We’ve been getting several comments on a recent post where we said that Google Chrome OS won’t be able to run on Eee PCs and netbooks. While this might seem not true especially since many developers and brave souls have already downloaded the open-source developer code for Chrome OS and made it run on some Eee PCs, our statement was actually referring to the consumer version of the Chrome OS. We were referring to the official consumer version of the Chrome OS which will not be available until the later part of next year.
That settled, if you want to experience how Google Chrome OS will behave on your netbook you might want to download the Google Chrome OS image from this site or this site. And check out the instruction on how you can install and run it on virtual machine.
And here’s a video demonstrating the booting process of Google Chrome OS on an Eee PC 701.
Netbooked is running an unboxing video and demonstration of the Eee PC 1005HR. If you will recall, the Eee PC 1005HR is a 10-inch netbook with full HD display at 1366×768 resolution, certainly higher than the standard 1024×600 HD display.
The Eee PC 1005HR has been outed in Japan last month but no words yet on when it will be available internationally.
With the recent update from Apple for Mac OS X 10.6.2 Snow Leopard, it prevented netbooks from running the Operating System. Users with hackintosh netbooks were advised to not update in order to continue running Snow Leopard. Thankfully a patch has now been released allowing hackintosh users to update their machines. The patch has been posted over at the InsanelyMac forums and has been tested over the past week and confirmed working. MacObserver also note, that when an update is released from Apple, it’s wise not to upgrade immediately but, rather wait for a patch to come out.
While the touchscreen display on Sony’s e-book reader might have been the one to drive sales to the point where it exceeded company expectations, Qualcomm is hoping another type of display technology will help them in the same way. Doing away with e-ink, Qualcomm has opted to use what it calls mirasol displays, which not only offer better readability but also better battery life.
Where mirasol shows its strength is in battery performance. A standard ebook reader – such as the Kindle – could last for roughly 20-percent longer if its monochrome e-ink display was switched for a mirasol panel, assuming the same sort of use. As the mirasol team explained, however, once you start pushing traditional e-ink panel refresh rates, up to the point you can display smooth video, and introduce color, power draw can actual go beyond that of a regular LCD display. A color e-ink video-capable Kindle would last roughly a day using the same battery; meanwhile the same unit with a mirasol panel would last around a week.
That alone makes it sound pretty interesting, and its form factor isn’t a lot different from the now familar Kindle e-book reader which Amazon offers. Qualcomm is very confident in this new display technology of theirs and promises to deliver by the latter part of 2010, continuously working with OEMs to make it possible.
Sales of Sony’s touchscreen e-book reader must have picked up recently, as the electronics giant is reporting that sales of the said device has exceeded company expectations, though they didn’t disclose how many units exactly they have sold. President of Sony’s digital reading unit Steve Haber mentioned in an interview with Bloomberg that ““The big shift over from analog to digital is happening in the reading space.” Well, Steve, welcome to the future. Currently, Sony owns 35% share of the e-book reader market, according to Forrester Research, Inc. I won’t be surprised to see them get a bigger piece of the pie as the market grows even more.
By now you’ve probably heard about the biggest buzz made by Google today. Their much anticipated Google Chrome OS was officially announced. But no, the Chrome OS itself is not yet available. In fact, it won’t be available for consumers, at least for a year starting today. What was announced is the Google Chrome Open Source Project geared for developers so that they can start making cool applications or even their own OS based on the Chrome OS.
Amidst the announcements and interviews, Google’s VP for product management Sundar Pichai made some points that relates to netbooks and the implementation of the Chrome OS once it is available to consumers.
One main point made by Pichai was something about current netbook users will not be able to download Chrome OS on their existing netboks. Google will specify the requirements of the netbook that will run Chrome OS and users will need to buy it.
Pichai also said that Chrome OS netbooks will run on both X86 and ARM chips. And these netbooks will be most likely available same time as today next year. Google will require netbook makers to deliver slightly larger netbooks than what are currently available. Perhaps even with full-sized keyboards and bigger touch pads.
What Pichai didn’t mention or even hinted is whether there will be a Google co-branded netbooks like what they did we the Android phone.
So, there you go. It’s still a long time to go before we see the first netbook running on the Chrome OS.
While Asus has already made its dual-core, ION-powered netbook – the 1201N, Laptopmag already had a hands-on report of the Eee PC 1201N. The Eee PC 1201N boasts of Windows 7 Premium, 12-inch display, 1.3-inch thick, 3.2 pounds, chicklet-style keyboard and a dimpled trackpad.
The Eee PC 1201N also has HDMI port so you can attach it to high-def monitor or TV. Laptopmag was able to try out this feature by attaching the 1201N to a high-def monitor/TV and was please with the full screen HD output when watching Hulu and YouTube.
In addition to all the features we mentioned, the Eee PC 1201N also boasts of a dual core Intel Atom N330 CPU. It also packs in 2GB of RAM and 250GB HDD.
The 1201N will sell for $499 and will be available in the US soon.
Liliputing is running a report about PC maker Haleron’s latest operating system based on the Linux platform. This OS according to Haleron supports Linux, Windows and Google Android applications. The OS is based on SUSE Linux but can also run some Windows apps, thanks to the included WINE system. Additionally, the Haleron Ocean OS will also let you run applications that are otherwise made to run on Google’s mobile phone OS.
The Haleron Ocean OS is now available for download here and can be installed on regular laptops and dekstop PCs as well as netbooks. The netbook version is a 420MB download so get your USB cleaned up.
The thing is, installing it on a netbook may require a little more patience and perseverance. If you haven’t installed any OS yet on your netbook before, you may skip this one or have to courage to install it anyway. To help you on your quest, follow the instructions for formating a USB stick here. Then grab the OS and good luck.
Reports from Canalys analyst Natalie Spitz say that Asus leads the netbook manufacturers pact in terms of market share in Europe. Acer has a commanding 32.4% market share followed by Asus with 19.6%. Area coverage include – Europe, Middle East and EMEA countries. Acer’s netbook shipment to Europe is growing at 4.2% from Q3 2008 to Q3 2009.
Isn’t it interesting that Asus who was supposed to have carved the netbook market niche is now playing second fiddle to Acer who was rather a little late in entering the market? What does it say? Does it mean that Acer netbooks are better than the Eee PCs? Or cheaper perhaps?
Other stats from other netbook companies include – Samsung with 12%, HP with 11.6%, Toshiba with 4.2% and Dell with only 3.5%.
The report also said that there were around 3.7m netbooks shipped in the EMEA regional along for Q3. This is 68.9% more than what was ship a year ago. This only goes to show that netbooks are still getting their share of the PC market industry.
Somewhere in Japan, has officially launched its latest netbook – the Ferrari ONE. Obviously, this is an F1-inspired netbook as seen on its design and form factor. The Ferrari One netbook sports a Royal Red color with red hinges, and of course the vaulting horse badge which Ferrari is known for.
Specs wise, the Ferrari ONE live up to its car counterpart, boasting an AMD Athlon Neo X2 L310 1.20Ghz CPU, AMD M780G chipset, ATI Radeon HD 3200, 4GB of RAM, 160GB HDD, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, 11.6-inch LED-backlit display in 1366×768 resolution and a weight of 1.5kg.
Pricing is still unavailable, but we’re pretty sure it will be release to the Japanese market on November 27.
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