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Gigabyte posts specs for ThinNote S1024 and Booktop M1022
It's all coming together, folks. Merely hours after Gigabyte hosted up a product portal for its T1028 TouchNote, the same occurrence has just went down for the ThinNote S1024 and Booktop M1022. Both rigs were initially introduced last month at CeBIT, and now you can pretty much bank on 'em shipping stateside within the next little while. As for the M1022, you'll find it bundled with a vertical docking station and packing an N270 or N280 processor, Windows XP Home, 1GB of RAM, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, WiFi, optional WiMAX / HSDPA and a 6-cell battery. The S1024 netbook contains most of the same hardware, but you'll have to handcraft your own stand if that you're thing.[Via iTechNews]Read - ThinNote S1024Read - Booktop M1022
Video: Acer Aspire One D250 gets unboxed
Just days after the machine popped official on some of the company's overseas web portals, Acer's Aspire One D250 netbook has just been acquired and unboxed across the pond. The N280-powered rig doesn't look drastically different than previous Acer netbooks, but you know you're hungry to hit play and search intently for the minute changes. It's just past the break, by the way.
MSI outs full specs of X-Slim X320 / X340 and Wind U123
While MSI has been teasing its Wind U123 and X-Slim X320 / X340 laptops for a little while now, we've yet to see the full specifications for each rig laid out. Until now, of course. Over at CTIA in Vegas, the company is revealing all the dirty details about what makes these May-bound rigs tick, and we're pleased as punch to see a few unexpected inclusions. As for the 10.2-inch U123, you'll find a 1.66GHz Atom N280 CPU, integrated WWAN and even a built-in TV tuner. As for the X-Slim X340 (starting around $1,000), it's amongst the first to feature Intel's newfangled CULV platform, which sucks down one-sixth the power of a regular mobile CPU. The X320 (starting at $700) gets gifted with a less exciting 1.6GHz Atom Z530, but the optional 3G / WiMAX module definitely makes it altogether enticing for those scouting a continually connected ultraportable. Head on past the break for the full hardware breakdown.
ASUS quietly reveals Atom N280-equipped Eee PC 1002H
Till now, the only N280-packin' Eee PC of any stature was the amazingly long-lasting 1000HE. Thankfully for everyone who appreciates minute improvements in speed, ASUS has just pushed out another with the mildly quicker chip: the Eee PC 1002H. Not the 1002HA, mind you -- just the 1002H. Outside of the new CPU, however, most everything remains exactly the same from the 'HA' edition, including a 10-inch LED-backlit WSVGA display, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 160GB hard drive, 1.3 megapixel webcam, inbuilt stereo speakers, a multicard reader, VGA out, three USB 2.0 sockets and audio in / out jacks. There's no mention of a price or release date, but it should arrive in Pearl White, Pink and Black whenever launch day comes.[Via Eee PC-Blog]
MSI readying updated Wind U123 for April release
MSI's Wind U120 has only been available for a little over a month, and already received a minor update of its own, but it looks like the company is already planning on adding a few more digits to the Wind line, with its upgraded Wind U123 apparently on track for an April release. While much will apparently remain unchanged form the U120, the U123 does get a bit of a boost from Intel's new Atom N280 processor, which has already found its way into ASUS' Eee PC 1000HE, and from a maximum 2GB of RAM, as opposed to 1GB on the U120. You'll also be able to get it in your choice of four colors, and with a six or nine cell battery if you choose. What's more, MSI's director of US sales reportedly confirmed that the company has both 11.6-inch and 12-inch netbooks "in development," and that it "can bring that out of the gate," although he unfortunately didn't go any farther than that somewhat cryptic statement."
Asus Eee PC 1000HE review roundup
Well, kids, it looks like the Asus Eee PC 1000HE has started making the rounds and so far the reviews have been rather favorable. PC Review was so taken by the machine, in fact, that they declared it the "best one yet... dethron[ing] the MSI Wind as the leader of the pack." Their enthusiasm is stoked by the fact that the machine's been designed around its new six-cell battery (making for something less bulky than, say, the 10-inch Aspire One or the NC10-14GB). Also in the win column are the obvious design improvements over its predecessor, and its hard to beat $400 street price. That said, it is a netbook: the new Intel Atom N280 processor offers "no real performance benefits" over the N270, the features are pretty standard for a machine of its class (160GB HDD, three USB ports, a webcam, VGA out, 4-in-1 card reader and the usual ethernet and WiFi connectivity) and testing failed to find "any performance differences between the 1000HE and systems like the Wind, the Aspire One (10-inch), and the HP 2140." Also according to the magazine, the new software-based overclocking feature is no great shakes. Laptop Magazine feels pretty much the same way, loving the new keyboard, the new battery, and the fact the easy-access panel (for HDD and RAM upgrades and the like) is still intact. On the other hand, they point out that the thing's a little heavy (3.2 pounds) -- but what do you expect from a machine that boasts over 7 hours battery life? Notebook Review singles the thing out for its design: "Build quality," it says "is very good with strong, durable plastics used throughout the body," and the new keyboard and gloss black paint "really adds another level of class and style to this netbook." But don't take our word for it -- hit the read links for the full reviews, and be sure to check out the gallery below.%Gallery-44165%Read - PC Review Read - Laptop MagazineRead - Notebook Review
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]
Intel ships Atom N280 for 720p netbooks -- NVIDIA's Ion points, laughs
With ASUS' Eee PC 1000HE up for pre-order, it's clear that netbooks are ready to make the jump from Intel's lowly 1.6GHz Atom N270 to the suped-up 1.66GHz N280. In fact, Intel just confirmed shipments of its new Atom processor to PC makers. Now don't let us hear you bellyaching about that being a meager 0.06GHz jump -- the magic isn't in the clock but in the faster 667MHz (up from 533MHz) front-side bus and new GN40 chipset with hardware-based 720p video decoder. That easily bests the Atom N270 pairing with the customary 945GSE chipset without any increase in power consumption. Think about that when trying to make a 10-inch netbook choice between ASUS' Eee PC 1000HE (with new N280 proc and GN40 chipset) and Acer's new N270-based Aspire One. Then again, maybe you're waiting for the first netbook to ship with NVIDIA's Atom-based Ion platform with full 1080p playback? Might as well, who knows, maybe you'll land a production version of Windows 7, a swiveling touchscreen, and a finger-optimized UI in reward for your patience.Update: Looks like the Eee 1000HE doesn't have all the new bits -- Laptop did some digging and found that it's still got the same old 945GSE to go with that new proc, although it is still capable of doing 720p video playback. Boring, we'll wait for the real GN40 machines to show up soon.
Eee PC 1000HE with 9.5 hour battery seeks friends, pre-orders
Rather than making the customary press release blast across media outlets, ASUS just loosed its newest Eee PC -- the 1000HE ("E," as in extended) -- into pre-order limbo via its official ASUS Eee PC Facebook group. The latest 10-inch LED backlit Eee PC with new chicklet keyboard ships with 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, and a 160GB hard disk with an additional 10GB of Eee Online storage. The inclusion of Intel's 1.66GHz Atom N280 processor and ASUS' own Super Hybrid Engine battery conservation tech makes this the most powerful and longest lasting Eee PC ever. Members of the Eee PC Facebook group receive a $25 discount off the $399 pre-order price. Sweet... but you might find yourselves wishing you'd waited for a touchscreen model whenever Windows 7 rolls around. [Via SlashGear] Read -- Facebook GroupRead -- Where to Pre-order
Details on Intel Atom N280 begin to surface, are short on excitement
Sure, the Atom N270 has done great things for humanity during its brief tenure powering pretty much every netbook that comes down the pipes, but it's time for a change, and it looks like the N280 from Intel -- already slated for a couple Eee PCs -- could provide just the sort of marginal boost we're looking for. The single core chip bests the N270's 1.6GHz clock with blazing 1.66GHz speeds, and a 667MHz bus over the original's 533MHz. What could perhaps be much more interesting is the promised Intel GN40 chipset that accompanies the N280, which there's currently very little info on, but hopefully does a little bit towards competing with NVIDIA's ION -- or at least pepping up that game of solitaire we've been working on.[Thanks, Jagslive]Read - N280 shows up on some new Eee PC modelsRead - N280 netbooks to hit the market between 2Q09 and 3Q09
