HP Goes Android With Airlife Netbook
Credit: Engadget
Consider HP as yet another company that is into getting in Android business. Acer was one of those companies that banked on its Android netbooks to reach to more people. But Android is not something that is going to go away anytime soon. It’s only a matter of time before more netbook manufacturers take their chance with Android. In case of HP, that risk comes in form of a new Compaq netbook.
Compaq AirLife 100 netbook combines a 10.1-inch diagonal screen, 16 GB storage, and Android operating system to give you power and flexibility on the road. You may find these specs to be on the low-end of things. But netbooks were never meant to be for heavy duty work. Besides, Android is not as convoluted code-wise as Windows Vista or 7.
Pegatron Working On an Android Netbook
We have heard a lot about Android netbooks in the past, but there hasn’t been enough momentum to make it a major alternative to Windows on netbooks. Pegatron is one of those companies that are working to change all that. It is introducing a new 10 inch netbook to the market that will come equipped with an ARM processor that can easily run Android, and while the company hasn’t said much about using Android on these machines, you can expect the company to strongly consider it.
Android netbooks can be a bit cheaper than their Windows counterparts, and they are just as capable. While Android doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles that you get with Windows 7, it does allow you to get the job done when you are on the go. Nobody expects Android become a big challenger to Windows 7, but it can certainly holds its own among folks who are tired of using Windows as their operating system. Hopefully more netbook manufacturers will jump on Android bandwagon to give consumers more alternatives in this market.
Google Android on a Dell Netbook?
Of all the companies that have been associated with releasing an Android netbook in the news, Dell has got to be the most surprising one. For years, Dell has stuck with Microsoft products and built its computers around MS operating systems. But Wall Street Journal is now reporting that Dell may be planning to release an Android netbook soon. Android has been truly liberating for some manufacturers. Not longer do they have to be dependent on Microsoft products, and they can keep their prices low at the same time.
It’d be easy to get carried away with all the new developments in the android world. But Microsoft still dominates the PC market. People have gotten used to Microsoft product, and it will take a drastic development for that to change. The current economic recession has made a lot of PC buyers think about saving money on their operating system by adopting Linux. Android netbooks will also be attractive due to their lower prices. But we are just at the start of the Android era. There is no way to tell how successful Android will be in the netbook market.
Your take: is paying $50 less for an Android netbook (in comparison to its Windows counterpart) a deal maker?
HTC/T-Mobile Netbook Coming?
Almost everyday, we hear about a new partnership and an even newer netbook device coming to the market. The latest rumor involves T-Mobile and HTC joining hands to bring a cheap new netbook to the market. Best of all, it will be an Android netbook. Android netbooks have been talked about a lot in the past few weeks, and it seems they are now closer to reality.
Android has been bashed by a lot of PC experts as not being a viable alternative to Windows on netbooks. But in reality Android netbook manufacturers can lower their prices and target the price sensitive segment of the netbook market. It’s tough to tell how Android netbooks perform, but it’s good for consumers to have some real options when it comes to putting an OS on their netbooks.
Android Netbooks Coming…
For weeks people have been speculating about the possibility of Google Android showing up on netbooks. A few analysts have gone out of their way to dismiss the challenge that Android can pose to Windows 7. That, however, doesn’t mean Android netbooks are not in the works. Alpha 680 is the first netbook that will rely on Android as its operating system. It will cost only $250, which should make it affordable to a whole lot of folks.
The problem with Alpha 680 is it does not come with features that you would expect in a top netbook. You get a 7 inch screen, a 533 MHz CPU and a poor battery. Alpha 680 is what you can call a budget netbook. It’s designed for folk who want to take a chance on netbooks but don’t want to pay too much. Having said that, one would expect slightly better features for the price.
Windows 7 netbooks will be the top dogs on the market for a while. There is no question that a lot of people are used to Windows and would rather have the software on their netbooks. Linux and Android netbooks will be used on more affordable netbooks. The market is growing, and there is no reason high-end and low-end netbooks can’t co-exist.
Your take: will you take a chance on Alpha 680 and similar Android netbooks?
