The eCafe Slim HD is the slimmest and lightest model in the category while the eCafe EX HD will offer excellent battery life. Both models sport 10-inch displays and run on a customized build of the Linux OS.

The eCAFE Slim HD features 3 USB ports, an Ethernet port, headphone and microphone jacks, and memory card reader. The device weighs 1.9 pounds. The EX HD model is slightly larger and a little bit more heavier at 2.4 pounds and features a 13-hour battery, and HDMI port, and touch controls. Near instant–on capabnilities will enable both models to wake from sleep in just four seconds.

In terms of internal specs, both models feature an ARM Cortex A8 processor, the eCAFE Netbook Edition OS, 512 MB DDR2 RAM, WiFi b/g/n support, and 1024 X 600 resolution 10-inch displays. There’s also a webcam and storage is delivered via flash memory starting at 8 GB for the Slim HD model and 16 GB for the EX HD. There is also a number of pre-loaded software, including a productivity suite for Office documents, an instant messaging app, and multimedia player.

The nice thing about the system is that you can connect it to your main Windows, Linux, or Mac OS X system and synchronize files over to the eCAFE smartbook.

Pricing starts at $229 for the slim model and $269 for the EX HD model.

Via: PC World

Hercules Launches ARM-Powered eCAFE Smartbooks is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Notebooks.com.

The Cr-48 was announced late last year and have been shipping to developers and pilot users. Google was delivered 64,000 units from Inventec, and now the company has shipped out all units. As part of Google’s pilot program, users who signed up for the pilot agreed to send information to Google in exchange for a free Cr-48 netbook.

Google advises those waiting for a Chrome OS hardware solution to await for this summer, when Acer and Samsung will be shipping retail units of their netbook designs.

Via: Engadget

No More Google Cr-48 Netbook for Now is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Notebooks.com.

The keyboard is a QWERTY keyboard. While the screen will be touch friendly, a keyboard this size won’t be touch-typist friendly. With the touchscreen it looks like there is no internal pointing device. There is however a tiny touch device that behaves somewhat like arrow keys jumping around between the onscreen icons by swiping up/down or left/right with one finger. This is strange since there are also arrow keys. But the touch device might also act like a scrolling wheel. The keyboard includes the typical Android buttons for home, back etc.

For a device like this battery life would have to be decent for it to be useful. NEC claims it will be as much as 9-hours. We will have to see if that is accurate or wildly inflated like most manufacturer’s battery claims.

Storage will include 8GB of flash memory and a free 8GB memory card in one model. That one comes in Piano Black – seen below, Chocolate Brown or Red – seen above. The storage in the second model is only 2GB onboard with a 2GB free memory card. That one will come in only Piano Black, as seen below. We assume the free 8GB or 2GB flash memory cards will be micro-SD cards.

Other specs include the following:

• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi for networking and getting online
• Bluetooth 2.1
• 2-megapixel camera
• GPS for navigation and location-based apps
• An accelerometer
• Digital compass
• Mini-USB port

This diminutive netbooks is smaller than most. It is 9.2×5.4x.98 inches and weighs 1.5 pounds. Below is a video from JKKMobile from MWC.

According to the video this will only be available in Japan at first, but if it sells well there, maybe we will see something like it in other locales. According to Connection Pros the cost will be $539 for the higher capacity storage version and $480 for the lower capacity.

NEC LifeTouch Note Netbook with Android Coming Next Month is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Intel is hoping to place MeeGo in a variety of products including netbooks, in-vehicle infotainment systems, smartphones, tablets, home set-top boxes, and others.

Along with the Lenovo S10-3 netbook, MeeGo will also be headed on the hardware of the Fujitsu MH330 and from a Russian-made IRU Intro 102 netbook.

Via: Netbook News

Lenovo, Fujitsu, IRU Adopt MeeGo for Netbooks is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Notebooks.com.

The Toshiba AC100 is powered by a 1GHz ARM-powered NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor which according to Netbook News combines with the thin and light body to form a smartbook with “great hardware”; even if it only has one USB port. Of course it doesn’t hurt that the battery is rated for 7-hours.

Unfortunately from the first impressions it looks like the Android (2.1) software still has some catching up to do in order to be really useful in a non-touch form factor. The biggest issue appears to be that the web browser can’t handle flash and wouldn’t let the author use WordPress. Even if you don’t rely on those tools, a smartbook that can’t deliver a rich and full Internet experience will be a tough sell as smartphones become more evolved and more touch enabled devices like the Dell Streak and tablets enter the picture.

This is similar to the first review of the Toshiba AC100 we covered in early August. The Toshiba AC100 is already on sale in the UK, but no word on a U.S. release or pricing.

Toshiba AC100 SmartBook Unboxed at NetbookNews is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The Toshiba AC100 smartbook combines features of a netbook with a smartphone operating system, Google Android. Though Android has become quite popular in many smartphones, it has yet to take off on most tablets, netbooks, and other devices, due to the lack of access to the Android Market. This combined with the small amount of software written for Android leaves the Toshiba AC100 experience with little to be desired.

Despite the mobile operating system and low-power Tegra processor, the AC100 only achieves 4.5 hours of video playback. The only real advantages that the AC100 boasts are its small form factor, its ability to play 1080p video, and its comfortable keyboard.

For more pictures and information, check out Hi-tech.mail.ru’s full review.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro4MOeW3gRo

Review of the Toshiba AC100′s Specifications

• 10.1-inch display (1024×600)
• 1GHz ARM-based NVIDIA Tegra TM250
• 512MB RAM
• 8 32GB of flash storage
• 1.3-megapixel webcam
• 802.11b/g/n WiFi (optional 3G)
• Bluetooth
• HDMI
• USB/mini USB (only for mouse, keyboard, or external hard drive)
• SD card slot
• 8 hour battery life (180 hours of standby)
• Google Android 2.1
• 1.9 pounds

Via Engadget, Hi-tech.mail.ru

Toshiba AC100 Review and Why Smartbooks Aren’t That Popular is a post by Carter Sprunger from Notebooks.com.

A smartbook is a combination of a smartphone and a netbook, running on an ARM-based processor. It combines the features you would find in a smartphone placed in a netbook or tablet form factor. Though most smartbooks sport a touchscreen, the AC100 does not.

AC100 specs:

• 10.1-inch display (1024×600)
• 1GHz ARM-based NVIDIA Tegra TM250
• 512MB RAM
• 8 – 32GB of flash storage
• 1.3-megapixel webcam
• 802.11b/g/n WiFi (optional 3G)
• Bluetooth
• HDMI
• USB/mini USB (only for mouse, keyboard, or external hard drive)
• SD card slot
• 8 hour battery life (180 hours of standby)
• Google Android 2.1
• 1.9 pounds

The Toshiba AC100 replaces the Android browser with the Opera Mobile Web Browser. The smartbook also comes with

• Documents To Go – Allows for editing of Microsoft Office documents
• Fring – Chatting client
• An email client – Supports POP3, IMAP, and Exchange accounts
• Custom Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter widgets.
• Tosh Media Player – Supports HD 1080P video playback

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJG-36l3M8c&feature=player_embedded#!

The AC100 isn’t without a few shortcomings. It currently does not support Flash, though Toshiba claims that will be fixed with the Android 2.2 update in the coming months. Also, the USB port can only be used for a mouse, keyboard, or external hard drive. Plugging in other USB peripherals, such as printers or cameras, will not work.

There is no information on a US release date or price, but it will be shipping soon in Japan  for the equivalent of $438 to $548. Expect a US version release to be announced in the coming months.

Via Liliputing and Engadget

Toshiba AC100 Android Smartbook is a post by Carter Sprunger from Notebooks.com.

When it comes to hardware the Airlife 100 has more in common with high end phones than netbooks; like a Snapdragon processor, Android operating system, touchscreen and an always on high speed connection. The large display and keyboard lets users do a bit more with the device than they might be comfortable doing on a phone.

In the video below you can see the Compaq Airlife 100 unboxed and put through its paces:

If you are interested in learning more about the Compaq Airlife 100 head over to CarryPad live later today (Tuesday 10PM Berlin Time) for a live demo where you can chat and ask questions. For more details and to find out what time it is for you locally visit CarryPad.

Still no word on a U.S. release or pricing.

Compaq AirLife 100 Unboxing and Demo is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The Airlife 100 is likely running a 1GHz Snapdragon chipset, which has been seen on phones like the Google Nexus One and HTC HD2. Some of the other details that we have so far are a 16GB SSD, WiFi, GPS and 3G connection. HP claims that the battery will last for 12 hours during use, or 10 days in standby. No word yet on the RAM yet or very many other details like the resolution of the screen, though the screen is a touchscreen. Check out a video of the smartbook at last month’s CES 2010. The unit looks quite responsive, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens when people use this device like a laptop rather than a less heavy tasks than the phone hardware is used to:

Slashgear says that the Airlife 100 will be launched in Europe this Spring and presumably showing up in Spain around the same time. Now word on pricing or US release at this point.

from Xatakamovil.com [Spanish]

HP Bringing Its First Smartbook to Spain, the Airlife 100 is a post by Ben from Notebooks.com.

CES:JKKMobile shows off the HP Snapdragon Android Smartbook is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.