All Topics > Computer Hardware > Laptops & Accessories > All-Purpose 'Santa Rosa' Notebooks Debut >

All-Purpose 'Santa Rosa' Notebooks Debut Florida

Two of the newcomers on this month's chart feature Intel's latest Centrino technology.

1. Local Companies

2. Introduction

3. Battery Life Concerns

4. Find the Very Latest Notebook Charts

5. Featured Local Company

1. Local Companies

Pinnacle Business Group, Inc.
(904) 730-4670
9310 Old Kings Road South
Jacksonville, FL

BL Computers
714-6984
Lake Worth, FL

Aramont computers inc
786-879-4233
7218 nw 31st
miami, FL

Palm Beach Computing, LLC
792-5739, x200
PO Box 740283
Boynton Beach, FL

Computer Resolutions
582-5588 phone/fax
104 Half Moon Circle, #C-3
Lantana, FL

Allied Electronics Trading
954-358-8200
2736 nw 29th terrace
Lauderdale Lakes, FL

NetOne Technologies, Inc.
432-7823
7403 Langston Ct.
Lake Worth, FL

VorticC
(407) 351-3148
5811 Breskin Drive
Orlando, FL

Can Do Networking
369-7748
706 W. Boynton Beach Blvd., #114
Boynton Beach, FL

SoFla Networking
561.827.5694
11231 US Highway One
North Palm Beach, FL

Each of the all-purpose notebooks (those with screens
between 13.3 and 15.4 inches in size) featured in this month's chart is a newly
released, Windows Vista-equipped model that we've tested with WorldBench 6 Beta
2, the latest version of the PC World Test Center's benchmark suite for PCs.

Our Best Buy, HP's $1309
Pavilion dv6500t,
and Gateway's third-ranked, $2270
E-475M use Intel's
updated Centrino technology. Previously code-named Santa Rosa, the updated
platform now goes by either Centrino Duo (for general models) or Centrino Pro
(for business models outfitted with extras like Active Management technology
that IT staff can use to maintain laptop fleets).

Notebooks that use
Centrino Duo's or Centrino Pro's Intel 965 Express chip set feature an 800-MHz
frontside bus (up from 667 MHz), DDR2-800 memory support, built-in draft
802.11n Wi-Fi with 802.11a/b/g backward compatibility, and a new CPU socket
that supports a range of new Core 2 Duo mobile processors, most of which now
provide 4MB of Level 2 cache.

The multimedia-oriented HP Pavilion
dv6500t uses the new 2-GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 processor, while the
small-business-focused Gateway E-475M includes a 2.2-GHz Core 2 Duo T7500 chip.
Both laptops had stellar battery life, helped by the new chip set's ability to
save power by underclocking during periods of low CPU usage. The Gateway also
turned out to be the fastest Vista notebook we've tested to date. It bested our
previous top WorldBench 6 Beta 2 scorer, a Micro Express NP5760 desktop
replacement running an older 2.33-GHz Core 2 Duo T7600 chip, by 1 point--83 to
82.

3. Battery Life Concerns

The fourth-place Lenovo
ThinkPad T60, with
a 14.1-inch display and almost 5 hours of battery life, is a great example of a
traditional, moderately sized notebook. At $1899, however, it's significantly
more expensive than the second-place Asus
A8JR-4P021C or the
Fujitsu
LifeBook A3120,
which missed a place on the chart. The Asus's 5.5-pound weight and nice design
give it the makings of a quality notebook for students and worker bees alike,
but its battery life of exactly 2 hours was well below average for a notebook
of its size.

We were similarly disappointed by the Fujitsu A3120's
battery life; it lasted a mere hour and a half on one charge. Still, its
6.4-pound weight is light for a laptop wielding a 15.4-inch screen, and the
system features a stylish cream-colored exterior and a unique touchpad that
lets you jot down notes or draw within selected applications.

Danny Allen

4. Find the Very Latest Notebook Charts

Click on the links below for the latest online notebook
rankings or a comprehensive list of all Notebooks we've tested.

Most current
Top Ultraportable Notebooks chart

Most current
Top All-Purpose Notebooks chart

Most current
Top Power Notebooks chart

All
Notebooks

5. Featured Local Company

VorticC

4073513148
5811 Breskin Drive
Orlando, FL

Read more about All-Purpose 'Santa Rosa' Notebooks Debut

- $100 Snapshot Printers: Ink vs. Dye-Sub Models Florida

New photo printers deliver more and cost less.

- 25 Products We Can't Live Without Florida
- A $30 Inkjet Competes With Printers Thrice Its Price Florida
- Acer AL2423Wdr Florida
- A Speedy Tablet and a Bargain Laptop Debut Florida
- ABS Ultimate X9 Florida
- About the PC World Test Center Florida
- 30-Inch Wide-Screen Monitors Florida
- 22-Inch LCDs: More Screen for Less Green Florida
- $200 Linux Desktop Systems Are No Bargain Florida

Regional Articles

- Acer AL2423Wdr Florida

A bargain hunter's dream, this wide-screen monitor offers good text and graphics.

- A Speedy Tablet and a Bargain Laptop Debut Florida
- ABS Ultimate X9 Florida
- $100 Snapshot Printers: Ink vs. Dye-Sub Models Florida
- 25 Products We Can't Live Without Florida
- $200 Linux Desktop Systems Are No Bargain Florida
- 30-Inch Wide-Screen Monitors Florida
- A $30 Inkjet Competes With Printers Thrice Its Price Florida
- About the PC World Test Center Florida
- 22-Inch LCDs: More Screen for Less Green Florida

Related Local Events

26th AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference
Dates: 6/23/2008 - 6/26/2008
Location: Hyatt Regency Miami Miami Convention Center
Miami FL
View Details

Computerworld Mobile and Wireless World: Building and Securing the Wireless Enterprise
Dates: 6/9/2008 - 6/10/2008
Location: Doral Golf Resort & Spa
Miami FL
View Details

Rate Article

Save to My Articles

Articles Insider

Advertising	Financial Services	Nightlife
Business Services	Franchise	Online Database
Career	Health	Real Estate Resources
Cars	Holidays	Software
Computer Hardware	Home Appliances	Technology
Construction	Home Electronics	Telecommunications
Education	Home Services	Trade Shows
Entertainment	Internet	Travel
Family	Legal	Weddings
Fashion	Miscellaneous	World History

Advertising	Family	Home Services	Software
Business Services	Fashion	Internet	Technology
Career	Financial Services	Legal	Telecommunications
Cars	Franchise	Miscellaneous	Trade Shows
Computer Hardware	Health	Nightlife	Travel
Construction	Holidays	Online Database	Weddings
Education	Home Appliances	Real Estate Resources	World History
Entertainment	Home Electronics

Searching...

All-Purpose 'Santa Rosa' Notebooks Debut Florida

1. Local Companies

2. Introduction

3. Battery Life Concerns

4. Find the Very Latest Notebook Charts

5. Featured Local Company