Netbook Pricing to Continue Dropping?

DigiTimes is reporting that due to a strong and continued demand for Tablet PCs and Tablets (notably Apple’s iPad), that name brand vendors/manufacturers in Taiwan are dropping prices on their netbooks. Asustek is mentioned as dropping the price of new Intel Atom N450-based single-core Eee … Read more

No USB 3.0 or Bluetooth 3.0 on 1215N? No Problem!

This is something that’s come up in a couple of emails to me, as well as various forums I follow. Some people are talking about the Asus Eee PC 1215N not having Bluetooth 3.0 and USB 3.0 support in the US/North America.

In regards to Bluetooth 3.0 and USB 3.0, it says on the ASUSTek website: *Availability is dependent on selected model, country or operator support. Check with your local ASUS website for more details. .

On the Amazon.com page it doesn’t show either one, nor does it show either one listed elsewhere on other places in the US that are selling the 1215N. On the Amazon.co.uk page it mentions Bluetooth 3.0 + HS (High Speed), and while the Amazon UK link does not mention USB 3.0, it wouldn’t surprise me if it was available, since that listing is a bit sparse.

First of all, formal specifications for USB 3.0 were finalized less than two years ago, and USB 3.0 devices were really not announced until earlier this year. You can get USB 3.0 (and Bluetooth 3.0) devices to work in Windows 7, but right now many manufacturers and accessory makers are not exactly in a rush to get these devices out. With Windows 8 in 2012 offering built-in support for both standards, I think you’ll see a serious push, especially in devices that we haven’t even seen yet. I don’t think Bluetooth 3.0 or USB 3.0 devices will dominate before Windows 8.

Right now I think what we are seeing as far as USB 3.0 devices, are USB 2.0 devices that were adapted for USB 3.0, so it’s not as if there is something that you are missing out on as far as some new device that we haven’t seen yet, perhaps video related. I expect that to change as we get closer to Windows 8 and as USB 3.0 gains traction.

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Asus Eee PC 1215N – Reviews are Coming In

The review/information embargo on the Asus Eee PC 1215N have been lifted and the reviews have started pouring in. The 12-inch Asus Eee PC 1215N is the sequel and upgrade to the very popular and very powerful Asus Eee PC 1201N (Seashell). Powered by NVIDIA … Read more

Netbook Revolution Over?

With Intel’s Intel’s announcement of the Atom N550 announcement yesterday, which marked a concentrated effort to bring dual-core netbook-level processors into the mainstream, Avram Piltch over at LAPTOP Magazine is declaring the netbook revolution over and asking what we’ve won. Obviously it’s a commentary, but … Read more

SSD Roundup/Benchmarks for MacBook Pros

Bare Feats has put together a set of benchmarks with the second generation of Solid State Drives (SSDs) using the new 2010 Core i5 and i7 Apple MacBook Pros. Included in the benchmarks are Apple’s normal Hard Drive options as well as their 512GB SSD … Read more