July 21st, 2008
Susanne Choney at MSNC wrote a piece about how in the US the ultraportables are fast becoming a favorite as an individual’s secondary computer. Here is the article and the link:
The market for skinny laptops gets fat: In United States, ultramobile PCs find favor as a secondary computer
By Suzanne Choney
MSNBC
And I guess this is as it should be. However, with all these rush to be the next Asus Eee 701 there will be casualties. Who will win and who will eat dust. We will know in the months to come.
However, This is just not one war. The appeal of ultraportables cover two fronts the first one the ultrapractical-and-ultraeconomic-ultraportable and the second one the ultraposh-ultraexpensive-ultraportable.
Who will it be? Who do you think?
The monkey wrench in this equation seems to be the economy and it is the proverbial spanner that will muck up the best designed and posh ultraportable.
It is the price.
Another question though that needs to be asked. Will the ultraportable ever become the 1st computer?
Tags: , Asus Eee 701, netbooks, UltraportableShare This
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July 21st, 2008
Chris Davies post, Fujitsu 8.9-inch netbook photos leak: €400 and due this Fall, features the first (?) photo of an Asus Killer from Fujitsu. Check the post.
A lot of deductions and theories can be made from pictures and the post. One thing important is how much will it cost. According to the post, it might retail for US$640.
Is it me or does it feel like there seems to be a slight trembling of the ground. It seems as is herd of wilderbeast is coming this way. Do we know see the rush of ultraportables now that we have passed half of year and nearing last quarters?
And so far it seems feature-wise everything is equal. This leaves quality and durability; appeal and marketing; and price.
I wonder what will be the deciding factor in this contest or will it be a big no-contest with everyone shaking their heads. What do you think?
Tags: Asus Eee, Fujitsu, UltraportableShare This
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July 21st, 2008
Talk about power and beauty Sony has officially introduced its latest range of laptops and all of them powered by the Centrino 2. Picked this bit of news from Adam Hartley’s post, Sony’s new Centrino 2 powered Vaio range: It’s official. Finally. The ultimate ultraportable?, at TechRadar.The ultraportable Vaio Zs are extremely pretty ang light weighing in at around three pounds. This seems to be an example of an uber-ultraportable. What do you think?
The Vaoi brings to the battle the following:
1. 13.1-inch widescreen display (a scratch resistant with Sony’s XBRITE-DuraView LCD technology) and a choice of a high-resolution 1600 x 900 widescreen display- 40% wider workspace than a standard display.
2. Vaio Z is all brushed aluminium and carbon-fibre casing. It comes with G-Sensor shock protection.
3. Of course, it run on a Centrino 2
4. Impressive add-ons and options like the Blu-ray drives.
5. Upgradable to a dual channel 128GB solid state drive model (for a “few dollars more” at US$2300) or stick to the slightly lower version that starts at US$1800.
It is going to be launched this August in the United States.
One particlar feature of the Sony Vaoi Z I like is the G-Sensor shock protection. And I agree with Hartley that it useful for people who have this habit of dropping expensive objects at random ( and often frequently). It is something worth considering. Now, lets see the video to come out that will prove that G-Sensor is effective.
Tags: BZ, Centrino 2, FW, Intel, Sony Vaoi Z, SRShare This
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July 21st, 2008
According to the Digitimes, Dell is set to introduce the Dell E this August. And its coming in US$100 cheaper than the Aspire One from Acer. Dell’s low cost computer will be priced at US$299. Digitimes further reported that according to its sources the notebook will be manufactured by Compal Electronics.
The article further revealed that Dell will be sourcing the panels for the notebooks from three panel manufacturers - Samsung Electronics, Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO), and probably AU Optronics (AUO). However, they will not be using the three panel suppliers at the same time.
Dell seems to be trying to catch up by doing the following:
1. Speedening up production
2. And lowering the price.
Imagine for US$299 you get an ultraportable that has the following:
- Intel Atom processor
- Three USB ports,
- A webcam
- A 1024×600 display.
This August it will be flying in.
Tags: Dell, Dell EShare This
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July 21st, 2008
Have you seen Lenovo’s latest ultraportable? The ThinkPad X200. It weighs around three-pounds and powered by Intel’s new Centrino 2 mobile-PC platform. And Jamie Bsales of SmallBusinessComputing wrote Latest Little ThinkPad Delivers Big Performance is an interesting review of the X200.
X200 replaces ThinkPad X61. Bsales conducted tests that:
“… the X200 generally outperformed other ultraportables in the three-pound weight range, delivering performance traditionally reserved for larger notebooks. [Source]”
Aside from this the X200 has the following features:
It comes with usual customization features and options. Most notably the following:
1.The keyboard on the X200 is full size
2.The keyboard is more than adequately responsive and has an unmatched feel.
3. The X200 has a dedicated volume and mute buttons.
4. The X200 also has ThinkLight: a small white LED above the screen that pwrovides light for the keyboard.
Price: $1,199.
Tags: Lenovo, ThinkPad, ThinkPad X200, X200Share This
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July 20th, 2008
The MSI Wind U100 has finally arrived in the United States. Read and view one of the first encounters with the Last (?) and much awaited ultraportable for 2008 here at Adam’s blog
Initial reaction at least from Adam’s viewpoint seems to be positive. His wife was satisfied with keyboard and the ten (10) inch screen. And because of some mis categorizing of the MSI Wind ( as a barebones system) the three year replacement warranty was a steal at $70.00. All in all around $600 for the ultraportable and a warranty.
Its not a bad deal.
And as we leave Adam and spouse satisfied with their new ultraportable. Lets see which of the three Atom-powered ultraportables will be the number one ultraportable this year.
MSI Wind tale of the tape :
- 10″ Mini Laptop
- 1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor
- 1 GB RAM
- 80 GB Hard Drive
- XP Home
- 3 Cell Battery
Tags: MSI, MSI Wind U100, UltraportableShare This
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July 13th, 2008
If you want to take a break from the Ultraportable Wars and if you have had enough of hearing about the next Asus killer (It is getting to the point of Kwisatch Haderach proportions). Might we at Ultra Light Delight suggest some retail therapy or at least some window shopping - the online version.
Visit the Belkin site and feast (plus cover) your eyes for this vividly colored bags and peripherals for your Asus Eee. You can all see them here. We told you it was a sight for (or could cause) sore eyes.
It is set of cases and mices for the Asus Eee:
Quilted Carrying Case (F8N085) – US: $19.99
- Quilted texture protects laptop from light wear and tear while on the go
- Lightweight
- Made with durable polyester
- Fits 7″ laptops
Mini Laptop Carrying Case (F8N084) – US: $24.99
- Protects laptop anywhere you go
- Includes detachable strap for carrying ease
- Outside pockets give extra storage room for accessories
- Made with durable neoprene
Neoprene Sleeve (F8N082) – US: $12.99
- Light and durable sleeve protects laptop from minor scratches en route
- Stow it inside your own bag
- Made with durable neoprene
Wireless Travel Mouse (F5L017-USB) – US: $19.99
- Perfect for taking on the road—no messy cables to get tangled, and more comfortable to use than your laptop’s track pad
- Features 3 programmable buttons: micro switch, mechanical scrolling wheel, and depressing function on wheel
- Features on and off switch to save power when not in use
- Works with USB
- Compatible with Windows® 2000, XP, and Vista®
- Compatible with Mac OS® X v10.4
Retractable Mouse (F5L016-USB) – US: $14.99
- Retractable cable stays untangled and out of your way
- Powered via USB cable
- Compatible with Windows 2000, XP, and Vista
- Compatible with Mac OS X v10.4
[Source]
At least something other than the latest Asus Killer.
Tags: , Asus Eee, Bags, Belkin, Cases, computer peripherals, digital mouse, SleevesShare This
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July 13th, 2008
According to a post/report, Asus Eee feeling the pinch: Test of mettle, by Wily Ferret, at the Inquirer, Asus was only able to ship 1.7 million. They originally planned to ship around 2 million.
But which Asus Eee?
Shipping and selling are of course two different things. And it would probably be more prudent to wait till the sales figures for will come in. But it does seem that the shortage of the Atom and the economy are having its effect. Hence, the more lower shipment.
Things are not made easy with arrival or rivals. It was so different from last year.
Is this the reason why Asus is diversifying into other products?
Tags: Asus Eee, Asus Eee 701, ultraportablesShare This
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July 13th, 2008
Based on Robert Jaques post,Boffins promise flexible laptops, at IT News scientists predict that there maybe new forms of billboards, television and laptops that are flexible and only 1 cm in thickness.
Researchers Marianna Khorzov, David Andelman and Rafi Shikler made these predictions. Khorzov and Andelman are rearchers at the School of Physics and Astronomy at Tel Aviv University. While Shikler is a researcher who works at the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Ben Gurion University.
This is going to happen, according to the researchers,, because plastic versions of transistors are easier and cheaper to make.
And because plastic is flexible this makes the production of more flexible and slim notebooks possible.
Will it bring the price down?
Tags: plastic, UltraportableShare This
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July 11th, 2008
What is Candy Pink and has a radio?
If you are talking ultraportables it must be Toshibas’ s Portege M800. Toshiba has come out with a set of computers for the market. Nearly all comes in a Fusion Finish. This is Toshiba’s own a super-high gloss exterior that is made via a special manufacturing process that fuses molten resin into a mold. Here are some of the features of the Portege m800 and the other new laptop from Toshiba the Satellite M300.
Key features of the notebooks -
Key features of the Satellite M300:
- New Toshiba Fusion Finish with Horizon Line design, flushed touchpad with chrome buttons, and feather touch illuminated multimedia buttons
- Built in Web Camera with SmartFace™ Technology for convenient system logon
- REGZALink (HDMICEC) for connectivity to HDMICEC enabled TVs with ExpressCard type remote control
- Built-in FM tuner
- Harman Kardon Stereo Speakers
-14.1″ WXGA (200NIT) Clear SuperView TFT display
- Fingerprint Security Suite
- 5in1 Card Reader
- Choice of colors: Glossy Mecury Silver and Crimson Red
While the Portege M800, which is the ultaportable of Toshiba has the follwing features -
- Lightweight: Less than 2kg
- New Toshiba Fusion Finish with Horizon Line design, flushed touchpad with chrome buttons, and feather touch illuminated multimedia buttons
- Built in Web Camera with SmartFace™ Technology
- Built-in FM tuner
- 13.3″ WXGA (200NIT) Clear SuperView TFT display
- Selected EasyGuard™ features: 3D accelerometer, Fingerprint Security Suite and ConfigFree®
- Choice of colors: Glossy Mecury Silver, Cool Pearl White, and Candy Pink
Notice anything different? Save for the weight of the Portege … What makes it different at the first glance?
Even without connecting to the Internet or playing any digital media one can listen to music.
Tags: Portégé M800, Satellite M300, Toshiba, ultraportablesShare This
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