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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Windows 7 Tour - Episodes 3 and 4



Windows 7 Tour - Episodes 1 and 2



Benq Joybook Lite U102




From Far East Gizmos -

BenQ has announced its Joybook Lite U102, whose specs include an Atom processor, a 10.1” UltraVivid 16:9 WSVGA LED-backlit screen, 250GB HDD 90% full size keyboard, 1kg weight, under an inch in thickness, and is accompanied by an unusually petite AC adapter.

$399 Off Dell Vostro A860/Nokia N97 Bundle




From LogicBuy -

Dell has a limited promo offering a $399 instant discount when you buy an unlocked Nokia N97 ($700) touchscreen phone and a Dell Vostro A860 Laptop ($420). This deal: $1,129 - $259 instant savings (Vostro A860) - 20% off $700 (Nokia N97) using coupon = $730 + $29 shipping. Offer ends 7/2 or while supplies last. Apply coupon code upon checkout (ends 7/1).

Coupon Code: 6MN1R42XCHN0F6
Expires: 7/1/2009

Dell Product Page here.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Ion-Powered Samsung Netbook Spotted




From ubergizmo -

Above photo shows the 11.1" Samsung N510, most probably taken while NVIDIA was showing new designs behind closed doors. The N510 is notable in that it is powered by powered by the Nvidia Ion, a graphics-oriented chipset with an integrated GeForce 9400M. It is the same chipset in the new Macbook Pro.

Rumored specs include a 1366x768 11.1" display, an Atom N280 1.66Ghz, 1GB RAM, a 160GB HDD, WIFI-N, and a 6-Cell battery. Expect pricing around $600 in the USA.

Lenovo S12 gets a VIA Nano option




From Engadget -

Lenovo is now offering its new S12 with a VIA Nano ULV 2250 processor and VIA Chrome9 HC3 graphics instead of the usual Intel Atom / GMA 950 combo. The new model should be faster while at the same cheaper by $50 at $450. Th downside is that it draws more power and eats up the 6-cell battery much faster.

ASUS Participates in Windows 7 Upgrade Program

From Softpedia -

ASUS has announced that it will be participating in the Windows 7 Upgrade program. Accordingly users who will purchase a new qualifying ASUS desktop or portable PC, including the EeeTOP PC or the Eee PC family, in the eligibility period will be able to upgrade to Windows 7.

Windows 7 is expected to be launched on October 22, 2009, while the program runs from June 26, 2009 through January 31, 2010.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Google Teacher Academy Entry

Uploaded by mrflickinger -

How to: Overclock Intel GMA 950 chipset in netbooks

Uploaded by Vagmonster666 -

Acer Netbook Unboxing

Uploaded by alexosh1234 -

"SPECS: CPU: 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270
RAM/Expandable to: 1GB/2GB
Hard Drive Size/Speed: 160GB/5,400 rpm
Display/Resolution: 10 inches/1024 x 600
Weight: 2.8 pounds"

Sony launches $2,000 VAIO P




From Engadget -

Sony has launched its "Signature Collection" - a series of jazzed up models wrapped in designer skins, including colored fake croc skins. Included in the collection is a limited run (1,000) of the VAIO P (P699E/Q). The $1,999 model comes with a 1.86GHz CPU and a 256GB SSD.

Games for Netbooks: (CS 1.6) Counter Strike

Uploaded by Vagmonster666 -

Sugar Labs Announces Immediate Availability of Sugar on a Stick

From Sugar Labs -

Sugar Labs has announced the immediate availability of Sugar on a Stick v1 Strawberry. Available free for download at www.sugarlabs.org, Sugar on a Stick can be loaded onto an ordinary 1GB USB flash drive and used to reboot any PC or netbook directly into the award-winning Sugar environment. It runs on recent Macs with a helper CD and in Windows using virtualization. Sugar on a Stick is designed to work with a School Server that can provide content distribution, homework collection, backup services, Moodle integration, and filtered access to the Internet. The Strawberry release is meant for classroom testing; feedback will be incorporated into the next version, available towards the end of 2009.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Sharp Mebius PC-NJ70A Unbox/開箱 (Cantonese)

Asus comments on Eee PC 1008HA cracking panel issue

From Digitimes -

Asus says the defect affecting its Eee PC 1008HA netbook relating to cracked screens was identified before the netbooks reached its retailers. The company added that the problem has already been worked on and will not affect shipments in Q3 2009. Accordingly , the cracking was not due to faulty design or manufacturing, but because it has been using panel components from an alternate supplier because of the panel shortages.

AUO to be top netbook panel maker in 2Q09

From Digitimes -


AU Optronics is likely to replace HannStar Display as the world's top netbook panel vendor in the Q2 2009 mainly on strong orders from Acer. Even though global shipments flattened at 3.1M units in May, AUO outpaced HannStar for the month due to Acer's 10.1" panel orders, which are likely to reach 1 million units for Q2 alone.

Acer's netbook shipments alone totaled 1.9 million units in Q1 and are expected to top 2.9 million units in Q2 with shipments of 10.1-inch models contributing to the sharp on-quarter growth.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Larry Kettler, of Xandros, at Moblin Executive Summit, 2009 Computex

Uploaded by MoblinZone -

Larry Kettler, VP of business development at Xandros, notes his compan's implementation of Linux for the pioneering Asus EEE PC. He says Xandros has adopted Moblin v2 for future netbook implementations. He demonstrates a Moblin v2-based fast boot product called "presto," which is aimed at Windows systems. He also shows off the Xandros CNR (click and run) application store, and highlights Xandros's PIM product for Moblin, a "Flipper" application switcher, and a push email client for Moblin. He concludes with a plug for the Xandros ecosystem, app store, and user experience.

Always Innovating Half-Netbook, Half-Tablet Ships In July, Still $300




From Gizmodo -
The Always Innovating has announced it will start shipping its Touch Book tablet next month. The Touch Book is notable for its detachable keyboard and impressively low $300 price.

Specs include:

* Texas Instruments OMAP3530 with Micron 256MB (RAM) + 256MB (NAND) Memory
* 8.9" 1024x600 A+ pressure sensitive touch screen* 8GB SD card
* USB wifi 802.11 b/g/n dongle powered by a Ralink 3070 chipset
* USB bluetooth class 2.1
* FCC, CE, UL-certified, 5V, 3.5A power adapter
* US Qwerty 24cm-large 95% sized keyboard
* Cirque Touchpad
* Two Owolff high-quality internal stereo speakers
* 3D accelerometer
* Two internal batteries 6000 and 12000mAh - it can be replaced with a screw driver
* 7 USB ports: three external, four internal
* Bi-color silver/black case
* Secured attachment system of tablet into keyboard
* Independent magnet system for the tablet

Always Innovating Product page here.

Kohjinsha SK3 7-inch convertible touchscreen netbook




From Slashgear -

The Kohjinsha SK3, although an upgrade to the existing 7" SC3 UMPC, is categoried as a touchscreen netbook (instead of a UMPC). It has a convertible resistive touchscreen that folds flat onto the keyboard for portable slate use. Specs include a
1.3GHz Menlow-platform processor, upgraded WiFi with draft-n support, PCI Express, SD, VGA and ethernet connections, together with GPS.

Official announcement is set this week. No word yet on battery life nor pricing.

Windows 7: Cheaper Than Vista




Per Gizmodo Microsoft's latest OS, Windows 7 is its least expensive to date, and a real bargain compared to Vista. When sticker prices are compared (see chart above), most editions hovered around the $200 mark, with a rare spike found in the $260 Vista Home Premium. When you adjust for inflation, that fairly regular pricing becomes a downward cascade—except for that Vista price hike.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Intel and Nokia Announce Strategic Relationship to Shape Next Era of Mobile Computing Innovation

From Businesswire -

Further uniting the Internet with mobile phones and computers, Intel and Nokia today announced a long-term relationship to develop a new class of Intel® Architecture-based mobile computing device and chipset architectures which will combine the performance of powerful computers with high-bandwidth mobile broadband communications and ubiquitous Internet connectivity.

The Intel and Nokia effort includes collaboration in several open source mobile Linux software projects. Intel will also acquire a Nokia HSPA/3G modem IP license for use in future products. The companies expect many innovations to result from this collaboration over time.

Entelligence: Netbooks, R.I.P.




Per Engadget, in a recent post, Entelligence blogger Michael Gartenberg suggests netbooks will be short-lived as a category. He argues netbooks are not a new product category since a netbook is "merely a laptop with the pivotal axis based on price first and foremost."

He bases his argument on the history. At yearend 2007 a netbook (or a $300 - $500 laptop) had a 7" screen, a tiny keyboard, about 4GB of storage, 512MB RAM and no Windows OS. Today that same price point gives you a 10-inch screen or so, 1GB RAM, perhaps 160GB HD, and Windows. By year's end, the specs will be 12" screens, full keyboards, and 300GB of storage. And they'll be called netbooks instead of laptops. It is Moore's law in action.

Gartenberg argues further that there have previously been tiny, underpowered laptops, in fact, for more than a decade. But these have always been overpriced. Netbooks changed that. However as prices came down and capabilities increased, more people bought them not as netbooks but as laptop replacements.

So far, so good.

But then, he offers his proof. The higher return rates of Linux netbooks as compared to Windows-based ones.

Huh??? Is he saying Linux-based netbooks (or laptops) can't be used as the primary computing device? Hmmm, this is highly debatable. Because the original intended market of the netbooks (especially in Third World countries) have always been users who do light computing - surfing, emailing, chatting, etc. Users, who for the most part, do not even know the difference between Windows and Linux and do not care to know. For them, netbooks serve their computing needs just fine. Gartenberg ought to check out third world computing. The rest of the world is not as Windows-centric as he might believe.

As for calling them netbooks or laptops, it is just a matter of semantics, although Gartenberg might be surprised to learn that for a lot of consumers, there's a world of difference between a 9" or a 10" netbook and a 12" model. 10" models have been around even before the onset of netbooks and vendors will likely continue to offer them. Weight, too, is another critical factor. Which makes me think - does Gartenberg even have a netbook that he carries around? Or has he even ever used one extensively?

One factor he also forgot to consider is cloud computing. Netbooks are called netbooks because they are meant to connect to the net. The previously so-called underpowered laptops of one or two generations ago are not actually that underpowered. They were meant to be desktop replacements in the field, after all. But, for the most part, they were used primarily as stand-alone mobile devices, connecting only via a dial-up modem (or to a LAN via the Ethernet port) every once in a while.

Since cloud computing shifts a lot of the required resources online, it makes underpowered netbooks feasible. The success of netbooks is actually the timely convergence of several technologies. But like anything electronics, netbooks have since gradually evolved. And as the lines between the early mainframes and minis had blurred into the PCs, netbooks and laptops will surely merge as well.

Bottom line, whether they are called netbooks or laptops does not really matter. To argue otherwise, or to put too much emphasis on the issue, is pointless.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Upgrading RAM on the Asus Eee PC 1008HA

Uploaded by rohitbhosale -



Ultra-thin notebooks could take off in 2010

From Digitimes -

According to according to OEM Compal Electronics chair Rock Hsu, Intel-based ultra-thin notebooks will account for 10% of global notebook shipments in 2009. Compal's own notebook shipment for H1 2009 has reached 14 million and is on target for its 32 million unit projections, or 22% of global notebook shipments.

Mtube II - Android Tablet on XP Netbook

Uploaded by minipcpro -

Friday, June 19, 2009

ARM netbooks @ Computex 2009

Uploaded by timyago -

MSI U115 Banned Netbook

Uploaded by Frostycomputers -

HP Mini 1115NR Netbook

Uploaded by computertv -

Asus Eee PC 900 unboxing

Uploaded by golfguyo9 -




From I4U News -

Corel has announced a version of its office productivity suite that is specifically optimized for netbooks, the $69.99 Corel Home Office Suite. It comes in a USB drive, has low memory requirements and a small footprint and includes Corel Write, Corel Calculate, and Corel Show for presentations that can be installed independently.

Windows 7 Licensing 'Disaster' Looming for XP Users

From PC World -

Gartner analyst Michael Silver is predicting licensing problems with the well-reviewed Windows 7. Under Microsoft's planned enterprise licensing rules, businesses that buy PCs before April 23, 2010, with Windows 7 pre-installed can downgrade them to Windows XP, then later upgrade them to Windows 7 when they're ready to migrate. But PCs bought on or after April 23 can only be downgraded to Vista, which could cause major headaches and add more costs to the Windows 7 migration effort.

HiPhone enters the laptop game




From Engadget -

HiPhone has released its iLaptop-2009. Unfortunately, specs are totally nondescript -12.1", Intel N270 1.6GHz, 160GB SATA HDD in an even more nondescript chassis. At a whopping $450.

Why they even bothered, I guess we will never know.

Nvidia: For smartbooks, Windows CE beats Android

From Computerworld -

Mike Rayfield, Nvidia's mobile business unit GM, said his company preferred Windows CE over Android because of the latter's maturity. For smartbooks, Nvidia is working with Microsoft to optimize Windows CE when it runs on Tegra, Nvidia's System-on-Chip (SoC) for ARM hardware. Windows CE devices will be able to offload much of the heavy multimedia work onto Tegra, resulting in better performance, 1080p video, and low power usage.

Nvidia chose to work with Windows CE first because it is a rock-solid operating system that has been shipped billions of times, aside from having a low memory footprint and a good collection of apps. But it is also working with Google to accelerate Android, which is based on Linux, when running on Tegra hardware. But it will be about a year before that delivers for smartbooks, due to existing limitations in Android such as video and graphics rendering being done in Java without hardware acceleration.

Dell Vostro 1220 leaks out




From Engadget -

Dell's affordable entry level Vostro line gets a slight make-over a crimson-colored 12" 1220 model. While its curves are nothing out of the ordinary, it is still an improvement over the existing models. Unfortunately, specs are much more mundane - Core 2 Duo T6750 processor, 4GB RAM, a 320GB hard drive, SD card slot, ExpressCard. Well, at least it has a fingerprint reader.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Toshiba mini NB205




Laptop Mag has a review of the Toshiba NB205, a netbook with rather common specs (10.1" 1024 x 600 screen, 1.66 Ghz Atom N280, 1GB RAM, 160GB HD, Windows XP Home) but with an 8.5 hour long battery, a beautiful chassis, spacious keyboard and touchpad and a competitive $399 price.

Basically the pros, in addition to those stated above are hard drive protection and the ability of the USB port to charge devices even when the unit is off.

The downside is the large display bezel and the long boot time.

Laptop Mag's assessment? Toshiba’s entry into the U.S. netbook market soars past the competition with a stunning design, stellar keyboard, and the longest battery life of any netbook to date.

You can read the entire review here.

How to: Install windows 7 using usb drive

Uploaded by Vagmonster666 -

Netbook Gaming Performance - TrackMania Nations Forever

Uploaded by fanoultimatev2 -

Asus Eee PC 1005HA unboxing

Uploaded by BradLinder -

Replacing keyboard for Acer Aspire One 10.1

Uploaded by trianglelaptops -

Asus unable to assure profitability in 2Q09

From Digitimes -

Asus is not sure whether its operations can turn from the net loss of NT$3.1 billion (US$94 million) recorded in thQ1 2009 to profitability in the second.

It is however currently still adjusting its channel lineup and marketing strategy, and is confident that quarterly notebook and Eee PC shipments in the second half will grow sequentially along with gross margins.

Logitech debuts M555b Bluetooth mouse




From Engadget -

The Logitech M555b Bluetooth mouse packs most of the featured you'd expect in a clean and simple package including five programmable buttons, a 1,000 dpi resolution, an "ultra-fast" scroll wheel, space for a pair of AA batteries, and a sleep mode. Price will be $59.99 when it is release later this month.

'Air Keyboard' with 3D mouse support




From AVING USA -

Cideko recently intro'd its wireless keyboard 'Air Keyboard' with 3D mouse support during Computex 2009. However, no release date nor price was given.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Kingston launches 128GB DataTraveler 200




From Pocket-Lint -

Kingston Technology has announced the launch of its DataTraveler 200, apparently the world's first 128GB USB flash drive. The £334.22 Windows ReadyBoost compliant unit provides users with the option to password protect their files. The 128GB capacity is good for up to 182 music CDs or up to 27 DVD movies.

The DataTraveler 200 is also available in 32GB and 64GB capacities at £63.55 and £111.16 respectively.

Disney, Asus team up on netbook




From USA Today -

Disney is teaming up with Asus on a Disney-branded 8.9" Asus Eee PC-based netbook called Netpal, targeted at kids 6 to 12 and due out in late July. Disney designed a kid-friendly user interface to sit on top of Windows XP customizable by severla Disney themes such as Mickey Mouse, Cars, Toy Story, WALL-E, etc. In addition, a Magic Desktop “gadget tray” has icons for a Disney browser, e-mail and parental controls and a Radio Disney widget streams music real-time. More common features include WiFi, and 16GB SSD or 160GB HD storage.

Netpals will be available Toys R Us, and Amazon.com and will come in “Princess Pink” (with florals) or “Magic Blue” (miniature Mickey Mouse icons).

Monday, June 15, 2009

A China Macbook Air Clone is coming




From Cloned in China -

A Macbook Air Clone that looks very similar to the real thing is rumored to be released soon. While it has the same glossy effect, the coating used is different fro the genuine's aluminum casing. Still, it should satisfy some Chinese consumers’ vanity for the real Macbook Air is too expensive for most users. Specs include Atom N270 1.6 Ghz, Intel GMA950, 12.1" 1024 x 768 TFT, !GB RAM (2GB max), 160GB, webcam, 10/100 Ethernet LAN, and Wifi 802.11b/g.

Unboxing the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2




By the way, the thread mentioned in the previous post, Unboxing the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2, has a lot of photos and details of the S10-2.

Philippine Telco Blocking Sale of Netbooks with 3G?

In the Unboxing the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 thread of Netbooks Philippines, Site Administrator ranns claims "...I was able to replace my HDD in just two minutes. It only took 5 screws. The empty mini pci-e slot on the left below the HDD is for the mini pci-e 3G modem. Why is it empty? Here's why. According to Lenovo people, they were supposed to release a 3G version too, aside from the current release. However, they said that Globe Telecoms BLOCKED its release saying they won't be able to sell their USB dongles (Visibility and Tattoo) anymore..."

Sunday, June 14, 2009

CrunchPad prototype unboxing

Uploaded by loiclemeur -

Sony Vaio P to come with built-in WiMAX




From Pocketables -

Sony Japan and UQ Communications are currently working on the Vaio P mini notebook outfitted with WiMAX. Unfortunately the UQ WiMAX service will be deployed in Japan only. The Japanese Vaio P versions seems to always have continue faster processors, more color options, Windows XP, custom configurations, and now WiMax.

Seamless Experience at the Asus Booth @ Computex 2009

Uploaded by NewGadgetsDE -

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Archos 10s MiniPC




From ubergizmo -

Archos has introduced its latest addition to its MiniPC line, the 10s, a thin and light 10.2" Atom 1.6GHz netbook. Its width (0.866") is just wide enough for an Ethernet port and with its aluminum/magnesium body, weighs just 2.2 lbs.

Archoes 10s MiniPc Product Page here.

The USB Penguin: For the Linux Nerd in Your Life.




From I4U News -

Active Media Products just released the perfect gift for Linux nerds young and old. While it wasn't made with Linux users in mind and is part of a series of USB drives themed after endangered animals, the Penguin USB still fits the bill.

it comes in 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB versions, with the 8GB version priced at around $26 dollars. Available right now from Amazon.com and other retailers.

Windows7 RC ja-JP in VAIO Type P

Uploaded by SciTrinos2009 -

Mac OS Leopard on Vaio P - PDF Test

Uploaded by maccosmo -

Netbooks slow decline of PC market, but bring new headaches

From TG Daily -

IDC estimates that global PC shipments are down by about 6.8%, the most decrease since Q3 2001. Only the netbook segment, with 5.7 million shipped in Q1 has significant growth and is widely considered to be what is keeping PC makers alive these days. But the problem is those sales apparently come at the expense of traditional notebooks.

While those 5.7 million units produced $2.2 billion in sales (average price of $386 per unit), the sales volume of the more profitable notebooks fell by $8.4 billion from one year ago. So notebook makers are trying to come out with higher priced, higher margin netbook models. The problem is AMD is preparing low-cost mobile platforms due out later this year, which will drive down the cost of mainstream notebooks, so the situation isn't likely to change.

Moreover, IDC believes that netbook prices will increase over time, and the segment will grow to a share of 9.5% of all PC shipments and 17.3% of portables, causing 2009 shipment value to drop by almost 18% while volumes decline by just 3.2%.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Taiwan players aim to set e-paper industry standards

From Digitimes -

Prime View International has announced plans to acquire E Ink, makers of the screens found in most ebook readers including Amazon's Kindle. This follows AU Optronics 30% stake buy-in into Sipix. Between the two, they now control the majority of the e-paper market. And in a June 11 forum in Display Taiwan 2009, the major players announced plans to set the standardization of hardware to accelerate the development of the content side, allowing the market to take off.

In related developments, Ryosuke Kuwada, president and CEO of Project Far East, said more color e-book devices may hit the market next year while SiPix CEO Andrew Ho said his company's Dual Mode Switching technology will be able to offer colored highlights on e-books by 2010, and full color applications by 2011.

Atom N270 and N280 processors will not be offered Windows 7 upgrades




From Gadget Mix -

Microsoft will be charging netbook vendors $45 per license for Windows 7, a $20 increase over the $25 they are now paying for Windows XP. As netbooks are cheaply priced, and vendors not willing to increase prices given the economic situation, most have decided not to offer Windows 7 for current models that use the Atom N270/N280 processors. Instead, they plan to intro Windows 7 with their Atom N450-based models.

Norhtec's $199 Gecko EduBook, and its AA batteries




From Engadget -

The updated Gecko EduBook is now available for purchase. The catch is you have to buy it from Thailand and shipping fees are quite high. List price is $199 but with volume, price can go down to $160.

Norhtec Gecko EduBook product page here.

Windows 7 upgrade coupon plan gets detailed




From Engadget -

Per PC World, some PC vendors will be kicking off a coupon program on June 26, which will allow Windows Vista users to upgrade to Windows 7. However, the price will depend on the PC vendor, with at least three Taiwanese brands planning to offer it for free.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

12V Inverter Info

For those who want more information on power inverters, 12V Inverter Info provides a wealth of information to aid you in choosing the right one for your netbook.

Thanks, Lawrence.

Asus Eee PC 1008HA review




Liliputing has a review of the Asus Eee PC 1008HA, currently one of the thinnest and lightest 10 incher. While it finds it to be an excellent model that is both small and light with excellent battery life, the lack of convenient upgradeability (fixed battery, no access panels for RAM and hard drive) can turn off potential buyers.

You can read the entire review here.

Windows 7 to be shipped in Europe without Internet Explorer




From Ars Technica -

in response to an antitrust investigation by the EU into whether it is abusing its dominant position with Windows and Internet Explorer, Microsoft will be shipping a special version of Windowss 7, Windows 7 E, without the browser. The special version will be distributed in all member nations of the European Economic Area as well as Croatia and Switzerland.

Microsoft has previously shipped the media-player-free Windows XP N and Windows Vista N in Europe also in response to an EU antitrust investigation. But unlike the N versions, which proved to be very unsuccessful as Europeans simply purchased the full retail versions and OEMs refused to used them, Microsoft will not offer the full version of Windows 7 in Europe.

EduBook the assembly required Netbook

Uploaded by minipcpro

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Linux Netbooks and Jolicloud

Uploaded by minipcpro -

"http://www.netbooknews.com Sascha Pallenberg gives you a little roundup of the recent Linux distributions for netbooks and a closer look at the Jolicloud OS during the Linux Forum 2009 in Taipei"

JW Minix 811

Uploaded by minipcpro -

Asus Eee PC 1005HAB WiFi driver improves 1000HE performance




From Liliputing -

Some EeeUser Forums members report that the Eee PC 1005HAB wireless driver can be installed on the Asus Eee PC 1000HE to improve the latter's wireless performance since it is prone to lose connections. The new driver is for an AW-NE785 wireless card, while the Eee PC 1000HE has an AW-NE771 wireless module. As usual, please check your netbook's wireless module first before installing the drivers.

Intel to launch successor to Atom N270 CPU in October at the earliest

From Digitimes -

Intel is scheduled to replace the Atom N270 with the Atom N450 at the earliest by October. Codenamed Pine Trail, the 45nm Atom N450 will be a single-core CPU with built-in northbridge functions, and will be paired with the new NM10 (Tiger Point) chipset.

Econo-Keys EK-76-TP portable keyboard packs a touchpad on the flipside




From Engadget -

The new $146 Econo-Keys EK-76-TP keyboard's claim to fame is a trackpad on the underside of the keyboard, which the company says can be "conveniently" used if you flip over the keyboard, or "used from underneath while typing."

I guess convenience is relative, eh?

HP Mini 110 Now Available at HP Online




From Portable Monkey -

HP have replaced the older HP Mini 1000 (Broadband, XP and Mi editions) with the new HP Mini 110, which comes in two editions - the Mi Edition at $279.99 and the XP Edition at $329.99.

The Vivienne Tam HP Mini 1000 is still being sold, at least for the time being.

HP Product Page here.

CTD Dragonfly concept in the flesh




Engadget spoke with Edward Bullister, the MIT PhD grad working on the CTD Dragonfly and based on the rough mock-up they saw, they believe he seems a little overly optimistic.

His plan is to use the Moorestown chip and Windows XP with a dual-boot option to Moblin. He's serious about the two fold-up LED backlit LCDs but concedes that will have to wait for a later generation. He also claims the Dragonfly will have "all day" battery life, and will be ready to ship by year-end yet he has not lined up any manufacturer and seems far from having a working prototype.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Dell axes its Mini 12 netbook, preps 'thin and light' Mini 11 ULV?




From APC Mag -

After dropping its Mini 9, Dell appears to be phasing out the Mini 12 as well as the latter has disappeared from several international Dell websites. But as the above roadmap shows, the timing is in line with the company's netbook roadmap.

The Mini 12 was the first to blur the distinction between 12" notebooks and 10" netbooks but unfortunately its larger screen apparently caused it to be a collateral damage of Microsoft’s OEM netbook restrictions. Its rumored replacement is a Mini 11 codenamed Argos, a low-cost ‘thin and light’ Windows 7 notebook with an 11.6" screen.

Viliv X70: A 7-Inch Netbook Without the Keyboard


From Gizmodo -

The Viliv X70 is a keyboardless netbook that features a 7" WSVGA screen,an Atom 1.2/1.3GHz, 16/32GB SSD, optional HSPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 5-second XP booting. It measures less than an inch thick weighs 1.4lbs.

Dynamism has the product on pre-order for $599.

Asus Vows to Out-Apple Apple

Per a New York Times article, after failing miserably to grab the opportunity of turning its pioneering Eee PC into an iconic product like Apple's iPod and iPhone, Asus now thinks it is because they have been too conservative.

Huh??? What do they mean by being too conservative??? If Asus thinks coming out with a dizzying range of overlapping models and discordant product line that practically erodes the brand identity of your bestseller as being conservative, I can't wait to see what they will put out now that they intend to correct their approach, especially since they will "continue trying to win over consumers with more innovative designs."

The company just don't get it. They lost dominance in the very market segment they created because they didn't follow through. Instead of further pursuing their initial objective of affordable computing, they chose to play catch up with their competitors who, because they can't compete directly with the Eee PC, went big and more expensive instead. Asus further destroyed brand recall by diluting it with an overwhelming array of various products.

But as Jonathan Tsang, vice-chair, said, "Our goal is to provide products that are better than Apple’s." Which means, if the iPhone were an Asus product, chances are there will be at least 15 different models, an iPhone TV, an iPhone DVD player, and just maybe, an iPhone payphone. :(

Monday, June 8, 2009

Dell Mini 10v 2 GB RAM Upgade

Uploaded by anguish79 -





6 Reasons to Buy a Netbook

From Sitepoint, yet another article on the arguments for buying a netbook. In brief, the reasons are -


1. Portability

2. Communication and quick tasks

3. Working on the move

4. Photography

5. Backup and synchronization

6. Price

You can read the full article here.

AMD's Atom smasher - notebooks not netbooks and not yet

From TG Daily -

AMD says it is developing a netbook platform that features lower-power, smaller-size, better functionality and a lower price than Intel's Atom - but not until next year when the first samples will ship. Per AMD CEO Dirk Meyer the products using the new chip will be notebooks rather than netbooks, reasoning that netbooks will vanish as the line between net and notebooks becomes ever more indistinct.

Acer: 3D Notebook in October, Netbook Q3 2010

From I4U News -

Acer has partnered up with Winstron to develop a 15.6" 3D notebook capable of playing 3D videos, as well as converting two dimensional videos into 3D. As it runs Windows 7, Acer is still waiting for the official release of the new OS to formally announce the new model.

In addition, Acer will soon be releasing its 3rd gen netbook by Q2 or Q3 this year. The new line looks and acts more like a MID with speed of accessibility, ease of use, and network connectivity look to be the focal points of this series.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Kinpo Thin Client 7inch Android device at Computex

Uploaded by Charbax -

"Kinpo is making a 7 inch Android tablet powered by a Freescale processor. A bunch of engineers happened to come by the Freescale headquarters with this device while I was there filming a whole bunch of other videos. I then convinced them to show it to me and to let me film it. They installed Android on a 800x480 resolution 7" touchscreen tablet device. It works pretty smoothly though they obviously have some tweaking that they still need to do before such a device can be sold. This device currently has some pretty obvious bugs like the video not playing correctly."

ASUS Adds a New Touch to Eee PC™ Lineup




From Asus -

Taipei, Taiwan, June 1, 2009 – ASUS today added the Eee PC™ T91 to its highly-successful Eee PC™ line. This new model is the first to sport an 8.9" swivelable touchscreen and a suite of touch-optimized software that enables users to get the most out of finger or stylus input—thus transcending the capabilities of previous generations of devices in its class. The Eee PC™ T91 was first unveiled at CES 2009 to tremendous buzz, and it is yet another example of ASUS outstripping its competitors in terms of being the first to market with cutting-edge innovations.

The Eee PC™ T91's unique software applications, collectively known as TouchSuite, allow users to perform a myriad of fun tasks with their fingertips, such as touching up photos, creating photo albums, leaving handwritten desktop memos for loved ones, and sketching cartoons or custom emoticons.

The Eee PC™ T91's tablet PC functionality makes it easy to cradle in one arm, enabling users to read documents, scribble ideas into digital notebooks and surf the Internet while traveling on foot. The Eee PC™ T91 is also equipped with a TV tuner* and Global Positioning System (GPS)* for extensive entertainment options and advanced navigation capabilities on the go.

The Eee PC™ T91 is available in Black and White to match different moods, personalities and lifestyles.

MSI X-Slim X320 Shipping in US

From Laptop Mag -

The MSI X-Slim X320, which claims to be the world’s lightest and slimmest 13-inch notebook, is now available in the U.S. via Newegg and Mwave. The Intel Menlow based model, named X320-037US, has the Intel Atom Z530 1.6GHz CPU, 16:9 1366 x 768 LED backlight display, 2GB RAM, a 250GB HDD, a 4-cell battery, 1.3MP web camera, stereo speakers, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, an Ethernet LAN port, three USB ports, a 2-in-1 media card reader, and a VGA output.

The 2.8 lbs unit measures only 6mm at its thinnest and 20mm at its widest point, and is priced at $599.

Pixel Qi screen: Mary Lou Jepsen answers user comments

Uploaded by Charbax -

"Following the initial video that was released showing the Pixel Qi screen during the Computex trade show in Taipei, Mary Lou Jepsen, CTO and Inventor of the Pixel Qi screen technology, answers user comments that were posted on the Engadget and Mobileread threads with users from all over the world commenting and asking questions about the screen in the first video."

Pixel Qi vs Kindle vs Toshiba R600 vs regular LCD tablet

Uploaded Charbax -

"Side by side comparison video showing the Pixel Qi 3Qi LCD screen next to the E-ink based Amazon Kindle, next to the transflective Toshiba R600 and next to a regular resistive touchscreen tablet laptop. Comparing performance in direct sunlight, in the shade and in a dark room with and without the backlight."

Coffee Cup Power Inverter




ThinkGeek has a $29.99 power inverter shaped like a styrofoam coffee cup - perfect for your car's mug holder. Specs are:

* 200 Watt inverter with 2 AC plugs and USB power port
* Provides 120 Volt AC power from any cigarette lighter socket
* 200W continuous/400W peak
* Fits into standard cup holders
* 18" cord
* Overload protection and low battery shut-off
* Power 3 devices at once
* One year warranty
* Dimensions: 6" tall x 3.5" dia

Product page here.

Samsung N310 Now Available in US




From Portable Monkey -

BestBuy appears to be the first U.S. store to have the Japanese designed Samsung N310 available for ordering online. However, only the blue model is available at $479.99 (not including shipping and tax). Specs include Atom N270 processor, 1GB RAM, 10.1” 1024 x 600 Display, 160GB HDD, 1.3MP Webcam, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Windows XP, 2.7 lbs. weight, 1.1" thickness and the higher capacity 6-cell lithium-ion battery as opposed to the 4-cell battery 4400mAh seen in the UK models.

Expected shipping date of 1-2 weeks.

Best Buy Product page here.

資策會的 Mtube II

Uploaded by roygbiv0415 -

"Taiwan Institute for Information Industry (III)'s Mtube II ARM / X86 dual netbook"

Microsoft bans netbooks with hybrid storage

From Bit-tech.net -

Microsoft has banned netbook manufacturers from making hybrid storage netbooks (having both SSD and hard drives) when using Windows XP Home. This is in addition to the "maximum of 1GB of memory" already enforced. As of now, it is only the MSI Wind U115 that is affected as it was already in the market. MSI has until the end of June to remove the product from the shelves.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Google Android netbook from GNB

Uploaded by minipcpro -

"The Google Android powered GL-750 from GNB is a 7-inch netbook that's powered by a Freescale iMX31 processor"

Lengda X10K

Uploaded by minipcpro -

"This is the first stainless steel netbook we've ever seen and Lengda told us that they'll also have aluminum versions. It also features some other peculiar features like a small 3G antenna."

Friday, June 5, 2009

Hands-on with ASUS' Eee PC 1101HGO at Computex




Engadget, actually Engadget Chinese, caught sight of the ASUS Eee PC 1101HGO at Computex. The latest Seashell model is similar to the 1101HA except that it has 3G built in. Specs include 11.6" 1,366 x 768 LCD, a Z-series CPU, 1GB RAM, a 160GB HD, three USB 2.0 sockets, a multicard reader, and a six-cell battery.

Android laptop: Compal Qualcomm powered Smartbook

MID sales a lot lower than Intel estimates

From Digitimes -

According to the manufacturers themselves, worldwide sales of Intel-based mobile Internet devices (MIDs) since their launch have been less than 30,000 units, a lot lower than Intel's own estimate of 150,000-200,000 units. High prices and the lack of popular 3G apps were the main reasons for the disappointing numbers.

Intel refused comment on the issue but did make it known the successor to the Menlow platform, the Moorestown, will be launched either end of 2009 or beginning of 2010, while the 32nm SoC Medfield platform will be launched in 2011.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Acer Will Use Moblin Linux Across Its Products

From PC World -

Acer CTO R.C. Chang announced at a news conferene that Acer products, including Aspire Ones, latops and desktops will soon run with Moblin Linux. At the same event, the company displayed Aspire One running Moblin, which was specifically developed for netbooks.

A number of netbooks from, HP, MSI, HP, and Asus were also on display, running several different versions of Moblin, including Suse Moblin, Xandros Moblin, Linpus Moblin, Red Flag Moblin and Ubuntu Moblin.

Acer shows off Android on a netbook




From Engadget -

Acer is showing off an Android-powered Aspire One D250 at Computex Taiwan allthough the company reiterated it isn't the actual Android netbook. The OS appears unmodified other than support for the 10" screen and runs pretty fast. One surprise is the inclusion of Firefox, including the menu bar.

Fujitsu M2010




Laptop Mag has reviewed the Fujitsu M2010. Its conclusion? - the company failed to deliver the ingredients that make a netbook compelling: a well-designed keyboard, long battery life, and low cost.

In summary,

Pros

* Good performance and fast boot time
* Loud speakers
* Compact chassis
* Bright display

Cons

* Short battery life
* Relatively expensive
* Cramped keyboard
* Available only in red

Specs as reviewed -

CPU: 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270
Operating System: Windows XP Home
RAM/Expandable to: 1GB/2GB
Hard Drive Size/Speed: 160GB/5,400 rpm
Optical Drive: None
Display/Resolution: 10.1 inches/1024 x 576

Price: $449.00

You can read the full review here.

10.1" Thin and Light Onkyo Sotec C204 Netbook - First Impressions

Broadcom InConcert module brings Bluetooth 3.0 and WiFi to smaller devices




From Engadget -

Broadcom has announced three new Bluetooth 3.0 + WiFi modules designed to bring both connectivity options to netbooks and UMPCs. The cards are in half mini-card form, allowing them to fit into places where only one or the other used to fit. Volume production is expected to begin in Q3 this year.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Windows 7 to be available Oct 22

Per The Windows Blog Windows 7 will be in stores beginning October 22 instead of next year as earlier announced.

Customers will be able to take advantage of the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program. This program enables participating retailers and OEMs to offer a special deal to upgrade to Windows 7 for customers purchasing a qualifying PC.

Toshiba's First US-Bound Netbook Features LED-Backlit Screen and Monster Battery Life




From Gizmodo -

Laptop Mag's "the best netbook yet" Toshiba NB205 will be made available in the US. Specs include LED-backlit 10.1" screen, 1GB RAM, 160GB HD, full-sized keyboard, Atom N280 processor,and a supposed 9-hour, 6-cell battery. To be available late this month, the NB205 will be priced at $399.

Pixel Qi screen demo Live from Taipei

Uploaded by Charbax -

"his is it, the revolutionary LCD screen by Pixel Qi that turns your netbook into a Kindle by the flip of a switch. As you can see in this video, thanks to Pixel Qi, screens can now be very usable outdoors in a black and white mode just as well as indoors in full color and bright back light mode.

This is the first batch of the first working prototypes of this screen, and as you can see, it already looks amazing. Mass production of these screens are planned to be launched soon and should be available in any netbook (and later other devices such as smartphones) as long as the manufacturers decide that they want to integrate one in their products."

Asus evaluating Nvidia Ion for netbooks and nettops

From Digitimes -

Asus is considering launching Nvidia Ion-based netbooks and nettops, including an Ion-based Eee Box B1006 in the third quarter of 2009, but has not yet set a schedule for netbooks.

Monday, June 1, 2009

ASUS' 11.6-inch Eee PC 1101HA comes alive at Computex




From Engadget -

Asus is displaying the 11.6" Eee PC 1101HA at Computex. It has a 1,366 x 768 resolution, a battery good for "up to 11 hours", Intel Atom Z520 / Z530 CPU, 1GB RAM, a 160GB HD, three USB 2.0, a multicard reader and a case along the recently launched Seashell line.

Jolicloud Open O/S for Netbooks

Asus Eee PC spotted running Android + Qualcomm 1GHz CPU

From Tweaktown -

An Asus Eee PC running Android with Qualcomm 1GHz CPU was demo'd at the Qualcomm Technologies press conference in Computex Taipei yesterday.

Google Promises Publishers (And Amazon) Will Sell E-Books In 2009




From Paid Content -

Google plans to enter the commercial e-book business this year. But unlike Amazon which sets most Kindle titles at $9.99, it apparently plans to let publishers set prices. The program would be separate from the recent book-scanning settlement. Moreover, readers can read online, implying access to books won't be limited to specific devices, but it does require Internet access and some sort of off-line caching, possibly Google Gears.

NVIDIA Ion-based machines start appearing at Computex




From Engadget -

The NVIDIA Ion platform has finally been launched, and is well on display at Computex Taiwan, with several models being shown - Acer Aspire Revo, Lenovo IdeaPad S12, MSI Wind Box D200 plus other nettops and netbooks from various other Asian ODMs, including thge hot-looking ECS Morph nettop.

ZaReason to develop a Linux powered netbook

From Liliputing -

ZaReason, a reseller of the Everex Cloudbook with the gOS operating system, is now planning to build its own Linux-powered netbook. Company CEO Cathy Malmrose however said her company hasn’t yet decided whether to release one soon or to wait for Intel’s Pine Trail, which will offer faster performance and lower energy consumption than the current Atom processors.

First look at Pixel Qi’s outdoor readable screens




Pixel Qi has posted photos of the company’s new energy-saving displays capable of displaying in two different modes, a backlit mode with full color saturation, and an ePaper mode that uses less energy. Above photo from Liliputing shows a Pixel Qi screen retrofitted onto an Acer Aspire One running in ePaper Mode.

More photos here.