There’s a new ‘WebBook’ on the market called Litl, and it’s a top-to-bottom operation that’s designing the whole widget with the philosophy of “The computer works for you ( not the other way around )”. Litl has designed both the hardware and the software with the web experience as the priority, and they call the resulting 3lbs beauty ‘Litl’. Besides it’s new OS, the high-end 12.1 LCD panel with a 178 degree viewing angle really sounds nice. Accompanying the awesome display is an Atom processor, 1GB of ram, 2GB of CompactFlash storage, and from the 720p video acceleration I’m guessing they’re using Nvidia’s Tegra platform. The OS appears to be a web-centric design with a ‘Card’ based homescreen that looks a Litl ( sorry ) like Safari’s ‘Top Sites’. Read on…

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables, Home Tech, Wireless

Tagged: Internet Appliance, Netbook

Introducing The Litl WebBook originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 19, 2009 at 6:40 am.

ViewSonic has expanded into the small-format PC market with the VOT132 PC mini. Weighing in at just over a pound, this tiny computer offers real performance in a miniature package with Win 7 OS, Intel(r) Atom(tm) 330 processor, latest … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables, News, Spotlight Gadgets

Tagged: computer

ViewSonic takes on small-format computing with VOT132 PC mini originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 19, 2009 at 1:13 pm.

Because you are reading this I would bet that you use some form of protection… (for your personal electronic equipment…).  While you may be OK with Junior  playing in traffic, you shutter at the thought of your Ipod or phone getting scratched.  Bodyguardz hears you, and while they can’t help Junior, they can help protect your gadgets with custom fitted strong plastic covers for your gear. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Blackberry related, Generic PDA related, Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: Blackberry protection, Bodyguardz

BodyGuardz Personal Electronics Protection Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 19, 2009 at 9:23 pm.

With the approach of mid August so approaches the Back To School Season.  You know what I mean; whole sections of WalMart, Target, and warehouse stores dedicated to pencils, pens, rulers, white glue and notebooks and folders featuring Hannah Montana and High School Musical all over them. It’s retail’s dedication to sending you or your children back to the Halls of Academe.  But today’s student requires much more than a backpack emblazoned with Zac Efron’s face.  Today’s student is wired to go. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: Netbook

Acer Aspire One Netbook Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 16, 2009 at 2:00 pm.

The Archos 704 wifi Mobile DVR is packed with features that are sure to appeal to many different types of consumers.  And although it carries a premium price, Archos is hoping that you’ll see the value in the plethora of features and options that the 704 wifi offers. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Audio / Video Gear, Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables, Travel Gear

Tagged: DVR, Video, WiFi

Archos 704 WiFi Mobile DVR Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 8, 2009 at 9:42 am.

I’ve been using the HP Pavilion dv2 laptop off and on for about a month now. As it tends to go with most gadgets that pass through my hands, there are things that I really like about this device and then there are some things that cause me disappointment. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: Blu-ray, HP dv2, Laptop, Vista

HP Pavilion dv2 Wrap Up originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 26, 2009 at 9:41 pm.

A who did what? Huh? Ok, so Tegra itself is not a gadget, and many of you have probably never heard of it. We talked about it a little bit in The Gadgeteer’s ZuneHD Rumor Mill Roundup  a while back. What Tegra is, is a platform, an entire system on a chip, geared for mobility. There are two Tegra variations at this point: … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables, Linux Based PDA related, Miscellaneous, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: nvidia, tegra

NVIDIA Unleashes Tegra at E3 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 2, 2009 at 7:59 am.

I have now carried the HP Mini 1000xp with me daily for three months. This is a short article on the lessons I have learned about the Mini, netbooks, and me. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables, Laptop Gear

Tagged: HP, Mini 1000, Netbook

3 Months with the HP Mini 1000xp originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 25, 2009 at 1:00 am.

I was excited when Julie told her main article contributors that she was sending us HP Mini 1000 netbooks in December, but for an entirely different reason.

See, I’d already purchased an Acer Aspire One only a few months earlier, and I was quite interested in seeing how the HP Mini stood up against the stiff competition of the netbook I’d grown to love so much. And when I say “love”, I really mean “love”. My AAO has a 160GB hard drive, 1.5GB RAM (I went ahead and upgraded), a long-lasting six-cell battery, and all the standard fare for a netbook – 8.9″ 1024×600 display, 0.3MP webcam, USB 2.0 ports, integrated SD/MemoryStick reader, and the requisite 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: Acer, HP, Netbook

Netbook Face-Off: Acer Aspire One versus HP Mini 1000 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 8, 2009 at 5:06 am.

I’ve wanted something like a netbook for a long time — and I’ve gone through a lot of PDAs, phones, and other portable devices without quite finding it — so when Julie decided to do a team review of the HP Mini 1000 I was excited to give it a try. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: HP, Linux, mini, Netbook

HP Mini 1000 Netbook – Running Linux originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 17, 2009 at 6:00 am.

For my portion of the HP Mini 1000 Team review, I volunteered to ‘hackintosh’ the netbook. Hackintoshing is where you get a windows/linux computer running a hacked version of the Mac OS. So, in this review I will be discussing the level of difficulty of acquiring and installing the hacked OSX, usability on the Mini 1000, and comparative look at it against real Macbooks. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Do-It-Yourself, Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: OS X

HP Mini 1000 Team Review (Hackintoshing) originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 20, 2009 at 5:03 pm.

I have to be honest, when Julie communicated to her Gadgeteer Geek Gang that we would all be getting a new HP Mini 1000 XP Series Netbook, I was overcome with a feeling much like when I was a kid at Christmas.  You know, that happy/joyous feeling of anticipation that fills the youthful spirit until the climax of ripping through the paper on the very last gift. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: HP, Netbook

HP Mini 1000 Netbook – Love and Hate, Plus Its Affect On My Domestic Life originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 18, 2009 at 1:00 am.

Can a laptop create a fashion statement? It can when a famous New York designer like Vivienne Tam puts her artistic stamp on it. Case in point – The HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Designer Edition Netbook. It has the same bits and pieces inside that the regular Black swirly Mini has in it, but this one is like a little Red sports car for geek girls. I’ve never considered myself fashion conscience, but I can’t help but like this netbook. I mean it’s Red, it’s shiny and it has flowers on it! What’s not to love? … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: Fashion, HPVT, Netbook

HP Mini 1000 Netbook – Vivienne Tam Designer Edition originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 13, 2009 at 5:00 am.

Field Report: Ocho Rios, Jamaca. January 27, 2009. This is Bond, James Bond, reporting. Q has issued all field agents a new plaything and HQ is insisting on reports on the device. I am taking time during a recuperative stay on the warm white sands to accommodate them. Excuse me for a moment, however. The hostess is bringing me my vodka martini and obviously needs me to make a charming and witty double entendre. Let’s see… I open www.doubleentendre.net, click on both ‘witty’ and ‘charming’, hit search…  … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: HP, mini, Netbook

HP Mini 1000 Netbook vs. Fuji Lifebook originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 11, 2009 at 5:00 am.

With all the netbooks on the market in the last year or so, it almost makes a person wonder if the days of full-sized notebooks are numbered. Considering the economy the way it is, people are looking for a bargain and these little netbooks sure can provide one. I have been using an MSI Wind Netbook lately, but my true love was the HP 2133 Mini-Note that I reviewed last year. I loved its metal shell, 8.9 inch 1280 x 786 display and keyboard. The only issue with it was the fact that it came with Vista installed, ran warm and didn’t have the more efficient Atom processor.  Now it’s several months later and we have the HP Mini 1000. Let’s see if if is good enough to make me dump the MSI Wind as my travel computer. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: Laptop, Netbook

HP Mini 1000 Netbook Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 9, 2009 at 5:49 am.

Mobile gadget enthusiasts can’t visit their favorite gadget news sites without being bombarded with news about the latest netbooks. Whether you want to refer to this category of extremely portable and affordable laptops as subnotebooks, ultraportables, UMPCs, MIDs or netbooks, is entirely up to you. What I call them is a whole lot of fun and convenience in a small package. The first netbook to capture our interest was the ASUS Eee PC, then it was the HP Mini-Note. Now it’s the MSI Wind. Let’s see if it’s worthy enough for a spot in your gear bag…

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: Handheld PC, Netbook, Ultra Portable, UMPC

MSI Wind Netbook Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 5, 2008 at 2:30 pm.

Last year, Asus rocked the UMPC world with their announcement of a small, ultra-portable laptop – for only $200. Several
revisions, image leaks, speculative reports, and price increases later, the eeePC line was officially released – with
$200 added to price tag and 512MB RAM pulled from the default specs. I’ve had the flagship 701 model with 4GB of
solid-state disk space and a 0.3MP (300,000 pixel) webcam. Other model options include the 2G ($300) and 4G ($350)
Surfs with 2GB and 4GB SSD and no webcam, as well as the 8GB SSD/1GB RAM 8G at $500.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: Handheld PC, Netbook, Ultra Portable, UMPC

ASUS Eee PC 4G (701) Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 9, 2008 at 11:00 am.

I love my 15 inch Macbook Pro when I use it at home on the couch, but my affection wears thin when I travel with it. Carrying it a gear bag slung over my shoulder and having to pull it out at various airport security checks, does get old. That’s why anytime I see a small computer, my interest is immediately piqued. When HP contacted me last week to offer me a look at their new ultra-portable HP2133 Mini-Note PC, I was happy to oblige. Here’s a quick look at it…

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: Laptop

HP 2133 Mini-Note PC Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 9, 2008 at 12:01 am.

I’ve always been interested in small, powerful computers, and when I saw the Sony U3 advertised in Tokyo, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one. The dream was short lived, since I did not have $2000.00 for a machine at the time. I consider the Sony U series to be the beginning of the UMPC Revolution!!

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: Laptop

Sony Vaio PCG-U3 UMPC originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 30, 2008 at 9:38 am.

In October of 1993, I bought what was then my ideal computer. It fit in my pocket, had a full QWERTY keyboard with dedicated numeric keypad, had lots of built-in apps, ran all my DOS programs with ease, had a gorgeous monochrome LCD screen and ran for 20 hours on two AA batteries. It was the HP 200LX. For years I used this machine for PIM storage, keeping grades for my students, writing a diary and keeping my important text documents on hand for easy reference. I moved to a new Windows-based grading program a year and a half ago, but I had used my 200LX for all that time. It still sits in my gadget cabinet, one gadget that will never see the light of Ebay.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: Handheld PC, Netbook, Ultra Portable, UMPC

OQO Model 02 Ultra Personal Computer originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 30, 2007 at 9:15 am.

Ultra portable PCs (uPC) seem to be really hot right now. With
Microsoft’s Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) / Origami devices being announced here there and everywhere, it looks like this product category has the potential to become as popular as PDAs were a few years ago.

Maybe… Exactly one year ago I reviewed the
Sony Vaio VGN-U71P ultra portable Windows XP PC. Despite a few minor complaints, that little guy made a very good travel companion. To this day I kick myself for deciding to get rid of it… Especially now that I don’t have even one Windows PC in the house any longer. Yes, Mac person here.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: Handheld PC, Netbook, Ultra Portable, UMPC

Sony Vaio VGN-UX50 uPC originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 14, 2006 at 5:57 am.

Last summer I had the opportunity to review a very small Windows XP computer from Sony. The Vaio VGN-U71P made a good travel companion, but wasn’t perfect due to the fact that you had to also pack a folding keyboard, AC adapter brick and docking station with you if you wanted access to all its features. When it was all said and done, all of these components ended up taking as much space in my gear back as a regular … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: Handheld PC, Netbook, Ultra Portable, UMPC

OQO Model 01+ Ultra Personal Computer originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 23, 2006 at 11:02 am.

I’ve always been a huge fan of very small computers and have had several such
devices throughout the years. A few notable ones come to mind… Remember the
REX PC Companion? It
was a PDA in a PCMCIA card form factor. What about the hard to find
IBM PC110 palmtop computer?
Then there was the
Toshiba Libretto. I … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: Handheld PC, Netbook, Ultra Portable, UMPC

Sony Vaio VGN-U71P originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 13, 2005 at 7:34 pm.