ViewSonic VNB102 netbook gets price, release date, a handful of pretty renders

If you were waiting for ViewSonic to finally put out a netbook, the wait is over. If you weren't, we don't blame you -- we weren't either. At any rate, the VNB102 ViewBook that we saw manhandled way back in September has finally got a street date: December 18, to be exact. Things are pretty much as you were expecting: 10-inch display, Windows 7, Intel Atom N270 CPU, 1GB memory, 160GB hard drive, a six cell battery, and 802.11b/g WiFi. This bad boy can be yours for the MSRP of $399. Intrigued? Hit up the gallery below of fly past the break for some stunning PR.

ViewSonic VNB102 ViewBook

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ViewSonic VNB102 ViewBook – All the Power You Need, To Go

ViewSonic's 10" netbook features latest Windows® 7 OS and long lasting six cell battery

WALNUT, Calif. - December 14, 2009 -- ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual display and computing products, today expanded its mobile computing line with its VNB102 ViewBook. Bundling the convenience of a compact netbook with the latest Windows 7 operating system and a long lasting six cell battery, the 10" VNB102 ViewBook offers consumers all the power and portability they demand.

This netbook's 1024x600 LED panel offers consumers the high quality display experience they have come to expect from ViewSonic. Perfectly suited for working on documents or viewing photos with its 3-in-1 card reader, the VNB102 comes standard with the latest Windows 7 Starter operating system, an Intel® Atom N270 processor, 1GB internal memory and a 160GB hard drive.

Partnering a thin, stylish design with built-in 802.11b/g wireless connectivity and a VGA output port, the VNB102 is perfect for surfing the Web on the generous 10" display or full screen home monitor. For added convenience and ease-of-use, the VNB102 also offers a six cell battery for up to 6 hours of computing, along with three USB ports and a two button touchpad.

ViewSonic's Finch Club offers resellers an opportunity to benefit from specialized product training and discounts. To sign up, please visit www.FinchClub.com. For further information on ViewSonic products, please visit www.ViewSonic.com or follow ViewSonic on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Executive quote

"To meet the needs of our 30 million customers, we are pleased to offer a range of mobile products that take digital experiences on the road," said Jeff Volpe, vice president and general manager of ViewSonic Americas. "With the addition of the VNB102 ViewBook, we are confident that we have the right solution for our customers, whether it's an all-in-one PC or PC Mini for at home computing, or an ultra-portable netbook for mobile computing needs."

Pricing and availability

The VNB102 will be available December 18 for an MSRP of $399. For more information on the VNB102, click here.

Additional ViewBook computing offerings are scheduled for availability in early 2010.

About the company

ViewSonic® Corporation is a leading global provider of visual display and computing products. ViewSonic develops, markets and supports a broad range of innovative products, including computers, LCD monitors, projectors, LCD TVs, digital signage solutions, digital photo frames and other consumer electronics products. For further information, please contact ViewSonic Corporation at 800.888.8583 or 909.444.8888; or visit http://www.ViewSonic.com/

[Parias Posted Dec 15th 2009 12:07PM]

Wow. Just when I thought I could not possibly care ANY less about another netbook clone in a new shell, this article comes along and bores my eyes completely shut.

[TheCow5 Posted Dec 15th 2009 12:13PM]

@Parias
let me be the firs to second that.
These things are noting more that the same hardware with a diffrent brnad.
I will make a second plee for AMD, nVIDIA, VIA, ect. to please step it up, Please

[The Dead Marxist Trio Posted Dec 15th 2009 12:20PM]

@Parias

nm the fact that it's significantly more expensive than similarly specced netbooks.

[Information Central Posted Dec 15th 2009 10:11PM]

Now there's a tacky glossy case to go with the stupid, dysfunctional glossy screen.

Yay!

[error Posted Dec 15th 2009 12:15PM]

I've been shopping for a new netbook and this certainly looks like a clone to me. Why didn't they try something different than what is already out there? Afraid of Innovating?
I would love to have a larger battery, SSD (of decent size), at least 2GB ram and of course a beefier processor. I'm not asking for a full size laptop, but something better than what is currently available. (for the right price of course)

[Hashmere Posted Dec 15th 2009 12:21PM]

@error
I think a lot of it has to do with limitations Microsoft has put on netbooks. I may be wrong though.

[ack154 Posted Dec 15th 2009 12:27PM]

@error

Netbooks aren't about innovating. They're about cashing in. And Viewsonic apparently wants a piece of the action. Personally I'm sick of hearing about "netbooks" ... especially $400 ones from irrelevant companies.

[OCEAN CLAK Posted Dec 15th 2009 12:33PM]

@error

You can always upgrade the ram to 2GB on most netbooks
You can also over clock the atom processor
and go for one with a large battery

My EEEPC 901
has 2GB Ram (upgraded ram), 1.8 GHz Atom (over clocked), 6hr Battery, 28GB SSD (upgraded memory), works flawlessly when connected to a large screen

[KidDynamic Posted Dec 15th 2009 2:05PM]

@OCEAN CLAK
That's the point. Why is ViewSonic putting out yet ANOTHER vanilla netbook? At least put something new in there, like, I dunno, NVIDIA ION?

Right now, there are NO 10" ION netbooks in the market here in the States. ViewSonic, be innovators, not duplicators.

[orangedog Posted Dec 15th 2009 12:29PM]

Joanie loves Chachi BWAHAHAHahahaha... almost spit my water out. Thanks for that one engadget!

[playtime Posted Dec 15th 2009 12:29PM]

You may be surprised, but on of our local wireless carriers here in Bulgaria, has been selling these for about a month now I think.
And they sell for half the price of other 8.9 and 10-inch netbooks.
Check it out for yourselves - though you may want to run that through GTranslate first:
http://mtel.bg/netbook/index.php

[Wowzers Posted Dec 15th 2009 12:42PM]

How can ViewSonic justify $399 when competition has been selling these for quite a bit lower for some time now. I mean, hell, we have CULV laptops as low as $399 now. Who in their right mine would spend that much on an atom powered netbook (single core, only 1gb ram, 10"--the usual specs) nowadays?

[SJobs Posted Dec 15th 2009 1:50PM]

For a second, I though it was Toshiba.

[MNeko Posted Dec 15th 2009 3:34PM]

I remember that Gary Marshall told Conan O'Brien that "Chachi" meant "penis" in Korea, making it tough to localize the show in that country.

[MNeko Posted Dec 15th 2009 3:35PM]

Also, what's with this "unverified" business? How do I verify myself?