Hot on the heels of Raon Digital’s apparent demise comes word that Everex US have shut their doors. Best known for the Cloudbook, a rebadge of VIA’s original Nanobook reference design that met with middling reviews and relative consumer apathy, the company had most recently revealed plans for a WiMAX version and a touchscreen model.
With the netbook segment over-saturated with options, it’s proving difficult for manufacturers to differentiate their machines. Sadly FIC’s 10.4-inch CW001, freshly revealed by the FCC, doesn’t quite manage it, with the same old Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz processor, up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, 2.5-inch SATA-II hard-drive and an ExpressCard slot. Unfortunately, contrary to some reports, there’s no integrated optical drive (which would have at least given the CW001 something to crow about).
Everex are planning to take on the ASUS Eee PC 1000-series with a new 10.2-inch budget ultraportable notebook, according to sources at the company’s manufacturing partner FIC. The leak suggests that the devices will include 3G WWAN connectivity with WiMAX an option; a decision on processor has obviously not been made, as both Intel’s Atom or a rival from VIA’s stable have been mentioned. It will be joined by new 8.9-inch ultraportables, adding WiMAX to the Cloudbook range.
It’s been a week of ultraportables, frankly, with enough budget laptops vying for the Eee’s crown to make the whole market more than a little confusing. Medion announced their Akoya E1210 while 3K unveiled their own alternative; meanwhile, MSI finally released some decent photos of the Wind. Thankfully there’s now a comprehensive list of all the options available, meaning attention has turned from cataloguing to pondering whether Palm will join the fray with a re-worked version of the Foleo companion. Stranger things (like the first Foleo, you could say) have happened.
Eight years ago, I was in love with Linux and I fell for it even more when I found Debian Linux. I dreamt about Linux being sold to the average Joe years ago, and today many companies do just that. I applaud Everex for taking a step to bring Linux-based computing to the masses.
unboxing video after the jump
This was a long week with no major events occurring, but there were some pretty big announcements. For starters we have a new BitTorrent Set Top Box from Myka, no more will you have to waste power by leaving your entire computer running all night just to get the latest screener from FXG or aXXo, and this little set top box will do it for you and then play it right from its hard drive for added ease. Then there were rumors abound of Blockbuster potentially putting out a new Set Top Box to push their movies, TV Shows, and other content out to.
I have yet to get my grubby little hands on one of these things and I am already feeling my mouth water at the anticipation of what they’ve done just with the software side of things. If you thought for one second that you could do everything you do on the internet, this new version of gOS with the MySpace functionality added.
This particular CloudBook model packs in an 8.9” WVGA display, a VIA C7-M ULV processor, WiFi b/g, Bluetooth, GPS, and 2x 2MP webcams. But the most important feature is the addition of support for Sprint’s upcoming Xohm WiMAX network.
So Henry Kingman got his hands on both an Everex CloudBook and a Zonbu Zonbook and pitted them against each other. First, let’s give a quick run down of their similarities, they are both made by Everex, they both run Linux, and they both run it on Via C7-M processors, that’s pretty much where it ends.
They came, they saw, they failed. Linux PC’s just didn’t sell enough units in stores to warrant restocking them in stores. That means that as soon as your local stores run out of stock of their Everex computers, you won’t be seeing them again.
Chrome OS: Waiting Is The Hardest Part…Though Necessary
Apple is no longer the Nordstrom of Tech, they’re the “New Nordstrom”
Can Anything Replace Windows XP As the Best Netbook Operating System?
Hey, Premium Notebooks or Netbooks, Get the Basics Right!
SlashGear Japan
