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.
Netbooks were made to be taken out on the road. They are also made to access the net. Join the two up and the missing part of the equation is mobile broadband.
O2 currently have a PAYG mobile broadband deal where you get a dongle for £20 and only page £2 a day (or £7.50 a week, £15 a month) to surf the net wherever you happen to be.
Because it’s pay as you go, there’s very little risk in checking it out – so go right ahead.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This seems quite an obvious convergence of technologies now we think about it. An ultra portable netbook computer slapped onto a proper ebook reader with power saving electronic ink.
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. 
Netbooks were made to be taken out on the road. They are also made to access the net. Join the two up and the missing part of the equation is mobile broadband. 
I urge you to check out 
It’s being reported in 
This seems quite an obvious convergence of technologies now we think about it. An ultra portable netbook computer slapped onto a proper ebook reader with power saving electronic ink. 
