Saturday, August 16, 2008

Top 10 Asus Eee PC killers

Inspired by the success of Asus Eee PC, many other companies began to announce similar laptop models with a variety of options. Eee PC is not just a small low-cost subnotebook, it started the whole new line of laptops called netbooks. Wikipedia claims, that the term netbook was introduced by Intel in February 2008 to describe a category of small-sized, low-cost, light weight, lean function subnotebooks optimized for Internet access and core computing functions (e.g., word processing) - either from directly from applications installed on the netbook itself or indirectly, via cloud computing. As Netbooks become more and more popular, their numbers increase and now almost every computer manufacturer announced its own Asus Eee PC rival. This top 10 Asus Eee PC killers list is made up from recently released or only announced models that have some chances to take the Eee PC's place as best netbook. So let's look at the competitors.



10. VIA OpenBook

Unfortunately, it is only a concept for now, but it is still worth looking at. So, what VIA wants to offer in its product? OpenBook will run on a 1.6GHz VIA C7-M ULV Processor, have all modern wireless features (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, WiMAX, EV-DO /W-CDMA, HSDPA, GPS options), 80GB hard drive and up to 2GB of RAM. Very interesting indeed. If they incorporate all the announced wireless features in one laptop, and keep the price from going sky-high, this will be a huge hit, especially with integrated WiMAX and GPS functions. And if it is CDMA enabled, will it have the possibility to send and receive calls?



9. Classmate PC

Intel, world's biggest processor manufacturer, decided to enter to the netbook market from a very different side than VIA. While VIA packed its subnotebook with features interesting for advanced customer, Intel is working on a low-cost computer that will help children in developing countries be closer to Internet and information technologies. While the main side of this kind of product is its price, characteristics are pretty low. It will run on Intel Celeron M 915GMS mobile processor, will have 256 MB of RAM and small 800 x 480 LCD. To decrease its weight and cost, it will not be equipped with HDD, but with 1 or 2 GB of NAND memory instead. Of course, all the usual things as microphone, Wi-Fi and touchpad will be included. In a second generation of its Classmate PC Intel announced new features such as webcam, ability to increase RAM up to 512 MB and 9" LCD. To reduce its cost it will ship with Mandriva Linux, free and open source operating system. However, it is a possibility to install Windows if you like. Let us hope that children from many poor countries will have the possibility to be closer to modern technologies with such laptops.



8. OLPC XO-1

This famous netbook made much noise on the Internet from the very beginning. Its developers pursued the idea to help children of Africa and other developing countries with really cheap laptops - 100 dollars for unit. It seems unbelievable, but for this price gadget offers all modern features such as Wi-Fi, built-in webcam and touchscreen. Of course, the internal hardware is not very advanced, with only 256 MB of RAM and 1 GB of internal flash memory. Heart of this laptop will be specially crafted low-power processor from AMD - AMD Geode LX700. Its operating system is Linux distribution based on Fedora, which will help children to get acknowledged with the Open Source software world. Unlike the Intel's netbook, this one looks way more interesting, because of modern design and interesting features such as ebook mode and rotating screen. Unfortunately, it is currently sold for 188 dollars, which is almost twice as much than announced price, but manufacturers claim that they are working to bring the price down to estimated value. This netbook will only be available through One Laptop Per Child project and will not be sold for simple consumers.



7. One A110

From the educational programs let's return to usual customers. This netbook is another product by Quanta Computer, apart from OLPC XO-1, and this one's target audience is absolutely different. It is a modern small-sized laptop that incorporates all the most needed features that are used by laptop owners in a compact form. It runs on a VIA C7-M-ULV Processor (1.0 GHz, 400-MHz FSB, max. 3.5 Watt), have 7 inch 800 x 480 LCD, and in case you need bigger display it has an external VGA port. Wireless and Ethernet capabilities are also included, so does the microphone and webcam. Also, it has 512 MB of DDR2 RAM and 64 MB VX800 S3 integrated graphics card. Card-reader, opposed to Asus Eee PC, is 3 in 1 so you can use SD, MMC or MS cards freely. Design of One A110 is much more serious than in OLPC XO-1, maybe this is because of different target audiences. When it comes to the OS, Linux gives the manufacturers more flexibility to adjust it for their devices, especially for netbooks, which are usually limited on resources, so the choice is simple. However you can always install Windows by yourself, if the world of open source is not for you.



6. MSI Wind PC

This interesting device from MSI not even looks almost completely like new Asus Eee PC900, it comes very close on the hardware side. It has one of the biggest displays that netbooks usually have, 1024 x 600, which is a way bigger than that of original Eee PC 800 x 480. It also uses the brand new Intel Atom processor, which a step forward to even bigger battery time. While the base OS for this laptop is Novell Linux (SuSE), there is a modification with Windows installed. You can install Windows on a Linux laptop without any problems, difference is that Windows laptops come with twice amount of RAM, 1 GB instead of 512 MB that comes on Linux laptops. Windows version also has Bluetooth and extended battery. Of course it has Wi-Fi, card reader (it is 4-in-1 so not only SD format is supported), Ethernet and webcam - all these functions became standard of for netbooks. And the price is very reasonable - 399 dollars for linux version and 590 for Windows, so it is a very good opponent to Asus masterpiece.



5. Acer Aspire One

Acer Aspire One is the Acer's try to enter the netbook market. This stylish glossy black laptop is powered by 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, has 512 or 1 GB of RAM and an option to either include 8 GB SSD or 120 GB 2.5" HDD. Display is the same as on Asus Eee PC 900, 1024 x 600, and the set of functions is very similar - Ethernet, Wi-Fi, webcam and 3 USB 2.0 ports. Acer's collaboration with Linpus Linux made it clear that this netbook will feature one of the latest builds of Linpus made especially for Acer Aspire One. Interestingly though, users also ran the Linux version with Windows XP, several alternative Linux distributions like Ubuntu and also Mac OS X. Windows version of this netbook will come out in August and will be slightly more expensive. In the battle with Asus it has all the chances to win, because USA pricing for the the Acer Aspire One has been tentatively set at 9 USD for the basic model, comparatively lower than the price of 9 for the ASUS Eee PC 8G 701, which makes Aspire One cost less for same features.



4. Dell E

Dell E is a netbook that is set to contend with other low cost subnotebooks such as the EeePC and Aspire One. Like the MSI Wind, it is powered by the 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor, and has 512 or 1 GB of RAM. The data can be stored on the 4, 8 or 16 GB SSD. The typical set of functions is still here: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, webcam and card reader. Dell's netbook has large 8.9" 1024 x 600 LCD and comes in two versions, Linux and Windows, with Windows version slightly more expensive. The release date is set to August 2008, so let's wait until it reaches the shelves to examine it more accurately.



3. HP 2133 Mini-Note PC

While this model is like Classmate PC, aimed at the educational market, it is way much expensive and powerful. It has a VIA C7-M ULV (1.0 - 1.6 Ghz) processor, up to 2 GB of RAM, biggest resolution among all other competitors - 1280 x 800, and ability to run Windows Vista from the box. It comes in two versions, with Linux or with Windows. Its wireless capabilities are extended with Bluetooth, it also has gigabit Ethernet card inside and an Expresscard 54 slot for expansions. Of course, it is more expensive than many other rivals, 499 dollars for Linux version, but it also is packed with more useful features. However, it is very questionable that all these features are truly needed for an educational PC. Maybe it will be better to strip some advanced features, so that price will be more like the OLPC? HP thinks opposite.




2. Everex CloudBook

Everex Cloudbook was the first Eee PC widely known opponent, and it comes very close to its rival. Everex made a very wise choice not copying the ideas Asus used, making their netbook look and feel completely different. First of all, it throws off the usual laptop design, making the looks more appropriate for ultra mobile laptop. You will not find touchpad at the usual place either - it is placed at the upper right side of the computer instead of at the bottom of the keyboard as is common for notebook computers. This move was made to make this laptop even more portable, so it can be held in one hand while typing, or in two hands when using the mouse-cursor control, with the left thumb controlling the two "mouse buttons", and the right thumb the small trackpad, both mousepad and keys are placed directly under the screen. So you can walk around with it and still have the ability to type - this is why this netbook is often sold as UMPC, even without touchscreen. Its technical features are almost completely similar to Eee PC, only real difference is that it features 30 GB HDD instead of SSD. It runs on VIA C7-M ULV 1.2 GHz processor, has 512 MB of RAM, 18 cm (7″) WVGA (800 x 480) TFT display, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, 0.3 megapixel webcam, and card reader. Operating system is gOS, which is based on Ubuntu Linux. However you can always install Windows XP if you want more compatibility with your Windows software. Even though this netbook is a little different from Eee PC, they fall in the same category of netbooks, so the competition must be tough. The next generation of CloudBook, that is announced to release in 2009, will make it even tougher for Asus to keep up.




1. Asus EeePC 1000

If you are wondered, why the Eee PC is listed in the Eee PC killers list, then we'd like to clarify this position. This newly and slightly redesigned version of popular netbook has all the chances to become the star of the show. Keeping small size and weight it features big 10 inch 1024x600 display and comes with an Intel Atom CPU with 1GB RAM. It offers extreme battery life: 7.5 hours when doing simple tasks with your wireless connectivity off! It is possible because of new six-cell battery and small power usage by new Intel Atom platform. As you have already noticed, every netbook has Linux and Windows version. This helps to reduce costs from buying laptop with Windows preinstalled, however leaving the chance to buy Windows if customer wishes so. While Windows versions have always been more expensive, this time situation is completely opposite. Windows version is cheaper because of 80 GB HDD, while Linux version comes with more expensive 30 GB SSD storage. Overall, Eee PC 1000 is a very promising product, an example of good development of revolutionary ideas that original Eee PC introduced.

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