Android-based Alpha 680 netbook spotted in the wild

Still think an Android-based netbook is in your future? If the abysmal performance on video hasn't turned you off yet, maybe the fire-engine red paint job coupled with 90s-era carbon fiber accents will. What you see above is the first legitimate in the wild shot of Skytone's Alpha 680, and at a glance, we're marginally excited about the sizable trackpad and roomy keyboard. Oh, and the swiveling screen is a plus, too. Check the read link for a few more looks.

[Thanks, Neerhaj]

[(Unverified) Posted May 12th 2009 4:38PM]

Mixed signals :D TELL ME WHAT TO THINK ABOUT IT, ENGADGET

[(Unverified) Posted May 12th 2009 5:04PM]

Also, ..are those like, d-pads on the monitor panel? Heh?

[vitriolix Posted May 12th 2009 4:41PM]

I like the swivel screen... if this is cheap and really light i'll definitely consider getting one to use as an ereader. Any leaks on price point yet?

[(Unverified) Posted May 12th 2009 4:47PM]

Meh...no thanks. I'd rather have a real computer OS on a netbook.

[Oli D Posted May 12th 2009 4:49PM]

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=real+laptop&btnG=Google+Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=

[(Unverified) Posted May 12th 2009 5:52PM]

It depends what electronics are included. If it includes typical smartphone hardware for cell phone calls, GPS, accelerometer, compass, etc., you almost need a smartphone OS, since a desktop OS generally does not support all that stuff.

[Theli Posted May 12th 2009 5:15PM]

The OS needs to officially support higher resolutions before this becomes feasible.
Also, I'm not sure why you would need most of those keys. Do the F1-F12 keys actually do anything when you use them in Android?

[(Unverified) Posted May 12th 2009 5:27PM]

@vitriolix
Apparently $250, release data Q3

[(Unverified) Posted May 12th 2009 5:42PM]

$250 for something that young no thanks maybe in a couple of years

[(Unverified) Posted May 12th 2009 6:09PM]

Windows 7 is going to dominate the netbook market ... everyone else is wasting their time ... there aren't enough linux geeks on the planet to support a business model using a non standard o/s.

People went all the way back to WinXP (which is underpowered these days and full of security issues) to avoid using a linux distro.

I've ran Win7 ultimate and Starter edition on my Dell Mini 9 and both run very well.

[(Unverified) Posted May 12th 2009 7:03PM]

surely sony will sue them for using thier triangle, circle , square and cross buttons .... it looks like a monster psp ...

[(Unverified) Posted May 12th 2009 9:40PM]

darthgault, you're an idiot.

WTF is stopping somebody from installing whatever OS they want? Nothing!

You even make light of this point in your comment? So why would I want to pay extra for windows when I can put it on myself later?

WindowsXP underpowered? No just your dell bud.

[(Unverified) Posted May 12th 2009 10:34PM]

Well for one thing - it's not x86 based - it's ARM based - so you can't run Windows XP, Vista or 7 on it.

Theoretically, you could run WinCE or Windows Mobile - but since you can't just run out and buy that (it's only sold to OEM hardware makers)...

The only thing you can run on it is Android and maybe some other Linuxes that are compiled for ARM... if they support the hardware.

[(Unverified) Posted May 13th 2009 12:02AM]

I hope the Alpha 680 will debut in other colors other than Hooker Red.

[simbr Posted May 13th 2009 5:48PM]

Were the "sizeable" and "roomy" comments an attempt at irony? From here it looks not much bigger than the Alpha 400 which has a truly tiny trackpad.