So Google tell us that the Chromebooks will be fast. It all hinges on the apps (again!) I took the newly released Angry Birds for Chrome and tested it on a desktop, a tablet and a netbook. I also took a beta version of Chrome and tested it on that. Then I took a native version downloaded via AppUp (Yes, Angry Birds is already available for your Windows desktop!) The results – I’m not impressed with the Chrome version at all. Windowed and running slowly on Chrome. The Native version […]

I want to wind back to a post I wrote about Chrome OS last year… Personally I’m having trouble working out what Google are doing here. Is it to promote HTML5 development? Am I failing to see the long-term play? Are we really going to be using operating systems on our desks that are dumber than the ones on our phones? The advantages for netbooks users are limited. The license cost advantage will be just $15-$25, the device support will be poor and there will be a million and one […]

At 11.6 and 12.1 inch respectively, the two Chromebooks announce today fall right alongside netbooks. They even utilise a netbook CPU, the Intel Atom N570 dual-core 1.66Ghz part the top of the range. Acer Chromebook. Full specs and links here Intel Atom N570 11.6 inch 1366×768 screen 16GB SSD storage 1.34KG   Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Full specs and links here. This is the larger, heavier of the two. Note the sealed battery compatment. Intel Atom N570 12.1 inch 1280×800 screen 16GB SSD storage 1.48kg There’s a 3G option available […]

From the Chromebook launch. May 11 2011: It seems that every new app store has it’s version of Angry Birds but what we’re seeing demonstrated tonight (the launch of the Chromebook) takes Chrome OS a big step further into that land of the impressive PC. Boot and ready within 8 seconds. 3G. GPU acceleration.

‘Shipping June 2011’ says the Fujitsu store in the U.S. which means that the Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 (and mass production of Oaktrail) is getting nearer. The Q550 is a pro-targeted tablet with some interesting features that I reported on back at CeBIT. A 400-nit screen IPS screen, 2GB RAM, remote security, capacitive/digitiser input, fast-charge, removable battery options, 4 USB ports, Gobi 3G option, SSD, docking port and an array mic are just some of the advanced features you’ll find which indicated a pro-level, industry focused solution. It also gives you […]

How nice it is to see a company that started in the ultra mobile PC era reach their 4th product iteration. No-one really talks about these thin and efficient desktops but Linutops continued survival indicates that there’s a market out there. It would be nice to see Linutop ‘catch-up’ a little bit with the processor iterations. The N270 is a good-value part but there will be some Z6xx Oaktrail single-board PC products out there soon and with Meego making progress, it must be an option worth investigating for a Linutop […]

There’s good and bad news to be drawn out of the news that Intel will go with a PowerVR core on Cedar Trail, the next generation of Netbook platform. VR-Zone report that Cedarview (the processing engine in the Cedar Trail platform) will include an SGX545 graphics core and not Intel graphics as had previously been suggested here. VR-Zone Cedarview to sport PowerVR graphics. The good news is that it brings the netbook platform in-line with other Atom platforms used for TV, ultra-mobile, embedded and tablet products and simplifies the builds […]

Despite pushing the “1080p” line all up and down their press release, it looks like the Acer’s Iconia Tab A500 isn’t actually walking out the door with 1080p capabilities […]