Pystar currently produce computers, the Open Computer and OpenPro, which are built to order and are primarily Mac clones. They’ve faced a legal battle with Apple but are still producing a number of Mac clones as well as other built to order computers with various options and the choice of pretty much any operating system on the machine.

Undeterred by Apple they’ve revealed to a MacRumors reader that they are working on a “mobile Mac” computer in development. It isn’t clear if this is mobile in a laptop sense or a netbook sense as Pystar currently have no laptops in their range but are planning to introduce them. The question posed however, was asking if they were going to be working on a netbook in the future, so the chances seem good. Many consumers and netbook fans are keen for Apple to produce a netbook, so if Pystar do produce a Mac netbook, there’s no doubt it’ll be very popular.

via

e-Machine has just launched a new desktop in Japan called the EL1600, and it’s powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N230 processor with the 945GC Express Chipset. If looks could kill, it wouldn’t have any trouble slaughtering its plainly designed competitors, too. It comes with 1GB of RAM, 160GB of HDD, a DVD Super Multi drive, and Windows XP Home. Pricing starts at 35,000 Yen or about $356 USD. Not sure if it will be available outside Japan, though.

Via Akihabara News

Have you ever considered building your own nettop? After all, if building your own desktop computer is possible, why shouldn’t building your own nettop be? All it requires is a working knowledge of how computer parts fit together, and of course, knowing what items exactly you need to purchase, and where to buy them. Building your own nettop could end up saving you more than $100 USD, as pointed out by Fudzilla. It counts components such as a motherboard that allows a dual core Atom chip, high capacity hard drive and RAM, and other necessary nettop parts, but only gives readers something of a short introduction to actually building the nettop. However, it’s still a nice quick guide that anyone who’s interest was piqued by the prospect of building a nettop should read. You may do so via the link below.

Via Fudzilla

This literally slipped past us, but thanks to a mention on Netbook3G, we are now aware of the Compaq CQ2000M, the newest nettop on the block. Compaq didn’t exactly make it big in the netbook space when it launched the Compaq Mini 700 (although HP did), so they’re going to try their luck nettops now. The Compaq CQ2000M actually looks pretty good on paper. Its specs, which include a DVD writer, are:

- Intel Atom N230 processor
- 1GB RAM
- DVD players / recorders
- 160GB HDD
- Ethernet port
- Sound card with 5.1 audio
- 4 USB ports
- Windows XP
- 20 inch screen (bundled monitor)
- Keyboard + optical mouse

No word on a release date or pricing yet, but we’ll be on the lookout for those and will let you know in a future update.

[PDF] Compaq CQ2000M fact sheet Via Netbook3G

Apparently, some people thought the leaked Acer Hornet nettop was going to be a game console that will be positioned against the Nintendo Wii, so Acer executives were prompted to squash the said rumors and set the record straight about the Acer Hornet. They didn’t give any more information than what was available in the leaked presentation slides, but they did say that the Acer Hornet will be something more than just games console, being an Intel Atom/Nvidia Ion-based nettop PC. Not sure if this will be publicly unveiled during CeBIT, but we’ll be on the lookout to let you know if anything happens.

Via Digitimes

All-in-one PCs, like the Asus Eee Top desktops, are expected to take off this year, and as such, the 19-24-inch LCD monitor market are likely to take a hit. Market sources are cited as saying that the market for 19-24-inch LCD monitors is expected to be undermined, because of all-in-one PCs becoming more popular and more models expected to come out in the second half of this year. Once most nettops hit the $400 mark, it’s not hard to imagine this happening. If your computer already comes with a large enough screen, why would you need an external monitor? Of course, all this will still largely depend on whether companies like Asus and other all-in-one PC makers fulfill their part of selling worthy electronics for people to buy.

Via Digitimes

Nvidia’s general manager of MCP business Drew Henry recently revealed that the very first ION-based product will be a nettop instead of a netbook, and that it will launch in June for $299 USD. Who was going to launch it first (whether it was MSI, Acer, or Asus) wasn’t specified, however, and we are only left to speculation. Nvidia also announced that their new product has passed Microsoft Windows Vista WHQL certification and can support high-definition multimedia and graphics processing. This means that netbooks/nettops should be able to show HD video content easily once the platform launches. That still doesn’t fix the problem of low resolution netbook screens, though. In any case, if you were waiting for more info on ION, there’s all that you can gleam at the moment.

Via DigiTimes

ABI Research has conducted a survey in the US of over 1000 adult consumers. The survey focuses around how people view netbooks and MIDs.

From the survey, a huge 79% said that they viewed netbooks as an accompaniment to laptops or desktops. While only 11% said they would use a netbook as their primary device.

Shane from Ars Technica seems to agree with the results from the survey as he himself uses a desktop primarily. While his MSI Wind is used as his secondary device, it is noted that it has however, replaced his laptop. Personally, I would be amongst those 11% of consumers that use their netbook as their primary device – an MSI Wind clone replaced my laptop and is used more than my desktop computer, which is used for the only thing traditional netbooks can’t do – read or burn disks.

Would the survey results have been different if you’d answered the questions? Tell us if you use your netbook as your primary device and why or why not.

If you want the cheapest of all cheap nettops, I can point you to the right place. Well, not exactly the right place, but the right product. Thanks to the use of Linux as its OS (no matter if it’s Mandriva, Ubuntu, openSuse or Xandros) the Tux @ Home Nettop will only set you back 199 Euros for a full computing package. Of course, you’re going to have to supply your own keyboard, mouse and monitor for this, but I don’t think you can get any cheaper than this. It comes with an Intel Atom 1.6 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, a 160 GB hard drive and a DVD writer. That’s right, a DVD writer. It actually looks a lot like MSI’s Atom nettop, but don’t confuse it for a clone. I suggest you get them while supplies last.

Via MSI Wind.de

For the desktop, MSI is going to offer this sleek setup here, called the MSI AP1900 NetOne. It will be powered with an Intel Atom N270 processor, of course, hidden behind its 18.5-inch display along with all of the CPU components. The keyboard and mouse will be wired, but that doesn’t take away any points from the MSI AP1900’s awesomeness, in this writer’s opinion. Sadly, it won’t sport a touchscreen display, but some people may view that as a plus for usability. Other features are looking like standard netbook fare: up to 2GB of RAM, 250GB HDD, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0, stereo speakers and a 1.3-megapixel webcam. It will be cheaper than the Asus EeeTop by a small amount, at 499 € or about $650. The release date hasn’t been confirmed yet, so watch out for that here.

Via Blogeee