ASUS Already Selling a Netbook Based on Dual-Core Atom N550

Since Intel recently announced that its Dual-Core Atom N550 mobile processor would power a new generation of netbooks, PC makers were quick to oblige, but ASUS appears to be a step ahead of the rest, having already started to ship the Eee PC 1015PEM.

The Atom N550 CPU that Intel trumpeted not so long ago is the new dual-core netbook chip Lenovo has already adopted.

Still, while it was quick to announce the existence of the IdeaPad S10-3, only pre-orders can be set, as actual shipments are set to be carried out at a later date.

Gigabyte also unveiled a device running this new CPU, a convertible tablet known as T1005M that, likewise, is only available for pre-order.

ASUS decided it would slam the market with a dual-core netbook sooner instead of later, so its Eee PC 1015PEM has already started selling.

Notebook Italia is, once again, behind the report stating that shipments of this new netbook are already being carried out.

This is the more straightforward move that ASUS has taken on the netbook segment recently, the other, more subtle one being the release of the manual for the 12-inch ION 2-equipped Lamborghini VX6.

The machine, dubbed Eee PC 1015PEM, has the 1.5GHz dual-core backed up by 2GB of DDR3 memory and paired with, predictably, the Intel GMA (Graphics Media Accelerator) 3150 integrated graphics.

The report does not provide information on all the specifications, such as the capacity of the hard disk drive (HDD) and the connectivity and I/O options, though the existence of LAN and Wireless connectivity is mentioned.

It can also be assumed that USB and audio ports, along with a card reader and, possibly, Bluetooth are present as well.

All in all, the feature set of this newcomer is fairly common, by netbook standards, except for the CPU of course. Consumers interested in acquiring it will have to part with 349 Euro.