Nvidia planning PCI-Express ION 2 solution?

Despite the popularity of Nvidia’s ION chipset, it cannot be used on Intel’s new Pine Trail Atom platform. The move from a three-chip to two-chip processor platform means that Nvidia needs to revise its ION chip to be compatible with upcoming netbooks sporting Pineview CPUs.

Nvidia’s next-generation ION part (ION 2) is expected to launch in Q1 2010, although it’s still an unknown as to what form it will take. Intel’s new Atom platform does not offer HD video acceleration or Adobe flash acceleration with its GMA 3150 GPU and judging by the reviews seen today, won’t offer an improvement in performance over the current Atom platform. Read more

Dell preps fanless Pineview-powered Inspiron Mini 10 [Video]

Dell is preparing a redesigned Inspiron Mini 10 netbook using Intel’s new Pine Trail Atom platform. The new Inspiron Mini 10 will be powered by a 1.66GHz N450 Atom processor and will offer a slimmer chassis than its predecessor along with a 9.5-hour battery life.

Other changes include a textured palm rest and an integrated battery compartment. Two 6-cell batteries will be offered: the 56Whr battery should last for 8 hours and 44 minutes, whilst the 60WHr battery should last for 9 hours and 34 minutes. The integrated buttons within the touch pad remains and Dell has also has decided to remove multi-touch gesture support. Read more

Asus Eee PC 1005PE review roundup

The Asus Eee PC 1005PE is one of the first netbooks with Intel’s next-generation Pine Trail Atom. A number of publications have published reviews this morning of Asus’ 1.66GHz N450-powered 10.1-inch device.

Overall, the consensus seems to be that the Eee PC 1005PE offers superb battery times, thanks to the Pine Trail platform, although performance is barely different to what we’ve seen N270/N280 Atom-powered netbooks. Battery life results differ and it looks like you’ll be able to get around nine hours of usage out of it.

Whilst the 1005PE is not much different to the 1005HA Seashell, you do get a bigger hard drive, more robust keyboard and of course the extra battery life. As it’s at the same price point ($379) of the 1005HA, it also offers good value for money.

Asus is planning on launching two similar models the Eee PC 1005P and 1005PE. The 1005PE comes with a higher-capacity battery and larger hard drive. The Eee PC 1005PE will go on sale on 4th January 2010 for $379. There’s no word on UK launch details for now. Below you’ll find a list of all of the reviews that we’ve come across. Read more

MSI Wind U130, U135, U140 & U160 Pineview netbooks on horizon

We have it on good authority that MSI is set to launch its own range of Intel Pine Trail Atom netbooks including the Wind U130, U135, U140 and U160 models. Details are scant on the models themselves apart from the fact that they will use the 1.66GHz N450 Atom Pineview processor.

The U130 and U135 models are expected to be similar to the U100 but with a larger touchpad. The U140 is said to use the same chassis as the U123. The U160 will come in a super skinny chassis. Whether this means it is a CULV ultra-thin or fanless Pineview Atom model is unknown at this stage.

The U130, U135 and U140 are expected to be 10-inch netbooks although we couldn’t confirm whether this is the case for the U160. We believe that MSI is lining up these netbooks for a CES 2010 launch in January. We’ll bring you further news as we have it. In the meantime, check out the first picture of the MSI Wind U135 below. Read more

Intel officially announces Pine Trail Atom platform [Video]

Intel has officially unveiled its next-generation Pine Trail Atom platform. This comprises the 1.66GHz N450 Atom processor for netbooks and 1.66GHz D410 & D510 (dual-core) Atom processors for nettops. Both will use the Intel NM10 Express Chipset. The first devices featuring Intel Pine Trail will be available from 4th January 2010.

The new 45nm platform is a two-chip solution that integrates graphics and memory controller into the processor. The benefits of doing so include a smaller footprint and lower power usage. Intel is quoting that netbooks should use 20 percent less power with a 60 percent package size reduction. Nettops should see even bigger gains with 50 percent less power usage and a 70 percent reduction in package size. Read more

Asus Eee PC 1201T AMD netbook now official

Asus has a number of 12.1-inch models in its netbook range, the vanilla 1201HA, the ION 1201N and also the AMD-powered 1201T. The Asus Eee PC 1201T has now gone official with its own product page on the Asus site.

The specs confirm what we had heard previously and unfortunately this particular model lacks a HDMI port. You do get a netbook powered by a 1.6GHz AMD Congo MV40 processor, 2GB Ram and 250GB HDD though, with a 6-cell battery rated to last for six hours. Check out the full specs after the break. Read more

The most comfortable position to use a netbook

An excellent piece of research was posted to Core77 over the summer that looked at the different positions that one can use a netbook and the appropriate stresses on joints and muscles this can cause. It’s likely to resonate with many people as I often find it difficult to get comfy in one position for long, even taking into account the mobility that a netbook brings.

Apparently the researchers concluded that “a conventional small clamshell laptop is most comfortably used lying down in bed with the device on the thigh when the knees are kept up.” So which position do you find most comfortable? Check out the chart below. Read more

Asus Eee PC 1005P & 1005PE press shots unveiled

The Asus Eee PC 1005P and 1005PE 10.1-inch netbooks will be the company’s Pineview version of the best-selling Eee PC 1005HA Seashell. We brought you an idea of the spec-sheets of both models yesterday and now the press shots have also been leaked.

As you would expect, the appearance is very similar to that of other netbooks in the Seashell range. The textured lid looks very similar to the one seen in the Eee PC 1001HA and these new models will come with chiclet keyboards instead of the flat keys seen in the 1005HA. Click through for a full list of specs of both the Eee PC 1005P and higher-priced 1005PE along with a number of press shots. Read more

Nokia Booklet 3G netbook gets pricey UK pre-order

The Nokia Booklet 3G netbook is finally available to pre-order in the UK although it won’t come cheap. It’s already released in the US and parts of Europe and the high price has carried through to UK shores. It is available for pre-order on the Nokia store for £649.00, which thankfully includes shipping. It is due to ship in January 2010.

Back when the first details of the device came through, we opined that it is more likely to be closer to the £600 mark than the £500 mark quoted at the time. We called the £600 price point ridiculous so hearing that it will actually cost £650 causes disbelief. Read more

Asus Eee PC 1201N reviewed – most potent netbook to date

The Asus Eee PC 1201N netbook always had the building blocks to be a raring success. It combines the much sought after Nvidia ION chipset with a dual-core 1.6GHz Atom 330 processor. This is the first time we have seen such a combination from one of the big netbook manufacturers and judging by HotHardware’s review, Asus is onto a winner.

The dual-core CPU was quick in their benchmarks and the inclusion of Nvidia ION meant that the ability to play even recent games was possible. Under their real world battery testing, the battery lasted for 3 hours and 23 minutes. This is obviously lower than the claimed 5-hour battery life but it was achieved with 50 percent brightness, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth switched on. Read more

Asus Eee PC 1005P / 1005PE get e-tailer listings; specs emerge

Asus, like most other manufacturers, are set to launch new netbooks based on Intel’s upcoming Pineview processors. We have already heard that two of these models will follow the footsteps of the popular Eee PC 1005HA/1008HA Seashell models in the form of the Eee PC 1005P/1008P netbooks.

Details on the Eee PC 1008P have already emerged, but now we are starting to see specifications for the 1005P and 1005PE listed on several retailers. The 10.1-inch Asus Eee PC 1005P will be powered by a 1.66GHz N450 Atom Pineview, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD and come with Windows 7 Starter. The 1005P will be available in white (1005P-WHI008S) and black (1005P-BLK009S). Read more

Nvidia’s next-generation ION to launch in Q1 2010; shown off at CES

Nvidia will showcase ION 2 at CES 2010 in January, with a formal launch penciled in for the first quarter of 2010. Nvidia confirmed the existence of the chip during a conference call yesterday and expects several partners to be showing off ION 2 devices at CES.

Nvidia has apparently delayed the release of the chip due to pressure from its partners such as Asus, HP and Lenovo who are still enjoying good sales of netbooks/nettops using the original ION. ION 2 is expected to run twice as fast as the original, sporting at least twice as many shaders. Read more

Google branded Chrome OS netbook on the horizon?

Whilst it is looking ever more likely that Google will be releasing its own branded Android smartphone called the Nexus One, it appears that they may be planning something similar for netbooks with Chrome OS.

According to TechCrunch sources, Google has “been talking to at least one hardware manufacturer about building a netbook for Google directly.” The idea is that these Chrome OS netbooks will be Google branded and would release in time for Christmas 2010. The netbooks (or smartbooks) will be mobile enabled and subsidized via wireless carriers. Read more

Asus Eee PC 1201N now shipping in US

Judging by the Amazon pre-order it was widely expected that the ION-powered dual-core Eee PC 1201N would not be available until mid-January. However, Newegg has come up trumps and has the 12.1-inch netbook in stock for $499.99 with free shipping. That means that if you order now there’s a good chance of getting it under the Christmas tree!

A quick reminder on the specs: the 1201N will come with a 12.1-inch (1366 x 768) display, 1.6GHz dual-core Atom 330 processor, Nvidia ION, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD and Windows 7 Home Premium.

Via Netbooked.

Entourage Edge dual-screen Android e-reader gets video hands-on

The Entourage Edge is an interesting device that sports dual displays, one of them a 9.7-inch e-ink panel and the other a 10-inch TFT LCD. The Marvell-powered device is marketed as an e-reader, however its twin-display setup means its functionality can be much broader and I suspect used for some quasi netbook tasks.

Cnet’s Ina Fried spent some hands-on time with the Entourage Edge that runs on Android. You can move content between displays as well as launch apps from the desktop. However, the Edge is still a bit buggy and feels like a “first-generation product.” It’s expected to launch in February 2010 for $490. Check out the video after the jump. Read more

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