Asus Eee PC 1201N netbook officially announced
November 19, 2009 at 8:34 am
After months of speculation, Asus has officially announced the Eee PC 1201N netbook. This 12.1-inch netbook is powered by a dual-core 1.6GHz 330 Atom processor, Nvidia ION graphics and Windows 7 Home Premium. The 1201N will sell for $499 (in black and white) when it launches in the middle of December.
You won’t find any surprises in the specifications, which are the same that we’ve covered previously. You’ll get a 12.1-inch LED backlit display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Models will come with either 2GB or 3GB DDR2 RAM and a 250GB/320GB HDD. 500GB of free online storage for 12 months is also provided via ASUS WebStorage. Wireless connectivity is taken care by Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1. Other features include HDMI out, a 0.3MP webcam, card reader and three USB ports. Read more
Asus Eee PC 1201N hits US pre-order
November 12, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Surely there must be some official news on the dual-core ION-powered Asus Eee PC 1201N soon. Just last week it appeared for pre-order in Italy and now it has hit pre-order in the US. Excaliber PC has the 12.1-inch netbook listed for $499 including free shipping. The model listed (1201N-PU17-BK) confirms what we’ve previously heard.
It has a dual-core 1.6GHz Atom 330 processor, ION graphics, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD & Windows 7 Home Premium. Other features include a 0.3MP webcam, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (b/g/n), HDMI and a 6-cell battery.
This certainly looks like the netbook that many have longed for, the only thing that may work against it is battery life. Asus UK said an official announcement on the 1201N was expected this week, but we’ve not heard anything so far.
Thanks Bob!
Nvidia Tegra 2 details emerge
November 5, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Details of the second generation of Nvidia’s Tegra platform are starting to emerge. Fudzilla is reporting that the new chip will arrive in 2010 and will use the dual-core ARM 9 processor. This will give it twice the computational and graphics power of the current Tegra chip according to “high ranking industry sources”.
Nvidia CEO, Jen-Hsun Huang, wants Tegra to account for over half of the company’s revenues in the next few years. Whilst it’s presence is likely to end up in high-end smartphones, they will also feature in smartbooks too.
Asus’ dual-core ION Eee PC 1201N netbook hits Italian pre-order
November 4, 2009 at 3:43 pm
It looks like the monstrous Asus Eee PC 1201N netbook, armed with a dual-core CPU and ION chipset, may be hitting European retail pretty soon. The 12.1-inch netbook has just appeared on pre-order from an Italian retailer for €510. No release date was given but the specifications listed match what we’ve already heard.
The listing suggests the model will come with a 1.6GHz dual-core Atom 330 processor, 3GB RAM and a 320GB HDD. The display size is listed as 11.6-inches although we suspect this must be a typo, as the 1201 series is reported to come with a 12.1-inch (1366 x 768) display. Other features include Windows 7 Home Premium, 0.3MP webcam, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (b/g/n), HDMI and a 6-cell battery.
Via Netbook Italia.
Compaq Mini 311c gets video unboxing
October 29, 2009 at 9:40 pm
If the name sounds familiar then that’s because the Compaq Mini 311c is essentially the European version of the ION-equipped HP Mini 311. The differences appear to be mainly cosmetic, with the Compaq having a ‘Q’ logo on its matte lid. Pierre from Blogeee has given his thoughts on the device as well as a video unboxing.
The Mini 311c comes with an 11.6-inch (1366 x 768) display and is armed with an 1.6GHz N270 Atom processor, ION LE, 1GB RAM and a 160GB HDD. Other features include Wi-Fi (b/g), Bluetooth, a 6-cell battery, 5-in-1 card reader and XP Home.
It is a very keenly priced netbook, expected to hit the UK for £319.99
Nvidia ION LE chipset hacked to enable DX10 support
October 29, 2009 at 11:30 am
It always seemed a bit strange that Nvidia would release an entry level ION chipset targeted exclusively to Windows XP netbooks. The ION platform combines an Intel processor and a GeForce 9400M graphics based MCP79 chipset. The cost of producing two chipsets seemed prohibitive, especially as we’re likely to see fewer and fewer netbooks sporting XP as time goes on.
However, it appears that the ION and ION LE chipsets are physically the same after all. The only difference is that ION LE has had DX10 disabled according to some investigative work by MyHPMini member runawayprisoner. He basically added the device id of ION LE into the INF for the full ION HP drivers. The end result gives you DX10 support for the ION LE. Read more
Nvidia ION 2 set to launch by end of year?
October 27, 2009 at 2:55 pm
We are only now just starting to see Nvidia’s ION chipset hitting netbooks and the general consensus appears to be that it was well worth the wait (despite a hit to battery life). However, Fudzilla is reporting that ION 2 is scheduled to launch before the year is out and will deliver twice the graphical power of its predecessor.
I’d take the news with a pinch of salt as Nvidia would no want to cannibalize sales so soon after ION’s launch. Personally, I’d be surprised if we saw ION 2 netbooks before Q2 2010. The interesting part is that we are expected to see switchable graphics next year that will allow you to disable the Nvidia GPU to preserve the battery when not needed. That could be a real killer feature for netbooks going forward, marring an uncompromised computing experience with strong battery life.
In other news, Fudzilla is also reporting that netbooks based on 1.66GHz Atom Pineview processors will see their Intel suggested retail price drop from $299 to $249-$299. Whether this translates to cheaper netbooks for the end-consumer remains to be seen.
Point of View’s 10.2-inch Mobii ION netbook reviewed
October 26, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Netherlands-based company, Point of View, announced its 10.2-inch Mobii ION netbook around three months ago although it’s been distinctly quiet since. However, Fudzilla has today released one of the first thorough reviews that I’ve seen of this unit. The Mobii ION is currently on sale in Europe for €339, along with one other ION netbook, the 11.6-inch Samsung N510.
The Mobii ION was recommended for its good looks (it comes in a number of bright colours), build quality and it stood tall against a number of gaming and HD video tests. 1080p HD playback was possible via the HDMI port and Call of Duty 4 managed 25fps at low resolutions. One of the few points against it was poor European availability and a small keyboard/display versus the larger Samsung N510. Check out the key review points after the break. Read more
Asus Eee PC 1201N specs get confirmed?
October 23, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Pierre over at Blogeee has managed to get hold of what looks like some authentic specs of the French SKU of the upcoming Asus Eee PC 1201N. The good news is that it confirms what’s already been rumoured. The 12.1-inch (1366 x 768) model will come with a 1.6GHz dual-core 330 Atom processor and Nvidia ION chipset. It will also have 2GB Ram and a 250GB HDD.
It will come with Windows Home Premium and feature Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth, a 0.3MP webcam, HDMI-out, three USB ports and weigh 1.4kg. Running a dual-core CPU with Nvidia ION will take its toll on battery life and so far that remains a mystery, although we know that it will feature a 6-cell (5600mAh) battery. The device will be launched in December, just enough time to get it under the Christmas tree. More details as we have it. Check out the specs (in French) after the break. Read more
Lenovo Ideapad S12 ION now on sale in US
October 22, 2009 at 12:51 pm
The Lenovo Ideapad S12 ION went on sale in Japan yesterday and now the configuration option has popped up on the Lenovo US website. It is available to order right now for $599 and ships in 11 business days.
The specs are exactly the same as the Japanese version. The Ideapad S12 ION has a 12.1-inch (1280 x 800) display powered by a 1.6GHz N270 Atom CPU. It comes with Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit), 250GB HDD & 2GB RAM as standard. Other features include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (b/g), 1.3MP webcam, three USB ports, 4-in-1 card reader, HDMI-out and a 6-cell battery good for 6 hours.
Via Netbooked.
Asus Eee PC 1210HA / 1201N manuals uncovered; differences outlined
October 22, 2009 at 12:51 pm
The manual for Asus’ upcoming 12.1-inch Eee PC netbook series is now live. Whilst we know quite a bit about the Eee PC 1201HA, information on the 1201N has been subject to rumour, but is believed to be equipped with ION graphics and a dual-core processor.
Interestingly the manual gives details on both models and shows the port differences between them too. We can see from the schematics that the 1201N does indeed include a HDMI-out that is not found on the 1201HA, in all likelihood confirming the ION chipset. The manual also talks of an Eee PC 1201T model that appears to lack the HDMI. It seems similar to the 1201HA but only has two USB ports compared to the three found in the 1201HA. Read more
Asus Eee PC 1201HA netbook now official; press shots live
October 20, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Asus Italy has today confirmed the existence of the Eee PC 1201HA Seashell. This 12.1-inch netbook will be launching in mid-November with Windows 7 Home Premium in tow for €399.
The 1201HA has a 6-cell battery that the company claims will last for 8 hours, not bad at all considering the larger display. It will be powered by a 1.33GHz Z520 Atom CPU and come with 2GB RAM and a 250GB HDD. Other features include a 0.3MP webcam, Wi-Fi (b/g/n) and 500GB of online data storage. Read more
HP Mini 311 to get revised specs for Windows 7 release
October 11, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system will be released in a matter of weeks now. Some manufacturers are planning to re-release existing netbooks with Windows 7 and as the hardware limits are different to that of XP, it looks like most will get revised specs too.
The ION LE-powered HP Mini 311 (or Compaq Mini 311c if you’re in Europe) is also to get a Windows 7 SKU and myHPMini managed to get hold of the revised spec list.
This includes full ION (rather than ION LE), different storage options (including 80GB SSD or 250GB/320GB HDD) and a maximum of 3GB RAM. It will also run on either Windows 7 Starter, Home Premium or Professional (32-bit) operating systems. It will be interesting to see how these options push up the price on release though.
Via Netbooked.
Nvidia ION 2 to support VIA Nano processors?
October 8, 2009 at 7:45 pm
We are only now starting to see netbooks sporting the ION chipset come into the market, however that doesn’t stop us talking about ION 2. Fudzilla reports that the second ION chipset is on track to start shipping this year, without citing a launch date.
Whilst not too many details have been revealed thus far, ION 2 will apparently support a number of different processors including VIA Nano, Intel ULV & of course Intel Atom. As the VIA CPUs are normally cheaper than Intel’s equivalents, this could lead to a wave of VIA ION-powered netbooks in the not-too-distant future.
HP Mini 311 reviewed – close to 6 hrs battery life
October 7, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Following on from the HP Mini 311 benchmarks that appeared yesterday, Laptop Mag has released its review of the ION-powered netbook. Overall, it scored highly, earning a coveted ‘Editors Choice’ award. Whilst we’d already seen that performance was way ahead than your traditional netbook, we didn’t know how much of a hit this took on battery life.
Luckily, battery life wasn’t compromised. In their tests, they managed to get a very respectable 5 hours and 46 minutes out of the 6-cell battery. Combine this with a reasonable $399 price point, and sleek chassis, it seems that HP are onto a winner with the Mini 311. Check out the key review points after the break. Read more
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