Always Innovating’s Touch Book tablet priced

Back in early March, Always Innovating announced a unique portable device called the Touch Book. It is unique in a number of ways, first of all it is designed as an 8.9-inch tablet with a sliding keyboard dock so that it can be used in a more traditional netbook form-factor. The tablet is also magnetic so that it can be mounted on a fridge and the unit also supports internal USB slots so no more dongle mess.

This unique ‘netbook’ will also be one of the first to come with an ARM processor (using the Texas Instruments OMAP3 chip) whilst the OS is built from OpenEmbedded, a Linux variant. ARM processors promise increased power efficiency over their x86 equivalents and this can be seen in the quoted 10-15 hours of battery life. It offers all of this in a package that weighs less than 2lbs (0.9kg), including both battery and keyboard!

It will only come with 8GB of flash storage but despite this it is certainly one of the most interesting developments due this year in our eyes. According to the official site, pre-orders are now open and will set you back $299 for the tablet or $399 which will include the keyboard dock. Personally, I think it would have made sense to sell this as 1 SKU as the keyboard dock is part of the experience. However, by splitting the price, it means it may make this within the reach of those who are just after a tablet experience. Click through for a full list of specifications. Read more

Medion announces Akoya Mini E1211 and E1215 netbooks

Medion has announced a couple of follow-ups to its nondescript Mini E1210 netbook. Whilst the Mini E1210 was effectively a rebadged MSI Wind U100, these new netbooks are made by Wistron. The E1211 and E1215 come with a 10.1-inch (1024 x576) display powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU.

The rest of the specifications are also nothing to write home about, you’ll find the usual 1GB RAM, 160GB hard-drive as well as WiFi (b/g/n), Bluetooth and webcam. The E1215 mainly differs by offering integrated 3G support. Both netbooks weigh around 1.25kg and are expected to cost between €400-€500 when they hit retail outlets in Europe shortly.

Via PortableGear.nl [via Engadget].

AT&T pleased with netbook trials, considering nationwide push

Earlier this month, AT&T started to sell subsidised Dell Mini 9 and Mini 12 netbooks across outlets in Atlanta and Philadelphia for a subsidised cost of $49.99. According to a company spokesperson, these trials have been a success. David Haight, VP of business development for emerging device organization at AT&T told BusinessWeek that the company is “very pleased with the early results” and is considering introducing the offer nationwide.

The promotion is available at eight AT&T retail locations in the Atlanta area. AT&T is offering similar netbook promotional rates with the purchase of DataConnect plans in eight retail locations in the Philadelphia area. Packages start at an upfront cost of between $49.99 to $249.99 depending on the data contract purchased. Verizon Wireless is also planning similar offers later this spring, following the lead of various European carriers.

ARM-based netbooks struggling with video

There has been much talk of how ARM processors are set to change the netbook landscape when they start to appear in netbooks by the end of this year. ARM netbooks would have the advantage of being up to ten times more power efficient than their x86 equivalents as well as being designed for 24/7 wireless connectivity. However, the first wave of netbooks may be underpowered according to engineers who are currently working on ARM netbook prototypes.

One issue that engineers have encountered is that Adobe Flash does not yet run natively on the ARM processor. The ARM platforms support for web video will be critical to its success. ARM and Adobe did announce that it will deliver a version of Flash 10 optimised for ARM devices at some point during 2009, although nothing has materialised so far. Another problem is that a number of web video sites are moving from Flash to the H.264 codec. Whilst ARM does support the codec, significant work will be required on the wrapper to make sure H.264 web videos can be played smoothly. Read more

Linux to outnumber Windows on netbooks by 2012

Whilst Windows may currently dominate market share in the netbook segment, it wasn’t always that way. In the second half of 2007, Windows had a market share of around 10 percent growing significantly in 2008 to 75 percent. However, according to ABI Research, the pendulum will swing back the other way by 2012, with Linux netbooks expected to outnumber those running Windows.

ABI Research principal analyst Philip Solis says, “ABI Research believes that 2012 will see the tipping-point at which netbooks running Linux-based and mobile operating systems outnumber those running Windows XP. Device vendors, chip-makers and mobile operators can take some comfort from the fact that this trend should help expand the market even in a down economy.” Read more

Netbook CPU shootout – AMD vs. Intel vs. VIA

Whilst Intel’s Atom CPU is found in the majority of netbooks released to date, it is facing competition from other vendors who are looking to jump onto the netbook cash-cow. Apart from prospective ARM processors, AMD recently launched the Athlon Neo which is found in the 12-inch HP Pavilion dv2 and is meant to be a step-up from Intel Atom CPUs. VIA also launched the Nano chip, intended specifically for netbooks and has first been seen in the Samsung NC20.

Crave looked to try to compare these CPUs against each other, however it is not a precise comparison as they effectively benchmarked three different netbooks. Fighting Intel’s corner was an Asus Eee PC 1000HE complete with 1.66GHz N280 Atom CPU. VIA’s representative was the afore-mentioned Samsung NC20 with 1.3GHz Nano U2250 CPU. AMDs benchmarks were conducted by a HP Pavilion dv2, which came with an Athlon Neo 1.6GHz MV-40 processor.

Crave ran three different benchmarking tests and unsurprisingly there was no clear winner, with each CPU winning one test each. Intel’s Atom was the fastest in the multi-tasking test, the VIA Nano won the iTunes encoding test while the AMD won the Jalbum photo-program test. Since this is not an apples-for-apples comparison I would take the results with a pinch of salt. Each netbooks configuration would affect the outcome and they each have different clock speeds. Check out the table after the break. Read more

Dell Mini 9 Netbook 3G Mod

One enterprising Dell Mini 9 owner decided to take matters into his own hands, when deciding he actually wanted to use 3G. jingo5 from the Dell Mini Forums opened up the Mini 9 and installed a mini PCI-E bracket alongside a sim connector. The mod is certainly for the more experienced hacker involving soldering all the above in place. It seemed to work although the reception wasn’t found to be too great. He is now looking to add an antenna in a move that is very similar to the Acer Aspire One 3G hack.

Via Engadget.

Kohjinsha launches netbook with 1Seg TV Tuner

Kohjinsha has announced its latest netbook, the 10.1-inch MT6WX16AR (catchy name!) The specifications itself are nothing to get too excited about, it is powered by a 10-inch (1024 x 576) display and is powered by a 1.6GHz N270 Atom CPU and 945GSE chipset. It also comes with 1GB RAM and 160GB hard-drive. The main point of differentiation is the included 1Seg TV tuner. 1Seg is a terrestrial digital broadcast system used in Japan.

The unit itself is lightweight, weighing 1kg whilst the battery life should yield around 5.2 hours according to the company. The netbook will also come with an ExpressCad/34 slot. The MT6WX16AR will come in both white and black colours and retails for 49,800 Yen ($500/€375/£335).

Via Akihabara News.

Women to account for 60% of future netbook custom

Women will account for as much as 60 percent of future potential netbook customers according to internal Intel forecasts. No information was given on where we stand now regarding male-to-female netbook splits, but I would have thought that there is already a sizeable female customer base. We have seen few directly focused female netbook designs, there are a number of Hello Kitty-themed netbooks as well as the HP Mini Vivienne Tam Edition. Despite this, with netbooks getting thinner and sleeker all the time, netbooks purchased by women are set to grow.

Intel also predicts that netbooks will reach a 20 percent market share of global notebook shipments by 2012. This is double from where we stand now. The largest growth channel is expected to be from telecom providers whilst strong growth is also expected from students and younger age groups.

Via Digitimes.

Asus S121 ‘netbook’ now on sale in Taiwan

Whether a mini-notebook with a 12-inch display can be classified as a netbook is debatable. Asus does not include its 12.1-inch S121 as part of the Eee PC family, unlike its little brother the 10-inch Eee PC S101. What we do have however, is a model that shares similar gorgeous looks and the little touches that highlight the S121 is a premium product. These touches include a very slender form-factor and leather palm rests.

You do have to wonder though whether the S121 is more style than substance. It is only powered by a 1.33GHz Z520 Atom CPU and comes with 1GB RAM and a 160GB hard-disk drive. It also does not use the dual storage system utilised by the S101.

The Asus S121 is now on sale in Taiwan for the equivalent of $799/€605/£545. Obviously quite pricey compared to other netbooks that offer more bang for your buck (Samsung NC10 and the Asus 1000HE spring to mind). However, for those for those that are seriously looking at this luxury ‘netbook’ I would imagine value for money isn’t too high up on the agenda.

Via Fudzilla.

Steve Jobs working on Apple’s rumoured netbook?

Apple’s head honcho, Steve Jobs, is apparently working on Apple’s new portable device according to the Wall Street Journal. The report suggests that Apple is working on a netbook/tablet that is smaller than its current laptop computers but larger than the iPhone (kind of obvious!) It’s hard to say what this Apple netbook would look like exactly — it seems none of the Apple tipster sites have yet to get a good grasp on it, but that hasn’t stopped the speculation.

We have already heard a number of rumours regarding an Apple netbook or tablet device. This includes the news that Apple has apparently placed an order with Wintek to supply 10-inch touch panels, with shipments of the panel expected in Q3 2009. There have also been rumours that the device will use flash storage and even rumours that it will have an OLED screen.

MacRumors suggests: “Apple’s ongoing research into multi-touch, however, has generated speculation that Apple may incorporate more advanced gesturing into a future device.” This may point to a tablet device without physical keyboard. Steve Jobs, who has been absent from the public arena due to health troubles, is expected to take up a full time roll again from June. Could this coincide with the release of Apple’s rumoured portable device?

Fingerprint sensors to appear on more netbooks

Fingerprint sensors already appear in quite a few laptops, but so far it is a feature that has remained absent from netbooks. Asus’ first Eee PC with optical drive, the 1004DN is the first netbook to include this technology and according to AuthenTec it won’t be the last. Read more

ECS in talks to manufacture Nokia netbook

Taiwan-based Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) is currently in talks with Nokia to manufacture an upcoming netbook according to Digitimes. Talks are expected to be concluded by the end of June. This would go against recent reports that suggest Nokia is talking to Foxconn to enter the netbook segment. Maybe Nokia are hedging their bets and looking for the best deal? Either way, these Nokia netbook rumours are starting to intensify.

ECS’ main business is in manufacturing motherboards, but has also moved into notebooks too. According to the same report, ECS has recently won an order to manufacture branded netbooks for a Taiwanese telecom provide called Far EasTone Telecommunications. These netbooks are expected to appear by the third quarter this year.

NbC: Asus Eee PC 1000HE Unboxing

Asus kindly sent us an Eee PC 1000HE to put through its paces. We are hoping to have a full review up in a week or so, but in the meantime we thought we’d share our unboxing of the 1000HE.

We were sent a white model and it certainly looks attractive with its glossy white lid. The 1000HE is almost identical to the 1000H but has a faster CPU (1.66GHz N280 Atom versus the 1.6GHz N270 Atom in the 1000H), a chiclet keyboard and better battery life (9.5 hrs versus 7 hours for the 1000H).

We’ll be doing the full range of battery, HDD and CPU tests that you would expect over the next few days. If there are any questions you’d like answered, feel free to ask away in the comments section and we’ll do our best to answer them. Click through for a full gallery of photos. Read more

Netbook Review Roundup 11/04/2009

Netbook Choice’s roundup of netbook reviews from around the web from Wednesday 8th Aptil to Saturday 11th April 2009.

Acer Aspire One D150 @ blogeee.net

Asus Eee 1000HE @ I4U

Asus Eee 1000HE @ Notebooks.com

Emtec Gdium Liberty 1000 @ Laptop Mag

HP Mini 1000 Mi edition @ CrunchGear

OCZ Neutrino @ Laptop Mag

Samsung NC20 @ Computer Shopper

Samsung NC20 Hands-On @ PC World

Sony Vaio P-series netbook (VGN-P11Z/R) @ bit-tech

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