Mobile Computing News, Reviews, & Tips

Notebook News: Intel's New Core 2 Duo

Vendors such as Dell, Gateway, and Hewlett-Packard are offering notebooks built around Intel's new Core 2 Duo processor (formerly code-named Merom). Code 2 Duo is an upgrade to Intel's Core Duo package of power-efficient, wireless-enabled technologies for laptops. Both of the new CPU families are descendents of Intel's Centrino-brand products. Our initial look at three shipping Core 2 Duo notebooks indicate that they are a tad quicker and about the same in battery life compared to comparable models equipped with Core Duo processors.

Security News: Cell Phone SMiShing

First there was phishing. Now there's SMiShing--a phishing attack sent to cell phones via Short Message Service. In a recent attack, text messages contained a link that could download a Trojan horse to the cell phone. The SMS reads: "We're confirming you've signed up for our dating service. You will be charged $2/day unless you cancel your order," according to security software vendor McAfee.

Storage Review: Flash Memory Hard Drive

Samsung's new 32GB flash-memory drive is more than twice as fast as a 5400-rpm standard Seagate hard drives in locating data files, according to our look at a preproduction model. The Samsung drive accelerated laptop boot-up and overall was 25 percent faster than the Seagate drives. Flash-memory drives cost significantly higher per gigabyte than traditional notebook hard drives, however. And the Samsung drive is currently available only in the company's Q30-SSD subnotebook, available in Japan or from Dynamism.com.

Suggestion Box

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