14 DAY TRIAL // Though the entire mobile PC segment has been under Intel's thumb for quite some time, Advanced Micro Devices was finally able to take a stand and unleash its own mobile offering as part of the VISION technology. Meant to create systems based on what users employ them for, instead of obscure specifications that many do not understand, the technology has already spawned several platforms, each intended for a certain market segment.
The mainstream-to-high-end mobile offer is known as Danube and includes central processing units like dual-core, triple-core and quad-core Phenom II. It is this platform that scored 109 design wins prior to being launched, and continued expanding afterwards. In fact, it has even started to make its way inside devices previously based exclusively on the Intel Calpella platform.
One of the most recent such notebooks to adopt AMD's mobile processors is Packard Bell's EasyNote TM. Armed with an HD (1366 x 768-pixel resolution) screen measuring 15.6 inches, this notebook comes with up to 640GB of storage and runs up to a quad-core Phenom II X4 CPU. The machine also includes a DVD/blu-ray drive, an HDMI output and a Social Networking key, for quick connection to Facebook, YouTube and Flickr. The exact graphics solution is not mentioned, but the likeliest candidate is the integrated Radeon HD 4200.
Scheduled to make its first appearance this summer, the Packard Bell EasyNote TM will be colored NightSky Black, Silk Silver, Starlight White or Cashmere Red. Furthermore, depending on how many of AMD's new chips Packard Bell is willing to experiment with, the EasyNote TM may be made available in multiple configurations, catering to the needs of a larger consumer base. Finally, the mobile PC will bear a price tag of £449, will run Windows 7 Home Premium and shall be bundled with Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.