Hey, little Buddy: Averatec announces Netbook

(Credit: Akihabaranews.com Inc.)

This week's Netbook entrant? The Averatec Buddy.

Announced today, the 10.2-inch laptop costs $449 and features the 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and Windows XP. It's not yet listed on the Averatec Web site, but upon first glance, it looks like the MSI Wind with a VAIO-like round hinge. While the press release is light on product details (size of battery? Screen resolution? Draft N Wi-Fi? Solid-state-drive options? Bluetooth? ExpressCard slot?), the Averatec Buddy on the surface serves up a larger hard drive than the MSI Wind for less.

[nebna]

i guess were seeing a positive trend with netbooks these past few months.with the intel atom processor and 1 gig or ram windows xp and a 400-500 price range to press the decisions in buying a netbook it looks like cnet gave us a precedented idea of what is indeed the perfect netbook.the dell mini inspiron 9,acer aspire one,asus Eee have shown the netbook industry what must be done to design a great netbook.

[lagarez]

well looks good, but price still a bit high,
399 would be a good deal....

[dredgerie]

I'd just like one of them at that price to have bluetooth, so I can link it to my phone while traveling. Wifi is useless if your in the middle of nowhere.

[linuxkg100]

Hi, i was wondering how stable is thoughs solid state drives in the netbook specification? I know that's what the Dell mini 9" has in them.

[bob1xxxx]

you know I though this "net books" might be the hot deal but there so limited. I mean for a 600.00 you can get a nice equipped 14" note book from gateway, toshiba, etc... with a 160gb hd, dvd rw , decent keyboard ,etc... and because of the added flexablity is the much better deal and yes it weighs more but it not that much larger whats the fasination with these tiny and oh so limited machines?

[stevent1992]

You have a point there, but I always thought it had to do with size. But I don't find Netbooks to be any better value than a Notebook so it would seem a bit silly to sacrifice so much power and features just to save a few hundred.

[lagarez]

bob1 I'm totally with you, they should put out those mini notebook at the price point originally announced by the eee and others that was around $200.
These guys doesn't want to loose a penny, and it's sad because there are not much happy customers.

is not a good idea to left a 500 dollar laptop in you car, or take it with you to public places, but a $200, less worries...

I hope that the NEO of technology arrives soon

[phil_white99]

The really lame thing about these Atom-based notebooks is that Intel specified a maximum 1024x600 resolution and is somehow forcing the manufacturers to stick to that limit. This is apparently to keep the Atom sales from cutting into Intel's other, more expensive processors.

At 1024x768 these would be much better systems, since they would make many remote control and remote desktop environments work without ridiculous scrolling. Also, many websites seem to assume a 1024x768 minimum when they are being designed.

[e968887]

It is made by ECS of Taiwan for private label production.

http://www.ecsusa.com/ECSWebSite/NewsRoom/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=1133&MenuID=13&LanID=9

[LogicProphet]

To bob1 the deal with these net book is your paying for the mobility. These things fit in pretty much your coat pocket or messenger bag, weigh almost nothing, and last up to 6 hours( supposedly but most run at the 3.50 mark). Not to mention that these solid state drives make these things viturally shock proof. As for that price your more then likely gonna get regular platter hard drives and it better carry a 6 cell if it wants to compete with the MSI wind. I feel battery longevity is far more important then space , lets face it you can always through in a cheap usb drive or SSD card.