We all know what happens when an upcoming device or gadget had reached the US FCC right? It could only mean one thing - said device is coming to the US. And it was what just happened to the Lenovo IdeaPad S9/S10. Words on the street (Engadget) indicated that the two new Lenovo netbooks have made its way to the FCC hurdle. So, expect these new netbooks to start hitting the US stores sometime soon.
Interestingly, as what Engadget noticed, there was no separate manual submitted by Lenovo for each of the S9 and S10. This could only mean that there’s not too many difference between the two to merit each one a separate manual.
At any rate, external photos of the test unit showed a robust netbook (see above photo). If you want to see more photos of the Lenovo S9/S10, head on to the FCC filing.
Words on the street say (by streets we mean - liliputing) that the Fujitsu’s entry to the netbook wars by way of its Amilo netbook mini will finally become official come August 28. Said netbook will be launched on a special press even at the IFA trade show in Berlin.
If you would recall, leaked videos of the Fujitsu Amilo mini netbook started circulating not so long ago. By then we only knew a little about this netbook. But additional information says that the Amilo mini netbook would have an Intel Atom processor, 1.3 webcam, Windows XP and would still cost around 300 to 400 euros.
The Amilo netbook mini will still sport the same interchangeable face plates that we told you before. These face plates would include brown, black, pink and red color variants. No other information can be ascertained at this time. But as always, we’ll keep you inform as we gather some more information about the Fujitsu Mini netbook from the netbook streets.
There has got to be something wrong with Asus here. Anybody would expect that since the Eee PC 900 and Eee PC 900A are almost identical except for the Atom processor in the Eee PC 900A, all the other parts and accessories of the 900 would fit into the 900A. But apparently, this is not the case as reported by HKPUG. The Eee PC 900’s battery won’t fit into the cheaper battery slot of the 4400mAh batteries supplied in the Eee PC 900A.
So, there goes your hope of extra batteries for the Eee PC 900A, if you’re a previous owner of the Eee PC 900. But come to think of it, why would you keep your Eee PC 900 anyways, if you are planning to get the Eee PC 900A. Better sold the older model instead.
Relatedly, JKKMobile is reporting that the Eee PC 900A would have a one pci-e card 8GB SSD. This SSD uses SLC flash made by Samsung. What this brings to the Eee PC 900A is the similar speeds as the 4GB SSDs of the Eee PC 900/901.
In part 2, tnkgrl shows us how to replace the SSD with a 1.8″ PATA hard drive. While SSDs have no moving parts and are studier, the SSD in the Acer Aspire One isn’t the best around, so a PATA hard drive performs better and provides more storage. Fortunately the Acer Aspire One SSD carries the same ZIF connector of that found on 1.8″ PATA drives. It also has just enough space for a thin (5mm) 1.8″ PATA hard drive beneath the motherboard.
For this modification, tnkgrl uses a 60GB Samsung drive with plug and play. All that’s needed for this to work is for the ribbon to be disconnected from the SSD and connected to the hard drive. Of course you still need to secure it though, double-sided adhesive foam squares are the recommended option.
You can watch the video below, or see the pictures here.
Tnkgrl will continue her modifications on the Acer Aspire One, so keep checking back. Part 3 will be adding 3G to the Aspire One.
Our friends in Hong Kong are being treated by Lenovo with the promotional release of its 8.9-inch netbook, the IdeaPad S9 Lite. The LenovoClub site in HongKong has put up the promotional campaign for the release of the said netbook. LenovoClub members who register in groups of three gets one set for free.
And the official price tag? - around $259 for this 8.9-inch wonder netbook. The IdeaPad S9 Lite would have aside from the 8.9-inch SWVGA display, an Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz processor, 512 RAM, 4GB SSD, webcam, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3-cell battery, Linux OS and a touchpad.
The Lenovo IdeaPad S9 Lite will be available in five color variants - black, white, blue, red and pink.
For those not familiar with Tnkgrl, let me tell you, she loves to take computers apart and upgrade them. Which is exactly what she’s done to the Acer Aspire One.
Within a few days of having the Acer Aspire One, it was ripped apart and she had added an internal Bluetooth module. You’re also in luck if you’d like to perform this modification as she has a video of the process and has uploaded it. You’ve also got the choice of looking at the pictures she’s uploaded to Flickr detailing it more.
Her blog explains in more detail which bluetooth modules work best, which are obsolete, and comments on the procedure.
Synapics who were producing hardware and software for MSI Wind touchpads have been dropped and replaced with Sentelic. Previous MSI Wind notebooks used Synaptics but you will find the newer ones to be using Sentelic.
Change isn’t always good though. A few problems have occured since the change. The first one being that the Sentelic touchpads have lost the vertical page-scrolling feature, which could be activated by moving your finger up or down on the right hand side of the touchpad. Plus, because Synaptics touchpads are more widely used, there is better support for them within the Linux community. Synaptics also received software updates more frequently than Sentelic.
Not all is lost though as you can still plug in a mouse, but that defeats the purpose of ultraportable netbooks.
Although Asustek’s Global Site has already added the official details and specifications of the Eee PC 900A, there was still no officially press release announcing its launch or expected date of shipment and even its priced. But apparently not in Germany where the Eee PC 900A is expected to have an SRP of 249 Euro (approximately $365).
Currently at Amazon, the 16GB Eee PC 900 is priced at around $399. We should all remember that the Eee PC 900 is the first in the series of 8.9 Eee PC series, and as such it only packs with the older Celeron CPU. While the Eee PC 900A will have the more powereful Atom processor. Other than that, both Eee PC 900 and Eee PC 900A are practically the same machines.
So, expect the price of the Eee PC 900 to go down once the Eee PC 900A starts shipping internationally.
The excitement and anticipation over Dell’s netbook which we learned might already be called the Dell 910 from the previously rumored name Inspiron Mini, continous to haunt us netbook loving internet community. Latest words on the streets say that Dell has already ordered 1 million UMPC for manufacturing to a local Taiwanese contractor. Said UMPC would boasts of either 4GB or 8GB Solid State Drives.
Of course, if you would consider such specs, that would normally lead you to believe that this UMPC might be what we’ve been waiting for Dell to unveil. The problem is some are also saying that Dell is set to launch the Inspiron 910 on August 22, and if we are to take this rumors as true, then comes this more reliable source from a Taiwanese site saying that Dell has enter its order for 1 million UMPC, we might not be seeing the Dell netbook most probably not yet this month.
If Dell is really on the brink of releasing its own netbook, I think the right timing to release it officially is now. The anticipation is building up, the hype is already ripe. Marketing-wise, Dell would certainly gain a lot of traction if they will release their netbook anytime soon as the excitement over the Eee PC is currently at rest.
So, Dell. When are we going to see the light of day of your netbook?
It seems that the Dell Inspiron Mini will be not named as such. Instead it is to be called the Inspiron 910. That is, if what a Brazilain blog is claiming is true. They claim that they have the official specifications on the upcoming Mini Dell Inspiron, however there are no sources listed and it’s the only website reporting it as news rather than a rumour. So take this information with a pinch of salt.
As well as the different name, the website is also reporting that the Inspiron 910 will be released on 22nd of August. It will also support 802.11n and have bluetooth connectivity. That is, if the reports are correct. Again, take this information with a pinch of salt until further details emerge.
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