BenQ's Atom-based MID gets detailed

BenQ has been showing off its first stab at an MID since the Intel Developer Forum last fall, but it hasn't exactly been all that forthcoming about the full specs of the device. That situation seems to have changed at the more recent IDF in Shanghai, however, although those details seem to just now be making their way across the Internet. As we knew before, the device will pack an Intel Atom processor (the base 800MHz model), which will apparently be backed up by 512MB of RAM, a 4GB SSD hard drive, and HSDPA support in addition to some integrated WiFi and Bluetooth. The device will also apparently pack a so-called "G-Senser" for "direct touch and free movement to surf on internet," along with voice activation, and optional GPS. Still no word on the all important pricing or release details, unfortunately, although we hope BenQ will save itself some embarrassment but getting the thing out the door before the next Intel Developer Forum.

[Via Slash Gear]

[sinai @ Apr 18th 2008 5:55PM]

benQ - call me when you change your company name and i'm not ashamed to say it when someone asks me, "hey what do you have there?"

[fgpx78 @ Apr 21st 2008 9:21AM]

I've been using a Benq Joybook 7000 for three years right now, and I can say without dubts it's the best q/p notebook I ever seen in ten years (a really good designt too).
So...even if the name sounds bad, the product itself should be really good ;)

[Fusion @ Apr 18th 2008 6:03PM]

agreed terrible name benq lol, which O.S. it does run?

[Fusion @ Apr 18th 2008 6:04PM]

agreed terrible name benq lol, which O.S. does it run?

[john @ Apr 18th 2008 6:07PM]

Hm. Make the screen slide up to reveal a Qwerty keyboard ... a 1GB RAM option ... and maybe options for more SSD, OR add an SDHC (or microSDHC, but not miniSD/SDHC) slot... and make the GSM radio have SMS/MMS capability plus be both AT&T and T-Mo-USA compatible (European being a nice bonus) ... and I might be interested.

What are the different face buttons?

Middle left looks like "home" and the one under it looks like back or escape (the Nokias use that button symbol for back/escape). What's that strip/bar above home?

And are the two right buttons a dpad and a select button?

[Mike @ Apr 18th 2008 6:14PM]

strip could be some sort of a scroll sensor?

and yeah, would be nice if the stepped up their game on the memory options.

[bachviet @ Apr 18th 2008 6:19PM]

I'll buy one for $500.

[JohnTitor @ Apr 18th 2008 6:47PM]

I'd buy one when one of all these MIDs finally come out

[Josh Warner @ Apr 18th 2008 9:25PM]

I'd wait until the EEE has a faster Atom shoved into it and buy that instead. Should happen about the same time (the instant Intel officially lets Atom out the door).

[xoxo @ Apr 19th 2008 10:32AM]

Not only is BenQ a terrible name, the logo has no appeal whatsoever. These guys don't seem to realize what branding means..

[0megapart!cle @ Apr 18th 2008 7:53PM]

The 1.6 Ghz Atom seems to get horrible performance (noticeably slower than a 900 Mhz Celeron M), so I can't imagine what kind of performance this is going to get you. Look for Youtube videos too look like slideshows, expecially full screen.

[Smacksmackums @ Apr 19th 2008 3:03AM]

Are all these new-fangled MIDs going to be fully flash and java capable? And of course, will it play Doom?

[Truth_Bringer @ Apr 19th 2008 4:35AM]

"direct touch and free movement to surf on internet,"

Classic "engrish" speaking chinese marketing departments, eh? I have to give them credit though, they've come a long way in the last 10+ years, during which they've marketed and marked up their product boxes of knockoff american products with names like "sun-moon-star CDROM drive", "Patriot motherboard" and case fans with text on the box to the effect of "highest cooling satisfaction for you!"

Well done, BenQ

[Rayan @ Apr 19th 2008 6:12AM]

Epic Fail !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bull @ Apr 19th 2008 2:14PM]

what's wrong with BenQ , it is super cute , isn't it?

I think Samsung is much worse.

[daliminator2000 @ Apr 19th 2008 8:47PM]

Samsung actually makes sense though, seeing as it's a Korean name. BenQ is something that a bunch of nerds pulled out of their asses.

[Viakenny @ Apr 19th 2008 1:25PM]

BenQ stands for "Bringing enjoyment and Quality to life".
but there are many worse names back in Taiwan.

[pscs @ Apr 19th 2008 2:25PM]

@ Bull

Samsung sounds bad I know,
BenQ is slightly better... Didn't they change it to Qisda or something?

[Kris @ May 12th 2008 4:11AM]

I think that BenQ is pretty good. They certainly cost a lot less than the Samsungs of this world. The MID looks fun. If I can do all of my chatting and my Skype-ing on it... all that stuff I can't do at the office or stuff I don'w want to open up my computer to do, then, it's probably fun.