Innovative Dual-Core Notebooks Debut at CES

LAS VEGAS -- Hard on the heels of Intel's unveiling here of its Centrino Duo mobile technology platform (previously code-named Napa), came a slew of notebook makers' announcements of hardware making use of the new technology.

Centrino Duo technology boasts a faster frontside bus (now at 667MHz, up from 533MHz), memory that matches the frontside bus speed, a new chip set (the 945 GM/PM), and Intel's new wireless 802.11 a/b/g technology. But the centerpiece of the platform is Intel's new Core Duo dual-core mobile processors, formerly dubbed Yonah.

More Duo Specs

The processors come in two main lines: the T line for mainstream notebooks, and the L line of low-voltage models intended for ultralight laptops. The T line will range from the 1.66-GHz T2300 to the 2.16-GHz T2600; the L line will initially have two variants, the 1.5-GHz L2300 and the 1.66-GHz L2400.

Like the Pentium M line, Intel's previous generation of mobile processors, all of the new chips also offer a 2MB cache. In addition, the systems feature Intel power-management technology that can shut down one of the processor cores if the application workload is light, thereby improving notebook battery life.

Before we discuss these new laptops, take a look at our exclusive tests of dual-core notebooks from HP and Dell that show the models tested to be multitasking powerhouses.

Acer's Built-in 1.3MP Camera

Acer introduced two new notebook products equipped with Intel's new Centrino Duo platform.

The Aspire 5670 will be available in a few different configurations starting at $1499, but the flagship model will feature 2GB of DDR2 memory, a 120GB hard disk, and an ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 graphics controller pushing a maximum resolution of 1200 by 800 to the 15.4-inch display.

An adjustable 1.3-megapixel CMOS camera is built into the lid just above the display and works with Acer's bundled face tracking and video conferencing software. Acer also includes its own easy-to-use software that can encrypt confidential files, backup, recover and optimize the hard disk, and adjust system settings in just a few clicks.

Included Aspire Arcade software brings together multimedia viewing and authoring tools which work with the unit's double layer DVD writer and media card reader.

Acer also showcased its dual-core TravelMate 8200 notebook. It offers similar specifications to the Aspire 5650, including the same new camera functionality and system tools, but ships with superior 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics delivering a resolution of 1680 by 1050 to its 15.4-inch screen.

The TravelMate 8200 also seems more focused on durability than the Aspire range. It includes a rigid carbon-fiber cover (until now only seen on Acer's Ferrari notebooks), in addition to hard disk anti-shock protection, and a motion sensor that can protect the hard disk given sudden movement--like being dropped--and function as an anti-theft alarm. A SmartCard reader also works with Acer software to provide one-click file encryption and authorization.

Configurations of the dual-core TravelMate 8200 are expected to start at $1999.

Dell Releases Inspiron 9300 Successor

Dell is now offering Intel's Centrino Duo mobile technology with up to 2GB of 667MHz dual-channel DDR2 memory in its new Inspiron E1705 entertainment notebook.

The notebook features high-end components and is available now from Dell's Web site starting at $1999.

Customers can opt for either an Intel Core Duo processor T2500 (2GHz) or a T2400 processor running at 1.83GHz. The unit's 17-inch widescreen display has a standard maximum resolution of 1400 by 1050 but a 1600-by-1200 UXGA option also is available.

The Inspiron E1705 features NVidia's latest 256MB GeForce Go 7800 graphics controller, 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi, a 60-100GB 7200-rpm SATA hard disk, and an optional USB 2.0 TV tuner that is compatible with its Windows Media Center Edition 2005 operating system.

The E1705 also has better-than-average notebook sound, including a subwoofer. Front media buttons let you pop in a DVD or CD, or even manage the digital photos on your hard drive, without booting up the notebook itself. The unit replaces the Inspiron 9300 series, which will gradually disappear this quarter.