Video: fanless Eee PC running Android on Snapdragon hands-on, oh my

Now we're talking Computex. We, along with Tweaktown and JKK Mobile just spotted an ASUS Eee PC netbook smartbook prototype running Android on a 1GHz Snapdragon chipset. Now get this: the design is fanless due to Snapdragon's low power consumption. The result should be a device with oodles of battery life and $0 Microsoft licensing tax if this thing ever goes production. The prototype runs the 1GHz version of the Snapdragon chipset and is thus capable of 720p HD Video and everything else already spotted in Toshiba's TG01 smartphone. But as we saw this morning, beefier Snapdragon chipsets running at 1.3GHz with enhanced graphics and 1.5GHz with dual-CPUs are on the way. Check the video after the break.

[Via Jkk Mobile and Tweaktown]

[stefan @ Jun 1st 2009 5:52AM]

this might be a worthy replacement for my eee.... any word on release dates or price points?

[m3tric @ Jun 1st 2009 10:34PM]

WTB higher mouse sensitivity

[Gert @ Jun 1st 2009 5:54AM]

Very luw current ey, i hope the shielding is effective enough.

The no-fan is awesome, unless the laptop has a 50°C (122°F/323,15°K) equilibrium with its surface.

Laptop with sweatmarks eeewww....

[Me4u2 @ Jun 1st 2009 5:56AM]

Give a nice smartphone running android with the form factor and looks of the N97, 32Gb, Snapdron, 12mp cam and am sold... Notebooks don't just cut it for running android...

[JeffreDodd @ Jun 1st 2009 9:07AM]

How would you know if Netbooks will be an amazing system system for Android or not?

Google obviously wants to take a share of Microsofts PC market. Rather than building an Operating System and working towards a mobile version, they are working their way up form a mobile operating system, since most of our new technology has a mobile slant to it. I think android for these netbooks (or smartbooks) is something we should keep our eye on. Until we have our hands on a fully functional refined version of Android of a netbook, we will not understand if its a powerful tool or just another flop OS on a netbook to get around Microsoft's high licensing fees. (There is always OSX :-P)

[Ike Turner @ Jun 1st 2009 6:04AM]

It's got a Windows key on the keyboard, wich means that it will ship with Windows Mobile 7 probably. They arer unning Android on it cause that can't show WM7 publicaly yet.

[Darius @ Jun 1st 2009 6:07AM]

Or... they just took a keyboard that that they already produce. Why to bother and spend money to design a new keyboard for a prototype device?

[cristian baltatescu @ Jun 1st 2009 6:15AM]

Cos w7 runs on a snapdragon, right?
Nice going, Sherlock!

[ultimatepwnage @ Jun 1st 2009 6:20AM]

u-u-u-u-ULTIMATE p-p-p-p-PWNAGE (echo: ge-ge-ge-ge-ge)

[Daza @ Jun 1st 2009 6:36AM]

@cristian baltatescu

Read his post carefully, and you will realise you've misread his statement originally.

Windows *MOBILE* 7 could easily run on this, as WinMo supports the ARM architecture. However, I agree with the point being made about using an existing keyboard to come up with this prototype.

I have no doubt one day we will see WinMo 7 and Snapdragon together, because there is nothing stopping this from happening. Then we'll have better GPS support (since there are so many mapping solutions for WM) and access to hundreds of other programs.

[Simon @ Jun 1st 2009 6:45AM]

"Cos w7 runs on a snapdragon, right?
Nice going, Sherlock!"

You are aware that Windows 7 and Windows Mobile 7 are completely different products, right? Win7 = x86, WM7 = continuation of WM5, WM6, WM6.1, WM6.5 for various smartphone platforms (like Snapdragon!).

[cristian baltatescu @ Jun 1st 2009 7:08AM]

I failed, i admit :)
i didn't spot the "m" in all that. I was unable to edit my comment and my hacking skills did not allow me to break into the engadged server to delete it.

[Oli D @ Jun 1st 2009 1:13PM]

Your about as good as typing as you are hacking son.

[PodeCoet @ Jun 2nd 2009 12:52AM]

@ cristian baltatescu

(in thick russian accent): At least it was not epic fail

[Ike Turner @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:50AM]

Oh looka here : http://gizmodo.com/5275599/asus-hey-guys-forget-you-ever-saw-that-android-netbook-ok

Guess I was right. Android was/is just aplace holder...

[Someone on the Internet @ Jun 1st 2009 6:18AM]

Leave it to a third party to get a 1.5ghz dual core out before you pry a dual atom out of intel dead hands. Whatever, it runs linux, has a hardware HD, 3d acceleration and will eventually support Aiglx, I am sold.

(and before anyone say atom 330, find me a laptop with one.)

[Someone on the Internet @ Jun 1st 2009 6:45AM]

Its almost 4 am. Forgive my proof-reading skills.

Leave it to a third party to release a 1.5 Ghz dual-core processor before you could even pry a dual atom out of Intel's dead hands. Whatever, it runs Linux, has hardware HD support, 3D acceleration and will eventually support AIGLX(well if it has a hardware shader), I am sold.

(and before anyone says atom 330, find me a laptop with one.)

[Phenoum @ Jun 1st 2009 12:47PM]

I dont care how badly you screwed up - Please refrain from EVER again reposting on purpose, in response to yourself.

kthxbye

[tobz1000 @ Jun 1st 2009 6:32AM]

Computers these days. Fucking crazy.

[Toby @ Jun 1st 2009 6:35AM]

OLED and Snap Dragon is gonna = uber battery!

[digitallysick @ Jun 1st 2009 6:38AM]

I didn't expect to be impressed, but now, Wow, I'm impressed, fanless, more battery life, 720p video, smaller form factor. And Android was really fast! I was shocked to see how fast it was going switching tasks and opening programs.

DO WANT

[Ernesttechuser @ Jun 1st 2009 10:09AM]

I'd much rather see a full Linux distro than Android.

Ubuntu netbook, for example.

[molecule-eye @ Jun 2nd 2009 5:09AM]

@Ernest: Then you'd also rather see your netbook CRAWL. (At least if used with most modern linux window managers like gnome or KDE.)

[Tes @ Jun 1st 2009 6:38AM]

After Asus' "it's better with wiondows" campaign, I'm done with them.

[Bufsabre @ Jun 1st 2009 9:08AM]

you do know that was fake right?

http://whois.domaintools.com/itsbetterwithwindows.com

[MaxSMoke @ Jun 1st 2009 11:31PM]

Even if it's fake, the truth is the truth. Computers that don't run Windows don't run the stuff people need. You can run alot with Linux, but returns don't lie, Windows is where it's at. I wonder if this SnapDragon can emulate x86 enough to run WinXP apps?

[Theli @ Jun 1st 2009 6:38AM]

Certainly a step up from those Atom-based Android netbook hacks we've seen earlier. I was really impressed with the speed and the responsiveness of the device.

Redesign the keyboard, customize the user interface, and give it a 'swivel' touch screen, and I'll buy one.

[Tres @ Jun 1st 2009 6:57AM]

If Apple doesn't come out with a good netbook/tablet soon I'll buy one, that's awesome.

[bob @ Jun 1st 2009 8:07AM]

netbook is just a new name for the lowest end laptops, and apple have NO interest in low end anything where there is little or no profit so dont hold your breathe.

[musback @ Jun 1st 2009 7:59AM]

@ bob, so you call the basic macbook and mac mini high-end? yea good luck with that.

[Bufsabre @ Jun 1st 2009 9:13AM]

@musback

thats low-end apple, but are mid-range PC. besides that there is more than just low-end and high-end. dont forget that middle part.

[beatngu @ Jun 1st 2009 7:31AM]

ooh, that's hot!

wait, no it isn't...

[jon @ Jun 1st 2009 7:26AM]

I like the fact that the modem is part of the chip.

Does that mean no more $200 upgrade fees for WWAN?

[alcom4x @ Jun 1st 2009 11:05AM]

Screw ION Snapdragon takes the cake! That transformers trailer is flying.

I really love companies like asus and Samsung, they just keep pumping out more and more innovative hardware.

[acme @ Jun 1st 2009 8:18AM]

whats the point of these things playing HD video if the screen isn't near those resolutions?

[Ernesttechuser @ Jun 1st 2009 8:55AM]

It will have a 720p screen.

The reason all netbooks have crappy, low-res screens is that due to the wintel monopoly, M$ dictates (with Intel's happy acquiescence) that if the OEM is to have a cheap XP / 7 starter edition license, then you have to put it on crappy hardware - i.e. woefully underpowered Atom rubbish, dire integrated graphics and maximum screen res. of 10..x6.. at 10".

ARM based platforms and Linux are a way out of this dreadfully anti-competitive practice. What's more, the latest generations are much higher performance than their x86 counterparts and way lower power draw. Their integrated graphics are also more powerful (whether they be PowerVR or ARM's own design) than equivalent NVIDIA / ATI discrete parts.

[Me @ Jun 1st 2009 9:55AM]

Fanless netbooks aren't new - the Dell Mini's are fanless. It looks interesting though.

[mitch @ Jun 1st 2009 12:15PM]

Im a little confused

What is the headline picture of? Was that an earlier prototype of this model? Im mostly curious because it doesn't seem to have a touchpad and it is different colors than the ones in the videos.

[Sergioknight @ Jun 1st 2009 11:18PM]

And its running XFCE (i.e. probably Linux), not Android.

[L @ Jun 1st 2009 12:34PM]

Considering that a similar platform powers the 9mm thin Toshiba TG01 phone, I think this is pretty clunky - pretty much the same size/thickness as a normal Atom-powered netbook.

A *really* thin & light (sub 15mm or so) netbook with good battery life would be nice - although I still don't think that Android belongs on a netbook.

[SonicEarth @ Jun 1st 2009 12:41PM]

That's not Android. It looks like some flavor of desktop Linux,

[Uchiha Sasuke @ Jun 1st 2009 1:30PM]

cristian boltesticul

you failed so hard, you don't even know what hit your boltesticul.

[elBravo @ Jun 1st 2009 1:39PM]

Whats the big deal about no fan. My mini9 doesn't have a fan. This is old hat.

Now a 1GHz ARM at only 1/2 Watt... Thats something to talk about.

Low powered, powerful ARM chips.... C'mon Linux. Don't drop the ball on this one. You're free and clear from MS for at least 2 years (disregarding WM7, but who wants a phone OS on a laptop/netbook/smartbook)

[Laughing Man @ Jun 1st 2009 3:27PM]

I have no desire to buy this at all. Go not Google!

[Garett @ Jun 1st 2009 4:19PM]

Yea because I want google to be able to access all my files! Do you know what they do with your web history and everything, and not to mention how they know where I live (I never give my info on the web)?!?!?! This is probably not a good thing at all!

[MaxSMoke @ Jun 1st 2009 11:36PM]

Without Windows, it's just a PDA with a keyboard. Too bad Palm abandon that laptop-style PDA they were working on.