WORKHORSE CERTE ZA MC10

With each day that goes by, going to a store and grabbing a netbook becomes a more appealing solution for my mobile computing needs. Unfortunately, these needs are very close to zero, so... but it's great seeing so many alternatives on the market, nevertheless! Speaking of alternatives (alternatives to the asus Eee PC netbook, the first one on my shopping list, if I ever go shopping such a device), Workhorse PC also has such an alternative, and I must admit it looks pretty well...
This netbook is coming straight from Texas, although I bet it's not manufactured there. Anyway, Workhorse PC is based in McKinney, Texas, and since this netbook is coming from them, here's the standard specs list, although the system will be configurable online(hooray!):

- Operating System: Ubuntu Linux, Windows XP, or Windows Vista
- CPU: Intel Atom N270 with 945GSE
- Display/Resolution: 10.1 inches/1024 x 600
- Memory: Up to 2GB
- Card Slots: ExpressCard, 4-in-1 card reader
- 1.3 megapixel Webcam
- Wireless: 802.11b/g, Bluetooth, WiMax, and WLAN (Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and AT&T)
- Size: 10.0 x 7.3 x 0.75 inches
- Weight: 2.9 pounds

Now, I guess you weren't expecting for the Linux and Windows versions to have the same price, because this is not the truth, although I've seen some asus Eee PC models priced the same, and the Linux version having more memory and/or storage than the Windows counterpart.

Despite the fact there's no product page ready yet, Jill Henson, Workhorse PC’s vice president, said the Certeza MC10 will be available from $399 for a Linux version, $449 for XP Home, up to $549 for a Vista Business version(why use Vista on a netbook, that's beyond my ability to comprehend). The price could also be affected by your choice of a 4-cell or 6-cell battery, but probably not too much.

LENOVO NVIDIA LON

When it comes to notebooks, I always had something pulling me back. In the end, I guess it's only the fact that I am an old-fashioned guy, and nothing more. When I'll really need to go on the road and have my computer with me, grabbing some notebook won't be that hard, I am sure of it, but in the meantime, it's my pleasure to watch as the industry is moving forward. Today, the time has come once again to take a look at lenovo...Unfortunately, we're not going to talk about a new lenovo laptop. Fortunately, the topic is pretty interesting, since the NVIDIA Ion platform looks great in theory, and lenovo may become the first to turn it into a notebook. A small one, of course. A netbook, to be more accurate.

According to early reports, Ion's graphics are expected to be much faster than Intel's 945 series currently used by most notebooks, systems using this new platform being capable of running games like Call of Duty 4 on lowered settings, and even play 1080p video, while using the Intel Atom processor. Yes, my friends, COD 4 and 1080p graphics on netbooks! Isn't this impressive?

Now, the latest rumors claim that lenovo is asking its contractor, Wistron, to build 11.6- and 12.1-inch IdeaPads for the spring, expecting to get inside them the GeForce 9400M-level graphics of Ion and an Intel Atom processor. Even more, a 13-inch model may also arrive, using about the same platform.

The way things seem to go, we'll probably have the first NVIDIA Ion-based notebooks by this summer, although I wouldn't bet on lenovo or any other company to become the first to field them...

SONY NOTEBOOKS VAIO (NEW)

Finally, some sony-related news. Good news, that's more important of all, because lately I've been reading heere and there about sony closing down some factories and sending a bunch of people home. On the other hand, I've been reading about new sony Cybershot digital cameras, and about this...
"sony Electronics Inc. and Qualcomm Incorporated today announced that sony has selected Qualcomm’s Gobi™ mobile Internet technology for use in its VAIO® notebook PC lines.

The embedded Gobi solution enables notebook users to expand beyond Wi-Fi hotspots so they can experience a high-speed connection to the Internet via 3G cellular connectivity. sony is the first notebook manufacturer to make Gobi technology a standard feature in several of its PC models."

Ehem, so they'll bring in 3G connectivity to notebooks? Damn, that's awesome! Well, at least as you have strong signal, because I am sure you know how tricky can be to get to a decent 3G spot, even in large cities that are supposed to have excellent 3G coverage...

Unfortunately, the official mumbo-jumbo also reminds a painful fact - "A service activation charge and other fees apply." Let's just hope these "other fees" won't include even more expensive sony VAIO laptops! ;)

NVIDIA NOTEBOOKS DRIVERS

Notebooks can be a real pain, believe me! Once, a friend of mine dropped by with a laptop, asking for help. Guess what? He got the damn thing with all drivers on a hidden partition, and then installed a license of Windows XP he had lying around. Fully partitioning the drive before and formatting it once again, just to be sure. No more Vista drivers on disk, no XP drivers online. Fortunately, I managed to recover the hidden partition, and put back Vista...