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]

It's gotta mean something when Windows XP is still making headlines by showing up on relatively standard hardware, but so it goes -- and here's Everex's Cloudbook, now with 100% less gOS. The Cloudbook SC1200T is basically the same as the regular-spec Cloudbook, only with 1GB of RAM and limited availability -- that "T" stands for "Taiwan-only." No word on if Everex is planning on bringing this bad boy Stateside, but really, it's not like we're hurting for ways to run XP on an underpowered VIA C7M, you know?

[Via Liliputing]

Not content with just ordering a touchscreen-packin' Cloudbook from Japan, Azazel decided to take matters into his own wonder-working hands and hack up his vanilla unit to include the oh-so-coveted touch support. Based on his reports, disassembling the rig and stuffing the new panel in was a lesson in simplicity (save for one quick round with a soldering iron), but actual usability proved to be somewhat of a letdown. It was noted that using the small screen with just a fingertip was challenging, and while relying on a pen did make things marginally easier, we'd think long and hard about your needs / wishes before taking the plunge.

[Thanks, David]

Damn, Everex clearly stepped up their game with the Cloudbook MAX. Not that we want to harsh on the original Cloudbook or anything, but this thing is definitely in a different class -- and the integrated XOHM WiMAX doesn't hurt, either. Check out some hands-on shots taken at CTIA below.

Not too long ago, we gave you loyal Cloudbook owners a chance to voice your opinion on how you'd change things. Fast forward a few weeks, and take a gander at what Everex has put together. Debuting today at CTIA 2008, the Cloudbook MAX not only boasts an 8.9-inch WVGA (1,024 x 600) display, Windows Vista, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, integrated GPS receiver, 2-megapixel webcam and a battery good for four hours, but it also features an 80GB HDD, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, audio in / out and an S-Video output. Beyond all that, this thing gets energized by a 1.6GHz VIA C7-M ULV processor coupled with the VX800 digital media IGP chipset, which touts full DirectX 9 support and video acceleration for MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV9, VC1 and DivX video formats (plus a VMR-capable HD video processor, among other things). Lastly, the unit includes built-in support for Sprint's XOHM WiMAX network. Brimming with excitement yet? Start stocking that piggy bank -- this currently unpriced rig will be available in the latter half of this year across North America.

Read - VIA and Everex demonstrate Cloudbook MAX at CTIA
Read - VIA VX800 Series Chipset

Update: Looks like availability is now set for Q1 - Q2 2009. Thanks, Taylor!

The FIC manufactured Everex CloudBook has finally made its way to Japan. What's interesting is not its US-rooted Everex branding but the fact that the ultra-portable picked up a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and 802.11a (to augment the existing b/g WiFi) along the way without any change to the CE1200J model number. All the other specs remain true to the original right on down to the 1.2GHz VIA C7-M proc and 30GB hard disk. We'd chalk this up to a typo(s) if it wasn't for the new, tax-inclusive price of ¥59,800 or about $600 -- a stiff bump from the $399 touchscreen-less, Stateside model. Let's see if the March 22nd release in Japan brings the additional options for North America and Europe.

[Via Impress]

While it seemed touch and go for a few months there as to whether the Everex Cloudbook would ever hit store shelves, what's never been in doubt is the fact that hackers are going to have a field day with the thing. The first major hack is courtesy of Azazel from the Cloudbooker forums. His "Dreambook" mod incorporates an internal four-port USB hub to add all sorts of fun stuff like GPS, Bluetooth and 4GB of flash storage. He removed the webcam for the time being, and is having some trouble getting his replacement WiFi card to work, but it's certainly a promising hack. Next on the agenda is another small hub to support 802.11n WiFi and some 3G connectivity -- we like where this is headed.

[Thanks, David]

What's more fun than seeing a highly-anticipated device get the full-on dissection treatment? Upgrading it, of course. Cloudbooker forum member Azazel got a Cloudbook to play with and is doing just that: ripping apart the laptop piece by piece for you viewing pleasure, while also upgrading the RAM and documenting the process. He's already spotted a way to add Bluetooth internally, and how to open up the laptop without voiding your warranty, but we've still got a long ways to go before we start to see Eee PC-level hackerdom.

Read - Part 1
Read - Part 2

According to DigiTimes, the reason we haven't seen any CloudBooks on sale is due to the weather. Recent heavy snowfalls in China wreaked havoc on the local rail systems and power supplies leaving FIC unable to meet their targets. According to "sources," retail shipments will now be pushed back to mid-March. Now our quandary. What's more dubious? Everex's newly posted 2/21/2008 availability date or China's claimed ability to control the weather during the summer olympics?

Read -- Everex
Read -- DigiTimes

The folks over at Laptop already hooked us up with some unboxing pics of Everex's Cloudbook, and now they've posted up some quickie first impressions of the would-be Eee killer -- and it looks like Everex could use that extra delay time to polish things up. The Cloudbook's gOS build was found to be reasonably speedy and the minuscule trackpad designed for thumb usage actually grew on the reviewers, but what really killed the machine was a host of video glitches Everex says are the result of the wrong OS version being installed on the machine. Still, we're not ready to give up on this little guy yet -- we'll wait to see what the formal reviews say before crowing the Eee the winner of this round.

Oh Cloudbook -- it's like you just keep floating off on us. We all thought Everex's little Eee competitor was going to drop today (the 15th), but since that turned out to be a bust, we started to get curious. As you might have guessed, the $399 UMPC has been ever-so-slightly delayed, again, this time until February 21st (or so they say). We've covered an unboxing if you're really jonesing for a look at the gOS-sporting device -- but keep in mind you could ruin that x-mas-morning feeling of wonderment when you pop open the box.

[Thanks, Travis]

Merely hours after we first wondered where all those CloudBooks were on launch day, here they come -- fashionably late, of course. As of this moment, Everex's CE1200V is up on NewEgg's site, but is still sporting a "deactivated item" status. Nevertheless, Packard Bell's XS20-006 (as it's so eloquently dubbed across the pond) is currently for sale at PC World for £349.99 ($686). And yeah, there's a number of unboxing shots pleading for your attention in the link below, so what exactly are you waiting for?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Read - PC World's XS20-006 listing
Read - CloudBook unboxing