I doubt it would be the sole motivator behind this choice, but could there be a lack of interest on Google's part to grow the ROM because it would prefer you to use cloud-based data anyways?

@LionelatDell: I applaud you (and Dell) making an appearance on this thread. Are you just a brave Engadget reader who happens to be involved with this story or is there something more formal at play?

I hope there is a trend developing towards more manufacturer participation in these types of forums - it seems like there would be more likelihood of useful conversation.

Pete J

The single button navigation isn't that crazy. I think 90% (okay 60% - 30% just thought they would) of shuffle owners use them jogging, listen to the same playlist every time, and never fast forward or rewind. Since fewer buttons means less likelihood of errant finger-pushing whilst jogging, I see the usability argument for the single button navigation (there are still separate volume buttons as these are likely to be used frequently). Theoretically, it could be an improvement for the jogger.

I have no idea why they would put the button(s) on the headphone cable, though, and I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.

The Mi UI does indeed seem like the best yet for this form factor and i's likely uses. It's like a smarter, sexier version of the Aspire One's Linpus system. Personally, I'd like to see someone rig up a UI like this with XP as the guts - nothing against linux, but I do have a few legacy XP apps that I'd like to use.

(And while I'm on the subject of quibbles with this machine, rework the mouse buttons already! And no more proprietary add-on drives - who buys these silly things? Ok I'm done.)

It's a "lithium polymer" 3-cell, which might not be as bad as you think. That's the tech they put in the really long running (6-8 hour, I think) eeepc's, which also have a 10" screen and I believe are only 2-cell. I'd wait for a review before I go too excited, but this might be longer running (and lighter) than a 6-cell li-ion.

I carry an E2 every day. I kill cellphones quickly - I am a contractor and tools + cellphone = in-pocket doom. I've tried, and killed, smartphones - most are more fragile than flip phones because of the exposed QWERTY or bigger touchscreens. Put a smartphone in a hard case and they suck as phones. I know I'm strange but I put an old-school Palm with all my contacts and schedule info in a really tough case and a cheap flip phone (now exposed screens or keys) in my pocket every day.

(And no, I won't use a belt holster - I'm just way too cool for that.)

(Surely an HTML typo and not the technological miracle I'm hoping it is.)

WTF? The Dell website claims the Ubuntu 3-cell will go "up to 6 hours" ? I'm pro-linux and all, but isn't that poppycock?

5 seconds to a full desktop is impressive. They also claim they're loading enough modules to cover 95% of all laptops, which would be even more impressive - I assumed they stripped out huge amounts of hardware compatibility when they optimized the kernel. Apparently, they were mostly removing seldom-used parts (sendmail server, etc) and seemingly overzealous self-testing routines.

The linux Aspire One boots in almost 15 seconds (don't get me wrong - that is pretty cool) but that ain't 5 seconds, and I'd be surprised if that flavor of Linpus Lite works on 95% of all laptops.

This thread makes me want to move my old Vaio running Xubuntu over to Fedora...