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Mac OS X 10.6.2 rumored to block Atom support, foil netbook OS X booting
In a move sure to rile up the crowds of people (including our very own Erica Sadun) who have converted cheap Intel Atom-powered netbooks into tiny MacBook-like hackintoshes, several sites are reporting that Apple will kill support for the battery-sipping CPU in the next release of Snow Leopard. For most netbook manufacturers like MSI, Dell, and ASUS, the Intel Atom line of energy-efficient microprocessors has been the perfect CPU due to its low cost. Cheap prices on these netbooks, often below US$300, have made them the choice of many Mac users who want a very portable and affordable laptop solution that they're not currently getting from Apple. The word from many developers who are testing the most recent build of Mac OS X 10.6.2 Snow Leopard is that support for the Atom CPU is gone. Either the hackintosh owners will have to run Mac OS X 10.6.1 for the foreseeable future, or some enterprising hacker will build a patch to add Atom support back to the upcoming OS release. Like the current syncing struggle between iTunes 9 and the Palm Pre, this may turn into a tit-for-tat battle between Apple and the hackintosh community -- or it might be the end of the road for Mac OS X on the featherlight PCs. [via Engadget, OS X Daily]
Apple killing Atom support, dreams of netbook hackintoshers in next Snow Leopard release?
Nobody said running a netbook hackintosh would be easy -- but nobody said they'd make it this hard. Apple is currently engaged in a war of compatibility with Palm and, if the developer build of Snow Leopard version 10.6.2 is any indication, the Atom processor is next on the smack down list. Word on coder street is that the upcoming revision of OS X will kill support for Intel's little powerhouse. That could certainly change before it hits the world at large, but we wouldn't bet on it. So, if you're viewing this on an netbook install of your own devising, you may be stuck at version 10.6.1 (or earlier) for awhile -- or you may need to do a little custom kernel building. Either way, we're thinking that if Apple ever gets around to making a netbook it probably won't be an Atom-powered one.
Onkyo's tiny ION-based P3 nettop has an even tinier removable DVD-ROM
If you're concerned about the future obsolescence of your miniscule Atom-based nettop, chances are its choice of optical storage is not what's bothering you. But, if that's what keeps you up at nights, Onkyo's P3 is your Ambien. Its ION platform sports the usual 1.6GHz Atom 230 proc, 2GB of memory, and 160GB hard drive. The DVD-ROM is a separate module that clips into a groove on the side and, while details are slim, that doesn't look like a standard form-factor to us, so if a Blu-ray upgrade or the like ever surfaces don't expect it to be cheap. The P3 itself (pictured again below with an LCD friend) isn't exactly a bargain to start, with an estimated MSRP of ¥69,800 (about $770) when it ships in March of next year. That's the price you pay for modular design.
Slew of Pine Trail packing portables announced, processor release slated for early Jan?
Remember that lone Pine Trail nettop that was spotted yesterday morning? That wasn't the only next-gen Atom product that KND had up its sleeve -- not by a long shot. The company has an array of netbooks, nettops, and one hybrid combination of the two displayed on its website, all captured in tiny little pictures like the one you see to the right. On the low end there's the K116, an 11.6-inch netbook with an N450 processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 250GB hard disk. Two nettops are planned, including the K185 we saw yesterday as well as the K19W with its 19-inch, 1440 x 900 screen, dual-core Atom D510 processor, 2GB of RAM, and again a 250GB hard disk. Finally there's the middle-man, the K133 netbook that shares its specs with the K19W, but is included in a 13.3-inch laptop form. All are spec'd out at the read link below, but none with prices or ship dates. The latest word on the Pine Trail platform release is that the N450 chips will be let loose on January 3, and that several devices will be shipping on that very same day. You can probably connect the dots as well as we can.
NVIDIA Ion 2 still on track for this year
Don't let NVIDIA's recent announcement that they'll be steering clear of Intel DMI CPUs get you down, man. According to the fine folks at Fudzilla, the company will indeed unveil its Ion 2 chipset before the year's end. The second-generation platform is said to feature much faster graphics, over twice the shaders, a smaller die, and support for the VIA Nano as well as the usual compliment of Pentium 4-compatible CPUs. No word yet from the company itself, but you'll know as soon as we do. Promise.[Via SlashGear]
Asus Eee Top ET2002 reviewed, thoroughly enjoyed
The kids at Liliputing got their hands on the Asus Eee Top ET2002 all-in-one recently and were cool enough to both put it through its paces and clue us in on their findings. According to the reviewer the device, which sports a 1.6GHz Dual Core Atom 330 processor, a 20-inch / 1600 x 900 pixel display, 2GB of RAM, and a 320GB hard drive, was "impressive... in many ways." It easily handles 1080p playback and video games that would cause "most Intel-Atom based PCs to choke." Aside from the ION graphics, unfortunately, this guy comports itself like a "typical" Atom netbook: unzipping large files takes forever, boot times are slow, and the system sometimes felt overtasked when browsing the web. Then again, when you're spending less than $600 on a machine (Amazon's currently selling 'em for $581) you're going to have to make some compromises. Hit the read link to see for yourself.
Samsung's ION-enriched N510 reviewed approvingly, still needs price trim
We dare say NVIDIA's ION platform hasn't been the quickest to go from announcement to market availability, but at long last we're seeing a number of pretty decent options cropping up. The Samsung N510 is a great test case for the prowess of the chipset, as it boasts the otherwise entirely unremarkable Atom N280, 1GB RAM and 160GB HDD spec, meaning that whatever performance gains it exhibits will be down to the ION infrastructure. Unsurprisingly, the 11.6-inch machine showed marked improvements over standard netbooks in the graphics department, with hardware-accelerated 1080p video decoding and mildly graphically-intensive games made possible. With six and a half hours of battery life and a matte 1366 x 768 screen, the N510 was well received by the PC Pro team, who could only bemoan the uncompetitive pricing of £382 (about $613). Hit the read link for their full impressions.
Windows 7 logo program already 6,000-strong with products
The Windows Ecosystem Team has gone official with the new 'Compatible with Windows 7' sticker, which we sincerely hope won't be as laughably misapplied as its Vista-related predecessor. Set to appear on hardware, software and peripherals, the label is intended to reassure customers that they'll have the "optimal Windows 7 experience" thanks to "robust testing requirements" and a longer testing cycle. That's good to hear, as is the fact that already over 6,000 products have been given a passing grade, meaning that -- surprise, surprise -- when you get your Windows 7 machine, it will most likely be compatible with everything you own or intend to buy. An intriguing tidbit is that one logo will cover all flavors, including 64-bit, meaning that you'll have to wait for Intel's Pineview chips to come around the turn of the year if you want to get a certified Atom-based Windows 7 netbook. Update: Okay, so it looks like we were a little off the mark here. To be clear, this program is primarily intended for peripherals and accessories you purchase after you get a computer, which is why testing against 64-bit Windows 7 is a requirement. We're sure we'll see plenty of Atom netbooks running Windows 7 with a slightly different sticker on 'em just as soon as October 22 rolls around -- you just won't be able to buy an Atom-based mobo with this particular sticker on the box, because it won't run 64-bit Windows 7. You know what else you can't buy? A dragon.
Video: Hanvon / Hanwang's aluminum-clad tablet does Windows 7 multitouch
You know that tablet we keep waiting for? Well, here's something that looks very much like it, but for the Windows 7 operating system and purported Atom processor inside. This 8.9-inch, two USB port-sporting device can pull off multi-touch pinching and zooming -- albeit with a lag akin to wading through water -- and is outfitted in a rather becoming all-aluminum case. It could make for a pretty desirable movie-playing machine on the go, provided it has the battery prowess for such tasks. Chinese folks will know for sure pretty soon, with the release coming before year's end -- presumably just as soon as the company figures out which westernized version of its name to use. Check out the video after the break.
TabletKiosk rises from the ashes, pops Atom CPUs into hideous new UMPC / tablet line
Sheesh -- whatever happened to TabletKiosk, anyway? Aside from one random slate PC tailored for the medical industry, we haven't seen anything meaningful from these guys since 2008. And yes, that includes the present day. Oh sure, the company's newest trifecta of machines -- which includes the 7-inch eo a7330D, 7-inch eo TufTab a7230XD and 12.1-inch Sahara NetSlate a230T -- may use the incredibly mighty Atom CPU now, but that doesn't change the fact that they're all uglier than sin itself. In fairness, all three are designed more for the enterprise market than for fashion conscious consumers, but still, we're struggling to see any design improvements here compared to the wares this outfit was pushing way back in 2007. If you truly believe that beauty's on the inside, hit the read link for all the dirt.[Via HotHardware]
Video: UMID shows off faster, cheaper, Windows 7-packing mbook M2
It seems like just yesterday we were finally welcoming the UMID mbook M1 into the world, kicking and screaming after a rather extended gestation. After all that it wasn't exactly well received thanks to a high price, a screen that didn't open far enough, and USB ports that sadly required dongles. UMID is now demoing the completely dongle-free M2, said to be ultimately available with your choice of either a 1.2 or 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor. Memory has been bumped up to 1GB to support Windows 7, the case has been tweaked, the hinge now opens further, and there's an optical "mouse" integrated into the bezel with a sensor on the right and two tiny mouse buttons on the left. A non-functional version is lovingly caressed after the break, while working models are said to ship before the year is up with prices starting at $499. Let's hope this one doesn't follow the same, circuitous path to retail that its predecessor did. [Via jkkmobile]
How would you change the netbook as we know it?
Netbooks, by definition, have been around for years now, and while the vast majority have left the 7- to 9-inch realm, hardly any have bothered to show up with a respectable 720p panel. Furthermore, hardly any have deviated from the strictly held hardware line, which generally consists of an Intel Atom N270 / N280 processor, GMA950 graphics, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, Windows XP and far too few USB sockets. Oh sure, we've seen an Ion-based machine trickle in every now and then, and AMD definitely has our interest piqued with Congo, but we're honestly exhausted by the torrent of netbooks that just seem to look exactly like one another internally. This week's question is dead simple: if you had the power to flip the netbook arena upside-down, how would you go about it?
Epson's Endeavor Na02mini-V netbook won't excite many
Epson's Endeavor Na01 shipped with an astoundingly predictable set of specifications last November, and lo and behold, the unit's successor has a BOM that's equally guessable. If you're not in the mood for playing games (and be honest, you aren't), we'll inform that this bugger touts a 10.1-inch display, 1,024 x 600 resolution, 1.66GHz Atom N280 processor, 1GB of memory, a 160GB hard drive, WiFi, a trio of USB 2.0 sockets and a multi-card reader. It's also sporting one of the classier cases out there, and the built-in VGA / Ethernet ports are also handy. The included Li-ion isn't anything special, but we're told an extended cell that offers up ten hours of life should be coming soon; for those who can hardly wait, it should be ready to purchase this November for ¥39,800, or just north of $427 at current exchange rates.[Via Engadget Korea]
Intel exec speaks the obvious: first-time buyers aren't going for netbooks
Intel's chief sales and marketing officer Sean Maloney wants you to know something you probably already figured out on your own. "Netbooks are predominantly... a second or third purchase from someone who's already got a notebook," he suggested today at the company's Technology Fair event, further extrapolating with an anecdote of him watching people in China retail shops skipping the portables and going straight to more capable notebooks. "The first time you buy something, you want the real deal. It's a human behavior thing... it's [the same] all around the world." It's an admission of processing power and capability, but of course Intel still wants you interested in ultra-thin computers with more capability -- and either way, the chip manufacturer gets a share of the profits, so it's essentially a win-win.
Viewsonic VOT130 and ION-based VOT132 nettops handled in the open
Not long after we first heard about Viewsonic's latest VOT130 and VOT132 nettops, the gang at Netbook News have gotten some hands-on time with the hardware. On the surface, it looks pretty sleek, and the abundance of USB ports is a definite plus, as is the HDMI port on the NVIDIA ION-based VOT132, but unfortunately we're lacking any performance demonstrations or impressions. As we saw previously, the slot-loading optical drive attachment is essentially the same form factor and attaches flush with the unit thanks to some aptly placed magnets, and the bundled stand is designed for the computer with or without the peripheral. So what's not to love? Well, the price for one -- the ION-packed VOT132 costs a hefty $514 US in Taiwan, with the VOT130 priced at a more reasonable $331 -- but perhaps that'll be brought down if / when it ever makes an official stateside debut. Video hands-on after the break.
NEC VersaPro VS-7 netbook manhandled, makes one reviewer positively giddy
You know that new ultra-light, ultra-thin, and ultra-portable laptop from NEC you got an eyeful of way back in May? Of course you do. You've been obsessing, actually -- and frankly, we've been worried about you. Still, we'd be remiss in our duties if we didn't turn you on to this mini-review that Akihabara News scored of the VersaPro VS-7. And we must say, the kudos are flowing pretty freely over there: "freaking light," (that's right: freaking), "slim and robust." The reviewer is simply "amazed" at the netbook's performance. Even in full screen mode HD video plays "just fine," and 720p DivX video playback is characterized as "flawless." But that ain't all -- hit the read link for the full, unexpurgated tale. But not before peeping the video after the break.
Intel Atom N450 "Pineview" processor delayed until next year?
We'd recommend taking this one with a hefty grain of salt for the time being as Intel isn't saying anything on the matter itself just yet, but DigiTimes is reporting / speculating that Intel's Atom N450 "Pineview" processor (and the Pine Trail platform that goes along with) has been delayed until next year. That processor, as you may recall, was apparently on track to debut sometime in the last quarter of this year, but DigiTimes says Intel has decided to push it back a bit so as not to shake up the netbook market too much in the second half of 2009.Update: DigiTimes has further clarified saying the N270 will take up the slack on 2H2009 in part due to low orders of the relatively high cost N450 and worries that the Pine Trail platform could cannibalize sales of next gen thin-and-lights and Calpella-based laptops.
No surprise: Intel has known about Chrome OS, worked with Google on 'elements' of project
So as it turns out, Intel isn't just casually accepting of Google's new OS initiative, it's actually been privy to the project for some time now, according to a spokesperson for the chipmaker. The two have apparently also worked together (and are potentially still working together) on portions of Chrome OS, he says, which really makes it all the more curious that the company isn't mentioned among Google's first partners while Qualcomm, Freescale, and Texas Instruments are. Then again, said inclusion might make the Moblin team more than a little bit upset, and either way, let's not forget that Atom chips will be sold regardless of which OS is on the system -- it's really kind of a win-win situation that we reckon the hardware division isn't complaining about.
Intel Celeron, Core i7, and Atom lineup leaked?
The sun rises, seasons change, CPUs get faster, and Intel's plans get leaked. That's the way it works, so while this report from Digitimes listing out Intel's chip releases through the beginning of next year should be taken with a grain of salt, feel free to make it a small one. Apparently there's a new line of celery-packing Celeron processors coming in Q3 called E3000, starting with the 2.4GHz E3200 and the 2.5GHz E3300. Both feature 1MB of L2 cache, 800MHz FSB, 65W power consumption, and hardware virtualization, meaning either can take you to XP-on-Win7 nerdvana. There will also be a new Core i7 960 chip with a core frequency of 3.2GHz in the fourth quarter, which is also when the nettop-intended dual-core Atom D510 will drop, while the more portable-friendly dual-core Atom D410 won't release until Q1 next year -- bad news for those who'd been hoping for a speedier netbook under the Christmas tree.
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.
