Android was originally written for ARM processors, like those found in most current smartphones. This has meant Intel has had to play catch-up to port Android to x86 architecture.

“Our expectation is that (native x86 Android) will be based on the Froyo release and will be available this summer to developers” Renee James, Intel’s senior VP for software and services said.

Via APC.

The design seems similar to the U230 but will come with a Cobra Gray print that helps to protect it against scratches. The Wind12 U250 will come with a 12.1-inch glossy (1366 x 768) display, up to 8GB RAM and various HDD options (160/250/320GB). Other features include HDMI, Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1, a 1.3MP webcam, 4-in-1 card reader and three USB ports.

The Wind12 U250 also comes with MSI’s TDE Turbo Engine technology. This sounds like an overclocking tool that can boost performance in CPU and memory simultaneously. The Wind12 U250 boasts a battery life of up to 5.55 hours. There is currently no word on pricing or availability,.

MSI Wind12 U250 Technical Specifications:

CPU: AMD Athlon II Neo processor
Chipset: AMD RS880M+SB820M
Memory: DDR3 800MHz, up to 8GB at maximum
LCD: 12.1″ HD (Glare type) 1366×768, 16:9
HDD: 160GB/250GB/320GB SATA HDD
Card reader: 4 in 1 (XD/SD/MMC/Memory Stick)
I/O: HDMI, D-sub, USB 2.0*3, Mic-in, Headphone out, RJ-45
Battery: 3/6 cells (Optional)
Wireless: 802.11b/g/n, Bluetoothv2.1+EDR
Webcam: 1.3M Webcam
Sound: 2 Speakers
Dimension: 29.7cm x 19.0cm x 2.4-3.1cm
Weight: 1.3 KG (with 3-cell battery)
Special Features: TDE, ECO Engine, HD display, EDS Keyboard

Whilst the hardware is largely in tact, the custom Linux OS for the Skylight has been ditched in favour of Android. This has given them more confidence, especially since Lenovo has worked on Android with its smartphone in China. Release timelines still remain a mystery but fingers crossed it will be out in 2010.

Via Slashgear.

Toshiba have made slight tweaks to Android 2.1 to make it more suited as a netbook. You’ll get the usual homescreens that can be pre-configured and a number of apps will be pre-installed including Documents to Go for viewing and editing Microsoft Office files, a POP3 email client and a Toshiba Media Player.

It will come with a non-touchscreen 10.1-inch display with 1024 x 600 resolution display. Other features include a 1.3MP webcam, Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, an optional 3G module, an integrated SD memory card slot, a USB port, a mini-USB port and HDMI-out. The Toshiba AC100 will be available from August 2010 although pricing remains a mystery for now.

Slashgear, Crave and PC Pro managed some hands-on time with a prototype device and found that whilst the AC100 was indeed lightweight there was an element of flex in the chassis and keyboard. The software seemed to freeze and there is no Flash support right now, although an update to Android 2.2 (complete with Flash 10.1 support) is pencilled in over the next few months.

Of more concern, however, was the limited peripheral support given the Android OS. Printers and cameras are the main offenders whilst mice and external keyboards should be okay. Also, the fact that the display was not touchscreen meant that the Android UI was a bit unintuitive over a mouse. Check out some videos below.

If true, it would be a big blow to Acer and leave the ION netbook market pretty much to Asus. It’s not clear whether this cancellation is on a global basis, although if those technical issues are true, then I don’t see why region would make a difference.

NotebookReview managed to get hold of two Alienware M11x models at E3, one with the 1.066GHz Core i5-520UM processor and another with the 1.2GHz Core i7-640UM. They ran a wPrime test and compared the results to the original M11x they reviewed that sported the 1.4GHz SU4100. As you’d expect the Core i7 and Core i5 was faster than the SU4100, however overclocking the SU4100 gave it second place at 51.15 seconds compared to 39.47seconds (lower is better) for the Core i7-640UM. However, both the Core i5 and i7 models are also overclockable. Check out the results after the jump.

Alienware M11x CPU wPrime 32M test:

Intel Core i7-640UM 39.47s
Intel Pentium Dual-core SU4100 (overclocked) 52.15s
Intel Core i5-520UM 55.37s
Intel Pentium Dual-core SU4100 66.24s

As a quick recap, the Eee PC 1201PN comes with a 12.1-inch (1366 x 768) display and is powered by a 1.66Ghz N450 Atom processor and next-generation ION. It is believed that this model does not come with Nvidia’s Optimus technology, although we’ll have to wait for official confirmation of this. Other specs include 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD (5400RPM), HDMI, W7 Home Premium, Wi-Fi (b/g/n) and a 0.3MP webcam.

Via Netbooked.

They conducted some 7-Zip benchmarks comparing the performance against other Atom processors such as the Atom 330 and Atom D510 dual-core nettop processors along with the Atom N450 and Intel Core 2 Solo SU3300. Performance was broadly in line with the Atom D510 Pine Trail nettop processor but was nearly double that of the single-core N450 Atom processor found in most new netbooks.

Whilst the performance is not that different to the current Atom D510 the energy efficiency is. The Atom N550 has a TDP of 8.5W compared to 13W for the D510. This should mean increased runtime on netbooks using the new CPU. Overall, the N550 looks like a solid offering for the power netbook user.

Via Notebook Italia.

Unsurprisingly, the report goes on to say that a momentum shift is underway from tablets to netbooks. In Q1 2010, Apple shipped 700k iPads (6.5 percent of all netbook/slates). In Q2 2010 this number is expected to increase to +2 million iPads shipped. With more tablets expected to launch from H2 2010, netbooks will continue to lose share says the report.

“Q1’10 signalled the birth of the slate PC, and possibly by extension, the beginning of the end of the mini-note PC (netbook),” says John F. Jacobs, Director of Notebook Market Research. Personally I wouldn’t go that far, my own view is that netbooks are here to stay but tablets are appealing to those people who may have been in the market for a netbook previously.

Here is a list of supported touchscreen technologies:

* ADS7846/TSC2046 and ADS7843 based touchscreens
* AD7877 based touchscreens
* AD7879 based touchscreens: AD7879-1 I2C Interface
* AD7879 based touchscreens: AD7879 SPI Interface
* Compaq iPAQ H3600 (Bitsy) touchscreen
* SharpSL (Corgi and Spitz series) touchscreen driver
* Touchscreen support for Dialog Semiconductor DA9034
* EETI touchscreen panel support
* Fujitsu serial touchscreen
* Gunze AHL-51S touchscreen
* Elo serial touchscreens
* Wacom W8001 penabled serial touchscreen
* MELFAS MCS-5000 touchscreen
* MicroTouch serial touchscreens
* iNexio serial touchscreens
* ICS MicroClock MK712 touchscreen
* HP Jornada 6xx touchscreen
* HP Jornada 7xx touchscreen
* HTC Shift X9500 touchscreen
* Penmount serial touchscreen
* Renesas MIGO-R touchscreen
* Touchright serial touchscreen
* Touchwin serial touchscreen
* Atmel Touchscreen Interface
* Philips UCB1400 touchscreen
* Support for WM97xx AC97 touchscreen controllers
* WM9705 Touchscreen interface support
* WM9712 Touchscreen interface support
* WM9713 Touchscreen interface support
* WM97xx Atmel accelerated touch
* WM97xx Mainstone/Palm accelerated touch
* Zylonite accelerated touch
* USB Touchscreen Driver
o eGalax Touchkit USB (also includes eTurboTouch CT-410/510/700)
o PanJit TouchSet USB
o 3M MicroTouch USB (EX II series)
o ITM
o Some other eTurboTouch
o Gunze AHL61
o DMC TSC-10/25
o IRTOUCHSYSTEMS/UNITOP
o IdealTEK URTC1000
o GoTop Super_Q2/GogoPen/PenPower tablets
o JASTEC USB Touch Controller/DigiTech DTR-02U
* Sahara TouchIT-213 touchscreen
* TSC2007 based touchscreens
* W90P910 touchscreen driver
* Motorola PCAP touchscreen