Notebook processors getting faster and faster<\/p>\n
Zatni Arbi
\nColumnist
\nJakarta
\nzatni@cbn.net.id<\/p>\n
Do you still remember the Acer TravelMate 630, which I reviewed
\nbriefly in this column back in May? Last week, Acer Indonesia
\nlaunched its latest generation notebook, the TravelMate 636LC.<\/p>\n
All of the features of this new business notebook from Taiwan
\nremain the same as we found them on the TM 630 model, including
\n256 MB of DDR-266 SDRAM, a slot for smart-card reader, a firm
\nkeyboard with curvy rows of keys, a large and brilliant 14.1 or
\n15-inch screen and optional wireless LAN capability.<\/p>\n
The new notebook is also equipped with a DVD and CD-Writer
\ncombo. \"Our models with the CD burner capability have been
\nselling very well,\" Jason Lim, Acer's country manager for
\nIndonesia, told me.<\/p>\n
Clearly, people today are feeling more confident using the CD-
\nR or CD-RW to back up their data. Besides, a CD-RW makes it very
\neasy for them to make copies of everything from VCDs to audio
\ncompact discs.<\/p>\n
The most important feature of the TravelMate 639 is perhaps
\nthe processor that it uses. This notebook is supposed to be the
\nfirst on the market powered by Intel's latest Pentium 4 M
\nprocessor, which runs at a clock speed of 2 GHz.<\/p>\n
To M or not to M<\/p>\n
Intel Indonesia took part in the Acer launch and used the
\nopportunity to address the issue of using a Pentium 4 M as
\nopposed to a Pentium 4, without the \"M\", for notebook computers.
\nAs is commonly known, on the market today we have a notebook that
\nis built on a processor intended for a desktop computer.<\/p>\n
\"The M stands for mobility,\" explained Thommas Tansil, the
\nveteran marketing manager at Intel Corporation. \"Definitely it is
\nfar more complex to make the Pentium 4 M than the desktop Pentium
\n4 processor. The M version is intended for notebook computers,
\nand therefore it has features such as Enhanced SpeedStep that are
\nintended to reduce power consumption when using the battery,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
All of the capabilities of the desktop version of the Pentium
\nprocessors, which do not have the \"M\" in their names, are
\navailable in the Pentium 4 M. However, Pentium 4 M has to be made
\nsmaller to allow flexibility in notebook design -- especially as
\nnotebook users always look for the thinnest and lightest models.<\/p>\n
However, Thommas said that Intel had no objections to its
\ndesktop processors being used in a notebook computer. \"While the
\nadvantage is clearly the price difference, which can range
\nbetween 50 and 80 percent depending on the clock speed, the
\ncompromises are quite a few.\"<\/p>\n
A notebook with the desktop processor, for example, will not
\nwork for as long as one with the M version when powered by the
\nbattery. Heat management is also another challenge if the desktop
\nprocessor is used in a notebook.<\/p>\n
Low-priced, too<\/p>\n
In addition to the powerful notebook, Acer also introduced a
\nlow-cost computer notebook aimed at the mass market. The
\nTravelMate 223X does not look much different from the high-end
\nTravelMate 636LC. However, it runs on an Intel Celeron processor
\nwith a clock speed of 1.13 GHz.<\/p>\n
Jason pointed out that the processor comes with 256 KB of L2
\ncache memory, and I fully agreed with him that the notebook
\nshould provide adequate computing power for most of the
\napplications we use on a daily basis.<\/p>\n
Acer Indonesia has promised to let me play around with this
\nlow-cost notebook -- currently offered at US$1,050 or about Rp 9
\nmillion -- for review as soon as they have a demo unit available.
\nI look forward to the opportunity.<\/p>\n
Acer is by no means the first or the only notebook-maker to
\noffer notebooks at about the $1,000 price mark. Toshiba and IBM
\nare two other leading computer-makers with products targeted at
\nthe very price-sensitive market.<\/p>\n
However, it is also commonly known that low-cost notebooks
\ntend to be less durable than the high-end ones. To protect its
\ncustomers, Acer Indonesia promises one-day service to ensure that
\nits customers will not be left without a notebook for too long
\nshould they have any hardware problems.<\/p>\n
Tablet sneak preview<\/p>\n
Another interesting product that was also showcased at the
\nlaunch party last week was Acer's new Tablet PC. This device has
\nnot been officially launched yet, but it is expected to become
\navailable in Indonesia in November.<\/p>\n
\"This is already our shipping version,\" I was told by Jason.
\nHe said that Microsoft had purchased 1,000 units of the Tablet
\nPC, which it will distribute to its Fortune 500 customers for
\nfield trials.<\/p>\n
The Tablet PC is one of Microsoft's latest ventures, and a
\nnumber of PC-makers have expressed their commitment to
\nmanufacturing and marketing the device with a touch-sensitive
\nscreen. Acer's design of the Tablet PC is quite interesting,
\nthough. It is actually a complete notebook with a swivel screen.
\nFlip the screen on top of its keyboard, and you will have a
\ntablet that you can write on. You can use the included stylus to
\nscribble notes, draw diagrams and even enter your signature.<\/p>\n
One of Acer's managers, Chandradi Halim, who was showing the
\nTablet PC to the IT journalists at the event, explained that the
\nscreen was also pressure-sensitive. So, unlike most other touch-
\nsensitive panels, his company's Tablet PC will detect differences
\nin the pressure of the stylus. More pressure will result in a
\nthicker line, which will make captured signatures closer to the
\nreal thing.<\/p>\n
\"Several major banks have decided that they will accept
\nsignatures entered using this Tablet PC,\" Chandradi said.<\/p>\n
And, if you flip the screen over, you get the keyboard, mouse
\nand all of the common notebook functionalities. The nice thing
\nabout it is that the entire gadget is not thick and heavy.<\/p>\n
When the product is launched, I hope I will get the
\nopportunity to test-drive it and report to you what I think.<\/p>",
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