Smartbooks: The perfect hybrid of a Netbook and Smartphone

After smartphones, it’s Smartbooks now.

Smartbook is a mobile device that is a fusion of a smarphone and a netbook, they are the netbooks with the connectivity and battery life of a smartphone.

Though there aren’t much details available on its exact tech specs, let’s try to find out the features that makes it smart:

• Instant-on access: When switched on, the device turns on instantly, much like smartphones.
• 3-g connectivity: You can enjoy mobile broadband speed provided by your network carrier.
• Battery life – Week long standby and 8-10 hours charge
• Built-in GPS – Helps you in locating places and directions.
• CPU Configuration: A 1 GHz CPU and 600 MHz DSP
• Screen Resolution : A high definition WXGA( 1280 x 768)
• The OS is anticipated to be a Linux-based Instant-On operating system.
• It will possess a display having a size of somewhere in 10-12 inch (diagonally) range.
• It will come with a QWERTY keyboard.

The Tech giant, Lenovo will be the first one to launch a smartbook powered with a ARM (Advanced Risc Machines) based chip called Snapdragon, manufactured by Qualcomm.

AT&T has tied up with Lenovo taking up the role of distributor and they use a chip called snapdragon manufactured by ARM (Advanced Risc Machines). The first Smartbook will be seen in market in JAN 2010.

Pegatron, an Asus copany, is working towards their Smartbooks using Freescale ARM Cortex- A8 processor and 512 MB DDR2 RAM, 1024 X 600 LCD screen.

Acer also has joined the race of Smartbooks and is expected to come up with one of it’s very soon. The price tags are predicted to be around $200.

As we see days nearing for Smartbook’s launch, it would be interesting to see how well this concept seeps into consumers.

LG unveiled NetTop XPION X30 

Its LGs turn now, after Asus and Acer, to make its mark in the race of slim and laconic PCs. LG has rolled out its first small desktop computer known as the XPION X30 that will be powered by the vaunted NVIDIA ION graphics. LG has done it with style, launching its first ever nettop, XPION X30 on 18 Sept, 2009 in its native market, Korea. 

Let’s have a quick look at the tech spec of this Ion based nettop: 

• It is powered with 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N230 processor.
• It also encloses 2 GB RAM, 250 GB HDD.
• It is pre-loaded with Windows vista, but is soon expected to come with Windows 7 (after its launch).
• Nvidia Ion (MCP7A) enables it to handle full 1080p HD video with 7.1 HD audio and supports DirectX10 which liberates you from the worries of sluggish behaviour of the system when playing a high definition video and a game simultaneously.
• With a weight of mere 1.54 kg, it draws a power of just 40 W.
• It sports a sliding cover on a 3.5” case, under which there are 6 USB ports , audio ports and a 4-in-1 memory card reader. 

The most scintillating feature of this nettop is its ability to get VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) mounted to an LCD.

Let’s wait and watch when LG plans to open up its nettop sale to other countries.