Netbooks survey shows laptops are still king

The results of a study conducted by Experian subsidiary Pricegrabber show that more than half of American consumers do not regard netbooks as a feasible replacement for standard-size laptops, and that almost two-thirds view the role of the netbook as a complementary device to other computers.

However, netbook ownership is on the rise, according to the study, rising to 15 percent of those surveyed from 10 percent in a similar study done the previous year. Pricegrabber reports that 11 percent of online consumers said they planned to purchase a netbook in the coming year.

Netbooks have also exerted an influence on the mobile computing world overall, acting as drivers of lower prices across the board, the study showed. “Survey data reveals a significant difference between the dollar amount consumers are willing to pay for their next computing device and the amount they paid for their last device,” the company reported.

Experts say that new form factors and increased capabilities could yet see wider adoption of the netbook model.

MSI unveils four new cost-effective laptops

The Windows 7 budget laptop onslaught continues, this time courtesy of MSI, which has launched four new systems that all run Windows 7 Home Premium. One of them even includes a Blu-ray reader/DVD writer combo drive for under £500.  

While three of the laptops use the new Intel Core i3 or i5 processors, the cheapest – the CR600, is powered by a Pentium Dual Core T4500 CPU. It’s also the only one using Nvidia GeForce 8200M integrated graphics and comes with 3GB of RAM instead of 4GB. On the other hand, the CR600 is the sole one of the four with a 16-inch display instead of a 15.6-inch screen.

The CR620-030 and CR620-033 both come with the Core i3-330M CPU, along with a 320GB hard drive. The CR620-030 costs £400, but the CR620-033 is priced £30 higher due to its Blu-ray combo drive. At £450, the CR620-031 sports the Core i5-430M and 500GB hard drive, but lacks that Blu-ray drive, leaving the potential buyer to decide if the more powerful processor is more important than Blu-ray.

Apple iPad built for just £146

iSuppli has claimed that the manufacturing cost of Apple’s iPad is $229.35 (just over £146 at current exchange rates).

iSuppli notes that the iPad – set to retail in the US for $499 – costs the company over half of that amount to produce, based on what it calls a “virtual teardown” of the device, which is not yet available to consumers.

Apple’s iPad will go on sale in the US early next month, with the UK set to see the device a little later in the early spring.

The $499 iPad is Apple’s lowest-cost model, with 16 gigabytes of flash memory.

The device’s total materials are estimated to cost $219.35, with a $10 manufacturing cost added on by iSuppli’s analysts. The iPad’s 9.7-inch touchscreen display is estimated to cost of $80.

The top of the range iPad will cost around $335 to make and the mid-range iPad will cost in the region of $287, says iSuppli.

Apple is expected to sell anything between 2 million and 5 million iPads in the first year on the shelf as it battles with mainstream laptops and netbooks.

Acer 532G is first dedicated graphics netbook

Acer is taking HD video playback in its netbooks seriously, with its new Aspire One 532G netbook offering smooth 1080p playback through an HDMI port.

Acer is boasting that the netbook can handle YouTube HD videos and high-def playback from Facebook without problems, while mainstream gaming and 3D computing should be no trouble either.

The video power comes courtesy of Nvidia’s upgraded Ion platform, which now makes use of the recently announced Optimus technology.

This allows the 532G to switch between integrated or dedicated graphics processors on the fly, which means when you’re just browsing the web you can get 10 hours of battery life, but the more powerful GPU kicks in automatically when you start playing HD movies or games.

The discrete half of the Nvidia Ion solution offers 512MB of graphics memory and CUDA support for some advanced applications, which means the netbook will be more useful for tasks like video editing and encoding than its Intel Atom N450 processor might let on.

The Acer Aspire One 532G also features WiFi, a high definition 10-inch LED-backlit display and optional 3G connectivity, while the whole package weighs 1kg and clocks in at 1-inch thick.

Acer laptops has also announced that it will introduce netbooks powered by the Android operating system to provide speedy internet access and simple usability.

Bill Gates not a fan of the Apple iPad…

Steve Jobs’ arch-nemesis Bill Gates has criticised the new Apple iPad, claiming that laptops will still be the mainstream choice for digital touch and reading.

Gates joins the growing army of iPad critics, with many consumers disappointed at the relatively low-spec and limited connectivity available on Apple’s new tablet PC device.

This, combined with the clear fact that Apple was never going to deliver a new computer that would satisfy its fans who were hyped on the pre-release rumour and speculation, has led to a somewhat muted response to the iPad by many.

Jobs’ longtime rival, Bill Gates said of the new iPad: “You know, I’m a big believer in touch and digital reading, but I still think that some mixture of voice, the pen and a real keyboard – in other words a netbook – will be the mainstream on that.

“So, it’s not like I sit there and feel the same way I did with iPhone where I say, ‘Oh my God, Microsoft didn’t aim high enough.’ It’s a nice reader, but there’s nothing on the iPad I look at and say, ‘Oh, I wish Microsoft had done it.’”

Samsung N150 is ‘world’s first LTE netbook’

Samsung has shown off a N150 netbook with Long Term Evolution (LTE) at Mobile World Congress, with a chip designed in-house allowing a more portable offering with this next generation mobile technology.

LTE is causing much excitement, offering what is widely becoming called 4G connectivity for mobile devices, and Samsung is keen to be at the forefront of the technology.

To that end they have designed an LTE chipset called Kalmia, which has been integrated into the N150, a netbook that currently sports 3G and Wi-Fi versions and will only get the LTE technology ‘according to service schedule and market demand’.

Samsung laptops showed off the live streaming using the company’s own LTE network equipment on the N150, pointing out that the ‘inclusion of LTE will deliver high speed, low latency and ubiquitous connectivity to all users who require high-volume data access whenever they want and wherever they are.’

“For the first time, operators preparing for the deployment of next generation networks can deliver high-powered products to showcase network strength and the true benefits to end users,” states Samsung.

Sony unveils custom VAIO laptops

Sony is going to offer customers the chance to create their very own custom laptop, with a range of different modification options available on selected series’.

Labelled as “VAIO by you” custom options are available on CW, FW, SR, X, TT and Z series laptops to name a few. One of these options is laser engraving, customers will be able to personalise their Sony VAIO notebook with a special message. Sony technicians will then etch a personal message onto the laptop, perfect for those who want a long lasting custom look that provides that truly individual touch.

As well as engraving, customers have a range of options including hardware and software variants. As a customer it will be possible to select from a range of different colours, from the regulation blacks through to soft pastels and more outlandish shades. For some models there are even options to have special finishes and different coloured lids.

For those with a penchant for individualism, the CW series comes in light blue and yellow, colours exclusively available direct from Sony.

Customers are also given the option to change hardware such as the hard drive and memory. Additionally customers can choose between DVD, Blu-ray player and Blu-ray writer optical drives as well as screen options to ensure your High Definition media is faithfully reproduced

Acer boss: “Forget tablets, we’ll concentrate on laptops”

Laptops specialist Acer has ruled out creating a competitor to the Apple iPad tablet, claiming it is more focused on producing a top notch line of ultra-thin laptops.

In a rather refreshing and honest interview, Acer Taiwan President Scott Lin says that while Apple’s product portfolio and online purchasing presence is perfectly suited to the tablet, others who try to copy their success will likely come up way short.

He said: “Apple has built its business out of carving its own niche, which means that while Apple could see success with devices like the iPad, other players are unlikely to be able to replicate its result simply by copying.”

Lin was also quick to point out that his company feels totally unthreatened by the tablet, claiming the two devices are not competing for the same space in the market.

Packard Bell pay homage to Moto GP star

With the slew of ‘jelly mould’ laptops and CULV ultraportables around, Packard Bell has tried to differentiate its new dot VR46 by making it a limited-edition model complete with nine-times Moto GP world champion Valentino Rossi’s pattern.

The VR46 takes its name from Rossi’s initials, plus the number he’s always raced with – this is visible both on the lid and inside, at the top of the 11.6in screen. Although Packard Bell calls the dot VR46 a netbook, it’s powered by an ultra-low voltage Core 2 Duo or Celeron (depending on the model) so is more of an ultra-portable laptop by our reckoning. It also makes the price seem more reasonable as it’s more in line with other CULV-based laptops like Acer’s Timeline 1810. Whether the VR46 can match the Timeline’s amazing blend of usability, battery life and value remains to be seen.

No finalised UK specifications have been announced, but models will be available with up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM and with a hard disk up to a 640GB in capacity. The screen will have a 1,366×768 resolution and be powered by Intel’s GMA 4500MHD chip. All models will come with Windows 7 Home Premium.

Microsoft refute claims that Windows 7 damages laptop batteries

Microsoft has issued a detailed denial to accusations that Windows 7 is harming laptop batteries. Several blogs and forums have claimed that Windows 7 is having a detrimental effect on laptop batteries, with the operating system issuing repeated warnings that a previously healthy battery needs replacing.

However, in a detailed blog post on the Engineering Windows 7 site, Microsoft claims that there’s no fault with the OS.

“To the very best of the collective ecosystem knowledge, Windows 7 is correctly warning batteries that are in fact failing and Windows 7 is neither incorrectly reporting on battery status nor in any way whatsoever causing batteries to reach this state,” Windows chief Steven Sinofsky states. “In every case we have been able to identify the battery being reported on was in fact in need of recommended replacement.”

Microsoft says the confusion has been caused by a new warning system in Windows 7 laptops, that’s designed to warn users when a battery’s nearing the end of its useful life.

“Windows 7 makes use of a feature of modern laptop batteries which have circuitry and firmware that can report to Windows the overall health of the battery,” Sinofsky writes.

“This is reported in absolute terms as Watt-hours (W-hr) power capacity. Windows 7 then does a simple calculation to determine a percentage of degradation from the original design capacity. In Windows 7 we set a threshold of 60% degradation (that is the battery is performing at 40% of its designed capacity) and in reading this Windows 7 reports the status to you.

“At this point, for example, a battery that originally delivered five hours of charge now delivers, on average, approximately two hours of charge. The Windows 7 notification is a battery meter icon and notification with a message ‘Consider replacing your battery’. This notification is new to Windows 7 and not available in Windows Vista or Windows XP.”

Sinofsky claims Microsoft has thoroughly examined telemetry from Windows 7 customers and held lengthy discussions with key PC manufacturers to ensure that Windows 7 isn’t harming batteries. “Our OEM partners have utilised their telemetry (call center, support forums, etc.) and have let us know that they are seeing no activity beyond what they expect,” he claims.