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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- February 1, 1999 -- WinBook Corporation announced today versions of its cutting-edge WinBook XL2series featuring Intel’s latest processors – the 366 MHz Mobile Intel Pentium II and 333 MHz Mobile Intel Pentium II. WinBook also lowered prices on the WinBook XL2 300 model.
"WinBook has taken a leadership role in providing affordable desktop-level performance with the
XL2 300, said Richard M. Mershad, president of WinBook Corporation. "With the introduction of the XL2 366 and XL2 333 models, we are continuing to lead the industry in responding to customer demand for affordable desktop-level performance in a mobile platform."
THE 366 MHz and 333 MHz MOBILE INTEL PENTIUM II PROCESSORS
"Both the 366 MHz and 333 MHz Mobile Intel Pentium II processors feature 256 Kb of on-die L2 cache running at full processor speed," said Kevin Hollingshead, Director of Future Products for WinBook. "These state-of-the-art mobile processors offer unsurpassed performance in the mobile space, while the on-die L2 cache yields the advantages of lower power usage and reduced heat."
COMPREHENSIVELY EQUIPPED, YET LIGHTER , THINNER and PRICED LOWER
The new WinBook XL2 models are among the most comprehensively equipped notebook computers on the market today, yet are lighter than full-featured notebooks from WinBook’s competitors. Compared to lighter weight notebooks, WinBook XL2 models are better equipped, yet have travel weights that are only slightly higher. Most other notebooks lack features which are standard on the WinBook XL2 like an LS-120 Super Drive or AGP graphics even as an option.
The WinBook XL2 is also priced lower than competitors’ less-well-equipped models. In fact, the WinBook XL2 is priced 45% lower than the only comparably equipped model, the H-P Omnibook 7150.
| The thin/rich WinBook XL2 Versus Full-featured Notebooks | Price including Lithium battery, 128MB, LS-120 and DVD(if available) |
Intel Mobile Pentium II 300 MHz Processor |
14.1-inch XGA TFT color screen size |
2nd generation DVD |
LS-120 Super Drive |
3D graphics |
AGP graphics |
Weight in pounds excluding AC adapter.1 | Travel weight including DVD and LS-120 (if available), and AC adapter |
Thickness (in inches)1 |
| Compaq Armada 7800 | $4,844 |
standard | standard | standard | NOT AVAILABLE | standard | standard | 8.7 |
9.0 |
2.0 |
| Dell Inspiron 7000 | $3,157 |
standard | standard | optional | NOT AVAILABLE | standard | standard | 8.4 |
9.1 |
2.1 |
| Gateway Solo 9100 XL | $3,550 |
standard | standard | optional | optional | NOT AVAILABLE | NOT AVAILABLE | 8.6 |
9.9 |
2.2 |
| H-P Omnibook 7150 300 | $5,530 |
standard | standard | standard | optional | standard | standard | 8.3 |
9.5 |
2.2 |
| IBM 770 954971U | $4,799 |
standard | 13.7-inch | 1st generation | NOT AVAILABLE | standard | standard | 8.3 |
9.5 |
2.2 |
| NEC Versa LX 300 | $3,799 |
standard | standard | optional | optional | NOT AVAILABLE | NOT AVAILABLE | 7.9 |
9.5 |
2.3 |
| Toshiba Tecra 8000 | $4,000 |
standard | standard | optional | NOT AVAILABLE | NOT AVAILABLE | NOT AVAILABLE | 6.4 |
7.8 |
1.7 |
| WinBook XL2 | $2,995 |
standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | 7.4 |
8.26 |
1.5 |
| The thin/rich WinBook XL2 Versus the Lightweight Notebooks | Price including Lithium battery, 128MB, LS-120 and DVD(if available) |
Intel Mobile Pentium II 300 MHz Processor |
14.1-inch XGA TFT color screen size |
2nd generation DVD |
LS-120 Super Drive |
3D graphics |
AGP graphics |
Weight in pounds excluding AC adapter.1 | Travel weight including DVD and LS-120 (if available), and AC adapter |
Thickness (in inches)1 |
| Compaq Armada 3500 | $3,970 |
standard | 13.3-inch | optional | optional | NOT AVAILABLE | NOT AVAILABLE | 5.6 |
8.2 |
1.3 |
| Dell Inspiron 3500 | $3,056 |
standard | standard | optional | NOT AVAILABLE | NOT AVAILABLE | standard | 6.1 |
8.0 |
1.4 |
| Gateway 3100 XL "Fireant" | $3,499 |
standard | 12.1-inch SVGA | optional | optional | NOT AVAILABLE | NOT AVAILABLE | 5.2 |
7.1 |
1.9 |
| H-P Omnibook 2100 2129T 300 | $3,106 |
standard | 13.3-inch | NOT AVAILABLE | NOT AVAILABLE | NOT AVAILABLE | NOT AVAILABLE | 6.4 |
7.1 |
1.8 |
| IBM 600 264555U | $4,415 |
standard | 13.3-inch | 1st generation | optional | standard | standard | 5.1 |
6.3 |
1.4 |
| NEC Versa SX 300 | $3,699 |
standard | standard | optional | optional | NOT AVAILABLE | NOT AVAILABLE | 5.3 |
6.9 |
1.3 |
| Toshiba Portege 7010CT | $3,666 |
standard | 12.1-inch SVGA | NOT AVAILABLE | NOT AVAILABLE | NOT AVAILABLE | NOT AVAILABLE | 4.3 |
5.0 |
1.1 |
| WinBook XL2 | $2,995 |
standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | 7.4 |
8.26 |
1.5 |
| Prices as of 12/23/98 from CDW (1-800-849-4239) for Compaq; H-P; IBM and Toshiba, www.dell.com, www.gateway.com, NECNow (1-888-863-2669) | ||||||||||
| Specifications from 1/99 Portable Computing, verified on manufacturers’ websites and/or by calls to 800 numbers. $0 credit given for software bundles and/or extended warranties (if any). | ||||||||||
DESIGNED FOR LOWER TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP
WinBook designed the WinBook XL2 to lower the total cost of ownership through reduced support costs for corporate, educational, and government customers due to interchangeability and backwards-compatibility of parts with other WinBook series. WinBook XL2 port replicators, AC adapters, batteries, car adapters, and hard drives are compatible with XL, and XLi models.‡ Keyboards and system memory are also common to WinBook XLi and WinBook XL2models. ‡
The WinBook XL2 conforms to the PC98 standard, which covers the PC system, bus, and devices. The PC98 standard includes a requirement that sound cards move to the PCI bus from the ISA bus. The WinBook XL2 includes standard 3-D PCI audio, so games and movies played on the WinBook XL2 have more realism. PC98 includes DMI, and WfM, as well. DMI 2.0 reduces support costs in corporate settings by standardizing the exchange of information among clients and administrators, and further cuts support costs by allowing standardized remote procedure calls (RPCs). WfM (Wired for Management guidelines from Intel supplement DMI, and cover asset management, remote configuration and reconfiguration, and power management. Corporate users can lower support costs by performing asset management functions, queries, and updates at night and on weekends.
MULTIMEDIA
A large 14.1-inch XGA (1024 x 768 resolution) active-matrix color screen, 3-D Graphics Accelerator, 4 MB SGRAM of video memory, standard 2X Advanced Graphics Port (AGP), and 3-D PCI stereo audio with two speakers provide superior presentation capabilities and a realistic audio experience when enjoying games or movies. The WinBook XL2 uses the ESS Maestro-2M PCI audio module. The ATI 3-D RagePro LT graphics accelerator provides outstanding graphics performance.
Second-generation DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) is standard on the WinBook XL2, and can be used for reading CDs as well as enjoying movies. Since both composite and S-video NTSC-out ports are standard, DVD movies can also be viewed on large television monitors.
WinBook is the first notebook manufacturers to make an LS-120 Super Drive (FDD/120MB cartridge) standard on a notebook computer series. It provides 120 MB of removable storage. Now notebook users enjoy a truly convenient backup device. WinBook has made it simple for notebook users to backup frequently and reduce the likelihood of losing critical files due to crashed hard drives, viruses, or theft. The LS-120 drive not only reads 120 MB super-floppies, but, unlike internal cartridge devices, also reads and writes conventional 1.44 MB floppy disks.
USB multimedia peripherals like noise-free digital speakers, and plug-and-play video cameras can be used with the WinBook XL2’s standard USB port.
POWER MANAGEMENT
WinBook XL2 models offer superior battery-life through the use of nine-cell Lithium-ion batteries combined with low-voltage, high performance components and an advanced power management system (including LCD and hard-drive power-down functions, plus standby, suspend-to-disk, and suspend-to-RAM modes with automatic resume for fax/modem activity, and ACPI). ACPI (Advanced Configuration Power Interface) allows Windows98 to direct the WinBook XL2’s power management and system configuration. The WinBook XL2’s well-engineered power management means that it outlasts less powerful, less well-equipped notebooks when users are flying, doing field-work, or engaged in other activities that require them to be away from AC outlets.
PORTS
The WinBook XL2 provides the following ports:
The optional $99 WinDock® port replicator includes PS/2 keyboard, PS/2 mouse, and MIDI/joystick ports along with parallel, serial, USB, and external SVGA monitor ports, and Headphone jack on.
The WinBook XL2 is the only notebook to provide the convenience of PCMCIA Type II slots on both the left and right sides of the notebook. Those who have struggled to get a LAN cable to reach the PCMCIA slot will appreciate the ability to connect to either side of the notebook.
ABOUT WINBOOK
WinBook Computer Corporation sells directly at www.winbook.com and (800) 468-2162. The WinBook XL dual-scan models are offered exclusively via the WinBook website. In addition, selected WinBook models are sold through MICRO ELECTRONICS' fourteen MICRO CENTER stores.
WinBook products have won nearly 175 awards from the computer press, including awards from PC Magazine, PC World, PC Computing, Windows Magazine, Family PC, Computer Currents, Laptop Buyers Guide, and Portable Computing.
International Data Corporation reports that WinBook ranked seventh in U.S. notebook sales for all of 1997 with 3.3% market share.* For 1998, WinBook enjoyed both record sales and record growth. In fact, by late June 1998, WinBook already surpassed annual shipments for any previous entire year with more than three months remaining in its fiscal year (Oct 1, 1997 through Sept. 31, 1998).
*IDC’s Quarterly PC Update, May 1998.
‡
WinBook XL2 models use different hard drive brackets from XL and XLi models. Keyboard cabling differs slightly on XLi and XL2.+
Unlike first-generation DVDs, second-generation DVDs can read recordable CDs (CD-Rs), rewriteable CDs (CD-RWs), and can read DVDs at 2X speed (vs.1X speed for first generation DVDs).