Sponsored Link

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Android OS in Netbooks Soon?




Per CNET some netbook manufacturers are planning to introduce netbooks using Google's Android operating system.

Korean Tri-gem subsidiary Averatec (photo above) has developed "from scratch" a 10" netbook rumored to be bundled with Android. The CEO however will not confirm the rumors, merely saying it will be a surprise. Another manufacturer, China-based Skytone, of Xburst netbook fame, has also announced it will make a $250 Android-based netbook. Larger makers like HP, Asus, and others have also said confirmed experimenting with Android on their netbook models.

ASUS Eee PC 1008HA For Pre-order in UK




Per Portable Monkey, the ASUS Eee PC 1008HA is now available in the U.K. on a pre-order basis.

Amazon U.K. is selling the midnight blue version for £379.50 with free shipping while Laptops Direct U.K. have the Blue, Red and White 1008HA models available for £399.97.

Amazon U.K. product page here.

Laptops Direct U.K. product page here.

GMABooster offers graphics boost for netbooks

From Tweaktown -

A programmer named Vladimir Plenskiy has developed a tweaking tool called GMABooster which apparently boosts your netbook's integrated Intel 950 graphics's performance by as much as 2.4 times. It does this by adjusting the clock speed from default 133MHz up to 400MHz, which is actually the setting of the GMA clock in a "normal" desktop Intel 945 chipset. Available for Mac OS, Windows, and Linux.

If you want to try this out, the download page is here. But do proceed with caution, as always.

Fujitsu gets official with M2010 netbook




From Engadget -

Fujitsu has officially released its M2010 netbook which appears identical to the 10.1 LOOX M available in Japan. Specs are standard - a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB RAM, a 160GB HD, and built-in Bluetooth, except that it has a bundled DVD burner and wireless mouse. Price is about $650.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Asus Eee PC 1003H Go Available Now in Italy




From Eee PC Blog -

The Asus Eee PC 1000H variant with integrated 3G/HSPA that was introduced during the CeBIT event recently is now known as the Asus Eee PC 1003H Go and is now exclusively available in Italy via wireless operator Fastweb’s monthly data plan.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

The Netbook Effect: How Cheap Little Laptops Hit the Big Time

A bit old but still interesting read from Wired by Clive Thompason on the origins of the netbook as well as the twists and turns it has taken as it carves its niche in the market.

He takes you starting from OLPC's initial efforts and Asus' arguably preemptive (or probably reactionary) move with the Asus Eee PC. Both were conceptualized with the so-called 2nd billion market in mind - primarily consumers in 3rd world countries who can't afford a full $1,000 model, and seniors and kids who do not need full-featured units.

However, Asus' first batch of 350,000 Eee PCs were bought up not by the target market but by consumers in western Europe and US who wanted a second laptop to carry around for accessing the net. All major PC brands, as well as lesser-known makes, soon followed with their me-too models, albeit a tad more expensive. This market turn effectively rewrote the model.

Instead of new features trickling down from the high end to entry level models after some period, the minimalist approach trickled upward. After all, the timing couldn't be better. With cloud computing, where you do most of the work (and storing) online, fast gaining popularity, the small and light configuration was perfect.

Netbooks, considerably aided by cloud computing, effectively ended the more-is-better mentality. Netbooks made people realize that for most of us, we can do with a minimal configuration. And it basically took the (practically) anonymous OEMS like Asus and MSI to force the paradigm shift. After all, it does not make sense for Dell et al to offer a $400 model and cannibalize sales on its own $1,000 plus models. But the OEMs has no such far margins to protect. Moreover, they are used to surviving on excruciatingly tiny margins.

But even as netbooks have proven to such a disruptive innovation, their full impact has yet to be felt. With cloud computing becoming more ubiquitous and powerful - you can now edit your photos online; you don't need Photoshop anymore - netbooks can be further reduced down. Sub-$100 netbooks are not a pipe dream. They will soon be available everywhere. And they will likely have a non-Intel processor and a non-Microsoft operating system. And because they will be commodity items, the brandname will often make no difference to the end-user. Sure, some buyers will always insist on a brand name, and will be willing pay more. But more will gladly buy a generic one the way they buy no-name MP3/MP4 players instead of an iPod.

Rumor: Apple netbooks to be made by Foxconn

From The Inquirer -

Chinese-language site Commercial Times is quoting sources from the component supply chain that Apple has sealed a deal with, among others, OEM Hon Hai Precision Industry - or Foxconn - to make Apple netbooks. Accoridngly, Apple's MacBook is already set to become Foxconn's big boost to notebook shipment growth in Q209.

Eee PC 1000HE Keyboard Plays Nice With Eee PC 1000H




Per ubergizmo the Asus Eee PC 1000H and 1000HE are able to share the same keyboard. The replacement keyboard retails for just $15 from Asus. In addition, the Eee PC 1000HE's battery seems to be able to work just fine on the older version despite Asus not selling replacement 8700mAh batteries yet. Bear in mind this compatibility test was done by Eee PC fans and not officially sanctioned by Asus.

MSI to showcase Android-based netbook at Computex

From Digitimes -

MSI plans to showcase an Android-based netbook at Computex 2009 aiming to gain orders from global PC vendors. The development of the netbook has been mainly assisted by Taiwan's Institute for Information Industry (III).

The Netbook Effect on laptop prices

Tim Bajarin - President of Creative Strategies Inc.
IFA 2009 International Press Conference
Malta, April 18, 2009

Blinged Up Acer Aspire One


Ubergizmo has posted the above photo of a blinged up Acer Aspire One by Japanese gadget artist UFO Hayashi. It retails for a whopping $3,000 (and above, depending on the final bid) on eBay.

Video follows.

Netbooks missing sales targets

From TG Daily -

Following Intel’s announcement that Atom processor shipments declined during Q1 2009, Digitimes has reported the top three leading netbook manufacturers' Q1 netbook sales fell short of expectations as well. Acer shipped less than its projected 2 million units of Aspire Ones, while Asus sold only 900,000 Eee PCs and MSI, only 200,000 Wind netbooks.

Lenovo Working on a Netbook For Businessmen?




From Gizmodo -

Lenovo is reportedly working on a ThinkPad-branded netbook, according to their "Worldwide Competitive Analyst" who is quoted as saying "Businesses are definitely asking about netbooks, they're wanting them more and more. Business problems, whether the economy is good or not, remain the same: do more with less, be more efficient and all that. This ties in very nicely with netbooks."

Photo above is that of the Lenovo Pocket Yoga concept netbook, which could possibly be sold as a Thinkpad, a product line traditionally geared towards businessmen.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

How to NTFS format USB flash drives

With >4GB capacity USB flash drive becoming more and more ubiquitous, the need to use the NTFS format for a single partition becomes more frequent. (FAT32 on flash drive is limited to 4G.) While a lot of sites will recommend downloading a free utility, you actually don't need that if you are running Windows. To enable the NTFS file format on your USB drive, just do the following:

1. Right click My Computer and select Manage.
2. Open the Device Manager
3. Look for your USB drive in the Disk Drives section and right click it.
4. Select Properties.
5. Go to the Policies tab and select the "Optimize for performance" option.
6. Click OK.

Now open up My Computer and right click on the flash drive and select Format. The NTFS option should be available.

Note once you use the NTFS format you can't downgrade to FAT32. Also, unlike with FAT32 drives which you can usually just unplug without data damage, you need to use the Safely Remove Hardware option (right click on the flash drive icon in the bottom right tray) to ensure data integrity.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Dell Mini 10 6-Cell Battery Now Available

Portable Monkey has reported the availability of a 6-cell battery 56Whr option for $30 for the Mini 10 over at the Dell website. There is also more skin options.

Dell Mini 10 product page here.

Nvidia ION netbooks confirmed for June




From Pocket Lint -

A number of netbook manufacturing are preparing to announce Nvidia ION powered models as early as June, with the announcements most likely at Computex Taipei. Ship dates could be as early as July.

The first Nvidia ION-powered nettop, the Acer Aspire Revo, will have a U.K. launch on May 5, with the Linux model going for £149.99 and the Windows Vista unit, £249.

Nvidia ION netbooks will use an Atom chip but will be able to view 1080p content, play games such as Spore and Portal, and use graphics-intensive apps like Google Earth and Cooliris.

Windows 7 Release Candidate Available May 5

Per the Windows Team Blog Windows 7 RC is on track for April 30 for download by MSDN and TechNet subscribers. Broader, public availability will begin on May 5th. Refinements include a new and improved taskbar, the behavior of Aero Peek, Touch, Windows Media Player, and much more.

Apple to intro 7" ebook reader

I happened to bumped into an old friend, the CEO of an Apple OEM. His company has previously made some of the components of the old iPod Nano and is currently OEMing an ebook reader.

According to him, Apple's much talked about ebook reader will most likely have a 7" screen or double the 3.5" screen of the current iPod touch.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

EagleTec Nano 4/8GB Flash Drive is Pri-Tay, Pri-Tay Small


From Gizmodo -

EagleTec has brought out an even smaller USB flash drive, the Nano. It is so small it barely protrudes out of the USB slot (see photo above). And at only $33 for the 8GB and $22 for the 4GB, it is also light on the pocket. :)

Monday, April 20, 2009

Dell Vostro A90 $199 only

Dell is now selling its Ubuntu-based Mini 9, rebranded as Vostro A90 for only $199. Specs include:

Ubuntu Linux version 8.0.4
1 Year Basic Limited Warranty plus 1 Year Mail-in Service
512MB,DDR2,533MHZ,1 DIMM
8GB Solid State Drive
Intel® Atom Processor$#174; N270 (1.6GHz/533Mhz FSB/512K cache)
8.9 Inch Wide Screen WSVGA TL Display (1024x600)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950
Wireless 802.11g Mini Card
Bluetooth 2.1 module via USB I/F (Option)
Integrated 0.3M Pixel Webcam
Obsidian Black
35WHr Battery (4 cell)

Dell Vostro A90 product page here.

Touchscreen MSI Wind Top All-in-One Is Cheaper Than Some Netbooks




From Gizmodo -

The MSI Wind Top AE1900 nettop has finally been priced, and at $529 it is actually cheaper than some netbooks.

The AE1900 is a complete home computing solution featuring touch-sensitive PC navigation, a true 16:9 widescreen 18.5-inch screen, and SRS Premium Sound. It is Windows XP Home based and has the following specs: Intel® Atom 230 Processor, built-in webcam and microphone, 160 GB SATA 2.5" HD, 4 USB ports, a 4-1 card reader and a stylish matching mouse and keyboard.

Most importantly, at full operation, the MSI Wind Top AE1900 consumes no more then 50 watts of power.

Sunday, April 19, 2009


From The Gadget Site -

After being released and selling out(1000 units) in one day in Korea four weeks ago, and then in Hong Kong where the entire allocation of 500 units sold out in 90 minutes, the Viliv S5 will finally be available in very limited quantity from Dynamism on a pre-order basis starting April 27th.

Best part is the price will only be only $599. Pre-order customers will also receive a free spare battery, car kit, and leather pouch ($135 value). The first shipment is expected May 8th.

Preorder page here.

Velocity Micro's NoteMagix M10 netbook on sale for $379




From PC Launches -

Velocity Micro has released its latest model, the NoteMagix M10. Specs include:

* Intel Atom N270 (1.6GHz) processor
* 1GB RAM
* 160GB hard drive
* 10.2" widescreen display
* 802.11b/g wireless
* Webcam
* Optional DVD Burner
* Media card reader
* 3x usb ports
* 6-cell battery
* Microsoft Windows XP SP3

It is now available for $379.

Velocity City product page.

Acer's AT&T 3G-infused Aspire One now at $79




From Engadget -

In a preemptive move against soon-to-be-available Verizon's subsidized HP Mini 1000, AT&T has reduced its 3G-equipped Aspire One bundle down from $99.99 to $79.99, available at Radio Shack. Note though you'll be stuck in a two year data contract with AT&T. Has the price war started?

Saturday, April 18, 2009

OLPC XO 1.5 switches to VIA processor


From Electronista -


OLPC has announced that its new XO 1.5 model will switch from the AMD Geode to the VIA C7-M which features a variable clock speed of up to 400MHz. By making the swap, the XO 1.5 also gets a new chipset that adds 3D acceleration, HD video and surround sound. This will allow it to consume the same energy while active but less while idle, in addition to being able to run faster - all at reduced production costs. Other upgrades include a 1GB RAM, 4GB of internal storage (up to 8GB for custom orders), removable WiFi, and a brighter and more efficient LCD.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Dell Vostro A90 now available in US with much more reasonable $349 base price




From Engadget -

Dell's 8.9" Vostro A90, the Mini 9 in disguise, is now available in the US starting at USD349, or about 1/3 its Japanese price. Specs include 1.6GHz Atom N270, up to 1GB RAM and 16GB SSD, Intel GMA950 graphics, 802.11g, 0.3 megapixel webcam, 4-cell battery, and Windows XP Home Edition.

Woman Struck and Killed by Laptop in Car Wreck

From Switched -

25-year-old Heather Storey was killed in Surrey, British Columbia when the car she was driving was hit by a towtruck, causing a laptop perched on the backseat to fly into the air and hit the back of her head and neck.

Hopefully this sad incident will serve as a reminder for our readers to secure their netbooks while in transit.

More details here.

HiVision PW700B, Asus Eee PC 701, MSI Wind U100 size comparison

Here's a follow-up report to our first HiVision PW700B post. Today, we compare the PW700B's size to those of the two of the best selling netbooks - the original Asus Eee PC 701 and the MSI Wind U100. Like the PW700B, the former has a 7" while the latter has a bigger 10" screen.

Top View - (from top to bottom - HiVision PW700B, Asus Eee PC 701, MSI Wind U100). The netbooks are actually aligned vertically.



Rear View - (from top to bottom - HiVision PW700B, Asus Eee PC 701, MSI Wind U100)



Left View - (from top to bottom - HiVision PW700B, Asus Eee PC 701, MSI Wind U100)



Front View - (from top to bottom - HiVision PW700B, Asus Eee PC 701, MSI Wind U100)



Right View - (from top to bottom - HiVision PW700B, Asus Eee PC 701, MSI Wind U100)




We had initially thought the HiVision PW700B would be quite close in size to the Asus Eee PC. It is actually considerably smaller and lighter as well. However, it is still not as pocketable as even a large handset.

Ponzi schemes spread on YouTube

Just an alert for our readers regarding Ponzi schemes on Youtube -

L.A. Times has reported a Better Business Bureau warning on the proliferation of Ponzi-like shcemes on Youtube. The agency says nearly 23,000 of these videos have been identified, and they've gotten nearly 60 million views.

The videos usually don't ask for money directly but send viewers to websites where they are urged to sign up for the "gifting program," usually for fees ranging from $150 to $5,000. Some of the videos claim that because it's "gifting," it's somehow legal.

A spokesman for YouTube, which is owned by Google Inc., said the company doesn't comment on individual videos.

Better Business Bureau warning here.

Death of Linux on netbooks greatly exaggerated




From Ars Technica -

The netbook boom obviously offers a golden opportunity for Linux to gain some much-needed traction. Since Vista is just too demanding on netbook hardware, Microsoft has extended Windows XP's life while prepping Windows 7, which is said to be more netbook-friendly than Vista.

On another front, Microsoft blogger Brandon LeBlanc has asserted that his company owns 96% of the netbook market,citing the latest NPD retail tracking reports. He also suggested that high return rates for Linux netbooks are a sign that consumers overwhelmingly prefer Windows.

LeBlanc however conveniently omitted relevant info. The NPD study only counts sales from retail stores and doesn't include Internet purchases, which make up a very significant chunk of computer sales. Moreover, he misleadingly cited Canonical (maker of Ubuntu Linux) in reference to the return rates of MSI units which use Novell's SUSE Linux. The returns were in fact attributed to configuration errors such as not having wegcam and WiFi device drivers.

-------

Well, well, well. It seems Microsoft, being the new IBM, has also picked up the latter's FUD strategy (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) in dealing with the competition.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

UMPCtalk - German site on Netbooks


For our German-speaking readers, check out UMPCtalk. It is a nicely laid-out site full of interesting tidbits. For those who don't understand German like me, use Google translate. It is worth the little extra effort. :)

British Netbook Site with Comparative Guide


For our U.K. (and non-U.K. as well) readers, you can check out My Netbook Reviews. It is relatively new but has a convenient comparative guide for those in the market for one.

Good luck, Marc.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Dell mini 9 3G install




A Hack a Day reader has sent in instructions on how to install 3G on the Dell mini 9. He used a mini pci-e bracket and found a SIM connector that matched the specs he needed. After soldering it all in place, he was able to connect, without issue.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Packard Bell's new DOT S and DOT M netbooks for Europe




From Engadget -

Acer-owned Packard Bell is rebadging its mother company's netbooks for the European market. The 10.1" Acer Aspire One D250 is being sold as the DOT S, priced at 299 euros while the 11.6" Aspire One version is being sold as the DOT M (shown above), priced at 399 euros. Main difference from the originals appears to be a fancy textured palm rest, silver touches to the trackpads and a tweaked lid.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

MSI Wind U123 Unboxing




Portable Monkey has unboxing photos of a 10" MSI Wind 123, which is an upgrade over the U120. Specs include: 10" 1024x600 Display, Intel Atom 280 (1.66GHz), Intel 945GSE chipset, GMA950 graphics, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 1.3MP Webcam, 2.5” 160GB HDD, HD Audio, Windows XP Home SP3, 3 lbs with a 6-Cell 5200mAh battery, 5-in-1 multi-card reader, VGA, 3x USB 2.0, microphone, headphone and LAN ports. The dimensions are 260mm x 180mm x 19.75nmm.

There are no back access panels but you can unscrew the entire bottom encasing to upgrade your HDD and RAM. Note though opening up your machine could void your warranty.

More photos here.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Do Netbooks Really Need QWERTY keyboards?

The current iteration of netbooks are inspired by attempts (the OLPC, the original Asus Eee pC concept) to produce an affordable Internet device for the so-called 2nd billion market – those in 3rd world countries and the budget-constrained consumers in the developed world. Given then that a significant majority, specifically those in the 3rd world countries, have never used a computer (or a typewriter) before but instead are adept at using cellphone keypads, is the inclusion of the QWERTY keyboard necessary? Moreover, in a lot of 3rd world countries, their languages do not necessarily use the alphabet but instead use radicals (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindu, etc.) whose input are better facilitated by a stylus.

While it is true website domain names are spelled out in English even when surfing in other languages, a significant number of iPhone 3G users have discovered that user experience is not necessarily downgraded by the lack of a physical keyboard.

Without a physical keyboard, what then would be the desired form factor for a netbook? The current minimum standard for netbooks is a 7” LCD surrounded by a liberal amount of bezel, the aggregate width being stretched to match the width of the QWERTY keyboard. If we are to retain the 7” size, the Asus Eee PC 701 form factor can be reduced by roughly 2 inches. Remove the keyboard part and we are looking at a tablet form. Add a touch screen to accommodate the stylus and I think we are looking at the next “standard” form factor for netbooks that will do a lot of work as ebook readers, too.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Conficker wakes up, updates via P2P, drops payload

From CNN -

The Conficker worm, which was supposed to be activated last April 1 but didn't, is finally doing something--updating via peer-to-peer between infected computers and dropping a mystery payload, probably a keystroke logger, on infected computers, Trend Micro said on Wednesday.

The software appeared to be a .sys component hiding behind a rootkit, and is heavily encrypted, which makes analysis difficult. It also tries to connect to popular websites as a way to test that the infected computer has Internet connectivity, and deletes all traces of itself, and is set to shut down on May 3.

HiVision PW700B (cheapest Wifi netbook) Unboxed

Photos of the HiVision PW700B we are currently evaluating. It is the only WiFi-equipped netbook we know of with a sub USD100 wholesale price. Specs include -

Display : 800 x 480 7” TFT LCD
Processor : Ingenic Jz4740 360Mhz 32-bit
RAM : 128MB SDRAM 133 MHz
Storage : 2G NAND Flash
Ports : 2 USB 1.1
Card slot : SD/MMC
Keyboard : 80 key QWERTY
Touchpad : two buttons
Network : 10/100 MB Ethernet
WiFi : 802.11b/g
O.S. : Linux 2.6.24.3
Dimensions : 21.5x14.4cm
Weight : 650 grams (including battery)
Battery : Lithium Ion, 3000 mAh (3 hours)

Applications : PDF Viewer, Ebook reader, File Explorer, GQView (Image Gallery), Abi-Word, Gnumeric (Spreadsheet), Sylpheed 2.4.1 (Email), Pidgin (IM Chat), rgbPaint 0.8.7 (Paint), Recorder, Internet Browser, Text Writer, Super Nintendo Emulator, Wireless Lan, and PPP Dialer (Mobile Connection)

The Box -


Opened Box - There were only two items inside - the unit and the charger.


The Charger - it is quite small - no larger than a mobile phone charger.


Front View -


Keyboard - note weird shaped buttons


Front Panel showing Mic in (pink left) and Audio Out (green right) ports -


Left Panel - the unit has very few ports. Aside from the audio ports, it has two USB 1.1 ports and a 10/100 Ethernet port.


Bottom and Right Panels - The right panel has the power port and what seems to be an empty mini USB port. Battery access is located at the bottom panel but is inconveniently screwed in.


More to come.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Acer's dream team confirms netbook Android experiments


From Engadget -

Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci has confirmed his company has been experimenting with Android but didn't think an Android netbook was ready for primetime. While they've prototyped android on a netbook with good results, they don't foresee any desktop application at the moment. Also a major concern is making sure users get a full-fledged browser experience.

Intel aims for 2-second boot time with Moblin Linux platform

From Ars Technica -

Intel Open Source Technology Center director Imhad Sousou revealed at the Linux Collaboration Summit in San Francisco that his company plans to reduce the overall startup time of its Linux-based open source Moblin platform down to two seconds. Achieving this ambitious goal while still retaining the full software stack will be an important step for making Moblin an appropriate platform for embedded car computers and many other embedded applications where the software needs to be seamless and instantly accessible.

Intel clearly has high hopes for Moblin and an ambitious vision for the platform's future. But the real test will be the level of third-party involvement that converges around the Moblin project. If Intel can gain sufficient mindshare and build bridges with a large number of companies then Moblin has the potential to become the nexus of mobile Linux development.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Netbook Demand Remains Strong

From I4U News -

According to DisplaySearch, netbook shipments are expected to grow by 65% this year. About 10 million netbooks were shipped last year according to analysts. This year 27 million netbooks are expected to ship. With the exception of Apple, all major manufacturers have netbook models. However Apple is rumored to be introducing its netbook model this June.

Windows XP's Got Survival Skills: Will Ship Through 2010




From Gizmodo -

There are rumors HP will be allowed to ship computers with Windows XP until April 30, 2010 - way after the published expiration of the OS on May 30 this year. However, Microsoft is still supposedly ending mainstream support on April 14 and it will cost Vista users to downgrade. There is also no word yet if other manufacturers will be offered similar deals.

D-Roll Scroll-Based Laptop Concept




From Gizmodo -

D-Roll, which stands for "digital roll," is a concept from designer Hao Hua. It features one long cylindrical base from which the screen unfurls in one direction and the keyboard in another. When rolled, you can use the attached straps to carry around the D-Roll.

MSI X340 Hands-On

Submitted by Johannes -

The worldwide first hands-on video of the MSI X340. You can activate English subtitles at the lower right corner of the youtube-video.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Leaked Dell Internal Product Roadmap Reveals Mini 11 Netbook




From Gizmodo -

Dell has revealed details about a Mini 11 netbook to Netbook News. Per the chart above, Dell clearly has plans for a proposed Mini 11 that will include an 11.6" HD screen, Vista, 3G modem and a refreshed Intel Atom processor, all for $500. Note though nothing is official or confirmed yet.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Eee Easter Mystery Giveaway




From EeePC.net -

The Official ASUS EEE PC Group in Facebook is giving away four mystery Eee products. All you have to do to get a chance to win this one of these four Eee products is to leave valuable feedback on the four products which will be featured on the group’s YouTube Channel, Facebook Profile and MySpace page. The products will be revealed starting today until April 10. For U.S. residents only.

ASUS Eee PC 1000HA Gets Chiclet Keyboard




From Portable Monkey -

The new ASUS Eee PC 1000HA (EPC1000HA-BLK026X - black, no Bluetooth and 802.11n) now has the same chiclet keyboard as seen on the 1000HE.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

AT&T Offers Mini Laptops, 'Internet at Home and On the Go,' and Onsite Tech Support from Retail Stores

From AT&T's website -

AT&T has announced that in Atlanta it will:

* Offer a variety of ultra-portable mini laptops with built-in AT&T 3G wireless capabilities at promotional prices starting at $49.99 with the purchase of AT&T "Internet at Home and On the Go" broadband services.
* Trial 30-minute in-store technical support — part of the AT&T ConnecTech suite of services — at select locations for customers who purchase qualifying data plans.
* Feature, as part of the same trial in select stores, an Internet at Home and On the Go package that combines home and mobile broadband starting as low as $59.95 per month, including access to the nation's fastest 3G network and unlimited domestic access to the nation's largest Wi-Fi network with nearly 20,000 AT&T Hot Spots.
* Pre-install AT&T Communication Manager on mini laptops, enabling customers the ability to manage their mobile and Wi-Fi connections.

AT&T is offering similar mini laptop promotional rates with the purchase of AT&T DataConnect plans in eight AT&T retail locations in the Philadelphia area.

"Broadband is not just about speed anymore — it's about mobility," said David Christopher, Chief Marketing Officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "We want our customers to have Internet at Home and On the Go. Pairing mini laptops with AT&T's home, Wi-Fi, and mobile broadband offerings enables consumers to get the most from their new devices, virtually anywhere, anytime."

Mini laptops are lightweight computers that make it easy to surf the Internet, send and receive email, keep social networking sites updated and manage digital files, including photos and music.

Mini laptops available in AT&T stores include the Acer Aspire One, Dell Inspiron Mini 9 and Mini 12, and LG Xenia. Promotional prices range from $49.99 to $249.99 with the purchase of an AT&T Internet at Home and On the Go plan, which includes an AT&T DataConnect plan and AT&T Fast Access DSL, starting at $59.95 per month. Without those AT&T services, these mini laptops range in price from $449.99 to $599.99.

With the purchase of a two-year AT&T DataConnect plan only, mini laptop pricing ranges from $99.99 to $349.99. AT&T is offering two mobile DataConnect plans in the trial, including a 200MB plan for $40 per month and a 5GB plan for $60 per month — options that meet the needs of casual to occasional data users, as well as frequent and heavy users.

In addition to mini laptops, the trial will also feature an award winning, ultraportable laptop with built-in 3G capabilities: the Lenovo X200 for $749.99 with Internet at Home and On the Go. The laptop is available for $849.99 with a two-year DataConnect plan only.

The mini laptops will come with AT&T Communication Manager preloaded to help customers manage their usage and connections. The Communication Manager will prompt customers to connect to AT&T Hot Spots when available, stores information for previously used Wi-Fi networks and is capable of displaying usage notifications.

At select trial stores, mini laptop customers signing up with a qualifying data plan can take advantage of a free 30-minute AT&T ConnecTech technical session to ensure they are ready to use their new device as soon they leave the store.

AT&T's ConnecTech is a premiere service suite of support, installation, and maintenance services that provide comprehensive remote and in-home computing and home entertainment assistance.

Consumers can take advantage of the mini laptop offers at eight AT&T retail locations in the Atlanta area.

MSI X-Slim X340 gets hands-on, benchmarks




From Slashgear -

LaptopMag’s Mark Spoonauer was able to borrow an engineering sample of the MSI X-Slim X340 at MobileFocus for an overnight hands-on. Per his report, full-screen Hulu was watchable, with decent side-viewing angles. Vista also ran well with the 1.2GHz Intel CULV and 2GB RAM. Included ports are VGA, HDMI, ethernet, two USB, audio in/out and a memory card reader.

The X340 got 952 points in Geekbench, well ahead of Samsung NC10 (by 175 points) and the Dell Mini 12 (by 128). Battery life is projected at 3 hours for the 4-cell and 6 hours for the 8-cells.

Downside are noticeable fan noise, weak speakers and a hollow-feeling wrist-rest. Hopefully these will be addressed by the time the production units come out. Price will be under $1000.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

10.1” Acer Aspire D250 and 531 Now Official


From Portable Monkey -


Acer Germany have officially released their new Acer Aspire One D250 and 531 10.1" (1024 x 600) netbooks. The Aspire One D250 is an upgrade over the first D150 and weighs 2.8 lbs with a 6-cell battery, 2.4 lbs with the 3-cell. The 531 is a high-end, slim 10.1-incher, has 3x USB, a VGA out ports and weighs 2.5 lbs with a 6-cell battery, 2.2 lbs with the 3-cell. Both have the Atom N280, 0.3M webcams, no Draft N Wifi, 2.5” 160GB HDDs, Bluetooth 2.0, WWAN connectivity and support up to 2GB RAM.

Amazon Germany sells the 531 for 399 Euro and the D250 for 379 Euro.

PetBook K9 - a cool April Fools from Toshiba

From ubergizmo -

An April Fool's joke form Toshiba.



Toshiba page here.

Remotely Disabling Netbooks

From Gadgetopia -

LM Ericsson AB, the Swedish company that makes many of the modems that go into laptops, announced Tuesday that its new modem includes a "kill pill" feature that’s virtually a wireless repo man. If the carrier has the stomach to do so, it can send a signal that completely disables the computer, making it impossible to turn on. So, if a customer stops paying his wireless bill, the carrier can remotely kill the machine.

MSI X320, X340 Ultra-Thin Netbook Pricing, Availability Revealed




From ubergizmo -

MSI's new netbooks are basically less powerful but cheaper replicas of the Macbook Air. Its X340, which features a 1.3GHz CULV CPU and a 1366x768 display, will be priced at just under $1000. The base X320, with a 1.6Ghz Atom CPU and optional wireless broadband will cost $700. Both will weigh 2.8lbs and feature a 4-Cell battery (6-Cell optional). Availability is set for May 2009.

Secret Netbook during CeBIT 2009

A bit old but still interesting -