More details about the slimline Acer Aspire One spotted yesterday have emerged, in the shape of some hands-on images and what are suggested to be the new netbook’s specifications. According to the anonymous source, the netbook – which is the ZG8 according to the product label – runs Intel’s 1.6GHz N270 Atom processor with 1GB of RAM and, contrary to initial expectations, a 160GB hard-drive rather than an SSD.
Marvell have been talking up their SheevaPlug reference design, a wall-wart power plug that actually hides an entire Linux PC. Priced at $99, inside the SheevaPlug there’s an ARM-based 1.2GHz Sheeva embedded processor, 512MB of DDR2 memory, 512MB of flash storage, gigabit ethernet and USB 2.0; in fact the development kit is available now.
Images of a new Acer Aspire One netbook have emerged, with a slimmer chassis than the recent 10-inch D150 version. The as-yet unannounced netbook also has the SD memory expansion slot which disappeared in the transition from 8.9-inch to 10-inches, and that plus the reduced heft suggests that what we see here is the SSD version.
Mitsubishi Electric unveiled it latest automobile In-dash player with a Linux-driven Blu-ray player to be integrated with its Windows CE’s car navigation systems. Like most automobile in-dash player, the thin profile 1D1N Mitsubishi Blu-ray player is a shrunken version of home-used Blu-ray player, at the size of 1/3 smaller than the regular shelf component units.
As Intel’s investment into the Moblin OS gets increasing attention, and more non-technical users are introduced to Linux-based platforms in the shape of low-cost netbooks, 2009 will see open-source become more mainstream than ever before. Under the hood there’s much that makes Linux safer, more efficient and secure than rival systems, but for most new users it’s what they can see on-screen that counts. SlashGear caught up with Xfce creator Olivier Fourdan, whose desktop environment has not only been selected by Intel for Moblin but can be found on many existing Linux netbooks, and talked Intel, Moblin, the future for netbooks and what challenges he sees for open-source newcomer Android.
HP’s launch of the Mini 1000 netbook back in October 2008 seems like a long time ago; since then we’ve reviewed the budget ultraportable and, dare we say it, moved on to excitement over its rivals. However there’s one last Mini 1000 variant to play with, that with HP’s new Mobile Internet Experience (MIE) – a Linux-based version of the netbook with the company’s own custom GUI. James Kendrick found one on his doorstep, and gave some first-impressions.
Acer are planning Linux and SSD versions of their 10-inch Aspire One netbook, according to the latest reports, which while not available from initial launch will follow after. The first versions of the larger Acer Aspire One will all use 160GB hard-drives and be Windows XP based; however an Acer spokesperson has confirmed that the netbook “will be available with XP or Linux, and HDD or SSD.”
It’s been a long time since we last heard about TechCrunch’s $200 Web Tablet project – July 2008, in fact – but the team has not been sitting idle. They’ve now got a prototype put together, complete with a 12-inch 4:3 aspect touchscreen, VIA Nano processor, 1GB of RAM and 4GB of flash memory. It also has WiFi, a camera, an accelerometer for screen orientation changes and a four-cell battery, and came in at just over $200. They’re now trying to decide whether to spin off the project as a real company, making real products, or not.
Video demos and more photos after the cut
Routon have brought their latest Mobile Internet Device (MID), the P760, to CES this week, complete with a 4.8-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen, ARM11 processor and optional mobile broadband. The P760 is based on Linux and has either 4GB or 8GB of solid-state storage, 128MB of RAM and a 2-megapixel camera.
It appears that EMTEC’s new Gdium netbook is ready for prime-time, or in this case, ready for display at CES. We went hands-on with a non-functioning prototype of the Gdium last August at IFA 2008 and now have pictures and specs for what appears to be the final product.
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
