NetbookTech

As expected, Intel’s Atom processor will be seeing increased competition in 2009. HKEPC reports that VIA Technologies is readying a dual core Nano processor called the Nano 3000 processor. The report states that the new Nano 3000 is being manufactured by Fujitsu on a 65nm process (yes, the News.com report states 40nm which we believe is incorrect here), will feature 64 bit instructions, a 2MB L2 cache, and SSE4 instructions. Will we see the dual core Nano 3000 in future netbooks? We’ll just have to wait and see.

[Check it out via News.com]

Not resting on its laurels, Samsung appears ready to debut a new netbook in the coming new year. Dubbed the Samsung NC20, the new netbook will substitute the Intel Atom processor with a Via Nano U225 processor clocked in at 1.3GHz and will feature a larger 12.1 inch display, a 160GB hard drive, and 1GB of memory.

Other notable specs include:

• Bluetooth 2.0
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
• Ethernet
• 3 in 1 memory card reader
• 1.3 megapixel webcam
• 1.5 kg weight

According to Notebook Italia, the NC20 will cost around 642 dollars which is definitely more than the current NC10. It’ll be interesting to see how the Nano performs against the Atom in this space. Expect the NC20 in February.

BTW, the Notebook Italia article is of course in Italian.

[Via Akihabara news]

VIA Technologies and NVIDIA have apparently suspended plans to cooperate on building a new netbook platform based around the VIA C7/Nano processors and the NVIDIA MCP79 IGP chipset. Sources tell DigiTimes that while cooperation on the platform has been “suspended”, the “two are still cooperating and will showcase co-developed desktop PC products at CES 2009.”

This is certainly a bummer for the netbook market – we all know how much we need a netbook with good graphics performance. Here’s hoping for an Atom based system around the same IGP.

[Check it out via SlashGear, Electronista]

VIA Technologies along with Microsoft and 15 other Chinese PC manufacturing and infrastructure partners have announced the creation of the “Global Mobility Bazaar” (GMB) – a program “aimed at driving the rapid global adoption of affordable mobile computing devices.”

Through this program, VIA will partner with companies to help develop a wide variety of affordable mobile systems – ranging from mini-notes to netbooks to notebooks – of course all based around VIA processors. According to the official press release, “A key focus of the VIA GMB program is to bring innovative mobile computing devices to fast-emerging markets around the world, as well as within China. These markets are among the fastest growing in the world and are developing a keen appetite for mobile computing.”

Oh and why is Microsoft involved? Every new device designed, manufactured and sold will probably have Windows XP installed.. at least that’s what Microsoft would like to see happen. Other partners in the GMB program include American Megatrends, ITE, and SanDisk.

[Check it out via DigiTimes]