Intel launched its updated Centrino notebook platform, formerly code-named Santa Rosa, today (click through for full details), and we can now share with you full reviews on two new laptops equipped with the technology.
The $2270 Gateway E-475M, with a 2.2-GHz T7500 CPU, 2GB of RAM, a 100GB hard drive, and a 15.4-inch LCD, takes the top performance spot with a WorldBench 6 Beta 2 score of 83. That's one point better than the previous WorldBench 6 Beta 2 record holder, the Micro Express NP5760 desktop replacement, equipped with a 2.33-GHz T7600 chip. The E-475 also beats the Micro Express handily on battery life, lasting 5 hours, 17 minutes, versus less than 2 hours for the NP5760.
The multimedia-oriented $1309 HP Pavilion dv6500t carries a 2-GHz Core 2 Duo T7300, 2GB of RAM, and a 15.4-inch LCD screen. It earned a WorldBench 6 Beta 2 score of 75, about 10 percent below the marks posted by fastest notebooks we've tested. It's still plenty fast for most anything you'd want to do, and it will let you work for nearly 4 hours, based on our battery tests.
Variety of New Business and Consumer Notebooks
Notebook vendors such as HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, Toshiba, Sony, Fujtisu and Asus have unveiled a range of new models equipped with the new Intel platform.
To make tracking the torrent of new models easier, we've compiled lists of what each big vendor has announced for their updated business-focused and consumer/entertainment notebook line-ups.
And we've put together a photo tour of another new model from HP with the latest Intel technology, the $2999 Pavilion HDX Entertainment Notebook, which features a whopping 20.1-inch display, a TV tuner and HD DVD drive.
The folks over at Macworld have also voiced their thoughts on what Santa Rosa could mean for Apple.
Thoughts from the Launch
A couple of things piqued my interest at this morning's launch (aside from a strange and brief spot by TV's MythBusters, Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman).
After running through the finer points of the new technology, Intel's Mooly Eden, VP and general manager of the Mobile Platforms Group, explained that many users spend more time their computer--their digital companions--than they do with their partner. Given this, he said that we can expect to see even longer battery life and sleeker, more personalized notebook designs going forward.
Here are some of the more unique designs Intel had on display:
Top: Laptop skin from French outfit, Invasion.
Bottom: Barbie-pink notebook from Q2 Designs.
Finally, and as we've previously reported, Eden also noted that Intel expects that the next generation of Centrino will likely include an integrated chip combining both Wi-Max mobile broadband and 802.11n Wi-Fi.
