netbooks

What is a Netbook computer?

Last time, while describing the Lenovo IdeaPad S10, I offered my opinion that Netbook computers will drastically change the computing scene. A quick look at the best selling computers at Amazon.com shows many Netbooks (as of October 15, 2008 the top three computers were all Netbooks). In writing a follow-up posting, I realized that an introduction to Netbooks might be needed. So, here I try to explain just what Netbooks are and how they differ from the millions of laptop computers that existed previously.

A Netbook is a new type of laptop computer, defined by size, price, horsepower, and … Read more

Ubiquitous Netbooks, a cheap Acer, and WiMax cometh: The week in laptops

So, I'm thinking about changing the name of this feature to "The week in Netbooks." Seriously. This week we had rumors and then confirmation of Asus' "premium" Netbook, the Eee PC S101. The company also confirmed that 2009 will bring a touch-screen Eee PC. Meanwhile, the MSI Wind made its way to retail store shelves even as rumors of its successor, the Wind U120, made their way to the Web. And software maker CyberLink hopped on the bandwagon, announcing a Linux version of its PowerDVD movie player so you can watch films on that tiny … Read more

Eee PC to get touch-screen treatment in 2009

Because of their small size and inexpensive nature, Netbooks are hot items right now. Asus' Eee PC is one of the more recognizable lines available.

Users have wanted a touch-screen version of their favorite tiny laptops, and it's been rumored for a while that future Eee PCs would implement them. But it wasn't until Thursday that the general manager of the Eee PC line for Asus confirmed that they are coming--next year.

Samson Hu, the general manager, also remarked that future models would get dual-core Atom processors once they come out, and that a new lower-cost model is … Read more

CyberLink's media playback software goes Linux

If you purchase a DVD or Blu-ray internal optical drive for your desktop, chances are it comes bundled with PowerDVD from Cyberlink. The company's media playback software has been popular in both desktop and laptop PCs running Windows.

On Thursday, however, CyberLink announced to extend the realm to support Netbooks and Nettops--the budget laptop and desktop computers designed to run the Linux operating system. The new Linux software applications include PowerDVD Linux and PowerCinema Linux.

PowerDVD Linux is derived from Cyberlink's movie player, PowerDVD, and supports DVD Video playback with menu navigation, subtitles, and video rewind and … Read more

The Lenovo S10 Netbook is here, count me in

The S10 is here, I ordered one yesterday and I'm psyched. The IdeaPad S10 is Lenovo's just-released entry in the Netbook market. "Netbook" is a new term that's applied to cheap small laptops that run either Windows XP Home Edition or Linux. No Vista or OS X here (neither is cheap).

One reason Netbooks are cheap is that they are underpowered, by current standards. Yet, they have more than sufficient horsepower to do the things most people do most of the time.

I think Netbooks will drastically change the computing scene.

For some of us, … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 827: Unbreakable ... because it's QUANTUM

Natali Del Conte joins us today for a discussion of quantum mechanics, Apple laptop pricing, super satellites, click-jacking, and crowd-sourced baby names. It sounds kind of heavy, but it's surprisingly goofy. We think you'll enjoy it. Also: stop Skyping us! Listen now: Download today's podcast Episode 827

WiMAX launch http://cnettv.cnet.com/9742-1_53-50004011.html

Apple notebook launch! https://twitter.com/natalidelconte/statuses/952901666

It’s official: Apple to talk laptops on October 14 http://www.cnet.com/8301-18603_1-10062305-73.html

$800 Apple notebooks? http://www.inquisitr.com/4834/exclusive-apple-to-launch-800-laptop/

Touchpanel EEE PCs to debut at CES 2009 … Read more

Spotted: MSI Wind 2

Before you pick up MSI's Wind U100 Netbook at Best Buy, you'd do well to take a look-see at purported photos of its sequel, the Wind U120.

It appears to be very similar to the U100 in size and design, keeping the 10-inch screen but going with a two-tone look with a black screen bezel and sides and a white lid, keyboard, and wrist rest. The U120 will reportedly target business users, adding 802.11n Wi-Fi and 3.5G WWAN. Other rumored specifications include a 120GB hard drive or 20GB or 40GB solid-state drives and no changes to … Read more

What is a Netbook, anyway?

It's taken the computer industry a little while to fully embrace the charms of the under-sized Netbook, although with big players such as Dell and Lenovo on board, as well as major retails like Best Buy and Amazon, these small laptops are more popular now then anyone could have anticipated.

We've even finally come to an industry wide agreement on what to call these products, which were originally dubbed mini-notes, sub-notebooks, mini-laptops, etc., before we all settled on "Netbook."

In perhaps the final step towards mainstream acceptance, the eagle-eyed gang over at Laptop mag just spotted … Read more

Asus makes Eee PC S101 official, expects warm reception

Asus has big plans for its Eee PC S101. Details on the premium ($699 and up) Netbook were leaked on Monday, and Wednesday Asus officially unveiled its slimmest, sleekest Netbook yet at an odd event in Taiwan (see "wedding" photos here).

According to DigiTimes, Asus expects the S101 to account for 10 percent of Eee PCs it ships by the end of the year. That would seem to be an impressive number, given that the S101 costs double that of the original Eee PC and that Asus seems to introduce a new Eee PC model every other week. … Read more