ViewSonic VNB102 Netbook Offers 10-Inch Screen, Windows 7

By Geoff Duncan Published December 18, 2009

Display maker ViewSonic is continuing its foray into the personal computer business, today announcing its VBN102 netbook. The VNB102 falls right in line with most Windows 7 netbooks, offering a 10-inch screen, Wi-Fi connectivity, and up to 6 hours of battery life, in a compact easy-to-cart-around form factor. But the system packs only 1 GB of RAM and Windows 7 Starter edition, which may leave some netbook power users a little wanting.

ViewSonic VNB102 netbook — Image used with permission by copyright holder

“We are pleased to offer a range of mobile products that take digital experiences on the road,” said ViewSonic Americas VP and general manager Jeff Volpe, in a statement. “With the addition of the VNB102 ViewBook, we are confident that we have the right solution for our customers, whether it’s an all-in-one PC or PC Mini for at home computing, or an ultra-portable netbook for mobile computing needs.”

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The VNB102 features a 10-inch, 1,024 by 600 pixel LED-backlit display, a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1 GB of DDR2 Ram, a 160 GB hard drive, a 3-in-1 media card reader, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, 100Base-T Ethernet, thre USB 2.0 ports, and VGA output. The unit weighs about 2.4 pounds, and measures 9.9 by 7.4 by 1.1 inches. According to ViewSonic, the system can get up to 6 hours’ use on a single charge on a six-cell battery. The system runs Windows 7 Starter edition, which is limited to supporting 2 GB of RAM, can’t play back DVDs, and lacks the Windows Aero theme and a lot of personalization features, although it removes the three-app-at-a-time limit enforced in previous Windows starter editions.

ViewSonic VNB102 netbook — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The VNB102 will be available for sale starting December 18 at $399. ViewSonic says it’s planning additional PC launches for 2010.

ViewSonic VNB102 netbook — Image used with permission by copyright holder

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Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

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