NetbookTech

HP continues their march into the netbook market with the introduction of three new netbook models – the HP Mini 110 XP Edition, HP Mini 110 Mobile Internet (Mi) Edition, and the HP Mini 1101. The Mini 110 XP and Mini 110 Mi are designed for “Internet-centric” consumers while the HP Mini 1101 is ideal as a “companion PC” for business users.

These new 10.1 inch netbooks have a starting weight of 2.33 pounds and measure just over one inch thick. You’ll can choose from either a 10.1 inch standard display or a 10.1 inch high definition LED widescreen display. Other common features include the Intel Atom N270 or N280 processor, a 92 percent keyboard, built-in webcam and microphone, built-in VGA port, and a 5 in 1 media card reader.

Here are additional details to the three new netbooks:

HP Mini 110 XP Edition:

• Up to 1GB of RAM
• Either 32 GB SSD or 160GB HDD
• Optional WWAN
• Optional Broadcom Crystal HD Enhanced Video Accelerator available in July which allows for 1080p HD content playback

HP Mini 110 Mi Edition:

• HP developed user interface on top of Linux
• Comes with apps for web browsing, email, and online video
• Up to 2GB of RAM
• Up to 250GB HDD

HP Mini 1101:

• Available in either Windows XP Home, Windows XP Pro, Windows Vista
• Two optional batteries – 3 cell or 6 cell
• Optional integrated HP Mobile Broadband

Both the Mini 110 XP and Mini 110 Mi editions will be available in your choice of Pink Chic, Black Swirl or White Swirl HP Imprint finishes, while the business oriented Mini 1101 will be available only in the Black Swirl finish.

OK.. now the pricing and availability:

• The HP Mini 110 XP Edition and the Mini 110 Mi will be available in Black Swirl in the US starting on June 10 with a starting price of $329.99 and $279.99 respectively
• The HP Mini 110 XP in Pink Chic and White Swirl will be available in the U.S. starting on July 8th. Pricing to be determined
• The HP Mini 1101 in high gloss black starts at $329 and will be available starting on June 1st.

Oh yes – if you want to pre-order the netbooks – call 800-230-5752 to reserve a unit.

[Check out the press release in PDF]

As netbooks grow in popularity in both classrooms and businesses, the need to have multiple battery packs on hand increasingly becomes more important. To meet this growing need, Datamation Systems has several multi-battery chargers that are capable of recharging up to a whopping 16 batteries simultaneously in a single compact unit. The company announced today two new models – one to recharge batteries for the new Dell Latitude 2100 and one to charge batteries for the Lenovo IdeaPad S9/S19 systems. The new chargers are also capable of re-calibrating the batteries which helps to extend the life of the batteries.

Datamation Systems also has battery chargers for other notebook models from other vendors. No word on pricing.

[Check it out]

A couple of notable netbook reviews for all of you to chew on today:

ASUS Eee PC 1008HA – reviewed by PC World. Here’s what they have to say:

“Asus’s next netbook might make you look twice. It’s sexy, it’s white–but it’s not a Mac.”

Thinking about building your own netbook? Check out Legit Reviews look at the OCZ Neutrino 10 inch DIY Atom Netbook here. Their verdict:

“The OCZ Neutrino 10" DIY netbook costs slightly less than other pre-configured notebooks and is rock solid with Windows 7.”

I4U.com does a little comparison between the Acer Aspire One A150 and the ASUS Eee PC 900HA. Here’s their verdict:

“With the above comparison, it is clear that the features of the two netbooks are almost same. Both Acer Aspire One A150 and ASUS Eee PC 900HA are a solid choice if you look for a 8.9 inch netbook. The Acer Aspire One AOA150-1553 is lighter and offers a bigger battery. “

Do you find yourself curious about Intel’s Moblin 2.0 OS for netbook systems but are too scared to even consider trying it out on your netbook? Well head on over to PC World’s hands-on look at Moblin here on their website. There are no pictures to speak of unfortunately but it’s still a good write-up on the OS. I’m still in the middle of writing up my own look at Moblin but I need to play with it a bit more before I can complete the article.

Here’s a snippet from the PC World article:

“Once up, the desktop felt incredibly fast. If I didn’t know I was running it on 1.6GHz Aton equipped netbooks with 512MBs to 1 GB of RAM, I never would have guessed I was running it on such low-end hardware. Moblin is the anti-Vista. It runs great on minimal equipment instead of requiring the fastest possible hardware and still running at a snail’s pace.”

Here are some of my own 2 cents on Moblin 2.0 thus far:

• Easy to install – took about 25 minutes or so to install on Samsung NC10
• Super fast boot – I didn’t time it yet but it felt like 15 seconds max on my NC10
• Sleep recovery did not work properly on the NC10
• Love the user interface concepts. It certainly won’t appeal to everyone out there but if all you need is to surf the web, read email, look at social networking websites, then Moblin 2.0 is certainly promising

Stay tuned for more info..

[Check it out]

Lenovo formally announced the IdeaPad S12 netbook today – marking the entrance of the NVIDIA ION platform into the netbook arena. According to Dion Weisler, V.P. of Business Operations, Idea Product Group at Lenovo – “We’ve heard from consumers loud and clear about the need for affordable and extremely portable computing devices, and we’ve responded by introducing our third netbook with a completely new form factor, making mini-computing more usable and redefining value in today’s market”

What else can we say except “BRAVO”.

Now before I jump into the full details, it should be noted that the S12 will have the NVIDIA ION platform as an option for the netbook. According to PC World, the S12 will also be available with a 1.3 GHz VIA Nano 2250 processor and Chrome 9 HC3 graphics outside of the U.S. There will also be a version of the S12 with the Atom processor and traditional Intel graphics on the inside.

With that said, here’s the gist of what you’ll typically find within the IdeaPad S12:

• Intel Atom N270 processor running at 1.6GHz
• 12.1 inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution
• NVIDIA ION graphics
• Up to six hours of battery life
• Wi-Fi support
• ExpressCard slot
• 160GB HDD
• 1GB of RAM
• Dolby Headphone technology
• VGA port
• HDMI port on select models
• Bluetooth
• 4 in 1 media card reader
• Multi-touch touchpad
• Full size keyboard
• QuickStart feature allows you to boot into a Linux shell for simple computing functions such as surfing the web and playing with Skype
• Lenovo OneKey Rescue System
• New ring pattern design in black or white
• Weighs 3 pounds

Initial versions of the S12 will be available next month (June) with starting prices of around $449. Models with the NVIDIA ION will begin appearing later on in the summer (probably around the August timeframe).

[Check it out]

Here’s another interesting tidbit from the folks at Sony Insider – Sony Japan will soon begin to offer a Windows XP model of the Sony VAIO P known as VGN-P50 (guess Sony got the hint when the reviews weren’t all that spectacular for the VAIO P and its use of Vista).

The new model will also be available in several new colors including Garnet Red, Crystal White, and Peridot, and Gold. Specs to VGN-P50 include:

• Windows XP SP3
• Intel Atom Z520 1.33GHz processor
• 8 inch display
• 1GB RAM
• 80GB HDD
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.1

The new model should be hitting the Japanese shores around June 6th for a price of Y85,000 (approximately $900 dollars).

[Check it out via Sony Insider]

If you’re like me, then you’ve been waiting for an NVIDIA Ion powered netbook for some time. My friends – that time has finally (well almost)arrived. Starting in June, Lenovo will offer the new IdeaPad S12 – a 12 inch netbook powered by both an Intel Atom processor and the NVIDIA Ion platform which basically brings the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M GPU to the netbook platform.

Yes, we finally have a netbook capable of full HD playback as well as some basic 3D gaming. Netbooks with the NVIDIA Ion platform are basically re-energized with extra graphics oomph. Pretty exciting stuff folks!!!  Stay tuned for more info.

[Check it out]

Could SonyStyle Japan be providing a sneak peek into what the Sony VAIO P will look like this fall here in the U.S.? The website is now offering new options for the slim VAIO P including a new 2GHz Intel Atom Z550 processor as well as a 256GB Solid State Drive option – all in a new model known as the VGN-P91. It does appear that everything else remains the same including the 2GB of RAM, the Intel GMA 950 graphics, and the use of Windows Vista. Will a 2GHz Atom processor change impressions of the VAIO P? Too early to tell but you can be sure the system will still be expensive.

But remember – don’t call this a netbook!

[Check it out via Sony Insider]

Toshiba announced their second generation netbook this week – the NB200. The new product lineup includes enhancements such as a “full 19mm pitch keyboard”, an LED backlit 10.1 inch widescreen display (with 1024 x 600 resolution), and the latest Intel Atom N280 processor (clocked at 1.66GHz).

Other unique features found on the NB200 include Toshiba’s ‘”sound volume dial”, USB “sleep-and-charge” technology (lets you charge USB powered devices even if the NB200 is plugged in or not), and a 3D accelerometer monitoring system for detecting when the system is falling to the ground or hitting some object.

Other common specs include:

• 1GB of RAM (2GB max and user upgradeable)
• 120GB/160GB HDD
• 3/6 cell battery
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.1
• Ethernet
• built-in webcam
• built-in speakers
• 3 USB 2.0 ports.

According to iTWire, there will be three models available as part of the NB200 product lineup – the 3220, 3221, and 3219 (priced at AUD $799, $899, $949 respectively).

The 3220 comes with a 120GB 5400RPM HDD, a 3 cell battery and no Bluetooth.

The 3221 comes has everything above except for a larger 160GB 5400RPM HDD.

The 3219 adds on a 6 cell battery as well as Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity.

Finally, a hands-on with the NB200 is also now available over at the PC World.idg.com.au website here.  Here’s what they had to say about the new product:

“The Toshiba NB200 is the sexiest netbook we have seen to date. It has a beautiful copper-coloured, reflective spine with the power button located in the centre. It uses a chiclet keyboard, similar to the ones seen on the Sony VAIO VGN-Z17GN/B and the ASUS Eee PC 1004DN.”

[Check it out]

While it certainly appears that Apple will stay away from the netbook market (with rumors that the company will instead venture into a tablet PC style device shortly), this certainly hasn’t stopped the competition from releasing a netbook product with OS X installed. The latest example? A company called RussianMac (which is also selling other types of PCs with OS X installed) which is now offering what appears to be an ASUS Eee PC netbook with OS X pre-installed. The system (known as the “MiniBook”) features the following:

• Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 160GB 5400RPM HDD
• Intel GMA 950 graphics
• 10.2 inch 1024 x 600 resolution display
• Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0
• 3 USB 2.0 ports, VGA, media card reader

And now.. the price? 19,200 rubles or approximately $616 U.S. dollars. Not exactly cheap for a netbook.

[Check it out via 9 to 5 Mac]