Medion's Akoya Mini takes aim at the Eee

The Eee-sparked trend towards smaller, cheaper laptops continues unabated -- which is good news if you like small, cheap things. The latest entry into the ultraportable market comes in the form of the Medion Akoya Mini, a handsome looking entry that clearly aims to compete with ASUS' wunderkind. The 10-inch laptop scores big points right out of the box due to its inclusion of Intel's infamous Atom CPU. The system will feature a traditional hard drive, with some form of Linux on-board, 1GB of RAM standard, two USB ports, a memory card slot, VGA out, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. No word on if we'll see this in the States, but it's hitting Europe soon with a starting price of €399 (or about $638).

[Via le Journal du Geek; Thanks, Anh]

[vipercrazy @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:03AM]

damn that sounds really nice, too bad it says medion underneath the screen

[Kozzi @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:19AM]

what's wrong with Medion ? :|

[CJ @ Apr 24th 2008 11:34PM]

Bugger that, I'm now quite enamoured with Medion, after I found a laptop of their's for my sister in a store, with the following specs:

1.6ghz Intel Core2 Duo
3gb of DDRII ram
250gig HDD
802.11n draft
17inch Screen and IGet this):
Nvidia 8600m GT dedicated graphics (512MB)

all this for just under 1500 dollars Australian (Probably around 1400 US, or less)

That's fucking good.

[L @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:11AM]

Correct me if I'm wrong - but how is that NOT a complete HP Mini Note ripoff design-wise?

[gabe @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:13AM]

Hello Wrong!

[brickwood @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:15AM]

screen, keys, touchpad.. HUGE knock-off! lol

[Wisam @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:32AM]

This is a rip-off design of HP mini-note

[GPS @ Apr 28th 2008 6:22PM]

As in... its got a screen, a keyboard and looks like a laptop?

[Daza @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:53AM]

So because it has a nice rounded design and a glossy surface it becomes an instant rip-off? The HP Mini-note wasn't announced all that long ago, you think these guys managed to create a rip-off in that short amount of time?

Are you also ignoring the fact it has a 10" screen amongst various other differences?

Maybe you are being sarcastic and I just took the bait, but it really isn't a "rip-off" of the HP unit. You could say HP are ripping-off the Eee then.

[Frey @ Apr 25th 2008 12:54PM]

Well for one the mouse buttons are arranged horizontally (as opposed to the vertical orientation on the HP mini note). But wait, then it must be ripping off all modern laptops. Hmmmm... you got me.

[Joachim Bengtsson @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:05AM]

lol, a ripoff because the keyboard goes all the way to the edges? There was *some* laptop that had that before, actually ;) http://www.mamboat.com/laptops/wp-content/uploads/2006/02/powerbook_12inch.jpg (Apple's best laptop of all time, actually.)

I *really* like the looks of this one! Really, really nice! Was beginning to think nice-looking PC laptops was an oxymoron ;)

[broli @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:34PM]

I guess they have internet at the mental institution too nowadays. Do your research before spitting out gargabe.

Lets see when the hp mini-note got revealed...

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/19/hps-umpc-2133-revealed/

note the date: 19/02/2008

Now lets see the first time we heard about the Medion UMPC...

http://core.tweakers.net/nieuws/52242/medion-introduceert-concurrenten-voor-eee-pc-en-macbook-air.html

That's correct; On 4/03/2008 at Cebit they showed a frigging prototype of the thing!

So what you're claiming now is Medion saw the pictures of HP's UMPC, and managed to build a prototype from those in just 14 days just in time for Cebit????
So tell me. Are you NOT a complete retard comment wise?






yes you are...

[substance90 @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:14AM]

Wow, not bad at all. I don`t think it`s that much HP mini looking, anyway, I like it! Never heard of Medion before though.

[L @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:18AM]

Medion supplies PC for one of the largest discounters in Germany/Austria...

All I can say is: stay away. Seriously. Their desktops are bad, and their laptops are worse.

[0150r @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:14AM]

Looks promising. With the new eeepc prices rising with each new version, it looks like it would be along the same price as a 10" eeepc. Still too pricey for me...I don't need an ultraportable enough to warrent paying 50% more than my current laptop costs; I can cary the extra 3lbs with me for that price. If I ever do get one, I hope they'll have a trackpoint style mouse by then.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:16PM]

I dunno if you guys know, but Medion provides dirt cheap electronics to Aldi's.(chain of consumer grocery stores founded in Germany.) They are what you would call a generic version of an electronics company, like generic cereal or something

[SimonRichards @ Apr 23rd 2008 8:38PM]

@L

Theres nothing wrong with medion PCs/Laptops. Heck im writing this on a Medion laptop! If you can afford to blow a couple of grand on a very good big name laptop, go ahead, thats not the market Medion computers are aimed at. For a start, theyre sold (in the UK at least) in Lidl, a cheap-ass grocery store that has a section for gardening tools, PC peripherals, homewares etcetc that changes on a weekly basis. They have laptops/pcs about once every 6 months. And if you can get there before the queue gets too long, you can bag yourself quite a bargain. They're good laptops, too.

[Ryan @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:15AM]

Meh, the price kills it for me.

[brickwood @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:16AM]

screen, keys, touchpad... HUGE knock-off! lol

[cr0nite @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:19PM]

Medion is pretty big in Germany, famous for cheap pcs sold in supermarkets. I think they wouldn't actually sell it for $638 in the states. $499 sounds much more likely, maybe $549.

[Leerlaufprozess @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:28AM]

Does anyone know about a list/comparision of these cheap sub 10 inch notebooks?

[Sam Zebian @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:11AM]

yea they should make a good comparison chart and review of them all, then decide which is the best to buy for most (probably the eee)

[Leerlaufprozess @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:31AM]

The IBM wind looks more promising to me but I'm realy losing track on those.

[Christopher @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:53PM]

Just four

[Christopher @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:54PM]

Link missed in action: http://the.taoofmac.com/space/Sub-notebook%20Scorecard

[Leerlaufprozess @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:23PM]

What's the one from hp called?

[N.Bernhardt @ Jun 12th 2008 12:32PM]

A comparison of subnotebooks current and upcoming is on wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_subnotebooks

[SpäЯtē @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:27AM]

Joshua - I think you mean the Atom is 'famous', not 'infamous'. That would be bad.

[Joshua Topolsky @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:36AM]

No, I meant infamous... but I meant it sarcastically.

[dsfdsfsd @ Apr 26th 2008 6:22AM]

You mean "ironically", right?

[James Rainey @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:08PM]

* Don't be surprised to learn that HP produces this for Medion.
* Medion is a "reseller" and uses various vendors to produce "one-off" products.
* Keep an eye on your Aldi ad (if you have one in your area). I wouldn't be surprised to see one appear in limited quantities.

[Doc @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:36AM]

When is a company going to realize that at $600+ your not as appealing since your price puts you right into the "real" notebook world and therefore loses my interest. I love the eee pc idea, but after it went from $200 to $400+ with less and less I lost my appetite for the thing. I really want an ultra portable ,but not when it's the same price as a real full featured notebook.

[xkevin @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:40AM]

When are people going to realize these are not supposed to compete with average-sized notebooks?

[Doc @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:46AM]

@xkevin...I completely share your sentiment. I just want a light easy to use ultra portable for when I'm not at home or I'm at school or work and just want to check either my email or look up something. I'm not trying to replace my current set-up just add to it. It's like the iphone since small is the new "in" thing we are seeing everyone and their dog trying to get in, but they all seem to forget that we were all excited by the eee pc and the reason was size and price $200 was a huge selling point for me, until they unwrapped the "real" price tag and then I lost interest totally.

[xkevin @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:58AM]

Pricing is relative. A high-end ultra portable could set you back well over $1,000 and many of these sub-notebooks are coming in at half that.

[Espen @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:41AM]

The foodstore Aldi's (primarily in the US Midwest, but spreading fast) sells Medion products, so I wouldn't be surprised if we see this in one of those stores. They usually sell things like this extremely cheap for cash only for a limited time, on a recurring basis. Although the quality may vary, the prices are usually extremely competitive.

[digitallysick @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:55AM]

Perfect but cost to much, i could get a full featured laptop for this price. $500.00 or less and you have a deal

[BK @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:58AM]

The trackpad looks off center... if thats the case it would bug me.

[Mario @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:03AM]

That's really nice!

I realise that Medion isn't a great brand, but neither were Samsung and LG just a few years ago.

I wouldn't buy this before reading a comprehensive review, but it looks good so far.

[jd @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:15AM]

the point is a umlaptop isn't a real umumlaptop if they have traditional hard drive.

I want my umlaptop boots up instantly. many pc makers just dont get the point. we dont need more space than we needed: 20gig is more than enough.(if you dont store more than 10 hours of porn in your eee)

[Doc @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:21AM]

I agree I want an instant on with little HDD space since I'm not really wanting to install things on it, just use it for web browsing and email while I'm out. That or at least give the consumer options, we are not all the same and want completely different things, so have a minimal all the way up to loaded models.

[ThePremierAssassin @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:21AM]

Whats with Engadgets hardon for this EEE shit?

Like why is it so important that every other article is about EEE this or EEE that? I mean are minilaptops some type of fad thats going on that I don't know about?

Tell me again why we should care about whos make the worlds smallest laptop....

Heres an idea...how about you post an article that describes the current iPhone and compares it to the phones on the market like the Voyager and future iPhone killers so that your readers can be informed about which phone has what...

I know personally of the Samsung Instinct, the Glyde, Xperia, and thats it. However I don't know the complete specs of each phone and what makes it better or worse than the iPhone.

Thats the kinda journalism I'd like to see on Engadget. I come to this site to be informed about relevant and interesting subjects. Not get press releases about the latest EEE crap.

End Rant....

PS PLEASE consider doing an iPhone comparision. I think that it would be very interesting and garner lots of discussion. Plus it would summarize things pretty nicely.

[xkevin @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:33AM]

Is this sarcasm or are you new to the internet?

[ThePremierAssassin @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:36AM]

Why would I be sarcastic?

I truly want to know what the hell is so important about this EEE crap that every other article (or so it seems) is dedicated to it or some small looking laptop that engadget claims is copying it.

And I think it would be cool of engadget to at least create a list of phones that they think are comparable to the iPhone and are trying to compete with the iPhone...

But w/e if my request is too out there or too hard for them to do then okay..

[Mark @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:02PM]

Start your own blog and put your whinefests on it.

The EEE is a hot subject right now, and Engadget is devoted to covering new stuff, it is not Consumer Reports. Pick up any cellphone magazine, they can't stop talking about the iPhone.

[jo3 @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:34AM]

aren't there more interesting and just better ways in general of saying something is going to compete with the eee? and does that always have to come up in the post for a subnotebook?

maybe its time to just start referring to them as subnotebooks and not eee killers. im over it.

unless eeennihilator becomes more popular. then thats my term of choice.

[matthew @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:36AM]

the more of these that come out, the easier it is for me to justify the price of the HP tz2000z, which after my waiting is going to be what i finally purchase. I think a grand for a 12" tablet dual core laptop is really what i was looking for. I know its double the price but i think that these mini laptops helped bring it down that far

[slall @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:49AM]

I bought a new Medion Akoya LS (12.1" screen, 4.4 lbs) a couple of years ago for about $600 from the Best Buy store on ebay. Medion has never been big in the US, but I have a couple of things to say about it

http://www.amazon.com/Medion-Pentium-Processor-Centrino-DVD-ROM/dp/B0009V9OSE

1. It's small, looks great and is really light.
2. The keyboard and wifi suck, but other than that I've had no complaints. I love it, and still use it as my primary laptop (after upgrading the memory to 1 GB)

Medion products are manufactured by other companies, probably MSI, who have their own small notebook. Either way, if the price was lower (around 400), and I could try out the KB + wifi before buying it, I would totally buy this.

[BigTeebo @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:58AM]

Tired: up-to-the-minute iphone coverage
Wired: up-to-the-minute EEE PC competitor coverage

[Valgas @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:22PM]

Can't wait for Dell's.