Product Central
Dispatches from the Reviews Editor's desk
Friday 29 August 2008, 2:49 PM
The Redfly 'Notbook'
When is a netbook (or mini-notebook) not a netbook? When it's a 'notbook' such as Celio's Redfly Mobile Companion, that's when.
You might have thought that the idea of a netbook-format companion device for a smartphone — essentially adding a decent-sized screen and keyboard and letting the smartphone do the computing and the connectivity — had been well and truly buried when Palm canned its Foleo last year. But Salt Lake City's Celio Corp is giving it another go. Read the full review for all the details and more pics.
In fact, the Foleo was smarter than the distinctly dumb Redfly — at least it ran a Linux OS and had Wi-Fi. We never got a chance to test the Foleo, though, as Palm thought better of the idea before bringing it to market.
Now the Redfly MC does indeed expand the capabilities of your Windows Mobile smartphone. But would you spend £250 on something that's totally useless unless connected to your WinMob device? Hmmm, a dumb terminal or a ASUS Eee-alike? Tough one that.
You might have thought that the idea of a netbook-format companion device for a smartphone — essentially adding a decent-sized screen and keyboard and letting the smartphone do the computing and the connectivity — had been well and truly buried when Palm canned its Foleo last year. But Salt Lake City's Celio Corp is giving it another go. Read the full review for all the details and more pics.
In fact, the Foleo was smarter than the distinctly dumb Redfly — at least it ran a Linux OS and had Wi-Fi. We never got a chance to test the Foleo, though, as Palm thought better of the idea before bringing it to market.
Now the Redfly MC does indeed expand the capabilities of your Windows Mobile smartphone. But would you spend £250 on something that's totally useless unless connected to your WinMob device? Hmmm, a dumb terminal or a ASUS Eee-alike? Tough one that.
Tuesday 5 August 2008, 9:37 AM
Lenovo joins the netbook crowd
We've been wondering when Lenovo would toss its hat into the increasingly crowded netbook (or, as we prefer it, mini-notebook) ring. Now the Lenovo hat is there, in the shape of the IdeaPad S9 (8.9in. screen) and S10 (10.2in. screen). Like most other notebook vendors with established ranges of 'proper' business notebooks to protect, Lenovo pitches these Atom-based systems towards the consumer/second PC end of the market. To that end, they come in a range of colours, including Eee-like white and 'pastel pink':
However, as with the Eee and its brethren, we fully expect mobile types within businesses to infiltrate these highly portable (1kg, 2.5cm thick) notebooks through the back door in the process known as 'consumerisation'.
As well as the Atom CPU, the IdeaPads come with 1GB of RAM, either a 160GB hard drive or a 4GB SSD, Wi-Fi and optional Bluetooth, an ExpressCard slot (handy for adding a mobile broadband modem), a pair of USB ports, a 4-in-1 flash card reader and a webcam.
Lenovo claims that the keyboard — always a crucial factor on a mini-notebook — is 85 per cent of the size of a full-sized notebook unit. Given Lenovo's track record with its ThinkPad keyboards, we're hopeful here.
Pricing for the 8.9in. S9 is a reasonable £279 (inc. VAT), while the 10.2in. S10 comes in at £319 (inc. VAT). The IdeaPads will be available in early October 2008.
However, as with the Eee and its brethren, we fully expect mobile types within businesses to infiltrate these highly portable (1kg, 2.5cm thick) notebooks through the back door in the process known as 'consumerisation'.
As well as the Atom CPU, the IdeaPads come with 1GB of RAM, either a 160GB hard drive or a 4GB SSD, Wi-Fi and optional Bluetooth, an ExpressCard slot (handy for adding a mobile broadband modem), a pair of USB ports, a 4-in-1 flash card reader and a webcam.
Lenovo claims that the keyboard — always a crucial factor on a mini-notebook — is 85 per cent of the size of a full-sized notebook unit. Given Lenovo's track record with its ThinkPad keyboards, we're hopeful here.
Pricing for the 8.9in. S9 is a reasonable £279 (inc. VAT), while the 10.2in. S10 comes in at £319 (inc. VAT). The IdeaPads will be available in early October 2008.
Thursday 31 July 2008, 11:56 AM
500,000 Classmates for Portugal
Amid rumours of a 'third-generation' Classmate PC, Intel has announced that it's to supply half a million of its second-generation (9in. screen) netbooks to the Portuguese government for use in elementary schools.
There are few details on the upcoming third-generation Classmate, although a new look-and-feel is promised, according to a PC World report. It's pretty certain to be Atom-powered, and may well offer the Sugar interface, first seen on the rival OLPC XO. Sugar development is now under the auspices of SugarLabs, following a split from OLPC in May this year.
There are few details on the upcoming third-generation Classmate, although a new look-and-feel is promised, according to a PC World report. It's pretty certain to be Atom-powered, and may well offer the Sugar interface, first seen on the rival OLPC XO. Sugar development is now under the auspices of SugarLabs, following a split from OLPC in May this year.
