Don't be fooled by that background: this Menq EasyPC E790 is only using Windows CE 5.0 for the sake of this hands-on. The successor to the $89 E760 we saw last year still sports a Samsung ARM processor, bumps the 7-inch display's resolution to 800 x 480, and at least as far as this Techvideoblog video hands-on shows, can do a decent (albeit not great) job of handling DivX files, Skype, and browsing. There's a promise from the manufacturer that Android is coming sometime in the next month, but honestly, given what we've seen before, we'd be happy to stick with Windows CE. Of course, the big selling point here is the price, and that claimed $80 is quite the looker. Video after the break.
I was looking at this earlier today. It seems every site refuses to say where the heck to buy this. The homepage for the device doesn't even say. That's pretty crappy marketing.
You have to buy it in bulk by directly contacting them. And by bulk, I mean, say, 5000 units at $80 or so each. So unless you have a half-million to play with, I doubt you'd be getting your hands on one soon.
$80 * 5000 is $400,000 not a million. Besides if you can get a loan for it, you could consider reselling for a conservative 9 points ($10 markup) and turn a quick $50,000
You've got to be kidding. Who in a civilized country would want a piece of crap like that? Probably not even the nomads who live in yurts in Central Asia or Aborigines living in the Australian outback. That so-called netbook is a plastic fork and knife among brightly polished silverware. Would it even last six months? Could it even manage to play a low resolution youtube flash movie? I'm not even sure schools would want something like this.
He couldn't build these things for $80 even if he had orders for 100,000,000 of them.
So I'm guessing by you're comment, you're real account name is "Aryan White Boy" eh? And what exactly is wrong with a plastic knife and fork? They're usually white coloured too, so it seems they should really appeal to you.
Won't be that bad I think, but I bet the thing is that they didn't pay any licenses and that they will be in trouble, and if you pay all the licenses and taxes and shop rent or webspace running cost etcetera you'll be looking at at least double the price like every other such device, just because it's 80 out of a box in china doesn't mean that is the sales price. Ipod from the conveyor belt doesn't cost what you end up paying apple either.
But maybe aldi (european supermarket chain that sells bargain electronics) will buy a load of them and put them up cheap.
The menq website has 5 or 6 models listed all with a 400 or 533 mhz processor (all ARM based.) Where is this guy getting his 900 something number? There's no way a 400mhz processor is going to pull all that junk off.
Samsung ARM926EJ-S3C2450 is the processor used, it's ARM9 processor at 400/533mhz..
ARM Cortex A8 at 600mhz-1ghz would be possible in this type of laptop for a bit more in cost as well and provide at least 3-4 maybe as much as 5-10 times better performance for such things as Javascripts and Flash support, because the ARM Cortex technology is superscalar and just processes such things differently, it's not just a mhz question.
The OLPC project is building ruggedized stuff, though. Note the price premium of a ruggedized computer compared to equivalent regular models, and you'll see why it's $200.
OLPC is looking at this, OLPC is planning to release the XO 1.75 soon that is based on ARM processor put inside of the same exterior design of the XO-1, and I'm just guessing could be sold closer to 100 dollar per laptop and run twice as long on a battery.
Look, of course it'll run more than $80 after licensing an OS, did you hear him ever refer to them coming with an OS pre-installed? He may be running CE on it now, and he keeps saying how it COULD run android, but it's not likely it comes with either. Stupid youtube video keeps freezing up on me so I haven't finished it yet, but I bet you he's saying the DEVICE is $80. The company won't run into any legal trouble for licensing if they aren't going to be selling them with an OS to get into trouble with. If they're really smart someone'll throw something open source on these. I know I'd love to buy something like this to give to my daughter.
I may be wrong, but considering Android is made by Google, I would think that it would come FREE with such a device. Not to mention Google's new OS coming out sometime soon.
I stopped watching at the 40 second mark where he mentions the price the third time. Also why would you imbed a youtube video in HD in what seems to be 430*240 of space.
It was a slideshow till I turned off HD (wireless connection or crappy Intel chipset on a netbook, take your pick.
Just to add my 2 cents worth, I know this device is not the most advanced, obviously. But at under $100 I think we're finally starting to see this type of technology coming to the masses. About time. :-)
The fact that its so cheap and can be considered a throwaway product has me morally concerned. How many of these are going to end up in a landfill or recycling center?
If it's got Windows CE on it, very few. I thought we were past this crap operating system already? This thing isn't going to run anything but the very basics, since none of the devices that use it are compatible with each other. I've had handheld PCs in the past... they're a real headache because the software support is so fragmented. The advice I'd give anyone who would consider one of these to just fork over the extra hundie for a cheap netbook with an Intel or AMD processor. The versatility makes it more than worth the extra cost.
Some of you guys are being A-holes! These sort of devices are a HUGE step in the right direction. They pretty much guarantee that fully-capable laptops will be widely available within two years for less than $100 which is SUPERNOVA huge --- This despite the deliberate pissing in the waters and the ''lacing-of-wallets-with-laxatives" price inflations from the likes of MS and Intel.
Not just this, but bump this sucker up just a little bit in specs (i.e. fifty-dollars worth) and I'd considered it as a modern purchase -- for myself. Because there is a lot more that can be done with such an affordable laptop than to post ridiculous comments on the internet (i.e. using the $1600 hunk of trash that is your Apple shitter). These little gadgets are serious, it couldn't be overstated.
We're watching history unfold right before our very eyes and are acting like fools in disregarding it!
I'm absolutely bonkers for these devices and am expecting them to make a biblical difference in the world!
I love netbooks, but if this can't run Windows or Linux, no dice. As a former owner of three handheld PCs by NEC, I can tell you from personal experience that Windows CE is not an adequate substitute.
Put Android on it, give it 256 MB+ memory, and maybe that Cortex processor, and it'll be great. Reviews of Win CE on the previously mentioned machine are awful.
TorrB et al. Serious, I don't mean to piss on anybodies parade but as far as I know, (I did a quick online search) I found that there's no evidence indicating that the FINAL price to consumers will be available at Borat's $80 raving price.
MenQ, balding Borat— I'd love to fool with one myself, so prove me wrong children, prove-me-wrong.
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posted Nov 15th 2009 9:21PM
You are a troll.
I was looking at this earlier today. It seems every site refuses to say where the heck to buy this. The homepage for the device doesn't even say. That's pretty crappy marketing.
You have to buy it in bulk by directly contacting them. And by bulk, I mean, say, 5000 units at $80 or so each. So unless you have a half-million to play with, I doubt you'd be getting your hands on one soon.
Lame. Maybe one day there will be a way to get just one, but it will probably be for more the $80.
$80 * 5000 is $400,000 not a million.
Besides if you can get a loan for it, you could consider reselling for a conservative 9 points ($10 markup) and turn a quick $50,000
You've got to be kidding. Who in a civilized country would want a piece of crap like that? Probably not even the nomads who live in yurts in Central Asia or Aborigines living in the Australian outback. That so-called netbook is a plastic fork and knife among brightly polished silverware. Would it even last six months? Could it even manage to play a low resolution youtube flash movie? I'm not even sure schools would want something like this.
He couldn't build these things for $80 even if he had orders for 100,000,000 of them.
@ Scooper Jay
"So unless you have a half-million to play with"
So I'm guessing by you're comment, you're real account name is "Aryan White Boy" eh?
And what exactly is wrong with a plastic knife and fork?
They're usually white coloured too, so it seems they should really appeal to you.
Plastic forks get the job done, and people buy them.
Hopefully WalMart is seeing this because I can see this moving off the shelves REAL fast...
Isn't this the type of thing that would be ideal for Chrome OS?
I think that doesn't do ARM
Chrome OS does both ARM and x86, inotherwords they will conquer netbooks and smartbooks with one shot
Yes I believe this is the type of laptop where Chrome OS will be perfect. Or just the full Chrome browser in a laptop-friendly version of Android OS.
It's real, it's actually really real.. actually a real laptop!
omg...he called it sky-pee. sigh.
If I can get a debian install on there, it would be worth it just to play around with it!
For $80 I'm going to have to go out on a limb here and say this is going to have horrible build quality at the very least.
Won't be that bad I think, but I bet the thing is that they didn't pay any licenses and that they will be in trouble, and if you pay all the licenses and taxes and shop rent or webspace running cost etcetera you'll be looking at at least double the price like every other such device, just because it's 80 out of a box in china doesn't mean that is the sales price.
Ipod from the conveyor belt doesn't cost what you end up paying apple either.
But maybe aldi (european supermarket chain that sells bargain electronics) will buy a load of them and put them up cheap.
The guy's a natural born salesman.
steve ballmer.
$800? $400? $200? even more?? NO!! ONLY $80 dallar!!
yeah, that dude's awesome!
"...so it just prove its real, really real, real, it's actually really a real laptop!..."
The dude's pretty cool tho...not a douche like Apple execs.
Laptop
Just because it wan't said enough
this was the most annoying video i've ever tried watching in the internet, and i'm not sorry.
to the person who made the review, please don't do it again. cheers
The menq website has 5 or 6 models listed all with a 400 or 533 mhz processor (all ARM based.) Where is this guy getting his 900 something number? There's no way a 400mhz processor is going to pull all that junk off.
Samsung ARM926EJ-S3C2450 is the processor used, it's ARM9 processor at 400/533mhz..
ARM Cortex A8 at 600mhz-1ghz would be possible in this type of laptop for a bit more in cost as well and provide at least 3-4 maybe as much as 5-10 times better performance for such things as Javascripts and Flash support, because the ARM Cortex technology is superscalar and just processes such things differently, it's not just a mhz question.
Is this guy drunk?
I don't believe so, he's just overdosing on some Propecia and Rogaine.
I thought you'd notice that after a couple of seconds...
-Jim Rome
What do you mean you would be happy to stick with Windows CE? Look at username.
Wow, Leeenoox.
Not sure why they didn't go with the better Windows CE 6.0.
Ubuntu FTW
Unix FTW!
Unics FTW!
Eunuchs FTW!
Oh, Charbax.
bork!
hey if it's only $80, why can't the OLPC peeps look at this instead of a $200 computer that does about the same thing?
The OLPC project is building ruggedized stuff, though. Note the price premium of a ruggedized computer compared to equivalent regular models, and you'll see why it's $200.
OLPC is looking at this, OLPC is planning to release the XO 1.75 soon that is based on ARM processor put inside of the same exterior design of the XO-1, and I'm just guessing could be sold closer to 100 dollar per laptop and run twice as long on a battery.
OMG, the guy is so annoying!!!
Look, of course it'll run more than $80 after licensing an OS, did you hear him ever refer to them coming with an OS pre-installed? He may be running CE on it now, and he keeps saying how it COULD run android, but it's not likely it comes with either. Stupid youtube video keeps freezing up on me so I haven't finished it yet, but I bet you he's saying the DEVICE is $80. The company won't run into any legal trouble for licensing if they aren't going to be selling them with an OS to get into trouble with. If they're really smart someone'll throw something open source on these. I know I'd love to buy something like this to give to my daughter.
Android is open source, and free... so no licensing issues there.
I may be wrong, but considering Android is made by Google, I would think that it would come FREE with such a device. Not to mention Google's new OS coming out sometime soon.
I stopped watching at the 40 second mark where he mentions the price the third time. Also why would you imbed a youtube video in HD in what seems to be 430*240 of space.
It was a slideshow till I turned off HD (wireless connection or crappy Intel chipset on a netbook, take your pick.
Engadget—
If you're smart, you snap up this guy ASAP for a new comedy division!
He's nuts. He's the Borat of tech! He's a wired MESS— he barely knows what he's talking about! Totally hysterical.
"They told me— 'It's possible to run Android. It is POSSIBLE!"
Yes, and it's possible to run through molasses, but how fast?
btw, he mentions that "you can't go to a supermarket right here in Copenhagen and buy one today".
Please, tell me this guy isn't Danish, is he— what, a Dane on meth?
This guy is GOING places!
Crazy! I had the same thought, "Borat of technology". This video had me cracking up.
Just to add my 2 cents worth, I know this device is not the most advanced, obviously. But at under $100 I think we're finally starting to see this type of technology coming to the masses. About time. :-)
The fact that its so cheap and can be considered a throwaway product has me morally concerned. How many of these are going to end up in a landfill or recycling center?
Good Point.
If it's got Windows CE on it, very few. I thought we were past this crap operating system already? This thing isn't going to run anything but the very basics, since none of the devices that use it are compatible with each other. I've had handheld PCs in the past... they're a real headache because the software support is so fragmented. The advice I'd give anyone who would consider one of these to just fork over the extra hundie for a cheap netbook with an Intel or AMD processor. The versatility makes it more than worth the extra cost.
Interesting.
These would make great status displays for small company data centers.
Can we give it a Cortex A8-based processor and 256MB or more RAM?
I wonder how they did it at 80 dollar!
I wanna buy one for my nephews, as a present.
Some of you guys are being A-holes! These sort of devices are a HUGE step in the right direction. They pretty much guarantee that fully-capable laptops will be widely available within two years for less than $100 which is SUPERNOVA huge --- This despite the deliberate pissing in the waters and the ''lacing-of-wallets-with-laxatives" price inflations from the likes of MS and Intel.
Not just this, but bump this sucker up just a little bit in specs (i.e. fifty-dollars worth) and I'd considered it as a modern purchase -- for myself. Because there is a lot more that can be done with such an affordable laptop than to post ridiculous comments on the internet (i.e. using the $1600 hunk of trash that is your Apple shitter). These little gadgets are serious, it couldn't be overstated.
We're watching history unfold right before our very eyes and are acting like fools in disregarding it!
I'm absolutely bonkers for these devices and am expecting them to make a biblical difference in the world!
Thanks for the vid!
I love netbooks, but if this can't run Windows or Linux, no dice. As a former owner of three handheld PCs by NEC, I can tell you from personal experience that Windows CE is not an adequate substitute.
Isn't this a smartbook rather than a netbook? Anyways, for that price, its probably worth picking up once it has android on it.
I'm a fan of cheap computers, but windows ce is awful from what I read. This thing sounds alot like Kmart's black friday netbook: http://netbookboards.com/2009/11/04/delstar-ds-700-windows-ce-netbook-sells-for-120-on-black-friday/
Put Android on it, give it 256 MB+ memory, and maybe that Cortex processor, and it'll be great. Reviews of Win CE on the previously mentioned machine are awful.
This could be the computer that will be sold at CVS.
This guy has the coolest accent I've ever heard.
TorrB et al. Serious, I don't mean to piss on anybodies parade but as far as I know, (I did a quick online search) I found that there's no evidence indicating that the FINAL price to consumers will be available at Borat's $80 raving price.
MenQ, balding Borat— I'd love to fool with one myself, so prove me wrong children, prove-me-wrong.
Looks to have essentially the same chassis and keyboard as the Skytone Alpha (or the clone I have at least, the CnMBook).