Someone really needs to take ViewSonic to one side and let them know that the netbook market has moved on. The company have announced their first such machine, the ViewSonic VNB102, and it’s a dreary reminder of everything that bored us about the first twelve months of netbook specifications. Intel’s Atom N270, a 10.1-inch display and 160GB hard-drive are first to prompt yawns, and Windows 7 Starter certainly isn’t going to change that.

There’s also WiFi b/g – so no 802.11n support – and 1GB of RAM, but no Bluetooth. Ports include the regulation three USB 2.0, VGA, audio in/out, ethernet (both described as 10/100 and gigabit on ViewSonic’s confused spec sheet) and a 3-in-1 memory card reader.

Battery life is tipped at up to 6hrs, and there’s a VGA resolution webcam. All that for $399 when the VNB102 arrives on December 18th. ViewSonic are promising new ViewBook netbooks in 2010; lets hope they have a chance to check out the rest of the market in the meantime, and get up to speed.