01-21-2010, 07:38 PM | #1 |
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The next netbook: It's really a phone
Well, sort of. But not really. Actually, the Lenovo Skylight is a netbook, powered by the same chipsets that go into cellphones. The reason is that the cellphone chips use less power, so they'll run longer than laptops and other netbooks (an expected 10 hours), and give you always-on web connectivity the whole time. Developers are expecting people to buy these through their cellphone carriers, getting a discount off of the estimated $500. price tag by signing up for a monthly data plan. Will these make good e-book readers? Well, it's Linux-based, so there will be apps available for it out there somewhere. More details at the Lenovo web site. |
01-21-2010, 08:11 PM | #2 |
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Hmm, I really don't know what to say other than this looks like an answer to a question nobody asked.
10" 2lbs 10 hours Discounted off $500, but... will likely require a data plan. How in the world can this be any better than the current netbooks with a USB 3G stick? Oh, and it's ugly as sin. Just my opinion... |
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01-21-2010, 08:22 PM | #3 |
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Oh, and it's ugly as sin. Just my opinion . . .
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01-21-2010, 08:29 PM | #4 |
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why hasn't anyone done a netbook that is ACTUALLY a phone yet? Instead of having a netbook and a phone just have the netbook w/phone built in. you use your bluetooth headset/car speaker to talk
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01-21-2010, 09:25 PM | #5 |
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I'd bet you could use Skype with it... but to get access, you'd still need a cellphone data plan, which I don't think you can get without the calling plan. Either way, I'd bet there's a bluetooth-type device that would let you use it as a phone.
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01-21-2010, 11:21 PM | #6 |
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01-21-2010, 11:24 PM | #7 |
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01-21-2010, 11:37 PM | #8 |
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I think this particular device is not worth getting worked up over, but it represents a compromise design that could be useful for netbook/ebook reader merging. Slap a 10" Pixel Qi display in there and make it convertible, then hide the scars from being lashed with the ugly stick and it'd have some real multifunction reader potential.
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01-22-2010, 02:21 AM | #9 |
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01-22-2010, 02:40 AM | #10 |
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BTW, these are called smartbooks.
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01-22-2010, 06:45 AM | #11 |
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The video is more like an ad than a review but you can see what the device looks like. It cracks me up how they call it a little pop-up usb reader; seems like they expect owners to go out and buy more of these as the maximum each can store is only 16GB. Not sure how much memory the mini-sd can hold. The netbook uses a Snapdraggon processor. Also I heard elsewhere the keyboard has good feedback for a netbook/smartbook. |
01-22-2010, 07:04 AM | #12 |
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While I like the design and Idea behind this My biggest Peeve with it is that it supposedly it is 3G only, i.e. No WiFi.
Now I don't know about you, but While I like the ability to connect anywhere, via 3G, the fastest connection I can usually get is via Wifi, especially in build up areas. I'm more keen for its Bigger brother, the U1 that was also announced at the same time. It's a hybrid with Windows 7, but a detachable screen which has the same guts as the Skylight. With a reported 8-10 Hours of battery life in laptop mode, and 6-8 in slate mode, It looks like a more interesting and versatile device. JKOnTheRun Had a nice detailed hands on with all the new devices Here, (Unfortunately the video is not embeddable here) and Rev3 Also had a close look. |
01-22-2010, 07:11 AM | #13 |
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01-22-2010, 07:19 AM | #14 |
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They say there's a place for everything and to put everything in it's place....but to be honest.....
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01-22-2010, 07:24 AM | #15 | |
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Quote:
Would like to know more about this device in the future. |
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Tags |
e-book reader, netbook |
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