What is an HD notebook? Should I get it?
By Joonyoung Ryu, ZDnet Korea, and CNET Asia staff (products@asia.cnet.com)Feb 01, 2007
With embedded high-performance graphics chipset:
Generally, notebooks have integrated graphics cores in the mainboard’s chipset for various reasons, such as due to limited internal space. However, the integrated graphics chipset is not sufficient for high-resolution video required by full-HD-class displays. To solve this, the integrated advanced graphics chipsets for mobile applications use powerful Nvidia Geforce Go 7600 in HD notebooks. The graphics chipsets used in current HD notebooks are ATI Mobility Radeon X1800/X1600/X1400/X700/X600 and Nvidia Geforce Go 7900/7800/7900/6600).
) A Blu-ray disc has a storage capacity which is six times more than existing DVDs. (Click for larger image) |
 |
| |
Employing next-generation storage:
Blu-ray has a storage capacity of at least 50GB, which is six times more than existing DVDs. On the other hand, HD-DVD is the same size as the existing DVD, but the storage capacity is three times than the DVD. Using both sides of an HD-DVD disc ups the storage capacity to at least 30GB.
Dual-core CPU:
All HD notebooks are high-performance PCs capable of multiple processes such as running anti-virus applications or encoding a motion picture while playing an HD video. Accomplishing these power-hungry tasks requires a dual-core processor. As a result, most HD notebooks use Intel’s Core Duo and Core 2 Duo and AMD's Turion 64X2.
Differences between HD and ordinary notebooks
| Ordinary notebook | HD notebook | |
| CPU | Single core | Intel's dual-core CPU (Core Duo and Core 2 Duo of Intel and AMD's Turion (64x2)) |
| Memory | 256–512MB | 1–2GB |
| LCD resolution | 1,280 x 1,024 | 1,920 x 1,200 |
| LCD size | 12.1–15.4 inches | 17-inch widescreen LCD |
| Graphics core | Mainboard has onboard graphics core | Equipped with separate graphics core (ATI Mobility Radeon X1800/X1600/X1400/X700/X600, Nvidia Geforce Go 7900/7800/7900/6600) |
| ODD | Combo, DVD±RW | HD-DVD, Blu-ray |
| HDD capacity | 40–80GB | 100–200GB |
| Weight | 1–3kg | 3kg or more |
| HDMI support | Not supported | Supported |
