ASUS doles out gold and blue Eee PCs

From Engadget - Asus has released a blue 901A and a gold 900A. Specs should probably remain the same but there is no word yet on whether you will pay a premium for the new colors.

LG Teaser Shows 3G Netbook: The Momo

Per Wired, the LG site has listed it X110 Momo as "coming soon." Features include 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1.3MP webcam, a 10" screen, optional Bluetooth, SD card reader and Windows XP Home Basic. An interesting addition is HSUPA 3G radio.

With specs close to the MSI Wind (actually to most other netbooks if you take out the 3G), it will invariably be compared to that. This should not be surprising since MSI is reportedly the OEM manufacturer for the unit.

No word yet on mobile telco hook-ups or pricing.

Asus Eee PC 701 4G now same price as Blue H1 in the Philippines

In what appears to be a response to local rebadger Blue slashing the price of its H1 down to P9,995 (about USD212), Philippine reseller PC Corner has lowered the price of the original Asus Eee PC 701 4G (512MB) down to match the P9,995 price.

While this may cause problems for Blue, the big winner here is the buying public as it definitely means the price war has started. With upgradeable dual-core Atom based models expected by January 2009, we can expect other manufacturers to start reducing the prices for their current models. Hopefully the price war will expand to other countries as well. This is one war we definitely are supporting. :)

You can visit the PC Corner online store here.

Intel Announces Two Cores in Atom

From Softpedia -

Intel will be launching next month its highly anticipated dual-core Atom processor, designed for netbooks. The Atom 330 will have same 1.6GHz core speed as the single-core N270 and will run on the same 533MHz bus. But the 330's dual-core processor architecture should make it significantly faster.Other features include a HyperThreading support for each processor and a total on-die L2 cache of 1MB, with 512K for each core. Downside, it also uses the same 945C chipset, which could actually lower performance.

The dual-core Atom could also enable system vendors like ASUS to update its netbooks with high-performance Atom 330-based products. Dell and HP will likely launch their dual-core Atom netbooks before 2009.

Netbooks Dominate Amazon Laptop Sales

From Gizmodo -

Nine of the top ten selling notebooks on Amazon right now are netbooks (or subnotebooks), with the other spot is being taken by Apple. Complaints about being underpowered, undersized keyboards, miniature screens aside, this is just another proof of the booming market segment. While overall, netbooks are not yet outselling the entire industry, other market trends appear to predict a growing share leading into the holiday season.

Eee PC™ to Feature 3.75G for Internet Access Anywhere

From Asus -

ASUS today announced that it will be adding 3.75G connectivity* to its hugely-popular series of Eee PC™ netbooks, enabling convenient and high-speed access to the Internet anytime, anywhere. The inclusion of 3.75G is a perfect addition to the Eee PC’s™ existing set of travel-friendly features such as its high portability, shockproof data storage and all-day battery life—strengthening its reputation as the ultimate solution for computing on the go.

With 3.75G, the Eee PC™ will be able to deliver on its promise of borderless one-day computing better than ever before. No longer bound to Internet hotspots, 3.75G-equipped Eee PC™ users will be able to enjoy low latency mobile broadband Internet access at high downlink and uplink speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps and 2 Mbps** respectively, regardless of where they are—ensuring a seamless connected experience on the go. The Eee PC’s™ 7.5-hour battery life*** provides more than ample power to keep it up and running during extended outdoor excursions.

Frequent travelers will particularly welcome the timely addition of 3.75G support, which comes as service providers around the globe are ramping up their adoption of 3.75G High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA). This means that they will be assured of a reliable, high-speed mode of Internet access in many destinations around the world.

3.75G will make its first appearance in Eee PC™ 901 netbooks released to market from October 2008 onward.

Specifications

Model	Eee PC™ 901 with 3.75G
Operating System	Genuine Windows® XP Home
Display	8.9"
CPU & Chipset	Intel Atom
Wireless Data Network	WLAN: 802.11b/g/n**** Bluetooth: Yes****
Memory	1 GB (DDR2)
Storage	16 GB Solid State Drive (SSD) 20 GB free online Eee Storage
Memory Card Reader	MMC/SD (SDHC)
Camera	1.3 M Pixel
Audio	HD Audio Stereo speakers Digital Array Mic
Battery	6 Cells, 7.5 hrs***
Dimensions	225 mm (W) x 175.5 mm (D) x 22.7 mm ~ 39 mm (H)
Weight	1.1 kg
Casing Colors	Black or White

* 3.75G support is operator dependent.
** Actual speeds are operator dependent.
*** Actual battery life is subject to usage, configuration, as well as model.
**** The inclusion of 802.11n and Bluetooth capabilities is operator dependent.

Lenovo IdeaPad S10 dissected

Submitted by Brad Linder -

"Now that the Lenovo Ideapad S10 is shipping, it's about time we see what it looks like on the insides, right? A Liliputing reader got his yesterday and went to work disassembling the computer and sent along 11 photos to document the process."

More photos and details available at Liliputing.

Blue H1 user reviews

For actual user reviews of the now deeply discounted Blue H1, check out this thread at the Philippine based Eeeph forum - Blue H1. Apparently it has some quality issues with reports of loose battery connections and auto shutdowns.

Blue H1 reviews

Here are some good reviews of the Blue H1 which just went on sale (see previous post) -

Just Another Dreamer provides a thorough review. Conclusions -

Pros:
- Small pocket-able size
- Sexy-glossy finish
- Simulated 1024*728 resolution
- 40 Gb HDD
- Excellent battery life (thanks to the VIA processor)
- Excellent value

Cons:
- Default 800*480 resolution
- Slightly underpowered processor.
- Can't upgrade processor to C7 1.2 Ghz or 1.6 Ghz
- Only known service center is in Gilmore
- Just like Creative Zens which beats Apple iPods on almost all grounds, Deep Blue H1 doesn't have enough market share to make it a brag-worthy gadget like Asus EEE PC

Yehey! News also has a good review here.

Blue cuts H1 Mobile PC price almost in half

With the low-cost subnotebook segment experiencing booming sales for quite some time now, just about every major manufacturer/reseller has brought out their contenders in time for the back to school season, which serves as a lead-in towards the holidays.

With so much competition, a shake-out, and resultant price war was bound to happen sooner or later. Philippine-based rebadger Blue, which has just this April introduced its Via C7M based 7" H1 at P16,995, roughly USD415 at that time (see post here), has now slashed the price down to just P9,995, roughly USD214.

Given that it is being advertised as a limited stock and limited offer promo, it looks like Blue will be phasing out the model. At P16,995 the H1 was a so-so contender against the Asus Eee PC, having a slower processor and heavier weight due to the bigger storage (albeit a conventional hard drive). But at P9,995, which is actually quite close to the USD199 original announced price of the Eee PC, it is actually attractive as the "tote-anywhere, throw-anywhere" subnotebook that the Eee PC was initially made out to be (but be careful of the hard drive though).

Now considering that Blue apparently only sells locally (in the Philippines), the question now is how to get hold of one before they run out of stock.

Blue H1 product page here.

Mac OS X on MSI Wind

Of all the current subnotebooks on the market, the MSI Wind is reputable the most hospitable for installing Mac OS X. If you are interested in turning your MSI Wind into a "hackintosh" you can check out the Modaco forum thread "Paul's complete guide to installing OSX Leopard on your MSI Wind" for a detailed step-by-step guide. The video below is from the same thread.

Serbian Eee PC site

For our Serbian readers, Branko has launched an Asus Eee PC website - Eee PC Serbia.

It covers News, How-To, Software (Linux, Windows, applications...), Hardware, Mods, Multimedia... etc usual stuff.

SIM Card Has Mini-DVD Inside

From ubergizmo -

Gemalto has introduced modified SIM cards for use with (sub)notebooks with SIM slots such as the MSI Wind. The special SIM cards actually have embedded mini DVD with a capacity of 50MB, which is more than to carry drivers and other data. So aside from providing wireless Internet connectivity, it gives the user additional storage space.

Sylvania g netbook MAGNI (Rebranded MSI Wind)

From Laptop Mag -

Sylvania has launched its third netbook, the 10" g MAGNI, which, like the company's first two models, is simply a rebadged model. This time, the base model is MSI's Wind U100. The g MAGNI will be released in time for the holidays. Specs include the Intel Atom, 120GB hard drive, 1GB RAM and either Ubuntu netbook remix and Windows XP. Given that the MSI Wind has won the magazine's Editors Choice, the rebadge should sell well as long as pricing is reasonable.

Packard Bell Announces its Dot

From EeePC.Net -

Packard Bell has launched its Netbook, the "dot." Specs include an Atom processor, 160GB HD. 1GB RAM, a 6-cell battery for extended battery life, a webcam and a 3G module to enhance browsing. It is due for a European release this November at around £315.

Asus N10 Gets Some Hands-On Action, More Specs

From Gizmodo -

Laptopmag got a hands-on of the Asus N10 which is due to come in N10E and N10J models. The E version has 160GB HDD and Intel integrated graphics, the J 320GB and a switchable Integrated Intel or Nvidia GeForce 9300 MS package. The battery life is now quoted at "6 to 12 hours" with a six-cell battery while pricing for the N10E's been set at $599, and the N10J's at $699.

MSI teases with details on new U91 and U120

From Engadget -

In an interview with Impress, MSI Notebook Product Manager Neo Lin gave some details about the U91, an 8.9-inch successor to the U90; and the U120, a new 10-inch model. Both will offer HSDPA. 2GB of memory seems to be the plan on the U120 at least, which might break it out of Microsoft's "ULPC" category, meaning Vista instead of XP Home.

Toshiba takes wraps off its NB100

From Register Hardware -

Toshiba has formally launched its entry into subnotebook market with its NB100 - an 8.9in unit with a 1024 x 600 display, Intel 1.6GHz Atom N270, 512MB or 1GB RAM, up to 120GB hard drive, 0.3-megapixel webcam, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and the usual complement of USB, VGA, audio and Ethernet ports. It will come in "Cosmic Black", "Champagne Gold" and "Bright Silver" and supports both Windows XP and Linux. It will go on sale next month with prices starting at £260.


More details here.

Samsung launches 10.2" NC10 netbook

From Pocket-Lint -

Samsung has launched its NC10, a "small, light and incredibly functional, the netbook NC10 is a stylish alternative to existing products in the space." The NC10 has a 10" 1024 z 600 WSVGA LED, 1.33kg, 8 hr 6 cell battery, Atom CPU, Win XP Home, 80GB/160GB hard drive, 802.11b/g, 10/100 Ethernet, webcam, 3-in-1 multi-memory card reader, a VGA connection, mic in, headphone out and three USB ports. Bluetooth 2.0+EDR is optional.

It will be available in white, piano black and metallic blue. Release date is October 2008 with a selling price quoted as "up to" £329 excluding VAT.

Averatec Announces 10.2" Netbook

From PR Newswire -

SANTA ANA, Calif., Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Announced today, Trigem USA and its Averatec brand has formally entered the netbook personal computer market. Aptly named the Averatec Buddy, this new companion notebook is the best solution to fulfill the growing need for an ultra portable, daily use computer. The Averatec Buddy is the second offering based on the Intel(R) Atom(TM) processor family. Featuring a generous keyboard for its diminutive size, the Buddy boasts 10.2" LCD screen and 160GB of storage memory.

The Averatec brand, predominantly known for its style conscious, innovative mobile products, has hit the right chord with the launch of this companion notebook product. "The timing and launch of Buddy is a welcomed addition for our customer base. Buddy as well as our all new 18.4" All-In-One desktop will clearly emphasize our commitment to our customers and our desire to be on the leading edge of these emerging computer trends," commented Darren Lee, Director of Marketing at Trigem USA. "It has been an exciting time for us, the scope and breadth of our product line really caters to what our market has been asking for," Lee further states.

The Averatec Buddy is the solution for those who are out and about. Buddy's overall size, weight and usable functionality make for a perfect travel companion for the road. Buddy features Windows(R) XP Home Operating System plus Intel(R) Atom(R) processor (N270 1.6Ghz), 1GB of system memory, 160GB of storage, and built in WLAN.

The Averatec Buddy 10.2" netbook PC will be available at major online resellers and through Averatec online at http://www.shopaveratec.com. Pricing for the Averatec All-In-One PC products have an estimated MSRP of $449.99. Trigem USA's products are backed by a one-year limited warranty and one-year, toll-free technical support available Monday through Friday 8-5 PDT.

Unboxing Fujitsu U2010 / U820 / U/B50N

Uploaded by jkkmobile

MSI Wind U90 Unboxing Videos

Uploaded by fdaman

"This is the 8.9" Linux Version of the MSI Wind netbook. It's not available in the USA, but can be bought in Canada (which is where I got this). The U90 shares the same body as the U100. The differences are it has an 8.9" screen, only 512Mb ram, and Novell SUSE Linux. It also has a 120mb HD which is larger than the 80mb in the U100. "





More details at Liliputing.

Windows CE for Acer Aspire One/Lenovo IdeaPad S9

Submitted by Brad Linder -

While there's been talk of the 3k Razorbook/Skytone Alpha 400 running Windows CE, this is the first time I've heard of a company trying to bring it to mainstream netbooks like the Acer Aspire One and Lenovo IdeaPad S9.

Full details at Liliputing.

Netbooks: Expensive, Poor Battery Life. OK Around the House, Not on the Road says AMD!

Quick! Can anyone name a topselling subnotebook that uses an AMD processor? hehe

Toshiba Satellite Arizona 10X

Kaliho KU860 convertible UMPC is now ready to be re-badged

From Engadget -

The new Kaliho KU860 convertible UMPC packs all the expected specs in a decent enough package. That includes a 7-inch WXGA touchscreen, a 1.2GHz VIA C7-M processor, 1GB of RAM, a max 60GB hard drive, a 1.3 megapixel webcam and, perhaps most notably, built-in GPS. Pricing was not available but minimum order quantity is 10,000 per month, meaning chances are, you get to put your own brand.

Product Description
Ultra Mobile PC with GPS function
CPU: VIA Esther ULV C7-M (1.2GHz, 400MHz, 128KB)
Operating System: Linux Preloaded; Windows XP compatible
Chipset: VIA VX700
System Memory: 1GB DDR2 Memory on board
LCD: 7" TFT-LCD WXGA, 1024x600
HDD: One 1.8" IDE/SSD IDE HDD 4200 rpm support Supported capacities of 60 GB
Optical Drive: External ODD by USB connection
I/O Port: Media Card Slot (MMC/SD), 3 USB 2.0, Audio Jack (Mic-in and Headphone out), VGA, DC-in
Web Camera: Integrated 1.3M Pixel CMOS Web Camera
LAN: Ethernet 10/100 Base T by docking
Wireless LAN: StationSupport WLAN band antenna, USB I/F, 802.11b+g
Dimension: 228*163*34 mm
Weight: 960g with 7" W TFT LCD, battery
Other function:
Linux Preloaded; Windows XP compatible
VIA Esther Mobile Technology
VIA Esther ULV C7-M (1.2GHz, 400MHz, 128KB)
VIA VX700 chipset
1GB DDR2 Memory on board
IDE/SSD IDE HDD 60GB
7" touch screen, full page resolution 1024x600
GPS
IPTV Build-in
Integrated 1.3M Pixel CMOS Web Camera
Dimension: 228*163*34 mm
Ultra portable feature of 960g (with battery)
4hr longer battery life

Specs from Made-in-China -

ASUS N10 hands-on confirms Eee-free status

Engadget got to do a hands-on on the Asus N10 and among its findings are - it "feels" like a real laptop; the LED-backlit 10.2-inch 1024 x 600 screen is a stunner, and the keyboard is solid and quite usable.

Features include switchable discrete graphics (restart is required),6 hours 6-cell battery, HDMI out, media card reader, insta-boot Express Gate, and Atom N270 CPU. Pricing starts at $599 for the N10E and $699 for the full-fledged N10J.

PC World débuts Advent 4213

From Mobile Computer Mag -

While PC World's Advent 4211 was a UMPC bargain-hunters' favorite since it was essentially a lower priced MSI Wind rebadge, the new Advent 4213 unfortunately is a different animal. It does have the same features, though - 10" display, 1.6GHz Atom N270, 1Gb RAM, 80Gb HD and a SIM card slot for the the built-in HSDPA modem. However pricing is also higher, from the attractive £279.99 for the 4211, to a less wallet-friendly £349.99 for the 4213.

Eltrinex MobilePC: Czech netbook with 320GB HDD

Submitted by Brad Linder -

Czech manufacturer Eltrinex has released its 10.2" MobilePC with a 320GB HD and a USB DVD-RW. It would be awesome if it weren't saddled with a VIA C7-M CPU:

More details at Liliputing.

Raon Digital Everun Note. Unboxing

Uploaded by stevechippy

"Unboxing the dual-core 7" touchscreen, 800gm Raon Digital Everun Note."



Full specs here.

Vivienne Tam-designed Mini-Note

If anyone still doesn't believe some subnotebooks are being sold as fashion accessories to help make fashionistas appear smart, the photo above (from Engadget) shows a Vivienne Tam-designed MiniNote nicknamed the Digital Clutch. The unit appears to be a bright red 10-inch model with the case sporting an Asian-inspired peony flower design. Of course no specs was given. You really think it is actually going to be used? :)

More photos here.

BenQ debuts Joybook Lite U101 netbook

From Engadget -

BenQ has now finally entered the low-cost subnotebook market with its new Joybook Lite U101. Features include a 10.1-inch 1,024 x 600 display, 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, a hard drive of unspecified size, a 3-cell battery, XP or Linux and, a optional 3G. Roll out is expected to be in October (for 8.9") and November (for 10.1").

BenQ Joybook Lite U101 specs here.

Menq International Ltd EasyPC E760 $89 Laptop

TechVideoBlog's charbax found another cheap laptop at the IFA 2008 - the EasyPC E760 by Menq International Ltd at only USD89. It runs on a Samsung ARM processor, has a 7″ 480×272 screen and runs Windows CE with some customized browser, word processing, Skype and media player.

You can check out the video here.

Lenovo IdeaPad S10 generates too much heat

Per Engadget the Lenovo IdeaPad S10, uninspiring as it already is, has been reported to run particularly hot. Its keyboard reaches temperatures between 38 and 42°C (100.4 and 107.6°F). That slightly edges out tests performed on the Eee PC 900 (101°F / 38°C), and Cloudbook (83°F / 28°C).

Toshiba Satellite NB105 Netbook

jkkmobile has posted photos of the new Toshiba Satellite NB105 Netbook. Known specs include:

8.9 ich 1024 x 600 screen
Intel 1.6Ghz Atom
1GB RAM
120GB HDD
LAN, Wifi, 3 x USB and SD slot
XP Home

$98 Linux Laptop from China - The HiVision MiniNote

Uploaded by Charbax

"HiVision makes one of the worlds cheapest Linux laptops at $98 using a new cheaper chipset, WiFi, 1GB flash storage, it runs Linux, 3 USB ports, Ethernet, SDHC card reader, audio in and out. Voice-chat, Skype, multi-tabbed Firefox browser support, Abiword for word processing. Automatic online software updates. Their current model is based on a public chinese low cost case mold design and is running on a MIPS processor, they may soon also support an ARM9 with DSP as the processor and they are showing their own nice looking case design molds. All running on smooth Linux interfaces. In this video, I got to borrow a review sample of the laptop overnight, and I try to show you all the browser and other software interfaces in this extended video review of this cheap MIPS based laptop. ARM and DSP is the way that I hope that most cheap laptops are going to be based on in the near future, Google will hopefully make a great Chrome browser for this kind of Laptop and hopefully that the geniuses at OLPC soon will announce that they will work to improve ARM and DSP based laptops in XO-1.5 and XO-2 designs."

Samsung Netbook official photos...

What Laptop has posted a couple of photos of the still unnamed Samsung Netbook. The photos were released by Samsung UK preparatory to an end of October launch. Based on the photos, the unit has a 10.2" screen, the power button is positioned on the side, along with VGA-out, audio and a USB port. The other side sports Ethernet, power input and two more USB ports. Other details leaked include three colors (White, Black, Blue), Intel Atom N270, 1GB RAM, hard drive, a 6-cell 5 hour battery, Windows XP. Price should be around £330 (inc VAT).

Lenovo IdeaPad S10 shipments delayed

According to Brad Linder it looks like Lenovo has pushed back IdeaPad S10 shipments until 11/18/08. Customers who placed their orders on day one were told the netbook would ship on 9/9/08. But yesterday came and went and when he checked his status page again this morning, the estimated ship date had been pushed back by more than two months.

More details at his Liliputing site.

New Asus EEE PC 901 Noreve leather case

French reseller Noreve has launched their new Asus Eee PC 901 leather case as shown above. They will have a version for the Asus EEE PC 1000 soon. Features include:

- Elegant case conceived in top quality handcrafted leather
- Compatible with Asus EEE PC 901
- Slim and padded design
- Access to basic functions (multiple openings on the leather)
- Practical thanks to its snap closure
- Protects the device in an optimal manner
- Four SD card slots
- Two business / credit card slots
- Beautiful interior lining embossed with the Noreve logo

With Noreve products, it is the details that make the difference. Additional photos are available at their website.

We will hopefully have a review soon.

Another Eee PC 901 price drop: Now just $448 from Walmart

Submitted by Brad Linder -

Yesterday Amazon and other retailers listed the Eee PC 901 for $499, or about $100 or so off the original list price. Now Walmart has one-upped Amazon by cutting the price to $448:

More details here.

Review: Sylvania G Meso

Wired's Gadget Lab has a review of a pre-production Sylvania Netbook, which comes on as yet another Asus Eee PC (900) wannabe.

But aside from the similar 8.9" screen, its other features sorely disappoint. The keyboard has chicklet-like keys, its Ubuntu OS surprisingly a disastrous implementation, and it battery just downright quirky. It also has a cartoonish styling, a relatively heavy weight (2.6 lbs), and sluggish performance.

Full article here.

Sylvania G Netbook Meso specs here.

Eee PC 1000H price slashed to $449

Submitted by Brad Linder -

Hot on the heels of news that the price of the Eee PC 901 has dropped to $499, it looks like the Eee PC 1000H with its 10 inch display, 80GB HDD and Windows XP is also getting a price cut. It's now available for $505 from Amazon and $449 from Mwave. In fact, MWave even has an open box unit for $359 right now although I don't expect it to last long.

When I purchased a 1000H a few weeks ago I paid $550. When Asus originally announced the computers, the list price was set at $650 (although I don't think they were ever sold at that level. The price was slashed before they started hitting shelves). So in the short few months since this computer was first announced, the price has already dropped by $200.

More details at Liliputing.

Acer Aspire One, Dell Inspiron Mini 9, HP 2133 3G Bundles

According to the Boy Genius Report starting in November in Taiwan, the Acer Aspire One is expected to ship with integrated 3G for just USD95 (NT$3,000) more than the standard nmodel. Add in some bundled 3G service through Taiwan Mobile and you can save $155 (NT$5,000) instead. Woohoo!

In addition, a post at jkOnTheRun has the newspaper flyer (above) offering Dell Inspiron Mini 9 and the HP 2133 mini notebook with a respectable $370 subsidy. The subsidy requires a two year commitment to a 3G data plan with Emobile.

J&R Prices ASUS N10 at $849

U.S.-based J&R reseller has listed the Asus N10 at USD849. However availability is still listed at Coming Soon. While the N10 has all the goodies - Intel Atom N270 1.6 GHz / 2GB RAM / 250GB Hard Drive / GeForce 9300M GS / Webcam / 802.11ABGN / Fingerprint Reader / Windows Vista Business - pricing puts it more inline with comparable units from long-time subnotebook manufacturers Fujitsu and Kohjinsha, albeit at the lower end.

Buy One Dell, Get Inspiron Mini 9 Going for Only $99

According to the Direct2Dell Blog starting Sept 5 6am (US Central Time), you’ll be able to get a Mini for only $99 with the purchase of a Studio 15, XPS M1530 or XPS M1330 laptop through 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9 (U.S. only)

More details available here.

Dell Launches Inspiron Netbook, Hides 3G Feature

From PC Mag -

After announcing it back in May, Dell has finally launched the Inspiron Mini 9, a "companion device" for the "grab-and-go mobility person", designed to access the Web while on the road. It has the same physical dimensions as the Asus Eee PC 900.

The Inspiron Mini Windows XP Home will be priced at $399 while a Xubuntu based model will be available soon at $349.

Base features include 1.6 GHZ Atom N270, 512MB RAM (expandable to 1GB), 4GB SDD (upgradeable to 8/16GB), Intel 965 chipset, 802.11g, Bluetooth, 4-cell, 32W/hr battery, three USB ports, 4-in-1 card reader, lock 1024x600 8.9" LED. Webcam is optional. In addition, the Mini 9 comes with a hidden bonus - an integrated 3G card.

ASUS N10 notebooks get scooped

The Boy Genius Report was able to get the specs and features of the Asus N10 -

* 10.2″ LED 1024×600 screen
* Windows Vista / Windows XP
* 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU
* NVIDIA GeForce Go 9300M GS 256MB graphics card
* 2GB RAM
* 250GB 5400rpm HD
* One ExpressCard slot
* One HDMI port
* Three USB 2.0 ports
* 1.3 megapixel webcam
* Fingerprint reader
* 3.5 lbs
* 6-cell battery with 6.5 hrs
* Altec Lansing speakers

The Asus N10 also has a face recognition software that will enable you to securely unlock your PC.

The specific model listed above is the ASUS N10J-B1 and will retail for $849. The other models, the N10J-A1 will retail for $749, and the N10E-A1, $649.

Amazon to sell dual-boot OLPC in Nov

From Electronista -

According to a report citing an OLPC official, Amazon will sell the dual-boot XO laptop starting in November under its Give One, Get One program, where buyers will purchase two XO notebooks, with one being donated to a school kid in a poor country, and the other coming to the buyer. The previous program was offered to US residents only for USD398, but hopefully this time the price be a little closer to the initially announced USD100.

Hotspot Shield

For those who love to surf on public wireless networks but have privacy (and security) concerns, you may want to check out Hotspot Shield from AnchorFree. It is a free ad-supported utility. As described on their website -

"Public networks (both wired and wireless) are great. After all, what would life be without connecting while at airports, hotels and coffee shops? However, the danger to your personal data exists even if you connect to a fee based open network. Your passwords, credit card numbers, and any data you send can be seen and associated with you personally. Standard antivirus software won't protect you as this threat is on the network, not your laptop or iPhone.

That's why AnchorFree is pleased to offer Hotspot Shield. Our application keeps your Internet connection secure and anonymous on public networks. 100% Security Through a VPN.

Hotspot Shield creates a virtual private network (VPN) between your laptop or iPhone and our Internet gateway. This impenetrable tunnel prevents snoopers and hackers from viewing your email, instant messages, credit card information or anything else you send over the network. Hotspot Shield security application is free to download, employs the latest VPN technology, and is easy to install and use..."

Hotspot Shield runs on:

* Windows Vista
* Windows XP
* Windows 2000
* Mac OS X (10.5 Leopard)
* Mac OS X (10.4 Tiger)

AnchorFree website here.

Project Inkwell Spark

From Tuvie -

IDEO has released its concept design for the Project Inkwell Spark as shown above. Part of IDEO's P.R. blurb -

Project Inkwell’s goal is to greatly increase the size and effectiveness of the K-12 education technology market by managing the synthesis of functional specifications for a ubiquitous computing platform. As a Project Inkwell partner, IDEO assisted by facilitating a group of experts in understanding and synthesizing the needs and desires of students, and by prototyping possible solutions. The results of this effort have been visualized in the Spark concept.

Spark allows students to learn anytime, anywhere. It provides students with a highly mobile device that supports collaboration and multimedia work through educational software. Wireless networking enables use of the internet as a learning space and a means of working with peers and mentors, and promotes the publishing and sharing of work. The configuration of Spark affords an endless number of personalization opportunities. The soft housing protects the Spark unit while providing a medium with which to convey a sense of group or individual identity. The housing and keyboard are inexpensive and can be easily replaced over the life of the device. Along with the full-function keyboard, the Spark housing provides storage for a hot-swappable spare battery and a Bluetooth mouse.

Not-an-Eee Eee PC S101 shows up at the FCC

From Engadget -

While Asus succeeded in branding its premium N10 subnotebook separate from its ubiquitous Eee moniker, its 10" S101 subnotebook showed up in the FCC database still with the Eee name despite the company's announcement that it won't be part of the product line.

Strong sales growth for HP Mini-Note

From Digitimes -

Per Apple Daily, the Mini-Note is seeing strong global monthly shipment growth at 50% rate with Asian sales including Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore seeing the best sales. However, the markets with consumers still focusing on buying their first PC, such as China, were not showing great acceptance.

You can check out the MiniNote's specs here.

339€ 8.9" MSI Wind U90 demo'd

From Engadget -

MSI has finally demo'd its 8.9-inch Wind U90 after announcing it back at the June Computex. The unit uses the full keyboard of the 10"Wind, and merely bumped up the bezel; all other specs are the same. OS is SUSE Linux which boots quite rapidly.

Release timeframe is end of Sep/early Oct at €339.

Self-Debate on Subnotebooks

Gizmodo's Mark Wilson has two contradictory pieces on subnotebooks - Why I Love Netbooks and Why I Hate Netbooks that have triggered lengthy discussions.

Main reasons why he loves subnotebooks include the cost, the small size, surfing conditions, and the spartan functionality.

Main reasons why he hates subnotebooks include the cost, the small size, surfing conditions, and the spartan fucntionality.

Go figure. :)

Dell Inspiron 910 Gets Release Date: This Friday, Sept 5

Per Gizmodo, Dell's Inspiron 910 be released on Friday, September 5. However there's no word on pricing yet.