I’ve finally found a review of the sub $500 Everex StepNote NC1500 notebook that was announced back in October over here at LaptopMag.com. For those of you who forgot what this system was, here are the specs:

• 15.4 inch widescreen WXGA display
• Windows XP Home Edition
• 1.5 GHz VIA C7-M processor
• 512MB of RAM
• 40GB HDD
• DVD-RW/CD-RW dual layer drive
• S3 Unichrome Pro graphics
• Integrated sound and speakers
• Wireless support
• Measures 14.1” x 10.7” x 0.9″ and 1.5″ thick
• Weight of 5.3 lbs

All this for $500 bucks but what about that VIA C7-M processor eh? Here’s what LaptopMag thought of the performance:

The StepNote’s performance scores, however, were the lowest we’ve seen in a long time.

Well I guess I shouldn’t have expected much from a VIA C7-M processor eh? Here’s LaptopMag’s overall verdict:

If you’re a touch typist or someone who has used several computers (and is therefore used to the general way a keyboard is laid out), this system will drive you to drink. But if you just need a second notebook around the house for quickly checking e-mail, getting a recipe, or showing the kids a movie, and you don’t want to spend a lot of money, the NC1500 is a decent choice.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Everex StepNote NC1500, VIA, Everex, VIA C7-M

Everex is introducing what they call the world’s most energy efficient notebook in the form of the StepNote NC1500 notebook. What makes this notebook so energy efficient is the usage of the VIA Technologies C7-M processor which clocks in at 1.5GHz and runs at a peak power consumption of 12 W.

Specs on the StepNote NC1500 include:

• 15.4 inch WXGA widescreen display with 1280 x 800 resolution with Diamond Brite technology
• VIA C7-M processor running at 1.5GHz
• 512MB of DDRII 533 memory
• 40GB PATA 4200 RPM HDD
• DVD-RW/CD-RW Dual Layer drive
• S3 Unichrome Pro graphics
• AC 97 audio with built in speaker 
• VGA port, 3 USB, 1 Microphone, 1 Headphone port
• 802.11 b/g support
• 2 Button Glide Pad
• 65 watt AC-DC Adapter
• 3 cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Measures 14.1″ x 10.7″ x 0.9″ and 1.5″ thick
• Weighs a mere 5.9lbs

If you notice the specs, another way the notebook achieves low power consumption is by offering a slower smaller harddrive. Bigger faster hard drives emit more heat which means you’ll need additional fans or bigger fans to dissipate that heat which means more power being used.

What’s particularly cool (excuse the pun there) about the StepNote NC1500 is the price. Everex plans on selling the system for $498 and you should be able to find this notebook at Wal-Mart locations throughout the US (as well as other Everex notebooks).

[Check it out]

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Technorati Tags: Everex, VIA Technologies, VIA, Everex StepNote NC1500, Laptops, Notebooks, VIA C7-M