DailyTech - ATI and ASUS Announce HDMI Notebook

Submit News

Hardware ATI and ASUS Announce HDMI Notebook
Tuan Nguyen (Blog) - June 5, 2006 12:25 PM

8 comment(s) - last by apriest.. on Jun 5 at 5:36 PM

The ASUS W1

HDMI HD video standard starting to pick up in the PC industry

ATI today announced that it and ASUS have unveiled an HDMI-enabled notebook, called the ASUS W1J. The new notebook will be the first notebook that will allow users to truly use their machines as a high-definition home theater device -- this and the W1J will be very much ready for Windows Vista when it ships. The new W1J will be an Intel Core Duo based notebook with the following specs:

Intel Core Duo Processor T2300/T2400/T2500/T2600
Mobile Intel 945PM Express Chipset
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
DDRII 533/667 MHz, up to 2GB
15.4" WXGA/WXGA+ Zero Bright Dot Warranty, Color Shine & Crystal Shine LCD, ASUS Splendid Video Intelligent Engine
ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 GDDR3
SATA 80/100/120GB
Analog TV (W1Jb)/ Hybrid TV (Analog+DVB-T) (W1Jc)

The W1J is also equipped to view both analog and digital TV, and be able to record as well. According to ATI:

The W1J is one of the first to offer HDMI capabilities, which is the only industry-supported, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface available on the market today. HDMI provides the optimal interface between any audio/video source, such as a DVD player, set-top box or A/V receiver and an audio and/or video monitor, such as a digital television (DTV) or PC monitor, over a single cable.

HDMI itself has been a sticky subject, at least in computers for the last year or so. In the home theater market, HDMI devices have been shipping for several years now, but only until very recently have manufacturers started to announce devices that support the HD video standard. Acer last week announced its Aspire iDea 500 media center PC, which supports HDCP-HDMI output. Universal Abit also announced that it was the first motherboard manufacturer out the door with a HDMI-enabled motherboard.