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ASUS Eee PC 1201N debuts early at Newegg
OK, kids, here you have it: the Asus Eee PC 1201N has arrived a little earlier than expected. At least we think that's what Newegg is trying to tell us. If you hop on over to the site RIGHT THIS MINUTE you can see that the thing is available for ordering, in black, with a limit of one per customer. It's better than waiting until sometime next month, eh? There's no telling if this is a snafu on the e-tailer's part -- everyone else in the western world has it available for pre-order, with a ship date of January 15 -- but if you feel like taking a gamble there is only one thing left to do: hit the source link. [Thanks, Yoav E]
ASUS Eee PC 1201N Ion-based Seashell ready for $500 Amazon pre-order
It's a bit later than the mid-December target heard previously, but ASUS' 12-inch Ion-packing Eee PC 1201N is up for pre-order with an anticipated January 15 release. A penny short of $500 takes home a dual-core N330 processor clocking 1.6GHz on the Atomic clock, 2GB of DDR2 memory with room to expand to 8GB, a 250GB 5,400 RPM hard disk, Bluetooth, 802.11n WiFi, webcam, and fancy new 32-bit Windows 7 Home Premium OS -- none of that Starter Edition netbook nonsense. Here's the rub: are you really going to pull the trigger for a legacy Diamondville-class Atom lappie now knowing that the big CES event in January will likely be flooded with Intel's latest Pineview-class machines sporting new N450 Atom processors, of which, at least a few will offer HD video acceleration? Pre-order now if you want but we'd wait until January 11th to see what might get announced. [Thanks, Luke F.] Update: We've been in touch with ASUS' UK team and can confirm that Blighty will be getting its chance at Ion-infused nirvana at a similar time, "mid-January" they say, and at the slightly higher price of £399 ($663).
Dell's $299 Mini 10v (Inspiron 1011) goes on sale, kind of
You won't find it on-line yet, but Dell is already taking orders for its new Mini 10v netbook. At least in Denmark where Willy got his order in this morning. The biggest difference between the Mini 10v (aka, Inspiron 1011) and Mini 10 is the processor: the Mini 10v uses a netbook-standard N270 Diamondville-class Atom processor instead of the Z5xx Silverthorne-class processor found in the 10-inch original. What you give up in video processing performance (and perhaps battery life) you more than make for in price as the Mini 10v starts at $299, not $399 like the original.[Thanks, Willy N.]
Intel slide shows Atom N280 with 945GSE and GN40 chipsets
It may be hard for you monogamists to understand, but in the world of CPUs, it's perfectly acceptable to play friends with multiple chipsets. To that end, the leaked Intel slide above sure explains a lot about what's going on with the newfangled 1.66GHz Atom N280. First spotted in the ASUS Eee PC 1000HE with Intel's older 945GSE chipset, many wondered why the supposed match-made-in-heaven GN40 chipset (and its 720p hardware-based video decoder) was left out. Apparently, it's all part of the plan. Both the N280 + 945GSE and N280 + GN40 are considered "off-roadmap" solutions meant to give companies a subtle differentiating factor until the "real" N270 successor hits the scene. So yeah, that 1000HE you've got on the brain isn't actually a hodgepodge of components, but a real, certifiably okay combination of CPU and chipset -- though it'd be so much more bodacious with that GN40. Confused yet?[Via Fudzilla]
Liquid nitrogen-cooled MSI Wind U100 overclocked to 2.3GHz
When MSI rolled out its v1.09 BIOS, we're willing to wager it absolutely did not have anything like this in mind. The mad scientists in Team Australia are at it again, this time overclocking a netbook to the point (almost, anyway) of implosion. The unafraid members grabbed hold of a hopeless Wind U100 with 2GB of RAM, hooked up a little liquid nitrogen and proceeded to push the poor 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU to an amazing 2.385GHz. No telling how quickly the whole thing was over, but still, this is pretty ridiculous, mate.
Next generation Atom processors for netbooks scheduled for Q3, 2009
Just as you were getting your head wrapped around Atom-branded Diamondville-class processors based on a Silverthorne architecture, along comes the next generation. Expected to arrive in Q3 of 2009, the new 45-nm Pineview processors will come in hyperthreaded single- and dual-core versions like the current generation Atom 2xx- and 3xx-series. However, the procs will be based on a new Lincroft micro-architecture boasting an integrated graphics core and memory manager that connects to memory via DMI, not a FSB. Unfortunately, the all important TDP power-draw off your tiny netbook's battery in currently undefined. Hit the read link for the full roadmap and processor timeline if that's the kind of thing that twirls your propellor.[Via RegHardware]
Intel Centrino Atom becomes Atom, Atom still Atom, you're confused
Oh good, another marketing-speak change-up tossed our way from Intel. Apparently, the Centrino Atom naming convention is no more, leaving the in-house branded Menlow chipset used in MIDs and UMPCs essentially nameless. Atom, as you may recall, is the name of the Silverthorn and Diamondville-class CPUs. Got it? Of course you don't. No worries, that's why you've got us. You just focus on trying to understand the difference between MIDs and UMPCs and netbooks and ultra-portables and we'll take care of the rest.
VIA and NVIDIA sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g
Sweet, and likely salty. That's VIA's "special assistant to the president," Timothy Chen, giving NVIDIA's Drew Henry, general manager of its MCP business, a little sugar. The moment was captured after the unveiling of the Mini-ITX 2.0 spec at Computex last week. Why? We're not exactly sure, but we imagine things can get a bit emotional when old enemies join forces against a foe as formidable as Intel. Now give eachother a firm slap on the back, punch to the shoulder, and possibly, if it feels right... a noogie. There's much to do if NVIDIA's Tegra and VIA's Nano are to supplant Intel's Silverthorne and Diamondville in future MIDs and netbooks, respectively. [Thanks, Richard L.]
Intel reveals June launch date for first Atom processor
We've already heard about some of Intel's future Atom plans, and heard just how little it'll apparently cost the company to produce 'em, but now thanks to a PDF kindly let loose by the chipmaker, we finally have some official word as to when we can actually expect to see 'em. As UMPC Portal reports, the PDF released in conjunction with the currently-happening Intel Developer Forums indicates that the processor will get a worldwide launch this June, which is a tad later than some had expected. In related news, the PDF also mentions two Celeron processors intended for use with the same Diamondville platform that Atom uses, including the Celeron 220 and Celeron 440 (both Intel Core processors), though we somehow suspect those won't generate quite the level of interest as the bargain basement Atom.[Thanks, Steve]
ECS' Atom-based G10IL gets more attractive by the minute
Upon initial inspection, we had a hunch the ECS G10IL would emerge as one of the most desirable of the low-cost lappies. Now that ECS has filled us all in on a few more pertinent details, we're feeling all the more sure of that assertion. According to new specifications loosed on the outfit's own website, we can look forward to a Diamondville, er, Atom CPU, Windows XP or Linux under the hood, a single RAM slot (up to 2GB), an HDD or SSD, 1.3-megapixel webcam, 4-in-1 multicard reader, a 8.2- / 10.2-inch glossy display and a 4- / 6-cell battery for good measure. Oh, and if you were wondering if Bluetooth and WiFi would tag along with the built-in HSDPA / HSUPA, the answer's yes (at least on the big fellow). So, does the G10IL have your attention now, or what?[Via DailyTech]
Intel plots $100 "NetTop" market with Diamondville
Intel hasn't convinced you yet that its upcoming Atom processors will be dirt cheap and pregnant with promise? Well the company has a new definition on the table to see if you'll reconsider. Intel is talking up a new "NetTop" concept of desktop PCs ranging in price from $100 to $299 -- the desktop counterpart to the Eee PC, if you will. Naturally, Intel plans for those desktops to be powered by its own Diamondville processor, but also has other plans like solid state storage, no system fans or CPU socket, optimized power supply unit and "cost optimized OS solutions." The machines will run on Linux or Windows, and Intel projects 60 million of 'em will be sold a year by 2011. Those crazy, cash-addled dreamers.
Intel's Silverthorn becomes the Atom, Menlow the Centrino Atom
Another brain-shattering announcement that you've all been waiting for is here. Intel has officially dubbed the Silverthorn and Diamondville chips "Atom," and the Menlow platform has become the "Centrino Atom." We know, it's hard to believe the day has come, but it's finally happened. Obviously, the 45nm Atom chips, and Centrino Atom technology will be targeted for MIDs, UMPCs, and all manner of small, internet-centric devices. Undoubtedly an unending vista of total awesomeness awaits us now that they've got some fancy new names.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
MSI prepping Eee PC competitor with Diamondville inside
We're short on specifics, but MSI looks to be getting behind Intel's upcoming 45nm Diamondville processor in a big way -- a totally unsurprising turn of events. Diamondville is pretty much built from the ground up for powering low-cost ultraportables of the Eee PC's ilk, so we're sure to be seeing it in all sorts of cheap computers in the coming year or so, but MSI is one of the first to announce a budget laptop built around the platform. The chip is due to be formally unveiled in April, and MSI says the "when Diamondville is ready, our project will be ready." That should be around July or August, and we can't wait to see those design chops (pictured above) put to good use.
Intel said to be planning 45nm Diamondville CPU for low-cost PCs
It looks like Intel's not done with its 45nm processors just yet, as Reg Hardware is now reporting that the company is set to release yet another model, dubbed "Diamondville", that is apparently intended specifically for low-cost desktop PCs. That processor will apparently be part of the so-called "Shelton" platofrm which, among other things, will be able to operate without a fan, meaning the systems based on it should definitely be on the small side. The folks at Reg Hardware go one step further than that, however, speculating that the Diamondville/Shelton combo could in fact be the basis for Asus' forthcoming desktop Eee PC -- a possibility given a bit more credence given that Shelton is designed to work with 2 to 4GB of flash storage. Either way, we should be hearing plenty more about it soon enough, as the platform is supposedly set for a 2008 release.
