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Mini PCs you may have missed

August 11th, 2008, 3:06 am by

 

**FYI** This version of “Netbooks everywhere. Do people really want them?” published in Tuesday’s paper **

In researching the whole netbook phenomena, I wanted to put them all in one, simple post for anyone looking for the new options. These smaller, usually cheaper, laptops have sprung up in recent months thanks to the new tiny Atom chip from Intel. However, not all use the Atom.

In a past post, “Netbooks everywhere! Do consumers really want them?” one analyst mentioned that it seems like every PC maker is jumping in because, well, everyone else is doing it. HP, Acer, Lenovo plus a slew of other brands have jumped in. Rumor is that Dell and Toshiba may make the jump soon. Here’s what we know so far … (Click on images to enlarge photo.)

 
HP announced the Mini-Note PC last April. It uses a processor from Via Technologies. The 2.63-pound netbook has a 8.9-inch screen and a keyboard that is “92 percent the size of a full size keyboard.” Price: $499. HP Mini Note PC 

HP Mini Note PC
The Acer “Aspire one” came out last month, weighs 2.17 pounds, has a 8.9-inch screen, Wi-Fi and a 3-hour battery. Other features include a webcam, five-in-one memory card reader plus an SD card reader, and 3 USB ports. It’s $379 if you get the 8 GB solid-state drive; or $399 for the 120 GB regular hard drive. Acer Aspire one 

Acer Aspire one
MSI Wind NB is a 2.6-pound, has an 80 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM, Bluetooth, a 1.3 megapixel webcam and keyboard that is “80 percent of a full-size notebook.” Other features include 3-hour battery, 3 USB ports, and a 4-in-1 card reader. It’s priced at $480. (Don’t forget to check out the “Love” edition.) MSI Win NB U100 

MSI Win NB U100
ASUS Eee PC 901 – Has an 8.9-inch screen, 12 GB storage, 1 GB of memory, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a webcam and lasts about 7.8 hours. It’s $549. Two other Atom-based Eee PCs, the 1000 and 1000H, are $699 and $649, respectively, because of larger screens and storage space. ASUS Eee PC 901ASUS Eee PC 901
SYLVANIA g – Has a 7-inch screen, a Linux-based operating system and weighs 1.8 pounds. It starts at $399. Coming this month, Sylvania is adding an 8.9-inch and 10-inch model to its netbook lineup — both run on Intel’s Atom chip. Those are expected to cost less than $500. Sylvania g netbook 

SYLVANIA g netbook
SYLVANIA g MESO –
Announced 8/18: The 2.2-pound MESOs have an 8.9-inch screen, an Intel Atom chip,  80 GB hard drive, 512 or 1 GB of memory, Wi-Fi, web cam, card reader, 3 USB ports and your choice of Ubuntu or  Windows XP. Battery lasts 4 hours. Price: $399.		 Sylvania G Meso netbooks 

SYLVANIA g MESO
Lenovo IdeaPad S10 – Has a 10.2-inch screen, a keyboard that is 85 percent the size of a laptop’s keyboard and an energy-efficient LED backlit display to conserve battery. Also includes Wi-Fi, two USB ports, 4-in-1 card reader, Express Card slot, webcam and includes Windows XP. Available in October for $399. Lenovo IdeaPad S10 netbook for $399 

Lenovo IdeaPad S10
ASUS finally unveiled the Eee Box, a desktop version of its miniature notebook computers.The 2.5-pound, 1-inch computer is touted as “slimmer than a paperback novel.” Features include an 80 GB hard drive, Intel Atom chip, and 1 GB of memory. It’s $349 and doesn’t include a monitor.

ASUS Eee Box

ASUS Eee Box
Upcoming: Hannspree, a TV company in Irvine, plans to launch its netbook by the end of the year. It’ll have the Atom chip, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a hard drive — essentially, the usual laptop components. Expected price is $299.

Hannspree’s netbook

Hannspree’s netbook
Upcoming: Averatec, a PC company in Santa Ana, plans to launch its netbook by the end of the year. It’s thinking bigger — with a 10.2-inch screen, 90-percent keyboard, 120 GB hard drive. Still hopes to stay below 3 pounds for $399 or $499.

Averatec’s upcoming netbook computer

Averatec’s netbook

Recent posts on netbooks:

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Netbooks everywhere! Do consumers really want them?

August 5th, 2008, 12:01 am by

Lenovo IdeaPad S10 netbook for $399Ever since I sat down with Intel last spring to hear more about its tiny new Atom chip, mini computers with these chips have been popping up everywhere.

Lenovo became the latest company with a ‘netbook’ or ‘nettop,’ a new category of computers that are smaller, lighter and often cheaper than a laptop. With Internet access, the portable computers are targeting those in the market who want something between the smartphone and laptop.

Before that, it was Sylvania (with the g netbook), MSI Computer Corp. (and its MSI Wind) and ASUS (with new models of its Eee PC). Coming soon, there’s Hannspree. Plus reports around the web said these nettops/netbooks were also on the way from BenQ, Clarion, Gigabyte and Compal. Rumored to come are netbooks from Dell, HP and even Irvine’s Toshiba.

But smaller, lighter and cheaper means a sacrifice. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Computers • news • • • • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

UPDATE: Forget about finding bargains at Gateway.com

July 25th, 2008, 7:49 am by

**UPDATE: 8:55 a.m.** Gateway’s news today resulted in job cuts, but the company won’t say how many employees are affected or how many remain in Irvine. See all updates in bold below**

Gone are the bargains and coupon codes sent out weekly to customers of Irvine-based Gateway, which started life in 1985 selling computers directly to customers over the telephone. The company just announced its move to “100 percent indirect sales model,” in order to focus on getting its PCs into stores, online stores and other partners.

While consumers won’t be able to buy a computer at Gateway.com, the company’s PC’s will still be sold online at sites like Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Costco, HSN, Newegg, Tiger Direct, Office Depot, OfficeMax and Wal-Mart.

No mention of when this will happen, but obviously not today since you can still buy PCs at Gateway.com. I’m waiting to hear back from the company. I just heard from Lisa Emard, with Gateway. The changes will occur this weekend.

Says the company in a release, “This change will dramatically simplify Gateway’s business model and deliver significant cost savings, ultimately resulting in an improved value proposition for consumers.”

But this also appears to be a result of Taiwan PC maker Acer Inc. buying Gateway last year. Acer bought the company because it wanted to boost its presence in the U.S. computer market. Combining the two companies made Acer the number three brand in the U.S. — a position it lost to Apple in the past quarter depending on whose numbers you look at.

“We are shifting Gateway’s distribution method to better align with Acer’s successful global strategy, which was built upon an indirect model. As the only top-tier PC company without a competing U.S. direct sales force, our commitment to the channel is unparalleled in the industry,” said Mark Hill, Acer Group U.S. General Manager.

**UPDATE, 8:55 a.m.** Emard, with Gateway, said the change does have an impact here and in North Sioux City, where Gateway has had a call center and other operations.

“The reductions have been happening in small waves since the close of the merger as the company worked to evaluate each department, function, etc.,” she said.

“As far as Gateway employees, we have all been under the Acer umbrella since the close of the acquisition. Acer doesn’t disclose employee numbers by facility, but I can tell you that we continue to have a significant presence in Irvine and North Sioux City – many of these employees now support Acer in addition to Gateway and/or eMachines.”

Related:

Posted in: Computers • news • • • | 4 Comments »

eMachines introduces line of low-priced PCs for students

July 3rd, 2008, 2:01 pm by

eMachines introduces new student PCs and LCDs

Irvine-based retail PC brand eMachines yesterday introduced a new line of affordable PCs targeting students heading back to school in the fall.

Gateway, which owns eMachines, says that the standard processors and multimedia features make the computers suited for both entertainment and educational presentations.

“These new eMachines desktop PCs offer a range of performance levels and features that not only meet the computing needs of students and families, but offer attractive prices that will appeal to today’s budget conscious consumers,” said Glenn Jystad, senior manager for eMachines desktops.

Here are short descriptions of the products in the new line: Read the rest of this entry »

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Review: Toshiba’s always-on USB goes ZZZZ

June 11th, 2008, 3:19 am by

Toshiba’s Sleep & Charge USB technologyWhen I first learned of Toshiba’s USB Sleep & Charge technology, I perked up.

I get pitched on new computers all the time — but these days, I only care if I spot something different.Toshiba’s newish USB technology charges gadgets all the time — even when the computer is in sleep mode or turned off.

Since I often use my laptop’s USB ports to charge a cell phone, iPod or other small gadget, this means no more waking up to find my phone battery still dead because my computer took a snooze.

The Irvine computer company offered to send me a shiny new Satellite U405 to test out. It had three such USB ports. Before I even opened the box, my Toshiba contact mentioned that I would need to turn on this feature since Sleep & Charge is disabled by default. That should have been a warning.

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Your cell phone will get a charge out of this bag

June 3rd, 2008, 2:32 pm by

Juice Bags ProFolioNot the prettiest way to tote a laptop, but the new Juice Bags ProFolio from Reware offers something most cases don’t: power.

Solar power, that is.

According to Reware, the bag “contains a technologically advanced thin-film solar panel composed of 52 micro solar cells. The panel immediately converts sunlight into usable energy to charge all 12volt electronics.”

While the bag can hold a 15-inch laptop, the solar charger is best suited to small gadgets, like cell phones, PDAs, iPods, and other portable devices.

Juice Bags solar panelReware makes all sorts of solar-powered bags. In addition, the solar panel is flexible and waterproof and can be removed from the bag. The bag is made from ballistic fabric, heavy-duty zippers and buckles, reinforced shoulder straps and is “stitched to military specifications.”

But of course, it needs sun to charge and, at $399, it’s not cheap. However, for a limited time, the bag is available for $299 at rewarestore.com. Juice Bags are also sold at Seeds of the Earth in Laguna Beach.

Related posts:

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Own a Lamborghini for just $3,299

April 25th, 2008, 10:07 pm by

Eric Roberts holds his Lamborghini (laptop, that is…) ASUS launched a new laptop in style in — of all places — Santa Ana. Last night, hired celebs Luke Perry, Eric Roberts and Jaime Kennedy showed up to mingle with a bunch of Lamborghini lovers, ASUS’ Debby Lee told me.

But why Santa Ana? It’s home to Lamborghini Orange County, “the largest authorized Lamborghini dealer in the world,” according to the dealer’s site. John Gittelsohn, a Reg reporter who attended the event, said that 10 percent of the nation’s Lamborghini sales are done by this dealer.

Hot item of the night was the new ASUS-Lamborghini VX3 laptop, the $3,299 machine loaded with 4 GBs of memory, 320 GB hard drive and a 12.1-inch screen. Did I mention it shares the same paint and logo as the car? It also has a hand-made genuine leather palm rest and a crystal sapphire camera lens. Plus it includes a Lamborghini leather bag and mouse.

So, $3,300 is on the high end of computers but think of it this way: it’s a much cheaper way to express any midlife crises anxieties. (Only 12 inches? C’mon, where’s the 17-inch screen?)

By the way, haven’t heard much about ASUS? It’s an up and comer, most recently launching the Windows version of its $299 Eee PC. ASUS reminds me of another PC maker Acer, which thrilled gadget lovers a few years back when it launched its Ferrari-edition laptop. Now, the company owns Gateway.

ASUS launches its ASUS-Lamborghini VX3 laptop

Photos provided by ASUS

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How much do Energy Star computers save?

April 21st, 2008, 5:40 pm by

Energy Star has a computer programGoing green doesn’t always mean that you’ll spend more money. It could mean saving money. And I do like saving money effortlessly.

Energy Star, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s voluntary program that rates home appliances for energy savings, also includes computers and that little blue label can indicate whether a PC will cost you less in energy bills. (There’s also EPEAT, but more on that later…).

In fact, computers were the first products to qualify for the Energy Star label back in 1992, said Maria Vargas, Energy Star’s director of communications. The program added stricter criteria last July. Computers that qualify use 20 to 50 percent less energy then other computers. Today, there are 180 million Energy Star computers out there and about 500 models are available.

Yet, I don’t remember ever seeing a little blue label on a computer.

iMacs are Energy-Star approvedThey’re out there, Vargas says, but there are reasons for the lack of consumer awareness. Initially, Energy Star labels weren’t required. Now they appear when a computer boots up, plus they are on product literature and packaging.

Another reason was lack of incentive. PC makers focused on government clients, instead of consumers, because the federal government required all of its computers be Energy Star certified. Consumer PCs have also historically focused on marketing speed and performance.

And while an Energy Star computer shouldn’t cost more than others, long-term monetary savings aren’t substantial. Vargas estimates that under the new requirements, Energy Star desktop computers save between $30 to $60 on a user’s energy bill during the life of the computer. She didn’t have an estimate for laptops. (Check the program’s computer calculator to get an idea of savings.)

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