Digital Gadgets has announced an 8.9-inch netbook computer that will sell under the Sylvania brand name. Offered in four different colors, the Linux-compatible “g netbook MESO” includes a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 80GB hard drive, four-cell battery, webcam, and 802.11b/g wireless networking, according to the company.

(Click here for a larger view of Sylvania's g netbook MESO)

As Digital Gadgets acknowledges, the g netbook MESO is a version of the Amtek Elego, shown earlier this year at the Computex show in Taiwan. It faithfully follows the successful netbook formula first created by Asus with its Eee. Like others that have followed, including the Acer Aspire One, the MSI Wind NB U100, and the Lenovo IdeaPad S10, it uses Intel's 22mm x 22mm N270, along with the company's 945GMS northbridge and ICH7M southbridge.

The g netbook MESO doesn't stray from the netbook formula, but will come in four colors
Other typical ingredients on the Sylvania g netbook MESO include an 8.9-inch display with 1024 x 600 resolution, a 80GB hard drive, and either 512MB or 1GB of RAM. The device has both 802.11b/g wireless networking and a 10/100 Ethernet port.

The g netbook MESO includes a VGA port for an external display and three USB ports. It has a reader that accepts multiple, unspecified formats (likely including SD, MMC, and Memory Stick formats), plus a webcam of unspecified resolution. Finally, stereo speakers and audio I/O are also included.

Features and specifications cited by Digital Gadgets for the Sylvania g netbook MESO include:

• Processor — 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270
  
• Memory — 512MB or 1GB of standard RAM (maximum capacity not cited)
  
• Display — 8.9-inch screen with 1024 x 600 resolution
  
• Storage — 80GB hard drive
  
• Camera — Webcam with unspecified resolution
  
• Networking:
  • LAN — 1 x 10/100 Ethernet
    
  • WLAN — 802.11b/g wireless

• Other I/O:
  • 3 x USB
    
  • 1 x VGA
    
  • audio mic/line in and line/headphones out

• Expansion — Memory card reader
  
• Battery type/life — four-cell, life not specified
  
• Dimensions — 9 x 7 x 1.25 inches
  
• Weight — 2.6 pounds

According to Digital Gadgets, the Sylvania g netbook MESO will be offered with both the Linux-based Ubuntu Netbook Remix Linux distribution and Windows XP Home Edition. An entry-level $400 version will feature a black case and 512MB of RAM, though what OS is included at that price was not specified. The other three color variants will boast 1GB of RAM, for an undisclosed extra cost.

Sylvania also offers an earlier-model “g” netbook (hold the MESO) that runs the gOS Linux distro. The device appears to be based on the same platform as the Via C7-powered Everex Cloudbook.

Availability

The Sylvania g netbook MESO device will be available from retailers later this month, according to the company.

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