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-------------------------------------------------------------- This story was printed from CNET Asia. --------------------------------------------------------------
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Centrino 2 hits Asia
By Darius Chang
16/07/2008 URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/notebooks/0,39050495,62043792,00.htm Editors' note:The list of upcoming Centrino 2 laptops have been updated with new models.According to an Intel representative, the initial batch of Centrino 2 notebooks will have a slight premium of around 10 percent compared with previous-generation machines. SINGAPORE--Though the Centrino branding has remained essentially unchanged since it was introduced in 2003, it doesn't mean the platform technology has been stagnant. From Carmel to Sonoma, Napa and Santa Rosa, advanced manufacturing techniques have made processors and chipsets faster yet consume less juice. Though the Napa era was the start of the multicore, it still wasn't deemed worthy as the next-generation Centrino. The only inkling to the end user that things are different was that the tag Duo had been added to the Centrino label.  This may soon be a familiar logo. But should you ditch your old system and jump onto the new bandwagon without a thought? Have a look at what Centrino 2 has to offer before deciding. Computing performanceUsing the latest 45nm chips, the Penryn Core 2 Duo processors are said to be faster while consuming less power. According to Intel, the 2.8GHz Penryn chip takes 30 seconds less to perform a single task compared with the previous-gen 2.33GHz model, while, at the same time, using 60 percent less power.The Intel Turbo Memory feature has also been given a boost, with the maximum RAM upped to 2GB. This component is supposed to reduce boot times while increasing battery life and performance. However, its previous iteration didn't really impress reviewers all that much, so we'll have to wait and see if the new implementation has improved. GraphicsIntegrated graphics has finally entered the DirectX 10 era. The GM45 and GM47 mainboards hold Intel's X4500HD video chips which are capable of decoding HD movies natively without the use of third-party software. The GM47 version has slightly better performance in this area, thanks to its 640MHz GPU, compared with the 533MHz model in GM45. PM45 chipsets are reserved for machines which hold discrete GPUs. With more and more LCD TVs being found in homes, it's also timely that HDMI ports are part of the Centrino 2 standard.However, an interesting twist to this story is that there is now an optional feature which allows the user to switch between the integrated GPU and discrete video card. Though this functionality has existed on Sony Vaio SZ series notebooks, the Centrino 2 implementation kicks in automatically and does not require the system to reboot. Unfortunately, unlike AMD's Puma platform which lets the system use both integrated and discrete solutions simultaneously, Intel's version is an either-or model. ConnectivityAnticipating more prevalent HD video downloads as well as greater penetration of home media networks, Centrino 2 laptops will come with Gigabit Ethernet ports and 802.11n radios as standard. Moreover, as one of its primary supporters, Intel is offering WiMAX connectivity as an option on the new platform.SecurityThis one is for the cubicle warrior. The latest Centrino 2 with vPro machines hold all the advantages of the vPro platform, but now include an anti-theft component. When the stolen PC is connected to the Internet, the system administrator can wipe out the encryption key on the hardware remotely, thereby rendering the data on the harddisk useless.According to vendors, Centrino 2 laptops should hit retails shelves from this month. We take a look at what to expect in the coming months from the various brands. Acer
Fujitsu
HP
Toshiba
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| Model name | Key features |
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Toshiba Satellite M300 Click for larger image |
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) Toshiba Portege M800 Click for larger image |
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 Toshiba Tecra M10 |
Asus
| Model name | Key features |
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Asus M50Vm Click for larger image |
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| Asus M51Vr Click for larger image |
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) Asus G50 Click for larger image |
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) Asus F8Va Click for larger image |
BenQ
| Model name | Key features |
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BenQ JoyBook S33 Click for larger image |
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) BenQ JoyBook S42 Click for larger image |
Lenovo
| Model name | Key features |
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ThinkPad SL300 Click for larger image |
Expected: August |
) ThinkPad SL400 Click for larger image |
Expected: End July Price: Starts at |
) ThinkPad SL500 Click for larger image |
Expected: End July Price: Starts at |
) ThinkPad R400 Click for larger image |
Expected: August |
) ThinkPad R500 Click for larger image |
Expected: August Price: Starts at |
) ThinkPad T400 Click for larger image |
Expected: August |
) ThinkPad T500 Click for larger image |
Expected: August |
) ThinkPad X200 Click for larger image |
Expected: September Price: |
) ThinkPad W500 Click for larger image |
Expected: August Price: |
) IdeaPad U330 Click for larger image |
Expected: August 16 Price: |
| IdeaPad Y330 |
Expected: August 16 |
) IdeaPad Y430 Click for larger image |
Expected: August 16 Price: |
) IdeaPad Y530 Click for larger image |
Expected: August 16 Price: |
NEC
| Model name | Key features |
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NEC Versa S3500 Click for larger image |
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