14 DAY TRIAL // The past week was abundant in rumors dealing with the possibility, then the likelihood and, later, the certainty that Intel would soon unleash a number of dual-core Atom central processing units. One of the reports even suggested that the first mobile PCs based on them would debut this year. Now, one of the dual-core-based netbooks-to-be seems to have finally gotten a name.
Unlikely as it may be, the device reported to be based on a dual-core CPU is not being made by netbook advocate number one (Acer), but by the runner up, otherwise known as ASUS. Notebook Italia reported the existence of quite a number of ASUS Eee PCs over the past few months, which is why it is not such a big surprise to hear that it also got hold of some information on another upcoming model.
Known as the Eee PC 1215N, the netbook will have a configuration based, as already mentioned, on a dual-core Atom N500 Series CPU. This chip will be backed up by 1GB or 2GB of RAM. Unfortunately, the amount of storage is not mentioned, although it shouldn't be different from that of today's models, which may suggest an HDD with 160GB or 320GB.
The graphics capabilities, on the other hand, are clearly pointed out. Equipped with both an Intel GMA 3150 IGP and the NVIDIA NG-ION graphics processing unit, the Eee PC 1215N will use the NVIDIA Optimus technology to automatically switch between the two, depending on application demand.
There is no way of knowing exactly when this entry-level mobile PC will start selling, but the report suggests that the first demonstration of this computer may occur at Computex 2010, at the start of June. When it does eventually start being mass-produced (possibly also in June), the Eee PC will come pre-loaded with Windows 7 and will bear a price tag of over 400 Euro.