Acer has introduced three updated laptop models in Japan with built-in support for 4G WiMAX mobile broadband.That includes versions of thr 13.3 inch Acer Aspire AS3820, the 11.6 inch Aspire AS1830, and the 10.1 inch Acer Aspire ONe AOD255.
As far as I can tell, that makes the Acer Aspire One AOD-255-A01B the first netbook from the company to include WiMAX… although you can clearly add WiMAX to any notebook by using a USB dongle or a mobile hotspot from your WiMAX provider. Personally I don’t really see the point of purchasing a laptop with built-in 3G or 4G unless you know you’re going to be using the same computer for the length of the contract, and that you don’t plan to switch carriers.
Anyway, the netbook has a 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display, 1GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive. It has 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, a 6 cell battery, and runs Windows 7 Starter Edition. While some versions of the Aspire One AOD255 come with a dual core Atom N550 processor, this version has a single core 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 CPU.
There’s no word on whether this model will eventually be sold in the US or other countries.
September 15th, 2010
Tanya
NEC is the latest PC maker to get in on the dual core Atom action. The company has just introduced a new netbook in Japan with a 1.5GHz Intel Atom N550 dual core CPU, 2GB of memory and a 320GB hard drive. The NEC LaVie Light BL550 netbook also has a 10.1 inch, 1366 x 768 pixel HD display and runs Windows 7 Home Premium.
As you’d expect from a netbook with those specs, the LaVie Light BL550 comes with a premium price. It’s expected to sell for about 85,000 yen, or about $1010 US. Even when you consider the fact that notebooks typically cost more in Japan than the US, that’s still an awfully expensive netbook.
NEC is also luanching a new single core model called the LaVie Light BL350 which will have a 1.83GHz Intel Atom N475 CPU, 1GB of memory and a 250Gb hard drive. This model will run Windows 7 Starter Edition and run about 70,000 yen or about $832 US.
This week Toshiba introduced two unusual new mini-laptops. The Toshiba AC100 is one of the first 10.1 inch mini-laptops to use an NVIDIA Tegra 2 chipset and run Google Android 2.1, while the Toshiba Libretto W100 has two 7 inch touchscreen displays, with one acting as a virtual keyboard. Neither are available in the US yet, but Netbooked notes that you can place pre-orders for both models in Japan.
The Toshiba AC100 is sold under the Toshiba Dynabook AX name in Japan, where it’s going for the equivalent of about $494 US.
The Libretto W100 is a bit lot pricier, running about $1377 US.
I should point out that while the product page for the Dynabook AZ has the words “Windows OS” on it, the web site is actually pointing out that this model doesn’t run Windows, since it instead ships with Google Android. Because it has an ARM-based processor, the only version of Windows it could possibly run would be Windows CE.
Both models are expected to ship in Japan in August.
Mouse Computer has a tendency to release netbooks in Japan that are never seen outside of that country. And that’s kind of a shame, because every now and then, the company manages to pump out a model with features you don’t see very often in the US and Europe. That’s the case with the Mouse Computer Luvbook M netbook which features a 10.1 inch HD display.
The notebook has a 1280 x 720 pixel screen and a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor. The base model ships with Windows XP Home or Windows 7 Starter, 1GB of RAM, and a 120GB hard drive, although Mouse is also offering a higher end version with Windows 7 Home Premium, 2GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive or an optional 40GB solid state disk.
Fujitsu is making a few tweaks to its ultraportable notebook lineup. The company is introducing a minor update for its Fujitsu MH380 ten inch netbook, with new models coming with 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 or 1.83GHz Intel Atom N4705 processors, both of which support DDR3 memory.
Fujitsu is also introducing a new line of 11.6 inch laptops. The Fujitsu LifeBook PH520 will feature a 1.7GHz AMD Athlon Neo K1235 processor and ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics, while the LifeBook PH540 will offer a 1.2GHz Intel Celeron SU2300 ULV processor instead.
It looks like the new 11.6 inch laptops will ship in Japan with Windows 7 Home Premium and 1366 x 768 pixel displays. It’s not clear whether these models will be offered outside of Japan anytime soon.
Want to make your mini-laptop look more like a handbag, wallet, or… a crocodile? Sony is now offering the Sony Vaio P in Japan with a cocodile skin design.
The device comes with an Intel Atom Z560 processor, 256GB solid state disk, and built in GPS, among other features. In other words, this particular Vaio P doesn’t come cheap. There’s also an optional extended battery which should provide up to 12.5 hours of run time.
The Vaio P has an 8 inch, 1600 x 768 pixel display, 2 USB ports, Bluetooth, and runs Windows 7 Home Premium. It also comes with Sony Remote Play software that lets you watch videos stored on your Playstation3 and even play some games.
NEC has introduced a mini-laptop for the Japanese market that looks like a notebook — if you could fold up a notebook and fit it in your pocket. The NEC N-08B has a 4.6 inch, 854 x 480 pixel display with a fairly wide bezel around the edges. That provides enough space fro a decent sized keyboard. I’m not convinced that I could touch type on it, but I bet it’s great for thumb-typing.
The N-08B runs Windows CE and features 3G and Wifi connectivity, a 3.1MP webcam, and a micro SD card slot. It doesn’t appear to have a touchscreen, but there is a pointing device next to the keyboard. And oh yeah, you can use the N-08B to make phone calls.
Folks in Japan will be able to pick up this little guy from NTT DoCoMo in August.
Epson has launched a new netbook in Japan — meaning you probably won’t be able to pick it up in Europe or the US anytime soon. But if you happen to be in Japan, the Epson Endeavor Na03 Mini looks like a rather attractive netbook, albeit one with a tiny space bar and a single mouse button.
The netbook is powered by a 1.83GHz Intel Atom N470 processor and GMA 3150 graphics. It has a 10. inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display, 1GB of RAM, and a choic eof either a 250GB hard drive or 64GB solid state disk.
It has 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Optional Bluetooth, as well as 3 USB ports, VGA and audio ports, and an SD card slot. It runs Windows 7 Starter Edition and comes with either a 3 cell, 2800mAh or 6 cell, 5600mAh battery. The laptop weighs just 2.25 pounds with the 3 cell battery.
Lenovo has finally gone and made the IdeaPad U150 thin and light computer with a CULV processor official… in Japan anyway. We’re still waiting on a US announcement, but here’s what Lenovo Japan is telling us about the machine:
* CPU: 1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU2300
* Display: 11.6″ 1366 x 768 pixel
* Graphics: Intel GMA 4500MHD
* OS: Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit)
* RAM: 2GB
* Storage: 250GB HDD
* Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, Ethernet
* I/O: 2 USB ports, 1 USB/eSATA port, HDMI, VGA, card reader
* Touchpad: Supports multitouch gestures
* Webcam: 1.3MP
* BatterY. 6 cell, 7 hour
* Weight: 3.3 pounds
* Dimensions: 0.5″ to 1.35″ thick
There’s also a hard drive protection system which shuts down the hard disk if your computer is in freefall to help prevent damage and data loss.
As far as I can tell, that makes the Acer Aspire One AOD-255-A01B the first netbook from the company to include WiMAX… although you can clearly add WiMAX to any notebook by using a USB dongle or a mobile hotspot from your WiMAX provider. Personally I don’t really see the point of purchasing a laptop with built-in 3G or 4G unless you know you’re going to be using the same computer for the length of the contract, and that you don’t plan to switch carriers.
