Netbook that costs 86 Euros (Smartbook)

Here is a netbook, a bit weirdly named though – SMQ4012, that is powered by a VIA VT8500 400MHz processor and 128MB RAM. It runs Windows CE 5.0 operating system which is fabricated for devices like these – underpowered, low on memory and storage.

You get paltry 2GB for storage that can be expanded via SD card. Comes with a 1800mAh battery which offers 3 hours of runtime.

This puppy has 7-inch WVGA display and packs the same amount of ports that you would find in a usual netbook – 3 USB 2.0 ports, VGA, LAN, microphone and headphone port.

Available in two colors – black, white and pink. Weighs 650gm, just as much as VAIO X, but much smaller and of course, much much cheaper

Underpowered? Yes, but not too bad for sofa surfing

Note: Although it is being sold as a netbook, it is not actually one. It is a smartbook

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

HP Snapdragon Smartbook exposed – made by Qualcomm

At an event in China, PT & Network Comm China 2009, Qualcomm displayed an 7-inch snapdragon smartbook which will be sold by HP, perhaps in few months from now. This smartboook runs Linux and has HSDPA radio so that you can always remain connected wherever you go. It has an antenna which should increase the signal, if extended.

Snapdragon, Qualcomm’s 1GHz processor for mobile devices should be mighty fast on this Linux machine. Nothing is known is about its and availability

Sharp PC-Z1 MID/Smartbook – Not that impressive after all – Quick Look

At the IFA, Sharp unveiled a small Smartbook that is much smaller than the regular netbooks that we usually see in the market. The Sharp PC-Z1 is very small, even more compact than the now obsolete, EEE 701. Not only its dimensions are smaller than the EEE 701, but it’s much lighter too (just 400gm).

Hardware-wise, the Sharp PC-Z1 does not has good keyboard. Well, you cannot have a compact device with touch-type-able keyboard. Can you? Moving ahead, the screen is great. It packs a lot of pixels (1024×600) into its 5-inch display, which is at par with the Fujitsu U810/U1010 that was released a couple of years back. However, unlike Fujitsu, this does not run Vista or Windows XP. In fact, it cannot even run one even if you wish to as it is not an x86 device.

Ubuntu is there to save us, but given the unpleasant fact that it took 10 seconds just to launch Firefox, it is disheartening for many of us. Openoffice writer took 40 seconds to load! So, although you will be able to enjoy great battery life (Sharp claims 10 hours), you will have to adapt yourself to slow performance.

It will be on sale in Japan later this month for the price of 350 Euros.

Commentary: From the looks of it, I’m sure, it is gratifying, but once you start using the device, it is then you realize the mistake you did when buying such a slow piece of hardware. I confess, I’ll call this device a pass

Lenovo to enter the Smartbook market! – Runs Google Chrome OS

According to Commercial Times (China), Lenovo is planning to launch a smartbook by the end of September 2009. The smartbook is rumored to use the Nvidia’s Tegra chipset and will use Google’s Chrome OS.

It is nice to see Lenovo using Chrome OS for their smartbook and not Google’s mobile phone OS, Android. After all, it does not makes any sense of using a mobile phone OS on a netbook.

ASUS Snapdragon Smartbook – Launch postponed

ASUS has decided to halt the release of their ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon smartbook. We mentioned a couple of months about ASUS releasing their Smartbook.

What could be the possible reason for delaying their Smartbook is the fact that ASUS suffered revenue loss which was in the news today.

CEO Jerry Shen doesn’t have high hopes for the smartbook market, he is quoted as saying, ”Currently, I don’t see a clear market for smartbooks.”

So there are two reasons for it. First, lets face it that ACER is kind-of becoming the undisputed leader in the netbook market although it entered after ASUS in the world of netbooks and thus ASUS is not able to sell achive its sales targets. Secondly, demand for Smartbooks is currently unknown. Last month, Acer decided to delay the launch of their netbook. Acer’s Smartbook will be running Android OS and Acer thinks that there is not-enough demand for the Android OS and thus has decided to postpone the release of their Smartbook.

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

Nvidia Tegra-Powered Netbook to be launched later this year

We are finally going to see a sub-$200 netbook soon as Nvidia’s Tegra Netbook is finally going to be launched at the end of this year. It will come with the new Tegra chip which also going to be used in the upcoming Microsoft Zune HD. This chip lets you enjoy full HD and Flash videos.

Nvidia has not unveiled the full specs yet, but they do have a prototype on display that features an 8.9-inch screen, Wi-Fi, 3G, and webcam. It does run Windows OS, but it is not Windows XP. Instead, it runs Microsoft CE OS. Nvidia also mentioned that the final product could be loaded with the Google Android OS.

Take a look at its picture, it is still using the small right shift key. It spoils the overall typing experience. They should better fix this before releasing the final product.

CONFIRMED: Qualcomm will launch Smartbooks at the end of this year

Qualcomm has confirmed that they will be launching ‘smartbooks’ at the end of this year. Qualcomm will be using their fast Snapdragon processor in their smartbooks as-well-as in their upcoming mobile phones. Qualcomm is pretty sure that it will be able to sell 2.5 billion units by the end of year 2011.

So what makes Smartbooks better than the existing cellphones and MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices)? Smartbooks will give you a very powerful smartphone in your hand and will come with both voice and data capabilities. Unlike netbooks and MIDs, the smartbooks can remain connected all the time. No need of shutting your device down or putting your device into hibernation. All that will all day battery-life and integrated GPS.

Also, we are happy to know that smartbooks will cost less than the existing netbooks. This indicates that the smartbooks should cost less than $400. If they are able to do that, it will be a huge hit among the consumers.

NVIDIA prefers Windows CE over Android for smartbooks

While some folks have been quite happy with Android as an OS for smartbooks, but General Manager of NVIDIA is certainly NOT one of them. NVIDIA’s general manager, Mike Rayfield says that he prefers Windows CE over Android OS in the case of smartbooks. Reason: Windows CE’s maturity and lack of a “rough user interface”. According to him, NVIDIA and Microsoft both are working together on Windows CE for Tegra-based systems.

I also personally feel that there is no point of running Android or Symbian OS on netbooks. Windows CE is way better than Android in terms of corporate acceptability and support. Having said that, I would still prefer to run Windows XP or Windows 7 on any of my netbooks. Why go for something inferior (Android) when you can run something much better (Windows)?