Netbook

With netbooks getting more and more popular, Hannspree decided to get in the game. They just announced a new line of 10" ultra-mobile laptop PCs, the HannsNote.

The HannsNote features an Intel Atom processor, Windows XP operating system, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0, 1.3MP webcam, 3-in-1 card reader, and full-function keyboard. It weighs just 2.9 lbs, and its 6-Cell Lithum-Ion battery will last up to 5 hours on a single charge.

"We are entering the mini-laptop market with a strong product. The HannsNote offers many benefits to the consumer. This mini-laptop is ideal for business or school use, or for anyone who is always on-the-go because of its ultra-portability and performance. We are very confident not only in the quality and performance of the HannsNote, but also in the service we provide," said Wynn Yiu, president of Hannspree North America, Inc.

The HannsNote is available in two colors: High-gloss Pearl Black and Pearl White for $379.99. A protective carrying sleeve and cleaning cloth are included.

Dell just announced the new Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition, a cool new netbook designed specifically for kids. The Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition weighs less than 3 pounds and features a 10.1-inch color LCD display, built-in wireless Internet and comes with a 15-month subscription to McAfee Family Security . A built-in LoJack for Laptops anti-theft program is also included, in case the netbook gets lost or stolen.

The Nickelodeon-themed interface has direct access to dedicated Dell "landing zones" at Nick.com. A special "Just for You" widget on the netbook also lets kids select their own updated content from Nick.com including games and TV programs. Read more

The Pioneer DVR-XD09 features the industry's most compact DVD/CD write design to date. The new DVR-XD09 weighs approximately 8 ounces and has an overall size that is slightly larger than a music CD case. Simply connecting the DVR-XD09 to a PC through the USB 2.0 port allows users to easily transport, connect and back up valuable data files in virtually any location setting as well as across multiple computers.

Additionally, owners can archive significant amounts of critical data with the drive's dual layer DVD-R write support that upgrades the storage capacity of a single layer disc from 4.7GB to 8.5GB.

The new DVD/CD computer writer begins shipping in August for a suggested retail price of $79.99. Read more

By Jeff Zbar;
www.homeofficehighway.com

Years ago, surfing in public meant first paying $15 an hour for a user ID and password hand-written on a scrap of paper so you could log on to some cyber cafe's network.

Now, it's as easy as hitting the MiFi, powering up the netbook — and in less than a minute, you're up.

This year's home office highway is shaping up as an exercise in simplified surfing. Last year, setting up a network meant powering up and wiring in a router the size of a cigar box. This year's "access point" is a business card-sized device that enables five Internet devices — netbooks, laptops, MP3 players, an iTouch — to log on simultaneously.Read more

AT&T has announced an expansion of its mobile broadband-enabled netbook lineup. The new devices, which will be available in stores and online in the coming days, features three ultra portable mobile broadband netbooks - the Acer Aspire One, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10, and the Lenovo S10.

AT&T will offer the Acer Aspire One throughout stores nationwide. The Dell Inspiron Mini 10 and Lenovo S10 will be available in multiple stores and all devices will be available for purchase soon online at www.att.com and other direct sales channels. The netbooks will cost $199.99 after mail-in rebate via AT&T Promotion Card with a two-year service contract.

All three of these netbooks are excellent! They will all feature 10-inch screens, house 1GB of RAM, feature a built-in webcam, weigh less than 3lbs, use Microsoft Windows XP Home and feature a 160GB HDD.Read more

The new Gateway LT Series netbooks are well-equipped with features that make them highly useful for enjoying life on the go, such as 1GB of memory, 160GB HDD, 10.1-inch WSVGA LED-backlit display, weight of 2.62lbs and a thickness of 1.02-inches.

The colors available are NightSky Black and Cherry Red with an engraved Gateway logo and modern silver trim accents. The new Gateway LT Series is available now in several configurations with a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price of $299.99.Read more

As part of Blockbuster's consumer electronics offerings, it will now feature a netbook for sale in 1,000 Blockbuster stores in the U.S. which will enable consumers to access entertainment on-the-go. The ARCHOS 10 netbook, manufactured by ARCHOS, emphasizes mobility, connectivity and multi-media capabilities, all in an affordable personal computer.

The ARCHOS 10 netbook is available for $299.99, weighs less than 2.8 pounds and features 10-inch ultra-bright LED screen.

Also included in the WiFi-ready netbook are an Intel ATOM processor, 1GB RAM, a 160GB hard drive, Microsoft Windows XP and a built-in web cam. Featured software includes Lotus Symphony, Outlook Express, Internet Explorer, parental controls, virus protection and multi-media applications like XnView for viewing pictures and vTuner for Web TV and Radio.

The Sony VAIO W will come equipped with a 1.6GHz Atom CPU, Windows XP, a 160GB hard drive and a 10.1-inch (1366×768 resolution!) widescreen display. The VAIO W will be available in three vibrant colors- berry pink, sugar white and cocoa brown.

Another nice feature, besides the higher resolution, is this model features an isolated keyboard with springy and responsive keys. It comes with a carefully designed touchpad and mouse keys to make the PC functional and the mouse movements easy to control.

Also, the W Series unit is ENERGY STAR 5.0 compliant, EPEAT Gold registered and incorporates eco-conscious features such as a mercury-free LED backlit LCD.

The VAIO W Series mini notebook will retail for about $500. It is available for pre-orders today online at www.sonystyle.com/pr/w. It will also be sold at Sony Style stores and at other major retailers around the country starting next month.

You can also watch a video of the new Sony Vaio W here.