Archive for the ‘mininote’ Category

As I happened to be in my local mall I decided to look at what’s new in the electronics store. I was surprised to find the store had a whole dedicated netbook section and among them were the new Eee 904 models. These are basically the 1000h with the smaller 8.9 inch screen. The price here is 1200zl, which happens to be 100zl less than the windows version of the 901. I would still rather have the 901 though as the 904 has a not so good looking bezel around the screen and is definitely not as mobile. I don’t like the fact that subsequent Eee models seem to be getting bigger and bigger… Which one is your favorite at the moment? For me it’s the black 901. I have in fact started learning how to solder in anticipation of getting one in the future

Yes, a strange statement to make but its exactly what I though if when I saw it. A design daring to be different but not really having any classic, timeless lines. The Amilo looks cool on first glance but I bet it looks, er, less cool in 12 months!

Fashion aside though, the specs aren’t anything to moan about, apart from the slow-looking 60GB HDD perhaps. The Array mic will help with Skype, the ExpressCard slot will help with multi-device 3G cards and I like the fact that its got Bluetooth. FSC is a German partnership between Fujitsu and Siemens so I’m not sure how this product will translate into other countries [Update - The news item gives us a clue. It could be the M1010] but I’m guessing that if Fujitsu have the rights, you’ll simply see it under a different Fujitsu model name in other countries.

Sascha from Eee PC News was at the launch today and has a few more pics where you can see the exchangeable cover ‘feature.’

Full specs are in the database now.

• 8.9’’ WSVGA Display (1024 x 600)
• Intel® Atom™ Processor N270 (1,6 GHz)
• 1024 MB DDR2 667 MHz RAM
• 60/80 GB HDD (3600 rpm / 4200 rpm)
• LAN, WLAN 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth
• ExpressCard slot
• USB 2.0
• VGA out
• Webcam 1,3 Megapixel
• Digital Array Microphone
• Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
• 233 x 29 / 36 x 175 mm, 1 kg

Via JKKMobile

With a little hands on in the W hotel with a few Intel reps. The Lennovo U8 is here and looking beautiful. Shame about the UI which disappoints compared to that other UI-focused mobile Internet device but the style is slick, the browser fast and everyone loves it. I`ll be testing the video performance soon.

IDF starts for real tomorrow morning and the buzz is high. I`ve seen Wibrain and they have the i1 UMPC with them. Im really interested in seeing that.

More details tommorrow.

Check this out. Engadget received a photo of an ASUS presentation slide showing 23 Eee models.

Note the ‘Touch’ and ‘Slim and Light’ expressions. Also note that the ASUS R50 and R70 aren’t part of the range. Looks like they still see tablets as niche devices that don’t fit into the EEE profile.

New models to look out for are the S101, S91, T101. I wonder if we’ll finally see a version of the T83. (image left.)It was a popular device on the portal last year but probably needs an update now.

Thanks to source: Engadget.

I was just reading Kevin’s article about how big the netbook market has gotten in just a year. It’s really amazing to me how the category evolved and expanded. I have maybe once seen a UMPC in use in the wild. That was someone using a UX in a coffee shop. But that’s it. Now however, netbooks seem to be all over the place. In school I regularly see people typing away on Eees. Just last week when going through Airport security a woman behind me pulled an Eee 900 out of her handbag. What surprised me the most though, is my visit to the mall here in Italy. I went into a small electronics store and looked at the laptops on display. There were two Acer 15′ notebooks which looked pretty old and as if they were sitting in the store for a long time. In a big display cabinet however where 3 Olidata JumPCs proudly displaying their 299 Euro price. The JumPC is an Italian Eee-like device that runs on the 900mhz celeron and is marketed at children. I think it might actually be the Classmate design. Definitely not what I expected to find in such a small store! I might have bought if only it wasn’t slightly bulky and err… orange

10.2 is just out of the UMPCPortal coverage range (yes, the ASUS 1000 won’t get coverage here either) but this is worth noting due to it being the first device we’ve seen that will be using the VIA Nano processor.

Aving snapped the pic but there’s no hands-on or word on price or availability. I’m a little confused as to why they have the old VX700 chipset in there though. A man’s Nano-based PC requires VX800 and no less!!

Images of the device, which doesn’t look bad at all, over at Aving. Take it from us, the translation is hardly worth reading!

There’s a lot of news coming in right now. I’ll make brief posts and follow up later with commentary if neccecsary. Here’s a new video of the ASUS Eee PC 901 from Sascha at Computex.

This could be a major marketing cock-up!

A prototype of the laptop, based on the open-source Via OpenBook reference design announced last week, was shown by contract manufacturer Quanta Computer at WiMax Expo, an exhibition being held alongside the annual Computex show in Taipei.

The laptop will begin shipping during the third quarter, Quanta said.

A check of the laptop’s properties confirmed the laptop is based on a 1.6GHz C7-M processor from Via and listed Sony as the manufacturer. When the existence of Sony’s name on the machine was pointed out to a Quanta executive manning the booth, he quickly closed the properties window and declined to explain why Sony was listed as the manufacturer.

Sony executives were not immediately available for comment.

Update: PC Advisor has the image of the Sony Manufacturer tag.

Source: PC World.

It certainly looks like the MSI Wind is taking point in the mininote race right now. Everyone seems to love the design that’s slightly bigger and heavier than the Eee PC 900. The price, style and specifications seem to be spot on. There’s a tough 2 weeks ahead for all mininote product managers but with reports like this one from Crave being published, MSI’s product managers can be happy that they have the right momentum at exactly the right time.

…it could take the throne from the Asus Eee PC as the best mini laptop on the planet.

Crave mention a few ‘tricks’ too, like the TurboDrive button and a keyboard that is ‘miles miles’ better than the Eee PC 900. We’ll have to see about that but it’s not often you hear the Brits getting over-excited about something so maybe, just maybe, this is the one!

More images and notes over at Crave.cnet.co.uk

Latest information and new links are being added to the Aspire ONE product page.

Hot on the heals of the Dell Mininote leak are these images which just dropped into our forum. This posts are titled ‘Aspire One.’

It’s got the same touchpad as seen on the HP 2133 and what appears to be an 8.9″ screen. Images show a, probably linux-based, user interface. Anyone recognize that UI?

Thanks ‘Liza’ whoever you are. We’ll be looking out for this at Computex and as soon as we have enough info, we’ll add it to the database.

Update#1: From 3Fire. (Source Mobile 01)

According to his information in that pag, Acer’s Mini-Note is called “Aspire One”, running Windows XP SP3 on the 8.9 screen with resolution of 1024 X 768. The ODM partner is Quanta, the main notebook ODM partner of HP, DELL and Apple. The source thinks “Aspire One” is better looking than Asus’ EEE PC, however, no photo release yet.

Looks like it’s an Atom/Diamondville-based device. Digitimes mentions a 299 Euro price which is 100 Euro cheaper than the Eee PC 900!

Update#2: Now tracking the details in the database.

Update. Launch details, official specs and images here now.

Update2. Hands-on video.

With a launch obviously timed to coincide with Computex next week and positioned to take advantage of the incredible growth in the low-cost mobile notebook market, the OpenBook Mini-Note, on first look, seems to be a much better product opportunity than the Nanobook was. While the Nanobook and Eee PC launched together one year ago, it was the Eee PC that stole the show based largely on price indicators but also on looks. With the OpenBook Mini-Note, VIA appeared to have attended to the important issue of aesthetics and using what looks like it could be a masterstroke in the pin-compatible Isaiah CPU, extended the market placement from low-cost netbook right up into an area of the market that neither Intel’s Atom or Core can currently operate in. Low cost, highly mobile Vista notebooks. Read on for images, video, Q&A and analysis.

(more…)

Its Nanobook version II! Bigger, more powerful, more stylish, using an open-source hardware design and aimed right where Intel have left a gap. The VIA Openbook reference design that you might recognise as the Cloudbook Max, has just been launched.

The VIA OpenBook mini-note reference design introduces a host of new innovations, including the next generation of VIA Ultra Mobile Platform, based on the VIA C7^®-M ULV processor and the new all-in-one VIA VX800 digital media IGP chipset. Together, this ultra compact, power efficient platform delivers richer computing and multimedia features, including a stunning 8.9” screen and greater video playback support, in a compact and stylish clamshell form factor that weighs just 1kg.

The VIA OpenBook features a flexible internal interface for high-speed broadband wireless connectivity that provides customers with the ability to select from a choice of WiMAX™, HSDPA and EV-DO/W-CDMA modules appropriate to their market. In addition, under a unique collaborative approach, the CAD files of the external panels of the reference design are offered for download under a Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 license to give customers such as OEMs, system integrators, and broadband service providers greater freedom in tailoring the look and feel of their device to meet the diverse needs of their target markets.

There’s three important things to take note of here.

• The CAD files for the hardware design will be available to OEMS which will really help reduce cost and time to market.
• There are two internal module options. This provides excellent flexibility for radio options. Just slot in a new module and you have a 3G-enabled product for your market
• Not mentioned in any of the launch materials - the Isaiah upgrade path. You can bet that this was designed with Isaiah in mind and that it will scale to desktop-replacement speeds when Isaiah CPU is available as a CPU option

I see a device that can compete in the ULCPC space (XP Home, sub $500) with the VIA C7-M and the enhanced VX800 chipset and very importantly, a device that can create a brand new space for low-cost premium Vista and 3G-enabled devices when combined with an Isaiah CPU in the near future.

More analysis coming up on this later but in the meantime, you can read more information at VIA new website - www.viaopenbook.com

Update: Specs and links now being tracked in the OpenBook product page.

What is there to say about the Eee PC 900 that JKK hasn’t already covered yet? It’s mobile, productive and people absolutely love it. The big question is, do you need a small, lightweight, good value mobile computer like the Eee PC 900 or do you want a mini-laptop like the HP2133 and MSI Wind, devices that are trying to balance themselves between ultra mobile and sub-notebooks. There’s not much between all the netbook devices which makes it a difficult choice. Hopefully this 35-minute info-packed video will help you decide!

Source: JkkMobile.

More information, links and specs in the EeePC 900 summary page.

Laptop magazine and jkOnTheRun are reporting back from their initial tests with upgrading (yes, it’s an upgrade in my opinion) from Windows Vista to XP on the HP 2133 MiniNote. Just how much evidence do OEMs need to convince them that installing the shiny Vista option is going to degrade the quality of their low-end computing product?

I run XP on the WiBrain B1H which has a lower-spec, 1.2Ghz CPU than many of the HP 2133 devices that are being tested out there and its running fine. Using the VGA cable or docking station I am happy using it as my work PC. Yes, I only do browser-based work with a little Livewriter, IM and photo editing (Paint Shop Pro) on the side but it works well. In fact, here’s a list of some of the apps I tested for my review of the WiBrain. All of these should work better than on the WiBrain. [more after the jump.]

(more…)

UMPCPortal have been fortunate enough to be able to build some good relationships with resellers over the last few years which means there’s a nice two way channel for information that can go to and from potential customers.

For example, yesterday I contacted Gigabyte about the rumored 912, 8.9" netbook and I should be getting some official news very soon. In the other direction, came the following information for UK and Australian customers…

(more…)