ASUS' Eee PC roadmap leaks: Ion-boasting netbooks

From Engadget -

A couple of slides leaked to the Eeeuser forum have revealed Asus' detailed roadmap for the US market. New products include the $499 12" Asus Eee PC 1201N, which uses the NVIDIA Ion with an Atom N270 CPU, 2GB RAM, a 250GB HDD, Bluetooth and 802.11n WiFi, the $399 1005HA-P with the N280 processor, 250GB HDD option, Windows 7, and the $349 1005HA-M with the N270 processor, a 250GB HD, and Windows 7 Starter Edition.

Asus Eee Keyboard tantalizingly within reach at the FCC

From Engadget -

The ASUS Eee Keyboard is now at the FCC awaiting approval. Per test reports, a UWB radio appears present in addition to WiFi and Bluetooth. This means there will probably be a wireless HDMI model after all.

Dell Inspiron 11z Reviewed

Notebook Review has posted their review of the $449 Dell Inspiron 11z, which uses the new ultra-low voltage Celeron 723 and the GS45 chipset.

The reviewed Dell Inspiron 11z' specifications:

* Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1, 32-bit)
* Intel Celeron 723 (1.2GHz, 800MHz FSB, 1MB Cache)
* Intel GS45 + ISH9M chipset
* 11.6" WXGA LED-backlit display at 1366x768
* Intel X4500 Integrated Graphics
* Dell 1397 ABG Wireless
* 2GB DDR2-800 SDRAM (1 Slot)
* 250GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
* 65W (19.5V x 3.34A) 100-240V AC Adapter
* 3-cell 24Wh 11.1v 2420mAh Lithium Ion battery
* Dimensions (WxDxH): 11.5" x 8.43" x 0.92-1.02"
* Weight: 3.05lbs
* 1-year limited warranty
* Price when purchased: $399 (Currently $449)

The upside includes the X4500 graphics with HDMI out, a perfect netbook screen, and a comfortable keyboard. However the unit is cursed by what Notebook Review called as the worst ever touchpad. In addition, it has a small stock battery and weak CPU performance.

Not surprisingly, the review changed the mind of Notebook Review editors who were considering purchasing the Inspiron 11z, based on initial specs. Now they are waiting for the next machine.

You can read the full review here.

Netbook Sales Growth Double that of Notebooks in Q2 09

From PR Web -

Per DisplaySearch Q3'09 Quarterly Notebook PC Shipment and Forecast Report, the netbook market grew 40% quarter on quarter (Q/Q) for Q2 09 as compared to the 22% rate for notebooks, driving their share of the total notebook market to 22.2% of the 38 million units shipped.

Asus, the netbook pioneer, has been steadily losing share because Tier 1 brands like Acer, HP, Dell, Lenovo and Toshiba have become increasingly aggressive in this segment.

Are Asus and Moko Teaming Up to Sell Underwear?

From Gizmodo -

Moko and Asus seems to have some kind of weird campaign over at the Moko site with several photos of girls in skimpy outfits, holding what seems to be the Asus Eee PC 1008HA.

More photos here.

Nokia to offer ARM-based smartbook, too

From TG Daily -

It turns out aside from the Nokia Booklet 3G, the company plans to release an ARM-based smartbook as well. While the Booklet 3G will be built by Compal, the smartbook will likely be outsourced to either Compal or Foxconn and is due mid-2010.

Meanwhile more details of the Booklet 3G have been released - Atom processor, 3G/HSDPA, WiFi, Bluetooth and A-GPS, HDMI port, front-facing camera for video calls, Bluetooth and SD card reader. It weighs 1.25 kg with a 2cm thickness. It will run Windows 7 with a battery life of 12 hours.

Japanese break wi-fi security in 60 seconds

From TG Daily -

Two scientists took just sixty seconds to break the WPA (Wifi Protected Access) encryption used in wireless routers - a time considerable less than the previous record of 15 minutes. The two - Toshihiro Ohigashi of Hiroshima University and Masakatu Morii of Kobe University will discuss their findings in a Sept 25 conference in Hiroshima.

Their hack does not give total control but enables reading and spoofing data packets. More importantly the ease with which the WPA Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) encryption was broken suggests serious security problems. Anyone concerned with security should therefore consider the newer and more secure WPA2 with Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption which remains safe from attack - at least for now.

Walt Mossberg Reviews Snow Leopard

Sharp's 5-inch PC-Z1 NetWalker honors Zaurus legacy with touchscreen Ubuntu

From Engadget -

In an acknowledgement to the many modders running Ubuntu on itss discontinued Zaurus PDAs, Sharp has make it official with its 5" 1024 x600 TFT LCD touchscreen NetWalker smartbook, the PC-Z1. While technically not a Zaurus the 161.4 x 108.7 x 19.7 ~ 24.8mm / 409g device can very well be its successor.

Specs include an 800MHz Freescale i.MX515 CPU on an ARM Cortex-A8 architecture, 512MB RAM, 4GB SSD (microSDHC expansion for another 16GB), 802.11b/g WiFi, 2 USB, and a 68%-size QWERTY keyboard, non-removable 10-hour battery. It is expected to be released in Japan next month for ¥44,800 (about $479).

Problem is it has no 3G data. Neither is it a netbook or even a smartbook. So the question is who is going to use it?

Asus to launch Eee e-book reader

From Digitimes -

According to industry sources, Asus plans to launch an Eee e-book reader by the end of 2009 while MSI is also evaluating the e-book reader market. Entry barrier to the e-book reader market are even lower than for netbooks but the key to success lies in establishing a content delivery platform for the different markets. Current demand for readers is mainly concentrated in North America and Europe, with penetration in Asia markets low due to differences in reading habits.

Coby's netbooks seemingly real, taking pre-orders

From Engadget -

Finally breaking the silence since the company announced its netbooks back in January at CES, Coby has two models selling at Amazon on pre-order. Except for the screen size, both the 10" and 12.1" have the same specs - a 1024 x 800 display, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, 1GB RAM, and a 160GB HD. The bigger one costs $423, while the 10.1" model is $318.

Buying a Dell Mini 10

Submitted by Timm Mohn -

SISO Tablo Turns Your Laptop Into A Powerful Tablet PC Review

From The Gadgeteer -

The $99 SISO Tablo is a nifty entry level pen stylus that turns your netbook into a tablet PC and adds more functionality to your graphics editing program such as Photoshop.

The stylus pen, which is powered by 3 small button watch batteries, works with ultrasonic and infrared technology. The Tablo pen gets tracked by the Wii-like sensor device that is connected via USB. The station attaches to your netbook by a magnetic fixture that holds the station in place. The set-up literally writes on your screen or even in the air and get the results on your screen.

Touch Book on a fridge

Uploaded by gregoiregentil -

Asus Eee Top ET2002 : 20" Touch Screen with Voice Commands

Uploaded by minipcpro

Bravura Software Offers Data Sync for Netbooks

From I4U News -

Bravura Software has unveiled its Easy Computer Sync, which allows users to sync data on multiple computers using a USB cable. Its user interface provides step by step prompts to get the sync process completed. The software is available now for $19.95 as a digital download for those who already have an Easy Transfer Cable. Those who don’t can buy the full kit with the cable for $39.95 with free shipping.

Bravura Software product page here.

Asus uBoom Speakers: For Netbook DJs

From I4U News -

Asus has released its uBoom and uBoom Q sound-bar speakers, a pair of humongous speaker-extensions that let your netbook reach unprecedented heights of loud. The uBoom is bigger and heavier than the Q; it weighs 3 kg, as opposed to the 400 gram Q. Unlike its smaller brother, the uBoom requires a dedicated power source to put out its 24 watt beats. Neither speaker requires any additional cables or drivers. They plug into the USB port and are ready to go.

Home Videos Channels Watch this video in a new window Win an Asus Netbook & more! Fearless Web Sweepstakes!

Nokia Booklet 3G first video

Apple MacBook Knockoff For a Netbook Price

From Gizmodo -

M.I.C. Gadgets has put up a Flick Photo Gallery of its "Macbook mini". Despite the name, the unit has the specs of a netbook - 11-inch LED screen with 1366 x 768 resolution, Atom N270 CPU, 1GB DDR2, 160GB HD, 3-cell Battery.

It will be available September for just RMB $2000 or about $280.

Gateway's CULV notebook shows in Canada

From Electronista -

The Gateway EC1803h, which seems to be a rebranded and mildly re-spec'd Acer Timeline 1810T (Aspire 1410 in the US)), has been spotted in Future Shop stores in Canada. It shares the Aspire/Timeline's 1.4GHz Core 2 Solo and GMA 4500 graphics, 3GB RAM, a 250GB HD, 6-cell battery, HDMI output and 5-in-1 card reader.

Future Shop is selling the EC1803h for $600 Canadian ($555 US) in retail but doesn't list it on its website.

Asus Ion-based nettop in September and Eee Keyboard in October

From Digitimes -

Asus will launch its Nvidia Ion-based Eee Box and Eee Top, two ultra-thin U/UX notebooks in September, and its Eee Keyboard, a full-function PC that can double up as a multimedia hub, in October.

The 20" Eee Top features a dual-core Atom 330 CPU and will be priced at around NT$22,000 (US$668), while the Ion-based Eee Box will be priced at around NT$10,000 and the Eee Keyboard at around US$400-500.

MSI likely to launch AMD Yukon-based notebooks in October 2009

From Digitimes -

MSI has completed the testing on its Yukon-based ultra-thin models but has not yet decided the launch date due to the low adoption rate of Yukon models in the market. Industry rumors are that the commpany will delay launch till October 2009.

Samsung N510 unboxed

From Engadget -

Netbooknews.de has outboxing photos of Samsung's ION-powered N510 netbook, including side-by-side comparisons with the older NC10. Specs include:

- CPU Atom N270 1.6 Ghz
- HDD 160 GB
- RAM 1 GB
- WLAN 802.11 /G
- Bluetooth
- Webcam
- 3 x USB
- 1 x HDMI HDMI
- TFT 1366*768 display
- Battery 5200 mAh

Unfortunately, the ION-equipped N510's launch has been pushed back until after the Windows 7 launch.

Windows 7 'free for first 120 days'

From Telegraph -

Microsoft has confirmed that users will be able to use Windows 7 for up to 120 days before they need to buy it, after which they will be asked to enter an activation code.

Officially, the trial period lasts for 30 days, but a loophole has been found in the Windows 7 verification process that will allow computer users to "reset" this clock up to three times at the end of each 30-day period, for a total of 120 days. Windows Vista had contained a similar loophole.

To "rearm" Windows 7, users need only type "slmgr -rearm", without the quote marks, at the command prompt. Once the computer is rebooted, the activation calendar will have been reset to zero, giving users another 30 days of free use.

Lenovo's Sleek IdeaCentre Q110 Nettop Has Nvidia Ion Graphics

From Gizmodo -

Lenovo has outlined full specs and pricing for its new Q100/Q110 nettops. Both nettops are 0.7" thin, have Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g dongle, and run either XP Home or Vista Premium. In addition, the Q110 has Nvidia Ion graphics with 1080p HDMI output.

The $349 IdeaCentre Q110 has 2GB RAM and a 250GB HD while the $249 Q100 has 1GB RAM and 160GB HD. Both use the single-core Atom 230 processor. No keyboard or mouse is included.

Acer to launch three touch-enabled products with Windows 7

From Digitimes -

Acer plans to launch three touch-enabled products with Windows 7 that may be marketed as cheaper alternatives to tablet PCs. The company also plans to adopt in-cell touch panels when makers launch them. In-cell touch solutions, which build touch components directly on the TFT-LCD panels, are cheaper than built-on touch solutions, and are easier to apply to new products.

The un-Netbook: Acer laptop hits $279 at Best Buy

From Nanotech -

Best Buy has started offering an Acer laptop (AS5516-5474) for $279. It had been previously listed at $299. A Best Buy salesperson said these deals typically last a week.

Specs include an AMD Athlon TF-20 64, 15.6" WXGA display, 2GB RAM, DVD-RW, 160GB HD, ATI Radeon Xpress 1200 graphics, 802.11b/g wireless, 10/100 Ethernet LAN, and Windows Vista Home Basic. It measures 1.5" think and weighs in at 6 lbs.

The specs are pretty close to standard notebooks except for the low-end AMD-ATI silicon and the older "g" wireless. But the $279 price makes it competitive against 10" optical drive-less netbooks, creating an interesting dilemma for potential buyers.

Windows 7 will be considerably cheaper in UK than US

From Pocket-Lint -

According to CNET, full editions of Windows 7 Home Premium will cost just around £65 in the U.K. - surprisingly, lower than the $200 or £122 Americans will have to shell out. In fact, it is even lower than the $120 or £72 Americans will have to pay for the upgrade verison.

So far, Amazon's pre-order price for Windows 7 at £65 while Play.com has it for £75 with free delivery.

Updated MSI X340 has longer battery life, lower price

From Laptop Mag -

MSI has made some much-needed improvements to its X340, making this ultraportable much more affordable and attractive to consumers. The company is now offering it with a 8-cell battery, boosting battery life to 8 hours and 48 times. In addition, price has been lowered from $899 to $799. A minor downside is that extended battery increases the weight from 2.8 lbs to 3.4 lbs, although it is not that bad of a trade-off. Lastly, the keyboard's excessive flex has also been fixed.

MSI X-Slim X610 leaks

From Slash Gear -

Photos and details of the MSI's unannounced X-Slim X610 have been leaked out. Unlike its predecessor X600 which has an Intel CPU, the X610 uses AMD’s 1.6GHz Athlon MV-40.. Unfortunately, both battery life and performance suffered as a result of the CPU change. Under heavy load the X610 managed less than two hours runtime.

Other specs remain the same though - 15.6" display, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 graphics, 250GB HD and 4GB of RAM. Pricing should be lower than the X600's $799.

Dell Inspiron 11z CULV: $399

From I4U News -

Dell has released its first CULV offering, the Inspiron 11z, which is intended to replace the popular Mini 12. Interestingly it has the unpopular mouse button and touchpad configuration as the smaller Mini 10.

Other specs include the low-voltage Intel 1.2 GHz Celeron, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD, and 3 cell battery. OS is Windows Vista Home Premium with Windows 7 becoming available in October.

Acer Veriton N260G nettop

From Gizmodo -

Acer has announced the availability of its new Veriton N260G-U2802CP business nettop which has the ability to mount on to the back of displays via a VESA mount, allowing users access to more desk space. Other specs include 6 USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI port, a multi-card reader and 802.11-b/g/draft N, max 2GB RAM and a 160GB HD. Pricing starts at $399.

ASUS Ion-based Eee Top ET2002T shown in France

From Engadget -

Blogee.net from France has posted pics and specs of Asus' all-in-one desktop, the Ion-based Eee Top ET2002T. Per the info posted, it has a 20" 1600 x 900 display, an Atom 330, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD, DVD writer, HDMI put. Rumored pricing is €598, or about $845, when it comes out in several weeks in Europe.

Acer 1810T and 1410 Review

Uploaded by Vantage72 -

Suzuki Neutron 701 MNI touchscreen netbook

From GadgetMix -



When you hear the word “Suzuki”, you associate it immediately with cars and bikes, but you would never associate them with netbooks, until now. Suzuki has come with a netbook called Neutron 701 MNI which is a 7.1-inch netbook with touchscreen display.



The display can swivel just like tablet PCs. Here is a glance at its specifications:



Atom Z520 processor

upto 4GB RAM (!)

3 USB ports

VGA port

Expresscard slot (!)

WiFi (b/g) and BT

1.3MP camera

56k modem (!)

5-in-one card reader

It has a WSVGA display (1024×600) and weighs just 2 pounds. However, there are a few things that make this netbook different from the rest of the crowd. First is the support for upto 4GB RAM (most netbooks support upto 2GB RAM). Secondly, it has expresscard slot which is only present in some HP and Lenovo netbooks. Third is the inclusion of the 56k modem, which we do not think anyone uses these days.



The only minus we see is the use of Z520 processor which is not the fastest Intel Atom processor by any means. Note that this is the same processor which is being used in the Acer Aspire 751H (reviewed here), which is slower than the Atom N270/N280.

Suzuki Neutron 701 MNI touchscreen netbook

From GadgetMix -

Suzuki Technology of Singapore has released a 7.1" swivel WSVGA (1024×600touchscreen netbook called Neutron 701 MNI. Specs tend to be typical - Atom Z520, 3 USB ports, VGA port, WiFi b/g, bluetooth, 1.3MP camera, 5-in-1 card reader.

What sets it apart though is its support for a maximum 4GB RAM instead of the usual 2GB. In addition it has an Expresscard slot and a 56k modem.

Suzuki Neutron 701 MNI Product Page here.

More photos of unknown Android MID surface

Pocketables has received yet another bpatch of photos showing an Apple-like Android MID.

The photo above shows the mysterious device on top of a Sony Vaio P, revealing an SD slot and what could be phone functions. In addition, its size can be estimated at 4.5 x 3". There are also other tidbits that can be gleaned from the other photos, but beyond those, everything else is speculation.

You can view the other photos here.

Jolicloud: The social Netbook OS

Alternate netbook OS Jolicloud, which has an emphasis on cloud computing, will finally be launching in beta in the next few months, and CNET has a preview. Its conclusions?

Highlights include the free price (for now), lots of applications, applications are easy to install/uninstall, simple way to create a USB key, multiple types of installations including mutiple OS boot support, Windows emulator, automatic updates.

Potential dealbreakers are the inability to run multiple apps simultaneously, downloaded apps are organized for you only and can't be reorganized, it is no compatible with all netbooks, and limited driver support.

American MSRPs confirm lofty Ion pricing

From Ars Technica -



The good news is the Samsung Ion-based N510 will be available in the USA starting September. The bad news is that at $599 it is considerable higher than its European pricing. Considering that it has only the Ion LE chipset (lite version), that would mean netbooks with the full-blown Ion chipset could be even more expensive.



Specs-wise, with HDMI, 1366 x 768 11.6" display, 6.5 to 7.5 hours battery life, the N510 is indeed appealing. But compared to alternatives, the premium in pricing is about $200 which is quite significant.

Asus Eee PC 1005HA Timelapse Test

Uploaded by benjie131 -

Starline NB1000 10" Netbook

Uploaded by minipcpro -

Desktop PCs are not quite dead yet

Contrary to a Digitimes article reporting the gloomy predictions of motherboard makers regarding desktop PCs (see previous post), TG Daily's Mike Magee claims otherwise. He thinks there is a future for desktop PCs but fails to say just what kind of future there will be. While he acknowledges notebooks and netbooks currently dominate retail stores, he believes it will be "pretty difficult for the notebook vendors or the Intels of this world to ever be able to command high prices based on CPU specs in the future" the way desktop PCs had.

Motherboard makers pessimistic about desktop PC market future

From Digitimes -

Motherboard manufacturers believe the desktop PC market is unlikely to see any dramatic comeback despite Intel's recent summit in China to discuss strategies to improve the market. Most makers had already expected the market to drop and so have been focusing on diversification into different markets for some time. However, some believe Intel's effort may still slow down the decline of the desktop PC market.

Don't Pre-Order Windows 7 Now

For those who missed out on Microsoft's half-price deal for Windows 7 a few weeks ago, Gizmodo thinks there will be some new deals as the launch date gets closer. After all, the standard upgrade pricing is too high to guarantee the kind of success Microsoft is hoping for to show the world they are back on track after some recent dismal showing.

Samsung N510 coming to USA for $599

Liliputing also just got word from a Samsung rep that the company plans to begin offering the Samsung N510 11.6 inch laptop in the US in September, for an MSRP of $599: This laptop has an 11.6 inch, 1366 x 768 pixel display and NVIDIA ION graphics, which bundles an Atom CPU with an NVIDIA GPU.

Check out the details here.

Gigabyte TouchNote T1028X unboxing

Liliputing's Brad Linder just got his hands on a Gigabyte TouchNote T1028X convertible-tablet style netbook and posted unboxing and first look videos. This machine has a 1366 x 768 pixel touchscreen display, Atom N280 CPU, and in a lot of ways it looks like everything the Eee PC T91 should have been. The only problem is the high price tag ($678).

Watch the unboxing video here.

MSI Wind U100 ranked #1 in customer satisfaction

From MSIWind.net -

Per PC Pitstop customer satisfaction is pretty high for most netbook makers, but the MSI Wind U100 edged out the competition and took top honors.

Tiny Drive Holds 16GB And Reads Your MicroSD Cards

From Oh Gizmo! -

Bufalo's tiny USB drive will read your MicroSD cards, and hold a whopping 16GB at the same time. It is so tiny, without the plastic bit, you'd have nothing to grab at to remove it. That said, it is perfect for a netbook, you could insert it and forget about it. The 16GB version is priced at $160; a 4GB version is also available for just $35.

Dell Mini 9 makes surprise reappearance

From Engadget -

Dell has previously officially discontinued the Mini 9 but it appears the company may have a surplus of excess stock, as the model has made a surprise reappearance on its website. However, at a base price of $299, it's not as cheap as some of previous deals.

Mogo Announces Netbook Mouse with Holder

From I4U News -

Mogo has announced a new Bluetooth mouse for netbooks that includes a cradle that sticks to the front of the netbook and is only 5mm thick. The mouse works with XP, Vista, and Mac computers and uses Bluetooth 2.0.

The mouse measures 3.1" x 2.125" x 0.2" and weighs 14 grams. The mouse is rechargeable and will run for 8 to 10 hours on a full charge. Charging time is 30 minutes. It sells for $99.

Mogo Product Page here.

Eee PCs rumored to ship with Moblin in October, Chrome OS on the horizon

From Engadget -

Per netbooknews.de the first Asus Eee PC pre-installed with the open source Moblin OS is rumored to hit the market in October. Asus is also reportedly considering making Moblin an option for all its notebooks in the future. In addition, it is also reportedly working with Google to deploy the Chrome OS as well.

Kinpo Electronics unveils a netbook with VIA NANO CPU

From Gadget Mix -

Kinpo Electronics has released its Kinpo N03. The netbook uses the VIA NANO processor and comes with the Chinese version of 3G (TD-SCDMA). Not surprisingly, it is currently available only in China. Specs include an 11.6" 1366 x 768 pixel screen, SSD or HHD, 3 hours battery, 1.3MP webcam, Windows Vista or XP.

Product Page here.

MSI U200 coming soon in Europe

From Netbook News -

The MSI U200 will soon be available from some European resellers starting next week. Specs include the 12.1" HD Ready (1366 x 768) screen, Intel Celeron ULV 723, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD, 6-cell battery, two video outputs (HDMI and VGA), 3 USB ports, a Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi N + Bluetooth and 1.3Mp webcam. Pricing starts at 499€.

Notebook Tech Support Showdown 2009

From Laptop Mag -

Laptop Mag has published its results of an extensive survey of just about every major notebook maker's tech support (both online and phone).

Apple topped the chart with an overall A. HP, Acer and Dell tied for lowest, all with a C- mark. Most tech support were able to resolve basic problems within 5 minutes - except for Dell, which wasn't able to offer any useful help even after 19 minutes.

The results were consistent with Forrester Research's survey of 4,600 users where Apple was the best with 80% satisfaction rating and Dell, the lowest with 58%.

You can read the complete results here.

How low can computing power go?

Uploaded by TechViShow -

Moblin 2.0 Netbook Beta Walkthrough

ECS and MSI conservative about ARM-based smartbooks

From Digitimes -

ECS and MSI will not follow Acer, Foxconn, Pegatron, Compal and Inventec which are all expected to launch ARM-based smartbooks later this year. ECS had previously gotten smartbook orders from China-based vendors. However the orders were subsequently cancelled. So now it has postponed entering the smartbook market until further developments.

Critical Windows 7 bug risks derailing product launch

From Infoworld -

According to various Web sources, running the disk utility chkdsk with the /r parameter (chkdsk /r) on a secondary hard drive could result in the infamous BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) when using the RTM build 7600.16385 of Windows 7 (both 32- and 64-bit versions). The bug is intermittent and does not always appear during efforts to reproduce it.

Via to help small Chinese netbook makers

An old but interesting article from Financial Times especially because I just picked up five China made generic mobile phones that all turned out to use the Mediatek chipset.

While branded netbooks such as Asus Eee PC sell for Rmb3,500 ($512) or more in China, generic "white box" netbooks are also available from Rmb2,000. These generic netbooks, often similar in appearance to those offered by Asus, HP, Dell, and Acer have appeared in second-tier electronics markets in some mainland Chinese cities.

Now VIA has extended a helping hand by making available a product platform for making cheap netbooks. It hopes to get the price below Rmb2,000 this year and down to Rmb1,500 next year and predicts the whitebox segment would capture up to 20% of the projectd 35 million units global netbook market.

VIA is hoping to replicate what Mediatek was able to do in China's mobile phone market. Mediatek, a Taiwanese chip design house, released turnkey solutions that enabled a lot of small electronics traders mostly in Shenzhen to make mobile phones at very low costs. The handsets, either imitations of branded products or just plain cheap handsets, have proven phenomenally successful that the government was forced to legaliz them.

Interestingly, most of VIA's customer for its netbook platform are manufacturers of such handsets and consumer electronics gadgets, such as MP3 players and DVD players.

Blue Lion Software launches NetDVD

NetDVD allows you to play DVD movies, audio CDs & games, install applications and burn CDs/DVDs on a Netbook PC. NetDVD adds a virtual DVD drive on your Netbook which connects to a real CD or DVD drive on another computer connected to your network.

For more information:

Product page here.

You can also download the free Try&Buy version here.

Intel to suspend Atom Z sales to netbook makers

From Digitimes -

Intel reportedly will no longer accept orders for its Atom Z from netbook makers as it is getting close to completely clearing its inventory. The company is expected to completely stop the supply of Atom Z processors before the end of 2009. However, it will still fulfill orders already placed by Acer, Asus, and MSI.

HP Compaq's $300 laptop reviewed, makes strong case to bypass netbook

From Engadget -

The HP Compaq Presario CQ60 is actually a plain-vanilla unremarkable model - except for one thing - its remarkable price. At a price tag of $300, as sold by Walmart, it is in netbook price range and is practically half the price of comparable notebooks. And per a Computer Shopper hands-on review, while over-all performance is so-so, it even seems to outperform some Intel Atom-based machines.

The trade-off vis-a-vis netbooks is you get a 15.6" screen and a DVD-burner but in a heavier and bigger form factor. It will definitely be an attractive proposition for some users.

DIY Eee Keyboard from Russia with Love

From Liliputing -

A member of the Russian Eee-PC.ru forum has created his own Asus Eee Keyboard by cramming the guts of an Eee PC 900 into a Sven Multimedia EL 4002 keyboard. The DIY Eee Keyboard may lack wireless HDMI, and it may not be as slim but it is a complete computer, including a VGA output, USB ports, and headphone jacks and mic.