Intel announced on Monday the release of their latest fastest notebook PC processor to 850 MHz, while companies including Toshiba, Compaq, and Dell announced their new systems powered by the latest chips.
Intel also released two mobile Pentium III processors running at 800 MHz and 850 MHz. The chips use Intel's SpeedStep power management technology, which allows them to conserve battery life by running at a slower clock speed when the notebook is unplugged from a main power supply.
They have experienced problems keeping up with demand for its fastest desktop processors, but these hardware suppliers stated that they do not expect problems of shortage for the new mobile Pentium IIIs.
Toshiba will be offering the new mobile Pentium IIIs in its Tecra 8100 line, a series of lightweight notebooks aimed primarily at business users.
An 850MHz system with Windows 2000, a 14.1-inch TFT (thin-film transistor) display, an eight-speed DVD-ROM drive, and a 20GB hard drive. A similar system with an 800MHz processor and a 10GB hard drive is also available.
Compaq stated they also plan to offer the new Pentium IIIs in its full-featured Armada E500 notebook. This model is aimed at corporate users, the new E500 systems will also feature an improved, 15-inch SXGA-plus display. SXGA-plus offers improved screen resolution over the standard XGA format.
Compaq will also be offering the 800MHz Pentium III in its Armada E500S, a notebook aimed at smaller businesses. The company will also launch an ultraportable M700 notebook with the 850MHz Pentium III.
Dell will offer the new Pentium IIIs in new C600 and C800 Latitude notebooks. The Dell machines feature a newly styled design and come with built-in support for the 802.11b wireless local area networking.
Hewlett-Packard will offer each of the new mobile Pentium IIIs in its OmniBook 6000 notebook, also aimed at business users.
IBM will offer the new processors in ThinkPad notebooks.
The 800MHz and 850MHz Pentium III will be offered in both A Series and T Series ThinkPads. The T Series is lighter in weight of the two, and will also include the new SXGA-plus display screen. The A Series is designed as a more full-featured notebook and comes with a 15-inch UXGA TFT display.
IBM will also offer an A Series ThinkPad with the 700MHz Celeron processor. Both A Series and T Series machines are available with a choice of operating systems -- Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Caldera Systems' Open Linux eDesktop 2.4.
