It has taken long enough, but Gigabyte finally saw fit to make official its intriguing M912V. If you'll recall, this critter
popped up and caught eyes at Computex, as it's essentially a netbook with a swivel screen -- think Tablet PC, but miniature. Specs wise, you're looking at an 8.9-inch WXGA (1,280 x 768) LED-backlit panel, Intel's 1.6GHz Atom processor, a 2.5-inch HDD (120/160/250GB), 1.3-megapixel camera, twin 1.5-watt speakers, 1GB of RAM and your choice of Windows XP, Vista or Linux. Furthermore, you'll find Bluetooth, WiFi, an ExpressCard slot, a wide of array of ports and even an option for HSDPA expansion. It should be noted that there's no internal optical drive (nor a price or release date just yet), but at least Gigabyte's offering up a
netbook with some inkling of innovation, right?
[Via
PCLaunches]
posted Jul 5th 2008 2:04PM
Do Want! (?)
Engadget, the site you linked to saying the price is $700 and its coming this month.
BTW I thought that Windows XP Home for netbooks could not have a touchscreen?
They can now. MS just changed the rules.
Those crazy Microsofties! Breaking The Rulez!
windows xp tablet pc edition.
Price?
Oops sorry for this one, I didn't see the $699 price tag on pc launch.
Innovation? nope, it's just a cheaper version of Fujitsu P1620.
the eeepc wasn't innovation either but it sold like freash bake hot cakes
freash, i dont know if that would sell very well
I was thinking the same thing, especially when I read this:
"think Tablet PC, but miniature."
The Fujitsu P series has been around for, what 4 years now?? But the $699 price is nice compared to the $1799 for the P1620.
I'd think that the much cheaper price is an innovation... at least I can afford this. =D
$700 thats more than an eee
EEE don't come with a swivel screen and touchscreen. It also doesn't come with an express card slot.
Don't forget the crappy Eee screen too. I know because I have one.
Choose the correct answer:
A. $700 > $399
B. $700 < $399
C. $700 = $399
D. Fuzo is an idiot
Correct answer is: D. Fuzo is an idiot
Actually, both B and D are correct.
Shit, I take it back. I meant A and D.
Hahaha....Vista on this???
Vista would run quite nicely on an Atom. Even the humble EEEPC can run Vista no sweat. I would keep an eye on the services and probably vlite it, but for anyone who knows what they're doing, there isn't any reason to use XP for things like this.
Vista and tablet user for 3 years... I wouldn't use anything else. By the way, my tablet with 1.1 ghz originally came with XP and it runs Vista nicely. But I'm sure you don't like hearing anything that promotes Vista.
"...for anyone who knows what they're doing, there isn't any reason to use XP for things like this."
Exactly...I still put Win2K on my mini notes and tablets...
What exactly are the reasons FOR using Vista on devices like these ? And that's not a flame bait or even pointless Vista bashing...I just don't see what you get back for the increased resource overhead.
My Athlon XP system ran Vista pretty competently too (once I bumped the RAM to 1GB), but it didn't make the system all that much more usable than when it had 2K/XP on it. So I ask in all seriousness, what's the gain ? I mean at the very least XP takes a heck of a lot less space to install...
@Oddmanout
There are a lot of reasons why I will never use xp on a desktop anymore, but for a sub-tablet, it doesn't really matter much. There are improvements in my opinion, but granted they are slight. For the most part:
1) Overall improved code security, and I'm not referring to UAC
2) Far Better UI imho (beyond merely Aero). After using Vista for over a year now I can hardly stand XP. It's like looking at OS9 for me now.
3) Updated control panel options and services, particularly for touchscreens and tablets
4) Not really relevant here, but native AHCI support is something else I appreciate, especially now that laptops are beginning to come with an ESATA port.
And if you use vlite, it won't even take that much more space.
In this case I would probably use XP if I was buying an OEM license, since after-all, it would be about $80 cheaper. But since I already own vista, I'd just vlite it and throw it on there and get all the benefits I mentioned for no extra cost or performance loss. Win-win for me.
For those times when I need a super slim os, I consider XP bloated, and just haul out some form of Linux to suit whatever my current needs are.
Using XP with my tablet was good, but having Vista was even better. Character recognition is way better. My writing sometimes gets sloppy, but Vista still knows what the hell I'm trying to write. It constantly learning how I write. Tablet function in handling folders is better with check mark for each folder. My tablet can be converted to slate, so I just have a pen for input (no shift or control key access) but I can still choose multiple selected items. And Vista does many other things such as logging in, writing access code, Web function, etc. I had an itouch, while it is a great gadget, a lot of its function, my tablet already had. And there are many more function my tablet has that does better than an itouch...I wouldn't surprise if Apple adds it to itouch.
Character recognition and overall tablet functionality is way better in Vista than XP.
attually that worth $700 with that screen res, and hard drive
Agreed. That processor isn't going to crunch any major numbers, but this little machine definitely has enough juice to pique my curiosity.
Dunno if it's worth buying though.
Same old same old. When are companies really coming out with some new innovation instead of improving the specs.
That goes for anyone out there in the notebook market not just Gigabyte. I want some true innovations not a 1% faster processor or all those functions that just dont wow me anymore.
What do you define as innovation though?
Do you want a larger screen at the same res? HP tx2500z is for you
How about a multi-touch display? wouldn't fit into the price scheme
2.8 Quad core intel proc? wouldn't fit into the price scheme
8600GT? Might fit into price scheme, would not fit in chasis
No matter how you cut it, quality/innovation costs, either in space, or price.
I'm waiting for Terabyte to get official with their netbook. They seem like they'd be more ahead of the pack then a company named Gigabyte.
Gigabyte has been around for a while selling motherboards and videocards among other things.
Looks great cost is to high unless thats a touch screen
Does anyone read articles around here?
No, we just scroll down to the comments section.
Nowhere in the article does it say that it has a touchscreen...
Against the other favorite 1.6Ghz Atom netbooks right now, the MSI Wind and EeePC 1000H,
Gigabyte M921V Advantages:
Convertible Tablet
ExpressCard Slot
Larger hard drive capacities
Disadvantages:
Higher price
Smaller screen (debatable)
Also, with the smaller size I'm worried that the keyboard is as bad as the eeePC 701 keyboard. The keyboard will be the deciding factor for me.
The screen has a nice resolution though. More than makes up for the lack of screen area.
I think this will be replacing my EEE.
looks good to me, give me a good uk price and i'll be there
XGA screen height? Sold.
1280x768 is not XGA, it's WXGA (15:9).
Where have I seen the image on the laptop's display before? I assume that's gettyimages clipart.
WOW ENGADGET! NO ONE WANTS OR CARES ABOUT ALL OF THESE 8 INCH NOTEBOOKS THAT CANT EVEN RUN SOLITARE LET ALONE CRYSIS. HONESTLY, WHO CAN BE PRODUCTIVE WITH A TINY LITTLE MONITOR THAT IS STILL BEHIND VISTA AND COMES WITH AN OS NOT EVEN SOLD BY MICROSOFT TO THE REST OF THE MARKET. YES I AM TYPING IN CAPS AND IT SHOULD ONLY BOTHER YOU IF YOUR THE OCD TYPE THAT IS PARANOID THAT THE COMPUTER IS YELLING AT YOU.
I use one of these 8 inch notebooks, and they seem to serve their purpose quite well. I am also looking for a better replacement to mine, so to me these articles are helpful. If you don't want to, don't read them.
I am interested. I would like a smaller, cheaper tablet PC. I currently have an EEE(One of the first ones) and it is good, but not perfect. The size of the screen is not the problem, it is the resolution that counts.
I don't want any form of windows software anywhere near my computers, Linux is just so much better, and speedier to boot on these little machines. It can be easily tweaked to fit on the small screen.
"NO ONE CARES"
I see an awful lot of comments here, looks like many people care, just not you.
If CHASE = DOESN'T CARE
then
CHASE = NO ONE
Clearly you are a nobody
You're an idiot.. Because a system doesn't play the latest and greatest* games doesn't make it a BAD computer. If I want to play a game, I'll play it on my PS3. I know people with desktop replacement laptops, and believe me, I don't want to be lugging around a 20lb notebook^ accompanied by a 200watt powersupply the size of a massive textbook.
So, before you speak, think of what others prefer.. Just because you don't leave your house and embed yourself into games all day, doesn't mean the rest of the world is like that.
k thx bai!
* = debatable. Highest graphics doesn't mean best gameplay. You Crysis lovers guys forget this.
^ = Can you even call this size a notebook anymore?
So far out of all the netbooks, this is most intriguing to me. Too bad they couldn't manage to stuff an active digitizer in there though, for $700. A smaller hard drive would be fine for me too, in something like this. If you are planning on using it as a Tablet though, Vista is definitely a very smart idea (Vista's Handwriting recognition is amazing).
When will they start offering GPS on those mini PCs ?
Some of them already have it, but even if they don't, how hard is it really to mod into it. Just find where the USB ports are connected to and solder it in.
take off Vista and knock off 100 bucks and I'd buy it.
Me wants! Bigger than my Vaio UX380n but the touch screen, HDD, Express Card, processor sure do make it irresistible and the price might be just right too.
Perfect except for the fact it:
1) Doesn't have a dedicated graphics card for mid-range gaming.
2) Google Earth will lag on it.
3) Vista will crawl on it.
4) XP is great but it's handwriting recognition is nothing compared to Vista's.
Also the swivel touchscreen blows when compared to the HTC shift's slide and tilt form factor. I'd save money for the next Shift.
except :
1) mid-range gaming card will bring up the price up and increase the size
2) are you sure, have you benchmarked it?
3) are you sure, have you benchmarked it?
4) Vista is an option (oh right, #3, my mistake)
The next shift might be in the $800 dollar range (seeing that the diamond is in the $700 range) without subsidy.
Perfect except for the fact it:
1) Doesn't have a geforce 9800 GTX graphics card for hardcore gaming, which I do all on my commutes. I need to run Crysis on this little bitch, and get my thing on, godammit. Where is the high definition optical mouse and weight packs?
2) Google Earth will lag on it. You need 8-core CPU for Google earth. Losers run Google earth on 2-core CPUs, it only renders at 50fps. I won't run Google earth any less than 500fps on my Mac Pro because otherwise I can't see anything and it crashes.
3) Vista will crawl on it. It doesn't come with Vista, but it will crawl on it. If you install Vista on it. All the other Atom PCs are way faster for running Vista because they have more thermal grease on the CPUs. I use Dell XPS 2000 for vista all the time and it's only about 5x bigger but I get way more frags with it. Why get this when you can get that.
4) XP is great but it's handwriting recognition is nothing compared to Vista's. So you should install Vista. It crawls though. Get a Dell XPS 2000. That can run Crysis too.
Also it doesn't slide so it's shitty, I want an iPhone.
Umm HELLO, its a damn cheapy netbook! Why would it ever meet those expectations?!
No, no its not gonna be any kinda computing beast. And how do you know if Google Earth wil be slow on it? GE sure runs fast on my Eee & last time I checked its capabilites weren't stellar either.
And how did iPhone get into the picture...? Wait you're screwing with us.......right?
I love you :)
--->Joke
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--->Noiro's Head
Also, the eeePC 1000H has n-wireless. The Wind and 1000H have also pulled 4-5 hours battery life in reviews - the specs here say 3.5.
Waiting for a review to address the following concerns:
Battery life.
Screen quality (LEDs shouldn't be too bad, but still)
Build quality.
I wonder if it can be upgraded to 2gb ram? The Wind, for example, makes it easy, although it technically voids waranty.
wth? led-backlit lcd screens isn't good enough for you? meanwhile, all big-screen lcds are switching from fluourescent backlighting to leds.
@chase don't be stupid. There are lots of professional that care about these smaller computers. We do real work not play games on them (although I agree it would be nice.).
What is good about this is that it has a reasonable screen a size with a reasonable resolution (this seems the minimum size to run most apps).
Also it has a touch screen and converts into a tablet. So if the battery life is decent (over 5 hrs) and the weight isn't too bad then I think it's great. Basically the Fujitsu p1620 for half the price.
Which is really why this small computer is a big deal. Just like the Eee Pc it is a new pricing structure. It's hard to have Fujitsu justify why their same spec machine is over twice as much. So then the high end machines have to be a whole lot better.
As far as use, have you ever traveled? How about worked in a company where a lot of your time is in meetings? You wanna lug around a laptop all the time? I have the Fujitsu U810. Nice machine and does 90% of what I need on the go.
I almost got the p1620 but figured these were coming out and I would wait.
The touch screen makes these small computers a whole lot more user friendly.
Regarding the optical drive, the Kohjinsha SR (Intel A800) and SX (Intel Atom 1.33) series are tablets that have an optical drive, but they're available only under other brand names or imports.
OooooooooooooH, this looks tasty. I would like ot see GPSand a dual atom. Soon.. soooon.
FOR EVERYONE BASHING VISTA:
The reason to put Vista on one of these is VERY simple. Vista's handwriting recognition is a million times better than XP Tablet Edition.
I do like vista, but this laptop only has one gig of ram, and vista likes more ram. if it had two gigs or more of ram then it's fine, but if its got less then you should go with something like xp or a linux distro
Like I said, for a Tablet, the idea of using anything other than Vista is just ridiculous. (See the video posted below about handwriting recognition for an example.)
While yeah, 2 GB RAM would be preferred for it (maybe its upgradable?) , Vista will run perfectly well on 1GB. I ran it on an Athlon XP 2700 with 1GB ram for a year. I mean, this is a netbook, you're not doing any gaming on it, so it should be fine, even if 2GB is preferred.
I actually own an HP tx1000 tablet pc and I know what your talking about, but I when I go into task manager I see 800 megs of memory usage and I am the type of user that goes into msconfig and disables services for less system overhead
Nice. Great screen, convertible tablet, plenty of storage. This might be the one to buy.
I don't like this trend of no optical drives on laptops. I think that manufacturers should hold off on leaving them of until the hardware actually becomes obsolete.
Optical drives are obsolete for a lot of people. I install most programs and drivers from downloads. The only CD/DVDs I use are to install operating systems which an external optical drive can deal with just fine. Even the optical drive on my pre-Eee PC laptop got used maybe 3 times, tops.
hey me, i think it's just the netbooks that are losing the optical drives, at least for now.. I still use my optical drive all the time!
I just want to have OSX on a netbook. With everything (wifi) working. And preferably on a Mac.
I wouldn't do that...not for writing recognition
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCHqMENtKkA
@roach
Thanks for the link. Wow, just wow! If the M912V can do this I might just hold off until this comes out.
@roach
Thanks for the link. Wow, just wow! If the M912V can do this I might just hold off until this comes out.
I'm a current user of the Fujitsu lifebook convertible series and this is a nice upgrade at ! half the price. I consider that a nice step forward.
Only downside is the company's product page makes no mention of memory options. Sounds like 1GB is the only option. Anyone know different?
what a joke. the number of cores has nothing to do with a computer crashing.
Does the release date of "this month" mean in the states or the unspecific "somewhere in the world"?
What about one of the most important factors: battery life?
I've been hovering about, thinking about getting a netbook/umpc for a while and when I saw this dish I got really excited! The new cheap Dell netbooks seemed interesting, but the swivel tablet thing (for me) is worth the extra money. Like others have said, it's like a Fujitsu at half the price!
And then (cry)... after a model search on google I found out that it won't be released to the US/Canada market (of which I am the Canadian part).
DERKA!
Can we make some sort of petition? I'll pay for the domain name and hosting, seriously. If it would really change their mind that is.
This this is the best (right now haha) of all ultra-mobile worlds as far as I can tell.
Any replies?
If this was a month ago I would snap this up in a second.. unfortunately I have seen 8.9 in person and realize that for ME I can not go lower than a 10"
If the could possibly come up with a 10" version for less than an extra $50
Hopefully they DO have a 10" in the works and you can also strip down the O/S to save even more money.. heck go to 10 drop to linux = breaking even (ok just drooling now)