Jepsen Works to Raise Laptop Battery Life to 20-40 Hours

From Yahoo! Tech -

Ex-OLPC CTO (and before that, ex-head of Intel's display division) Mary Lou Jepsen plans to start shipping ultra-low power screens for laptops and e-books by the second half of next year that people can read in direct sunlight and have a fully saturated HDTV-quality color mode. The screens will cost a third that of traditional LCD screens and use about a tenth of the power.

Jepsen's start-up company, Pixel Qi, is also developing notebooks around the technology, allowing them to be so energy efficient they'll be able to run on a standard laptop battery for 20 to 40 hours before needing a recharge.

Lenovo S10 with six-cell battery gets pictured, priced

From Engadget -

Lenovo has started selling in Germany an S10 netbook model equipped with a six-cell battery for €329 (or roughly $425). No word yet if the new model will be available elsewhere.

Fujitsu introduces first netbook series

From Digitimes -

Fujitsu PC Asia Pacific has announced its M1010, the first in its new M series. Features include an 8.9-inch 1024 x 600 widescreen display, Intel Atom N270 CPU, and 1GB RAM (DDR2, 533MHz) and 60GB HD. Its distinguishing feature is its removable lid, which comes in red, pink, bronze, blue and black.

Top Ten Bestselling Netbooks

As posted by Philippine-based reseller PC Corner in TipidPC forum -

from the grapevine . . . .
top (10) best-seller . . . . by numbers down (Q4) from inside IT industry hearsay . . .

1. Asus Eee 900 Celeron 1gb 30gb SATA xph 8.9in.
2. MSI Wind U90x Atom 1gb 80gb SATA no os 8.9in.
3. Acer Aspire One SSD 1gb 8gb SSD Linux 8.9in.
4. Blue H1 Via 1gb 60gb SATA Linux 7in.
5. Blue H1 Via 1gb 40gb SATA Linux 7in.
6. Astone UMPC Via 1.2gb 60gb SATA Linux 7in. . . .DVI T-Screen . . Btooth ...
7. MSI Wind U100x Atom 1gb 160gb SATA no os 10in.
8. MSI Wind U100x Atom 2gb 160gb SATA no os 10in. ....6-cell
9. IdeaPad S10 Atom 1gb 160gb SATA no os 10in. ....3-cell
10. RedFox WizBook S10 Atom 1gb 080gb SATA no os 10in. ....3-cell

Note: the list most probably applies only to the Philippines since some of brands are primarily sold only in the Philippines.

Yes, Dave, Why Not?

Reader Dave Marley emailed his observations, noting that just about every other netbook review seems to include the phrase “while not appropriate as your only computer” and asked why not?

Dave himself is using an “elderly Toshiba laptop, running WinXP, with 512K memory, with an external HD for music, photos, and backups.”

And I have many blogger friends who are perfectly contented with their stock configured Asus Eee PCs, Cloudbook variants, MSI Winds, and other netbooks – not as secondary computers but as their ONLY computer. Important note: a lot of them bring their netbooks wherever they go.

So, yes, Dave, why not?

I think the problem is that just about every other netbook reviewer is not writing for or about the new breed of netbook users. They simply are not aware of the growing confluence of increasingly wider availability of WiFi hotspots, more Web2.0 features, and of course, cheaper, smaller, and lighter netbooks – and the resultant emerging paradigm shift in mobile user experience.

A netbook reviewer who does not discuss the actual user experience will invariably miss the point. Because that would imply the reviewer merely sees the netbook as a mere deviant iteration of the laptop form factor as technology improves. After all, the trend has always been to produce more powerful models while maintaining or even decreasing the price. E.g. for Intel CPUs – if you want to start from the original IBM PC – 8088 – 286 – 386 – 486 – Pentiums – Core Duo. RAM – 256K – 640K – 1MB - to the present 2 or even 4GB. Etc.

Obviously netbooks do not follow the pattern. They are not necessarily more powerful. They do not always use the latest processor. The screen does not necessarily have the highest resolution. They do not have a lot of memory either. Ergo – they are not meant to replace the previous model. They are meant to be supplemental devices. Secondary computers, if you will.

This is where a lot of reviewers miss the point. They conveniently forget that almost all netbooks integrate connectivity features – WiFi, Bluetooth, and even 3G. Why? Because as their names imply (NETbook, CLOUDbook), they are meant to be connected to the InterNET for Cloud-type usage.

With just about all offline mainstream functions (office applications, video streaming, drawing, photo albums, games) now available as on-line apps, that means the requisite computing power has been (partially) off-loaded to the sites. Which means a netbook does not need to have the most powerful CPU.

And if huge files are created, these can also be stored on-line, for free, courtesy of email services like Gmail. So hard drives are optional, too.

And of course, email, instant messaging, chatting are all on-line activities that are easily supported by netbooks. Which means a typical netbook should actually suffice as the primary and sole computer for most users. And given their size, weight, and relatively lower price, some users actually bring them around, anywhere they go, just as they do with their mobile phones.

So if the reviewers would only go around and ask users, then they wouldn’t miss the point. Better yet, if they actually use a netbook then they will see its point.

HP Mini 1000 - quick look

VGA to USB Mod

If you are the type of user who very rarely uses the VGA port on your netbook but keeps running out of USB ports, Instructables has just the right mod for you. They have a step-by-step instructions, complete with photos, on how to convert the VGA port into another USB port.

And if there are enough people willing to but pre-made units at $10, Instructables might just offer it. If you are interested, you can email them at the addy at the bottom of the article here.

MSI unveils Wind U110/U115 netbooks

Submitted by Brad Linder -

MSI has unveiled two new netbook models, the U110 and U115, in addition to the anticipated U120 model which features a 3G module.

Probably the most unusual of the bunch is the U115, which uses a hybrid solid state disk/hard disk storage system.

You can find more info at Netbook 3G.

And Brad's take here.

AromaUSB: Fart all you want

From Netbook Philippines -

Some would say these USB-based air fresheners are a natural extension from those hanging pine trees in your car and pluggable models in the bathroom, and they are, of course, right.

The main improvement is that now you can fart in your seat while computing and let the gadget mask the odor. :(

How to Increase Your Wi-Fi Signal

Uploaded by infinitesolutions

"Do you need a stronger wireless signal or greater network access? I'm Mark Erickson, and this is Infinite Solutions. In this episode, I'll show you a simple hack to extend the range of your wireless card."

Asus to stop shipping Linux Eee PC in the Philippines

Per Netbooks News, Hacks and HowTo’s, Asus has decided to stop offering Linux-based Eee PC in the Philippines.

---------

Given that netbooks offer very minimal margins for both retailers and manufacturers and the Philippine market is one of the most price-sensitive cutthroat markets, it would be interesting to see how Asus will fare with its higher-priced Windows model.

One of the bestselling models right now is the 7" Astone UMPC, a VIA Nanobook variant. It is being sold at roughly USD203, the same price as the original Asus Eee PC 4G. Prices for other models are expected to drop, if not during the holidays, right after as well.

Astone UMPC and its Siblings

For those who have bought or are considering the Astone UMPC or some other variants of the Cloudbook (or is it VIA Nanobook?) reference design, Cloudbook UMPC has a very informative and presumably comprehensive listing of all the various models.

The site lists at least 16 different models and includes an convenient comparative table. Some of the info, especially the pricing, might be a little outdated as it was last updated back in August. Still, a fun site to browse through, especially if you have one of those little buggers to play with. :)

10" Acer Aspire One Arriving Next Year

From Gizmodo -

Acer has announced plans to release a 10" version of the Aspire One by February or March 2009. No word yet on whether it will have an integrated 3G chip most newer models now seem to have. At least in Taiwan.

Qube M1 Netbook In The Philippines

From ubergizmo -

Still another me-too netbook launch, this time it is the Qube M1 netbook to be introduced in time for Christmas in the Philippines. Specifications include -

8.9" display at 1,024 x 600 resolution
1GB RAM
80GB 2.5? SATA hard drive
Three USB 2.0 ports
SD/MMC memory card slot
1.3 megapixel camera
Wi-Fi connectivity
About $327.

----------

With so many so-called generic brands of netbooks popping in the market and with both the 7" Astone UMPC and the original Asus Eee PC 701 4G already now selling at around $200, patient buyers who can wait after the holidays will most likely have their picks of bargains from among those left on the retail shelves.

HIS Releases Netbook In India

From ubergizmo -

Graphics card maker HIS has released its netbook, which fortunately merely features me-too specs encased in a MSI Wind U100-looking chassis. Features include

10.2" 1,024 x 600 resolution display
Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor
1GB RAM
2.5? hard drive
Wi-Fi
Ethernet connectivity
4-in-1 memory card reader
Three USB 2.0 ports
VGA output
0.3 megapixel camera
Windows XP
Price: $404.

Dell adds $100 32GB SSD option to Inspiron Mini 9

From Engadget -

Dell is now giving the option to Mini 9 buyers to buy a 32GB solid state drive upgrade for just $100.

Dell Product Page here.

How to get 3G working on the HP Mini 1000

From Engadget -

User dplxy over at the Pocketables forum has posted full instructions on how to add 3G to the HP Mini 1000. Basically you need to download and install a WWAN driver from HP, then slot your SIM card into the battery compartment.

Speeds are reported to be solid but it makes the three cell battery drain pretty fast. The downside is the approach may not work with older versions of the Mini 1000.

Pocketables forum thread here.

Dell Mini 9 Netbook with a TOUCHSCREEN!

Uploaded by unaclocker

"Disclaimer: Not my video, I didn't do this mod, I'm not taking credit for it. Simply posted the video up on YouTube to widen the audience for Deldotb from the MyDellMini forums. Other than that, I think the video speaks for itself, he has installed a touch screen in his Dell Mini 9 Netbook"

ASUS EeePC 901GO in Slovakia

Submitted by Sammo -

AGEM Computers in Slovakia is offering the Asus Eee PC 901GO for 12 090,00 Sk - 14 390,00 Sk (401,31€ - 477,66€) depending on actual configuration.




Product Order Page here.

ClicKey

For those who are able to touch type on the Asus Eee's tiny and all-too-quiet keyboard, ClicKey is a tiny utility that gives silent keyboards a 'click' sound of their own, providing that important tactile feedback.

It works beautifully and more importantly, it is free. Bad news, it is only for Windows.

You can download it here.

Huawei E220 unlocking

The Inquirer has an article on updating Huawei E220 USB modem's software client. The upgrade effectively unlocks the dongle if it is locked to a particular telco.

Note sure if it works as we haven't tested it.

Dell adds artwork, new colors to Minis

From Electronista -

Dell is now offering Tristan Eaton designed skins for both its Inspiron Mini 9 and the Mini 12. Add-on Prices range from $24 to $50.

Product Order Page here.

Hands-On With the ASUS Eee PC 1002HA

Laptop Mag has a hands-on of the Asus Eee PC 1002HA, the forthcoming replacement for the old Eee PC 100H. As hinted from the photo above, the new model seems to be a transition model of the old 100H morphing into Asus' fashionable PC S101.

More photos and video here.

Hello Kitty C1 Netbook

As ubiquitous as netbooks already are, CNET News has reported yet another iteration of a Hello Kitty netbook, making this cutesy variant nearly as common as its more mundane siblings.

Compared to other similarly themed models, the new Hello Kitty C1's design is relatively subdued. It has just the text "Hello Kitty" repeated across the lid and a single impression of the cat's image in one corner. The rest of the 10.1" netbook bear typical specs - 2.6 lbs, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 120GB hard drive, 2 USB ports, a 1.3-megapixel Webcam, and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi. It runs on Windows XP Home and can say meow in five languages. The price? Of course a ridiculous Hello Kitty $890.

Intel's convertible Classmate PC barely makes it to FCC

According to Engadget, Intel's third-generation convertible Classmate PC has gotten FCC approval and should be available after the holidays.

"Hidden" Windows Utilities

For those running Windows on their netbooks, here's a list of "hidden" programs you can run -

To run any of the following go to Start > Run and type the executable name, e.g.: charmap

1. Character Map = charmap.exe (very useful for finding unusual characters)

2. Disk Cleanup = cleanmgr.exe

3. Clipboard Viewer = clipbrd.exe (views contents of Windows clipboard)

4. Dr Watson = drwtsn32.exe (Troubleshooting tool)

5. DirectX diagnosis = dxdiag.exe (Diagnose & test DirectX, video & sound cards)

6. Private character editor = eudcedit.exe (allows creation or modification of characters)

7. IExpress Wizard = iexpress.exe (Create self-extracting / self-installing package)

8. Mcft Synchronization Manager = mobsync.exe (appears to allow synchronization of files on the network for when working offline. Apparently undocumented).

9. Windows Media Player 5.1 = mplay32.exe (Retro version of Media Player, very basic).

10. ODBC Data Source Administrator = odbcad32.exe (something to do with databases)

11. Object Packager = packager.exe (to do with packaging objects for insertion in files, appears to have comprehensive help files).

12. System Monitor = perfmon.exe (very useful, highly configurable tool, tells you everything you ever wanted to know about any aspect of PC performance)

13. Program Manager = progman.exe (Legacy Windows 3.x desktop shell).

14. Remote Access phone book = rasphone.exe (documentation is virtually non-existent).

15. Registry Editor = regedt32.exe [also regedit.exe] (for hacking the Windows Registry).

16. Network shared folder wizard = shrpubw.exe (creates shared folders on network).

17. File signature verification tool = sigverif.exe

18. Volume Contro = sndvol32.exe (I've included this for those people that lose it from the System Notification area).

19. System Configuration Editor = sysedit.exe (modify System.ini & Win.ini just like in Win98!).

20. Syskey = syskey.exe (Secures XP Account database - use with extreme care, it's virtually undocumented but it appears to encrypt all passwords.

21. Mcft Telnet Client = telnet.exe

22. Driver Verifier Manager = verifier.exe (seems to be a utility for monitoring the actions of drivers, might be useful for people having driver problems. Undocumented).

23. Windows for Workgroups Chat = winchat.exe (appears to be an old NT utility to allow chat sessions over a LAN, help files available).

24. System configuration = msconfig.exe (can use to control starup programs)

25. gpedit.msc = used to manage group policies, and permissions

Asus Eee PC - How to Overclock

Uploaded by augmentator -

Microsoft Vista on Asus Eee PC

I was considering installing Windows Vista on the Astone UMPC so I googled the subject and came across this video -

MSI Wind U120 gets spotted, examined in the wild

From Engadget -

Engadget Chinese has some close-up shots of the MSI Wind U120, including the slightly revised ports, the 9-cell battery and some comparison shots with the original U100.

More photos here.

ASUS Eee Top Hands on

Asus Eee Top Commercial

Packard Bell dot netbook

From Pocket Lint -

Packard Bell have now officially launched its Dot netbook in the UK. Except for the distinguishing the red dot on its cylindrical hinge, its features are as average as they come - 8.9" screen, Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive. Hopefully the company will come true with planned options including an internal 3G modem and a 6-cell battery.

More photos here.

MSI expects notebook shipments to reach three million this year

From Digitimes -

MSI is expecting its notebook shipments this year to 3 million, up from its original projection of two million. Shipment for its popular Wind PC netbook is expected to grow 100% on year in 2009, compared to the 30% - 40% projection for general notebooks.

Roll-up mouse pad encloses a hub, speakers, and our hearts

From Engadget -

Like most travel-oriented pads, the $22 Roll-up Mouse Pad conveniently rolls up into a tube for carry-on purposes. But beyond this common convenience, it also packs a 4-port USB hub and dual, side-firing speakers. Unfortunately, the build quality seems sub-par as shown by the mis-aligned jagged plastic seen in the photo below.




Product Order Page here.

Dospara Prime Note Cartina UM

From Engadget -

Dospara, has announced its Prime Note Cartina UM, an 8.9-inch netbook with 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 120GB hard drive, a 1,024 x 600 panel, 802.11b/g WiFi, a two hour battery and a mysterious Linux build pre-installed. Price is ¥39,980 ($413). Available onnly in Japan.

Epson Endeavor Na01 mini

From Engadget -

Epson has joined the netbook market with its Windows XP-based Endeavor Na01 mini. Unfortunately it has nothing new to offer except that it is yet another netbook. Specs are the usual - Atom N270 1.6Ghz processor, 10.2-"1024 x 600 LCD, 1GB of RAM, 160GB HDD, three USB 2.0 ports, 802.11b/g WiFi, Ethernet, mini VGA out and a multicard reader. If anyone cares, it will be available in Japan for 46,800 Yen (about $484).

USB SDHC Card Reader + Mouse

From ubergizmo -

Brando is now selling a mouse with a built-in SDHC memory card reader. The optical 800 dpi mouse looks ordinary, and functions like one. But at least you get to free up a USB port with its memory card reader. Price is an affordable $15.

Product Order Page here.

---------

Wish they can make a wireless version. :)

IcePhone - Next Generation Communicator

Uploaded by Stasysb

Hands On With Celio Redfly C8N

Uploaded by laptopmag

"Celio today announced the second version of its REDFLY smartphone accessory, the C8N. The new model, priced at $299, looks similar to the original C8 REDFLY which it is replacing, but is available in black instead of red and has a few bonus features, such as the ability to play video from your iPhone or iPod Touch on a larger, but mobile screen."

Eee PC 901GO with faster SSD and a bigger battery surfaces in France

From Engadget -

Asus has launched in France the Eee PC 901GO, a special edition of its popular 901 series that comes with a larger 8700mAh battery and a faster 16GB SSD capable of 50MB/s writes and 87MB/s reads. Unfortunately it comes with a hefty €399 ($505) price tag.

OLPC 'Give 1 Get 1' Laptop Program Now Available on Amazon

From PC World -

OLPC has launched its Give 1 Get 1 program for the second straight year, this time with Amazon handling sales and distribution. Amazon will begin taking orders on Monday, with the XO laptops shipping out within 30-days in the U.S. or longer for people ordering from the U.K. or other parts of the world.

The program allows people to buy one of the iconic green mini-laptops and donate one to a child in the developing world at the same time for just US$399.

Dell's 32GB Inspiron Mini 9 netbook blushes pink and red in Japan

From Engadget -

Dell has released red and pink Inspiron Mini 9's - but only in Japan so far. It has also intro'd an Inspiron Mini 9 Platinum Package that features a 32GB SSD for ¥54,980 ($565).

HP Mini 1000 on sale starting at $399

HP's online store is selling the Mini 1000 starting at $399 with free shipping.

Components
• Genuine Windows(R) XP Home with Service Pack 3
• 8.9" diagonal WSVGA LED BrightView Widescreen Display (1024 x 600)
• 512MB DDR2 System Memory (1 Dimm) - FREE UPGRADE to 1 GB
• Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with Intel(R) Atom(TM) Processor N270 (1.60GHz)
• 8GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module)
• HP Mini Webcam with HP Imprint Finish (Swirl)
• HP Color Matching Keyboard
• Wireless-G Card
• 3 Cell Lithium Polymer Battery

Top 10 Ways to Speed Up Your Web Browsing

Lifehacker has compiled ten useful tips to speed up your surfing -

10. Use Google to read HTML copies of huge documents
9. Use TraceMonkey in Firefox 3.1
8. Use Safari or Opera
7. Make Faster, Fool-Proof Downloads with Down Them All
6. Bump up your cache size (and make other configuration tweaks)
5. Throttle your home wireless network
4. Swap heavy sites for RSS feeds and mobile versions
3. Block Flash and/or JavaScript
2. Set up OpenDNS on your browser or router
1. Use Secure, Automatic Passwords

You can read the complete details here.

AMD: Netbooks? No thanks

From CNET News -

To set the record straight amidst talks of AMD entering the netbook market, company CEO Dirk Meyer said Thursday, "We're ignoring the Netbook phenomenon--just thinking about PC form factors above that form factor."

Bahr Mahony, AMD director of notebook product marketing expounded, "We're going to offer the Congo and Yukon platforms as an alternative (to processors and chipsets for Netbooks). There are a fair number of people that are not satisfied with the experience they're getting on these mininotebook platforms." He added that the dissatisfaction with Netbooks "has been exhibited by the high return rates that have been seen on these mininotebooks" in Europe.

So AMD is specifically not targeting Netbook designs. Neither is it entering the market for mobile Internet devices, or MIDs. Instead it will target ultrathin 13-inch designs such as the MacBook Air.

Windows Vista Aero

Astone UMPC Now Only $171

Per a TipidPC forum thread, the Astone UMPC (1GB/30 GB hard drive) is now available for only P8,500 (around $171) at a Philippine reseller (Abacus, V-Mall, Greenhills). This is so far the lowest price we have seen.

Could $99 be a possibility early next year? And we are not talking Windows CE based devices here. Happy shopping, folks!

ARM to Enter Netbook, MID Categories

From Laptop Mag -

ARM has announced that it’s going full force into netbooks. The company is teaming up with Canonical to optimize the Ubuntu Desktop operating system for ARMv7 architecture.

The company believes its play to power netbooks is a natural evolution of its position in the mobile device market since its architecture is highly efficient, optimized for Web browsing, and can handle high-quality video. The ARMv7 architecture is already tied into the Texas Instruments OMAP and Qualcom SnapDragon platforms.

Full article here.

Dual-core Atom 330 benchmarked

PC Pro has conducted benchmark tests on a dual-core Intel Atom 330 installed on a barebone Shuttle PC.

Specs for the tests -

The 1.66HZ CPU, with a 533MHz FSB, came soldered to a mini-ITX motherboard with a single DDR2-667 slot, Gigabit Ethernet and six-channel audio, and the usual array of inputs and outputs. Other components included a 7,200rpm SATA HD, 1GB of DDR2 and a fresh XP SP3 install.

Their findings -

The overall results are a little lower than expected. (Note, all results are relative to a baseline Pentium D system, which scored 1.0). Yes, the Atom 330 is quicker than its predecessor - no surprise there - but not by more than 16%.

You can read detailed results here.

European debut for '$100 laptop'

From BBC News -

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) founder Nicholas Negroponte told the World of Health IT Conference in Copenhagen that his organization is planning to offer its Give One, Get One scheme in Europe via Amazon's European outlets from 17 November. Under that scheme, buyers get one machine for themselves and the other is donated to a school child in a developing nation.

The XO laptop is expected to cost £268 (313 euros) and should be available in 27 EU nations as well as Switzerland, Russia and Turkey.

Pocket-lint picks MSI Wind Product of the Year

Pocket-lint has announced the winners of the 2008 Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards in 12 categories with the MSI Wind beating out the Apple iPhone 3G for Product of the Year Award. The MSI Wind also won the Best Laptop/Netbook award.

The awards are decided by the UK's top technology and gadget journalists from online and print.

Complete list of winners here.

Windows 7 Multi Touch Support Demo

Uploaded by avatarxone

"This is the Video that was presented at the D6 conference (All Things Digital) lead by Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher.

In this video you can see some Multi Touch Demo Scenarios running in Windows 7 Milestone build (pre-alpha) with some Microsoft Surface Demo Apps.

Microsoft Surface Apps are WPF/.NET 3.5 apps and in Microsoft Surface Computer they are running on customized Vista Installations.

In the case of Surface they are controlled by Surface Layer OS Motion Control(*the name is rumored/speculated*).

you can see the names of the technologies that got to do with windows 7 porting of that tech that also powers part of Surface."

Best Buy Drops Eee PC 900A to $279.99

Submitted by Steve -

Best Buy has dropped the price of the Asus Eee PC 900A to #279.99!



What's Included
Asus Eee PC Netbook with Intel® Atom™ Processor N270

Lithium-ion battery

AC power cable

Owner's manual

Product Features
Intel® Atom™ processor N270
Features a 533MHz frontside bus, 512KB cache and 1.6GHz processor speed.

1GB DDR2 SoDIMM memory
Note: Optical drive not included

8.9" WSVGA widescreen display with 1024 x 600 resolution

4GB solid state drive

Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950

High-definition audio support with 2 built-in stereo speakers.

Memory card slot supports Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard formats

3 high-speed USB 2.0 ports

Built-in wireless connectivity

Weighs 2.2 lbs. and measures 1.3" thin

Linux operating system preinstalled

Best Buy Product Page here.

AMD To Announce Netbook Processors?

Prom Notebooks.com -

AMD's Dick Meyer has been quoted "We do have strategies together with our OEMs for pushing our solutions both down into smaller form factors and lower notebook price points and we will detail that next month at the Analyst Conference.

Yes that is a good question and it is a complicated answer over the phone. We will show at the Analyst Conference pictorially how we think about the notebook market. Clearly the so-called netbook is a new form factor, a new market opportunity and one that we are not participating in right now today."

The Analyst Conference starts Nov 13.

Meet UMID MID, 315g super mini laptop

jkkmobile has posted photos of a sub-netbook weighing just 315g. It comes with a 4.8" 1024 x 600 touch screen and WiMAX and WiBro. No word yet on availability and pricing.

Specs:

Intel Atom at 1.1Ghz/1.33GHz with 512BMB/1GB RAM
4.8-inch 1024x600 touch screen
WiBro, HSDPA, WiMAX, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
DMB/DVB-T
a mini-USB2.0 x1
micro-SD,
USIM card slot,
1.3 megapixel camera
8-32GB SSD
315g weight
XP, VISTA, Linux support

iGo intros everywhereMAX, wallMAX multi-device chargers

From Engadget -

iGo has introduced its $100 everywhereMAX and $140 wallMAX multi-device chargers which come equipped with iGo's dualpower accessory that lets you charge another device while your notebook charges. The everywhereMAX goes one step further with additional adapters that'll let you plug into an auto outlet or airline seat. The chargers each comes with eight different power tips while additional $10 tips are available on the company's website.

Acer's Aspire One A110X "Black Edition" hits the streets of Germany

From Engadget -

The Aspire One's special "Black Edition" is now available in Germany for €400 (about $500).

Hello Kittyish keyboard decals

A friend stopped by to ask help on restoring his daughter's Asus Eee PC 4G 701 back to factory default as it has been hanging lately. While the procedure ought to be a straightforward thing, I was taken aback when I flipped open the unit. This is what I saw -



While I am a touch typist, I still need to position my fingers on the home keys (F and J) to get my bearing. I gotta admit, I got lost for a while with this particular set-up. But on looking closer, I noticed the keys are actually labeled.



Even the space bars, Enter, Shift, Alt, and Ctrl keys are properly labeled. But it does take a while to read the labels.



Oh well, I guess kids these days do pimp up their netbooks in all sorts of ways.

DIY binder clip cable catcher

Lifehacker reader lihab has offered an ingenious solution to manage you notebook's cable using plain old binder clips - Just undo one metal handle and slip the cord inside, then replace it and clip it to the edge of your desk. Viola! no more falling cables!

Windows 7 Knows Exactly Where You Are

According to Lifehacker Windows 7 will officially include geo-location tools. The bad news is that the service—which is disabled by default—currently provides users with absolutely no control over which apps can use your location. Meaning, you can't control when and where you will let Big Brother watch over you. Ugh.

Acer considering launch of non-Atom nettop in early 2009

From Digitimes -

Acer is planning to launch a low-power and low-cost nettop early 2009. However to prevent the new product from cannibalizing netbook shipments, Acer plans to use either AMD or VIA CPUs instead of the Atom found in its netbooks. Possible OEMs are Quanta, Wistron and MSI.

Pink Acer Aspire One

From I4U News -

Acer has released a pink-colored version of its Acer Aspire One. It is now available at Wal-mart for $348. Specs include 1GB RAM, 120GB HDD, 3-cell lithium ion, Webcam, 8.9" display and Windows XP.

TongFang iMini

Uploaded by VIAMKTCH

The TongFang imini is a netbook with a difference. Innovative features such as a duel-boot OS option, a media center mode, scroll/click navigation system, a power-off device charging capability and stylish chica loca design make this one of a kind mini-note powered by the ultra efficient VIA C7-M processor the perfect choice for those who want a mini-note that stands out from the crowd.

Neatly Wrap Headphones Without Ties

Video uses iPod headphones but technique should apply to other headphones as well -

Matsunichi PC700 and PC702

ShenZhen-based Matsunichi will be releasing Windows-CE based netbooks in the near future.




The first is named PC700 and has the following specs:

OS:windows CE 5.0 English version
CPU:Samsung 400MHz
Memory:64MB on board
Flash storage:1GB on board, support 4GB SD card
WIFI:802.11b/g
Screen:7" TFT LCD

It is expect to sell for USD110.




The second is named PC702 and has the following specs:

OS:windows CE 5.0 English version
CPU:Samsung 400MHz
Memory:128MB on board
Flash storage:1GB on board, support 4GB SD card
WIFI:802.11b/g
Screen:7'' TFT LCD touchscreen

Pricing is still unavailable.

EeePC Bunny Girl :)

New Egg Sells Acer Aspire One at $399

Submitted by Steve -

Following Best Buy's $349 MSI Wind offer, New Egg has also lowered the price of the Acer Aspire One to the same price. With the holiday season approaching fast, expect more price reductions.

Windows 7 to Extend Laptop Battery Life by Minimum of 11%

From Gizmodo -

Microsoft has tested Windows 7 on a multitude of machines and found that Windows 7 users coming from Vista would gain a healthy 11% minimum of battery life. In one test, they had a laptop play back DVDs to battery failure. All things equal, the Vista configuration pulled 17.9W of power, Windows 7, just 13.4W. Per jkOnTheRun, this means if the battery had 52 Watt/hours of power, the Vista system would run 3.05 hours, Windows, 4 hours.

Upgrade to OpenOffice 3 Online With Ulteo

From Lifehacker -

Ulteo Online Desktop allows you to try out OpenOffice 3 without having to install it. The catch is you can try it for up to 25 minutes a session only. If you want to use it, paid accounts start at $6.50 per month.

Really Infectious Skins

If you want your notebook to stand out in the crowd, try the skins from Infectious -



Unfortunately currently the smallest size is for 12" notebooks.

New Windows 7 Taskbar, Peek Feature Look Awesome [Video Demonstration]

How Many MSI Wind Clones Can You Count?

Laptop Mag is trying to keep track of the number of rebranded Winds that have popped up around the world. To start with they have got the Advent 4211 in the UK and Germany, the Medion Akoya Mini in other parts of the world. And Wikipedia lists 13 OEM versions of the Wind. In addition, the Sylvania g netbook MANGI and Averatec Buddy are also MSI Wind rebrands.

Interestingly, some rebrands are cheaper while others are more expensive, compared to the original MSI Wind. As to why consumers would be willing to pay more, it all depends on individual reasons, like brand loyalty or certain unique features.

Asus denies plans to phase out smaller Eee PCs

From ZDNet UK -

Claiming company CEO Shen might have been misquoted, an Asus spokesperson denied the company was planning to stop offering 7" and 8.9" netbooks. In fact the company would continue to bring out sub-10" Eee PC models, which are actually due a "refreshment on the specifications."

Introduction to Dial2Do

Quick intro to Dial2Do. Record Notes, Text Messages, Emails and more just by dialling and saying what you want to do.

ASUS makes its Eee Top desktop PC specs official

From Tweaktown -

Asus has released details of the first 15.6" touch-screen ASUS Eee Top desktop PCs, the ET1602 and ET1603. Both come with an Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz, 1GB DDR2 RAM, 160GB SATAII 5400 RPM HD, 1.3 megapixel web cam, 802.11n wireless, 2 USB 2.0 and card reader and 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN, and Windows XP Home. The only difference is the ET1602 uses onboard Intel graphics, while the ET1603 uses ATI Mobility Radeon HD3450.

Microsoft: Windows 7 to boost solid-state drives

From CNET News -

In a WinHEC 2008 conference abstract titled "Windows 7 Enhancements for Solid-State Drives," Microsoft states that "PC systems that have solid-state drives (SSDs) are shipping in increasing volumes" and that it is planning "Windows enhancements that take advantage of the latest updates to standardized command sets, such as ATA."

In other words, Windows 7 will be able to recognize a SSD drive and act accordingly. For example, it can improve the speed that SSDs write to disk by using certain ATA commands. ATA is the most popular data transfer standard for PC storage drives such as Serial ATA, or SATA hard drives. Most new drives, including new SSDs, use the SATA-2 standard.

Video: Windows 7 Device Stage on Eee PC S101 running dual-core Atom

From Engadget -


At WinHEC yesterday, Microsoft demonstrated the new Windows 7 running on an Asus Eee PC S101 running a 1.6GHz "Atom dual-core chip" to upload a photo over Sierra Wireless' 3G data modem to Flickr, not Windows Live Photo Gallery.

You can view the full video here.

The CTL 2Go Tablet (or Intel Classmate Netvertible)

Laptop Mag has an exclusive look at a DVT sample of CTL's new 2Go tablet based on the Intel Classmate Netvertible platform.

Highlights of their hands-on (keep in mind hardware design is not final) - size is slightly longer than the Dell Mini 9, features include 8.9" 1024 x 600 touch screen responsive to both finger and pen, 2 USB ports, VGA out, Ethernet, an SD card slot, a mic and headphone jack, a rather cramped but spill-resistant keyboard, good size touchpad with comfortable but mushy buttons, shock mounted hard drive, built-in accelerometer.

Intel has developed a Quick Launcher (think Dell Ubuntu skin) to take advantage of the touch screen. But the installed Windows XP home lacks certain touchscreen functions although this oversight can be corrected by installing free apps.

A limited number of units will be available starting mid-December with full availability in retail stores by January 2009 starting at $499.

You can read the full article, including video, here.

ASUS charges customer with extortion, customer countersues

According to Danwei Beijing Times has reported that Asus has accused a young woman named Huang Jing of extortion, which resulted in her being jailed for ten months before being released due to insufficient evidence. She has since then decided to countersue for defamation, selling defective products, and false accusation.

Huang's ordeal started back in Feb 2006 when she bought a V6800V model ASUS laptop from a Beijing retailer. The unit had many problems included frequent BSODS, forcing her to have it repaired by Asus several times. For the last repair, Asus allegedly put in an engineering sample CPU that overheated.

This prompted Huang to hire a lawyer, Zhou Chengyu, who demanded Asus pay $5 million compensation, threatening to break the news to the media and take ASUS to court. After failed negotiations, Asus had the two arrested on March 7, 2006. But in December 2006, Huang was released from jail, and in 2007, Asus' case against her was dismissed.

MSI Wind At Best Buy For $350

From OhGizmo! -

Best Buy has listed the MSI Wind U100 at a mere $349.99 for the following configuration -

Intel® Atom™ processor N270

1GB DDR2 memory

10.1" WSVGA widescreen display with 1024 x 600 resolution

120GB SATA hard drive (5400 rpm)

Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 graphics with 64MB of shared video memory

Built-in 1.3-megapixel webcam

Digital media reader

3 high-speed USB 2.0 ports

Built-in high-speed wireless LAN (802.11b/g)

10/100 Mbps Ethernet LAN (with RJ-45 connector)

Weighs 2.8 lbs. and measures 0.7" thin

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition operating system preinstalled

Best Buy product page here.

Why netbooks will soon cost $99 and why they probably won't

In his article "Why netbooks will soon cost $99" Computerworld's Mike Elgan predicts "the era when subnotebooks are subsidized like cell phones is here -- almost." Well, as Elgan clarifies, subnotebooks have actually already been subsidized by mobile telcos in other countries such as Taiwan, U.K, to name a few. So the idea is not exactly new - it is only new in the context of the U.S. which has long resisted the subsidy model but which might open up because of recent trends. Elgan listed these as the economic situation, crashing mobile phone sales, increasing notebook sales, and the overcrowded netbook market.

He also cited two factors - subnotebooks being marketed as netbooks, implicitly tying them to Internet access via mobile broadband; and the magic price of $99. 

I agree the semantical shift to the term netbook has significant implications. It obviously implies the new breed of subnotebooks will be used primarily as Internet devices (email, surfing, IM, etc.). It also implies something Elgan failed to touch on. As Internet devices, the newer and increasingly more expensive netbooks are over-spec'd. If you don't download pron or pirated movies/songs, you don't need a big hard drive. Neither do you need an extremely fast processor - just one good enough to play Youtube videos. 

Fact is, Asus had the right idea with its original Asus Eee PC 701. As an Internet device, it was close to being the perfect model - small and light enough to be carried around, big enough to have a QWERTY keyboard that is good enough (for a lot of people).  The original announced price was $199 - the holy grail price for PDAs and mobile phones. Of course we all know Asus failed to deliver on the price but even when they released the Eee PC at half the original specs and double the original price, sales were phenomenal.

But instead of further lowering the price, Asus joined its competitors in introducing more powerful and more expensive netbook models. While Asus may be faulted for missing its first mover advantage, it was merely following established industry trends of not crossing the perceived resistance price level, notwithstanding the fact that it has broken the resistance level for subnotebooks with its Eee PC in the first place.

The fact is that prices in the PC industry tend not to fall. Rather specs for a certain price point tend to increase periodically. That is until a maverick company comes in and shakes things up, as Asus has done for subnotebook.

So reasonably we can't expect prices for netbooks to drop substantially below $200, especially since margins are quite thin to be begin with. So, as Elan indicated, one way for netbooks to go below $200 is for mobile telcos to subsidize them.

But what if netbooks do fall below the $200 price? If the products exhibited at recent trade shows in Hong Kong and China are any indication, a new breed of "netbooks" will soon become available.

These "netbooks" are not computers in the way ordinary consumers have come to expect in terms of specs but rather more akin to PDAs but with large-enough QWERTY keyboards and 7" screens to take on the netbook form factor. And if the uptake on Internet-enabled mobile phones/PDAs (and current netbook models) can be used a baseline, then these new "netbooks" should make for an attractive alternative to the current netbook models - especially if they are offered at a substantially lower price.

And guess what? They will be. At around $99. 

For that price, you will have Wifi-based Internet access that will allow you to surf, to do your email, to chat - and even occasionally download a song or video, using a device with an almost full-sized keyboard and a minimum 7" screen. Without the need for a contract.

Modding: Eee PC 901 “Black Leather Edition”

Photos above are of a leather-modded Asus Eee PC 901 posted at Eee PC News. They were uploaded by Eee PC.ru forum member Nikussan, who has dubbed his project "Oперация Антиглянец" (Operation Anti-Gloss).

VIA Nvidia netbook platform plans suspended

Digitimes has reported that Nvidia and VIA Technologies' cooperation over a platform for netbooks and Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) has recently been suspended. The two companies had earlier agreed to develop a platform based on VIA's C7 and Nano CPUs and MCP79 IGP chipsets from Nvidia. So does this mean we won't be seeing any Via Openbook after all?

Asus to phase out sub-10in Eee PCs

From Register Hardware -

According to Asus CEO Jerry Shen, his company will slowly be phasing out models with less than 10" screens by next year. In addition, he expects the standard configuration to have a hard drive and running Windows XP - much like the current MSI Wind U100 or Asus' own Eee PC 1000H.

The company also will be launching a $200 (£123/€156) Eee PC next year to help it capture 1/3 of the projected 20-25M netbook shipment next year.

Asus planning 12" ZX notebook launch by year-end

From Digitimes -

Asus will be releasing a new line of notebook called the ZX series. The first model is a 12" ultra-thin notebook with a 16:10 aspect ratio and will have a similar design to the high-end Eee PC 10.2" S101, which was originally intended for the ZX series. The new model will be launched before year-end at a price of less than NT$30,000.

Touch-screen kit for Aspire One, Eee PC 900/901 hits eBay, no soldering required

From Engadget -

A seller at ebay is offering a solder-less DIY touch-screen kit for both the Acer Aspire One and the Asus Eee PC 900/901 at $99.95 plus $25 for shipping from Taiwan.

Acer Aspire One Shipments to Beat Asus Eee PC

According to PC World Acer's shipments of its Aspire One could reach 6 million units this year, which would edge out Asus's projected 5 million shipment of its Eee PC for the same period. The situation does not bode well for Asus as the Aspire One was only announced this June while the Eee PC has been available since October of last year.

Asus has recently projected 4Q Eee PC shipments at 1.6 million to 1.8 million units, compared to 1.7 million units in Q3.  Aspire One shipments, on the other hand, has reached 2.4 million units in Q3 and 4Q shipments is expected to exceed that. Acer expects to ship 12 to 15 million Aspire Ones next year.

Nine Cell Netbook Batteries Showing Up in the Wild

From Wired -

According to MSI Wind Forum member norfolk.enchance, he has just taken delivery of his 9-Cell, and it cost him £70 ($115) including shipping, from ebay.uk. While the unit is humongous, battery life is reportedly 7.34 hrs running Windows XP with WiFi on. Another member, BlackDragon, got a 6 hrs 43 minutes remaining reading on a Wind running OS X.

Noreve Asus EEE PC 1000 & 1000h Tradition leather case

Noreve is now offering a leather case for the Asus Eee PC 1000/1000h, starting at 59.99€. As it is with all their other products, the case features distinguishing details such as SD card slots, credit card slots, ventilation holes - seemingly minor details that are usually overlooked by other manufacturers but which matter significantly when you need them. As Noreve's tagline says it all - "The details that make the difference."

Characteristics
- Elegant case conceived in top quality handcrafted leather
- Compatible with Asus EEE PC 1000 & 1000h
- 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
- Ventilation holes stainless steel mesh protector
- Four SD card slots
- Two business / credit card slots
- Beautiful interior lining embossed with the Noreve logo

Noreve Product Page here.

www.eee900.de

For our German readers, Vincent Vallo has a blog focusing on the Asus Eee PC 900 series, as well as, other pertinent products - http://www.eee900.de/.

Vista Runs Faster than XP on Via Nanobooks

Photo posted by TipidPC member frye.

Not that many people wouldl really care, but Netbookuser forum Azazel has reported that Windows Vista performs better than Windows XP on the Cloudbook (VIA Nanobook) in this thread while TipidPC forum members have also reported that Windows Vista runs faster than Windows XP on the Astone UMPC (a Via Nanobook variant).

Netbookuser forum thread here.

TipidPC forum thread here (in English/Pilipino).