Could be just right for those who think companies are focused on widescreen too much

Jan 26, 2012 17:31 GMT  ·  By

Panasonic has been quite active on the mobile device market lately, but the latest notebooks may stand out a bit more than the others.

Panasonic Japan has reportedly introduced two mobile personal computers with a screen size of 12.1 inches.

Obviously, these are not netbooks, since the form factor for those particular low-end computers is 10.1 inches.

Even AMD APU-based ones have started adhering to that display size, despite not being forced into it.

Screens aside, the Panasonic LetsNote NX and LetsNote SX don't have netbook-like insides either.

With an Intel Core i5-2450M processor at the figurative center, there are various memory and storage options available.

Though an HDD (hard disk drive) is the default component, an SSD (solid state drive) can be used instead, leading to a lower capacity but much faster boot time (under 9 seconds) and overall better performance.

It should be mentioned, though, that in addition to the SSD, Panasonic's QuickBoot software plays a large role in that 9-second startup.

Moving on, buyers will find USB 3.0 ports, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and Wi-Fi, plus HDMI connectivity, among other things.

Furthermore, for those willing to pay a little extra, Panasonic can add a fingerprint reader and a 720p webcam to the mix.

Finally, the display makes the machines stand out, thanks to the now uncommon aspect ratio: 16:10.

We actually encountered people that lamented how display and notebook makers had all but abandoned every aspect ratio except widescreen.

From at least one point of view, we cannot help but agree: though 16:9 is good for multimedia, many activities could do with more vertical screen space than what resolutions like 1,366 x 768 and 1,920 x 1,080 pixels have to offer.

Given the suitability of these new Panasonic laptops for office use, the 16:10 panels may be just what the doctor ordered. Unfortunately, the prices of the LetsNote NX and LetsNote SX have not been revealed.