NetbookShow

Seems like there are more and more companies coming out with netbooks for business & education. Dell has released and update to their 2100, the Dell Latitude 2110, which at first glance looks pretty similar buts it does have a few updates. Well, the options to update, like with all Dell’s the combinations are endless, but the one thing they will all have in common is the chassis and the CPU it will be running the 1.83GHz Intel Atom N470 processor and GMA 3150 graphics with 1GB of RAM.

You’ll have the option to add a touch screen which is the big one for me. Choice of operating system:Ubuntu 9.10, Window XP, Windows Vista HOme Basic, or Windows 7 Starter. For hard drive you can also go between 16GB or 64GB SSD or a 160GB, 5400 rpm hard drive or a 250GB 7200 rpm model.

When looking at connectivity you’ve got a choice of 802.11b/g/n WiFi module or a 802.11a/b/g unit and you can also add in Bluetooth or 3G options.
Dell also offers a 10.1″ 1366 x 768 HD display option — although you can’t configure the laptop with a high resolution screen and a touchscreen.

A touchscreen on a netbook may not be everyone’s idea of a good time, but it looks like Samsung thinks there’s a sizable enough market for them, as it’s now introduced a touchscreen-equipped counterpart to its NB30 netbook. Dubbed the NB30 Touch, this version packs a 10.1-inch 1,024 x 600 touchscreen (matte, no less) and remains otherwise identical to the standard NB30, including an Atom N450 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB or 250GB hard drive, and Windows 7 Starter Edition for an OS. Of course, the one other big change is the price, which comes in at €399 (or about $545) for the NB30 Touch, compared to just €279 (or $380) for the non-touchscreen version.

The Apple iPad is the first blockbuster tablet computer. While companies have been pumping out Windows tablets for the last 10 years or so, none has gotten as much attention as the iPad, and while I don’t have the sales numbers, I’m not aware of any other model that sold 300,000 units on the first day either. And Apple’s success in building hype for the iPad has led dozens of other companies to prepare similar machines with touchscreen displays and no physical keyboards. The problem is that many of them are missing the thing that makes the iPad work: A truly touch-friendly user interface.

Latest case in point? The Hiton HT-960. This 8.9 inch tablet has a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, an 8.9 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel touchscreen display, 802.11b/g WiFi and a SIM car dslot for an optional 3G modem.

Unfortunately, the tablet also runs Windows XP, which is an operating system that wasn’t really designed with touch in mind. In fact, you could make the case that even Windows 7 which has touch-friendly features like simulated right-click feels like touch was thrown in as an afterthought. Some software takes advantage of Windows 7 touch features, but most apps simply don’t.

Anyway, the long and short of it is, I can’t see why users would be happy with a tablet like the Hiton HT-960 which is basically just a Windows XP netbook without a keyboard and touchpad.

On the bright side, at $418, the tablet is a little cheaper than an iPad plus it can run Windows apps, has 16GB or more of storage, an SD card slot, and 3 USB ports for peripherals. It also has a 0.3MP webcam. On the less bright side, shipping is $69, which kind of eats into that price advantage.