Gizmodo: mini-laptops

MSI Wind Scores 30% Performance Boost in Free Update

Mark Wilson — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:01:00 EDT

Overclocking is nothing new, but rarely is it promoted by a PC manufacturer, let alone in a netbook. But MSI has released the v1.09 BIOS update for their Wind mini-notebook that allows users to function key toggle an 8%, 15% or 24% automatic overclock that can translate to a 30% performance boost (as independently tested). You'll notice the extra power in apps like Photoshop especially, but keep in mind that it probably won't do wonders for the battery life. All in all, however, it sounds like an absolute must-have update. [Electric Vagabond]

Dell Inspiron Mini 9, Now Running OS X Leopard

Mark Wilson — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:40:00 EDT

The first time a mini-notebook is loaded with OS X, like any right of passage, it's a major event. And now the Inspiron Mini 9 has become a man, or at least an honorary Apple fanboy. Loaded with a slipstreamed version of OSX in a manner similar to the MSI Wind, the wireless card, Ethernet and sound didn't work initially but were fixed after the download of a few additional files.

If you've got a Mini 9 you'd like to load OS X onto, hit up the link for, not quite step-by-step instructions, but probably enough to get the job done. [UneasySilence]

Samsung Netbook Looks Cute in Glamor Shots

Mark Wilson — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:20:00 EDT

It's completely lacking any new innovation, but Samsung's 2.9lb Atom processing, XP running, 10.2-inch display wielding netbook looks attractive in its new publicity shots. Available this October (possibly Korea and UK-only), Samsung's $550ish netbook will be offered in white, black and blue—yes, the color of snow and bruises. But you may be interested because its keyboard looks fantastic:

No extra media keys here, just the basic meat and potatoes spacious QWERTY that you need. [whatlaptop and pocketables via engadget]

Acer Drops Price of Aspire One to Impulse Buy Territory

Mark Wilson — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:30:00 EDT

Acer's Aspire One was already one of the most affordable 8.9" mini-notebooks on the market, but now they've gone and dropped the price further while adding a 6-cell battery version to the mix. The Windows XP version (120GB hard drive and 1GB RAM has been reduced $50 from $400 to $350. Their Linux system (8GB SSD and 512MB RAM) dropped $50 as well from $380 to $330. Oh, and those of you wanting the 6-cell system can pick it up for the old price of the 3-cell, $400. So is Acer worried about the competition from a potentially $300 Dell system? We don't know, but we sure do like seeing prices going down for once. And for the time being, the Aspire One is probably the best deal in the mini-notebook market. [Laptop]

A Comprehensive List of Ultraportables, Netbooks, Mini-Notebooks, Or Whatever You Call Them

Mark Wilson — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:38:00 EDT

When the Asus Eee came out, the market was simple. There was only one tiny, cheap laptop so you knew which one was for you. That was less than a year ago, but things move quickly in the tech world. Now it's tough to keep up with the major brands offering mini-notebooks, let alone every no-name knockoff (where you may still find the better deals and innovation ). Luckily, Liliputing has created a comprehensive list of these machines so it's easy to compare stats and prices. And there were a few that even we hadn't heard about.

If you're willing to stretch your browser and translators to the ends of the Earth, you might be interested in something like the Sungjut TangoX, a mini-notebook with a touchscreen, modular Skype phone and DVI out. Or maybe you'd prefer the Raon Digital Everun Notebook, which is only 1.6lbs and packs an AMD Turion dual core processor instead of an Atom or Via.

Either way, it's a convenient chart to keep your head straight. Hit the link to check it out in full. [Liliputing]

MSI Wind Getting Desktopified

Mark Wilson — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:49:00 EDT

Just as MSI saw the opportunity to create an Eee of their own with the Wind, so too will they create an Eee Box with their Wind mini-desktop. The internals will be very similar between each version of the Wind, with the desktop featuring the same 1.6Ghz Atom processor and 35W power supply as the laptop, along with Windows XP, 1GB of RAM (expandable to 2), DVD (burner?), up to 160GB of storage and Wi-Fi. Priced between $199 and $299, the Wind mini-desktop is not slated for a US release when it hits this September...but were the Eee Box a huge success in the States, it wouldn't be crazy for that to change. [infoworld]

Kohjinsha SX Series: For When Your Mini-Notebook Obsession Grows Up

Mark Wilson — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:40:00 EDT

While Asus has brought mini-notebooks to US shores, for the best stuff you've still got to import. The Kohjinsha SX Series is a 2.8lb laptop with a few interesting quirks. Powered by an Atom processor, the 8.9-inch Vista system can convert to tablet with the rotation of the convertible touchscreen. And to make sure you can teleconference in either mode, the system features two cameras to capture those dazzling whites. The 1GB of RAM will need a boost, but the 60GB hard drive, internal DVD writer and expandable multicard reader do a lot to make up for it (and if only we could take advantage of that 1seg tuner...). Buy it now for $1,199.00. [DFJ via jkkmobile]

HTC Revamping UMPC Line Into Mini Notebook Line Soon

Jason Chen — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:10:00 EDT

HTC's already familiar with the UMPC seeing as they've been shipping the Shift for a while, but they're going to go even more hardcore into mini laptops. Their CEO Peter Chou didn't elaborate exactly what their strategy was, but Digitime's sources say HTC is planning on making mobile internet devices with Intel's Atm and Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipsets. To us this says many Eee PC-like laptops, as well as UMPCs that are running on Windows Mobile 7. [digitimes via Boing Boing Gadgets]

MSI Wind Delayed, But Not For Long

Mark Wilson — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:50:00 EDT

We're as excited about the MSI Wind as you are, but the US release has been delayed to June 27. Since the hardware is long finished and distributed to the rest of the world, don't fret about production problems or false promises on this ~~$500~~ $479, 10" Eee-killer. MSI probably just wanted to launch with more units than they had in inventory.

UPDATE: We figured out the $479 price. The model shipping on June 27th will have a 3-cell battery (as opposed to 6-cell) because of industry-wide battery shortages. 6-cell models should be around in July. [MSI via thegadgetsite]

Asus Eee TV (Too Far?)

Mark Wilson — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EDT

There's no doubt, Asus really shook up the technology market with their Eee PC mini-laptop. And to parlay the Eee's success into a success for all of their electronics, Asus came up with a plan. Just call everything the Eee! Here's Asus' new Eee TV that was spotted at Computex, described only as a "rather plain looking LCD TV playing the Blu-ray version of Pixar's Cars." If it runs $299, sign us up. Otherwise, we're getting a bit confused as to the eeexact definition of the word... [engadget China]

Windows Mobile 7 May Power Mini Laptops, Says Qualcomm

Jason Chen — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:21:22 EDT

Qualcomm displayed a 3G, $299 mini-laptop today made by Inventec that is supposedly designed to run Windows Mobile 7 in the future (it runs Linux now). Windows Mobile 7, which supports Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipset, will in turn make the company more competitive in the mini-laptop space processor that's currently being dominated by Intel, AMD and Via. This meshes with what NVidia says about its Tegra processors being in Windows Mobile devices, meaning that WM7 could be Microsoft's way of covering both phones and mini-laptops with the same OS. [Yahoo]