Hands-on with the Packard Bell EasyNote XS / Nanobook
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted January 8th 2008 11:37AM
posted January 8th 2008 11:37AM
posted January 8th 2008 11:37AM
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Wow, this thing has DVI output
Wouldn't surprise me if that thing is made up of refurbed parts from the Eee PC. Fond memories of owning a Packard Bell...
I kind of agree with you there. I've always known Asus as producing quality stuff in the 10+ years I've been aware of them. Packard Bell on the other hand... not so good.
I own an EEE and love it. I finally put XP on it and it runs great. I wish Packard Bell a lot of luck because the EEE is a tough porduct to compete against. Competition is good though. I definitely welcome it.
I was so hoping the PB brand would be no more after the acquisition. No luck I guess. Does anyone have good memories of owning one, other then learning how to build your own PC after it died?
I actually had a great experience with their 386/25Mhz machine from Costco back in the early 90s. It came with a 386DX/33Mhz chip instead of the 25 Mhz indicated on the box and the manual. It was huge, in a full size all metal desktop case. It was a solid performer with no hardware conflicts. It was unlike all the newer PB models that followed, which got smaller, sported more plastic, and came with "integrated" proprietary hardware that made upgrading and troubleshooting close to impossible.
these companies need to learn that screen size is one of the most important things with these ultraportables. The screen needs to fill out the whole front bezel. I'm not apple sackrider, but if they come out with one of these I guarantee they will fill the whole bezel with a screen.
I hear that the next Eee will have an "8 or 8.9 inch" screen, which sounds exactly like they've filled the available space like you (and I) want. (Has this been on Engadget yet? I think I read it on umpcportal or somewhere.)
If you noticed, there's a phone beside the screen (in some of the pictures). Part of the reason why the screen doesn't come all the way to the edges is because they've kept some flexibility in the design. I would love to see how that phone dealie works.
Is that mouse even usable? Why not use a keyboard embedded nub?
Yea I saw that, seems kind of gimmicky
I think the trick would be that the phone is removable and has a 3g (or better) chip, so you would have phone access and constant internet access. I'll be interested to see how this plays out versus the wimax eee
Why, in the name of God, would they use the Packard Bell branding? Seriously, that kills it for me... they were he worst of the worst. Their marketing department needs a brain transplant.
It is marked as Packard Bell in the UK. In the UK Packard Bell is having a comeback although it is long since dead in the USA. In the US this will come out as the Everex Cloudbook or Everex CE.
Here is more about the cloudbook. http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/10/everexs-nanobook-becomes-the-cloudbook-gets-gos/
Info about Packard Bell in the UK
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packard_Bell#Rebuilding_the_brand_in_Europe
P.S.: If my comment is entered multiple times, I'm sorry. This new system has not worked well for me. I have always been requested to confirm my comment even though I am using my password.
"We kind of wish we'd seen some gOS on this puppy -- but hey, you can't have it all."
Huh...? Isn't gOS, in its current state, a total pile of garbage? Don't wish for something different just to be different. XP is great.
I was wondering why he said that too. I'm guessing it was sarcasm. I hope.
1. Don't use the name Packard Bell. That's branding gone wrong. The name is forever stimatized in the USA as "bad quality".
2. Remove the phone keypad on the right
3. Stretch out the screen to the right
4. Make it compatitive in pricing with the EEE, and I'l buy one(provided the above 3 are done).
These companies need to understand we want ultraportables but we also don't wanna be whipping out the magnifying glass to see the screen. If you have to skimp somewhere else. Give us the option to purchase it with a minimum of RAM and HD but make them replaceable. I would spend 400 on this if it came with 256mb ram and a 10gb HD because thats stuff I can replace later down the road with I have a bit more cash in hand.
is that veronica belmont's hand? ;D
just kidding... -.-
I know! Engadget has gotten a lot of milage out of her coverage at CES.
The Packard Bell is the one with the webcam on the side and the horrible "mousepad on the right, mouse buttons on the left" kink. But what is the branding on the one with the mousepad where it belongs and a (detachable?) Skypephone besides the screen ? Is it a Via concept or is it headed to market ? I hate the way PB dealt with the mousepad, but I'm sold on the Skypephone version !
Hehehe :) "Small is beautiful"... They didn't waste much time searching for a slogan. :+)
the screen resolution looks like 1024x768 rather than the correct widescreen aspect ratio, unless the screen was tilted
is this not just the same as the belinea? the belinea can be found here - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/133791
Holy sht, the Belinea is 400 Pounds (aprox 800 dollars) and people still buy it... Are they mad?
Holy Shit.
Packard Bell still exists? I remember back in the day actually preferring Tandy to Packard Bell, and that was SAYING SOMETHING.
It's hard to remember now, but on most Packard Bell models you could bypass the CMOS password by holding down 2 or 3 keys.