lgpOnTheMove: Atom

Showing posts with label Atom. Show all posts

Wish List - Hot Gear for 2012

Once again 2012 is set to bring a slew of exciting new hardware for mobile tech enthusiasts. CES 2012 already gave me a good indication of just some of the products due to hit shelves later this year. Look hard enough, though, and you can already find sprinklings of as-yet-unseen gadgets already appearing, or set to go on sale very soon.

Notebooks in particular are due for some major improvements this year thanks to the continued efforts of Intel, AMD and nVidia. If the arrival of mobile Sandy Bridge hasn't yet convinced you to upgrade that Core 2 Duo clunker you've been using since 2008, here's a few more reasons why you should seriously consider upgrading in 2012.

I've been carefully exploring over these last couple of weeks the many possibilities my HP 210 Mini netbook provides, and I'm thoroughly enjoying the experience. Intel's N570 dual-core Atom really is a decent performer. But working with applications and multimedia is only part of the picture. My testing has shown that, despite popular opinion, the N570 platform is adept at handling more than one 3D graphics title out there!

If you've been itching to get your hands on the smallest/lightest Windows device that will provide a decent casual gaming experience, or need a 10" netbook that can do more than just documents and spreadsheets, these gaming tips here should help turn a lackluster day into something decidedly more entertaining.

Once again, I'm happy to present here on lgpOnTheMove yet another very unique netbook. The HP 210 Mini may not be the newest 10" rig on the block, but it does sport an impressive list of specs, starting with an Atom N570 CPU. Can the dual-core HT processor improve upon the existing netbook user experience? Combined with the numerous other features the 210 Mini offers, I'd say that's a definite yes!

My second Glamor Shots piece now features the HP 210 Mini netbook. While my acquisition of this unit was originally for benchmarking the Atom N570, I ended up liking the unit so much that I've decided to keep it, effectively replacing my original HP 2133 netbook. Stay tuned next week for a full review of the 210 Mini on lgpOnTheMove.

Image credit: Toshiba

Intel's Atom has been around since 2008 and today controls pretty much the entire netbook market. However, the company has been slow to push the platform forward, giving only mediocre performance updates. Does advances by Intel's rival AMD, a delayed product schedule and previous product releases by the chip giant signal an end for the humble platform's dominance? Should Intel take this as a serious wake up call or be content sitting on it's laurels? Based on my experience with some newer netbooks recently, here's what I believe could be the new status quo in 2011 and beyond.

I honestly can't remember when I wrote my last Wish List post. But the new year along with the hot gear I observed at CES this month has got me in overdrive in anticipation of everything that's coming to consumers in 2011. Notebooks, netbooks, slates and lots of other hot items are set to get some major changes this year, and I've decided to share with you my list of top items to look out for!

Likewise, for those who have been holding out on their purchase of a new notebook, netbook or slate, 2011 will more than likely make you open your wallet and renew your gadget fantasy.

Image credit: Toshiba

You may remember last year my quick look at Toshiba's first candidate in the netbook category - the NB205. This very attractive netbook had a lot going for it, but it somehow came at a time when Microsoft's latest OS was just out the door, and Intel had delayed Pinetrail by a matter of weeks. While I did make the NB205 a top lgpOnTheMove netbook pick for 2009, I was eagerly awaiting the replacement model coming from Toshiba in 2010.

Today I have that unit, the NB305, here with me to review. Does it build on what made the NB205 so great? Let's take a look!

Quick Look - Toshiba NB205

Today I get to take you for a brief introduction to Toshiba's first entry into the netbook segment. The NB205 is one of the best-looking netbooks to come to market thus far, and with a $399 price-tag, I just had to take one for a spin.