Epson Comes Up with Its Own Na02mini-V Netbook

While most netbook vendors are gearing up for the next wave of ultraportable netbook systems, boasting Intel's next-generation Pine Trail netbook platform, there are a couple of companies that are still taking full advantage of the performances and features of Intel's current Atom offering. Such is the case with Epson, a company that is mainly focused on projectors and printing devices, and which has recently decided to expand its product lineup with the introduction of its first portable computer system, the Endeavor Na02mini-V, a 10.1-inch netbook that comes as yet another Atom-powered system.

 

A quick look at the specifications of the new portable PC from Epson will reveal that the company has decided to adopt the same Intel Atom platform as the majority of existing netbooks on the market. The system is powered by an Atom N280 processor, running at 1.66GHz, coupled with the integrated Intel 945GSE Express video chipset and 1GB of memory. The storage solution is pretty standard, with a 160GB HDD and a 3-in-1 memory card reader. There's also a Wi-Fi connectivity option and a choice for Microsoft's Windows XP Home operating system.

 

The exterior design is pretty standard, as well, which leaves us wondering how Epson plans to make its latest product stand out from the crowd, in an attempt to grab some of the market share in the fast-growing market. Overall, the Na02mini-V is a basic Atom-based system coming to provide users with yet another alternative for a 10.1-inch netbook.

 

Already available through the company's online store (Japanese), the Epson Na02mini-V is expected to become available at the end of November, with users now having the possibility to place their pre-orders. It's yet unclear if the company intends to sell the product outside Japan, but it will be interesting to see how it plans to gain some share in this already-crowded market segment.