Netbooks News, Hacks and HowTo’s

This week, Acer was announced the leading netbook in 3Q08 sales, leaving the whole big family of Eee PCs behind by approximately 8% on market shares. This was rather a milestone for Acer not just because they got to the top, but getting to the top with a single model released, in 4 different colors. Way to go, Acer.

Meanwhile, to gain back what they just lost, Asustek targets 44 percent unit sales in 2009 for their netbooks. This I learned from Liliputing.

Overall, netbook shipments surge over 160% in 3Q08. Shall we expect higher numbers in 2009?

Customizing Acer Aspire One GUI

While Acer Aspire One already has its cool user interface out of the box, it seems it still not satisfy everyone’s palates, because someone exerted efforts discovering a way to customize it. The process involves modifying an xml file, which seems to be easy if you follow the steps that are detailed on the article.

Netbooks and MIDs: How they differ?

Meanwhile, “Netbooks” and “MID” now have new definitions that pretty much define their differences. According to Intel, netbooks are “clamshells”, with 7 - 10.2 inch screens, built purposely for Internet use. While MIDs are pocketable devices with a 4 to 7-inch screen that take a clamshell, slider or tablet form and are custom built for “Internet-based targeted usages”. Seems like the Gigabyte tablet-convertible might not be considered as netbook in this sense. All these we learned from jkOnTheRun.

HP Mini Vivienne Tam Edition

HP Mini 1000 now has a Vivienne Tam Edition that looks very similar to its predecessor of the same edition. Options for specs upgrade are available and prices start at $699. The latter is now available for order.

Asus Eee PC 1002HA Review

Asus Eee PC 1002HA review has been published and Laptop is pretty happy of their experience. Pros includes its sleek design, multi-touch trackpad, wide keyboard estate and good wi-fi performance. While the right shift key positioning still draws for the cons, together with shorter battery life and no option for extended battery. Third party batteries might be under way, so don’t worry too much.

As long as the soldering iron is hot, tnkgrl won’t stop modding netbooks, laptops or anything that has screws, just to complete what the original manufacturers have started.

The new victim is an Acer Aspire One, which despite having all the features you expect on an ordinary netbook, lacks 3G capability therefore modding came its way.

The mod is not advisable for beginners according to tnkgrl as she (i just assume tnkgrl is a girl) herself messed up at the first time and went through a lot of trials and errors.

But if you still insist, here are the steps.

via liliputing

In Supply-Demand principle, high-demand = high prices of products in demand. Sure it’s true but for Netbooks category, it seems not. Instead it goes like the more tight competition = lower price.

Acer drops their price for Aspire One Linux to $50 less from the original $379, as well as for their Windows version. All the original specs are maintained which makes the Aspire One netbooks one of the cheapest amongst the category. Meanwhile, just this week, Asus cut $100 less on Eee PC 1000H as well.

via Electronista

Acer Aspire One is no doubt larger than than Eee PC 901 and it seems like Asus is quite not comfortable with that. DigiTimes is telling that Asus is planning to make bigger models of Eee PC 900 and 901 as Eee PC 904 and 905. These two versions are actually not new versions since Asus will implement same specs as the smaller version, except that they will sport a larger keyboard and will use the 8.9 inch panel. Upgrading battery and storage capacity is not confirmed.

Same price is planned for the new models and will eventually replace the Eee PC 900 and 901 series. Or keep the series at lower prices to better compete with Acer Aspire One.