Laptops Arena

The German notebook manufacturer, Nexoc, designs models optimized for the business sector and mobile professionals, maintaining a high level of performance even in its ultra portable computer family, such as the 12-inch Osiris, named after the Egyptian god of life, death, and fertility.


Nexoc Osiris S620II is a stylish ultra portable computer with white keyboard and black exterior sporting a non Glare Type display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. Running on the ICH8M chipset with integrated Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, it provides support for Windows Vista’s Aero effects, Intel Clear Video Technology with video enhancements, and 3D graphics support. This chipset has dual-channel DDR2 memory, SATA support and high-speed USB 2.0 connectivity.



The processor options are: Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 with 2GHz speed and the Intel’s SpeedStep Technology that switches voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load, maintaining the power/performance balance; Intel Core 2 Duo T9500 with 2,6 GHz and Intel Visualization Technology for decreased disaster recovery time; and the Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000 clocked at 2,8 GHz to support high-demanding graphics.



In addition, the ultra portable computer model supports up to 4GB RAM memory and integrates a SATA HDD, optional DVD-RW, optional Blu-ray, the Intel Pro Wireless LAN module, 10/100/1000MB LAN, high-definition audio, Direct Sound 3D, 2 built-in speakers, modem, 3 USBs, Express Card slot, optional Bluetooth wireless module, a 7-in-1 card reader, and the Microsoft Windows operating system with XP and Vista choices.
Nexoc Osiris S620II ultra portable computer measures 299 x 219 x 26.5~35.7 mm and powers from a 4-cell battery.



Osiris S621 is a convertible ultra portable computer that has a 12.1-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution and non Glare coating for best viewing in high light environments, and runs on the same chipset as the previous model described, integrating the Intel GMA X3100 graphics with 256MB dynamic memory and DirectX 9 support, while the processor options are: Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 with speeds up to 2,0 GHz and an Intel Core 2 Duo T9500 at 2,6 GHz. Other components include RAM memory of up to 4GB, optional DVD-RW, Combo or Blu-ray optical drive, Intel WLAN module for wireless connectivity, LAN, Azalia interface for high-definition audio, 2 built-in speakers, Sound-Blaster PRO support, 3D stereo sound system, modem, 3 USBs, fingerprint ID detector, optional Bluetooth, a built-in 1.3MP camera for video conferences, the 7-in-1 card reader, a 4-cell battery, and Windows XP or Windows Vista operating system pre-installed. This model measures 306 x 224 x 35~37,5 mm.

With Intel Azalia enabled in Osiris S621 you can playback more channels at high quality, and it’s an improvement for the AC97 audio codec’s capabilities.

Nexoc Osiris S620II is available on the market at about 850 EUR and the Osiris S621 convertible model has a price of around 950 EUR.

Creative professionals in searching for high-end notebook computer with powerful desktop capabilities have the chance to analyze the mobile workstations provided by Malibal. The company has the Nine Series, Veda Series and Satori Series of mobile computer workstations, which deliver support for high-demanding intensive applications like CAD/CAM, 3D animation, 3D simulation, engineering, math, forensic or medical software, or graphics work.


The most advanced notebook computers on the market feature dual core or quad core Intel processors, up to 8GB memory, multiple hard drives with RAID 0/1/5 and up to 960 GB of storage capacity, SLI graphics via 2 Graphics Processing Units, optional dual 512 MB upgradeable video, OpenGL by NVIDIA with MXM technology, large LCD displays of up to 20 inches in diagonal, 8x Dual Layer, Multi DVD Burner, Blu-ray, HD-DVD drives, built-in 2MP web camera, 102-key full size keyboards with separate numeric keypad, Microsoft Windows or Linux operating system, WLAN 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, stereo speaker system built-in, Surround Sound System with SRS WOW technology, internal TV Tuner, up to 5 USB ports, Firewire, DVI-I for dual display, S-Video, and card reader.

An important disadvantage of notebooks is the upgradeability limit which is surpassed by the Malibal's mobile computer workstation, fully upgradeable, allowing you to replace the hard drive, memory, optical drives, processors and graphics.

We’ve talked about Malibal Nine Series before so if you haven’t read our previous articles we’’ll give you the basic information.
The Nine Series features the Intel Core 2 Quad desktop processors or Intel XEON server processors with up to 12MB cache and high-bandwidth PCI EXPRESS architecture, up to 8GB of RAM, dual upgradeable 512MB base video graphics with SLI technology and DirectX 10, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8800M and NVIDIA Quadro FX Go 1600M with OpenGL, multiple serial ATA hard drives with RAID 0, 1, 5 support, up to 960GB of storage, Blu-ray, HD-DVD, a display resolution of 1680 x 1050 pixels with UltraBright Glossy Surface, and optional 1920 x 1200 pixels with Glossy Surface.



The Veda mobile computer workstation series sports a 21.1-inch display with a resolution of 1680 x 1050 pixels, 290 nits brightness, and 16:10 aspect ratio, while integrating an NVIDIA nForce4 chipset, the dual-core 64-bit Mobile Turion X2 64 processor with NVIDIA's SLI for 2 NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX or Quadro FX 2500M GPUs, a 4-in-1 media card reader, built-in 1.3MP web camera for video conferencing, Surround Sound System, Wireless SuperG 108Mbps WLAN 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet, 5 USB ports, Firewire, HDTV port, DVI-I, and a full-size 102-key keyboard with separate numeric keypad.



Finally, the Malibal Satori powerful mobile computer workstation series comes with Intel Penryn Core 2 Duo extreme mobile technology, up to 8GB of RAM, 320GB hard drive storage, optional Solid State Drive, Windows Vista 64-bit operating system, and the MXM video technology with NVIDIA's GeForce Go 8800M GTX or NVIDIA Quadro FX 1600M Open GL with 512MB GDDR3 VRAM. The widescreen display with Clear Glossy Surface has 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, while additional components include a built-in 2MP camera, HD-DVD optical drive, and Blu-Ray.

All Malibal notebook models are configurable. Malibal Nine series has a price of $3,000, Veda costs $2,800 and the Satori series is available at $2,345.

Earlier this year Intel has announced the introduction of the next-generation processing technology codenamed Montevina, aka Intel Centrino 2, designed to increase notebooks’ performance and the battery life. The platform integrates Wi-Fi and WiMAX modules for high-speed wireless connectivity, as well as other options with 40% smaller in form, delivering the same performance to subnotebooks.

OCZ Technology Group, the specialist in high speed DDR and RDRAM memory modules, announced its new DDR3 SODIMM memories with support for the next-generation Intel platform. Th new modules are meant to bring very high performance and reliability to notebook computers, reducing the power consumption and in the same time increasing speed and bandwidth. OCZ’s DDR3 SODIMM modules will be used in the upcoming professional and gaming notebooks that will arrive in a few weeks on the market.

The 2 models announced are the PC3-8500 and PC3-10666, which provide increased frequencies at lower voltage requirements.

“The Centrino 2 platform is a logical extension of Intel’s efforts spearheading DDR3 acceptance in the enthusiast segment in the desktop sector,” declared Dr. Michael Schuette, VP of Technology Development at OCZ Technology. “From a technical standpoint, DDR3 memory technology is far superior to DDR2, from the higher frequency range resulting in better overall system performance to the energy savings at idle stemming from loss-less termination to the supply-voltage level and resulting in paramount energy savings in the typical notebook usage pattern.”

The OCZ PC3-8500 DDR3 SODIMM will be available in 2GB and 4GB dual-channel versions, characterized by 1066MHz, unbuffered, 1.5Volts, 200 Pin DIMM and lifetime warranty. 8-8-8-27 timings at 1.5V means minimum power consumption.
OCZ PC3-10666 DDR3 SODIMM modules will also feature 2GB or 4GB capacity, unbuffered, 1.5Volts, 200 Pin DIMM, 1333MHz and 9-9-9-24 timings.

Double-data-rate three synchronous dynamic random access memory modules are an improvement of the DDR2 SDRAM, having the main characteristic the capability to run the I/O bus at 4 times the speed of its memory cells, leading to faster bus speeds and higher peak throughput. In addition, the power consumed, compared to the DDR2, is of 30% lower. DDR2 uses 1.8V while the DDR3 only 1.5V.

Gigabyte has published information about the specifications of several low priced laptops, among which is the Gigabyte MV912V I’ve told you about in my previous article.

Now it’s time to take a look at all the other models that will arrive soon on the market.
Gigabyte M528 has received many awards this year: the Tom’s Hardware Design Award, the Taiwan Excellence 2008, Best Choice 2008, and the GD-MARK Award.

It is coming with the Linux operating system with Merry-Go-Round i-CON Interface, the Intel Centrino Atom 800MHz processing technology, Intel Poulsbo, 4GB SSD drive, built-in 3MO web camera with autofocus, and a 4.8-inch LCD display with touch panel and 800 x 480 pixel resolution. All these in a device measuring just 152 x 80 x 22.5 mm at a weight of 340 grams.

The next subnotebook is the Gigabyte M700 with a 7-inch touchscreen LED backlight display of 1024 x 600 pixels, Express Card slot, 3.5G high-speed connectivity, WiMAX, a twin-lens camera, GPS, 2GB RAM memory, 1.8-inch HDD with up to 60GB storage, the VIA C7-M processor of 1.2GHz speeds, dock for desktop setup, and the Windows Vista Home Premium operating system.



Gigabyte M528 low priced laptops from the Mobile Internet Device category provide high performance, while the Gigabyte M700 is an Ultra Mobile PC weighting just 650 grams. The other two models are a 14.1-inch laptop called W476V and the 15.4-inch Gigabyte W576V, sporting a luxurious design with the IMR imprint technology.



Gigabyte W476V runs on Windows Vista operating system, powered by the Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn processor up to 2.8G speeds, and uses the TFT LCD display technology with anti-glare coating and a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. Next, it has the NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS graphics card with 256MB memory, 2.5-inch SATA HDD of up to 320GB capacity, modularized optical drive, stereo speakers, omni-directional microphone, Trusted Platform Module protection, and dual-band antenna support for wireless connectivity. The 6-cell battery provides up to 2.5 hours of operating life.



Gigabyte W576V provides up to 2 hours of battery life, a larger display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, the NVIDIA Geforce 9600M GS with 512MB, built-in camera, Intel Robson 2.0 support, dual-band antenna support, and the rest of the features encountered at the previous laptop model.

We’ll find more details including prices and availability dates later this year.

It’s coming soon and it looks perfect! I am talking about the new convertible notebook PC from Gigabyte, called M912V.

Gigabyte M912V is a netbook sporting an 8.9-inch LCD display with a resolution of 1280 x 768 pixels, touch-sensitivity technology, LED backlight for clear images in low light conditions, and 180 degree swivel, which transforms the convertible notebook in a stylish tablet PC with the Latchless design. It is powered by the Intel Atom processing technology with 1.6GHz speeds, integrating the Intel 965GSE chipset, a 2.5-inch 9.5 mm SATA HDD of up to 250GB storage capacity, built-in 1.3MP camera for video conferences, 2 built-in speakers of 1.5Watts output each, and an 80-key keyboard with touch panel.

It supports Windows Vista, Windows XP and Linux operating systems, and weights just 1.3Kg measuring 235 x 180 x 28~42 mm. Other features include 1GB memory, external optical drive, 3 USB ports, Express Card slot, card slot, Bluetooth 2.0, wireless LAN, Kensington lock, and a 4500 mAh Li-ion battery for up to 3.5 hours of operating time.
Its users will be able to browse the Internet to be up to date with the latest news, communicate via online chat applications wirelessly and work with documents in any light condition, thanks to the LED backlighting.
In addition, Intel Atom, the smallest processor increases the energy efficiency up to 2.5Watts of power consumption, and the battery life considerably.



Netbooks, introduced by Intel earlier this year, defines those low-cost subnotebooks, which have the main functionalities the Internet navigation and document management, with wireless communication capability. The statistics showed that by 2011 over 50 million netbooks will be available on the market worldwide.