Netbooks

Lisa Strausfeld, Yves Behar, and Abbott Miller Form Supergroup, Design Litl Netbook

Cliff Kuang — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:06:17 -0500

It's baffling that no one's really overhauling laptop design. They're getting thinner and smaller, while capabilities and processing power swell, but the user interface stays exactly the same. Litl, a brand-new laptop, isn't going to change the world--but it's proof of what a set of excellent designers can do, if given a bit of breathing room.

Nokia Booklet 3G Hands On: Nice Netbook, but How Much?

Gizmodo Staff — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:51:36 -0400

The Nokia Booklet 3G has touched down on US soil. The cell phone manufacturer's first laptop is made of sturdy stuff and is mobile broadband/SIM-card friendly. I'd buy one if the price is right. But chances are it's not.

Will HDTVs Be Intel Atom-Powered?

Kit Eaton — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:40:57 -0400

We're all familiar with Intel's tiny, low-power Atom CPU--without it the netbook revolution probably wouldn't have happened. But Intel has just pulled the covers off its next-gen Atom system on a chip, and it has a new target device: Your TV.

IBM Introduces Linux-based Netbook Software Aimed at Developing World

Clay Dillow — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:56:32 -0400

The netbook sector is one of the hottest spaces in tech, so it’s no surprise that IBM has thrown its hat into the ring with its new Smart Work package. What is surprising is that the computer giant is angling for market share in Africa and the developing world, introducing a cloud- and premise-based software package running on open-source Linux programs instead of Microsoft Windows (the most popular operating system for PCs and netbooks alike).

xpPhone Smartbook Is Real, Set for Global Release

Kit Eaton — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:14:26 -0400

Back in June we reported on what could be considered as the first real smartbook device--a hybrid smartphone/netbook machine that could be the next big thing in mobile computing. Now it looks like the xpPhone's ready for the world.

Apple Won't Make Netbooks, but Its Manufacturer Will

Kit Eaton — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:29:30 -0400

Despite the success of the netbook genre of mini-PCs, Apple has repeatedly stated it won't enter the market. But that's apparently not stopping Foxconn, one of Apple's most trusted manufacturers from making some of its own.

How to Hackintosh, or Not to Hackintosh

Jackson West — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:55:54 -0400

Theoretically, Apple's Mac OS X can be installed on nearly any machine running an Intel processor, and even AMD-based machines--including netbooks, laptops and desktops. But the process of installing OS X on these devices gets complicated quickly, with the least difficult involving detailed changes to relatively obscure system settings.

China Mobile Kickstarts Smartbook Revolution With an Android Machine

Kit Eaton — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:20:10 -0400

So we've heard that the smartbook, a kind of smartphone-netbook hybrid, is on its way, and with such a promising feature set that they'll sell well. And now there's evidence showing that China Mobile is way ahead of the the rest of the world on this.

Google Drops a Bomb: Its Own Operating System

Kit Eaton — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:49:00 -0400

Mere hours ago, Google did something that's pretty surprising, and that will impact the netbook, and maybe PC market: It announced its own operating system, Chrome. It's open source.

Sony Reverses Course, Releases Vaio Netbook

Kit Eaton — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:29:50 -0400

Sony said it wouldn't enter the true netbook market as it was just "a race to the bottom" in terms of PC specs. Well, someone in the company's decided it's also a market worth lots of money, as there's now a Vaio netbook.

Turn-By Turn GPS on Netbooks: Dumbest Idea Ever

Kit Eaton — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:56:49 -0400

Dell recently announced it'll make a GPS add-on for its Mini 10 netbook. While your mileage may vary on the value of this idea, I'm making my mark here: This is one of the dumbest gadget ideas ever.

Rumor: Microsoft to Sell Netbook Windows 7 on Thumb Drives

Kit Eaton — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:09:45 -0400

Netbook owners keen to upgrade their mini PCs to Windows 7 from XP may not have to buy or borrow a DVD drive to do so: Microsoft may sell the new OS on USB thumb drives.

Consumers Confused About Netbooks, But Disney Isn't

Kit Eaton — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:59:47 -0400

A recent survey says that consumers have no idea about the weaknesses of netbooks versus notebooks, and have no idea how best to exploit the mini PCs. Disney meanwhile does understand, and has come up with a great netbook audience: Kids.

Intel Nokia Partner to Tackle Post-Netbook, Post-iPhone Mobile Computers

Kit Eaton — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:02:22 -0400

Intel and Nokia have just announced a strategic partnership to tie up the two companies' technology so that they can tackle the problem of next-generation mobile computers. It's a plan that makes perfect sense in a world where we're all used to iPhones and netbooks.

Intel and Nokia Kiss, Plan to Make Super-Smartphone Babies

Kit Eaton — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:02:22 -0400

Intel and Nokia just announced a strategic partnership to tie up the two companies' technology so they can tackle the problem of next-generation mobile computers. It's a plan that makes perfect sense in a world where we're all used to iPhones and netbooks.

What's IBM's $100 Million Cell Phone Investment For?

Kit Eaton — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:34:17 -0400

IBM's just announced that it's pulled together $100 million to invest in future cell phone tech. It will be used to improve things like cell-phone security, user interface functionality, and business use of cell phones. But, when you get right down to it, what is Big Blue trying to do?

Sony's Sleek New Portable Mouse

Cliff Kuang — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:19:04 -0400

Freescale's Concept Designs Push Netbooks Further

Kit Eaton — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:47:00 -0400

Earlier this week, Freescale demonstrated a smartbook mash-up that's bound for shop shelves later this year. But Freescale isn't stopping there: The company has crafted several concepts for how these netbook-like devices might look in the future.

The Smartbook Race Is On, and China Is at the Starting Line With an XP-Capable Phone

Kit Eaton — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:22:26 -0400

Yesterday I wrote about the smartbook--a half smartphone, half netbook device that's being pushed as the future of mobile computing. And now it looks like a Chinese firm has beaten everyone, and released a cellphone that runs XP.

Meet the Smartbook: For Everything Your Smartphone and Netbook Can't Do

Kit Eaton — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:11:44 -0400

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the future of mobile computing: The Smartbook. In the same way that a netbook filled a previously unknown need by being something between a laptop and a smartphone, a Smartbook device is halfway between a smartphone and a netbook. And actually, better than either.

Intel Buys Wind River, Wants More Intel Inside Your Mobile Devices

Kit Eaton — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:39:15 -0400

Intel, obviously not hurting too much from a recent $1.5 billion anti-trust fine, has just spent $884 million purchasing Wind River, which makes embedded systems software. Why would it do that? Because Intel wants it's "Intel Inside" stickers on more phones and mobile Internet devices, that's why.

Microsoft's Dumb New Name for Netbooks

Chris Dannen — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:58:23 -0400

Betraying an apparent hatred of all things simple, easy and natural, one of Microsoft's top marketers announced yesterday that Redmond will no longer be using the term "netbook" to describe mini-notebooks like the Dell Mini 9 or Asus Eee PC. Microsoft's new moniker: "low-cost small notebook PC."

That piece of brilliance is attributable to Steven Guggenheimer, Microsoft's GM of application platform and development marketing, at the Computex conference in Taipei this week. (Below, Guggenheimer at the conference; Photo courtesy of Marvin Ma, Digitimes).

Oracle Considering a Sun Netbook, No Joke

Kit Eaton — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:33:21 -0400

Oracle surprised many people by buying Sun Microsystems a few months ago. But that's nothing compared to the statement made by its CEO yesterday: Is Oracle-Sun going to sell a netbook?

Lenovo's S12 Netbook Gets Big-Screen, Big Graphics Power from Nvidia

Kit Eaton — Tue, 26 May 2009 06:07:27 -0400

Lenovo's pulled the wraps off its S12, which is far more than a ho-hum addition to its long list of netbook PCs. It's got a 12-inch screen, and is the first netbook to use Nvidia's powerful Ion platform.

Will a High Price and Netbook-Limiting Specs Hurt Windows 7?

Kit Eaton — Fri, 22 May 2009 10:51:48 -0400

Here's a nasty, juicy rumor to mull-over on your holiday weekend: Microsoft will be pricing Windows 7 higher than Vista, making it the costliest OS the company has ever released, on average. Mix in news of the limiting specs that Microsoft allows for netbooks, and that rumor sounds even worse.