Frontier's 12.1-inch FRLN ultraportable: can I get a real CPU?

Hey, we've no qualms with Frontier crafting a 12.1-inch laptop that weighs less than some obese MIDs, but c'mon, a 800MHz Intel A110 processor? Yep, the same chip that resides in quite a few UMPCs has somehow found its way into this creature, along with 1GB of RAM, a WXGA (1,280 x 800) panel, 80GB hard drive, 802.11a/b/g WiFi, 4-in-1 multicard reader, integrated graphics and a built-in 1-watt speaker. Additionally, you'll find an integrated microphone, a pair of USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, a 56k modem, VGA out and a biometric scanner to keep your files under wraps. Granted, it does weigh just 2.73-pounds, but until this thing gets a handle on the processor situation, we'd divert that ¥129,799 ($1,264) elsewhere.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

[Hinhale @ Mar 14th 2008 8:55AM]

What about battery time? 800mhz seems like a fair compromise to me, if it'll get me another hour or so of working on the road.

[Dave @ Mar 14th 2008 9:11AM]

I clock my Vaio T1 at 600Mhz most of the time. Runs MSVC2008 just fine, keeps the power usage under 10Watts and the battery lasts pretty much all day.

I have no problems with 800Mhz. I would hypothesise those that do don't truely get the role these machines are meant to fill (ie. mostly text editting and not crysis).

[Richard Lai @ Mar 14th 2008 9:47AM]

I agree with Hinhale and Dave. My ThinkPad X31 goes from 1.4GHz down to 500MHz or something like that on mobile power scheme, and it does the job quite well. Even video playback is good (obviously not HD resolution).

[Joey Geraci @ Mar 14th 2008 4:42PM]

Guys, please! Clocking down a modern Core 2 Duo or Core Duo processor down is not going to give you even close to the same experience as a physically gimped processor like this. You can't just compare mHZ for god's sake! If we did, the Core processors wouldn't beat Pentium 4's so much!

[john @ Mar 14th 2008 9:00AM]

Linux or Windows? (does it have any hardware that wouldn't be linux compatible?)

No PC-Card nor Express-Card? Guess USB for WWAN would do. If it was a little cheaper, maybe I'd get it to be my in-backpack network/file server for my PDA.

[john @ Mar 14th 2008 9:06AM]

Reading the google-translated article, looks like it has XP. And a PC-Card slot. But, I think the only non-compatible-with-linux hardware might be the finger sensor (I don't know if linux has support for those or not).

And its dimensions are just barely too big for my carrying bag (lunada from maxpedition). Too bad.

[bob sakamano @ Mar 14th 2008 9:02AM]

1 watt speaker?

maybe you didnt hear me say that because you only have a 1 watt speaker, let me try it again

ONE WATT SPEAKER?!!?!??

[LloydChiro @ Mar 14th 2008 9:26AM]

Your lucky to get any damn speaker at all. It's not a ghetto blaster.

[bob sakamano @ Mar 14th 2008 9:32AM]

is a ghetto blaster a police mans gun?

[Wolfticket @ Mar 14th 2008 1:32PM]

Load of portable active speakers are 1-2 watts or thereabouts. My Creative Travelsounds sound better than the vast majority of laptop speakers and they a 1 watt per channel. Look at the difference in wattage between cheap ghetto blasters and massively expensive class A valve amplifiers.

[Saad Rabia @ Mar 14th 2008 9:04AM]

I really have no idea if I should be excited about this or not! While it promises great ultra light experience it still doesn't feel right to have such low processing speed! MS Word 2007 would kill all that power just by opening 3 documents! Talking about MS, what OS will it run? All in all, I might be wrong about the speculation, but I'm sure not hyped right now.

I should point out that the design looks solid and clean, like a well dressed businessman!

[Jeff @ Mar 14th 2008 9:30AM]

I hereby allow you to get excited.

[Saad Rabia @ Mar 14th 2008 9:38AM]

Jeff, I hereby prohibit you from trying to be funny.

[Jeff @ Mar 14th 2008 9:51AM]

No need to get ur panties in a bind.

But I also prohibit you from posting in every orifice of this article...its annoying

[andres @ Mar 14th 2008 10:07PM]

i prohibit failed jokes and failed insults

[LloydChiro @ Mar 14th 2008 9:33AM]

Processing video files might overwhelm the processor, but I don't think you'll have any problem typing a report on a Word document. It does have a gig of ram, which should be enough for keeping firefox open.

On most of the computers I've worked on, the processor wasn't the weak link, it was the ram available that held up my day to day work.

[Hinhale @ Mar 14th 2008 10:27AM]

I'm sure it'll do xvid just fine. But if you meant Premiere work or such, I'd agree, but that's not the intended use of this machine. My 600mhz (transmeta) Libretto L1 did xvid just fine, although that was under Linux with mplayer.

[Lesz8986 @ Mar 14th 2008 11:30AM]

Manila Envelope ... Does it pass the Manila Envelope Test???

[bot @ Mar 14th 2008 11:40AM]

This looks very similiar to my Gateway S-7110M. The port layout is a little different though and the Gateway doesn't have the 4 in 1 card reader (only SD) and no biometric scanner. It does have a 1.2ghz Core 2 Duo though. And cost 1084. This laptop doesn't seem worth it.

[happy_penguin @ Mar 14th 2008 12:06PM]

It looks nice but 800 Mhz? Computer please!

[Sam Winter @ Mar 15th 2008 5:45AM]

Its not only 800mhz ITS A FREAKING INTEL A110... That shit is so old school

[Jamar @ Mar 14th 2008 12:12PM]

Is it just me or is the exchange rate getting a whooooole lot crappier?

[dj-kenpo @ Mar 14th 2008 1:17PM]

I'd rather have a macbook air

and that's saying something because given the choice between a rectal exam and a macbook air I'd take the exam.

[darkstar @ Mar 14th 2008 1:40PM]

wayyy overpriced!
i got my lenovo x60 recently for $900 with a 20% off coupon recently.
12 inch screen, 2.7lbs, core 2 duo, 80hdd, 2gb ram, finger print scanner....

[Apoco-Lips @ Mar 14th 2008 5:02PM]

at 1st glance title seemed to read:

"Frontier's 12.1-inch FRLN ultraportable... I CAN HAS REAL CPU?"

[icurafu @ Mar 15th 2008 12:21AM]

I've got a Fujitsu U810 which is basically the same except smaller cheaper and probably a longer battery life. I get more than 6 hours of constant work with no standby. With a 12" monitor, it will kill the adventage of the ultra low power consumption of the CPU. (That's why this is the first A110 device to have more than 8" LCD)

If anyone is interested, I can run Vista and open a few large office 2007 docs before the 1GB RAM makes it slow. I've turned off most Vista features, so the CPU is no issue at all. (Except with Halo) ;)

[pim @ Mar 17th 2008 4:50AM]

It's a shame Frontier chose the A110 for the FRLN, its physical design does look the part imo...