Have Laptop Will Travel

Sharp’s Netwalker MID runs Ubuntu

Originally posted on September 10, 2009 @ 10:00 am

Oh look, it’s something from Sharp. I wasn’t being sarcastic about that folks, but it’s been a pretty long time since I heard something, anything, from them.

But they’ve come up with the NetWalker, and they have my attention. It’s powered by an 800MHz Freescale i.MX515 processor (ARM Cortex A8 core), has 4GB of internal memory, and runs Ubuntu 9.04. In addition, the 14.4-ounce unit measures 6.35″ x 4.28″ x 0.78″ and features a 10-hour battery life (JEITA estimate; expect about 7 hours of real-world usage), 5″ LED-backlit screen, standard USB ports, optical mouse, and mouse buttons.

I’ll let the video below explain:

Will you just look at it. It’s… um, cute.

Personally, I’m not into MIDs. I’d rather bring a netbook around, or if that’s still too big for me, I’ll just use my handy Nokia E63 to use to browse during those boring lulls, or to work when I’m away.

But this Netwalker looks pretty good if you prefer MIDs.

MSI’s dual-screen netbook on sale soon

Originally posted on January 28, 2010 @ 3:44 am

iPad, SchmiPad.

I’ve detailed the reasons why I’m not the least bit excited over the iPad in Gadzooki. To be honest, I’m not an Apple hater. I think the iPod – all its iterations – is the greatest thing ever. Macs are pretty spectacular devices. But the iPad left me a bit cold. And the disappointment over the iPad has left me looking for other touchscreen devices, and I see that MSI’s dual-screen netbooks are going on shelves pretty soon.

From EeePC.net:

MSI is taking advantage of the current tablet craze by pushing up the launch of the concept dual-screen netbook they showed off at CES a couple of weeks ago. LaptopMag found this out in its interview with MSI President Joseph Hsu and MSI VP for Sales and Marketing , North America Andy Tung.

During the interview, Tung mentioned that the device will be a eReader and netbook combo, with the second screen acting as a haptic touchscreen keyboard when needed. They plan to release this mid-year with Google Chrome OS possibly bundled in. Despite the dual screens, MSI notes that the device will still boast 4-5 hours of battery life.

The device itself looks pretty promising since it gives more screen space in the same netbook package. No price yet though I’m sure this will cost as much as a regular notebook with the new tech going into it.

This won’t be an iPad-level hit to be sure, but it’s nice to see other manufacturers, MSI in particular creating something different from Apple’s products, unlike the Macbook air-like laptop they unveiled a few months ago.

Easiest Way To Install Windows Via USB Flash Drive On Your Netbook

Originally posted on September 15, 2009 @ 10:00 am

If you’re pretty much tired of your Linux installation on your handy netbook (I honestly have no idea why you’d be tired, but whatever floats your boat), you have two alternatives: either use a USB CD-ROM drive (IMHO, the easy way out) or go through the entire process of turning the flash drive into a bootable disk, and then putting the entire disc image on it, and then trying to install Windows on your netbook via USB and then realizing that you did something horribly wrong now you have to start all over again, repeat ad nauseam…

Yeah, in case you’re wondering, that really happened to me.

Thank goodness for WinToFlash then.

If you’re wondering what it can do, here’s the official description from their website:

WinToFlash is a software for transfer your Windows XP, Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 2008, Windows 7 setup from CD or DVD to flash in some mouse clicks. This is about you can install your Windows from flash card, USB stick, HDD, etc to your computer or netbook.

With WinToFlash, installing Windows via USB flash drive is as easy as inserting your Windows CD into a computer with a disc drive, plugging in a 2GB or larger USB flash drive, and then running WinToFlash.

Seriously, I wish I had these tools when I started out. Then I wouldn’t have those hours of frustration and screaming my lungs out because my gosh darn netbook just won’t freaking cooperate.

Download WinToFlash here.

Sony’s new 14mm VAIO X

Originally posted on September 2, 2009 @ 11:44 pm

This is Sony’s new ultraportable laptop, called the VAIO X. There are no words yet on the hardware specs, but this baby is looking pretty sweet. I mean, it is pretty thin – 14mm thin, in fact – and is rumored to rock the Intel Atom processor. Which lands it in the netbooks category.

I’ll report more on the VAIO X as more news reports come out. Till then, ogle the pretty video.