At CEATEC Sharp have shown off their Net Walker smartbook. The device will merge functions of smartphones and netbooks into one device. The smartbook will come loaded with Linux Ubuntu 9.04 along with several useful programs pre-installed such as Firefox, Thunderbird and Open Office.

It will also feature a 5 inch touch display, USB and mini USB ports along with offering internet support where ever you are. Battery life is stated as 10 hours.

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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.

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Do you still remember the Psion vs Intel issue regarding the use of the term “netbook?” From what I remembered, the two companies seemed to have reached an agreement and so here we still freely using the word “netbook”.

Now, look who is following the path taken by Psion, a company called Smartbook who is claiming to have the trademark to the word – Smartbook. And so, Smartbook AG have sent emails to some well known sites who are using the term smartbook to promote machines being developed by other companies such as Qualcomm, Freescale and Arm.

According to the letter sent to Sascha of Netbooknews.com, his blog is harming the reputation of Smartbook AG by using the term “Smartbook.”

Upon checking out the site Smartbook.de, there are actually two laptops with the branding Smartbook – Smartbook Hell and Smartbook Heaven.  These two machines are no way similar to smartbooks that we tech bloggers refer to and used to know.

Anyway, hopefully this issue gets settled fast and that no one gets hurt in the end. Smartbooks are just in their infancy and have not yet reached the same popularity achieved by netbooks for these machine to merit some conversial issues.

Alright all of you Asus fans who are eagerly awaiting the company’s first venture into the smartbook market, we’re sad to inform you that seeing the first Asus Android-powered smartbook would happen in the near future.  The reason? Well none other than Asus CEO Jerry Shen explained the reason why:

“Currently, I still don’t see a clear market for smartbooks,” said Jerry Shen

Some Asustek executives also said that the reason why their Android-powered smartbook was laid off temporarily was the fact that the company is feeling some limitation with its current resources. And given that the market for smartbook is still uncertain, it would be wise for the company to channel their resources elsewhere.

So, there goes you hope of seeing a new ultra-mobile product in the near future from Asus. But perhaps other would-be smartbook manufacturers will not follow Asus’ decision.

Via PC World

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.

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We’ve heard rumours of a netbook coming from phone manufacturer Nokia. Sony already have a netbook on the cards with the Vaio W along with the debatable Vaio P, but what about a netbook from Sony Ericsson. The company seems to be working on a “smartbook”, which rumour has it, is a mix between a smart phone, like their current Windows Mobile device, the Xperia X1 and a netbook. A smartbook is said to be approximately the same size as the not a netbook Vaio P, but with less features of a netbook. The Smartbook from Sony Ericsson is described as coming soon and will most likely feature Qualcomm Snapdragon.

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