MSI Wind U160 in video unboxing

The good-looking MSI Wind U160 netbook has seen its first unboxing courtesy of Johannes at NewGadgets.de. The Intel N450 Atom-powered U160 is one the slimmest Wind netbooks and comes with a chiclet keyboard and textured touchpad.

The netbook unboxed is only a pre-production model but it gives a good indication of what to expect in the final version. It’s a bit disappointing to see the 6-cell battery stick out the back so much, ruining its sleek looks somewhat. Check out the video after the break. Read more

Sony Vaio W Eco reviewed – being green comes at a price

The Sony Vaio W Eco Edition netbook is the company’s first Pine Trial netbook to be announced. As you can tell by the name, it doesn’t differ hugely from the Vaio W netbook. It gets its Eco tag as it has recycled plastic parts, an innovative carry bag and an electronic manual. Also, the carry bag, manufactured using 100% recycled PET bottles, has been designed to replace the cardboard box that normal electronic devices come in.

Laptop Mag has reviewed the Vaio W Eco and found that it caters for a wide range of users including kids (with its pre-loaded kid-safe browser), colour schemes designed to attract female custom and the geeks with its HD screen. However, the question is that at $480, is the netbook worth the $80 premium? Laptop Mag concludes that it depends on your use. However, there are certainly better equipped netbooks out there for cheaper the cost including the Asus Eee PC 1005PE, Toshiba NB305 and HP Mini 5102.

UK gets Alienware M11x pricing details, superior base model [Video]

The UK pricing of the 11.6-inch Alienware M11x gaming netbook has finally been released. As in the US, Dell UK is allowing you to configure your own model with prices starting at £749. Considering that US prices start at $799, it looks like the UK consumer is getting stuffed again, although that amount does include VAT & delivery.

All models come with a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M graphics, an 11.6-inch (1366 x 768) display and a 1.3MP webcam. However, there are also some slight differences in the base specs compared to the US model. You get the same 1.3GHz SU4100 Intel ULV processor, but you get faster RAM (2GB DDR3 at 1066MHz) and a faster/higher capacity hard drive (320GB at 7,200rpm). Read more

Asus Eee 1001P netbook in video unboxing

The Eee PC 1001P is the entry level Pine Trail netbook from Asus. It has typical specs that include a 1.66GHz N450 Atom processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD and Windows XP. I like the fact that Asus has included 10.1-inch (1024 x 600) matte display with the unit.

nDevil has unboxed a German unit and it looks very similar to the 1005PE. We’ve attached that (English) video after the break, but there are a couple of additional videos (in German) that are also interesting. One compares it to the Samsung N220 and another times the 1001P’s instant-on OS. Check them all out after the break.

Update: Check out another video below where the bottom panel of the Eee PC 1001P is removed to show its internals. However, if you’re only looking to upgrade RAM, then this can easily be done by removing a solitary screw on an access panel. Read more

Alienware M11x hits pre-order, available from 1st March

The Alienware M11x, probably the most powerful 11.6-inch gaming netbook/ultraportable on the planet, is available to configure and pre-order on the US Dell site right now. As expected, prices start from $799 and it will start shipping from 1st March.

In terms of specs, the base unit buys you a 1.3GHz SU4100 Pentium processor, 2GB DDR3 RAM at 800MHz, 160GB 5400RPM hard drive and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. Two colours are available, Cosmic Black and Lunar Silver. Read more

Jolicloud announces Pine Trail 1080p video support

Jolicloud has already demonstrated 1080p HD video on netbooks running on Intel’s Diamondville processors (N270 & N280), but now it has also announced 1080p support of Intel’s new Pine Trail processors (N450 Atom). No external decoder (like the Broadcom Crystal HD) is needed and most codecs should work. Liliputing says that only 1080p H.264 content will not work.

This new update is expected to go live in the next couple of weeks and will also bring with it support for Nvidia ION, Intel GMA 500 graphics as well as the VIA C7-M. Until then, check out a demo of 1080p video content playing through Jolicloud on a Samsung N210 netbook. Read more

MSI Wind in sliding touchscreen tablet mod

One enterprising MSI Wind owner is conducted a nifty mod where he is looking to turn his Advent 4211c netbook (a rebadged MSI Wind U100) into a touchscreen tablet that opens up to reveal the keyboard, much like a slide form-factor seen on some mobile phones.

The whole project is work in progress, but he has managed to install the touchscreen and flip the display around. He has even added some custom buttons allowing him to dual boot the device between Windows 7 or OS X 10.6.2. The whole thing is working as a normal tablet but he hasn’t got round to installing the rails so far. That to me sound like the biggest challenge, so fingers crossed he completes his vision!

Via Netbooked.

ExoPC Slate: 8.9-inch tablet with Windows 7, 32GB SSD for $599

ExoPC will soon launch its 8.9-inch ExoPC Slate tablet that will be powered by a 1.6GHz N270 Atom processor (no Pineview love here), 2GB RAM, a 32GB SSD and Windows 7.

The 8.9-inch (1024 x 600) display will support multi-touch input and have a four hour battery life. Other features include three USB ports, a 1.3MP webcam, Wi-Fi (b/g), Bluetooth, VGA and Ethernet.

The ExoPC Slate will launch in March for $599, the same price as the 32GB Apple iPad. It’s not as thin as the iPad at 2.1cm in thickness but at least appears to more fully featured.

Via Engadget.

Samsung X120 ultra-thin video unboxing

We have covered Samsung’s X120 CULV-based ultra-thin before, including a review roundup back in early November. However, what we never saw up until now was the obligatory unboxing. Well here it is, courtesy of Roland from NetbookNews.

It looks like a reasonably attractive device although I don’t really understand why Samsung opted for mouse buttons either side of the touchpad rather than underneath it. Check out the video yourself after the jump.

Roland also unboxed the Acer Aspire 1810TZ and we’ve attached that video below too. Read more

Increasing reports of Samsung N510 hinge fault [Video]

The Samsung N510 is the company’s first 11.6-inch netbook and also the first to come with the Nvidia ION chipset. We were quite impressed with the device when we reviewed it at the end of last month, with the main negative factor being the high price. However, it seems like there is a design issue affecting a number of people that we didn’t encounter whilst testing it.

The hinge that holds the display in place has broken for a number of people. It clicks out of place when the display moves, the most likely cause is a broken clip inside the hinge. SammyNetbook member tintii first reported this problem back in November, but since then there are a number of others that have had the same issue. Read more

Hivision PWS700CA 7-inch Android smartbook gets video review

The Hivision PWS700CA is an intriguing little device. The smartbook sports a 7-inch (800 x 480) display and is powered by an ARM926 processor and runs Android. It weighs just 650g and counts 720p HD video playback as one of its features.

Charbax from ARMDevices has been playing around with one for a while and put it to the test in a thorough video review. Whilst you won’t see this hit Western shores just yet, he believes that if one of the big retail giants came on board it could sell for as cheap as $100. Check out the video after the jump. Read more

Tablet makers rethink strategy in wake of low Apple iPad pricing

The Apple iPad has certainly divided opinion since its official launch earlier this week. However, if there has been one universal positive, it is the low starting price of $499. Many expected a much higher price given Apple’s history of healthy margins on most of its products. Apple appear to be trying to carve this tablet market out for itself, and it has priced the iPad accordingly.

This unexpectedly low pricing has set the cat amongst the pigeons at manufacturers planning on releasing their own tablet products this year. The likes of Asus and MSI originally believed that they would price their products around 20 to 30 percent lower than the Apple iPad. But this was when a $1,000 price point was rumoured. The surprise $499 entry level pricing has caught many of these manufacturers off guard and will need to adjust prices even lower at the cost of margins. The end result is probably great news for the consumer as we’re likely to see quite keenly priced tablet products from the Taiwanese manufacturers.

Via Digitimes.

How Lenovo’s new Thinkpad chiclet keyboard differs from others

As a seasoned Thinkpad user, I have to admit in being slightly horrified that Lenovo adopted a new chiclet (or isolation) style keyboard for its new 11.6-inch Thinkpad X100e and Edge 13”. The keyboard is one area in which Thinkpads have excelled and I can’t help but wonder whether the move to an isolation keyboard was more out of fashion than design.

However, Lenovo has outlined on its official blog the ways in which its chiclet keyboard differs from its competitors. The shape of the keys is a big difference, the top of the keys being concave in shape allowing your fingertips to hug the keys with ease. The keyboard has also been specially tuned with the same pantograph design as the original Thinkpads. Read more

Gateway EC14d: 11.6-inch CULV with optical drive

The Gateway EC14d is one of the few 11.6-inch ultrathins that actually manages to squeeze in a DVD burner into its chassis. It is powered by a 1.3GHz Intel SU4100 processor and Intel GS45 chipset. It supports up to 8GB RAM and comes with a 320GB HDD and an 8x DVD SuperMulti drive.

The 6-cell 5600mAh battery should deliver an eight-hour battery life. Other features include three USB ports, card reader and a multi-gesture touchpad. The Gateway EC14d is expected to launch in the coming weeks for $629.99. It’s likely to be rebranded under the Packard Bell brand in Europe on release.

Via Notebook Italia.

Apple iPad compared against 5 other upcoming slates

If CES wasn’t an indication enough that 2010 is likely to be the year of the tablet (or slate if you prefer), then Gizmodo has a nice comparison table where it has compared six slates (including the recently announced Apple iPad).

Having a quick run through the list, the Notion Ink stands out for me. It’s the only one to come with a Pixel Qi display for e-reading duties and sports Android, Tegra 2 and even a HDMI out. The only glaring omission is Adobe Flash support, but I’m sure Android will support this at some point down the line. Check out the detailed comparison table after the break. Read more

« Previous Page — Next Page »