News Bits: Fujitsu P7120 Released, Intel: 64-bit Not Important, Asus U5

Fujitsu LifeBook P7120 Released

The Fujitsu P7120 is now available in the U.S.  The LifeBook P7120 follows up on the P7010 ultra portable notebook.  Here are the specs on the P7120

• Dimensions: 10.28" x 7.83" x 1.26"
• Weight: 3 pounds with 4-cell battery
• 10.6" WXGA display with Crystal View (glossy screen)
• 1.8" Hard drive, 4200RPM
• Built-in removable media bay for optical drive or extra battery
• Intel Pentium M Ultra Low Voltage 753 (1.20GHz)
• Integrated security chip
• Fingerprint sensor
• Integrated 802.11 a/b/g wireless (Intel or Atheros card), Bluetooth 1.2 integrated
• ECO power saving option that reduces power consumption of components
• Ports: 3 USB 2.0, S-Video port, high definition audio in and out jacks, flash card reader (SD, MS, xD)
• Battery: Choice of 4-cell or 6-cell
• Prices start at $1,699

The design remains esentially the same as the P7010, although it is ever so slightly slimmer.  The hard drive is now 1.8" which means no upgrading and may upset some.  The ECO button power saving feature is a new addition and should be interesting to see how much battery life it can save.  Integrated Bluetooth is also new to the P7000 series.  Prices for the P7120 will start at $1,699.  We'll be reviewing this laptop in the coming weeks, to see a review of the P7010 go here.

More: http://sev.prnewswire.com/computer-electronics/20051108/SFTU08908112005-1.html

Intel Mobile Processor Desiger VP Interviewed - Says 64-bit processing "not important" right now for mobile processors

TGDaily interviewed Intel VP Dadi (David) Perlmutter who has been responsible for developing the Centrino and Pentium M platform at Intel.  He's been with the company for 25 years and was responsible for early innovations such as developing math co-processors in the pre-486 era, the Pentium I and the Intel MMX technology.

Interestingly David was asked by TGDaily why Intel is "not including support for 64-bit technology in Yonah?"  David responded that "Our assumption was, and still is, that 64-bit extensions are not the most important thing required from a processor, not even in the beginning of 2006. We believe this will change with Windows Vista, when applications start migrating to 64-bit, and we want to be ready then, and not a minute earlier."

So Intel's argument is that power consumption and not 64-bit capability is what's important with the dual core Yonah.  Important to note is that the Merom platform due for beginning of 2007 that will follow-up on the dual-core Yonah will support 64-bit.  Early 2007 is also the expected release frame for Windows Vista so 64-bit Intel mobile processors should coincide with the release of Vista.

More: http://www.tgdaily.com/2005/11/08/q_and_a_intel_dadi_perlmutter/index.html

Asus U5 Ultra Portable Tree Hugger Laptop

Making laptops out of environmentally friendly components is a big deal nowaday.  And companies like Asus aren't just making laptops more recyclable to appeal to those people that belong to the Sierra Club or work for Green Peace.  No sir.  It's about business as well.  Europe has laid down rules that restrict the amount of lead that can be in electronics such as computers, so Asus is getting ahead of the pack by releasing the U5 notebook that's lead and halogen-free.  The Asus U5 is Pentium M based and weighs about 3lbs, has a 12.1" widescreen, 802.11b/g built-in, three USB 2.0 ports, multi-format card reader, FireWire, 512MB RAM standard.

Intel Pushes Wi-Max Initiative in Taiwan

Intel has been a big backer of the the Wi-Max technology (802.16e frequency) and they're stepping up efforts to help governments around the world to setup Wi-Max.  Wi-Max works like Wi-Fi in that it's a wireless broadband technology, but the range of Wi-Max is measured in miles and not meters like Wi-Fi is.  In a perfect line of sight between a Wi-Max tower and computer with a Wi-Max receiver the range can be up to 31 miles.  More typically ranges are about a mile due to buildings and natural landscape obstructions.

In Taiwan Intel is contributing $1.12 billion (TWD) to help the Mobilize Taiwan initiative to get Wi-Max installed in various areas of the country.

More: http://news.com.com/Intel+pushes+WiMax+around+the+globe/2100-7351_3-5944874.html?tag=nefd.top

DigiTimes.com Interview With Lenovo Chairman

DigiTimes.com interviewed a Lenovo chairman yesterday, the chairman expressed respect for Acer and Dell and says that Lenovo will be using both direct sales and retail channel sales the world over to sell their PCs. 

More: http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20051104A2002.html