Netbook OS Jolicloud v1.0 launches

The developers of Jolicloud, or what we think is one of the finer netbook operating systems around, have announced that version 1.0 of their operating system is now available as a general public release.

New features include improved performance of the launcher, several minor system updates as well as the major updates listed below. 

A Simpler, Customizable Launcher Entirely Built in HTML5

• Installing an app takes only one click, and removing it is just as easy.
• Jolicloud comes with some of the best apps already pre-installed, including Gmail, Skype, Twitter, Firefox, and more.
• It’s up to you to organize your apps the way you want - your launcher is customizable.
• We take care of any app updates so that updating is easy, and that you always have the latest version of everything.

An Exhaustive App Center

• Jolicloud has selected 700+ of the best free apps to install and share with your friends.
• You don’t have to keep up with Internet trends to discover the coolest new apps - our curated, Featured Apps directory is updated weekly with the best and the latest.
• Jolicloud makes it easy for you to share what apps you like with your friends and vice versa, so it’s always a dynamic and social app environment.

A Social Stream

• Through our new Stream feature, you can feel the pulse of the Jolicloud community and discover the apps that your friends recommend.
• You’re not only kept up to date with what apps other Joliclouders like, but you can also see whatever updates your favorite apps release.
• Any notifications from Jolicloud and other third-party apps are all centralized here.

A Universal File System

• Because everything is in one place, it’s easy to manage your files and data, whether they’re on your machine or in the Cloud.
• Jolicloud facilitates access to popular online storage services like box.net, Dropbox, and drop.io, with new services being added frequently.

Experience the Anywhere OS

• You can install Jolicloud on as many devices as you’d like, and they will always be automatically synchronized. Any app you download, delete, or move around will be the same on all your other machines with no extra work on your part.
• You can even manage your interface from the Cloud - if you don’t have your computer with you, log in on any HTML5 browser like Chrome to add, remove, or organize apps.
• Moving from machine to machine has never been so easy.

Jolicloud 1.0 is available to download from the project's site and via BitTorrent. Users can choose between installing Jolicloud via a standard ISO image or alongside Windows using Jolicloud Express and documentation is provided.

I'll be downloading and installing the new OS via VirtualBox this afternoon and will provide some updated details as well as an opinion of the new changes later today.

Jolicloud Netbook OS Enters Beta

Google's Chromium OS might be stealing all the limelight these days but that is only one of the netbook optimized operating systems that is sitting on the horizon. In fact there are several new offerings that are currently in full beta testing including Intel's Moblin and the independently devolved Jolicloud.

Earlier this week Jolicloud's primary developer Tariq Kim presented the first public beta release of the new netbook optimized OS. As of the announcement, anyone can download and install Jolicloud Express on most Windows netbooks out there.

Jolicloud's Wubi-derived installer make the process fairly simple and pain free. Users have three options for installation. You can opt for the pain free way and download the 600Mb .exe [or the torrent] from their website, or you can opt to use an .ISO to build a bootable disk. For those with no optical drive there is the third option which is to build a USB version. For those that choose the executable its as simple as launching the program, making a few selections and within a few moments you're system can dual-boot into Jolicloud or Windows.

Jolicloud hopes to have it first full version out in early 2010. From the looks of my initial testing it looks as though they are really close to an official release.

Can I Use Jolicloud?

Jolicloud is only offering support for netbooks therefore the OS and the included driver packs are optimized around the hardware found most common in those devices. As such anyone running a netbook should be able to download and install the operating system and it should run fine, however you can check the list of the currently supported models beforehand to make sure. Sadly this also means there isn't much support for laptops and desktops although since the OS is built around the Linux 2.6.32-rc6 kernel it should work on most laptops and desktops but the company will not provide any end user support.

Gateway Introduces New Atom Powered LT2000 Netbook

Gateway has been notably absent from the netbook market having only recently released the companies first netbook the AMD Athlon powered Gateway LT3100. Today the company has expand their sub-laptop lineup with the new Intel Atom N270 powered Gateway LT2000.



Gateway Expands LT Netbook Line to Maximize Mobility, Communications
Svelte 10.1-inch Model Ideal for On-the-Go Mobility; Delivers Convenient Wireless Connectivity

Gateway Inc. today introduces the Gateway LT2000, a new sleek and compact netbook with a 10.1-inch TFT LED-backlit display that will let mobile customers maximize their time on the go to stay connected and productive.

At the core of the Gateway netbook line is excellent mobility and wireless communications, so customers can shop online, browse websites, make VOIP calls, and stay in touch with friends and colleagues via email and social networks. The Gateway LT2000 netbook line is powered by Intel Atom processors and can provide easy access to the Internet via Wi-Fi 802.11b/g.

Incredibly portable, the new Gateway LT2000 netbook line measures only about an inch thin and weighs only 2.62 pounds so it is comfortable to hold, easy to transport and fits neatly into a purse or backpack. Boasting the same fashionable design seen in the Gateway LT3100 netbooks launched last month, the new Gateway LT2000 netbooks come in NightSky Black and Cherry Red with an engraved Gateway logo and modern silver trim accents.

“The new sleek Gateway LT2000 netbooks let customers do more with their time on the go – from enjoying the Internet to video chatting and staying in touch via email and social networks,” said Ray Sawall, senior product marketing manager for Gateway. “The expressive design is modern and stylish, looking perfect whether it’s used for work or play.”

Its 10.1-inch TFT LED-backlit LCD display gives today’s mobile-savvy customer the room they need to view web pages, documents, email, digital media and more. The Gateway LT2000’s petite form factor features all the ports for connecting to the latest peripherals. It has three USB 2.0, Ethernet and VGA as well as a multi-in-one digital card reader.

Additional Features Make it Incredibly Functional

The new Gateway LT2000 netbooks are well-equipped with features that make them highly useful for enjoying life on the go. They come with a full 1GB of memory and 160GB of hard drive space, so customers have ample room for music, photos and other files. The integrated webcam is ready to go with a simple software click. Customers can capture memories with still photos and live video that can be posted to personal blogs and sites like YouTube and Facebook. Also, video emails and video conferencing calls offer a more personal way to stay in touch.

The unique Multi-Gesture Touchpad on the new Gateway LT2000 netbooks lets users move around websites, documents and digital media in an incredibly intuitive way. For example, customers can swirl their fingers in a circular motion to scroll through web pages, long lists of files and music playlists. In addition, customers can move two fingers to flip through photos, web pages and PDF documents as well as make an inward or outward pinching motion to zoom in and out on photos and documents.

The new Gateway LT2000 netbooks use the latest Intel Atom processors to deliver excellent mobile performance while promoting extended battery life and power efficiency. The line provides up to 3 hours of battery life.

Available Configurations Pricing and Availability

The new Gateway LT2000 is available now in several configurations at a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $299.99. One of the configurations follows:

Gateway LT2001u

• Intel Atom Processor N270 (1.60GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512KB L2 Cache)
• Genuine Microsoft Windows XP® Home (Service Pack 3)
• 10.1-inch WSVGA 16:9 ratio TFT LCD (1024x600 resolution)
• Mobile Intel® 945GSE Express Chipset
• 1024MB DDR2 533 MHz SDRAM
• 160GB SATA 5400RPM Hard Drive
• Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
• 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
• Web Camera
• Two Built-in Stereo Speakers
• Dolby Headphone Technology
• Three USB 2.0 Ports
• 3-cell Li-ion Battery
• Chassis: NightSky Black
• One-Year Standard Warranty
• 2.62 lbs.
• 10.17 (w) x 7.24 (D) x 1.03 inches (H)
• Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $299.99

*Note: Cherry Red Version is available in the same configuration at the same price as model number Gateway LT2021u.

The Gateway LT2000 netbook line comes with additional preinstalled software including Microsoft Works with Office Home and Student 2007 Trial, Gateway Recovery Management, Adobe Reader, and Norton Internet Security 2009 Trial.

Gateway Limited Warranty, Service and Support

The Gateway LT2000 netbook line is backed by a one year limited warranty. Gateway's commitment to quality and reliability is evident in its award-winning line of PCs as well as in its exceptional service and support programs. In addition to the company's standard limited warranty options, its extensive online support center helps customers maximize their PC investment; it gives them easy access to customer support representatives and information on important issues such as limited warranties, technical issues and upgrading.

Source: Gateway Press Release

Sony Offers New High Priced, High Res. Notebook

Sony Style has always come at a bit of a premium so it should be no shocker that when the company announced a new netbook it would be priced considerably higher than the competition.




Today, Sony has announced a new VAIO W computer with specs similar to almost every other netbook on the market with the exception of a higher resolution 10.1-inch LED backlit screen. The new screen beats out most of the 1074 x 768 offerings to post a resolution of 1366 x 768. But with that high resolution screen you get a high price tag with a starting price of $500!

According to the product page over at Sony Japan the new VAIO W will feature a 160GB HDD, 1GB of RAM, Windows XP, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, VGA out, a webcam, and a memory card reader. All this will be packed into a case that is 267.8mm × 179.6mm and 27.5mm tall (32.4mm at it's thickest). This means you get an 87% full-size keyboard which might be a tad small for most.

Powering the standard VAIO W will be a stock 3-cell battery promising three hours of run time while an optional 6-cell battery should double that.

Dell To Offer GPS And Wi-Fi Positioning In New Mini 10s

Dell today announced they will begin offering GPS and Wi-Fi positioning via the Dell Wireless 700 location solution for the new Mini 10 netbook. Dell's Wireless 700 location solution will feature a combination of hardware and software built to accurately pinpoint a users position anywhere around the globe.

The hardware will feature an internal GPS card with built-in Wi-Fi locationing. Used in conjunction the two technologies will work together to locate the netbooks position both indoors and out. In other words, it can calculate your position using Wi-Fi access points by utilizing Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS) or using standard GPS satellites. The Dell Wireless 700 will be powered by Broadcom's A-GPS and Skyhook Wireless' Wi-Fi position solutions.

On the software side, the Dell Wireless 700 location system features CoPilot navigation software to provide turn by turn directions. The software will offer things like 2D and 3D map views, the ability to save up to 50 addresses for one trip, trip optimization to provide the most efficient route as well as providing instant detour information when you encounter expected delays and provides continuously updated information about the trip.

Dell also plans to offer a secondary location-based services in the form of a location aware portal. The company has partnered with Skyhook Wireless and Loki for this offering. Loki is a browser based plugin that comes preconfigured for Internet Explorer and Firefox. The plugin works with Loki-supported sites to improve local search functionality by providing you details from nearby restaurants store locations and even your friends' location information from supported social media sites like Flickr, Loopt and BrightKite.

In the OS department, initially, it will support Windows XP. Vista and Windows 7 support will come later. The Mini 10 is the first system that we'll offer with the optional Dell 700 Wireless location solution.

Source: Direct2Dell Blog

Slew Of Android-Powered Netbooks Due Later This Year

Several of the top netbook manufactures including Acer and HP have confirmed plans to potentially offer Google's open source Android operating system on low cost netbooks coming later this year.

Acer confirmed today that it was making Android PCs and will likely be the first company to launch netbooks using Google's Android. Jim Wong, Acer's global president for IT products, confirmed the news at a news conference at Computex, the world's second-largest PC trade show held in Taipei.

Acer will not speculate on the number of netbooks it expects to ship with Android installed, nor are they speculating on possible ship dates or other details such as pricing but the average savings for using Android versus Windows XP is roughly $25. Meaning these new netbooks might be a viable alternative at a cheaper cost than the current Linux based PCs.

The Aspire One netbooks Acer displayed at its news conference on Tuesday at Computex were running a dual-boot system allowing users to switch between Android and Windows XP, but Wong said the device that goes on sale later this year will only have Android and another Linux OS.

OEM/PC vendor Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) also showed off their first netbook with Google's Android operating system at Computex. The ECS device called the T800 has an 8.9-inch screen, a small keypad and weighs less than a kilogram (2.2 pounds) and features a chip from Texas Instruments (TI) called OMAP3, which contain ARM processing cores. ECS will offer two devices, one with ARM processors that run at 800MHz and another at 1GHz.

At least one company, Asustek, will be placing their plans to offer Android on hold. Shortly after confirming plans to utilize the new operating system top executives from the company said the project will be put on the backburner for now.

Accroding to PCWorld Asustek officials feel the new OS is not mature enough for consumers with vice chairman of Asustek Jonathan Tsang stating the "Eee PC with Android is not ready yet because the technology is not mature. For the time being this project is not a priority because our engineering resources are limited."

Dell Wants Your Feedback On The Future Of Dell Minis

Dell is seeking customer feedback on its popular line up of netbooks asking consumers to weigh in on several questions regarding the future of the line.

The company has posted two main questions and is asking the public to share their ideas plus vote and comment on others via IdeaStorm in the Netbooks category

1. So what would you like to see in future Dell Minis? (Things like form factor, new features, personalization ideas, operating system support, etc.)
2. What features are most important in a netbook? (Things like HD capability, network connectivity options, battery life, usability, etc.)

Beyond IdeaStorm, members of Dell’s netbook development team will also be listening and responding via a new Twitter account, @Dell_Mini. If you’re into micro-blogging, give the team a follow and share your thoughts on what you would like to see in the future.

AT&T Offers New Subsidized Netbooks Deals, Now Only $49.99

As part of a new two market trial promotion AT&T will begin offering subsidized Netbooks for the low price of $49.99. The promotion, which was announced yesterday at CTIA, will be available at select retail location in the Atlanta and Philadelphia areas.

The offering will include the following:

• Offer a variety of ultra-portable mini laptops with built-in AT&T 3G wireless capabilities at promotional prices starting at $49.99 with the purchase of AT&T "Internet at Home and On the Go" broadband services.
• Trial 30-minute in-store technical support — part of the AT&T ConnecTech suite of services — at select locations for customers who purchase qualifying data plans.
• Feature, as part of the same trial in select stores, an Internet at Home and On the Go package that combines home and mobile broadband starting as low as $59.95 per month, including access to the nation's fastest 3G network and unlimited domestic access to the nation's largest Wi-Fi network with nearly 20,000 AT&T Hot Spots.
• Pre-install AT&T Communication Manager on mini laptops, enabling customers the ability to manage their mobile and Wi-Fi connections.

Other plans and products will include: the Acer Aspire One, Dell Inspiron Mini 9 and Dell Mini 12, and LG Xenia. Promotional prices range from $49.99 to $249.99 with the purchase of an AT&T Internet at Home and On the Go plan, which includes an AT&T DataConnect plan and AT&T Fast Access DSL, starting at $59.95 per month.

For those of you that might want to make a purchase without the added AT&T services, the prices will range from $449.99 to $599.99. With the purchase of a two-year AT&T DataConnect plan only pricing ranges from $99.99 to $349.99. AT&T is offering two mobile DataConnect plans in the trial, including a 200MB plan for $40 per month and a 5GB plan for $60 per month, making this a less than stellar deal!

As with AT&T's previous deal, the $99 Acer Aspire One, choosing to go the subsidized route will end up costing you far more than the original netbook alone. Of course for those of you that want to use the AT&T service this might be a reasonable option, however I urge you to read all the fine print first.

For starters you must sign-up for AT&T's Internet at Home & On the Go service (Details on the plan), which starts at $59.95 a month. With this bundle you get AT&T's low end home DSL service at 768Kbps. If the new netbook has built-it 3G mobile broadband, why would anyone want to bother with DSL?

The quick answer is while the package also includes 3G wireless the data limit is just 200MB. 200MBs might be alright to check the occasional email, get directions or write a quick blog post. But its hardly going to be enough for everyday service.

You can upgrade to a two-year DataConnect plan, which ups the monthly data cap to a healthy 5GB. Ah, but doing so doubles the Aspire One's price to $99.99. And lets not forget the TOS for that plan can be costly.

One good note however, is that each plan also includes wireless access at AT&T's thousands of Wi-Fi hotspots so you do have a slight silver lining in that cloud. Overall however for someone looking to jump on a cheap Netbook offer I suggest you take a hard look before you leap!

OCZ Wants You To Do-It-Yourself With New 10.1" Neutrino Netbook

Add on your own hard drive, ram and operating system and you'll be set with OCZ's newest offering, the DIY 10.1" Neutrino Netbook.

OCZ Technology Introduces the Neutrino Netbook, the Latest Solution in their Award-Winning DIY Initiative



San Jose, Calif.—March 30, 2008—OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, components, and systems, today unveiled the Neutrino netbook, their latest Do-It-Yourself (DIY) solution. Building on OCZ’s award-winning DIY line, users ranging from hardware enthusiasts to mainstream professionals can partake in configuring and building their own personalized ultra-mobile solution, complete with everything they need in a portable companion.

“There are many consumers that desire the blend of essential functionalities and an ultra compact form factor, and our new Neutrino Do-It-Yourself netbooks based on Intel Atom technology allows users to design and configure their very own solution tailored to their unique needs,” commented Alex Mei, CMO of the OCZ Technology Group. “The Neutrino DIY netbook puts the control back in the hands of consumers by allowing them to configure a feature rich netbook with their own memory, storage, and preferred OS into a reasonably priced go-anywhere computing solution.”

Based on the Intel Atom processor, the 10.1” Neutrino was developed to push the envelope in the growing area of netbooks as the first DIY offering. Proving that good things come in small packages, the Neutrino provides all the day-to-day necessities for on-the-go traveling, education, office or home use. Equipped with a built-in camera and microphone, Neutrino will expand your horizons through communications between family, friends, and colleagues.

OCZ’s visionary DIY initiative was inspired by enthusiasts, but created for everyone. The Neutrino allows users to have complete control of the cost/performance ratio of their netbook and makes the entire procedure simple and easy to follow. Unlike previous OCZ DIY solutions, the Neutrino comes equipped with the CPU, but enables users to maximize netbook-computing efficiency by supporting up to 2GB of memory and hard drive or SSD capacities up to 250GB.

For support unlike any other DIY mobile solution, OCZ’s program makes it easy and convenient to build your own notebook by detailing validated components, the assembling process, and offering direct online and toll-free support for true peace of mind from beginning to end.

For more information regarding the OCZ Neutrino 10" DIY Notebook, please visit the OCZ product page here

Source: OCZ Press Release

My thoughts:

I've always been big on DYI computer building, desktops however are a completely different animal than laptops or netbooks. The small form factor and cramped work space make working on these things a serious PITA. Adding in RAM and a HDD really isn't that difficult but why would I want to bother.

Traditionally DIY projects are meant for customization. Since all you are adding in is a couple sticks of ram, storage and your choice of operating systems you really aren't customizing much. Most of us geeks change out RAM anyways so all you are really customizing is your OS and storage capacity.

In most cases its going to be cheaper and a lot easier buying a pre-assembled netbook and then dumping the OS if you don't like your current options. Since OCZ has not released pricing or availability information at this I can't comment on the value of the machine. But I'd have to say it would have to be priced very well for me to want to hassle with it.

Using DataConnect From AT&T You Better Read The TOS

Many users using AT&T's DataConnect plan with those subsidized netbooks might be shocked to learn that your $60/mo bill only includes 5GB of total data usage. Yes that's correct those of you that have jumped on those $99 netbook deals that AT&T, Dell and Radio Shack have been offering had better check your contract and read the fine.

Billie Parks of Oklahoma found out the hard way when she received a $5,077 bill from AT&T. Yes that's right a $5k bill for monthly overage fees. Parks has since filed a lawsuit claiming she was misled by both AT&T and Radio Shack when she purchased her new netbook as part of a cross promotion between the two companies back in December.

At that time customers could purchase a new, subsidized, netbook from Radio Shack at a discounted price of $99.99 in exchange for signing a two-year AT&T DataConnect contract. However, what the fine print of that deal didn't tell you, at least according to Mrs. Parks lawsuit, is that there is a 5GB monthly cap. For that information you have to visit the AT&T site and actually look through the DataConnect rate plans.

But because neither AT&T nor Radio Shack explicitly spelled this out in their DataConnect customer service summary, the suit alleges that the companies' wireless service agreements were "deceptive, misleading and utterly incomprehensible to the average consumer."

"We're reviewing the suit and don’t have a comment on it at this time," AT&T spokesperson Seth Bloom told Ars Technica. "But I can tell you that we go to considerable lengths to inform customers of the limits involved in these plans. We display the plan usage limits and overage rates on our collateral, terms and conditions, and on att.com, And customers can check their usage using myWireless Account or by using the usage monitoring capability on the AT&T Communications Manager application."

Earlier this year AT&T teamed with Dell to offer a similar promotion for Dell's Inspiron Mini 9. The details of that promotion are similar to those of the Radio Shack offering.

Through Jan. 31, 2009, digital nomads can purchase a select Inspiron Mini 9 that is regularly $449 for $99 after a $350 Dell mail-in rebate and the purchase of a two-year AT&T Laptop Connect agreement for $60 per month. Additional fees apply

It does say additional fees may apply but again no mention is made of a 5GB monthly cap. As often is the case in the deals the burden really does fall on the end user to make sure they know what they are getting. Even if the deal doesn't explicitly say there is a cap you need to do your research and check out what you are buying or what you are getting for the price you are paying.

I made mention of this when I originally questioned the actual cost of a $99 netbook. When you actually do the math you would have been spending over $1,500 over the course of the 2yr contract. As also mentioned there were other alternatives out there could have ended up saving you money. Now that we see there is a 5GB monthly limit it appears as though seeking alternatives might be a better option.

Freescale Expands Netbook Presence $200 Netbook Might Be Coming

Freescale expands its netbook ecosystem

Collaboration with top operating system and wireless component providers enables 3G connectivity and additional OS choices

BARCELONA, Spain (2009 Mobile World Congress) – Feb. 16, 2009 – Freescale Semiconductor has collaborated with an impressive lineup of companies to enable 3G connectivity and additional operating system options for netbooks based on its new i.MX515 processor. For OEMs, the expanded ecosystem means faster time to market, greater differentiation and more compelling end devices.

Freescale entered the netbook market in January 2009 with the introduction of the i.MX515 processor and a comprehensive netbook reference design. The solution is designed to enable consumer products that deliver gigahertz performance, eye-popping graphics and eight hours of battery life between charges at extremely aggressive price points.

Developed jointly with Pegatron, the reference design includes Canonical’s Ubuntu operating system based on Linux technology. Freescale now has expanded its netbook ecosystem, adding support for additional operating systems from Android Open Source Project, Phoenix Technologies and Xandros, as well as 3G connectivity capabilities via collaboration with Wavecom and Option. Freescale plans to enable 3G connectivity by providing hardware and software support for data modules optimized for the i.MX515 applications processor.

“Demand from third parties to partner with Freescale in the growing netbook market has been tremendous,” said Glen Burchers, marketing director for Freescale’s Consumer Segment. “Freescale is taking dead aim at the netbook space by assembling an outstanding portfolio of technologies and partners. As a result, we expect that a wide range of netbook models based on Freescale technology will be available for consumers in the second half of this year.”

Freescale’s expanded netbook ecosystem now includes:

• The Android platform: a comprehensive, open software stack that includes everything a manufacturer or operator needs to build a compelling mobile device
• Phoenix HyperSpace: an easy-to-use, instant-on operating environment that enables extended battery life and smart network connectivity
• Xandros customized Linux solutions: new, simple and compelling user experiences with integrated applications and an online digital marketplace, all designed to reduce time to market and costs for OEMs and carriers
• Wireless connectivity capabilities from Option, a leader in wireless broadband technology used by telecom operators and OEMs worldwide
• Wireless connectivity capabilities from Wavecom, a leading provider of embedded wireless technology for machine-to-machine communication

Availability

Freescale’s netbook reference design is available now. The company currently is sampling the i.MX515 processor to tier one netbook customers. Volume production for the i.MX515 device is planned for Q2 2009 to power netbooks designed for the 2009 holiday shopping season. Support for 3G connectivity, as well as for the Android, Phoenix Technologies and Xandros operating systems, is expected to coincide with volume production of the i.MX515.

About Freescale Semiconductor

Freescale Semiconductor is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets. The privately held company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing or sales operations around the world. www.freescale.com.

Supporting comments from Freescale partners follow:

“The buildout of Freescale's netbook ecosystem demonstrates the broad support that processors based on ARM Cortex-A8 technology offers,” said Bob Morris, director of Mobile Computing for ARM. “Freescale’s i.MX515 processor offers the performance, low-power operation and third-party support required for success in the fast-expanding netbook market.”

“Exciting developments such as Freescale’s i.MX515 processor are beneficial to the netbook sector as a whole,” said Patrick Hofkens, vice president of Strategic Alliances at Option. “3G connectivity will come to be regarded as a standard netbook feature. The i.MX515 processor therefore extends the market opportunity for Option’s versatile embedded 3G connectivity solutions as well as its integration and certification services.”

“Freescale’s outstanding netbook solution positions Freescale and its i.MX515 processor as early leaders in the fast-growing netbook market,” said Jeremy Shu, associate vice president for Pegatron. “Featuring advanced silicon from Freescale and smart, sophisticated design from Pegatron, the Freescale netbook solution sets new standards for performance, style and price for next-generation netbooks.”

“Freescale’s i.MX515 processor and the Phoenix HyperSpace OS work together to deliver exceptional performance and value to netbook OEMs and consumers,” said Surendra Arora, vice president of Business Development at Phoenix Technologies. “The i.MX515 is an ideal netbook platform for showcasing HyperSpace’s all-day computing capabilities, smart network connectivity and ease-of-use.”

"We are extremely pleased at the opportunity to enable 3G HSPA connectivity on Freescale’s i.MX515 platform," said Philippe Guillemette, chief technology officer for Wavecom. "We look forward to continuing our relationship with Freescale to achieve our shared goal of reliable, low-total-cost connectivity for all classes of machines."

“Through the Freescale i.MX515 platform, we can bring a rich user experience and the full power of desktop computing to mobile devices with fast boot, long battery life and always-on 3G networking,” said Ming Poon, acting chief operating officer and senior vice president of Software Development for Xandros.

Source: Freescale Semiconductor Press Release

Asus Raising Prices On All Portable Notebooks & Eee PCs

ARN reported last week that Asus will increase prices on all existing and upcoming notebooks
and Eee Family products effective March 1, 2009. With some models seeing an increase of up to 20 percent.

The current financial climate and an increase in the cost of computer parts and manufacturing operations were cited as reasons behind the price hikes.

The rise in cost of the portable Eee netbook PCs might be the first in a growing trend. The netbook market reportedly increased by 160% from the second to third quarter of 2008 and manufactures might be looking to cash in on the popularity of the devices. We've already seen Microsoft riding the coat tails of the devices popularity by making a strong push for adding Windows 7 to netbooks. So its possible we are seeing a little back sliding by manufactures trying to recoup some of the losses they faced in other segments last year.

Asus reported their first ever loss in the 4th quarter of last year. A drop on PC demand, increasing competition in the netbook market as well as below-expectation shipments of motherboards and graphics cards all contributed to the companies losses.

If thes rumors of a price increase are true it could mean that Asus is riding the netbook wave to boost profits. I really wouldn't be surprised if we see other manufactures trying to follow suite by boosting prices. The key to the netbooks popularity however was the low cost ultra portable design. The market might not hold with even the slightest increase in pricing.

Next Generation Acer Aspire One Netbook Now Available for U.S. Customers

New 10.1-inch Netbook Offers Mobile Freedom, Productivity and Reliability

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acer America, part of the world’s third largest PC company, today announced U.S. availability of the 10.1-inch Aspire One AOD150, expanding the company’s growing family of popular netbooks. The new Aspire One AOD150 comes on the heels of its highly successful 8.9-inch predecessor. The global market share leader in the netbook category, Acer is offering the 10.1-inch Aspire One AOD150 to U.S. customers today with prices beginning at $349.99.



The new 10.1-inch Aspire One provides continuous access to the Internet in an easy-to-use, stylish design with a similar ultra-compact footprint as the original 8.9-inch version. The netbook is designed to be an affordable and simple solution for Web browsing, checking email, instant messaging, VOIP calls, streaming video, viewing photos and listening to music.

“The success of the Aspire One netbook illustrates the enormous demand consumers have for mobile devices that keep them connected,” said Sumit Agnihotry, vice president of product management for Acer America. “The new 10.1-inch Aspire One has something for everyone, whether a business user continuously on-the-go, a young student needing an introductory PC, or tech aficionado seeking a lightweight, secondary device with enduring battery power. Netbooks are an ideal solution for those who want a balance of mobility and productivity for quick and easy access to the Internet and other computing needs.”

Combining ultra-portability and design
Engineered for mobility and weighing less than three pounds, the Aspire One utilizes the Intel Atom processor which combines performance and efficiency to stay connected while on-the-go. The Aspire One comes with a six-cell battery, providing up to six hours of computing power, twice the amount of the previous platform. Featuring Windows XP Home, 1GB of memory, integrated 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi network connectivity, and a generous 160GB internal hard drive to store plenty of digital albums, music and documents, the Aspire One is a simple and reliable mobile computing solution.

The Aspire One has a 10.1-inch CrystalBrite backlit display, offering a broader viewing area for Web page navigation and data input. For communication needs, the netbook is equipped with the Acer Crystal Eye webcam, delivering smooth video streaming and high quality images for online chats and business video conferences, even in low-light situations. A built-in digital microphone conveys superior voice quality, keeping background noise levels low and minimizing echoes.

The Aspire one is available in four high-gloss color options including seashell white, sapphire blue, ruby red and diamond black. Evoking speed and mobility, the netbook includes stylish details such as an aerodynamic-shaped metallic hinge with a colored accent and a brushed-metal palm rest, which offer a refined design element.

Acer Aspire One AOD150 Specifications

• Intel Atom Processor N270 (1.60GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512KB L2 Cache)
• Windows XP Home with Service Pack 3
• 10.1-inch WSVGA Acer CrystalBrite TFT LCD 1024 x 600
• Mobile Intel 945GSE Express Chipset
• 1024MB DDR2 533 MHz SDRAM Single Channel Memory
• Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• 160GB SATA 5400RPM Hard Drive
• Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
• Acer InviLink 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
• Acer Crystal Eye Web Camera
• Two Built-in Stereo Speakers
• Three USB 2.0 Ports
• 6-cell Li-ion Battery (4400 mAh)
• 2.95 lbs.
• 10.2” (W) x 8.0” (D) x 1.31” (H)

In addition to Windows XP Home, the Aspire one comes with additional preinstalled software includes Acer eRecovery Management, Acer Launch Manager, Adobe Reader, McAfee Internet Security Suite, Microsoft Office Trial 2007.

Pricing and Availability
The Aspire One AOD150 netbook is available now via Acer’s authorized resellers and at major retailers nationwide, with prices beginning at $349.99. The Aspire one comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Source: BusinessWire

Is Windows 7 A Viable Netbook OS?

There has been much debate over the new operating systems and its performance with many users claiming it runs as fast as Windows XP. Many users out there have thoroughly tested Windows 7 on their netbooks often times with mixed results. However the general consensus is that the new OS runs fairly smoothly.

Microsoft's Windows Consumer Product Marketing, claims that Windows 7 has a smaller OS footprint, faster boot-up and shut-down times, improved power management for enhanced battery life, and other improvements that will make it possible for all Windows 7 editions to run on netbooks. This however has come into debate as the overall footprint of Windows 7 might take up too much space on SSD equipped netbooks.

Intel employee and fellow blogger Josh Bancroft has been testing the Windows 7 beta on his netbook which he thinks "runs GREAT," but he foresees several serious problems with pricing and storage, according to a blog entry posted on an Intel website Tuesday.

Bancroft's first concern is price, of course Microsoft hasn't yet disclosed the pricing for the new Windows 7 line-up as of yet but we can assume none of the 6 versions currently planned will match the price of the discounted XP version used in many netbooks today.

"Currently, when Microsoft sells a license of Windows XP on a netbook, they're making very little money. They would have preferred to stop selling XP altogether a long time ago. But the low cost of an XP license adds very little to the overall cost of a netbook - important when you're selling a device for $300-$500," Bancroft writes in his post. It would be safe to assume that Microsoft won't be discounting the price on any of the available version of Windows 7 so the only option left would be an increase in price.

Bancroft agrees with that position stating, "No one but Microsoft knows how much it will charge for the various versions of Windows 7, but it's safe to assume that it won't be much (if at all) cheaper than Windows Vista. And adding, say, $100 to the cost of a $400 netbook just to pay for Windows 7 is going to be a tough proposition all around."

Much of the popularity of the low powered netbooks stems from them also having a lower price tag. So I don't see a cost increase being a viable option, not when you have a cheaper XP or Linux option available.

The second major concern would be the operating systems footprint. The beta version takes roughly 6 gigs of hard drive space. My current fully functional (all my applications installed) operating system footprint is nearly 15 gigs. That doesn't account for anything other than my day to day applications, no music or videos and only a few photos.

This wouldn't be a problem on a netbook with say a 160gig hard drive. But what about those people wanting to use SSDs that only offer 4, 8, or 16GB of total space? Obviously the only option would be the 16gb drive as the OS its self wouldn't fit on the 4 gig drive and there wouldn't be much room for apps on the 8 gig drive.

That leaves you with either a) going with a larger SSD at a higher price or b) being stuck with a standard drive. SSD price for larger drives has fallen recently but again adding any additional cost just isn't viable.

According to Bancroft, "The cheapest version (Starter edition, with its insane limitation of only running 3 apps at a time) is the logical choice, given the price sensitivity of netbooks." Microsoft on the other hand is still pushing their stance of any version. I their recent press release they are encouraging you to think of Windows 7 Home Premium as the version you'll want to see running on you netbooks.

I'd have to agree, I wouldn't want to run a crippled version of any OS, In fact I wouldn't!. Based on the features I wouldn't want to run anything less than the Home Premium version. But how much will Windows 7 Home Premium add to the cost of a netbook, and will it be worth it?

Bancroft sums up his post with several interesting questions:

But how much price increase will the market stand? Will netbook sales and adoption taper off if the next generation of Windows 7-equiped devices are MORE expensive than their predecessors? Will people flock to Linux-based alternative operating systems, like Easy Peasy (formerly Ubuntu Eee, by Jon Ramvi)? Should Microsoft simply give Windows 7 away for free, to try to "wipe away the bad aftertaste" that Vista left with some people? What do YOU think?

Personally I don't see Windows 7 as being a viable option, at least not in its current incarnation and I don't see people wanting to use a cut down version. The price premium for the regular OS when added to low end machine just wouldn't be worth it. So while Microsoft might be calling Windows 7 on a netbook a "Win" I'm calling it an epic fail.

Dell Offers New Inspiron Mini 9 For $99

On Friday Dell said they will offer the Inspiron Mini 9 for $99 (regularly $449) on its Web site along with a two-year subscription to AT&T's mobile broadband network. The deal which is identical to the $99 Acer Aspire One requires users to signup for a 2 year AT&T LaptopConnect agreement contract at $60 per month.

Unfortunately, the $99 offer is after a $350 Dell Mail-in-Rebate which in my opinion is a but much. The $99 price ends January 31st, 2009 so you have only three weeks to jump on this offer.

For more details on the promotion read the full Dell press release.

AMD Launches New Low Power Yukon Platform

AMD today announced the availability of the AMD platform for ultrathin notebooks, enabling exceedingly thin and light OEM designs with rich entertainment capabilities at an affordable price. Previously codenamed "Yukon," the platform is based on the new AMD Athlon Neo processor, ATI Radeon X1250 integrated graphics and optional ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3410 discrete graphics and brings true HD entertainment1 to a new category of stylish notebook PCs.

The Athlon Neo is AMD's equivalent of the Intel Atom processor, only it's larger with a 27x27 mm footprint compared to the Atom's 22x22 mm footprint. The Neo also comsumes more power with a higher thermal envelope, 15 watts versus the Atom at 2.5W. That contributes to the reason the company is targeting laptops that are bigger but are still considered ultraportables.

Since the Neo is a slightly larger package than the Atom, we can expect performance scores to be better than those of Atom based netbooks. Early reports suggest the Yukon platform is 2.5 times faster than a 1.6-GHz Atom and GMA 950 platform, although 30 percent slower than a 1.6-GHz Core 2 Duo, which would be considerably more expensive.

The new AMD platform debuts within the HP Pavilion dv2 Entertainment Notebook PC ultrathin notebook, which measures less than one-inch thick and weighs less than four pounds. The HP Pavilion dv2 also comes equipped with a 12.1-inch diagonal LED BrightView display, nearly full-size keyboard, and optional external optical disc drive with Blu-ray capability.

"Before today, there was a compromise associated with selecting a highly portable notebook, forcing consumers to choose either the full PC experience of an ultraportable at a high price or the limited PC experience of a mininotebook at a low price," said Chris Cloran, corporate vice president, client division, AMD. "In introducing the AMD ultrathin notebook platform, AMD enables balanced PC performance, including the option of advanced graphics and video for true HD entertainment, all in an affordable, ultrathin notebook, bringing consumers uncompromised mobility."

Meeting Consumers' Needs and Pioneering New Markets
With the dominance and rapid growth of notebooks in the PC market, many consumers have grown accustomed to being productive on the go, but now desire ever-increasingly lighter, sleeker and more stylish designs that suit their mobile lifestyle. Additionally, consumers want a notebook that provides entertainment options, such as enjoying and manipulating photos, watching videos and listening to music. Designed with consumers in mind, the AMD ultrathin notebook platform presents consumers with a new choice in a highly portable notebook with rich media features.

"We believe there is a significant market opportunity that lies between the less-capable mininotebook and higher-priced ultraportable notebook segments," said Bob O'Donnell, program vice president, Clients and Displays, IDC. "Integrating the right kind of technologies will enable companies to pioneer a new category of ultrathin notebook PCs, offering consumers the value they seek in a challenging global economy."

The AMD platform for ultrathin notebooks allows consumers to enjoy true HD entertainment with available smooth 1080p HD playback, sharp images and vibrant colors. The platform also delivers a robust casual gaming experience with realistic 3D graphics, enabled by the optional ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3410 Premium graphics.2 Likewise, with advanced digital outputs including HDMI and DVI, consumers can connect to their favorite devices such as an HDTV for an immersive home theater experience.

A Stylishly Entertaining Notebook
Notebooks have moved from being a PC shared by the family, to each member of the family having their own individual notebook. As a result, consumers want their notebook to be a reflection of their personality and style.

"Together HP and AMD identified an opportunity and designed a platform to bring consumers an affordable notebook that is a perfect balance of performance and style," said Kevin Frost, vice president, Notebook Global Business Unit, Personal Systems Group, HP. "With an exceptional visual experience, rich features, and robust graphics and processing capabilities, consumers will be thrilled by the sleek design and reasonable price of the HP Pavilion dv2 Entertainment Notebook PC based upon the AMD ultrathin notebook platform."

Source: AMD Press Release

Give Your Intel Atom-based PC Or Netbook A Boast With NVIDIA's Ion

When it comes to gaming or HD videos a netbook or low cost notebook is going to be just about useless. That is where NVIDIA steps in with their recently announced Ion platform.

This box that literally fits in the small of your hand, features an integrated Atom CPU and GeForce 9400M GPU. That together should significantly boost the performance of netbooks, small form factor PCs, and all-in-one PCs.



The new Ion features:

• Full support for Windows Vista Premium as well as Windows 7, Premium DirectX 10 graphics with advanced digital display connectivity,
• CUDA technology unlocks the processing power of the GPU to accelerate video transcoding and run the most compute-intensive applications
• Premium 1080p HD video with true-fidelity 7.1 audio

Connections include VGA, HDMI-out, dual-link DVI, SATA connections, 12x USB 2.0 ports, an ethernet port as well as 7.1 surround sound support.



In their demonstration videos NVIDIA claims a boost of 10x the speed for graphics and video transcoding in netbook and All-in-one PCs with Atom CPUs and integrated video. They also claim Ion will run Call of Duty 4 on lowered setting. As for the rest of the specs you get a max resolution of 2560x1600, gigabyte ethernet support, 128 bits of DDR3 1333mhz memory and a total power consumption of 18Ws.

Pricing and availability are not set yet, however speculation sets the price in the $50range and we shouldn't expect to see it before mid year.

$99 Acer Netbook Confirmed But What Does It Really Cost

Late Thursday RadioShack confirmed earlier rumors that it will be offering a subsidized Acer Aspire One netbook for $99. Radio Shack teamed with AT&T's Mobile Broadband Service to become the first major US retailer to offer such a deal.

"RadioShack is offering this innovative technology solution at a very attractive price through our collaboration with Acer and AT&T," Peter Whitsett, RadioShack's executive vice president of merchandising said in their press release. "Helping people stay connected during these challenging economic times illustrates our continued commitment to meeting their personal technology needs affordably."

The Acer Aspire one netbook is priced at $99.99 for customers who sign up for a qualifying two-year AT&T DataConnect mobile broadband service agreement with plans starting at $60 a month. Once activated, this netbook allows people to easily access the Internet anywhere within AT&T's wireless network. The offer is available in 4,400 RadioShack company-operated stores through Dec. 24. Prices may vary outside the continental U.S. See stores or visit www.RadioShack.com for complete offer details.

The Acer Aspire one being offered seems to be exclusive to Radio Shack for now and the 3G netbook comes equipped with the following features:

• Weighs 2.44 pounds
• Ultra-compact size measuring 9.8" x 6.7" x 1.1" (W x D x H)
• Stylish piano-black finish
• Built-in 3G capability
• 802.11b/g wireless (Wi-Fi)
• 8.9-inch LCD screen
• Built-in Web cam
• Intel® Atom™ processor
• Windows XP® Home
• 1GB memory
• 160GB hard drive
• Built-in memory card readers (dedicated SD and 5-in-1)

While the initial cost of $99 seems like a great deal the major drawback is that over the course of two years with service, this system will cost the user a total of $1,540. So in reality you are paying over $1,500 for a $350 netbook.

Now consider your options, assuming you have a home phone for $14.99/mo you can sign up for AT&T's basic DSL service. The basic service comes with complimentary Wi-Fi access at thousands of AT&T hot spots nationwide, including U.S. company-operated Starbucks locations. Or for $9.95/mo you can sign up for a service like Boingo, which supposedly allows users to use one account at more than 100,000+ hot spots around the world.

With the savings from either option you would have covered the original cost of the netbook plus the cost of an additional netbook for a loved one, friend or even your favorite blog writer (hint hint).

Rumor: $99 Acer Aspire One At Radio Shack

Last month we reported the possibility of $99 subsidized netbooks, after rumors had surfaced that cell phone carriers might begin subsidizing the cost of netbooks in exchange for signing up for a monthly data plan. Today it looks like those rumors might be true, well that is if the leaked RadioShack flyer that has popped up on Engadget is legit, and it certainly does look it.

The flyer pretty much speaks for itself, stating that beginning December 14 RadioShack customers can get an originally $499 priced Acer Aspire One equipped with Intel Atom processor, a 160GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, and Windows XP for $99 after signing up for a 2-Year $60/month (or more) data plan through AT&T.



The product code list "AOA150-1987" doesn't match anything currently listed on RadioShack.com nor does it appear in any Google results, however the ad looks pretty convincing to me. I'd be the first to say the AT&T contract price of $60 a month for connectivity to only one device seems pretty steep.

If your netbook is going to be your primary mobile device then the fee might make a little more sense, but if you have another laptop you wouldn't be able to share the 3G connectivity with it. In that case it would probably make more sense to wait for a deal on the Aspire One and just grab a mobile broadband card.

Subsidized Netbooks For $99?

Manufactures of subnotebooks like the Asus Eee PC, the Dell Mini 9 and the HP 2133 Mini-Note maybe soon be teaming up with mobile carries to offer subsidized netbooks. To get your $99-199 (likely pricing) netbook you'll need to commit to a two-year mobile broadband contract. Think of it much like the contract of your cell phone, you pay a cheaper price for a phone and sign and extended contract.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that HP is already talking to carriers about such an arrangement but didn't say which carriers. Reports suggest that HP is likely talking to AT&T, which has already confirmed a deal with Lenovo and Ericsson to sell full-size ThinkPads at a $150 discount if customers sign up for a two-year contract on a qualifying $60 AT&T DataConnect.

You can bet that if HP is talking to carriers, so are other companies like Dell and Asus.

Obviously the Lenovo thinkpads are full size notebooks, in fact the deal is for all three of the ThinkPad SL notebooks and all notebooks in Lenovo's T and X series. So none of them are ultra portable. However the deal shows the level of commitment that the companies are willing to make. So you can assume they'd carry the $150 subsidy over. At current pricing you could figure anywhere from $99 to the more likely price of $149-199.