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Video: Onkyo Sotec C204 hands-on impressions
The wild and crazy guys over at Portable Monkey have just got their hands on one of Onkyo's 10.1-inch Sotec C204 netbooks and were cool enough to share thoughts, impressions, and a madcap YouTube video with all of us. Priced at around ¥49,000 ($511), but seen going for less at various online tech purveyors, the gentleman's first impression of this device was, in a word, "great." Smaller and lighter than even the ASUS Eee PC S101, this bad boy seemed to perform as you'd expect an Atom N270-powered, 1GB, Windows XP Home machine should -- even if it does generate more noise than a little guy like this oughta. Curiosity piqued? Make sure you peep the video (after the break) for this life-affirming hands-on event.
Onkyo's new Sotec DC204A3 netbook has 32GB SSD, no love for VGA or wired Ethernet
We like a good netbook that's so small it doesn't have room for any pesky, legacy inputs keeping you tethered to the wall (and thus The Man) -- but we're not sure we'd consign VGA and Ethernet to the Closet of Obsoletion just yet. Onkyo seems to be opening the door, moving the two ports to a USB break-out box on its latest Sotec, the DC204A3. That wouldn't really be a problem if the adapter didn't look to be about a third as big as the netbook itself (see for yourself after the break). Otherwise we have a slender but standard Atom N270 netbook, with 945GSE graphics, 1GB of ram, and a 10.1-inch 1024 x 600 display. Notable is the 32GB SSD, which sounds quite nice, but with a ¥49,800 ($529) asking price, you're certainly paying for it. Available to forward-looking Japanese starting at the end of the month.[Via Akihabara News]
Onkyo rolls out Sotec-branded E702A9 media PC
Looking for something a bit more all-in-one than Onkyo's HDC-1L nettop / HTPC? Then you may want to consider the company's new Sotec-branded E702A9 media PC, which keeps things relatively inconspicuous while packing some decent specs all around. That includes a 1080p 21.5-inch display, a Core 2 Duo E7400 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, a 4x Blu-ray drive, a built-in TV tuner, an included iPod dock, and some seemingly slightly better than usual 8W speakers. No word on a release 'round here just yet, but folks in Japan can apparently pick one up now for ¥179,000, or just over $1,800.[Via Newlaunches.com]
Onkyo's HDC-1L straddles the fence between nettop and HTPC
Now this -- this is an interesting character. Part nettop, part HTPC, the Sotec-branded HDC-1L series is a unique mixture of components that are traditionally found in either a diminutive desktop or a media center PC (but rarely both). First and foremost, this little bugger relies on a 1.6GHz Intel Atom 230 CPU, and it only packs 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, Windows XP, Ethernet, audio in / out, VGA, slot-loading DVD drive, a few USB ports and a remote input. Sadly, there's no integrated TV tuner to speak of, but with a starting price of just ¥59,800 ($640), we suppose you could add one and still come in well under the cost of most pre-fab HTPCs. The box should be available in Japan as early as tomorrow, and it'll purportedly be sold with a number of upgrades and extras for those fond of the bundled approach.[Via Impress]%Gallery-38359%
Sotec's 22-inch LB22JW-02 LCD handles HDMI
We took a peek at several of Sotec's latest machines yesterday, and today we've got a 22-inch "Vista-certified" widescreen LCD monitor from the same firm that boasts an HDMI input. Additionally, you'll notice a 1,680 x 1,050 resolution, VGA input, five-millisecond response time, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, dual two-watt stereo speakers built-in, and 300 cd/m2 brightness to boot. Of course, the ho hum design leaves something to be desired, but if you're lookin' to do HDMI on your PC display, you can snag the LB22JW-02 right now for ¥49,800 ($410).[Via Impress]
Sotec's intros PC Station BJ / BX desktops and WH5513P laptop
Japan's Sotec is kicking out a duo a new desktops and a stark white laptop, and while the specifications on the trio aren't anything to phone home about, they could indeed fit the bill if you're budget is tight. The WinBook WH5513P series contains an Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 CPU, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 120GB hard drive, a 15.4-inch 1,280 x 800 resolution LCD, and a few hot keys to give you one-touch access to your email and the internet. Additionally, you'll find a dual-layer DVD writer, 802.11a/b/g, and Windows Vista running the show. On the desktop front (shown after the jump), the PC Station BJ series sports a slim, compact form factor, an Intel Celeron D, Pentium 4, or Core 2 Duo E4300 depending on model, up to 1GB of DDR2 RAM, between 250GB and 320GB of HDD space, a dual-layer DVD burner, Windows Vista, and a number of matching displays between 17- and 22-inches. The PC Station BX micro-tower includes Intel's E4300 or E6320 Core 2 Duo CPU, Vista, a gig of RAM, integrated Intel graphics, and a PCI-Express slot. All three units are slated to ship later this week, and while prices vary depending on configuration, none of them are apt to break the bank.[Via Impress]
Sotec's e-three HA3000 laptop and HC5010 desktop keep it simple
It's not like we really rely on Sotec to spice things up on the PC front, but we're still a little disappointed in the distinct lack of interestingness going on here in Sotec's new "e-three" series. The HA3000 laptop sports a 1280 x 800 15.4-inch LCD, Windows Vista (Home Basic or Business) and ExpressCard/54 slot -- and that's about it. There's a VIA VN896 chipset for integrated graphics, WiFi and gigabit Ethernet, but it's only certified for Vista Basic, so don't plan on squeezing much Aero action out of this unit. The rest of the laptop is BTO, and while prices start at a commendable 96,390 yen ($808 US), you'll only be getting a 1.46GHz Celeron M processor, 512MB of RAM, a 60GB HDD and a DVD / CD-RW combo drive. There's room for up to a Core 2 Duo T7400, 2GB of RAM, a 120GB HDD and a DVD burner, but it'll cost you. The HC5010 (pic after the break) takes a similar approach, but does it in a slim desktop form factor. Starting at a Celeron D 331 2.66GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, 80GB HDD and Intel 945G Express integrated graphics, you can pick one of these up for 64,800 yen ($543 US), but there's plenty of room to grow on specs and price. Both of these should be available in Japan on March 1st.[Via Impress]Read - HA3000Read - HC5010
Sotec's SKP-001 cordless Skype phone: Japan can have it
Sotec is offering-up the latest in wireless Skype handsets with this, their SKP-001 sold by Comfix. Skype's where the money is for vendors, but rest assured, it's SIP compatible too. That's a good start, and it even operates in the 2.4GHz range like our old friends 802.11b/g. However, WiFi this Skype phone ain't, so you have to use the supplied USB dongle to connect. Oh, and you'll get a self-discharging, NiMH battery capable of up to 15 hours talk / 1200 hours standy, you know, until the memory effect hits. Hey, at least it's not NiCd, right? All this annoyance can be yours (in Japan) for ¥11,800 or about $100. Next.[Via Akihabara News]
Sotec's PC Station BJ slim Conroe media center
Japan's Sotec just threw down a couple of Core 2 Duo towers meant for the motherland. The most interesting of the two is the Windows XP Media Center Edition PC Station BJ (pictured) which bundles a 19-inch 1440x900 (WXGA+) display with that 3.7-inch slim (though not that slim) tower sporting Intel's 1.86GHz E6300 Core 2 Duo proc and 945G Express graphics, a 320GB disk and up to 2GB DDR2 memory, 7-in-1 memory card reader, dual-layer DVD multi-drive, 7.1ch audio, and a healthy dose of PCI, USB 2.0, and other in/outs. Not a bad piece of kit for ¥129,800 or about $1,093. Yeah, they also announced the minimalistic, PC Station PX chub of an old school tower. But other than starting at about ¥89,800 or $756 for a taste of Merom Conroe, it's just what you'd expect. Check it after the break, if you must.[Via Impress]
Sotec releases Core 2 Duo-based WinBook WS5000
Japanese manufacturer Sotec is feeding the Core 2 Duo frenzy, releasing a lightweight laptop available in a range of configuration options. Weighing in at 3.5 pounds with a 12-inch 1024 x 768 screen, the WinBook WS5000's can come loaded with your choice of Core 2 Duo T5500, T7200, or T7400 processors, with 40 to 120GB hard drives (all just 5,400 rpm), 512MB to 1.5GB RAM, DVD / CD-RW combo or DVD burner drivers, and built-in WiFi, with basic white the only color option. Battery is promised to be 4.2 hours, with a "long haul" battery also available to give you over six hours. Spec'd out with the bare minimum, the WinBook will set you back ¥119,800, or just over $1,000, though we're guessing few will be completely satisfied without at least a couple of upgrades.[Via Akihabara News]
Sotec goes Merom with Winbook DN7010 and DN8010
Like HP, Sotec's also got a pair of Merom-powered notebooks for us to drool over check out today, spec-bumped members of its Winbook DN7000 and DN8000 series. The 15.4-inch DN7010 features a 1,280 x 800 resolution, between 512MB and 2GB of 533MHz DDR2 RAM, anywhere from 40GB to 120GB of HDD capacity (all running at 5,400RPM), DVD Super Multi Drive, and most importantly, Core 2 Duo CPUs in either T5500, T7200, or T7400 flavors.You're getting almost the exact same configuration options on the DN8010, expect this model sports a larger 17-inch display with 1,440 x 900 pixels to play around with. The 8010 also throws in FireWire, an eSATA port and an SD / MMC / MS card reader, while both machines sport 802.11a/b/g, an ExpressCard slot, Ethernet (Gigabit on the 8010), four USB 2.0 jacks, and S/PDIF, D-sub, and S-Video outs. Both notebooks will be available for purchase on September 11th, with the DN7010 rocking a ¥109,800 ($938) pricetag and the DN8010 starting at ¥119,800 ($1,024).Read- DN7010 Read- DN8010[Via Impress]
Sotec's budget e-three laptops, the 12-inch HS310 and 15-inch HA310
We just saw their WinBook DN800 17-incher, and now Sotec is filling in the other end of the spectrum with their e-three HS310 12-inch and HA310 15-inch laptops. Sporting an XGA display, up to a Pentium M 770 2.13GHz processor, and other piddling specs, the HS310 starts at $1040, while the HA310 bottoms out at $867. For those prices you'll get a mere Celeron M 380 processor, 256MB of RAM ad 40GB HDD, and XP Home. Optical drives are optional for both units, and things don't get much more exciting in the build to order options, but at least the HS310 keeps it thin and light at a mere 3.6 pounds. Hardly sounds like a 2006 release, but we're sure Sotec will find a few budget buyers of the lappys all the same.[Via Impress]
Sotec's WinBook DN8000: 17-inches of Core Duo
Sotec of Japan hopes you'll get your knickers in a twist over their new top-end WinBook, the DN8000. Like the DN7000, the DN8000 loves on the Intel Core Duo family of processors offering the 2.16GHz T2600 in that 8.2-pound slab. The DN8k maxes out with a 17-inch, 1440 x 900 pixel capable LCD, 2GB RAM, 120GB disk, WiFi, dual-layer DVD burner, slots for ExpressCard/54 and External SATA, four speakers, and suite of interfaces for Firewire, USB, S/PDIF and memory cards. Sound good so far right? But are you sure you want to bet your budget on a laptop sportin' Intel's 945GM integrated graphics with Vista's memory hungry UI on deck? Yeah, thought not. Prices start right around ¥119,800 (or about $1,035) for a lot less oomph than listed above. [Via Impress]
Sotec's 8 machine summer lineup
Looks like Sotec's launched their summer '06 line, and there's no small amount of machines that make up the portfolio. As one might imagine, this slew of new models run the gamut, including new 17-inch Celeron M powered WinBook WE series (WE355) laptops, the 15.4-inch Core-Duo based WJ series (WJ355, WJ365, WJ555), the vanilla Celeron M powered 15-inch WA series (WA335), the ultraportable 12.1-inch WS series (WS314), and even the Sempron based PC Station BT series (BT735, BT765). We won't bore you with the skinny on each of these 8 separate machines, but we thought you might like to know irregardless that they're out in Japan, and the laptops range from ¥104,800 - 139,800 (topping at about $1,200 US) -- which is mighty affordable for a machine of any kind, let alone a Core Duo laptop.[Via DWT]
Sotec's new WinBooks: Core Duo DN7000 and Turion 64 X2 DN6000
Sotec just announced two new WinBook laptops for the Japanese market: the DN7000 and DN6000. Ok, not really two, since the DN7000 and DN6000 are essentially the same slab, only with your choice of Intel or AMD processors as is the rage these days. The DN7000 is the 1.66GHz Core Duo T2300E model with Intel 945GM graphics while the DN6000 nuzzles up to the 1.6GHz Turion 64 X2 and ATI Radeon Xpress 1100. Both feature a 15.4-inch, 1280 x 800 LCD and base-level configs with 512MB of DDR2 RAM, 40GB SATA disk, and dual-layer DVD burner. The DN6000 will set you back about ¥99,800/$889 while the DN7000 will demand another Benjamin for that proud Intel sticker. Available today for our Japanese brethren and the more resourceful amongst you.
