ASUS announces Eee PC E1004DN with optical drive, 1008HA gets a release date

In a bombshell of moderate proportions, the gang at DigiTimes have reported that ASUS will be following (when was the last time you heard that?), and have announced the first Eee PC equipped with an optical drive, the E1004DN. This bad boy sports an Intel Atom N280 CPU, a 120GB HDD, and will be in the ballpark of NT $18,000 - 20,000 (roughly $531 - $590). It should see the light of day sometime in mid-April. The same source reports that the will be getting its release in May. Out of curiosity, we asked @billyjoel for a comment and have yet to receive a response.

Samsung posts N110 product page, pre-orders get going

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 29th 2009 at 5:44PM

Heads-up, lovers -- Sammy's latest is totally official, though it's becoming so after a . At any rate, Samsung has just recently hosted up a product page for its 10.1-inch N110, which brags about its 9.5 hour battery life, 2.8 pound body and 93 percent full-size keyboard. Specs wise, it's still rockin' the tried-and-true N270 / 1GB / 160GB combo, which makes it pretty tough to choose over the far less expensive . At any rate, those who've somehow found the value proposition to be more enticing can get in line now for $441.99 at Buy.com, while the has it listed for $458.

Acer reportedly launching laptops based on Intel's CULV platform

We don't doubt that 's cooking up a few laptops based on Intel's forthcoming consumer ultra low voltage platform, but we do have serious reservations about 'em coming out next month. Last we heard, the platform was still on track for , and at least in our hemisphere, April ain't summer. For what it's worth, Taiwan Economic News is reporting that Acer is looking to launch 11.6-, 13-, 14- and 15-inch machines with CULV processors within, and if rumors prove true, at least some of 'em will make their debut next month. Don't bet the farm, but you're probably safe to pencil it in.

Acer Aspire One Pro could signal a diluting trend

We'd guess that wouldn't intentionally put itself in any sort of contretemps, but its actions are proving otherwise. As ASUS (and continues to do), it seems that Acer is moving closer and closer to obliterating any semblance of separation between its netbooks. Shortly after hearing of the comes an ever-so-tweaked variant that reportedly caters to professional and business users. Granted, we're not so sure what suit can sufficiently load those 40 task bar applications on an presumed Atom CPU, but we digress. The always insightful macles has it that the so-called AA1 Pro will sport a more industrial design, a Linux-based OS (Windows optional) and your choice of HDD or SSD. Check the read link for a few more angles, and go ahead and bank on Acer coming clean with the full slate of specs here soon.

Acer Aspire One D250 and 531 pop official in Germany

This is it, folks -- our wildest dreams are coming true. Oh, and in case you aren't savvy on our wildest dreams, we're talking about having more Aspire Ones to talk about than we can even count. At any rate, the rumored and ultrathin have both grabbed a landing page over on the outfit's German portal, which likely means we're just minutes, hours or centuries away from seeing these slide over to North America. As for the D250, it checks in with a 10.1-inch WSVGA panel, 160GB HDD, 1.6GHz Atom N270 (or an upgraded 1.68GHz ) processor, Intel's 945GSE chipset, a multicard reader, up to 2GB of RAM, 0.3 megapixel webcam, Ethernet, WiFi and optional WWAN. The latter machine is a sleek, 1-inch thick (maximum) rig with most of the same specs internally. As for pricing? Try €379 ($502) for the D250 and €399 ($529) for the 531.

Samsung's 2.1-channel rocking N120 netbook now available for pre-order

While most complain about slow CPU speeds on netbooks, the thing they universally lack is a decent sound system. If nothing else Samsung's N120 could be an improvement there, featuring enough bezel to house a pair of speakers, and there's room for what must be the world's smallest subwoofer in there somewhere. Of course, all that bezel was really to make room for a bigger keyboard, but we , and we now know the thing is showing up at retailers across the web for pre-order at prices falling in the $450 - $475 range and colors at either end of the light spectrum: black or white. With that keyboard, those speakers, and 10.5 hours of battery life, this sounds like a solid entrant to the netbook races, especially for anyone more interested in sound than color.

How would you change Dell's Inspiron Mini 10?

After a rocky, if not comical , Dell's is now shuffling out in full force to legions of soon-to-be netbook owners. For those of you who already bought in -- via or the more street corner vendor model -- we're wondering what you'd do differently if magically given a mythical Do Over token. Would you simply offer up the options (TV tuner, for one) during the machine's announcement? Would you tweak that trackpad at all? Add a little bulk in exchange for a beefier battery? Paint the whole thing fuschia and make it reek of week-old bananas? Feel free to get as crazy as you'd like in comments below; who knows, maybe Round Rock's tuning in to just see what you have to say.

Microsoft boasts that 96% of netbooks now run Windows

Remember the old days when Microsoft was dragged kicking and screaming into offering Windows XP on netbooks? Neither does Microsoft, apparently, as the company is now all too happy to boast that a full 96% of the netbooks on the market run on its venerable OS. It's also, unsurprisingly, quick to point out that virtually all of that growth comes at the expense of Linux, which Microsoft once again notes sees much higher rates of return once folks "realize their Linux-based netbook PC doesn't deliver that same quality of experience." Of course, all of this talk also has a little something to do with the even more netbook-minded which, ironically, could well be trying to peel off some market share from XP by this time next year.

Gigabyte posts T1028 TouchNote product page, user manual

Gigabyte's T1028 TouchNote has been cooking on the back burner for weeks now. After we first spotted it, the tablet / netbook hybrid has since landed in the FCC'e Database and has now shown up officially on the company's website. The formal specifications list explains that the 10.1-inch machine will boast a swiveling touch panel (LED-backlit), a 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor, 92 percent full-sized keyboard, embedded HSDPA module, a 2.5-inch 160GB SATA HDD, Bluetooth 2.1, 1.3 megapixel camera, Ethernet, 4-cell battery, WiFi and twin 1.5-watt speakers. Optional equipment includes an Atom N280 CPU, WiMAX module, 1,366 x 768 resolution panel (at least according to the user manual) and a more longevous a 6-cell Li-ion. Now, give us a price and ship date and we'll be pleased as punch.

Gigabyte posts specs for ThinNote S1024 and Booktop M1022

It's all coming together, folks. Merely hours after Gigabyte hosted up a product portal for its , the same occurrence has just went down for the ThinNote S1024 and . Both rigs were initially introduced , and now you can pretty much bank on 'em shipping stateside within the next little while. As for the M1022, you'll find it bundled with a vertical docking station and packing an N270 or N280 processor, Windows XP Home, 1GB of RAM, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, WiFi, optional WiMAX / HSDPA and a 6-cell battery. The S1024 netbook contains most of the same hardware, but you'll have to handcraft your own stand if that you're thing.

Exhaustive netbook battery comparison finds a clear winner, no victims

It's hardly the first netbook battery comparison to appear in the Thunderdome that is the internet, but this latest thirteen-strong round-up from Australia's NetbookReview is one of the more comprehensive to emerge as of late, with it only slightly compromised by a few netbooks that aren't available in the site's home country. Not surprisingly, the netbooks equipped with six-cell batteries came out well ahead of their less well off counterparts, with the leading the way with an impressive time of 6:56. That was obviously aided in no small part by the netbook's dual SSD / hard drive setup, and by a less commonly used 5100mAh six-cell battery, as opposed to the 6600mAh version used in the second and third place Eee PCs (which each clocked in around the four-hour mark). Bringing up the rear were the Lenovo and , neither of which were able to eek out even two hours of use. As you might expect, however, all of the tests involved a worst-case scenario, so you can expect to get a good deal more juice from all of 'em if you're not spending every waking hour watching WMV files.

Packard Bell's new DOT S and DOT M netbooks for Europe

Acer-owned Packard Bell is taking Acer's latest and greatest netbooks and rebadging them for the European market. The 10.1-inch DOT S swipes most of its specs from the , while the DOT M (pictured) goes for the 's guts. There do seem to be a few aesthetic differences, however, with a fancy textured palm rest, silver touches to the trackpads and a tweaked lid. The DOT S will be available this week for 299 Euros, while the DOT M hits at the end of this month for 399 Euros.

Gigabyte T1028 netbook / tablet gets the hands-on treatment

We've already seen Gigabyte's netbook / tablet , and even gotten a glimpse of the, but the folks at UMPC Portal have now finally come though with a proper hands-on of the device, which looks to confirm that it does indeed deliver the goods, if not quite justify its $600+ price tag. What's more, as welcome as that swiveling touchscreen is, it looks like it's the little touches that really push this one over the edge, including an all too often omitted ExpressCard slot, built-in 3G, 802.11n WiFi, some actually accessible upgrade options, and an apparently faster than usual 2.5-inch hard drive. Hit up the link below for the complete rundown (including some benchmarks) and, of course, plenty of pics.

MSI's Wind U123 netbook gets unboxed

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 11th 2009 at 11:30AM

We already caught MSI's upgraded (which goes by , if you must know) last month, but the crazy cats over at PortableMonkey have gone and got a model fresh in the box. Needless to say, this retail edition (which is hitting Japanese shelves any moment now) didn't stay packaged up for long, but we are happy to say that we've been cordially invited to feast our eyes upon the unboxing process. Right out of the gate, we have to share the disappointment in the lack of a rear panel for easily accessing the internal RAM and HDD, but at least the Atom is a (minor) step above what we've grown accustomed to. Check the read link for all the pictorial delight.

MSI details Wind U123 variants, introduces GX403 gaming laptop

Earlier this month, let loose on its and its oh-so-promising netbook. Today, it's fully detailing the U123 lineup and formally introducing its newest gaming / multimedia laptop. As for the former, users can soon expect to see a U123, U123H and U123T; the first is the standard fare model, while the second gets equipped with a 3.5G (HSDPA) WWAN module. The U123T gets gifted with an integrated TV tuner, but sadly, there doesn't seem to be a way to get both extras bundled into one mega-U123. Moving on, there's the 14.1-inch (1,280 x 800) GX403, which sports a Core 2 Duo CPU, NVIDIA's GeForce GT 130M (512MB) graphics card, Turbo Drive overclocking, 4GB of system RAM, gigabit Ethernet, WiFi, HDMI output, 4-in-1 card reader, USB / eSATA sockets and an optional Blu-ray drive to boot. Mum's the word on pricing or availability, but you can catch a glimpse of it just beyond the break.

Medion's Atom-powered E1211 and E1215 make the scene

If you're a resident of the European Union (or just a big fan) you might like to know that Medion's back with another nondescript, low-priced laptop or two. Understated sequels to the , both the E1211 and E1215 sport a 10-inch display, Intel Atom processor, 160GB hard drive, Windows XP Home, webcam, Bluetooth, and WiFi, and weigh a mere 1.25 kilograms -- and the latter also rocks integrated UMTS. According to Portable Gear, these guys are expected to fall into the €400-500 price range, rearing their heads in retail outlets such as Aldi, Hema, Action, Gamma and Karwei. Hit that read link for some more exciting pics.

Dell Vostro A90 now available in US with much more reasonable $349 base price

Dell's 8.9-inch , the Mini 9 with an identity crisis, has now hit stateside with a starting price of $349, about one-third the price of its Japanese counterpart. As you can probably guess, it sports a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270, up to 1GB RAM and 16GB SSD, Intel GMA950 graphics, 802.11g, 0.3 megapixel webcam, 4-cell battery, and Windows XP Home Edition -- sorry, no option for Linux here, but you can still order the Mini 9 if you want that option, a brighter color scheme, or a smaller bill.

Stone Neo 101 drops into the netbook pond, doesn't cause a ripple

We haven't heard much from Stone since it fulfilled its destiny and bought Rock Computers , but it looks like the company is now finally having a go at a netbook of its own, and blending right in with the masses with its just-announced Neo 101 model. As you can no doubt guess, this one packs a standard issue 10.1-inch 1,024 x 600 display and an unspecified Atom processor, along with built-in WiFi and optional 3G, a pair of USB ports and, somewhat notably, an ExpressCard slot for a bit of expansion. You'll also get a slightly better than usual three-year warranty, which apparently doesn't add much of a premium to the netbook's £275 price tag (or about $400). Look for this one to be available in the UK starting May

How would you change HP's Mini 1000 Mi?

Judging by recent PC shipment reports, HP's had a pretty good run in Q1, and we fully suspect that a good chunk of those sales are in the netbook category. The outfit's was highly anticipated and chock full of promise, though we're not totally convinced the whole Mi interface lived up to the mile-high hype. So, now's your chance to tell us -- did it? Are you pleased with the software? Do you feel the user interface attracts or detracts? Could the hardware use a retooling? Are you totally looking forward to the 2000 Mi (or 1000 Mii, whatever HP settles on)? Feel free to blast our your really real opinions in comments below -- we'll be listening.

Velocity Micro's Atom N270-packing NoteMagix M10 coming this month for $380

Largely under the radar since its CES debut -- and even then there wasn't much to say, frankly -- Velocity Micro's 10.2-inch is on sale with an April 30 estimated ship date. Base price is $380, and color notwithstanding (it comes in red, blue, and black), the only customization option really is a DVD writer for $70. What you do get, however, is the usual spec list that comes along with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, along with the pleasant surprise of a 6-cell battery. The big question now is if there's really enough here to divert attention from any of the other, more dominant brands in this hyper-saturated netbook market.

Samsung's 10.1-inch N120 netbook now on sale

Samsung's long-awaited (okay, so we made that part up) has finally transitioned from "" to "oh, I'm definitely shipping." Consumers interested in the 10.1-inch, 2.8 pound netbook can surf over now to Amazon and order one up in black or white for the not-totally-tantalizing price of $465.99. If you've forgotten what all that buys you, here's a rundown, and feel free to say it with us in unison: 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, Windows XP Home, a 1,024 x 600 resolution panel, 6-cell battery, a 3-in-1 multicard reader, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and an Ethernet jack for good measure. Oh, and there's a "2.1-channel" sound system, for whatever that's worth.

I-Buddie shows off its Android netbook prototype

We've heard about Android-powered netbooks -- and even seen a few demonstrating the -- but it sounds like little-known I-Buddie is actually planning on shipping a product sometime soon. That's really all we have to go on at the moment -- Sascha from netbooknews calls this a "prototype," so anything could change, but we're definitely intrigued. Here's the question, though -- would you rather have an Android netbook or a more MID-style device like the ? We're leaning MID. Video after the break.

Fujitsu's 10.1-inch LOOX M netbook looks good, positively average

Not that Fujitsu's to the or , but we've got to hand it to the outfit's design team on this one. The newfangled LOOX M netbook is definitely handsome, even though the innards contain a list of hardware components that we could rattle off in our sleep. Ready? Here goes. A 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 160GB hard drive (yawning yet?), WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, three USB 2.0 sockets and a multicard reader. If you're suddenly overcome with déjà vu, you're definitely not alone -- 'tis a shame Fujitsu has the nerve to charge ¥59,800 ($611) for something that's no more advanced than the of Eee PCs.

MSI's CULV-packin' X-Slim X340 ships this month in US

MSI already told us that its ultraslim, super-sexy, WiMAX-ready X-Slim X340 would be starting at , and now we're being told that the planet's first laptop to be based on Intel's (consumer ultra low voltage) platform will be shipping in April. As in, this month. For the forgetful souls in the crowd, this here ultraportable will ship with an CULV processor that consumes just 5.5 watts of power and a 4-cell battery. Now, to find a retailer 'round these parts willing to let you pre-order one...

Samsung does things backwards, gets official with N110 / N120 netbooks

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 23rd 2009 at 1:09PM

It's odd, really. Shortly after Samsung's ($469) and ($459) netbooks went and saw reviews, the creating company has at long last come forward with official press shots, specifications and pricing. Not surprisingly, both machines are confirmed as "on sale now," with the pair sporting a 1.6GHz Atom N270, 1GB of DDR2 memory, a 10.1-inch WSVGA display, 160GB hard drive, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, three USB 2.0 sockets and a 1.3 megapixel camera. If you're wondering how the N120 got ten points closer to the top rung, it ups the ante ever-so-slightly with a "2.1-channel" sound system, a six cell Li-ion battery and a 97 percent full-size keyboard.

Sharp Mebius NJ70A import now up for pre-order at Dynamism, LCD trackpad in tow

If the of Sharp's and its LCD multitouch trackpad has gotten you hot, bothered, and reaching for your wallet, Dynamism is now taking pre-orders for the Japanese import netbook. The 4-inch touchscreen notwithstanding, you're looking at a 1.6GHz Intel Atom machine and the usual, that go along with it -- not an easy pill to swallow when you're staring down a $999 price tag. Ship date is June 5th, and you might want to take that time to brush up on your skills with a Japanese International Layout keyboard if you're seriously considering the purchase.

Toshiba's 10-inch Dynabook UX netbook gets hands-on treatment

Toshiba's Dynabook UX (or NB200, if you prefer) just on our radar last week, and already we're seeing netbook craving individuals in Japan get their paws on 'em. The 10-inch machine ain't too different than the other alternatives out there -- save for the processor, which will never show its true potential without a chipset riding shotgun. At any rate, early impressions of the machine have been rather positive, with onlookers digging the design and the chiclet-style keyboard. Personally, we're a bit bored from afar, but hit the read link to have a look and make a judgment of your own.

UMID M1 unboxed ahead of Australian launch

Still no US release in sight, but UMID's has now set the course for the land down under in the not-too-distant future. Pocketables has managed to get its hands on a non-HSDPA retail version to take it through the unboxing and review motions. The pictures are a good reminder at just how tiny this thing is, especially compared to the jacket pocket fave . Unfortunately, it's also got a rather awkward set of adapters for USB and what appears to be headphones, as seen in the picture above. Australian retailer Justek's got the unit available for pre-order now, but you might want to glance at that $930 to $1426 price range before you impulsively hit the "pre-order now" button.

Apple prototyping "iPhone lite" and MacBook Mini / media pad for Verizon?

Hot on the heels of yesterday's reports of comes some tantalizing, but still unconfirmed, new details from BusinessWeek. According to the publication, the gang in Cupertino has prototyped two devices for the carrier. The first one is a smaller, less expensive device that's been dubbed as "iPhone lite" by someone who's apparently seen it in person. The other is called a "media pad" (anyone?) for music, photos, HD video, and placing calls over WiFi. Details are scant beyond that, and while that pad sounds a lot like an iPod touch to us, we can't help but wonder if it has something to do with those that Quanta's rumored to be manufacturing. Don't put too much stock into this, as the reports could end up being all for naught, but one thing's for sure: you can bet the are keeping a very, very close eye on this. In other, even sketchier and likely unrelated rumors, a listing for "MacBookMini" has popped up in Adium's statistics. While we wouldn't normally think anything of this -- as TUAW correctly notes, anyone can edit their computer IDs -- it was from these pages that we first heard the name . Chances are this is nothing, but with all this talk of 10-inch screens and media pads, it kind of makes you wonder.

Averatec hints at an Android netbook

We're not sure why Android is suddenly the but we'd guess it's about to at Computex next month. Today's whispers? Averatec CEO Tae-Hyun Cho says his company will ship a new netbook with a "surprise" OS that blends "cell phone and PC technology" in August or September. Very mysterious. That's literally all we know for now, but Cho's comments about what consumers are willing to pay has us thinking this one'll come in cheap -- we'll keep an eye out.

Fujitsu gets official with M2010 netbook, Engadget Chinese goes hands-on

We already caught sight of Fujitsu's new 10.1-inch netbook in Japan earlier this month, and it looks like the company has now gotten official with the seemingly identical M2010 model for some other markets, although it still hasn't made it all the way over here. The netbook itself is about as standard as can be, and includes a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and built-in Bluetooth, among other not at all surprising specs -- although you will apparently get a bundled DVD burner and wireless mouse with it, which makes the nearly $650 price tag at least a tad more reasonable. What's more, while they didn't get ton of time to spend with it, our pals at Engadget Chinese did manage to snap a few hands-on pics at the launch event, which you can check out by hitting up the link below.

Century's all-in-one dock gives your netbook a greater sense of value

For those who need a little something more from their netbooks, at least while at home, Century's all-in-one dock should help out in that department. It fits just under the little laptop and features a pop-up fan to help with cooling, 8x DVD-writer, and a slot for a 2.5-inch SATA HDD or SSD drive, because let's face it, your digitized copy of the complete Doctor Who series probably isn't gonna all fit on your portable. It's compatible with XP and Vista, but no word on how well it'll jibe with Linux. It looks to be on sale now in Japan for ￥9,980 (US $100), and if you're needing some more intimate shots, Akihabara's got a hands-on with it.

Acer's Aspire One 751 netbook gets officially pictured

This one's been in the oven for some time, but at long last, we're finally able to see official images of the netbook that we first heard about . Obviously aimed at the likes of Dell's , this larger-than-usual netbook still packs the all-too-familiar suite of "," but that doesn't mean it can't look pretty being average. The relocated VGA port is sure to become this unit's signature (or... something), right beside the sleek overall appearance and nicely spaced keyboard. If we didn't know any better, we'd say we see in here -- right? One more look after the break, or you can opt for a boatload down in the read link.

ASUS releases new Eee PC 1008HA Seashell down by Swansea

ASUS is finally ready to start selling the latest installment in the Eee PC family, the 1008HA Seashell that we've seen popping up and at various prices. The official, tax-inclusive UK price of £379 is now confirmed, which is perhaps a little steep for this svelte but otherwise identical revision to the franchise, still offering that good 'ol 1.6GHz processor, 160GB hard disk, 10-inch screen, and GMA graphics. Look for these to start shipping in about two weeks to stylish Brits, while we elsewhere in the world will just have to keep waiting.

Is Dell cooking up an Android-powered netbook?

Um, okay? Straight out of the left-most corner of left field, software provider Bsquare has just outed Dell's newest netbook -- or so it seems. The same company that that it was bringing Adobe Flash to Android has just revealed that it'll be doing for "Dell netbooks running Google's Android platform." Specifically, it'll be Flash Lite 3.17 making the leap onto these heretofore elusive machines (casually referred to as the, or, in the release), but details outside of that are mum. Consider our interest piqued. Full release is after the break.

Update: Dell just pinged us with an adorably terse response: "The Bsquared news release erroneously mentioned Dell and is being recalled. Dell does not offer an Android based netbook." Well then.

Hannspree 10-inch HANNSnote netbook announced for Spain

best known for some, has just announced its vanilla-as-it-gets HANNSnote netbook. The whole affair looks pretty middle of the road, with a 10-inch 1024 x 600 resolution LCD, Intel Atom N270 CPU, 1GB of RAM, Intel GMA950 graphics card, and a 160GB hard drive. It boasts WiFi, Ethernet and Bluetooth, has three USB 2.0 ports, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. It will come in white and black when it is released in late May, in Spain, for a price somewhere between €299 and €399 ($400-$530). No word on availability outside of Spain as of yet -- there's one more shot after the break.

HTC working on an Android netbook for T-Mobile?

Man, the hype is just getting silly as we draw nearer to: the whispers today are that HTC and T-Mobile are working on a 3G-capable machine running Google's OS. That vague bit of info is all we have at the moment, but it's not totally insane -- HTC and T-Mobile are bosom buddies in the Android game, after all. We'll keep an ear to the ground.

LG X120 unboxing and hands-on

We got an at LG's at CES back in January, but we've now finally gotten our hands on the final retail version, and will be properly putting it through its paces in the coming days. Right off the bat, however, it's clear that the netbook has quite a bit going for it inside and out, including a nice matte white finish all around the exterior (though it's as glossy as ever once you pop the lid), a generally solid build quality, a usable keyboard (although the trackpad is on the small side) and, of course, LG's -powered Smart On interface, which once again manages to impress with its speediness, even if you'll still often find yourself reaching for XP. Hit up the gallery below for some unboxing and hands-on pics, and keep an eye out for some more in-depth impressions.

Verizon's HP Mini 1000 due to launch May 17th?

Sure, the hot buzz right now is centered on to release a unicorn-built iPhone tablet that runs on marshmallows and cuddles, but Boy Genius Report says that Big Red's is about to bear fruit -- the long-rumored subsidized Mini 1000 is apparently due to launch on May 17th. The specific model will be the Mini 1151NR, and if that we saw earlier holds water, we're looking at a pretty standard Atom / XP configuration with a 3G modem built in. Pricing hasn't been locked down, but according to BGR, it'll be as every other subsidized netbook: $299 after rebate with a mandatory two-year data contract. That's more or less $200 off standard MSRP, a discount we're sure you'll pay back twice over the course of the contract. Seriously, we'd much rather fiddle with a USB stick that we can use on multiple machines than spend around a grand on data fees just for a netbook -- what about you?

Toshiba Dynabook UX reviewed, deemed a cut above other netbooks

Toshiba's 10.1-inch netbook -- the -- hasn't been on our radar terribly long, but already it's beginning to make the review rounds. Portable Monkey's just gotten their hands on one and while they are fans of the design, think the over all build quality is a bit better than many netbooks, and also found the battery life to be pretty good (they got about 3.5 hours per charge), there are also a few drawbacks. The keyboard is cramped, the built-in scrolling is none too responsive, and the volume of the speakers is extremely quiet. The NB200 is set to be released in the coming months in the UK, and it's when it makes its way to the US.

Lenovo gets official with mildly refreshed IdeaPad S10-2 netbook

Lenovo's S10 has walked a long. First it battled months of delays, then hordes of anxious owners began weeping rivers due to incessant. Lenovo already made to better its cute-as-a-button netbook, but now it's ditching the little-by-little approach entirely and introducing a 'Part II' version. The understandably titled S10-2, which we spotted via a handy just last week, is officially official, and while it's still rocking the same basic specs (1.6GHz Atom N270, 1GB of RAM, 160GB HDD, WiFi, 1.3 megapixel camera, etc.), there have been a few appreciated tweaks made. There's a new cover design, a larger keyboard, a bigger trackpad and a model with integrated 3G that'll run just $50 more than the standard $349.99 flavors; too bad Lenovo didn't take this opportunity to dish out an entirely new IdeaPad with a CPU that's marginally robust.

Lenovo gets official with mildly refreshed IdeaPad S10-2 netbook

Lenovo's S10 has walked a long, . First it battled months of delays, then hordes of anxious owners began weeping rivers due to incessant . Lenovo already made to better its cute-as-a-button netbook, but now it's ditching the little-by-little approach entirely and introducing a 'Part II' version. The understandably titled S10-2, which we spotted via a handy just last week, is officially official, and while it's still rocking the same basic specs (1.6GHz Atom N270, 1GB of RAM, 160GB HDD, WiFi, 1.3 megapixel camera, etc.), there have been a few appreciated tweaks made. There's a new cover design, a larger keyboard, a bigger trackpad and a model with integrated 3G that'll run just $50 more than the standard $349.99 flavors; too bad Lenovo didn't take this opportunity to dish out an entirely new IdeaPad with a CPU that's marginally robust.

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 gets hands-on treatment, favors S10

You've seen Lenovo's , right? If so, you'll surely recognize the recently revised -- a mildly tweaked version of the netbook that sports the most minuscule of changes. That said, the new top cover and larger, more mature keyboard are certainly worth a gander, so head on down to the read link to give your eyes a treat.

11.6-inch Dr. Mobile FreeStyle netbook makes its video debut

Dr. Mobile had its first few 8.9-inch FreeStyle Minis, and we've already gotten a glimpse of VIA's, but the VIA-sponsored How To Be Mobile site is now showing off Dr. Mobile's own version of the larger thin and light netbook which, as you can see above, comes in many flavors. Expectedly, the specs are pretty much in line with VIA's prototype, and include a 1.3GHz Nano processor, a 1366 x 768 resolution on that 11.6-inch screen, up to 4GB of RAM, your choice of SSD or standard hard drives, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam, among other standard features. With the Dr. Mobile name, however, comes a slew of different style options that range form basic white and black to metallic red and eye-catching yellow option that sports a carbon fiber-type finish. Still no word on pricing, unfortunately, but it looks like they should be rolling out in the next month or so. Head on past the break for the video.

12-inch MSI U200 thin-and-light appears a day early?

Well, well, look what we've got; a new-based thin-and-light laptop from. The image comes by way of Engadget Chinese whose trusted source lays out the following specs: a 12-inch, 1366 x 768 pixel LED-backlit display, with GMA 4500M integrated graphics, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, 2GB of DDR2 memory, and 250GB disk all wrapped up in a bigger-than-a-netbook but not-quite-a-laptop chassis weighing just 1.4-kgs (3-pounds) with paltry 3-cell battery. We expect pricing to be announced tomorrow but we'll bet dollars to doughnuts that it'll be about $700.

UMID M1D making its way to Korea any day now

No, we still have no details on any upcoming releases of, but it seems that a slightly stripped down version -- the M1D -- is about to appear in Korea. This Mbook boasts a 1.1GHz Atom CPU (the M1 has a 1.3GHz Atom), and lacks both the webcam and the DMB module. Other than that, we're looking at the same cute little guy we've come to. The M1D is launching in Korea next week -- but still no word on if or when it'll ever make its way to the States or elsewhere, or its official price. There's one more shot after the break.

ASUS bringing 1008HA, UX50 and U80V laptops Stateside, we go hands-on

We've got the skinny on ASUS's latest North American foray, with the UX50 and U80V "thin and light" all vying for your slice of the stimulus this summer. The quite familiar (by now) 1008HA will be retailing for $429, featuring 802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR, a new thin form factor and six hours of battery (thanks to the Super Hybrid Engine) to set it slightly apart from the netbook competition. The UX50 and U80V, on the traditional laptop angle, are a slightly odd couple, with the UX50 pairing a ULV Core 2 Solo processor with discrete GeForce G105M graphics, aiming for long battery life but in a standard 15.6-inch form factor, while the U80V does the "thin and light" thing with a high speed Core 2 Duo processor, ATI Mobility Radeon HD4570 graphics and a 14-inch screen. Both laptops include 4GB of RAM and 802.11n WiFi, with the long-lasting UX50 going for $1,199, while the powerful but slim U80V retails for $899. To be honest, we weren't stunned by the U80V's thinness or weight in hand, but it's really pretty good considering what's under the hood. We didn't get to see the UX50 in person, but it better get some pretty epic runtimes to justify that price. Meanwhile the 1008HA is looking just peachy -- there's an odd adapter for the display output that conveniently stashes underneath the chassis, but overall this is just a straightforward and fairly excellent aesthetic refinement of the netbook. Our favorite part, however, has nothing to do with the shell: ASUS finally righted the wrong that was the Eee PC's funky shift key placement, and we couldn't be happier.