July 16 - 2:25pm EDT   Panasonic on Tuesday became the next notebook maker to update its line for Intel's Centrino 2 platform with two new Toughbook models. The semi-rugged, 15.4-inch Toughbook 52 and its matching 13.3-inch Toughbook 74 both get the faster processors, 1,066MHz bus speeds, and faster Intel graphics of Centrino 2 as well as a boost to 802.11n Wi-Fi and 160GB of storage. [full story]

July 15 - 2:50pm EDT   Monday night's launch of the new Intel Centrino 2 notebook platform, unveiling of the 45nm, 3.06GHz Core 2 Extreme mobile processor and announcement of 14 total forthcoming chips was covered last night, but there is room to expand on Intel's presentation. The company stressed its new focus, showing that laptop computers are increasingly outselling desktops. [full story]

July 15 - 11:15am EDT   Intel's first quad-core notebook processor will be ready by next month, says the semiconductor firm's Singapore marketing chief Sujan Kamran. Although the official declines to provide details, the processor is expected to be clocked at 2.53GHz and carry the same 12MB of Level 2 cache as desktop quad-core chips. It would be badged as a Core 2 Extreme processor (the QX9300) despite the clock speed gap between itself and the 3.06GHz dual-core model already made public. [full story]

July 15 - 12:15am EDT   Lenovo tonight had its turn at upgrading to Centrino 2 with two new notebooks that are billed as blurring the lines between ultraportables and full-power models. The ThinkPad X200 is Lenovo's first major X series update since the X300 but is smaller than both the X300 and its rival MacBook Air while keeping many features and only thickening a tenth of an inch to 0.8 inches. Although it uses just a 12-inch display, the X200 still finds room for up to a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo on the new Intel platform as well as up to a Blu-ray optical drive. [full story]

July 14 - 11:35pm EDT   Sony's Centrino 2 notebook refresh tonight adds the VAIO BZ. It keeps the same 15.4-inch display as the outgoing VAIO BX but in a slim, magnesium shell the company says is tough enough to resist shocks while keeping the weight under six pounds. The display is now LED-backlit on some models for a more accurate (and power-efficient) image, while the keyboard has been designed to resist spills. [full story]

July 14 - 11:35pm EDT   Sony on Monday evening unveiled its new Centrino 2-powered line of ultra-portable VAIO Z Series notebooks, with options for Blu-ray, a flash-memory SSD drive, Sprint broadband, and more. Weighing just over 3 pounds, the VAIO Z model offers speeds up to 2.53GHz, incorporates the first ever 13.1-inch widescreen 16:9 display with Sony's XBRITE-DuraView LCD technology for what its claims is "scratch-resistant durability and 100 percent color saturation." All models feature a better-spaced MacBook-line keyboard layout, while the high-end models feature 1600 X 900 resolution for up to 40 percent wider workspace than a standard display (in the same "footprint"). [full story]

July 14 - 11:05pm EDT   As part of a sweeping update of its notebook line to Intel's new Centrino 2 mobile platform, Sony tonight unveiled what it says is the first media-centric notebook with a 16.4-inch, 16:9 ratio display. The VAIO FW replaces the FZ and uses its extra-wide 1600x900 resolution not just to play Blu-ray movies and other widescreen content without black bars but also to offer an ideal size mix: the image is closer to a 16:10 ratio 17-inch display but has the depth of a 15.4-inch notebook, rendering it easier to carry. It also more easily fits two documents side-by-side, the company argues. [full story]

July 14 - 11:00am EDT   HP today said that the second generation of its TouchSmart PC should now be at retail stores across much of the US. The 22-inch all-in-one desktop should be available both in the base IQ504 model ($1,299) with a 2GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB of memory, and 320GB hard drive as well as a deluxe IQ506 model ($1,499) with a 2.16GHz processor, a TV tuner, dedicated GeForce 9300M GS video, and a 500GB hard disk for extra space. [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 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 3 - 7:55am EDT   PC maker ASUS on Thursday saw fit to introduce one of its first semi-ruggedized notebooks. The B51E's magnesium-alloy chassis is sturdy enough to survive potentially crushing pressures and is braced by rubber edges that both soften shocks and drops (up to almost 2.5 feet) and guard against dents; the keyboard itself is both spill-resistant on its own and includes a drainage path underneath to prevent liquids from seeping into core components. The system is one of ASUS' first to meet US military-grade standards for durability, the company says. [full story]

July 1 - 9:30am EDT   Switching away from its normal emphasis on work systems, Fujitsu today has unveiled the LifeBook P8010 LE. The limited-run notebook gets a glossy, pink gold hue on its back and is one of the PC maker's few systems to integrate 3G cellular access; a built-in HSDPA modem gives it high-speed Internet access in most 3G-capable countries. The 12-inch portable is also relatively rare in using a lid design that allows for extremely narrow side bezels around the display that gives Fujitsu an opportunity to shrink the notebook design without compromising on the screen size. [full story]

July 1 - 8:25am EDT   AMD this morning quietly released new speed grades of its Phenom X4 quad-core processors that include the company's fastest-ever as well as as two low-power versions. The Phenom X4 9950 Black Edition runs at 2.6GHz and is targeted at hobbyist gamers with a relative freedom to overclock the chip past spec with enough cooling. The processor is otherwise the same as earlier enthusiast chips with 140-watt power use and 512KB of Level 2 cache per core. The new Black Edition ships for $235 per chip in batches of 1,000 and should be available today. [full story]