Andre Yoskowitz
26 Apr 2009 20:12
According to a thorough Computerworld report,the first Netbook to use Google's Android as an operating system will be available in July and will cost about $250 USD.
Dubbed the Alpha 680, the laptop is in its final stages at the testing facilities of Guangzhou Skytone Transmission Technologies.
The Netbook has a 533MHz ARM 11 processor, has a 7-inch LCD screen with unknown resolution, and built-in Wi-Fi. Other specs are not known, but it is known that the netbook will only include a 2-cell battery, with meager 3 hour battery life while surfing the Internet.
Recently, market research firm Ovum predicted that Netbooks running Android platforms will emerge in 2009, as manufacturers try to bring the price Netbooks to under $200 USD. Android is open source and therefore does not require expensive licenses, such as those needed for netbooks running Windows operating systems such as Vista or XP.
For reviews of three current popular netbooks please view here: Afterdawn Netbooks Hands-on: Reviewing the Asus Eee PC 901, the Acer Aspire One 110, and the MSI Wind U100.