First Atom-based MID gets prices, specs

The first Mobile Internet Device based on Intel's new Atom architecture has been put up for pre-order today and reveals the feature set of the device itself and others to come. A listing by electronics shop Tegatech Australia reveals that the GigaByte M528 will be based on Intel's base 800MHz Atom chip and is being targeted at mobile data users: the QWERTY keyboard slider design will have both Wi-Fi and a 3G cellular module, and will have similarly have both back and front video cameras for snapping photos and making video calls.

The device should also have a 4.8-inch, 800x480 resolution touchscreen, built-in GPS navigation, and an 8GB flash drive for its permanent storage, according to the early listing. The system is equipped with just 512MB of RAM but isn't expected to be affected by performance, as the M528 will use a custom variant on Linux rather than Windows.

Tegatech is pricing the phone at $1,199 Australian dollars, or about $1,134; the cost includes local tax and is likely to dip significantly with a release in the US, which is anticipated once GigaByte formally announces ship dates for the M528. Intel formally rolls out Atom in June. [via UMPC Portal]