Lenovo's ION-based S12 makes netbooks exciting again (update: less than $600)
By Thomas Ricker 
posted May 25th 2009 1:55AM
posted May 25th 2009 1:55AM
Update: PC Perspective has additional detail about the S12: 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor, full-size keyboard, and what looks like an HDMI-out when it lands in July or August for less than $600.
Update 2: Interesting. Netbooknews.de has a proven record with insider-netbook news and claims that the S12 will eventually include a Via Nano processor option.
[Via PCPer]
So this has what to do with AT&T and cellphones?
I'm totally getting this!!!
I own an Acer Netbook (1GB, 1.6Ghz, 160GB HD) and a Compaq CQ50 ($399, 3GB ram, nVIDIA, AMD Dual Turon 2.2Ghz, 320GB HD). The Atom Powered ASPIRE Blows compared to the similarly priced Compaq. In my opinion, netbooks are overpriced and underpowered and what ever happend to the Sub $200 (OLPC, eeePC) computer that started all this netbook craze? It seems like hype has tossed common sense out the window.
For $600 or less you can get a more powerful laptop with more ram, faster CPU, nVIDIA graphics and battery life that is on par with most netbooks. Add the Boston power battery upgrade and you can go a long time between charges.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&a1=From+price&v1=Under+$500&series_name=CQ60Z_series
but does the laptop weigh less than 1.5kg? didn't think so.
That wasn't the point. Netbooks were orginally intended to be low cost computing devices. Don't you remember the race to the bottom, it was how low can the price go and now it seems to be the opposite; plus these netbooks are not very expensive to make. I own one and it's almost too small to use.
From it's looks not so much... But the specs speak otherwise! Nvidia on a netbook?!!!
nVidia on a netbook would be pretty damn exciting! But I think I'd prefer it inside the netbook...
Damn! this is one sweet netbook! I might actually get something like this when Windows 7 comes out!
At 12", it's just a cheap laptop...
I don't see a problem with having an affordable ultraportable.
My problem is it's no longer an ultra-portable. Twelve inches and normal thickness. It's just too big to fill the niche of an ultra-portable. I know a Delta pilot with a 12" laptop -- and it's just a bit too big to carry around effortlessly on trips. He's looking at 10" netbooks.
This laptop has a small niche, people looking for a cheap, somewhat-small laptop for general computing -- but considering the horsepower of the ION platform, it would probably overall be better-suited to smaller devices. Which I assume it will be, just not yet. More waiting...
IF:
This 12-incher has very little rim around the screen, that it's actually no bigger than the average 10" netbook.
And if it offers a satisfactory gaming experience with new games...
THEN:
I might pick that one up. I believe in NVIDIA stuff.
What make and model is it that your pilot friend has? There are a number of 12" laptops out there that push 4.5lbs, and yeah, that's pretty freakin' big. On the other hand, smaller models like the X200 and E4200 straddle the 3lbs mark with their battery options, and that's a whole different ball game. I'll tell you, my X61s is in no way cumbersome, and can be thrown into just about any bag, in it's sleeve, unless it's just absolutely packed full already.
can it do hulu in hd without looking like stop motion? If so, then i'm replacing my dell mini 9
From all I have read on the Nvidia ION it should be able to do that and then some... Perty much ION is all about HD play back...
Is Hulu yet taking advantage of any video card power? I thought that Adobe was still way behind on getting Flash to do that.
It can do 1080p
Guys, stop getting his hopes up.
NO. Flash does not have hardware acceleration. Hulu cannot take advantage of the GPU, so the processing is done on the CPU, as it is with an Intel Reference Atom. So it'll perform comparably for Hulu to your Dell Mini 9.
Ion won't help at all with Flash content - the Flash player doesn't use the graphic hardware at all, so forget about high-res Hulu/Youtube/whatever. The Atom can't handle it on its own.
seems to me adobe is artificially limiting the video capabilities of flash, perhaps the tv world would be blown apart if the content was everywhere such as netbooks.
Wow...that is nice.
Will everything else be the same old netbooks specs? Whats the screen resolution? 1200x800?
Atom 330! ATOM 330!
I'm pretty sure the Atom 330 is never allowed in the netbook segment.
Lenovo beating Asus to the punch? Well I'll be damned.
Asus has their R&D team busy developing yet another variation of 10 inchers with the same old n270, GMA950, 1GB Ram, 160gb ...... well you know the rest...
Err.. ASUS has already released a netbook with a Mobility Radeon HD3450 that might actually beat the 9400M in most tasks.
More specs and pictures here:
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=717
The article says that this netbook will have n270 processor. I thought Intel restrict the use of display larger than 10" to be used with the n270 processor.
I think you'll find it is Microsoft that has the restriction on what specs it will allow XP to run on - I don't think Intel cares what their processor is connected to as long as it is in the box.
Ugh, when is a netbook maker going to implement a pointer stick rather than a tiny touchpad? Pointer sticks are so much more efficient at using precious space.
They already have, in a way.
Sonys' VAIO P has a pointing stick I believe. Of course, Sony being Sony are saying it's not a netbook (brand snobbery anyone?). But with the spec sheet saying it is, they've decided to price it out of the market.
So you can have a netbook with a nipple, just be prepared to sell one of yours to pay for it.
I'll be damned if my nipples cost near $1k. I'd sell both in a heartbeat.
12" Thinkpads with a "trackpoint" can be had for under $600 from the Lenovo outlet.
Come on Lenovo you need to bring out a U110 update or at least give us this device in the U110 size, and form-factor.
Pretty nice!
Atom procesor is a sh*t .. they are garnishing it with ion
This better have an HDMI port or this netbook is worse than a 1,000 Hitlers.
I hope the pics are of an existing Lenovo Netbook then, because the white one most definitely has VGA out.
yeah look at the black one, white one seems to be an older 10" model...
If its not an atom 330 there is no point. We already know an atom 270 won't be powerful enough to give ION any relevance. Why are they wasting their time with impractical hardware setups? If their going to mess it up at least put a VIA 1.8 nano processor in it and lets get nasty with some ddr3.lol
Let me guess this "netbook" doesn't have an HD screen either. Pretty much were back to where we started. ION outside of netbook = does nothing. ION inside of netbook = does nothing.
They already have, in a way.
Sonys' VAIO P has a pointing stick I believe. Of course, Sony being Sony are saying it's not a netbook (brand snobbery anyone?). But with the spec sheet saying it is, they've decided to price it out of the market.
So you can have a netbook with a nipple, just be prepared to sell one of yours to pay for it.
Well I'm impressed. I'll get one if the battery life is to my liking.
Dual core atom would make this more interesting.
I would agree, heck even the current atom running at 2.0ghz would be a welcome change from the 1.6ghz atom. I guess for now the Lenovo U110 may get my money.
yeah, they are already going the whole way of making this more powerful than previous...
Intel sells the single core atoms to netbook manufacturers for around $25, but charges close to $100 for the dual cores.
I dont get why they are discouraging them!?
I have had it up to my ear with Intel, and anyone else who going around limiting what you can do the products you can buy from them.
http://allabouteeepc.com/intel-atom-330-upgrade-option-for-eee-pc-1000/
The Ion maybe the break the netbook market needs. Given that the ion platform does support the atom 330. why doesn't someone do the world a favor and build a netbook, maybe something along the lines of the hp mini 1000, give it an atom 330, and ion chipset, proper 1366x768 10" screen, 4gb of ram, intels mobilon 2, for lets say under 600. That my friends would make me a happy camper.
sorry, i know that was not exactly related, but every time i see i netbook post I am reminded of exactly why every netbook must have an n270 or (now) n280.
I agree, if they didnt solder atom chips on i would swap out a 330 from a desktop board and offer a $100 upgrade service to netbook users...
You took the specs right out of my head... this is what I am waiting for, throw win7 on that sucker and charge me what you will. I'm upgrading my EEE901 with the first model with these specs