As well as throwing WiMAX into select VAIO P models, Sony is also giving the Japanese version of their “don’t call it a netbook” a processor boost. Intel’s Atom Z550 - at 2.0GHz the fastest of the Z-range – is now an option, and going from the preliminary benchmarks it’s clear that this new iteration is the best VAIO P to date.
Full benchmarks after the cut
Benchmarking Windows 7’s performance with various hard-drives and SSDs may not sound like much fun, but when you consider how many people will end up using the new OS once it officially launches you can at least see its uses. HotHardware have been testing out Windows 7 and contrasting it with Vista’s performance, and the good news is that the new platform bests its predecessor, particularly when it comes to SSDs.
ASUS’ Eee PC 1000HV has been benchmarked, putting its discrete ATI Radeon HD 3450 graphics to the test. Based on the same Intel Atom N280 1.66GHz processor as the 1000HE, the 1000HV uses its graphical grunt well: it racks up a CrystalMark R3 score of 37,430 versus the 1000HE’s 28,923.
Benchmark breakdown after the cut
The Acer Aspire One 751 is such a good looking netbook that we were willing to give it a second chance. After disappointing with the first round of testing, primarily because of the underpowered Intel Atom Z520 1.3GHz processor, we crossed our fingers that a second round would prove them to be some bizarre aberration. Sadly, going by the figures at NetbookNews.it, our hopes are unfounded.
Video of the 751 falling flat after the cut
The 17-inch MacBook Pro was the last of the Apple notebook range to get a unibody update, but for those looking for superlative media editing and general processing grunt it more than delivers. Apple shipped over the new MacBook Pro just after it launched, and we’ve been spending the last few weeks getting to grips with the new notebook and putting it through its paces. After the cut, anti-glare screens, NVIDIA’s GeForce 9600M and portability from the thinnest, lightest 17-incher around.
We grabbed some hands-on time with the MSI X-Slim X340 at MobileFocus, but LaptopMag’s Mark Spoonauer is obviously far more persuasive (or light-fingered) than we are, as he got to take the slender ultraportable back to his hotel room for the night. That gave him time to try out the Intel CULV notebook’s media credentials, as well as run some preliminary benchmarks.
Google’s Chrome browser turned a lot of heads when it first launched back in September 2008, and the search giant surprised even more people by dropping the beta tag from the browser only a few months later. Now there’s news of a new version of Chrome, still free and back with beta status, but reportedly between 25- and 35-percent faster than previously, depending on benchmarking. There are also new features like side-by-side tab views and autoscrolling.
Screenshots confirming the existence of an unannounced AMD Phenom II processor have turned up on the XtremeSystems Forums. The images confirm the AMD Phenom II X4 995, overclocked from 3.2GHz to 4GHz and used in a system running the Windows 7 beta.
While we grabbed not one but two hands-on demos with the UMID M1 MID at Mobile World Congress last month, we didn’t want to push our luck running benchmarks on the compact touchscreen handheld. Obviously UMPC Portal’s Steve isn’t quite so shy, hence these CrystalMark 2004R3 results for the 1.3Ghz Atom MID.
MSI’s dual-storage Wind U115 Hybrid netbook was advertised as not only a speed demon (thanks to the 8GB or 16GB SSD) but a frugal one, with the company predicting runtimes of up to 10.5hrs from a single charge. However it now looks as though MSI were actually too modest in their claims; Eee PC.de have been running battery tests and the MSI Wind U115 lasted 13 hours and 15 minutes.
SlashGear Japan
