[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLR8wLDFtCU[/youtube]

Sadly he only got around fifteen minutes to compare the two – before the sharks with head-mounted lasers found him – but it’s enough time to take a tour around the different ports and options each has.  While the VIA design – which has apparently been picked up by an as-yet unannounced distributor for the US – has the clever pop-out module, the Packard Bell version – which will be Europe only – shifts the screen more centrally and has a fixed webcam and microphone module.  Bjorn points out that the removable module could be used for an HSDPA modem, and hopefully the XS will also have some sort of cellular broadband option.

Both are expected to run to $599, with the EasyNote XS launching in late August, and both have an estimated 5hr battery life and weigh in at just 890g.  You can find out more about the VIA reference design over at our sister site, SlashGear.

Introducing, not one, but two new UMPCs [ultramobilelife]

Despite the small size there’s a full keyboard, 1GB of RAM, 30GB or 60GB hard-drive and 4-in-1 memory card reader. Most interesting, the panel next to the display can house a variety of slot-in modules bringing new functionality to the NanoBook – VIA suggest a Bluetooth VoIP phone, GPS, DVB, 3G/CDMA cellular networking and even a world clock for those of you (like me) who have trouble with timezones.

The 4-cell battery promises up to 4.5 hours of battery life, and we’re told that a production version will be coming out soon. It should be interesting to see how many of the unique features make it through to the showroom.

The NanoBook will be officially launched at the VIA Technology Forum tomorrow in Taipei.

VIA