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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

"$5 iPod" follows in $100 laptop tradition




Along the same lines as we discussed in our post Will ebooks be the Next Big Thing?, Cliff Schmidt, formerly of the Eclipse Foundation and The Apache Software Foundation, has proposed Talking Book, a $5 partially subsidized iPod-sized flash-based mp3 player that will provide health, educational, and other audio programming downloadable from Linux-based content distribution kiosks.

As reported in Linux Devices, Schidmt's Seattle-based nonprofit organization plans to sell the more expensive kiosk laptops to entrepreneurs via micro-loan programs. The entrepreneurs will sell access to content, as well as the Talking Book devices themselves. The content will basically be royalty free and uncrippled by DRM, allowing users to share them between devices using a USB cable.

In designing the Talking Book, Schmidt and his colleagues wanted to use Linux, but they could not find an embedded Linux platform that would support a $5 end product. Instead, Schmidt said they will probably go with a low-cost chipset found in Hasbro or Mattel toys.

Schmidt expects that prototypes of both the Talking Book and the Linux-based kiosk will be tested by the end of the year in Ghana and India.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Samsung N110 Up For Pre-order




From ubergizmo -

Buy.com
is now offering the Samsung N110 for $441.99 including shipping. The N110 is an updated NC10 that features rounded corners and a 6-cell battery that is able to run for a whopping 9.5 hours..

MacBook Mini Concept




From ubergizmo -

It could either be an actual leak from Apple or a good Photoshopped rendering of a MacBook Mini concept. Whatever the case maybe, it is one cool design. The included specs only make it even more attractive -

* 10.4" WXGA display.
* 1,280 x 768 pixel with LED backlighting
* NVIDIA MCP79
* Intel Atom Z740 1.83GHz with 1MB L2 cache
* 2GB DDR3-800 RAM
* NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
* 64GB Solid State Drive
* Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n connectivity
* 1 x USB 2.0
* 1 x Mini Display Port

And if rumors are to be believed, it will be available this year for $899.

iRiver D50N Official Release




From PMP Today -

While the USD370 D50N is the latest in iRiver’s Dicple line of eDictionaries, it is actually intended to be a portable networking device with WiFi connectivity included in the usual laundry list of eDic and media playback features. Features include:

* 4.8-inch WVGA touch screen
* keyboard
* 16 hours of music playback, 8 hours of video
* 802.11 b/g
* 16GB

Keyboard Skin for your Eee PC 1000HE




From Portable Monkey -

For those interested, an eBay seller named Jeff is selling laser-cut keyboard skins made out of heavy duty plastic on Ebay for $19.99 with free shipping.

Asus Eee 1000HE Keyboard Skin on Ebay.

Asus Eee 1000HE keyboard skin thread (includes review) on the Eeeuser Forums.

Novell sets up Taiwan netbook Linux R&D team

From Digitimes -

US-based Novell has established an R&D team specifically for developing Linux operating systems for use in netbook PCs in Taiwan. It will cooperate with Taiwan-based vendors of netbook PCs to develop driver programs and design human-machine interface to support the latter's hardware using Novell's SUSE Linux operating systems.

Asus Eee PC 1004DN Is Official




From ubergizmo -

Asus has made the 1004DN official. As previously reported, this model comes with a built-in Super-Multi optical disc drive. Other special features that further distinguish the 1004DN are a power-efficient ExpressCard slot, the Super Hybrid Engine (SHE) technology and the Asus Data Security System (ADSM) which allows users to log-on using their fingerprints.

China market: ARM-based MIDs capping sales of Atom models

From Digitimes -

Sales of Atom-based MIDs in the China market are projected to decrease in China now that ARM-based models are being introduced at prices about a quarter that of the former.

For instance, the SmartQ 5, which uses an ARM CPU and includes a 800x480 4.3" touchscreen, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 and runs on Linux, is priced at USD130. At that price, it severely undercuts the USD531 Gigabyte M528, which is Atom-based. {The USD442 Nokia N810 was mentioned in the original article as being also Atom-based but as reader mustafamaluka pointed out, it is actually ARM-based.)

Due to the competitive pricing, more manufacturers are expected to use the ARM platform.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Multitouch Touchscreen Eee PC 701 running Windows 7

German video showing modded 701 with touchscreen running Windows 7 -

8.9" Acer Aspire One has HD flaw, distaste for U2?




From Engadget -

Based on a Hardware Cult forum thread, 8.9" Aspire One owners are discovering that, believe it or not, their hard drives get trashed when they play music full blast through the AAO's speakers. As weird as it sounds, the problem affects only standard hard drives, not SSDs, and it occurs whenever the right speaker causes enough vibration and / or magnetic interference to cause the drive to malfunction. Interestingly, the problem was first discovered by someone played U2's "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" at max volume. The problem has since been consistently reproduced by playing that particular song.

You can read the Hardware Cult thread here.

Friday, March 27, 2009

New Asus Eee PC with built-in ODD in mid-April

From Digitimes -

Asus will launch the Eee PC E1004DN, the first in the line to have an optical disc drive in mid-April, and will follow with the 1008HA in May. The E1004DN will feature the Intel Atom N280/GN40 combo, a 120GB hard drive, and will be priced at NT$18,000-20,000 (US$531-590).

Intel to officially refresh laptop chips next week?




From Engadget -

Intel will be announcing its new processors this Monday and among the new ones are:
2.53GHz SP9600, 6MB of cache memory, $316;
1.6GHz SU9600, at $289; and
1.4GHz SU3500, $262, thermal envelope of only 5.5 watts for extremely low-power apps.

Interestingly, these are not the rumored CULV chips heard back in January.

Dell Latitude 2100 'Welch' Netbooks Leaked




Per Gizmodo Dell will be introducing a new netbook line targeted at the education market. Named Dell Latitude 2100 'Welch', they will have (possibly) touchscreen 10" displays, Atom processors up to 1.6GHz, optionsal SSD, up to 2GB RAM, three USB ports, SD/MMC slot, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 a/g/n, Bluetooth, 3 and 6-cell battery options, under 3 lbs and will sold in colors like School Bus Orange and Red Apple for under $600.

Methinks $600 is way too much for the education market especially since comparable models are being offered for way less.

New UMID M1 mbook details




Pocketables has received new details on the UMID M1 mbook -

1. Improved shell has smoother lines and a smaller battery that doesn't protrude as much. Note: Original casing shown in photo above.
2. Release date in Australia and Hong Kong, the first to get the device outside of Korea, has been pushed back to May (conservative estimate).
3. US release is still unknown.
4. Model without HSDPA will be released before model with HSDPA.
5. Fewer white units will be available than black units.
6. All models will ship with Linux (in English); XP drivers will be available for download.
7. No upgrades.
8. 1-year global warranty included.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Samsung netbooks could offer full Windows 7




Per Tech Radar Samsung's Head of Worldwide Sales and Marketing, Kyu Uhm has hinted his company may consider shipping better versions - rather than Windows 7 Starter Edition - depending on the royalties Samsung would have to pay Microsoft.

Eee PC 1002H Shows Up at the Asus Site




From Eeepc.net -

Asus has introduced yet another Eee PC, the 1002H, which is different from the 1002HA as the latter is still listed as well. The main difference, actually the only significant difference, is that the 1002H has the N280 Atom processor while the 1002HA has the N270. Other than that, they are practically the same.

The Eee PC 1002H will be available in Pink, Black, and White.

TomTop Sells 7″ Xburst Netbooks For USD209

From Tech Review Daily -

ScreenHunter_04+Mar.+21+18.01 TomTop Sells 7 Xburst Netbooks For USD209ScreenHunter_03+Mar.+21+18.01 TomTop Sells 7 Xburst Netbooks For USD209


TomTop Wholesale Center, which sells a whole range of China-made products from digital cameras to mobile phones to laptops, etc. is selling to Non-Wintel netbooks for only USD209 each, with free shipping. Despite its corporate name, the price is applicable even for single quantities.

The two units have very similar specs -

CPU: XBurst 400 MHz CPU 32
Operation system: LINUX
Memory: 128M RAM
Storage Device: 1GB NAND Flash/2GB NAND Flash (SLC)
LCD Size: 7″ PANEL
M+D36atrix: 800*480
VGA: NO NEED
LAN: 10/100M Ethernet Access
WIFI: 802.11b/g
Keyboard: standard enlish 84 key,support external keyboard
Mouse&Touch pad: build-in touch panel, set two shortcut key,and support usb port mouse
USB Port: USB 1.1 *3.0
Card Port: SD CARD
Build-in camera: NO
Sound effect: In focus Audio;Build-in stereo speaker;External Microphone,but only for record
electric current: Stand by:5MAH
Battery: 2100MAH
Last time: 3 HRS

-------

Oh wait, haven't we posted this before? Oh yeah, we did - see blog post here. Hmmm, apparently, or rather obviously, Tech Review Daily liked our post enough to copy it verbatim.




Oh well, it is not the first time we have been victims of piracy and certainly it won't be the last. At least, more readers get to enjoy our posts. :)

BTW, thank you, grinlantern, for notifying us.

Will ebooks be the Next Big Thing?

A convergence of recent events seems to be pointing at the breakthrough of ebooks after several false starts the past decade. To start off, Amazon’s Kindle was a moderate success enough to warrant a Kindle 2. Next, after convincing people to pay for songs again with its iPod/iTunes tandem, Apple has continued its success with its AppStore for its iPhone/iPod Touch series. It now plans to expand its offering to include ebooks, prompting some obscure European company to file a case of patent infringement. Of course, Google has been busy digitizing just about any printed word it can get it hands on, while Sony, Samsung, et al are now launching the nth iteration of their respective ebook readers.

So will ebooks finally catch on with the mainstream readers? What is so different now than before when even giant print players like Barnes and Noble failed miserably in their ebook attempts?

First of all, why ebooks? Ebooks actually have a lot to offer, aside from being environmentally friendly since they don’t use paper. Text can be searched automatically and cross-referenced using hyperlinks; font size/face can be adjusted; video clips can be embedded; text-to-speech software is available, and they can easily be updated/edited. This last point can be highlighted by the Philippine government’s perennial problem of issuing textbooks full of grammatical/factual errors. The costs of ebook readers notwithstanding (we will get to that), this can be resolved by eBooks, with corrected versions simply being downloaded or emailed.

But what about the downside – meaning so what has prevented ebooks from becoming popular? Well, obviously you will need an ebook reader, which has not exactly been inexpensive. And some ebook readers have poor screen resolution and insufficient or no backlighting at all, making reading difficult. Like all electronic devices, ebook readers are also environmentally hazardous. Some readers also complain of having a different user experience reading an ebook vis-à-vis an actual book. And lastly, of special concern to publishers and authors, ebooks are susceptible to piracy.

The lack of interesting content actually is also why ebooks have not taken off. Early on, most of the available content were public domain material, freely available on the net. Paying for an ebook version of a free material was difficult to justify not to mention seemingly stupid. In addition, most ebook publishers/ebook reader manufacturers insisted on their proprietary formats, none of which were compatible with each other. The 2004 Sony LIBRIe EBR-1000EP, for instance, used an obscure BBeB format, and also set its content to be unreadable after 60 days. Both the lack of content and the proprietary formats were big turn-offs that drove potential users away.

However since then, there have been two significant developments. The first is Adobe’s PDF format. Previously a proprietary format when it was introduced in 1990, it was released as an open standard last July 1, 2008 (ISO 3200-1:2008). Already a dominant standard, it is now expected to be THE dominant standard. This should help solve the fragmented ebook market.

Secondly, there has been a huge groundswell of new content, like Wikipedia, Wikibooks, etc. written specifically for public domain use. In addition, open source projects like Project Gutenberg have expanded their offerings in the interim. Moreover, personal blogs, forums, and social networks have mushroomed all over the net. While their contents are not public domain, access usually is.

Which brings us to WiFi. Early ebook readers did not have WiFi simply because there was no critical mass at that time. Now free WiFi hotspots are ubiquitous. A lot of homes/offices have WiFi as well. Paid subscriptions are affordable as well. Practically all new notebook/netbook models have WiFi. So an ebook reader with WiFi will have access to lots of contents, making the device much more useful now.

But ebook readers are still expensive. Amazon Kindle 2 is $359. Readers from other companies are just as expensive. On the other hand, computers are natural ebook readers. With free PDF readers (even editors) widely available – both from Adobe and others, reading an ebook won’t entail much additional cost. In fact, a PDF reader is usually bundled with Linux-based netbooks.

Some netbooks are even cheaper than dedicated ebook readers. Heck, Xburst-based netbooks sell for about $125 or even less. They make for affordable ebook readers and come even with a bonus – they will let you surf the net, do email, chat, or even make a international Skype call.

So with affordable netbooks doing double duty as ebook readers, WiFi pulling down interesting content, public domain material increasing, will ebooks finally become mainstream?

Interestingly, I see ebooks becoming mainstream more in developing countries than in the developed world. In developed countries, Internet access is widely accessible and affordable. Printed books are also widely available and relatively cheap. Thus, the need for ebooks is not exactly urgent in nature. Even now, it is more of a novelty and a necessity.

But in less developed countries, especially in regions without stable, affordable Internet access, public libraries with sufficient books and bookstores, ebooks will take off in the same manner mobile phones took off in areas without legacy landlines for the reasons discussed above. Kiosks offering downloadable ebooks in the same manner mobile phone ringtones were offered will likely mushroom, too.

Ringtones became popular when mobile phones that supported them became affordable. Now that netbooks (ebook readers) are even cheaper than some mobile phones, ebooks as well as other content (movies, mp3/mp4s) that can fit in SD cards or USB flash drives will be offered in kiosks and hole-in-the-wall outlets.

And while mobile phones are utilized primarily for communication purposes, netbooks can be used for a lot of academic/training purposes. Since their prices are now low enough to be amortized at just $5 per month for four years, civic groups like the Rotary Club can sponsor public high school freshman students to enable them to have their own, effectively breaking down the entry barrier to ownership. For those students fortunate enough to own a netbook, they will literally have the world at their fingertips, whether they are online or not, since ebooks can be read even offline.

And that is why ebooks will be the next big thing for a lot of students in developing countries.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

How a Brainy Worm Might Jack the World's PCs on April 1




From Gizmodo -

On April 1, the Conficker worm will activate. And the scariest thing is that there are possibly millions of infected PCs waiting to be linked together on that date to do its bidding. The second scariest thing is that no one really knows what its creator is going to do with this virtual army on that date, when it's scheduled to contact a server for instructions. It's so bad, Microsoft has a running $250,000 bounty for the author, dead or alive.

The NY Times suggests several possibilities, the most sinister being a "Dark Google," that would let bad people scour zombie machines all over the world for data to sell to other bad people.

So what will really happen? Conficker's creator can do whatever he wants with his army. Launch massive denial-of-service attacks, setup the "Dark Google" syndicate, target millions of new machines, or generate a tidal wave of spam that will crash against servers all over the world. But whatever Conficker's results, it will certainly set a terrible precedent: it will lead others to further develop its concept in frighteningly new directions.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Dell Mini 9 on sale for $199 (Today Only)




Dell has the Ubuntu-based Mini 9 on sale for $199 today only. Specs include Atom N270 (1.6GHz/533Mhz FSB/512) CPU, 512MB RAM and 8GB SSD. The Windows XP is still at $299.

Dell Product Page here.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Acer Aspire One 11.6"


From macles* -

Acer is about to release its biggest Aspire One, a model with an 11.6" 16:9 screen. While overall design is similar to the 10.1" model, the full size keyboard comes with flat keys instead. In addition, it uses an Intel Atom Z530 and the Intel SCH USW15S chipset, also known as Poulsbo, with integrated GMA500 graphics core. The GMA500 is actually a rebranded PowerVR SGX 535 licensed from Imagination Technologies and features hardware decoding of H.264 and a few other codecs.

Voice-controlled Asus Eee PCs this year

In a Tech Radar interview, Asus CEO Jerry Shen revealed that much-improved voice-controlled Eee PCs and the futuristic Fold/Unfold laptop concept will be commercially available later this year, saying,

"The first Eee PC or Eee Top products implementing voice-recognition and features will be ready by Q3/Q4 2009 – with our dedicated development team working with third parties in both Japan and the US and reporting directly to me. So this is something we will see very soon, later this year."

You can read the full interview here.

Samsung N110




Laptop Mag has a review on the successor of the Samsung NC10, the Samsung N110. The new model basically has the same specs as its predecessor, including a 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270, 1GB RAM, Windows XP Home, and a 160GB hard drive. New features though are an extended touchpad and a six-cell battery that gives a lengthy 7 hours of runtime.

The pros are basically: Sleeker design than NC, more than 7 hours of battery, improved touchpad, and a roomy and comfortable keyboard. The single negative point is it is more expensive than similarly configured netbooks.

And Laptop Mag's verdict? Samsung has created a near-perfect netbook in its N110. Though there are similarly configured netbooks, the N110 offers a better keyboard and better endurance. Its $469 premium price tag is well worth it for those who cherish longer battery life.

You can read the complete review here.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

VIA Surfboard C855

"Tim Brown from HowToBeMobile.com introduces the new VIA Surfboard C855 Reference Design from VIA Technologies, Inc. The Surfboard's an ultra-compact mainboard incorporating the VIA C7-M ULV processor, the brand new VIA VX855 unified IGP chipset, and advanced VIA multimedia and connectivity silicon, that has been specifically designed for easy integration into devices targeted at the rapidly growing mini-notebook market."

Dell Adamo

Asus Fold/Unfold will cost $1,000 - $1,500




From Netbook Choice -

Per a TechRadar interview of CEO Jerry Chen, Asus plans to launch its Fold/Unfold concept in September or October 2009, with the price tag somewhere between $1000 to $1500.

The Fold/Unfold has a keyboard that slides backwards as the screen is opened, maximising room for the keys, trackpad and palm rest.

TomTop sells 7" Xburst Netbooks for USD209





TomTop Wholesale Center, which sells a whole range of China-made products from digital cameras to mobile phones to laptops, etc. is selling to Non-Wintel netbooks for only USD209 each, with free shipping. Despite its corporate name, the price is applicable even for single quantities.

The two units have very similar specs -

CPU: XBurst 400 MHz CPU 32
Operation system: LINUX
Memory: 128M RAM
Storage Device: 1GB NAND Flash/2GB NAND Flash (SLC)
LCD Size: 7" PANEL
M+D36atrix: 800*480
VGA: NO NEED
LAN: 10/100M Ethernet Access
WIFI: 802.11b/g
Keyboard: standard enlish 84 key,support external keyboard
Mouse&Touch pad: build-in touch panel, set two shortcut key,and support usb port mouse
USB Port: USB 1.1 *3.0
Card Port: SD CARD
Build-in camera: NO
Sound effect: In focus Audio;Build-in stereo speaker;External Microphone,but only for record
electric current: Stand by:5MAH
Battery: 2100MAH
Last time: 3 HRS

Friday, March 20, 2009

Intel readying 2GHz, ultra low-power Atoms

From Electronista -

Intel will be launching two new Atoms soon. The first, the Z550, will boost the maximum clock speed to 2GHz without affecting peak thermal power ceiling of 2.4W. It will keep the same 533MHz bus and 512K of Level 2 cache.

The second, the Z515, will be for small platforms like MIDs and should consume a near cellphone-like level of power. It can peak at 1.2GHz and use an already-low 1.4W of power but can alternately run as low as 800MHz and peak at just 0.65W. In this mode it would use just 0.16W of energy in typical conditions. It uses a slower 400MHz system bus and a 100MHz slower graphics core.

Asus Eee PC 1008HA Priced for UK




From Electric Pig -

The Asus Eee PC 1008HA, nicknamed Eee Shell since it is a super skinny Eee akin to a smaller MacBook Air, now has a pricetag for U.K. buyers - £359 including tax. That’s £30 more than the Eee PC 1000HE with its phenomenal battery life, but at just one inch thick at the fattest part, the Asus Eee PC 1008HA is even more portable.

It will be available sometime next month.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Microsoft’s Windows 7 May Not Cure Netbook Headache

Per Bloomberg, Windows 7 will not solve Microsoft's dilemma with the increasingly popular low-cost netbooks, whose lack of processing processor often force manufacturers and users to install older and cheaper versions of Windows, or worse, open-source Linux.

To entice consumers, Microsoft will offer several versions of Windows 7, ranging from a low-priced Starter Edition all the way up. The problem is the Starter Edition can only run three programs at a time. It's Microsoft's way of forcing users to upgrade to more advanced and pricier versions. However, it is highly doubtful if Microsoft can price the more advanced editions much higher, since netbook prices tend to be south of $500, sometimes going down to $200. A $100 operating system on a $200 machine is simply unthinkable for most users.

And if, in the meantime, Linux distro's improve, particularly with their User Inteface, then these will even become more attractive alternatives for netbook users. Low-cost just can't compete with free if all the functionality and usability are comparable.

As it is, the netbook boom has already impacted Microsoft's bottom line, with Windows revenue falling 8% just last quarter even as netbook sales increased 50-fold last year. Windows accounts for 28% of Microsoft's $60.4 billion annual revenue and IS its most profitable division.

It would be interesting to watch how Microsoft will attempt to solve its netbook headache.

MSI Launch The World's Power Saving No.1 Netbook - U110 ECO




From MSI -

MSI today announces U110 ECO in Wind Netbook. U110 ECO is the world's power saving No.1 Netbook!

The battery life of U110 ECO is around 9 hours*. This amazing battery life can escalate the mobility and the productiveness of U110 ECO, which can also make your daily lives much more convenient.

On the other hand, U110 ECO features the Intel® Menlow Platform with Atom™ Processor, which is easy to connect to the internet for the mobile life. You may maximize your U110 ECO's potential by staying connected whether you're watching a movie at home, emailing from a café or chatting on a social networking site even on the vacation. Also, you’ll be able to stream video and enjoy all your favorite online entertainment. The power-efficient design provides longer battery life so you can keep on surfing, blogging, listening to music, watching video and communicating with the world as you move through your day.

To Freely Play
- Super Long Lasting Battery Life*
The battery life of U110 ECO is around 9 hours*. This amazing battery life can escalate the mobility and the productiveness of the U110 ECO, which can also make your daily lives much more convenient.
* The Actual battery life varies according to operating conditions and settings.

- The Excitement of Instant Communication
U110 Eco is quipped with high resolution webcam, high-performance 2 channel stereo speakers and microphone, all fitted perfectly within the framework design, expressing the slickness of technology and the elegance of modern fashion. Web-chats can be broadcasted instantly not missing any exciting moment. The photos taken are very sharp in resolution and brilliant in colors, so it's easy to capture precise imagery both indoors and outdoors to make your life more colorful.

- Wireless Internet Connection
U110 ECO has the 802.11 b/g/n wireless all region internet connection and Bluetooth transmission interface, so you can enjoy the convenience of accessing the internet anywhere. There will be absolutely no obstacles getting around your daily life.

- Comprehensive Multi-Media Application Interface
U110 ECO offers a complete entertainment interface, which includes the 4-in-1 card reader, so it is compatible to most of the mainstream memory cards, making it easy to upload digital files into the notebook computer. Moreover, U110 ECO focuses on the common products in the market to make your life easier, therefore you may connect your peripherals such as PDA's, digital cameras, digital video cameras, digital MP3 Players, Global GPS Systems…etc to U110 ECO through USB 2.0 Port. An external DVD burner may be added (optional) to play and burn important files at will.

To Freely Operate
- New Intel® Menlow Platform with Atom™ Processor
On the other hand, U110 ECO features the Intel® Menlow Platform with Atom™ Processor, which is easy to connect to the internet for the mobile life. You may maximize your U110 ECO’s potential by staying connected whether you're watching a movie at home, emailing from a café or chatting on a social networking site even on the vacation. Also, you'll be able to stream video and enjoy all your favorite online entertainment. The power-efficient design provides longer battery life so you can keep on surfing, blogging, listening to music, watching video and communicating with the world as you move through your day.

- Hard Drive with Massive Capacity
Unlike other competitors that have compromised the storage capacity to decrease in size, U110 ECO is equipped with the 2.5 inch standard hard drive〈80/120/160 GB〉*.It can operate just like regular notebooks without worrying limited storage capacity to save the greatest moments in life.
*The Actual Capacity of the hard drive is based on the actual model.

- Big-Size Keyboard and Touch Pad
MSI has the same persistence on proper ergonomically design even on the keyboards of MSI smaller notebook computers. The keyboard of U110 ECO not only has great texture, it also increases the space between the keys to 17.5mm, allowing you to be as comfortable as you can. Furthermore, with the ingeniously designed spacebar and touchpad, your fingers can move smoothly to avoid strain..

To Freely Watch
- 10" Wide LCD Display
U110 ECO has selected a 10" wide LCD display as oppose to the typical smaller sizes to provide better comfort while viewing or reading. In addition, the 1024x 600 resolution can relief concerns of the full display of WebPages while browsing, giving you the freedom when exploring the internet.

- The Latest in LED Power-Saving Backlight Technology
U110 ECO is embedded with the LED power-saving backlight technology in providing better color fullness and brightness to elevate the total quality of imagery. Furthermore, the lower usage of power can offer a longer operating time.

To Freely Go
- Lightness in Design
The frame is approximately 26 centimeters in length and 18 centimeters in width. It is only 33 mm in thickness making it extremely thin. The total weight with the battery is less than 1 kilogram, making U110 ECO very ideal for taking it on the go.

VIA Reference Design Motherboard For Netbooks




From Ubergizmo -

VIA has released a new reference design for netbook motherboards, the Surfboard C855, capable of handling 1080p video playback as well as 8-channel audio without requiring too much power. The board supports a 1.6GHz VIA C7-M ULV processor on an 800MHz bus alongside the new VX855 HD chipset. It also supports 1,366 x 768 pixel playback on an internal screen as well as 1,920 x 1,440 pixel playback on an external monitor, handling various formats such as H.264, MPEG2, MPEG-4, WMV9, and VC1 decoding.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Duo For Laptop from Hanwha




From Akihabara News -

Hanwah Japan launched its “Duo for Laptop," a digital pen that lets you write directly on your Laptop’s screen, effectively converting it into a Table PC!

To use it you put a receiver on the top of your screen. The receiver captures your move through Infrared and Ultrasonic technology. But the drawback is this “Duo for Laptop” is only compatible with 15.4-Inch LCD Screen.

Receiver unit size: 77 × 58 × 8.5mm
Pen Size: 16.5 × 130mm (Diameter x length)
Weigh: 17.5g
Resolution: 600 dpi
Price 9980 Yens (79€)

SmartDevices Launches $130 SmartQ 5 Ubuntu MID




From eHomeUpgade -

The SmartQ 5 is a ARM-based Mobile Internet Device that features a 4.3-inch 800×480 touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, an SD card slot and runs on Ubuntu. As seen from the photo above, it is quite slim and compact, making it suitable for a lot of applications.

The best part is the price. It is just 899 yuan or about USD130.

TPV to offer netbook + monitor bundle

Per Digitimes, China-based monitor reseller TPV, which also sells notebooks, will be offering a netbook and large-size monitor bundle to boost sales of the latter.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Nvidia eyes x86 CPU market, may produce its own chip

From TG Daily -

Based on the difficulties it has found by Intel's position to not open up the Atom platform, Nvidia may be looking to create or license their own x86-based CPU to compete with Atom. This would would step up its rivalry with Intel as it would round out Nvidia's offerings, allowing them to create complete systems using only their products - from CPUs to chipsets to GPUs.

Nvidia had previously released a CPU in Feb 2008. Called Tegra, it was an ARM-based core that worked with a GeForce graphics chip as part of a full SoC (System-on-Chip) design and is being used in very small devices, such as smart phones and MIDs. But ARM is not x86-base and powerful software libraries and toolsets created for x86 products -- those which run the Windows world -- are very appealing for new products that Nvidia would target as their GPUs greatly enhance a powerful computing experience.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Third Conficker worm set to launch April 1

From TG Daily -

Computer Associates said a new variant of the Conficker (Downadup) worm is apparently set for a massive launch on April 1, targeting up to 50,000 URLs every day. The new variant is much more sophisticated in the way it plants itself on computers although it has lost some of its spreading functionality. As such it may not trigger a reaction from security software as it terminates tools used to monitor and remove it from affected systems. (E.g. it can terminate Process Explorer.)

It does not cause immediate damage but rather is set for future action. Among others, it modifies Windows security settings, deletes system restore points, disables certain services, terminates security-related services, blocks access to websites of security software developers and is prepared to download arbitrary files.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

ARM-based platforms to enter netbook market in June

According to Digitimes, ARM-based platform manufacturers appear busy these days. Pegatron has announced it be introducing a model equipped with Freescale's i.MX51 CPU (ARM Coretex A8) at Computex Taipei 2009 while Wistron will launch a model with Qualcomm's Snapdragon CPU at the same show. In addition MSI has also reportedly expressed interest in developing Tegra-based products, and together with Asus have confirmed the possibility of launching Qualcomm CPU-based netbooks.

MSI Wind U115 rated at 15 hours of battery life

From Engadget -

In tests done by Eee-PC.de, MSI's new U115 established some sort of new standards by ranging from 5.5 hours to 15 hours of battery life. Even 5.5 hours is excellent for continuous use. The extended life is made possible by the netbook's hybrid storage system, which allows it to run entirely off of its 8GB of SSD memory, with the 160GB hard drive spun down to save power.

Why Are Notebook Battery Figures So Misleading?

From Hot Hardware -

AMD's senior vice president and chief marketing officer Nigel Dessau has a insightful blog post on the state of notebook battery figures. Currently, manufacturers just provide a single figure regarding battery life, usually generated by MobileMark 2007. Unfortunately that number is usually a best case scenario instead of real usage. (MobileMark 2007 generates a rating of battery life when the PC is running on average less than 5% utilized, or as he calls it, "fundamentally idle." Or in other words, it is not really being used.)

E.g. Asus claims its Eee PC 1000HE can get 9.5 hours of battery life. But is that with the WiFi on all the time? And is the brightness set to full as well? Yet when reviewers get even just 6.5 hours, they are happy. Would we react the same way if a car achieves only half of its advertised city MPG consumption?

How do tell a netbook from notebooks, laptops, etc.




With so many mini computers being bandied around - netbooks, UMPC, OLPC, MID, EPC, etc, not a few shoppers have ended up bewildered even before they even get to use one.

But now The Register has put up a flow-chart that answers this nagging question in a flippant sort of way. Hope this settles the issue for some readers. :)

Sakar’s Kid-Friendly Netbook

I came across a not-so-old review by Laptop mag on Sakar's netbook today. The significance of Sakar entering the netbook market is that it is a big name in the toy industry that either acquires or licenses well-known brands, such as Crayola, Hello Kitty, Vivitar, Major League Baseball, Hulk, Jeep, etc., puts them on a wide range of toys and gadgets (digital cameras, camcorders, MP3 players, walkie-talkies, watches, etc.) for kids and sells these just about everywhere.

Sakar was at the recent Toy Fair 2009 and was displaying, of all these, a netbook. Given Sakar's extensive distribution network, the implications are huge. Unfortunately, per Laptop Magazine, Sakar's netbook seemed to be just another rebranded Exon PC701-XL. The 3K Razorbook 400, which is an Exon PC701-XL rebrand, just happens to be Laptop Magazine's least favorite netbooks of all time.

At any rate, Sakar didn't have the final specs but indicated the maximum price they will sell it at was US$299, which although it sounded good to Laptop Mag, seems still quite high for us. Nevertheless and notwithstanding Sakar's initial OEM choice, its entry, if and when it does start selling the netbook, will definitely drive the price war in the low-end of the already low-end netbook market segment. This can only mean more affordable netbooks for everyone. :)

You can read the entire review here.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Asus Eee PC 1004DN Hits FCC

From I4U News -

Some images of the Asus Eee PC 1004DN from the FCC have began showing up around the net. Which means Asus is getting the netbook approved to sell in the U.S. Which means things are getting interesting as Asus has previously indicated back at CES 2009 they were not sure if the model will be exclusive for European markets.

And what makes the Asus Eee 1004DN special? Aside from the 10" LCD, the webcam, Win XP OS, it is among the first to use the Atom N280. It also has an integrated optical drive, something you don't normally see in a netbook.

Friday, March 13, 2009

SSD or Hard Drive on Your New Notebook or Netbook?

There's a nice article from I4U News on choosing between a conventional hard drive or the newer Solid State Drives (SSDs). With each type offering solid pros and cons, it is a dilemma netbook shoppers have to face in making their buying decision.

While SSDs are sturdier and faster, and consume less power, they generally have lower capacity barely enough for you to install other applications. Of course, if you all you do is surf, email, chat and do simple Office-type work, then most often, the pre-installed apps should be enough.

The problem, of course, is that for the same price you can get a 160GB HDD instead of the 8GB SSD. And clearly, 160GB HHD has far, far more storage space.

To help solve the dilemma, some manufacturers, like MSI, have began installing both an SSD and a HDD in the same unit (e.g. MSI Wind U115). While the hybrid set-up does provide for longer battery life while offering more storage it does come with a price premium.

Win an Asus S101 from Bo’s Coffee




From Yugatech -

Asus Philippines has partnered with local cafe chain Bo’s Coffee to give away 5 units of their high-end Asus S101 netbook (worth PhP34,000 or about US$705). For every PhP200 (about US$4.15) worth of orders at any Bo’s Coffee branch, a customer gets a raffle entry. Promo is open to everyone and start March 15 to May 31, 2009. In addition, during the promo period, anyone bringing their Asus Eee PC gets a free upsize on drinks.

Japan market: Eee PC owns 27% of netbooks

From Digitimes -

The Asus Eee PCs are the best selling netbooks in Japan with a market share of 27.18% in terms of sales, according to research firm GfK. Asus has sold around 60,000 Eee PCs since the beginning of the year, and its Eee PC 1000H was the number one selling netbook in Japan March 2-8. The Lenovo S10 4068A came in second, followed by the Acer Aspire One.

Buffalo External SSD Case for ASUS Eee PC 901




From Portable Monkey -

Buffalo Japan has released an external SSD case for the ASUS Eee PC 901-16G (16GB SSD) that workslike a portable USB external drive. It comes with a catch though. You need to buy the higher capacity 32GB or 64GB SSD that comes along with it. The idea is to swap your current 16GB SSD drive with the one that comes in the Buffalo case. Prices are 12,700 yen ($129) for the 32GB and 22,400 yen ($228) for the 64GB.

HP Mini 1000 six-cell battery now available to order




From Engadget -

HP Mini 1000 users finally got some good news regarding their favorite netbook. HP is now selling the six-cell battery and at the discounted price tag of $95.99 (after a $20 rebate) at that. The battery was originally announced at $153.90.

As for the VGA adapter...

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Another Netbook for Kids!


From Portable Monkey -

A company called KuroKids is offeirng a Doraemon (Japanese comic) themed Classmate PC in Taiwan. It is actually a limited production run of 800 although it looks pretty customized and all and even comes with a cute Doraemon carrying sleeve. It sells for about US$487.

HP Mini 1000 VGA cables: hard to get, hard to use?




From Engadget -

Per postings on the HP Support Forums, the promised VGA adapter for the Mini 1000 has been impossible to come by and, for now, HP doesn't seem to be getting any more specific than "early 2009" about widespread availability.

In addition some users have been reporting problems with the VGA out for the very similar Mini 2140 netbook, and with a USB-to-VGA adapter used with the Mini 1000. In both cases, the Mini 1000 is unable to automatically detect the external monitor's native resolution, so it outputs a 1024 x 768 resolution all the time.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Laptop Lifts




From Boing Boing -

Put simply, Laptop Lifts add space between your lappie and the desk to improve air circulation around the base, and therefore, keeps it from running hot and possibly overheating.

It is an idea that almost all of us have implemented DIY, either with playing card decks, business card holders, and other what-nots we may have lying around. Laptop Lifts' appeal is of course in its simple elegance and is priced just right. The only thing I don't like about it is it is not transferable.

Product Page here.

Is the Apple Netbook Really an Ebook Reader?




From Gizmodo -

Andy Ihnatko of the Chicago Sun-Times thinks the 10" panels being ordered by Apple will probably be used on a new ebook. According to him, he keeps hearing about how trucks would arrive at the Apple campus, and offload huge loads of books. Since Apple does not have a big employee library on-campus, then they must be doing something with these books, like turning them into text.

Apple has long been rumored to be preparing for the launching of a bookstore on the iTunes store. Naturally they would want to make sure that they have a very large stock of electronic titles when they do open. So put another way, iTunes could compete with Amazon in the literary marketplace with its own Kindle version.

Monday, March 9, 2009

FOLD / UNFOLD ASUS Notebook Concept Design

Asus to phase out 7-inch Eee PC netbooks

At the recent CeBIT 2009, Asus Chair Jonney Shih announced his company will be phasing out the original 7" Eee PC models in mature markets, although it may continue to sell it in emerging countries that show demand. Asus will instead concentrate on its 8.9" and 10" lines - models that do not necessarily adhere to its original affordable netbook/cloud computing vision.

As further evidence of the turn-around, the Eee brand, which had originally meant "Easy to learn, easy to work, easy to play", now stands for "Easy, excellent, exciting." Ever since the successful launch of the Asus Eee PC, the company has been leveraging the brand, expanding the line to include monitors, videophones, all-in-one PCs, nettops, and an overwhelming range of netbook models.

The dilution, specifically the move to higher-priced models, arguably has been a major mistake since Asus not only lost its early dominance in the very market segment it created, the term Eee PC has since lost its iconic connotation as an affordable netbook. Meanwhile, none of the other Eee-branded products has been exactly a bestseller, putting the Eee brand in some sort of limbo.

Ironically, in a nod to the original Eee PC's trendsetting breakthrough, mainland Chinese manufacturers/resellers nowadays use the generic term EPC to refer to their own low-cost netbook products.

ASUS showcases Eee Top ET2203 and ET2003




From Engadget -

ASUS showcased two new Eee Top PCs at CeBit, the 22" ET2203 and the 20" ET2003. Both feature a HDMI socket and a Blu-ray optical drive and are clearly bigger than existing models. But beyond that, little else specs was provided.

Wintek to supply touch panels for Apple netbook

From Digitimes -

Taiwan-based Wintek has revealed that it is currently working with Apple to develop some new products, but it does not know what applications the new products are for. The company added that no shipment schedule has been worked out yet, but shipments are likely to begin in the second half of the year.

The Chinese-language Commercial Times believe the new products involve touch panels for Apple's new netbook, which will be made by Quanta Computer.

Linpus Quick OS - First Look

"http://www.netbooknews.de - A first look at the Linpus Quick OS during the CeBIT 2009 in Hannover. When i compare this to all the Splashtop clones on the market (the used by ASUS, Lenovo and LG), this is a real Quick OS! "

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Secret Netbook during CeBIT 2009

"http://www.netbooknews.de - The secret netbook we found during the CeBIT 2009. Seems like a reference design from Quanta and all i can say is, i god damn love it. Great manufacturing, great design.. I want one!"

Game Over for netbook Linux?

In Preston Galla's Seeing Through Windows in the Computerworld site, he cites an NPD Group study that has revealed Windows had more than 90% of all U.S. netbook sales for the last three months (actually November, December, and January). The same study also claimed that it was only in December 2008 that netbook sales truly took off. Meaning previous stats showing Linux's dominance in the netbook market were based on a far smaller number of machines sold. So essentially, according to Galla this means the game is over for Linux.

That's the trouble when you try to see through (fogged-up) windows. You only get at most a blurry and often misleading image of the entire landscape. It is not unlike seeing just a small puddle of water through the haze and assuming right away you have a swimming pool in the backyard. Just wait till you try to dive into that.

The fact is the ongoing Linux - Wintel battle in the netbook segment is far from over. Linux's latest foray into the mainstream was triggered by the original low-cost netbook, the Asus Eee PC, via its use of Xandros. Other brands soon followed. But a disastrous misstep by Asus to focus on higher-priced, more featured models opened the door for Windows to grab back some shares. And while the top-tiered brands appear intent to up the ante with higher-priced (and more profitable) models, a new wave of netbooks that adhere to the original vision of affordable cloud computing will soon become available.

A significant common feature of these netbooks is their use of non-Intel, non-x86 processors. If their low prices ($150 and below) makes the use of Windows economically impractical, the lack of a port for such processors makes it a technological problem. So that means even if Microsoft decides to give away Windows for these netbooks, it still has to develop the new versions. Given the very limited potential revenue, it is highly doubtful Microsoft will find it appealing to compete in this particular segment. It will most likely cede this and find other ways to stave off any progress made by Linux.

What this means is within the year, we should be able to expect low-cost non-Windows netbooks appearing just about everywhere - online shops, Walmart, Walgreens, and Toys-R-Us. And they will be selling at prices way too low for Windows-based models to ever match. In short, a totally new game. And one which we don't have to watch through fogged-up windows.

Google sets up tech team in Taiwan to support Android-based products

Per Digitimes the president of Google Taiwan, Chien Lee-feng, has revealed that his company has set up an Android team there to offer technical support to local hardware makers developing Android-based products, including netbooks and embedded systems.

Alpha 400 Ultralite Netbook Unboxed

An old but still interesting video -

Friday, March 6, 2009

How to Create an Invisible Folder in Windows

Note: The video guide does not teach you how to delete it though. So proceed with caution.

Asustek to launch Eee PC Shell ultra-thin netbook in April

From Digitimes -

Asus plans to launch its second ultra-thin netbook with a 10.1-inch panel, the Eee PC Shell, in April this year. The netbook will have a higher specification than the Eee PC S101, will be easier to carry, and offer longer battery-life and will be priced around NT$17,000-20,000 (US$486-571).

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Top 10 Reasons why a $100 netbook has a lot of appeal

1. It is cheap.
Obviously at $100, it is cheaper and much more affordable than high-end and even most mid-level mobile phones.

2. It will have to be easy to use.
At that price (and slim margin), manufacturers will not be able to afford to provide tech support. Thus, they will make sure it is extremely easy to use. Turn on, click Email, write Email, Send Email. Grandma should be able to use it.

3. It will be sturdier than conventional notebooks or even higher priced netbooks.
At that price, it will most likely have no moving parts, making it less fragile than more expensive notebooks. All the components will also likely be off-the-shelf commodity items whose reliability has been proven over time.

4. It is cheap enough to be used as a dedicated e-book reader.
At $100, it is considerably cheaper than the Amazon Kindle. Or just about any other branded e-book reader. And definitely a lot more practical. You can go to www.gutenberg.com and select from over 27,000 free ebooks. Download your favorites and you have your own portable library.

5. It is cheap enough to be used as a dedicated digital photo frame/portable media player.
You can also put all your vacation photos (and even movies) on SD cards and load them up anywhere, anytime, anyplace you are lucky enough to have a captive audience. Or you can put your favorite MP3/MP4s on SD cards or flash drive and entertain yourself the times you can’t get hold of a friend to watch your homemade videos.

6. It is more data-secure.
Without sufficient internal storage, you will be forced to store your data either on SD cards or flash drives or online. So that means if you lose your $100 netbook (and chances are much higher you will than with higher priced notebooks since you will treat it even less kindly than your more expensive mobile phone), you don’t have to worry about your data.

7. The proliferation of ubiquitous WiFi hotspots, HSDPA modems, and increased bandwidth simply begs for a cheap Internet access device.
With free (and affordable) public WiFi available just about anywhere in the modern urban jungles, neighborhood café seats and airport lounges, among other public areas, have become de facto hubs for surfers, emailers, and chatters. The $100 netbook, by being a cheap,”throw-away”, bring-it-anywhere net access device, simply completes the picture.

8. It can serve as disruptive technology to bring down communications costs via VoIP and IM.
The increasing availability of free or affordable broadband sufficient to do VoIP (and of course IM) has resulted in the increasing uptake of such services as well. With WiMAX and 3G HSDPA providing blanket coverage, mobile VoIP and IM stand a good chance of replacing cellular-based calls and texting. After all a $100 netbook, though a tad too big to be a handset, is light and small enough, to have a permanent place in the ubiquitous messenger bag of the metrosexual. Bluetooth will do the rest.

9. The Wintel duopoly will finally be broken.
The $100 netbook has a price point that is just too low for Intel’s processors. So not surprisingly, $100 netbooks use processors from companies like Ingenic, Samsung, etc. These processors are usually non x86 compatible, meaning they cannot run Windows as is, meaning they use Linux, or in the near future, Google’s Android. Besides, Microsoft can’t really stomach the minuscule licensing fees it can impose on netbook manufacturers, much less $100 netbook manufacturers, having finally killed Windows XP after grudgingly extending its life to stave off the Linux onslaught. So with netbooks projected to become the largest market segment, the Windows-Intel combo will likely finally see its dominance end. But then of course Intel (and Microsoft) can always argue the $100 netbook is not a computer but a glorified PDA. But their respective bottom lines will still be affected.

10. Negroponte’s OLPC dream will finally become a reality.
Nicholas Negroponte had a vision of providing One Laptop per Child with the Laptop costing $100. His pursuit of this happiness unfortunately stumbled upon so many problems that have so far prevented him from achieving his dream. However it was this initiative that arguably inspired Asus’s Eee PC and enabled the paradigm shift that followed. The $100 netbook is just the natural progression of this movement. And in some odd way, given that it will likely be sold in 3rd world countries, the fulfillment of Negroponte’s dream.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Asus Eee Top Commercial

Asus Eee TOP Pre-order




The Asus Eee Top is now available on pre-order at $599.99 from Amazon. As announced by the Official ASUS Eee PC Group in Facebook -

The ASUS Eee Top is a touch screen PC that makes learning, work and play easier than ever before, for users of all ages.

With a simple touch or a swipe, you can surf the Web, video chat with friends and family, enjoy multimedia entertainment, and much more.

5 reasons to buy an Eee Top all-in-one PC
1. Slim and stylish design

2. Easy-to-use TOUCH functionality Easy Mode (Touch-friendly interface with large icons) - 4 tabs: Communication, Fun, Work and Tools Opera Touch (Touch-friendly web browser) - Grab, drag and scroll through webpages easily with your finger; access sites quickly with webpage speed-dialing; built-in RSS news feeds SoftStylus (Virtual Keyboard) - Handwriting recognition software; easy-to-use virtual keyboard; supports multiple languages

3. Perfect for multimedia enjoyment Eee Cinema (Integrated and interactive media center)- Excellent ease of use with comprehensive format compatibility; Robust media library management SRS (Premium sound and excellent manageability) - 4W embedded stereo Hi-Fi speakers; SRS premium sound system + Circle surround headphones

4. Ideal for interactive communication Eee Cam (Fun Communication) - Doodle pictures and add fun effects; Express your emotions on Skype, MSN, ahoo and AIM with custom emotions Eee Memo (Quick and Convenient Desktop Notes) - Leave notes quickly by scribbling onto desktop 'stickies' with your finger

5. Can be used anywhere in your home Keyboard and Mouse included

The Eee TOP will be available March 9th, 2009

Pre-order yours TODAY!
White

Black

Be sure to stay in touch for Eee TOP giveaways!

Psion: Intel has "unclean hands," we demand $1.2 Billion




From Ars Technica -

Psion has countersued Intel, defending its claim to the netbook trademark, unveiling a somewhat suspect table of netBook revenues, and demanding triple all Intel's profits on netbook products plus punitive damages.

The countersuit accuses Intel of having "unclean hands" due to its "unauthorized... willful and malicious" marketing of netbook-branded products "with full knowledge that it has no right to use" the trademark. Psion's new filing alleges a great deal of malicious wrongdoing, and demands a jury trial to decide the awarding of statutory damages which may total well over a billion dollars, with punitive damages beside.

For a detailed backgrounder on the suit, read the full article here.

Google Android May Run Asus Netbook

From Bloomberg -

According to Samsun Hu, Asus Eee PC business head, his company has allocated engineers to develop an Android-based netbook by as early as the year end but hasn’t decided whether to proceed with a final product because the project is still under development.

An Android-powered notebook would extend Google’s rivalry with Microsoft into the OS market, where the latter's Windows currently controls has more than 90% share. However, netbooks, which are the fastest-growing segment, tend to offer OS alternatives, especially free Linux-based distros.

Menq International Ltd EasyPC E760 89 dollar Laptop

100$ Laptop Unboxing

Inkia cheap laptops at IFA 2008

An old video of a $100 netbook -

Get a Dell Mini 9 foir $99




Dell Computers has a special offer for buyers of certain systems (Studio Slim Desktop, Studio XPS, XPS M1530 and XPS 630) to purchase its Mini 9 for only %99. We are not sure when the offer expires, so if you are in the market for a hot lappie - the M1530 is an attractive one - get yourself a bonus. Sort of like a digital Mini me. :)

Dell Product Order Page here.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

MSI Wind U123 Coming In April

From Laptop Mag -

MSI will be relaasing its 10.2" Atom N280-based Wind U123, set to compete against the Asus Eee PC 1000HE, which uses the same new Intel Atom N280 processor. It will be available with either six-cell or nine-cell batteries and in four colors - white, metallic black, blue, and burgundy red.

MSI also plans on releasing its MSI Wind U115 in late March. The Atom Z530 powered unit has both a conventional hard drive and an SLC solid state drive and will be priced at over $500.

Psion: we still sell the Netbook Pro

Per jkOnTheRun, Psion has responded to them regarding its "netbook" trademark. With Dell and Intel recently filing petitions asking for the cancellation of Psion’s “netbook” trademark, citing abandonment of the “netbook” term since Psion was no longer selling the product, Psion has countered that it in fact had multi-million dollar sales of the Netbook ® Pro computer in both the US and the EU. It seems the bulk of the sales were to highly specialised supply chain logistics implementations, explaining for the lack of retail visibility. Nevertheless they still count as real sales to real customers, thus lending validity to their claim. So even if manufacturing has been been discontinued, sales apparently have not been - reinforcing Psion's stand that it has not abandoned the trademark.

More detail here.

Nokia seeks Taiwan partners for netbook production

From Digitimes -

Nokia is currently discussing with Taiwan notebook makers for its notebook plans, with Compal Electronics and Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) as the top-two potential partners. The joint design manufacture is a departure from its strategry of outsourcing mostly OEM orders for its handsets.

As for using Atom or Qualcomm's Snapdragon, the company has not yet decided on that, although both Compal and Foxconn have experience with and capabilities for both platforms.

Viliv S5 Premium Unboxing

Fidelity Netbook VPC To Cost Just $199 USD




Per Chip Chick Fidelity Electronics will be offering its Netbook VPC at only $199. For that price you get a 1.5 lb unit with a 7" 8800 x 480, WiFi, USB, Ethernet ports, SD card reader, 2GB storage and several apps. Processor looks to be running at 100 mhz.

The Netbook VPC actually sounds like one of those low-cost non-Intel netbooks with an embbedded OS. If so, FOB China wholesale prices for these have dropped to below U$100, with some even lower. We fully expect such products to be available at your local neighborhood drug store at an even lower price before the end of the year.