Top Netbook News» Breaking Stories

New Currys & PC World discount vouchers – hurry ends soon

Simon — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:24:25 +0000

PC World and Currys have just extended their 5% off netbook vouchers until the 23rd of June.

Check out all netbook vouchers here

Asus WaveFace – The Future Is Foldable

Mark — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:49:53 +0000

Check out this foldable, material tablet/netbook concept from Asus.

http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news/2010/3/1/asus-waveface-outdesigns-apple2c-set-to-revolutionize-pc-industry.aspx

As the article says – Apple, eat your heart out.

Mark

iTablet – UK iPad Contender

Simon — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:36:14 +0000

Just caught this over at Pocket-Lint.com:

In its own words “hot on the heels of Apple’s latest product launch”, UK company X2 Computing has launched the “iTablet” range of Windows- or Linux-based tablet PCs.

Check it out

I think I’d rather have one of these than an iPad. Screw your millions of Apple iPad apps that I will never use.

Litl Netbook / Picture Frame / TV

Simon — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:31:08 +0000

Litl is an interesting little device. It seems to be a netbook, running a web based OS that is designed to be used by people who don’t like computers.

It’s screen hinge can be rotated like an easel so that the device can be used as a digital picture frame or a small TV. It even comes with a simple remote and HDMI out so you can plug it into a proper TV.

Applications and some destination websites (like Facebook) seem to be hardcoded into the device and it claims to be self upgrading and self healing.

Check it out at litl.com

When is a tablet not a tablet? When it’s a Lenovo U1 hybrid

Simon — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:20:08 +0000

Lenovo have been previewing their U1 hybrid tablet/netbook at CES. The touch screen contains RAM and a processor of its own – so you can just rip it off from the keyboard and go slate crazy. I’m still a bit unsure about the usefulness of this.

Here’s the video from the guys at CrunchGear:

2010: Year of The Slate / Tablet

Simon — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:27:32 +0000

The year is but 8 days in and so far we have heard reports of tablet computers from the following companies.

Apple: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/10/times-slate-slip/
Dell: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/techchron/detail?&entry_id=54786
Microsoft/HP: http://www.pcworld.com/article/186172/why_the_microsofthp_tablet_is_a_big_disappointment.html
Techcrunch: http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/03/crunchpad-the-launch-prototype/
Lenovo: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/04/lenovo-ideapad-u1-hybrid-laptop-by-day-unhinged-tablet-by-nigh/
Sony: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/sony-introduces-dash-internet-viewer-touchscreen-tablet/
Notion Ink: http://www.androidcentral.com/notion-inks-smartpad-now-adam

AppUp: The App Store For Netbooks

Simon — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:45:58 +0000

So, you know netbooks don’t have CD/DVD drives right? And you have to either applications from the web or install them from USB drives. Well, Intel just made everything a little bit easier by creating an App Store just for netbooks.

You just download the app store client software, and from there you can browse and download hundreds of other apps for your Windows netbook.

Check it out: http://www.intel.com/consumer/products/appup.htm

HP TouchSmart TM2 Tablet PC

Mark — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:16:32 +0000

I urge you to check out engaget’s first view of the HP Touchsmart TM2 at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

We’re loving the touchscreen features. Very Minority Report. We can can get behind the idea of flinging pictures from the desktop onto Faceboom with a flick of the wrist. We’re loving the fact it has a HDMI output. We love the screen drag scrolling – we HATE trackpads.

Sounds like it has decent battery-life, nice aluminium finish and a processor with alot of poke. We’re reckon they’re gonna be pricey.

Do We Need The Smartbook?

Mark — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:58:28 +0000

It’s being reported in today’s TF that a new catgory of computer is set to attack the PC market in 2010 – the Smartbook.

The Smartbook is smaller than a netbook, but bigger than a smartphone and contains it’s own SIM. The only example a Smartbook that we could find for sale today is the Sharp NetWalker PC-Z1 a 5 inch screened mini-laptop that runs Ubuntu.

The argument for the existence of these devices is that they are aimed at teens who want to browse the web – even where there’s no WiFi – and they want something that’s portable, cheap and cool looking.

I’d argue that either a netbook with mobile broadband dongle or a smartphone like the HTC Hero fit this bill admirably. Maplins have been pushing devices like the Pockt Surfer and the UBISurfer for years with little success.

The netbook market seems to be leveling out with an average screen size of 10.1 inches. If anything nebook screen are growing with more 11.6 inch widescreen netbooks coming onto the market. I don’t know why anyone would want to carry around yet another device with an unusable screen that no website will display correctly on.

Prove me wrong.

Chumby Internet Tablet

Mark — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 11:54:52 +0000

Veda who make the Chumby market it as an internet radio/alarm clock but this tiny touchscreen device is capable of much more. You can play games on it, and download content widgets that’ll let you keep up to date with sports scores and news.

It’s dirt cheap (around £139) but this may be because much of the content contains ads.