If Intel can prevent OEM’s from using the Dual Core CPU in their netbook and notebook designs, how come they can’t stop Dell using the Z-Series Atom in a notebook? Just as the Dual-core CPU could damage notebook sales, so to could putting a 12" screen on a netbook, even if it didn’t have a dual-core CPU inside.

I was alerted to this misnomer [hmmm wrong word perhaps. Anomaly?] today via a brief news item today from Tony Smith of The Register who draws the conclusion that the name of a leaked Dell device that will go on sale at UK supermarket Tesco,  the Z530, means it will have an Atom Z530 inside. Actually he’s right because if you look back to the early leaks, you find a 12.1" ‘E-Slim’ device based on Silverthorne. Dell are actually going to throw a device right into the middle of the consumer laptop arena and give it netbook-style pricing. This is the danger zone and possibly the beginning of the end for netbooks as we knew them.

Why the Silverthorne CPU and Poulsbo chipset though? Style, Battery life and video. It’s going to be a normal laptop aimed at ‘pro-sumers’ and the ‘Youth social networking/entertainment’ customers. They are aiming for a cheap, super-slim device with ‘all day’ battery life with high-end video playback support and the only way they can do it is to move to the latest Intel MID silicon. I like the idea myself. I have a ultra mobile PC (Still haven’t pulled the trigger on a new Q1 U HSDPA yet though) and a stylish, 12" ultralight with long, long battery life and high-end hardware decoded video playback would suit me as a partner device to take to conferences and to use for hot-desking.

Why am I even talking about this 12" notebook on UMPCPortal though? Apart from it further bluring the edges of the, once well-defined, netbook category, there are a number of other reasons. The main one for us is that it will be running XP and that means drivers! Those of us waiting for drivers for the SC3, D4, SX3, M528 and Aigo MID are going to finally have XP drivers for the chipset. One can assume that if Dell is the customer, the device will have working drivers too! The second point is one that I alluded to earlier and one that I’ve just detailed in an email report to UMPCPortal sponsors and donators. The netbook market is going to be damaging because consumers are finding that they can use a netbook in place of a normal laptop. It IS powerful enough for many. Consumers are truly finding peace with netbooks. When devices like this Dell cross over into the larger netbook market, they bring with them the low-cost pricing and that immediately damages the main notebook market. We end up with a pricing war that, in the long run, reduces funds for R&D, quality engineering and niche products. While the 12" Dell netbook device may look good for consumers now, it could cross over into the danger zone and cause real problems for the future.

One good thing about the flood of netbooks is that consumers get lots of choice. Believe it or not, there are a few netbooks that manage to stand out from the others. I feel that the IdeaPad S10 has the potential to stand out; it looks quite attractive, and you’ll see in the unboxing video from Laptop.com that it appears to be slightly smaller than the Asus EEE 1000H, and the MSI Wind. Interestingly, it seems to have 2 RAM slots. I’m really not a fan of the tiny right shift-key, and it seems that the guys at LAPTOP aren’t either. Hopefully the packaging will get an upgrade before consumers get their hand’s on the S10, as the unboxing experience looked pretty weak.

With a sea of netbook choices, one might think something such as a misshapen shift-key could actually be enough to make a netbook significantly less popular than one of its competitors, of course given that battery life and performance were the same.

[Laptop.com] via [Liliputing]

You may have seen some news over the last few days that Intel has started to ship a dual core variant of their Atom processor. To some of you that may sound like good news for the mobile world as nearly every new netbook seems to be running on Atom, and who doesn’t like a boost in performance? Well, as jkk points out, unfortunately the dual core Atom CPU is not for netbooks, they are actually for nettops, or low cost desktops.

In the beginning, there were two types of Atom chips, the kind that focused on low power consumption, low heat output, and small size, and the others (which we see in all the recent netbooks), focus on low power consumption, low heat output, and low price. Now the Dual Core chips present a new focus, which is primarily keeping prices low and performance high (relatively), or course keeping the low power consumption/low heat output out of the focus means that you have a CPU that isn’t suitable for a netbook, which has minimal cooling, and limited power to be consumed. For comparison, the Atom CPUs that we are used to seeing in netbooks, have a TDP of 2.5w, while the dual core version has an 8w TDP. So not only does that mean more power drain on your battery, but also there might not be enough cooling to keep the chip from overheating in a netbook.

On top of all of this, jkk says that he has gotten word that Intel is actually telling OEMs not use Dual Core Atom CPUs in netbooks. Looks like we’ll need to wait for the next round of Atom CPUs in order to see anything new for the netbook wave.

Jkk, master of all Eee PCs, has put up a video review of the Eee 900A, one of the newest Atom powered Eees. Swing by his site to watch the whole video and listen to Jkk’s thoughts on the netbook.

The good guys at Dynamism have sent me an Aspire One netbook for review; have a look at the unboxing shots (if that is your thing), and read my initial impressions below.

Aspire One Unboxing

Initial Impressions

As I opened the box to take a first look at the Aspire One I was immediately impressed with its design. They went with a very minimalistic approach and they did a really good job. Lots of curved edges make this netbook look really smooth, and it is apparent that they took their time making the device look nice. I don’t think the average person would realize that this is a only a $449 piece of hardware. The red/orange metallic looking highlights near the hinges provide a well balanced contrast between the otherwise minimal tone. For some reason it bothers me that the red/orange rings aren’t actually part of the hinge, even though they appear to be when the lid is closed. Well I suppose it doesn’t actually bother me, but it is perplexing.

The unit is really solid when it is closed and the screen hinge is just tight enough. There is a webcam and microphone in the top of the screen’s bezel. The screen does not wobble easily, and the battery also sits snug in its holder, leaving no wiggle room, which is always an indicator of good build quality. The mouse pad is a bit larger than the Kohjinsha SH8’s and is very usable… if you configure it correctly. The keyboard’s layout is pretty much standard, so there is no need to learn where keys might have been relocated to. Dark blue symbols on the keys are Fn functions; the blue symbols on white keys look good even if it is a very subtle effect.

I’ve been enjoying the device more than I had expected to for the last few days, keep your eyes peeled for the full review coming up in the next week or two. Drop a line in the comments if there is anything in particular you’d like to know about the Aspire One.

We showed you the upcoming Samsung netbook last week, and now we have some additional information regarding the unit. Samsung is going for the 10" screen range, and the Samsung netbook’s screen will be 10.2" to be exact. Specs don’t really differ very much from what we predicted last week, but here is the latest info (from Pocketables.net):

• 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor
• 1GB RAM
• 10.2" screen (1024 x 600)
• 80GB/120GB/160GB hard drive options
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 1.3MP camera
• 3-in-1 card reader
• 2.9 pounds
• 6-cell battery

Anyone could have guessed the specs and Samsung unfortunately isn’t brining anything new to the table this time around. They could have at least strived for low cost, however it seems as though the netbook, which should release some time in October, will cost about $550 USD.

WhatLaptop.co.uk seems to be the first to have gotten two official images of the Samsung netbook. Click the image in this post to view it full-sized; swing by the site link if you are interested in the keyboard image. The specs and images look so remarkably similar to the Acer Aspire One that I’m typing on right now, that I feel like I’m already using the Samsung netbook… I hope they give it a name soon so I don’t have to continue to call it ‘the Samsung netbook’!

[Liliputing]

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 ;)

Thanks to tipster, Quodo, we have some info about the ECS G10 netbook in retail form. Airis, who have other netbooks on the market, are branding this one an selling it through The Phone House for 499 Euros. It sounds a lot but you’re getting a 6-cell battery and an integrated 3G module which is why I’ve been following the news on it. Its also quite a stylish number so if The Phone House apply the standard 3G data contract discounts that we see on other devices, this should be a 299 Euro + 30 per month purchase. Well find put for sure in a few weeks when it goes on sale.

 
Specification and more news links in the database.

Source: Clubic.com (French)