| It has been a while since I posted up my last review. To say I have been off track in terms of scheduling my reviews would be an understatement. However, I do plan to get back on track starting today. It's been a long two months since the New Year and there are still a lot of good things coming ahead for Netbook Updates. Anyways, back on the topic of the current review. We have a pretty interesting product in our hands and it comes from a company known as hField, which I must admit I have not heard of before. However, it is nevertheless nice to know that there are still companies out there competing in this market(for our attention). You'll be happy to hear that the product we have today has received plenty or praise from users and reviewers alike. The product we got with us for testing is the hField Wi-Fire, a multi-directional USB Wi-Fi adapter. It boasts long ranges and comes with its own custom software to boot. It seems hfield even has some field tests to offer as proof, au contraire to many others. We will hold them to these results and those of various other testers and see just how well it stacks up in this category. Does it take the crown in terms of performance and portability? Read on to find out! Without further adieu let's head into this review today. (or i might say, "i present you - official name blabla, but that sounds cheezy).
[Extended, read on by clicking title or read more button] |
 |
Reviews | hField Wi-Fire
Submitted by shc-boomer on Fri, 12/11/2009 - 15:02Pioneer 11 and 12-inch Atom N470, ION 2 Netbooks Now Available
Submitted by shc-boomer on Wed, 03/10/2010 - 07:06| Previously we saw the 11.6” DreamBook Lite U11a and heard it was coming with ION 2 graphics. That model is now available with ION 2 graphics (GT218M) for a $59 upgrade and an upgrade to an Atom N470 processor costs $29 which brings the base price up to $537 AUD ($491). Looks of other cool customizable options but it’s a shame in only comes in Red / Black.
Then there’s the 12.1” DreamBook Lite U12 ION 2. Same deal with an Atom N Pinetrail processor except this one comes with a color combination more easy on the eyes: Black on the inside and brown on the outside. The Atom N470 upgrade is $29 and the base price prior to that upgrade is $549 AUD ($502) which includes ION 2 by default. Some features are optional and not included in the base price above * 12.1” 1366 x 768 display News Source: Netbooked |
 |
Sparkle’s new nettop will have next-gen ION graphics
Submitted by shc-boomer on Wed, 03/10/2010 - 07:06| It seems like everybody and their kid brother has a new nettop with next-generation NVIDIA ION graphics to show these days. So how do you set your super-slim and tiny desktop PC apart from the crowd? Simple. You slap a unicorn logo on the side. At least that’s what Sparkle is doing with its nettops.
The company is currently showing off a mini-desktop called the Calibre Cuti with a dual core Atom 330 CPU and first generation NVIDIA ION graphics. But Sparkle plans to introduce a new version of the nettop with next-generation ION in time for the Computex trade show in June. The computers support up to 4GB of RAM and can handle hard drives up to 500GB. They have 802.11b/g/n WiFi built in, HDMI and DVI video outputs, 7.1 channel audio, 6 USB ports, and optional Bluetooth. News Source: Liliputing |
 |
Asus Eee Box EB202 with Linux selling for $190 at Newegg
Submitted by shc-boomer on Wed, 03/10/2010 - 07:05| Asus has pretty much stopped offering its netbooks and nettops with Linux preloaded. Instead, most of the company’s products come with Windows XP or Windows 7. But retailer Newegg is selling a first generation Asus Eee Box EB2020 nettop with Red Flag Linux, a Chinese Linux distribution that’s designed to look an awful lot like Windows XP.
The Eee Box with Red Flag Linux comes with 1GB of RAM, a 160Gb hard drive, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Ethernet, a mouse and keyboard, and a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor. Newegg is selling the nettop for $219.99, but after a $30 mail-in rebate the price drops to $189.99 plus free shipping. News Source: Liliputing |
 |
MSI Wind U230 thin and light, AMD-powered notebook now available
Submitted by shc-boomer on Wed, 03/10/2010 - 07:05| MSI has been showing off its latest 12 inch notebooks for a few months. But now it looks like it’s actually available for purchase in the US. The MSI Wind U230 comes in two flavors. The Wind U230-033 has an AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 CPU and 250GB hard drive while the AMD U230-040 has dual core AMD Athlon X2 L335 processor and 320GB hard drive.
Otherwise, the two models have identical specs: * Display: 12.1 inch. 1366 x 768 pixels The MSI Wind U230-033US is available from Newegg for $430for $430, while the dual core Wind U230-U40US will set you back $480. News Source: Liliputing |
 |
MSI Wind Box DE220 Product Page Goes Live
Submitted by shc-boomer on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 09:59| MSI’s upcoming dual core Pinetrail powered Wind Box DE220, briefly seen at CES 2010, now has a product page up online. We already know the main specs and we are still waiting for news on availability and pricing.
The main differentiating features of this nettop are its ATI Radeon HD 4300 graphics as opposed to Nvidia ION graphics, a faster and larger 3.5” 7200RPM drive instead of a laptop based 2.5” 5400RPM drive and perhaps the built-in IR receiver so it’s remote ready. Barebones specification below but there should be models with 160 - 1TB HDDs, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Windows 7 Home Premium. * Intel Atom D410 / D510 processor News Source: Netbooked |
|
Intel may be working on a dual core Atom chip for netbooks
Submitted by shc-boomer on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 09:59| Since day one, Intel’s Atom chips have come in two flavors: desktop and mobile. While the desktop chips have come in dual core and single core versions, the Atom chips designed for netbooks and other portable devices have traditionally been single core only. But it looks like that could soon change.
PC Inpact reports that Intel may be working on a dual core Atom chip for netbooks. It will reportedly be called something like the Atom N500, which makes sense, since the latest dual core chip for desktops is called the Atom D510 — and most of the company’s netbook-specific chips have started with the letter N, such as the Atom N270, N280, N450, and N470. Up until now, any PC maker that wanted to build a laptop with a dual core Atom processor had to use a desktop chip such as the Atom 330 dual core CPU found in the Asus Eee PC 1201N. But those chips tend to draw more power and generate more heat than chips designed for netbooks. Bear in mind, even with two cores, an Atom chip is an Atom chip. They’re designed as low cost, low power alternatives to beefier processors. As such, I’d expect the Atom N500 to be a little faster than a single core Atom processor and better at multitasking and other tasks which can benefit from multiple cores. But don’t expect miracles. There’s no word on how much the Atom N500 would cost or when it would be released. And right now, this is just a rumor, although PC Inpact reports that the information comes from companies that work with Intel. News Source: Liliputing |
 |
Asus Eee PC 1005PR product page goes live (HD display)
Submitted by shc-boomer on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 09:59| The Eee PC 1005PR is the first 10 inch netbook from Asus with a high resolution 1366 x 768 pixel display. It was first spotted at CeBIT in Germany last week, but now Asus has posted an official product page for the mini-laptop.
Here’s a rundown of the specs: * Display: 10.1? 1366 x 768 pixels No word on pricing yet, but the Eee PC 1005PR should be available in April. And by all appearances, the netbook is virtually identical to the Eee PC 1005PE in most respects. The two key differences are the high resolution display at the Broadcom Crystal HD video accelerator, both of which are likely to drive up the price. My guess is that we’ll see this model selling for about $50 more than a standard Asus Eee PC 1005PE. News Source: Liliputing |
 |
Intel Atom 330, 230 chips on their way out
Submitted by shc-boomer on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 09:58| This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, but it looks like Intel is getting ready to phase out its first generation of desktop Atom chips. The Intel Atom 330 dual core and Atom 230 single core chips should be done by the end of the month. These were the first Atom chips designed for low power desktop and nettop computers, and Intel has pretty much replaced them with the new Intel Atom D410 and D510 Pine Trail chips with integrated GMA 3150 graphics.
Fudzilla reports that come April, vendors won’t be able to order new Atom 230 or 330 chips. That doesn’t mean you won’t still be able to buy a computer like the Acer AspireRevo nettop or Asus Eee PC 1201N with an Atom 330 processor. But once Acer, Asus, and other PC makers run out of the chips they have on hand for those machines, they’ll probably start pushing newer models with the latest chips more heavily. News Source: Liliputing |
|
Gateway EC14D mini-laptop with DVD drive up for pre-order
Submitted by shc-boomer on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 07:06| Remember that Gateway EC14D notebook that was announced earlier this year? You know, the one with the 11.6 inch display, Intel CULV processor, and built-in DVD burner? Yeah, you can go ahead and pre-order it now. Amazon is taking pre-orders for the laptop for $629.99 + free shipping.
While that price makes the notebook a little more expensive than other CULV netbooks such as the Acer Aspire 1810 or Asus UL20A, it’s the only 11.6? thin and light laptop with an 8 hour battery and DVD drive I’m aware of in this price range. The Gateway EC14D has a 1.3GHz Intel Pentium SU4100 dual core processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 320GB hard drive. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium and has an 11.6 inch, 1366 x 768 pixel HD display and Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics. The DVD drive is an 8x SuperMulti double-layer drive. News Source: Liliputing |
 |
Samsung Go netbook updated, given the Pine Trail treatment
Submitted by shc-boomer on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 07:05| Samsung appears to have launched an updated version of the Samsung Go netbook. The new version looks identical to the original Samsung N310 and has the same rubberized case and chiclet-style keyboard that I loved so much when I reviewed the laptop last year. But the updated Go has a shiny new 1.66GHz Intel Atom Pine Trail processor.
Here’s a rundown of the specs for the new Samsung Go N315: * CPU: 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 The Samsung N315 is available for pre-order from Amazon for $429. News Source: Liliputing |
 |
DIY Pixel Qi netbook screen kits coming soon
Submitted by shc-boomer on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 07:05| It’s still not clear when the first tablets, netbooks, or other devices with Pixel Qi displays will start to hit the streets. But Pixel Qi founder Mary Lou Jepsen says that you’ll be able to pick up a DIY kit for installing a Pixel Qi screen in your own device by this summer.
Pixel Qi’s LCD displays combine some of the best elements of a fully saturated color display and a high contrast e-Ink screen. In a nutshell, you can treat the screen as a slightly thicker, more expensive color LCD and never take advantage of the ePaper mode. But you can also turn off the backlight to reduce the screen’s power consumption from 2.5 watts to about 0.5 watts. And as an added bonus, while the screen looks a bit closer to black and white in this mode (with some faint colors showing), the screen becomes easily readable outdoors. In fact, in ePaper mode, it’s easier to read text in direct sunlight — something which is hardly true for traditional LCD screens. Pixel Qi has been showing off the new display technology for a while, and typically those demonstrations include Pixel Qi displays retrofitted into off-the-shelf netbooks from companies like Acer and Lenovo. So while there’s no compatibility list yet, it seems like a safe bet that if you have a device with a 10.1 inch display, you’ll be able to use one of these DIY kits to swap out your screen. There’s no word on pricing yet. Jepsen says the company will be making an announcement prior to the release of the DIY kits. News Source: Liliputing |
|
Packard Bell Dot Valentino Rossi VR46 - CeBIT 2010
Submitted by shc-boomer on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 07:02| Packard Bell’s special edition Valentino Rossi VR46 11.6-inch CULV-er makes its way to CeBIT 2010.
This rebranded Acer Aspire 1410 gets storage and memory bumps with 4GB RAM and a whopping 640GB HDD but gets a Intel Celeron SU2300 processor. Nothing wrong with that but I’d be expecting something a little faster from a motor sports branded notebook. (something like the Acer Ferraris) Other than that it has similar specs to the 1410: a 11.6” 1366 x 768 display, 6-cell 8 hour battery, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 and HDMI. Optional 3G. It’ll be priced at around $499 though I’m not sure of availability. News Source: Netbooked |
 |
Samsung N220 Comes With Broadcom Crystal HD Card in UK
Submitted by shc-boomer on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 07:01| Anyone interesting in the Samsung N220 netbook may be interested in this discovery. Someone who has recently bought a UK model of the Samsung N220 has discovered that it comes with a Broadcom Crystal HD decoder card! Nowhere on Samsung’s UK site does it mention this card or the fact that the N220 is even HD capable (which it is with this card) but there’s clearly a sticker on the chassis which states “HD Playback”.
Strange that nobody has discovered this previously as the N220 as been out for a short while in the UK. There have been no reports of the card in German models and it has yet to make an appearance in the US. Another interesting feature is that like the Samsung N120 there is a subwoofer. This is mentioned in the specs but easily overlooked and it’s the first time I’ve heard about this. News Source: Netbooked |
|
Giada introduces ION-powered nettop with TV tuner
Submitted by shc-boomer on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 07:01| Giada has a pretty strong showing at CeBIT this week. In addition to the slim nettop models I spotted earlier this year at CES, the company is showing off a new model with a dual core Intel Atom D510 Pine Trail processor and next-generation ION graphics. What’s really remarkable about the new Giada Cube-N7DT though is that it has a built in TV tuner and DVD drive, making it a a promising little media center PC.
The ION graphics processor should give the computer enough power to decode Blu-Ray discs as well, but it looks like Giada is only showing a model with a DVD burner for now — so you’ll need a USB Blu-Ray drive if you want to go that route. The nettop supports up to 2GB of DDRE3 memory, and takes a 2.5? hard drive. It has HDMI, DVI, and SPDIF outputs, as well as support for 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth. No word on whether we’ll see this Giada nettop in the states anytime soon. News Source: Liliputing |
|
HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition to launch March 19th for $600
Submitted by shc-boomer on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 07:01| HP’s latest designer edition netbook is scheduled to ship on March 19th, with pre-orders starting today. The netbook features a butterfly motif which was designed by Vivienne Tam, the same fashion designer that partnered with HP on one of the first ever designer edition netbooks.
HP has been teasing us with the new new “Butterfly Lovers” design since September, long before the HP Mini 210 was officially launched. In addition t o the designer lid, desktop wallpaper and optional matching wireless mouse, the new HP Mini 210 “Butterfly Lovers” has a few other perks. It has 2GB of RAM, a 320G hard drive, and runs Windows 7 Home Premium rather than the Windows 7 Starter Edition that normally hobbles 10 inch netbooks. But those extra features are going to cost you. While a standard HP Mini 210 starts at just $280, the Butterfly version will run you about $600. The netbook has a 1024 x 600 pixel display and a battery which HP claims is good for up to 5.5 hours of run time. There’s no mention of the new Vivienne Tam netbook on the HP website yet, but you can pr-order one from Amazon for $599.99. News Source: Liliputing |
 |
Gigabyte M1000N to pack next-gen NVIDIA ION graphics
Submitted by shc-boomer on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 07:00| It looks like Gigabyte is going to be one of the first PC makers to jump on the 10-inch netbook with NVIDIA ION bandwagon. The company is making an ION version of the M1000 netbook we told you about the other day.
Netbook News.de reports that the ION version will be called the Gigabyte M1000N and it will feature a version of NVIDIA’s next-generation ION platform as well as a 1.83GHz Intel Atom N470 CPU and a 1366 x 768 pixel HD display. While NVIDIA offers ION graphics for 10 inch netbooks as well as larger notebooks, the 10 inch version is a little less powerful. It has half the CUDA cores of the ION chip found in nettops and notebooks with 11.6 inch or larger displays. That means netbooks like the Gigabyte M1000N and Acer Aspire One 532G won’t offer the same level of graphics performance as machines like the Asus Eee PC 1201PN. But the ION chip should be more than powerful enough to handle 1080p HD video playback, Flash video acceleration, and some 3D graphics. News Source: Liliputing |
 |
Zotac's ZBOX HD-ID11 has NVIDIA Ion 2 and Atom D510 to thank for excellent media playback (updated)
Submitted by shc-boomer on Thu, 03/04/2010 - 07:17| Like gaming? Move right along to the iBuyPower booth, please. Want an unobtrusive PC that will feed your Hulu and YouTube HD streaming addiction? Say hello to the ZBOX HD-ID11. It's basically a desktop version of the same Ion 2 setups you saw announced on the mobile front yesterday, and as such should provide flawless Flash 10.1 playback while occupying an extremely lean footprint on your desktop. Zotac has matched MSI's Wind Box DE220 with its inclusion of a dual-core 1.66GHz Atom D510 CPU, though it obviously differs with its NVIDIA Ion 2 graphics subsystem that includes 512MB of dedicated DDR3 memory. HDMI 1.3a and standard VESA wall-mounting are expected extras, with six USB ports, integrated 802.11n WiFi, dual-link DVI, and a 6-in-1 media card reader covering the rest of your bases. Check out some 1080p playback on a similarly specced system right here while you wait for pricing and availability to be revealed.
Update: We've heard directly from Zotac on the matter of pricing and we're told that the American MSRP will be $209.99 for the barebones edition, which will require you to add your own hard drive, memory and OS. News Source: Engadget |
|
Acer launches Aspire One 752 CULV powered notebook
Submitted by shc-boomer on Thu, 03/04/2010 - 07:16| Acer has introduced a new 11.6 inch laptop with a 1366 x 768 pixel display, Celeron 743 ULV processor, GMA 4500MHD graphics, and up to 4GB of RAM. If that sounds like the Acer Aspire Timeline 1410 which is already available, that’s because the new laptop is virtually identical to that model. But it has a new name: Acer Aspire One 752.
I’m guessing the new name is Acer’s attempt to associate the Aspire One 752 with the company’s budget line of netbooks rather than its higher end thin and light laptops. The Acer Aspire One 752 will have a 320GB hard drive, HDMI output, WiFi, Bluetooth, and a 5 hour battery. And unlike the 1410, the new model will apparently have optional 3G mobile broadband connectivity. The laptop weighs 3.1 pounds and measures less than 0.9 inches thick. It will be available in black, white, blue and red when it hits the streets in May. No word on pricing. News Source: Liliputing |
 |
Shuttle B10 netbook with external graphics port
Submitted by shc-boomer on Thu, 03/04/2010 - 07:16| Shuttle is showing off a new 10 inch netbook with an Intel Atom N450 processor. That’s not the interesting part. This is: It has a GXT jack for connecting an external video card to the netbook. It’s either the poor man’s version of NVIDIA ION, or an excellent way to have a light weight, inexpensive netbook that gets great battery life most of the time, but which allows you to plug in a high end graphics card when you want to do some serious gaming.
Roland from Netbook News got a good look at the netbook at CeBIT in Germany, and he’s posted a video which you can watch below. The demo unit had a 3 cell battery, 3 USB ports, a card reader, webcam, and Ethernet jack. There’s also a SIM Card slot, which means that there will at least be a 3G option for this notebook. It’s due out in the third quarter of the year. News Source: Liliputing |
 |