Laptop or notebook computer technology is advancing at
a blistering speed. Ferrari fast. So fast that by the time
you purchase your new laptop, it's probably already
obsolete or out of date. A sobering thought considering
the hefty prices you have to pay for a high-end laptop.
But laptop technology is changing so fast new innovations
are coming on stream.There is a
whole new generation of notebook technology every two years
or less. Therefore, unless you buy or upgrade your laptop
each year you're falling behind what these sleek little
powerhouses can now deliver.
What you really have to keep in mind are the outcomes
of all this new technology.?
Basically, these new technologies have made laptops smaller, faster and more powerful. With every new improvement the laptop is closing the gap between its main rival -- the desktop computer.Notebook computers are now out-selling desktops for the first time in history. Laptops are replacing the old desktop computer, whose days may just be numbered. It won't be long before laptops are also out-performing them as well.
Here's a quick run down of some recent Notebook Developments:
Sonoma Chipset
The new Sonoma Platform, Intel's next-generation Centrino
Chipset is already on the market. Members of the Sonoma
club are growing daily - Sony, IBM/Lenovo, BenQ, Dell,
Samsung, Acer, and Toshiba... another 80 or 90
'Sonoma-endowed' products will be released very shortly.First, wireless connections will be easier with the integrated tri-mode 802.11a/b/g, already dubbed by some as the 'wireless trinity'! This will make it easier to stay
connected no matter where you are. Improved performance will be experienced because the new Pentium M's have a 533MHz frontside bus, supported with up to 2GB of DDR2 DRAM, Serial ATA Hard Drive, and
PCI Express, plus improved integrated graphics, including Intel's Hi-Def Audio. All are possible with the Sonoma
Platform.
PCI Express
PCI(Peripheral Component Interconnect) Express is a new
standard for expansion cards that comes in different
versions. Presently, we have the x16 and x1 lanes, which
will be followed by x4 and x8 versions. It offers increased
bandwidth for example, x1 lane offers 500MB/sec instead of
just 133MB/sec for PCI.
Graphics Card
These are always improving. A Graphics Card handles the
graphics or visuals on your notebook. If 3D graphics and
games is a pastime, you will want to buy the highest
quality system. Some of the higher end products are:
ATi Mobility Radeon 9800, X800, and FireGL V3200 or
Intel's Graphics Media Accelerator 900.If you can, go with a NVIDIA GeForce Go 6800 graphics
card or for the real game diehards.Gamers will be aware of NVIDIA SLI technology, ATI's
CrossFire and Hyperthreading. All new stuff that's
bringing the gaming experience up to a higher level of
perfection that would even be worthy of a Spielberg or
a Lucas Production.
64 Bit Laptops
Most systems today run on the 32 Bit System. Keep in mind,
the major difference between a 32-bit and a 64-bit system
is the amount of memory that they support. Around 4 GB for
32-bit and 8 GB and up for the 64-bit. Right now -- Intel,
Apple, and AMD all offer 64-bit systems.
Dual Core Notebooks
Two is better than one!
Dual core laptops are now on the market. The gaming industry
is the starting point for many of these advanced systems.
For example, the British Laptop maker Rockdirect now produces
Xtreme 64, a gaming laptop with AMD’s new dual core Athlon 64
X2 processor. This same laptop also sports the ATI Mobility
Radeon X800 XT graphics card that features 16 pixel pipelines,
an industry first for notebooks.
Built-in Cellular Modem
Most high-end laptops now come with an integrated
tri-mode 802.11a/b/g for wireless WI-FI connections.
The Avant-Garde: LumiLED Display
Be on the look-out for LED monitors in the near future.
The brightness, colors and backlighting technology in LED
monitors will be quite different from LCD displays.
On the Horizon:
19 or 20 Inch Laptop Screens
There is a rumor, only a rumor, that Dell is coming out
with a 19-inch laptop in early 2006. There is also buzz
that LG-Philips has a 20-inch LCD panel which could easily
be used by laptop makers if they want to explore this
market area. Andre the giant will be pleased!
a blistering speed. Ferrari fast. So fast that by the time
you purchase your new laptop, it's probably already
obsolete or out of date. A sobering thought considering
the hefty prices you have to pay for a high-end laptop.
But laptop technology is changing so fast new innovations
are coming on stream.There is a
whole new generation of notebook technology every two years
or less. Therefore, unless you buy or upgrade your laptop
each year you're falling behind what these sleek little
powerhouses can now deliver.
What you really have to keep in mind are the outcomes
of all this new technology.?
Basically, these new technologies have made laptops smaller, faster and more powerful. With every new improvement the laptop is closing the gap between its main rival -- the desktop computer.Notebook computers are now out-selling desktops for the first time in history. Laptops are replacing the old desktop computer, whose days may just be numbered. It won't be long before laptops are also out-performing them as well.
Here's a quick run down of some recent Notebook Developments:
Sonoma Chipset
The new Sonoma Platform, Intel's next-generation Centrino
Chipset is already on the market. Members of the Sonoma
club are growing daily - Sony, IBM/Lenovo, BenQ, Dell,
Samsung, Acer, and Toshiba... another 80 or 90
'Sonoma-endowed' products will be released very shortly.First, wireless connections will be easier with the integrated tri-mode 802.11a/b/g, already dubbed by some as the 'wireless trinity'! This will make it easier to stay
connected no matter where you are. Improved performance will be experienced because the new Pentium M's have a 533MHz frontside bus, supported with up to 2GB of DDR2 DRAM, Serial ATA Hard Drive, and
PCI Express, plus improved integrated graphics, including Intel's Hi-Def Audio. All are possible with the Sonoma
Platform.
PCI Express
PCI(Peripheral Component Interconnect) Express is a new
standard for expansion cards that comes in different
versions. Presently, we have the x16 and x1 lanes, which
will be followed by x4 and x8 versions. It offers increased
bandwidth for example, x1 lane offers 500MB/sec instead of
just 133MB/sec for PCI.
Graphics Card
These are always improving. A Graphics Card handles the
graphics or visuals on your notebook. If 3D graphics and
games is a pastime, you will want to buy the highest
quality system. Some of the higher end products are:
ATi Mobility Radeon 9800, X800, and FireGL V3200 or
Intel's Graphics Media Accelerator 900.If you can, go with a NVIDIA GeForce Go 6800 graphics
card or for the real game diehards.Gamers will be aware of NVIDIA SLI technology, ATI's
CrossFire and Hyperthreading. All new stuff that's
bringing the gaming experience up to a higher level of
perfection that would even be worthy of a Spielberg or
a Lucas Production.
64 Bit Laptops
Most systems today run on the 32 Bit System. Keep in mind,
the major difference between a 32-bit and a 64-bit system
is the amount of memory that they support. Around 4 GB for
32-bit and 8 GB and up for the 64-bit. Right now -- Intel,
Apple, and AMD all offer 64-bit systems.
Dual Core Notebooks
Two is better than one!
Dual core laptops are now on the market. The gaming industry
is the starting point for many of these advanced systems.
For example, the British Laptop maker Rockdirect now produces
Xtreme 64, a gaming laptop with AMD’s new dual core Athlon 64
X2 processor. This same laptop also sports the ATI Mobility
Radeon X800 XT graphics card that features 16 pixel pipelines,
an industry first for notebooks.
Built-in Cellular Modem
Most high-end laptops now come with an integrated
tri-mode 802.11a/b/g for wireless WI-FI connections.
The Avant-Garde: LumiLED Display
Be on the look-out for LED monitors in the near future.
The brightness, colors and backlighting technology in LED
monitors will be quite different from LCD displays.
On the Horizon:
19 or 20 Inch Laptop Screens
There is a rumor, only a rumor, that Dell is coming out
with a 19-inch laptop in early 2006. There is also buzz
that LG-Philips has a 20-inch LCD panel which could easily
be used by laptop makers if they want to explore this
market area. Andre the giant will be pleased!
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