If you've ever shopped for a notebook PC, you know that the factors you should consider go far beyond performance and connections. Notebook buyers also have to mull such variables as size, weight, screen dimensions, battery life, and keyboard quality--not to mention options such as built-in wireless.
Many top-of-the-line and some midrange portables are now available with an Intel Pentium 4 Processor-M, which comes in versions with clock speeds of 1.7 GHz, 1.8 GHz, 1.9 GHz, and 2 GHz.
This year, just when we thought notebook screens couldn't get any bigger, Sony introduced its sony pcga-bp2nx , with the first-ever 16.1-inch display. With 14- and 15-inch screens already appearing on $1100 portables, you can expect the newest giant screen to trickle down eventually to some budget notebook PCs.
Key Features
Processor: The old rule about waiting for new technology to drop in price before you buy applies more than ever to notebooks with the latest CPUs. In our PC WorldBench 4 tests, laptops carrying the first iterations of Intel's Pentium 4 ran no faster--and in some cases ran slower--than the same notebooks equipped with 1.2-GHz Pentium III-M chips. A few portables use P4 desktop processors, which can give them a performance advantage if they're built to withstand the extra heat.
Right now, people who have modest computing needs can save a lot of money by sticking with a PIII-M compaq presario 2100.
System memory: Don't settle for anything less than 256MB of system memory if you want to do more than word processing and e-mail, because Windows XP and newer applications quickly chew up memory and threaten to slow down your work. Memory slots are usually fairly easy to reach on notebooks, if you wish to upgrade.
Graphics memory: You'll want 32MB or 64MB of video RAM if you plan on using your laptop to drive external monitors for presentations. Make sure that the memory is dedicated rather than pulled from main memory; this is sometimes referred to as a universal (UMA) or shared (SMA) memory architecture.
Screen: Some portables with 14.1-inch and 15.1-inch screens now cost as little as $1200. But business-class fliers who prefer a more compact compaq presario 2500 screen size of 12.1 or 13.3 inches may soon have only ultraportables to choose from.
Battery: In battery tests conducted by the PC World Test Center, battery life in units equipped with the new P4-M chip averaged roughly 2.5 hours. While Intel and notebook manufacturers try to iron out the P4-M's power consumption kinks, consider buying a notebook that uses the older Pentium III-M chip; these portables posted battery lives of between 3 and 3.5 hours in most cases. Most notebooks come with a lithium ion rechargeable battery, which lasts longer than the less common nickel metal hydride rechargeable and doesn't need to be replaced as often.
If you want more time away from an outlet, buy a notebook that has a modular bay capable of holding a supplementary power pack. Secondary compaq 319411-001 batteries usually cost between $100 and $200.
Keyboard and pointing device: A thin-and-light notebook usually has smaller-than-average keys spaced more closely than the ones found on a desktop-replacement model. Even notebooks with the same standard 3mm travel (the distance a key depresses) and 19mm spacing (from the center of one key top to the next) can feel different, however, and their layouts may differ significantly.
For people who can't choose between a touchpad and an eraserhead pointing device, some notebooks include both. If you buy one of these dually equipped portables, make sure that it provides two sets of mouse buttons--one for the touchpad and the other for the eraserhead--so you don't have to stretch to reach.
Optical and other drives: Built-in rewritable DVD drives aren't likely to arrive in notebook PCs anytime soon, but if you can afford it, the next best thing is a combination DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive. Midrange machines usually feature a DVD-ROM drive or a CD-RW drive, and only the least-expensive notebooks hp f4098a , hp f4809a , hp f4812a come standard with just a CD-ROM drive.
The floppy drive has outlasted its SuperDrive and Zip drive challengers and continues to appear in many notebooks. Some "legacy light" portables have phased it out, but you can buy a USB add-on floppy drive for less than $100.
Hard drive: Notebook hard drives will continue to get larger, from 60GB to 80GB and beyond. You can save money by opting for a 20GB or 30GB model, however. Most hard drives are easy to remove if you wish to keep your data safe.
Weight and bay design: Notebooks range from massive 9-pound all-in-one models, which have both the floppy drive and the optical drive built in, to 3-pound ultraportables that must use external drives. The once-rare one-bay hp f2299a notebook has become increasingly prevalent because of its appealing balance of features and weight. For instance, members of IBM's ThinkPad T series include a 14.1-inch screen and a full set of connections yet weigh less than 6 pounds--at least a pound less than most full-size notebooks. The trade-off: ThinkPad T models don't have a built-in floppy drive.
Many full-size models offer the floppy drive as a modular device, so you can swap it out for a second optical drive, a second hard drive, or a Zip drive.
You should consider the weight not only of the notebook, but also of the hp f2019 AC adapter, any external modules, and their cables. Ultraportables have lightweight adapters but can weigh almost as much as a full-size notebook if you take along their external optical and floppy drives.
When you return to your desk, you can snap most hp f1739a notebooks onto an extra-cost docking station or port replicator (prices range from $99 to $499). This saves you from repeatedly having to plug in and unplug desktop peripherals.
Communications: Fewer portables these days come with a full set of legacy ports. Serial ports are rare, and the combination mouse/keyboard PS/2 port and the infrared port soon will be. Most notebooks still have a parallel port and one PC Card slot, though; and most also have at least two USB ports. A growing number now include a FireWire (IEEE 1394) port. Built-in ethernet comes standard on almost all portables. You can also expect built-in 802.11b wireless components to become standard. A few vendors offer notebooks with Bluetooth built in, but you should only consider choosing this option if you already have Bluetooth-enabled devices that you wish to sync.
A smattering of hp f2024b notebooks now come with new types of card slots, including CompactFlash, Secure Digital, Memory Stick, and Smart Media. A notebook with a CompactFlash card or Secure Digital slot is your best bet.
Recommendations
People looking for the latest features, such as built-in wireless, generally have one option: one of the new Pentium 4-M hp hstnn-db02 notebooks. Unfortunately, most P4-M-based notebooks are pricey and can be slower than those with the PIII-M. If you don't need a P4-M notebook's high-end features, opt for a PIII-M notebook priced at $1500 or less. Many 3- and 4-pound ultraportables (for which a low-voltage version of the P4-M has not yet been developed) still carry the PIII-M processor, too. Most ultraportables cost $2000 or so, but they're a good alternative, especially if you need a lightweight hp pavilion zv5000 laptop.
2008年11月26日星期三
MacBook Air Alternatives
Steve Jobs and his talented team of industrial designers created yet another lust-worthy product with the MacBook Air.
But here's the thing: As undeniable as the Apple ultraportable's appeal is, the MacBook Air is laden with limitations. Plus, there are several thin-and-light Windows laptops that skirt many of the MacBook Air's drawbacks. Here's a quick look at three Windows competitors.
By the way, the MacBook Air isn't Apple's first foray into ultraportable computing. On Traveler 2.0, I've posted a TV commercial for an early 1990s Mac mini dell 310-6322 laptop.
Toshiba Portege R500Unlike the MacBook Air, Toshiba's Portege R500 manages to offer a built-in optical drive. The R500 weighs only 2.4 pounds compared to the MacBook Air's 3 pounds. The chassis is also super-thin, measuring 0.77 inches thick. (Apple's MacBook Air is .076 inches at its thickest part, according to Apple.) In fact, the R500 is such a compelling ultraportable, we named it number 11 in our "25 Most Innovative Products of the Year for 2007" ranking.
Toshiba's ultraportable offers three USB ports; you get only one with the MacBook Air. The R500 also offers a removable battery, a full-size DVI video port, a PC Card slot, and Ethernet and FireWire connectors. On the MacBook Air, all these features are in absentia.
The MacBook Air has a few advantages over the R500. Example: The R500 has a 12.1-inch LED-backlit display compared to the larger 13.3-inch LED-backlit MacBook Air screen. Also, you'll pay more for the R500 than for the MacBook Air. Recently, the the least expensive R500 model available online was $1915 and included only 1GB of RAM, compared to the $1800 MacBook Air's 2GB.
As of this writing, Toshiba announced plans for a new version of the R500 with built-in 3G mobile broadband--something the MacBook Air lacks. No word yet on when the updated model will be available in the U.S.
Fujitsu LifeBook P7230Fujitsu is a master of miniaturization. Exhibit A: the classy LifeBook P7230. At 2.6 pounds, it's one of the lightest laptops we've tested that includes an integrated optical drive (a dual-layer DVD burner).
The P7230 measures 1.3 inches thick, so it's is not as thin as the MacBook Air. And its screen is decidedly smaller, at 10.6 inches. But the Fujitsu LED-backlit screen is super-bright, and the ultraportable has a terrific keyboard. You also get two USB ports; a VGA port (which the MacBook Air lacks); PC Card slot; Wi-Fi; FireWire port; and a shared slot for Memory Stick, SD, and xD flash memory cards (also missing from the MacBook Air). Built-in Bluetooth and Webcams, standard equipment on the MacBook Air, are optional with the P7230.
In our tests, the Fujitsu ultraportable ran an impressive 5.2 hours on one charge. Fujitsu says you can double that time by adding a second, optional internal battery. This is no speed demon, however: The P7230 eked out an uninspiring WorldBench 6 score of 32. Recent online prices started around $1550, so the P7230 may save you money compared to the MacBook Air.
Fujitsu LifeBook T2010 Tablet PCIn our tests, the ultra slim and light hp LifeBook T2010 convertible tablet offered one of the best battery performances we've seen--lasting nearly 7 hours on a nine-cell dell 6y270 , dell 1x793 , dell c1295 battery.
The T2010 scored points for its versatile 12.1-inch screen, which is designed to be easily viewed indoors and out. The antiglare coating made the screen a bit difficult to read in direct sunlight, however. The keyboard layout is excellent. The tablet features one PC Card slot; two USB ports; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth; and an integrated Smart Card slot for security. You don't get a built-in optical drive, however.
Our test unit arrived with a $279 USB double-layer DVD burner. But when you travel with the external DVD drive, the laptop's power adapter, and the machine itself, you're toting nearly 6 pounds--heavier than most ultraportables' traveling weights.
Fujitsu is expected to include built-in 3G mobile broadband soon. Current online prices begin around $1600.
But here's the thing: As undeniable as the Apple ultraportable's appeal is, the MacBook Air is laden with limitations. Plus, there are several thin-and-light Windows laptops that skirt many of the MacBook Air's drawbacks. Here's a quick look at three Windows competitors.
By the way, the MacBook Air isn't Apple's first foray into ultraportable computing. On Traveler 2.0, I've posted a TV commercial for an early 1990s Mac mini dell 310-6322 laptop.
Toshiba Portege R500Unlike the MacBook Air, Toshiba's Portege R500 manages to offer a built-in optical drive. The R500 weighs only 2.4 pounds compared to the MacBook Air's 3 pounds. The chassis is also super-thin, measuring 0.77 inches thick. (Apple's MacBook Air is .076 inches at its thickest part, according to Apple.) In fact, the R500 is such a compelling ultraportable, we named it number 11 in our "25 Most Innovative Products of the Year for 2007" ranking.
Toshiba's ultraportable offers three USB ports; you get only one with the MacBook Air. The R500 also offers a removable battery, a full-size DVI video port, a PC Card slot, and Ethernet and FireWire connectors. On the MacBook Air, all these features are in absentia.
The MacBook Air has a few advantages over the R500. Example: The R500 has a 12.1-inch LED-backlit display compared to the larger 13.3-inch LED-backlit MacBook Air screen. Also, you'll pay more for the R500 than for the MacBook Air. Recently, the the least expensive R500 model available online was $1915 and included only 1GB of RAM, compared to the $1800 MacBook Air's 2GB.
As of this writing, Toshiba announced plans for a new version of the R500 with built-in 3G mobile broadband--something the MacBook Air lacks. No word yet on when the updated model will be available in the U.S.
Fujitsu LifeBook P7230Fujitsu is a master of miniaturization. Exhibit A: the classy LifeBook P7230. At 2.6 pounds, it's one of the lightest laptops we've tested that includes an integrated optical drive (a dual-layer DVD burner).
The P7230 measures 1.3 inches thick, so it's is not as thin as the MacBook Air. And its screen is decidedly smaller, at 10.6 inches. But the Fujitsu LED-backlit screen is super-bright, and the ultraportable has a terrific keyboard. You also get two USB ports; a VGA port (which the MacBook Air lacks); PC Card slot; Wi-Fi; FireWire port; and a shared slot for Memory Stick, SD, and xD flash memory cards (also missing from the MacBook Air). Built-in Bluetooth and Webcams, standard equipment on the MacBook Air, are optional with the P7230.
In our tests, the Fujitsu ultraportable ran an impressive 5.2 hours on one charge. Fujitsu says you can double that time by adding a second, optional internal battery. This is no speed demon, however: The P7230 eked out an uninspiring WorldBench 6 score of 32. Recent online prices started around $1550, so the P7230 may save you money compared to the MacBook Air.
Fujitsu LifeBook T2010 Tablet PCIn our tests, the ultra slim and light hp LifeBook T2010 convertible tablet offered one of the best battery performances we've seen--lasting nearly 7 hours on a nine-cell dell 6y270 , dell 1x793 , dell c1295 battery.
The T2010 scored points for its versatile 12.1-inch screen, which is designed to be easily viewed indoors and out. The antiglare coating made the screen a bit difficult to read in direct sunlight, however. The keyboard layout is excellent. The tablet features one PC Card slot; two USB ports; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth; and an integrated Smart Card slot for security. You don't get a built-in optical drive, however.
Our test unit arrived with a $279 USB double-layer DVD burner. But when you travel with the external DVD drive, the laptop's power adapter, and the machine itself, you're toting nearly 6 pounds--heavier than most ultraportables' traveling weights.
Fujitsu is expected to include built-in 3G mobile broadband soon. Current online prices begin around $1600.
2008年11月11日星期二
IPod Battery Life May Get a Boost
Apple Computer may soon be able to demolish criticisms of the battery life of its IPod family, thanks to PortalPlayer.
PortalPlayer has begun shipping a new processor, the PP5022 System-on-chip (SoC).
This is the next generation of the processor IPods use today--and needs a lot less power to run. PortalPlayer claims devices using the new processor could benefit from three times their current battery life.PD945 , PR002 , RD855 , UD265 , 312-0427 , UD264 , TD349 , TD347 , TD344 , RD859 , RD857 , RD850 , PD946 , PD942 , 312-0461 , UD267 , UD260 , XU937 , 312-0428 , 312-0460 , 312-0466
PortalPlayer's vice president of sales and marketing Michael Maia says: "Our goal with the PP5022 was to offer a solution that balances lowest operating power while continuing to increase system performance.
"We achieved this goal and will continue to deliver the lowest operational power during playback and encoding of rich media content-the PP5022 is our most innovative SoC to date, resulting in best-in-class battery life in hard drive jukebox systems."
Additional Features
Additional features include integrated USB 2.0 support--to the extent that designers could enable devices built using the processor to be compatible with peripherals, such as digital cameras.
The company also introduced its first processor for the flash-based music player market, the PP5024 System-in-Package.
This fully-integrated solution is designed to meet the need for high-capacity flash memory-based personal media players.
It combines the media processor, peripheral input/output (I/O) controllers, and analogue audio and power management functions on one processor.312-0467 , 312-0599 , Inspiron 6400 , 312-0305 , 312-0306 , Inspiron 700m , Inspiron 710m , C7786 , D5561 , D7310 , F5136 , G5345 , Y4546 , Y4991 , PowerBook G4 15-inch
"This enables high-performance audio jukebox features such as subscription music services and database caching support in a low-power flash platform," the company explains
PortalPlayer has begun shipping a new processor, the PP5022 System-on-chip (SoC).
This is the next generation of the processor IPods use today--and needs a lot less power to run. PortalPlayer claims devices using the new processor could benefit from three times their current battery life.PD945 , PR002 , RD855 , UD265 , 312-0427 , UD264 , TD349 , TD347 , TD344 , RD859 , RD857 , RD850 , PD946 , PD942 , 312-0461 , UD267 , UD260 , XU937 , 312-0428 , 312-0460 , 312-0466
PortalPlayer's vice president of sales and marketing Michael Maia says: "Our goal with the PP5022 was to offer a solution that balances lowest operating power while continuing to increase system performance.
"We achieved this goal and will continue to deliver the lowest operational power during playback and encoding of rich media content-the PP5022 is our most innovative SoC to date, resulting in best-in-class battery life in hard drive jukebox systems."
Additional Features
Additional features include integrated USB 2.0 support--to the extent that designers could enable devices built using the processor to be compatible with peripherals, such as digital cameras.
The company also introduced its first processor for the flash-based music player market, the PP5024 System-in-Package.
This fully-integrated solution is designed to meet the need for high-capacity flash memory-based personal media players.
It combines the media processor, peripheral input/output (I/O) controllers, and analogue audio and power management functions on one processor.312-0467 , 312-0599 , Inspiron 6400 , 312-0305 , 312-0306 , Inspiron 700m , Inspiron 710m , C7786 , D5561 , D7310 , F5136 , G5345 , Y4546 , Y4991 , PowerBook G4 15-inch
"This enables high-performance audio jukebox features such as subscription music services and database caching support in a low-power flash platform," the company explains
TI Wi-Fi Chip Conserves Battery Power
Texas Instruments has unveiled a low-power chip designed to support power-hungry Wi-Fi adapters while still providing the fast, untethered Internet access that the wireless spec promises.
Power-hungry WiFi adapters can take a big bite out of battery life, especially for smaller portable devices such as PDAs. The new WiFi chip, the TNETW1100B, is said to consume a tenth or less of the standby power of competing chips. Since most Wi-Fi-enabled devices spend the vast majority of time in standby or other non-operational modes (TI estimates most devices spend 95 percent of their time in such "rest periods"), the new chip should substantially prolong battery life.A1022 , A1039 , A1045 , A1057 , A1060 , A1061 , A1078 , A1079 , A1148 , A1185 , M6091 , A1175 ,M8511 , M9324G , BATCL50L , BTP-58A1 , BTP-60A1 , BTP-63D1 , SQ-1100 , SQ-2100 , LCBTP03003 , LC.BTP03.003 , BTP-AQJ1 , BTP-ARJ1 , Aspire 1680 , TravelMate 4500 , Aspire 2000 , A42-A3
The savings will be most pronounced for PDAs and other small portable devices for which a wireless LAN adapter accounts for a larger proportion of overall power consumption than it does in, say, a notebook PC. TI expects to ship the TNETW1100B in volume by year-end. Products using the new chip should be available late this year or early in 2003, says Dan Nemits, TI product manager.
A Quarter Savings
Nemits points to the company's tests of the chip's efficiency. A PDA equipped with the new chip that receives 8MB of data and transmits 3.2MB over an eight-hour period will consume an average of 178.7 milliamp-hours of energy per hour, Nemits says. Of that, 3.7 mAh will power the wireless adapter. In contrast, the same PDA outfitted with a competing WiFi chip will consume an average of 239 mAh per hour, including 64 mAh for the wireless LAN adapter, Nemits says.
The result is a 26 percent decrease in battery life when using the competing chip, he adds. With notebooks, the battery life was only about 7 percent less with the competing chip, according to TI's tests.
For New, Existing Devices
The TNETW1100B comes in two form factors: a new 12-by-12mm package specifically designed for small portables with integrated WiFi capability, and a more traditional 16-by-16mm package (so vendors can use it to in existing devices). The new chip is also cheaper than its predecessors, so vendors now only have to spend about $20 on the materials for a WiFi adapter, compared to "the high 20s" only six months ago, Nemits adds.
"We're whittling down the barrier to getting this technology into different things," Nemits says.
The new chip also supports the 22-mbps technology TI introduced earlier this year in a WiFi chip now being used by D-Link and US Robotics, among others.Presario V2000 , Presario M2000 , Pavilion ZT4000 , Presario V5000 , Presario V4000 , PB995A , F2299A , 371785-001 , 371786-001 , 319411-001 , 182281-001 , 222114-001 , 293768-001 , 138184-001 , 367759-001 , HSTNN-IB09 , PM579A , PB995A , 312-0600 , GD761 , KD476
Power-hungry WiFi adapters can take a big bite out of battery life, especially for smaller portable devices such as PDAs. The new WiFi chip, the TNETW1100B, is said to consume a tenth or less of the standby power of competing chips. Since most Wi-Fi-enabled devices spend the vast majority of time in standby or other non-operational modes (TI estimates most devices spend 95 percent of their time in such "rest periods"), the new chip should substantially prolong battery life.A1022 , A1039 , A1045 , A1057 , A1060 , A1061 , A1078 , A1079 , A1148 , A1185 , M6091 , A1175 ,M8511 , M9324G , BATCL50L , BTP-58A1 , BTP-60A1 , BTP-63D1 , SQ-1100 , SQ-2100 , LCBTP03003 , LC.BTP03.003 , BTP-AQJ1 , BTP-ARJ1 , Aspire 1680 , TravelMate 4500 , Aspire 2000 , A42-A3
The savings will be most pronounced for PDAs and other small portable devices for which a wireless LAN adapter accounts for a larger proportion of overall power consumption than it does in, say, a notebook PC. TI expects to ship the TNETW1100B in volume by year-end. Products using the new chip should be available late this year or early in 2003, says Dan Nemits, TI product manager.
A Quarter Savings
Nemits points to the company's tests of the chip's efficiency. A PDA equipped with the new chip that receives 8MB of data and transmits 3.2MB over an eight-hour period will consume an average of 178.7 milliamp-hours of energy per hour, Nemits says. Of that, 3.7 mAh will power the wireless adapter. In contrast, the same PDA outfitted with a competing WiFi chip will consume an average of 239 mAh per hour, including 64 mAh for the wireless LAN adapter, Nemits says.
The result is a 26 percent decrease in battery life when using the competing chip, he adds. With notebooks, the battery life was only about 7 percent less with the competing chip, according to TI's tests.
For New, Existing Devices
The TNETW1100B comes in two form factors: a new 12-by-12mm package specifically designed for small portables with integrated WiFi capability, and a more traditional 16-by-16mm package (so vendors can use it to in existing devices). The new chip is also cheaper than its predecessors, so vendors now only have to spend about $20 on the materials for a WiFi adapter, compared to "the high 20s" only six months ago, Nemits adds.
"We're whittling down the barrier to getting this technology into different things," Nemits says.
The new chip also supports the 22-mbps technology TI introduced earlier this year in a WiFi chip now being used by D-Link and US Robotics, among others.Presario V2000 , Presario M2000 , Pavilion ZT4000 , Presario V5000 , Presario V4000 , PB995A , F2299A , 371785-001 , 371786-001 , 319411-001 , 182281-001 , 222114-001 , 293768-001 , 138184-001 , 367759-001 , HSTNN-IB09 , PM579A , PB995A , 312-0600 , GD761 , KD476
Bye-Bye, Batteries
Today's digital devices are smaller and more powerful than ever, but a roadblock obstructs further miniaturization: the batteries. Manufacturers can produce smaller notebooks, cell phones, and PDAs, but today's cumbersome power sources make the small packages impractical.
That roadblock may soon be lifted: Over the next year or two, new technologies could bring better batteries and even better fuel cells. Many industry insiders consider fuel cells, which create electricity through a chemical reaction, the power source of the future.
But don't recycle your batteries just yet. Fuel cell technology remains in its infancy, and products that use it aren't expected until next year at the earliest. Even when fuel cells become widely available, experts believe that the technology will coexist with today's traditional batteries.
Providing PowerSmall, relatively simple fuel cells that use methanol as their primary fuel could appear in mobile devices as early as next year. Fuel cells don't require recharging: When they run out of power, you simply replace the empty methanol cartridge with a full one.
These cartridges will pack a lot of energy.342661-001 , 346970-001 , 361742-001 , 367759-001 , 372772-001 , 417066-001 , DP390A , DP399A , F2024A , F2024B , F3172A , F4486B , F4809A , F4812A , HSTNN-DB02 ,HSTNN-LB31 , HSTNN-UB02 , PB992A , PB994A , PF723A
"Methanol has 40 or 60 times the energy efficiency of lithium ion," the primary storage component of the best batteries, estimates Dr. Brian Barnett, managing director of the TIAX LLC consulting firm.
But the gains in energy density may be less dramatic at first. Early fuel cells will probably have as much as a 5-to-1 advantage over similar-size (but heavier) batteries, Barnett says. Theoretically, the ratio could increase to 10-to-1 as the technology improves.
Power InsideAlmost all of a battery's mass consists of the chemical compounds that generate electricity, but a fuel cell requires some extra baggage. Only part of a fuel cell can store methanol; the cell must also accommodate a chemical engine, where hydrogen from the methanol combines with oxygen to generate electricity.
To double the energy capacity of a standard battery, you would have to make the battery twice as massive. But with a fuel cell, the more methanol you can store, the longer it will provide power. That's why early fuel cells may look similar to today's batteries in size, but will weigh less.
Fuel cells need their own batteries. Most portable devices have varied power demands, requiring a large flow of electricity at certain times and a tiny trickle at others. Batteries handle this variety well, but fuel cells tend to produce a steady stream of juice. The answer is to provide both a battery and a fuel cell, so the device can draw from the battery when demand is high, and run off the fuel cell when demand is lower. The fuel cell could be used to recharge the battery, depending on need.Pavilion DV1000 , Pavilion dv2000 , Pavilion dv6000 , Pavilion dv8000 , Pavilion dv9000 , Pavilion ZD7000 , Pavilion ZT1000 , PP2182L , PP2182D , PB991A , HSTNN-IB04 , HP PP2210 , HP PP2200 , Pavilion ZE2000
Alternatively, a device could use a rechargeable battery for short stretches of time to save the fuel cell under certain circumstances, according to David Dorheim, chief executive officer of Neah Power Systems, which is developing small-form-factor fuel cells.
Maximum Security CellsBringing fuel cells into the mainstream won't be easy: One problem is airport security. Methanol is a flammable liquid, and the government is understandably reluctant to let anything on a plane that could be used as a weapon.
"We're working with the Department of Transportation to figure out how you'll be allowed to bring them on a plane. People still carry Bic lighters onto planes, which are far more flammable than [fuel cells]," says Bill Acker, president and CEO of MTI Micro, which hopes to market fuel cell technology to notebook and gadget manufacturers.
There's also the issue of buying fuel. How much those cartridges will cost is anybody's guess. Methanol itself is cheap--as little as 40 cents per gallon--but when you add cartridge manufacture, distribution, and other expenses, the price becomes impossible to nail down. Neah's Dorheim, however, predicts that with high-volume manufacturing in place, cartridges used for mobile computers will likely cost consumers around $2 to $3 each.
Price isn't the only issue. Fuel cells will be at a serious disadvantage until the cartridges become more readily available, which won't happen until the products begin to gain market share. That, in turn, isn't likely to happen until the industry standardizes on a few cartridge types.
Unfortunately for users of battery-hungry electronic gadgets, the technology will take some time to develop. Even optimistic developers don't expect fuel cells to begin appearing in consumer devices and notebooks before 2005.Evo N600C , Evo N610C , Evo N620C ,Presario 1200 , Presario 1500 , Presario 1700 , Presario 2100 , Presario 2500 , Presario 700 , Presario 900 , Presario R3000 , EVO N400c , EVO N410c , Pavilion ZV5000 , Pavilion ZV5200
That roadblock may soon be lifted: Over the next year or two, new technologies could bring better batteries and even better fuel cells. Many industry insiders consider fuel cells, which create electricity through a chemical reaction, the power source of the future.
But don't recycle your batteries just yet. Fuel cell technology remains in its infancy, and products that use it aren't expected until next year at the earliest. Even when fuel cells become widely available, experts believe that the technology will coexist with today's traditional batteries.
Providing PowerSmall, relatively simple fuel cells that use methanol as their primary fuel could appear in mobile devices as early as next year. Fuel cells don't require recharging: When they run out of power, you simply replace the empty methanol cartridge with a full one.
These cartridges will pack a lot of energy.342661-001 , 346970-001 , 361742-001 , 367759-001 , 372772-001 , 417066-001 , DP390A , DP399A , F2024A , F2024B , F3172A , F4486B , F4809A , F4812A , HSTNN-DB02 ,HSTNN-LB31 , HSTNN-UB02 , PB992A , PB994A , PF723A
"Methanol has 40 or 60 times the energy efficiency of lithium ion," the primary storage component of the best batteries, estimates Dr. Brian Barnett, managing director of the TIAX LLC consulting firm.
But the gains in energy density may be less dramatic at first. Early fuel cells will probably have as much as a 5-to-1 advantage over similar-size (but heavier) batteries, Barnett says. Theoretically, the ratio could increase to 10-to-1 as the technology improves.
Power InsideAlmost all of a battery's mass consists of the chemical compounds that generate electricity, but a fuel cell requires some extra baggage. Only part of a fuel cell can store methanol; the cell must also accommodate a chemical engine, where hydrogen from the methanol combines with oxygen to generate electricity.
To double the energy capacity of a standard battery, you would have to make the battery twice as massive. But with a fuel cell, the more methanol you can store, the longer it will provide power. That's why early fuel cells may look similar to today's batteries in size, but will weigh less.
Fuel cells need their own batteries. Most portable devices have varied power demands, requiring a large flow of electricity at certain times and a tiny trickle at others. Batteries handle this variety well, but fuel cells tend to produce a steady stream of juice. The answer is to provide both a battery and a fuel cell, so the device can draw from the battery when demand is high, and run off the fuel cell when demand is lower. The fuel cell could be used to recharge the battery, depending on need.Pavilion DV1000 , Pavilion dv2000 , Pavilion dv6000 , Pavilion dv8000 , Pavilion dv9000 , Pavilion ZD7000 , Pavilion ZT1000 , PP2182L , PP2182D , PB991A , HSTNN-IB04 , HP PP2210 , HP PP2200 , Pavilion ZE2000
Alternatively, a device could use a rechargeable battery for short stretches of time to save the fuel cell under certain circumstances, according to David Dorheim, chief executive officer of Neah Power Systems, which is developing small-form-factor fuel cells.
Maximum Security CellsBringing fuel cells into the mainstream won't be easy: One problem is airport security. Methanol is a flammable liquid, and the government is understandably reluctant to let anything on a plane that could be used as a weapon.
"We're working with the Department of Transportation to figure out how you'll be allowed to bring them on a plane. People still carry Bic lighters onto planes, which are far more flammable than [fuel cells]," says Bill Acker, president and CEO of MTI Micro, which hopes to market fuel cell technology to notebook and gadget manufacturers.
There's also the issue of buying fuel. How much those cartridges will cost is anybody's guess. Methanol itself is cheap--as little as 40 cents per gallon--but when you add cartridge manufacture, distribution, and other expenses, the price becomes impossible to nail down. Neah's Dorheim, however, predicts that with high-volume manufacturing in place, cartridges used for mobile computers will likely cost consumers around $2 to $3 each.
Price isn't the only issue. Fuel cells will be at a serious disadvantage until the cartridges become more readily available, which won't happen until the products begin to gain market share. That, in turn, isn't likely to happen until the industry standardizes on a few cartridge types.
Unfortunately for users of battery-hungry electronic gadgets, the technology will take some time to develop. Even optimistic developers don't expect fuel cells to begin appearing in consumer devices and notebooks before 2005.Evo N600C , Evo N610C , Evo N620C ,Presario 1200 , Presario 1500 , Presario 1700 , Presario 2100 , Presario 2500 , Presario 700 , Presario 900 , Presario R3000 , EVO N400c , EVO N410c , Pavilion ZV5000 , Pavilion ZV5200
Wi-Fi Group Touts Battery Savers
The Wi-Fi Alliance on Tuesday is set to attack one of the main problems with wireless LAN phones by certifying features to extend battery life.
The industry group that certifies interoperability of Wi-Fi products is adding a label it calls Wireless Multimedia (WMM) Power Save, which identifies products that have reduced the power needed to use multimedia applications over wireless LANs, said Frank Hanzlik, managing director of the alliance. Inspiron 630m , Inspiron 640m ,RC107 , Y9943
Easing Wi-Fi Power DrainsUsing a wireless LAN for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), streaming video and other multimedia applications increases the power consumption of Wi-Fi, which already tends to drain battery power because of ongoing searches for nearby access points, said IDC analyst Abner Germanow. The size and weight requirements of Wi-Fi phones as well as dual-mode cellular and WLAN handsets, plus the need to carry them around all day, make power consumption even more critical.
"The gating factor on a lot of the different types of functionality has come down to power," Germanow said.
Equipment certified for WMM Power Save should extend battery life under multimedia use by between 15 percent and 40 percent, Hanzlik said. On Tuesday, the Wi-Fi Alliance will introduce the certification and also announce the first handful of products that have received the seal, he said. A variety of chipsets, product reference designs and devices from vendors including Atheros Communications, Broadcom, and Cisco have been certified in the first round, according to the group. There won't be a WMM Power Save logo on the boxes of certified products, Hanzlik said. Instead, information about each product's certifications will be available on the Wi-Fi Alliance's Web page. Latitude D620 , Inspiron 6000 , Inspiron 9200 , Inspiron 9300 , Inspiron 9400 ,312-0350 , G5266 , U4873 , 312-0383 , 312-0386 , JD634 , PC764 , TC030 , TD175
Looking to 802.11eWMM Power Save includes improved signaling capabilities and mechanisms for fine-tuning power consumption, Hanzlik said. It uses some elements of the IEEE 802.11e specification, a standard for improving multimedia on Wi-Fi that was approved in September, Hanzlik said.
Most of the rest of 802.11e will be included in the WMM Scheduled Access certification, which will be introduced in mid-2006, Hanzlik said. The original WMM certification, introduced last year, covers technology that can prioritize certain types of packets over others in a queue. WMM Scheduled Access will expand on that by essentially providing multiple queues so multimedia packets can travel more smoothly through the network, he said.
The need for longer battery life in Wi-Fi devices spans both consumer and enterprise business users, Hanzlik said, especially for handsets.
"There's a very strong level of interest... in trying to optimize the user experience there," Hanzlik said. YD624 , XD736 , MM165 , GX047 , FF232 , DF249 , YD626312-0538 ,312-0393 , DF230 , Latitude D830 , Latitude D820
There are two basic types of devices for voice over Wi-Fi, according to IDC's Germanow: Wi-Fi-only phones for roaming around an office, which are essentially cordless phones, and dual-mode cellular/Wi-Fi phones that workers or consumers can use at home, at work or on the road. Sales of mobile phones equipped with Wi-Fi (not necessarily all will use voice over Wi-Fi) will top 100 million per year by 2009, according to a 2004 IDC report.
MP3tunes, a company created by MP3.com founder Michael Robertson, has launched an unlimited online digital music storage service, called Oboe.
The service costs $39.95 yearly and lets customers back up and consolidate their music files and also stream their music to various computers.
Users can install Oboe Syncsoftware on multiple systems running Macintosh OS X, Microsoft Windows, or the Linux operating system. The software scans the computers and uploads all music files to the online storage locker. The online storage locker combines music from the multiple computers and then syncs the contents of the locker to all the user's computers. The locker can store MP3, Windows Media, and iTunes files. PA2487UR , PA3191U-1BRS , PA3285U-1BRS , PA3356U-1BRS , PA3384U-1BRS , PA3383U-1BRS , PA3399U-1BRS
For now the new service, announced last week, works only on computers but by the end of the year MP3tunes plans to publish Oboe application programming interfaces (APIs) so that other devices, like mobile phones, game consoles, or personal digital assistants, can be used to sync with or stream music from the online storage locker.
A plug-in lets iTunes customers access Oboe from their iTunes software to make it easier for them to add their iTunes music to the locker.
Legal Realities InterfereFile format and digital rights management (DRM) incompatibilities put some limits on the offering and Robertson's vision.
"I want a world where you can play your music on products from any vendor and even across vendors," Robertson wrote in his blog. However, that world doesn't exist today.
Music that users purchase from the iTunes store, for example, is protected by the iTunes DRM and can only be played on a device with iTunes software. When Oboe users view their list of music from their online storage locker, songs that have the iTunes DRM will be listed in italics and can't be played from Oboe's Web-based interface on a computer that does not have iTunes. "We don't adjust the DRM," Robertson said. "If it has restrictions going in it will going out."
So far, he said customers are excited about the simple, low-cost pricing plan. PCGA-BP2NX , PCGA-BP2NY , PCGA-BP2R , PCGA-BP2V , PCGA-BP71 , PCGA-BP71A , PCGA-BPZ51 , PCGA-BPZ52 ,VGP-BPS2 ,VGP-BPS3 ,VGP-BPS4 ,VGP-BPS5
"One big wave of first users are simply users who want to backup their iTunes music," he said, noting that without such backup, if a user's machine crashes the music purchased from the iTunes store is gone forever. "It's worth 40 bucks as a bit of insurance," he said.
The industry group that certifies interoperability of Wi-Fi products is adding a label it calls Wireless Multimedia (WMM) Power Save, which identifies products that have reduced the power needed to use multimedia applications over wireless LANs, said Frank Hanzlik, managing director of the alliance. Inspiron 630m , Inspiron 640m ,RC107 , Y9943
Easing Wi-Fi Power DrainsUsing a wireless LAN for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), streaming video and other multimedia applications increases the power consumption of Wi-Fi, which already tends to drain battery power because of ongoing searches for nearby access points, said IDC analyst Abner Germanow. The size and weight requirements of Wi-Fi phones as well as dual-mode cellular and WLAN handsets, plus the need to carry them around all day, make power consumption even more critical.
"The gating factor on a lot of the different types of functionality has come down to power," Germanow said.
Equipment certified for WMM Power Save should extend battery life under multimedia use by between 15 percent and 40 percent, Hanzlik said. On Tuesday, the Wi-Fi Alliance will introduce the certification and also announce the first handful of products that have received the seal, he said. A variety of chipsets, product reference designs and devices from vendors including Atheros Communications, Broadcom, and Cisco have been certified in the first round, according to the group. There won't be a WMM Power Save logo on the boxes of certified products, Hanzlik said. Instead, information about each product's certifications will be available on the Wi-Fi Alliance's Web page. Latitude D620 , Inspiron 6000 , Inspiron 9200 , Inspiron 9300 , Inspiron 9400 ,312-0350 , G5266 , U4873 , 312-0383 , 312-0386 , JD634 , PC764 , TC030 , TD175
Looking to 802.11eWMM Power Save includes improved signaling capabilities and mechanisms for fine-tuning power consumption, Hanzlik said. It uses some elements of the IEEE 802.11e specification, a standard for improving multimedia on Wi-Fi that was approved in September, Hanzlik said.
Most of the rest of 802.11e will be included in the WMM Scheduled Access certification, which will be introduced in mid-2006, Hanzlik said. The original WMM certification, introduced last year, covers technology that can prioritize certain types of packets over others in a queue. WMM Scheduled Access will expand on that by essentially providing multiple queues so multimedia packets can travel more smoothly through the network, he said.
The need for longer battery life in Wi-Fi devices spans both consumer and enterprise business users, Hanzlik said, especially for handsets.
"There's a very strong level of interest... in trying to optimize the user experience there," Hanzlik said. YD624 , XD736 , MM165 , GX047 , FF232 , DF249 , YD626312-0538 ,312-0393 , DF230 , Latitude D830 , Latitude D820
There are two basic types of devices for voice over Wi-Fi, according to IDC's Germanow: Wi-Fi-only phones for roaming around an office, which are essentially cordless phones, and dual-mode cellular/Wi-Fi phones that workers or consumers can use at home, at work or on the road. Sales of mobile phones equipped with Wi-Fi (not necessarily all will use voice over Wi-Fi) will top 100 million per year by 2009, according to a 2004 IDC report.
MP3tunes, a company created by MP3.com founder Michael Robertson, has launched an unlimited online digital music storage service, called Oboe.
The service costs $39.95 yearly and lets customers back up and consolidate their music files and also stream their music to various computers.
Users can install Oboe Syncsoftware on multiple systems running Macintosh OS X, Microsoft Windows, or the Linux operating system. The software scans the computers and uploads all music files to the online storage locker. The online storage locker combines music from the multiple computers and then syncs the contents of the locker to all the user's computers. The locker can store MP3, Windows Media, and iTunes files. PA2487UR , PA3191U-1BRS , PA3285U-1BRS , PA3356U-1BRS , PA3384U-1BRS , PA3383U-1BRS , PA3399U-1BRS
For now the new service, announced last week, works only on computers but by the end of the year MP3tunes plans to publish Oboe application programming interfaces (APIs) so that other devices, like mobile phones, game consoles, or personal digital assistants, can be used to sync with or stream music from the online storage locker.
A plug-in lets iTunes customers access Oboe from their iTunes software to make it easier for them to add their iTunes music to the locker.
Legal Realities InterfereFile format and digital rights management (DRM) incompatibilities put some limits on the offering and Robertson's vision.
"I want a world where you can play your music on products from any vendor and even across vendors," Robertson wrote in his blog. However, that world doesn't exist today.
Music that users purchase from the iTunes store, for example, is protected by the iTunes DRM and can only be played on a device with iTunes software. When Oboe users view their list of music from their online storage locker, songs that have the iTunes DRM will be listed in italics and can't be played from Oboe's Web-based interface on a computer that does not have iTunes. "We don't adjust the DRM," Robertson said. "If it has restrictions going in it will going out."
So far, he said customers are excited about the simple, low-cost pricing plan. PCGA-BP2NX , PCGA-BP2NY , PCGA-BP2R , PCGA-BP2V , PCGA-BP71 , PCGA-BP71A , PCGA-BPZ51 , PCGA-BPZ52 ,VGP-BPS2 ,VGP-BPS3 ,VGP-BPS4 ,VGP-BPS5
"One big wave of first users are simply users who want to backup their iTunes music," he said, noting that without such backup, if a user's machine crashes the music purchased from the iTunes store is gone forever. "It's worth 40 bucks as a bit of insurance," he said.
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