NetbookTech

If you’re in Japan, you’ll be happy to hear that Acer is now offering the 160GB version of the Acer Aspire One for a price of 54,800 Yen ($556 U.S. dollars). This same model has been available in the U.S. for some time now with Amazon.com offering the system for $429.99. Although Akihabara News doesn’t mention this, one would assume that the 160GB version will also come with a six cell battery.

[Check it out]

The New York Times is reporting that Toshiba’s new NB100 netbook went on sale over the weekend in Japan and will be coming to Europe shortly. The system being sold in Japan has a price range of $677 to $740 dollars and has an Intel Atom processor, an 8.9 inch display, 120GB HDD, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Windows XP Home. Europeans will see a larger hard drive (160GB) with prices expected between $461 and $508 U.S. dollars.

Toshiba is also planning to release an Ubuntu version of the netbook with half the memory of the Windows XP models and a 120GB HDD. Unfortunately, Toshiba is not planning to release the NB100 here in the U.S.

[Check it out]

One of the worst kept product secrets is finally official. Dell has finally announced the 12 inch Inspiron Mini 12 netbook. The system is making its first appearance in Japan with global availability starting in November. Prices are expected to start at under $600 dollars for the 12 inch netbook.

The Dell Inspiron Mini 12 features an Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, your choice of either a 60GB or 80 GB HDD, built-in Bluetooth and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, a 12.1 inch WXGA display, a built-in webcam, and Windows Vista Home Basic. It measures a mere 0.92 inches thick at its thinnest point and weighs only 2.72 lbs. Dell also announced that it will offer Windows XP and Ubuntu as alternative OS choices.

The full specifications are as follows:

• Intel Atom Processor Model Z520 running at 1.33 GHz or 1.6 GHz with 512KB L2 cache, 533MHz FSB
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic SP1
• 1GB DDR2 SDRAM
• 12.1 TFT TrueLife WXGA (1280 x 800) display
• 60GB or 80GB SATA 4200RPM HDD
• 801.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• Intel GMA 500
• 3 USB 2.0 ports
• 10/100 Ethernet
• VGA port
• 1 Line-out, 1 Mic-in
• 5-in-1 memory card reader with support for SD/SDHC/MMC/MS/MS Pro
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Measures 299 x 229 x 23.3-27.6 mm  (11.77 x 9.01 x 0.91 ~ 1.08 inches)
• Weighs 1.24kg (2.7 lbs)

My initial reactions”:

• The system looks pretty sweet in an all-black outer shell
• The 12 inch display has a better resolution than typical 9 or 10 inch displays
• The Atom processor is not the same as the N270 used in typical netbooks- this is a MID oriented Atom processor
• Windows Vista is OK but I think I’d still rather have XP
• Why release this initially in Japan???

[Check out the press release via Ubergizmo]

[Check out the Dell Japan product page]

Dell Japan is now selling a netbook system for small businesses called the Vostro A90. The A90 appears to be a Dell Inspiron Mini 9 repackaged for the Vostro product line. Unlike the consumer oriented Inspiron Mini 9, the business friendly Vostro A90 is sheathed entirely in black (and I must say that I LIKE IT!). Specs are just like the Mini 9 and include the following:

• Intel Atom N270 processor
• Windows XP Home Edition SP3
• 1GB RAM
• 8.9 inch 1024 x 600 TFT TrueLife WSVGA LED backlit display
• 8GB SSD
• Intel GMA950
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• 3 USB 2.0 ports
• 3 in 1 memory card reader
• Ethernet
• VGA port
• Measures 232 x 172 x 27.2-31.7 mm and weighs 1.07 kg

Now unlike the U.S prices, the system is selling for 62,980円 ($668.457)  in Japan.

[Check it out via Mobile Mag]