(Click here for a larger view of Samwell's Ruggedbook SR659)

Via's 64-bit, 65nm Nano processor is still something of a rarity, though the CPU has made it into devices such as Samsung's NC20 netbook and Q1EX-71G UMPC. Samwell's new SR659 employs the 1.0GHz Nano U1700, which has a maximum TDP of five Watts and an idle power of 200mW. The device is also said to use Via's VX700 northbridge/southbridge companion chip, though we'd have expected it to require the VX800.

Touting its device as "one of the lightest UMPCs in the market," at 1.97 pounds (895g) with battery, Samwell says the computer has a seven-inch touchscreen display with 1024 x 600 resolution. Also cited are an optional 1.3 megapixel camera, a fingerprint sensor, a five-way controller, a WiFi on-off switch, a hardware enter key, and buttons for invoking an onscreen keyboard or sending a secure attention sequence (Ctrl-Alt-Del).


Samwell's SR659
(Click to enlarge)
According to the company, the SR659 includes 1GB of DDR2 RAM, plus either a 1.8-inch, 30GB hard disk drive or 16GB of flash storage. Though the latter is said to be CompactFlash-based, Samwell provided no information on whether the CompactFlash interface is available for other purposes; however, as pictured in the above line drawing, the SR659 usefully includes both SD and Type II PCMCIA expansion slots.

Samwell says the SR659 has a 10/100 Ethernet port, 802.11b/g/n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0, and an 18-pin connector for an external docking station. The device is also said to include two USB 2.0 host ports, two USB 2.0 device ports, and a VGA output.

Features and specifications listed by Samwell for the SR659 include the following:

• Processor -- Via Nano U1700 clocked at 1.0GHz
  
• Memory -- 1GB of DDR2 RAM (apparently non-expandable)
  
• Display -- 7-inch touchscreeen display with 1024 x 600 resolution
  
• Camera -- 1.3 megapixel (optional)
  
• Keys -- Fingerprint sensor, five-way controller, WiFi on-off switch, enter key, secure attention sequence
  
• Storage -- 30GB, 1.8-inch HDD, or 16GB of CompactFlash-interfaced flash storage
  
• Networking:
  • LAN -- 10/100 Ethernet
    
  • WLAN -- 802.11b/g/n
    
  • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
• Other I/O:
  • 1 x VGA
    
  • Headphone and microphone jacks
    
  • 2 x USB 2.0 host
    
  • 2 x USB 2.0 device
    
  • Docking station connector
• Expansion:
  • SD slot
    
  • PCMCIA Type II slot
• Battery type/life -- 2600mAh battery provides four hours of "normal" usage
  
• Operating temperature -- 5 to 35 deg. C (41 to 95 deg. F)
  
• Dimensions -- 8.1 x 5.31 x 1.22 inches (206 x 135 x 31mm)
  
• Weight -- 1.97 pounds (895g)

Further information

According to Samwell, the SR659 runs either Windows XP Tablet Edition or Windows XP Embedded. The company did not provide pricing or availability information.

More information on the device may be found on the company's website, here. Additionally, a useful article about the SR659 appears on the RuggedPCReview website, which first alerted us to the device's release, here.

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• Via unveils 64-bit processors
  
• Samsung netbook goes Nano
  
• Samsung spins Nano UMPC
  
• Nano smashes Atom, reviewers say