Lenovo Ideapad S10 video from IDF

Notebook.com got a chance to walkthrough a Lenovo Ideapad S10. Check out the video:



As I read more about the Ideapad S10, this is definitely one of the best looking netbooks. It looks stylish and cool, a real chick magnet. I would get one immediately if I wasn't a bit hesitant about...

1. The 1.5GB RAM limit doesn't sit well with me since the MSI Wind's can be upgraded to 2GB RAM, why settle for 1.5GB?
2. The 2 USB slot is a bit limiting for me. I would probably need 1 slot for the mouse, 1 slot for my external HDD and 1 slot for the mobile broadband dongle.

It would also have been nice if Lenovo had put their trackpoint in. I know the guy explain this is the Ideapad range, but for me, Lenovo = trackpoint.

Rumor of MSI to sell upgraded model from September

There's a forum post at msiwind.net forum claiming that MSI will be releasing a 'beef-ed' up Wind U110 with 120GB HDD and 6 cell battery come September.

With the constantly falling cost for HDDs, I guess it's entirely possible that MSI would include in a larger HDD without affecting the cost of producing the Wind. It could also be a marketing move to counter the launch of Lenovo's IdeaPad S10.

If it turns out to be true, I guess, there's something to be said about competition.

Video of the new IdeaPad S9 from notebooks.com

I have to say, I'm startin to like the Lenovo IdeaPad S9/S10 more and more. It's starting to look like a pretty decent netbook. I know this might just be marketing brainwashing, but still...

You can clearly see from the video, when the reviewer closed the cover and flipped it around, that the S9/S10 is likely to be a fingerprint magnet with that shiny cover.

Check out this video from notebooks.com



Source: http://www.notebooks.com/2008/08/06/video-ideapad-s10-hands-on/

ST Digital Life's coverage of the mini laptops

ST Digital Life has a feature today on why ultra-mobile PCs are hot in Singapore.

According to market research firm GfK, sales of the mini notebooks went up almost 10-fold in the first half of this year, compared to the last six months of 2007.

'It's another option for vendors and retailers because it hits a price point that is very low,' said Gerard Tan, commercial director of IT for GfK Asia.

Many customers were parents buying for their children, and also geeks buying them for fun. There are even those who buy them as gifts, something that wasn't common before given the price of notebooks.

I wish someone would buy me one for a gift.

Check out the articles here:
Going big on mini laptops
See the light
Wind of change

There's a simple comparison table too. Click to view.

Lenovo IdeaPad S10 Pictures from Taiwan

CNET Taiwan published a set of absolutely gorgeous pictures of the upcoming Lenovo IdeaPad S10.



Unfortunately, you can clearly see that the right shift key is positioned like the Asus Eee PC, next the Up key, which is not a very popular configuration. It's easily prone to mistyping as you might hit the Up key accidentally.

Apart from that, this netbook is looking set to be a best seller (provided it performs to spec, of course).

MSI Wind at Carrefour

MSI Wind, 3-cell black version is now on sale at Carrefour.

Carrefour Singapore to sell MSI Wind!

I enquired about the MSI Wind at the World Cybergames event at Suntec at today. MSI had a booth there, with a black Wind on display. The lady I spoke to says the MSI Wind is available from Carrefour Singapore. It should be selling for $859 for the 3 cell version, but with a 1GB upgrade.

I went over to Carrefour to enquire about the Wind. The sales guy I spoke to says the Wind is still in the backroom and hasn't been cleared to be displayed yet. The sales guy says come back tomorrow (08 Aug 2008)

If this is true, buyers with the POSB Everyday card would get 5% rebate, which is a savings of about S$40. That could make this Wind buy the best deal so far in Singapore. (At least until COMEX, at the end of August)

Wind clone spotted at Amazon: Microtel NB10028

A new clone has emerged, and this time in the US. Amazon has started to list the Microtel NB10028 Wind, which essentially is the same MSI Wind, without the MSI logo, and has a price tag of US$599 for the 6 cell version.

Although at Amazon, it's listed to ship between 3-5 weeks, at the Microtel website, the netbooks will be available from the 2nd week of August. So if you're willing to pay that extra US$50, it's time to get your Wind.

MSI, what's with the 'Hearts' edition?

You can now buy an MSI 'white' Wind at the MSI website, but it comes in the form of the special 'Hearts' edition, and it's going for a whopping US$559! And, it's only a 3-cell!



MSI, what are you guys thinking? You should sack your marketing folks, 'cos they're not doing their jobs right. We're here waiting for white wind stocks to be available, and you come out with a special white edition with a bit of a cover design change for an additional US$59?

Your marketing folks are either geniuses or they have absolutely no clue. So which one is it?

For those of you who likes this new design and willing to pay that extra to get your white, it's still available at the MSI website. Last count, there's still 133 units available (at the time of this posting)

*UPDATE*
It would seem that I was too hasty in my judgement. The 'Hearts' Wind is actually MSI's global charity program to support a range of notebook donation programs around the world for children in rural and remote areas. See MSI's press release for more information.

MSI Wind U100's 'Mini-Me' - the Wind U90

A 'mini-me' version of the Wind U100 has appeared on the MSI website. It's called the Wind U90. According to the specs, it's identical to it's bigger brother in everyway except the screen size. The U90 comes with a 8.9 inch display instead of the 10 inch.

I don't know about you but if you believe the specs on the website, then why the hell would I want to get the U90 that comes with the smaller screen if the dimensions of both machines are the same?

Maybe this is a case of the webmaster not having the full specs yet, or he (or she) is just plain lazy. Whatever's the case, I hope MSI is smart enough to know that if they want to push out a smaller screen unit, the buyers would expect a smaller form factor!

Here are the links to the specs for the U90, and the U100. See for yourselves and draw your own conclusion.