Toshiba’s AC100 Tegra netbook runs on Android 2.1

Toshiba UK has just announced their first netbook running on Android. Dubbed the Toshiba AC100, it's running Android 2.1, has 512MB of DDR2 RAM, 8GB of NAND flash memory with more optional space coming from the SD/MMC card reader. It also includes a 1.3MP webcam built in with an accompanying microphone for video conferencing needs.

Other specs include a nice NVIDIA Tegra 250 chip packing an ARM-based 1GHz processor, a 10.1-inch TruBrite display with LED backlights and a resolution of 1,024×600. It includes USB and MiniUSB ports, an HDMI Port, Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR, WiFi, and optional 3G radios.

The battery is touted to operate for 8 hours (with 7 days of standby life) which is expected on an Android-powered netbook that naturally has better battery technology.

There are a few other interesting points about this netbook. There's no touchscreen display which is usually a norm for Android devices, and while it's running Android 2.1, it's using the Opera Mobile web browser instead of the default Android browser. The machine also comes with Documents To Go and Fring preloaded for office, chat, and VoIP functionality.

As with most Android devices, you may be able to plug in USB mouse, keyboard or external storage, but you probably don't have any luck plugging in a printer or digital camera.

The device should hit UK shelves this August but pricing has yet to be announced.

Intel's new Atom N550 is fast!

One of the more exciting news from the recent Computex show was Intel's announcement of a dual-core Atom processor for the netbook.

For the past years, Atom chips for netbooks have little or no preceptible difference in performance, and it looks like this is about to change with the new dual-core Atom N550 processor.



According to benchmarks done by folks from Notebook Italia, who managed to to spend a few minutes with a pre-release Asus netbook with an Atom N550 chip recently, the N550 is excellent in performing tasks that can take advantage of the chips multithreading capabilities.

The benchmark was conducted using the file compression app 7Zip's built-in benchmarking utility, and the results shows that the N550 was twice as fast as a 1.66 Intel Atom N450 processor, and a little faster than the current crop of dual-core Atom chips - the Atom 330 and D510.

It is also much faster than the Intel Core 2 Solo SU3300 processor, which is a chip that doesn't support hyperthreading.

We do have to take note that this is just one benchmark, but it does show that the Atom N550 will likely take the lead when it comes to running multiple applications simultaneously or running apps that are designed to take advantage of multiple threading capabilities.

Intel has shown with the Atom N550 that its finally able to provide improvements in performance of the Atom chip without compromising its excellent energy efficiency.

Source: TEST OF DUAL-CORE ATOM PROCESSOR N550

12.1-inch Asus Eee PC coming with AMD Geode chip

Asus has just announced a new Eee PC that breaks from the Atom crowd and gets in bed with a processor from the AMD Geode family.

The Asus Eee PC 1201K will have a 12.1" display and will use the AMD Geode NX 1750 processor. The Geode range of chips is primarily designed for use with media players, traffic lights and other embedded systems, which makes this a very surprising move.

Compared with the Atom N450, the Geode NX 1750 really doesn't look very impressive. It is clocked at 1.4Ghz instead of the typical 1.6Ghz we are all used to, and has a tiny 256K of Level 2 caches which is half as much as the Atom chip.

I won't expect any breakthrough performance by the 1201K which is a bit of a shame given that it comes with a 12.1" 1366x768-pixel display which literally screams multi-tasking, high-def video playback and large-format image editing. All of which could benefit form a much quicker processor.

As yet, there's no news of when the 1201K will be released or what it'll cost. I expect it will be priced much lower than the Atom range to offset the poorer performance capability.

Toshiba NB250 comes with DDR3 RAM and WiMAX radio

Toshiba announced it is updating its Dynabook line of notebooks in Japan, with new models ranging in size from a 10.1 inch netbook to 16 inch notebooks.

The 10.1" screen Dynabook UX/24 will use Intel's Atom N455 processor along with 1 or 2GB of DDR3 RAM and a 250GB Hard disk drive, and will include a WiMAX module too, says the company. Outside Japan, the UX/24 will be known as the NB250.

Other than the change in processor and RAM, Toshiba has left the netbook styling and features pretty much the same as previous models. Carried over, also, are the other typical netbook features such as three USB 2.0 ports, a webcam, a VGA output, a microphone input and headphone output, and a 10/100 Ethernet port. It will be available in white, brown, blue or black.

Also retained is the shiny keyboard with a chiclet design similar to its previous NB305.

The Dynabook UX/24 will be available later this month with Windows 7 Starter Edition. Pricing was not specified.

Replace JooJoo Linux with Windows 7

Back in July 2008, a US$200 Web-connected slate running on a Linux-based, touch-optimized interface was unveiled as the CrunchPad. Fast forward 1.5 years and a lawsuit later, and CrunchPad has morphed into the US$499 JooJoo tablet.

The finished product, unfortunately released after the Apple iPad hit the market, is a bit underwhelming. For the same price as the iPad, there's a feeling that we're getting something a bit less.

But it seems the a few modders at the JooJoo Forums have found a way to dump the OS and replaced it with Windows 7 and somehow turn the JooJoo into a much better tablet.



With a 12.1 inch, 1366 x 768 pixel display, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, NVIDIA ION graphics, 1GB of RAM, and a 4GB solid state disk, the JooJoo is essentially a netbook without a keyboard.

Source: Modder installs Windows 7 onto JooJoo tablet, gets touch working (video)

End of XP netbook by October 22, says Microsoft

The end is near for Windows XP. Microsoft has issued a reminder that Windows XP will no longer be pre-loaded come October 22, and support for Windows XP SP2 will end on July 13. This comes after figures released by research outfit NPD, that 81% of US netbooks sold via retail come preloaded with Windows 7.

"As of October 22, 2010, OEMs will no longer be able to pre-install Windows XP Home on new netbook PCs," Microsoft wrote. "However, for a majority of our customers, they may not notice much change."

However, according to Net Applications, Windows XP is still the most popular operating system in the world, with a market share of 62.55% while Windows 7 only has 12.68%, and Windows Vista 15.25%.

If you're one of the 62.55% still clinging on to Windows XP, you can take heart that Windows XP SP3 will continue to be supported until April 2014. So if you haven't already done so, you can update your version of Windows XP to the SP3 via the Microsoft Update website.

HP, Fujitsu first off the block with new Atom processors

After the announcement of new Atom processors by Intel at Computex last week, HP and Fujitsu are off the starting blocking, updating their existing netbook models with the new Atom chips, the N455 and N475.

These new chips run a the same speed as their predecessors but includes integrated DDR3 capable memory controllers, which allows data to be exchanged faster between the memory and CPU. This should boost the overall system performance.

HP will be upgrading its Mini 210 netbook, while Fujitsu announced the MH380-1A netbook.

HP's offering looks pretty standard for your usual netbook with 10.1-inch screen and 320GB of storage. It will come with up to 1GB of memory for the Windows XP version and 2GB with Windows 7. No word yet on when the upgraded Mini 210 will start shipping.

On the other hand, Fujitsu's will come with WiMax mobile broadband and include a 10.1-inch screen, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It will run the Windows 7 OS. The PC will start shipping on June 17.

Acer Aspire One D260 dual-boots Android OS and Windows 7

Come 1st July, Acer will be releasing the Acer Aspire One D260 netbook. What makes this netbook special is its unique ability to dual boot with Android OS and Windows 7.

This is a great option for buyers interested in a 15 second boot time, but it comes with a catch. The Android OS option is just that, an option.

"And, as an option the Aspire One D260 can be preloaded with Android OS, ensuring ultra-fast access to Internet, along with Microsoft Windows 7. Starting up the netbook with Android you will be able to surf the web or check your email in just about 15 seconds!"

The Acer Aspire One D260 features a 10.1 inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 600. Processing comes in the form of an Intel Atom 1.66GHz N455 processor, and there is also Intel GMA 3150 graphics, plus 2GB of RAM. The D260 will be available in a selection colors that includes black flake, purple flake, pink flake and charcoal flake.

Acer has yet to reveal how much this netbook will sell for, and whether or not the netbook will be a success with the masses is still questionable.

PC Show 2010

This year will be PC Show's 20th year in Singapore, and we can expect more gadgets galore and great promotions. Last year, the PC Show attracted over 1.16 million visitors and generated S$52.1 million in sales. As usual, notebooks, netbooks, mobile phones and other portable devices are expected to continue to be top sellers this year.

With new netbook processors and technology coming in the second half of the year, expect great bargains in the netbook space as vendors clear their stock. Here are some deals to look for.

Asus Eee PC Seashell 1001PX at S$498 with 2nd year local warranty


Fujitsu Lifebook MH330 for S$499


HP Mini 5102 - S$699 with an optional touchscreen for S$100.


Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3 - S$549 with free wireless mouse


MSI Wind U160 - N450 at S$548 with carry sleeve, optical mouse, LCD wiper.


Samsung N150 - S$499 with free anti-virus software


The PC Show 2010 runs from 10th - 13th June 2010 at the Suntec Convention Hall, from 12pm till 9pm.

MSI Sketch Book demoed

In addition to the various new netbook concepts MSI showed off at Computex, here's a look at something more unique, the MSI Sketch Book.

The MSI Sketch Book, as the name applies, is intended for people who want to sketch handwritten notes or drawings with their laptops. As any digital sketch artists knows, touchscreen devices are not targeted for such purposes since most are optimized for the finger rather than a styles.

Well, MSI is hoping to target this market segment by providing a netbook that has a stylus compatible surface for taking notes, drawing, or any other type of sketching.

As you can see in the video demo, the hand-writing surface can be rotated around and replaced by a full QWERTY keyboard on the other side. Quite ingenious really, but how practical it is still remains the question because you can only use one form of input or the other, unlike if a USB stylus pad was attached.