When the folks at Netbook Navigator first asked me to write about the company's new 9 inch tablet PC I had a hard time getting past the high price tag of nearly $1200. But that price was for an early model that packed 3G capabilities and was intended for early adopters. Now Netbook Navigator has updated the pricing for the Nav 9 tablet and the base model costs just $799. Yeah, that's still enough money to pick up 2-3 netbooks, but here's what you get for the money:

• Display: 8.9 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel multitouch display
• CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU
• Graphics: Intel GMA 950
• Storage: 16GB SSD
• RAM: 2GB
• OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
• Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, LAN, optional 3G HSDPA or CDMA
• I/O: 3 USB ports, MiniSD card slot, SIM card slot, port replicator w/VGA/LAN adapter, 1.3MP webcam
• Battery: 3 cell, 1700mAh (2.5 hours max)
• Dimensions: 10 x 6.6 x 0.8
• Weight: 2 pounds
• Other: car charger

The 3G module will cost you extra, as will a higher capacity battery which is good for up to 4 hours of run time. You can also get the Nav 9 with a 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB SSD. The most expensive unit will run you $1399, but the $799 starting price is certainly much more appealing than the $1200 the company was charging earlier.

Netbook Navigator has also put together a handy chart comparing the Nav 9 tablet to the upcoming Apple iPad and the already-on-the-market Archos 9 tablet. The long and short of it is that the Nav 9 supports multitasking, supports USB peripherals and SD card expansion, and comes in more varieties. Oh yeah, it can also run most Windows applications. On the other hand, it's thicker and heavier than the other tablets.

Post from: Liliputing

Netbook Navigator's Nav 9 slate PC gets affordable, guns for the iPad

By being more powerful we mean that the Eee PC 1005PE features 2GB of RAM, and 320GB of HDD. The screen remains at 10.1-inch of course with 1024x600 resolution. It's battery pack is still 6-cell 4400mAh with 11 hours of battery life and of course it is powered by Intel Atom N450 CPU running Windows 7.

Since it is not officially announced yet, no official pictures are available, even its price and release data are uncertain at this moment. But we will sure bring these information to you once they became available, so stick around.

via Blogeee

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Eee PC 1005PE-H Spotted, More Powerful than the One without an H

iPad - image courtesy of Apple Inc.

The world has waited quite awhile for Apple to finally release its tablet. The world wanted it so much that in a way it worked against Apple. People built up their expectations of the iPad so high that it was going to be tough for Apple to surpass it. Did they? The simple answer is no. The iPad falls short of the world's lofty expectations. Is it Apple's fault? Not totally.

The world wanted Apple to produce a breakthrough device so much that when Jason Calcanis, founder of Engadget fired of tweets saying that he had been a beta tester for Apple and started to rattle off specs that were too good to be true, people believed him (this writer included). Why not? He's been writing about the tech industry and is one of the more recognizable names in the blogosphere that it seemed plausible. I hindsight, the solar panels should have been a dead giveaway.

On to the iPad. At first glance it does indeed just look like a big iPod Touch. Is it revolutionary and magically as Apple said it is? It should be had the world not been exposed to the iPhone and iPod Touch prior to it. On its on it is still revolutionary. Here's why.

1. The size is a big factor Sure it may look like a big iPod Touch but the bigger form factor just opens up a lot more possibilities. I've been a long time user of the iPod Touch and iPhone. I have both the first generation of iPod Touch and iPhone and thus have a little bit of experience with the devices. They both are great mobile devices. For checking important emails, looking up stock and weather quotes, reading a short article on the internet that really can't wait both these devices are top notch. But for reading books, watching movies, etc. It's just ok. After awhile your head starts to spin because of the eye strain and makes you want to put it down. The iPhone and iPod Touch are great mobile devices that can be used for short periods.

On the areas that the iPod Touch and iPhone are lacking, I think this is where the iPad starts to shine. Its size makes for an excellent device to watch videos on. The screen is large enough for personal viewing that it doesn't become such a chore. Reading books should be easier too although I shall reserve judgment on that until I actually get to try it.

2. Keeping it Simple - I've heard about a lot of people saying that the iPad lacks multi-tasking, etc. but I believe that Apple's attitude of keeping the iPad simple is actually is a strength. We've been surrounded by a culture of multitasking that it's gotten to a point that it's become a hindrance rather than helpful. When we work on our computers, we often find ourselves doing email, chatting, reading web pages all at the same time. It's becoming confusing and our concentration is suffering. I'm not saying this is always bad but in some cases keeping focus on things is good.

I also believe that the target users for the iPad are really people who aren't that techie. Let me qualify this. I'm not saying these people don't like technology or are adverse to it. I'm saying these people are the ones that like technology that just works. That's why a lot of people play games on consoles. Sure they can play games on the PC but it takes so much work to do so. Consoles are simple. You place the game, you play. Simple. The iPad is pretty much simple as well. It won't take rocket science to figure it out.

3. Touch me - The touch interface feels natural. It's been around for awhile but Apple's iPhone/iPod Touch interface that has been adapted for the iPad is the most natural touch interface I've seen. It's not a PC interface that has been adapted for touch. It's actually designed with the touch interface in mind. Therefore it just feels natural. People who aren't tech oriented really don't have a hard time figuring it out. Case in point, my tech challenged mother didn't have a hard time learning her iPhone.

4. It's what inside that counts In this case, one of the biggest things about the iPad announcement is actually the processor. Apple now has it's own processor inside one of its devices. It actually looks pretty good. If the impressions of people that have had a chance to play with the iPad. This thing screams and isn't power hungry. If this chip finds it way to the iPhone, we'll have quite the smart phone on our hands.

The iPad was designed to fill a gap between the netbook and a smar tphone. Will it do that? I think to a certain extent it will. I envision people buying this to have them in their homes and have easy access to email, photos, videos. Sometimes you just want to share photos with a friend and not necessarily project it on the TV. The iPad is a good alternative.

I also see it as a good addition to people who have desktops but want something portable to bring around the house to check emails, watch videos from anywhere and yes that includes the bathroom. I don't think it will get hot enough to burn your crotch as a MacBook/MacBook Pro does.

Will it revolutionize the way the iPod has? It has the potential to do so but only time will tell. For a 1.0 product it's good. I'm sure as with the iPod and iPhone the succeeding versions will only be better.

Post from: EveryJoe

Apple iPad: Breakthrough or Breakdown?

The Samsung X120 falls in the CULV category as it features the Intel CULV processor. The X120 features an 11.6 inch display and a full sized keyboard. The left and right mouse buttons are located either side of the trackpad, which for some may hinder the use of the built in mouse, especially if you're used to the right and left buttons being located under the trackpad. The guys over at Netbook News received the X120 and have posted an unboxing video along with first impressions design wise. Like the other Samsung netbooks, the accessories include a neoprene sleeve to protect the netbook, however it's noted that no manual is included, not even a quick start guide. The X120 also has the trademark chrome border. Looking at the underneath, it appears that the HDD and RAM are easily accessible for those who wish to upgrade either. You can view the full unboxing and first impressions video after the jump.

via

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Samsung X120 unboxing video

There's the Atom N270 processor, running at 1.6Ghz, for example. And then there's the 2GB of memory and solid state 32GB drive. Lastly, the replaceable battery on this 8.9-in. multitouch tablet is clocked at a mere four hours, which doesn't seem that great (saving grace being that is replaceable).

Pricing is set at $599 when it launches in March. Impatient types can buy a non-multitouch prototype for $780 right now. [ExoPC via Engadget]

Via ARMdevices

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Hivision PWS700CA Android-powered laptop gets reviewed

The iPad is not the transformational device so many Apple enthusiasts were hoping for. It won't turn all the content industries upside down, it won't be your primary computing device, and it's not even a bigger, better iPhone.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPad as a device to fill the gap between smartphones like the iPhone and high-end laptops like the MacBook and MacBook Pro. He said there needs to be a middle device, but it needs to be better than the alternatives at what it does. Netbooks currently fill the void, but according to Jobs, netbooks aren't better at anything. He and his colleagues at Apple believe that the iPad is.

Apple's website and promotional video call the iPad magical. We're told the iPad is the best way to experience the web, email, photos, and videos. Hands down. But it's not it's not even close. It's mighty cool, it's super convenient, and it's very sexy, but it's not even better than a netbook at some of those things.

This isn't the middle device folks have been waiting for because and I'm using Steve Jobs's own criteria here it's not better at anything than any other device on the market. It's a step in that direction, but the day hasn't come yet. Here are just a few of the ways the iPad isn't as magical as Apple claims.

It's Not the Best Way to Browse the Web

Steve Jobs said it needs to be a better web device than the alternatives. The Apple website says it's the best way to experience the web. Some variation of that phrase is repeated several times in the promotional video Apple has released. But it's just not true.

It might be one of the best ways to browse the web on a mobile device, but laptop and desktop computers even netbooks are still better. Most current websites were designed to be experienced on those devices with a mouse and a keyboard. Maybe the mouse isn't necessary, but you don't have to pop up a software keyboard to type in URLs on a netbook or laptop. Even if you lug around the keyboard dock, it will be a tad awkward moving between the keys and the screen to interact. You're sacrificing some usability for simplicity on the iPad.

Most importantly, the iPad's browser does not support Adobe Flash, the foundation of rich media on the web today. Adobe is planning to make it possible for Flash developers to develop apps, but it won't work on the web.

I'll admit that the decision not to support Flash is a logical one if you start at the right premises; Flash is responsible for countless reported crashes on Macs, and Apple can't control it to ensure quality of experience. Apple is banking on a transition to HTML5 and CSS 3 for rich web content. While that transition has already begun, it hasn't fully happened yet. Until it does, it's ridiculous to call this device the best way to experience the web when one of the most ubiquitous and essential web technologies is not supported.

It's an Unprecedented Win for Closed Computing

Many of the software restrictions that drive people mad when they're using the iPhone are going to be just as frustrating on the iPad. All the device's content apps, songs, TV shows, movies, books, you name it can only be processed through Apple's iTunes Store.

You won't be able to drag and drop or share files with other computers like you can with your laptop on your home network. You won't be able to download a program or music file from the web and play it on the spot. You won't be able to use any application that doesn't meet Apple's strict approval guidelines. It's closed computing at its most extreme.

Unfortunately we've come to expect that from our smartphones. For a larger device that's supposed to replace your netbook as a complete portable computing solution, though, this is almost unprecedented at least from a device that's likely to have a great deal of influence on the market and on the design of future devices. That's bad news no matter how you spin it.

It's Not Really a Competitive eReader

The Kindle owns the eReader landscape right now, and the greatest expectation for the iPad was that it would bury the Kindle. While the iPad's reader interface is indisputably sweet-looking and the list of participating publishers is promising, there are several ways it just won't beat the Kindle.

The most important issue is the price. The Kindle costs $260; so do Barnes & Noble's Nook and the comparable Sony Reader. The Kindle even comes bundled with free 3G network access, though it admittedly can't do anywhere near as much with it as the iPad can.

But if you are considering the iPad primarily as a reader, that price difference is a big problem. Also a big problem: The lack of an e-ink display. E-ink doesn't wash your face in eye-strain-inducing light like the displays on the iPhone, the iPad, and laptop computers do. It's meant to be a soft experience, just like reading a book. Without e-ink, you might not be able to tolerate spending four straight hours reading Stephen King's latest on a regular display, cool IPS tech aside.

Finally, as impressive as 10 hours of battery life is for a multi-purpose device like the iPad, the Kindle can run in reading mode for a week without recharging longer if Wi-Fi is disabled. Because it's trying to do everything, the iPad isn't the best at anything.

It's Not Worth It If You Have a Smartphone and Laptop

If the iPad isn't a good option as a middle device, it ought to at least be attractive to power users and enthusiasts who already have other devices. Unfortunately, it's not.

It's not significantly better at anything than either your iPhone or your MacBook. It can't be used as your daily workhorse computer on the go, because just like the iPhone's OS 3.1.2 the iPad's OS 3.2 doesn't multitask. And if you already have an iPhone, you can do basic information gathering, mapping, and so on while you're on the go without spending an additional $29.99 per month for 3G service.

Further, your laptop or netbook very likely has a web cam for video conferencing, and your cell phone probably has a camera (or even video camera) for capturing images. The iPad has neither.

Since the interface is graceful and satisfying, you might want to buy it as an extra device just for the experience, but at between $499 $829, that's not practical for most consumers.

The Anti-Hype

The iPad isn't going to be a phenomenon with either netbook users or power users. It's not better than existing devices at anything, and it's too expensive for most people to use it as a secondary device. I might have said something different if the rumors that the iPad would be all about a new push in the content marketplace were true, but that didn't happen. Instead, we got a cool toy.

Tags: apple, Apple Tablet, ereader, ipad, Kindle, Opinion

By Senior Editor Kris Smith (@croncast)

The world was shown a lot of new electronic products this year at CES.

This is a list of the top 5 products that are actually usable or will be in the near future when they are released.

These are what we wish we could pick up at the store today.

Enjoy the videos as well.

5. Sprint Overdrive

This is MiFi on steroids with 3G and 4G coverage. This beast is ready today. However, it is limited to certain cities and metro areas in the states. See if you're on the list and if you are, drop that cable company or DSL provider like they're hot.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

4. MSI Android slate

This was the closest I found to a slate that was responsive and accurate even for a dude with fat fingers. Maybe the others aren't up to production mode yet but they lacked the same experience, until the MSI would freeze.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

3. Vizio wifi TV's

This iteration of 3D is a huge fail. Like bad movies this should have seen limited release or straight to DVD, if you know what I mean. What is awesome are the Vizio wifi TV's that will be hitting the shelves. They've embraced almost every type of TV widget that can be made and I would expect to see some brilliant hacks coming our way.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

2. Asus T101MT

There isn't a whole lot to say that I haven't said already. This is going to be a great, usable device that I wish was running Mac OS. I used a Toshiba tablet PC back in 2006 for my job and loved it. This size would be incredibly useful and mobile.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

1. Intel Infoscape

Only exists for trade show purposes but will soon be finding its way into other displays. Look out hotels, shopping malls and people with money to burn.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Wins and Fails While Covering CES 2010 (jkontherun.com)
• Dell chalks up tablet PC (reghardware.co.uk)
• Video: Highlights, Lowlights From CES 2010 (wired.com)
• Ballmer shows HP slate/tablet PC in CES snooze-athon (guardian.co.uk)

Our CES 2010 Top Picks is a post from: TechStartups.com

Chinese computer maker Coship wasn't turning heads with its netbook specs at CES.

However, with a sexy body like the beauty on the left, they're moving in the right direction to delight in the future. Other low cost netbook manufacturers like MSI and Asus should keep an eye on this competitor.

The Coship ZCULV30 is a shining example of taking the gloves off and following a design vision. In a world filled with bland silicon and plastic slices this netbook is a delightful departure.

The body is slick plastic that gave it a unique feel, it is light weight and is way hotter than the Monster Ferrari.

Limited specs below.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Asus Eee Keyboard PC Refined Computing (techstartups.com)
• Asus Multi-Touch Tablets T91MT and T101MT #CES (techstartups.com)
• Nokia Booklet 3G (reghardware.co.uk)
• Netbook vendors go all-out to stand out in 2010 (arstechnica.com)

Coship Netbook #CES Sexy MF ZCULV30 is a post from: TechStartups.com

In my search for information about the world, what matters to me and what is good, I go no farther than an application that I wrote called Filome. I've talk about it quite a bit here at Tech Startups.

It's an app that is about 85% of the way there and is relegated being updated when I have spare time. Which in the last 8 months hasn't been very often. One of the things it is brilliant at though is helping me find what is relevant to me and what I want to write about.

About 30 minutes ago it was tablet computers. But instead of writing about them and adding to the noise, I thought that I would share my filter a tablet computer group from Filome.

First there is the feed for those that want to get right to it - http://www.filome.com/group/ksmith/1/tablet%20computers.rss

Below are the latest 25 posts regarding tablet computing. All linking to the original posts. Find one and follow it down the rabbit hole. Enjoy! (Remember: If you want to stay updated subscribe to the feed link above)

1. You Can Take It With You: Future Trends in Media
2. Who needs tablet computers anyway?
3. Can Android Tablets Find a Market?
4. Why I Hate Ereaders, And Doubt They'll Ever Hit the Mainstream [Ebooks]
5. Why Google Should Make a Tablet [Opinion]
6. Apple to Launch iTunes on the Web
7. Analyst noise: Apple tablet in March for $1k, publishers on-board, Verizon iPhone coming too
8. Apple Tablet Release Date Gets Narrowed Down, Prices Get Estimated
9. Which Companies Will Win The Battle For The E-Book Consumer?
10. A New, Now Netbook You Can Actually Buy: PsiXpda
11. Analysts Predict 1 Billion+ Mobile Web Users by 2010
12. Time Inc. shows off magazine tablet demo, plans future anger about 70/30 profit split
13. Apple tablet rumored to be 'shockingly' inexpensive
14. Apple Registers TabletMac Trademark After Dueling Axiotron MacBook Modders [AppleTablet]
15. Using the Apple LP and Extras format for learning?
16. NVIDIA Tegra tablet prototype hands-on
17. What If Steve Jobs Hadn't Returned To Apple In 1997?
18. Hearst, Time, Conde iTunes For Magazines Only A Few Weeks Away
19. DigiTimes Claims Apple Tablet Delayed for OLED Upgrade [Rumor]
20. Apple tablet(s) in 2H 2010 with OLED screen and tailored content in tow?
21. Cond Nast Gets Wired Ready For Apple Tablet (In Case There Is One)
22. Adobe Air hits 2.0 this is powerful stuff
23. The death of the URL
24. Apple tablet speculation: high-end graphics, several models
25. Bookmark Away: Instapaper Comes Up With A New Way To Work With The Kindle

Related articles by Zemanta

• PastryKit: An iPhone Webdev Library from Apple (ajaxian.com)

Tablets, tablets, tablets The Next Devices is a post from: TechStartups.com

Black Friday may be just around the corner, but you don't have to wait to find some excellent bargains on netbooks, nettops, and accessories.

Netbooks and Notebooks

• ASUS Eee PC 1008HA Atom 1.66GHz 10 Netbook for $260 after rebate + free shipping ZipZoomfly
• Acer Aspire One AOD250-1165 10.1 Netbook w/3 cell battery for $285.95 + free shipping Amazon
• Refurbished Acer AOD250-1165 Netbook w/Win XP, 3 cell battery for $239.99 Buy.com
  
• Refurbished ASUS Eee PC 1005HA Atom 1.6GHz 10 Netbook w/3 cell batteryfor $215 + free shipping Mwave (coupon: BLKFRSAVE)
• Gateway LT2032u Atom 1.6GHz 10.1 Netbook with Windows 7 for $280 + $12 s&h Best Buy

Nettops

• Acer AspireRevo AR1600-U910H w/NVIDIA ION LE graphics, Windows XP Buy.com via Amazon

Accessories

• Set of Chargers for ASUS EEE PC 900 and 1000 Netbooks for $14 + free shipping - PCMicroStore (coupon: DealnewsASUSNet)
• Belkin N150 802.11n Enhanced 4-Port Wireless Router for $35 + free shipping - J&R
• Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Operating System for $171 + free shipping SuperBiiz (coupon: BLACKFRIDAY)

You can find more deals on netbooks, gadgets, and accessories in the Liliputing Deals section.

Post from: Liliputing

Deals of the Day

This holiday season Google is shelling out the marketing dollars with Virgin America so that you can stay connected at 35,000 feet going 600 miles per hour.

I guess they figure since they own your soul, which by the way isn't made of electrical ether, it's made of the data trails that you leave online through search, email, feed reading and anything else that behemoth touches, they can give you a great holiday gift.

I'm not sure what dirty secret that Google is trying to keep by buying our attention and adoration that they thought enough about us to allow us to connect to the internet on their dime, but it must be a big one. I wonder if they cheated on mom?

Either way, big daddy is planning on keeping you dialed in while you should be working on that presentation. This is a prime example of how to keep mind share up and win over a core audience when they least expect it.

But don't worry if you aren't flying the Virgin skies this holiday season, big daddy didn't forget about you. No matter what airline you are on and if you're at one of these 47 airports the Google is picking up the tab. So bust out that laptop, PSP, wifi enabled smart phone and your netbook to make sure that you fill your gut, I mean brain, with all the bits you can. Commonly referred to in the biz as bytophan, a close relative to the favorite holiday amino acid tryptophan.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

Google Making Friends at 35,000 ft is a post from: TechStartups.com

An interesting excerpt from the article:

The Flip's success stunned the industry, but it shouldn't have. It's just the latest triumph of what might be called Good Enough tech. Cheap, fast, simple tools are suddenly everywhere. We get our breaking news from blogs, we make spotty long-distance calls on Skype, we watch video on small computer screens rather than TVs, and more and more of us are carrying around dinky, low-power netbook computers that are just good enough to meet our surfing and emailing needs. The low end has never been riding higher.

So what happened? Well, in short, technology happened. The world has sped up, become more connected and a whole lot busier. As a result, what consumers want from the products and services they buy is fundamentally changing. We now favor flexibility over high fidelity, convenience over features, quick and dirty over slow and polished.

Jonathan Kaplan and Ariel Braunstein, the creators of the Flip Video, noticed that most people only use their expensive camcorders for shooting simple video. So, they made a cheap camera that only shoots simple video! The Flip Video camera is far from the best camcorder available. It's not even close. But it's the most successful. These little cameras cornered 17% of the U.S. camcorder market.

The success of this camera demonstrates a powerful lesson: a product does not have to be the best', but simply good enough. Cool' extras that aren't essential to accomplishing the product's central goal won't necessarily increase the value of your product and may only complicate and increase cost. Having it here and now is more important than having it perfect. Keeping it simple, cheap, and getting it in the consumers hands quickly is much more valuable than making it perfect.

We follow the Agile development process, which stresses quick iterations and getting new features to users as quick as possible. With Agile, your product may not be perfect the first time your users see it, but it will be good enough. It's the 80/20 rule, get it 80% complete, get it out, and figure out the last 20% as you go.

One of our goals this month is to simplify Rypple and focus on our core strength; getting you feedback. We too fell victim to adding cool features' that were not really necessary. Marg Campbell, one of our trusted advisers, described Rypple, in her Rypple TV video, as quick, dirty, and to the point! We're keeping this great line in mind every time we think of releasing a new feature!

The Booklet 3G's key specs include an Atom Z530 processor, 120GB hard disk, 1GB RAM, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and HDMI. It's pretty thin (just 0.78-inches), and will have a hot-swappable SIM card slot and integrated Ovi maps. [YouTube via Engadget]

Here's why: Apple has sold 21.17 million iPhones as of the end of Q2 2009 (that doesn't include millions of additional iPhone 3GSs which were launched in June). Launching the AWT on another carrier would make Apple compete against itself. This would immediately cause consumers to have to pick between the AWT and the iPhone which is as bad for Apple's business as it sounds. Consumers are highly unlikely to sign up for two carriers. Launching the AWT on another carrier would also weaken Apple's relationship with AT&T, which isn't something that you want to do when AT&T is home to an estimated 6.4 million iPhones here in the US (as of the end of April 2009). Apple has already tied 6.4+ million people into AT&T at some point for a two-year contract. How likely is it that people will terminate their contracts early and give up their iPhones to go to Verizon for the AWT? Highly unlikely I say. If the AWT launched with Verizon, you bet it wouldn't sell well early on because many of the users (6.4+ million of them!) who love the iPhone are already locked into AT&T; Apple wouldn't sacrifice the opportunity to sell to that huge number of people by launching on another carrier.

What if Apple launched the AWT with cellular data on AT&T? Well I'm sure a few of you out there cringe at that idea, knowing that AT&T's networked is already being stretched to its limits and they haven't even turned on the iPhone 3GS's speedier 7.2Mbps HSDPA. But let's say that the network could handle a bunch of AWTs; it still doesn't make any sense for them to launch with AT&T. Why? Because users are unlikely to pay for two separate data plans (one for the AWT and one for the iPhone), it would be seem redundant and not even remotely cost-effective in this slow economic time.

Of course we need to consider the size of the device. One of the most frequently cited rumors is that Apple has been buying a bunch of 9-10 touchscreens, and these will be used in the AWT. Since Apple doesn't provide any form of cellular data connection to its existing computer line, I don't think it is likely that they will to a device that large any time in the near future. The 13 MacBook is just 3 larger than the AWT is rumored to be. I doubt Apple sees users carrying these devices around in their pockets. It makes a lot of sense to give the iPhone cellular data because it can be easily pocketed and carried on your person. But the AWT certainly doesn't seem to be targeted to that sort of usage.

(continue reading on page 2)

Related posts:

1. A theory on why Apple is keeping quiet about the iPhone 3GS specs A quick look around the iPhone 3GS Tech Specs'...
2. 70% of Netbook sales are in Europe Richard Brown, Marketing manager for VIA, is reporting a few...
3. ABI Research: MIDs as Smartphones? 50% said yes! This one has surprised me a little bit. I expect...

As usual, a question came up about Apple entering the low-end laptop market, which is a fancy way of saying netbook market. Once again, Apple COO Tim Cook reiterated Apple's stance that Our goal is not to build the most computers. It's to build the best. What he means by this is that Apple has no interest in playing in the low-end market, which is of course also a low-margin market, which would mean Apple's pretty margins taking a hit. But wording is everything, and Cook once again didn't exactly eliminate the possibility of Apple making a new type of portable computing device.

He said that no matter what the price point is, that if Apple feels it can build a product worthy of its brand, it will do so. But he also specifically called out two price points that he thought are producing junky products, and implied that such price points will continue to produce junky products: $399 and $499.

And so if Apple is working on a tablet computer (or a larger screen iPod touch) of some kind, it will likely be priced above $500. To Apple watchers, that is obvious, but it's still important to hear Cook more or less say it.

A follow-up question later on about netbooks, asked if Apple specifically saw a future for a new mobile device with a larger screen? Cook joked that while he never wanted to rule out anything in the future, he also never intends to answer questions about new products. He went on to say that he believes most customers buying portable computers want a full-featured notebook. And many netbooks are slow and run old operating systems. Naturally, he didn't mention Chrome OS.

And that just seems to be more proof that whatever big touchscreen device Apple makes, it won't be so much of a netbook, but rather a product that Apple hopes will once again kickstart a new type of market. Whether that will work, who knows. Let's see the thing first.

Crunch Network: CrunchGear drool over the sexiest new gadgets and hardware.

"We've known all along that this type of technology would really work well in multiple platforms and multiple types of form factors. These CPUs perform better than the Atom processor, and the graphics are superior. These things... can play Blu-rays, they can play games."

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

AMD's Neo to hit nettops, all-in-one PCs soon originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 06:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Blockbuster Enhances Consumer Electronics Offering With Entertainment-Ready ARCHOS Netbook - Yahoo! Finance.

No related posts.

But recently, we've begun to question AIR's longevity. Now don't get us wrong - many of our favorite apps (TweetDeck, Tumbleweed, Yammer, etc.) are built using Adobe AIR. However, there's no reason why these apps couldn't just run in a browser instead...and that might even be a better place for them.

Sponsor

Twitter on AIR

When we think about AIR apps today, one of the top apps that comes to mind is TweetDeck, the multi-columned Twitter application which includes much sought-after features not built into Twitter.com's own web site such as groups, photo-sharing, and saved searches. Yet despite everything we love about TweetDeck, we wonder why it can't exist simply as an online application. What purpose does running TweetDeck in Adobe AIR serve? It's not AIR's cross-platform abilities - after all, web browsers are the original cross-platform apps -and it's not that AIR is notably faster than than an online version either. Probably the only reason for TweetDeck on AIR is that when the app was first built, AIR was the hot new thing. Now that the company has settled on the platform, they're just sticking with it.

Yet on the flip side, another popular Twitter client and originally an AIR-only app has gone the other direction. TweetDeck competitor Seesmic, once solely an Adobe AIR desktop application, is now offering a web-based version. Not only is the online app more than functional, it's also being lauded as "the best Twitter browser interface yet." More importantly, it goes to show that you don't need a desktop application to have a speedy, pretty, and useful app.

Streaming Video: Yeah, We Can Do that Online

Outside of the Twittersphere, other AIR apps on our radar in the past have included video-streaming programs like Adobe Media Player, AOL Top 100 Videos, and the YouTube-streaming DeskTube. Incidentally, today DeskTube is launching a new beta of their application, claiming "performance improvements" that now make their player "netbook-ready."

This immediately got us thinking: why do we need netbook-ready AIR applications? Maybe I don't speak for everyone, but my netbook is currently running XP and the only "app" I've installed is Google Chrome. With this fast, lightweight web browser and its pop-out tabs, desktop apps all of sudden seem so pass.

Besides what does DeskTube do (or any of these video-streaming AIR apps for that matter) that the web cannot? In DeskTube's case, in addition to playing YouTube videos, it includes a search feature, top video lists, a built-in uploader, and it lets you share videos via Twitter and Facebook. All those things can be done via YouTube.com right now, so what's the benefit of AIR?

Is the Future RIAs or Just Better Browsers?

Adobe AIR launched back in February of 2008, a time when browsers seemed either hopelessly out-of-date (IE7) or bloated with a plethora of add-ons (Firefox). We saw these little internet apps that could sit on our desktop connecting us to web services as truly amazing creations. But then in September, Google launched their Chrome browser and nothing has been the same since.

At first, we railed against Chrome's lack of extensions and lack of support for RSS among other things, but after a while (and once we filled up our bookmark bar with add-on like bookmarklets), we got over it. Surprisingly, you can live quite well without loading down your browser with extensions. In fact, the only thing that Chrome desperately needs is a Mac version so our non-PC friends can dump the open-source Chromium and use the real thing.

You see, once you "go Chrome" it's hard to switch back. As much as we fear handing yet another bit of our online life to Google, Chrome is where it's at now. Firefox now seems heavy and so much slower than before. Instead, we're popping out tabs to watch sites like FriendFeed and Twitscoop update in real-time. We're switching from online mode to offline courtesy of Google Gears in our Gmail and Calendar. And we're wondering why on earth we need another AIR app.

Today, AIR almost seems like a stop-gap between the heavy web browsers of the past and the speedy WebKit-powered browsers of the future...browsers like Chrome and whatever else comes next.

But then, Sony did the same thing. Before announcing the Sony Vaio W netbook, Sony keep on saying that they have no plans of releasing a Sony Vaio netbook, and they are their words.

Will Apple follow the same path? Well, if a China Times report claiming that Apple is releasing a 9.7-inch touchscreen netbook sometime in October is true lo and behold I might cancel my plans of getting the 13-inch MacBook Pro and wait for this Apple netbook instead.

But wait, the report also claims that the said Apple netbook might likely cost around $800 too expensive if I may say so.

What is pretty weird is the fact that the said Apple netbook would have a 9.7-inch screen. Ain't that too irregular for a netbook's size?

Anyway, please remember that all these still remain a rumor.

The MacRumors Forum is running this news item and they have posted several updates regarding this info. You might want to check it out to keep abreast of the developments about this netbook.

Via Engadget

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Is Apple Finally Releasing their Own Netbook?

Since you can't go right out and buy an Apple Netbook (just yet) and you really want to throw a copy of OS X on that Dell Mini 9 this is the most thorough tutorial I've seen yet on how to make it happen.

If I could pry our Mini 9 from my MIL's clutches I would totally make this a Saturday project. Think she would notice the change form Ubuntu to OS X?

What You'll Need

Dell Mini 9 With 16GB SSD or higher (8GB SSDs will techincally work, but it will take some fiddling not covered by this guide)

Retail copy of OS X 10.5.x (NOT an OEM copy that comes with a new Mac)

A USB flash drive 8GB or higher

An external USB DVD drive

The Type11 Bootloader: DellMiniBoot123v8.01.iso.zip (download link in this forum post)

Blank CD to burn bootloader image (I actually used version 8.0 of Type11 on my CD-if your boot process with 8.01 is different than what's spelled out in this guide, you can download 8.0 here. Both should work.)

Windows PC for preparing the flash drive (if DVD drive works fine, this is optional)

[via Gizmodo]

Last week we noted that Best Buy had reduced the price of the MSI Wind U100 to $349 and NewEgg did the same for the comparably equipped Acer Aspire One.

Now, Best Buy has cut the price of the Eee PC 900A to $279.99, meaning you can pick up a netbook with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, and a 4GB SSD for under $300. OK, it runs Xandros Linux, but there's no reason you couldn't install Ubuntu.

[Engadget via Liliputing]

Posted from my Acer Aspire One, 4 GB SSD, 8 GB SD, 512 MB RAM, 9-Cell Extended Battery.

Then a series of articles at What's On iPhone made me stop and give it some more thought. The lines between smartphones, iPhone, netbooks, and all the rest grow increasingly fuzzy, so maybe I jumped the gun on my assessment. I spent some time really thinking about how I used each, and decided that the three features of my netbooks that I value the most are:

Portable: I can grab my netbook as I head out the door and don't need a backpack or messenger bag. Sometimes I'll even take it "just in case" I may need it, where I'll only grab my Macbook if I know for a fact I will need it along the way. Here the iPhone meets the criteria just fine. Even better, since I can't fit my Eee PC in my pant's pocket. Passed.

Powerful: I used to have a Windows Mobile phone and used it for basic phone calls, email, and in a pinch maybe getting some information off the internet (which is NOT the same as just web surfing). As I've noted before, I barely use my iPhone for the "phone" part of it at all. I use it for email, games, notes, information, and nearly normal web surfing on occasion. It's a very powerful little device. Passed.

Functional: Here's where the wheels come off. For all the power in my iPhone, I just can't get at like I need to for many things. For example, I type more on my iPhone than I did on my smartphone, but I'm still not writing a big blog post. Nor am I preparing a presentation, reviewing lots of data, or building anything complex. It's both an input (no keyboard) and output (screen size) issue. It's not a bad thing by itself, but it just limits the use cases for which the iPhone is a solution. I can't put typed data in at a reasonable speed, and the zoom and pan of the iPhone just isn't enough for even mildly complicated work I do on a netbook. Significant Fail.

So I stand by my calling of Shenanigans. The iPhone has a lot going for it, but it is not and never will satisfy the needs of netbook users. Personally, I'm hoping Mr. Jobs was just stalling because judging by the number of people out there attempting to get OSX running on existing netbooks, if Apple ever came out with their own netbook (Macbooklette? Macnetbook? Netmac?) I wouldn't be standing in line to buy one all by myself.

The plan is hot on the heels of the just announced new models of the HP netbook - the HP Mini 1000, HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition and the Mini 700.

If you're not in the loop, some countries in Europe and Asia are fond of doing this kind of marketing strategy to gain market leverage for their netbook. And with the rising cost of prices, it is but natural for consumers to look into great buys and deals before they proceed with the transaction.

So, HP's plans of bundling up their HP Mini Note netbook with mobile carriers' data plans seem to be a logical strategy.

Via WSJ

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

HP Plans to Offer its Netbook via US Mobile Data Plan Bundle

Anyway, going back to the test run done by Laptopmag using a demo copy of Windows 7 handed out during the recently concluded Microsoft PDC event, Joanna Stern has the following observations:

• it took the Eee PC 1000H 58 seconds to booth Windows 7
• Windows feels and looks like Windows Vista
• improved network manager, ideal for netbooks
• smooth video playback
• does not eat up to many system resources when running

Overall it was a pretty successful testing of the Eee PC running on Windows 7. And suffice it to say that it was just a pre-beta version. Hopefully Microsoft programmers would be able to iron out some kinks before Windows 7 is released next year. By then, we might be seeing new netbooks again, with most of them definitely offering the Windows 7 as an OS.

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Surprise! Surprise! Windows 7 Runs Well on the Eee PC

The popularity of the Eee PC netbook has reached even those industries which you wouldn't think would be impacted by such a nifty piece of hardware. Latest industry player to join the netbook craze is toy specialist store - Toys R' Us. But wait, we're not saying that the store would be releasing its own branded netbook, but rather starting Nov. 16, the toy specialist would soon be carrying the Eee PC under its Consumer Electronics assortment of products.

News had it that Toys R' Us will be selling four models of the Eee PC 900, with the store hoping to capture the younger market. Toys R believe that the Eee PC is a kid-friendly product, hence the decision to sell the said netbooks to its consumers who are predominantly toy-loving younger consumers.

To kick-off the introduction of the Eee PC to their product offerings, Toys R' Us will be conducting a comprehensive campaign that would include print and active in-store displays.

Via Twice.com

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Toys R' Us to Sell Four Models of the Eee PC

There has been lots of attention around this end of the blogosphere lately about a site launched by Intel and Asus. The site is called WePC, and it hopes to collectively gather the best ideas for a laptop. Users can submit just an idea, or a complete idea of their dream computer. Submissions can be voted on by the community, and the site says that Asus will build the best computer (based on community votes), and Intel will power it.

The idea seems pretty cool and I'm very excited to see what ends up happening with this project. I'm impressed by the site itself and the time that Asus and Intel put into it. The submission form includes a few fields to enter a name and description for your idea or computer, and even a widget to let you draw your computer.

Have an idea? I encourage you all to submit it to the site; this is a great opportunity to give one of the biggest netbook manufacturers some feedback and suggestions, even if you idea doesn't come to fruition. Be sure to check out some of the ideas that have already been submitted.

Notebook Magazine have just done a full set of battery life tests on the NC10 Netbook and it looks like Samsung have once again worked their magic. The tests included continuous Wifi-on web browsing in battery saving mode which is a very reasonable test to be doing. Far better than the misleading 2001 Jeita test and much more real-life' than the Battery Eater Pro turn everything and and run it at full-steam' approach. The NC10 returned

• 12% screen brightness: 7hrs 34mins representing an average drain of about 7.6w which is just a little bit more than what I saw on the Q1 Ultra.
• 50% screen brightness, the duration dropped to 6hrs 30mins which is an average 8.7W.
• 100% screen brightness, the test result reduced to 4hrs 38 minutes which is 12.3 watts drain.

More after the break

What it highlights is something I've been saying for years. The CPU power drain is not the most important element in determining a devices overall efficiency. In these 10" screens, even the latest LED technology backlight can take a lot of drain. In this case, nearly 5W at full power which is nearly 50% of the total power drain of the whole PC! Obviously, as screens get smaller, the LED power required drops and when you get to a 4.8" screen, you'll see 1-1.5W average drain. If you were to attache that Samsung battery to the Aigo MID, you would see close to 20 hours battery life under similar conditions as the Wifi-on drain is about 3W.

As we move to lower and lower power processors, screens and other components need to follow and the OEM that has access to the best components and the best engineers is always going to have an advantage. Samsung keep proving that.

So how's the rest of the NC10? I was watching a live session at EeePCnews.de a few evenings ago and it was clear that people are really interested in this one. 3000 people watched Sascha, the lead guy there, do live testing and as the session went on you could almost sense people hitting the buy button as Sascha reported positive comment after positive comment! LaptopMag calls it their netbook of choice' right now. From what I've seen, I have no reason to doubt it.

Samsung NC10 links and info in the product database.

Samsung's NC10 is the only product that provides comparableand even improvedfeatures for a lower price. Its comfortable, well-positioned keyboard, speedy and spacious hard drive, and more than 7 hours of endurance make the $499 Samsung NC10 the most well-rounded 10-inch netbook on the market.

Have a look at the review and see if you think the NC10 is the netbook of your dreams.

File this under things I should have done ages ago. Following the advice of jkOnTheRun's Kevin Tofel, I finally got around to installing Foxmarks on my primary work laptop and on my primary netbook (which, at the moment, happens to be an Asus Eee PC 1000H). Foxmarks lets you keep your bookmarks synchronized across multiple browsers. The latest version also adds support for password synchronization. You can read more about it in my post at Download Squad, but suffice it to say this is a must have application if you use Firefox and have multiple computers.

Post from: Liliputing

VIA has apparently confirmed that the next generation HP Mini-Note will not use VIA processors. HP is expected to launch a new netbook called the HP Mini 1000 this week (possibly as soon as Wednesday), and from what I can tell, it will have a 10 inch display, a cheap plastic case (unlike the sturdy aluminum case used in earlier models), and it will likely have a 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, much like almost every other netbook released in the US since this summer.

DigiTimes reports that a VIA official says that the new HP Mini-Note models will not sport VIA chips, but that HP will continue to sell the existing line of HP 2133 Mini-Notes through mid-2009.

That doesn't mean VIA is going to just curl up in a ball and roll away though. The company today announced the launch of a Global Mobility Bazaar program designed to make low cost computers available in the developing world. VIA is working with Microsoft and 15 Chinese PC makers to create an infrastructure for producing mobile computers with 7 to 15 inch screens that will be available for the equivalent of about $400 or less in regions including Eastern Europe, India, South America, and China.

While we may not see a lot of VIA C7-M or VIA Nano-powered computers in the US or western Europe in the near future, this initiative could result in an awful lot of computers in developing nations being powered by VIA chips. And who knows, if the VIA Nano lives up to its promise overseas, perhaps we'll see major western companies like HP take another look at the chip maker's products in the not too distant future.

via UMPC Portal

Post from: Liliputing

Sure, Asus may have promised to add the Splashtop instant on interface to every computer with an Asus motherboard. But it looks like Lenovo is going to beat Asus to the punch when it comes to adding Splashtop to netbooks. Today the company announed it's working with DeviceVM, the company behind Splashtop to add the interface to the lenovo IdeaPad S10e netbook.

According the press release, the S10e is now shipping. But it looks like this particular model is aimed at educational markets, not consumers. So it's not clear if and when you'll be able to pick up an S10 with Splashtop preloaded.

The IdeaPad S10e is available with Windows XP Home, or SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, and comes with either a 4GB SSD or a hard drive with up to 160GB of storage.

SplashTop software basically lets you boot a light weight operating system in a matter of seconds which gives you quick access to frequently used applications like Firefox, Skype, and Picasa. If those are the apps you plan to use, you can boot your system in around 5-10 seconds instead of waiting 30-60 seconds for a full Windows or Linux desktop to boot up.

In related news, when I checked the Lenovo IdeaPad S10 order page to see if there was any information about Splashtop (which will actually be called QuickStart on Lenovo machines), I noted that Lenovo has apparently cut the price of the red S10 model by $20. At $409, it's stil $10 more than the white or black models, but it's cheaper than it was last week.

Via Eee PC.net / Image credit: Engadget

Post from: Liliputing

Like most netbooks with Intel processors, most Eee PC models rely on integrated graphics which are good enough for watching videos or rendering some basic games, but kind of stink if you want to play a Crysis or Call of Duty. Asus does package an NVIDIA 9300M graphics card with the Asus N10 laptop, but the company refused to call that laptop a netbook (even though it has the same screen and keyboard size as a netbook, as well as the same 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU used in most of the company's netbooks).

Now it looks like Asus could be preparing an Eee PC netbook with a dedicated graphics card. If the rumored netbook is anything like the N10, Asus will offer users the ability to switch between dedicated and integrated graphics. You can use the lower power integrated graphics processor when battery life matters more than GPU performance. And when you want to blow up some aliens, you flip a switch and reboot your system.

No word on pricing, availability, or if this is actually going to happen or if it was just some guy at Asus mouthing off. But if it does come to pass, I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that Asus will charge more than $399 for an Eee PC with a fancy graphics card.

via Eee PC News

Post from: Liliputing

While I have been here working I have been using the T-Mobile G1 for email and generally playing with it and it's captured some attention. I have noticed since I've been using it that the folks who approach and ask about it fall in two categories: geeks and regular people (non-geeks). I noticed this because the geeks who ask about the phone always ask "is that the G1?" and the non-geeks invariably ask "is that the Google phone?". This is almost without fail and shows the power of marketing. I don't know what folks will call the next Android phone since it can't just be the "Google phone".

Our recent posts about HP Mini-note price drops at Amazon are starting to illustrate what we thought last month: HP is either making room for a new netbook or they're adding another choice to their lineup. Vivek caught sight of the new HP Mini 1000 netbook on HP's shopping page, but there's limited information at this point. Here's what we can see and\or guess:

• Starting price of $399
• Weight begins at 2.25 pounds, which is a little less than the HP Mini-note
• Under 1-inch in thickness
• Like the Acer Aspire One, the left and right mouse betters truly are left and right... of the trackpad.
• The large screen bezel of the 8.9-inch Mini-note is gone; we're guessing a 10-inch display

There's no mention of the remaining specs just yet and the two that are likely of interest the most are the CPU and screen resolution. The Mini-note uses an older VIA C7-M, so the question is: will HP go with VIA for the same-socket Nano CPU or will we see yet another Intel Atom system? Also, the Mini-note differentiates itself from all other netbooks with the generous 1280x768 display resolution. That sounds like a perfect res on a larger 10-inch screen and would continue to set HP's netbook apart from the crowd.

I didn't expect much from this cheap, diminutive laptop; it's mostly for web surfing, light email, maybe a tiny bit of miscellaneous office work. And in case the color choice didn't make it clear, it's not even for me. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

As I sat down to configure this machine, I belatedly realized that for most of what I do with a computer, this cute little netbook is perfectly adequate. Sure, the keyboard is a bit cramped, it's no performance powerhouse, and the screen size, at 1024 x 600, is definitely the minimum necessary for it to be practical. It took some adaptation, but it wasn't frustrating or disappointing to use. It delivered (almost) the same web experience I'd get on my desktop or laptop, with no serious compromises. It just.. worked.

Jeff was exposed to the thing we've been saying for a good while, netbooks, while not powerhouses, can do a large percentage of the functions most people need. Jeff didn't realize that until he started playing with one but he reached the same conclusion. They just work.

A company called Celiocorp has launched a completely different take on the netbook phenomenon. Instead of offering a lightweight computer running either Linux or XP like today's netbooks do, this notebook PC is entirely powered by a device you already own: your smartphone. Dubbed a mobile companion, the Redfly device has an 8-inch screen, a full-sized keyboard and touch pad, and is connected to your smartphone via a USB cable or Bluetooth.

To use the Redfly notebook, all you need to do is install the Redfly driver on your phone (see supported phones here). You can then use the netbook like any computer. Its bigger screen makes it easier to read documents, write emails, or surf the web. Redfly supports remote desktop, virtualization and other cloud-based environments like Citrix, GoToMyPC, LogMeIn, Microsoft's Remote Desktop protocol, stoneware, inc., and others. The netbook also features a VGA connector so you can connect your Redfly netbook to a projector for presentations.

As you use the Redfly device, you can be charging your smartphone too, assuming it's plugged in via the USB cable. The Redfly battery works for up to 8 hours, according to the company.

Because Redfly has no OS, no CPU, no hard drive, and requires no software licenses, its cost is lower than a laptop PC (an Amazon search shows that price to be around $199). That's also slightly more affordable than today's crop of OS-powered netbooks, but not by much.

The benefit to using a mobile companion instead of a PC is that the device can get lost or stolen without any threat of losing important data. Of course, a lot of companies have already started doing this now via the use of virtualized business apps running on top of the OS installed on regular company laptops all the important data is in the cloud so laptop loss or theft isn't as big a concern as before. However, given the price ($199) of Redfly vs. that of a laptop, the replacement cost would be minimal.

in reply to Redfly: A Netbook Entirely Powered By Your Windows Mobile Phone

A company called Celiocorp has launched a completely different take on the netbook phenomenon. Instead of offering a lightweight computer running either Linux or XP like today's netbooks do, this notebook PC is entirely powered by a device you already own: your smartphone. Dubbed a mobile companion, the Redfly device has an 8-inch screen, a full-sized keyboard and touch pad, and is connected to your smartphone via a USB cable or Bluetooth.

To use the Redfly notebook, all you need to do is install the Redfly driver on your phone (see supported phones here). You can then use the netbook like any computer. Its bigger screen makes it easier to read documents, write emails, or surf the web. Redfly supports remote desktop, virtualization and other cloud-based environments like Citrix, GoToMyPC, LogMeIn, Microsoft's Remote Desktop protocol, stoneware, inc., and others. The netbook also features a VGA connector so you can connect your Redfly netbook to a projector for presentations.

As you use the Redfly device, you can be charging your smartphone too, assuming it's plugged in via the USB cable. The Redfly battery works for up to 8 hours, according to the company.

Because Redfly has no OS, no CPU, no hard drive, and requires no software licenses, its cost is lower than a laptop PC (an Amazon search shows that price to be around $199). That's also slightly more affordable than today's crop of OS-powered netbooks, but not by much.

The benefit to using a mobile companion instead of a PC is that the device can get lost or stolen without any threat of losing important data. Of course, a lot of companies have already started doing this now via the use of virtualized business apps running on top of the OS installed on regular company laptops all the important data is in the cloud so laptop loss or theft isn't as big a concern as before. However, given the price ($199) of Redfly vs. that of a laptop, the replacement cost would be minimal.

Of course, it is a compromise for those who expect it to replace a desktop PC or a high-end notebook. Performance-intensive applications like Photoshop will be painful; recent video games will be pathetic, should they even run at all.

Day-to-day work, however, ran smoothly. Multiple browser tabs with a handful of idle apps and iTunes chugging away didn't become a trudge. Its combination of a 1.6 GHz Atom CPU and a gig of RAM built up enough steam to handle the basics.

Other features include up to 16GB of flash storage, 3 USB ports, 100Mbit Ethernet, 802.11g and an 8.9" display set to 1024x600 pixels. It's about 10 inches long and 7 wide.

I've yet to use the MSI Wind, which I'm quite certain is the equal of this machine. But it's also a little larger, at least in the U.S., and it, like Asus' mainstays, lack something else the Dell has: style. It's come a long way from the dull design that used to characterize its output. While the Mini 9 is no better (or prettier) than the Mini-Note, HP's extras, like an ExpressCard slot and 802.11n, make it much more expensive. The Dell can be had for under $350, though you shouldn't get any computer with less than 1GB of RAM.

Moreover, the Mini-Note comes with Suse or Vista, both less appetizing than Dell's choice of Ubuntu or XP.

Hacking possibilities also abound with the Inspiron Mini 9. Getting OSX on it is reportedly not difficult, and it has an empty slot for a 3G Wireless adapter. Though it is disabled, it's easy to snap in a generic Novatel WWAN card and get your show on the road. Vodafone plans to offer Mini nines with cards (and 2-year service contracts) pre-installed.

Personally, I'd like it to be even smaller. Next to an EeePC900, which has the same-size screen and a dinkier keyboard, its swooping curves seem rather bulbous.On the other hand, it feels sturdier and somewhat better-made as a result.

One caveat is the keyboard layout: it doesn't have dedicated function keys, and the apostrophe/quote key is in an odd spot.

Later today, this machine gets mailed off, and I'm sad to see it go. Bought as a gift for my nephew and reviewed en passant, it almost stayed right where I wanted it: in my possession.

$429 as reviewed Mini Inspiron 9 [Dell]

Kevin C. Tofel / jkOnTheRun:
Asus breaks sub-$300 price barrier with Eee PC 900A at Best Buy Let's get the sub-$300 netbook party started! Pereira just pinged me to share this Best Buy link which shows the white Asus Eee PC 900A available for $299. This is basically the same model as the 900, but the A stands for Atom.

Continue reading The little Leopard laptop

That said, I still really like the looks of these. There will be four models of Es. The standard E is their 8.9-inch contender, while as the E Slim is a 12.1-inch MacBook Air challenger, only 0.8-inches thick. Then there's the E Video and E Video+, which offer more RAM, flash storage, webcams and bluetooth in the 8.9-inch chassis. The operating system will be Windows XP, apparently, but with an instant-on Linux-on-a-chip solution for rapidly booting up and checking your email or doing some browsing. And I'm still guessing that Ubuntu's Netbook Remix OS will at least be an option on these, given Canonical's past history with Dell.

The Dell E will be released in August in a variety of colors, starting at $299.

Dell and E Slim revealed [Engadget]

In an interview with the Guardian, Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth just came out and admitted that a version of the OS specifically aimed at Asus Eee devices was, indeed, in development:

TG: Will you be coming out with a tailored version of Ubuntu for the ultraportable sector?

MS: We're announcing it in the first week of June. It's called the Netbook Remix. We're working with Intel, which produces chips custom-made for this sector

Fantastic news. You can slap Ubuntu on a subnotebook as it is, of course, but I've read there's a certain degree of general wonkiness on getting it to run perfectly on the hardware. I think this is a real smart move: the desktop space is pretty much owned by Vista and OS X, both of which are simply too beefy for Eee-class devices. Ubuntu could own this space if they tried... an excellent way to introduce their OS to more consumers.

interview: Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Ubuntu [Guardian]

Image: Lloyd Humphreys