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Netbook Navigator Nav 9 Slate PC review
It's been over nine months since Steve Ballmer whipped out the HP Slate at CES and divulged that there'd be Windows 7 "Slate PCs" hitting the market. It sure was a memorable keynote, but since that fateful day all we've got to show for actual Win 7 tablets are a slew of leaked videos of HP's elusive device, information / trade show sightings of lots of similar products, and the less than stellar Archos 9. Until now that is. A small company, interestingly and rather ironically called Netbook Navigator, has managed to get its act together slightly ahead of the rest with its Nav 9 Slate PC. Starting at $599, the 8.9-inch resistive-touch Windows 7 Home Premium tablet is powered by an Intel Atom N280 processor and can be configured with up to 2GB of RAM and 32GB of flash storage. Yep, it sounds a heck of a lot like your first generation netbook with its keyboard cut off... and, well, that turns out to be just one of the Nav 9's major problems. You'll want to see what we mean in our full review after the break. %Gallery-103660%
Smartbook's laptops hands-on: a MacBook and a VAIO walk into a bar...
Bewildering. We're pretty sure that's the only way to describe our adventure at Smartbook's CeBIT booth. First off, let us just clear up that there are absolutely no smartbooks on display -- don't forget that this is the company that's going after Qualcomm's jugular for using the term smartbook in the first place. Now that that's out of the way, the German outfit introduced two new 11.6-inch laptops at the show, both which are clearly a rip on Apple and Sony laptops. What's confusing there? Well, the fact that they are actually nice. First you have the Atom N280-powered Razor that's clad in a brushed aluminum that feels impeccably similar to the unibody MacBook. Sure, it will run like a last-generation Windows 7 netbook, but it felt seriously solid in hand. Next up is that ULV-packing Logo we told you about last week, and with a glowing power button embedded in its circular hinge there's no doubt that it was Sony VAIO "inspired." Again, the make is actually quite good, and we were shocked to feel how sturdy the chiclet keyboard was. Both KIRFs the Smartbook Logo and Razor should go for about 699 Euros when they become available in Europe this spring. Not amused yet? The pictures of the Swarovski covered netbook below should just about do it -- and we have video proof after the break, if you're into that sort of thing. %Gallery-86973% %Gallery-86971% %Gallery-86979%
MSI Wind U123 netbook now being stocked by US retailers
If you've been waiting the edge of your seat for MSI's Wind U123, sit back and relax for now. The 10.2-inch WSVGA netbook's now officially either stocked up or available for pre-order from online US retailers, with all the usual accoutrements: 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280, integrated graphics, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, card reader, 802.11g/n, 6 cell battery, and Windows XP Home. All are priced between $350 and $380, with Frosty Computers so far being the only option so far for customization. Color options are red and blue, and if that doesn't suit you well, may we suggest any of the other dozens of netbooks with the exact same spec sheets? [Via Portable Monkey] Read - Newegg Read - Amazon Read - J&R Read - Frosty Computers
