Nov 30 2009
Netbook and Laptop Compatibility Check for Google Chrome OS
The Google Chrome operating system isn’t pre-installed on netbooks just yet, but if you’re interested, below are some netbooks that have been “officially” tested and that claim to be compatible with the software. On these netbooks, you can assume that everything works, including 802.11 Wi-Fi, Ethernet, the touchpad, and the suspend/resume functions.
- Acer Aspire One AOD250* – $299.99 at Amazon.com
- Acer Aspire One AOP531h – $269.99 at TigerDirect.com
- ASUS Eee PC 1008HA – $339.95 at Amazon.com
- ASUS Eee PC 900 – $282.25 at Amazon.com
- Gateway LT20* – $259.99 at TigerDirect.com
- Toshiba Satellite A205-S5000 (This is a 15.4″ laptop, but you can get one at netbook pricing for about $350 on eBay.)
*These netbooks ship with both Atheros and Broadcom 802.11 wireless adapters. The Atheros adapter works out-of-the-box with the Chrome operating system, but the Broadcom adapter does not.
Via Google.
Dec 11 2008
Atheros XSPAN to be Featured in ASUS Eee PCs
ASUS has begun to upgrade its Eee PCs with Atheros XSPAN 802.11n technology. This will lead to an improved level of wireless networking for ASUS netbooks over the previous iterations of the wireless tech, the 802.11b and 802.11g.
The Eee PC S101 will be the first netbook with XSPAN. IT will also run Atheros’ “single-chip, single-band 1×2 MIMO-enabled PCI Express design,” and be capable of transferring 150 MB/s in transit mode. It will have a PHY rate of 300 MB/s in receive mode.
Ben Naskar, VP of Atheros’ Wireless Networking Business Unit, was in a good mood. “We are pleased that Atheros XSPAN single-chip technology has been selected by Asus to enhance the wireless connectivity in its advanced line of Eee PC Netbooks.”
“Asus is a pioneer in mobile computing design with its sleek form factors, user-friendly ergonomics and advanced features.”
Atheros’ biggest claim is that its XSPAN technology will extend the battery life of netbooks. Atheros cites its “Dynamic MIMO Power Save and Unscheduled Automatic Power Save Delivery” to back this claim. It sounds good, anyway.
Users should also expect to experience faster Wi-Fi transfers, which will further boost power conservation.
Via Tmcnet.com.
