NorhTech Gecko netbook reviewed, small, slow (video)
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted January 7th 2010 7:03AM
posted January 7th 2010 7:03AM
The kids at Liliputing finally got a chance to put the 8.9-inch, AA-powered NorhTec Gecko Edubook through its paces and, you know what? It's slow. Like, every bit as slow as you expected a 1GHz, 512MB of RAM, 8GB SD card storage device to be. The review unit sports the lightweight WattOS (Ubuntu based) Linux distro, although this guy will also support Windows XP if that's what floats your boat. Sure, it's cheap (under $200), so if portability is a premium for you, and you don't really need things like video or Google Docs (which is particularly painful to watch on the included video) you might want to give this one a second look. See for yourself after the break.
That thing is a brick!!! Piece o' junk!
I'd rather die...
Dam you engadget guys just moan! I mean you moan that most netbooks are to expensive then you moan when they ACTUALLY MAKE A CHEAP ONE!
I like the batteries and the sd card memory. If it were priced closer to $100-150, I might bite.
This thing is more of a slap in the face to people in developing countries then a help... send them all like a nice netbook or something, not this PoS.
@Sieg So you're writing the check then?
Yay, another Linux distribution. Is it so hard just to stick with Fedora, Ubuntu, OpenSUSE, or Mandriva?
Seriously, this is the best they could come up with?
They could take the effort and maybe fine turn the OS so that it doesn't take up so many resources, like get rid of the eye candy for one. But that seems to be out of the question...
Now with a whole half of ten minutes battery life...
I reckon its more of a bare-bones netbook with the option to upgrade components as better versions become available; which makes it unique somewhat. I'd get it if there were more processor options available and higher capacity lithium battery.
Depending on what happens with the smartbook space this could be completely overshadowed.
As a basic netbook it works.
@alberth Unless smartbooks can hit the sub $100 mark they won't really interfere with this thing's real mission. It's $199 at retail but under $100 when purchased in bulk and all the nice smartbooks out there cost several times the price.
And while I can't see myself using it, for someone who actually just wants to use it solely for educational purposes to look up information and type papers it hardly matters whether or not the machine can decode video-instead of having to run internet filters to keep the kids from goofing off watching youtube videos at school this thing has built in super-slowness to stop you from trying to goof off playing flash games or watching videos. lol
I'd rather buy a used netbook...
I've been looking for something like this for a quick and mobile command line/shell in linux... this may do the trick. On that note though... I was more looking forward to something like the iUnika Gyy which was supposed to be solar powered. Anyone know what happened to it?
http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/14/iunika-gyy-netbook-weighs-1-5-pounds-will-cost-176/
Since this one runs off rechargeable AA's, I suppose I might be able to mod some solar panels on there.
This would be great for cavemen.
Why is this not an ARM netbook?
@kingu Because they wanted x86 compatibility. And ARMs kinda suck at that. ;)
It turns out that there is an OEM distributor supplying this netbook, at Sandget Technology (http://sandget.en.alibaba.com/). Total cost came up to USD213, including shipping, although extra money had to be paid for international bank transfer.
Benchmarks are at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46578721@N08/sets/72157623079189553/