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Netbooks are renowned for their maneuverability; but not so much for battery life. Pixel Qi, an American brand company that manufactures energy efficient computer displays technology, may be destined to make a change. Mary Lou Jepsen, the founder of Pixel Qi, announced last Sunday that the company will begin offering display screens specially designed for netbooks.

These new displays function by utilizing traditional LCD’s, but become power efficient by being able to turn off the backlight and switch to a low-power mode. As a result, the power consumption can be reduced up to 75%. Another useful feature is how the screens are designed to reduce glare and maintain readability on screen in bright outdoor conditions.

Some people may be deterred by this product due to the need for manual labor in switching the screens. However, the operation is simple enough a 5-year-old could do it, and not even the most brilliant 5-year old either. According to Jepsen, “One of the reasons I’m personally committed to doing this goes back to my One Laptop per Child experience and girls in a poor rural part of Nigeria… An 11 year old girl decided to open a laptop hospital [and] she eventually recruited girls as young as 5 to help out in the hospital. This group of girls armed with screwdrivers starting taking apart the laptops and reseating the cables. Sometimes they’d change out a screen, or a speaker.”

If battery life and readability increases are important to you, definitely look into Pixel Qi.

Via ZDnet.

MSI (Micro-Star International), a netbook manufacturer, has announced the release of the much anticipated “Wind U160” netbook.

At first, the model seems to offer the usual netbook features: an Intel Atom N450 processor, 6-cell battery, Bluetooth functionality, and Windows 7.

However, its design shows innovation and creativity. The Wind U160 has evolved from the traditional clamshell figure to a slim .98 inches. The hinge is very much the same as a normal netbook, but has become more cylindrical with the addition of a power button constructed within. The chassis comes in a stylish gold and black model.

The Wind U160 truly shines above other typical netbooks by offering an outrageous 15 hours of battery life (in the company’s specially designed ECO mode). It’s no surprise that this netbook was the winner of the 2010 iF Product Design competition. Models are currently available starting at $380.

Via Maximum PC

Immediately upon first glance, Lenovo’s IdeaPad S10-3t and Apple’s iPad share a resemblance in names. The similarities, however, extend further than simply their titles; both the form and the function of the two products parallel each other as well.

First off, the “innovative” touch-screen technology that make the iPad so highly anticipated also are seen on the IdeaPad. Although there have been complaints concerning lag on the IdeaPad’s touch-screen, Lenovo can potentially compensate by offering the classic netbook interface on the IdeaPad as well. With a simple swivel of the screen, the IdeaPad consequentially becomes a netbook/iPad hybrid. Sporting a full keyboard and mouse pointer, the IdeaPad seems to be a potential competitor towards the Ipad.

Unfortunately, the IdeaPad also has a few significant flaws: in an attempt to keep the size of the netbook at a minimum, Lenovo sacrificed the crucial handrest one constantly utilizes while typing. Furthermore, the battery life on the model is a mere 3 hours. Both the iPad and IdeaPad will be released at the similar price range from about $549-$649.

Now, consumers are left to decide whether the IdeaPad is a strong competitor against the iPad despite of its flaws, or is it interesting concept that requires more polishing?

Via CNet.

One aspect that netbooks and laptops are consistently inferior to desktop computers in is within the sound department. Due to the countless high-tech external speakers for desktop computers on the market today, the weaker internal speakers on the majority of netbooks seem insignificant in comparison.

But earlier today, Logitech released the external laptop speaker Z205. This new speaker model boasts an internal sound card and stereo speakers to augment quality of sound as well as projection. The slim efficient design is meant to sustain portability in the netbook and is meant to be simply inserted in a USB port and docked right above the netbook’s screen.

Whether you strive for a more immersive experience in gaming, less sound distortion in YouTube videos, or simply more thorough enjoyment when casually listening to music, Logitech’s laptop speaker Z205 will surely help get the job done. If you’re looking to boost your audio experience on your netbook, Z205 speakers should be a primary option.

Models are sold at a sensible $39.99 and should be available for sale in the next couple days.

Via EverythingUSB

Now, just days after the advent of Intel’s new Atom N450 processor, the first netbooks with this fine new chip are being released. The new netbook is the Gigabyte T1000 tablet, and along with the new processor it features a 10.1-inch LCD display. The display offers the ability to interchange between a netbook setup and tablet setup. Some of the other specs of the device include:

• 1GB DDR2 RAM
• 250GB 2.5-inch SATA HDD
• Integrated microphone
• Two 1.5W speakers
• 1.3 Megapixel web cam
• 2 USB 2.0 ports
• eSATA/USB combo
• Support for wireless, ethernet and Bluetooth connections

Two versions of the netbook are being released, differing in battery life and weight. The T1000x has a lighter weight, but weaker battery as compared to the T1000p. The prices for the tablets are not yet available.

This kind of netbook is one of many that shows the remarkable utility of the netbook-tablet fusion. With products like this, who needs a silly iPad?

Via Coated.

Netbook buyers and enthusiasts should be happy to know that this coming Monday Intel will be releasing the Atom N470 Processor, which will be Intel’s most powerful chip yet for netbooks. The processor will enhance both the performance speed of the machine and longevity of the battery.

The chip will run at a speed of 1.83GHz and integrate a graphics processor and memory controller. These features will give netbooks superior graphics and processing performance compared to their predecessors. The fact that the new chips are also more efficient could result in an increase for some netbooks’ battery life performance. The chip’s integration also results in a decrease of size, which could allow smaller and lighter netbooks to be made.

Though this new chip is a great step, there are still strides to be made in the effort to increase efficiency and utility. For example, Nvidia graphics processors and Atom CPU will be coupled together to bring better high-definition video to some netbooks in early March, and it’s this kind of innovation that will drive the industry forward.

Via PCWorld.

Viliv has finally confirmed pricing and availability for the long-awaited S10 Blade netbook. The convertible tablet netbook is now available for pre-order in North America for $699, coming with Windows XP. This particular model won’t include three-point multitouch output as promised, but other models are on the way.

Later iterations of the S10 Blade netbook will share the same basic features – a 10.1-inch 1366 x 768 resolution resistive, multitouch touchscreen, 1 GB RAM, Bluetooth 2.0 and a webcam. It packs either a 1.6 GHz or 2.0 GHz Intel Atom CPU and a variety of storage options: a 60 GB HDD or SSDs in 32 and 64 GB versions.

A number of the models will get HSPA 3G modules. Expect battery life to run as long as 10 hours.

We’re still in the dark about shipping dates, so keep your eyes peeled.

Via Electronista.

LG has just announced a pair of new netbooks and a new notebook, ripe and ready for eager eyes at next week’s CeBIT conference in Germany.

The first is the LG T280 notebook – a sleek looking machine priced around $1000 with variations based on configuration. The specs for the LG T280 notebook are as follows:

• Windows 7 Home Premium
• 11.6-inch display
• 1366 x 768 resolution
• Options of Intel 1.3GHz Pentium dual-core or Core 2 Duo processor
• Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics
• 320GB or 500GB hard drive options
• 2GB of RAM
• Wi-Fi
• Six-cell battery

Next in line are LG’s new netbooks. They look pretty standard, packing Intel Atom N450 CPUs, but the LG X140 and X200 netbooks have some visible differences when you look beneath the veneer.

The specs of the X140 and X200 netbooks are as follows:

The X140

• Windows 7 Starter
• 10.1 inch LCD display
• 1024 x 600 pixels
• 1GB of RAM
• 160 GB hard drive
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• 1.3-megapixel webcam
• Six-cell battery
• SIM card access

The X200

• Intel GMA 3150 graphics
• 1GB of RAM
• 250GB hard drive
• Chiclet-style keyboard
• 802.11n Wi-Fi
• USB ports
• Weighs 2.7-pounds

LG’s past netbooks have included the LG X20 and LG X30. LG netbook offerings have historically been capable but bland, though LG did make headlines by delivering its X120 and X130 netbooks in Iraq and Jordan last August.

Via ZDNet.

Recently, Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook told a group of investors that the iPad’s “magical properties” will be what lures potential netbook buyers towards this new product. However, he seems to have overlooked a simple fact that consumers likely won’t: a netbook is capable of accomplishing essentially any task the iPad can perform, and at a lower cost.

The allure that the iPad brings with it is the user “experience,” though it is debatable how much of a better experience that will end up being. One of the iPad’s primary and most obvious features is its touch-screen interface. For something like the iPhone, there are attractive benefits to using a touch pad, as the interface is easy and flexible. However, that same kind of interface may not be as convenient for buyers in the netbook/notebook market. Many individuals who would seek to use such a product at work might find typing on the screen itself less appealing, as often it is easier to make a typing mistake on touch-screen interface keyboards.

Though the iPad is likely to appeal to those who were wooed by the iTouch and iPhone, it is unlikely that it will be seen as superior to a netbook in terms of capability and function.

Via PCWorld, image via PCWorld.

While they are at their core small computers, netbooks were made to have a slightly different function than their laptop predecessors. Laptops are frequently being built as substitutes for desktops for many common functions, and some are even advertised as such – remember that category called “desktop replacements”? Netbooks, however, seem to have taken up the niche that laptops used to fill – portable computing.

Like the laptops of old, netbooks tend to be underclocked, and their size generally allow for very limited storage and expansion space. There are programs available, however, that allow you to get just a little bit more utility out of your tiny netbook.

While I will always have fond memories of the Windows OS, I must admit that the Apple side is seductive, and their Dock does a great job of keeping programs I use all the time in such easy reach while keeping my desktop uncluttered. Rocketdock is a free program that adds a dock to any side of a netbook’s screen and adds utility to everyday use.

When I go online, I find that Google’s Chrome browser is a great performer on netbooks. It doesn’t use as much of the netbook’s limited resources, is quite fast, and is constantly being updated. If you have a touchscreen, you might want to look into getting ChromeTouch as well, which is an extension of the Chrome browse and adds touch control to the Chrome browser.

While you’re online, if you find an interesting site and bookmark it, Xmarks will keep your browser bookmark and site passwords in synch among multiple PCs. While there already exist other programs that do this, Xmarks stands out among the rest in that it works across browsers,  keeping Safari, Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer all synced among a network. And while many people are firm believers in AVG Free for protection, Microsoft Security Essentials takes away less from your netbook performance while still doing a good job of protecting your computer.

Depending on what you do with your netbook, some of these programs might not be right for you. There are a bunch of other programs out there of course, so with a little effort, I’m sure you can find a solution to whatever problem you have.

Via jkOnTheRun

Lenovo is taking its ThinkPad X100e laptop and delivering a 10-inch variant for the netbook lovers among us. The new machine hasn’t been given a new model name, for some reason, but it will come with a 10-inch display, Intel Atom N450 CPU, and variable amounts of RAM and HDD space, going all the way up to 4 GB and 320 GB respectively.

To contrast, the notebookier X100e computer has an AMD Athlon NEO CPU, 11-inch screen, 450 GB of storage, and 4 GB of RAM.

The netbook version of the Lenovo ThinkPad X100e will come with Intel integrated graphics and Windows 7 Starter edition. You can expect it in the next few weeks in the $500 price range.

Via Nexus404.

October 25, 2001 – A Microsoft operating system was released as the Internet revolution entered the everyman’s home.  Only one year after the absolute fiasco known as Windows ME (in a time before Vista was known as possibly the worst operating system of all time), Windows XP was released, and with it came hopes of a new stable Windows OS. Combining the new technologies of ME with the stability of Windows 2000, XP became the world’s number one OS, and sits on that throne to this day. It heralded the modern internet era, and until recently was the OS of choice for OEMs.

Now, we can finally see what a horrible, horrible mistake keeping it alive was.  Since the appearance of a 17-year old DOS exploit, followed by an update that has created countless BSODs and endless reboots, Windows XP looks unlikely to be able to weather the coming years.  Microsoft believes they have discovered the primary cause of the current maladies:

“In our continuing investigation in to the restart issues related to MS10-015 that a limited number of customers are experiencing, we have determined that malware on the system can cause the behavior. We are not yet ruling out other potential causes at this time and are still investigating.” (emphasis added)

People attacked Windows Vista for performance flaws and pricing, but at least Microsoft began to clean up its act regarding internet security with Internet Explorer 7 and the improved Windows Firewall.  User Account Control, a feature Unix systems have had for quite a while, was a step in the right direction (despite its dreadful implementation).  And Windows 7 finally comes with performance improvements and most modern hardware is capable of handling it.

The only market that really had any justification in using XP was netbooks, but even they have moved on to Windows 7 Starter Edition.  While XP may have extended support till 2014, users should realize that they need to upgrade far before that.

There are essentially three routes. If you have anything with higher performance than a netbook, it is safe to move on to Windows 7.  “Vista-capable” PCs should not still have Windows XP on them. It is an insult to their hardware, and these recent episodes have shown that it is no longer safe.

If for some reason you are still using a 800 MHz Celeron with 128 MB RAM, then it is either time to get a new computer (anything from any brand with any operating system circa 2010) or to install Linux.  For the majority of users, the latter seems like too difficult of an option, but Ubuntu is a usable and user-friendly introduction to Linux.

As for netbooks, which is the only platform where new machines still have this abomination,  please get Windows 7 or Linux or even a Hackintosh.  Microsoft has directions for those of you who don’t know how to set up an ISO to install from a USB. And while I am sure there will be many of those hesitant to move forward from XP, I beseech you: at least take this as a wake up call.

Via Engadget.

You just bought a netbook. Congratulations! Your new netbook is all factory-fresh and set up just how you like it, except…it’s a little slow. What’s to be done?

One thing you could do is disable the following services:

• Block Level Backup Engine Service
• Bonjour Service (from iTunes)
• Certificate Propagation
• Group Policy Client (if not on domain)
• HomeGroup Listener
• HomeGroup Provider
• Offline Files
• Portable Device Enumerator Service
• Security Center
• Software Protection
• SSDP Discovery
• Windows Defender
• Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service
• Windows Search

If you want some tricks to get more out of what you do have, then go to this site. It has a number of fixes that should help you get the most out of your netbook.

Via Arabian Business

Tablets, once viewed as a lukewarm substitute for a pen and a pad of paper, have now become much more fun to use with the popularity of multitouch. And just as Apple’s iPhone popularized that function, so the iPad might do to the tablet PC.

Netbook Navigator came out with a new 9 inch tablet PC with the following specs:

At $799 for the base model, it’s a bit on the pricey side, but the Nav 9 tablet is a solid piece of engineering. It can support multitasking, run most Windows applications, and the multiple ports certainly don’t hurt. The question now is, will it catch on?

Via Liliputing

Did you know that Air Force fighter pilots have face shields with heads-up displays projected on them? The effect is much like what game makers have been doing with first-person shooters – there’s a targeting reticle on the opponent and an ammo count at the corner. While the official point is to increase the amount of information a pilot has at hand, I just always thought that it was cool how real life has begun to imitate video games.

Why do I bring this up? Samsung created a laptop that uses a clear active matrix OLED screen (AMOLED). In layman’s terms, that’s a transparent screen. The display gives clear, sharp, bright images, but still allows one to see things through the screen. This laptop is different from those HUDs so loved by pilots in that the images aren’t projected; the screen is just transparent.

As of right now, I doubt that many people have a true practical application for this beyond just looking really cool. But hey, imagine one day having a glass table in your living room that doubles as a platform for a Microsoft Surface. Or maybe windows that double as interactive screens for your smart-house. Baby steps.

Via Tom’s Hardware.

WARNING: Sarcasm Alert!

Are you tired of having an old plastic netbook? Are you tired of having those flimsy plastic chassi break down on you just when you need them the most? Well worry not! Now you can get a Core Grid Vigood U220!

As a netbook it’s fully functional, and its capabilities include a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, 1 GB of RAM, 250 GB hard drive, and a 10.2 inch display. Not enough you say? Well I’m not done just yet! It also has 802.11 b/g WiFi, a 1.3 MP webcam, 3 USB ports, VGA output, and a flash card reader!

BUT WAIT! I haven’t even gotten to the best part! That flimsy plastic chassis you hate? Well it’s all gone now. Instead, Vigood made it out of solid metal! You heard me, METAL! It’s not just a netbook, it can double as bookend! A table weight! A door stop! Use it however you would a normal metal block! That’s right, Vigood isn’t just giving you a netbook, it’s also giving you a metal block replacement! They’re saving you all that trouble of getting one for yourself! Vigood U220 going now for $350! Order now!

Note: Vigood is a brand that is relatively unknown outside of China, so we’re not just making this stuff up. Nor is the Core Grid Vigood U220 the only netbook with a metal chassis.

Via Liliputing.

Lee Williams, CEO of Symbian Foundation, stated in an interview that he believes it is “very likely” that netbooks and tablets will start running Symbian in the next couple of years. Back in April, we blogged about the possibility that the smartphone OS would enter the netbook market. Now that Symbian Foundation has announced that the platform has gone open source, a process that involved the company negotiating with 200 third-party owners, the likelihood of the OS being ported to netbooks and tablet devices has increased even more.

Symbian supports both ARM and Intel x86 processors, and companies are beginning to experiment with the platform any which way they can to run it on a multitude of devices.

The source code is broken down into 108 packages, all of which can be downloaded here.

To read the full interview with Williams, click here.

Via ZDNet, image via GlobalThoughtz.

LG’s new X20 was reviewed and accepted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today. It’s no X30, but it can hold its own. Running Windows 7 on a Intel Atom N450 1.66 GHz processor, it’s got 250 GB of HDD, 2 GB of RAM, and with its 1.3 MP webcam and HSPA 3G, you can Skype on the 10.1″ 1366 x 768 screen. The keyboard and trackpad are a bit small, but those are the flaws we accept when dropping cash on a netbook.

Apparently, one test report shows that there are various model numbers by the X20, presumably for different regions. Going by the user manual, this netbook will be released in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, China, Singapore, Korea and India. Mum’s the word on pricing or release date though.

Via WirelessGoodness

Netbooks are a curious thing: too large and powerful to be a smartphone, and too small and weak to be a computer, thus limited by lack of portability against the former and just plain limited compared to the latter. And yet they’re selling like hot cakes. Why?

Maybe it’s because they fill that happy medium between the power of a laptop and the portability of a phone. They allow one to carry around something not much heavier than a purse, that one can easily use to browse the web or write a paper, and quite frankly, those consist of at least 80% of what I do with a computer anyway.

Having a device that well let allow me do those two things (and do them well) while decreasing my dependence on power outlets neatly fills up that netbook-shaped hole in my life. But hey, you don’t have to take my opinion for it. Go try one for yourself.