Tiny laptops at equally tiny prices [BT broadband office]

Tiny laptops at equally tiny prices

Posted 13 June 2007 at 8:42AM by Simon Dickson in IT systems and support

Among the many products launched at last week's Computex trade show in Taipei were a clutch of small-sized and (thankfully) small-priced new portable PCs which might leave you questioning why you need a full-sized laptop.

The technology blogs, including Engadget and Wired, were particularly excited about the Eee from Asus: internet connectivity via wireless or ethernet; built-in webcam, mic and speakers; a respectable 512MB of RAM, plus an iPod-style Flash memory drive rather than a traditional hard disk - and a price 'supposed to start as low as $200'. Sure, you're going to have to compromise somewhere to fit it all into a 7-inch box, but it certainly sounds like it'll cover most of your needs, most of the time, at a remarkably low price. Sadly, there's no word on availability as yet.

The Asus unit rather stole the thunder of two equally compact devices: the Foleo from Palm, and the VIA NanoBook expected to be sold in Europe by Packard Bell. Both are similarly small, but with pricetags in the $500 or $600 range. The Palm unit has come in for particular criticism, as it's being pitched primarily as a 'mobile companion' for a smartphone, when rival products can do it all, for less.

Meanwhile, work continues on the 'One Laptop Per Child' project, which aims to produce a 'hundred dollar laptop' aimed at children in the developing world. Full-scale production is expected later in 2007, with national education ministries getting the first supplies - although there is continued talk of a 'retail version', in or after 2008. The specification isn't 'cutting edge' by conventional standards, but it still makes for a respectable machine, and one with a conscience too.

Tags: asus, eee, foleo, laptop, nanobook, olpc, portable, ultra-mobile, umpc

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Comments

1. At June 21, 2007 10:56 AM, Bennon wrote:

This is fantastic news! Especially if your 'Life' depends on portable PC's. In the past, having to carry about 2Kg or more in weight was such a hustle especially if you are a student of a business person. You would arrive at your destination half tired from the material (say a PPT presentation) you were transporting, maybe to do a Marketing Research presentation and not forgetting the strap marks on your shoulders from the strain it was putting on you. I can sacrifice high perfomance for weight especially if i will use the notebook just for 'work-on-the-go'.

Well done Simon for highlighting to us on this new development, we look forward to stacking these on our shelves and replacing those medieval, fancy steel plates we call laptops.

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