Epson's Endeavor Na01 mini is a netbook

Not much to say here, just an Atom N270 1.6Ghz processor, 10.2-inch 1024 x 600 LCD, 1GB of RAM, 160GB HDD and a dash of Windows XP, doing what they always do. There's a nice complement of completely standard interfaces, like three USB 2.0 plugs, 802.11b/g WiFi, Ethernet, mini VGA out and a multicard reader, all stuffed into a slightly frumpy 1.5-inch thick enclosure, but let's not get off message: Epson's new Endeavor Na01 mini is all Microsoft-proscribed netbook and nothing more. The Japan-only computer is available today for the completely palatable price of 46,800 Yen (about $484).

[Via Impress Watch]

[ArcticFox @ Nov 19th 2008 9:25AM]

Atoms are great and all but all these netbooks have exact same specifications, someone needs to come up with something different or its just whichever brand name you trust most.

[bob sakamano @ Nov 19th 2008 9:34AM]

Isn't that the case with all laptops/desktops?

[Flashpoint @ Nov 19th 2008 11:47AM]

Now they have something to sell you with their EPSON Printers. Perfect solution for that special dorm student.

As I said before, all "Netbooks" should be below $400.

[GingerFox @ Nov 19th 2008 3:58PM]

i agree they are all the same spec, 1.6ghz atom, 1gb ram, and either a ssd or some small hdd, although what would you need differently? and yes they must be bellow $400 anyone know the conversion to sterling?

[bot @ Nov 19th 2008 6:20PM]

Doesn't the limitation come from Intel? As far as I know there is only one chipset that works with the Atom right now so every notebook that uses the Atom is going to have the same I/O options. The only real room for innovation comes with the enclosure and the screen, but since people don't want netbooks to be above a certain price you have to expect cost-effective components in those areas. Asus tried something different in that regard with the N model which included a thinner, lighter enclosure and a bigger SSD option but the price caused negative criticism.

[BratPAQ @ Nov 19th 2008 9:27AM]

even epson is joining the netbook craze huh?

[Unique Gift Ideas @ Nov 19th 2008 5:51PM]

Epson should definitely stick to what they know best, and that's printing. Buying a heavily discounted Epson big-screen TV was one of the worst purchases that I've ever made. I should have definitely been tipped off by the fact that my TV also has the ability to print 3x5 photos.

[JStro @ Nov 19th 2008 9:28AM]

If they package it with a vintage dot matrix printer, I'm in.

[Mobius_1 @ Nov 19th 2008 9:31AM]

What's "dot matrix"? ;)

Hopefully that will have a USB cable.

[linuxamp @ Nov 19th 2008 9:46AM]

Dot Matrix = the robot from Spaceballs.

[David @ Nov 19th 2008 1:07PM]

Dot matrix = Gameboy - Stereo Sound

[crsh @ Nov 19th 2008 9:31AM]

If at least it had some feature to set it apart from the other generic netbooks.

Well, it does have a "slightly frumpy" case, I guess that's progress (in the wrong direction).

[Fusion Fuzo @ Nov 19th 2008 9:32AM]

NICE, this one looks good

[bob sakamano @ Nov 19th 2008 9:43AM]

Don't sell yourself short kiddo.

[jcicak @ Nov 19th 2008 9:54AM]

Actually I think it looks nice, too. LCD bezel is not huge and keyboard goes all the way to the edge- not much wasted space. It looks like it will be very easy for me to yank this apart and give it a nice paint job.

[Howdy @ Nov 19th 2008 6:46PM]

Agreed. This netbook got nothing too fancy or flashy on it, very functional-looking by making use of every available surface area, as all netbooks/notebooks should be.

[Dan Fruzzetti @ Nov 19th 2008 9:48AM]

Why does it have Na in its name? Is it particularly salty?

[Peter @ Nov 19th 2008 9:55AM]

the same-old specs......FAIL
no 802.11n......... FAIL
3 in 1 card reader....... FAIL

1.5inch thick!!??......... EPIC FAIL

totally not competitive

[Ian @ Nov 19th 2008 10:01AM]

It has a messed-up SHIFT key. They couldn't even get the shift key right, but then again, neither can Asus. I guess they're in good company.

[Todd Radel @ Nov 19th 2008 10:01AM]

That word ... I do not think it means what you think it means.

"Proscribed" means forbidden. I think you meant "prescribed", meaning "Microsoft-defined".

[StalematE @ Nov 19th 2008 3:16PM]

INCONCEIVABlE!!!

[telepheedian @ Nov 19th 2008 11:06AM]

That space bar looks painful...

[DavidR @ Nov 19th 2008 6:56PM]

That's the standard space bar size on Japanese keyboards.

[phail @ Nov 19th 2008 12:22PM]

that space bar is ridiculously small

[bebop @ Nov 19th 2008 7:44PM]

No really, that's the standard space bar size on Japanese keyboards.

[BigD145 @ Nov 19th 2008 3:34PM]

No, it looks like a laptop to me. A laptop with a terrible keyboard.

[Dr Robotnik @ Nov 19th 2008 4:12PM]

I have a epson laptop from 1992. Its a subnotebook, and comes much earlier than these netbooks.
486SLX at 33mhz, 8mb RAM (Max), a 120MB HD, and a 64 Gray LCD.
How does it beat the current netbooks? Its smaller....which is stunning.

[joe blow @ Nov 19th 2008 4:21PM]

Needs more bezel & less spacebar.