Ultra-cheap sub-notebook matrix

This article complements the sub-notebooks article by providing a technical comparison matrix of selected sub-notebooks.

Introduction

Recently a number of ultra-cheap ultra-mobile laptops, ULCPC (ultra low cost PC), have been announced that have potential as e-book reading devices. These laptops compete with the ultra-mobile PC's for truly portable computers.

The ultra-mobile's claim to fame is that contrary to a regular laptop it can actually be used on the road. For that it needs to have a great battery performance and be light-weight.

Usually this combination comes at a premium: rare are the ultra-mobiles that come cheaper than 1000 USD. This new generation promises to deliver these same features, at the cost of other features, and be much cheaper.

Most of the models shown in the matrix are just one of a number of different models from the various companies. For example the ASUS eee PC now includes several models in 3 different screen sizes, 7, 8.9, and 10". For more details follow the links the sample models.

Comparison matrix

Manufacturer	MIT Media Lab/Quanta	Intel	HP	VIA	Asus	Acer
Product name	OLPC/XO	Classmate	2133 UMPC	NanoBook UMD	EEE PC 701	Aspire One
Specs for e-reading
Price	200 USD	200 USD	500 USD (entry level)	600 USD	400 USD	400 USD
Size	9.5" (242mm) × 9.0" (228mm) × 1.2" (30mm)	245mm × 196mm × 44mm	10.1" (256mm) × 6.5" (165mm) × 1.3" (33mm)	9.0" (230mm) × 6.7" (171mm) × 1.1" (29mm)	8.8" (225mm) × 6.5" (165mm) × 1.4" (35mm)	9.8" (249mm) × 6.7" (170mm) × 1.1” (29mm)
Weight	1.5 kg	1.3 kg	1.2 kg	0.85 kg	0.89 kg	1.1 kg
Battery performance	5.5 hours	4 hours	3 hours	4.5 hours	3 hours	5.5 hours
Release date	November 2007	pilots running now	April 2008	October 2007	October 2007	July 2008
Display
Screen type	Dual-mode TFT display			touch screen		TFT LCD
Screen dimensions	7.5 inch diagonal, 152.4 mm × 114.3 mm	7 inch diagonal	8.9 inch diagonal	7 inch diagonal	7 inch diagonal	8.9 inch diagonal
Screen resolutions	1200 × 900 (mono), 800 × 600 (colour)	800 × 480	1280 × 768	800 × 480	800 × 480	1024 × 600
Turing's corner
OS	GNU/Linux	supports GNU/Linux and Windows XP Pro	various options	supports Windows XP, Windows Vista, GNU/Linux	Xandros (GNU/Linux), supports Windows XP	Windows XP (Linux available)
CPU	AMD Geode LX-700@0.8W	Intel Celeron M @ 900MHz	VIA C7-M @ 1.0 GHz	VIA C7-M ULV @ 1.2GHz	Intel Dothan based Pentium M @ 900MHz	Intel® Atom™ Processor N270
RAM	256 MB	256 MB	512 MB	1024 MB	512 MB	1024 MB
Storage type	SLC NAND flash	NAND flash	flash	HDD	flash	HDD or SSD
Storage size	1024 MB	1024 MB	4 GB	30 GB	4 GB	160 GB or SSD (8 GB)
I/O
Ports	3 × USB 2.0,MMC/ SD, Wifi	Ethernet, Wifi, wireless pen	10/100 Ethernet, Bluetooth (opt), Wifi, 2 × USB 2.0, VGA out	Wifi, Bluetooth, USB-based module slot, DVI-I, 2 × USB 2.0, 4-in-1 card reader, RJ45 (ethernet)	10/100 Ethernet, 56k modem, Wifi, 1 × SD/MMC, 3 × USB, VGA	10/100 Ethernet, Wifi 802.11b/g, 2 × SDHC/MMC, 3 × USB, VGA
Camera	video/still, 640x480, 30 fps		optional		video, 300kpixel (640x480)	WebCam, 1.3 Mpixel
Power I/O	2-pin DC-input					DC-input
Audio I/O	microphone, 2 speakers, stereo audio jack (out), mono microphone jack	stereo speakers, microphone, output jack, microphone jack	mic-in, 2 speakers?	mic-in array jack, microphone jack, headphone jack	stereo speakers, microphone, mic jack, audio out	stereo speaker, microphone, mic jack, audio out
Pointing device	touchpad	cycle touchpad with left and right buttons	x	touchpad, touchscreen	touchpad, 2 buttons	touchpad

Notes

• Warning! A number of these devices have merely been announced. Take price, availability and feature set with huge grains of salt. Almost everything is "announced" and devices may turn out to be simply vapourware.
• For all the data in this table except the price I have used the most current, most conservative values, in order to avoid feature-for-price bidding wars.
• The listed per-unit price of OLPC and Intel devices is based on the assumption that you will buy a million of them. If you only wish to buy a single unit or a small amount of units (assuming the manufacturer will let you), the per-unit price is more likely to be over 400 USD.
• With regard to the OLPC's power consumption: this is a conservative estimate. Wikipedia writes: "In e-book mode, all hardware sub-systems are powered down except the monochrome display (including any display backlighting)." The monochrome display is claimed to use one-fifth of the power that the colour display requires.
• The literature on the VIA device is a bit confusing; on the one hand it is called a reference design, on the other hand The Tech Report does list a target price. It is available in Europe as the Packard Bell Easynote XS for 600 EUROS, but not yet in the US.
• The Asus Eee is shipping in Taiwan and the US. The standard "4G" version is 400 USD (and "2G Surf" is 300 USD), significantly more than the original 200 USD estimate.
• Trivia: the OLPC consumes 3 W of power, the VIA Nanobook 7 W, the Asus EEE 11 W.

Sources

• Asus EEE:
  • Chinese engadget and
  • Hardware Zone and
  • Notebook review
  • EEEUser.com also a forum
• OLPC
• Via Nanbook
• Intel Classmate

For more information

Netbook Comparison on notebooks.com