ECS G10IL netbook gets taken for a spin

When it first hit the scene in March, the awkwardly-named ECS G10IL was just about the hottest thing going in the netbook scene. Months later it's finding itself getting shoved around by the big kids like the MSI Wind and the recently announced Lenovo S10. Still, the G10IL has plenty to offer, and Laptop Mag's word is anything to go by, this thing is a "beauty" to be reckoned with. We're not quite convinced of it from the hands-on shots, but apparently the glossy lid has inlaid silver stripes that really set the thing off. Laptop also raved about the comfy keyboard, bright 10-inch LCD and peppy Atom performance with that 1GB of RAM and XP Professional. The laptop will probably retail for $499 as configured when it arrives in September, but a Linux version for $399 should also be available if Microsoft isn't your thing.

[John @ Aug 8th 2008 8:52AM]

Delayed from April till September! But finally a laptop with 3G. Yet this version does not seem to have the same amazing design as the one in April. Specially the keyboard

[Metkis @ Aug 8th 2008 8:54AM]

That's exactly what I noticed.

[Metkis @ Aug 8th 2008 8:55AM]

I noticed that too. Kinda liked that other keyboard better... I wonder if they have a different model in the works?

[Metkis @ Aug 8th 2008 9:26AM]

Ah, trusty reply system!

[d00b @ Aug 8th 2008 10:44AM]

Another day, another netbook...

This thing may've been exciting four months ago, but now it's just another me-too in the sea of me-too's. Anyway, the keyboard looks to have serious issues. The \ key is in the opposite corner of the keyboard, reducing the LShift key to half and guaranteeing many typos. Likewise, the RShift is similarly compromised. Overall, the keyboard is smaller than the equiv in MSI Wind by a full horizontal inch, judging by the width of the borders. The "one button two click" layout with the inlaid LEDs won't endear, either. Port & connectivity-wise, this thing is inferior to the Lenovo S10.

I don't see any upside to this model. It has no name recognition, arrives late, with mediocre keyboard and is priced the same as every other me-too ($400 for Lin & $500 for XP). At least it proves that these things are simple to make, and the plethora of offerings will keep the players honest (read: Asus) and not try to jack up prices once mainstream demand hits.

[OneLove @ Aug 8th 2008 11:17AM]

I really HATE those damn javascript ads!!

[Jooseppi @ Aug 8th 2008 4:06PM]

OneLove,

You love sucking dipshit of a sheep molestor seem to keep on sodomizing the comments system time after time. If you have nothing comment related to reply with, like you never do, shut the fuck up.

[Metkis @ Aug 8th 2008 8:54AM]

I wonder how well it would run Vista.

[Hung @ Aug 8th 2008 10:18AM]

You wonder how well a FSB of 533 MHz lacking OoOE, despite having only a single core, and 1 GB of RAM runs an OS that (1) relies HEAVILY on multi-threading and (2) DEMANDS RAM as ransom for your data?

PROTIP: Probably not good enough for everyday usage.

[OneLove @ Aug 8th 2008 11:19AM]

....When I watched Paris Hilton’s campaign video...lol.

[Gunn @ Aug 8th 2008 8:57AM]

Sit back and wait for Dell E.

[David @ Aug 8th 2008 7:05PM]

Why do you, and everyone else, presume the Dell E will be anything special to have waited for?

The specs on paper already reveal weakness, similar to the Acer Aspire.

I don't see exactly what the big excitement is about?

[Rich @ Aug 8th 2008 9:01AM]

It's good to see so many companies passing on the Linux savings to customers these days.

[Marcus @ Aug 8th 2008 9:04AM]

"...but a Linux version for $399 should also be available if Microsoft isn't your thing"


You bet.

[Freakin Ijit @ Aug 8th 2008 9:12AM]

A hundred bucks for an OS (Vista Castrated) difference?

Windows Mobile costs like $17-$18/unit. They make money there.

Think uSoft's making any money off that particular Vista deal?

[Karl Hackswell @ Aug 8th 2008 9:48AM]

Why do people want to put Windows on these netbooks so badly? I use both Xp and Ubuntu myself, but if I was to have a netbook I think I would prefer Linux.

Just my $0.02 I guess.

[Metkis @ Aug 8th 2008 9:57AM]

You've got a good point there... why WOULD I want Windows on a Netbook? Man I never thought of that! Well at least the Linux version is a ton cheaper too.

[david @ Aug 8th 2008 10:40AM]

Love this one and it has 3G inside. Because of 3G it should get very popular, unlimted data 7.2Mbps 3G internet costs 36$ per month.

[edward @ Aug 8th 2008 1:25PM]

As long as your not in Canada. Unlimited mobile data? I may have heard those words spoken by a sales rep but only recently and he also quoted a total rate of over $100 a month.

[david @ Aug 8th 2008 2:43PM]

I am living in the middle of Europe, Lithuania. Here everything connected with mobile services are very check. We have here three main mobile service providers, only 3.4 million of people and 4-5 million of active SIM cards. Because we use it so much we pay very low. I don't pay for SMS in the same network, 3000 sms to all networks costs 1.5$ per week or is completely free and etc. So everything is just very cheap compared to such countries as USA.

[TMFAN @ Aug 8th 2008 12:04PM]

Just wondering. If we have a copy of XP lying around at home, can we install this onto linux versions of the netbooks? That would save a hundred bucks off this thing at least.

[ywsing @ Aug 11th 2008 1:42AM]

of course yes, with an Atom CPU

[Superevil @ Aug 8th 2008 1:07PM]

I liked the original look.

[bradpitt @ Aug 8th 2008 5:10PM]

Don't listen to david, he doesn't know what he's talking about. The service provider for that mentioned "unlimited" 3G 7.2mbps internet for $36/month ("Standard" rate plan) has this information on it's website:

Rate plans are subject to a fair usage policy in order to ensure that the service is fast and reliable for all of our customers. If your usage is excessively high (more than 3 GB per month for the "Standard" rate plan), we may contact you via SMS and ask you to reduce it. If usage continues to be excessive, we reserve the right to limit the speed of service. For more information about usage reduction, please contact (phone number removed).

[david @ Aug 9th 2008 12:02AM]

Have you used their internet? I download a lot more than 3 GB or 10 GB and they don't do anything. This was a concern a month back, but they changed the plans to "unlimited", but everything else left the same on the page. So I don't know if they just forgot to update or what. But in real life they do nothing and you won't get any SMS or cut you the internet.

[mackee @ Aug 10th 2008 8:19AM]

phew. nearly mistaken it for an iBook.