News Bits: New HP Business Notebooks, Dell Netbook Leaked, Nvidia Defective GPU Issues

[Charles P. Jefferies]

Dell Inspiron 910 netbook specs leaked

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Image credit: Gizmodo

Gizmodo has uncovered what might be the full specifications of the upcoming Dell Inspiron 910 netbook. Gizmodo claims it will be released on August 22 for an unknown price. Key specifications include an 8.9-inch LED-backlit display, Intel Atom processor, and up to a 16GB SSD.

Full Story (Gizmodo.com)

Lenovo introduces X301 ThinkPad ultraportable

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Lenovo today introduced its latest ThinkPad, the ultraportable X301. It features an LED-backlit 13.3-inch display, mobile broadband, and an available ultra-thin DVD burner. It is based on the new Intel Centrino 2 mobile platform and features DDR3 RAM and Intel Core 2 Duo Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) processors.

The ThinkPad X301 will go on sale August 26 for a starting price of $2,599.

Lenovo Press Release (BusinessWire.com)

Nvidia, PC makers not handling Nvidia GPU problems well

On July 3, Nvidia reported that large quantities of defective graphics chips were shipped. The packaging materials used for the graphics chips are being blamed as the cause of the problem. According to a Wall Street Journal article, critics are not satisfied with the way Nvidia and two notebook manufacturers, Dell and HP, are addressing the situation.

Both Dell and HP have said that they will not repair any notebooks with the potentially defective graphics cards until they fail. Nvidia, in its defense, said it cannot recall its customer's products.Nvidia has yet to announced a recall for the defective chips and has not disclosed which chips are defective.

Customers of Dell and HP are speaking out - it is not comforting to know that their notebooks could fail at any time. The BIOS updates released by the companies is not guarantee to fix the problem, only reduce the risk of failure. 

This story is sourced from the Wall Street Journal on August 19, page B3. 'Chip Problems Haunt Nvidia, PC Makers CEO Defends Response' by Don Clark.

Special thanks to forum member jujube for submitting this bit

16:9 format 12-inch and 14-inch notebooks will not mature until next year

According to a DigiTimes report, 16:9 aspect ratio 12- and 14-inch notebooks will not enter mass production until Q2'09. 15.6-, 18.4-, and 10.1-inch notebooks will be the focus of notebook manufacturers for the rest of this year.

Full Story (DigiTimes.com)

HP introduces three business ultraportables

HP today introduced three new business-class ultraportable notebooks - the EliteBook 2530p, EliteBook 2730p convertable tablet, and the value HP Compaq 2230s.
Both new EliteBook models are available with a built-in 2 megapixel webcam, and feature the HP NightLight, which shines down on the keyboard to illuminate it. They also feature shock-resistant hard drives and spill-resistant keyboards.

EliteBook 2530p

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The EliteBook 2530p features Intel Core 2 Duo processors. Other specifications include a 12.1-inch LED-backlit display and 1.8-inch hard drives. 

EliteBook 2730p

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The 2730p is an 1.11-inch thin convertable tablet with a weight of 3.7 lbs. With two batteries, it can achieve up to 12 hours of battery life.  It features an integrated touchpad, tablet buttons, and a jog dial.

We covered the HP Compaq 2203s here.

The 2530p and 2730p will be available in early September for estimated prices of $1,499 and $1,670 respectively.

HP Press Release (BusinessWire.com)
HP EliteBook 2530p Product Page
HP EliteBook 2730p Product Page

[John Ratsey]

Dell has just announced a 1 year extension of the warranty on the GPU for certain models. HP previously made an announcement. However, many companies are still silent on this subject.

John

[Xirurg]

thx for news Chaz!that nVidia stories are becoming annoying

[Jstn7477]

Funny how my Toshiba just died today for the THIRD TIME in the 6 MONTHS that I have owned it. I want a NEW notebook because I am tired of paying to mail the piece of crap to the service center where they just replace the pair of 8600s and the motherboard with another defective pair of 8600s that will just die again in exactly two months. I think Toshiba has basically spent the 2400 dollars I paid them just to repair my notebook. NVIDIA can die for all I care.

-J.B.

[webdtc]

I agree. Dell's 1 year extension is a good offering. But it doesn't help people who did not buy extended warranties seeing as how this issue is one that could appear over long use.

I think a better solution would be to offer 3 year warranties for just the GPU and only if it's identified as one of the Nvidia defective units.

[yuio]

I'd say nvidia has a bigger Google Page Ranking problem than the actual GPU's. Nvidia needs to fess up and tell us what GPU's are affected so that some of us can get some sleep at night... or should we assume that it affects all 7xxx, 8xxx, and 9xxx?

come on nvidia, longer you keep it a secret, the worse off you'll be.

[someguyoverthere]

If the 9600mGT that I'm about to get has that defect, that means they knew about the defect and kept on allowing the manufacturing of chips with the defect. If that's the case, I may be forced to burn down their headquarters.

[paper_wastage]

lets just say ATI would be happy..

[unnamed01]

The Elitebook is so slick to bad its only a 12.1" notebook =/

[Charles P. Jefferies]

The Elitebook is so slick to bad its only a 12.1" notebook =/

HP has a whole line of EliteBooks, including ones with 14" and 15.4" screens:
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en...s/notebook_pcs