10.2-inch Averatec Buddy now on sale for $450
By Darren Murph 
posted October 13th 2008 9:25AM
posted October 13th 2008 9:25AM
Finally, a netbook with a name cute enough to fit the design. Averatec's 10.2-inch Buddy is now on sale after becoming official late last month, and it's in stock for shipment to boot. As a refresher, you'll get a 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 160GB hard drive, 802.11b/g WiFi, Ethernet, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, a WXGA panel, 4-in-1 multicard reader, three USB 2.0 ports and Windows XP Home running the show. Oh, and Averatec's own e-store asserts that this 10.2-inch machine has a 12.1-inch LCD, but you know better than that. Yours now for $449.99.[Via thegadgetsite]
It's a rebranded MSI Wind. I'm not saying that's a bad thing...........especially after you hackintosh it.
A 1.65LB 10" netbook? That has to be an error. If they offered an extended battery I'd be very interested in this.
http://i34.tinypic.com/2gxgsbk.jpg
Sorry, can't resist referencing to an older issue of engadget.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/02/eee-marketing-getting-adorably-bitchy/
Hey, WXGA. Finally, some usable resolution.
Yeah, nevermind, they're idiots. Apparently, 1024x600 is WXGA in their world.
I couldnt agree more. I got REALLY excited when i saw WXGA. GAH. Considering I cant really do anything productive at 1024x600. As far as I know, the only netbook that offers a decent resolution is the HP.
Come on Manufacturers, go crazy, offer a netbook with a 6 cell battery and a 1280*800 resolution.
someone?
please?
Is this actually that light? If that is true I'm also interested in this piece. Will it run multisim and visual studio responsively?
hp2133 has good resolution but it's too expensive and cpu too slow.
this looks promising but I dont see any battery information, 6 cell and > 7 hour working time woud be great.
ASUS, you need to create a 1000HH for that price with WXGA with 6 cell!
The 2133 is a gorgeous machine. As soon as they put in a CPU and video chipset that doesn't make me want to cry, I'd be first in line to get one. For now, though, with that combination, it's too expensive.
IT'S AN MSI WIND !
Engadget is always moaning about the ridiculous amounts of netbooks being issued, then you go and post all the rebrands.
New Editor please.
Ah...I'll wait.
I have a Acer Aspire one and so far no one has beat this system. Has a 120bg hd and 3 usb 2.0 ports card reader and more. THe size is perfect and the price was great only $349.99. Only way to improve it would be to add a touch screen. Oh it also has a mulit touch touch pad also.
Don't expect any cutting edge technology from a company with a name that is so close to Average :-)
looks kinda similar to the msi wind, anyone can confirm this 100% ?
My experience with Averatec was terrible. It's the only company I've ever dealt with that didn't live up to their warranty. I'm good at dealing with RMA's, and I don't bother to RMA if I can fix it myself, which most times I can, and do.
However, on the Averatec laptop I purchased awhile back, there turned out to be a known manufacturing defect with the power jack. (not the cable/converter) Less than 7 months in to a 1 year warranty, I contacted Averatec to get the laptop serviced. They told me it would cost me $80, take about 3 weeks, NOT including shipping time, and I'd have to pay to ship it to them. All this, for a product with a known manufacturing defect, within warranty.
They started deleting posts in their web forums requesting assistance, and follow up phone calls to their customer/technical support resulted in the same information I mentioned above. I purchase enough hardware regularly, that I decided not to bother with them again. I shelved the laptop, later selling it for parts, and will never go back to Averatec.
I realize some people have had good experiences using Averatec products, but I'm just one of hundreds (from what I saw in their forums), if not thousands, that went through the same hassle with them. I consider them a disreputable company.
I agree wholeheartedly. Their customer service sucks. And their products run really really hot. I had the same power jack problem myself.
At what point do we stop calling these things netbooks and start calling them laptops again?
When it has a nice sized hard drive, runs XP and costs over $400, I have a really hard time calling it a netbook.
You say you've got a 10.2 inch Buddy? Wow, I'm impressed, mine is only 8 inches...
8 inches if you start measuring from the rear port, maybe...
Ihave my MSI wind (rebranded and sold under the "Medion" name) n front of me and I can'tnotice any difference whatsoever between it and this "new" machine.
Mine has only 120gbHD vs the 160gb of this one, but I have got 2gb DDR2 and bluetooth , in all other aspect they are absolutely identical.
I payied 400 euros for mine , which is a bitmore than 400$, but I got 3 years full factory guarantee and 365 d/y telefone support.
So I still think I've got the best deal.
Sounds like my latest acquistion - my Asus eee pc 1000H except for $29 more I got built int bluetooth and 10gigs of online hard drive as well. not to mention the Asus brand name since according to another comment made seems a lot better than Averatec.
If you can afford to spend $8.00 (!) more you get a well-designed Samsung netbook (little Sammy) with the same specs + Bluetooth and a 6-cell battery:
http://www.netbookusers.com/smf/index.php?topic=114.0