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Intel expects Atom processor shortage to end by September
With the Atom-based mini laptop orgy that has become synonymous with 2008, it's no surprise that Intel has had problems meeting demand for the new processor. That should end soon, however, says Sean Maloney, executive VP and GM of Intel's Sales and Marketing Group. Maloney points out that Intel now has four 300-millimeter manufacturing plants that he says will be doling out the silicon wafers en-masse by September. "We've got four 300-millimeter fabs, so we can really hose this stuff out," he told PC World. With the expected popularity of the ASUS Eee PC 901, this news is coming just in time.
MSI Wind benchmarked and reviewed: now official alternative to Eee PC
Here's the moment many of you Eee-wannabees have been waiting for, the official announcement of the 10-inch, 1,204 x 600 LED-backlit MSI Wind. No surprises here on the leakiest of all netbooks. Still, when you consider that your $399 buys you a Linux-based system riding atop Intel's 1.6GHz Atom processor, an 80GB 2.5-inch disk, 5.5-hour rated battery, 1.3-megapixel webcam, Bluetooth and 802.11b/g WiFi, it makes the $625 price of the Eee PC 1000(H) pretty tough to justify. Unless 802.11n and that beefier battery really do it for you. If the price doesn't sway you then how about a review? Laptop magazine just published their thoughts on the $499 XP model and gave it their "editor's choice" award calling the Wind "the best all-around mini-notebook to date." Now the bad news: the XP Wind ships June 16th while the el-cheapo Linux version won't ship until later this summer. Full press release and specs posted after the break.Read -- Benchmarks and picturesRead -- Review
Computex awash in Atom-based netbooks, VIA's Nano a no-show
Man, we've waited so long for Intel's Silverthorne to become Atom to become product that we're feeling a bit misty at the sight of all those Atom-based netbooks pictured above. Intensified by the fact that VIA has apparently come to the show without a single Nano-based netbook of its own. Hold tight while we await official word from Dell about their "mini-Inspiron" netbook expected sometime today.Update: We found a VIA Nano device!Read -- AtomRead -- VIA Nano
Final specifications revealed for ASUS Eee Box B202?
The week of Computex 2008 has begun, and you'd probably know just by checking out the onslaught of ASUS news here lately. Up next is the hotly-debated Eee Box B202, which we now know the final specifications for -- reportedly, at least. HotHardware has it that the mini desktop will exhibit a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, a 80/120/160/250GB hard drive, GMA 950 integrated graphics set, gigabit Ethernet, WiFi, optional Bluetooth, a multicard reader, 512MB/1GB/2GB of DDR2 RAM and an Azalia ALC888 audio chip; you'll also find a pair of USB 2.0 ports, DVI out and a headphone jack, but an optical drive is altogether missing. We're hearing that US configurations will range from $269 to $299 with your choice of Linux or Windows XP, with availability in mid-July.
Hands-on with Atom-based Eee PC 901 running WiMax
What, you're not in Taipei? No problem, Engadget Chinese is at the WiMax Expo with the first WiMax-enabled Eee PC 901 pictures. Showing off a funky, cutaway hinge (likely due to missing battery), the Eee PC 901 features Intel's Atom processor as expected, Bluetooth, 802.11b/g, and now 802.11n too (hoozah!). The card reader supports MMC/SD/SDHC cards and the WiMax chipset is Intel's Link 5150. Keep in mind that the Link 5150 is a dual-mode WiFi and WiMax module. In other words, there's no guarantee the 802.11n will carry over to the WiMax-less 901 being announced tomorrow. A few more pics after the break, all the rest at our Chinese site.
Gigabyte's M912 gets some specs, possible photo
It's not yet clear whether the image above is actually Gigabyte's forthcoming M912, but at least we're starting to get a clearer picture of the Atom-based laptop's specs. We're thinking maybe this shot could be of another model, though, given the fact that the M912 only has VGA out listed, while we can clearly see what appears to be a full DVI port above. The rest of those specs, for your perusal: 8.9-inch WXGA (1280 x 768) convertible touchscreen display, LED backlight 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, max 1GB RAM 120, 160 and 250GB drive options 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR 1.3 megapixel camera, (3) USB 2.0 ports, SD, VGA, Ethernet 4 hour battery 9.2 x 7 x 1.65 - 1.1-inches, 2.6 pounds [Via jkkmobile, thanks Julionevada]
ASUS said to be holding off on Eee PC 900 orders in anticipation of Atom
It's only just barely made it out into the wild, but DigiTimes is now reporting that ASUS has already stopped taking orders from resellers for its 8.9-inch Eee PC 900 in anticipation of the now imminent launch of the Atom-based Eee PC 901. That word apparently comes from some unspecified "industry sources," who also claim that the Eee PC 900 was only ever a "transitional product" to begin with, which ASUS pushed out the door with a plain old Celeron M processor in order to get an 8.9-inch model out ahead of its competitors. Certainly a reasonable conclusion to draw, but a quick glance of online retailers shows that there's still plenty of Eee PC 900s out there for the taking if you're not sold on this whole Atom thing.
Intel Atom 330 coming Q3, more details come to light
If you've been keeping up on the launch of Intel's dual-core Atom 330 processor, we have a couple little extra nubbins for you to chew on this evening. We already know that the Atom 330 will clock in at 1.6GHz, but that 1MB of cache will be split amongst the two processors. Additionally, we're looking at a 533MHz FSB, 64-bit processing (no real surprise there), and a peak TDP of only 8W, which should be just perfect for those mini PC's that rely on passive cooling. Look for a release in Q3 of 2008, most likely packed inside those Wind PCs.
Leopard running on an Atom Processor
Using PC_efi technology (a means to run OS X on a PC without kernel modification), an anonymous source for netkas.org has managed to run and benchmark Leopard on an Atom chip, which is rumored (and denied) to be headed for Mac. The Atom Processor would certainly make a good candidate for a mini-tablet. It's small enough to fit any form factor, and low power enough to run for long periods in small devices. According to netkas, you can even run one of these on solar power. Here are the results of an Xbench test, courtesy of netkas: More details are available at netkas.org.
MSI Wind desktops and laptops exposed and fondled, Atom seen by all
MSI has been teasing us with its Atom-based laptops and desktops for some time now, so it's only right that they finally give it up and let some journalist rip open a Wind for some straight-up circuit porn. Confirmed on the board are the aforementioned Atom 230 processor, 1GB DDR2-533 RAM, a 160GB SATA drive, gigabit ethernet, a DVD combo drive, 65-watt power supply, and passive cooling with that gargantuan heatsink. As for performance, testers say the machine was capable of playing 720P video without much ado, but wouldn't deal with 1080P. On the laptop side of things, it looks as though the U100 will come in a whole rainbow of colors beyond the red, black, white, and pink we've already seen. Nothing new on that side other than the usual "is it still $399?"Read - Up close with MSI desktop in TaipeiRead - Extreme closeup with MSI Wind notebooks
Rumored dual-core Atom details get fleshed out
We'd already heard that Intel planned to trot out some dual-core Atom processors sooner or later, and the Fudzilla website has now turned up a few more details on 'em courtesy of a supposedly legitimate leak. According to it, the first dual-core processor will be dubbed the Atom 330, and will clock in at the same 1.6GHz as the current single-core Atom 230 (no word on that 1.87GHz version we heard about previously). What's more, the processor will supposedly pack 1MB cache memory (twice the amount of the current single-core processor), and boast a TDP rating of just 8W, which is a good deal more than the 2W rating the current Atom 230 has, but still far less than any of Intel's other low-voltage processors. Still no word on a price for it, unfortunately, but it's said to be on track for a release sometime in the third quarter of this year.[Via Electronista]
Secrets of the Atom cracked, Wind PC revealed
Everyone wants a new generation ultra-portable pumping the Atom processor right? After all, it's Intel's latest and greatest Centrino proc. Not so fast... literally. Impress got their hands on an unofficially released MSI Wind PC (the mini-PC, not the low-cost laptop) and subjected the 1.33GHz Atom processor to a suite of standard tests. While the source is in machine-translated Japanese, that table comparing the Atom with Eee PC 900's Celeron and a typical ULV Core 2 Duo found in a wide range of full-sized, ultra-portable laptops speaks for itself. Keep in mind though that Intel's Atom is supposed to be less power hungry than its peers and CPU benchmarking is hardly the last word when it comes to determining real-world laptop performance -- read/writes to disk, memory, and other system nuances must also be considered. Nevertheless, based on this table and other mounting evidence, first and second generation Eee PC owners shouldn't feel any compulsion to rush out and upgrade to Atom on day 1.[Via Technophone and Notebook Italia]
Intel working on Linux car-computing initiative
We've been hearing about in-car computing forever, it seems, but it looks like the concept might finally be taking off: Microsoft is busy with Auto, there's a proposed .car TLD, BMW is working on in-car internet access, and now Intel is looking to smart up your ride with a vehicle-oriented version of its Moblin OS. The Linux-based system will run on -- what else? -- Atom processors, and carmakers are expected to use it to control everything from in-car systems to nav and multimedia functions. What's more, third-party developers will be able to build apps and services for the platform, in contrast to the mostly-closed systems being proffered by competitors. That's pretty cool, but let's hope there's some virtualization going on between the userspace and the in-car systems controller -- we're not exactly ready to run Firefox on the same machine that's in charge of the brakes.[Image is of that Atari-fied 1979 Buick Riveria]
Atom-powered D945GCLF Mini-ITX motherboard now available
We've heard lots of racket about Intel's hot new Atom chip courtesy of all those subnote manufacturers who plan on using it, but Tranquil PC has noted that the first Mini-ITX motherboard to get powered by said processor is now available for ordering. The Intel D945GCLF comes loaded with a 1.6GHz Atom 230 CPU and support for high-definition audio, 10/100 LAN, PCI, SATA II, GMA 950 graphics and DDR 2 533 / 667 (just to name a few highlights). The board can be ordered up as we speak for £52.90 ($103), and shipments are expected to make their way out during the first week of June.[Via Tranquil PC's Weblog, thanks David]
Video: Willcom's D4 Vista MID previewed
Akihabara News had the chance to take the Atom-based Willcom D4 / Sharp WS016SH for a spin in Tokyo. Although they only got hands-on with a near-final, engineering prototype, the kids at Aki came away impressed. Sure, the yet-to-be-optimized hardware still struggled a bit with Vista. Nevertheless, Aki remains enthusiastic about the OneSeg device toting a sliding / tilting 5-inch, LED-backlit 1,024 x 600 touchscreen display with WiFi and Japanese W-SIM. With this, Lenovo's ideapad U8, and other Intel Atom-based MIDs on the immediate horizon, these bigger than a cellphone smaller than a laptop handhelds look to be fulfilling the ultra-portable 2006 Origami promise... finally, in the second half of 2008. Lengthy video available after the break.
Fujitsu's LifeBook U2010 up close
While yesterday's minuscule shot of this Atom-based UMPC explained the form factor quite well, this here picture shows the unit in a much better light. Otherwise there's little new info on this U2010 from Fujitsu, but that $1,300 pricepoint isn't a great start. Was this whole "Atom is cheaper" thing just a cruel, cruel myth?[Via Pocketables]
Fujitsu showcases pricey Atom-based U2010 UMPC
Might as well get this right out in the open: Fujitsu's forthcoming U2010 UMPC is slated to cost just shy of $1,300 when it lands in Taiwan this July. Yeah, that's even more costly than the Gigabyte M528 that got priced earlier this week. Nevertheless, those with coin to chuck can look forward to a rotatable 5.6-inch 1,024 x 600 touchscreen, integrated 3.5G WWAN / GPS and a six-row keyboard. Sure, there's not much else at 1.34-pounds that we'd want in our left cargo pocket, but a family's got to eat, you know?[Via jkkmobile]
Atom-powered Mini-tablet Confirmed By Intel Germany CEO?
Was it a slip of the tongue? ZDNet.de reports that Intel Germany CEO Hannes Schwaderer, speaking at an Intel 40th anniversary event at Munich's BMW World, confirmed that there is an iPhone that will be using Intel's new Atom processor. The new device is "slightly larger" than the current iPhone, raising speculation that this new member of the iPhone family may be the long-rumored Apple mini-tablet with a 720 x 480 display. Schwaderer also mentioned that an upgraded version of the current iPhone with the same form factor would be a 3G model. With iPhones out of stock in the US and UK, and Steve Jobs scheduled to give the keynote at WWDC 08, new iPhones and the mini-tablet might be right around the corner.What do YOU think about Herr Schwaderer's comments and the rumored mini-tablet? Take our poll! A big thank-you hug to Erica Sadun for the poll answers!%Poll-14211%Update: If you had "Intel disavows knowledge of future iPhone products" for $200, you win.[via ZDNet.de, MacRumors]
WWDC to launch a 3G iPhone and Atom-based MID device? [updated]
Honestly, we're exhausted by the sheer magnitude of 3G iPhone chatter swamping the rumor channels (and our inbox). Nevertheless, it would be a disservice to you, dear reader, if we let this one slide without comment. The perennial Apple touchscreen tablet rumor was given a fresh polish yesterday by Intel's chief German Burgermeister. Hannes Schwaderer stated unequivocally that Apple would be using the new Intel Atom processor in a "future iPhone" which is slightly larger than the existing model due to a larger display. Of course, this isn't the first time that Intel has openly discussed Apple's plans to develop products based on Intel's Centrino Atom, Mobile Internet Device (MID) platform. And as MacRumors and AppleInsider point out, an older rumor calls for a new multi-touch Apple tablet to launch mid-year with a 720 x 480 display on a device said to be about 1.5x the size of the current iPhone. With Intel officially launching Atom in June and Jobs' next keynote scheduled for June 9th... well, it wouldn't surprise us to see Otellini riding a chocolate pony on stage with a multi-touch Newton in hand. Actually, that would be surprising.P.S. That's a pic of Intel's concept MID from Mr. Blurry Cam.Update: Er, ZDNET.de has printed a disclaimer from Intel saying that ZDNET got the whole thing wrong. Intel claims that Schwaderer's comments were generic and not based on specific knowledge about future iPhone models. Where's the damning video evidence when you need it?[Via MacRumors and AppleInsider]
First Intel Atom based MID gets priced -- $1131!?
Intel's been making a lot of noise about MIDs for a while now, but we're going to guarantee that the entire category flops if this first wave of pricing info is accurate. Australian importer Tegatech's got the Gigabyte M528 up for pre-order, and while we're intrigued by the 800MHz Atom processor, 512MB of RAM, and 8GB SSD, we're certainly not willing to pay AU$1199 ($1131) to satisfy our curiosity -- especially since the Linux build was so half-baked when we played with this thing at CeBIT. Of course, this isn't official pricing (and it's actually dropped from AU$1549 since we first saw the listing), but let's hope this is even more inaccurate than usual, eh?[Via UMPC Portal]
