Archos 10s netbook gets UK launch details

The Archos 10s netbook is essentially exactly the same, in terms of components, as the Archos 10. It is a 10.2-inch (1024 x 600) netbook that uses the same 1.6GHzs N270 processor and comes with 1GB RAM and a 160GB HDD. However, whereas the Archos 10 was a pretty average netbook, the 10s ups the ante by its slimmer form-factor. It measures just 22.5mm in thickness and weighs 1.06kg with the 3-cell battery.

We now know that the Archos 10s will launch this month with 2 SKUs. The first includes a 3-cell battery and will retail for £329.99, whilst a 6-cell version will cost an extra £20 at £349.99. The Archos Classmate is expected to launch in August for £319.99.

Via Pocket-Lint.

AMD looking to outgun ION via Radeon HD 4200

AMD is planning to release a new integrated chipset codenamed RS880 targeting low-end systems such as netbooks according to The Inquirer. This chip will come with the ATi Radeon HD4200 graphics core that is 15 percent faster than anything on the market right now.

I assume this statistic also takes into account Nvidia’s 9400M/ION GPU. After all, it is Nvidia’s ION platform that AMD is targeting here. It also supports AMD’s Stream general-purpose computing technology and, by extension, would eventually support OpenCL. A first glimpse of these new chipset should emerge in August and it is set to include DX10.1. This would mean a launch ahead of the rumoured ION 2 chipset from Nvidia by the end of the year.

Asus Eee PC 1101HA unboxing video + manual overclocking tested

We have already seen some unboxing pictures of the Asus Eee PC 1101HA Seashell, but now a video unboxing has emerged of the 11.6-inch Eee PC netbook courtesy of Notebook Italia. The styling is very similar to other netbooks in the Seashell line-up and Asus could be onto a winner given its 11.6-inch high-resolution (1366 x 768) display and power efficient 1.33GHz Z520 Atom CPU and Poulsbo (US15W) chipset. The 1101HA is packaged like any other Asus Eee PC netbook. It also comes with the usual accessories including 6-cell 4400mAh battery. The video is attached below.

Notebook Italia also had a close look at the manual overclocking tool that we reported on recently. As a quick recap, Asus provides an automatic clocking tool in the form of its Super Hybrid Engine (SHE). Using this you can under/overclock depending on your usage but the clock speeds are predefined. The Eee PC 1101HA is the first netbook that Asus has allowed users to manually overclock the CPU themselves through the BIOS. Read more

Samsung NC10 ‘easy’ internal 3G mod

Most mods out there which tell you how to get internal 3G functionality are quite complicated and certainly not for the novice modder. João from BassoPT’s Ultra Mobile Computing has come up with a relatively easier solution that will only work on the Samsung NC10. However, this still involves opening the bottom of the netbook, so you’ll have to see where your skills fit before trying this at home.

João basically opened the bottom and replaced the Wi-Fi Mini PCI-E card with a 3G modem. Obviously this means that you’ll have no wireless access, but João solved this problem by using a small Buffalo USB 2.0 Wi-Fi dongle. The other issue is that once you insert your sim card into the slot it will remain there unless you take off the whole bottom casing again. Or, you could always hack a hole into the casing to provide easy access. JKKMobile says that this is one of the few netbooks where you swap out the Wi-Fi module for a 3G one.

NbC: Ruby Red Eee PC Seashell hands-on + other colours announced

It was going to happen at some point or the other, Asus has announced various colours for its Seashell range of Eee PC netbooks. Along with the standard black and white colours, the Eee PC 1008HA will also appear in Blue, Pink, Ruby Red and Sapphire Blue. The last two colours will come with an iridescent finish. The Eee PC 1005HA netbook will get just two new colours, Pink and Blue.

We went hands-on with a Ruby Red 1008HA Seashell last week and it looked very nice in the flesh. It also seemed less fingerprint prone to compared to the black version. From what we were told, these versions will come with no extra premium and the specifications will remain the same. You can check out to see how the Ruby Red Seashell looks in the pictures below. Read more

Gateway’s 11.6-inch LT3103u netbook unboxed

We have already seen a quick review of Gateway’s AMD-powered LT3103u netbook. However that was very short on pictures. This is where NetbookTech’s unboxing comes into play, where everything is shown from the packaging to the accessories. The pictures show just how glossy that lid is and also how considerate Gateway has been in providing access panels for the RAM, HDD and Wi-Fi module (much like the Acer Aspire One 751).

The battery does stick quite a way out of the back of the LT3103u, but that’s the price you pay for decent battery life. However, the tilt provided gives a more comfortable typing experience according to the report. I didn’t realise that this netbook comes with a chiclet keyboard, which I only noticed from the pictures. The Gateway LT3103u comes with an 11.6-inch (1366 x 768) display and also has discrete graphics in the form of an ATI Radeon X1270 GPU. Check out the full gallery of unboxing pictures over at Netbooktech.

Asus Eee PC 1005HA Seashell now shipping in US

The latest line-up in Asus’ Seashell series, the Eee PC 1005HA netbook is now shipping in the United States through Amazon.com. There are two main SKUs being sold and it is important to recognise the difference between both series as there is quite a difference between them.

The more expensive Eee PC 1005HA-P at $389.99 comes with the 1.66GHz N280 Atom processor, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, a 1.3MP webcam, a higher capacity 6-cell battery (5600 mAh) good for 10.5 hours and a netbook sleeve. This version also comes with a glossy screen. Read more

Nvidia ION 2 details surface

The next iteration of the Nvidia ION chipset is believed to have double the amount of shaders seen in the current Geforce 9400M /MCP79/ION GPU according to Fudzilla. Nvidia ION has 16 shaders whilst ION 2 will have more than 32. The result will be much more powerful graphics on netbooks and nettops.

Nvidia are lying low on the exact details as they do no want to cannibalise sales of their ION platform, which has yet to ship in any netbook. A number of netbooks with the ION platform will release in H2 2009 including the Lenovo S12 ION as well as the rumoured Samsung N510. The ION 2 platform will launch at the end of this year according to the report.

NEC announces LaVie Light Lui 10-inch netbook

NEC has unveiled a new 10-inch netbook called the LaVie Light Lui Mobile. Looking at its specs, it doesn’t offer much to distinguish this from the sea of netbooks out there. The best I can up with is that it comes with the NEC Lui remote desktop system, which allows you to access your desktop remotely much like RealVNC.

The LaVie Light is powered by a 1.66GHz N280 Atom CPU, 1GB RAM and a 160GB HDD. It has a 10.1-inch screen with 1024 x 600 resolution and comes with a 1.3MP webcam, Wi-Fi (b/g) and Bluetooth 2.1. The whole system weighs a reasonably chunky 1.32kg but that includes a battery, which should last for 8.5 hours. So far pricing and availability is unknown.

Via Akhibara News.

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