We’ve seen Woot feature quite a few netbooks in the past, but today they have gone over the top. Everyone’s favorite (US only, sorry!) deal-a-day website is offering not one, but two netbook choices today, both from reputable netbook makers.
Behind door #1 | Woot.com – Acer Aspire One D150 for $259.99 (+5 shipping)
Windows XP
1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU
1GB of RAM
160GB HDD
6-cell battery
1024×600 10.1 inch screen
Available in black, blue, or red
Condition: Refurbished
Behind door #2 | Shopping.woot.com (Woot/Yahoo partner site) – Asus Eee PC 900A for $169 (+5 shipping)
Linux
1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU
4GB SSD
1GB of RAM
1024×600 8.9 inch screen
Condition: New
Woot really seems to love netbooks. Head over an check out the two netbooks, and remember, if you are interested, you’ll want to buy fast because these deals will only be here for one day (and that’s if they don’t sell out!).
Sony has been resistant to admit that the netbook is something that consumers want for quite a long time. The closest thing they’ve released to a netbook to date is the Sony VAIO P [Portal page] and that is really stretching it. Sony itself doesn’t consider the VAIO P a netbook and certainly doesn’t market or price it like one. You could say that Sony makes premium computers, which are often of good build quality, but come with a price to match. It is plain to see why a netbook wouldn’t be part of their plans. It isn’t exactly easy to build a computer that would hold up to Sony’s idea of quality while keeping the price down. Additionally, a netbook has the potential to devalue high priced laptops whether its warranted or not.
Well it looks like Sony finally had to do it. Recently announcing the Sony VAIO W netbook, Sony enters the netbook game again stiff competition from companies that already have lots of experience in the field of creating inexpensive, but relatively high quality computers.
The Sony VAIO W has fairly typical netbook specs: 1GB of RAM, 1.6GHz Atom CPU, and running Windows XP (thank goodness!). One area where the VAIO W kicks back at cookie-cutter netbook specs is the screen. Offering more than the obligatory 1024×600 resolution, the VAIO W will have a 10.1 inch screen sporting a resolution of 1366×768 which is a nice properly formatted 16:9 aspect ratio. Sounds pretty ugood right? Unfortunately Reuters is reporting that the Japanese price of the VAIO W is ¥60,000 or about $629. I can’t say that price bodes very well for the VAIO W, especially considering that it may be the price for the 3-cell battery version of the device.
The VAIO W will be released in three colors: pink, white, and brown, and it looks like Sony has whipped up three color matching accessory kits which include a mouse and slip case, both matching the color of the VAIO W of your choice. The keyboard seems to be very similar to the VAIO P’s chiclet style keyboard which we loved when we reviewed it [VAIO P review, keyboard section].
Eee T91A: Windows 7, multi-touch capacitive screen
Eee T91GO: Integrated 3G, GPS, DTV tuner, normal resistive touchscreen
With this early information it seems like we might be breaking the news up into more or less models than there actually are. It seems more likely that you’ll be able to get a T91A(GO), which would have the integrated goodness but Windows 7 and multi-touch, or a T91(GO) which would be Windows XP, integrated goods, and resistive screen, or the two different models without the built in stuff (ie. the T91A and T91) though that is just speculation. Of course Windows 7 helps us predict some release dates. I think it can be safely said that the multi-touch version won’t be out until on or after Windows 7 hits the market.
Just a quick poll to see which devices people are waiting for. There are seveal very nice devices that are still on their way to the market. See the following links below to review the devices before making your choice (also feel free to fill your own answer into the ‘other’ area). Please only vote once.
Welcome to this week’s netbook roundup. In this space every Monday I’ll highlight netbook new items from around the web.
Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 reviewed, deemed a mixed bag Looks like the second version of the Lenovo netbook, the S10-2 [Portal page], has been reviewed by Laptop Magazine, and while Brad of Liliputing thinks that is scores pretty well in Laptop’s tests, it seems that the reviewers didn’t like the aesthetic appearance of the unit.
BenQ Lanuches Joybook Lite U102, Rights Wrongs From netbooknews.com, we see that BenQ releases the Joybook Lite U102, which brings some evolutionary upgrades to the table over the previous U101 model.
NEC’s latest netbook boasts an 8.5 hour battery NEC’s LaVie Light Lui netbook runs for nearly 8.5 hours on a single charge. Pretty good, specs are predictable netbook specs (Atom, 1GB of RAM, 1024×600, yadda yadda…)
Asus Seashell Eee PCs to Come in Four New Colors Looks like the Asus Eee 1005HA [Portal page] and 1008HA [Portal page] will be released in a total of 6 colors, 4 brand new ones including pink, blue, ruby red, and sapphire blue. Swing through the link to see images of the netbooks with their new colors on. I like the sapphire the best!
Shadowy modder gives Eee PC a risky back alley trackball implant Pretty interesting mod puts a trackball directly into the case of an Eee 901. More interesting yet: the trackball is from an Apple ‘Mighty Mouse’. It is just me or does that ball look to big to be from one of those mice? Maybe its just me… looks to be good for scrolling regardless.
I’ve been giggling for the past hour. I just can’t work out if that portfolio case is a masterstroke or just plain silly but one thing’s for sure, it highlights how small this device is.
We got hold of the Kohjinsha SK3 a few hours ago and ripped straight into it with an unboxing video that you’ll find below. So far we’re impressed with the build-quality, the size and weight, the features, the bright and crisp screen and of course that portfolio case. We’re not so impressed with what looks to be low-end battery life (largely due to the tiny battery) and the Japanese language XP build (a nice challenge!) although the speed of the device seems to be good. XP is helping here. The keyboard is exactly the same as found on the SC3 so you’re limited to pecking on the desktop although thumbing and single hand-hold pecking is also possible. The screen mechanism is solid.
We’ll be testing more over the weekend so watch out for a full hands-on early next week. A live session is tentatively planned for Monday evening (Central Europe time.)
How long will Asus continue to tantalize us with the Asus Eee T91 [Portal page]? It seems like ages ago that we first saw the tablet-netbook that promises to bring the tablet PC experience to the masses. While it seems that the T91 is either already released, or in the process of being released in the UK, we’re still left wondering when it will hit US shores. Regardless of the release date, Asus has seen fit to continue to taunt us by putting up an official product page on their US site. Nothing too exciting here, just some ever tempting images of the (supposedly real) device and some marketing hubbub, and we’re still left wondering if the multi-touch version will ever be released, or if it was just a prototype.
I’ve installed Windows 7 on the Clevo TN70M and it’s working very well. Auto screen rotation isn’t working yet but everything else seems to be. Even tablet features started working fully after I installed the touch drivers. I’ve tested the beta graphics drivers and it even enables Aero. (But causes problems with Windows Media Player so I rolled back to the standard drivers.)
The fact that Windows 7 works is more significant than with many other devices because you can buy the TN70M without an operating system for just over 400 Euro. This makes the Clevo TN70 with its excellent touchscreen the cheapest tablet PC available today. The wide frame and palm resistance help too so although it’s not the ultimate handwriting pad, it’s a fantastic entry point. Even if you’re not into handwriting, there are some nice features in Windows 7 that help with finger navigation and mobility. I just wish that auto screen-rotate software was working. It hasnt been working under XP either so it is possible I have a faulty unit here.
There’s not much more to say at the moment because it’s early days. I want to upgrade the RAM to 2GB because although Win 7 seems much more gentle on hard drives than Vista, it’s not as gentle as XP is. A fast 32GB SSD would be a better option than the 60GB HDD in my opinion and would really help Win 7.
What a bargain this is turning into. I have a broken Q1 Ultra here. I wonder if the 1024×600 would swap into it! I’m tempted to buy this little budget baby just to try it out because that’s the only thing that would need changing in order to make this a very compelling little UMPC.
We’ve seen Woot feature quite a few netbooks in the past, but today they have gone over the top. Everyone’s favorite (US only, sorry!) deal-a-day website is offering not one, but two netbook choices today, both from reputable netbook makers.
