14 DAY TRIAL // The Intel Calpella platform definitely seems to be leaving an imprint on the notebook market, seeing how virtually all mobile PC suppliers have unveiled (or plan to release) at least one model based on it. In fact, not long after Acer subsidiary Gateway resumed its PC supplying practices, another Acer subsidiary, Packard Bell, to be exact, is introducing a number of new mobile systems, known as the EasyNote M series and based on 32nm Intel processors.
The line is currently composed of three laptops, namely the EasyNote NM (which measures 14 inches), EasyNote TM (15.6 inches) and the 17-inch EasyNote LM. All are powered by a member of the Santa Clara-based chip maker's latest generation of 32nm central processing units and a variety of storage, memory and graphics options.
Essentially, there will be up to 8GB RAM, a storage space of up to 640GB (supplied by a single hard disk drive) and a choice between a DVD writer and a Blu-ray player. The same degree of customizability applies to graphics, where end-users can select between various AMD and NVIDIA discrete graphics cards.
Obviously, the Packard Bell notebooks boast all the I/O and connectivity options that end-users have come to expect, including a built-in webcam, Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi and a five-in-one card reader. What makes the machines truly stand out is not necessarily their hardware, but also the software suite they come pre-loaded with. In addition to the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, the EasyNote M series boasts Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 and can even perform real-time updates from Flickr, Facebook and YouTube (via the Social Networks key).
The EasyNote M Series notebooks should reach stores by the end of the ongoing month, but there is no indication of a particular date. Packard Bell chose not to disclose any pricing and availability details, stating merely that they will vary according to the country. When the Calpella mobile computers do make it to stores, however, they will be available in Silk Silver, NightSky Black, Starlight White and Cashmere Red.