Chinese netbooks break $100 mark...(netbookstation.com)
netbookstation.com
Chinese netbooks break $100 mark...
http://netbookstation.com/2009/08/chinese-netbooks-break-the-100-mark.html
33 comments
I think that without the OLPC project and the fact that it identified that market these would not exist.
Even now there are plenty of people that would like sub $100 netbooks to disappear as soon as possible because there is very little room for bundle deals at that pricepoint.
If you strip out the windows license on this thing it costs about $65.
Even now there are plenty of people that would like sub $100 netbooks to disappear as soon as possible because there is very little room for bundle deals at that pricepoint.
If you strip out the windows license on this thing it costs about $65.
Can you cite a source for that cost? That's 35% Windows tax, which would leave the market ripe for Linux boxes to undercut and pocket the difference. In my opinion, we'll take computers as cheap as we can get them and remote to the big iron; this being a "small" market is wishful thinking by established players.
To be fair, this isn't the same as the OLPC. The OLPC was rather rugged, and well designed for the kids it was intended to serve (see the wifi, screen, etc). This is simply a normal, but cheap, computer - impressive though the achievement is.
Well, you can't compare the OLPC with this here. The only thing they have in common is the projected price.
The OLPC has been built years ago and almost matched the 100$ price.
Also the OLPC XO is high tech that will work even in sub-Saharan Africa while this thing here will break before reaching Africa.
The OLPC did not work out as well as planned because governments did not buy enough of them so it's rather a mistake to work with governments on such a project.
The OLPC has been built years ago and almost matched the 100$ price.
Also the OLPC XO is high tech that will work even in sub-Saharan Africa while this thing here will break before reaching Africa.
The OLPC did not work out as well as planned because governments did not buy enough of them so it's rather a mistake to work with governments on such a project.
Of course, it's a piece of garbage...
As always, the shortcut to success is to lower your standards.
Do you own one or have experience with it ?
I once owned a computer with similar specifications... 11 years ago. It was a piece of garbage too.
11 years ago ???
802.11b was the first widespread wifi standard and it was not even released 11 years ago (October '99), and yet you had a computer with similar specifications ? I assume you refer to a laptop using 'wavelan' ?
The closest that I can remember from those days to what is offered here was the compaq contura aero, after that the Toshiba libretto, neither of them had built in wifi (heck, they had no networking at all, just a serial port, and a pcmcia slot that you could plug an ethernet expansion card in if you felt like spending more $ on that than on the whole laptop discussed in this thread).
Both of these machines were of a build quality that the machine you're looking at here probably could not match, but their price points were considerably higher.
What make & model was it ?
802.11b was the first widespread wifi standard and it was not even released 11 years ago (October '99), and yet you had a computer with similar specifications ? I assume you refer to a laptop using 'wavelan' ?
The closest that I can remember from those days to what is offered here was the compaq contura aero, after that the Toshiba libretto, neither of them had built in wifi (heck, they had no networking at all, just a serial port, and a pcmcia slot that you could plug an ethernet expansion card in if you felt like spending more $ on that than on the whole laptop discussed in this thread).
Both of these machines were of a build quality that the machine you're looking at here probably could not match, but their price points were considerably higher.
What make & model was it ?
Here is a picture:
http://guangzhou.baixing.com/zanzhushang/t3122465.html
It also has wifi and a choice of 2, 4, or 8GB flash drive. Only 800x400 resolution though.
It also has wifi and a choice of 2, 4, or 8GB flash drive. Only 800x400 resolution though.
Resolution means jack squat if you will be using the thing as an Emacs station at 25x80 ;-)
Urgh, I can't stand coding on those tiny keyboards.
you mean vi?
I would'nt mind a 14 inch, Intel Atom, no DVD, minimum USB drive, ultrathin, 6 hour battery life netbook
Screen shows clearly Windows XP, specs list WinCE and ARM CPU. Photoshop?
wow that track pad looks small. I am reluctant to say that this laptop is usable at all for day to day usage. Probably wont be able to run youtube on 64mb ram and 266mhz cpu.
I've used the eee pc (same form factor) on trips to keep an eye on things and read email, the trackpad is small but usable, for longer uses add a very small travellers mouse.
It explicitly states it can do H.264 in the docs (for skype), not sure if it will even do flash.
It is definitely not meant for all day usage, but if you're a kid then it's doable (small keyboards work better with small fingers :) ).
It explicitly states it can do H.264 in the docs (for skype), not sure if it will even do flash.
It is definitely not meant for all day usage, but if you're a kid then it's doable (small keyboards work better with small fingers :) ).
This is actually a pretty cool little machine, it looks to be a total knock-off of the low end asus eee pc, except that they stuck an ARM in it.
Can anybody make out what that thing is to the top left of the right hand hinge on the screen portion ?
Feature list:
7" 800x480 TFT
2G nand flash
266 MHz ARM cpu (AK7802Q216)
64 MB DDR RAM
mic jack
earphone jack
WIFI
SD slot
3x USB
RJ 45 Ethernet port
7.4V 1800 mAh battery
charger
Software:
win CE ms word viewer
ms excel viewer
physical dimensions: 213.5mm x 141.8mm x 30.8mm
I wonder that the battery life is, ARM chips are pretty frugal.
Can anybody make out what that thing is to the top left of the right hand hinge on the screen portion ?
Feature list:
7" 800x480 TFT
2G nand flash
266 MHz ARM cpu (AK7802Q216)
64 MB DDR RAM
mic jack
earphone jack
WIFI
SD slot
3x USB
RJ 45 Ethernet port
7.4V 1800 mAh battery
charger
Software:
win CE ms word viewer
ms excel viewer
physical dimensions: 213.5mm x 141.8mm x 30.8mm
I wonder that the battery life is, ARM chips are pretty frugal.
Smart move on the SD slot - that and a USB flash drive would do the job for a lot of amateur photographers. There's a pretty good selection of software for ARM linux too.
Costs as much as the iPhone, weaker, and it won't even fit in your pocket!
You don't buy an iPhone for $100, you get a plan that you will pay a premium on that will pay for 'your' iPhone.
I'm putting the 'your' in quotes here because it seems that Apple thinks it still owns it as well, even though they give you the thing and give you a bill of sale.
I'm putting the 'your' in quotes here because it seems that Apple thinks it still owns it as well, even though they give you the thing and give you a bill of sale.
Yea I know. I'm just saying when get one of these china made and designed computers you'll realize they're probably worth far less than $100.
It's $100 man lighten up. I'll bet you can do some cool hacking on it.
What the hell are you talking about? I'm stunned that we've come so far, so fast, that you can buy a fully functional portable computer for under $100!!
Your comparison with the iPhone, which is almost 10 times the price, is completely invalid. And your little slur on "China design" is also wrong. Countries don't design things, companies do. And it's not like America has any kind of reputation for good design besides the output of a single company - which is arguably largely due to the effort of a single man!
Your comparison with the iPhone, which is almost 10 times the price, is completely invalid. And your little slur on "China design" is also wrong. Countries don't design things, companies do. And it's not like America has any kind of reputation for good design besides the output of a single company - which is arguably largely due to the effort of a single man!
> which is arguably largely due to the effort of a single man!
I doubt that. I'm taking it that you refer to Steve Jobs here, and while he has a ton of influence there are a lot more people making a lot of effort than just him.
Steve Jobs by himself would - just like any other human being - have a hard time designing a functioning and well packaged toaster from scratch.
There are a lot of people involved in product development at Apple, any item they release is the product of the efforts of a very large team.
For the rest of it I completely agree with your comment.
I doubt that. I'm taking it that you refer to Steve Jobs here, and while he has a ton of influence there are a lot more people making a lot of effort than just him.
Steve Jobs by himself would - just like any other human being - have a hard time designing a functioning and well packaged toaster from scratch.
There are a lot of people involved in product development at Apple, any item they release is the product of the efforts of a very large team.
For the rest of it I completely agree with your comment.
Hm, I meant more that he'd instituted a culture of design obsession at Apple, not that he personally designed each and every product. I think the culture of perfectionism and extreme attention to detail at Apple is largely due to his efforts.
Thanks for the reminder, though.
Thanks for the reminder, though.
My comparison was meant as an exaggeration, sorry if that wasn't clear. The country does not design however the culture, accepted standards, less regulation, the regular market they cater to, etc, do mean that china more often than not design products that may be considered sub standard quality. I've lived there so you would know when you've actually held and used some of these genuine china made products. At the north American int'l auto shows, chinas prototypes had visible defects, were hell ugly, and partially constructed of bamboo.
Now this company may be better, but chances are this computer has poorer build quality.
Now this company may be better, but chances are this computer has poorer build quality.
I don't think they did much designing other than to take the atom reference motherboard and find a way to graft an ARM in there, all the rest looks like a dead ringer for the eee pc.
Build quality is something you can only establish by looking at the product and preferably disassembling it. Even then you still have to remember it's a statistics game, something may look excellent and yet it could fail miserably and in large numbers over a longer period of time.
Build quality is something you can only establish by looking at the product and preferably disassembling it. Even then you still have to remember it's a statistics game, something may look excellent and yet it could fail miserably and in large numbers over a longer period of time.
But you can be root.
You'll be able to type on it faster than iPhone. Not to mention attach USB peripherals. Although I'm into tablets too, very often what I need from a portable doesn't demand much in the way of processing power, just the basics.
As a bonus, the cheaper products like this, being made with generic parts, are often more hackable/upgradeable than the more expensive branded models where features are locked down to ensure market segmentation.
As a bonus, the cheaper products like this, being made with generic parts, are often more hackable/upgradeable than the more expensive branded models where features are locked down to ensure market segmentation.
I have no idea idea why this happens, but I've seen it again and again.
I wish that non-profits could be more effective at things like this, I've certainly worked at enough that were going for similar goals. But for some reason, somewhere, the incentives or the structure just don't align to produce these breakthroughs.
Maybe one day we will figure it out.