Touting the first mobile version of its flagship Pentium 4 processor, Intel's Christanto Suryaearma, business solution manager for Intel's Internet solution group, claims the 1.70GHz Intel Pentium 4 Processor-M ran 88 percent faster than the Pentium III in Intel's tests, based on Sysmark 2002. The processor system bus has been increased to 400Mhz, from the Pentium III system bus of 133MHz. -We hope to get faster by the end of the year," he told media representative at the launch.
While plugging the battery life of the Pentium 4, Suryaearma indicated that it would not be as long as the Pentium III. -If your main criteria with a notebook is longest battery life and lowest power, go for the Pentium III. If you want maximum performance and still with a good battery life, that's where the Pentium 4 fits in," he said.
The Pentium 4 has two low power states, Deep Sleep and Deeper Sleep, which the computer enters into when it is relatively inactive while maintaining its context. This lowers the power level to 1 volt in the Deeper Sleep state, resulting in an average power usage of less than 2 volts, according to Intel. As well as lengthening the battery life, this is claimed to significantly reduce heat as well.
Seamless connectivity is tackled with an integrated chipset that supports the latest connectivity and digital audio, and Intel claims that thinner mobile PC designs are made possible due to Intel's small Micro-Flip Chip Pin Grid Array (uFCPGA).
Toshiba was the first to market with the new Pentium 4-M, with its Satellite 5100 available today at Harvey Norman. Units were shipped overnight, getting to the vendors in the early hours of the morning in the bid to be first on sale, Laurie White, product marketing manager information systems division told ZDNet Australia. Retailing for AU$7,299, it's aimed towards the high-end games market, with a 15" screen and the Mobile nVidia GeForce 440 card. Toshiba offers two more mobile computers to online customers, with the new chip: the Satellite Pro 6100, aimed at small business and retailing for AU$5500, and the Tecra 9100 - aimed at corporates and retailing from AU$7550.
Compaq was also boasting the size of its offering -- the Compaq Evo N800C. Weighing in at 2.47kg and 1.3 inches thick, -It's the thinnest laptop here," said Jeff Morris, product manager home and small office products. -I'm pretty sure it's the lightest, too." It was also one of the cheapest on offer, expecting to retail for just over AU$4,000, although exact prices hadn't been released. However, Compaq's Evo N800C won't be available till mid-April, making it one of the last entrants to the market along with Cassa, which provides a build-to-order solution.
Dell's low-end Pentium 4-M-based notebook is also in the low AU$4,000 range, with customisation adding price along with features. Orders can be placed now, and delivery starts on March 25. The Fujitsu laptop will also be available late March, with prices still to be announced.
IBM has targeted the high-end user, touting its Pentium 4 ThinkPad more as a mobile multimedia centre than a notebook. This model continues with IBM's focus on security, and will be available late March.
Intel are selling the mobile Pentium 4 processor-M at 1.7GHz for AU$508, and the Pentium 4 processor-M at 1.6 GHz for AU$401, and the Intel 845MP chipset is AU$43.00, all in 1,000 unit quantities.
