Alpha 400: the crappiest netbook you'll ever hate

Looking for the ultimate in nerve-shatteringly cheap cheapo netbooks? Don't want to break the $200 price point? Introduce yourself to the Alpha 400 -- a tiny "computer" with about as much processing power as your last TI scientific calculator. The miniature laptop sports a 400MHz (megahertz!) MIPS CPU, 128MB (megabytes!) of RAM, a mind-blowing 1GB (gigabyte!) of flash storage, 802.11b (b!), a 7-inch "display," and support for SD cards up to 32GB (gigabytes!). Seriously, this thing is essentially a glorified pocket dictionary, but who are we to question its awesome $189.95 price tag? Oh wait, we're Engadget. Yeah, we don't recommend this.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

[Alex @ Dec 8th 2008 12:12PM]

I liked it!

[Flashpoint @ Dec 8th 2008 12:20PM]

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.

[Tarnation @ Dec 8th 2008 12:35PM]

That whole engadget we don't like it line is bull. If this had a Mac logo on it you would have stiffies.

[Electromodo @ Dec 8th 2008 12:39PM]

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!

[KarlW @ Dec 8th 2008 12:45PM]

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.

[fieldcar @ Dec 8th 2008 1:05PM]

@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.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Dec 8th 2008 1:34PM]

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.

[Michael @ Dec 8th 2008 2:15PM]

Beats the hell out of my first computer in 1993. Back then, 1G of storage was unimaginable.

[RichardBronosky @ Dec 8th 2008 2:29PM]

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?

[OneLove @ Dec 8th 2008 2:37PM]

At this point do you really need another internet connected device? how many do you have now?

[KAIKAI @ Dec 8th 2008 4:23PM]

@ feildcar
not to be a party pooper

but i get 20 megabit internets :)

[Evan @ Dec 8th 2008 5:26PM]

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.

[Matthew C @ Dec 9th 2008 1:03AM]

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.

[Kris120890 @ Dec 8th 2008 12:12PM]

The n97 or the iPhone is more powerful than that.

[rock99rock @ Dec 8th 2008 12:13PM]

Are they $189?

[Kris120890 @ Dec 8th 2008 12:14PM]

Whats that gotta do with how powerful it is.

[Gnormie @ Dec 8th 2008 12:14PM]

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!

[joe23521 @ Dec 8th 2008 12:17PM]

$197 at Walmart!

[rock99rock @ Dec 8th 2008 12:17PM]

@Kris120890

With price, comes power.

[Erik @ Dec 8th 2008 12:18PM]

i wasnt aware there was a price for the cowon yet?

[Kris120890 @ Dec 8th 2008 12:19PM]

I wasn't recommending the N97 or iPhone I was talking about power.

[Alex @ Dec 8th 2008 12:25PM]

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.

[Tarnation @ Dec 8th 2008 1:40PM]

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.

[iKurt @ Dec 8th 2008 1:54PM]

You know, deep inside, you are an Apple fanboi. I don't blame you.

[collegekid13 @ Dec 8th 2008 12:13PM]

dont cell phones have more power

[xValentine @ Dec 9th 2008 12:08AM]

do cellphones have 7-inch "display" ?

[Romesh @ Dec 8th 2008 12:14PM]

I find it hilarious this thing has more USB ports than the Macbook Pro...

[Erik @ Dec 8th 2008 12:19PM]

funny because you cant use more than one without it freezing... ?

[Kelmon @ Dec 8th 2008 12:33PM]

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.

[Daren @ Dec 8th 2008 12:35PM]

it also has an Ethernet port! No Adapters here!

[Precurse @ Dec 8th 2008 2:55PM]

@Daren

Umm.. Macbook Pros have always had Ethernet ports. You're thinking about the Macbook Air..

[jeesusfreek @ Dec 8th 2008 3:13PM]

@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.

[Precurse @ Dec 8th 2008 3:24PM]

@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!

[Erik @ Dec 8th 2008 12:16PM]

i hate all netbooks, i really dont see any use for them unless you cant afford a real computer i suppose.

[bhtooefr @ Dec 8th 2008 12:25PM]

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)

[Erik @ Dec 8th 2008 12:30PM]

but for that price you might as well use an iphone right? Portable computer, and it looks more powerful than this anyway.

[adrian @ Dec 8th 2008 3:37PM]

There the biggest eye crushing con job products around.

[rock99rock @ Dec 8th 2008 12:16PM]

$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.

[maveric101 @ Dec 8th 2008 12:49PM]

as evidenced by the last two posts, even the strangest gadget provides a solution for /somebody/.

[kal326 @ Dec 8th 2008 1:40PM]

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.

[squiggleslash @ Dec 8th 2008 3:13PM]

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.

[charliex @ Dec 8th 2008 3:39PM]

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.

[Derrick @ Dec 8th 2008 12:16PM]

I just bought one!

[Chris Are @ Dec 8th 2008 12:34PM]

really?

[Roman @ Dec 8th 2008 12:45PM]

No.

[Jon Acheson @ Dec 8th 2008 1:51PM]

I just bought one also. Hey, Engadget, let me know if you want a followup report on this thing!

[Nick Quigley @ Dec 8th 2008 12:16PM]

At least there's one manufacturer out there who is actually bringing the price of netbooks down to where we expect them to be.

[thedesolate1 @ Dec 8th 2008 12:17PM]

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

[Nerd Ferguson @ Dec 8th 2008 12:18PM]

they're running xp on that thing?

[CoffeeDragon @ Dec 8th 2008 12:30PM]

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?