10.2-inch Averatec Buddy now on sale for $450

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]

[[e-mail] @ Oct 13th 2008 9:34AM]

It's a rebranded MSI Wind. I'm not saying that's a bad thing...........especially after you hackintosh it.

[bot @ Oct 13th 2008 9:38AM]

A 1.65LB 10" netbook? That has to be an error. If they offered an extended battery I'd be very interested in this.

[Aguiluz @ Oct 13th 2008 9:44AM]

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/

[oZ @ Oct 13th 2008 9:49AM]

Hey, WXGA. Finally, some usable resolution.

[oZ @ Oct 13th 2008 9:51AM]

Yeah, nevermind, they're idiots. Apparently, 1024x600 is WXGA in their world.

[gareth @ Oct 13th 2008 4:08PM]

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?

[htd @ Oct 13th 2008 9:52AM]

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!

[oZ @ Oct 13th 2008 9:57AM]

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.

[xtrmi @ Oct 13th 2008 9:53AM]

Is this actually that light? If that is true I'm also interested in this piece. Will it run multisim and visual studio responsively?

[Major4Play @ Oct 13th 2008 10:03AM]

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.

[Hdg mansur Poverty @ Oct 13th 2008 10:12AM]

Ah...I'll wait.

[Rudy @ Oct 13th 2008 10:13AM]

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.

[Ponas @ Oct 13th 2008 10:17AM]

Don't expect any cutting edge technology from a company with a name that is so close to Average :-)

[iNToIT @ Oct 13th 2008 10:52AM]

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.

[yemrej @ Oct 13th 2008 11:12AM]

I agree wholeheartedly. Their customer service sucks. And their products run really really hot. I had the same power jack problem myself.

[IT News Blog @ Oct 13th 2008 10:55AM]

looks kinda similar to the msi wind, anyone can confirm this 100% ?

[Michael @ Oct 13th 2008 1:17PM]

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.

[channel live @ Oct 13th 2008 1:27PM]

You say you've got a 10.2 inch Buddy? Wow, I'm impressed, mine is only 8 inches...

[Salsa Shark @ Oct 13th 2008 2:01PM]

8 inches if you start measuring from the rear port, maybe...

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 13th 2008 4:22PM]

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.

[Mynor @ Oct 13th 2008 5:42PM]

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.

[mklp @ Oct 18th 2008 7:50PM]

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