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Having showed up on Amazon earlier today, it seems the ASUS Eee PC T91 really is ready for US prime-time. The reviews have already begun to spring up across the usual suspects, so what’s the consensus? It looks like it’s time for another SlashGear review round-up, this time about what could be ASUS’ most-anticipated Eee PC to-date.
Full round-up, plus video, after the cut

One early area of controversy is price, with Notebook Review giving ASUS credit for bringing “the first budget-priced tablet netbook” to the market, while Engadget and Gizmodo aren’t so forgiving. You’re not getting a fast processor for your money, either; Liliputing found the T91 “choked on sample videos I downloaded from Microsoft’s WMV HD showcase”, while Notebook Review’s benchmarks on the 1.33GHz Atom Z520 CPU and 1GB of RAM found the T91 to be slower than most Atom N270 netbooks as well as Samsung’s VIA Nano-based NC20.

Battery life is mixed, with Notebook Review eking out 4:31 of constant use while GottaBeMobile could only manage 3.5hrs. CNET saw 4:20 of video playback before the T91 expired, while Engadget came somewhere in-between with nearly four hours of general use.

The ASUS’ compact 8.9-inch touchscreen met with mixed feelings, with Liliputing describing it as “relatively responsive” while Notebook Review found it “easy to accidentally trigger the wrong icon” when stabbing with a finger. CNET also had trouble navigating the compact panel, and Gizmodo had to use the stylus in order to be accurate. The glossy screen coating is roundly disliked, as both a glare and fingerprint magnet, and some bemoaned the lack of accelerometer auto-rotation.

Unfortunately, the area of main agreement is in disappointment with Windows XP. Since Microsoft won’t allow ASUS to use the Tablet PC Edition variant of the aging OS, they’ve been forced to develop their own touch interface. That gets praise for its appearance – Engadget call it “really nicely designed” – but the functionality is more mixed, with out-of-the-box performance good but the lack of customization a real drawback. Gizmodo describe it as “a glorified app launcher for a handful of custom apps” while GottaBeMobile are forced to “wonder if the amount of resources put into developing the TouchGate UI are really worth it in the end.”

Gizmodo’s comment – “it’s half tablet, half last-gen netbook” – says a lot. Windows XP is never showing its age more than when trying to deal with non-standard user interfaces, and it may take Windows 7 to really let the T91 shine. The ASUS Eee PC T91 is available to order now, priced at $499.99.
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We typically reserve our FCC exhibit ogling for cell phones as you well know, but this little guy just popped up and we couldn’t help but take notice. LG’s X Series line of notebooks/netbooks/laptops/whatever-the-kids-are-calling-’em-these-days is a moderately priced line featuring pretty decent specs and, in the X120 at least, integrated 3G. As such, our guess is this new addition to the family — referred to in FCC documentation as the X13 though we imagine it will be released as the X130 — will generally stick to the same formula. Not a whole lot can be gleaned just yet unfortunately as the FCC was only testing Bluetooth and WLAN, but safe guesses include a Windows OS, an Intel Atom processor, a 160GB hard drive, a 10.1-inch display and integrated 3G/HSPA. Oh, and let’s not forget that saucy carbon fiber-look case. We also hope it retains the X120’s “SMART ON” feature that lets users access web applications, music & chat when the notebook is switched off by just pressing SMART ON button. Sweet. Hit the jump for a few more shots and sit tight for more info.
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DataWind’s PocketSurfer was one of those ideas that looked great – a clamshell internet access device with inclusive web browsing – but in practice was let down by an appalling screen, slow connection and frustrating “zero profile” RAZR-style keyboard. Now the company is back, and this time they’re bringing along a 7-inch netbook instead; the DataWind UbiSurfer will cost just £159.99 ($260) but come bundled with 30 hours of internet access per month for the first year. Pocket-lint were on-hand for the launch, and grabbed some hands-on photos.
Don’t be expecting high-speed 3G however; in fact don’t even expect EDGE. As with the Pocket Surfer, the UbiSurfer is limited to GPRS via Vodafone’s network and an embedded SIM. There’s also WiFi b/g, while roaming on the GPRS connection will cost £0.05 ($0.08) per minute in Europe and the US. You can also upgrade to unlimited mobile access, at either £5.99 ($9.75) per month or a one-off charge of £59.99 ($98).

After the first year, mobile data access is £29.99 ($49). As for the UbiSurfer hardware itself, as well as the 800 x 480 screen there’s 1GB of storage, 128MB of RAM, three USB 2.0 ports, an SD card reader and built-in microphone and speakers. Software includes DataWind’s own browser, basic office apps, calendar and email, a basic graphics app and some games.

The UbiSurfer seemingly uses DataWind’s existing “web acceleration” system, which basically renders the page you want to view on their remote servers and then delivers an image of it over the GPRS connection. When you click on a part of that image, the server renders the next page and squirts that over. The upside is that loading times are much reduced, handy when you’re on such a slow connection, but the downside is that streaming video is not supported.

The DataWind UbiSurfer should be available in the UK shortly.
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Funstylers Laptop Review: Sony are reportedly preparing their second-generation VAIO P netbook for a launch in October or November this year, with a key fix being boot-time for the unusually-shaped ultraportable. Speaking at the launch of their latest, more mainstream netbook, the VAIO W, a Sony representative told TechRadar that the “mark 2″ VAIO P has been greenlighted due to sales success of the original model.
While sales of the VAIO P “hadn’t gone through the roof”, the rep admitted, Sony was still pleased with niche market figures, and the netbook has apparently done well in the business sectors many presumed it was intended for. As we discovered in our own review of the VAIO P, the ultraportable’s performance simply could not live up to its hardware and $900+ price.

The “mark 2″ machine is likely to use Windows 7 rather than Vista, which will likely aid in reducing sluggishness, and hopefully we’ll also see some of the faster processor offerings from Japan brought to the US and Europe. For now, though, there’s no word on exactly what sort of specification or feature-changes the new model may bring.
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Dell’s Latitude 2100 netbook has already found favor with reviewers, with the education ultraportable tipped as top of the class for its sturdy build, neat classroom features and great viewing angles from the 10-inch LCD. What we haven’t seen so far is the unboxing experience, so NetbookNews are on hand with a video of just that.
Video unboxing after the cut

As with LaptopMag, NetbookNews reckon the Latitude 2100 is perhaps the best looking school-targeted netbook around, though we still think pricing may be on the high side for individual users. Inside the semi-rugged casing, after all, there’s still the same N270 processor as you’ll find in most other netbooks.

Of course, as a device intended for educational markets, schools will be likely receiving dozens of 2100’s, not just single units. We’d be interested to see an unboxing video of that, certainly, along with Dell’s accompanying Mobile Computing Station docking cart, which stores 24 Latitude 2100 netbooks and can be used to administrate them with a single ethernet and power cable.

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We knew NEC’s VersaPro J UltraLite VS netbook was slim – how else could the company justify the fat price tag? – but even the teardown we saw back in May didn’t quite convey quite how skinny the Atom Z540 ultraportable really is. Thankfully Akihabara News have righted that situation, being in the enviable position of having the 15.8mm thick netbook in to play with.
As the photos in the gallery below show, what you’re paying for is an almost unbelievably slender 752g netbook with a lower half that looks somehow slimmer than its screen is. If you’re expecting the pay-off to be specs that would make a 1999 notebook look snappy, think again; there’s a 64GB SSD, WiFi b/g, gigabit ethernet and three USB 2.0 ports.

NEC even promise up to 4.7hrs runtime from the standard battery (or up to 9.4hrs if you’re willing to sacrifice a little portability and strap on the extended battery). We’ll have to wait until Akihabara News finish marveling at the design and move onto some benchmark testing to see whether those figures hold up.
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This one doesn’t look to be heading into the hands of consumers just yet, but China’s GB is now apparently shopping its new X1200 thin-and-light around on the OEM market in the hope that some company will pick it up and do their rebadging thing with it — and from the looks of it, they likely won’t have much trouble finding some takers. Like some other hard to peg down laptops, this one packs the still somewhat rare combo of a 12-inch screen and an Atom processor, along with some otherwise standard specs including 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, a built-in webcam, and a pair of USB ports. No word on a potential price just yet, but it’ll no doubt be a fair bit more than the 2,200 yuan (or $322) that GB itself is currently asking for it — in large quantities, presumably.
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Red Fox’s 10-inch netbook (dubbed Wizbook N1020i) gets another refresh and now has much better specs, more colors and a new super-fast Bluetooth 3.0 technology, according to a press release sent in yesterday.
Red Fox switched from the AMD Geode to Intel Atom (1020i X2) some time in the 4th quarter of last year. This time, it’s getting better specs.

Red Fox Wizbook N1020i
Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz
10.2″ display screen (1024×600 pixel resolution)
1GB or 2GB DDR2 667MHz RAM
160GB or 250GB SATA HDD
WiFi 802.11 b/g
1.3MP webcam
SD/MMC/MS card reader
Bluetooth 3.0 (up to 480Mbps)
Express Card/34 slot

The system will also come with a 6-cell battery rated at 4600mAh and pre-installed with Windows XP. They also come in a variety of colors - yellow, red, pink, green and black. Don’t have the suggested retail prices yet but will update this post once I get them.

Update: SRP is Php21,100 but several stores have been selling them for around Php19,000.
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The BenQ Joybook Lite U102 is the company’s latest netbook computer which is designed specially for students and mobile professionals. This portable mini laptop is powered by an Intel Atom N270/N280 processor and features a 10.1-inch WSVGA LED backlit display with 1024 x 600 resolution, a 1GB RAM, a 250GB HDD, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, 3G, WiFi, a 4-in-1 card reader, 3x USB ports and Windows XP OS. Sadly, there’s no word on pricing so far.
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The HP Mini 5101 is the company’s latest Mini netbook PC that is targeted especially at students and mobile professionals. This stylish machine comes packed with a 10.1-inch diagonal LED display (WSVGA or HD resolution), an Intel Atom processor, a 2GB RAM, a 7,200 RPM hard drive, an optional 128GB SSD, a spill-resistant keyboard, a 2.0MP camera, WiFi, Bluetooth, and a choice of either 4 or 6 cell battery. The HP Mini 5101 should become available in late July for a starting price of $449.
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