We first spotted the HIS branded netbook at the COM IT Expo in Mumbai. However, a statement issued by Peter Yeung, marketing head at HIS claims that the company has no plans for netbook and a swift legal action will be sought against the fraudsters. The company seemed really pissed about the inquiries made for a non existent product.

As the smoke is cleared now, it looks like the Indian distributor who is allegedly marketing the netbook under the HIS brand will have to face the music soon.

Graphics card manufacturer, HIS is the latest entrant in the netbook market. Their only netbook (looked like a production unit) was on display at the COM IT Expo in Mumbai, India. The specs are more or less similar to most of the netbooks currently floating in the market.

It has a 10.2-inch (1024×600 pixels) LED backlit display running Windows XP and houses a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB RAM, 2.5-inch SATA HDD with unspecified storage space, one VGA and three USB ports, Wi-Fi, 4-in-1 card reader, 0.3 megapixel webcam, Kensington Lock support and a 4-cell battery with up to 3.5 hours of battery life. A user can also fit in an optional Bluetooth or a 1.3 megapixel webcam. Another netbook is also in the offing that will feature HSDPA/WCDMA support.

The sales executive failed to give me the exact release date but confirmed that it will be priced just over Rs. 20,000 ($404).

Specifications:

CPU: Intel Atom Mobile N270 1.6G FSB533(BGA)
Dimension: 263x184x34.5mm
Weight: 1.26kg
Chipset: Intel 945GSE+ICH7-M
OS: Windows XP home
Display: 10.2″ LED panel (1024×600 pixels)
Memory: DDR2 533 MHz (Support up to 2GB)
Storage: One changeable 2.5″, 9.5mm, SATA HDD
Sound: High definition Audio support 2.1 channel output
I/O Ports: 3 USB 2.0 ports
VGA port
Headphone jack
Microphone jack
Internal Microphone
RJ-45 port for LAN
DC-In jack
4-in-1 card reader (front)
Slots: 1 DIMM; 2 Mini PCI-E slots
Webcam: 0.3/1.3 Mega Pixels (Optional)
Power: 4cell 4400mah battery, 3.5h battery life; 35W AC
Security: Kensington Lock