Intel is keeping a rightly low-key approach with this announcement, but if you're somehow not satisfied with any of its current processor offerings, you may find something more to your liking among the three it slipped out over the Labor Day weekend. Those include the 45nm Core 2 Quad 8200, which clocks in at 2.33GHz with 4MB of L2 cache and a 1333MHz FSB, and gets a somewhat more budget-friendly $230 price tag at the expense of support for things like Intel's Virtualization Technology and Trusted Execution Technology. If that's a bit much, you can also now snag the dual-core, 2.5GHz E5200, which packs 2MB of L2 cache and 800MHz FSB for $84, or the single-core 65nm Celeron 450, which rolls in at a respectable 2.2GHz and includes 512K of L2 and an 800MHz FSB for a mere $53. Hit up the read link below for the complete breakdown.

Everyone wants a new generation ultra-portable pumping the Atom processor right? After all, it's Intel's latest and greatest Centrino proc. Not so fast... literally. Impress got their hands on an unofficially released MSI Wind PC (the mini-PC, not the low-cost laptop) and subjected the 1.33GHz Atom processor to a suite of standard tests. While the source is in machine-translated Japanese, that table comparing the Atom with Eee PC 900's Celeron and a typical ULV Core 2 Duo found in a wide range of full-sized, ultra-portable laptops speaks for itself. Keep in mind though that Intel's Atom is supposed to be less power hungry than its peers and CPU benchmarking is hardly the last word when it comes to determining real-world laptop performance -- read/writes to disk, memory, and other system nuances must also be considered. Nevertheless, based on this table and other mounting evidence, first and second generation Eee PC owners shouldn't feel any compulsion to rush out and upgrade to Atom on day 1.

[Via Technophone and Notebook Italia]

As expected, Intel has rolled out its first dual-core Celeron processors, bringing the low-end and often-derided processor line up a few notches and quite possibly making quad-core the new dual-core once and for all. The first of those processors to hit hte market is the 1.6GHz E1200 model, which relies on the slightly less-desirable 65-nanometer manufacturing process and boasts 512K bytes of cache and an 800MHz front-side bus. Not exactly the most impressive of processors, but nothing to sneeze at either, especially considering its $53 price tag -- in quantities of 1,000 units, that is. No word on any other dual-core additions to the line, but given Intel's track record of processor offerings, we'd expect this to be only a taste of things to come.

If the rumor mill is to be believed, Intel's about to have a pretty busy January -- first delivering Penryn on the sixth, and then shipping the first dual-core Celeron processors alongside those long-rumored Yorkfield and Wolfdale chips on the 20th, according to Digitimes. The new Celeron E1000 will apparently run at 1.2GHz and sit on an 800MHz bus with 512K of cache. The report also lays out specs on the 45nm Yorkfield and Wolfdale chips that are pretty similar to what we'd already heard: quad-core QX9000-series Yorkfields at from 2.5 to 2.83GHZ, and Core 2 Duo E8000-series Wolfdales from 2.66 to 3.16GHz. Hmm, the 20th seems pretty close to a certain keynote, doesn't it?

[Via TG Daily]

HP has a whole lotta' new laptops to launch, possibly at a press conference this Tuesday if Notebook Italia is on the money. The designations are a real mouthful, so brace yourself: in all, we could be looking at Pavilions numbered dv2600, d6600, dv9600, and tx1300, and new HP G7000 and HP G6000's also coming in the form of Compaq Presario F700 and F500 models. There are a crazy amount of specs here, so it's probably safe to say that there is a machine to suit your requirements. Screen sizes range from 12.1 inch with the tx1300 up to 17 inches with the dv9600, CPUs range from 1.6GHz Core Duos and 1.7GHz Athlons up to 2.2GHz Core 2 Duos and ... well, you get the point. Most notably, the new dv models include HDMI among their image output ports, with the dv2600 featuring some kind of fancy new print on the outer casing (pictured above). For a more detailed listing, check the read links below. Fortunately, spec sheets don't require translation.

Read - HP G7000 and G6000 (Notebook Italia)
Read - New Pavilions (Notebook Italia)

While there's already a number of in-wall PC options, Adlink's NuPPC-0701T will likely become the automaters choice thanks to its integrated seven-inch, 800 x 480 resolution touchscreen LCD. This all-in-one computer measures in at just 8.39- X 5.71- X 2.87-inches, and includes a 1GHz Intel Celeron processor, Ethernet, audio in / out, 512MB of RAM, three USB ports, and a CompactFlash slot for easy expansion. The company is hoping its latest device gets shoved into applications such as kiosks, electronic manufacturing, factory automation, and transportation systems, but we see nothing wrong with rigging up your AV system, garage door opener, and electronic doggie door instead. Per usual, you'll have to phone these guys up in regard to a price, and just in case the aforementioned specs aren't up to your lofty standards, upgrades are certainly available at a cost.

[Via FarEastGizmos]

According to what appears to be a leaked product roadmap, it's beginning to look like a hot summer if you're a laptop gamer, on-the-go video editor, or need to crunch some seriously large numbers while traveling. From the looks of the roadmap it appears Intel is planning updates and price cuts for laptop CPUs through September 2nd, including the introduction of a couple Core 2 Extreme chips (2.8GHz X7900 and 2.6GHz X7800, featuring 800MHz FSB/4MB L2 cache) as previously reported. All told, the processor overlords will apparently debut nine new chips and cut the price on four, with slight changes in pretty much every category. Of note is the addition of the budget Celeron M540 and M550, which according to "sources" are designed for the much-loved Santa Rosa chipset. Stay tuned, as we'll be bringing you more laptop-obsoleting news on this next round of chips as soon as we get it.

[Via laptoping]

While we've no doubt that you can easily track down a more provocative laptop than the business-minded Endeavor, Epson is apparently updating the NJ2000 to elicit a few more corporate purchases. The Endeavor NJ2050 still sports a 15.4-inch screen in both WXGA and WXGA+ varieties, but gives users the choice of a (nearly archaic) Intel Celeron M or the much preferred Core 2 Duo on the processor front. Additionally, the graphics set found itself updated with ATI's Radeon Xpress 1100, and interested customers have the BTO flexibility to add up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, a hard drive from 40GB to 160GB in size, and any of Microsoft's latest operating systems (yes, that includes XP). You'll also notice a PCMCIA slot, SD / MMC / MSPro memory card reader, gigabit Ethernet, stereo speakers, FireWire, and a dual-layer DVD burner. Prices will start around ¥69,930 ($589) for the basic configuration, but more thoroughly equipped machines will run you a few hundred more.

[Via Impress]

The barrage of notebooks flying our way with Windows Vista pre-installed and ready to "wow" has included a rather wide range of models and choices, but we've yet to come across a pre-fab unit sporting Microsoft's latest OS and demanded less than $500 -- until now. The Everex StepNote VA4101M is the proud owner of a $498 pricetag, a 15.4-inch WXGA display, and Vista Home under the hood, but what this unit lacks in price, it makes up for in weak componentry. Users will likely be let down by the paltry 1.46GHz Intel Celeron M 410 processor, 512MB of DDR2 RAM, 60GB hard drive, and lack of Bluetooth, but hey, you get what you pay for. Notably, Everex did manage to include a dual-layer DVD burner, 802.11b/g, Ethernet, 56k modem, VGA out, and a trio of USB 2.0 ports. So while you won't buy much horsepower for half a grand these days, Everex's latest StepNote can get your feet wet with Vista without breaking the bank, but waiting on that CPU to catch up with your clicking finger just might negate any value that was here.

[Via Laptoping]

With all this talk about OLPC's mythical $100 laptop, it was only a matter of time before a more established brand-name company tried its hand at pulling off a similar trick without NickNeg and company. CNET reports that Circuit City will be selling a Compaq Presario model on Black Friday (that's the day after Thanksgiving, or November 24, for you non-Yanks) for $100, sorta. If you agree to get a Vonage subscription for a year and can handle the assorted rebates, then this lappy is yours for a Benjamin. That's not such a bad deal, considering it comes with a Celeron M 420 CPU, 15-inch screen, DVD and CD burner, 512MB RAM and a 60GB hard drive. Of course this isn't the first time that we've seen rebates drive down computer prices so much -- there was the HP setup that we saw over Labor Day, which included a CRT, and a burner for the same price after rebates too -- but a laptop is something to take stock of. It's very tempting, but we'll wait until the price drops that low organically, sans rebates and subscription plans, thanks.

[Via TechDirt]

Read - CNET
Read - Black Friday 2006

BenQ has just come out with a new model in its Joybook R series, aimed squarely at "young professionals," leaving all those folks that we know left sadly clutching yesterday's laptops. The new Joybook R41E comes configurable with options like an Intel Celeron M Processor 420 and above, "genuine" Windows XP Home / Professional, up to 2GB of RAM, a 60 - 120GB SATA drive, dual-layer DVD burner, four USB 2.0 ports, Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi, a 14-inch 1280 x 800 screen decked out with "Display Brilliance Enhancement Film," and a keyboard so durable that it can withstand "8 million keystrokes," which, believe it or not is really not all that incredibly much. There's no word on pricing or availability -- but a soon-ish ship date and a low price would surely bring a little bit more joy into the lives of those Taiwanese yuppies well-to-do enough to land one.

Toshiba just gave a full-digit jump to their Satellite AW5 and CW1 laptops. The AW6 offers the same 15.4-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) display but bests its predecessor by offering the 1.66GHz Intel T5500 Core 2 Duo proc, a 256MB GeForce Go 7600 GPU, up to 120GB disk, and dual-layer DVD mult-drive on top of the usual smattering of WiFi, ExpressCard, memory card, USB, and Firewire capabilities we've come to expect. Yet with all the bumps, the AW6 still maintains the price of ¥189,800 or about $1,700 US. The low-end, 14.1-inch CW2 comes configured with choice of Celeron M410 or T2300 Core Duo processors, Radeon Express 200M or Intel 945GM Express graphics, and up to 1.5GB of memory, 100GB of disk, and dual-layer multi-drive for prices ranging from ¥109,800 on upward to ¥149,800 (about $937 to $1,278). Both released today in Japan with a Stateside launch expected soon. You can check the CW2 after the break.

We still don't feel like consumers are rushing out to buy those portable but quirky UMPCs (well, an unnamed Engadget editor actually did rush out to buy one -- and returned it shortly thereafter), but it seems like the form factor is here to stay anyway, and now Korean manufacturer Daewoo Lucoms -- a spin-off of Daewoo Electronics -- has released its own version called the Solo M1. Specs on this one are almost identical to the Samsung Q1, as the two devices share the same low voltage 900MHz Intel Celeron processor, 7-inch touchscreen, 512MB of RAM, and of course, Windows XP Tablet Edition operating system. Also like the Q1, the Solo M1 sports both Bluetooth and WiFi wireless radios, and comes with the option of a built-in GPS receiver and/or DMB tuner. You'll have to forgive us for not getting too enthusiastic about these products anymore (the novelty wore off about 100 posts ago), but if you've set the bar a little lower than we have, then you can pick up your own M1 for about $1,050 -- in won, of course.

[Via Mobility Site]

What do you do when you're a maker of just another mini PC? Relaunch under a new name of course. Calling itself the "first small form-factor Linux machine on the market" (which isn't even remotely true) the Linspire Mini Koobox is just the AOpen MiniPC running Linspire's flavor of Linux, all bundled up and shoved out the door of Mirus Innovations. Unfortunately, this ain't the Core Duo MiniPC CNET was so impressed with, this dog brings a 1.5GHz CeleronM 370 proc, 256MB DDR2 RAM, a 40GB, 5400RPM disk, slot loading DVD combo drive, and the usual suite of USB 2.0, Firewire, and media-outs. In fact, this is nearly the same box AOpen was touting last year only this time without the Mac mini, ehem, inspired dress. Priced at $400, they throw in speakers, a mouse, and keyboard this time and maybe even a little whine.

[Via PRNewswire]

Because we know that you can never get tired of reading laptop specs, we have five more HP models to drop on you, including the waif-like 12-inch nc2400 (pictured) which weighs in at a mere 2.8-pounds. All five of these Compaq-branded notebooks are targeted at business users, and all but the 15.4-inch (WXGA or WXSGA+) nx7400 series -- which can also be equipped with a Celeron M -- sport one of several Core Duo or Solo flavors. Graphics here range from integrated (the 12.1-inch nc4400) to ATI Mobility Radeon X1300 (14.1-inch, WXGA or WXGA+ nc6400) to an ATI Mobility FireGL V5200 card available in certain configurations of the15.4-inch nw8440 series. All these machines offer WiFi and a minimum of 512MB RAM and a 40GB HDD out of the box, with some models sporting extras like a fingerprint reader, 7200RPM hard drive, and LightScribe dual-layer DVD burner. No prices are known for the nc2400 or the nc4400, which are coming on May 22nd, but the other models are available immediately with prices starting at $1,549 for the nc6400, $740 for the nx7400, and $1,599 for the nc8400 series.

Read- nc2400
Read- nc4400
Read- nc6400
Read- nx7400
Read- nc8440