News Bits: Averatec 4100 with Turion, HP TC4200 First Look, IBM.com Gets Lenovo Branding

[Andrew Baxter]

Averatec 4100 Series 13" Notebook to Carry New AMD Turion Processor

Averatec has done a good job of making the latest technology available at reasonable prices to consumers.  They're doing it again with the new 4100 series of notebooks.  This notebook will carry the latest mobile processor from AMD, the 64-bit Turion.  The 4100 will also have a glossy finish screen, DVD burner and built-in 802.11g wireless.  This notebook will be available this month, although no specific date or price is available, it will likely be mid-month and the price very competitive.

More: http://www.averatec.com/notebooks/4100series.htm

HP TC4200 Tablet PC / Notebook Convertible First Look

src="/assets/11723.JavaScript">

The HP TC4200 is a new Tablet PC / notebook covertible device that was announced a couple of months ago but finally became available to actually buy just last week.  Barry over at TabletPCReviewSpot.com has a first look at this new Tablet PC device wich lots of great pictures.  So far the take is very positive.  I had a chance to use this device for a bit while at a show in Las Vegas and I too was quite impressed with its build and size.  I was expecting a clunky device from HP after seeing the media images, but instead it's a relatively slim and stylish device.

HP TC4200 Tablet PC / Notebook Convertible

More: HP TC4200 First Look and Pics

Lenovo Buyout of IBM Complete -- IBM.com  Product Website Takes on Lenovo Branding

After The Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States decided that the Lenovo buyout of IBM posed no threat to U.S. security (which is a pretty silly thought anyway, PC technology isn't exactly rocket science any more), the Lenovo buyout of IBM has gone through and they have paid $1.25 billion for the IBM PC unit.  IBM takes an 18.9% share in Lenovo with this deal. 

Check out the screen capture below, you can see the title of the site has been changed to "Lenovo Notebook computers".  And British style spelling of "ThinkCentre" not "ThinkCenter" is shown at the top of the page where the IBM logo used to be.

 

More: http://news.com.com/Lenovo+completes+buy+of+IBMs+PC+business/2100-1042_3-5691487.html

Fujitsu Notebook Refresh Release Dates

For those that are fans of Fujitsu notebooks (such as myself), here are a few dates for when to expect refreshes of the current LifeBook line of notebooks:

• Fujitsu LifeBook B series will get a 12" touchscreen at the end of May, early June
• Fujitsu LifeBook N6000 will either migrate to Sonoma (Pentium M) or offer it as an option by the end of June
• LifeBook P1000 will be updated to the P1500 by the end of June. It will be a covertible style.
• Fujitsu S2000 will be refreshed with an AMD Turion by the end of July.
• Fujitsu LifeBook S6000 and S7000 series refreshes are now scheduled for late July and late June respectively.

Fujitsu US Online Store: http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/productoverview.do?type=NB&pgid=Notebooks

Asus to Unveil A6U -- A Low Cost 15.4" Widescreen Notebook

According to a report from DigiTimes.com, Asus will be releasing a 15.4" widescreen notebook that's less than $760.  The release of this machine, the A6U, will be in Taiwan and there's no indication as to when this notebook might be released in other parts of the world.  The A6U will contain the AMD Mobile Sempron 3000+ CPU.  Asustek did not comment on this report from DigiTimes as the notebook has not yet been publicly announced.

More: http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20050429A6029.html

[UFG]

I can't wait for the 4100/4200 series to come out. Seriously, why haven't more manufacturers made 13.3" notebooks? It's the perfect combination of size and portability! Averatec is going to sweep the market with its 10.6" as well. At that low of a price, you'd be crazy not to buy one.

Green Surveys - Get cash for filling out online surveys.
Green Emails - Get paid to read emails.