It’s only been three weeks, since our wondering eyes first came across Asus’ 120N Nvidia Ion-based netbook machine, hiding out in a much speculated Eee PC road map slide that popped out in the wild. And here we are, not so long after, talking about it as a certain thing, scheduled for release somewhere this Autumn with a $500 price tag range and a high resolution 12-inch panel (1,366 x 768). And if we’d all be speaking Chinese well, the 250GB hard drive that Asus has stuffed inside, sitting along with 2GB of RAM, Intel Atom N270 processor, 1.3MP camera, Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11n WiFi connectivity, probably wouldn’t make us surprised – well, maybe this N270 CPU, which seems to be too slow for such an input. Stay tuned, it should be hitting Western shores, packed with a Windows 7 OS, in a month or so.
Update1: Look, the guys from Eee PC Italia just got their hands on Asus 1201N and 1201HA full specs list and shared them online. Basically, both netbook machines will presumably pack a 12-inch 1366 x 768 displays, while the 1201N, which suppose to be the strongest among the two, will include a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N330 dual core processor, 3GB RAM, NVIDIA ION (GeForce 9400M) graphics chipset and 320GB hard drive, as its entry level sibling, the 1201HA suppose to have a 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 CPU, along with Intel US15W / GMA 500 graphics, 2GB RAM and 250GB hard drive. Hit the jump to read the rest, no prices or release dates available at the moment.
Update2: Apparently, Asus Eee PC 1201N is scheduled to be released in Europe somewhere towards the end of the year (AKA: December), with this Atom Dual Core 330 CPU, Nvidia ION graphics chipset and a 12.1 1,366 x 768 display – all compiled with a Windows 7 OS. Prices are yet to be determined.
Update3: Looks like the 1201N is up in Italy earlier than expected, offered on sale for 500 Euros – huzzah!
Update4: Now it’s official, as Asus has finally released its ION-based Eee PC 1201N machine, with all those nifty specs and cool features we’ve managed to see earlier, which include that 12.1-inch 1366 x 768 LED-backlit display, together with a 1.6GHz dual-core Atom 330 processor, either 2 or 3GB of RAM and storage capacity at 250 or 320GB HDD at your choice. Furthermore, you get a six-cell battery and Windows 7 Premium edition, already loaded aboard and running on your shelves somewhere around December for only $499. Official announcement after the break (image courtesy of PCMag)
Update5: It seems the Eee PC 1201HA’s debut has finally arrived to the US, as Asus’ second 12.1-inch netbook, which sports a 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520, together with 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, WiFi, and 6 hours battery, is up on sale on Best Buy, this time for the lower price of $329.99 but with an XP flavor pre-loaded inside. Seven fanboys should be skipping to the 1201N versionto catch up with Redmond’s latest version.
Update6: And, looks like Amazon has the Asus Eee PC 120N listed for pre-order, starting at $499 which will buy you a 12.1-inch display with Intel’s 1.6GHz N330 dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM (up to 8GB), 250GB HDD, WiFi, Bluetooth and last but not least, Microsoft’s Windows 7 Premium edition, already loaded into it. For the UK readers out there, this same version, only with an ION-based chipset will show up on your local Amazon somewhere around January 2010, priced at £399 (about $660). Stay tuned.
[Via NetbookItalia]
Asus Eee PC 1201N
- Display: 12.1 inch, 1366 x 768 pixels
- CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Atom N330 dual core
- Graphics & chipset: NVIDIA ION (GeForce 9400M)
- OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
- Memory: 3GB DDR2
- Storage: 320GB HDD + 500GB web-based storage
- Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n WiFI, Bluetooth, Ethernet
- I/O: HDMI, VGA, 3 USB 2.0 ports, SD card slot, mic, headphones
- Webcam: 0.3MP
- Touchpad: Supports multitouch gestures
- Battery: 6 cells, 8 hours
- Colors: Black, blue, or red
- Dimensions: 11.7″ x 8.2″ x 1.3″
- Weight: 3.1 pounds
Asus Eee PC 1201HA
- Display: 12.1 inch, 1366 x 768 pixels
- CPU: 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520
- Graphics & chipset: Intel US15W / GMA 500 graphics
- OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
- Memory: 2GB DDR2
- Storage: 250GB HDD + 500GB web-based storage
- Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n WiFI, Bluetooth, Ethernet
- I/O: VGA, 3 USB 2.0 ports, SD card slot, mic, headphones
- Webcam: 0.3MP
- Touchpad: Supports multitouch gestures
- Battery: 6 cells, 8 hours
- Colors: Black, blue, or red
- Dimensions: 11.7″ x 8.2″ x 1.3″
- Weight: 3.1 pounds
ASUS Shatters Netbook Conventions with High Performance
Eee PC™ 1201N Multimedia Netbook
Effective Integration of Intel® Atom™ 330 Dual Core Processor and NVIDIA® ION™ Graphics Acceleration Delivers Unprecedented Netbook Performance
Fremont, CA (November 18, 2009) – Multimedia-minded consumers who prize the portability of netbooks but lament the typical lack of processing muscle now have a reason to rejoice. ASUS has launched the Eee PC™ 1201N, a multimedia netbook sporting an Intel® Atom™ 330 dual core processor and an NVIDIA® ION™ graphics processor that delivers a level of performance never before seen on netbooks. The stylish Eee PC™ 1201N also offers exceptional typing comfort through a full-sized ergonomic chiclet keyboard, and comes with a total of 750GB* hybrid storage to house and host massive multimedia collections.
Faster than Ever Before
The Eee PC™ 1201N marks a radical departure from other netbooks that usually feature single core Atom™ processors. With its Intel® Atom™ 330 dual core processor, NVIDIA ION graphics, and two-DIMM, dual-channel DDR memory architecture, the Eee PC™ 1201N will set new netbook performance benchmarks. More importantly, this combination shatters today’s netbook conventions by delivering a rich multimedia experience.
A New World of Multimedia Possibilities
The Eee PC™ 1201N features the award-winning NVIDIA® ION™ graphics processor which provides a superior multimedia experience including support for HD video and PC games. NVIDIA® CUDA™ technology further boosts the Eee PC™ 1201N’s ability to work with visual content, accelerating processor-intensive tasks such as video editing and conversion.
The Eee PC™ 1201N also comes preinstalled with ArcSoft SimHD, which upscales standard definition video content to high definition. SimHD, a plug-in for ArcSoft TotalMedia Theater, dramatically enhances the quality of images and supports a wide range of file formats. Users can enjoy a smooth HD video experience on the unit’s 12.1” high definition screen, or have the option of enjoying full 1080p HD video with true-fidelity 7.1 audio on HDTVs via the built-in HDMI port.
Rene Haas, general manager for notebook GPUs at NVIDIA said, “The ASUS Eee PC 1201N delivers exceptional performance for a netbook. This ION-powered Eee PC is ideal for anyone who wants a netbook with the ability to watch HD video, share and edit photos, play casual games, and convert video to a portable media player. With the upcoming Flash Player 10.1 from Adobe, it will soon handle streaming HD video as well as a high-end desktop PC.”
Massive Storage for Massive Multimedia Collections
The Eee PC™ 1201N is fully equipped to handle the large amounts of memory that digital media consumes. Boasting a 250GB HDD and 500GB*** of online ASUS WebStorage—a total of 750GB—the Eee PC™ 1201N provides ample storage for users’ movies, music and photos. ASUS WebStorage not only makes it easy for users to share their media with friends and family, it grants them access to free games, desktop wallpapers, and software via a simple drag and drop interface.
