touch presentation button simplifies projector set-up.
The Tecra S1 is a desktop replacement system, which seems an odd application for Centrino, but given the platform's apparent performance advantages over desktop or mobile Pentium 4 systems, perhaps not surprising. Again Bluetooth is integrated and dual 802.11a/b offered as an option.
The Portege R100 is a classic 'thin and light' system, designed for maximum portability. Again, dual 802.11a/b is offered as an alternative to Centrino's standard 802.11b offering. The display is a 12in TFT.
Prices for the five machines are $1999, $2079, $2145, $1979 and $2199, respectively.
Dell's Inspiron 600m line kicks off with a 1.3GHz Pentium M, 256MB of DDR SDRAM, 30GB hard drive, and 14.1in 1024 x 768 screen driven by an ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 with 32MB of videon RAM. Gigabit Ethernet is included as standard. The built-in optical drive is a CD-ROM unit.
To that base model, buyers can select Centrino processors up to 1.6GHz, and up to 1GB of memory. Video memory can be expanded to 64MB. And there's a full range of optical storage options. Dell is also offering a dual 802.11b/g card as an alternative to Centrino's 802.11b unit.
Pricing for the 600m starts at $1399.
UK PC maker Elonex has launched the Soliton ProWire/C. The notebook incorporates - yes, you've guessed it - the Intel Centrino platform, in its 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6GHz varieties.
The ProWire/C supports up to 1GB of memory. It uses the 855GM chipset to provide graphics accleration. The 855GM partitions a section of main memory off for video RAM. The screen is a 14.1in SXGA display.
Elonex offers up to 80GB of hard disk capacity, and a combo DVD/CD-RW unit for optical storage. In addition the ProWire/C provides a 1394 connector and four USB 2.0 ports.
The base-spec. Soliton ProWire/C costs £1,045 excluding VAT.
Samsung has announced three new series of notebooks (in addition to the X10, see this story).
The P20 and P25 families sport Pentium 4 Mobile processors running at up to 2.8GHz. Wireless connectivity is built in, with either an 802.11b module or Bluetooth.
Two versions of each range will be offered, one for consumers, the other for corporates. The consumer machines feature Memory Stick slots and MP3/CD playback that can be used without booting up the notebook.
The corporate version is fitted with Samsung's patent biometric security system.
The V25 series, meanwhile, is following the desktop replacement trend, cramming in full Celeron or Pentium 4 desktop CPUs.
Most models ship with a DVD-ROM drive, the rest with a DVD/CD-RW combo. Some versions also feature bundled 802.11.
Hard drive capacity tops out at 30GB. Screen options centre on 14.1in and 15.1in TFTs. All the obligatory ports - modem, 100Mbps Ethernet, USB 2.0, 1394, etc. - are included.
Pricing has not been announced, but on the V25 at least, Samsung has its eye on a more mainstream audience than many of its rivals. The P20 and P25 are expected to ship later this month, the V25 later this quarter.
Printers
Samsung has launched the UK's first laser printer with integrated 802.11 networking. The ML2150W also sports a built in 100Mbps Ethernet port, parallel and USB 2.0 connections, 16MB of RAM and a 166MHz CPU. It can pump out 200 pages per minute. Its print resolution is 1200dpi.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
