Of course, it wasn’t long until manufacturers and marketers understood that this newly created niche shouldn’t be forever labeled as “budget conscious”. People were attracted by the idea of an ultra portable, 10-11.6 inch computer, but they wanted to have their cake and eat it too. Browsing the web wasn’t enough. HD playback and gaming are normal longings of any casual user and people were expecting these features on netbooks.

Poor little Atom chips, barely dealing with a browser and a Word doc opened at the same time, were insufficient to satisfy this type of requirement. This is when Nvidia jumps on board, releasing their ION platform, which is basically an integrated video card (at start), which grants assistance to the processor and deals with intensive tasks, like HD playback.

The ION technology is an upgraded (but shrinked) Geforce onboard graphics accelerator and produced results virtually unimaginable on a netbook prior to this: HD playback, CUDA functionality (which means some basic Physx horse power- yeah, the one you need for gaming), dual DVI support for connecting the netbook to a HD monitor, 7.1 HD audio, video encoding and more.

And what’s even better is that Nvidia’s jack in the box was and is relatively cheap. ION netbooks are indeed more expensive that those relying only on the CPU, but not excruciatingly so.

Nvidia ION platform

Please, Atom, stop trying already

What? A video card that makes the netbook more expensive and drains the battery faster? On my cheap and highly autonomous netbook? No, thanks. I’ll just wait for Intel to solve this. Well, it won’t really happen. Although newer Atom chips, like the N2xx series, have better chances of dealing with a video, most Atom processors were simply not made for something like this.

Atom chips are based on the 945GC chipset, which can’t really deliver any kind of video or gaming experience. An Atom chip is not fast enough to properly decode a high bit rate video, let’s say H.264 encoded one. It’s too much for it to handle and thus it will choke and the images will look choppy- this if playback actually begins.

The ION solution, on the other hand, can deal with 1080p video flawlessly and even support some gaming. It was a smart move from Nvidia to pair their ION chip with an Atom CPU, thus unleashing multimedia capabilities on virtually any netbook. And, actually, having an ION chip on your netbook won’t drain the battery much faster.

Bigger, better and uncut

The ION solution was launched a couple of years back and since then Nvidia launched the second iteration of this technology, named ION 2. What happened is that Intel released a new line of Atom chips, namely Pine Trail, which, at that time, had both an integrated video card and a processor, thus making the ION not necessary and technically viable anymore.

Nvidia worked their way around this and released ION 2, which is a discrete, dedicated video card, which works together with Intel’s on board graphics in order to deliver HD playback and support some 3D games. ION 2 comes in two versions, one with 8 cores, that is aimed more at 10 inch machines and is sufficient for a netbook that anyway has a modest resolution most of the time (1024 x 600), while the 16 core version is aimed at +11.6 inches machines, which have better screens and overall better performance, thus being able to deal with even more intensive HD apps.

But a problem with dedicated video card is battery life. These components take in more power and might prove quite of a problem for netbooks that come with 3 cell batteries, barely having 3-4 hours of autonomy in the first place. Nvidia thought about this as well and developed a system called Optimus, which switches between on board graphics and the dedicated video card in order to save power.

Optimus technology helps save battery life by switching between on board and dedicated video card

Let’s say you’re browsing the web or working with some documents, activities that don’t require too much graphic capabilities. You can switch off the ION 2 card and use Intel’s on board solution. Similarly, if you’re watching an HD video or playing a game, you can power up the video card and benefit from all its advantages.

Asus netbooks packing Nvidia ION graphics

There are a couple of Asus netbooks that pack ION graphics, namely 8 and 16 cores versions. Both of these setups offer decent performance, definitely above what regular netbooks can offer. Here are a couple of examples.

The Asus EEE PC 1215N is a 12.1 inch netbook packing a dual core Intel Atom N550 processor and Nvidia ION 2, the more powerful 16 cores version. The setup is much better than any single core netbook out there, but lags behind what an ULV Core i5 or Core i7 can offer. The N550 chip has the memory controller and IGP (integrated graphics processor) on the same die, thus allowing the Nvidia ION 2 card to use Optimus technology to switch between dedicated and on board video cards in order to save battery life.

As for performance, the 1215N can easily deal with 720p and 1080p video playback; even very dynamic clips play well, both local and streamed. The experience is helped by the decent (not great, though) display, that has a 1366 x 768 resolution. As for gaming, the mini laptop can play titles like Sims 3 and WOW at decent frame rates, although details have to be taken down a notch.

If you sacrifice the maximum resolution for something lower, you’ll even be able to use medium settings and get a better frame rate. As for battery life, the 1215N can achieve, set on a normal profile, with the default 6 cell battery, a maximum of 5 hours and a half of autonomy. This is indeed less than what other netbooks can offer (some can go for about 10 hours on a single charge), but those don’t pack a dedicated video card.

All these for around 460 bucks is a pretty neat deal in my eyes. Of course, the 1215N faces competition from the Asus 1215B and some other AMD Fusion powered laptops, but more about that in this other post.

Asus Eee PC 1215N comes with a dedicated ION graphics card

The Asus EEE PC 1015PN hosts a smaller, 10 inch screen and packs the more modest, 8 core ION 2 solution, but the same dual core N550. It offers great HD playback and some medium gaming, but has issues with the battery, which is able to go on a single charge, with ION on, for only about 4 hours. Needless to say, both of these netbooks are to be paired with Windows 7 Home Premium, as Nvidia ION 2 supports all the bells and whistles of Aero. Also, Win 7 Home Premium can automatically switch between ION and on board graphics, while Starter requires a reboot.

The 1015PN goes for around $350 right now, which is about 50-80 bucks more than the price of a more basic 10 incher. Anyway, if you’ll want to upgrade to Win 7 Home Premium and add an extra stick of RAM, you might want to keep an extra 100 bill close by. As for the 1215N, it goes right now for $465, already packing 2 GB of RAM and Win 7 Home Premium.

The 10 inch 1015PN can deliver great HD video

Final thoughts

Right after netbooks appeared, it was pretty clear users will progressively want more from these small laptops, with better video playback and gaming being natural claims. Nvidia’s ION and ION 2 solutions, paired with the dynamic Optimus technology, is a decent enough solution for those looking for a more complete netbook, closer in terms of fire power to a large laptop.

ION groomed netbooks are not larger or bulkier than regular netbooks (after all, Nvidia invented the Tegra platform, which delivers flawless 1080p playback on an almost microscopic chip) and have very decent numbers when it comes to battery consumption. So if you’re willing to spend a little more for a HD netbook, look for the ION or ION 2 entry on spec sheets.

Related posts:

1. Netbook Docking Station – best options on docks for mini laptops
2. Most powerful netbooks and mini laptops in 2012
3. Best 12 inch mini laptops – top picks of the moment

Now, I’ve never been a fan of Black Friday mob-hunting for deals, I’d rather shop online from the comfort of my home than having to fight others for some bargains. Still, shops try to make you actually go to their places by promising excellent in-store only deals. You might see some amazing bargains from Best-Buy, Walmart, Target and others, but if something sounds too good to be true, there’s usually a catch.

In this case there are more: first, these deals are usually offered as early doorbusters only for a limited number of units, so unless you plan waiting in line for hours, you won’t get them. Second, the deals come with either mail-in-rebates or gift cards. So, in practice, you’ll have to pay more than advertised for the product, but you’ll get rebates and gift cards that you can later use for other busying, and usually can’t redeem for money. Last but not least, if shopping in regular stores, you have to add taxes, while if buying things online, you might now, depending on the state you’re living in and the shop your buying from.

Those being said, I’m going to focus mainly on Black Friday and Cyber Monday online deals, the ones you can find on Internet stores. The list is going to be continuously updated though the weekend, and prices might not be always up to date, as with deals, things change fast, products run out of stock, offers expire fast, etc. So if you happen to find something you consider worthy, act fast.

Enough chatting, let’s see the deals:

Netbooks

• 

  The Asus 1001PXD is still a top rough netbook

  Asus 1001PXD – from $249 – the Standard EEE PC, with an Atom N455 1.66 Ghz processor, 1 GB of memory and Windows 7 starter, this one also packs a 3 Cell battery. Howeve,r unlike most netbooks, it comes with a matte screen and matte casing available in three different colors.

• Toshiba NB505 – from $249 – for sure a top netbook, with standard hardware, but with a rough case, excelelnt keyboard and a 6 Cell battery that can offer up to 8 hours of life, something most mini laptops in this price range cannot give.

• Acer Aspire One Happy 2 – from $248 – available in multiple colors, this mini laptop packs powerful dual-core Intel Atom N570 processor, Widnows 7 Starter and only a 3 Cell 4 Hour battery. The body and the screen are glossy, which can make it prone to scratches, but if you want something cheap and more lively than the standard netbook, this can be a good pick.

Portable laptops

• Acer Aspire One Ao722 -  $329 $287 – a cheap 11.6 inch laptop for basic tasks and some multimedia, able to run light games and up to 1080p content.It’s also fairly portable and light, plus decently built, although the case is glossy, and so is the screen.
  

• Asus EEE PC 1215B – from  $449 $387- the good 12 inch mini laptop with an AMD e350 APU inside, able to play all kind of multimedia content, some games and also cope with daily multitasking. All these while offering a rough case, a matte display and a decent keyboard, plus up to 5-6 hours of life, for less than $400, is fairly good. Careful though: some users reported touchpad problems with some of the ealier models, but since you can buy this online, you can always return it and get your money back in 30 days if not satisfied.

• Apple Macbook Air 11.6 – from $999 $849 – this is the standard 11.6 inch Apple Macbook Air, with a Core i5 processor, 2 GB of memory and 128 GB SSD storage, plus a 5 hours battery. It’s available right now with $150 discount and act quick, I’m sure this discount won’t last for long.

• 13.3 inch Apple Marcbook Pro – from $1049 $1199 – the 13.3 inch MacBook Pro also comes with a $150 price cut for a limited time, with a Core i5 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 500 GB storage and OSX Lion, plus the excellent screen, the illuminated keyboard and proper conectivity options.

Tablets

• 

  The Fire is fast, cheap and backed up by tons of content

  Kindle Fire 7 inch tablet – $199 – Amazon’s new 7 inch tablet, with powerful hardware, excelent screen and access to countless movies, books, magazines, songs and all kind of content

• Nook Tablet – $249 from Barnes and Nobles, also a 7 inch tablet, a bit snappier and easier to root than the Kindle, also offers access to all kinds of content

• Asus Transformer +  docking unit – $359 + $99 – my favorite Android HoneyComb tablet PC, the Asus Transformer is now available with a nice discount. The docking unit is also available with a price cut.

• Acer Iconia Tab A100 – from $299 – the cheapest Android HoneyComb tablet on the market and the only 7 inch slate running this OS, the Iconia TAb A100 is an excellent portable and powerful tablet, running on a Tegra 2 platform

• Lenovo IdeaPad K1 32 GB – from $299 – a 10 inch Tegra 2 tablet with an excellent price

• Coby Kyros 7 inch tablet – $229 $99 – a cheap 7 inch tablet running Android 2.3 Gingerbread on an ARM

• Blackberry Playbook – from $499 $239 – the classic 7 inch Playbook, an excellent built tablet with good performances, able to multi-task smoothly and run 1080p video content, plus games. Its biggest problem though, the lack of dedicated apps in the store, and that’s why it is so heavily discounted right now

Other good tech deals you might be interested in

• 

  The Kindle Touch is a new erader, with touch input commands

  Latest Kindle reader – from $79 – the basic ebook reader, now more compact than ever and also cheaper

• the new Touch Kindle – from $99 – also a 6 inch ebook-reader, but one that no longer uses buttons, but offers a touch-screen. It’s just up to you to decide if you really need a touch-screen on such a device though.

• Toshiba Satellite C655 – $349.99 – a regular sized 15.6 inch laptop with an AMD e450 APU and an excellent price. Definitely a good pick if you need a cheap laptop for standard daily tasks.

 Accessories

- to be added soon

All the deals above are hand-picked by me from various online stores. As a disclaimer, in some cases , if you happen to buy anything, I’ll get a small commission (from the store, you won’t have to pay extra or anything like that). However, if a product is included in here, it’s going to be good and you should be happy with it as long as you know what to expect. The details I added next to each listing should help.

Anyway, you don’t have to trust me on this, feel free to check other sources as well, but remember, these deals will be updated in the next days and they tend to run out fast, especially the good ones, thus act quick or you won’t get any pie this Black Friday to Cyber Monday

Related posts:

1. ION netbooks and mini laptops – best options and technology explained
2. CedarTrail N2600 and N2800 chips to hit netbooks in Q4 2011
3. Best 10 inch netbooks and mini laptops right now

We have recently talked about Chromebooks, netbooks powered by the Google Chrome OS and that look pretty good, at least on paper, and we are going to talk today about Android netbooks.

We will try to find out in the following lines what is an Android netbook, where can we find such a device on the market today and what are the main differences between Android and Windows powered netbooks.

What is an Android netbook?

An Android netbook is, to put it simple, a netbook powered by the Android operating system. Android has been created as a mobile OS for mobile phones and tablet computers, but due to its success, the possibility of being introduced on netbooks as well has been discussed and debated recently.

Android is currently the most popular OS for tablets and smartphones

The Android operating system is currently the most popular OS used on smartphones and tablets and owes its popularity to its speed, especially the booting speed, but also to its ability of making the most out of battery life.

Unfortunately, even though the possibility of launching capable and fast Android-based netbooks has been one of the headlines in the computer industry for some time now, it has almost been impossible to make this a reality.

Android problems

While there are a couple of Android netbooks on the market today (we will get back to that soon), the introduction of the popular OS to these devices has been problematic, to say the least. The number one problem today is that most netbooks are powered by Intel Atom or AMD Fusion processors, which for the time being cannot run Android.

Actually, they can run Android, but not natively, which means that there would be some serious software glitches if you would try to run Android on an Intel Atom powered netbook, for example. On the other hand, there are the ARM netbooks, which can run the mobile OS, but which are problematic from other points of view.

Last but not least, Android is an OS meant for touch-displays thus using it on a computer that does not offer a touchscreen is a huge pain. And most Android netbooks ever launched lacked this important detail.

Android netbooks on the market right now

We established that netbooks powered by an ARM processor can run on Android. However, the ones available don’t feature very up to date hardware. Also, ARM powered netbooks are only compatible with old versions of the Android, as it is the case of the 2.1 version, which means that you win on one hand, but you lose on another.

The Toshiba AC100 is one of the very few Android netbooks on the market right now

If you are looking for the best Android netbook on the market right now, the product that would probably fit the description the most would be the Toshiba AC 100. This is a super slim smartbook that runs on Android 2.1 and that is powered by a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore processor. This smartbook impresses in terms of battery life, offering an eight hour autonomy, but will disappoint you when talking about applications and software. The Toshiba AC100 can’t be found on Amazon.com, but is available for sale on Amazon.co.uk, where it is available for 199.99 pounds( about 330 dollars).

Other Android netbooks that you could find on the market right now include the HP mini Android smartbook, the NEC Touchnote 7 or the obscure Mobinnova Beam. However, these devices are currently nowhere to be found on bigger online stores, which would mean that they weren’t very successful or functional.

There is also another device on the market right now which could be called an Android netbook, even though it is not exactly that. We are talking about the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, which is a tablet in theory, but which can be used as a netbook along with a docking station. This is currently available at Amazon for 392.87 dollars( the tablet), plus $125.21 for the docking station.

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer comes with a detachable docking station, being a hybrid between a tablet and a netbook

Differences between Android based and classic netbooks

As we mentioned before in this post, an Android netbook is powered by the Android OS, while a classic netbook is operated by Windows.

They both come with pros and cons. Android devices boot and resume from stand-by faster and should offer better battery life. On the other hand, since most Android netbooks offer outdated hardware and software, they have some huge issues that involve apps, performances and overall productivity.

For the time being, Google is focusing on Chromebooks, which could be regarded as the evolution of Android netbooks, as they developed Chrome OS specifically for laptop-like computers. And while that one solves some of the problems encountered on mini laptops with Android, they are still behind classic Windows based netbooks, at least for the average user.

Wrap-up

While theoretically an Android netbook would come with some serious advantages in front of a classic Windows operated mini laptop, there is a reason why Windows has been and remains the undisputed OS leader of this market so far.

The Android OS on netbooks is still far from being functional, fast or reliable and that is the first and foremost reason why we can’t even talk about a good Android netbook.

There is however the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, which comes very close to the concept, as it boosts powerful hardware and a touchscreen, but besides that, you’d better stick with Android tablets and Windows netbooks and notebooks.

Related posts:

1. Best netbook with HDMI – quick guide and examples of such mini laptops
2. What is a netbook? What can a netbook do and top picks right now!
3. Toshiba NB505- solid entry level netbook with accesible price

Intel’s Ultrabook concept is the anorexic materialization of our need for ultra light and ultra thin devices, a laptop that will have tablet like features, both in terms of appearance and functionality (like instant boot and stuff like that). Intel says that this is the blueprint of the future when it comes to computers and expects ultrabooks to grab as much as two thirds of the market until 2013.

Is this only a thing Intel does to keep their ego pumping or are we truly moving towards paper thin computers? We’ll try to make sense of what will make an Ultrabook fly or will be just one of those concepts coming and going.

A bridge too far

Intel has a clear idea about what makes an Ultrabook. It has to have a maximum thickness of 0.8 inches (thinner than the thinnest MacBook Air), that meaning that the internals have to occupy very little space. So what type of Intel processor can you put in there? Oh, by the way, considering that Intel patented the term, we won’t see AMD Ultrabooks, but I credit AMD for coming up with a marketable alternative.

Back to Intel, they intend to release, in the next 2 years, two new platforms, called Ivy Bridge and Haswell, which meet all the requirements to find their way to a Ultrabook. Before that, concept ultrabooks from Asus, for example, will run on Sandy Bridge processors, probably Core i5 and i7. Ivy Bridge and Haswell processors are expected to do everything and more with a smile.

An Ultrabook should mix the best features of a tablet and a laptop

Top grade processing speed, 7 times the graphic capabilities of current mobile processors, great power management and top notch security features. The latest probably has something to do with Intel acquiring McAfee a while back. As for Ivy Bridge and Haswell, they will be developed using the designs of Sandy Bridge, but will progressively aim to use less and less power to run, without sacrificing performance.

Atom is not involved in the Ultrabook affair, as Intel has other plans for it, especially in the smart phone and tablet world.

Battery, battery, battery

An Ultrabook is expected to have around 10 hours of battery life, which is a feature we have on a small number of tablets and some netbooks. This will happen thanks to the low power processor and SSD storage technology. The battery will not be very large, considering the ultra thin profile, so it comes down mainly to the power saving technologies the laptop will use.

Tablet features

An Ultrabook will come with a bunch of features we’re used to in the tablet world. For example, resuming work on such a computer should be very fast. Truth be said, there are enough laptops out there with very good sleep modes and Ultrabooks will try to improve that. You’ll probably have a button for powering up the OS out of sleep mode or something. I think it’s going to be difficult to match tablets in terms of out of sleep mode speed, but anything better than looking at the Windows logo for an entire minute is highly welcomed.

Ivy Bridge processors will be ultra low power, but will deliver high performance

Shouldn’t cost you the world

This all sounds very good, Intel, but can casual buyers afford it? Apparently, yes. Top laptops are not cheap, with Samsung, Lenovo and Apple asking regularly over $1.000 for their premium machines- not to say how much you have to pay for a gaming laptop. Ultrabooks, however, should cost under $1000, including top configurations.

That means that a decent spec-ed Ultrabook might go for around 600-700 bucks, which is a good price for a laptop anyway. Considering that Intel and major manufacturers intend to make Ultrabooks the top market player in the next two years, they couldn’t keep prices very high, as most customers will ultimately choose the cheaper model, even if it’s thicker or something.

With this in mind, AMD’s predictable response to this will probably be even cheaper, actually, as AMD was always keen to be the more affordable of the two chip giants.

OK, but will it blend?

An Ultrabook is basically a renamed laptop with an eating disorder. It will do everything a laptop does, meaning you’ll be able to work, watch movies, browse the web, play and more. Of course, it comes down to the hardware you’ll opt for, but running Windows 7 and 8 and being able to run a mixture of entertainment and productivity apps should be a given, also on low spec versions. Gaming Ultrabooks, on the other hand, will probably have a league of their own and will certainly cost much more than a grand.

Asus UX21. Is it worth it?

Probably. The UX21 will be the first Ultrabook and the Core i7 version will cost under $1000. It will have 11.6 and 13.3 inch versions, at least 2 GB of RAM and a maximum of 128 SSD. Looks wise, will have a metal chassis and a glass touch pad. A reason not to buy this September launching machine is that it runs on the Sandy Bridge platform, which will be obsolete once Ivy Bridge will have its coming out party. And, of course, you’ll have to upgrade.

The UX21 will be thinner than the Macbook Air and will run on a Sandy Bridge chip

Conclusions

The Ultrabook was bound to happen sooner or later, as most of our fantasies about mobile computing imply some sort of ultra thin device with an emphasis user experience. The Ultrabook will be the thinnest laptop around and will be able to provide mainstream performance thanks to dedicated platforms that Intel is currently developing. Anyway, we’ll have to wait and see if the devices labeled Ultrabooks will live up to all the expectations when it comes to power management, weight, tablet like boot times and competitive pricing.

Related posts:

1. Asus to play Ultrabook tricks this fall, Cedar Trail netbooks also on their way
2. Asus U24E laptop to be released soon, not an ultrabook, but stil sleek and way cheaper
3. Asus UX31 gets reviewed and praised – really a top notch ultrabook

This is why nettops are so popular these days- they touch a soft spot with most users, and I’m talking about casual consumers just looking for a classy and smooth solution for streaming content onto their HDTV sets, without having to deal with all the hassles of a media box, which usually can have incompatibility issues and can’t run all types of content. Well, the AspireRevo AR3700 sure can. But let’s leave that for later and just take a look at the features and design first.

As most nettops, the AR3700 has a vertical design and looks like a book “standing up”. It has a plastic support underneath, but you can always detach it and set it up on the back of a big screen TV. It’s black and discrete and will fit any small place you can find near your TV. The nettop weighs only 1.4 pounds, basically netbook territory.

The AR3700 is small and takes in much less power than a normal PC

Anyway, you won’t have to carry it around too much, as after you set it up, there’s no need to maneuver it again very soon- except if you want to clean it, of course, or connect something to it. In terms of hardware, the AR3700 presents itself very reasonable. It has a dual core, Intel Atom D525 processor, with a clock speed of 1.8 GHZ. The processor is optimized for video performance and low power consumption, which are two essential features for any successful nettop.

To help out with HD decoding, you also get Integrated NVIDIA ION graphics, which come with support for 3D gaming, Blu Ray playback and DirectX 10 applications. It would have been nice for the video card to come with dedicated memory, as the chip will chew on the system memory, which is only 2 GB. Still, the setup should work fine for basic computing and gaming, as well as HD playback.

In terms of storage, you get a 250 GB hard disk drive with a spin speed of 5400 rpm. The nettop doesn’t have a optical drive, but there are 6 USB ports you can use to connect an external DVD or BLU RAY drive. There’s also a WiFi N module for very fast streaming and connectivity with remote servers or home networks. If you have a serious internet connection to pair it with, WiFi N guarantees very fast download, so streaming HD content from sites like Lovefilm.com or Hulu will not be a problem, as with older wireless modems.

The nettop has all the ports you could need, including USB and HDMI

Of course, if you prefer standard cable connections, there’s also a Ethernet port. In order to connect the nettop to a display, you have two options, a HDMI port (which is for linking with a HD TV) and VGA, that is compatible with older types of TVs and displays. There’s also a multi in 1 card reader slot, which is great if you want to quickly look at pictures or copy some content from a variety of standards, including SD, MMC, Memory Stick PRO and others.

The nettop, available now from Amazon for just $344.99, comes with a VESA stand, which is a device that lets you hook up the computer on the back of a TV, so you don’t have to keep it on the floor or anywhere it could be an inconvenience. Overall, the AR3700 is an excellent desktop replacement for your living room and can deliver stunning HD playback, as well as above the line performance when it comes to basic computing or some light gaming.

Related posts:

1. Asus Eee PC 1015PN with NVIDIA ION 2 graphics is out of the box
2. Best nettop- top HTPCs and most powerful nettops
3. ASUS Eee Box EB1012P- small nettop with astonishing HD capabilities

The design is completely revamped- the mini computer has an aluminum enclosure and smooth, round edges. In front, all you get is a disk drive, while all the ports are in the back, including a HDMI port for hooking up the computer to a big screen TV. The 1.4 inch machine has the power source incorporated in the slim design, so you won’t have to step over the power brick every time you pass by the Mac Mini.

The nettop has a 20% smaller footprint than the previous entry in the series, as well as taking in 25% less power than its predecessor. But all the environment friendly features, although admirable, are less important than the performance and pleasant user experience the computer can offer. So let’s take a look at how and with what the Apple Mac Mini can keep you entertained.

In front you only have the DVD drive

It has a Core2Duo dual core processor, with a speed of 2.4 GHZ, which means you get 2 separate physical processors, splitting tasks between them. This gives superior support for multitasking, as there’s enough fire power to deal with demanding operations running at once. The system comes with 2 GB of RAM, while the system supports up to 8 GB. Apple computers are known for delivering good performance with less hardware resources, so 2 GB should be enough for some decent computing.

Nevertheless, you should think about upgrading the system memory because the video card shares RAM from the resources of the overall system. The Gforce 310M video card takes up to 256 MB of RAM and can deliver smooth HD performance and some gaming, as well as being power savvy. Anyway, considering it’s an integrated video card, don’t expect the same performance you would get from a dedicated video card.

In terms of storage, there’s a 320 GB hard disk drive, spinning at 5400 rpm. The Apple Mac Mini has a DVD slot that supports disks up to 8x writing speeds, so you won’t have to connect a secondary DVD drive to the nettop for watching movies straight off DVDs. In terms of connectivity, the Apple Mac Mini is pretty well covered. It has WiFi, blue tooth, as well as an Ethernet port for connecting to the internet via a cable.

On the back there are all the neccessary connectors, including USB and HDMI

There are also 4 USB 2.0 ports, which are good for connecting some peripherals and removable media to your computer. There’s also a SD card, FireWire Port and MiniDisplay output. Unfortunately, there’s no USB 3.0 port, which would have been great for high transfer speeds. In terms of software, the Apple Mac Mini comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, as well as additional Apple proprietary software like iPhoto, iMovie and GarageBand, which are all entertainment driven applications.

The Apple Mac Mini is available from Amazon for about $669, which is a good deal, if we’re to think in Apple prices. Their products are always more expensive than other brands, but most users tend to spend more on Apple products because they want to take part in the highly appreciated Apple experience. Besides that, you get a good mini computer, with low power consumption and hardware strong enough to deliver HD playback and good gaming at high frame rates.

Related posts:

1. Asus UX21 and UX31 vs Apple MacBook Air – ultrabook comparison
2. Lenovo ThinkPad X220 review- top notch Lenovo mini laptop in a light weight package
3. ASUS Eee Box EB1012P- small nettop with astonishing HD capabilities

Nettops are basically compact and simplified desktop computers, occupying way less space than a traditional tower PC and consuming way less energy.

This mini computers are built to deliver great visual performance, like HD playback, and will handle OK basic tasks, like browsing the web and looking at pictures. Nettops usually don’t deliver gaming performance and are not good for productivity applications, but are aimed at leisure seeking customers.

They are also quite cheap and can serve great as HTPCs as they provide the required HD capabilities and wireless connectivity you will seek in a modern such solution.

There aren’t many such devices on the market however and bellow you will find our list of best 5 nettops and minicomputers, based on our experience with them and also on reviews posted online by magazines, websites and regular users. So here we go.

eMachines Ultra-Slim ER1401- slim, HD capable nettop

This nettop, as the name says, is really slim (and is not just marketing), being only 1.5 inch thick and weighs about 1.75 lbs. It’s powered by an AMD dual core processor and comes with 2 GB of DDR3 RAM and a 250 GB hard drive. The graphic card is a GeForce 9200, which assures flawless HD playback up to 1080p, both locally and streamed. The nettop comes with a keyboard and mouse and is a perfect setup for a Home Theater or a browsing computer.

It has a couple of USB 2.0 ports for easily accessing media you might have elsewhere and a very useful HDMI port, which lets you hook this one up to a HD TV. Also, there’s a multi in 1 card reader for easily setting up a slide show with your favorite pics, while connecting to the internet is possible thanks to both Ethernet and WiFi. The OS on board is Windows 7 Home Premium, making this a great solution for a home multimedia center.

E-Machines nettop has a slim design and occupies very little space

Acer AspireRevo AR3700- green and lightweight solution for Blu Ray playback

The AspireRevo AR3700 has the size of a book, is very quiet, and can deliver very good HD performance. The 1.4 pound computer is powered by a dual core Intel Atom processor, namely the 1.8 GHZ D525. The processor is designed in such a way that it will reduce power leaks in the circuitry and thus will take in significantly less power than a normal computer. The system comes with a 250 GB hard disk drive, 2 GB of RAM and integrated NVIDIA ION graphics, which can deal with Blu Ray playback, has support for Direct X 10 and is 3D ready.

The system will work best as a Home Theatre and is VESA compliant, meaning it’s very easy to set up on the back of a HD TV. The nettop comes, of course, with a HDMI port, and also WiFi and Ethernet. The operating system is Windows 7 Home Premium and Acer throws in the mix a wireless keyboard and mouse to make things easier from the get go.

This Acer Revivo nettop is easily to use thanks to the wireless keyboard and mouse

ASUS Eee Box EB1012P- easy to install and operate HD capable nettop

Like other products under the Eee monicker, this nettop from Asus aims to be affordable and deliver good performance. The specs sure help, as there’s a dual core Intel Atom D510 processor, 2 GB of RAM (and a maximum of 4), a 320 GB HDD and a HD capable video card. We’re talking about NVIDIA ION graphics, the graphics chip coming with 512 MB of dedicated memory. |The nettop is able to play flawlessly 1080p video, both locally and streamed and offers a very enjoyable browsing and desktop experience.

Of course, for this you’ll have to pair it with a good HD TV via the HDMI port and you can  just mount the mini computer on the back of the TV, as it comes with a mechanism serving this purpose. Additionally, there are 2 USB 3.0 ports, that let you transfer big video files ten times faster than usual USB 2.0 ports, VGA and eSATA connectors and complementary mouse and keyboard.

This Asus Eee Box nettop can be installed separately or mounted on the back of a bigger display

ASUS Eee Box EB1501P- performance driven and energy efficient mini computer

This is a more expensive version of the Eee Box, but for all the good reasons. It has a more powerful Intel Atom dual core processor, with a clock speed of 1.8 GHZ, which is optimized for ultra low power consumption and better multitasking. Besides that, there’s the same NVIDIA ION graphics with 512 dedicated VRAM, 2 GB of RAM and a 320 GB HDD.

Also, there’s a HDMI connector for hooking this nettop up to a HD TV, a special mechanism for mounting this on the back of a big screen TV, a DVD RW unit, which is great if you want to enjoy movies from discs, and not only from the hard drive or streamed. Additionally, there are a couple of USB 3.0 ports, WiFi and Ethernet, while the OS is Windows 7 Home Premium.

The nettop comes with a much needed DVD drive

Apple Mac Mini – Apple style and quality in a small, stylish nettop

Hey, we couldn’t finish this top without an Apple product, right? This is like a small and “displayless” Mac computer, as it comes with a Core2Duo processor, 2 GB of RAM (support for up to 8 GB) and a shared memory Nvidia video card. There’s also an optical drive (something not very common on a nettop or mini PC) and a 320 GB hard disk drive.

The device is only 1.4 inch thick and weighs around 3 pounds, which is very decent for such a small and silent computer. Ideally, the nettop should be paired with other Apple products, but it will work just fine with any HD TV with a HDMI output, which usually come cheaper than Apple displays. The nettop supports WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, but also Gigabit Ethernet.

This Apple Mac Mini is as stylish and powerful as larger and more expensive computers from Apple

Conclusions

The nettops we talked about are all able to deliver a stunning HD experience, supporting Blu Ray degree playback thanks to their dual core processors and decently powerful video cards. Also, these mini computers with a very small footprint, are good for web browsing and basic computing, being a convenient, discrete and classy Home Theatre solution for those looking to unwind when using a computer.

They can be easily installed on the back of a large TV and can be operated via included wireless keyboard and mouse, making the experience both simple and highly comfortable.

Like I said in the bignning all these devices listed in here are very good and recommended, and according to your budget and requirements, you should picks one of them if looking for a small mini computer.

As always, your feedback is well appreciated, so just leave a comment if you have anything to add or ask.

Related posts:

1. ASUS Eee Top ET2203- stylish and powerful all in one PC
2. Acer AspireRevo AR3700- affordable nettop with Nvidia ION graphics
3. ASUS Eee Box EB1501P- small nettop with built in DVD drive

This type of machine became popular after Apple released their first computers without a desktop tower component. After that, many manufacturers tried to capitalize on the hype of Apple’s breakthrough and started introducing computers that have all the internal components on the back of the display, rather than in a separate item.

The display is of course a little thicker than the one on a laptop, but considering you save space and effort as there’s only one cable for the entire machine, it’s well worth the effort. Another interesting advantage of such a computer is that it consumes way less power than a normal desktop computer. As we said before, there’s only one cable going into a power socket, so you can imagine that the computer will be much more green and cost effective than a traditional computer.

Looks a little like a Mac, doesn't it?

Let’s get back to the ASUS Eee Top ET2203. In terms of design, the all-in-one computer doesn’t look too bad. It’s made out of smooth plastic and the black bezel going around the 21.6 inch display is a little glossy and might attract fingerprints. Under the screen, there’s a grilled plastic pattern, that also incorporates the stereo speakers. The back of the computer is also black and has all the necessary ports, like USB, HDMI, Ethernet and others.

In terms of components, the Eee Top ET2203 sports a Core2Duo T6600, 2.2 GHZ processor, which is a model we’ve seen on quite a few notebooks and laptops. The system memory is 4 GB SDRAM, which is again a type of technology we’ve seen and keep seeing used on portable computers, rather than on desktop PCs.

Most of the ports are on the back

There’s also a ATI RADEON HD 4570 graphics chip and a 500 GB HDD, spinning at 5400 rpm. There’s also a DVD drive, but you can also go for a Blu Ray drive instead. Finally, there’s a built in WiFi model, so you won’t have to use a data cable to stay connected. The hardware on this all-in-one computer is pretty solid, but most of the components are usually used for laptops.

This is explained by the fact that the computer is fairly slim and couldn’t possibly host all the big components a normal sized desktop tower can take in. But the setup is good enough to match and even beat the performance of many regular computers and can easily deal with the needs of casual users, like watching videos, browsing the web, gaming and working with documents.

The operating system of the computer is Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit version, which sadly can deal with only 3GB of RAM. If you’ll want to enjoy all the system memory available on the computer, you’ll have to go for a 64 bit version of the OS. The Eee Top ET2203, which is now available from Amazon for just $872.03, is strong enough to take you through basic and demanding applications without a problem.

The package includes a wireless mouse and keyboard

Full HD 1080p playback is possible on the computer, as well as some decent gaming, thanks to the Radeon HD graphics. It will easily replace your desktop computer and will surely look more stylish than a bulky tower next to your monitor. Plus, you’ll save money on energy and cleaning your work space is much easier than chasing all the dust bunnies from the fans and cables a normal desktop setup implies. And considering that the 21.6 inch monitor is fully HD compatible, you can easily hook up a console or Blu Ray player to it and use it as a display for some fine home entertainment.

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Windows 7

I recently availed a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate Edition, and in case you don’t know, I own an Asus 1000HE. Now the thing is, earlier netbooks came with Windows XP, and direct upgrade to Windows 7 is not available. To take the new operating system to my netbook, I had to follow some special instructions, but in the end I still got errors with drivers. I realized I followed a wrong instruction.

If you are like me, upgrading 1000HE OS to Windows 7, I suggest you consider the following very strictly:

• Before you upgrade, as a precaution, backup your drive.
• Before you upgrade, update your BIOS to the latest version using the Asus Update that is pre-installed. You may download the latest BIOS update from Asus Support.
• After you have updated your BIOS, you can install Windows 7. Everything should go well when you install drivers.

Now, if you already installed Windows 7 but have not updated the BIOS, you may experience different issues regarding Asus Drivers for Windows 7. This is exactly what I experienced. But don’t worry because I have some tips that might help you.

If you have installed Windows 7 without updating the BIOS first, you may still update it using the Asus Update software. Based on my experience though, it’s quite a puzzle. It’s like, before I can install Asus Update, I have to install another utility that requires BIOS update. And BIOS update can only easily be done with Asus Update utility.

Here’s what I did as a workaround.

• I installed the old ACPI drivers for XP on Windows 7, and then installed Asus Update utility. This sounds crazy but it worked for me.
• After that, I updated my BIOS to the latest version. This requires restart.
• After it’s up again, I uninstalled all drivers I have installed already.
• Then installed the following in sequence: Chipset, SATA AHCI, VGA, Hotkey, KB Filter, LAN and Wireless, Super Hybrid Engine, Asus Update, Instant Key. On my experience, it has to go that way.

After that, the issues were fixed. Hotkeys worked perfectly and my netbook didn’t show up any error message regarding ACPI anymore when booted.

I hope this helps and if it’s quite unclear, please let me know specific questions and I will try to answer.

Merry Christmas!

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Google Chromium OS

Google has finally released the source code of its Chrome OS by the name of Chromium OS so developers can play with it. Since the release, a lot of people have also had their chances to try the OS via VMWare. I honestly didn’t find time to try it myself, but thanks to MakeUseOf for taking a step further and share their tips on making a Live USB of the said OS.

All you need to do is to be aware that the OS hasn’t ripen yet, and there’s a lot of possibilities that you will face errors, or not be able to get it done at all. But it’s also worth trying it since I don’t see you’re gonna lose anything either, except for your time. Once you made up your mind, you may download the image file and follow the remaining steps.

via Lifehacker

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