NetbookTech

Introduction

So when is a netbook not a netbook?

When it comes to the Acer Aspire 1410, it’s not an easy question to answer at all.

The system looks like a netbook, feels like a netbook, and it’s even priced like a netbook. Yet at the end of the day, by Intel’s definitions, the 1410 is in fact not a netbook but an “ultra thin notebook” (also commonly known in the industry as a “thin-and-light notebook”).

The Aspire 1410 takes the look and feel of an 11.6 inch netbook and combines it with the power and energy-efficiency of Intel Consumer Ultra-Low Voltage processors – in this case the Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor.

At a higher level, the Aspire 1410 is best seen as a bridge between high-end netbook systems and high-end thin-and-light systems with more powerful dual-core processors and even larger form factors.

Read the rest of this entry »

OK – one more netbook deal for you to consider. CompUSA is currently offering the Samsung Go N310-13GBK netbook for a low price of $299.99. The specs are as follows:

• Intel Atom N270 processor clocked at 1.6GHz
• 10.1 inch WSVGA display with scratch resistant edge to edge glass
• 160GB HDD
• 1GB RAM
• 3 in 1 media card reader
• 9+ hour battery life
• 1.3 megapixel webcam
• Intel GMA 950
• SRS 3D sound effects
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity
• Windows XP Home

[Check out the deal ]

Another year-end deal for all of you to consider.

Newegg is offering the MSI Wind U110-031US 10 inch netbook for a low-price of $299.99 (limit 5 per customer). The specs to this netbook are:

• Intel Atom Z530 processor clocked at 1.6GHz
• 10 inch 1024 x 600 resolution display
• Intel SCH US15W chipset
• Intel GMA 500 graphics
• 1GB RAM
• 160GB SATA HDD
• Built-in 1.3 megapixel camera
• 10/100 Ethernet
• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• 3 USB ports
• VGA port
• Microphone and headphone jack
• Built-in stereo speakers
• 4 in 1 media card reader
• 9 cell battery with 14 hour battery life

[ Check out the deal]

Computer Geeks is currently running an end of the year liquidation sale and they’re offering refurbished Acer Aspire One AO751h-1940 netbooks for a low price of $259.99. The specs to the AO751h are as follows:

• Intel Atom Z520 processor clocked at 1.33GHz (yeah it’s a lil slow)
• 1GB RAM
• 160GB HDD
• Intel GMA 500 graphics
• Built-in speakers
• 10100 Ethernet
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• Media card reader
• 11.6 inch CrystalBrite LED backlit LCD display with 1366 x 768 resolution
• Three USB 2.0 ports, VGA port, microphone and headphone jack

[Check out the deal]

Although not formally announced as of yet, the new HP Mini 210 netbook featuring the new Intel Pine Trail platform is already up for sale at eCost.com. You’ll find several models at different price points at eCost.com as well as several color choices but more on that in a second.

The support page for the Mini 210 is also up over at HP’s website here. After perusing through the user manual for the Mini 210, I discovered that select models for the 210 will feature a multi-touch enabled display! Nice!

Other interesting tidbits include

• Chiclet style keyboard
• Mouse buttons are below the touchpad
• Speakers are located at the front of the netbook
• Right side of the netbook has (from left to right) a media card reader (supporting MS, MS PRO, MMC, SD/SDHC, xD-Picture Cards), power switch, 2 USB ports, Ethernet port, security slot
• Left side (from left to right) has power connector, battery light, VGA port, drive light, USB port, audio out/microphone jack
• Select models will support WWAN with SIM card located behind battery
• Supports 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth wireless connectivity
• Media controls on top of the keyboard
• Touchpad is gesture enabled
• One memory slot
• Sadly, there doesn’t appear to be an HDMI port with the Mini 210

OK, back to the eCost listings.  Color choices for the Mini 210 appear to be Matte Black with a pattern, Sonoma Red, Pacific Blue, and Black.

The lowest priced Mini 210 is a $321.99 model known as the 210-1010NR (which also is out of stock) with features including:

• Intel Atom N450 processor
• 10.1 inch flush glass display
• 1GB RAM
• 160GB HDD
• Windows 7 Starter
• Intel GMA 3150 graphics
• Media card reader
• 802.11 b/g
• Built-in webcam and microphone
• Solid black
• 3 cell battery

Next up is the black Mini 210-1030NR priced at $345.99. Specs are the same as above except the 3 cell battery is now a 6 cell battery.

Next is the Mini 210-1055NR priced at $366.99 (and out of stock) which appears to have the same specs as the previous model above (6 cell battery etc). I suppose the price adjustment is due to the color variations available. You can choose between Matte Silver with a pattern, Matte Black with a pattern, and Pacific Blue.

Finally, there’s the Mini 210-1080NR which comes with a larger hard drive (250GB 7200RPM HDD) as well as the six cell battery. Price for this system is $398.99.

Unfortunately it appears touch-screen versions of the Mini 210 are not available as of yet. Bummer.

Via News.com

Thanks to the FCC, we now know Acer is planning to release a new convertible thin-and-light notebook under the Acer, Gateway, and Packard Bell brand. Known currently as the Acer 1420P or the Gateway EC18T, the convertible notebook features:

• 11.6 inch display
• Intel CULV Core 2 Duo SU2300 processor clocked at 1.2 GHz
• Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics
• 500GB HDD
• Support for up to 8GB of RAM
• 3 USB 2.0 ports
• HDMI and VGA output
• Audio in/out

It’s not clear at this time whether the touch-screen display is multi-touch enabled or not. If the price is right and the 8+ hour battery life holds true, Acer could have a winner here with the 1420P.

Check out many more pictures here and here at the FCC.

[Via SlashGear]

IBTimes is out with a report on the rumored reference Google netbook specifications, and there’s nothing all too surprising here. According to the article, the Google netbook will feature:

• NVIDIA Tegra chipset (although it’s not clear which one)
• 10.1 inch TFT HD-ready multi-touch enabled display
• 64GB Solid State Drive
• 2GB of RAM
• Wi-Fi
• 3G support (hmm.. potential deals with mobile broadband companies in the works here?)
• Bluetooth
• Ethernet
• USB
• Built-in webcam
• 3.5 mm audio jack
• Multi-card reader

About the only interesting tidbit here is the usage of the NVIDIA Tegra processor. As most of you probably know, the Tegra is a low-power system-on-a-chip featuring an ARM processor core and an NVIDIA graphics core (and accompanying chipset functionality).

With an emphasis on graphics and multi-touch displays, one has to wonder what Google has in store for us with the Chrome OS…

[Check it out via Crave]

Here’s an interesting promotion over at Buy.com. Buy an ASUS Eee PC 1005HA 10.1 Netbook and get a free Belkin N150 Enhanced Wireless Router with the purchase.

The 1005HA on sale has the following specs:

• Intel Atom N270 processor clocked at 1.6GHz
• 10.1 inch LED backlit display with 1024 x 600 resolution
• 8+ hour battery life
• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Built-in 0.3 megapixel webcam and microphone
• 160GB HDD
• 3 USB 2.0 ports, 1 VGA port, 2 audio ports, Ethernet port, and a Kensington lock
• Media card reader
• Built-in stereo speakers
• 1GB of RAM

The Belkin N150 Enhanced Wireless Router features:

• Two built-in external antennas
• Wireless range of approximately 1000 feet
• Six LEDs for power, wired, wireless, modem, security, and Internet status
• Four 10/100 Ethernet ports
• Support for WPA, WPA2, Wi-Fi Protected Srtup, and 64 bit/128 bit WEP encryption
• VPN support

[ Check  it out]

Ah good ol LaptopMag. You can always count on them to offer the very latest in netbook and laptop reviews. Their latest set of netbook reviews offer a peak into what to expect out of Intel Atom N450-powered netbooks. The N450 is at the heart of the new Pine Trail platform which includes a new Atom processor core with integrated graphics in the core and a new chipset with reduced power requirements. In short, Pine Trail appears to promise minimal performance gains while achieving noticeable power consumption savings.

The first of two reviews from the publication was the newly announced ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PE-P. Similar to the extremely popular ASUS Eee PC 1005HA, the new 1005PE-P offers a larger hard drive (250GB), a better keyboard, and of course, an incredible battery life – thanks in no small part to the new Pine Trail platform. Here’s a blurb from the summary:

“While Intel’s new Atom N450 processor doesn’t really improve performance, the extra endurance it provides will certainly be welcome among netbook users. At $379, this netbook is a bargain, undercutting the Toshiba mini NB205 by $20 while lasting longer on a charge. We give the edge to the NB205 because of its more comfortable touchpad and mouse buttons, but the 1005PE is a still a stellar value.”

The second review is of the new MSI Wind U135 netbook which offers an extremely competitive price of around $329 dollars while also featuring the new Atom N450 processor. Unfortunately it appears the U135 doesn’t quite have the battery life of its competition with LaptopMag timing battery life at around 5+ hours. That’s an incredibly poor showing for an MSI netbook.

An excerpt from the verdict says it all:

“If you can swing the extra $50, we recommend the ASUS Eee PC 1005PE and its 5 extra hours of work and play time. But, if you’re really watching the bottom line, the U135 is worth a look.”

DigiTimes is reporting Foxconn Electronics will be launching two white-box netbook systems featuring the new Intel Pine Trail platform. Known under their code names, NS20 and NS24, the new systems are expected to offer fairly standard netbook features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, integrated webcam, and a media card reader. No word on the availability of the new systems.