LG introduces Express notebooks

LG's five Express model notebooks are packed with entertainment and business features ranging from enhanced graphics to better responsiveness and support for greater security options — without compromising important capabilities such as integrated wireless LAN access and great battery life. Equipped with the Mobile Intel 915 chipset, formerly code named Alviso, the super slim and light notebooks are powered by the latest Pentium M processor with a 533MHz frontside bus, while the accompanying chipset handles up to 2GB of DDR2 memory and provides support for ExpressCard (PCI Express) options.

The next generation data bus, PCI Express, supports LG Express notebooks. This high-speed interconnect is designed for high performance graphics cards and fast disk drives and enables notebooks to use DDR2 (Double Data Rate 2) RAM which until now has been limited to desktops, increasing data transfer speed from 400MHz to 533MHz.

"LG's Express notebooks offer a total mobile computing solution that fulfils the demands of users at all levels and purposes. We have range of wide-screen and regular notebooks in a number of ergonomic designs and form factors. These mobiles support key mobile computing tenets like powerful processing capabilities, enhanced battery life, low power consumption, high density audio quality, higher bandwidth of memory and every time, everywhere wireless access, placing laptops on equal footing with the newest desktops," said C H Lee, President, LG Electronics Gulf FZE.

With the restructuring of its mobility division, notebooks are a priority product for LG this year. The company sold notebooks worth US $ 25 million in 2004 and is targeting sales of $100 million (Dh367.7 million), this year. Even though the company has a long history of notebook manufacturing as notebook contract manufacturer, LG started selling notebooks under its own brand name only in 2003. LG notebooks have been well received in the market; LG is an Intel Validation Partner in 2005, which gives the company early access to Intel's technology and a time to market advantage.

A major reason for buying Express notebooks, apart from its exemplary functionality and build quality, is LG's suite of security and system management utilities. Like all LG PCs, the Express series also features Rescue and Recovery 2.0 with Antidote Delivery Manager. These tools are contained in an embedded pre-boot operating system, allowing a range of system problems to be addressed even if the primary operating system has been corrupted.

Hard disk capacity maximises at 100GB, and consumers have a choice of 802.11a/b/g or 802.11b/g wireless network connections. For the first time, notebooks will be available with integrated graphics, a testament to the efficacy of Intel's new Graphics Media Accelerator 900 module. However, power users will still be able to specify discrete graphics options using ATI Technologies' Radeon X600.

Other upgraded features include wide screen display from 14.1 to 17.1 inches available in WXGA, WSXGA and WUXGA resolutions, hexa band dual antenna, ergonomic keyboard layout, wired and wireless network profile management eliminating the need to memorise internet protocols, virtual cable tester, touch pad with scroll functions, front edge media controls and four USB 2.0 ports. Also onboard are an S-Video output, FireWire, VGA, 10/100 Ethernet and modem connections, plus a multi-format, double-layer Super Multi DVD burner. The notebooks work well with high-quality audio such as Dolby Digital and 5.1 surround sound.

"The powerful memory module not only enhances performance but also increases the overall system stability substantially. The glare-type colour-rich LCD widescreen is perfect for entertainment applications and multi-tasking is now possible with the split window option for simultaneous dual-window display. The hot swap module bay feature enables exchange between hard drives, combo drives and DVD-Dual drives even when the notebook is up and running. With the lightweight design, the Express notebooks are a powerful entertainment and work machine on the go," said Lee.

The LM 60/70 Express is an ultra thin-and-light design with a 14.1"/15" wide screen display, a blue wireless indicator to display wireless LAN status and convenient network settings. The LS 70 combines portability and performance to function as a desktop replacement and caters to users looking for a notebook PC that offers multimedia capabilities. The LW60/70, the lightest multimedia notebooks available, offers unbeatable multimedia quality, instant ON player, and the DVD Super Muti Drive which supports all existing DVD formats.

"These features are bound to tempt a new wave of laptop buyers. Consumers have now realised that thin and light is better, that wireless is unbelievably convenient and battery life is important. According to market analysts Gartner, notebook shipments will rise 16 percent to 54.5 million units in 2005 and consumer notebooks will total just more than 20 million units, up almost 20 percent from 2004. At LG, we will continue to focus on improving performance, to manufacture lightweight machines with relatively long battery life," explained Lee.