Innovative Dual-Core Notebooks Debut at CES

Gateway Offers Models For Home And Business Users

Gateway launched two new Centrino Duo-equipped notebook models, each with variants geared towards business and home users.

The corporate-focused Gateway M685-E is a 7.7-pound, 17-inch widescreen mobile workstation with full size keyboard and dedicated number pad. The unit's base price is $1699 but customizable options from Gateway go right up to a 2GHz Intel Core Duo processor T2500, 2GB DDR memory, 100GB hard disk, dual layer DVD writer, and a 256MB NVdia GeForce Go 7800 graphics controller.

The home-oriented version of the M685-E is called the NX860 and uses the same chassis design, so it outwardly looks identical. Both should be shipping by the end of January.

Meanwhile, the M465-E is the next generation of Gateway's E-series professional notebooks. This model will target IT departments seeking a long product lifecycle and standardized design for fleet deployments.

This model will start at $1399 and will be available with a 15-inch or 15.4-inch widescreen display. Customizable options from Gateway go right up to a 2GHz Intel Core Duo processor T2500, 2GB DDR memory, 100GB hard disk, dual-layer DVD writer, and a 128MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 SE graphics controller.

The mainstream version of the M465-E is called the NX560 and uses the same chassis design. These models should be shipping by the late February.

Hewlett-Packard Refreshes To Dual Core

The 5.6-pound dv1000t, a dual-core refresh of HP's popular consumer notebook, now boasts a basic Web cam built into the top of the 14-inch, 1280-by-768-resolution screen, a 100GB hard drive, a handy touchpad lock, and dual headphones ports located on the front. The dv1000 also has a quick-play option that lets you turn the notebook into a stand-alone DVD and CD player. It should make a good entertainment notebook for students and mainstream consumers.

Meanwhile, HP's updated Compaq Presario V2000T has a silver-colored design incorporating a 14-inch widescreen display and will feature similar specifications to the Pavilion dv1000t.

Lenovo Updates Popular T And X Series

Lenovo announced updates to two of its most popular ThinkPad notebook lines: the portable performance T-series and ultraportable X-series. Like the recent ThinkPad Z60, the new models also include Windows shortcut keys.

The ThinkPad T60 and X60 series notebooks will be available with Intel's Duo (dual core) and Solo (regular) processors. Additionally, X60s models will offer Intel Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) processors to help increase battery life even further.

The ThinkPad X60 has two open DIMM (upgradeable memory) slots able to house a total of 4GB of memory, although Lenovo advised that Windows can only actually address 3.2GB. Still, this is an improvement over the ThinkPad X41, which had one memory stick fixed in place, causing its memory capacity to max out at 1.5GB.

The X41 also uses a 1.8-inch hard disk with maximum speed of 4200-rpm and a 60GB capacity. The ThinkPad X60 has improvements in this area courtesy of a 2.5-inch serial ATA hard disk that can operate at 7200-rpm and is available in capacities up to 100GB.

The new T and X ThinkPad lines also now feature a third USB 2.0 port, FireWire, a shock-mounted hard disk, and have options to include a biometric fingerprint reader capable of BIOS level protection.

More particulars for each series should be available around February 3rd, before Lenovo's intended launch date of February 14.

Toshiba's New Qosmio, First with HD-DVD

Although Toshiba unveiled a slew of new notebooks at CES, it was the company's demonstration of its Centrino Duo-equipped Qosmio (pronounced Koz-Mee-Oh) that gained a lot of the attention, but not just for the processor.

The forthcoming high-end Qosmio entertainment notebook includes next-generation features such as a built-in HD-DVD drive and a display supporting resolutions up to the high-definition 1080p format.

The unit will also feature the first 1-bit digital amplifier built into a notebook, quality Harmon/Kardon speakers, Dolby Home Theater technology, and NVidia's GeForce Go 7800 graphics.

DVR capabilities, supplied by Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition 2005,round out what looks set to be a strong luxury offering.

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