NetbookTech

Intel has entered into an agreement with the Taiwanese government to open up a development center in Taiwan to further the Linux-based Moblin OS that was created by Intel to run on devices powered by the Intel Atom processor. Moblin is based on a Linux kernel, has a user interface, a browser, developer tools, and other resources which Intel will continue to develop and optimize as part of the agreement. They decided to locate the development center in Taiwan since this is really the area where netbooks first took off – notably from the likes of ASUS and Acer.

According to Intel CEO Paul Otellini:

“The hottest thing going on in the computer industry today is the netbook phenomenon, and it started in Taiwan,”

Linux has received a fair amount of attention and support in the netbook market primarily because there are limited options in utilizing Windows on the platform. Most companies have opted to use Windows XP Home Edition over Windows Vista primarily due to Vista’s higher resource requirements. Yet with Windows XP slated for retirement, many vendors are left with limited choices. Thus Linux, being free and lighter weight has become a popular alternative for the netbook market.The new Moblin development center will open up in December.

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LG Electronics announced yesterday that they will begin releasing the 3G X110 netbook in overseas market beginning this weekend. The X110 will be unveiled in 20 nations across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia; It had previously been available locally in South Korea. The X110 weighs 1.19 kg, has a 10 inch display, and supports 3G mobile broadband networks. Other features include an Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, 160GB HDD, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Windows XP Home.

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Do you love the design of the new ASUS Eee PC S101 but wish the pricing was more like the Eee PC 1000H netbook? Well it appears ASUS may be trying to fill those needs. Meet the ASUS Eee PC 1002HA. According to Crave Asia, it retains some “design elements” of the S101 “minus the exceptional sleekness” and is just slightly more expensive than the Eee PC 1000H. Specs are scarce at this time though ASUS has confirmed the existence of this system. Don’t expect anything different with the specs – you’re gonna get an Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 160GB HDD.

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Lenovo announced this week a new educational version of their popular IdeaPad S10 netbook called the S10e. The system is being marketed as an introductory mobile device for students between K-12 and as a secondary device for those of you in higher education. It’s basically the same as the consumer S10 netbook except with a few more choices. These include:

• Choice of either Microsoft Windows XP Home or SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop from Novell
• Choice of 4GB Solid State Drive or Hard Drives up to 160GB
• Several choices of memory sizes

Other standard features (same as the S10) include:

• Intel Atom processor
• Ethernet
• Wi-Fi
• Optional Bluetooth
• ExpressCard/34 slot
• Can be enabled for mobile broadband

The IdeaPad S10e netbook will be available starting at the end of November though Lenovo education sales and business partners.

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Looking for a review of the newly announced Dell Inspiron Mini 12 netbook? Well APC managed to get their hands (via Michael Dell himself no less) on the new system at a regional Dell event in Shanghai and as a result, they now have what they’re calling as the “world’s first review” of the system. They’re probably right with that claim.. since I can’t seem to find another review of the system as of yet. In any event, here are some notes from the review:

• It’s not quite as slim as the ASUS S101 but it might cure your MacBook Air envy
• Manufactured by Taiwanese OEM/ODM Compal
• Internal codename for the Mini 12 was “Yao Ming” for you know who. The Inspiron Mini 9 was codenamed “Qiao Hong” after the Chinese table tennis champ.
• Temperatures seemed warm but OK
• Mono speaker – boo
• Nearly full size keyboard – very nice
• Two mini PCI card slots underneath – one for the Wi-Fi and one for 3G HSDPA support
• Upgrades are going to be painful as it’s a pain to get into the netbook
• Uses the smaller and more power efficient Z series Atom processor
• Uses the Poulsbo chipset which integrates Northbridge, Southbridge, Graphics, Audio in one chip (also known as the System Controller Hub) but only supports a max of 1GB of RAM. Yup.. that stinks
• Yes Vista is installed and it does work.. but yes.. you only get 1GB of RAM so do you really want Vista on this?
• Dell Dock included
• Battery life is poor given the three cell battery (2.5 hours or so depending on usage)

Finally, here’s a blurb from the review:

“Yet I can think of plenty of mainstream users – typically the family, friends and workmates of many APC readers – for whom this $999 netbook will really hit the sweet spot by blurring the conventional boundary of form factor and blowing apart the long-standing sub-note barrier of price.”

Note that it’s expected to be under $600 in the U.S.

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HP today announces the launch of their new HP Mini 1000 line of netbook systems with the introduction of three new systems – the HP Mini 1000, the HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition, and the HP Mini 1000 with MIE (Mobile Internet Experience). News of the HP Mini 1000 leaked out over the weekend when the HP Shopping website accidentally had some images of the new netbook series – yet actual detailed specs were scarce at the time.. ah but now we know the goods..

First off, all three systems have the following common traits:

• Less than one inch thick
• Weighs a little more than two pounds
• 92 percent keyboard size
• BrightView widescreen Infinity display (1024×600 resolution) with flush glass and LED backlight
• Built-in webcam and microphone
• Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz processor

Now let’s get to the details of each of the new systems.

First up, there’s the HP Mini 1000:

Key features of the Mini 1000 are as follows:

• Piano black finish with HP Imprint swirl design
• Windows XP Home
• Ethernet
• Two USB 2.0 ports
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• 3G versions coming in December
• Choice of either 8.9 inch or 10.2 inch display
• Choice of SSD or regular hard drives
• Prices start at $399

Here are the full specs:

• Windows XP Home with SP3
• Choice of 8.9 inch or 10.2 inch WSVGA HP LED BrightView Infinity Display
• 512MB or 1GB of RAM
• Intel GMA 950 graphics
• Intel Atom N270 processor
• 8GB/16GB SSD or 60GB 4200 RPM PATA HDD
• HP Mini Webcam with HP Imprint Finish
• Wireless G card with optional Bluetooth support
• 3 cell Lithium Polymer Battery
• Measures 10.3 in (L) x 6.56 in (W) x 0.99 in (H)
• Only 1 DIMM slot for a maximum of 1GB of memory
• Weighs 2.23 lbs
• Integrated stereo speakers

Note – a fully decked out system can be as high as $549.99 – that’s including a 60GB HDD, 1GB of RAM, and a 10 inch display.

The Mini 1000 is available now for purchase.

Next, we have the HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition:

Key features for this netbook are as follows:

• Vibrant red with peony flower inspired design
• 10.2 inch BrightView display
• Windows XP Home
• Ethernet
• Two USB 2.0 ports
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• 3G versions coming in December
• MSRP of $699

You can reserve the Vivienne Tam edition today.

Finally, there’s the HP Mini 1000 with Mobile Internet Experience (MIE). What makes the MIE model particularly interesting is the fact that it’s an HP designed user interface for accessing digital content – including videos, photos, music, and email. The system runs a Linux OS and has Ethernet, two USB ports, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Prices for the Mini 1000 are expected to start at $379. This system will be coming out soon.

HP rounds out the new netbook announcements with several accessory announcements also including a new HP Mini Mobile Drive which comes in 2, 4 or 8GB storage capacities and an optional six cell lithium-polymer battery due out in January.

Initial thoughts

The new HP Mini 1000 series certainly have the looks and the form factor/sizes are definitely just right. However, the mouse button layout is still the same as before (why in the world are the buttons on the left and right sides of the touchpad??)  and the prices are a tad bit high once you start adding features to the list. Other netbooks feature more and cost less – something HP might have to contend with if it wants to be successful in this market.

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So I’m sitting at the PDC this morning, listening and watching Steven Sinofsky, Senior VP of the Windows and Windows Live Engineering Group, talk about Windows 7 and Windows Live.. when all of a sudden, he pulls out his new favorite little system – a black Lenovo IdeaPad S10. Yep.. there I was sitting down taking notes on a white S10 and he pulls out a black S10. Why you ask? Well he wanted to make a point and say that Windows 7 would run just fine on small systems like the S10. Well tonight, we’re going to go find out if that’s really possible!

If you want to read more about Windows 7 coverage at the PDC, check out my write-up over at Krunker.com

Lenovo’s popular IdeaPad S10 netbook is starting to make an appearance in European retailers with stock expected to become available in approximately two weeks. Unlike folks in the U.S., the Europeans have a few more choices to pick from when it comes to the S10 netbook. One website has several options listed including:

• Lenovo IdeaPad S10, 1536MB, 160GB, Linux, schwarz (40684JG) -  € 389
• Lenovo IdeaPad S10, 1536MB, 160GB, Linux, weiß (40684KG) -  € 389
• Lenovo IdeaPad S10, 1536MB, 160GB, Linux, rot (40684LG) – € 389
• Lenovo IdeaPad S10, 512MB, 4GB SSD, Linux, schwarz (406846G) – € 329
• Lenovo IdeaPad S10, 1024MB, 160GB, Windows XP Home, rot (40684YG) – € 399

Another big difference with these European models – they come with a six cell battery unlike the three cell ones found in the U.S.

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Now that the Dell Inspiron Mini 12 netbook is official (at least in Japan), LaptopMag has decided to publish their first impressions article of an early pre-production unit that they came across a few months back. Being less than an inch thick and featuring a 12 inch display, one couldn’t help but compare the Mini 12 up against the MacBook Air. Of course the Air has a much more powerful processor but the Mini 12 has a lot going for it too – especially when you compare the system against smaller popular netbooks out on the market now. The display has a higher resolution, the keyboard i larger, and there are plenty of ports on the system. Most of all – all of this is provided in a system less than three pounds and costing less than $600 dollars. Not too shabby! It might end up replacing my IdeaPad S10 after all.

Make sure to check out the LaptopMag article for many more pictures of the Mini 12 up against the MacBook Air.

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The folks at Register Hardware have published a slightly more positive review of the Apricot Picobook Pro netbook here on their website. The last we heard the Picobook Pro, well.. let’s just say some folks weren’t all that impressed with it. In case you forgot, the Picobook Pro features a VIA C7-M processor, an 8.9 inch display, a 60GB HDD, 1GB of RAM, built-in webcam. memory card reader, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

So with that said, here’s what Register thought of the system:

Apricot’s Picobook Pro is a nice netbook. It has a decent spec for a machine of this class, average performance and a small number of features that will appeal to niche audiences. If you can get past the design, there’s much to enjoy here. The problem is, there’s nothing that really allows it to stand out from the crowd

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