14 DAY TRIAL // ASUS first released its non-Eee N10 notebook in September this year and, as some of you might remember, this small-sized, ultra-portable computer system was powered by the same Intel Atom processor, running at 1.6GHz, that was featured in almost every other netbook on the market.
With the official unveiling of the N10 notebook, the Taiwanese manufacturer also launched its N-series of portable systems, designed to combine a stylish design with the latest in mobile computing performance. Now, ASUS decided to refresh its N-series lineup with the introduction of the 12-inch N20A ultraportable, a system that is based on the N10 released in September.
There are some significant differences between the N10 and the new N20A, aside from the obvious larger display size on the new N-series portable PC. First off, the N20A has been designed to incorporate Intel's mobile platform, bringing the power of Core 2 Duo processors to a small, and ultraportable form factor.
Also, unlike the N10, which sports an NVIDIA GeForce 9300M, the new N20A comes built on Intel's GMA X4500HD integrated graphics. Other features include a maximum memory support of 4GB and a high-capacity hard disk drive of 320GB. Users will also get a DVD burner, webcam, memory card reader and the usual array of ports, including e-SATA, HDMI, three USB 2.0 and Mini D-Sub for external monitor.
Due to its relatively small-size factor, the N20A is also rather light, weighing in at 1.85kg using a 3-cell battery. Now, aside from the afore-mentioned specifications, the N20A has something else to remind you of why ASUS believes nothing above 11 inches should be considered a netbook. Built on a Core 2 Duo T5800 Intel processor, the N20A is available for $999, well within the price range of fully-fledged notebook, wouldn't you say?