14 DAY TRIAL // Intel's latest dual-core central processing unit form the Pine Trail platform just landed inside two more netbooks, both of them belonging to Toshiba and set to become broadly available early next year.
It seems that Toshiba is not just playing around when it comes to the entry-level mobile computer market.
In fact, it seems to be making a point of ensuring that its push on this segment of the market is strong enough to counter anything its competitors may throw at it.
This is why the outfit built not one but two new Pine Trail netbooks, both of whom will first start selling on December 4.
Granted, they will, initially, only be available in Taiwan, as worldwide shipments will only start to be carried out in the first quarter of 2011.
The NB500 uses the Intel Atom N550 dual-core whose clock frequency is of 1.5 GHz and which, in this case, is backed up by 1 GB of RAM (random access memory, DDR3 no doubt).
There is also a 250 GB hard drive, WiFi, Bluetooth, a VGA output, an SD card reader, three USB 2.0 ports, a flex-free keyboard and a textured finish.
The Toshiba NB520 is quite similar, only it has a number of extra assets, such as shock protection for the HDD and Harman/Kardon Speakers.
Said speakers even boast a 'sleep audio' function and can be used with external PMP sources even while the netbook itself is turned off.
The NB500 will have an initial price equivalent to $450 but, after an official introduction at CES and eventual arrival to the US, might end up cheaper.
The NB520 is more expensive, at what will translate into $610 initially, but, again, the US price tag might be lower. Both have been caught on video by the folks over at NetbookNews.
NB500
NB520