Apricot Computers relaunches as Netbook maker
What is it about 80’s computing icons making a comeback as a Netbook maker? First, the relaunch of the Commodore brand - if by name only - with the catchy titled UMMD 8010/F. And now it’s the turn of Apricot Computers who, after being left dormant for years by former owner Mitsubishi Corporation, have re-entered the UK market with the rather nice looking PicoBook Pro.
The device meets the typical specs of most Netbooks currently doing the rounds, sporting a 8.9 inch wide screen screen (1024 x 600), 1 GB Ram, 60 GB hard drive, VGA output, 1.3 MP webcam, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, two USB 2.0 ports and a 4 in 1 card reader. The PicoBook Pro comes in two flavours: Linux (Novell SUSE Enterprise) and Windows XP...
Get an Acer Aspire One Netbook for $309, shipped
Though not quite as cheap as the Asus Eee PC from a couple weeks ago, the Acer Aspire One is one of the top-rated Netbooks (there's a contradiction in terms), and you can get it for just $309 shipped--no rebates required. Hey, they gotta do something to unload these lemons, right?
I kid, I kid. While I still don't see the appeal of a PC with a tiny screen, tiny keyboard, tiny amount of storage, mediocre battery life, and limited video-playback capabilities, at least the prices are starting to get more attractive.
This particular model comes with an Intel Atom processor, 8.9-inch screen, 8GB solid-state drive, built-in Webcam, 5-in-1 media reader, and 512MB of RAM. It runs on the Linpus Linux Lite OS and includes a three-cell battery, which Acer says is good for up to three hours. CNET got 2 hours and 14 minutes in its battery-drain test and awarded the Acer three stars out of five in its review (which called it "the best all-around Netbook we've seen for less than $400")...
Posts
