NPD: Consumers see no difference in netbooks & notebooks
June 23, 2009 at 2:28 pm
A new survey out from the NPD Group suggests that only 60 percent of consumers, who had bought a netbook instead of a notebook, believed that it would have exactly the same functionality as notebooks. As a result, 42 percent of this group of people were dissatisfied with their purchase. This compares to a 30 percent dissatisfaction rate for those who knew they were buying a netbook from the start.
Worse still, among one of the main netbook demographics (18 to 24 year olds), 65 percent expected better performance, whilst only 27 percent thought that it outperformed their expectations. Another interesting point, is that despite being netbooks marketed as portable devices, 60 percent of buyers said that they never took the netbook outside of the home.
This latter point doesn’t surprise me too much. The availability of wireless hotspots is patchy at best and can be quite pricey to use. Until we start to see netbooks that have integrated 3G modules and reasonably priced data access, I wouldn’t expect that number to change materially. Also, many people purchase a netbook for their kids or as a secondary device to surf the web. NPD’s Netbooks II: A Closer Look report was conducted with a survey of 600 adults from NPD’s online panel who were identified as netbook owners.
Samsung’s new SATA Mini PCI-E SSDs for netbooks
June 23, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Samsung is working with a number of manufacturers to implement a newly designed SATA mini-card SSD in netbooks and other devices. The SSD comes in a mini PCI Express form factor with a SATA 3.0GB/s interface. This drive has a sequential read rate of 200MB/s (megabytes per second) and writes data sequentially at 100MB/s, which is extremely fast.
The drive should run cool as it is manufactured with 40nm technology, this also makes it power frugal, consuming just 0.3W of power. It is nearly 80 percent smaller than normal 2.5-inch drives, measuring 30 millimetres (mm) wide, 51mm high and just 3.75mm thick. It also only weighs up to 8.5g and comes in capacities of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB densities.
Samples are current with manufacturers at the moment and standardisation could be expected as early as the third quarter this year. The press release talks of using these devices as part of a Hybrid storage solution (SSD as main memory and HDD as supporting storage space), however I’m not sure how this will work in netbooks since Microsoft seems to be banning hybrid storage netbooks that run Windows XP.
Via OC3D.
Gateway unveils AMD-powered 11.6-inch LT3103u netbook
June 23, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Acer owned, Gateway, has launched an 11.6-inch netbook of its own that may rival Acer’s Aspire One 751. However, the Gateway LT3103u is a very different beast compared to the Aspire One 751. For one, rather than packing in an Intel Atom processor, the LT3103u goes for an AMD CPU (somewhat rare in the netbook space). You’ll also find discrete graphics in the form of the ATI Radeon X1270.
The LED-backlit 11.6-inch screen comes with a high resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. It’s a very slimline model measuring just 1.03-inches in thickness and weighing 1.4kg (3.04lbs). It has a full-sized keyboard and multi-touch touchpad. It is powered by a 1.2GHz Athlon 64 L110 processor and the X1270 graphics comes with 256MB of dedicated memory.
Other features include up to 2GB RAM and 250GB HDD, card reader, 0.3MP webcam three USB ports and a 6-cell battery. You won’t find Windows XP on this device, only Vista Basic. It will be available in two colours (NightSky Black and Cherry Red) when it launches shortly for $399.99.
Via Engadget.
Sony Vaio P gets 1.6GHz Atom & 128GB SSD refresh for US
June 22, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Sony Vaio P’s “not-a-netbook” comes in so many different configurations that it’s hard to keep track. With different regions being limited to certain specs it makes it even more head-spinning. Engadget is reporting that US consumers can now get hold of a Vaio P (VGN-P698E) with the faster 1.6GHz Z530 processor. This should be a nice little speed upgrade considering that the only version sold in the US previously came with the 1.33GHz Z520 processor. However, this model still lags behind Japan’s Vaio P flagship which comes with a 2.0GHZ Z550 Atom CPU and 256GB SSD.
However, whilst Japanese Vaio P owners can now get Windows XP, this version is still stick with Vista Home, which is likely to mean it still feels a bit sluggish. Sony has sweetened the deal by adding a 128GB SSD as well as GPS and a Verizon WWAN module. It’s certainly not cheap though at $1,500. It’s available for pre-order now, and will begin shipping around June 26th.
Kohjinsha’s fully featured SK3 7-inch net tablet
June 22, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Kohjinsha has a number of convertible tablet devices in its product stable. The newly announced SK3 net tablet appears to be a refresh of the SC3 that was launched last year. The SK3 has a 7-inch (1024 x 600) LED backlit display. The additional specs over the original SC3 include Wi-Fi draft N, two cameras and Windows 7 support (at a later date).
It will be powered by a 1.33GHz Z520 Atom CPU, 1GB RAM and a 160GB HDD. It also features an Expresscard/34 slot, GPS, Bluetooth, card reader, two USB ports, VGA, Ethernet and a battery that should be good for 3 hours. The SK3 is 30mm at its thickest point and will weigh 720g. This version will come with Windows XP Home and will launch on the 23rd June in Japan at a cost of 69,800 Yen ($728, €525, £445).
Via ASCII.jp.
MSI Wind U200 hands-on pictures
June 22, 2009 at 5:32 pm
We have not heard too much about the 12-inch Wind U200 recently. Whilst it has somewhat been overshadowed by Lenovo’s 12” Ideapad S12 ION, there is still a lot going for the Wind U200. It seems like a solidly built netbook with a full-sized keyboard and high-res display (1366 x 768). It’s also one of the first netbooks to use an Intel CULV processor, in particular the 1.2GHz Intel Celeron M Processor ULV 723. This will be paired with the Intel GS45 chipset and Intel GMA 4500M graphics.
Blogeee managed to get hands-on with the U200 at a press event last week and has posted a number of close-up pictures of the device. It is just 31mm thick and weighs 1.4kg with a 6-cell battery. The full-sized keyboard stretches to the edge of the chassis and has large flat keys. Upgradeability should be a cinch as a large access panel provides entry to RAM, HDD and a Wi-Fi module. The display also looks quite bright, although the pictures were taken in a dark environment, so it will be interesting to see how the display fares under normal lighting. Availability and pricing has yet to be confirmed.
Video tutorial: Upgrading RAM on an Eee PC 1008HA Seashell
June 22, 2009 at 4:04 pm
The Asus Eee PC 1008HA Seashell is beautifully super-slim 10-inch netbook. However, to maintain this slender form-factor the engineers have done a fabulous job in carefully cramming in all of the components into its chassis. We know that this is a sealed unit, which means that there are no access panels to change the RAM and it also has a sealed battery.
For those Eee PC 1008HA users who are wondering just how you go about changing the RAM, then check out a couple of videos after the jump. We already showed you the 1008HA teardown in pictures, but the video may be a little clearer.
Amusingly, instead of using a wrist strap once inside the Eee PC, the guy in the video decides to use bright yellow kitchen gloves to avoid static. The first video goes through opening the 1008HA and swapping out the RAM. The second video goes through putting everything back together. Check out both videos after the break. Read more
Daewoo LUCOMS Solo C920-Mini net tablet
June 22, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Korean manufacturer, Daewoo, may be more known for its cars and household appliances, but that hasn’t stopped it entering the netbook space. Daewoo LUCOMS has released its own net tablet (or convertible netbook tablet if you prefer). The Solo C920-Mini is an 8.9-inch device that also comes with a cute little carrying handle.
The 8.9-inch touchscreen has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. The tablet is powered by a 1.6GHz N270 Atom CPU and 945GSE chipset. It comes with 1GB RAM and a 60GB 1.8-inch HDD running at 4200RPM. Other features include a 1.3MP webcam, two US ports, Wi-Fi (b/g/n), a pair of audio jacks and XP Home. It weighs 1.21kg and has dimensions of 241.4 x 209.3 x 27.7mm. There’s no mention of pricing or availability right now, but I’d be surprised if this Solo C920-Mini made it to Western shores.
Via Akhibara News.
Asus Eee PC 1101HA & 1005HA UK pre-orders open
June 22, 2009 at 11:50 am
We already knew that the Asus Eee PC 1101HA was due to hit Europe at the end of June for €399, although the UK price was still a mystery at the time. However, Amazon UK now has the Eee PC 1101HA up for pre-order and will cost you £379.00, which seems about right looking at the European price.
Amazon has the Eee PC 1101HA available to pre-order in black
This is the case for the Eee PC 1005HA, where both the 1.6GHz N270 and 1.66GHz N280 Atom SKUs are available to pre-order from Amazon. The N270 Atom 1005HA models will set you back £329.00
Asus Eee PC 1005HA Seashell pre-order up at Amazon.com
June 21, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Whilst we recently reported that pre-orders for the Asus Eee PC 1005HA were already live at BeachCamera, it appears that they have now pulled down their product page. Not to worry though as Amazon.com
Only the 1.6GHz N270 Atom model is available for pre-order, it is expected that a 1.66GHz N280 model will be available at some point. The Eee PC 1005HA Seashell is similar to the 1008HA apart from having a removable 6-cell battery as well as being slightly thicker and heavier.
HiPhone’s 12-inch slender iLaptop netbook
June 20, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Whether you like it or not, more and more manufacturers are launching 12-inch netbooks. The latest is HiPhone, which has launched the iLaptop-2009, a 12.1-inch device with 1280 x 800 resolution. While the feature-set is pretty non-descript, its form-factor sets it apart. It measures just 22mm in thickness and weighs 1.4kg with a 3-cell battery.
It is powered by a 1.6GHz N270 Atom CPU, 1GB RAM and a 160GB HDD. For its $450 asking price you’ll also get Wi-Fi (b/g), a card reader, webcam and an Ethernet port. Click here for the official product page and some quite poor product pictures.
Via Engadget.
Asus UK: Eee PC T91 delayed due to “logistical mishap”
June 20, 2009 at 5:31 pm
The Asus Eee PC T91 was meant to be released at the end of May/early June in the UK. However, as things stand the 8.9-inch convertible tablet still hasn’t been released. Apparently the delay has been caused by a “logistical mishap” in the retail distribution channels according to AsusTablet. As to exactly what this means remains a mystery for now, but let’s hope it’s nothing due to problems with the T91 itself.
When we spoke to Asus UK last week, we were told that the Eee PC T91 would launch in “early July”, with anything up to the second week of July intimated. However, AsusTablet claim that now that this problem in distribution is out of the way, the units should start shipping on Monday 22nd June. We’ll try to get clarification from Asus directly on Monday on shipping dates.
Thanks Brianna!
Mobinova’s Tegra-powered N910 gets hands-on impressions
June 20, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Nvidia’s Tegra platform was really only brought into the limelight at the recent Computex show in Taiwan, despite being introduced last June. The Tegra platform is different to ION in that it pairs an ARM-based processor with an Nvidia GeForce GPU (ION pairs an Intel Atom CPU with the Nvidia 9400M graphics). Whilst Nvidia has done well in getting the ION brand out into people’s minds, it looks like Tegra is set to follow. With some high profile devices, like the Zune HD, sporting the Tegra platform, it’s expected to become even more popular.
Nvidia claims that the Tegra processor is the “world’s smallest and lowest power computer-on-a-chip”. The chip will be able to handle 1080p video and will come with a massive battery life. Nvidia claim that it can handle 10 hours of 1080p video playback on a single charge. Read more
HP Mini 2140 discontinued – new model on the horizon?
June 20, 2009 at 10:55 am
The very popular HP Mini 2140, which is targeted for business users, appears to have been discontinued from the HP Store. Apparently the HD model was available to order yesterday for $449 as a smart offer, before disappearing from the site altogether. The only model available to purchase is the HP Mini 1101, which is the business version of HP’s new Mini 110 netbooks.
The Mini 110 ended up replacing the Mini 1000 series of netbooks (which are now discontinued), so it could be conceivable that the Mini 1101 has replaced the Mini 2140. However, the Mini 2140 came with an aluminium shell, rather than the plastics seen in the Mini 1101, so I’d be surprised if there was no kind of refresh due soon. Back in January, it was rumoured that a HP Mini 2150 was due in June with built-in 3G module.
Thanks Steffen!
Even OEMs forbidden to change Windows 7 Starter Edition wallpaper
June 19, 2009 at 8:46 pm
We should be thankful that Microsoft finally came to their senses regarding the three-application limit in Windows 7 Starter Edition, which has now been reversed. Windows 7 Starter Edition will mainly be found in netbooks when the operating system launches in October. As a result, the license is expected to be significantly cheaper, than for example, Windows 7 Home Premium.
As a cheaper SKU, you obviously expect some compromise, so that Microsoft can try to up-sell pricier versions of Windows 7. One of these compromises was the three-app limit (now removed) and another is the inability to change desktop wallpaper. We’ve commented in the past how ridiculous this is, but now we have heard that Microsoft has even forbidden its partners and OEM’s to change the wallpaper. Read more
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