ECS' G10IL steps forward at Computex

Although it physically hurts to suffer the synaptic explosions required to slap out yet another netbook post, this one might actually be worth it. Laptop had the chance to go hands-on with the ECS G10IL at Computex and came away impressed by the 10.2-inch "Wind-esque" Atom-based ultra-portable. No price or dates were provided, although with a promised HSDPA data capability we're not expecting anything close to $300. Hit the read link for plenty of pics and video.

[Hinhale @ Jun 4th 2008 7:22AM]

This is definitely the looker among the netbook crowd. But it'd be nice with at least a guesstimate as far as price and release date is concerned. Not sure I'll be able to hold out much longer.

[anabouboula @ Jun 4th 2008 7:40AM]

Yeah it's very nice....BUT it's an ECS... I had VERY bad experiences with their mobos....Crappy Quality!

[Hinhale @ Jun 4th 2008 9:29AM]

Mmm.. I've heard something to that effect aswell, but ECS is pretty much an unknown brand to me. Don't think I've ever seen any ECS-branded hardware prior to this. Figured them to be just another OEM manufacturer trying to make a name for themselves.

Perhaps best to not jump the gun on this one once it's released then, and wait for the consumer verdicts and the like to trickle in.

[jaalin @ Jun 4th 2008 7:49AM]

Is computex open to the public? I just happen to be in Taipei this week, hoping to go check out some of this new stuff for myself.

[brickwood @ Jun 4th 2008 8:16AM]

comes in black, too. with a white kb. very nice!

[TomWBrowning @ Jun 4th 2008 8:19AM]

Looks like they've scrimped on the keyboard and plastic quality overall since the last pics we saw of this. Real shame, the finish used to look very nice indeed.

Still, this is one of the top of the pile in terms of looks for this new category of, er.. toybooks. Right now I'm really digging AMD's take. Great form factor.

[Craig @ Jun 4th 2008 8:46AM]

With all this competition, shouldn't prices be coming down pretty quickly? Maybe the $199 XP subnote really will happen this year...

[Hellios @ Jun 4th 2008 9:38AM]

What is up with that border around the keyboard, why didn't they just extend it to the edges, like on the Wind or Mininote or the 12"Powerbook.

[jymmyz @ Jun 4th 2008 11:23AM]

I've been waiting to hear more on this one, it was at the top of my choices for a netbook, though I haven't had a chance to look through the recent onslaught of new entries. I hope it's not priced too extravagantly.

[Danny @ Jun 4th 2008 11:37AM]

As with all you of there, I've been waiting to hear more about this sub-notebook for quite a while.

I'd reckon that most of these mini notebooks have comparable performance (or will sooner or later) with almost the exact same specs, but since I'll be moving to Asia for a job soon, the HSDPA is a big plus for me.

The ECS G10IL was definitely the best looking of the bunch.. Very impressive, considering the price range, and the early build of things. My only complaint, as another has highlighted is that the quality seems to have diminished. What happened to the gloss finish!!

Did anyone else notice that underneath the trackpad on the white one that it was missing buttons for clicking? That's odd.. I hope this will be addressed soon.

I already own an Eee PC, but I'll be waiting out for this one for 2-3 more months before I jump to an MSI Wind or Eee 1000.

[Nathan Dbb @ Jun 4th 2008 1:38PM]

The screen hinges and the wedge shape look familiar. Looks like the Dell XPS m1330 or XPS m1530 -- only 10 inches and all-white.

[michas_pi @ Jun 4th 2008 2:02PM]

I was just about to say that it looks like the m1330.

[Capissen @ Jun 4th 2008 8:02PM]

ECS, Amptron, PC Chips (and now Uniwill) - it's all the same, and it's all painfully terrible. Their speciality (and they make great money at it) is the low-hanging fruit of the computer world, the absolute bottom-of-the-barrel resellers. When someone calls you up and wants a brand new motherboard for $25, that's when ECS comes into the picture. I've worked for a couple of companies that sold ECS equipment, and I can tell you with a straight face that their motherboards have about a 10% failure rate out of the box, and well over a 25% failure rate within the first year. They're the computer equivalent of fake Oakleys.

[Norm_C @ Jun 5th 2008 9:46AM]

Look at the position of the "Z" key! The left shift key is split in half to allow one more key, but it should either start with the " ­| " for UK or " < " in other countries, then continue with Z.

It's exactly the same problem as those Dell UK's laptops from some time ago...