A Guide to the world of Android Tablets

Google’s Android OS started out in smart phones but it is now extending its reach in tablet formats. Right now, you can find a variety of new tablets with a great diversity in prices created by hot brands and newer ones across the world. With this great diversity, we find ourselves in bit of a [...]

Pixel Qi 7 inch display on netbooks and tablets

The company Pixel Qi has started showing to the public its 7 inch displays that uses the technology for the 10.1 inch low power screens. The screens can function as a full color LCD display as well as a grayscale display that does not require backlighting and only relies on ambient lighting to work. This [...]

Samsung preparing ARM Cortex A9 dual core CPUs – we smell Smartbooks!

According to a document leaked by ARMnews, Samsung is preparing ARM Cortex A8, A9, single, dual and quad core processors that will be released in H2 2010 and 2011. In a slide from the document, it is clearly stated that these processor are meant to be used in netbooks.

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Marvell Armada 310 ARM-based processors coming soon

Marvell Armada 310 System-on-Chip is Marvell’s newest offering which runs at a clock speed somewhere between 500MHz and 1GHz. Like the AMD Ontario, Marvell too is claiming less 1W consumption. Based on ARMv5 CPU, it features multifarious Input-Output options – two Gigabit Ethernet MACs, two SATA 2.0 ports, two PCI-E ports, USB 2.0, and DDR2/3

Commentary: A well-bred mixture of power, performance and efficiency.

Aigo N500 MID – Maemo Goodness

Aigo newest MID is the N500 that is powered by the Intel Marvell PXA310+ processor and runs Maemo OS. The Aigo features a 4.3-inch WVGA display (resistive), 256MB ROM, 128MB RAM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, GPS, webcam and a 3.2MP camera for taking photos.

Equipped with a decent 2600mAh battery, the Aigo N500 retails for $586 in China. Without a doubt, this costs a Benjamin more compared to cheap $299 netbooks that we see around, but how many netbooks can work as a phone?

7-inch netbook Windows CE netbook from Shenzen for kids: just $98

There are many reputed brands in the market which are doing their bit to provide cheap netbooks for kids. Some very nice examples we have are Disney netbook from ASUS ($350) and Dell’s Latitude 2100 (Mini Nickelodeon)($369). Clearly, the prices of them are now way less than the normal netbooks that you see in the market.

Shanzai has now unveiled a Windows CE nebtook for $100 only. Clearly, it must have been a difficult task for them to bring the price this low. It has a 7-inch screen; runs ona 266MHz ARM processor has 128MB RAM. Shabby, we know, but what more do expect from a $100 netbook?

Our take on it: It does not run Windows desktop OS and it does not even supports it as it is ARM based. Windows CE, although looks a bit like Windows XP with a classic theme, cannot run your windows apps. So, keep that in mind before purchasing a netbook running Windows CE

ENT N97 MID

ENT has launched N97 MID, which has a bright 7-inch TFT display and runs on an ARM processor. ENT is targeting it towards the media-centric people and to those who do browsing on-the-go. It has all the latest radios built-in: WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and even packs in 3G!

Its smooth rounded corners will make sure that it feels comfortable in your hands.

ENT says it will give you PC-class Internet experience, which we doubt would be possible on a MID like this that has a Marvell PXA303 ARM processor. It comes with 256MB flash-based storage which can be extended by use of SD cards (upto 16GB supported).

It is powered by a lithium-polymer battery that should give you run time of around 4 hours. Oddly, the type of OS that it runs is not specified anywhere, but we expect it to be running Android OS

Note: This shall not be confused with the symbian-based Nokia N97 phone

A netbook/smartbook for just $73 – by Singworld Windows CE netbook

Boy! These smartbooks are turning out be really cheap. Here is a 7-inch smartbook from Sungworld priced ridiculously low at $73. Of course, at $73, you cannot expect a netbook running XP. It has a ARM processor running at 300MHz clock speed, made by VIA. It has a 7-inch WVGA (800×480) display and comes with 1GB of storage. It runs Windows CE and comes with a built-in 1800mAh battery

Few days back, we mentioned a netbook/smartbook that costs $50 and is able to run Linux. Now, we have a slightly higher priced smartbook by Singworld that runs Windows CE OS. How low can they go?! Anyday, I would choose the one running Linux though over the Windows CE

Elonex exhibits new Smartbook and Netbook

Elonex has something (cute) to offer you all, a new smartbook and netbook. Talking about the smartbook which has an 7-inch display and seems to be about 10-inch in size. As shown at IFA 2009, it runs an ARM processor 11 and Windows CE with same specs that of the Toshiba JournE MID. The Windows CE is actually not as bad as what people have perceived it to be. It is infact, considered to be one of the most stable embedded OS around.

The Elonex smartbook comes with 2 USB ports, headphone and earphone jacks, card reader and a dongle for plugging in your LAN port.

Coming to the the Elonex’s WebBook, this is a typical 10-inch netbook using VIA processor instead of an Intel Atom CPU which is a bit more powerful than its Atom counterpart but not as power-frugal. It also has a TV tuner card built-in

Pegatron Smartbook, another non-x86 netbook

Pegatron is set to release a smartbook before the end of the 2009. This Pegatron Smartbook has a standard 8.9-inch screen and includes a 2 cell battery. Do not underestimate its battery life as it does not run a power hungry processor. It uses ARM 800MHz processor which will be able to give you 8 hours of juice!

Since it uses ARM processor, it won’t be able to run Windows XP, Vista or 7 or any OS made for x86 machinse. However, it will be able to run Linux, Google Android or Windows CE. All this for under 200 pounds