New Laptop Technology You Need To Know (before Buying Your Next
By Titus Hoskins, Wed Dec 7th
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Laptop or notebook computer technology is advancing at ablistering speed. Ferrari fast. So fast that by the time youpurchase your new laptop - it's probably already obsolete or outof date. A sobering thought considering the hefty prices youhave to pay for a high-end laptop.
But laptop technology is changing so fast new innovations arecoming on stream as you read this article. There is a whole newgeneration of notebook technology every two years or less.Therefore, unless you buy or upgrade your laptop each yearyou're falling behind what these sleek little powerhouses cannow deliver.
And unless you're already in Geek Heaven, keeping track of allthese new technologies and innovations can be quite a chore.Figuring out the right Graphics chipset that works best with theright CPU and the best Data buses is a major feat. And now thateverything is being Doubled - dual core, dual graphics - it'sentering the realm where Einstein would be amused, even on a badhair day!
What's the ordinary laptop buyer to do?
What you really have to keep in mind are the outcomes of allthis new technology. Basically, these new technologies have madelaptops smaller, faster and more powerful. With every newimprovement the laptop is closing the gap between its main rival- the desktop computer.
Notebook computers are now out-selling desktops for the firsttime in history. Laptops are replacing the old desktop computer,whose days may just be numbered. It won't be long before laptopsare also out-performing them as well.
Some major computer makers are taking note of this trend towardsmore powerful, smaller computers. Even the desktop computer ismorphing! Just look at the sleek design of the new Apple iMac G5- gone is the bulky tower - in its place is a well designeddesktop computer that's almost a laptop!
For the ordinary computer user keeping abreast of all these newtechnologies and inventions can be a major chore if you'reconsidering buying a laptop in the next little while. As youapproach the smiling salesperson in your favorite tech store -here's a few bits of new notebook technology you might want tohave in your possession so you won't look like a completeneophyte. Hey, where technology is concerned, we have all beenthere, done that.
In order for you to tech-proof your next laptop purchase, here'sa quick run down of some recent Notebook Developments:
Sonoma Chipset
The new Sonoma Platform, Intel's next-generation CentrinoChipset is already on the market. Members of the Sonoma club aregrowing daily - Sony, IBM/Lenovo, BenQ, Dell, Samsung, Acer, andToshiba... another 80 or 90 'Sonoma-endowed' products will bereleased very shortly.
No doubt, it will become the Platform standard for many high-endnotebooks. Actually, it won't make or mean that much differenceto the ordinary Joe/Jane who just want a notebook or laptop forweb surfing, word processing and e-mail. Notebooks with theSonoma Platform will be just a little bit faster and have alittle better battery life.
But for Mobile Professionals and Notebook Fanatics (they doexist)... there's a lot of good things delivered or capable ofbeing delivered with this new Centrino Chipset. First, wirelessconnections will be easier with the integrated tri-mode802.11a/b/g, already dubbed by some as the 'wireless trinity'!This will make it easier to stay connected no matter where youare.
Improved performance will be experienced because the new PentiumM's have a 533MHz frontside bus, supported with up to 2GB ofDDR2 DRAM, Serial ATA Hard Drive, and PCI Express, plus improvedintegrated graphics - including Intel's Hi-Def Audio. All arepossible with the Sonoma Platform.
PCI Express
PCI(Peripheral Component Interconnect) Express is a new standardfor expansion cards that comes in different versions. Presently,we have the x16 and x1 lanes, which will be followed by x4 andx8 versions. It offers increased bandwidth for example, x1 laneoffers 500MB/sec instead of just 133MB/sec for PCI.
All computers, including laptops have different buses,(collection of wires) that transmit data from one component toanother.
Of course, in an ideal world, all the data in your computershould move thru just one
BUS - however, most experts agree it'snot likely to happen unless we start over and build a computersystem from scratch. For now we have to rely on differentinternal buses to move the data around - the PCI Express is agreat improvement and will make your laptop faster.
Graphics Card
These are always improving. A Graphics Card handles the graphicsor visuals on your notebook. If 3D graphics and games is apastime - you will want to buy the highest quality system. Someof 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 orfor the real game diehards - wait for the debut of NVIDIAGeForce Go 7300 that features NVIDIA's TurboCache technology.
Gamers will be aware of NVIDIA SLI technology, ATI's CrossFireand Hyperthreading. All new stuff that's bringing the gamingexperience up to a higher level of perfection that would even beworthy of a Spielberg or a Lucas Production. Not really, butit's getting there.
64 Bit Laptops
Most systems today run on the 32 Bit System. Keep in mind, themajor difference between a 32-bit and a 64-bit system is theamount of memory that they support. Around 4 GB for 32-bit and 8GB and up for the 64-bit. Right now - Intel, Apple, and AMD alloffer 64-bit systems.
Do you need all this memory? No, for the average laptop user itamounts to overkill. However, if you're interested in gaming,desktop publishing, or the graphic arts you will benefit from64-bit technology.
Dual Core Notebooks
Two is better than one!
Dual core laptops are now on the market. The gaming industry isthe starting point for many of these advanced systems. Forexample, the British Laptop maker Rockdirect now produces Xtreme64, a gaming laptop with AMD's new dual core Athlon 64 X2processor. This same laptop also sports the ATI Mobility RadeonX800 XT graphics card that features 16 pixel pipelines, anindustry first for notebooks.
The major producers of dual-core chips are Intel and AMD. TheIntel dual-core processor has hyperthreading (HT) - the twocores are divided into four virtual CPU units. Is all thisneeded? Again, if you're into heavy graphics or gaming - it'ssomething you should consider and explore further.
Built-in Cellular Modem
Most high-end laptops now come with an integrated tri-mode802.11a/b/g for wireless WI-FI connections.
Some recent models, like the Sony's New Ultra-Portable VAIOVGN-T350P, are raising the bar - it has the world's first'Built-in Cellular Modem'. You can use your cell phone toconnect to the Internet. This may be a great advantage sincefinding a 'Hot Spot' in some parts of the world can still bedifficult.
The Avant-Garde: LumiLED Display
Be on the look-out for LED monitors in the near future. Thebrightness, colors and backlighting technology in LED monitorswill be quite different from LCD displays.
The Forerunner in this field is NEC's SpectraView LumiLED, andwill offer a much better image and color. Keep your eyes peeled.
On the Horizon:
19 or 20 Inch Laptop Screens
There is a rumor, only a rumor, that Dell is coming out with a19-inch laptop in early 2006. There is also buzz that LG-Philipshas a 20-inch LCD panel which could easily be used by laptopmakers if they want to explore this market area. Andre the giantwill be pleased!
Conclusion
Of course, there are many more laptop innovations in thepipeline but they're beyond the scope of this article. Just keepall these new technological notebook changes in mind when you'rechecking out your next laptop. Maybe, just maybe, most of thesewon't already have been replaced by something new by the timeyou buy your next laptop. But don't bet your Google Stocks on it!
About the author:The author has a modest website on Bizware Products foreMarketers. As part of that site he runs an Online NotebookGuide for Laptop Enthusiasts. Notebook Buyer's Guide Copyright © 2005 Titus Hoskins.This article may be freely distributed if this resource boxstays attached.
