Coby to Release $100 'Midget' Laptop to Sell in Rite-Aid, Kroger [NetBooks]

Posted by on under asus eeepc 701, netbook, coming to grips, coby, rite aid, kroger, wi fi, new category, category of computer, ports, hasn, laptop, models, linux, marketing |

Just as we're coming to grips with the entire netbook phenomenon, low end manufacturer Coby comes up with something even lamer. "[Midget PCs] are smaller than a netbook but not THAT small." Midget PCs. Lovely.

What's makes a midget PC different than a netbook? If you listen to Coby's marketing director, they're a whole new category of computer meant for leaner times. As far as I can tell though, the PoqetMate-7 and PoqetMate-9 are just netbooks, albeit extremely cheap ones. Coby hasn't offered many specs to ponder, but the models, primarily differentiated by screen size (7in and 9in) will run Linux atop a Chinese Longsoon processor. Past that, I wouldn't expect much more than a Wi-Fi adapter and a few ports, bringing the PoqetMate in line with low-end netbooks like the Asus EeePC 701.

Coby plans to bring these to discount retailers, including traditionally computer-averse stores like Kroger and Rite-Aid, by March, making the PoqetMate-7 the first $100 computer to be widely available in the US. [AKIndi via TheGadgetSite]



Tagi: asus eeepc 701, netbook, coming to grips, coby, rite aid, kroger, wi fi, new category, category of computer, ports, hasn, laptop, models, linux, marketing

Give it Back.

Posted by Jonathan Schwartz on under microprocessor strategy, open source software, sun microsystems, trade journals, april fool, strategic intent, litigious society, byproduct, crackpot, source files, thirty days, microprocessors, ticker symbol, datacenter, outset, chat rooms, derivatives, |

As you know, Sun's open source software and microprocessor strategy has been, at times controversial. We've filled trade journals and chat rooms with all kinds of dialog and the occasional crackpot conspiracy theory.

As many have rightly assumed from the outset, that controversy was, in fact, not a byproduct of the strategy - it was the strategy: if you're talking about Sun, you're not talking about the other guy. And then you'll buy a datacenter.

But now that we've firmly established our reputation for open source leadership, I'm very worried there's no more controversy to be had. There's too much trust in the system, and too much clarity around our strategic intent. So it's getting tougher and tougher to kick up a storm - and we can't very well spend a billion dollars or change our ticker symbol every time we want to generate a headline. Now can we?

So today I'd like to unfurl the second chapter of our strategy.

We want you to give it all back. You couldn't possibly believe we'd let you keep it, did you?

We specifically request that all free software originally distributed by Sun Microsystems, related to software or microprocessors, including but not limited to source files, binaries, derivatives, extensions, applications, patents, patent applications, copyrights, ideas, thoughts, and derivative thoughts, along with any and all mirrors thereof, be returned immediately.

In addition, (we know this is the risky part, but we need to get the privacy advocates twittering, too), we demand all data processed, stored or created by such intellectual property, up to and including all data held within file systems, databases or open source productivity applications be returned, as well. Up to and including the book report your kid just typed on OpenOffice.

We'd like to request this all be returned within thirty days.

Thank you for your understanding.

______________________________

And although it pains me to say this, we do live in a litigious society, so: YES, this is an April Fool's joke, as defined by relevant sections of the United States Securities Act of 1933.


Tagi: microprocessor strategy, open source software, sun microsystems, trade journals, april fool, strategic intent, litigious society, byproduct, crackpot, source files, thirty days, microprocessors, ticker symbol, datacenter, outset, chat rooms, derivatives,

Coby to Release $100 'Midget' Laptop to Sell in Rite-Aid, Kroger [NetBooks]

Posted by on under asus eeepc 701, netbook, coming to grips, coby, rite aid, kroger, wi fi, new category, category of computer, ports, hasn, laptop, models, linux, marketing |

Just as we're coming to grips with the entire netbook phenomenon, low end manufacturer Coby comes up with something even lamer. "[Midget PCs] are smaller than a netbook but not THAT small." Midget PCs. Lovely.

What's makes a midget PC different than a netbook? If you listen to Coby's marketing director, they're a whole new category of computer meant for leaner times. As far as I can tell though, the PoqetMate-7 and PoqetMate-9 are just netbooks, albeit extremely cheap ones. Coby hasn't offered many specs to ponder, but the models, primarily differentiated by screen size (7in and 9in) will run Linux atop a Chinese Longsoon processor. Past that, I wouldn't expect much more than a Wi-Fi adapter and a few ports, bringing the PoqetMate in line with low-end netbooks like the Asus EeePC 701.

Coby plans to bring these to discount retailers, including traditionally computer-averse stores like Kroger and Rite-Aid, by March, making the PoqetMate-7 the first $100 computer to be widely available in the US. [AKIndi via TheGadgetSite]



Tagi: asus eeepc 701, netbook, coming to grips, coby, rite aid, kroger, wi fi, new category, category of computer, ports, hasn, laptop, models, linux, marketing

Engadget: Unofficial patch lets you hang up Palm Pre calls by closing the slider

Posted by on under unofficial patch, phes, necessary details, slider, hasn, nbsp, palm, patch maker |


You know how easy and natural it is to hang up a call on a cellphone by sliding it closed or flipping it shut? It's a small satisfaction that's been lost on touchscreen-only phones, but it would seem to still make sense on something like, say, the Palm Pre -- just not to Palm, it seems. Well, it looks like unofficial patch maker KeyToss has now finally stepped in and done what Palm hasn't, and produced a patch that does nothing more than let you end a call by closing the slider on your Pre. Who knows? You might even start hanging up on people just for the fun of it. Hit up the link below for all the necessary details on installing the patch.

Filed under: Cellphones

Unofficial patch lets you hang up Palm Pre calls by closing the slider originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments



Tagi: unofficial patch, phes, necessary details, slider, hasn, nbsp, palm, patch maker

Digg: Apple's iPad Tablet Touches a Nerve at Microsoft

Posted by on under ipad, bill gates, digg, comdex, tablet pc, nerve, hasn, decade, apple, microsoft |

Microsoft has been pursuing the notion of a Tablet PC for a decade now, but its efforts have yet to produce a device most consumers want to carry. But that's not to say Microsoft hasn't been trying. Bill Gates first talked about the idea of a Tablet PC at Comdex back in 2000.



Tagi: ipad, bill gates, digg, comdex, tablet pc, nerve, hasn, decade, apple, microsoft