So Intel has unveiled the next-generation Atom processors, and this has me quite excited: these new chips can have speeds up to 2GH.
Intel also announced two new Atom processors for MIDs: the Z550 and Z515. The Z550 extends the performance of the MID product line to 2GHz with Intel Hyperthreading technology support, setting a new standard for the highest performance processor in the under-3-watt power envelope. The Z515 incorporates the new Intel® Burst Performance Technology (Intel BPT), which enables the processor to run at 1.2GHz when performance is needed in existing small and sleek MID form factors.
I can’t wait to see what new netbooks manufacturers are going to make with these new babies.
One Eee PC 1000HE owner decided to make sure his Eee stands out from the crowd by using a laser cutter to create a skin that fits perfectly over the keyboard and fills the spaces. He’s also begun selling them on eBay for $19.99 apiece.
Now this is one for the books. Asus is planning to make some voice-controlled Eees and they plan to release them before the end of the year.
“Oh for sure,” reiterated Asus CEO Jerry Shen, when TechRadar quizzed him further about voice-controlled computing.
“Actually, internally we have one team dedicated to studying voice recognition. Touch and gesture input is universal, whereas language is not universal.
“The first Eee PC or Eee Top products implementing voice-recognition and features will be ready by Q3/Q4 2009 – with our dedicated development team working with third parties in both Japan and the US and reporting directly to me. So this is something we will see very soon, later this year.”
Crazy, crazy stuff, I tell you. And you may not see it right now, but I am shaking with anticipation.
[via Techradar]
Netbooks were a big hit. Cheap, affordable and underpowered laptops that could be carried around everywhere became an instant hit within a year of the launch of the first Eee.
So it wasn’t much of a surprise that a Seattle-based nonprofit organization called Literacy Bridge is pushing for the creation of a cheap iPod-like Linux-based mp3 player. As in $5 cheap.
It will contain health, educational, and other audio programming at Linux-based content distribution kiosks.
[via Linuxdevices]
So we all know that the Eee PC 1004DN with an optical disc drive, an ExpressCard/34 slot and a fingerprint scanner, along with an SD card slot and 3 USB ports, right? If it wasn’t too much of a good deal already, Asus is also throwing in a bunch of software with the much-anticipated netbook:
- Data Sync – This is a utility for synchronizing files on your Eee PC with another PC. This could certainly come in handy for people who picked up a netbook to use as a second or third machine and not their primary computer.
- EzMessenger – This application if for chatting and sharing files with other Eee PC users on your network.
- Font Resizer – If you want to adjust the system fonts on your computer to make them easier to read, this program can help.
- Eee Splendid – This utility adjusts your contrast, brightness, color saturation, and other display settings.
There is no pricing available just yet, but I’m sure it’ll be worth every cent.
[via Liliputing]
According to Microsoft, 96% of netbooks are running Windows. Now the reason people are going for Windows when Linux is around and in many cases, is almost as easy to use, according to Microsoft is that:
- It’s easier to set up, easier to use, and easier to maintain
- It just works with people’s stuff
- There’s more choice
I don’t know, really. I like Linux myself, and I’d spend hours just modifying things in the various distros I installed in my Eee, and I enjoyed it. Eventually I switched to Windows because I needed to do less tweaking/hacking and do more working. I can understand why people like Windows, but I’m also disappointed why Linux has been lagging in the netbook race.
What do you guys think?
So you were able to install Hackintosh on your Eee, right? now you want to go the next step. Well, Eee Mac Journey has posted some steps so you can put on the glowing Apple logo on your Eee.
Asus has launched the Eee PC 1002H, and this looks a lot like the 1002HA.
… but it has a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 CPU instead of a 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor, and features the new Asus chiclet-style keyboard. It’s also shown in white on the company web site, while the 1002HA is shown in a dark gray/charcoal color. The new netbook will also be available in pink and black, while the 1002HA is gray only.
Here’s a rundown of the specs:
- CPU: 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280
- Display: 10 inch, 1024 x 600 pixels
- RAM: 1GB
- Storage: 160GB hard drive
- Wireless: 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0
- Webcam: 1.3MP
- I/O: 3 USB ports, headphone, mic, flash card reader, VGA port
- Battery: 5 hours
- Dimensions: 10.4″ x 7.1″ x 1.1″
- Weight: 2.6 pounds
Price is expected to be more than $450 or $500.
[via Liliputing]
