Nvidia Corp.’s chief executive officer for the first time publicly unveiled pricing of the company’s GeForce 9400M single-chip core-logic better known as Ion. Based on the information provided by Jen-Hsun Huang now and several weeks ago, it transpires that Nvidia’s platform for Intel Atom processors is up to three times more expensive compared to Intel’s own platform.
“[The price of Nvidia Ion chip] is between $30 and $35. This is significant, but it is [needed] to have a good high definition video on the screen.” said Jen-Hsun Huang in an interview with La Tribune news-paper.
Earlier this year Jen-Hsun Huang said that Intel sold its Atom processors for $45 a unit, however, if a customer wanted to get Atom chip and compatible core-logic set, it would get if for $25, which automatically reduces Nvidia’s availability to compete against Intel in the Atom-compatible core-logic market. If the GeForce 9400M/Ion costs from $30 to $35, then the whole bundle consisting of Intel Atom and Nvidia Ion costs from $75 to $80, which is up to 3.2 times higher compared to the cost of Intel’s default Atom package. Still, Nvidia’s core-logic set is much more advanced than Intel’s.
]]>As we await news of the supposed imminent release of the Always Innovating Touchbook [Portal page], I wanted to bring attention to a demo of the forthcoming Touchbook from a product launch conference called Demo. The demonstration itself is actually a few months old, and maybe it was just me, but it seems like this video demonstration of the hardware didn’t get much notice. Below we can watch the Touchbook being demonstrated by the founder of Always Innovating, Grégoire Gentil.
It is interesting to note that although this seems to be somewhat early hardware, it has the same red top that is purportedly going to accompany the first batch of units that are due to be released this month.
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Most mods out there which tell you how to get internal 3G functionality are quite complicated and certainly not for the novice modder. João from BassoPT’s Ultra Mobile Computing has come up with a relatively easier solution that will only work on the Samsung NC10. However, this still involves opening the bottom of the netbook, so you’ll have to see where your skills fit before trying this at home.
João basically opened the bottom and replaced the Wi-Fi Mini PCI-E card with a 3G modem. Obviously this means that you’ll have no wireless access, but João solved this problem by using a small Buffalo USB 2.0 Wi-Fi dongle. The other issue is that once you insert your sim card into the slot it will remain there unless you take off the whole bottom casing again. Or, you could always hack a hole into the casing to provide easy access. JKKMobile says that this is one of the few netbooks where you swap out the Wi-Fi module for a 3G one.
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Thinking about picking up one of those newfangled Dell Inspiron Min 10 netbooks with integrated GPS? Better get out the wallet, because Notebooks.com is reporting that the feature will set you back an extra $69.
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ION 2 should launch toward the end of the year, but Nvidia doesn’t want to talk too much about it, as it still plans to sell many original ION chips.
Our industry sources have told us that the new, shrunk version of ION, probably branded as ION 2, should have much faster graphics and much more shaders. We don’t believe that the thermals will change that much, but we’ve heard that ION 2 will have more than double the number of shaders of the original Geforce 9400M /MCP79 /ION chip.
Since ION has 16 shaders , or processors as Nvidia calls them these days, you should expect that the new one has more than 32. This will get much better gaming to netbooks and nettops based on ION 2 which is definitely something you cannot say no to and at the same time Cuda applications might run faster, in case you found one that matter to you.
ION 2 should be launching by the end of the year.
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Touch panel makers believe that netbooks will make a head start in adopting touch panels to utilize the Windows 7 operating system (OS), compared to regular notebooks and LCD monitors, according to industry sources.
The touch panel makers are basing their prediction on their involvement in notebook makers’ product developments, the sources said. The models being developed, sampled and validated show that touch panels will first take off in the netbook segment before moving to larger-size notebooks and monitors, the sources added.
With prices of projective capacitive touch panels at about US$2.50-3.00 per inch, the average cost for a touch panel module will be about US$30 for a mainstream-size netbook (smaller than 12-inch), the sources noted.
Touch panels can replace trackpad and mouse functions on netbooks, giving makers more room to solve the issue regarding keyboard size, the sources added.
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The Dell Mini 10v is now available at the Dell Outlet (refurbished stuff) which prices currently starting at $259. (prices will fluctuate as stock goes quickly)
Buying the Dell Mini 10v new will cost $299, so you can save $40 through the outlet. You probably won’t get 1024×600 screens on these though, which are starting to appear in the latest shipped batch.
Check out the Dell Mini 10v at the Dell Outl
Source: FatWallet
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Dell is reportedly developing a new pocket-sized device for “tapping into the Internet”. The device will run Google’s Android software (not Microsoft’s Windows) and will be powered by an ARM CPU (not Intel’s Atom, or VIA’s Nano). While the device will be similar to an iPod touch, though slightly larger, it too will be without cellphone abilities.
According to reports, Dell began working on the device last year after failing to develop a device capable of competing with Apple’s iPod music players. The device may be available later this year, though the insider told the Wall Street Journal that such a plan could be delayed or scrapped entirely.
Another interesting twist is that the device, targeted at a point between MIDs and netbooks, would not be powered by an x86 CPU, which is the majority of Dell’s sales are to date (with other CPUs including Intel’s Itanium, scrapped several years ago). In its place, Dell will be turning to an ARM CPU of undisclosed specification, power and ability (as there are several varieties of ARM CPUs for all kinds of tasks).
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DELL believes every child should have the opportunity and tools to learn the skills necessary to succeed in the digital world.
The company recently set a new standard in education technology with the launch of a netbook influenced by the needs of students, the Latitude 2100. The Latitude 2100 is also ideal for any business or public institution that needs affordable, durable internet-ready device for e-mail and collaboration.
Inspired by close cooperation with hundreds of students, teachers, parents and administrators, Dell designers created a purpose-built education netbook that focuses on what’s most important—learning.
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The Touch Book, which first showed its pretty little face at the DEMO 09 conference back in March of this year, is just about to ship. But who cares, right? It’s just another netbook, after all.
Well, no. The company behind the little computer, Always Innovating, actually lives up to its name. The standout feature is the detachable touch display, an 8.9-inch presure sensitive tablet which can live separately from the keyboard section. When joined to the keyboard (95% full-size) it acts much like a regular netbook.
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