| MID runs Windows XP on Atom |
Sep. 30, 2008
 Aigo is shipping what appears to be the first available MID (mobile Internet device) based on the Intel Atom. The Aigo P8860D is said to feature an Atom Z500 clocked at 800MHz, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 512MB RAM, a 4GB SSD (solid state disk), and dual cameras.
(Click for larger view of the Aigo P8860D)
Intel launched its MID concept, originally with Linux, in April of last year, and has been talking it up at subsequent developer forums since then. Few of the devices have since reached consumers, though, with the ironic exception of Nokia's Nokia N810 Internet Tablet, which uses a TI OMAP2420 SoC (system on chip).
Aigo's P8860D is a rebadged version of Gigabyte's M528, which was announced in June and reportedly went on sale in Hong Kong last month. The device comes with an 800MHz Intel Atom Z500 processor, and is now being offered to consumers by the Japan-based "DFJ Store," which has priced it at $600.
While Aigo's MID ships with a version of Linux, it will be available with Windows XP drivers next month, promises DFJ. Owners of the Gigabyte M528 have reportedly been able to install Windows XP in the meantime, but without touchscreen support, detracting from the purpose of the device.
Gigabyte M528
The 6.0 x 3.1 x 0.9-inch device sold by Aigo and Gigabyte weighs a scant 10.6 ounces and offers 3.5 to 5.5 hours battery life, says Aigo. It features a 4.8-inch, 800 x 480 touchscreen, a 800MHz 4GB solid state disk (SSD), a microSD expansion slot, and two USB ports. Connectivity includes WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a HSDPA cellular data modem mini-card module. The device offers a slide-down QWERTY keyboard, like most of the other MID prototypes that were unveiled earlier this year at the Intel Atom Z500 launch.
Specifications for the Aigo P8860D and Gigabyte M528 are as follows (we've combined those listed by Gigabyte and by the DFJ Store:- Processor -- Atom Z500 Intel Menlow clocked at 800MHz
- Memory -- 512MB (DDR2) RAM
- Display -- 4.8-inch WVGA (800 x 480) touchscreen
- Memory storage -- 4GB SSD storage; microSD slot
- USB -- 2 x USB ports (one host, one mini-USB client)
- WiFi -- 802.11b/g
- Bluetooth -- 1 x Bluetooth 2.0 via USB I/F (supports A2DP)
- GPS -- 1 x GPS RF switching connector
- Cellular -- HSDPA mini-card module
- Camera -- 3-megapixel autofocus camera; 300K pixel webcam
- Audio -- 3.5mm earphone mic; earphone out; speaker
- Dimensions – 6.0 x 3.1 x 0.9 inches (152 x 80 x 21.9mm)
- Weight -- 10.6 ounces (300g)
- Power -- 3.7V 2700mAH battery; 3.5 to 5.5 hours battery life; AC adapter
WiBrain i1
MID prototype
(Click for details) |
WiBrain recently unveiled an Intel Atom-based "i1" MID (shown below, right) at the IFA 2008 show, that was said to feature built-in cellular networking based on HSDPA (high-speed downlink packet access). However, there was little information made available on the i1, and upon last check, the device was still not for sale.
Availability
The Aigo P8860 is available now from the DFJ Store for $700, whereas the Gigabyte A528 is listed as "coming soon." More information may be found on the Aigo MID here here, and more on the Gigabyte M528 should be here.
Further photographs and user impressions of the Aigo P8860 appear on the Pocketables forum, here.
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