July 17 - 12:30pm EDT   Not announced with its main wave of Centrino 2 notebooks, HP has revealed another such system in Korea. The Compaq 2730p is a tablet PC with a rotating, 12.1-inch screen, capable of native WXGA resolutions. Internally it is powered by a 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo processor, matched to a GM45 chipset; graphics are supplied by an integrated GMA 4500MHD chip. By default, the system comes with 2GB of 800MHz DDR2 RAM. [full story]

July 15 - 1:20pm EDT   Memory and computer builder OCZ has announced its own, custom version of Intel's Centrino 2 platform. The OCZ interpretation comes in the form of a "whitebook" portable system labeled the OCZNBIM17A, which supports the top-end mobile version of the Core 2 Extreme processor, the X9100. The system is also capable of supporting two AMD M88XT video cards in SLI mode, or a single GeForce 8800 GTX by Nvidia. RAM extends up to 4GB of 1,066MHz DDR3 RAM. [full story]

July 14 - 10:40pm EDT   Intel tonight formally introduced its Centrino 2 notebook platform Monday as well as a new 45nm, 3.06GHz Core 2 Extreme mobile processor, calling it the "highest performing" chip of its kind in the world. The company has additionally rounded out its announcement saying it will release eight new processors over the next 90 days, including the first quad-core mobile processors, and second-generation support for "ultra-thin" notebooks such as the MacBook Air. [full story]

July 12 - 2:10pm EDT   Sony today posted a teaser confirming the launch date for its Centrino 2-based VAIO line. The electronics maker expects to formally unveil the new range on July 14th at 9PM Eastern and is known to be introducing several new models as well as potentially refreshing existing systems for the initial launch. In addition to better performance, they should also consume less power in most models. [full story]

July 11 - 4:10pm EDT   A series of leaks of Sony VAIO updates has wound to a conclusion on Friday with the appearance of the VAIO BZ. The 15.4-inch pro system shifts to a new 1440x900, LED-backlit display which both produces a better picture, reduces the power draw, and more eco-friendly; like other recent leaks, both systems are also based on Intel's imminent Centrino 2 platform and will come with faster GMA X4500HD integrated graphics than the outgoing BX models. [full story]

July 11 - 12:20am EDT   The rumored Sony Vaio Z series was confirmed Wednesday, as photos of informative pamphlets detail the three tiers that will be available. NotebookReview reveals that the 13.3-inch laptops will boast a 16:9 formatted screen resolution of 1366 by 768 in the entry model, or 1600 by 900 in the mid- and high-end models. Processors range from a Centrino 2-based 2.26GHz P8600 chipset, to a 2.54 P9500 chipset. Each model features a dual-layer DVD burner, 128MB or 256MB Nvidia GeForce 9300M GS, 200GB to 320GB of hard drive space, and 2GB to 4GB DDR2 memory. [full story]

July 8 - 1:50pm EDT   Intel expects to make notebook processors running at 25 watts an everyday occurrence, the company said today. The firm now expects most future systems based on its upcoming Centrino 2 mobile platform to consume less power, dropping significantly from the 35 watts of today's Core 2 Duo processors. The shift should both extend battery life as well as cool down the systems themselves, letting PC designers offer slimmer and potentially quieter notebooks without giving up performance. [full story]

July 7 - 3:05pm EDT   Sony's VAIO FW and SR have been spotted and reveal a design reminiscent of aluminum MacBooks along with additional specifications for at least European models. The VAIO FW is both confirmed to be one of Sony's first notebooks with a 16:9 ratio display and has a 16.4-inch, 1600x900 LCD sharper than the 1440x900 screens found on some 15.4-inch portables. It also has the same through-tray keyboard design as the VAIO TZ, the MacBook Air, and some other systems. [full story]

July 7 - 10:40am EDT   Apple's next-generation MacBook Pro may have had its first glimpse today, says the Taiwan-area site Apple.pro. The report claims to have a photo of the new notebook's casing in prototype form as well as additional details, including items not pictured in the leak. The design appears to be more tapered like that of the MacBook Air and doesn't immediately reveal a backlit Apple logo, although this is most likely due to the incomplete nature of the case. [full story]

June 24 - 12:30pm EDT   Lenovo late yesterday confirmed the existence of the ThinkPad SL and provided first details about the new notebook line. Effectively an equivalent to Dell's Vostro line, the portables will be aimed at individuals and small companies that want more professional notebooks than the IdeaPads but still want some of the home-friendly features: the systems are set to have HDMI output and a more stylized look than the all-black, utilitarian look of most ThinkPads today. [full story]

June 23 - 2:55pm EDT   Sony has inadvertently tipped its hand about its notebooks based on Intel's Centrino 2 platform, based on several manuals and product leaks posted online. The VAIO FW will replace the FZ (pictured) and will switch to a new 16.4-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio display that suits it to watching Blu-ray movies. In American form, a stock model should ship with Intel's upcoming lower power 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo as well as 3GB of memory and a 250GB hard drive; higher-end models will speed up to 2.53GHz, top out at 4GB of memory, and hold a 320GB hard drive. [full story]

June 23 - 8:20am EDT   Despite Intel's claims that Centrino 2's official appearance is due in August, some of the company's notebook processors and platform will appear in mid-July, according to reports. The chipmaker is now anticipated to launch all its mainstream mobile processors, including 2.53GHz and 2.8GHz full-power chips as well as 2.26GHz, 2.4GHz, and 2.53GHz low-power models, on July 14th. Mobile chipsets for notebooks using dedicated graphics will also be available at the same time. [full story]

June 19 - 8:25am EDT   Lenovo's ThinkPad X200 ultraportable today has been almost completely detailed through a new leak. The 12-inch notebook now appears set to replace the X61 and, while holding a keyboard as large as for the X300, is small enough to drop the larger system's trackpad in favor of the ThinkPad's characteristic trackpoint. It also has to drop support for an optical drive but should weigh even less than the X61 at 2.9 pounds. [full story]

June 10 - 3:15pm EDT   Packard Bell today became the next system builder to update its line with newer platforms from AMD and Intel. The 13.3-inch EasyNote RS65 runs on a Centrino 2 chipset with an unspecified Core 2 Duo processor and joins the increasing ranks of ultraportables at its screen size, with a very thin and extremely stylized design; Packard Bell's signature circular trackpad sports hidden buttons while the rest of the system is backed by chrome trim and brushed black metal. Few other details are available beyond its use of a slot-load optical drive and HDMI video out. [full story]

June 10 - 4:00am EDT   HP today gave virtually all its notebook line both a cosmetic and performance update, including some of the first Centrino 2-based notebooks. The Pavilion series is now said to have a subtler look with displays that are flush with the bezel, silver-on-silver insides, and a new Imprint finish on the outside. The Intel-based systems use their new notebook platform to supply both faster Core 2 processors as well as faster X4500 graphics on systems that go without dedicated video hardware, while a similar match uses the platform behind the Turion Ultra platform. Improved touch-sensitive media controls and an External SATA port are common across most systems, HP notes. ... [full story]