Sporty blogger reviews Lenovo S12 netbook

In the 80's you were either a nerd or a sports jock. Not both. These days everyone uses tech and everyone has an opinion on tech. This blogger, who claims to be a mighty sportsman, obviously has a long history of carefully considering his laptop purchases. He recently jumped into the netbook pool by choosing a Lenovo S12.

"No horsepower problems. The VIA NANO chipset is considerably more powerful than the ubiquitous ATOM chipset on most netbooks, even though the VIA clock rate is slower than the latest ATOMs(1.3 vs 1.6). Even with only 1 gig RAM, it rocks. I've got another gig of RAM ordered."

The review continues to delve into all of the features of the Lenovo S12.

Got nine friends who want a MID?

If you can get together a group of 10 people who want a 5.6" MID that runs Windows XP then you can place an order with Shenzen's manufacturer of the HT560. This little device doesn't fit nice and neatly into any particular device category.

"It has 1GB RAM, 16GB SDD, 2x USB 2.0 ports and built-in 1.3MP camera. It comes with 4800mAh battery which is huge by UMPC standards. It packs all the latest wireless radios too: GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth. There is a front-facing 1.3MP camera too which can be used for video calls."

All this is a supported by a VIA C7 processor running at 1GHz. - Gadgetmix

Sub-150 netbooks surface for education sector in China

Educational organizations can get a great deal on Windows XP netbooks in China. The VIA C7-M based AOJIE X100V model sells in bulk for US$146. The screen size is a generous 10.1 inches which would mean that the keyboardis a descent size, and certainly big enough to be comfortable for kids and teenagers. What a deal! - Gadgetmix

VIA based OLPC improves battery

The latest version of the OLPC's XO laptop for kids in developing countries features a VIA C7-M processor and the VIA VX855 digital media processor. Compared to the previous version of the XO, the battery lasts for 12 hours 15 minutes, compared with 10 hours and 20 minutes. That's not a bad improvement.

The XO 1.5 is designed for use in developing countries where access to reliable power is problematic. The battery life tests I've quoted show how long it can run when in a suspended state. How long the battery lasts when the laptop is in use is another story - details have not been released yet.