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ASUS’ Eee netbooks may have been the first netbooks on the market, but they have maintained their position since this whole netbook thing started. Now their newest models have been revealed, and has a lot changed from the cute little plastic boxes that shocked us with their $200 price-tags back in 2008.

They new models include the 1015P, 1016P, and 1018P. Their old bodies have been chucked in favor of a new, more masculine, brushed metal chassis.  They come with styling tiled keyboards and nice wide touchpads, which are always very classy.

The leak source for this info, Blogee, doesn’t have much in terms of real specs. However, it does mention 10” screens, webcams, fingerprint scanners, and the highly awaited for USB 3.0 ports. There are currently no pics of the 1016P.

The most stunning piece of this however is the battery life of these little things. The 1018P is a mere 18 mm thick and will have 10-hour battery life; the 1016P, however, blows its sibling’s figures out of the water with an incredible 14-hour battery life.  The accuracy of battery lives aren’t known to be reliable pre-release, but to boast numbers like that means they have to be far above average.

Via Gizmodo, image via Blogee.

T-Mobile USA could be sidling into the netbook market alongside competitors Verizon and AT&T, according to blog TmoNews. The new entrant to the netbook arena is expected to offer the Dell Mini 10 netbook by the end of March this year. The Dell Mini 10 has historically been sold by both AT&T and Sprint Nextel.

T-Mobile has been working hard to climb ranks in network buildout and 3G access, despite trailing behind bigger names. It’s making up the difference by deploying an HSPA+ nework upgrade. At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last week, T-Mobile announced that its first HSPA+ device, webConnect Rocket Laptop Stick, will be available this March.

That’s the word being passed around at CES 2010. One electronics designer claimed in a report that Apple had pre-ordered “all” of the 10-inch LCD panels on the market, as well as similar sized OLED displays as well. This sounds a little bit ridiculous, though most of the rumors about the Apple tablet claim it will have a 10-inch screen so the dimensions make sense.

A shortage of 10-inch screens could be a big deal for netbook makers. Machines like the Dell Mini 10 netbook and a billion others come with 10-inch screens, and if supply issues arise consumers might notice sparse netbook variety in stores or perhaps a rise in price. Again, this seems unlikely – most netbook makers probably have loads of 10-inch LCD panels stocked for situations like this.

Another rumor has popped up as well, and it’s summed up by the following sketchy but fascinating photo, courtesy of the Mac Observer:

This could be faked, but if nothing else it’s a thought provoker. Apple’s keeping us in the dark for now, but in the months to come, we should finally know the truth about the Apple tablet.

Lenovo recently announced its all-new Skylight smartbook, a cousin of the netbook with a clever custom interface for Internet access.

We’ll be able to see more on the Skylight smartbook at the Consumer Electronics show this Thursday, but for now, we’ve got a bit of info on its specs. It will run the long-awaited Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset and come with a 1 GHz ARM CPU, a graphics processor, integrated GPS capability and HD video recording and playback. Connectivity is ample, coming by means of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 3G functionality.

The new smartbook by Lenovo will feature a 10-inch screen, clamshell design, and full-sized keyboard – making it look quite a bit like a netbook. It will have a fantstic 10 hours of battery life, thanks to the Snapdragon platform which boosts efficiency by 30%.

The Skylight smartbook will sell for around $499 this April.

Via InformationWeek.

We’ve been eagerly awaiting Google’s netbook for a while now, and for neither the first time nor likely the last, rumors have surfaced about what specs we should expect to see in the thing.

The Google netbook will run the Google Chrome OS on a 10.1-inch screen that will be HD-capable and powered by the Nvidia Tegra.

The system will also include an ARM CPU and 64 GB SSD – small, but lightning-quick. It should have 2 GB of RAM, Bluetooth, 3G suport, a webcam, 3.5mm audio jack, multi-card reader, and a few USB ports.

The Google Chromium OS will be a fascinating experiment when it comes out next year. It suffers from a constant need for a connection to the internet, but with Google apps like Gmail, Maps, Docs, Calendar, and Wave, it will feature an integrated and lively interface, streamlined for mobile use. A $300 price tag could be in the works as well.

All these details are moot until the Google netbook hits stores, but if the pieces come together as projected the Google netbook will be a fine thing to get one’s hands on.

Via TFOT.

Some watchful eyes have caught wind of the Eee PC T101MT over at the FCC, an update of the $532 multitouch Eee PC T91MT netbook. It’s a bit early to expect this thing at January’s CES 2010, but the few hints we have sounds promising.

The new netbook will be a multitouch tablet, as designated by the ‘MT’ in the model name. It should include a 10-inch display as well as 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi.

The ASUS Eee PC T101MT will most likely come with the ASUS TouchSuite, and hopefully an Intel Atom N450. For now, further details are nowhere to be found, but more could be forthcoming come CES 2010.

Via TechTree, image via BlogCDN.

There have been so many rumors about the possible Apple tablet that it’s ridiculous. But two recent pieces of news indicate that this much-anticipated device may turn out to be a reality.

First, Apple told some of its developers to make versions of iPhone apps that will work on a device with a larger screen. Second, Apple has reportedly booked Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco for a period of time in late January. Add to this a mobile industry source who has said this “mystery device” will be shown at the event but will not be ready to ship.

Apple used to not announce products before launch, but changed their tune on this with the iPhone. The January event would be the perfect opportunity to announce their new tablet. Of course, it’s all rumors at this point, but it’s tempting to say that an Apple tablet is looking more and more likely.

The overwhelming question I have now is: are users ready for this kind of interface change? I am envisioning the Apple tablet without a physical keyboard, but I know I am personally not ready to give up mine. Any successful device might implement an external keyboard option, as displayed here.

Via CNET.

Samsung is following the swarm of new Pine Trail-powered netbook releases with a new netbook of its own, according to recent leaks from online retailers and the FCC. The netbook is going to be called the Samsung N150, but as far as I can tell, it’s not making many changes from the old NC-series formula.

The Samsung N150 will run the Intel Atom N450 CPU on 1 GB of RAM, a 160 GB HDD, Windows 7, and a 10-inch screen. However, it also includes the Qualcomm Gobi2000 chipset, a GPS receiver, and 3G connectivity, making it a possible candidate for contracts with cellular providers.

Availability is unknown thus far, but some online retailers are taking pe-orders at $374.

Via Nexus404.

Is Google creating its own brand of netbooks? This wouldn’t be incredibly surprising, considering that netbook fever is running rampant in the technology world, but it’s still news that Google has decided to join in on the fun.

Michael Arrington, TechCrunch CEO, claims that more than one reliable source has revealed Google to be currently working with manufacturers to create a list of netbook specifications. The exact details of what Google’s netbook will contain are still a mystery, but it is speculated that the netbook will veer from the traditional and incorporate the new Nvidia Tegra graphics chip along with an ARM Processor.

The most exciting revelation is that Google will be selling their netbook and smartphone creations directly to consumers. That’s right – there might be a Google store popping up in your neighborhood in the near future.

ImageVia Tech-New

Via PcWorld

MSI will soon be launching a new line of larger netbooks in the near future, both of which will run AMD processors. The new machiens are the MSI MS-1243 and MSI MS-1241, which recently showed up on the FCC.

These netbooks should be making an appearance by 2010 with 1366×768 pixel screens in 12.1-inch and 11.6-inch varieties. They are rumored to include 3G mobile broadband, Wi-Fi, HDMI, and a TV tuner for an enhanced multimedia experience. Both will run the AMD Athlon Neo CPU.

The MS-1243 and -1241 are also expected to run Windows 7 and a momentous 4 GB of RAM. 250 GB hard drives could be on the way as well, which is great. Both machines will start with 3-cell batteries with the possibility of an upgrade.

Pricing and availability info are unknown for now, but if I had to guess I’d put the MSI MS-1243 and MS-1241 netbooks in the $500-$600 range, due to their huge RAM and other options.

Via TheLink.

Google wants everyone to use their browser and what better way to do that than to provide low-cost bare-bones smartbook or netbook technology pre-installed with the Chrome OS? The company may look into advertising to cover the losses they may have to take for providing these rumored smartbooks and netbooks, but they also just acquired Teracent, a company that specializes in personalized display advertising.

The Chrome OS is free and most data is stored in the cloud anyway, so this situation would be quite feasible for Google. $20 per unit may seem a bit low, but you never know what’ll happen. Think Google will give out free smartbooks and netbooks? It could happen.

Via I4U.

Pineview netbooks are starting to pop up left and right. Here’s one that’s recently been spotted on the FCC’s website – the Fujitsu Lifebook MH380. The rumored tech specs so far include a 10.1″ screen display with 1366×768 resolution, a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 CPU, Atheros 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Realtek 8103EL-GR 10/100 Ethernet.

RAM is rumored to be 2 GB DDR2 and storage is rumored to be 160 GB or more. No other news is yet available on this netbook, but since it’s a pre-production sample, specs could be very likely to change. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.

Via WirelessGoodness.

We’ve got the latest on Best Buy’s deals for Black Friday 2009. Best Buy loves to offer slashed prices on computers, and netbooks are the big thing this year, so as expected we’ll be seeing a host of great new netbook deals on store shelves on the 27th.

Their 12-page Black Friday ad reveals crucial details about the plan for this Friday. Best Buy will open its doors at 5:00 AM, passing out tickets for their specials at 3:00 AM. Certain deals, like the $197 HP Laptop with an Intel Celeron CPU, are only available in-store. Others are available online as early as Thanksgiving Day.

With no further ado, take a look at Best Buy’s Black Friday netbook and laptop deals:

• Compaq Netbook w/Intel Atom Processor, 1GB Memory, 160GB Hard Drive – $179.99
• Compaq Netbook w/Intel Atom Processor, 1GB Memory, 250GB Hard Drive – $229.99
• eMachines Desktop w/AMD Athlon Processor, 3GB RAM, 320GB HD, Windows 7, w/18.5″ LCD Monitor and HP Deskjet Printer – $299.97
• Dell 10.1″ Netbook w/Intel Atom Processor, 1GB Memory, 160GB Hard Drive – $379.99
• Sony 15″ Laptop w/Intel Dual Core Processor, 4GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 – $399.99
• Toshiba 16″ Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 3GB DDR3 Memory, 250GB Hard Drive (Model # L505-S5984) – $399.99
• Sony 15″ Laptop w/Intel Dual Core Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB HD, Windows 7, Sony Headphones, Built-In Blu-ray, Blu-ray Movie – $479.97
• Toshiba 16″ Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4GB DDR3 Memory, 320GB Hard Drive (Model # L505-S5984) w/Printer and Case – $499.97
• HP Desktop AMD X4 Quad Core, 8GB Mem, 1TB Hard Drive, 20″ Monitor, HP Deskjet DJ350 Color Printer, Windows 7 Home Prem – $499.97
• HP 15.6″ Notebook w/AMD Turion II Dual Core Processor M500, 6GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 – $599.99
• HP 15.6″ Notebook w/AMD Turion II Dual Core Processor M500, 8GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 – $699.99
• Macbook 13.3″ Notebook w/2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR3 Memory, 250GB Hard Drive, w/$150 Gift Card – $999.99

Via Huliq.

Target is announcing a new Sunday-to-Wednesday run of pre-Black Friday deals that we thought you’d like to hear about. The price cuts aren’t godly, but definitely worth a look if you’re on the market and don’t want to deal with Black Friday crowds.

Most of the good ones are on TVs. You can get a 32-inch LCD TV for $398, 50-inch plasma for $698 or a 42-inch 1080p LCD TV for $597.

Other deals include a $20 gift card with the purchase of a Wii, dual-screen portable DVD player for $119, and a 10.1-inch Acer Aspire One netbook for a mere $199.

You should be seeing these deals in your Sunday paper, or alternatively at Target.com in the near future.

Via CrunchGear.

Google says Chrome’s coming in 2010, and while some analysts correctly predicted that the project would be open sourced within days last week, the IDC is now saying that Google Chrome won’t see serious enterprise adoption for 10 years.

Analyst Al Hilwa of the IDC backed up this position by saying that, while updating on the cloud might be fantastic for Chrome OS netbook users, enterprises won’t easily get on board with the concept:

“[Cloud-based updates] are not going to eliminate problems. You’ll still have occasionally an update that comes in and it will screw up something. Enterprises don’t want to see that kind of thing. I think they’re making some bets on this and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.”

Furthermore, the fact that Chrome OS and the Chrome browser only run Web apps without access to downloadable local apps could be a turn-off even for netbook users:

“You wonder if netbook users are going to be okay with that, and if they will want to store everything in the cloud. Before it’s all over, there’s going to be some offline applications and then there will be some offline usage of data. They’re going to have Flash memory and people will store data locally. There’s almost no way around that.”

Based on that reason, Hilwa’s perspective is that Chrome OS will be a consumer phenomenon for five years, but it’ll be 10 years before Chrome OS can get 5% of the enterprise computing market in on the fun.

Via eWeek.

At today’s ARM Connected Community Technical Symposium 2009 in Taipei, Pegatron GM Chou Biao Sheng announced that Pegatron will be releasing a 10-inch ARM smartbook running Ubuntu, set to hit retailers as early as next year.

Chou dropped a little mnemonic for us to remember why we should get a Pegatron smartbook – AQUIC:

• Always on – this thing should run for ages
• Quick on – think Moblin quickboot
• a new and improved User interface
• new Industrial design will reduce power consumption and thinned out because ARM chips often don’t need fans
• Cost – you know what that means.

The smartbook category could be popular, if manufacturers like Pegatron are able to deliver in the above categories. All day battery life has been insanely attractive in netbooks, and with battery improvements always around the corner this could be an exciting time for the smartbook and netbook categories.

Via Shanzai.

Canonical has hinted that Ubuntu Netbook Remix is going to be renamed Ubuntu Netbook Edition, as found in the Blueprint for Ubuntu 10.04.

The change is more symbolic than anything, but it is a sign that netbooks are starting to get more dedicated attention. This may also be a move by Canonical to contrast the specificity of its products with  Microsoft’s. Microsoft offers OEMs a crippled version of Windows 7 in newer netbooks, and if netbook users get the hint that Canonical gives a damn about them, they may be more willing to make the switch.

Netbook Remix is mostly distinguished from ordinary Ubuntu Linux by using a series of categories (Accessories, Games, Internet, Office, etc.) rather than dropdown menus in the interface.

If you just can’t wait, you can get Ubuntu Netbook Remix from Canonical here.

Via OMGUbuntu.

While it was first rumored that Chinese netbook manufacturers would be getting their hands on the Google Chrome OS first, an early version of the operating system could be available as early as next week.

Google has stated that Chrome will initially seek to enter the netbook OS market, and that the full Chrome OS will be available for consumers by the second half of 2010. A beta as soon as next week would come completely out of left field, considering that Google likely has its hands full trying to get Google Wave out of beta. But who’s complaining?

The Chrome OS is an open source project being put together by Acer, Adobe, ASUS, Freescale, HP, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, and Toshiba. It’s expected to slim down boot speeds as well as other important metrics, based on Google’s explanation for the project:

“We hear a lot from our users and their message is clear—computers need to get better. People want to get to their email instantly, without wasting time waiting for their computers toboot and browsers to start up. They want their computers to always run as fast as when they first bought them.”

If Chrome can deliver on those fronts, you can count me in, but I won’t be keeping my hopes up – I’ve had my heart broken before.

Via CRN.

Recently, at the launch of the HTC Touch HD2 smartphone, the company had also announced that its latest netbook may be released within the next couple of weeks.

HTC currently offers a netbook that runs on the Windows Vista OS. The company’s newest netbook will either run on the Windows 7 OS or the Android OS. Some other new and unique features may also be included in the netbook, although these features are not yet detailed.

Before releasing a new netbook, HTC wants to first examine and assess users’ potential response. We’ll keep you posted on any progress.

Via IndiaServer.