Hasta La Gadget!

It’s been awhile since Intel refreshed the tablet version Classmate PC, and it’s decided to launch the next generation kiddie netbook here at its CeBIT press conference. We just got a look at the new 10.1-inch light blue netvertible from afar and it looks slimmer than the previous version, but according to the press release below the updates really come in the form of ruggedness. It’s got that always-cute grippy handle, a water resistant, anti-microbial keyboard, hard drive protection and a rubberized bottom. Still in tact is the rotatable webcam, screen accelerometer, and onboard microphone for recording notes. Unsurprisingly, Intel has updated the internals with its latest Pine Trail Atom processors. While it comes with a stylus, we’re unsure if the touchscreen will support multitouch, but you can be sure we’ll be finding out when we get some hands-on time. Oh, and happy birthday from Intel everyone!

Continue reading Intel refreshes convertible Classmate PC with increased ruggedness and new Atom

Intel refreshes convertible Classmate PC with increased ruggedness and new Atom originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel introduced the new Atom N470 netbook CPU back in September and then Lenovo showed off its S10-3t with the new processor at CES, but chipzilla’s taking the time today to give its newest Pine Trail CPU a proper unveil. The 1.83GHz N470 joins the 1.66GHz N450 as an option for netbooks, and like the rest of the Pineview integrates the GMA 3150 graphics controller on the same chip and supports hyperthreading. According to Intel, the major OEMs are expected to introduce new netbooks based on this processor soon, but if our experience with the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t is any glimpse into the “performance boost” of this processor we’re not sure there’s anything to wait for. Our full review of the S10-3t netvertible is almost done cooking, but we can tell you right now the system didn’t feel faster in use even with its 2GB of RAM, and on PCMark05 it scored in the same range as other N450 netbooks. While the slightly faster clock speed may be a nice bragging right, at the end of the day Atom N470-based netbooks are still, well, netbooks.

Intel officially adds Pine Trail Atom N470 processor, early performance results don’t impress originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve maintained that Intel’s range of Atom chips were simply too weak to really love and adore the way a slab of silicon should be, but that’s probably because of our infatuation with things like “overclocking” and “Core i7 Extremes.” Whatever the case, it’s beginning to look a wee bit better for the lineup, as Fudzilla has it that the company will be adding DDR3 memory support to the 1.83GHz N475 and 1.6GHz N455. Both of those chips are expected to maintain their current TDP ratings, and both are expected to launch in Q3 of this year. Nah, DDR3 compatibility won’t make your next netbook scream or anything, but when we’re talking Atoms, we’ll take all the baby steps we can get.

Intel said to be cooking up DDR3-lovin’ Atom N475 and Atom N455 CPUs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maybe it’s all the talk of the ITG xpPhone that’s made ViewSonic’s VPC08 come out of hiding, but the phone/MID contraption is finally making a video appearance and revealing why it’s so damn thick. Unlike the xpPhone the VPC08 is actually an ordinary feature phone with a 2-inch display stuck on top of an Atom Z500-powered 4.3-inch MID. Uh, innovative? Not so much since it doesn’t appear that the two work in conjunction, but we do know that the phone supports EV-DO, and that the MID portion packs 512MB RAM, an 8GB SSD with Windows XP, and WiFi. For those that are at all interested in holding this mega-device up to an ear, it looks like it will be sold only in China for a whopping 4800 Yuan ($705). No word if that price includes pants with extra-large pockets. We’ll be waiting for the Moorestown-powered LG GW990 to get Atom in a phone, but we do urge you to check out this beast of a “phone” in action in the video after the break.

Continue reading ViewSonic VPC08 MID/phone appears on video, fails to steal xpPhone’s thunder

Filed under: Handhelds

ViewSonic VPC08 MID/phone appears on video, fails to steal xpPhone’s thunder originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, would you look at that? Materializing after the fog of CES, ASUS’ Eee Box EB1012-B0257 nettop, known colloquially as “the low-cost home theater PC we’ve been longing for,” has popped up on Amazon. In case you forgot, this little guy’s packing Intel’s 1.6GHz Dual Core N330 Atom processor, NVIDIA Ion, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, Windows 7, HDMI out, 802.11b/g/n, and a sextet of USB 2.0 ports. Still no release date but at least we have a better idea as to its cost of entry: $399, with a 3 percent / $12 discount care of the online retailer. Only color being shown right now is a sleek black, but as we saw last time, there should be a white model in the pipeline for some point in the indeterminable future.

[Thanks, Joel]

ASUS’ Ion-powered EeeBox EB1012 resurfaces on Amazon in sub-$400 range originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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