All eyes may be on Samsung’s latest 10-inch netbooks right now – the N110, N120 and N310 – but we shouldn’t forget the company’s VIA Nano marvel. The Samsung NC20 is a slightly larger machine, at 12.1-inches WXGA, and uses the VIA Nano U2250 1.3GHz processor; it’s now on sale at Newegg, priced at $549.99.
VIA have announced an HD-capable expansion board for their EPIA-P710 Pico-ITXe board. The VIA P710-HD uses an S3 Graphics 4300E video processor and allows for dual DVI, HDMI and S-Video, multiple displays and above-1080p resolution support.
VIA have announced the VIA IVP-7500 board, what it’s calling the first in a series of dedicated x86-based in-car PC platforms. Based on a fanless 1.0GHz VIA Eden CPU and supporting up to 1GB of DDR2 memory, the IVP-7500 measures 114 x 185.5mm and can be embedded in the dashboard, fitted to a one- or two-DIN radio-sized box, or hidden in the seat or headrest.
Dell had already confirmed that the 13.4-inch Adamo ultraportable was merely the start of a new high-end series of luxury computers, but signs of what’s likely to be the next model – the Dell Adamo 9 – have already been spotted. As we said at the time, the main question is whether Dell make what’s presumably a 9-inch ultraportable into another Atom-based netbook, picks a more mainstream processor as you might find in the Sony VAIO TT, or takes another route. Coincidentally, VIA announced their 1080p-capable Surfboard C855 reference design today, something that could well supply Dell’s “another route”.
VIA have announced a new netbook mainboard reference design, which promises 1080p Full HD playback and 8-channel HD audio. The VIA Surfboard C855 Reference Design uses a 1.6GHz VIA C7-M ULV processor with an 800MHz FSB, VIA Chrome9 graphics with hardware H.264, MPEG-2/4, VC-1 and WMV9 decoding, and support for Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS and 3G connectivity.
Video demo after the cut
The next model in Samsung’s UMPC range, the Samsung NP-Q1EX, has been revealed, after the 7-inch touchscreen device was spotted at the FCC. Dropping the QWERTY thumb-board from the Q1 Ultra, the Q1EX gets a slimmed-down casing, VIA’s 1.2GHz Nano ULV U2500 processor and Chrome9 HC graphics, 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 RAM and an integrated SiRF Star GPS receiver.
It didn’t take LaptopMag long to make up their mind over the Samsung NC20, but then we’ve known about this VIA-based 12-inch netbook for so long that it might prove tough finding anyone still on the fence. Obviously it’s bigger and heavier than the NC10 – but then it has a larger display, keyboard and trackpad, too – but what we all really want to know is how well the VIA Nano U2250 processor and Chrome9 HC3 integrated graphics stand up.
Samsung’s NC20 was officially announced last week, and the VIA Nano-based netbook has already landed – albeit in Korean rather than US form – on LaptopMag’s test bench. With a 12-inch display it’s sitting squarely at what some would consider the netbook/ultraportable crossover point, which gives the Nano CPU plenty to live up to.
VIA are no stranger to compact mainboards, and their latest is aimed at those for whom ports are prime. The VIA Em-ITX measures 12 x 17cm and is 30-percent more compact than the Mini-ITX standard; however because of its rectangular shape and board layout, it has 200-percent more I/O space, with ports running down each of the longer edges.
In one of those moments where you forget exactly what’s official news and what’s simply been confirmed in a roundabout way, VIA have gleefully announced that the Samsung NC20 12.1-inch netbook uses their VIA Nano platform. While we knew this all the way back in December 2008, and then again in previews and in pre-orders, we’ll forgive Samsung and VIA simply because the NC20 looks such a promising machine.
Full confirmed Samsung NC20 specs after the cut
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