Toshiba are to roll out two new netbooks on October 22nd, which will of course include Windows 7. The first “netbook” is the Dynabook MX/43 which is loosely a netbook with a 13.3 inch display and 1366×768 resolution. Other specs include 2GB of RAM, 250GB HDD, Core 2 Duo SU9400(1.40GHz) processor and 10.5 hours battery life. Toshiba will release the MX/43 for $1330 in Japan. Toshiba will also release the Dynabook MX/33 the same day for $1000. Most specs remain the same but, the screen size is reduced to 11.6 inches along with the battery life being reduced to 9.5 hours. It will also feature a weaker CPU, a Celeron 743 (1.30GHz). No word on whether these netbooks will also be released elsewhere.
A couple of months back, an 11.1 inch netbook arrived in China under the name of Olevia X11A. It appears that the company has changed the name of the netbook but, the model number, design and specifications remain the same. This time round it’s called the Yones X11A. As the model number suggests, it features an 11.1 inch display and a 1366×768 resolution. Other specs you’ll find on the Chinese netbook include Intel Atom N270 processor, Windows XP OS, 3 USB ports, a card reader and a SIM card slot allowing 3G connectivity.
Sascha over at Netbook News has checked the netbook out and given us a video of it, which you can view below.
Second tier LCD makers were hoping that demand for 11.6 inch displays would be high, giving them a chance to compete with Samsung, LG Display and AU Optronics, who currently dominate the notebook and netbook panel market. They hoped that demand for 11-13 inch displays would propel them into the competition but it seems the demand for these size displays is actually dropping. Many netbook manufacturers appear to prefer the displays to be 10 inches or smaller. CULV notebooks were also to make use of these display sizes but, it appears many will actually be using displays of 13.3 to 15 inches. The shipment of 11-13 inch displays is expected to drop significantly.
What seems to be a clone of the T1028 tablet-netbook from Gigabyte has surfaced in China, to join the masses of netbook clones already on the market, albeit a clone with a rotating screen which could be the first clone of its type.
The ‘Shanzai 100 See Ban Gu’ comes fitted with a rotating 10.2 inch tablet screen, is powered with an Atom CPU and is complete with a 160GB hard disk drive and 1GB of RAM. Netbooked.net have taken a guess that the screen resolution will be 1024×600 but, that isnt confirmed and neither is pricing. Shanzai do comment that the netbook will be out in time for the Windows 7 release although, they don’t confirm that this is the OS the netbook will come installed with.
At first glance, the CZC C9 by Zichuang Technology appears to be the thinnest netbook. On closer inspection of the specifications though, while it may feature a 8.9 inch display, the C9 is a SmartBook instead of a netbook, so not quite the world’s thinnest netbook. It does however give the Mac Air a run for it’s money size wise. It measures 0.5cm and weighs in at 0.75kg.
Under the hood it features an ARM processor, customized Linux operating system, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of SSD storage. It also includes 2 USB ports, 1 VGA port and web camera.
The battery on the C9 is said to last for 6-9 hours. No information on when the smartbook is to be released but, it’ll be on sale for around $220 in China in three colours, black, white or pink.
While most netbook sleeves and cases are rather funky, the majority of the ones I’ve seen are either slightly masculine, or those with a feminine touch are just netbook sleeves. NetbookCrazy have posted of one netbook bag that is sure to appeal to many women, the busy execs and the fashion conscious. The netbook tote bag from Ultimate Addons is more of a handbag but, one that can fit a netbook in. Netbooks with 7 inch to 10.2 inch displays are supported. Like a regular handbag it can also fits all your other bits and bobs in like a mobile, makeup kit etc. The bag doesn’t appear to be available from Ultimate Addons website, but it is available from eBay for £21.99 or Ultimate-netbook for £19.99. The bag is also available in two neutral colors, either black, or brown.
If in the past, or even now, you’ve looked for ways to install Windows XP on your Linux based netbook, perhaps you’ve come across the article by Brad Linder of Liliputing. He wrote a guide a while ago on how you can install XP onto your netbook from a USB flash drive. While it does work it does require a bit of thought and time to do. I can verify this as I’ve also used the guide myself. Fortunately, he’s now found another way, which he claims is much easier to do.
Lee Mathews recommended an app called WinToFlash to Brad which makes the process much easier. A PC or laptop with a disk drive is required however, so if your netbook is your primary machine, you may need to borrow a friend’s PC. All that needs doing really, is for the Windows CD to be inserted and a 2GB flash drive or larger plugged into the PC then WinToFlash opened. The app will do the rest for you and then all you’ll need to do is plug the USB flash drive into the netbook to install Windows. You’ll also need to set the netbook to boot from USB.
You can download WinToFlash from Softpedia. It’s also noted, not only can XP be installed, but so can Windows Server 2003, 2008, Vista and Windows 7.
In Europe MSI have released an alternative to their 12 inch CULV netbook, the Wind U200. The Wind U200 isn’t available to purchase in Europe or America yet, but the alternative 12 inch model, the U210 is available, well in Europe anyway, sorry America. Blogeee have gotten hold of the U210 which really does look like an oversized U100, as described by Brad Linder and I couldn’t agree more. The U100 is a great netbook from the company, so the U210 is sure to go down just as well, with perhaps that even re-badged as well. Blogeee have captured the unboxing on video which you can view after the jump along with various photos, with some comparing the U210 next to the U100. Read the rest of this entry »
Pegatron are to release a smartbook before the end of 2009. The smartbook will feature an 8.9 inch display, but opts for an ARM processor instead of the traditional Intel Atom netbook processor. While the ARM processor may not be as powerful as Intel processors, the CPU will actually use less power. Standard specs of the smartbook includes a 2 cell battery, which seems pretty disappointing, but it’s said to last for about 8 hours due to the ARM 800MHz processor.
As the ARM processor isn’t supported by Windows XP, Vista or 7, the smartbook will most probably run Linux, but it could also possibly come with Google Android or Windows CE. When the smartbook is released, it should retail for around $120.
IT Pro Portal have previewed the smartbook and compared it for size up against the Asus Eee PC 1005HA.
Over at NetbookNews.de one of their lucky readers has received the new Samsung N510 which is not considered a netbook, but rather part of the CULV movement. Specs of the N510 are quite similar to what you would find on a netbook, apart from the screen size and using NVidia ION technology. The Samsung N510 features an 11.6 inch display, along with 1GB of RAM, 160GB HDD, Intel Atom N270 CPU along with built in WiFi, Bluetooth and a web camera. One other small feature you won’t find on many netbooks, is the N510 features one HDMI port as well as three USB ports. With the larger display also brings a larger resolution of 1366 x 768.
Joerg has unboxed the Samsung N510 with photos and shown it in many different angles. But not only that, the N510 has been put along side Samsung’s popular netbook the NC10.
When looking at the two machines while closed, there doesn’t seem to be much of a difference, but when the devices are opened up the difference is size is clear. The keyboard spreads out a bit and makes use of the extra chassis size. The trackpad is also considerably bigger than that of the NC10, but still small in comparison to notebooks. You can view the rest of the photos after the jump.
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