Via Nanobook shows up at CES

Remember how we said that 2008 would mark the attack of the Eee clones? Well, let the invasion begin. The Via Nanobook reference design--which we last saw in the form of the Everex Cloudbook--has apparently shown its face on the CES 2008 show floor as the Packard Bell EasyNote XS. Engadget reports that the Eee-aping portable "feels pretty good--if a bit plastic-y--in your hand" and "seemed to handle XP with relative ease". Looks like the specs are still the same for the time being--7" LCD, 1.2Ghz Via C7 ULV CPU, etc.--though there's no word yet on that rumored January 15th ship date. Still, it's nice to see this machine take one step closer to reality, even if it looks to sport some sort of cheap-looking VoIP handset attachment to the right of its display. 

For more on the Nanobook:
- see this Engadget report