NVIDIA's next generation Ion platform was
announced back in early March, so naturally we've been wondering where all the souped-up netbooks based on the tech have been hiding. We wish we had better news, but it looks like the wait will have to go on a little while longer. While NVIDIA claims no delay on its end, ASUS and Acer have confirmed that their respective Ion 2 netbooks will not arrive until the end of May or even as late as the beginning of June in the US. The 12-inch
ASUS 1201PN, which packs a dual-core Atom processor and a 16-core Ion chip, is set to hit Europe and Asia in mid to late May and will make its US debut in June. Similarly,
Acer's 10-inch Aspire One 532G is planned to be released around Computex in early June. We just have a feeling there will be some more joining the Ion 2 netbook brigade in the interim, but it's looking like we'll just have to kick off the summer with
another Ion showdown.
posted April 21st 2010 5:24PM
Oh look, same netbooks, now fortified with Ion 2!
@One Love
Im guessing the Acer is made by ASUS
@One Love
I have completely lost interest in netbooks since affordable culv laptops have become available.
@OCEAN CLAK If so it's news to me. To me Acer has been nothing but utter shite, while Asus has been amazing. After one purchase of an Acer netbook for something on the go, I shudder every time I hear the name. Whereas after my Acer failed, I picked up an Asus and plan on getting every computer from them from now on.
@scots79
It possible other Acer laptop are made by other companys
but that one pictured looks like it made by ASUS
@OCEAN CLAK I was looking it up and it turns out Asus doesn't own Acer. They are completely different. Acer owns eMachines and Gateway though.
@scots79
I know ASUS and Acer are not related (Although both have similar names), I ment the ODM company that actually manufactures the laptop,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_laptop_brands_and_manufacturers#Original_Design_Manufacturers_.28ODMs.29
@scots79 Seeing the 532g series is somewhat interesting. Hopefully their arrival won't take too long. http://bit.ly/acer-532g-new-gen-laptop
@quasistellar
In Aust we don't have any CULV's for under $700 so Netbooks look like a very good choice.
I am very interested in seeing how a dual-core atom processor and ION2 hopefully with at least 2gb benchmark.I may get one.
I wish we had a cheap, slick looking, Ion 2 packing netbook with a chiclet keyboard.
@TareG Ummm... the Asus has a chiclet keyboard I think. I'm like 95% sure anyways.
make this touchscreen tablet netbook with 3g/4g and I'll buy it in a heart beat
@riccoon Totally agree with you! Emphases on cheap and touchscreen while still having a keyboard and I'm sold.
@riccoon
thirded, this would be awesome with multi-touch (need the pen for sketching). Pixel QI screen would be nice too. I need something to replace my old Toshiba Portege 3500 that atleast feels like an upgrade (hard to find a netbook that seems like a step up from this old thing). 1080p output and light gaming capabilities is a definite step up if such a machine could be made.
I want something light and portable that plays BluRay - anyone else out there thinking the same thing or am I all alone on this one?
@Peter Fox
it isn't done because it is not practical what difference is blu-ray going to make on a 12 inch screen. I just use digital copy for mobile viewing, because on a typical laptop the optical drive is always like the first thing to go after which it is a complete waste of space. I prefer a good 5.25 external over a laptop drive any day of the week.
@buzz86us complete waste of space AND a complete waste of power.
optical drives on laptops are a nightmare... they always break as they're too delicate.
blueray on a netbook = no need
Haven't these ATOM processors outlived their usefulness??
They're underpowered and overpriced. Put some i3 / i5 processors on these machines for God's sake.
@JakeInDC : Because of price, power consumption and purpose of the atom/netbook. Intel has sold a boatload of Atom's. They will continue to give us the tiny 5% bump in cpu performance and then try to sell you another atom device, rinse and repeat. Profit!! Ride that atom train all the way to the bank!
@JakeInDC
netbooks are not underpowered. they're called NETBOOKS for a reason. have you all forgotten the purpose of these? they're supposed to provide portability, long battery life, and access to basic computing (e.g. surfing the net and word processing). people continue to buy netbooks because they like them. not because they're being swindled into buying "underpowered" machines. if someone wants a slim form factor pc with more power, they're free to spend $300-$400 more. Asus, HP, Dell etc. can all provide them with those pcs
@ror the point is these processors have been out a long time and we've seen hardly any increase in speed in newer versions. i bet it doesnt cost that much more to make CULV c2d chips which draw about the same amount of power and are much faster. considering the popularity of netbooks its ridiculous the atom hasn't been greatly improved in the last year
@ror
That's what Intel's marketing department want you to believe. Judging from your defense of the ATOM, it looks like their marketing is effective on some people.
But the price is not over $500. Beside 1080p improvement also hope beter benchmark from games.
i think they are waiting for the dual core atom,it's a good combination ion 2 + dual core atom, wow what power,too bad they won't add multi touch
In the March 1 article you said the 1201pn came with a Pine Trail N450 which, if I am not mistaken, is single core. I believe it's the 330 that's dual. Still looking forward to it.
i bet the price of these will be such that for only $100 more you can get a CULV laptop
@billobob
But not one with discreet graphics.
@billobob
That's the logic I used this time around, but I suspect a dual-core Atom and Ion 2 could outperform my SU2700 with GMA graphics in a lot of scenarios. A single-core processor is good for battery life but a lot of the time, I wish I had two cores.
Why can't we get Ion in mainstream notebooks instead of just on netbooks?
The GPU can stay but the CPU has got to go!
Looking forward to the ION2, which provides a huge boost.
Re: Acer 532G
Whoa! 10 inches? Discrete graphics?! YES PLEASE! I think I've just found the netbook I've been waiting 2 YEARS for!
Hot Damn! This is what I was waiting for in the first place: A 12-inch ASUS with all the ION 2 trimmings. Can't wait until May, cause I'll definitely get this as a complement to my Core-i3 laptop for traveling purposes. Who says that summer isn't fun?