Alpha 400: the crappiest netbook you'll ever hate
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Dec 8th 2008 12:06PM
posted Dec 8th 2008 12:06PM
[Via jkOnTheRun]
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The n97 or the iPhone is more powerful than that.
Are they $189?
Whats that gotta do with how powerful it is.
Even if you're looking at devices not on contract this still looks bad.
The iPod Touch surpasses it slightly (has around 440Mhz processor I think) and can be had for around the same price. And the Cowon S9 (500Mhz dual core) can be had for around the same price with 8x the storage!
$197 at Walmart!
@Kris120890
With price, comes power.
i wasnt aware there was a price for the cowon yet?
I wasn't recommending the N97 or iPhone I was talking about power.
My Dell Precision M90 Mobile Workstation is also a lot more powerful. However, it costs about 20x more than this device. You're comparing apples and oranges. Especially when comparing a basic netbook to a top-of-the-line phone.
Hows that iPhone for typing quick papers. Hell for that matter it's got the iPhone beat in screen real estate. Linux isn't a resource hog so I doubt it is too slow for typing and browsing the web. It is cheaper than most netbooks too. I won't touch netbooks until I can get something like the Eee 900A or Acer Aspire one for under 200 anyway. You should be reporting this as hey an actual netbook for less than 3 Benjamins.
You know, deep inside, you are an Apple fanboi. I don't blame you.
I liked it!
My bottom line with this thing is how well does it browse the internet.
My first PC was a HP Pavilion 8570C and it only had a 450mhz processor + 256 MB of Ram + 20GB HDD.
I still use it to clone DVD's.
This thing sounds like it could blow that computer away.
That whole engadget we don't like it line is bull. If this had a Mac logo on it you would have stiffies.
Becoming elitists, Engadget?
A few years ago I bought Sharp Zaurus CL1000 in Japan, which had a smaller 3.5" screen, less RAM, but had a touchscreen and the same notebook-like form factor with a full QWERTY. I spent $350 on it and use it until now as a tiny netbook. And people around are still excited about it. It is essentially a PDA but looks like a miniature laptop.
So Alpha 400 has better features and costs less. As I can see the web browsing looks good on it, what is more to ask? I might get one as a companion to my Samsung Omnia phone. The only problem I see with it is a large size. The device should be smaller and the screen size should be like 4-5".
I think you are wrong Joshua, do not mix up an oversized PDA and a Netbook!
I like the idea, but not the 802.11b part. I use it on my PSP, and it's awful.
I didn't know you could still get WiFi modules that don't support g.
@KarlW:
802.11B sucks? 11 Megabit Nominal, 6 Megabit under normal conditions and good signal.
The average broadband internet connection is 3 Megabit, my cousin has 1.5 Megabit DSL.
Hate to call you out, but misinformation is a plague.
If you are having problems, its probably a microwave, your internet connection, or your wireless router.
I like it. I want a small, cheap, websurfing machine in the living room that runs something other than Windows. Currently I use my work Thinkpad which is big, clunky, slow, and violates the Windows rule.
Beats the hell out of my first computer in 1993. Back then, 1G of storage was unimaginable.
Check the Features/Specifications on http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ALPHA-400&cat=NBB
# Supports External Hard Drive up to 160 GB
# Supports File Sizes up to 8 MB
...WTF?...
and the spec I am looking for in a battery ISN'T:
# Battery Charging Time: 4.5 - 5 hours
---Worse Than Fail?
At this point do you really need another internet connected device? how many do you have now?
@ feildcar
not to be a party pooper
but i get 20 megabit internets :)
And you use that 20gb ethernet connection for what? Unless you are running servers or torrenting, that's a waste. No server will let you download at that kind of speed.
I was going to defend it, but then I read the specs. This thing sucks.
My favorite part: "Uses: Flash games and movies" Ok - it can probably do youtube. But seriously, what are the chances of this thing actually being able to view videos from say, Hulu? Flash videos of any decent resolution use a lot more processing power than a lot of people realize.
dont cell phones have more power
do cellphones have 7-inch "display" ?
I find it hilarious this thing has more USB ports than the Macbook Pro...
funny because you cant use more than one without it freezing... ?
Big deal. Let me know when it has more Firewire ports and I might care. USB can take a hike, as far as I am concerned.
it also has an Ethernet port! No Adapters here!
@Daren
Umm.. Macbook Pros have always had Ethernet ports. You're thinking about the Macbook Air..
@Precurse
Hey moron, we know that. Macbook Air has (a) USB port too
He was pointing out that MBP's have two USB ports (which pretty much EVERY consumer device uses), less than a device that costs less than 1/10th of the price.
@Freak
Judging by your other comments, you should probably take anger management. You can learn more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anger_management. Just don't vandalize it, or Santa will give you coal for Xmas..
If you didn't read the OP, he was comparing this netbook to a MACBOOK PRO. How does mentioning anything about an 'adapter' make sense, when it has zero relevance in this case. IF they were comparing the MBA with this new Alpha400, I wouldn't have commented.
kthx bai!
I just bought one!
really?
No.
I just bought one also. Hey, Engadget, let me know if you want a followup report on this thing!
i hate all netbooks, i really dont see any use for them unless you cant afford a real computer i suppose.
They're extremely portable. And, the choices in the 8.9"/2.5 or less lbs form factor are pretty much:
1. Netbooks
2. Used Fujitsu P1xxx machines (and the Transmeta-based ones are much, much slower than netbooks)
3. New Fujitsu P1620/1630 (which costs an arm and a leg)
but for that price you might as well use an iphone right? Portable computer, and it looks more powerful than this anyway.
There the biggest eye crushing con job products around.
$189 isnt too shabby. 7" screen, Wifi, keyboard, SDHC card support, netbook footprint. Would work wonders for those that cant spare the extra hundred dollars, but need internet/ word processing access in portable form.
as evidenced by the last two posts, even the strangest gadget provides a solution for /somebody/.
Regardless of Engadgets slanted comparison, its only $40 more then a top of the line TI calculator. However, $40 gets you quite a bit more functionality comparatively over the best TI can muster.
It seems to be about the same spec as the Nokia N8xx tablets, except it has a better keyboard and a mouse substitute instead of a touch screen.
I'd be tempted by it personally if I didn't already have an N800.
Exactly what i thought seems about the same as the nokia tablet, some ways better, some not, and half the price.
Wonder why its running 2.4 though.
At least there's one manufacturer out there who is actually bringing the price of netbooks down to where we expect them to be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huyzCJvS6UQ&eurl=http://www.videosift.com/video/Screen-Savers-1-64-mg-Ram-is-all-youll-ever-need&feature=player_embedded
they're running xp on that thing?
If you bailed on the MS OS and crammed some Linux on there (assuming there's driver support) you could get some reasonable speed out of this thing. The real question is, can you upgrade the RAM or SSD? That would make this a good alternative for those that need email, web and office apps on the go. Can you say Ubuntu/Firefox/OpenOffice?
On a MIPS? Not a chance
I can, but not at the same time...
You should see what my friend Gary sold me for $80 USD. This laptop is like 400mhz (My PSP is 333) and it has 128 megs of RAM, with a 4 gig HD....
And it runs XP.
2K would work ok on that.
As long as you can check emails, watch some short clips, and run some productivity apps I think this is sufficient.
I think the general netbooks available on the market is useless, low resolution screen, minimum processing power and untypeable small keyboard... but yeah the pricetag are unquestionable good. We will only get what we're willing to pay for, right? :)
I guess I don't mind to pay a little bit more to have a better ultra-portable computer.
Engadget, why don't you go ahead say "It won't play crysis!!!!!!!!!! wah!!!!!!! and it's slower than that other one!!!!!!!! wah" Then you can back it up with a "First post, in soviet russia gadget sites know there are different types of devices for different types of people."
As long as it runs Backtrack so one can hack, that's all that matters.
Its probably great for web browsing and sending email, I know a lot of people who only do that.
Looks to me like a good starting point for a DIY wireless digital picture frame.
If it can surf adequately, this could be an atractive kitchen or bedside computer. It could also be good for the kids. I definately see the utility and the price is what, well, really sells it.
My iPod is more powerful (it cost twice as much, though).
and a screen quarter of the size, shitty touchscreen keyboard that refuses to type what you want to type, no flash/java script support, and u cant use is as a storage device (even with those apps, it's pretty darn useless as they cant edit word/excel documents), and a browser that will crash every thirty seconds if you have three or more tabs.
i love my ipod since i dont have to chug arounud my laptop everyday to class, but this would be even better.
so for 190 this is a steal (at least much much better than those redflies)
I have a Gateway running windows XP with a 380 Mhz processor and 384mb (256+128) of ram and a Ati 3D Rage PRO card in it and it does two things incredibly well:
Plays WingCommander Prophecy
Browses the internet.
my only problem is that I have a hard time watching youtube videos without hiccups.
I can think of a load of uses for this - VNC comes to mind, for a start. Wifi+Ethernet makes it essentially a portable wireless gateway. It's still more powerful than my first PC.
Besides, who doesn't want to see someone rip this open and see how far it can be upgraded?
@Gnormie
And the point of comparing a subnotebook to music players being?
I like how they make fun of this as being a glorified pocket dictionary, yet Engadget has swooned over IRiver's glorified pocket dictionaries in the past.
Wait, there are netbooks that AREN'T crappy? News to me.
Does it run on a AA battery ?
Good question !!
Is it just me or are the specs very close to the Nokia Tablets, only without the arm cpu?
-and the panache
-and the build qual...well you see where I'm going here.
Wonder how hackable they'll be?
If it wasn't the holidays, I'd try one out.
Isn't this EXACTLY what a netbook should be? Wireless, light processing power, small storage and small price tag. It's less than $190. I'd like to know which flavor of Linux ... but other than that -- it fits my expectations of a netbook to a "T". Seems a lot of us keep trying to push the netbook into the laptop category. It's defeating the purpose of a low-price, low-power web-browsing device.
I love how the Eee Pc was lauded with its' 7" screen and HUGE bezel, but this gets dogged for having a 7" "display". . . So by your logic, the original Eeeee Pc didn't have a real display? I happen to agree, but you gotta be consistent.
that was then. this is now.
128 MB RAM and 1 Gig Flash storage !!!
Anyone would prefer an EeePC 1000H for a bit more price....
A few more price reduction, this would create competition for One Laptop Per Child.
Joshua, Engadget, looks like you are alone here with the hate. Maybe time to reconsider?
Isn't this the same thing offered by Impulse (www.impulseglobal.com) and at a higher price?
Seems like a steal, but I'd hate to be loading heavy web sites on this.
still very tempting though.
what OS?
More powerful CPU, more memory, more mass storage, better connectivity, and better display than my entire research department used in Computer Science graduate school.
'Course, that wasn't last year...
The manufacturer's web page for this netbook is here:
http://www.exon-technology.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage_noname&product_id=116&category_id=55&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=55
I'm seriously tempted, I could use a netbook for meetings, and all it would have to do is access Google Docs.
The latest TI calculator runs a Motorola 68K processor at something like 12Mhz, though you can overclock it to about 20Mhz. I think the Alpha400 is more powerful. Not that I'm defending it or anything, I can get a Dell Latitude X300 off ebay for about the same price and it has a 1.4Ghz Centrino with 640MB of ram.
..."and support for SD cards up to 32GB (gigabytes!)"
were you expecting terrabyte SD cards??
Wait untill you see the $98 and $120 versions....
http://www.viddler.com/explore/Charbax/videos/14
Alittle more ruggedized Id give it to my friends son..... He's about 7 or so and this would be something he wont have to worry too much about destroying.
People are so damned spoiled by all the processing power they don't need.
The only reason why a lot of people need all the power in computers today is that it takes 4 times what this thing puts out just to run Vista.
Maybe if Microsoft got off thier ass and released a good streamlined OS there could be tons of little $250 netbooks running windows.
God try running Photoshop on a P133 with 16mb of ram at 1024x768 like I had to in college.
I don't get it.
This is a decent device, especially when you factor in the price. I've been trying to see how this is so much worse than the netbooks engadget has been swooning over these past few months and I just can't see it.
Plus this company has done what we've all been waiting for, make a pc like device for under $200 that actually has the ability to do stuff.
Be happy!
Anyone else notice the 8mb file cap on the sales page?
Yeah! That rules out some of my itunes collection.
CPU Intel XScale 32-bit Multimedia Application Processor 416MHz
Or XBurst 400 MHz MIPSII (Optional)
Operation System Windows compatible Linux 2.6 Preloaded
Preinstalled Linux Applications Word Processor & Excel Spreadsheet Editor (MS Office compatible), Award Winning Web Browser, PDF Editor / Reader, E-Book Reader, Chat (MSN/ICQ/Yahoo/Google Talk/AIM/IRC) Client, Email Client, Multimedia Player, Game Emulator, etc
Memory 512MB / 256MB / 128MB SD RAM
Storage Device Solid-state 1GB / 2GB
LCD Size 7" WVGA TFT
Resolution 800 x 480 True Colour
Graphic Accelerator CPU built-in
Video Output VGA Connector
LAN 10/100M Ethernet Access
Network Access Supports external ADSL, CDMA, 3.5G HSDPA & GPRS wireless modems
Internal WiFi Built-in 802.11b/g (Optional)
Keyboard Standard English 80 keys, Natural Touch Type QWERTY Keyboard
Mouse & Touch Pad Touchpad, quick mouse keys on the sides of the touch panel
USB Port USB slots x 3; support up to 8GB flash drives or 250GB external HDs
Card Port SD/MMC two in one slot; support SDHC
Build-in Camera NO
Audio High definition audio
3D surround internal speakers
Earphone and Mic jack
Battery 4 Core: Rechargeable Li-ion 2400mAH, charge time: 4 hours
Operation Time Work Time: Approx. 4 hours without WiFi, 3 hours with WiFi
Size: 21 x 13.9 x 2.5 cm
Weight: 0.64 kg
3hr battery life would be great. How difficult wod this version of linux be to learn?
Dude, they have 3 versions on there so don't make it seem like there's just the 1 spec sheet.
How difficult wod this version of linux be to learn?
Wid linux it's called "coping", not learning.
This can't be a product from 2008. seriously, this is ridiculous.
but then again - this is just the most 'extreme' netbook, aka. 1997 POS technology packed into a small package at a small price.
Dude, I like powerful PCs too. They're called desktops.
For portability and price, you can't beat this thing. I would much rather have a standard processor, but if all my laptop needs to do is go on the internet and edit office docs, then this thing would fit the bill. Of course, I can't directly edit Microsoft Office docs, but they can be ported and edited in OpenOffice.
To be fair, first generation EEE PCs are the same price, more powerful and with webcam
Engadget: "this netbook won't play our casset tapes of eurasure! Waah! It sucks, don't buy it. To get more bang for your buck buy a zune!"
Hate to jump on the band wagon, but Engadget... you guys are dead wrong.
This is a super-PDA with a fantastic price tag.
I'd rather wiki on this than an iPod Touch.
Engaged obviously in a bitchy mood, wants to be smacked and told to shut up.
Looks swell. Basic and usable. The battery life could be better with those specs, and I have doubts about the keyboard. Nevertheless, as it was said already, this is how you do a "netbook". Small, LIGHT, cheap, and good enough to type some small stuff on.