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Compaq Mini 311: First Impressions

Zealot — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:15:37 +0000

I have gotten my hands on a Compaq Mini 311 netbook, which is the European release of the HP Mini 311, the first netbook to feature Nvidia’s ION platform to augment the Atom’s poor graphics performance. The two models are identical save for the branding.

The Mini 311 has won a slew of Editor’s Choice awards over the last month, as well as several awards as the best netbook of 2009. However, the device pushes the envelope for netbooks with an 11.6 inch widescreen on top of the ION’s graphics power to make the Mini 311 something in between a standard netbook and an Ultraportable notebook PC.

This model runs Windows XP and has the ION LE, which runs DirectX 9 rather than DirectX 10. An upgraded model has already been announced with Windows 7 and standard ION.

I have just started to put the Mini 311 through it’s paces, but next week I will have a full review as well as an upgrade guide that will illustrate how to upgrade the 1GB of onboard RAM to a full 3GB for any modders out there. For now however, take a look at some pictures and first impressions after the jump.

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Acer First In with Chrome OS

Zealot — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:29:18 +0000

Digitimes is reporting that Acer has announced that they intend to launch the first netbook to he shipped running Google’s Chrome OS, slating the release for the second half of next year.

The announcement is not terribly surprising on one level as Acer was also the first to produce a netbook running Android. However, the dual booting Windows 7/Android combo failed to gain much attention in the marketplace and was pretty well torn up by reviewers, who viewed it as a dull as dishwater standard netbook with Android along for the ride for no apparent reason. All in all, what was expected to be such an innovation was pretty “meh” so it is a little surprising that Acer would agree to be Google’s guinea pig again. Perhaps Google is offering some hands on attention to the design, similar to what they give their flagship phones for each version of Android? Either way, as the top worldwide maker of netbooks Acer probably figures they can take the risk.

Acer is saying currently that their Chrome OS netbook will not be a dual boot machine, but I am quite sure that will change considering the fact that thus far popular wisdom doubts that Chrome OS will be practical as a primary OS for most users. I have been experimenting with an early version over the last few days and thus far I must agree with popular wisdom…but these are early days yet and a lot can change in a year.

As for the merits of a Cloud based Operating System, I will be posting complete looks at the two main contenders, Chrome OS and Jolicloud next week after working and playing with both for a little while.

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Dual Screen Netbook Attacks Tokyo

Zealot — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:28:53 +0000

Well, maybe not ATTACKS exactly, more like “Goes on sale in”, but the headline was too good to pass up. Either way, the Kohjinsha DZ6KH16E is certainly the Godzilla of netbooks, boasting two sliding 10.1 inch screens. I have always loved Kohjinsha’s vision and it’s unique take on mobile products, and the DZ6KH16E is no exception. Even if you feel the dual screens are impractical, you have to admit it would draw plenty of attention when you slide this bad boy open at your local Starbucks. Let’s face it, geek chic adulation is the name of the game when we are talking pricey Japanese imports, isn’t it?

If you don’t happen to live in Japan, for once you aren’t out of luck. The DZ6KH16E is available from Geek Stuff 4 U for $1,111.28 (but remember, this is a Japanese device, so take that into account regarding keyboard arrangement).

Check out the specs for this wide-screen beauty after the jump.

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Samsung and AT&T Announce the Samsung Go

Chris Leckness — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:33:31 +0000

Samsung today announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung Go, a compact and lightweight netbook running Windows 7. The Go will be available beginning Nov. 22 through AT&T retail locations or online for $199 after a mail-in rebate and 2 year data contract.

Key features and specifications of the Samsung Go include:

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Starter Edition
Processor: Intel® Atom™ processor N270
Webcam: 1.3 MP
Storage: 1GB of system memory, 160 GB HDD
Battery: 4-cell (4000 mAh)
I/O Ports: 3 USB 2.0 ports, external VGA port, headphone/speaker/line-out port, microphone-in jack
Communication: WWAN: Option GTM382W module (based on Qualcomm MSN 7225), HSPA (7.2/5.1 Mbps): 850/1900/2100 MHz, GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, SIM lock (device locked to AT&T network)
WLAN: 802.11 b/g WiFi
Display: 10.1” 1024 x 600 pixel resolution
Dimensions: 10.3” x 7.3” x 1.1”

Read on for some more images and the press release…

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Diggnation Unboxes the Nokia Booklet 3G

Chris Leckness — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:35:33 +0000

Thanks to revision11 on YouTube for sending this tip over. Alex Albrecht of Diggnation unboxes the Nokia Booklet 3G netbook. This is Nokia’s first netbook and it looks nice!.

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Celio RedFly in Action

Diego Samuilov — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:36:00 +0000

A few days ago I commented about the Celio Redfly adding support for BlackBerrys. I came across that bit of information first while researching to purchase a Celio RedFly myself and then while I’ve been using it with my Windows phone. It certainly extends the usefulness of my HTC Touch HD, and it should do the same for you if you have a Blackberry. In this review I will tell you, my thoughts and experiences with this product.

While my review was using a Windows phone, the device features are the same when using a Blackberry phone except for some minor details I will explain later on.

For all of you who don’t know what the Celio RedFly is; let me tell you that it appears to be a Netbook, but the appearances are only on the outside… literally. It certainly does look like a Netbook, but it has no CPU nor storage… so then, shat is it? Simple: its most obvious features are that is acts like a terminal for your phone which means that it acts as a replacement keyboard that can be touch-typed on, a higher resolution screen even if your phone has less resolution than the RedFly, an interface for thumb-drives of any kind and a multimedia tool.

You may ask yourself why on earth would anyone want to have this type of device instead of a cool Netbook then??? Read after the break for the answer to this question and more…

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Celio Corp Redfly now Supports Blackberry

Diego Samuilov — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:58:00 +0000

Just as they promised a few months back, Celio Corp has released software that allows their RedFly to be used with Blackberry in addition to a few more Windows Mobile devices.

The RedFly is a device that extends smartphone functionality. It allows the use of smartphones with a larger resolution/larger sized screen and a larger physical keyboard. This brings all supported smartphones into a similar feature set and size than current Netbooks in the market while keeping its price point lower than most Netbooks. All this while leveraging your phone’s current data access, browser, email and almost all other supported features.

All devices shipped from now on will contain the “Blackberry aware” firmware in addition to the already present “Windows Mobile aware” firmware. Users that had already purchased the device can upgrade the firmware with the software download available for free from the Celio Corp website (click here). The new software installed in the smartphone has a more polished UI and better interface all around. Once the software is installed on the smartphone and it connects to the RedFly, it will push the firmware to the RedFly when it detects an older version simplifying the whole process. I upgraded my device today and it literally took no more than 3 minutes.

You can see the more than 60 different smartphones supported by following this link (click here). Smartphones supported are listed by carrier, manufacturer and OS.

Celio Corp is celebrating this launch by giving away 5 Celio RedFly C8N (their top of the line device) when you subscribe to their newsletter (click here)

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Playing DVIX in 7MC

ctitanic — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:49:09 +0000

No, this is not a “how to” note or anything like that. Windows Media Center for me is something completely new. I have been using UMPCs and Tablet PCs for the last 3 years and on them this program does not work to well so I never tried. And probably that’s the best thing that happened to me because my first encounter with MC has been with 7MC or Windows 7 Media Center. A version of MC totally renovated by Microsoft. Sponsored by Ruvo, I will be shooting short videos of 7MC showing how easy is to use this program and different options that you can enjoy on it. The first video of this series shows how easy is to navigate using a Microsoft MC Remote Control and play a DIVX file stored in the HDD.

YouTube – Using 7MC to play DVIX Movies in a Ruvo mini Cap 7

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Netbooks Need Good Homes?

Zealot — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:26:13 +0000

Dell recently ran a contest to give away two Dell Inspiron Mini netbooks while also expanding their twitter reach. The idea was to follow Dell’s new products twitter account, tweet about why you would make the best “parent” to adopt a homeless Mini, and then retweet like crazy.

I have no idea how well the tweet campaign worked, but it has been awhile since I have seen a tech advertising campaign designed around amorphous social guilt. I was really hoping they would have Sally Struthers show up somewhere in the marketing material.

The video that Dell put together for the campaign is cute in an unnerving sort of way. I sort of teared up a bit at the image of the sad little Mini sitting all alone on the swingset. The netbook really looked miserable to me, made me want to load it up with Windows 7 and hug it….how twisted am I, really?

(Source: Liliputing)

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Viliv S10 Convertible Netbook

ctitanic — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:55:30 +0000

They did well calling the Viliv S10 a convertible notebooks because what’s not for sure is a TabletPC. Why? Because this device does not have a HID compliant driver to handle its touch screen and as result you won’t ever experience all the touch screen features included in Windows 7.

YouTube – Viliv S10 convertible netbook

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Aspire One, photo review

ctitanic — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:44:00 +0000

I always carry in my backpack a digital camera hunting the opportunity for a good shot. Last week one of my coworkers brought her Aspire One and of course, I did not miss the chance to take some pictures of it and compare it to my Fujitsu P1610.

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Aspire One Outdoor visibility test

ctitanic — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:30:00 +0000

This is one of the most common question asked about any portable device and to me the best way to see the difference is by comparing the device to one with so called “outdoor screen”

Here are two pictures that compare the Aspire One screen with a Fujitsu P1610 screen.

Under the shade

…and under the morning sun

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Standard Shanzhai Style Robustness Test

ctitanic — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:05:00 +0000

In my many years working for the IT industry I have read many reviews of all kind of mobile devices from PDAs to Notebooks including Smart Phones, eReaders and mp3 players. I have seen even unbelievable tests for rugged Tablet PCs but I have never heard about the Standard Shanzhai Style Test.

The robustness test. We had our 70 kilo reviewer (what do we feed these people!), stand on the device. It survived. Apparently this is a standard shanzhai style test, commonly used in markets to demonstrate the build quality.

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Samsung Ushers in The Windows 7 Netbook Era

Zealot — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:03:58 +0000

Windows is Dead….Long Live Windows. Today Samsung announced that they will be using Windows 7 Starter Edition on two upcoming netbooks. The N130 and N140 will both have Win7 Starter Edition installed by default, though for those who still have nightmares of Vista upgrades, XP Home is an available option.

The two Netbooks are nearly identical, featuring an Intel Atom N270/N280, a 10.1-inch screen, up to a 250 GB hard drive and optional support for mobile broadband technologies HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access), WiMax and WiBro.The difference between the models comes in battery life. Using a 6-cell battery, the N140 is said by Samsung to last up to 11 hours, compared to only 7.5 hours for the N130, according to Samsung.

The N130 and N140 are slated to start shipping in September (a bit early for Win7, isn’t that?) priced in the 500-600 dollar range. I expect these are just the first of a lot of Windows 7 netbook announcements we will be getting over the next several weeks, soon to be followed by lots of interesting comparison tests between XP, Vista and 7.

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Nokia Invents the Netbook ummm…sorry, “Booklet”

Zealot — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:00:53 +0000

As expected, Nokia has finally announced plans for it’s entry into the Netbook/Mini-Notebook/Smartbook/Whatever market, and as is the prerogative of ginormous multi-national companies, they have added yet another term to the nomenclature while doing so…calling their upcoming device a “Booklet”. A “Booklet 3G” in fact, helping 3G take another step towards Most Overused Tech Term of the Decade.

They are not giving out all the specs as of yet, but apparently they feel they have made quite a discovery, realizing that people actually want “mobile computing” and reassuring us that “Nokia will bring its rich mobility heritage and knowledge to the PC world with the new, Windows based, Nokia Booklet 3G”. Well, THAT is a relief.

According to Nokia’s Press Release…

A growing number of people want the computing power of a PC with the full benefits of mobility," said Kai Oistamo, Nokia’s Executive Vice President for Devices. "We are in the business of connecting people and the Nokia Booklet 3G is a natural evolution for us. Nokia has a long and rich heritage in mobility and with the outstanding battery life, premium design and all day, always on connectivity, we will create something quite compelling. In doing so we will make the personal computer more social, more helpful and more personal.

As for features, the press releases gives the following hints…

The mini-laptop also comes with an HDMI port for HD video out, a front facing camera for video calling, integrated Bluetooth and an easily accessible SD card reader. Other premium features include the 10-inch glass HD ready display and integrated A-GPS which, working with the Ovi Maps gadget, can pinpoint your position in seconds and open up access for a truly personal maps experience. The Nokia Booklet 3G also brings a number of other rich Ovi experiences to life, whether its access and playback of millions of tracks through the Nokia Music Store, or using Ovi Suite to sync seamlessly from your Nokia smartphone, to your mini-laptop, to the cloud.

The Atom-based Booklet, according to Nokia, will be1.25 kilo and 2 cm thick with a 12 hour battery life. Other details such as what version of Windows it will run (I am betting Win 7 with some kind of Ovi-centric GUI or organizer, like Sony used to make for the Clies over Palm OS), availability and price are being held until Nokia World on September 2. I admit, if this were somewhere in the 5-7 inch range it would be a lot more compelling. I like the styling, but is there anything that makes this more than just another netbook with a SIM port?

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