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Friday, August 29, 2008

Speeding Up OpenOffice




gHack has posted a tip from Zolved on speeding up OpenOffice simply by editing some settings -

Start OpenOffice and click on Tools > Options to go to the configuration window. Click on Memory in the left menu and change the following settings:

* Number of Steps: 30
* Use for Open Office: 128
* Memory per Object: 20
* Number of Objects: 20

Click on Java in the left menu afterwards and uncheck Use a Java Runtime Environment.

Click OK and restart Open Office. It should now run faster.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

The Inside Story of the OLPC


Gizmodo is running a multi-part story on the secret origins of the OLPC.

You can read Part One here.

You can read Part Two here.

Part Three will be published tomorrow.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Asus Eee PC 900HD





The folks at jkkmobile has come across the FCC filing of yet another Eee PC variant - a hard drive equipped 900. While the photos show a totally different design on the bottom side compared to other Eee 900s, other details have not been revealed, including whether it uses a Celeron or an Atom.

The FCC website here.

Asus Download Center Launched




From ubergizmo -

Asus has launched its new software download center with more than 3,400 free Linux apps available. But while it is supposed to cater specifically to Eee Users, clicking the "Install" button of the desired program will download a CNR extension file, which surprisingly is designed for Linspire Linux and not Xandros, which is what all Linux-based Eee PCs use. The problem is Xandros doesn't support CNR.

eCafe Hercules Mini Notebook




From ubergizmo -

The eCafe Hercules mini notebook will be launched in Europe next month for approximately 300€. Specs include -

* AMD Geode LX800 500MHz processor
* 20GB hard drive
* 512MB RAM
* 8" 1,024 x 600 resolution display
* Linux

Neo ViVid V1100




Ubergizmo has noted that the Neo ViVid V1100, launched recently in the Philippines, is not an MSI Wind rebadge as rumored circulating photos seemed to suggest. Actual photos shows it to be more kiddy-like, and the pair of speakers embedded right underneath the display. It is currently on sale for approximately USD440. Specs include a 1.6GHz Atom, 1GB RAM, 120GB HD, 8.9" screen, 3-in-1 card reader, and WiFi.




Actually, as pointed out by EeePH member Tulisan in this post, the Neo ViVid V1100 is a Syvania G Netbook Meso rebadge.

Will Negroponte Ever Understand Who's Really Killing OLPC?

In a rebuttal to Times Online's article, "Why Microsoft and Intel tried to kill the XO $100 laptop", TechDirt accuses the writer of buying into Negroponte's side of the story, specifically that Microsoft and Intel for trying "kill" the OLPC.

It also claims the article is riddled with factual errors and opinion substituting as fact, with the author mistaking companies all aiming for the same market as a nefarious attempt to "kill off" the OLPC -- as if Negroponte has exclusivity on the low-cost subnotebook concept.

The two articles appear to have hit a nerve among subnotebook fans, with both generating substantial discussions in their respective comments sections.

Monday, August 25, 2008

AMD preps low-powered Atom killer?

From Linux Devices -

According to Taiwan-based manufacturer Ibase, the AMD Sempron 200U/210U will sample next month on a 3.5-inch SBC (single board computer). Persistent rumors of an AMD processor code-named "Bobcat" aka "K8 BGA" or Sempron BGA have been on the net for months.

The CPU was rumored to use AMD's Sempron core at 1.0GHz or 1.5GHz, and offered in a 27mm x 27mm BGA (ball grid array) package for installation in low-cost devices. Ibase confirmed the rumors by admitting it has employed the 1.0GHz Sempron 200U and 1.5GHz Sempron 210U on a new SBC, the IB885, which will be available in October. According to iBase, the both products include an integrated memory controller, 128KB L1 cache, 256KB L2 cache, and an 800MHz HyperTransport link. The 1.0GHz 200U has an 8-Watt TDP and supports 400MHz DDR2 memory, while the 1.5GHz 210U has a 15-Watt TDP and supports 800MHz DDR2 RAM.

None of the above has yet been officially confirmed by AMD itself.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

10” LCDs to replace 7” LCDs in subnotebooks?

One of the reasons why Asus chose a 7” screen for its pioneering low-cost subnotebook Asus Eee PC 701 is that it is a ubiquitous size found in DVD players, car instrumentation panels, ISM displays, etc. The popularity obviously translates into wide availability and cost-effective pricing – perfect for a device intended to be become a commodity item.

It is of no surprise then that Asus’ rivals opted for the same screen size for their own competing products. But since they found it difficult to match the Eee PC’s value at the same price point, they opted also opted for a bigger screen and more features at a higher price. But the price difference has to be incremental at most, for the models were intended to compete with the Eee PC 701. Hence some of the competitors selected the next off-the-shelf, the 8.9" screen. However the 8.9”, being just slightly bigger than the 7”, does not provide significant improvement. As such it is not exactly a popular model and therefore does not provide the same value as the smaller 7”.

The next size up is the 10” panel, which has found new applications in digital photo frame (an emerging product line), upgraded DVD players, and some ebook readers. In addition, the expanding subnotebook market segment provides many opportunities as well.

Reacting to these trends, major panel manufacturers are now shifting to 10” production. Taiwan-based CPT and Innolux Display both already have production of 10.2” panels, fabricating at 4.5G lines, in addition to their 10.1” production. AU Optronics (AUO), Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO), LG Display and Samsung Electronics all have plans to produce 10.1-inch panels at their 5G lines. HannStar Display is said to be planning 10-inch panel production at its 5.3G line.

With these developments, we can expect 10.1” panels to become the popular screen size for subnotebooks at the latest Q2 next year, with 7” models becoming lower-priced entry models and 8.9” models fading away.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Acer Lowers Prices on Aspire One




As we have predicted in a recent post here, the competition in the subnotebook segment has shifted to price cutting. Per Laptop Mag, Acer has announced U.S. prices on its Aspire one are being lowered by as much as $50. The 1GB RAM, 120 GB HD, Windows XP Home version is now USD349, from USD399. The Linpus Linux Lite version, with 8GB SSD and 512MB RAM is now at USD329, from USD379. In addition, Acer has introduced the USD399 Aspire One AOA150-1447 which features 160GB HD, six-cell battry and Windows XP Home.

Acer Aspire One Windows specs here.

Acer Aspire One Linux specs here.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Liliputing's Database of Subnotebooks

Brad Linder's Liliputing has a database designed to make it easy to compare current and upcoming subnotebooks. You can sort the list by clicking on any field (name, display, cpu, price, etc).

Check it out here.

Asus prepares launch of 10.2" notebook

From Digitimes -

Asus is reportedly launching a 10.2" N-series Atom-based notebook in September that might serve as a catalyst for medium-size panel demand, some industry watchers commented. It will be priced at NT$15,000-20,000 (USD477.8-637.00)and will support Windows Vista and hard drives up to 320GB.

The new notebook will be different from the Eee PC product line.

Sneak Peak of new version of Intel-powered classmate PC

Uploaded by channelintel

"Jeff Galinovsky, technical expert of the classmate PC at Intel, walked through some of the features of the new version classmate PC prototype, including touch screen and tablet mode."

Intel shows off next-gen, convertible Classmate PC




From Engadget -

At this week's IDF, Intel demo'd a new convertible Classmate PC but stressed it is not the expected Classmate 3.0. The unit has 1.6GHz Atom processor, 8.9-inch 1024 x 600 display, an SD card slot, a pair of USB ports, and an SSD drive of unspecified size.

---------

If Intel manages to provide a low-cost swivel reference design, then we can fully expect this to become a common feature in subsequent Classmate-based models. The swivel and touch screen are the only major features left that seem to distinguish more expensive sub-notebooks from their more popular low-cost siblings. Of course, the former tend to have more RAM and storage space but these are typically user-upgradeable.

The School Year Opening - A Critical Period for Sub-notebook Sales

With Asus having lost both first mover advantage and early dominance in the very market segment it created with its Eee PC 701, the coming school year opening is shaping up to be a more-than-usually critical period for not only Asus but as well as the horde of competitors, first-tier and otherwise, in the fiercely-competitive low-cost subnotebook market. Put simply, whoever is able to establish significant market share will have a headstart going into the lucrative holiday season.

While Asus may have arguably created the low-cost subnotebook market when it released the Asus Eee PC 701 back in October last year, it miserably failed to capitalize on its early lead when it assumed the competition won’t be able to catch-up until the 2nd half of this year. In the interim, it went wishy-washy on how to position the product line and ended up with a half-baked “it is not a notebook” campaign that did not succeed in pushing it as a consumer appliance as well. Moreover, it managed to dilute the Eee PC brand by introducing non-related peripherals. The worst part was its attempt to play up with competitors who failed to match the value-for-size and value-for money of the Eee PC and ended up chasing after them instead. If it had instead concentrated on keeping the price low and simply added more features, its Eee PC would still be in a very dominant market position.

So now the market is wide open with no clear-cut winner. Major players include the HP Mini-Note, the MSI Wind, the Acer Aspire One, among others, with Lenovo and Dell soon to join the fray. Chipmaker VIA has open sourced a subnotebook design as well. In addition, there are several third-tier players nibbling at the low-end. Significantly, a couple of companies have also announced PDA types with the subnotebook form-factor, selling for under $200. In fact, one model, the Jointech JL7100 uses what seems to be an identical Asus Eee PC 701 casing. Asus itself has introduced several models as well, providing for an overwhelming range from which consumers can choose.

With the school year opening, which is traditionally one of two peak periods for computer resellers, the other one being the holidays, the lack of a dominant player obviously means a mad scramble for market share. The timing could not be more crucial.

First, while the segment has enjoyed brisk sales since its introduction, overall sales are still a fraction of overall notebook sales. Meaning subnotebooks have not really gained critical mass in the mainstream. For the most part, buyers still belong to the first wave of adopters, albeit an extended first wave. A successful school year opening sales would not only “legitimize” low-cost subnotebooks as mainstream, it will build the foundation of for a bigger surge during the holiday season.

Secondly, the education market is projected to account for a significant share of subnotebook sales. An endorsement by schools and universities will effectively bring the subnotebooks to mainstream acceptance. The caveat is that there are now so-called “low-cost” model with configurations and prices closer to mainstream notebooks. If these are the ones endorsed, such certification would not really mean much for the genuine low-cost subnotebooks.

That said, still whichever model manages to establish itself during this period will likely carry that into the holiday season. So what does that mean? Expect price cuts. Expect new configurations. All just in time for the back to school sale.

Will there be a winner? It all depends. But if anyone can offer a model that will adequately support the needs and requirements of students in a package small and light enough to “disappear” into a backpack and at a price that won’t hurt so much when it is damaged or lost, the model will be an attractive buy. Features should include the following:

Screen size a minimum 8.9” size. Battery life probably at least 4 hours. WiFi a must. Size about that of the original Asus Eee PC 701 or just a tad bigger both ways. The OS must be almost instant-on (less than 20 secs). RAM should be adequate to let the OS and Office-type apps run smoothly. SSD storage size is not critical as long as it is upgradeable. Keyboard lay-out, tactile feedback, and key sizes should be sufficient for touch-typing.

Gaming capability is not an issue since users will unlikely use the device for serious gaming.

Price should be under USD300 but will probably be higher. But if you have all the above at under USD200, the product would be an instant best-seller.

Have we just described an existing model? You be the judge. Though come Christmas time, we wouldn’t be surprised if there will be couple or more models that will fit the above description. Happy shopping then!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Origami Experience 2.0 on Intel UrbanMax

via jkkmobile -

Patriot Xporter XT Boost 32GB USB Flash Drive - 180x Speed




For those in need of more storage space, TigerDirect has the Patriot Xporter XT Boost 32GB USB Flash Drive on sell for only $99.99. What is so nice about it is that it provides ultra fast transfer rates of up to 180X. In fact, the Patriot Xporter XT Boost is one of the fastest USB Flash Drives in the market.

TigeDirect Product page here.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Kohjinsha W130

From ubergizmo -




Kohjinsha has released another subnotebook model, the W130. Features and specs -

* 8.9" LCD 1024 x 768 touch screen
* Intel Atom Z520 1.33GHz processor
* Windows Vista Home Basic OS
* 4-in-1 memory card slot
* ExpressCard slot
* DVD Super Multi Drive
* 2 megapixel and VGA cameras

Older Asus Eee PC Batteries Are Incompatible With 900A




From Gizmodo -

A word of caution to Asus Eee PC owners who may want to use their older batteries with the Atom-based Asus Eee PC 900A. It uses a different and cheaper (4400mAh) connector than the previous models 701 and 900. Meaning, older batteries will not work with it.

Looking at the brighter side, the 900A's 8GB SSD uses a single pci-e card, not a split one; and the SLF flash should give you speeds comparable to the 900/901 4GB SSD.

Source article here.

Lenovo IdeaPad S10

Lenovo IdeaPad S10 & S9 netbooks clear FCC




From Slash Gear -

The Lenovo IdeaPad S10 and S9 subnotebooks have passed through the FCC, paving the way for their expected launch next month. Per the FCC filing, the two models share some documentation as their main difference is the screen size. The S10 has a 10" screen, the S9 has an 8.9" screen. Initial reports had suggested the S9 would be a China and Europe product only but the FCC filing implies otherwise.

Source article here.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Leaked: Dell Inspiron 910 (Mini Note) Specs and Release DateFrom




The folks at Gizmodo have gotten their hands on a Dell Inspiron 910 (aka Mini Inspiron and Inspiron Mini) full (internal) 910 web documentation. It contains several photos plus revealing details - support for SSDs up to 16GB and what looks to be very moddable internals (large Phillips-head screws hold that SSD in place).

The system will go on sale on August 22nd our source but the starting price of USD299 has not been confirmed.

For more details and photos, check out the source article here.

ASUS Eee PC 1000H Review




Gadget Zone's Damien Virulhapan has reviewed the Asus Eee PC 1000H and given it 4.5 out of a possible 5. Positives are the slightly larger keyboard, improved design and long battery life. Downside is the absence of the heavily advertised Eee Storage and still poor webcam quality.

Verdict? The ASUS Eee PC 1000H is a subnotebook that's hard to fault and is currently the closest seen to being perfect. But there is a lot of competition closing in.

You can read the entire review here.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Modding the Acer Aspire One - hard drive

As notified by tnkgrl -



More details and photos available here.

Thanks, tnkgrl!

Friday, August 15, 2008

gOS's new Linux OS embraces Google applications

From Webware -

gOS has announced gOS 3 Gadgets, its main feature being is its ability to instantly launch Google Gadgets for Linux on start-up, allowing users access to more than 100,000 iGoogle and Google Gadgets apps. WINE 1.0 and Lightweight X Desktop Environment (LXDE) have also been included. WINE allows users to use Windows applications on Linux while LXDE is a renewed effort to develop more lightweight desktop applications.

The new OS version can also run other Google applications more well-known in Windows platform including Google Desktop, Google Picasa, Google Earth and Google Maps. In addition, other Google's web-based applications such as Documents, Calendar, and Mail launch have a closer appearance and functionality to desktop applications than other platforms.

tnkgrl mods the Acer Aspire One, adds Bluetooth

tnkgrl has began a multi-part tutorial on modding the Acer Aspire One, starting by adding a Bluetooth. The mod is pretty much identical to the one she had previously done on the Asus Eee PC 701.




Part 2 will be a tutorial on how to upgrade the SSD to a 1.8″ PATA hard drive and oh yeah - how to put the Aspire one back together.

Source article here.

Why a Mini-notebook is Exactly What You Will Want

Tom's Hardware has an interesting write-up on why analysts expect subnotebooks to become the next gold mine for system builders. It cites a recent Gartner study which predicts 5.2 million units will be shipped this year, 8 million next year and 50 million annually by 2012. While subnotebooks have initially been targeted at the education market, 70% will eventually be purchased by consumers especially if their performance is increased and they prove useful for business-oriented tasks.

Source article here.

jkOnTheRun- Acer Aspire One

Uploaded by KevinCTofel

"Kevin Tofel and James Kendrick of jkOnTheRun have a geek session that is an unboxing of the newly available Acer Aspire One netbook. The Acer that Kevin shows us is the Linux version with 512 MB of memory and an 8 GB SSD. Kevin shows us how fast it is to get this baby out of the box and hard at work and it is definitely an attractive notebook for $379."

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Limited Edition Eee PC 1000H in Korea




Per Akihabara News Asus will be releasing a limited edition of the Eee PC 1000H. which will be available in red and with a white keyboard and covered with what looks like a snowflake pattern.

Kingston Now Has 32GB SDHC Card

From PR Newswire -

Kingston Technology today announced it is shipping a 32GB Elite Pro SDHC Flash memory card for use with today's digital video camcorders and other high-resolution imaging
devices. The new 32GB card is the largest capacity in Kingston's Elite Pro
line of SDHC cards, which currently includes 4-, 8- and 16GB capacities.

The 32GB SDHC card (Kingston part #: SD4/32GB) has a suggested price of
$308.00 (MSRP U.S.). Kingston's line of SDHC memory cards are backed by a
lifetime warranty and 24/7 live technical support. For more detailed
information visit the Kingston Web site at: http://www.kingston.com.

Features and Specifications:
-- Compliant: with the SD Card Association specification version 2.00
-- Secure: built-in write-protect switch prevents accidental data loss
-- Compatible: with SDHC host devices; not compatible with standard
SD-enabled devices/readers
-- File Format: FAT 32
-- Reliable: lifetime warranty**
-- Simple: as easy as plug-and-play
-- Capacities***: 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB
-- Dimensions: 0.94. x 1.25. x 0.08. (24mm x 32 mm x 2.1mm)
-- Speed Class 4: 4MB/sec. guaranteed minimum data transfer rate
-- Operating Temperature: -13 degrees F to 185 degrees F (-25 degrees C
to 85 degrees C)
-- Storage Temperature: -40 degrees F to 185 degrees F (-40 degrees C to
85 degrees C)
-- Voltage: 3.3V

* Actual recording quantity and time will vary and may be less,
depending upon model, resolution, compression and content.
** 10-year warranty in France, Germany and Austria
*** Please note: Some of the listed capacity is used for formatting and
other functions and thus is not available for data storage. For more
information, please consult Kingston's Flash Memory Guide at
kingston.com/Flash_Memory_Guide.

ASUS Eee Box Review




Submitted by Damien Virulhapan -

Gadget Zone
has reviewed the USD429 Asus Eee Box and has given it a 3/5 rating. Positives are its relatively low price, ExpressGate functionality, small size, and light weight. Negatives are the lack of an optical drive, a flimsy front panel door and the minuscule 1GB RAM.

Overall, it is a cheap and semi-portable desktop if you're after a machine without an optical drive and don't plan on playing back any high definition content

Full review here.

Raon Digital Everun Note benchmarks suggest best netbook performance yet




From Slashgear -

Raon Digital has released a yet to be third-party verified benchmark screenshot of its Everun Note that seem to indicate it performs much better than the Atom-based subnotebooks. The Everun Note uses an AMD Turion 64×2 Dual Core 1.2GHz (1MB L2 Cache) processor with 1GB of RAM. It also has a PCI-E mini slot and built-in 3G capabilities. Rumored price is USD800.

Source article here.

Averatec will release a 10-inch Netbook




From It Runs On Linux -

Averatec will release a 1.5 kg subnotebook that will feature a 10.2" screen, Intel Atom, and 120GB HDD. It will be available around Christmas at $399-$499 (about 268-335 Euros).

Source article here.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Adapter Uses Six SDHC Cards For Voltron-Like DIY SSD Drive




From Gizmodo -

The guys at Impress have managed 111.4 MB/s read and 55.2 MB/s write times using six 8GB SDHC cards enclosed in a single 2.5-inch SATA SSD adapter (cost USD90 in Japan). While it won't match speeds of dedicated SSDs, it is not too shabby for a DIY solution that will save you some money.

Source article here.

Raon Digital Everun Note




From AVING.Net

Raon Digital has unveiled its Everun Note, the world's first mini notebook equipped with dual CPU (AMD Turion). The 742g unit features a 7" 1024 z 600 LCD, 1.3MP webcam, Bluetooh ans 12GB - 80GB HDD. It runs Windows XP Home and will be available starting September in Korea as well as in North America.

Source article here.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Drastically Speed up your Linux System with Preload

Preload is an "adaptive readahead daemon" that runs in the background of your system, and observes what programs you use most often, caching them in order to speed up application load time. By using Preload, you can put unused RAM to good work, and improve the overall performance of your desktop system. To learn more about Preload, check out this Tech Throb article.

How to use a mini-mouse




All About Eee PC has a nifty tutorial on how to use one of those mini mice that seem to match up perfectly with the Asus Eee PC.

Some of the tips:

* Using tips: Hold the mouse with your ‘thumb’ and ‘middle finger’. Don’t cover the mouse with your whole hand.
* Use your index finger to left-click the mouse.
* Use your index finger to middle-click the mouse.
* Use your index finger to right-click the mouse.
* Drag the mice to the right when moving to the right.
* Drag to the left when moving to the left.
* Drag up when going up.
* And down when going down.

You can read the source article for more tips, including technical ones, here.

Bluetooth Laser Virtual Keyboard




ThinkGeek sells a Bluetooth Laser Virtual Keyboard for USD159.99. This tiny device laser-projects a keyboard on any flat surface and lets you type away accompanied by simulated key click sounds. With 63 keys and and full size QWERTY layout you can approach typing speeds of a standard keyboard - in a size a little larger than a matchbook.

Product Features

* Connects to PDAs Smartphones and Computers using Bluetooth
* Projects a full size keyboard onto any flat surface
* Allows the convenience of regular keyboard typing in a tiny form factor
* Rechargeable battery lasts for 120 minutes of continuous typing
* Tiny size only 3.5 inches high
* Compatible with PalmOS 5, PocketPC 2003, Windows Smartphone, Symbian OS, and Windows 2000/XP. Limited Mac OSX Support. NOTE: No Linux drivers.

ASUS Eee Box available in USA for $350




From Engadget -

J&R has started selling the Asus Eee Box, complete with Windows XP, a 1.6GHz Atom processor, WiFi, memory card reader, 1GB of RAM and an 80GB hard drive for $350. Black and white versions are available now.

Source article here.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Hands-On with the ECS G10IL: The Sexiest Netbook Yet




Laptop Mag has gotten hold of a preproduction ECS G10IL and is quite impressed with it. The 10" has a lid covered in a white glossy finish with thin silver stripes inlaid. Its circular and sturdy hinge looks very similar to that of the Sony VAIO FW Series. The white matte inside has a minimalist look and its rounded edges is reminiscent of the MacBook. The keyboard keys are wide and have the flat shape found in recent Macbooks. Unfortunately the touchpad has only a single mouse with left and right clicks. But it is also inlaid with blue LED status lights. Its 1.6GHz Intel Atom and 1GB RAM have no problem running Windows XP Professional (with Service Pack 3) along, with its 120GB Samsung drive booting the system in 50 seconds.

Laptop Mag's very early verdict? It will be an MSI Wind and Eee PC 1000H killer although actual delivery date is yet to be announced.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Hands-On With the Sylvania g Netbook Meso




Laptop Mag has posted a hands-on review of the Sylvania g Meso. Early impressions - glossy black cover easily smeared by fingerpritns, comfortable size and weight at 2.6 pounds. (Compared to the 8.9-inch Acer Aspire one, it is thicker but the Acer is longer.) Keyboard is same size as the one on the Asus Eee PC 701 but trackpad has left and right buttons. Speakers located below the screen are muffled.

Specs for the USD399 model include 8.9" 1024 x 600 matte display, 1.6GHz Intel Atom, 512MB RAM, 80GB HD, Ubuntu Netbook Remix.

For more details and videos, read the full article here.

Aigo P8860 MID released

From Engadget -

Aigo's 800MHz Atom Z500-powered P8860 MID (aka Gigabyte M528 in the US and Europe) has been released in Hong Kong. The 4.8" unit has Bluetooth, WiFi, sliding QWERTY, 4GB SSD, microSD expansion, and GPS and HSDPA data options. Price is about USD700.



Source article here.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Asus S101 - Not high-end Eee PC




(Left: rumored S101; Right: Eee PC 901)
From iTech News Net -

Asus is preparing a high-end version of Eee PC that features 64GB SSD to be named S101 instead of yet another Eee PC model so as to reflect the higher price tag. The S101 will be powered by an Atom processor and will feature a 10.2" LED_backlit. There are two models, one with 32GB SSD that costs $699, and one with 64GB SSD for $899.

More photos and details here.

Asus launches Eee Storage and Download services




Jerry Shen, president of Asustek demonstrates the Eee services website featuring Eee Storage and Download. Photo: Terry Ku, Digitimes, August 2008

From Digitimes -

Asus recently launched Eee Storage, a 20GB Internet hard drive service, and Eee Download, to provide Eee PC users more additional features. Currently, Eee Download has around 3,000 free software and game titles available for Eee PC users to download. The company is planning to expand the service into an online store enabling users to download music and various other content. The service will initially target the Chinese-language market and will be rolled out for Eee family.

Source article here.

Celio REDFLY Now Available in the WMExperts Store

The Celio Redfly, aka “the mobile companion” for your Windows Mobile phone, is now available for $499.95 at the WMExperts Store.

For those who have forgotten about the Celio Redfly, it is a device which you connect your Windows Mobile Phone to so that you get a 800x480 and a near full-sized keyboard. Meaning it is pretty much useless if you don't have a Windows Mobile Phone. But it should be useful if you are the type of user who have problems syncing your data on your smartphone with your notebook.

But for $499.95? An entry level Asus Eee PC has more components and more functionalities and costs considerably less. Even the Jointech JL7100 has more features and costs only $99 in quantity.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Neo ViVid V1100 MiniNote - Yet Another MSI Wind Rebadge?




Philippine online reseller PC Corner has listed what yet looks like another MSI Wind rebadge - the Neo ViVid V1100 MiniNote, which will be available starting August 15. Specs for the base model include Atom 1.6GHz processor, 1.0GB RAM, 00GB SATA HD, 8.9" screen, webcam, wifi, 3 in one card reader and Windows XP Home. Cash price is Php19,900 or roughly USD454.

The site indicates "notes ... MSI WhiteBook U90 Chassis." So it is not clear if it is the same situation as that of the Jointech JL7100 using the Asus Eee PC 701 chassis but has an entirely different board inside (and screen) or a simple rebadge. But given that Neo is a local ODM, meaning it relabels products from suppliers under its own brand, chances are it is the latter. Besides the Neo specs closely resemble that of the MSI Wind U90's.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

More on the Jointech JL7100




More tidbits on the Jointech JL7100 that we have previously posted here.

1. The USD99 pricing is distributor pricing for a minimum quantity of 10,000.
2. The USB ports are version 1.1.
3. The battery is 7.4V/2000mAH,Working time 4Hours, Stand-by up to 72 hours.
4. Ethernet is only 10MBits.
5. Full versions (instead of Viewer versions) of MS Excel, Ms Powerpoint, MS Word are available.
6. ROM is flashable.
7. A new model, JL7200 will have built-in WiFi.

Full specs of the Jointech JL7100 here.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Lenovo IdeaPad S series

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Atom-based ASUS Eee PC 900A?




French site Blogeee has uploaded a bunch of images of yet another Asus Eee PC, purportedly those of the Eee PC 900A, with A standing for Atom.

Google translated site here.