ViewSonic launches Atom-based computing line
by Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Jan 8th 2009 at 5:37PM
ViewSonic has just introduced a new computing line geared towards the netbook / nettop set. All three Atom-based machines sport Windows XP Home, a 1.6GHz processor, 1GB RAM and 160GB storage. VieBook is a 10.2-inch netbook with all the usual connectivity options and an MSRP of $429. The VPC100 ViePC is an all-in-one device, measuring a mere 35mm thin, with an 18.5-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio LCD screen and should be priced at $549. Rounding up the lineup, the LinkPC is a nettop, designed to be strapped to the back of any VESA compatible monitor, and has an MSRP of $399. The latter becomes available sometime in March, while the other two will be doing their thing in February.
ViewSonic Introduces Netbook, All-in-One PC and Attachable PC; Announces Cloud Computing Initiative
New visual computing line increases affordability, mobility, productivity and saves desktop space
2009 International CES
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ViewSonic® Corp., a leading global provider of visual display products, today unveiled its new computing line, which includes its first netbook, the VieBook™, an all-in-one PC, the VPC100 ViePC™, and an attachable PC, the LinkPC™.
VieBook netbook
ViewSonic's netbook is an ideal solution to fulfill the growing need for an ultra portable, daily use computer. At 2.6 pounds, the VieBook is highly-mobile, Internet-centric and offers users a lightweight yet powerful option for their on-the-go needs.
The VieBook features a 10.2-inch screen, Intel® Atom™ 1.6GHz processor, 1GB of memory, 160GB hard drive, 10/100 Ethernet LAN connection, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, 1.3 megapixel Webcam, 4-in-1 card reader, Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition and three-hour battery life. Its overall size, weight and functionality make it a perfect companion for road warriors and students.
The VieBook has a competitive MSRP of $429 and will be available in February 2009.
VPC100 ViePC, all-in-one PC
Designed as a space-saver at 35mm thin, the VPC100 ViePC is ideal for office productivity and Web-based applications. An 18.5-inch display device, the ViePC features a 16:9 aspect ratio LCD screen so users can experience razor-sharp images in crisp detail.
The product is powered by an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor and has 1GB memory, a 160GB hard drive, Gigabit Ethernet LAN, 802.11b/g WiFi, 1.3 megapixel Webcam, DVD + / - RW, integrated stereo speakers, 3-in-1 card reader and Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition. Its slim size and affordability make it ideal for office workers, call centers, libraries, emergency operations centers, interactive kiosks and information terminals.
The ViePC has an MSRP of $549 and will be available in February 2009.
LinkPC, attachable PC
The LinkPC is a PC box that can be attached to the back of any VESA® compatible monitor, making it a cost-effective, space-saving and energy-efficient solution for basic office tasks and Internet-based programs. Existing monitors can get a facelift and be easily upgraded with the LinkPC.
The device features an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor and has 1GB memory, a 160GB hard drive, Gigabit Ethernet LAN, 802.11b/g WiFi, VGA output, serial port, four USB 2.0 ports and Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition.
The LinkPC has an MSRP of $399 and will be available in March 2009.
Cloud computing initiative
ViewSonic's three new computing platforms are a key component of the company's cloud computing initiative, assisting with the transformation of desktop PCs evolving into Web-centric displays that communicate to software applications running on the Internet.
According to the Pew Research Center, individuals are increasingly using cloud computing. Upward to 69% of Americans use Webmail services, store data online or use software programs whose functionality is located on the Web1. This means expensive notebooks and PCs with excessive computing power are not essential as desktop applications and software are no longer a necessity. As cloud computing gains popularity, becoming a staple in corporate, commercial and organizational environments, the new ViewSonic line of visual computing products is a natural progression to aid the shift in demand for portability and mobility.
"We are excited to provide our channel partners a new line of products that offer their customers options to upgrade existing equipment and save costs on future deployments," said Jeff Volpe, vice president and general manager of ViewSonic North America. "Backed by 20 years of display experience and with strong PC partners to deliver computing demands, this powerful combination positions ViewSonic to supply affordable products at excellent quality."
ViewSonic's new visual computing line will be on display at Bellagio Ballroom 6 during the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, from January 8-9, 2009. For more information on ViewSonic products, please visit www.viewsonic.com.
New visual computing line increases affordability, mobility, productivity and saves desktop space
2009 International CES
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ViewSonic® Corp., a leading global provider of visual display products, today unveiled its new computing line, which includes its first netbook, the VieBook™, an all-in-one PC, the VPC100 ViePC™, and an attachable PC, the LinkPC™.
VieBook netbook
ViewSonic's netbook is an ideal solution to fulfill the growing need for an ultra portable, daily use computer. At 2.6 pounds, the VieBook is highly-mobile, Internet-centric and offers users a lightweight yet powerful option for their on-the-go needs.
The VieBook features a 10.2-inch screen, Intel® Atom™ 1.6GHz processor, 1GB of memory, 160GB hard drive, 10/100 Ethernet LAN connection, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, 1.3 megapixel Webcam, 4-in-1 card reader, Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition and three-hour battery life. Its overall size, weight and functionality make it a perfect companion for road warriors and students.
The VieBook has a competitive MSRP of $429 and will be available in February 2009.
VPC100 ViePC, all-in-one PC
Designed as a space-saver at 35mm thin, the VPC100 ViePC is ideal for office productivity and Web-based applications. An 18.5-inch display device, the ViePC features a 16:9 aspect ratio LCD screen so users can experience razor-sharp images in crisp detail.
The product is powered by an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor and has 1GB memory, a 160GB hard drive, Gigabit Ethernet LAN, 802.11b/g WiFi, 1.3 megapixel Webcam, DVD + / - RW, integrated stereo speakers, 3-in-1 card reader and Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition. Its slim size and affordability make it ideal for office workers, call centers, libraries, emergency operations centers, interactive kiosks and information terminals.
The ViePC has an MSRP of $549 and will be available in February 2009.
LinkPC, attachable PC
The LinkPC is a PC box that can be attached to the back of any VESA® compatible monitor, making it a cost-effective, space-saving and energy-efficient solution for basic office tasks and Internet-based programs. Existing monitors can get a facelift and be easily upgraded with the LinkPC.
The device features an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor and has 1GB memory, a 160GB hard drive, Gigabit Ethernet LAN, 802.11b/g WiFi, VGA output, serial port, four USB 2.0 ports and Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition.
The LinkPC has an MSRP of $399 and will be available in March 2009.
Cloud computing initiative
ViewSonic's three new computing platforms are a key component of the company's cloud computing initiative, assisting with the transformation of desktop PCs evolving into Web-centric displays that communicate to software applications running on the Internet.
According to the Pew Research Center, individuals are increasingly using cloud computing. Upward to 69% of Americans use Webmail services, store data online or use software programs whose functionality is located on the Web1. This means expensive notebooks and PCs with excessive computing power are not essential as desktop applications and software are no longer a necessity. As cloud computing gains popularity, becoming a staple in corporate, commercial and organizational environments, the new ViewSonic line of visual computing products is a natural progression to aid the shift in demand for portability and mobility.
"We are excited to provide our channel partners a new line of products that offer their customers options to upgrade existing equipment and save costs on future deployments," said Jeff Volpe, vice president and general manager of ViewSonic North America. "Backed by 20 years of display experience and with strong PC partners to deliver computing demands, this powerful combination positions ViewSonic to supply affordable products at excellent quality."
ViewSonic's new visual computing line will be on display at Bellagio Ballroom 6 during the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, from January 8-9, 2009. For more information on ViewSonic products, please visit www.viewsonic.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Cheng @ Jan 8th 2009 6:26PM
And once this thing hits the European market it's priced at $587, give or take a few dollars.. I hate European pricing..
You might ask how I know this. Well, here it is. The MSRP is set to $429. What the sales people do when they introduce this device to the European market is that they drop the dollar sign and replace it with a euro sign and voilà! BIG profits and loads of green into someones already fat wallet while Europeans bleeds to the bone.
429€ converted to USD = $587.87 Coincidentally that sum converted back to Euro is 428.957. Go figure!
587.870 - 429 = $158.87 of pure extra profits.
1€ ≠ $1
Jack @ Jan 8th 2009 7:30PM
That is by far the UGLIEST thing I've ever seen. What is this ViewSonic, 1997?!?!
engadget @ Jan 9th 2009 7:54AM
The LinkPC's form factor is kind of puzzling -- very chunky. Mounting that behind a flat panel would result in a system awfully far from the wall. Why not make it wider, but thinner?
sbrown23 @ Jan 8th 2009 8:21PM
Wow, I don't think it is possible to care any less than I do about this.
jd @ Jan 8th 2009 9:16PM
did they fired all their designers?
Howdy Doody @ Jan 8th 2009 10:40PM
I sometime really don't understand you people. There's nothing wrong with the way this netbook looks, at all! Every inch of that netbook is fully utilised, very true to form, no useless shiny lid, accents or what have you.
People nowadays are so hyped-up about having the "smartest" looking notebook, they start caring less about the functions anymore.
A lot of people would find this little guy very attractive, like business professionals for example (not that I am one). Personally I'd prefer a conservative looking notebook/netbook than a flashy one any day!
unimpeachable @ Jan 9th 2009 5:23PM
agreed
Portablemonkey @ Jan 9th 2009 2:55AM
This isn't a new netbook, it has already been released by Epson in Japan for quite a while now. Info in my article:
http://portablemonkey.com/article/viewsonic-jumping-into-netbook-arena/
superhobo @ Jan 9th 2009 5:37AM
The world needs more laptops with the exact same specs...
Rory @ Jan 9th 2009 6:18PM
@ Cheng,
Either you or I seem to have a misunderstanding of how taxes work in Europe and the United States. Let's assume for a minute that you live in Germany, which has a 19% VAT rate (on the standard-to-low end for the EU). From what I gather, most MSRP's in Europe include the, so the actual untaxed price is €429-€429(0.19)=€347.49 or $475.47 at the exchange rate you've given. In the United States sales tax is added at the till, so here the pretax price is in fact just $429. So the difference is actually $475.47-$429 = $46.47. There is still a markup, but you've overestimated the profit you think they are taking by over $100. What is left is a markup of 10% in Europe. While some of this may be pure profit, I'm not so sure it is - it might cost more to ship things from southeast Asia where they are made to Europe than to the US (I'm not an expert about this so I could be wrong) and some of it may be to protect them against a sudden drop in the Euro against the Dollar before the retail can be adjust. In any case, no one is forcing you to buy ViewSonic in Europe - so if you don't like the 10% markup, don't buy it. I've never cared for their stuff anyway.
(On another note, sometimes companies do drop the number a little bit before putting a € in front. So if they sold this for €399, the equivalent US pre-tax MSRP would be $442, or just $13 (3%) more at current exchange rates).