The U110 uses a 9-cell battery that powers it’s US15W chipset and processor Z530 which is running at the speed of 1.6 GHz. When installed with the correct and right video codes, this gives you an accelerated H.264 decoding. The display of the Wind U110 is at 10.1 “ 1024 x 600 display screen which is the right size for people who travel a lot or on the go. The 3.2 pounds in weight adds to it’s attractiveness as well.

The MSI Wind U110 Eco is priced at around $ 420 USD, combined with it’s 3.2 pound weight and 15 hour battery lifespan, you have an ideal computer for the traveller.

Anyways, full specs for the MSI Wind U110 are as follows:

Processor
Intel Atom Z530 (1.60GHz, 512KB L2, 45nm, 667FSB)

Chipset
Intel US15W + SCH LPC

Memory
1×1024MB DDR2-667 CL5 (Max 2GB)

Graphics
Integrated Intel GMA 500

Display
10.1" Glossy ~16:9 WSVGA (1024×600)

Hard Drive
2.5" 160GB 5400RPM

Networking
Gigabit Ethernet
802.11n WiFi
Bluetooth

Audio
2-Channel HD Audio
(2.0 Speakers with headphone/microphone jacks)

Battery
9-Cell 7800 mAhr

Front Side
None

Left Side
2 x USB 2.0
Heat Exhaust
AC Power connection
Kensington Lock

Right Side
1 x USB 2.0
SD/MMC/MS Pro reader
Microphone/Headphone jacks
VGA
Gigabit Ethernet

Back Side
None

Operating System
Windows XP Home SP3

Dimensions
10.24" x 7.09" x 0.75-1.24" (WxDxH)

Weight
3.2 lbs (with 9-cell battery)

Extras
1.3MP Webcam

Warranty
1-year standard MSI warranty

Price
MSRP of $429;

This is really a very good gadget. The price, battery life, video capability and weight all work together to provide a high end business productivity computer at your hands.

Image from MSI.

Post from: EveryJoe

MSI Wind U110 for the Workaholics

The LaCie Portable DVD±RW optical drive is a rewritable drive with all the features you need in a DVD drive of this type. Since you’re purchasing it to use with your netbook, it’s got to be lightweight and mobile. There’s no sense in having a peripheral that takes more effort to haul around than the netbook itself right? Another feature that backs up that need is that the drive is USB powered so there’s no need for an additional power cord.

I’ve never really experienced the benefits of a LightScribe enabled optical drive, I’m just not sure of the real-world value it would have. If I were distributing discs I was burning for other people’s use of some sort perhaps, but for me it’s not a must-have feature, even though this drive does have it.

Image: LaCie website product page

Post from: EveryJoe

LaCie Provides Optical Drive Solution for Netbooks

After a few months, it was reported that return rates for Linux based netbooks was four or five times higher than normal Windows XP. At that time Microsoft was making a killing continuously announcing that Windows XP based netbooks was the right choice and Linux would end up in the return mail.

The cheap prices of Linux based netbooks when it first came out enticed a lot of consumers into buying the computer but later found out that the learning curve on using Linux was tiring and they sent the netbooks back to the vendor.

Dell right now doesn’t recognize this and instead belittled Microsoft’s bashing of Linux saying they were making something out of nothing. Dell notes that the reported return rates of Linux based netbooks were high compared to Windows based netbooks but it was a non-issue for the company. During the OpenSource World (LinuxWorld) in San Francisco, Dell senior product marketing manager Todd Finch, says that the return rate of their Linux based Inspiron mini netbooks was a non-issue. He said that they don’t see a significant difference between the return rate for Windows vs Linux. He said they are happy with the stability and technical soundness of Linux machines.

I don’t believe this is a non-issue for Dell but I’m pretty sure they want to continue serving this market and wouldn’t want to alienate the small Linux consumer market. Finch is downplaying this because they are offering  Linux OS upgrades to Ubuntu 9.04. Dell is into manufacturing ARM-based netbooks and smartbooks probably powered by Linux. In some areas, Finch confirmed that 1/3 of netbooks shipped are Linux based.

Earlier, Microsoft COO Kevin Turner said during the software giant’s annual financial analysts’ meeting that retailers selling Linux netbooks are experiencing return rates of four or five times higher than Windows returns.

I think consumers shouldn’t get caught up on the dollar savings of Linux netbooks unless they are seasoned Linux users. If they are using Windows then go stick with Windows based Linux netbooks. That should be simpler and ensure you don’t sent the PC back to the vendor.

Image from Windows 7.

Post from: EveryJoe

Dell Trumps Return Rates for Netbooks

It is still difficult to have a keyboard even if its small sit on your lap while you try to be productive. In most cases, I wish it was a touch screen and I’d type whatever I wanted on it. Ok, there is a device called iPhone, but I have tried it a number of times and I just don’t think I can be business productive. There is no question, it was fun using an iPhone, but it’s not my cup of coffee for my purpose. Anyways, having said that, I am really beginning to like Archos 9. It is powered by Windows 7, it is lightweight at 800g, extremely thin (0.63”), it features a capable processing power using Intel ATOM Z515, it has an 80 GB hard disk, bluetooth capable.

The features of Archos 9 is getting me excited, and I would be thinking hard of exchanging my netbook with a tablet PC.

Image from Archos.

Post from: EveryJoe

Netbooks or Archos 9?

Once you’ve decided what type of machine you’re going to get. How do you decide which one you’re going to buy? What’s more important to you?

I frequently get asked for advice on purchasing computers. Many times because I almost exclusively use a laptop these days, it’s individuals asking me about what laptop to purchase. Very rarely will someone ask me about the features they should be looking for in their machine. Instead they ask about what brand to purchase.

Is that the most important factor? There’s loyalty and trust involved for sure, but are the individual components within the different brands really that much different? Maybe it’s not the components you’re really concerned about, but the service you’ll get from the company if something does go wrong?

Let’s jump to price then. When you look for a new machine do you buy as much as you can afford or the cheapest available? Does your decision change based on the quality of the system you’re replacing?

How do you make your decisions on purchasing a new computer? What’s the last computer you purchased? What was your deciding factor on the purchase?

Image: sxc.hu

Post from: EveryJoe

Are You Purchasing a Computer Soon

That then do you want from the next generation of netbooks?

1. Better Keyboard size – I don’t want a bigger netbook, I just want a bigger and better keyboard.

2. Touch screen – Everything is going touch screen now, and I can’t wait for a touch screen netbook.

3. Swivel – I want a swivel monitor. Asus next generation netbooks is underway and has the swivel technology.

4. Media – Just give as a DVD please. It was a pain not having a DVD.

How about you? What do you want to see in future netbooks?

Image from Dell

Post from: EveryJoe

Future of Netbooks

Linux had it’s chance when Asus launched it’s netbook. Industry experts content that Linux is making a big push on the netbooks market as the operating system requires less hardware processing power, perfect for netbooks. Linux did not fail, but Microsoft simply extended Windows XP life on netbooks and the tables quickly turned. Linux was left in the dust, a place they long occupied.

Stephen is a dreamer, and his dreams of Linux penetrating 50% of the market would remain a fantasy. The release of Windows 7 and it’s capacity to run on netbooks would simply continue the surge of netbooks together with the software giant.

You can read the article here — Linux netbooks expected to reach 50% market share.

Image from Lenovo products.

Post from: EveryJoe

50 percent share for Linux Netbooks?

BSquare is the company the leaked out this information boasting that they have ported Adobe’s Flash Lite 3.17 technology to Dell’s Android netbooks.

The press release previously found here, has been removed. Those who had a chance to read the release notes, has posted the information here — Dell Android Netbook Outed By BSQUARE?

Image source from phAndroid.

Post from: EveryJoe

Dell Android Netbooks

There is an ongoing explosion of netbooks and a thin version is going to be welcomed by consumers which should make Apple seriously consider creating their own netbooks lineup.

Source of image: Asus

Post from: EveryJoe

Asus Air

Is it going to be the iPod Touch HD? The iPod Touch HD is similar to the current iPod Touch with a bigger screen and it is expected to be out on the third quarter of this year.

Post from: EveryJoe

iPod Touch HD