AtomN455
Latest
Intel and Lenovo release the Classmate+ PC for the kids
Thinking that netbook up there looks exactly like Intel's latest Classmate PC with a Lenovo sticker smacked on? Well, you'd be entirely correct. Lenovo and Intel have teamed up to bring out the Classmate+, which is indeed just a rebadged Classmate PC (or Intel Learning Series reference design). The 10.1-inch netbook doesn't have Intel's fresh Atom N570 processor, but it has all the other netbook essentials, including an Atom N455 CPU, Windows 7, 1GB of RAM, a 1.3 megapixel camera, WiFi, and three- and six-cell battery options. However, like most of the other Classmate PCs, the Classmate+ won't be available directly to consumers -- they will be sold in bulk to educational institutions or agencies, primarily in the developing world. And the Classmate+ is off to a great start -- 158,000 are already set to be deployed this spring in Buenos Aires. See kids, netbooks are far from dead! Hit the break for the full press release / specs and the gallery below for a few more images of the lunch box-like laptop. %Gallery-118732%
Fujitsu unveils world's first MeeGo netbook, world barely notices
It hasn't been a terribly good week for MeeGo, but there's a scant silver lining in the cloud -- the first MeeGo netbook has arrived in Singapore, courtesy of Fujitsu. Actually, to be precise, it's the first netbook to ship with MeeGo preinstalled, as Fujitsu's simply shoehorned the lightweight operating system onto its existing LifeBook MH330 machine. Sadly, the MH330's about as boring as they come -- it's a plain vanilla 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 ultraportable with 1GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive and a 10.1-inch 1024 x 600 LED-backlit screen. The company says it's customized MeeGo to take advantage of hardware buttons, but other than that there's nothing noteworthy here, just a (roughly $400) netbook that managed to find a place in the annals of history for being the first to preinstall an operating system that's already on the outs -- albeit a very pleasant, quickly-booting one. PR after the break. [Thanks, Edwin C.]
ViewSonic G-Tablet pops up in Sears weekly ad, mistakenly claims to be the ViewPad 10 at Sears' website
Did ViewSonic's 10-inch tablets catch your eye? We've got good and bad news. The good news is that the G-Tablet (with a 1GHz processor and Android 2.2) is now on sale at Sears for $379.99 -- even less than we were told. The bad news is that the Intel Atom N455-powered ViewPad 10 apparently is, too. We say apparently because Sears seems to have crossed some wires when putting the latter slate up on its site, most egregiously stating that that dual-booting device does both Windows 7 and Android 2.2 for the exact same $379.99. Last we heard, the ViewPad 10 -- like the eerily similar Tega v2 -- could only do Android 1.6 alongside Microsoft's OS and would cost quite a bit more. Don't rely on Sears to cut you a deal, folks.
Tegatech Tega v2 review
We haven't seen many -- okay, any -- Windows 7 slates from major manufactures (i.e. HP, Lenovo, ASUS) like Steve Ballmer promised back in July, but one thing is for certain, smaller companies aren't just sitting around waiting for the other shoe, er slates to drop. We've already gotten our hands on products from the likes of CTL and Netbook Navigator, but Australian-based Tegatech also wants a piece of the large touchscreen pie with its 10.1-inch Tega v2. Like the others, the $799 Tega v2 is pretty much a netbook that's lost its keyboard -- it's got an Intel Atom N455 processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 32GB SSD that boots Windows 7 Home Premium -- but the 0.5-inch / 1.9-pound slate sets itself apart by being one of the thinnest and lightest out there. Oh, and did we mention that it dual boots Android? So, is the Tega v2 the Win 7 tablet you've been waiting for -- assuming you have in fact been waiting for one? Hit that read more button to find out in our full review! %Gallery-105419%
HP Mini 110 and 210 netbooks get Atom N455 and N475 accoutrement
Looking for a Mini that has a little more to offer in the processor department? HP has thoughtfully upgraded the Mini 110 and Mini 210 to offer your choice of Intel's N455 or N475 Atom processors. Those chips bring DDR3 memory compatibility to the table, which both netbooks now offer by default, while the optional N475 brings either one up to 1.88GHz -- though you'll have to pay an extra $25 as proof of your commitment to handle that sort of blazing performance. The default 110 with 1GB of memory starts at $280 right now, while a base 210 will set you back $330.
Acer Aspire One D260 arrives with some in yo' face branding, we go hands-on
Acer's Aspire One netbook line has done incredibly well over the past few years -- largely due to its competitive pricing -- but apparently that's given Acer the impression that people want to see the brand smacked in large letters on the lid. Yep, that's the first thing that struck us about the new 10.1-inch Aspire One D260 when we saw it last week at Computex. But, if you can overlook that, Acer has made some rather welcoming aesthetic tweaks, including subbing the glossy plastic cover for one with a softer matte coating, and extending that same feel to the palmrest. Internally, the D260 boasts an Intel Atom N450 or N455 processor, up to 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive. Interestingly, there's mention of it booting Android in the press release, which makes sense given that the D250 was available with the Google OS, but we didn't notice that option in our short hands-on time with it. Look for this little guy to hit the UK in early July, and we can only assume that the U.S. pricing and availability should be announced soon enough. Check out some more pictures of the machine in the gallery below and the full PR after the break. %Gallery-94896%
Toshiba NB305 and HP Mini 210 to be upgraded with Atom N455 CPUs and DDR3 memory
A little bit of Euroland investigation this morning has revealed signs that Intel's upcoming 1.66GHz N455 and 1.83GHz N475 Atom processors are close to making their official debut. Netbook Italia spotted the official Toshiba website posting up an NB305-10F model a little prematurely -- a page that was promptly yanked, but not before our amici were able to note the inclusion of the DDR3-compatible N455 CPU, a gigabyte of RAM, 250GB hard disk and otherwise unchanged specs. The expected price for that netbook is noted at €350 ($467), which is also the price at which the upgraded HP Mini 210 -- spotted by German outfit nDevil -- is listed on Amazon.de. Shipping dates are predictably not yet ascertained, though it's looking like things are about to get moving nice and swiftly from here on out.
Intel Atom N455 and N475 mysteriously pop up on ASUS placards
We don't really know what to make of this, but while battling the onslaught of new netbooks at the ASUS's CeBIT booth we noticed some peculiar new Intel Atom processors on a few signs. As you can see above it looks like the Eee PC 1015PE will not only be available with the current N450 and the newly announced N470 Pine Trail processors, but also the rumored N455 and N475 CPUs. Intel tells us that these are not-yet-announced-products, but we're guessing we'll hear more tomorrow morning at Chipzilla's press conference -- although we're not too optimistic that dropping a zero and adding a five is going to provide all that much more Atom netbook power.
Intel said to be cooking up DDR3-lovin' Atom N475 and Atom N455 CPUs
We've maintained that Intel's range of Atom chips were simply too weak to really love and adore the way a slab of silicon should be, but that's probably because of our infatuation with things like "overclocking" and "Core i7 Extremes." Whatever the case, it's beginning to look a wee bit better for the lineup, as Fudzilla has it that the company will be adding DDR3 memory support to the 1.83GHz N475 and 1.6GHz N455. Both of those chips are expected to maintain their current TDP ratings, and both are expected to launch in Q3 of this year. Nah, DDR3 compatibility won't make your next netbook scream or anything, but when we're talking Atoms, we'll take all the baby steps we can get.
