(Credit:
HP)
One of our favorite Netbooks of 2009 was the HP Mini 5101. Part of HP's business line (as opposed to its consumer line), we liked the system's rugged metal construction and easy to use keyboard, along with its reasonable configuration options (although those have since been outshined by other Netbooks).
The Mini 5102 has a tweaked keyboard with widely spaced flat-topped keys and is also spill-resistant. Like many HP business systems, it includes HP's DriveGuard accelerator technology, which parks the hard-drive head when a fall is detected. The body, with a magnesium alloy base and anodized aluminum enclosure, feels like a much more road-worthy product than typical plastic Netbooks.
One interesting extra is an optional carrying handle, similar to ones we've seen on Netbooks aimed at the education market. It felt a bit too clunky to us, but perhaps if you're looking to go bag-free, it's worth a look.
It's still a 10-inch system, but both 1,024x600 and 1,366x768 displays will ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
(Credit:
Gateway)
Acer/Gateway is smartly combining Intel's new Atom N450 Netbook processor with our preferred Netbook price: $299. The new Gateway LT21 is a 10-inch 1,024x600-pixel Netbook, with a large six-cell battery in either "Extended" (5600mAh) or "Standard" (4400mAh) designs, for up to a purported 10 hours of battery life.
Other than the inclusion of 802.11n Wi-Fi (in select models), and some basic multitouch gestures on the touch pad, this is a standard off-the-shelf 10-inch Netbook. The new design tweaks include a larger keyboard than previous Gateway models, which reminds us of the flat-topped, tightly spaced keys on Acer's Timeline series of laptops.
The Gateway LT21 will be available in Cherry Red, NightSky Black, and Glacier White, all of which feature a subtle wave pattern in the lid. Starting at $299, they will be available starting later in January.
The Compaq Mini 102
(Credit: HP)We've always been more partial to the Netbooks put out by HP's business side, but budget-conscious buyers can get largely similar systems from HP's consumer side, with lower starting prices.
The line, anchored by the Mini 110 is getting a modest makeover, morphing into the Mini 210. New to this model are optional colors, including Black Crystal, Silver Crystal, Pacific Blue, and Sonoma Red. Most importantly, the awkward side-anchored mouse buttons have been moved to a more traditional spot below the touch pad, fixing one of the major annoyances of the Mini 110.
The HP Mini 210
(Credit: HP)These 10.1-inch systems will include the new Intel Atom N450 CPU, along with a redesigned island-style keyboard. Starting at only $299, which is what we like to see from basic Netbooks, you can trade up to more RAM, a bigger hard drive, or an optional HD video accelerator, but no Nvidia Ion (for that, you'll need to get the 11-inch HP Mini 311).
There's ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
(Credit:
HP)
Sitting halfway between the consumer Mini 210 and the business Mini 5102 is the HP Mini 2102. Technically part of HP's business line, it still shares more of its DNA with the company's consumer Netbooks than with the high-end metal-clad Mini 5102 model.
HP calls it an "economical choice for mobile professionals who need a companion PC for on-the-go computing." The Mini 2102 is available in only basic black, instead of the colorful palette of hues found in HP's other Netbooks.
While the rounded edges remind us more of the HP Mini 110 and Mini 210, you still get your choice of Intel Atom N450 and N4470 processors (the latter will not be available until March), and 160, 250, or 320GB 7,200rpm hard drives.
The 10-inch display is stuck at 1,024x600-pixel resolution, unlike the Mini 5102, which can be upgraded to 1,366x768 pixels--once you've tried an HD Netbook screen, either of the 10.1- or 11.6-inch variety, it's hard to go back.
Starting at $... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
(Credit:
Asus)
At times, it seems like hardly a month goes by without a new version of Asus' popular Eee PC Netbook. While the Eee PC 1005PE, which was the first laptop to feature Intel's new Atom N450 processor, is less than a month old, we now can add the 1008P to the lineup.
Internally, both systems are very similar, with 10-inch displays and N450 CPUs. The new 1008P, however, has a brand new look, created by industrial designer Karim Rashid (who designed, among other things, the Dirt Devil Kone vacuum).
The new look of the Eee PC 1008P is described by Asus as "a fluid-driven form design along with the use of tactile friendly materials [that] results in a product that is both fashionable and unlike any other product in the Netbook market." The company calls Rashid's design philosophy one of "sensual minimalism."
In real-world terms, that means the back of the lid has a unique wavy texture over a cross-hatched pattern, available in pink and brown (or "hot pink" and "coffee ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
(Credit:
Lenovo)
Lenovo is having a field day this CES with reinventing portable devices. As if smartbooks and hybrid tablet/notebooks weren't enough, the newly-announced IdeaPad S10-3t sounds even more enticing to purchase.
While many swivel-screen Netbooks have shown more promise than actual performance, the details here are eye-catching. New Atom processors up to the Atom N470 and a 10.1-inch screen are accompanied by up to a 320GB hard drive and a four- or eight-cell battery.
The "Natural Touch" panel is multitouch and, to our excitement, capacitive like an iPhone's, avoiding the awkward world of pressure-based resistive displays used in stylus-based touchscreens. The Dolby sound and hi-def screen suggest the S10-3t could be a decent media machine as well, especially when folded over into a very commuting-friendly form. 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, and WiMax are supported. 2 USB ports, VGA-out, and a multi-format carder round out the features.
At a starting price of $499, the S10-3t isn't cheap--but it could be an excellent set of features
... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
Acer has unveiled the latest entry to its hot Aspire One Netbook line--this one powered by Intel's new N450 Atom processor.
The newly-launched Acer Aspire One AO532h, driven by Intel's next-gen N450 chip, is designed to offer better performance and longer battery life than older Netbooks. Acer claims the new machine can last up to 8 hours with the standard 6-cell Li-ion (4400 mAh) battery or 10 hours with a high-density 6-cell (5600 mAh) battery.
The N450 processor frees up space by integrating the graphics processor onto the CPU, so Netbooks can be smaller and thinner. The Aspire One AO532h comes in just under an inch thick and weighs a bit over 2.5 pounds while sporting a 10.1-inch screen, according to Acer's specs.
The new Netbook comes with 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 160GB SATA hard drive, a 10/100 Ethernet port, 802.11b/g/Draft-N Wi-Fi, a media card reader, and a Webcam. Acer also includes a multi-gesture touch pad that lets you use glide, pinch, and swirl your fingers to more easily move around the screen. The keyboard is 93 percent standard size, according to Acer, so it should be less cramped than many other Netbook keyboards.
Like most Netbooks, ... Read More
This 13-inch MacBook has been modded into tablet form.
With all the crystal-ball-watching over the seemingly imminent Apple tablet, one issue hotly debated around the CNET offices, but infrequently mentioned elsewhere, is the hypothetical device's status as a mobile computer.
There are two schools of thought on this: either the Apple tablet (or iSlate, or whatever it ends up being called) will be a 10-or-so-inch tablet PC with a full Mac OS X operating system; or it will merely be a larger-screen version of the current iPod Touch, which has a closed, limited phone-like OS.
The former would mean it could very likely run any software you'd run on a MacBook, from Firefox to Photoshop, and maybe even install Windows 7 via Boot Camp or Parallels. The later points to a hermetically sealed ecosystem, where apps would have to be approved and sold through an official app store (as in iTunes).
... Read More
In this week's preholiday edition of the Digital City Podcast, we all get ready for our one long break of the year, accompanied by special guest smartphone guru (and new CNET East Coaster) Bonnie Cha.
Scott and Joe have seen James Cameron's "Avatar"; Bonnie and Julie haven't. We also discuss Intel's new Atom Netbooks, 3D Blu-ray on the PS3, holiday smartphones, and upcoming laptops and phones at CES 2010. Best of all, Scott gets a chance to show off his one and only Batjew T-shirt. Watch it on video or you'll miss it.
Plus, don't forget to enter a comment to win a 16GB Zune HD of your very own. Happy holidays!
Related links:
>>3D Blu-ray standard outlined, includes PS3
>>New Atom Netbooks: Strange timing for shoppers?
>>CES 2010 Preview: Cell phones
>>CES 2010 Preview: Desktops and laptops
>>Watch the Digital City live every Monday at 3 p.m. EST on CNET Live!
>>Subscribe to Digital City on iTunes
>>Join the Digital City Facebook fan page
>>Need more? Follow Dan on Twitter! And Scott!
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(Credit:
Intel)
It's an exciting and interesting morning for Netbook fans, as full official details and even system reviews of new Netbooks bearing Intel's next-generation Atom processors have emerged.
However, does the timing annoy you?
While we've known new Atom Netbooks were around the corner for months now, the announcement hits just three days before Christmas Eve and after the last weekend of holiday shopping. Does the new Atom make you want a new Netbook or regret getting one this holiday? On the other hand, do the modest gains from the new Atoms make you want an ultralow-voltage thin-and-light with a faster processor instead, or a next-gen smartphone/smartbook/tablet that could do HD video just as well?
Or does it simply not matter to you? Early reviews indicate that the new Atom N450's gains are mild, and mainly assist the battery life of Netbooks to go even longer between charges than they already do.
Sound off--we'd love to hear your thoughts as consumers.
