HP 1035NR Premium Foam Pouch Case

HP 1035NR is one of the better netbooks on the market, and it doesn’t come cheap. At $419, HP 1035 is on the upper-end of the netbook market. So if you spend that kind of money on a netbook, shouldn’t you invest in a protective case that keeps your netbook safe against accidents, dust, and scratches? That’s exactly what you can do with HP 1035NR Premium Double Memory Foam Pouch Case with Front Pocket.

This is a water resistant, zipper scratch-free case designed to help you protect your investment while you are on the go. Accidents happen, and the last thing you want to deal with is a broken netbook due to an unfortunate accident. This case is designed specifically for HP Mini 1000 Series (1110NR, 1120NR or 1140NR). It also provides you with enough space to fit your adapter and other add-ons for your netbook.

The foam is strong enough to protect your netbook against drops, and even if you drop coffee on this case by accident, it won’t reach your netbook. The bands inside the case keep your netbook still, so you won’t damage anything by constant movement.

Overall, this premium foam pouch case is not only affordable, but it does the job too. And it saves you a lot of headaches in the process.

MSI U123 Launched!

If you have been waiting for some new netbook models from MSI, you are getting your wish with MSI. MSI has just launched the MSI U123 series. The new models are using the latest Atom CPU (N280). You’ll also get wireless N connection on all these laptops. And it does help that we finally see a netbook that comes with 2 GB in RAM. If you are lucky to get U123H, you are going to have access to 3.5G connectivity option as well.

These new MSI netbooks are slicker and are very portable as well. The 10 inch screen is not too small, but your MSI netbook fits in a A4-sized bag. What I like about this netbook is the face recognition feature that is included on these MSI models. This technology is nothing new, but it’s great if you have sensitive content on your netbook. Easy Face Manager allows you to set up your security system easily on your netbook. Your netbook will scan your face and allow you to unlock EasyFace AutoLocker when your netbook is locked. You can store up to 10 faces on your netbook. Here is what MSI had to say about this feature:

Through the embedded webcam of U123 series, the Easy Face Manager function can scan the face of the user and record reorganization through eyes, cheekbones, jaw line, and nose. The user can adjust the level for personal security identification. (One user ID can store up to ten facial images).

The new MSI U123 netbooks are not only sleek, but also very capable, and it’s good to know that MSI is dedicated to providing more security features to netbook owners.

Steve Jobs Spearheading Apple’s Netbooks Efforts

Talk about an April surprise. If you have been following Apple lately, you know Steve Jobs had to take a step back to take care a health issue that he was dealing with. Guess who’s back? Wall Street Journal is reporting that Steve Jobs is back, and he is working on Apple’s next big thing: Apple Netbook! Steve Jobs is a great mind who always finds a way to deliver great devices to Apple fans. So one doesn’t have to be a genius to know Apple will be pushing the bar higher in the netbook market. There are reports that Apple has been ordering 10 inch screens for a new device. We also know that Apple has been working hard on its multi-touch technology. This all has led to Apple websites speculating about a Mac netbook + tablet hybrid. But can Apple keep the costs low?

I still have trouble figuring out how Apple is going to keep the price low for this table/netbook PC. Apple is a premium brand which means you will have to pay more to get your hands on its gadgets. We know Macbook is currently selling for around $1000. Will Apple netbook cost $700 or so? And how will Apple adjust its netbook’s features to lower the price. Nobody knows for sure. One thing is for certain. The players in the netbook market won’t be too happy about this latest development.

Acer To Introduce Touchscreen Netbooks?

The line between laptops and netbooks has been getting blurry for a few months now. Acer is planning to take its game to the next level and add a tablet netbook to the conversation. Acer has some of the best netbooks on the market, and it has been working hard to keep a leading position in this market. One way to do that is by innovating, and that is exactly what Acer seems to be planning to do with their tablet 3G netbooks. Adding touch screen to netbooks seems to be a natural step for most netbook manufacturers. Not only people love tablets, there is no certainty that Apple won’t be coming out with its own touchscreen netbook. So if you are a netbook manufacturer, you may as well address the issue while you are ahead.

I am not sure how tablet netbooks will be perceived by the consumers. A lot of it comes down to how expensive these will be. Netbooks are budget laptops. They are designed to be portable, powerful, and affordable. So if the prices start going up in the $500-600 range, that could turn a lot of people off. And we don’t want to see a dip in performance due to having additional software installed on netbooks. It is certainly exciting to think about the possibilities here, but it’s too early to tell if Acer’s tablet netbook line will be a success.

Your take: how much would you pay extra for a tablet netbook?

Netbook Only For Kids?

The netbook market may be growing fast, but that hasn’t kept companies from positioning the netbooks in a way that sells more units. I have heard that netbooks are only for college students or people who don’t use their computers for anything but surfing the Internet. But, the latest netbook positioning attempt by an Intel SVP leaves a lot to be desired.

CNET is running a story that includes a very interesting quote from Intel SVP Anand Chandrasekher:

There are things that you would do on a notebook you wouldn’t dream of doing on a Netbook…For a kid, a Netbook is fantastic, as an adult you probably want a notebook. So, there are very simple ways of positioning and thinking about it.

Now this is one outrageous claim. I am sure the folks at Intel are trying to reposition their netbooks in a way that doesn’t take away from their laptops, but netbooks are certainly not just for kids. In reality, a kid may enjoy a laptop more than he/she would a netbook. Netbooks are designed to be portable, making them extremely attractive to people who are constantly on the go. I am sure a few kids here or there can use netbooks to get things done, but to assert that all the people who have bought netbooks should’ve probably bought regular laptops is simply a dangerous statement. I can understand Intel’s position, but one needs to be careful with words when it comes to dealing with the hottest market in the computer industry.

Your take: are netbooks only for kids?

Acer To Form Wireless Partnerships in the U.S.

We have been hearing a lot about Google Android showing up on future netbooks but it seems the new Acer netbooks won’t be adding Google Android to their fold. But there are strong indications from Acer officials that there is a deal in the works with Verizon over wireless support for Acer netbooks. Acer networks are currently being offered by AT&T for a little discount, but the company is hoping to reach out to other wireless carriers in the U.S. to bring subsidized netbooks to more people. I am not personally a fan of these subsidized netbooks, but it’s good to see consumers having more options when it comes to netbooks.

What I was disappointed about was Acer’s commitment to Windows XP. Windows XP is not that expensive and may be popular, but that doesn’t mean Linux should be ignored here. Here is what an Acer official had to say about this issue.

XP is a good solution for the price performance… If you look at it, the number of devices that are sold with Linux is very small.

There is no question that XP is a decent OS, but many prefer Linux to Windows XP and it doesn’t hurt that it’s a free OS. So it’s a little bit disappointing to hear Acer commit to Windows for now. But you can always put Linux on your machine all by yourself.
Your take: should Acer bring Android to its netbooks?

Microsoft Readies Windows 7 for Netbooks

Microsoft has been talking about the benefits of Windows 7 for netbook owners for what seems to be months now. Microsoft has even said so on its blog:

Looking forward, we can confidently say that no matter how netbook PC hardware evolves, we’re gearing up to ensure that Windows 7 will run great on them.

There is no doubt that Microsoft is feeling the pressure in this hot market. Netbooks are expected to outsell laptops in the new year. While Microsoft can sell Windows XP on netbooks and still compete with Linux, I doubt it is ready to give up Windows 7 for $25-50 on netbooks. That puts it in a significant disadvantage against the free Linux. Microsoft has never paid Linux too much respect in the past, but there is no question Linux has been a nightmare for Microsoft. It’s hard to compete with a free product, and it’s even harder when it is darn good!

By taking into account the cost of the OS, Linux netbooks are going to be sold for $50 to $100 less than their Windows counterparts. And for netbook’s target audience, that’s a significant plus. Unless Microsoft can demonstrate the true benefits of using Windows 7 on a netbook, it is going to struggle to compete. Will Microsoft come up with a Windows 7 lite? That’s a whole other story.

The Economy Helping Netbooks?

There is no question that netbooks are the hottest gadgets on the market these days. These laptops are not only portable but are actually powerful enough to let you do your work. So you are not buying just an eye candy with netbooks. You are actually getting a real laptop for much less money. The netbook market is projected to grow by 65% in 2009, which is an staggering number for any market. But how is it that the netbook market is growing in these tough economic times?

Netbooks are popular because they are affordable. These days people can’t afford to pay close to a thousand dollar for a new laptop, especially if you need a second portable one. Paying $300-400 for a netbook seems more reasonable. And let’s not forget that a lot of folks who blog don’t need more than a netbook to get the job done. A lot of folks do use the iPhone as a portable computer, but in reality the iPhone is a mobile device and is not as convenient as netbooks when it comes to getting work done on the go.

The netbook market is growing and these device are becoming sophisticated. Computer manufacturers have realized that there is money to be earned here, which is why they are introducing all kinds of netbooks to the market. The more options we consumer have, the better we can choose a netbook that is right for us.

ASUS Eee PC 904HA – Review

Asus is known for having some of the best netbooks available on the market. ASUS Eee PC 904HA is one of those netbooks. It is designed for business professionals and those who are constantly on the go. The device is tiny and yet powerful enough to allow you to get the job done. ASUS is known for putting extra attention in quality, and this netbook is certainly a high quality item. So let’s see what 904HA has to offer:

• Screen: you get a 8.9 inch screen that is not too big but doesn’t require you to put extra burden on your eyes to see things on your laptop.
• CPU: Atom N270 has become the standard CPU on top netbooks these days. N280 is coming to new netbooks but you still get a lot of value with this CPU.
• Battery: Asus’ hybrid energy is legendary for allowing folks to use their batteries for hours. It’s just an efficient engine that gets you more out of your battery. In this case, you get about 5.5 hours of work time with your netbook.
• Keyboard: I found the keyword to be not too hard to get used to. When you switch from an 18 inch laptop to a 9 inch one, you are always going to have to adjust, but this one was very easy to get used to.
• Wireless: I wish this item supported wireless N connection. You do get the standard wireless G support, which is fast enough to get work done.
• Hard Drive: you get a 160 GB hard drive with your Eee PC. Your drive comes with 2 equal 80 GB partitions. That’s probably the best way if you want to use one drive to back up your important data and the other for your OS activities.
• Weight: 904HA weighs about 3 pounds. It’s easy to take it over your trips.
• Web Cam: the Web Cam on this device comes with 1.3 MP resolution. It is great for having video chats while you are on the go.
• Eee Storage: this is my favorite feature. You get 10GB Eee Storage with easy accessibility anywhere online. If you have valuable files that you want to backup, this is a life-saver.

Verdict: A. Overall, if you are looking for a laptop that allows you to save money and at the same time is portable enough to let you take it anywhere with you on your trips, Asus Eee PC 904HA is a good one to consider. You get performance and energy efficiency in one package plus all the features you would need to make video and connect with others on the Internet.

To compare Asus 904HA with other netbooks on the market, please log on to our netbook ratings page.

$50 Netbooks Coming?

If you have been holding out for those cheap subsidized netbooks, today is your lucky day. at&t has finally announced that it will introduce $49.99 netbooks in Atlanta and Philadelphia markets. You are going to get an Acer Aspire One for $49.99 as long as you sign up for AT&T’s wireless service for 2 years, which is going to cost you a cool $60 each and every month. You do get about $400 discount on the netbook, but you end up paying $60 for a wireless plan that is at best mediocre to small businesses.

If you want to use 3G on your netbook, you are going to have to sign up for $99 a month plans. The $60 plan comes with a 200 MB data limit which is not exactly what I would call great for someone who’s constantly on the Internet. And to be frank, I am not sure a whole lot of people afford the $99 or $60 wireless plan these das. Overall, if you are a business owner and need a netbook that comes with a wireless package, you are going to get some value out of this whole deal. But if you are a college student hoping to save money on a laptop by buying one of these ultra portable notebooks, you may want to stick with unlocked netbooks. You are far better off paying $400 and having options than $50 and a two year hefty contract in your hands.

Your take: is at&t’s deal a fair one?