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View Full Version : HD on a Netbook? It's Within Reach.


Hooch Tan
01-23-2010, 04:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://blog.laptopmag.com/broadcom-hd-accelerator-tested-on-dell-inspiron-mini-10-good-but-a-work-in-progress' target='_blank'>http://blog.laptopmag.com/broadcom-...ork-in-progress</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"However, the Broadcom chip does work with content stored on the netbook itself, and can improve performance of WMV, MPEG2, MPEG4, and MOV files. So, we played a few files on both Mini 10s, as well as on an HP Mini 311 ($399.99), and recorded the frame rates using Fraps."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1264213838.usr20447.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>NVidia says that ION is a great way to make netbooks perform.&nbsp; Intel says that its overkill, and you only really need some video acceleration.&nbsp; Well, Laptop Magazine tries a very unscientific test to see if the Broadcom HD Accelerator is all that is missing from the netbook experience.&nbsp; Once Flash 10.1 better supports all the accelerators out there, it will come down to whether 3D and gaming is important to you.&nbsp; I am in the more is better camp.&nbsp; I think the battery life sacrificed is worth the extra capabilities, as I firmly believe that 3D can offer more capabilities, and raising the minimum bar will allow for greater creativity.&nbsp; Not quite the same kind of leap as going from a text based interface (remember the days of dumb terminals?) to a graphical interface, but a step forward in the right direction.</p>