MiniLaptop
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Kohjinsha PA series reviewed, found lacking
It's well established by now that the Kohjinsha PA series tablet is one peculiar creature. It has the internals and OS of a netbook, with a 1.33GHz Atom CPU and Windows XP Home, the 4.8-inch display of a portable MID, and the convertible capabilities of an internet tablet, while its price (around $770) seems to imply it performs all three roles with aplomb. The Pocketables crew have followed up their unboxing of the quirky little device with a full-on review, and their conclusion has been that sadly it's more of a chump than a champ. Poor build quality and substandard input controls dragged this contender down, in spite of its swiveling screen and decent performance thanks to a 32GB SSD. Ultimately, it's the price that dooms the PA series to ignominy, and it seems like only a miracle -- or a timely RilakKuma rebadge -- will make it commercially successful. Hit the read link for the full story.
Nokia Booklet 3G is really real, as seen on camera
Not that we thought it was a fabrication this morning, but Reuters has managed to snap a few pictures of the Nokia Booklet 3G "mini laptop" to assure us that there is indeed at least one physical unit in existence, located at the company's Helsinki headquarters. As seen in another photo, the model sports the blue lid, and just so you're absolutely clear how a 10.1-inch netbook sizes up to an actual phone, we've got a side-by-side with an E71. Looks like we'll have to wait until Nokia World to figure out what Intel Atom processor they've got inside that makes sense to pair with a HDMI output, however. Update: Nokia might be mum on the issue, but Intel tells Pocket-lint that it's got the 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 chipset, which isn't exactly known for its HD video prowess but can technically do up to 720p. No word on any other technology that make the HDMI port more logical, but if there is was, it's probably not coming from NVIDIA or Broadcom -- both companies have denied involvement with the Booklet. [Via Liliputing and Slashgear]
Fujitsu Siemens' netbook entry gets revealed
It looks like Fujitsu Siemens have broken cover on the next member to get in on the netbook party. That's right -- the company is launching a cheap, micro-sized laptop in the coming months... just like everyone else. According to reports, the 8.9-inch device will clock in around €300 or €400 (about $470 to $630), and will likely sport some version of Windows (we're thinking XP, as is the case with the vast majority of these). The laptop will be part of the Amilo line, but little else is known about it at this point.[Via Lilliputing]
Acer Aspire One available in Europe
According to reports, Acer's tiny Aspire One laptop is now available in three breathtaking variations: the A110L, A150L, and A150X. The A110L sports an Atom N270 CPU, Intel's 946GSE chipset, 512MB or 1GB of RAM, 8GB of NAND flash storage, an 8.9-inch 1024 x 600 display, 802.11b/g, and three USB ports. The other two models come equipped with the same specs, save for a 120GB hard drive in place of the flash storage, and are offered with Linpus Linux, or Windows XP. Excited? Retailers in Germany already claim to have the A110L in stock now, selling for €329 (or about $518).[Via Fudzilla]
Everex readying 10.2-inch Cloudbook with 3G WWAN?
As we all wait tensely for Everex's Cloudbook MAX to land (and WiMAX to launch in a big way), rumors are swirling that First International Computer (FIC) -- Everex's affiliate and the maker of the Cloudbook -- is preparing a 10.2-inch "Eee PC killer." 'Course, by the time this thing comes out it'll have 27 Eees to kill, but we digress. Early word suggests that the unit will pack a 1,024 x 600 resolution panel, a 1.3-megapixel camera, up to 2GB of RAM, a 4-in-1 multicard reader, ExpressCard slot, 4- or 6-cell battery, 802.11b/g WiFi as well as optional 3G WWAN / WiMAX capabilities. With everyone and their first cousin twice removed getting into this arena, don't be shocked to see this turn up here in a few months.[Via SlashGear]
Medion's Akoya Mini laptop gets pictured at Computex
The last time we saw this downsized Atom-based laptop, it was looking staid and proper in a press shot. Finally someone has gotten their hands on this thing, and we've got to say -- it looks pretty handsome (even if it is a rebadged, recolored MSI Wind, and a dead ringer for the Mini-Note). Specs seem unchanged, with a 10-inch 1024 x 800 display, 80GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, and a 1.3-megapixel webcam, and the price appears to be holding at €399 (or about $630) as well. Still no word on when or if this is going to hit the states, but we've got our fingers crossed.
AMD jumps into the netbook game, challenges opponents to a duel
Clearly not content with letting Intel, VIA, and now NVIDIA own the market on the architectures of miniature, budget laptops, grumpy underdog AMD showed off what look to be some reference designs that would sit nicely next to the Eees of the world. At Computex 2008, the company unveiled two models: a white, 8.9-inch Linux laptop with 1GB of RAM, an AMD CPU, the ATI RS690 chipset, and an almost MacBook-like black XP-based model with a 7-inch 1280 x 600 display (that's some pixel density!), a 60GB or 80GB hard drive, and 1GB of RAM.Update: We've got some video of the black model, apparently a touchscreen device, in action after the break.[Thanks, Nikolas; Via jkkmobile]
Van Der Led intros the Jisus V2, delays the first generation
It looks like your dreams of laptop salvation via the Van Der Led Jisus will have to wait a little, as the company has pushed back the release of its diminutive PC to the 28th of July (at least according to the product page). However, if you want to spend a tiny bit more money, they've got a new model that nets you a lot more bang for the buck. Enter the Jisus V2, or as we like to call it -- the second coming of Jisus. The new version features a pink leather (!?) casing, a 10.2-inch 1024 x 600 LED display, a VIA C7-M 1.6GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, a VIA Chrome9 graphics chipset, an 80GB hard drive, 802.11a/b/g, and Bluetooth 2.0 support. All this magic will supposedly be available come June 20th for an extremely affordable €349.99 (or about $546).[Thanks, Takashi]Read - Jisus V2Read - Jisus
CTL's mini IL1PC gets mini-reviewed
The folks over at Laptop Magazine have gotten their mitts on CTL's latest edition to the ever-growing field of ultraportables, the IL1PC (or as we like to call it, the Airis Kira 740), and have given it the once over. The system is built atop VIA's 1GHz C7-M CPU, has 1GB of RAM, a 60GB hard drive, and uses Windows XP as its OS. Obvious comparisons to ASUS's Eee abound, though Laptop was impressed with its slick design and small footprint, and felt that it excelled at simple tasks like web browsing and email. Things weren't so smooth when it came to video playback, as graphics-intensive duties led to choppy behavior. Head over to the full review to get all the ins and outs, as well as some handsome pics.
Bestlink's Alpha 400 ultraportable is dirt cheap, regular cheap
Call us crazy, but these new low-end ultraportable laptops are beginning to look mighty familiar. At least Bestlink has an angle here -- make it dirt cheap -- so its entry isn't totally without merit. The Alpha 400 will apparently be priced from $250 (or $180 in volume), sport a 400MHz (!) Xburst CPU, 128MB of RAM, 1GB or 2GB of flash memory, a 7-inch 800 x 400 display, and will run Windows CE or some form of Linux. The manufacturer says storage can be expanded via SD card or USB drives, and WiFi, CDMA, GPRS, and ADSL will all be available via external add-ons. So... worth about $250, wouldn't you say?[Via Desktop Linux; Thanks, DeeDee]
Emtec's gdium EM-PC laptop does not look like the Eee
Here's what we can tell you about the Emtec gdium EM-PC mini-laptop; It does not resemble the ASUS Eee PC at all. It does contain an 8.9-inch 1024 x 600 display, flash-based storage (though no word on capacity), a Linux-based OS, and a webcam. The company is touting its "GKey," which is a removable dongle that manages the security and authentication for the laptop. It will be available in July in Australia for AUD $449, or about US $420. It looks nothing like the Eee. [Thanks, KC]
Eee PC-like Deep Blue H1 mini laptop hits the Philippines
There's certainly no shortage of Eee PC competitors these days, and it looks like another one recently snuck its way into the Philippines, where Blue Digital's diminutive Deep Blue H1 is apparently now on sale. Unlike the Eee PC, this one packs a 1.0GHz VIA Esther processor, though it boasts a similar 7-inch 800 x 480 display, along with 1GB of RAM, a 40GB hard drive, and the LinPus Linux distro as the standard OS, with Windows XP available as an option. Our tipster in Manilla also informs us that while it's only available in basic black at the moment, you'll apparently soon be able to get your choice of white or sky blue models as well. No word on a release anywhere else, unfortunately, but those in the Philippines can snag one for Php 16,995, or just over $400.[Thanks, Alan]
