Gizmodo: voodoo envy

Microsoft Adding Its Own Instant-On Feature To Windows?

John Mahoney — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:45:00 EDT

This survey, sent to a random sampling of Windows users, seems to indicated that MS is at least thinking of integrating an instant-on mode to Windows. Existing quick-start features like Splashtop, found on the Voodoo Envy, Eee Box and a number of other machines, are usually Linux-based systems that stick their finger into the BIOS. A Windows-native solution would be a similar setup—giving you access to a limited feature and application set after a few seconds boot. That is, unless the respondents to this survey overwhelmingly select "1-2 minutes" as their definition of "instant." [Engadget]

SplashTop Instant-On Linux OS Gets Hacked to Do More Tricks

John Mahoney — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EDT

Splashtop, the instant-on Linux mini-OS found embedded in many Asus motherboards as well as the Voodoo Envy 133, has been hacked to allow installation of additional apps, access to the computer's main file system, and more. Initial impressions of the Envy have noted that Splashtop can go from off to surfing in 15 seconds with SplashTop (which Voodoo calls "IOS"), but out of the box it's somewhat locked down and only works with a predefined list of common applications. Being a Linux system, it's not that hard to believe that someone has successfully made SplashTop jump through some hoops, but it beats waiting for an official SDK, which has been delayed. Give it a shot on your SplashTop-capable machine if you're not afraid of a whole bunch of terminal messiness. [Phoronix]

Voodoo Envy Impressions Roll In

John Mahoney — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:30:53 EDT

Laptop and Maximum PC have gotten their hands on Voodoo/HP's Envy 133 thinnest-of-the-thin power notebooks and had some light hands on time. Nothing too shocking has been uncovered—it looks as good in person as it does in pictures, is almost as light as the Macbook Air, and all the rest, but Laptop was able to test one of the Envy's more interesting features, the Splashtop instant-on Linux kernel.

Voodoo calls their version the IOS, which they claim can get you onto the web from a cold start in less than five seconds. Laptop found that power-on to surfing with the modified Firefox browser took around 15 seconds—still not too bad, compared to a 50-second boot time for Vista. Other open source apps like Pidgin, Skype, and basic photo and media players are also on board. One interesting thing is that the main filesystem is unavailable in IOS mode on the model they tested—files must be saved to a USB stick.

Maximum PC had more of a gropefest than hands-on, but they did note the glossy case tends to pick up a lot of fingerprints (hence the included microfiber shammy, of course). They also didn't detect much of a difference weight wise with a Macbook Air, even though the spec sheet gives the Envy and extra half pound.

[Laptop, Maximum PC]

Voodoo Envy 133 Configuration Site Goes Live, Full Pricing Revealed

Adrian Covert — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:21:00 EDT

The configuration page for the Voodoo Envy went live today, showing the full pricing scheme for the 133 PC, which starts at $2100 and goes as high as $4000. The low end model features a 1.6 GHz Core 2 Duo processor and an 80GB, 4200 RPM HDD. The high end model has a 1.8 GHz Core 2 Duo, Windows Vista Business Edition and a 64 GB SSD, bringing the total to $3400. Another $600 dollars can be spent on a variety of custom finishes other than the standard black — white costing $500 and "flat black" $600.

This is expensive even by MacBook standards, whose $200 cost to upgrade to black at least includes a bigger HDD. To top off the already complicated configuration/pricing scheme, once you get your specs picked out, you have to request a quote from an Voodoo customer service rep. I get the feeling owning a Voodoo Envy is supposed to be a privilege in their eyes. [Voodoo]

Thinnest Notebook Showdown: Voodoo Envy 133 vs. MacBook Air

matt buchanan — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:45:00 EDT

Voodoo's Envy 133 notebook is skinny slice of hotness—basically the skinniest notebook alive when it launches (only .7 inches thick), bumping the MacBook Air into the fatty column, courtesy of its .76-inch bulge. It sounds good on paper for the Envy 133, but the Air's slick tapering definitely masks its love handle, so even though it isn't technically slimmer, it sure looks it. We're not that shallow though—it's what's inside that counts, and the Envy's got guts in spades (if you've got the $$$). One more shot:

[Journal du Geek via Engadget]