News

  • Home > News

        Multi-touch tablets run Windows 7

        Jonathan Angel | Date: Jan 20, 2010 | Comments: 1


        A company called Netbook Navigator has announced two Windows 7-powered tablet PCs, both using Intel Atom processors. The devices include the seven-inch 701A-NN and the 8.9-inch 891A-NN, both with multi-touch capabilities and optional 3G modems, according to the company.

        Netbook Navigator rather confusingly refers to its devices as "tablet netbooks," though the devices do not include keyboards and, therefore, are what we're accustomed to describing as tablet PCs. (If you prefer, call them scaled up MIDs [mobile internet devices], though this acronym appears to be fading from grace with vendors.)

        According to the company, the 891A-NN (pictured below) comes with an 8.9-inch, multi-touch-enabled display with 1024 x 600 pixel resolution. It's said the device runs Windows 7 Home Premium on a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, with the usual 945GSE northbridge and ICH7M southbridge.


        Netbook Navigator's 891A-NN

        Netbook Navigator says the 891A-NN comes with 1GB of DDR2 RAM, expandable to 2GB, plus a 16GB SSD (solid state disk) that will also be offered in capacities up to 128GB. Storage may be expanded via a miniSD sot, while there's also a SIM slot for use with GSM cellular modems, the company adds.

        Speaking of connectivity, the 891A-NN is offered with optional integrated HSDPA or CDMA modules, and comes standard with both Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11b/g wireless networking, says Netbook Navigator. Meanwhile, there are three USB 2.0 ports, while both Ethernet and a VGA output are said to be available via a "port replicator" connector.

        Unlike some tablets, the 891A-NN also includes a 1.3 megapixel webcam, according to Netbook Navigator. A standard 1700mAh battery is claimed to provide from 2 to 2.5 hours of operation, while an optional 2200mAh battery is claimed to last between 3.5 and 4 hours.

        Netbook Navigator cites a weight of 2.0 pounds for the 891A-NN, while the device is said to measure 10 x 6.6 x 0.8 inches.

        Specifications listed by Netbook Navigator for the 891A-NN include the following:

        • Processor -- Intel Atom N270 clocked at 1.6GHz
        • Chipset -- 945GSE northbridge and ICH7M southbridge
        • Memory -- 1GB of DDR2 RAM; expandable to 2GB
        • Storage -- 16GB SSD (will also be offered in sizes up to 128GB)
        • Display -- 8.9-inch multi-touch screen with 1024 x 600 resolution
        • Camera -- 1.3 megapixel webcam
        • Expansion:
          • MiniSD slot
          • SIM slot
        • Networking:
          • LAN -- Ethernet via port replicator
          • WLAN -- 802.11b/g
          • WAN -- 3G HSDPA or CDMA (optional)
          • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
        • Other I/O:
          • 3 x USB 2.0
          • 1 x VGA (via port replicator)
          • Audio -- microphone in and headphone out
        • Battery:
          • Standard -- 1700mAh battery lasts 2 to 2.5 hours
          • Optional -- 2200mAh battery lasts 3.5 to four hours
        • Dimensions -- 10 x 6.6 x 0.8 inches
        • Weight -- 2 pounds
        Netbook Navigator's 701A-NN, meanwhile, includes a seven-inch multi-touch screen with 800 x 480 pixel resolution. Oddly, the system is listed as coming with Windows 7 Starter Edition, though that version of the operating system reportedly does not support multi-touch features (we hope this specification is merely a mistake on the company's part).

        The 701A-NN (right) is a little more than just a scaled-down version of the 891A-NN, since Netbook Navigator cites a switch to Intel's 1.1GHz Atom Z510 processor, with, we assume, the usual SCH US15W companion chip. This has provided battery life dividends, with more than four hours of operation being claimed.

        According to Netbook Navigator, the 701A-NN comes with 1GB of DDR2 RAM (no expandability cited) and up to 32GB of SSD storage. Again, there's a miniSD slot, a SIM slot, and an optional cellular module, the company says.

        Specifications listed by Netbook Navigator for the 701A-NN include the following:

        • Processor -- Intel Atom Z510 clocked at 1.1GHz
        • Chipset -- SCH US15W
        • Memory -- 1GB of DDR2 RAM (expandability not cited)
        • Storage -- "Up to" 32GB SSD
        • Display -- 7-inch multi-touch screen with 800 x 480 resolution
        • Camera -- 1.3 megapixel webcam
        • Expansion:
          • MiniSD slot
          • SIM slot
        • Networking:
          • WLAN -- 802.11b/g
          • WAN -- 3G HSDPA or CDMA (optional)
          • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
        • Other I/O:
          • 3 x USB 2.0
          • 1 x VGA (via port replicator)
          • Audio -- microphone in and headphone out
        • Battery -- 2200mAh battery lasts more than four hours
        • Dimensions -- 7.1 x 4.5 x 0.7 inches
        • Weight -- 1.5 pounds
        Further information

        According to Netbook Navigator, the 891A-NN will be available next month, while the 701A-NN will be available "sometime later in 2010." Pricing was not released.

        More information on the 891A-NN may be found on the company's website, here, while 701A-NN information may be found here.

        Related stories: