The NEC VersaPro VS-7 blurs the lines between a typical netbook and a higher end ultraportable. On the one hand, it’s thin and light like a netbook, weighing just 1.6 pounds and measuring 0.6 inches thick. It also has a low power 1.84GHz Intel Atom Z540 processor.
On the other hand, Akihabara News reports that it costs about twice as much as a typial netbook and has a case designed to resist up to 330 pounds in pressure.
Akihabara News has published a mini-review of the VersaPro VS-7, and found that the machine was more than capable of handling basic computing tasks including playback of 720p DiVX video. It also did a decent job with PhotoShop CS3. For more info and a bunch of photos, check out the complete, if somewhat short, review at Akihabara News.
when can they start installing those z540’s over here?!
Overpriced, eh? Even though it’s half as thick, weighs half as much, and is quite a bit faster than most netbooks? Sounds justified to me.
I’m certainly intrigued, but I’m one of those who *likes* trackpads.
Weight and size reduction, while improving performance, is a good direction for netbooks to go in, if only battery technology can keep up. They are supposed to be portable after all, and we’re had a year-and-a-half of mostly same-old-same-old.
-AND- It has a trackpoint with three buttons and no trackpad! I’d like to take this baby for a spin, but there can’t be room for much of a battery in there.