14 DAY TRIAL // A series of details are now spreading on the Internet regarding Samsung's alleged intentions of releasing an ultraportable computer system that will be powered by a Nano processor, developed by Via Technologies. Said laptop isn't designed to compete with netbooks or fully-fledged notebooks, but it will be marketed as a niche product, providing the specs of a low-power PC in the form factor of an ultraportable computer system.
The laptop is expected to debut sometime next year with a price tag close to that of higher-performance Atom-powered netbooks. According to the rumored specifications, users should expect a 12.1-inch system powered by a 1.3GHz Nano U225 processor, and able to provide 1GB of RAM memory. On the storage side, a 160GB hard drive completes the available technical specs of the new Nano-based laptop. Weighing just 1.5 kg and with an expected price point of US$642, the Samsung NC20 could potentially lead Via's Nano processor sales in the upcoming year.
The specifications and the laptop are yet to be confirmed by either of the two companies, as several sites have picked up on the story, which had initially appeared on the Genzomedia blog, after which it has been covered by Notebook Italia. Networkworld tried to get an official word on said NC20, but officials at both Via and Samsung have unsurprisingly applied the “no comment” policy.
Since the launch of the Nano processor, Via has emphasized on the performance and power specifications of its small-sized processor in contrast with those of Intel's highly successful Atom CPU. The chip maker has been trying to take some of the netbook market share that the Santa Clara, California-based Intel has accumulated in the past months, with its Atom CPU. Unfortunately, the Nano hasn't been as successful, as the Atom has been featured in almost all the netbooks currently available on the market.