Toshiba intros NB520 netbook with dual Atom, Harman speakers
updated 07:30 am EST, Thu December 2, 2010
Toshiba unveils NB500 netbooks with dual-core Atom
Toshiba showed the next generation of its netbooks today through two new models reaching Europe first. The NB500 and NB520 both make the leap to the dual-core, 1.5GHz Atom N550 and can play up to 720p video. The NB520 is more unique still in its audio system: a set of Harman Kardon speakers gives it above-average 4W output and supports Dolby Advanced Audio.
Either system can have up to 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive. A webcam, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Ethernet and three USB ports are common, but Toshiba is rare among netbook makers in building in Bluetooth 2.1 support on the NB520 that will be software upgradeable to 3.0 later. The designs break away from Toshiba's past habit of distinctly different designs for new models and this time are very similar apart from Bluetooth and the speakers.
The unveilings have come early and won't ship until early 2011 in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. North American launch details weren't forthcoming, but Toshiba has always brought its netbooks to the area and may port it over at the same time as it launches elsewhere. [via Notebook Italia]
NB500
