| Asus netbook boasts discrete graphics |
Nov. 19, 2008
 When does a netbook stop being a netbook? Asus's new N10 has the typical 1.6GHz Atom processor, 945GSE and ICH7M chipset, and up to 2GB of RAM, but adds discrete graphics, an integral fingerprint reader, and up to 320GB of storage, the company says.
(Click here for a larger view of Asus's N10)
Netbooks almost always use Intel's 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor, which has a 533MHz FSB and 512KB L2 cache, along with the chipmaker's 945GCSE and 82801GBM (ICH7) supporting chips. Asus -- which, as we discuss below, has produced more of these latter-day PC clones than any other companies -- has followed that recipe faithfully with its new N10.
Typical netbook ingredients in the N10 include:- A 10.2-inch display with 1024 x 600 resolution
- 1GB or 2GB of RAM
- Windows XP
- 802.11b/g wireless networking
- Bluetooth
- Ethernet port
- Memory card reader
- Webcam
Despite the above, says Asus, the N10 isn't a netbook, it's a "notebook." How come? Well, for a start, instead of the SSD (solid state storage) or 80GB hard disk drives typical on netbook systems, this device is offered with 160GB, 250GB, and 320GB hard drives.
Also, instead of relying solely on the integrated graphics capabilities of the Intel chipset, the N10 includes Nvidia's discrete GeForce 9300M GS graphics, with 256MB of dedicated memory and an HDMI video port. A switch on the side of the device lets users select integrated graphics, for better battery life, or discrete graphics, for better performance. (Reportedly, however, a reboot is required for the change to take effect.)
The N10 adds a fingerprint scanner and, like only a few other, er, netbooks, an ExpressCard expansion slot. Available with Windows XP, as stated above, or with Windows Vista, it also comes with Asus's ExpressGate technology, which permits bypassing the native OS.
Asus's N10 includes a version of Linux in ROM
(Click to enlarge)
ExpressGate, invoked by pressing a lightning-bolt button above the N10's keyboard, is a ROM-based version of Linux that's claimed to boot in eight seconds. The environment includes a photo browser, music player, Pidgin chat application, Firefox web browser, and Skype VoIP client, says Asus.
Features and specifications listed for the N10 by Asus include:- Processor --- 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270
- Memory -- 1GB of DDR2 RAM (expandable to 2GB via single SODIMM slot
- Storage -- 160GB, 250GB, or 320GB of hard disk stoage
- Display -- 10.2-inch display with 1024 x 600 resolution
- Camera -- Front-facing webcam with 1.2 megapixel resolution
- Networking:
- LAN -- Gigabit Ethernet port with RJ45 connector
- WLAN -- 802.11b/g (802.11b/g/n on some models)
- PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
- Other I/O:
- 3 x USB 2.0
- 1 x VGA
- 1 x HDMI
- Audio mic in and headphone out
- Expansion -- Memory card reader (supports SD, MMC, and Memory Stick formats)
- Battery -- 6-cell, 4800mAH battery pack (3-cell battery is also available)
- Dimensions (maximum) -- 10.8 x 7.6 x 1.4 inches
- Weight -- 3.4 pounds with 6-cell battery
Background
Asus is credited with touching off the netbook explosion with its Eee PC, tipped to cost just $199 when it was first shown off by company officials in June 2007. The device eventually shipped for $400 in Nov. 2007, with a seven-inch screen, a 900MHz Celeron processor, and the Linux operating system.
Since then, the company has released a bewildering variety of Eee netbooks. For example, March 2008 brought the EEE PC 900, still with a Celeron CPU but stepping up to a nine-inch screen. In June, Asus announced the Eee PC 901 and 1000, with Intel Atom N270 processors plus nine- and 10-inch screens, respectively. Most recently, the vendor announced the "fashion-forward" PCS101 (below), which houses typical netbook ingredients in metallic brown, graphite, and champagne, with "crystal adorned hinges."
The Asus PCS101 "fashion-forward" netbook
(Click for further information)
During an October conference for investors, Asus president Jerry Shen said the company plans to bring the netbook concept back to its low-cost roots. He also suggested that Asus will work to prune the Eee PC product proliferation that has confused some potential buyers, phasing out models with seven- and nine-inch screens. For more information, see our earlier coverage, here.
Further information
According to Asus, the N10 is available now, priced at $649 for a version with discrete graphics, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard disk drive, Bluetooth, 802.11b/g, a six-cell battery, and Windows XP Home. Other configurations, such as a version without the discrete graphics circuitry, are also available.
Reviews of the device have appeared on various websites, including Hot Hardware, here, and Laptop magazine, here.
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