Classy MSI Wind U160 netbook hands-on [Video]

The MSI Wind U160 has made an appearance at CES as predicted. We drooled over the leaked press shots that appeared a few weeks back and now we are treated to a number of hands-on videos. The U160 is without doubt the sexiest netbook design coming out of MSI’s labs in a while.

It has taken inspiration from a number of other models including the Toshiba NB200, Asus Eee PC Seashell range and even the Sony Vaio. The end result is a slim device with glossy mocha-brown lid (we wish MSI had looked at the excellent Toshiba NB200 matte lid here). The chiclet keyboard was found to suffer from some flex issues.

The MSI Wind U160 is powered by a 1.66GHz N450 Atom, 1GB RAM, 250GB HDD and Windows 7 Starter. It will be sold for $399 on release. Check out some hands on videos from Engadget, NetbookNews and Laptop Mag after the break. Read more

Lenovo Skylight smartbook gets video walkthrough

The Lenovo Skylight is one of the first smartbooks from one of the big notebook manufacturers to be announced. As a flag-bearer for the smartbook category it has a lot of pressure on it, but according to the first impressions coming out of CES, it looks like it’s a mighty fine device. The Skylight runs the 1GHz Snapdragon processor and has a 10.1-inch HD display (click here for the rest of the specs).

Judging by the videos and write-ups I’ve seen, the Skylight looks like a very sexy piece of kit. It’s one of the thinnest 10-inch devices I’ve seen and the display, keyboard and large touchpad all look of the highest quality. I especially like the slot just above the keyboard where you can store a USB flash drive.

One of the biggest negatives is nothing to do with the hardware itself, but that $499 price point. This will obviously be lower when subsidised through AT&T, but some people are miffed given the promise of $200 smartbooks. Click through for a video hands-on from Engadget, Laptop Mag and JKKMobile.

Update: We’ve also included videos from Liliputing (run through of the custom UI) and NetbookNews. Read more

Toshiba Satellite T115 ultrathin gets AMD processor option

The Toshiba Satellite T115 ultra-thin (known as T110 in the UK) has been out for a while already. The 11.6-inch device is powered by Intel CULV processor (Pentium SU4100). However, Toshiba has announced that an AMD Neo processor/AMD graphics option is available on the device.

A number of different AMD CPUs will be available including the AMD Turion X2 Neo, Athlon X2 Neo and Athlon Neo MV-40. ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics are also standard. The T115 should last for 5.5 hours with its 6-cell battery.

The rest will remain the same including 2GB RAM and a 250GB HDD. All this is wrapped in a 1-inch chassis with full-sized keyboard. Other features include an eSATA/USB combo port, Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1, two USB ports and Windows 7. Pricing starts at $449 for the T115 when it arrives on 17th January. There is no detail on whether the UK will also see this AMD processor option. Laptop Mag has an initial hands-on here.

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t convertible netbook gets video impressions

Lenovo’s premium offering in the 10-inch netbook space, the Ideapad S10-3t has been given the hands-on treatment by a number of publications. As a quick reminder, the S10-3t sports a 10-inch multitouch capacitive display. It comes in a convertible tablet form-factor that means it is likely to go head-to head with the Gigabyte T1028 and upcoming Asus Eee PC T101MT.

The $499 convertible netbook has a responsive touchscreen and the screen will adjust whilst flipping around thanks to an inclusion of an accelerometer. It’s thicker and heavier than the Ideapad S10-3, but that’s to be expected given the hinge mechanism and thick display. Check out some video hands-on impressions of the device from Engadget, Liliputing , JKKMobile and GottaBeMobile below. Read more

HP launches Mini 210, 2102 and Compaq Mini 102 netbooks [Video]

HP is on a roll, we’ve already reported on two of its ultraportables that launched today, the business oriented Mini 5102 netbook and TouchSmart tm2 tablet. Yet we still have more, HP has formally announced a few more 10.1-inch netbooks. This includes the HP Mini 210 which we’ve heard so much of recently, the Mini 2102 and the Compaq Mini 102.

Both HP Mini 210 and Mini 2102 appear to be the same in design and specifications. The latter will be targeted towards business users and therefore it comes in a brushed black metal finish instead of the plastic chassis of the 210. Read more

Lenovo Ideapad U1 Hybrid hands-on video roundup

One of the more exciting ultraportables to be announced so far at CES is the 11.6-inch Ideapad U1 Hybrid that can be used as CULV notebook or tablet depending on preference. It was officially announced yesterday, so check out our previous post for all the details.

However, a number of publications have since gone hands-on with the device and posted their impressions. After the break, you’ll find six videos of the U1 Hybrid. It’s interesting to see that overall impressions were extremely positive, even more impressive given that this was only a pre-production model as the U1 isn’t set to launch until June.

Below you will find videos from Engadget, Liliputing, JKKMobile, NetbookNews, Laptop Mag and Slashgear. Gizmodo’s write-up is also worth a read if you’re fishing for information. Read more

HP intros 12.1-inch TouchSmart tm2 convertible tablet [Video]

HP has announced the TouchSmart tm2 convertible tablet which sports a 12.1-inch multi-touch capacitive display. The device is powered by a Intel Core 2 Duo ULV processor and offers up to 9 hours of battery life.

Unusually for a notebook you don’t even get an optical drive thrown into the package. However what you do get is a sleek aluminum chassis and a large touchpad with integrated mouse buttons. Other features include a Firewire port as well as HDMI and three USB ports.

You can also opt for discrete ATI graphics if Intel’s integrated offerings don’t do much for you. Check out some hands-on videos from Laptop Mag and Engadget after the break. The laptop should be out on January 17th with a starting price of $949. Read more

Gateway LT21 netbook series promises 10-hour battery life

Gateway has introduced the LT21 series of Intel Pine Trail netbooks that promises a 10-hour battery life armed with a 1.66GHz N450 Atom Pineview processor and GMA 3150 graphics.

The LT21 series will come with a 10.1-inch (1024 x 600) LED backlit display, a 93-percent keyboard and multi-gesture touchpad (pinch to zoom in/out). The netbook has 1GB RAM on board and you can choose from 160GB/250GB HDD options. Read more

HP Mini 5102: Business Pine Trail netbook announced & reviewed

HP has announced the follow-up to its 10-inch Mini 5101 business netbook with the Intel Pine Trail enabled Mini 5102. As is denoted by the minor change in model number, the Mini 5102 looks largely the same as the 5101 with its sub 1-inch aluminum and magnesium chassis and 95 percent keyboard.

The 5102 comes with either a 1.66GHz N450 or 1.83GHz N470 Pineview Atom. Up to 2GB RAM is included and you also get a fast 7200RPM HDD (160/250/320GB) or SSD (80/128GB), Connectivity is taken care of by Wi-Fi (b/g/n) and Bluetooth. Read more

Dell’s redesigned Pine Trail Mini 10 now on sale from $299

Dell’s new Inspiron Mini 10 netbook is now available in the US with prices starting at $299. The redesigned fanless Mini 10 is slimmer than the original and is characterised by its white base. The battery is also more integrated and it comes with a 92 percent keyboard. It also features a “hinge forward” design, more recently seen on its luxury Adamo laptop.

Three battery options are available including two 6-cell options (8.5hrs and 9.5hrs) as well as a 3-cell battery good for 4 hours. The amazing thing is that all batteries are the same size, for the first time you don’t have to worry about the extra bulk a larger capacity battery will bring. Read more

Lenovo’s Ideapad U1 Hybrid converts from 11.6” CULV to tablet

Lenovo has announced an interesting new form-factor that bears a similarity to Always Innovating’s TouchBook. The Ideapad U1 Hybrid is effectively an 11.6-inch (1366 x 768) multi-touch tablet device that docks into a traditional laptop design. When paired the U1 runs off the Intel CULV processor and when in tablet mode, it is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset.

The U1 Hybrid comes with 4GB RAM (512MB in tablet mode) and can support a 128GB SSD (16GB is used for the tablet). Other features include two USB ports, eSATA, VGA, HDMI, 4-in-1 card reader, and a 1.3MP webcam. The operating system is catered for by Windows 7 when using as a laptop and Lenovo’s custom Linux OS in tablet mode (probably the same that will be used in the Lenovo Skylight smartbook). Read more

Blaze launches £99 Chie netbook in UK

Blaze Europe has launched a new model in its Chie range of netbooks. The Chie 006 sports a 7-inch (800 x 480) display and is powered by a 400MHz VIA VT8500 processor. It has an attractive design that reminds me of the Asus Eee PC Seashell series.

It comes with 128MB RAM, 2GB flash drive and Windows CE. Storage will be supplemented by a SD card slot capable of supporting an extra 16GB. It comes with Wi-Fi (b/g), two USB ports and an 1800mAh battery capable of a 4-hour runtime. Whilst the specs may not be cutting edge, this can all be yours for £99. Read more

BenQ’s Joybook Lite U103 netbook sports dual-storage

BenQ has announced the Joybook Lite U103 netbook, its first with the Intel Pine Trail platform. This particular device goes against the recent cookie-cutter netbooks we’ve seen by offering an optional dual storage solution as well as SRS TruSurround HD and SRS CS Headphone.

The U103 comes with a built-in 500GB hard drive and an optional 32GB SSD. Other features include Wi-Fi (b/g/n), a 92-percent keyboard, multi-touch touchpad, 1.3MP webcam, Windows 7 and optional Bluetooth/3G. The 10.1-inch 16:9 netbook comes in a super-slim chassis, measuring less than 1-inch in thickness and weighing just 1.1kg (2.4lbs). Read more

Toshiba NB305 Pine Trail netbook gets hands-on video

I have not seen any official announcement regarding the Toshiba NB300/NB305 netbook, but despite this Laptop Mag has come clean with some hands-on impressions of the Pine Trail netbook. In case you are wondering how it differs from the NB200/NB205, the NB300 has an 11-hour battery that is now flush with the chassis compared to its predecessor whose battery jutted out from the back.

If you were just having a quick glance you’d be forgiven for thinking they were the same device. The design has hardly changed at all, from the stripy textured lid to its chiclet keyboard and large touchpad. This isn’t an issue as we already felt that the NB200 is one of the finest looking netbooks on the market today. Read more

Freescale unveils $200 7-inch smartbook tablet reference design

We expect to see a whole raft of smartbook devices at CES this week. Right on cue, Freescale has revealed a 7-inch (1024 x 600) tablet reference design that it is shopping to potential OEMs. The company hopes that its tablet design would be able to hit retail for less than $200 and could appear as soon as Summer 2010.

As with all smartbooks, the tablet is expected to be always-on and have an all-day battery life. In terms of specifics, the smartbook tablet is based on the i.MX515 processor, which incorporates the ARM Cortex A8 chip. It will also come with 512MB RAM and 4-64 GB of flash storage. Read more

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