NetbookTech

I apologize for the lack of news over the last week. Things at work have been rather hectic to put it mildly but I’ll try and catch up a bit this weekend AND.. I’m going to try and start releasing new reviews of various netbook related products and accessories – after all – this is NetbookTech we’re talking about here!

So what’s on tap over the next several weeks?

Well I’ve had three netbooks here for quite some time and I’ve been meaning to do write-ups for them so you can expect reviews for the Acer Aspire One, the Lenovo S10, and the Samsung NC10. Yes, they’re starting to get a bit dated but better late than never right?

During this time, I’ll also be working on several reviews for netbook cases (three in total actually). After all – you’ve got a netbook, chances are, you’ll need a netbook case right? RIGHT!

OK, so let me try and catch up a bit shall we?

While most of us appreciate netbooks with larger display sizes and keyboards, there’s certainly a number of you out there who prefer portability and compactness over anything else. To address this particular market, there’s the super-portable “mbook” sfrom Korean manufacturer UMID.  While it’s probably better classified as a Mobile Internet Device (MID), one can’t help but think of it as a super small netbook system. This tiny wonder has the following specs:

• 4.8 inch Color TFT LCD with 1024 x 600 resolution
• Intel Atom 1.1 GHz or 1.3GHz processor
• 512MB DDR2 RAM
• Linux or Windows XP
• Mini USB port, microSD slot
• USIM card slot
• Mobile TV (T-DMB,  DVB-T/H, 1-Seg) support
• 1.3 megapixel camera
• 16GB of 32GB NAND flash
• microSD card
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity
• WiBro, HSDPA, WiMAX support
• Keyboard and touch-screen display
• Measures 158 x 94.1 x 18.6 mm
• Weighs 315 grams

According to AVING, the mbook is now available in Korea for a price of 600,000 KRW to 700,000 KRW ($399 to $466 U.S. dollars). That’s not too shabby!

[Check it out via AVING]

The official press release for the new Dell Inspiron Mini 10 hit the wires this morning – following up the Direct2Dell blog posting yesterday. As mentioned earlier this morning, the Mini 10 is available now for pre-order over at QVC and will be available for purchase directly from Dell in the U.S. and other countries starting on Feb. 26th.

I was initially thrown off as to why Dell would make the Mini 10 available for pre-order first on QVC but after a little bit of sleep, it all makes sense. Netbooks as a market segment have been a hit with women, teens, and kids, and QVC is the perfect outlet for Dell to attract these kinds of sales.

As a reminder, here’s what you need to know about the Inspiron Mini 10’s feature set:

• Starting weight of 2.86 lbs
• Intel Atom Z520 at 1.33 GHz or Intel Atom Z530 at 1.6 GHz
• Intel Poulsbo US15Wgraphics chipset
• Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 500
• 92 percent keyboard size
• Multi-touch gestures touchpad – navigate the screen using simple movements to rotate, scroll, and zoom
• 10.1 inch WSVGA edge to edge 16:9 aspect ratio display (1024×576)
• HDMI output
• Wi-Fi connectivity
• Built-in webcam
• Windows XP OS
• 1GB RAM standard
• 160GB HDD
• Stereo speakers
• 3 cell 24WHr Li-Ion battery
• Available in Obsidian Black, Alpine White, Cherry Red, Promise Pink, Ice Blue and Jade Green.
• Dell online storage options – free plan comes with 2GB of space to paid plans with up to 100GB of space
• Measures 10.28 x 7.19 x 1.12~1.25 inches

Optional features and accessories coming to the Mini 10 include:

• Internal digital TV tuner
• External USB DVD player
• Ubuntu and Windows Vista options
• Bluetooth
• WWAN support
• Internal GPS
• 2GB RAM
• 250GB HDD
• Solid State Drives
• Design Studio images

Let’s be clear – the Mini 10 is certainly not the cheapest 10 inch netbook out on the market.. yet it holds some interesting potential. Given the number of planned enhancements to the Mini 10, this could be the platform to watch over time. Yet knowing there are several planned enhancements and accessories, it’s hard to recommend someone to go out and pre-order this system right now. If I had my way, I’d hold out for the larger resolution panel (which will be 1366 x 768) and the larger 2GB of memory – especially when Windows 7 is ready for prime-time.

In the meantime, you can read a hands-on look at the Inspiron Mini 10 over at PC Magazine. Here’s a snippet from the article:

“At launch, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 isn’t the cheapest netbook on the block, as it will be priced at $549 — and this is the standard configuration. With future add-ons, tricking out this netbook might make the Asus eeePC 1000HE and the Acer Aspire One (10-inch) look like charity handouts. But this is Dell, company known for its infamous coupons and aggressive deals. The amount of technology that they could potentially pack into this netbook will make others take notice—and respond. Look for companies like ASUS and HP to intensify the netbook wars upon news of Dell’s latest netbook darling.”

[Check it out]

Those of you waiting for the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook will be happy to hear that the system is finally here .. sort of. Starting today, Dell will be taking pre-orders from customers in the U.S. through QVC. That’s right. QVC. Availability on Dell.com for U.S. customers will then begin on February 26th with units shipping in March.

Having said that, here’s what you need to know about the new Mini 10:

• Color wise, the Mini 10 will come standard in Obsidian Black but will also be available in Alpine White, Promise Pink, Cherry Red, Ice Blue and Jade Green
• Starting price for the Mini 10 will be $399 (which also explains why the Mini 9 has been undergoing price cuts recently)
• The 10 will utilize Atom Z processors – you can pick either the Atom Z520 or Atom Z530
• 92 percent keyboard
• 10.1 inch edge to edge glass LED display
• Built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam
• Built-in HDMI port (Yes.. an HDMI port!)
• 3 USB ports, Ethernet jack
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• 3 cell 24Whr battery
• 160GB 5400 HDD
• 4 in 1 memory card reader
• 1 line out, 1 mic-in

According to this blog post on Direct2Dell, the Inspiron Mini 10 will initially be available with 1GB fixed RAM (this means it’s NOT upgradeable unfortunately), Windows XP, and a 10.1 inch 16:9 display with a max of 1024 x 768 resolution (though the default resolution is 1024 x 576).

Coming down the line, Dell will be offering options such as Ubuntu 8.04, a higher resolution 720p panel, a built-in digital TV tuner, Bluetooth, integrated GPS, and mobile broadband.

The model available for pre-order at QVC is selling for $559 and features the 1.6GHz Z530 processor, 10.1 display 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, Intel GMA 500, and 3 cell battery.

In many ways, Dell is a bit late to the game with the Mini 10 when it comes to the 10 inch netbook market (although you could argue Acer was also late to release a 10 inch netbook).  While I appreciate an HDMI output, I’d gladly trade that up for a higher capacity battery (the Dell post claims the 3 cell battery provides 3 hours of battery life), a higher resolution panel, and support for more than 1GB of memory.

[Check it out via CNET]

On the heels of the recently announced ARCHOS 10 netbook, ARCHOS is already planning a second generation MiniPC system called the ARCHOS 10s which will be due out in April. With a thickness of just 20mm, the new ARCHOS 10s is certainly a super slim model (especially when you consider most netbooks hover around 30mm thick). By comparison – the Dell Inspiron Mini 12, which is already considered quite thin, measures 23 mm at it’s thinnest point. 

Other interesting specs for the ARCHOS 10s include:

• Intel Atom processor
• Intel Moorestown platform
• Integrated 3.5G functionality
• Wi-Fi
• 1GB DDR memory
• Windows XP Home OS
• 60 to 160GB HDD

But wait.. it doesn’t stop there. ARCHOS will also launch a new tablet oriented device in the third quarter of this year called the 9 inch MiniPC Tablet. The 9 inch Tablet drops the keyboard and mouse in favor of a touch-screen keyboard and trackpoint mouse. Other features on the 9 inch tablet include:

• Intel Atom processor X5xx series
• Thickness of just 17mm and a weight of around 0.8 kg
• 60 to 160GB HDD

Both models will come with ARCHOS‘s rich multimedia feature set which we’ve seen on the current ARCHOS 10 netbook. Stay tuned for pics and pricing.

[Check it out via ZDNet]

Thinking about plopping down $400 dollars for a new netbook system but not sure which one to get? Check out PC Magazine’s updated Netbook Buying Guide here on their website. First introduced in November, the guide has been updated to include the new 10 inch Acer Aspire One which is competitively priced at around $319 dollars or so. There are a few notable models missing in their lineup including the wonderful Samsung NC10 and the new ASUS Eee PC 1000HE. However, it’s still a good guide to check out if you’re considering a new netbook system.

[Check it out]

“Save the Netbooks”

That’s the name of the new grassroots campaign and website that sprung up today with the sole mission of fighting the trademark threat that Psion poses with their recent legal action taken against anyone who uses the term netbook (this includes hardware manufacturers, advertisers, journalists, us bloggers, and of course retailers). We first caught wind of cease and desist letters being sent out back in December – with Psion giving websites up until March to remove the term “netbook” from their website.

This whole battle revolves around the fact that Psion trademarked the “netbook” keyword back when it had a product called the Psion netbook. While the product has long since been retired, Psion is now attempting to enforce the trademark (which has been made popular thanks to Intel, ASUS, Acer, and many others) claiming “Psion places significant value on its trade mark registration and your use of the term ‘netbook’ could damage those registrations. We are therefore asking you to cease use of the term ‘netbook’”. The company even managed to convince Google of banning the term “netbook” from their Adsense ads (just great Google…).

So what was there for us netbook lovers to do?

Create an online campaign of course and that’s where “Save the Netbooks” comes into play. This campaign has a single goal in mind – getting Psion Teklogix to abandon their “offending trademarks”. According to Sam Johnston, Strategic Consultant for the campaign, “We also believe that the term [netbook] is a generic description for a class of products rather than the specific meaning they intended, and that it should not have been afforded trademark protection in the first place as it is merely descriptive. Furthermore, at $1,299 the device would not even have met one of the key criteria for netbooks were it available today: price. “.

As I stated earlier, while I’m all for trademark protection, there comes a time when a term just doesn’t mean what you originally meant it to mean. If Psion continued their netbook product line and had a successful business out of it, I could understand.. but the truth is – Psion has done nothing with the term for several years except sell meaningless accessories to the folks who did buy the machine back in the late 90’s. With that in mind, I can’t help but be a proponent for this campaign.

The first mission for Save the Netbooks is to try and reverse the Google AdWords ban on the term “netbook”. If you want to help out, read this blog posting on the “Save the Netbooks” website on how.

Finally, join the fight – help all of us convince Psion to do the right thing. I for one will always call my three netbooks.. well.. netbooks!

[Check it out via Ars Technica]

Freescale Semiconductor entered the netbook market last month with the introduction of their new i.MX515 processor and a netbook reference design based on Ubuntu Linux. Today, the company announced several new options for netbooks based on the i.MX515 processor – including three new operating systems and two new 3G connectivity options.  (If you’re not familiar with the i.MX515 processor, make sure to check out the Freescale page on the product.)

On the OS front, Freescale announced the following OSs will support the new i.MX515 processor:

• Google’s Android platform
• Phoenix HyperSpace – easy to use, instant-on OS
• Xandros customized Linux solution

On the 3G front, Freescale announced new collaborations with Wavecom and Option which will deliver 3G solutions optimized for the i.MX515 processor.

Volume production for the i.MX515 device is planned for the second quarter of this year with netbooks expected in time for the 2009 holiday shopping season. Support for the above OSs as well as 3G connectivity is expected to be available with volume production of the i.MX515.

[Check it out]

LG Electronics announced their latest netbook offering today at the Mobile World Congress being held in Barcelona. Known as the LG-X120, the netbook features a built-in 3G HSPA connection, a 160GB HDD, and a new Smart-On interface.

Smart-On is LG’s version of a fast boot system – bringing up an interface in only five seconds that allows users to access frequently used applications such as an MP3 player, photo viewer, and Internet suite.

Other features of the LG LG-X120 include:

• Smart-Link technology which allows the netbook to connect to computers via USB cable to share files or install new apps
• Soft-textured classic white exterior with white lime or pink detailing
• Matt surface cover resists fingerprints and scratches
• 160GB HDD
• 3G HSPA connectivity
• Weighs just 1.2 kg
• 3 cell battery life offers 3.5 hours and 6 cell battery offers 7 hours
• Built-in 1.3 megapixel camera
• SRS WOW HD and TruSurround XT audio
• LED Backlight display

The LG-X120 will be available in Europe starting in March and is currently on display at the MWC. No word on processor tho we assume it’s an Intel Atom on the inside

[Check it out]

[Reprinted from Krunker.com] Sony announced today that Qualcomm’s Gobi mobile Internet technology will be coming to select VAIO notebook systems. Devices with the Gobi chipset can connect to a wide variety of high speed mobile broadband services all around the world – basically wherever you can make a mobile phone call, you’ll be able to access the Internet (of course it’ll cost ya to connect to the service provider). The beauty of having Gobi embedded in the notebook? There’s no need for external dongle devices when you’re not in range of a Wi-Fi hotspot – everything is built right into the notebook and it’s optimized for battery, radio, and throughput performance.

Sony will initially unveil Gobi technology in three ultra-portable models – the VAIO Z, TT, and the new P series. Expect variations by region also.

[Check it out]