New Social Media-Focused Netbook Released

A new social media-focused netbook was released in the UK on Wednesday, November 24th. The developers of Jolicloud, a popular version of Linux that was first introduced in 2008, have just released their own netbook. The Jolibook by Vye was specifically designed to cater to users who mostly utilize their PC for their many different social media needs ranging from social networking to watching movies or YouTube videos.

Fortunate for individuals in the U.S. who are interested in such a social media netbook, Jolicloud’s Web site advertises that the netbook, which is £279.99, (roughly $380 in the United States) is available in the “UK only for now.” This insinuates that there will most likely be a global push of the netbook sometime soon.

What really makes the Jolibook stand out from the crowd of 10.1-inch netbooks available right now is not just its social media focus, but also its Jolicloud OS. If you currently have Google Chrome, you can sign up for a sample browser version of the OS. The browser version is what some would describe as a “glorified bookmark.” You can easily add different shortcuts to things like Twitter, Facebook, Farmville, New York Times Skimmer, etc., and you can also download apps that will open up new tabs to multiple other pages at once. Basically, you can have all of your favorite Web services in an easily-accessible layout that even gives you the ability to explore and find new apps that you are unfamiliar with.

Another interesting app with Jolicloud allows you to add other Jolicloud users to your streaming feed. When you do this, you will then be able to see the different apps that they have used and enjoyed that you might be interested in. On top of that, there is also local and Web-based storage with Jolicloud. It links you to various services that you can store your data with like Box.net, Dropbox, and ZumoDrive.

The Jolibook has a very chic, stylish, eye-catching design that is sure to appeal to a younger audience, possibly ranging somewhere from 15 to 25 years old. Despite the flashy lid of the netbook, the inside is a pretty standard design. The keyboard keys are spaced out at a very comfortable distance, but unfortunately, at times the touchpad on the device can be a little jumpy.

On the inside the Jolibook features 1024 x 600 resolution, an Intel GMA 3150 graphics card, 1 GB of DDR3 memory, a 1.5-GHz Intel Atom N550 processor, and a 250GB hard drive. The battery is supposed to last up to seven hours (which most likely is a slightly inflated number), and the netbook features a variety of ports including: 3 USB 2.0 ports, an 8-in-1 card reader, VGA port, Eathernet port, Bluetooth v2.1, built-in 300k pixel web cam, and microphone and headphone jack.

Performance-wise, the Jolibook is incredibly quick, much faster than any available Windows system, and can boot up from being cold within 20 seconds.

Although as of right now the Jolibook is only available in the UK, it seems as though it will be available in the U.S. and other countries sometime in the near future. It is definitely a great portable device for teens and younger adults. It has great features, decent battery life, a web cam, and the oh so very intriguing Jolicloud OS. If you’re looking for a snazzy, artsy-looking netbook that is jam-packed with all the features you could possible need to handle all of your social media cravings and needs, then the Jolibook is the netbook for you. For more information you should check out Jolicloud’s official website.

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Panasonic’s Truly “ToughBook”

This notebook is literally almost indestructible. It can withstand 70-mph winds, 6-inches of blowing rain per hour, and being dropped from a height of 6 feet over 25 times. This notebook is none other than Panasonic’s ToughBook CF-31.

This tank like piece of machinery looks very similar to is rugged predecessor, but the inside of the CF-31 shows exactly how Panasonic has made some changes. This ToughBook features a Intel Core i5 processor that almost doubles the performance and increases protection without having to sacrifice any battery life. This laptop that is generally meant for government agencies and police forces is listed at $3,799. This is about $1,000 less than the original ToughBook, which should make this much more available to those that need the notebook.

The ToughBook almost looks like a toolbox when it is closed up. The lid, bezel, and handle are all made of a magnesium alloy that is surrounded by a hard black plastic. The lid is held up by a pair of heavy duty hinges, and when you close the lid there is a spring-loaded latch that firmly secures it to the base.

The notebook measures 11.9 x 11.5 x 2.9 inches and weighs 8.8 pounds. This obviously is not the kind of notebook that you slide into your backpack and head to class with. However, it isn’t that difficult to get around with, because Panasonic designed the notebook to have an easy access handle to make carrying fairly simple.

Panasonic has also stepped up the protection with the CF-31. This incredible notebook is able to withstand temperatures ranging from -20 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit while operating and -40 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit when turned off. As I mentioned previously, it can withstand incredible wind, water, and drops from heights. It can also survive up to 310 pounds of pressure on its lid as well.

Besides protecting against the environment that the notebook will be placed in, it also provides you with great security. It includes a Smart Card reader, fingerprint reader, Trusted Platform Module (TPM) v1.2. It also features a conceal mode that turns off or dims the screen, all LED lights, and sounds immediately with a single press of a button.

The keyboard on the CF-31 is a great size and is fairly responsive. It is also backlit which is an incredibly useful feature. The touchpad is a little on the small size, only measuring 2.3 x 1.6 inches, but it is pressure sensitive which means that it can be used even when wearing gloves. A stylus is also built in if you don’t want to deal with using your finger.

The ToughBook features a 13.3-inch screen with 1024 x 768 resolution. This might seem kind of low compared to most other laptops, but it works great for the touchscreen applications.

The CF-31 has a variety of different buttons and ports including: four USB ports, Ethernet, HDMI ports with a SIM Card slot beneath, a power switch, fingerprint reader, SD Card slot, ExpressCard/34/54 slots, Wi-Fi switch, VGA, and DVD drive. A webcam is not included, but it is available as an option.

Performance wise, the CF-31 operates on a Windows XP operating system, has the latest 2.53-GHz Intel Core i5-540M CPU, and has 2 GB of RAM. The battery life was pretty good, lasting for 6 hours and 32 minutes.

Overall, the ToughBook CF-31 is quite an impressive notebook. I was first intrigued by the indestructible exterior of the laptop, but when looking at the inside, I was even more amazed. Yes, it is very pricey, but it is an almost unbreakable piece of machinery. Although it may not be practical for everyday use, I think that this is definitely great for someone in a line of work like the police force. This notebook is really interesting to read up on. It has so many different features that you don’t find in a regular notebook. Although its not for everyone, it is an extremely cool laptop that definitely deserves some recognition.

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An Affordable Convertible Netbook Tablet from Lenovo

Many different companies make a variety of different types of netbooks, but not many have adopted the convertible tablet netbook that has been emerging recently. This is probably because is can be a very costly netbook to design and manufacture. Convertible tablets are comparable in weight and size to an ultraportable or thin and light laptop. They look pretty much like a traditional laptop except for the fact that the screen swivels 180 degrees and can fold flat over the keyboard of the laptop. You can utilize a convertible tablet netbook to navigate menus, documents, and Web pages all through the touchscreen.

It’s the rotating hinges and the touchscreen display that jacks the price of netbooks like this up. Pricing is one of the reasons that these netbooks have had trouble taking off, but Lenovo is now offering the IdeaPad S10-3t, which is one of the first reasonably priced convertible tablets to be made available to the public. If you’re at all interested in convertible tablets, the S10-3t is definitely one that you should look into if you aren’t interested in putting out $1000 or more.

I personally thought that the design of the S10-3t was very intriguing. It’s a little bit thicker and longer than most 10-inch netbooks, but this is necessary to accommodate the swivel hinge and the touch panel. The netbook weighs in at 2.9 pounds and comes standard with a 4-cell battery. Many may not like the plain design of the S10-3t, but I thought that it fit the netbook. It features a shiny black top without any fancy detailing.

I find the swivel touch screen to be extremely fascinating. When you rotate it the full 180 degrees, you can then proceed to lay the screen down flat against the keyboard of the netbook. How cool is that? Although many could say that this function is very similar to that of Apple’s iPad, the advantage you have with a convertible netbook is that you have the luxury of a keyboard whenever you want it which can come in handy. The screen on the S10-3t is 10-inches and features 1,024 x 600 resolution. When utilizing the touch feature, you solely use your finger, just like for the iPad or the iPhone. You can use one finger to navigate the screen or use two to pinch and enlarge photos and documents. Due to the fact that the S10-3t’s touchscreen is designed for you to use your finger, it does not feature the handwriting recognition capabilities that some tablets that use a stylus have, but it still performs every other function that you could need.

The keyboard on the S10-3t is almost full size and is very responsive. The netbook’s other features also include: 2 USB ports, a VGA port, an Ethernet port, an SD slot, built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi, 250GB of hard drive, a 1.83GHzAtom N470 processor, 2GB of memory, and Windows 7 Home Premium. A lot of these features can’t be found on most netbooks, so I was impressed.

I really feel like this is a deal if you’re looking for a convertible netbook. Lenovo ships the S10-3t out for $650. This is incredible, as most convertible netbooks start around $1000. I think with all of the features and the impressive price tag, Lenovo has hit a home run with the new ThinkPad S10-3t.

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Netbooks Aren't Replacing Notebooks

According to a survey from PriceGrabber.com, over half of consumers do not see netbooks as a replacement for their traditional laptops. Of those surveyed, 55% said a netbook is a nice compliment to their laptops but they'd never buy one to replace it.

The findings probably aren't all that surprising. Sure, netbooks are cheaper and smaller, which makes them more portable but the point of having a laptop at all is so that it is portable, right? Most people prefer doing most of their tasks on their laptop that is capable of handling anything they might run across. The reasons? 54% said the netbooks are too uncomfortable due to size, 50% were unhappy with the lack of CD drive, 49% didn't like the lack of storage, 38% felt the computers are too slow, 26% don't feel they can run their multi-media files on them, 16% believe the netbooks won't run their games as well, and 14% had other reasons for their feelings.

On the other hand, 45% of people do see netbooks as laptop replacements. This could mean any number of things but it seems as though a lot of people aren't in need of big screens and lots of power for their everyday computing needs. The study defined a netbook as any laptop with a smaller than 11-inch screen, that cost less than $500.

The survey does point out that the netbooks have caused an overall drop in the price of computers. In December 2008, the average laptop cost around $800, compared to $654 in December 2009. They also noted that the average netbook user falls into the 45-64 years old age category. It used to be that 35-54 year olds preferred the smaller computers.

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Choosing the Right Laptop For You

It's a new year and one goal people often have is to purchase a new computer. These days, it seems as though laptops are becoming the computer of choice. Maybe you want to upgrade your current model, or maybe you're making the switch from a desktop, but how do you know which one to buy? There are so many choices out there. And for the average computer user, sifting through them all can be time-consuming and such a hassle that it leaves you somewhat stressed out and maybe deciding against that new purchase after all.

There are so many choices to make with variations in performance, power, price, etc.. The most important thing to know is what you plan to use the computer for. This can help you narrow down what type of laptop you need and go from there. The four main categories of laptops are: netbooks, ultraportables, all-purpose laptops, and desktop replacements. Here, we'll break down each category, so you can decide which one is the right one for you.

Netbooks

Good: If you are always on the go and simply use the laptop to check email or take notes in class or business meetings.
Bad: If you spend a lot of time on your computer and run many different applications.

Netbooks are small, light, and great if you need to carry your laptop around all day with you, but they aren't very powerful. They can be used for mundane tasks such as surfing the internet, checking email, and word processing, but if use your computer a lot, this isn't the computer for you. It might make a good companion to your main desktop or laptop, but I wouldn't buy it as your main computer.

The average netbook is about three pounds and has a screen size of six to ten inches. They cost around $300-400. The small screen resolution and low amount of RAM (usually 1 GB) makes it difficult to work with photos and spread sheets or stream video. Also, many websites, games and other applications won't fit well on your screen. Also, if you ever want to use your laptop to load a CD or DVD, most netbooks don't have optical drives. However, on the plus-side, the average battery life of the newer netbooks is 5-6 hours which is a huge improvement over most laptops.

Ultraportables

Good: If you're on-the-go but need more from your laptop.

Bad: If you play a lot of graphics-intense games or stream a lot of video

Ultraportables are slip and light like a netbook but have a little more power. It may be a little bigger than a netbook, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. You'll get more RAM (usually about 4-6 GB), a larger screen, and more power. If you need more from your computer than the netbook can offer, but you still find yourself on-the-go, then you might want to consider an Ultraportable.

Most screens range from 11-14 inches, and the computers usually weigh about 3 -4 1/2 pounds. Battery life is still fairly decent - 4 to 6 hours - but these laptops will cost you at least $600-800, with some costing even $1,000 and above. Compared to the netbook, your computer will perform much better, especially when you're using multiple applications at once. But while you can use them to stream video or play 3-D games, the quality may not be up to your standards. Also, if you need to load discs, a lot of ultraportables are forgoing the optical drive in the name of being thinner.

All-Purpose Laptops

Good: If you want to customize your laptop to fit your needs.

Bad: If you are on-the-go and need a long-lasting battery.

The all-purpose laptops pretty much fit any need. They are powerful enough to do most anything you want with them, but they are still small enough that they can be portable. In this category, you will find more variety than you will anywhere else. There are laptops with all sorts features, styles and purposes.

On average, an all-purpose laptops has a screen of 14-16 inches and weighs more than 4 1/2 pounds (usually topping out at 8 pounds). Even the most basic of these laptops will have about 4GB of RAM. Prices can be as cheap at $400, but can go up to more than $1500 if you are looking for a lot of add-ons or more power. Optical drives and Blu-ray Disc drives are generally optional on most all-purpose models. And one of the best things about the all-purpose laptops is that you can sort of mold it to fit your needs with upgrades and add-ons; just don't forget you have to pay for them. Also, if you plan to use your laptop outside of your home, most all-purpose models have a pretty short battery life (2-5 hours maximum), so you'll want to be somewhere where you can plug it in.

Desktop Replacements

Good: If you're a gamer, photographer, or video editor.

Bad: If you're looking something portable and light-weight.

If you want to make your laptop your main computer and you want it to function just as your desktop did, the desktop-replacement, also called the "power laptop," may be the right solution. These models are larger with screen sizes from 16-18.4 inches and weigh anywhere from 8 - 12 pounds. When it comes to power, storage, and memory, these models are also top-of-the line. And if you edit graphics or video often, you won't have a problem.

On the other hand, if you're looking for a laptop you can carry around easily, this one isn't what you want. Sure, they're portable and if you use it in your home, they an be moved from room to room without a problem, but lugging them along in a briefcase or backpack all day isn't an ideal situation. And they cost more. Cheaper models may cost around $1,000 but they can get up to about $2,000.

If you're a hard-core gamer or you use your laptop for professional reasons such as editing and uploading video and photos, a desktop-replacement is perfect for you.

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A Dual Touchscreen Netbook from DNB

So I know I’ve been writing quite a bit about a variety of different things that were at the Consumer Electronics Show, but there were so many amazing things that were showcased there that I can’t help but want to share all the awesome new advances in technology that we are going to see here in 2010.

In the international section at the CES, you could view the DNB “Dual Net-book.” This netbook features two screens. One screen obviously serves as your normal laptop viewing screen, but the second screen doubles as a keyboard and an extra screen. This extra screen can still perform all the necessary function of a keyboard, but it can also convert to a screen to view documents, pictures, etc. Both the top and bottom screens are touchscreens.

Other than this, not a whole lot is know about these dual screened netbooks, but I’m sure we’ll learn about them soon enough. The device is expected to ship around the end of the year, and it is expected to be priced around $800.

It will be exciting to get all the details on this new netbook development and see if it really takes off.

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The Google Gboard

So Gmail has always had keyboard shortcuts to help you navigate around your e-mail, but they aren’t exactly what most people would call easy to learn. Well now, the Google e-mail service is introducing the Gboard that will solve this problem. It is just being released today and can be purchased for the very reasonable price of $19.99.

The Gboard is the size of a standard numberpad keyboard and features 19 brightly colored keys. These keys all allow you to utilize shortcuts dealing with your Gmail. Gmail-specific features include starring messages, starting a search, and jumping between message threads. When the Gboard is not used with Gmail, the buttons will simply act like normal keyboard buttons and type whatever letter or number that corresponds with the shortcut.

Conveniently, the Gboard is powered through a USB port. This means that you will not need any special software or driver. You will have to enable keyboard shortcuts under Gmail’s settings before utilizing your Gboard, but that isn’t any difficult task.

This device was interestingly enough not created by Google. It was actually though up by a film producer from Venice, CA named Charlie Mason. This is his first development involving computer hardware.

People are either going to love or hate the Gboard. If people have already mastered all the shortcuts that are utilized with Gmail, then they will find it completely unnecessary and have no need for it. It could be very useful to people who have not or have been unable to master the shortcuts though.

With a total of 69 shortcuts and many more to come if Google releases some of their experimental features that are currently being tested in the labs, the Gboard could be the first step to developing a full-sized version with more than 100 keys. For now though, the Gboard should satisfy Gmail users who have had issues with figuring out the shortcuts, and the low price tag just can’t be beat.

Disney's Netpal Netbook: A Little Princess's Dream Come True

The new Disney Netpal by ASUS is any kids dream come true. It truly is a netbook that is designed specifically for children. Everything that is included with the netbook is incredibly kid-oriented and the price is definitely parent-friendly.

The laptop itself is absolutely adorable. The Princess design is exactly what any girl that loves the Disney Princesses is looking for. Like I said, this is a little girls ideal netbook. The design of netbook is definitely not gender-neutral like the Dell Mini Nickelodeon Edition, but Disney has released a plain blue version that may appeal more to boys. The floral pattern of the Princess design swirls together the shapes of princesses, tiaras, and hearts that are found on the lid and the palm rest area.

The Netpal is based off of the ASUS EeePC1008HA (Seashell). The most obvious differences between the netbooks would be keyboard that was shrunk from 92% to 89% and the screen that was downsized from 10-inches to 8.9-inches. It also weighs a mere 2.4 pounds. ASUS does all this to make the netbook as child-friendly as they possibly can. Every single key on the keyboard is positioned according to the traditional keyboard standards. The chrome mouse button may be slightly difficult for your child to press, but they will quickly adjust.

Parents will appreciate the bundled software that comes standard with the Netpal. The Mini Nickelodeon offers a 15-month trial subscription of McAfee’s Family Security Center, but the Netpal comes with Disney’s own parental controls that don’t expire. The software goes above and beyond what most parental control programs provide though. Your child basically gets their own Windows user account which logs into the Disney environment and allows them to access a custom Web browser, their calendar app, an email account, and a variety of games. You, as the parent, have a separate account, locked by a password, that allows you to control everything that your child is allowed to do or see on their netbook.

The parental controls for the Netpal are quite extensive. Parents have the ability to choose which e-mail addresses their children can receive e-mail from, block any Website, and add or remove any type of application on an approved list. You are also given the power to decide when your child may access the Web or certain games or applications.

The features on the Netpal are pretty standard for a netbook. It includes a 160GB hard drive, three USB ports, a built-in Webcam, 4-in-1 card reader, VGA-out, and an Ethernet port. Honestly, I don’t think your child will need anything else.

Although it is a kid-focused netbook, ASUS made sure not to skimp on the processing aspects. The use of a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor and 1GB of memory can be found in most netbook. The Netpal’s battery is made out of Lithium Polymer, and according to MobileMark 2007, it scored 5 hours and 30 minutes of battery life. The battery is not removable, which should be appreciated as it can be a fire hazard.
This netbook is definitely not designed for an adult, but it is perfect for your little princess. It has numerous features that will keep your child happy and parental controls that will keep you happy knowing what your child is up to. This netbook can be found as low as $339.00. I would not be surprised if the Disney Netpal is at the top of many little princess’s Christmas lists.

The Newest ASUS Netbook

ASUS is now ready to release their newest ION netbook, the ASUS EeePC 1201. Hewlett-Packard, Lenevo, and Samsung have all featured new ION netbooks, so you knew that ASUS would be quick to follow.

The ASUS 1201 has many similarities to its predecessors. It still features the Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics chipset, but now it is bundled with a dual- core N330 Atom processor. The newest ASUS netbook really has been improved in the best possible ways.

I personally really like the look of this netbook. It is very long and slim and is enveloped in a shiny plastic that is available in black or silver. It weighs a mere 3.1 pound, making it the lightest 12-inch screen netbook on the market. The fact that it has a 12-inch screen is impressive, as most netbooks only have 10-inch screens. It also features incredible 1,366 x 768 resolution which is not found in many other netbooks. An element that is new to ASUS netbooks is the full size keyboard, which definitely comes in handy.

The specs on the ASUS 1201 are pretty standard for netbooks. It includes a 250GB hard drive, three USB ports, a media card reader, an Ethernet port, and a webcam. The dual-core Atom processor found in the ASUS 1201 is the first to be used in a netbook. This improves performance considerably. The 1201 also ships standard with 2GB of RAM and features a 6-cell battery that allows up to 5 hours of battery life.

There are two main benefits with the ION platform. You will be able to play all kinds of computer games with absolutely no restrictions and also be able to have smooth 1080p HD playback.

At $499, I feel that the ASUS EeePC 1201 is quite a good deal. With all the standard features plus the dual-core Atom processor, 12-inch screen, and 2GB of RAM, this little netbook stands out among the other similarly priced netbooks. This is definitely one to keep in mind.

Windows 7 will drain your netbook battery faster than XP

When Microsoft released Windows 7, one of their big selling points was the extra battery life it provided over Vista. The guys at LaptopMag.com found that it was indeed true, but only on full-sized notebooks. When it came to netbooks, it was a completely different story. The batteries of the netbooks actually drained faster than with XP.

They tested three netbooks, Toshiba mini NB205, ASUS Eee PC 1008HA, and the HP Mini 311, all with Windows 7 OS. They tested them with the "laptop battery test", continuous web surfing over wi-fi, and found that each of them got a lot less battery time.





The results:               Win XP Battery Life         Win 7 Battery Life

Toshiba mini NB205             9:24                                       8:51


ASUS Eee PC 1008HA           5:40                                       4:43


HP Mini 311                         5:43                                       4:52



According to the tests, the netbooks average about 40 minutes less battery time with Windows 7, which is a big chunk of time. If you're looking for the longest possible battery time on your netbook, it may not be wise to upgrade your XP system just yet.

Nokia Booklet 3G

Nokia’s recently announced “Booklet 3G” was a big shocker for most of. My first impression of the netbook was that it looks very neat and it almost has the Macbook look to it. It weighs 2.7 lbs, and it is 2cm thick, and the all aluminum case to top it off. The new netbook is going to be running off of a 1.6Hz Intel Atom Z530. The netbooks screen is going to be 10.1’, with an impressive 12 hour battery life. The Booklet has built in HSDPA 3G, so you can expect the 3G connectivity to be very fast. The Booklet is Bluetooth enabled so no more taking wired microphones on the go. The Booklet also comes with Windows 7 Starter Edition pre-installed, which really surprised me because this is one of the first to offer Windows 7 on a netbook. The HDMI output allows you to plug into your TV in HD, and also lets you watch videos in 1080p. The Booklet comes with Assisted GPS and a swappable SIM card.

This netbook will be running at the high price of $799, I say the high price because, the RAM usage will double because it is running Windows 7, instead of Vista or even XP, so in my opinion you will not be getting the best performance from this computer. Which if all you are using the computer for is school work, office work, or browsing the internet, then this computer should be fine for all the basic needs. But I wouldn’t suggest downloading, playing high performance games or storing mass amounts of files, just because of the amount of RAM being used just to run windows 7. I would suggest this netbook for the “average” computer user, or as a gift for going back to school. This is definitely one of the most impressive netbooks I have seen so far. I am still very skeptical about how the overall performance of the computer will be. But it is definitely worth checking out; Nokia just set the standards for netbooks. The future is going to be interesting, seeing if their competitors like Dell can keep up with Nokia.

Specs:

• Intel Z530 1.6Hz
• 1GB RAM
• 120GB Drive
• A-GPS
• Nokia Ovi Maps
• Windows 7
• Bluetooth Enabled
• HSDPA 3G/ Wi-Fi
• Swappable SIM
• 12 Hour battery
• HDMI output

Gateway's New LT2000

Gateway has now introduced their second netbook, the LT2000. This extremely reasonably priced laptop is not only sleek and stylish but has some awesome features for the very low price tag.

The LT2000 is compact and considerably portable. It only measures about one inch thin and weighs a mere 2.62 pounds. The netbook is available in NightSky Black and Cherry Red and is engraved with the Gateway logo and chic sliver trim accents.

The rundown on all the features of the LT2000 are pretty basic but most people wouldn’t really need anymore than what Gateway offers. The netbook has a 10.1-inch TFT LED-backlit display that allows plenty of room for owners to view web pages, e-mails, digital media, documents, and more. Included in the LT2000’s slim frame is three USB ports, an Ethernet port, a VGA port, and a multi-in-one digital card reader. Also, the laptop is powered by an Intel Atom processor, has 1GB of memory, and has 160GB of hard drive space.

Some eye-catching additional features that would normally not be found in a netbook in such a low price category would include the integrated webcam and the awesome Multi-Gesture Touchpad. The Touchpad allows users to move around e-mails, web pages, documents, music playlists, files, and so much more in an incredibly unique way. To flip through pictures, all that you need to do is move two fingers across the touchpad. To scroll through web pages or music playlists, simply use a circular swirling motion on the touchpad. Along with many other unique finger motions that can be utilized on the touchpad, you can pinch inward or outward to zoom in and out of whatever application you might be using. I think its incredible that such a cool feature can be found on such a budget laptop.

With the cool design, standard basics, awesome added features, and low price tag, I don’t know how this netbook could be passed up. Gateway will offer the LT2000 for $299.99. After considering all the facts, this netbook is looking good!

NEC VersaPro VS-7 Changing the Way We Look At Netbooks

Netbook is not one of the most popular choices among laptops because they are heavy and clunky like an old combat boot; but the release of the NEC VersaPro VS-7 Netbook is changing the way we look at Netbooks. It’s sleek body that is only 15.8mm thick and nice sized slightly curved keys are made to hug your fingers and I have to say the traditional mouse is more of a preference for me as opposed to the touch pad.

As sexy and sleek as this laptop is, its not all about the outside, no, the VersaPro VS-7 Netbook has a beautiful inside too! Check out these specs:

• 10.6” 1280x768 Display (Glossy)
• Intel Atom Z540 (1.86GHz)
• Intel GMA500 Graphics
• 64GB SSD
• 15.8mm thick
• 725g (4-Cell Battery)
• Body capable of resisting 150kg pressure

I also want to make mention that even though the NEC VersaPro VS-7 Netbook is integrating an Intel GMA500 Video chipset that has the reputation of not keeping up the pace when it comes to watching high quality video or even HD video file but the VersaPro VS-7 installed with the CCCP Codec, took on whatever file and played them flawlessly even with Vista in a 720/30p DivX HD full screen playback.

Users that are into photography and graphics will be impressed to know that this baby can handle Photoshop CS3 with Bridge and performed as well as a Vaio G2 and is half the cost at just over $1000.

Unfortunately , for the moment the VersaPro VS-7 is currently only available in Japan but it is certainly something to look forward to.

A Netbook for Under $1

I was obviously intrigued and skeptical when I heard that a netbook was being sold for under a dollar, so I felt the urge to investigate further. Here’s what I was able to uncover. Sprint Nextel has teamed up with Best Buy to offer the Compaq Mini 110c-1040DX Netbook for 99 cents. As incomprehensible as that seems, its true, but the required two-year service contract is where the money is being made.

The Compaq Mini offers a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor and 160GB hard drive. It also features a 10.1-inch anti-glare widescreen display, 5-in-1integrated digital media reader, 92 percent keyboard, built-in-webcam, and a variety of eye-catching features.

The 3G wireless service that you are required to purchase through Sprint will cost you $60 a month for 5GB of data per month. This adds up to costing you around $1,440 once you have purchased the wireless service over the two years.

Verizon Wireless and AT&T plan to also sell the Compaq Mini with a two-year service plan for $199.99 through Best Buy. Verizon currently offers two different wireless service packages. You can select the $40 a month plan which offers 250MB of data monthly or the $60 a month plan that allows for up to 5GB of data per month.

AT&T offers very similar pricing. For up to 5GB of data it will cost you $60 a month, and for 200MB of data it will cost $40 a month. The advantage to AT&T’s deal through Best Buy is that it doesn’t just offer the Compaq Mini but gives you the option to choose between it, the Acer Aspire One, Dell Inspiron Mini 9 and Mini 12, or the LG Xenia all for a base price ranging from $50 to $250.

Although this is an offer that could easily draw in a crowd, if customers do the math they will realize that with the two-year service plan these netbooks will end up costing them way over $1,000 in the end. Hopefully people will realize that this isn’t such a hot offer and will search for a better, cheaper mini-laptop deal.

The HP Mini 110

The price of netbooks just continues to go further and further down. Each year they offer better parts and lower price tags. The new HP Mini 110 definitely carries on this pattern. It resembles HP’s Mini 1000, but has many improvements and a much lower price point.

On the surface, the HP Mini 110 looks almost identical to the Mini 1000 and the Mini 1000 Mi. It features a glossy black top embellished with chic gray swirls. As you examine the netbook closer though, you are able to distinguish a few external differences. The HP Mini 110 is thicker than its predecessors, measuring more than one inch thick. This added thickness, to make room for the larger feature set and new battery set up, barely adds any extra weight to the netbook though. It manages to weigh in at a very reasonable 2.6 pounds.

The 10.1-inch widescreen is now LED-backlit and comes with 1,204 x 576 resolution. It features speakers that have been built below the screen into the frame in order to keep them hidden behind the hinge. Other important aspects to consider include the Mini’s 92 percent keyboard and mouse buttons. It also has a VGA port, an Ethernet port, a multi card reader, a headphone jack, three USB ports, and a built-in webcam. The Mini has upgraded with a 160GB, 5,400-rpm spinning drive, with the option to upgrade for something even more powerful.

Another interesting fact is that the Mini now includes a third-party software application called Syncables. Syncables allows you to connect different machines on your local network and effortlessly share photos, documents, video, and music. You can even sync e-mail accounts from Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.

HP has definitely made some huge improvements with the Mini 110. It now includes a faster hard drive and a variety of new features. No its not the Dell Inspiron Mini 12 or the Acer Aspire One, but for the reasonable starting price of $329.00 it seems like a pretty good deal to me.

The New Acer Aspire One

The new Acer Aspire One is now thinner and lighter than any previous Acer netbook. Acer managed to eliminate a sizeable amount of plastic within their best-selling netbook design to allow for these qualities, while still maintaining their reasonable price point.

Netbook design is not really one of Acer’s strengths. Although the plastic-topped Aspire One does not win any beauty pageants, there are many qualities that make up for the netbook’s lack of style. The Aspire One beats most comparable netbooks with its mere 0.8-inch thickness. This makes it thinner than the Samsung N120, the ASUS EeePC 1000HE, the ASUS EeePC 1008HA (Seashell), and the HP Mini 1000. The new Acer netbook is now also lighter. With the three-cell battery, it only weighs 2.4 pounds.

Considering other aspects, the Aspire One retains the standard 10-inch screen, 1,024 x 600 resolution, and customary keyboard. The 89 percent keyboard is certainly a feature that Acer needs to attend to. Acer was able to include mutitouch capabilities into the Aspire One, but with the limited space you have to work with performing such actions can be difficult at times.

The Aspire One features three USB ports, VGA-out, an Ethernet port, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, 802.11 g WiFi, and a 4-in-1 card reader. It also has a 160GB hard drive, which is the same or better than all other netbooks currently on the market. The Aspire One contains a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1 GB of memory, and Intel integrated graphics.

Even with the new updates found in the Acer Aspire One, Acer has managed to retain its affordable price. The Aspire One is the most reasonably priced netbook to be found at about $300, which is the reason why the previous Acer model was the best-selling netbook available. The Aspire One is lighter, thinner, and cheaper than most other netbooks out there. If you’re looking for an inexpensive netbook, this is definitely one to check out.

Dell Latitude 2100

Never before has a laptop been more designed with a student in mind. The new Dell Latitude 2100 is a netbook that is designed specifically for the education market, especially students from kindergarten to eighth grade. The Latitude’s durable design and kid-centered features make this laptop ideal for the rapidly developing minds of children.

The fundamental components of the Latitude are very comparable to those of most other netbooks. It features Intel Atom CPU, Windows XP, and 1 GB of RAM, but the major difference with the Latitude is its covering. The outside is rubberized, thicker, and heavier than most typical netbooks. This casing protects the laptop from the rough patches it is sure to go through in the hands of a child. Another interesting child-friendly note is the anti-microbial keyboard that is offered when purchasing the Latitude. This feature helps prevent the spread of germs between laptop users.

This laptop has many other aspects to consider. One which is definitely worth noting is the network activity light that is centered on the back of the lid. This light glows when the Latitude is connected to the internet. Dell designed this feature to alert teachers when a student is drifting away from their school work and instead surfing the Web. Dell also says that educational software designers will be able to incorporate this light into their programs to allow for teachers to see when a student has completed their assigned tasks in class.

The Latitude is larger and heavier than most 10-inch netbooks. It weighs 2.9 pounds with its three-cell battery and measures 10.4 x 7.3 x 5.7 inches. To solve any problems with the weight, Dell has designed a custom computer carrying cart that can be used in classrooms to store up to 24 netbooks. The Latitude comes in five fun colors: School Bus Gold, Chalkboard Black, Ball Field Green, Blue Ribbon, and School House Red, and its starting price is $369.

I think that Dell has done a fantastic job developing this idea of a student netbook. A kid-friendly laptop with a durable design, an anti-microbial keyboard, and a light that indicates Web surfing is something that schools have been waiting for. Laptops are necessary within schools for projects, activities, research, and a variety of other instances, so having a laptop that can take a few scratches and bruises will save them from expensive computer repairs. The network activity light will aid teachers in keeping students on track and eventually allow for notice of a students completion of an activity. All these features, plus the reasonable starting price, make the Dell Latitude 2100 a wonderful new technological development for many schools and students.

Dell Adamo

Dell has just opened up the pre orders for the new Adamo Laptop. Dell’s new Adamo laptop was built from the ground up to look amazing. The laptop comes in two colors so far silver and black. It looks really great it reminds me a lot of the Macbook Air. Dell sacrificed a lot of performance to make this laptop slim and light. The starting price for a Dell Adamo is $2000 and with that you really do not get anything more impressive than your budget notebook.

The stock $2000 build comes with a 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo Processor, 2GB DDR3 RAM, 128GB Solid State Drive, The more expensive $2700 build comes with 1.4GHz Processor, 4GB RAM, and mobile broadband. The display resolution is 1366x768 and the laptop comes with integrated graphics, go figure. Also the notebook is 13.4 inches wide so this is pretty much just a luxury netbook.

If anyone is considering a purchase of the Dell Adamo, I hope they have more money than they know what to do with; as the only thing I see going for this laptop are its good looks.

New tablet pc/netbook with a detachable screen

The company Always Innovating has just released a new netbook that has a fully detachable screen that transforms the netbook into a stand-alone tablet.

The Touch Book truly looks amazing and innovative. It will come preloaded with a linux OS, and it will be the first netbook based on an ARM CPU, have an average battery life of 10-15 hours and $299 without keyboard, $399 with.

The NetBook/TouchBook or what ever else you want to call it will also feature a magnetic back so that you can mount it on a fridge. It also feautures a hinge that not only allows you to detach the screen, but also to swivel I completely around so that you can mount it up when you are for say on a plain and you can also swivel the keyboard all the way around so that it is hidden behind the screen.



Also make sure to watch the video to hear more about Always Innovating’s latest Touch Book, also there is a wonderful accent that is o so enjoyable to listen too!

Dell’s Inspiron Mini 9 now only $199

$199 for a netbook, is Dell crazy? It is not too often you see a deal like this pop up, but it is true. Dell is now offering an Inspiron Mini 9 for only $199. This is an amazing deal even on a netbook. The specs are nothing to be bragging about, but for $200 all I would expect for my netbook to do was play music, movies, surf the web, email, and type up documents on.

Heres a quick Spec Sheet:
Black 8.9-inch netbook
1.6GHz Atom CPU
Wifi
4-cell battery
512MB RAM
4GB SSD memory
Ubuntu Linux Operating System

Also if you are looking for a little bit more out of your netbook Dell is now offering the Inspiron Mini 10 for $399.