We are not sure if Apple has a netbook simmering this year, but if it looks anything like the above concept, they can be sure they have a winner in the mini-notebook segment too.  The above concept was designed by Adam Benton for MacFormat and looks like an iPhone that’s had one too many meals and runs iPhone OS 3.0.  The entire Home directory will be stored on a Apple cloud server and frequently used files are cached locally.  For charging, the netbook can be docked and also connected to a variety of devices using its USB and FireWire ports.  Integrated 3G connectivity to keep in sync with the Apple servers and Bluetooth A2DP audio profile round out its wireless options, and for those reticent about using the virtual keyboard, a hardware keyboard can also be paired via Bluetooth.

Sounds nice, right?  Let us wait and see if Apple has something that matches this concept or ups the ante a bit more.

Despite having a great financial quarter and despite answering to Microsoft commercial campaign which shows everyone how a regular PC is just as good and way cheaper than a MacBook, Apple seems ready to do all that’s necessary in order to keep the customers interested in Apple laptops and desktops. Therefore the Cupertino-based company is willing to offer cheaper MacBooks and iMac lines in the near future while in the shadows the company will be working on a new tablet line meant to compete against those netbooks out there.

Apple still says no to an Apple netbook but all the signs point to a different directions. Rumors say that Apple and Verizon will be releasing an iPad this year while Quanta is delivering 10-inch displays to Apple. If it’s not an Apple netbook, what else could it be?

Future netbooks might pack one of the two new SSD versions announced by OCZ Technology. These SSD come in 16GB and 32GB capacities and they should be “affordable flash-based storage options to significantly increase the capacity for netbooks.

The two SSDs will be available in both SATA and PATA interfaces and as for speeds you can expect up to 110MB/sec read speeds and write speeds as high as 512MB/sec for SATA. PATA interface will offer you a lower 45MB/sec read and 35MB/sec write speeds. The SSDs are going to be available soon but we have no idea for what price.

via hothardware

The 12.1-inch Samsung NC20 netbook PC first revealed late in February is now available for purchase, priced at nearly $550. The computer features an unusually large 1280×800 display resolution and otherwise class-standard 160GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM. It most sharply breaks from the class average is via its use of a 1.3GHz VIA Nano processor instead of a much more common Intel Atom CPU. Otherwise, the large netbook includes a six-cell battery, which contributes to its 3.3lb weight, along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functionality, a VGA output and three USB ports. The operating system of choice is Windows XP Home. The integrated graphics processor is the VIA Chrome9 HC3 IGP that uses a shared 128MB of memory. Rounding out the feature set are a 1.3-megapixel camera, built-in speakers and a 3-in-1 memory card reader.

The first market the Aspire One D250 will likely be available in is Europe, as the system now has its own product page on Acer’s European website. The 10.1-inch netbook was first spotted in February, and passed through the FCC earlier this month. The page reveals official specs for the sub-2.5lb, one-inch thick netbook, which uses Atom N270 or N280 processors and supports 3G broadband. Standard RAM is 2GB, while permanent storage consists of a 160GB hard drive preloaded with Windows XP Home. The display handles resolutions up to 1024×600; other specs include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a multiformat card reader and a 0.3-megapixel webcam, plus three USB 2.0 ports, VGA output, an Ethernet port and audio in/out jacks. The touchpad supports multi-touch inputs, while the keyboard is 89 percent the size of a standard PC’s.

The standard battery is a 2,200mAh three-cell rated at 3.15 hours of life, but can be supplanted by a 4400mAh six-cell unit rated at 6 hours, or a 5200mAh six-cell option capable of 7.5 hours. With the six-cell battery, weight rises to just under 2.8lbs. The D250 should be available in red, blue or black, but despite the product page, pricing and a release date have not been announced.

OCZ has officially announced its 10.1-inch Neutrino netbook, first shown during CeBIT at the beginning of March. Part of the company’s Do-It-Yourself (DIY) line-up, the computer can be upgraded by users without voiding the warranty. The Neutrino weighs just under 2.9lbs, and by default sports a 1024×600, LED-backlit screen, though it can be upgraded to a 1600×1200 display. Processing power comes from a 1.6GHz Atom CPU. Up to 2GB of RAM is supported, and users can choose from hard drives sized up to 250GB, or OCZ solid-state drives ranging in capacity from 30GB to 250GB. Standard fare includes a Wi-Fi module and a four-cell 2200mAh battery; video conferencing is handled through a built-in 1.3-megapixel webcam and microphone, while audio output is produced from 1.5W speakers.

Connections include an Ethernet port, VGA output, two USB 2.0 ports and a headphone jack. Users can order the Neutrino with Windows XP or gOS/Ubuntu Linux operating systems. No prices or release dates have been released, but the netbook is expected to become available soon.

Internal sources at Acer have reportedly claimed today that the company is planning four systems based on Intel’s CULV platform and could pose a significant threat to Apple. CENS hears that systems will launch as soon as April with 11.6-inch, 13-inch, 14-inch and 15-inch models appearing as part of the early lineup. Their technical details aren’t known, though the 13-inch versions would use magnesium alloys to give them strength without impacting weight.

Although the claim is potentially suspect as it contradicts reports that the affordable ultra low-voltage processors won’t be in notebooks until the summer, it backs claims that Dell, HP and other “large-sized international” computer companies are planning systems of their own that could arrive in May.

Regardless, the systems are already thought to likely dent sales of higher-end ultraportables from companies like Apple and Sony. Intel is known to be targeting systems between $599 and $1,299 with CULV and hopes to give both performance and size between slower, Atom-based netbooks and full-speed notebooks without the traditional $1,500 or higher prices of true ultraportables.

Apple has itself said it has “some ideas” for computers in the netbook class but has resisted their slow speeds and small sizes. It has also publicly resisted offering systems below $500 over quality concerns.

The Chinese electronic colossus, Lenovo, has just unleashed one of its newest ultraslim notebook, the Lenovo Y650 Notebook. This latest offering features advanced multimedia functions and mobile technology. It has 16-inch display, ideal for the movie buffs out there. It supports 1366 x 768 resolutions, enough for 720p videos. In order to maximize the audio and video quality, you can switch the mode to OneKey Theater, which will provide you a movie-like experience like no other.

The Lenovo Y650 Notebook has the latest NVIDIA graphic (GeForce G105M), which provides a remarkable cinematography for video games. It performs better than its precursors GeForce 9300 and GeForce 9200 as it sports eight processor cores and 64-bit memory bus. Read the rest of this entry »