IIT-B develops World's Cheapest Netbook

IIT Bombay has developed a 10-inch netbook, which it claims could be the world's cheapest, at around Rs 6,000. The netbook, conceived during the institute's work with the low-cost Akash tablet, will be unveiled in the second week of February.

The IIT Bombay team has worked on designing the netbook's specifications besides creating the OS image and the accompanying software bundle.

The project's objective was to understand its shortcomings and address them in the next product. In a bid to address the needs of students and to drive information creation, the team at IIT Bombay thought it was important to have a fully functional keyboard as opposed to a virtual keyboard, more battery time, a larger screen size (10-inches as compared to a 7-inch screen on a tablet), greater memory, more storage, a normal USB slot (not a micro USB), while not letting go of the price focus.

The netbook also needed to be light-weight for students to carry comfortably.

IIT Bombay has tied up with Delhi-based company, Basic Computers, which has delivered 1,000 netbooks for the pilot phase.

Dell not to make Netbooks anymore

They once roamed coffee shops and college lecture halls, now it looks like the netbook is heading to that scrap heap of old, unwanted technology. The company has decided at the end of 2011, that it won’t be making any more netbooks.

The folks at the mydellmini.com forums first noticed Dell quietly pulling the small and inexpensive notebooks from the online store.

The folks over at the Verge received confirmation from a Dell representative that Inspiron netbooks are not in the company’s future, though the Latitutde netbooks are still available for businesses. It’s not just old netbooks getting the axe either, Dell says it has no plans to release any netbooks in the future. However, its hybrid Inspiron Duo netbook will be back in stock next year.

It seems like Dell may instead be focusing its energies on developing Ultrabooks. The representative further said: “Thin and powerful is where it is at for us.” And while that doesn’t necessarily spell out Ultrabooks, Acer recently made a similar announcement, cutting out “cheap, unprofitable” products, and changing its focus to super-thin Ultrabooks.

Earlier this year, Dell slimmed its inventory by cutting production of two tablets: The Streak 5 and the Streak 7. Companies will definitely need to be efficient with their resources as the future Ultrabooks market is looking like it will be quite congested. 50 Ultrabook models are expected to debut come January at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show.

HP reveals Fusion Netbook with LTE

Hewlett-Packard has announced a netbook with some cutting-edge mobile broadband and graphics technologies that could make it the most powerful netbook yet.

The lightweight Pavilion DM1 netbook comes with an 11.6-inch screen, and runs on Advanced Micro Devices' new Fusion processor, which bundles a graphics chip and CPU into a single piece of silicon.

"It's got the portability of a netbook, but it's got the performance of a notebook all wrapped up into one," said Cara Baez, concept product marketing manager at HP.

AMD's Fusion chip, which was also announced on Tuesday, will enable users to view full 1080p high-definition video, a capability not readily available in netbook-sized laptops. HP already offers netbooks with 1080p video capabilities, but they use a separate high-definition decoder, which drains battery life.

In Fusion chips, the graphics processor shares resources with the CPU on the same piece of silicon, which reduces the need for an extra graphics card or accelerator. The DM1 runs for a maximum of 10.5 hours with solid-state drive storage, and 9.5 hours on hard drive storage.

"If you are running a lot of high-definition applications, that is going to eat down battery life," Baez said. "If you start at ten-and-a-half hours, even if you eat down a couple of hours off of that, you're still looking at substantially long battery life."

This laptop will also connect to LTE (long-term evolution) mobile broadband networks, which offer faster data transfers than current 3G networks.

HP declined to name the LTE provider, but Verizon Wireless in early December rolled out its LTE network across 38 cities in the U.S. HP said it would announce more details about the LTE capabilities on January 6.

The laptop offers up to 750GB of hard drive storage and includes other components such as a webcam. It will be available worldwide on January 9, with prices starting at US$449 depending on configuration.

HP also upgraded the Envy 17 and Pavilion DV6 and DV7 laptops to include Intel’s next-generation Core chips based on the Sandy Bridge architecture. There is a "performance bump" for the new laptops compared to their predecessors based on the previous generation of Core chips, Baez said.

The Intel chips integrate a graphics processor and CPU on a single piece of silicon, but the laptops will come with optional AMD Radeon 6000 graphics cards for more intense graphics tasks.

The DV6 and DV7 will be priced starting at $899.99 and $999.99 respectively. Pricing for the Envy 17 price was not immediately available.

Sprint unveils Dell Netbook and Notebook

Sprint and Dell has announced the first dual-mode 3G/4G-embedded netbook and notebook, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook and Inspiron 11z notebook.

Adib, Sprint's vice president of product development said "The addition of these two exciting 4G-embedded Dell products fits nicely within our current ecosystem of fixed and dual-mode devices that also includes phones, mobile broadband cards, mobile hotspots, and routers."

Both devices come with Windows Live Essentials 2011 pre-installed to help users share and sync content on the web and on their PCs and phones. Some of the products included in Windows Live are Hotmail, Messenger, SkyDrive, and Photo Gallery.

The Mini 10 netbook comes with a Windows 7 Starter. It features a 1.66-GHz Intel Atom processor, a 10.1-inch screen with 1,024-by-600 resolution, 1GB of memory, and a 250GB hard drive. The Mini 10 will be available to business customers on Oct. 31. It will hit Sprint stores and the Web on Nov. 14. The device is free with a $100 mail-in rebate for those who sign a two-year contract.

The Inspiron 11z notebook on the other hand has a 1.2-GHz Intel Core processor, an 11.6-inch screen with 1,366-by-768 resolution, 2GB of memory (expandable to 4GB), HDMI out, and a 250GB hard drive. The 11z will be available starting Nov. 14 in Sprint stores and online. It will be $149.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and two-year service agreement.

Gateway LT2000 Another Netbook Appears

Gateway has announced a 10.1-inch addition to its compact notebook line: the LT2000 series. With 1GB of memory, a 160GB hard drive, three USB 2.0 ports, a built-in webcam, and the ability to connect to the internet, the LT2000 sounds just like every other netbook.

It looks similar to other budget netbooks. It does seem on par spec for spec with other budget netbooks, though a 1.6-GHz N270 Atom CPU, 1GB RAM and a 160GB hard drive. Less impressive: A 3-cell battery that, if you're lucky, will last you three hours according to spokespeople. While we are talking about a $300 machine here, other netbooks that don't cost too much more can last over 3 times as long (like Toshiba's NB205-310).

On the software side, the LT2000 netbooks come equipped with Windows XP and pre-installed software. There's some free such as Microsoft Works. Then there's the trial bloatware (Office Home and Student 2007).

One semi-unique feature is the multi-gesture touchpad, which allows users to swirl and flick their way through web pages, music, and media. And even this is not completely unique, as it has been featured on many other models from various vendors, such as Acer's Aspire AS5536.

The LT2000 series netbooks are available now, in Cherry Red and NightSky Black.

Sony to enter Netbook PC market with new Vaio laptop

Sony Corp has plans to launch a new Vaio laptop that will sell for around 60,000 yen ($629) in Japan in August, making its entry into the fast-growing netbook market.

Netbook PCs are smaller and cheaper than traditional notebook computers and optimized for simpler computing tasks such as Web browsing and email.

Pioneered by Taiwan's Asustek in 2007, other global brands such as Acer Inc, Hewlett-Packard Co and Dell Inc have pushed out their own lines since then.

The new Sony machine is equipped with Microsoft Corp's Windows XP operating system and Intel Corp's Atom processor.

Giga-byte Technology displays CULV Laptop at Computex Taipei 2009

Giga-byte Technology revamped a netbook that takes advantage of touchscreen and tablet functions in Microsoft Windows 7 and put its first laptop with an Intel CULV (consumer ultra-low voltage) microprocessor inside on display at Computex Taipei 2009 on Monday.

The TouchNote T1028 netbook sports a 10.1-inch touchscreen that swivels so that the screen can be turned around folded down to transform it into a tablet PC. The netbook is an update to its first netbook with the same function, but the main difference this time is the Windows 7 software, which includes functions that support both the touchscreen capability and the tablet mode.

Windows 7 is Microsoft's latest operating system, but so far only a beta (test) version has been released.

Giga-byte's new T1028 will include Intel's latest 1.66GHz N280 Atom microprocessor. It will cost around US$599 and could be on the market globally as early as July or August. The launch date will partly be determined by when Microsoft releases Windows 7. Should the T1028 launch early, it could come with Windows XP and will be upgradeable to Windows 7.

Giga-byte's first CULV laptop is part of its Booktop family of products, the M1305. Intel's CULV microprocessor is small, thin and energy efficient and designed for thin portable laptops.

The Booktop M1305 sports a 13.3-inch screen and can hold up to 8G byte of DDR3 (double data rate, third generation) DRAM, which is a newer version of mainstream DRAM that has not yet caught on widely.

The M1305 laptop that Giga-byte displayed Monday used Windows 7 as its operating system. The company hopes to launch the M1305 in September or October armed with Windows 7.

The laptop is only an inch (2 centimeters) thick and is built light as an alternative to netbooks, but includes a key feature lacking in netbooks, a DVD drive, as well as a larger screen.

Giga-byte also showed off another new netbook on Monday, the Myou S1024. The netbook is designed to be ultra-small despite its 10.1-inch screen, which is a big size for netbooks.

The Myou S1024 weighs 900 grams and is less than an inch thick. Giga-byte managed to put a 6-cell battery inside the device despite its small size for long battery life. The S1024 will be available globally within the next few months and will cost around US$599.

The three new devices can all be used with a number of wireless technologies, including 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Giga-byte will offer optional WiMax and 3.5G (High-speed packet access) modules.

Pricing information about the devices was not immediately available.

LG to enter netbook market in US

The Korean consumer electronics giant, LG Electronics is gearing up to enter the booming netbook market in the US.

According to a report published by Forbes, LG will launch the X110 in the United States by July. The X110 is a 10-inch netbook. The low-cost mini-notebook, features a 1.6GHz Atom processor and 3G wireless. Although, the X110 will enter US markets now, the product is already available in many worldwide markets.

The X110’s specs are fairly conventional: an 80GB or 120GB hard drive and Windows XP Home. At the Mobile World Congress show in February, LG had introduced a newer model, the X120.

LG’s move into netbooks market makes a lot of sense. With its strong relationships with US cellular providers, LG is ideally positioned to be a major player in the netbook market. AT&T is already offering netbooks from Acer and Dell, and LG would be a nice addition.

Samsung NC20 Laptop based on Via Nano processor to be launched soon

Samsung Electronics' NC20 laptop based on Via Technologies' Nano processor will be available in the UK from February 9th. UK operator BT has revealed this piece of info and is accepting preorders.

The £391 (US$564) NC20, which includes a 1.3Ghz Nano processor, 12-inch screen, 1GB of RAM, a 120GB hard disk, and Windows XP Home, will first be available in a white case. A second version of the NC20 with a black case will be available from March 9th.

The NC20 fits into Samsung's laptop product line between its Intel Atom-powered NC10 netbook and more powerful systems, which is exactly where Via wants the Nano to be positioned.

News related to NC20's impending release have swirled online since December. The new laptop is a significant design win for Via, the smallest of the three x86 processor vendors, which has struggled to gain market share in the face of competition from its bigger rivals, particularly Intel.

Winning business from a top-tier vendor like Samsung gives the Nano greater credibility with users and other prospective customers. It also means the chip will be more widely available, which should translate into higher sales for Via.

Via could use the boost. The company is an unlikely rival for Intel. To get a clearer picture of just how mismatched they are, compare their revenue from 2008. Taipei-based Via earned revenue of NT$7.9 billion, (US$235 million). That's roughly equivalent to 2.5 days of revenue for Intel, which earned $37.6 billion the same year.

Despite its smaller size, Via has led Intel in key areas. Via executives anticipated the shift towards inexpensive, low-power processors at a time when Intel executives were still promising to hit clock speeds of 10GHz or more with the power-hungry Pentium 4.

With the Nano processor, Via hopes to compete against Intel in the market for more powerful systems than the low-end laptops powered by its older C7-M chip or Intel's Atom.

Intel isn't sitting by idly. The company officials have confirmed an updated version of its Atom processor is now shipping for netbooks. The Atom N280 is only marginally faster than the N270, running at 1.66GHz instead of 1.6GHz. But Intel has added a chipset that supports a faster 667MHz front-side bus and includes a hardware decoder for 720p high-definition video, a feature that was not originally counted among the basic computing tasks Intel envisioned for netbooks.

These new features give the Atom some added benefits, filling in gaps against Via's Nano, which uses an 800MHz front-side bus and is paired with Via's VX800 chipset. Like Intel's GN40 chipset used with the Atom N280, the VX800 also includes hardware video decoders for high-definition video playback.

Samsung to launch new Netbooks and new Smart Phones

Samsung Electronics plans to follow-up its NC10 netbook in the coming few months with a new model and expand its range of smart phones with models based on a number of different operating systems.

Samsung already offers phones based on the Windows Mobile, Symbian and Linux operating systems but perhaps most anticipated is an announcement from the company concerning a phone based on the Android OS developed by Google.

Samsung is a member of the Open Handset Alliance group formed around Android but has yet to show a phone running on the platform.

No other details were disclosed but a follow-up to the NC10 has been rumored for a while. It is also being reported that NC20 will be launched somewhere in February which will be based on Via Technologies' low-power Nano processor.

If true that would be a departure from most competing machines, which almost all run the same Intel Atom processor. It would also be somewhat of a coup for Via, which has struggled to gain share from Intel in the mainstream market for years.

The NC10 was launched in the latter half of 2008 and, like most netbooks. It is based on Intel's Atom processor and Windows XP. It has a 10.2-inch screen.

Netbooks have become popular with consumers, who are attracted by their compact size and low price. The market was created in 2007 when Asustek Computer launched its Eee PC and grew quickly to initially attract fellow Taiwanese competitors and then major laptop brands jumped into the market.

Earlier this month Sony launched its Vaio P-series machines which are netbook-size laptops but based on the higher-specification Intel Atom Z520 chip.

Sony to launch lightest Notebook PC

Sony Corp has planned to launch the world's lightest 8-inch Notebook PC.

The new Sony Vaio PC will come with Microsoft Corp's Windows Vista operating system, supporting all the software programs found in full-sized notebooks, and sell for about $900, setting itself apart from Netbooks.

Pioneered by Taiwan's Asustek in 2007 and one of the rare bright spots in the electronics industry, Netbooks are generally described as low cost, mini-laptops optimized for Internet use, and sell typically for $300 to $400.

According to Sony the new notebook weighs around 1.4 pounds. It is as thin as a mobile phone, will be available at major retailers in the United States beginning February.

Asus Unveils Eee PC T91 Netbook With Touchscreen

Asus is one of those companies that always manage to come up with new ideas. So there is no surprise that the trailblazing PC maker is once again, showing off a number of new laptops at CES. Among them are an ultraportable that runs like a race car (Lamborghini VX5), a tablet PC (Eee PC T91), and an even slimmer, sleeker netbook.

Asus has unveiled its latest Eee PC T91 netbook, with an 8.9-inch touchscreen that swivels and can even fold down to convert the device into a tablet PC.

The new touchscreen Eee PC, the T91, boasts an 8.9-inch touchscreen that swivels. Think of it as a touch-screen variant of the 8.9-inch, 901-series models that broke out on the scene in 2008. This hybrid netbook operates the same way as full-blown convertible laptops do, offering a screen capable of rotating 180 degrees. The T91 will offer built-in GPS functionality, a TV tuner, and an FM transmitter. It has the potential to be one well-rounded, affordable, portable entertainer.

The company developed its own touch mode software at research and development centers in Taiwan and China.

The T91 also comes with a TV tuner so people can watch their favorite shows on the road, and GPS (global positioning system) technology to transform the netbook into a navigation device.

Netbooks are miniaturized notebooks about two-thirds the size of a normal laptop that have become popular for mobile computing and Internet use. The devices are designed with less powerful chips and other components so they're more battery efficient, cost less and usually weigh just a few kilograms.

It is expected that Eee PC T91 will be available in the market in the next three months, while the pricing information is not yet revealed.

Lenovo all set to launch netbooks in India

The trend of launching low cost laptops that can perform basic functions like surfing the Internet and office applications has caught up in a big way.

Lenovo too has jumped in the fray along with Acer, Dell and HP by deciding to launch the IdeaPad S9 and S10 netbooks. These netbooks will be ultra-portable and thin. Mr Liu Jun, senior vice president, Consumer Business Group, Lenovo says “IdeaPad netbooks are the latest in a string of recently announced Lenovo products, designed specifically for consumers worldwide and developed through our heritage of technological innovation and exceptional engineering,”

Their features include 8.9 and 10.2 inch screens with enhanced battery life, WiFi, Bluetooth connectivity and an Express Card slot for users with high speed mobile broadband connectivity. In built web camera, a multi-card reader and two USB ports are provided. With hard disks of 80 GB or 160 GB the net books will be operated by Windows XP or Linux operating systems.

The netbooks will be available in India in September.