News Bits: Sony VAIO Z Series, $100 Eee PC Rebate, OCZ Introduces DDR3 RAM

New Sony VAIO Z series info unveiled

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One of our forum members, Spacecowboy, has uncovered additional screenshot information about the upcoming Sony VAIO Z series. The Z series features a 13.1-inch LED-backlit 16:9 display with an Nvidia GPU and HDMI output. It is based on the Intel Montevina platform, which will be formally released on July 14 (CPU/chipset), and early August for the full platform (wireless card included).

More in the forums
Special thanks to forum member PhilFlow for submitting this bit

ECS G10IL coming to the US in September

Image credit: LaptopMag

ECS is planning to bring its G10IL subnotebook to the United States in September, according to a blog post on Laptop Magazine's website. It will have EDGE, HSUPA, and HSDPA mobile broadband support. Two display sizes will be available - 8.9 and 10 inches. Pricing for the systems will start at $399; it is likely that the lower-priced options will not have EDGE. The G10IL will come with Linpus Lite 9.4 or Windows XP with an 8GB SSD or 80GB hard drive.
The ECS G10IL will be the first subnotebook designed and marketed for business use.

Full Story (LaptopMag.com)

ASUS clearing Celeron-based Eee PC 900s with $100 rebate

ASUS is looking to clear its stock of Celeron-based Eee PC 900s with a $100 rebate, which brings the price down to $449.99. The Atom-based Eee PC 901, which will replace the 900, is rumored to be priced at $599. Amazon and ZaReason are currently offering the Eee PC 900 for the discounted $449.99 price until July 31; the discounts should start showing up at other retailers soon enough.

Full Story (Engadget.com)
NotebookReview.com review for the ASUS Eee PC 900

Samsung introduces Montevina-based Aura and Eclipse notebooks

Samsung has introduced new Montevina-based notebooks, the Aura and all-new Eclipse lineup. The Aura R510 includes a 15.4-inch screen, new Montevina Core 2 Duo processors, integrated Intel X4500 graphics, 4GB of RAM, and a 320GB hard drive, while weighing only 5 pounds.

The Eclipse R710 includes the same specifications, except with an Nvidia GeForce 9600M-GT 512MB graphics card and a different case design. The Eclipse lineup also includes the 12.1-inch Q210 and 13.3-inch Q30. They have Nvidia GeForce 9200M-GS 256MB graphics cards and Montevina Core 2 Duo processors.

Full Story (Engadget.com)

OCZ introduces DDR3 notebook modules

OCZ today announced its new DDR3 memory modules for notebooks. They will come in PC3-8500 and PC3-10666 SODIMM configurations. According to Dr. Michael Schuette, VP of Technology Development at OCZ Technology, "From a technical standpoint, DDR3 memory technology is far superior to DDR2, from the higher frequency range resulting in better overall system performance to the energy savings at idle stemming from loss-less termination to the supply-voltage level and resulting in paramount energy savings in the typical notebook usage pattern."

Full Story (DigiTimes.com)

Hybridgear.net = PC Micro Works?

Rather strong evidence has been posted in our forums, drawing a connecting between HybridGear.net, a computer reseller that went out of business two years ago, and PC Micro Works, a new computer reseller that emerged when HybridGear went down.

Please see the full story in our forums
Special thanks to forum member Shyster1 for submitting this bit