Hands-on with LG's X110 netbook: HSDPA, GPS and a price to match

A USB shuffle here, a logo swap there and here's what you get, the MSI, uh hem, LG X110. Sporting a fairly obvious MSI Wind base, LG's X110 is making its first appearance in Berlin. Prices will range from €399 to €499 (about $590 to $738) which takes home an 8.9-inch display, 120GB disk (6GB SSD option), 1GB of RAM, and choice of built-in 3G HSDPA and GPS modules. Yes, XP running atop a 1.6GHz Atom processor, too. On sale in Europe at the end of September.

Gallery: Hands-on with LG's X110 netbook: HSDPA, GPS and a price to match

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[Twitchy @ Aug 28th 2008 6:02AM]

Looks nice (spec wise). But it's getting near impossible to keep track of all of these 'sub-compact' 'mini' note'books'/pads/whateverthehellthey'recalled.

Anyone out there got any suggestions how to get some clarity on the plethora of options out there?

[maball54 @ Aug 28th 2008 6:05AM]

www.umpcportal.com

[zomg0t @ Aug 28th 2008 6:36AM]

Looks bad (price wise) unless you 3G or GPS in a netbook.

http://www.liliputing.com/liliputers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_netbooks

In my opinion, the Acer Aspire One and the Lenovo S10 are the best performance for the cost. If the S9 is cheaper when it comes out, that will probably be the best deal.

[Ryan Trevisol @ Aug 28th 2008 7:37AM]

Now that these Netbooks are approaching (or in this case, seem to have passed) the price point of an entry level laptop, what's the point anymore? I mean I get the portability thing, but when it comes right down to it, if you're gonna spend upwards of $700 on a computer, shouldn't it be more capable?

[ipubs bastard child @ Aug 29th 2008 10:20AM]

@Ryan Trevisol

What would you do with a entry level laptop that you can't do with a top end netbook?

[Ryan Trevisol @ Aug 28th 2008 12:59PM]

Oh gee, I don't know, have a screen bigger than 10" and an optical drive. A bigger hard drive, upgradable memory . . .

[d00b @ Aug 28th 2008 1:11PM]

On pricing: According to this NY Times blog, netbook prices should start to come down because of heavy competition,

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/netbook-prices-are-now-falling/

The Acer Aspire One is now available on Newegg for $329, although the $349 1GB, XP model has yet to show.

[d00b @ Aug 28th 2008 1:14PM]

I like the improved (over the Wind's) keyboard layout, ie moving the arrow keys down half a step to accommodate a normal RShift, and to include the all-important PgUp/Dn for reading docs or web pages.

[FatGuy @ Aug 29th 2008 2:00PM]

@Ryan

I was always under the impression that ultra portable meant the exact opposite of the things you just mentioned... I don't believe that you do "get it"

[Pumping_Iron @ Aug 28th 2008 6:04AM]

Engadget !!??......"obvious MSI Wind base"........doesn't look to me....stop referring to other products....tell us specifically about this one....

[Mickey @ Aug 28th 2008 6:24AM]

I like a built-in GPS Module , who doesn't ?? but it can not make me to buy it. STill high price

[KarlW @ Aug 28th 2008 6:45AM]

Looks alright. Only issue is the 6GB SSD option. I mean, seriously, 6GB? After XP, how much would you have left? 4GB?

An 8GB SDHC card is £20.99 (about $40) on Play.com. Seriously, what were they thinking?

[avester @ Aug 28th 2008 9:57AM]

Since SD cards totally use the same flash memory as these.

[Riddschie @ Aug 28th 2008 7:01AM]

ERRRR!?!?!?!?!
MSI Wind??? LOL!
Totally different case design....

[Pumping_Iron @ Aug 28th 2008 7:56AM]

I know man ! I agree....engadget wtf ?
+1 for u :P

[Martin @ Aug 28th 2008 2:49PM]

If you take a close look, all the ports are in the same place . . . same colour and number of led indicators = wind base with a diffrent case. . . lesson 2 will continue tomorow

[Jash Sayani @ Aug 28th 2008 7:41AM]

Nice. But I love the ASUS N10 netbook. Waiting to buy it......

[Benito @ Aug 28th 2008 7:57AM]

looks nice, I'll be getting a netbook soon, this might be up there as a contender. need a fullish size keyboard and 6 cell battery as standard, not an £80 extra.

@ Mickey:
me. but nice as an option if they launch a basic version for those of us who need nothing more than wireless networking.

I also don't like Windows, will there be a Linux release?

[everunman @ Aug 28th 2008 8:05AM]

Take off us$220 for hsdpa modem and this is around the same price as the others

[mike @ Aug 28th 2008 8:09AM]

I will never buy anything again from brands not ofering a linux option, or have the same price for linux and windows variants.
In fact I think if they realy want to play the M$ game, they should stick with a VISTA option only and render their product even more useless.

[chilko @ Aug 28th 2008 8:20AM]

isn't it with 10" WSVGA display? and with 80gb hdd

[Cybergypsy @ Aug 28th 2008 8:30AM]

Pricing is poor :(

[ilh @ Aug 28th 2008 8:42AM]

Finally someone has done the right shift correctly by putting the cursors keys on a new row! Now if only all the others were like that.

[Ovbhiedo @ Aug 28th 2008 8:59AM]

Absolutely laughable. I'll take my $349 (actually cost me less than $250 with some coupons) Acer Aspire One over this anytime. Thank you sir.
I already have Streets and Trip and Street Atlas software plus a tiny-as-hell Kensington USB bluetooth adapter and a Bluetooth GPS receiver already, so NO BUY to this over-priced thing. If i need 3G data, i tether with my Sprint Treo, BOOM.

[George @ Aug 28th 2008 9:10AM]

If you look at
- indicator lights
- touchpad
- power button
- hinges
- grid over fan-air-out
etc etc... it is the MSI Wind; LG invested into some Tooling for A- and D-cover though...

[Jayayess1190 @ Aug 28th 2008 12:35PM]

I agree. It really is the MSI Wind.

[Jon Doe. @ Aug 28th 2008 10:47AM]

Overkill on the HD. IMHO. But I like my iPod 160GB and people tell me that is overkill. So no doubt someone will find a way to fill it. Personally for such a device which IMHO I would use as a supliment instead of replacing a system, an 80GB Hd would be plenty.

[sockatume @ Aug 28th 2008 12:37PM]

That keyboard looks fantastic. It's like the one on the Aspire One, but bigger, and not lumbered with that machine's woeful touchpad. If it comes with a 6-cell battery, then I'm in.

[ipubs bastard child @ Aug 29th 2008 10:40AM]

@Ryan Trevisol

Thanks for you incredibly condescending response. Doesn't sound like netbooks are for you then. eh?
But please, feel free to link me to a laptop with HSDPA and GPS and camera built in under $738 and I',m all ears.

[Techadmin @ Sep 2nd 2008 8:34AM]

Ryan's just being a twat, there is a place for these type of devices.

When I am out and about, and need to tether my blackberry to a laptop to use RDP or something similar, I'd rather carry a netbook than my 15.4" screened Lenovo beast.

Granted, using a netbook for a extended period is kinda painful, but it sure beats trying to remote into servers using nothing but a trackball on a phone and a 3" screen..

[Andrii Degeler @ Sep 3rd 2008 11:36AM]

As far as I remember, X110 has the 10" display.