NetbookTech

Lenovo introduces several new enhancements to their IdeaPad S10 netbook today including new Quick Start capability, facial recognition software, and easy access to Lenovo’s social networking community.

Lenovo is adding a new Quick Start feature to the IdeaPad S10 which allows users the ability to access a number of frequently used applications including a web browser, music player, photo viewer, instant messaging tools, and Skype.

To help users easily log into their netbook, Lenovo is now bundling VeriFace facial recognition software with the S10 – allowing users to log into their system simply by using their webcam and face. Existing S10 owners can download VeriFace from the Lenovo website now.

Finally for consumers new to social networking, Lenovo introduces a new pre-loaded tool called “LenovoSocial” allowing users to easily connect to an online resource portal helping them to navigate and participate in social networking communities.

Those of you wanting an upgrade to their 3 cell battery on their IdeaPad S9/S10 can now rejoice (sorta). Lenovo is now selling the 6 cell battery on their U.S. website in black or white. Now why do I say sorta? The 6 cell battery is being sold for a mere (I jest) $129.95. Yes.. that’s right. $129.95. That’s 37 percent the cost of the low end $349 S10 model. Not exactly cheap is it? Lenovo’s gotta make money somehow right?

The white 6 cell battery can be purchased here (part number 51J0399).

The black 6 cell battery can be purchased here (part number 45K1275).

If you want the 3 cell battery in white, you can get it here (part number 51J0398).

Via Lenovo Blogs

Details of the 10 inch Acer Aspire One netbook are finally emerging on the net – this time thanks to macles*. Here’s what we know thus far (none of which are confirmed by Acer mind you). Acer appears to be dropping Linux configurations with the new netbook – instead offering Windows and hard drive configurations. Other specs include a 10.1 inch display, a new multi-card reader replacing the Storage Expansion slot, a single DIMM slot with support for a max of 2GB of memory, and optional Bluetooth/3G networking.

One thankful change to the 10 inch Aspire One is the placement of the touch-pad buttons. They’ve been moved from the sides of the touch-pad to the bottom of the touch-pad. Expect the new Aspire One to be available in white, black, and red.

[Check it out via CrunchGear]

The 10 inch netbook has been the sweet spot for the market for several months now. Could we see a transition to 12 inch systems soon? ASUS is reportedly planning a 12 inch model in the form of the Eee PC S121 – basically a larger version of the stylish Eee PC S101. If it follows the same pricing as the S101, expect the S121 to command a hefty premium. No word on specs as of yet but we really don’t expect anything different there.

[Check it out via Crave]

First off, Happy New Year to all of you. I sincerely hope all of our readers had a wonderful holiday season. Ours was fairly uneventful (which is of course, a good thing).  In any case, let’s start the new year off by looking at how netbooks fared in Japan in 2008. The folks at Akihabara News were kind enough to republish a list of the top 10 netbooks in terms of sales volume for 2008 (originally compiled by the folks at BNC Japan). Without further ado, here’s the list:

• ASUS Eee PC – 4GB SSD model had 20.9 percent
• Acer Aspire One – 120GB model had 19.5 percent
• ASUS Eee PC 901-X – 12GB SSD model had 16.8 percent
• Acer Aspire One – 160GB model had 5.1 percent
• ASUS Eee PC 1000H – 160GB model had 4.7 percent
• Konjinsa SA5KX08AL – 80GB model had 2.6 percent
• ASUS Eee PC S101-X – 16GB SSD model had 1.9 percent
• Onkyo C101-4 – 120GB model had 1.8 percent
• ASUS Eee PC 701-SD-007X – 8GB SSD model had 1.8 percent
• HP FR082PA – 160GB HDD model had 1.6 percent

Congrats to all.

[Check it out]

MSI exits 2008 by announcing a new netbook model – the MSI Wind U115 Hybrid. Why the hybrid nomenclature? The system utilizes both a solid state drive (SSD) and a hard disk drive (HDD) simultaneously. Want to maximize battery life? Switch on “ECO on Mode” which shuts down the internal hard disk drive in favor of the solid state drive which offers a reliable and power efficient storage system.

Interestingly enough, the U115 also features the Intel Poulsbo chipset which means you’ll get the Intel Atom Z530 processor as opposed to the more common N270 processor seen in the majority of netbook systems out there.

MSI claims the U115 can achieve “super long battery life” but offers no details as to how long exactly this is.

Another new feature of the U115 – increased distance between the keys – 17.5 mm to be exact.

You still get a 10 inch display with the common 1024 x 600 resolution. You also get an LED power saving backlight display which offers a brighter more power-efficient display.

Specs for the MSI U115 Hybrid include:

• Intel Atom Processor Z530 running at 1.6GHz
• Windows XP Home
• Intel Poulsbo US15W chipset
• 1GB (by module only) DDR2 533MHz. Chipset support to 2GB
• 10 inch 1024 x 600 LCD panel
• 120GB/160GB 2.5 inch SATA HDD
• 8/16GB SSD
• 4 in 1 memory card reader with support for xD/SD/MMC/Memory Stick
• 2 megapixel webcam
• D-Sub, 3 x USB 2.0 ports. microphone in, headphone, RJ45 port
• 3/6 cell battery
• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
• 2 Speakers
• Measures 260 x 180 x 19~31.5 mm
• Weighs ~1.0 kg

No word on pricing nor availability as of yet.

[Check it out]

Now this is classic. Psion Teklogix has begun sending “cease and desist” letters to several websites that use the term “netbook” in their site. In a letter displayed at jkOnTheRun.com (and shown above), the attorney representing Psion claims the company owns the netbook trademark in the U.S., E.U., Canada, Singapore, and Hong Kong. In addition, the letter goes on to say:

“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 cease and desist letter than closes by giving up to three months to remove all offending content – basically till the end of March 2009.

Now it’s no small secret that Psion had a “netbook” product back in the late 90’s but the company has since discontinued that product line – although according to jkOnTheRun, they still sell accessories including batteries for the netbook.

Since the “netbook” term was re-popularized by Intel, one wonders whether Psion Teklogix will send a cease and desist letter to the chip giant. After all – all of us bloggers and website owners are merely following Intel’s lead in using the term “netbook” (and the term “nettop”).  Oh yeah – Psion’s going to have to go after all the hardware manufacturers that have begun using the term “netbook” to describe their products. Ah yes.. there’s also the small thing with the “Netbook World Summit” which just took place earlier this month. I guess they have to change their name too now.

Now don’t get me wrong – I’m all in favor of trademark protection. Terms need to be protected – especially if they’re being used to misrepresent a product or service, but one has to wonder to what length? Now I’m certainly not a lawyer by any means, but common sense should dictate a little reasoning here. After all, before 2007, if you asked anyone what a “netbook” was, would anyone actually say “oh it’s a product from Psion”? I HIGHLY DOUBT THAT. The Psion netbook died.. and let it stay dead. Come on Psion – do the right thing and let us poor website owners, bloggers, and writers use the term to describe a class of products. After all – even if you successful defend your trademark here – will anyone still realize the “netbook” term is for your product? Nope. Consumers will think “oh it’s a small cheap notebook from ASUS, Acer, MSI, Lenovo, Dell, …..”

[Check it out via Guardian UK]

Who says netbooks are making a different in the PC industry? According to iSuppli, netbook sales have helped propel Acer to within less than 2 percentage points of Dell for total PC market share. On a sequential basis, Acer grew its unit shipment market share by 45 percent while on a year over year basis, it grew by 79 percent. The company shipped nearly 3 million more notebooks during Q3 than in the previous quarter – the majority of which were netbook systems.

“Clearly, the company’s netbook strategy is paying dividends”

Overall, iSuppli reached the same conclusions as IDC – that notebook sales have surpassed desktop PCs for the first time ever on a quarterly basis.

[Check it out]

Just what is Sony up to exactly? Over the weekend, Engadget spotted a teaser webpage pop up on the Sony New Zealand website here. Unfortunately the page is no long around but it does confirm that Sony will be making a big laptop announcement at CES on January 9th. The real question for us is – is this the long awaited Sony netbook? Could this be the device that the FCC recently approved? OR.. is this just something totally different?

Of course everyone knows that both Sony and Apple are noticeably absent from the netbook market. Yet -  is this a market that they absolutely have to enter? As seen by others in the market, entering the netbook industry could result in lower profit margins as well as cannibalization of higher end notebook/laptop system sales.

Sony and Apple are two companies which focus on substance and style when it comes to their products – resulting in devices which are often more expensive than competing products. This holds true for Sony’s notebooks too – so the real question is – would Sony be willing to part with that model and offer an inexpensive netbook?

Our guess here at NetbookTech is no. If Sony is going to make a statement such as “On the 9th of January, you will change the way you look at laptops. Forever.” then a new netbook model wouldn’t justify such a statement.

So what would? I guess we’ll just have to wait.

[Via News.com, Engadget.com]

Not resting on its laurels, Samsung appears ready to debut a new netbook in the coming new year. Dubbed the Samsung NC20, the new netbook will substitute the Intel Atom processor with a Via Nano U225 processor clocked in at 1.3GHz and will feature a larger 12.1 inch display, a 160GB hard drive, and 1GB of memory.

Other notable specs include:

• Bluetooth 2.0
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
• Ethernet
• 3 in 1 memory card reader
• 1.3 megapixel webcam
• 1.5 kg weight

According to Notebook Italia, the NC20 will cost around 642 dollars which is definitely more than the current NC10. It’ll be interesting to see how the Nano performs against the Atom in this space. Expect the NC20 in February.

BTW, the Notebook Italia article is of course in Italian.

[Via Akihabara news]