One of the prevailing themes at this year’s COMPUTEX Taipei is the growing interest in compact notebook PCs. It was at COMPUTEX last year that Asus introduced the world to the Asus Eee PC, but since then, it seems like every other major manufacturer has either already entered or is about to enter this segment of the market.
It would nearly impossible to cover all of the subnotebooks that were on display at COMPUTEX Taipei 2008, but we managed to round up a good number of them for your perusing pleasure. Don’t let their small stature deceive you; interest in small form factor laptops is absolutely HUGE!
Acer Aspire One
Just as all the rumors seemed to be saying, the Acer Aspire One was introduced at this year’s COMPUTEX. Featuring the new Intel Atom processor and an 8.9-inch widescreen display, the Acer Aspire One has a few details that will set it apart from the competition. For example, Firefox comes pre-installed for “faster and more secure web surfing.” Even if you don’t find yourself awash in a sea of Wi-Fi, you can still stay connected via the Mobile WiMAX 3G WWAN connection.
The user interface has been designed specifically for the Internet. You get dedicated icons that “allow click-and-launch convenience for enhanced entertainment and productivity.” All the major applications are split across four major groups: Connect, Work, Fun, and Files.
Asus Eee PC
The one that started it all just got a little bigger. At a special launch event, we were introduced to the Intel Atom-powered Asus Eee PC 901 and the larger Asus Eee PC 1000. The former has an 8.9-inch display, whereas the latter bumps it up to 10-inches. There is also the Eee PC 1000H, which is the first of the Eee PC line to get a hard disk drive instead of a solid state drive.
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Classmate PC Refresh
Taking on a similar segment of the market as the OLPC XO Laptop is the Intel Classmate PC. An updated version of the child-centric notebook was on display at COMPUTEX and it’s clear that this machine is a different beast altogether from the rest of the subnotebooks out there.
Powered by an Intel Atom processor, the second-generation Intel Classmate PC has a handle on the back and a semi-rugged design that should stand up to some abuse from the kids at school. Users have the option of selecting either a 9-inch or a 7-inch display.
Flybook V5 and VM
If you need more performance than what the average subnotebook is able to offer, then you may have to turn to the people at Dialogue and their Flybook line of small laptops. Even though the Flybook V5 has a very compact footprint, it has the same level of performance as a 3GHz desktop computer. They say that the Flybook can replace your main computer, rather than just supplement it. I don’t know if I can do that with the V5, but replacing a main notebook with the larger VM seems more doable.
For more information on these two laptops, be sure to check out our feature article on the Flybook V5 and VM.
Gigabyte M912X
Powered by an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor, the Gigabyte M912X is one of the few affordable subnotebooks that is actually a convertible tablet. The 8.9-inch WXGA display can rotate 180-degrees to grant you access to full Tablet PC touchscreen functionality. The Flybook V5 does this too, but the Flybook costs a lot more.
Rounding out the specs on the Gigabyte M912X are up to 1GB of DDR2-667 RAM, a 2.5-inch SATA HDD for up to 250GB of storage, a 1.3 megapixel CMOS webcam, and a 4400mAh lithium-ion battery.
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MSI Wind
The MSI Wind U100 is a winner of a 2008 Good Design Product Award and is, as you’d suspect, powered by an Intel Atom processor. MSI managed to keep the weight down on this larger 10-inch notebook. The bigger size also provides more room for a larger keyboard and a larger hard drive.
Also at the MSI booth were two conceptual variants that let you “ride with the wind.” The first is the Leather Wind Notebook (shown above), which wraps the top cover and the wrist rest area in leather. The second is the UV Detect Wind Notebook, which is equipped with an MSI exclusive “UV detect sensor for monitoring the level of UV spectrum.” Don’t get burned!
VIA OpenBook
Even though everyone seems to be falling in love with the Intel Atom processor, there is another major player in town that still grabs a fair bit of attention. The VIA V7-M processor is very popular for its reasonable level of performance and low cost. And VIA has apparently done an excellent job in implementing this engineering.
The award-winning VIA OpenBook UMPC has a four-cell battery that is integrated right into the screen hinge. You’ll also notice that the OpenBook is pre-equipped with WiMAX connectivity and Sprint XOHM branding. Stay connected anywhere!
Competition is Good for Everyone
From a manufacturer’s standpoint, having more competition in the area of small notebook PCs is a good thing, because the variety and prevalence will only aid in increasing the popularity of the form factor. From a consumer’s standpoint, competition about these manufacturers will only bring about better, more affordable, and more innovative products.
It’s a good time to be interested in small form factor notebooks. The possibilities are limitless.
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