Mini Netbook News
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Apple Netbook Reviews Imminent?
The rumour from the Dow Jones Newswire is that Apple is planning a touchscreen netbook. Apparently it will come out in the second half of 2009, and will have a 10 inch screen.
- Apple Netbook Reviews Imminent?
Well the details are pretty sketchy, but it wouldn’t be a surprise; given that everyone else is on the bandwagon…
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Is a Google Netbook Review on the Agenda?
Now I’ve been meaning talk about Android for a while. Android, For those who are interested, is Google’s open source operating system for running Mobiles. It’s based on the Linux Kernel (in non-tech speak this is the core of the system) with a ‘stack’ of Java applications built on top. So what’s all this got to do with netbooks? Well Android could give Google a route onto the desktop, and so threaten Microsoft’s power base, and ComputerWorld has quoted Google CEO Eric Schmidt:
“What’s particularly interesting about netbooks is the price point. Eventually, it will make sense for operators and so forth to subsidize the use of netbooks so they can make services revenue and advertising revenue on the consumption. That’s another new model that’s coming.”
He sounds interested - netbook reviews covering Android netbooks may be a reality sooner rather than later.
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Netbook Review: MSI WIND Netbook U100 White 1GB 120GB 10″ XP Home Webcam with free bag
- MSI WIND
This netbook computer seems to be one you either love or hate, but it’s certainly high on the current bestseller list (March 09). The popularity could be down to the adoption of Windows XP, which the MSI Wind handles reasonably with its 1 GB of memory. It also has a usable keyboard; the manufatcturer claims to use “the same ergonomic keyboard as the larger notebooks”. Of course a 10 inch display is also a big plus. On the downside is the battery; with the 3 cell only lasting 1-2 hours. And some users seem to have had problems with the WiFi.
So all-in-all this mini-netbook draws mixed reviews, and The Netbook Review team is also divided, but at the end of the day it is relatively inexpensive, and you do get that free bag!
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Netbook Review: Toshiba Netbook Computer NB100-11r
This mini netbook isn’t high up the Amazon best seller list, but perhaps it should be! For a start it runs Ubuntu Linux (Remix), which is an excellent operating system; easy to use and suited to relatively underpowered netbooks. The good thing about Ubuntu is that it’s free, and has a large online following to help you with any questions you may have. This netbook computer has the Open Office software, Firefox, and plenty of other good applications. And if that’s not enough applications try the repository feature, or downloadable .deb files. And this mini netbook is not heavy; it’s barely a kilogram, and it looks great. The screen is 8.9 inch, yes small. The keyboard is, well, yes, small, but isn’t being mini the definition of a netbook? And the trackpad has a especially usable area with buttons placed at the bottom.
- Toshiba NB100 Netbook Computer
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This machine has an Atom processor inside, 512MB of memory, and 80GB of hard disk. All in all a portable, well made, and cheap mini netbook computer.
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Touchscreen Netbooks
The next netbook trend may well be touchscreen netbooks. Having a touchscreen on the netbook will help the end user cope with the small netbook keyboard. From what we have seen the idea is to have a netbook that can convert into a tablet style PC with the use of a swivel screen. In fact touchscreen netbooks are already here; Intel demonstrated the new ‘Classmate’, a “netvertible” device, at the 2009 Consumer Electronic show. The Classmate can swivel its 8.9 inch screen into a tablet, and has an Intel Atom processor. Intel is already approaching a number of software provides to provide touchscreen-enabled programs. Asus is also getting in on the action with its Asus Eee Touch (T91). However, both Intel and Asus have been left in the wake of Gigabyte, who have already unveiled their Intel Atom powered M912V. machine.
- Gigabyte M912V
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Moblin V2 Core Alpha
This looks like an exciting open source Linux project specifically for netbook Atom processors. Of particular intrest to the general user will be the “Fastboot” feature, which enables the netbook to boot in under 15 seconds. The project is in the Alpha stage at the moment, and there has been a defect with WIFI support on some netbooks, but it’s early days. Check it out at:
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