TNX-9500: the "world's cheapest laptop" live and hands-on

We were ready to fall in love with the Impulse NPX-9000 as soon as we heard the words "World's Cheapest Laptop," but now that we've got a review sample in our hands the bloom might be off this rose -- especially since the $199 wholesale price isn't even as cheap as the Dell Mini 9 on sale. On the other hand, there's something just delightfully janky about our Windows XP-powered unit, now labeled the TNX-9500 -- it beeped continuously for several minutes when we first turned it on, the 1GHz no-name processor seems less willing to run Internet Explorer than Richard Stallman on a bad day, and it took us several minutes to figure out that a loud howling sound was being produced by the always-on microphone feeding back through the speakers. Yet for some reason we were all smiles the whole time -- what can we say, we're suckers for cheap. Hopefully Impulse will stake a bolder claim to the title of "world's cheapest laptop" when production ramps up, since prices are expected to fall, but this particular unit actually can't get any cheaper for you -- we'll be giving it away soon. Check some shots in the gallery!

World's Cheapest Laptop hands-on

[loki2043 Posted Mar 16th 2009 3:13PM]

how is this cheaper (or better) then the EEE-PC?

[zackn87 Posted Mar 16th 2009 3:24PM]

can this thing even hold more than 2GB? lol

[slamEVIL Posted Mar 16th 2009 3:34PM]

maybe they meant cheapest QUALITY and not price???

[i Eye Posted Mar 16th 2009 4:06PM]

AHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!

Someone give the GOLD medal to thsi POS (not point of sale the other thing :o )

This is a front runner for winning the race to the bottom!

[iDie Posted Mar 16th 2009 9:52PM]

Just by looking at the device, the keys are superior to the Eee. I am an Eee 900 user, I have no love for the keyboard on my Netbook.

I quite like the purposeful looking chunkiness of this..

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2009 3:17PM]

correction* worlds cheapest NEW laptop

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2009 3:17PM]

one word:

FAIL.

It's what happens when the centerpoint of a marketing campaign isn't fulfilled.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2009 5:56PM]

Actually, thats 15 words.

[The WC Posted Mar 16th 2009 3:19PM]

"It's not 'cheap, it's 'cost-effective.'"

-Radioshack Manager

[Crim Posted Mar 16th 2009 3:21PM]

Cheapest looking AND cheapest laptop ... no thanks from my end, but it's good to see that those who may be strapped for cash at least have an opportunity at tech.

Then again, I DO need something to spend that extra $10 a paycheck from the stimulus bill I'm getting now on!!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2009 5:57PM]

How about English lessons. That last sentence was just ...

[Wwhat Posted Mar 17th 2009 4:03PM]

If you read it a few times, and get in what tone you should read it, that sentence is much more bearable.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 18th 2009 1:42AM]

if i were strapped for cash, id buy a much better used laptop on craigslist for $200

[Ackbar652 Posted Mar 16th 2009 3:23PM]

Shouldnt this be the worlds cheapest netbook? Or are we laying low on that term until the lawsuits are over...

[Raul7 Posted Mar 16th 2009 3:55PM]

A netbook is just a smaller notebook/laptop so it doesn't really matter which is used. I still don't get the obsession over the "netbook" term. I always thought that "relatively cheap and crappy quality" laptop sounded much better.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2009 3:28PM]

Yup, it really looks cheap. What is this, 1990?

[vicsvenge Posted Mar 16th 2009 3:28PM]

or you could just go on ebay and pick up a computer that is quite a bit faster, better built, and easier to use for around that price.

1ghz processor? My ipod touch is almost as fast.

[24inchdubz Posted Mar 16th 2009 3:32PM]

Yeah for a kid this is a good laptop.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2009 4:19PM]

OLPC

[kingu Posted Mar 16th 2009 5:26PM]

(L)OLPC

[Hondizer Posted Mar 16th 2009 3:39PM]

good thing thats not my laptop

[whowhatme03 Posted Mar 16th 2009 3:47PM]

i comment to win the weirdest crap on engadget... but not for this. no way

[patsy Posted Mar 16th 2009 3:52PM]

Is that Dell deal still on, because I can't seem to be able to configure it for anywhere near $199?

[pfanne Posted Mar 16th 2009 4:05PM]

first thing i thought when i saw the screenshot with windows on it:
it would be cheaper if they had put linux on it

[Fenreir Posted Mar 16th 2009 4:08PM]

From the description of how this beeps and screeches, sounds like it hates being alive

[sgteaston Posted Mar 16th 2009 4:15PM]

I think I get it, engadget. I can't explain it, but, for some reason I really think this POS is cool.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2009 4:43PM]

I'm with you. I love these little things. GOTTA COLLECT 'EM ALL! Who cares if I'm typing this on a second-hand Korean POS with Windows CE disguised as XP? It's not like I'm buying these to play FarCrysis Tournament Championship XII on.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2009 4:50PM]

My company is about to become a distributor for this laptop. It isn't built for tech geeks like you and I, it is built for kids, people that are new to computers and people that want a tiny laptop to bring with them for e-mail and web-browsing.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2009 4:52PM]

Oh yeah, and this thing is tiny. You can see in the pictures it's about 1/3 the size of the Mac.

[Alwyn Tan Posted Mar 19th 2009 5:26PM]

If you're honest about the distributor claim, let me know where you are and when it's coming. I might want one just for dissection.

[Shane Posted Mar 16th 2009 4:47PM]

Looks like a cross between an ancient Toshiba satellite and Compaq Portege.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 18th 2009 1:45AM]

more like a compaq lte elite 476cx

[1 Posted Mar 16th 2009 4:49PM]

The maplin Minibook is cheaper than this, even including the VAT. In the UK too.

[BigD145 Posted Mar 16th 2009 6:01PM]

$199 isn't as cheap as the $199 Dell?

[J Acheson Posted Mar 16th 2009 6:24PM]

The Alpha 400 laptop covered here on Engadget is cheaper than this. Got mine for $189 retail. Though this is quite possibly nicer than an Alpha 400.

[Blacklight Posted Mar 16th 2009 9:25PM]

This is the same as the Alpha 400, just with x86-friendly guts instead of the MIPS guts

I'm waiting for the ARM netbooks... Those will be GOOD

[gcc Posted Mar 17th 2009 2:25AM]

This basically is the alpha 400, although I have no idea how it gets to be the "worlds cheapest"- you can buy alpha 400s for $90 each if you buy them in sets of 5.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2009 2:36AM]

It's not the same as an Alpha 400, the Alpha 400 has a 400 MHz MIPS CPU and can no way in hell run Windows XP. This has completely different specs and does run Windows XP, check out their website at www.impulseglobal.com

[blaw Posted Mar 16th 2009 7:14PM]

and the call this the cheapest laptop... Dell Mini and EEE look and are much better than this crap... it looks like one of those LeapFrog thingies.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2009 8:52PM]

The "No Name" processor is the DMP Vortex 86DX.

[dmayle Posted Mar 16th 2009 9:09PM]

Cheap doesn't really matter when it's free...

[ch3burashka Posted Mar 16th 2009 9:55PM]

Sure it's cheap but it looks like it will break just by clacking away at the keyboard...

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 18th 2009 1:47AM]

i dont clack, i type

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2009 1:49AM]

Just wanted to let you guys know their website is at www.impulseglobal.com

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2009 1:51AM]

Also word from the company is it costs $165 with Linux in quantities of 1000 pcs and $189.00 with Windows XP in quantities of 1000 pcs. Seems like a good deal to me.

[TIMMAH Posted Mar 17th 2009 2:35AM]

Nice! I'd buy one with Linux for that price.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2009 10:10AM]

Hey guys, we are the ones who have produced this netbook and here's a video of it running. It functions really well actually and I think we've achieved something quite remarkable actually. Take a look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjcDoQHi3oM

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2009 11:34AM]

To those here representing distributors and the manufacturer, when will this be available for general purchase?