Gigabyte Shows the M912 Netbook

If only they could include support for UMTS / 3G so would this be the ideal computer to buy if the battery-life is ok. Have anyone seen any reports on battery-life-time?

Matt Reed:

Pricing is said to be a 20,000 Taiwanese Dollars which is about 660 US. Dollars. I really hope that it will be sold for this price outside Taiwan aswell!

Should anyone be looking for more information on this recently announced (awesome) product, I have compiled a list here of confirmed specifications and also rumoured specifications that I have been unable to confirm from a reliable source.

Confirmed Specifications

Processor: 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270

System Memory: 1GB in single stick format (Max 1GB) SO-DIMM

Chipset: Intel 945GSE

Screen: 8.9″ 180 degree rotatable (tablet format) LED backlit display, touch screen capable. Max resolution 1280x768px.

Storage: SATA 2.5″ 120GB-250GB

Input: 80 key keyboard and touchpad with two buttons and right-hand scroll area. Touch screen interface useable with both stylus and your finger.

Audio: 2x 1.5 watt speakers

Connectivity: Wireless B/G mini card and Bluetooth 2.0 built in. USBx3. Microphone in. Earphone out. VGA D-SUB. RJ45. SD card. ExpressCard 34.

Extras: 1.3 Mp CMOS camera. Kensington Lock.

Battery: 4400mAh 4-cell Li-Ion battery.

Dimensions: 235 x 180 x 28-42mm

Warranty: 1 year worldwide warranty. 6 month battery warranty.

There are various things about the M912 that have not been confirmed by a reliable source that I could find but I will list them here for you below:

There may be two versions of the M912, The X and S versions. The X version is rumoured to have a lower resolution screen than that stated above and could be 1024x600px. Other differences may become apparent closer to release.

Battery life has been spotted as being as little of 1.5 hours at 95% charge when running Vista. This is unlikely to be completely true as it was not seen on a final release unit and may be using older hardware or perhaps hardware that has not been calibrated correctly. It is more likely that the machine will have about 3 hours battery life and that extra batteries will be available at higher capacities.

There has been talk of an 80GB SSD instead of the HDD but expect this to come at a cost if it is released.

The 1GB system memory via a SO-DIMM slot is listed on Gigabyte’s website as being optional. This lends credence to the thought that 1GB of memory will be soldered onto the motherboard itself and that the optional memory will be available as expansion, thus bringing the total available memory to 2GB. This is quite likely as 1GB is not exactly cutting edge, unlike the rest of the machine so here’s hoping speculation will be correct on this one.

The issue of pricing has been thrown about everywhere and I have heard that it may cost as little as $500 for the most basic version, rising to about $700 for the fully loaded version.

The machine is slated for release sometime in June 2008 for EMEA, no word on a US release date yet or confirmed pricing for any region.

This machine brings some very unique features, such as ExpressCard34, to this section of the market that are usually only available on larger laptops. This is one reader who is waiting with bated breath.

(The confirmed specs were taken from Gigabyte’s own website at http://www.gigabyte.com.tw and unconfirmed specs were compiled from various sources including videos, Computex 2008 coverage and forums. Specs (even confirmed ones) are subject to change at any time and all information is based off incomplete hardware and software.)

No problem, glad to be of help.

A cursory glance at Google results http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/Jan2007/4105.htm and http://www.amazon.com/Option-GT-Max-EDGE-ExpressCard/dp/B000PC350A show that it will be possible to get 3G/UMTS/EDGE through this laptop even if it will be via an expansion card.