Velocity Micro intros netbook, 4.8-inch handheld PC

High-end customizable notebook and multimedia PC maker Velocity Micro announced at CES it will soon introduce its first netbook and portable tablet PC, with the 10.1-inch NoteMagix M10 and handheld 4.8-inch touchscreen NoteMagix M5. The former weighs just 2.6lbs, runs on Windows XP, and is powered by an Atom CPU. There is 1GB of RAM and 160GB of storage space. A Wi-Fi module is integrated, as is a 1.3-megapixel webcam. Connections on the netbook include three USB ports, a 3-in-1 card reader, VGA and audio outputs. The four-cell battery's life is rated at over five hours, which, along with the remaining specs, compares favorably to high-end netbooks from competitors.

The M5 is built around a 4.8-inch, 800x480 touchscreen but also has a complete keyboard that slides out. An Atom chip also powers it, with virtual memory capped at 512MB. Wireless connection options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G data networks. Battery life is rated at five hours. Windows XP will be the OS in the production unit, though the company was showing M5s running on Linux at CES as well. Files and programs are stored on a 4GB SSD, which can be expanded by a microSD card slot. There is also a 1.3-megapixel camera.

Both products are expected to ship in the spring, with the NoteMagix M10 priced at $379, while the NoteMagix M5 is expected to come in at under $500. [via GearLog]

Velocity M10