Netbooks pack Nvidia graphics, dual-core Atom
Updated at 12:05 p.m. PDT on August 24 to correct cache memory size and Atom processor in Shenzhen Weibu Electronics Netbook and adding Prime Note Cresion Netbook information. Akiba Hotline originally misidentified the processor used in the Netbook from Shenzhen Weibu Electronics. The Japanese Web site has since revised the article to say the Netbook uses an single-core Atom 270. A Netbook announced earlier in the summer from Dospara (below) does use the dual-core Atom 330 processor.
Most Netbooks have been on a strict Atom diet. But models that have appeared in Japan are feasting on Nvidia graphics and dual-core Atom processors.
Prime Note Cresion NA uses a dual-core Atom 330 processor
(Credit: Dospara)Japanese technology Web site Akiba Hotline says a Netbook made by Shenzhen Weibu Electronics will soon hit the market that uses Nvidia 9400M "Ion" graphics--the same graphics used in Apple MacBooks. Both Samsung and Lenovo have indicated that they will bring out Netbooks with the Nvidia Ion processor.
The "N10A" Netbook from Weibu is expected to go on sale "soon" for 49,800 yen, or just under $530. It will come with an Atom 230 processor, 1GB of memory, a 150GB hard disk drive, Web camera, and 802.11 g/b wireless. It will not come with a pre-installed operating system, according to Akiba Hotline.
The Nvidia-powered Weibu Netbook follows a model from Japan-based Dospara announced earlier this summer that uses both Nvidia Ion graphics and a dual-core Atom 330 processor.
The 12-inch Prime Note Cresion NA Netbook comes with 2GB of memory, a 320GB hard disk drive, a DVD player, and 802.11b/g/n wireless. It retails for 59,980 yen or about 635 dollars.
The Atom 330 has become fairly common in so-called Nettops--tiny Atom-based desktop computers--but has yet to catch on in Netbooks. One reason: the Atom 330 has power consumption requirements double that of a single-core Atom (though the 330 is still low, at 8 watts, compared with mainstream Intel laptop chips, which typically are rated at 25 watts or higher).
The dual-core Atom, like other Atom processors, supports hyper-threading--which potentially doubles the number of tasks, or threads, a processor can handle--a feature also found in Intel's newest Core i "Nehalem" processors. Intel's widely-used Core architecture processors do not support hyper-threading.
The 1.6GHz Atom 330, because of its two cores, also integrates twice the cache memory (1MB) of single-core Atom chips.
Brooke Crothers has served as an editor at large at CNET News, an editor at Dow Jones' Asian Wall Street Journal Weekly, and a senior editor at InfoWorld. His CNET blog covers chip technology and computer systems, and how they define the computing experience. He also contributes to The New York Times' Bits and Technology sections. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. Follow Brooke on Twitter @mbrookec. 
Please reply with your ccard details in the next comment.
Times change, don't they...
Oh well. (sigh)
they don't get discount copies of XP
Me, I'm waiting for Chrome OS.
Windows in a laptop makes sense and so does Chrome in a Nettop.
Will have to wait for Chrome though.
Yeah, Windows 7 would be good, but do you really need optimized drivers for Adobe Photoshop? No, not really. You need an OS where you can access the web, and some basic "office" type software. Linux is by far the superior choice for these products.
Win7 is actually better on battery than Ubuntu, at least in my observations. (unless you use NBR or other fisher price variants of linux).
This is why it is VERY important to have alternatives to Windows.
The PC vendors should be the ones to decide which combination of chipsets, screen sizes & software constitute a "marketable" product, not the individual component vendors. If the PC vendors end up producing products that don't meet consumer's expectations (too slow, etc.), then the products won't sell. It's as simple as that!
PC vendors need to ensure that, at minimum, all of their systems support Windows & Linux. This will result in:
1. CONSUMER CHOICE. Consumers will be able to install Windows, Ubuntu, Moblin, Android, Chrome OS, etc. & be confident that it will run properly on the system.
2. DESIGN FLEXIBILITY. PC vendors will be the ones to decide which products go to market, not the component vendors.
3. LEVERAGE. PC vendors will have a stronger hand, when negotiating with Microsoft & Intel.
Here's the breakdown:
1) If MS shuts down the XP valve on netbooks, it will fall pray to Linux look alikes;
2) if it pushes 7 too hard (as it did with Vista), it will alienate users due to the price increase.
3) Finally, if MS tries to limit XP (like 7 Starter) to small spec systems, companies will risk loosing customers, so they will prefer to unbundle the OS and simply sell you the netbook.
Either way, MS can no longer control the market, since the market is already blinking the directional and its ready to pass them from the right.
It is Atom 230 or Atom 330? I think you have a misstyped number on your article., right there next to the photo of the mini laptop.Thanks
- by moneyrules September 5, 2009 5:48 PM PDT
- Microsoft Is whats making these things weak . They are forcing the netbook companies not to add ram or esspecially a cd drive. I cant help it but I love XP so no good news hear
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
(35 Comments)