Gigabyte Netbook Features Swivel Touch Screen

News
By Kevin Parrish
published

Gigabyte threw up the specs on three upcoming netbooks, one of which features a cool swivel touch screen and Intel's Atom processor.

Gigabyte threw up the specs on three upcoming netbooks, one of which features a cool swivel touch screen and Intel's Atom processor.

Gigabyte's T1028, S1024, and M1022 netbooks originally made an appearance at CeBIT 2009 back in January, but haven't appeared on the Gigabyte website until just recently. All three offer Intel's Atom processor, the Mobile Intel 945GSE Express chipset+ ICH7M, Windows XP Home, embedded HSDPA support, and a 10.1-inch screen. Outside the basics, each member of the Gigabyte trio provides unique features that offer consumers a great variety, whether they're looking for something thin, or a netbook with touch screen technology.

Want something flashy? Gigabyte's M1022 BookTop (shown left) stands upright in a docking station like a Nintendo Wii console. The BookTop also sports Intel's Atom in two flavors: the N270 (1.6 GHz), or the N280 (1.66 GHz). Other BookTop features include a 92-percent full-sized keyboard, a 160 GB 2.5-inch 9.5mm SATA hard drive (5400 RPM), and a WSVGA 10.1-inch LED backlit screen capable of resolutions up to 1024x600. Gigabyte said that the memory and hard drive are easily upgradable.


The S1024 ThinNote (shown on the right), on the other hand, is the skinny offering of the trio, weighing in at a mere 890g and is 20.8mm thick. The WSVGA 10.1-inch screen's resolution isn't necessarily lower than the M1022 BookTop, but rather limited to the 16:9 aspect ratio, offering visuals at 1024x576 instead. Unfortunately, the ThinNote comes locked with the Atom N270 (1.6 GHz), however consumers will be able to choose between 60 GB and 80 GB hard drives (1.8-inch 5mm PATA @ 4200rpm).

Finally, the T1028 TouchNote (shown left) brings touch screen technology to netbooks; the 10.1-inch WSVGA screen even swivels at the base and provides resolutions up to 1024x600. When available, consumers will have a choice of Atom processors: the N270 (1.6 GHz) or the N280 (1.66 GHz). Like the BookTop, the TouchNote will provide a 92-percent full-sized keyboard, and a 160 GB 2.5-inch 9.5mm SATA hard drive (5400 RPM). According to Gigabyte, the hard drive and memory are easily upgradable on this model as well.

For now, all three netbooks are listed as "Coming Soon." An official release date--or the actual pricing for that matter--hasn't been confirmed as of yet, but the netbooks are expected to cost consumers somewhere in the $500 price range. For more details on each netbook, check out their product pages listing system memory, battery, and wireless info.

Kevin Parrish
12 Comments Comment from the forums
  • barturtle
    A few years ago, someone else had a laptop that stood on its side in a dock. It synced to your desktop just like a PDA...if this netbook does that, it'll be sweet...esp if it eventually gains the touch and swivel screen.
    Reply
  • Not really worth my time.
    It's already proven for over 1,5 years that the 600 pix vertical is just too small to comfortably do everything a normal person does on their pc's.

    Also the intel 945.. Forget it!
    Go for an Ion platform now!
    Reply
  • jacobdrj
    They are going in the right direction. This is still 1st/2nd generation stuff. By the 4th, I think we will have our cake, and be able to eat it too...
    Reply
  • falchard
    For $500 why get a netbook with a patheticly performing Intel Atom Processor when you can get a real laptop?
    Reply
  • jacobdrj
    Touch capability is the key here. I have one of those laptop tablets. It is nice, but too heavy, too bulky, and too short of battery life.

    I would prefer a less powerful processor, a smaller form factor, a lower price, and longer battery life at the cost of performance. As long as the price is right. You are correct: If the price approaches that of standard laptops, the whole thing falls apart.
    Reply
  • solymnar
    I agree with Falch and Jacob. The whole point of a netbook is to get something dirt cheap that you can still type reasonably fast on and surf reasonably well with.

    If your price hits in on the lower end of laptops it partly defeats the purpose. Then again to me the name netbook is partly a gimmick to begin with. /shrug

    Companies are still defining where all the niches are with these low power laptops so I would suspect we'll see a lot of line blurring over the next few years as both the market and hardware continue to evolve.
    Reply
  • eddieroolz
    I can really imagine myself using the TouchNote, but I would hate to go back to Intel 945.

    When it's loaded with Ion and VIA Nano, I'll consider it.
    Reply
  • curnel_D
    T1028 TouchNote

    Sold.

    Finally a netbook I'm interested in.
    Reply
  • talzara
    Finally. After ten years, touchscreens are back on netbooks. Back when netbooks ran Windows CE, plenty had touchscreens. Heck, the original Psion Netbook (TM) had a touchscreen.

    Between this and the touchscreen EEE netbook (haven't heard anything about it since CES), I'm optimistic that touch is finally here to stay. Hope to hear a couple more manufacturers come into the mix before Windows 7 RTM's.

    Tablet PCs were great, but they cost too much and often weighed too much. (4.5 pounds for something you're supposed to hold like a book!?) Besides, for anything other than drawing or taking notes in longhand, the active stylus tends to be more of an annoyance than a tool. For marking up documents, general web surfing, etc. -- a touchscreen slate is perfectly fine, and easily beats the clamshell form factor.
    Reply
  • talzara
    T1028 web page says "Available Now," not "Coming Soon." Some other hardware sites report that importers will have it by end of April. Surprised they aren't waiting for Windows 7 (it comes with XP Home).
    Reply