Aware Electronics shows off A-Pad convertible netbook

As you're no doubt all too well aware, there's certainly no shortage of netbook options out there these days, but the number of convertible netbooks is considerably more limited -- a situation that little known Aware Electronics now looks set to somewhat rectify. It's apparently now set to jump into the game with this 7-inch number, which packs an Aday5G 800MHz X86 processor (all bets are off on that one), 4GB of NAND Flash, built-in WiFi and Bluetooth (with optional 3G and GPS), an integrated webcam, dual USB ports, an SD card slot, and the LINOS Linux distribution for an OS. Nothing particularly standout there, but Aware is promising that this one'll sell for $300 when it launches in two months, which certainly evens things out -- assuming that you can actually get one for that price.

[Mile @ Jun 30th 2008 1:31PM]

Why are these vendors even tossing out figures like $300? They must know the likely hood of hitting that is low. Or do they think $399 = $300?

[Krush @ Jun 30th 2008 5:00PM]

300 is the new 399 ... dude?!! ... learn to keep up with the times

[Vidit Bhargava @ Jun 30th 2008 1:35PM]

300?????

there u go HTC Shift

[Hugh @ Jun 30th 2008 1:40PM]

I hate netbooks as it is. And for a budget notebook, why are they throwing in convertable features. Im sure most people that might buy this would rather save money instead of having this, IMO, useless feature. Whats the point of converting with no tablet.

[gerrrg @ Jul 7th 2008 12:12AM]

uhm...because people want to have a convertible, touch screen, and cheap? what's the cheapest convertible touch screen out there and what's with all the rhetorical questions? if you don't want people to answer, you should state as opinion, not ask question you don't really want people to answer.

[Wisam @ Jun 30th 2008 1:44PM]

For a convertible and for 300$ I will but one. Makes perfect for reading ebooks, emails, chatting and watching some tutorial videos. Although I prefer to have 9" for better reading. I for sure will include the GPS with it.

[DefPo3t @ Jun 30th 2008 2:51PM]

@supercoolsplash
"im thinkin the c0mp isnt real liek how can the moniter float in middair ? May-be they photochopped it look advanced? I think alot of people can agree with this." from your post above. what he did was a typo, what you did should be criminal

[Hugh @ Jun 30th 2008 1:45PM]

fail

[JerryA @ Jun 30th 2008 1:48PM]

I dunno about this one. I got a used Toshiba tablet off eBay for $350 and that had at least a 1.5ghz cpu, half a gig of RAM, and a dedicated nVidia card (albeit only 64mb). It ran XP and Ubuntu just fine and the tablet functionality was great (in Windows at least). Not sure why I would want to get something this much slower for only $50 less.

[darkstar @ Jun 30th 2008 2:45PM]

what toshiba model was that??
i want a tablet too!

[gerrrg @ Jul 7th 2008 12:11AM]

uh...because it's not used, and the battery is fresh?

[ddub @ Jun 30th 2008 1:51PM]

So is it touchscreen or not? If not you can still get that touchscreen plastic sheet that you can put on eee's right now. I'd definitely buy this for $300. If they sell it for any more they're gonna have to do something about that cpu.

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Jun 30th 2008 2:07PM]

@supercool=FAIL

And if you can't take criticism then don't write stupid comments. Hugh is right and you are wrong.

[RichardC @ Jun 30th 2008 2:22PM]

Depending on how the performance stacks up, this might be a good alternative to my EEE 2G Surf, which to be honest is great but I would still like something more. And for $300, if they can keep the price that low, I would spend a long time considering it.

For those of you wondering whether or not it has a touch screen, check the read link: "7 inch 800 x 480 touch screen."

Another thing I like about this is it doesn't have the ugly space for speakers on the side of it...I think that would make it even smaller that the EEE, which I would like as long as they can keep the weight and thickness down as well.

Did I ramble enough here? I sure hope so. (Also, I've been reading Engadget for 8 or 9 months now, but this is my first comment so far...Hello, everyone =] )

[derX @ Jun 30th 2008 3:13PM]

Yes, you have rambled enough and your post was relevant. I voted you up.

Welcome to the world of Engadget posting and an eFruit basket shall arrive shortly.

[Karel Jansens @ Jun 30th 2008 2:19PM]

What's the use of a Linux tablet, convertible or not? There is no handwriting recognition software for Linux that even comes close to the splash screen of RitePen, so -- Why? To make the purdy pictures?

And yes, according to the article on jkkmobile, it does have a touchscreen.

[Karel Jansens @ Jun 30th 2008 2:22PM]

What's the use of a Linux tablet, convertible or not? There is no handwriting recognition software for Linux that even comes close to the splash screen of RitePen, so -- Why? To make the purdy pictures?

And yes, according to the article on jkkmobile, it does have a touchscreen.

[Kakabonae @ Jun 30th 2008 2:25PM]

I though SuperCool made his comment idiotic on purpose, mocking people who actually do write dumb things like that...

[ijyt @ Jun 30th 2008 2:27PM]

Don't feed the idiot troll.

[jimmycornellwatson @ Jun 30th 2008 2:31PM]

i dun liek dis cuz it is wite and teh scren is weerd

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Jun 30th 2008 2:31PM]

He's left a pathetic commment on most articles today and joined today. Sounds like he's early teens or 10 year old

[aRealClassAct @ Jun 30th 2008 2:36PM]

i dun watch pr0ns cuz it is imorel

[DefPo3t @ Jun 30th 2008 2:49PM]

and i thought i was bad at grammar and spelling but you just took the English language out back and beat it senseless

[initialxy @ Jun 30th 2008 3:15PM]

"NO u FAIL liek u failed 3rd grade"

but SuperCoolSplasdfkjl3!0, have you even gotten to 3rd grade yet?

[MikeWard1701 @ Jun 30th 2008 3:57PM]

Cool, a min tablet :D

[BigD145 @ Jun 30th 2008 4:58PM]

Finally, an inexpensive tablet laptop.

I will not call it an effing n$tb**k.

[sinjinn @ Jun 30th 2008 9:35PM]

netbook

[sinjinn @ Jun 30th 2008 9:38PM]

this is great and very cheap.

i have a umpc with big borders and no keyboard. if this comes in at this price i will be amazed.

[linuxamp @ Jul 1st 2008 12:18AM]

That would make a great ebook/rss reader, browser, portable media player and Skype device. Higher quality videos might be a problem for the 800Mhz proc though. No mention of audio ports but it has BT.

[YoYoYo @ Jul 1st 2008 7:43AM]

What on earth is the processor, though? AbiWord might be an issue for it, for all we know. Is it known by any other names? I was under the impression that there really weren't that many x86 chip designers out there.