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NETBOOK PC PC : DISCUSSION

ITProPortal's Ideal Netbook
Posted in Netbook PC | July 13, 2009 10am

Netbooks now represent a rather mature market whose borders are now blurred. The main argument that made netbooks so popular in the beginning - price - very often no longer holds. A popular UK-based company is selling a 15.4-inch dual core laptop with 4GB RAM and a 250GB hard disk (but no OS) for £300 (around $475). The number of netbooks actually selling for more than that has been growing ever since the EEE PC 701 launched.Intel will need to come up with a slightly more powerful Atom processor. Next generation Pineview is set to come by by the end of the year and will have an integrated graphics core but this is likely to be insufficient for a proper high definition graphics experience.Maybe the answer is for Intel to adopt (or license) Nvidia's ION platform which is built on the GPU manufacturer's powerful Geforce 9400M subsystem. This netbook's screen should easily match the Macbook Air's own; what about a 13.3-inch LED backlit TFT LCD displaying 1440x900 pixels? Add in 802.11n support, a webcam, 1GB RAM, 32GB SSD, GPS, A2DP Bluetooth support, an oversized multi touch keypad and a chiclet keyboard as well as an aluminium finish and you will have a winner. Oh, and don't discount Windows 7 as a netbook platform as well.Asus could eventually integrate the suggestions and ideas I've proposed in my past postings as well (power adaptor modification, dual microSD readers etc). At £399, such a netbook would be a steal and is likely to be less than 18mm thick, easily beating Apple's MBA for around a quarter of the price.This is my last article for WePC and since this is my last stint, you might also want to read my past articles on the website.

The Five Ps Of An Ideal PC
10 Things Asus Should Do To Improve The Seashell EEE 1008HA Netbook
Should Asus Build An EEE Netbook Ecosystem?
8 Essential Accessories For Your Netbook
4 Trends Netbooks Will Follow In 2010

Thanks to Asus for coming up with this project and for giving us writers the opportunity to contribute.

NETBOOK PC PC : DISCUSSION

10 Things Asus Should Do To Improve The Seashell EEE 1008HA Netbook
Posted in Netbook PC | June 24, 2009 1pm

We've just tested Asus's sublime Macbook Air-like netbook and although we think that it is a superb attempt from the Taiwanese, we can't help but think that Asus could make a much better netbook out of the Seashell.Here are 10 things that Asus could be doing to make the Seashell an even better netbook.

 
(1) Removable BatteryThis is already on the to-do-list with the 1005HA introducing a removable battery rather than the current fixed one. But this may significantly add to the weight of the laptop and to the price as well. The fact that Apple has pioneered closed-chassis laptops (like the Macbook Air) now makes it acceptable to the general public.(2) 2GB RAMUpgrading the default 1GB memory on the 1008HA can be challenging as there is no obvious way of prying open the netbook's chassis. You should be able to swap it for 2GB but you will need to dump the existing memory module. The reason Asus did not introduce a 2GB version has to do with the restrictions that Microsoft has imposed on Netbook manufacturers.(3) Windows 7Traditional netbooks can only use 1GB if they want to use Windows XP Ultra Low Cost PC Edition (essentially Windows XP Home). However, we wouldn't be against Asus bundling Windows 7 RC with the next version of the Seashell and offering a free upgrade when the official version comes out later this year. Anyway, Windows 7 is less resource hungry and sleekier than Vista.(4) Edge to Edge ScreenMoving to Windows 7 would free Asus from any restrictions imposed on netbooks. This would mean that they wouldn't endure the wrath of Microsoft if the son of the 1008HA comes with a 12-inch LCD monitor rather than a 10-inch model. The good thing is that Asus can easily tweak the LCD frame of the Seashell. A 12-inch screen capable of displaying HD-ready 1366x768 pixels is within reach.(5) Different, smudge-free finishWe liked the Seashell finish but we would like Asus to be more ambitious. Bring out an Apple like enclosure, not necessarily a Unibody model, but one close enough. An aluminium body has 3 distinctive advantage compared to plastic. It dissipates heat better, it is sturdier and can't be scratched as easily as plastic and finally, it is unlikely to attract fingerprints and smudges .(6) Better touchpadThe 1008HA's touchpad was one of the few letdowns we encountered during our hands-on test. It was small, cramped and wouldn't respond well to our strokes, especially when we used two fingers to zoom in or out. Apple's Macbook touchpads are notoriously big which is why multi touch works so well on theirs.(7) Nvidia Ion or AMD NeoThe Atom processor sometimes felt underwhelming and a tad slow especially when playing video from Youtube and streaming audio. So either Asus could use a dual core Atom processor like the older Atom 330 or switch altogether to another platform - like the AMD Neo - or use a third party graphics subsystem like the Nvidia ION.(8) Power chargerThe power adaptor that ships with the Seashell is a traditional albeit unsexy model. Asus could, like the Palm Pre's Induction charger, think outside the box. Why not integrate the transformer into the power plug and adopt a "vacuum cleaner" style rolling wire system to keep things tidy. Now THAT would be something unseen and would definitely differentiate the future Seashell from the rest of the competition, including Apple.(9) microSDMicroSD cards are becoming more and more prevalent and although all netbooks come with SD card readers, none can read MicroSD cards without a converter. Rather than having ONE microSD card reader, Asus could bundle TWO of them which would allow punters to boost up their performance using Windows's Readyboost. Windows 7 can use multiple flash drives for Readyboost.(10) AccessoriesAsus should provide more accessories with its Seashell. First impressions are very important, throw in a proper sleeve (which might cost £10), a good looking manual and appropriate software to be downloaded and Asus will have a perfect all rounder on its hands capable of producing Macbook Air gasps without the costs.
Did we miss out anything? Could there be anything else that Asus could do to improve the 1008HA? Linux OS or maybe a Nokia OVI like application store?

NETBOOK PC PC : DISCUSSION

Should Asus Build An EEE Netbook Ecosystem?
Posted in Netbook PC | June 10, 2009 5am

As it stands, netbooks are not very different from traditional notebooks and some may say that the current feature creep that we are seeing (bigger screens, faster processors and more RAM) could possibly be detrimental to the whole netbook paradigm.I've already written about one trend which is set to evolve in 2010, the branching out of Netbooks with more affordable, feature light models emerging and one of the commentators to my last article, suggested that the EEE could evolve into a multi-purpose device, just like a Swiss Knife.And here's the plan. There are already Asus products on the market that bear the EEE sticker but they are almost all in the hardware sector; like the EEE Top, the E-TV and the E-Monitor. With some significant investment, both financial and human, Asus could turn the EEE into a formidable competitor to the Sony Vaio or the Apple iPod brand.Obviously, the fact that it already works with the two aforementioned company is not going to make things easier but, at the end of the day, Asus needs to grow and it won't be able to do so without, in the medium terms, diversifying its products and service range.Asus is big enough to influence the tech industry to build an EEE Netbook ecosystem. The Netbook entity as it is might be expected to evolve significantly and ultimately, come down to a smartphone like the M930.

Asus has extensive knowledge building smartphones with the Zest being one very interesting example of its know how.So, apart from the fact that your next Netbook could be the not too shabby M930 or an iPhone-like Smartphone. From there, just replicate Apple's strategy; have a product cycle where you launch a limited amount of GREAT products rather than a myriad of "almost good" products that will only serve to confuse people and prospective customers. Then like iPhone users, make EEE customers evangelists rather than mere buyers.Building an exceptional web platform that can deliver the goods - like iTunes and the App Store - is fundamental to a smooth running EEE environment as would a panoply of top-notch, quality accessories ranging from GPS to hands free speakers or a wireless HDMI base unit.This would certainly require a paradigm shift from the part of Asus management headed by its Chairman, Jonney Shih but Asus has the expertise as well as the necessary tools and manufacturing plants to execute such a plan; should the company masterfully steam ahead with this plan, it could, conservatively add a few billions dollars worth of revenues.

NETBOOK PC PC : DISCUSSION

8 Essential Accessories For Your Netbook
Posted in Netbook PC | May 27, 2009 7am

Netbooks have emerged as a device that transcend the traditional barriers of coolness and are therefore no longer limited to geeks. They have become status symbols for many and manufacturers like Asus have exploited this trend successfully.
Others as well have been able to cash on the fact that many manufacturers have cut back on accessories to save money and give the opportunity to others to grow and build a complete ecosystem, à la Apple iPod/iPhone.
We've rounded up 8 accessories which we think are must haves for any netbook owner. Note that the items come from online UK retailers but similar products can be found in the US.
(1) Memory cardThis is possibly the single most important acquisition you will make. All netbooks have a card reader which can read at least SDHC cards. A 32GB SD HC memory card can be purchased in the UK for £65 or less and could multiply the embarked storage space by a factor of five. We consider memory cards to be a much better choice than a 32GB USB drive for a number of reasons - convenience, price, speed and versatility.

 
(2) Wireless Broadband Dongle3G wireless dongle give you the possibility of connecting to the internet from anywhere. In the UK, consumers can get pay as you go 3G dongles for as little as £29.99 and some mobile phone networks occasionally have fire sales with broadband dongles for as cheap as £5.

 
(3) Netbook SleeveIf your netbook did not come with any protection or casing, then you might want to get a Neoprene Sleeve for as little as a few pounds. A good sleeve will have ample space and/or additional pockets for the power adaptor and accessories as well and may include a shoulder strap.

 
(4) MouseIf you prefer to use a mouse rather than a netbook's normally tiny touchpad, maybe you should be looking at a mini mouse. Labtec, Targus, Cherry and Kensington have reasonably cheap and affordable notebook mice that should allow you to make the most of your netbook while on the move or on a desk. Still better, like our inhouse dev guru Calvin, get  a USB 3D Optical finger mouse.

 
(5) Laptop SkinWhy not add some character to your netbook and personalise it to your taste. Wrappz for example sells laptop skins for as little as £10 each featuring some classics like Banksy, Pulp Fiction, Madonna, Scarface and Taxi Driver. Note that the skins are normally applied only to the outside of your laptop (i.e. at the back the screen).

 
(6) MemoryA 1GB memory module can cost as little as £10 and can massively boost your netbook's performance within a few minutes. Try to find out whether you can upgrade your netbook first before making the purchase as some of the earlier netbooks do not allow extra RAM.

 
(7) Extended WarrantyWarranty extension could be a good option for your netbook especially if it was an expensive one. Asus offers three year extensions albeit at a cost but it should be noted that some netbooks come with a two year warranty already. Check also if the battery is covered in the warranty.
(8) USB Connectivity KitHow many times have you been left irate because you couldn't get your hands on a particular USB cable? There are USB connectivity kits for sale for as little as £5 which ideally would include a retractable cabling unit as well as USB adaptors or convertors. While you are at it, you might want to get a card reader as well as a USB port multiplier as well.