TechGazing

Yep, you got that headline right. The folks at DataWind (the same gents who gave us the PocketSurfer) have come up with a netbook with an Internet package for a year (30 hours per month)   - all for a piffling Rs 7999. Called the UbiSurfer, the device comes with an inbuilt modem and a sim card that will connect users to Tata Indicom’s CDMA network all over India. On the spec front, it has a 7 inch display, a full standard 80-key keyboard, Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity, a USB port, 128 MB RAM, 1 GB onboard flash memory storage (and 50GB online), dual speakers and an onboard office suite, all powered by Windows 6 CE(an OS seen in GPS and other mobile devices running Windows Mobile) - all that in a sleek package that tips the scales at around 700 grammes. And that’s not all - the company claims that thanks to its data compression technology, the device will be able to access the Internet at very high speeds, even on slow networks. Finally, if you think that 30 hours a month is too little for your Internet needs, go ahead and take an unlimited package that will let you surf the Net as much as you want - for Rs 99 per month! Continue reading »

It is getting close to a week since it hit the market, but the buzz around Apple’s iPad refuses to die down. Now, unnamed sources have claimed that Apple is working on a smaller version of the gadget, to be released next year. The rumoured iPad “mini” would have a 5-7 inch screen as compared to the 9.7 inch screen seen on the current one. The price of the device will also be slashed, bringing it closer to USD 400, as compared to the USD 499 that it commands right now. The reason for this minitiarisation (is that a word?) evidently is the fact that some users have found the existing iPad a bit too big to use comfortably.

So, will Apple shrink the iPad? As with most things from the Cupertino company, we cannot really say. However, we do think it is a tad unlikely as a 5-inch iPad would be dangerously close to one of Apple’s best selling products, the iPod touch. Seven inches? Well, that does seem a bit more likely, but would it make a significant size change? Hmmm…pardon us, but we are a tad cynical about this rumour. Still, one never knows with Apple, does one?

We have seen our share of good-looking netbooks (remember how we gushed over the Karim Rashid eeePC from Asus?), but we must confess that we were VERY impressed by the HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition launched yesterday.  In fact, HP launched a number of notebooks yesterday, and most of them were pretty good looking with excellent configurations, but it was this one that caught our eyes (and our hearts, to an extent). It has got a decent netbook configuration, is small enough to slip into most purses, and looks utterly awesome with butterflies on a subtle golden metallic cover. Even the keypad is of a golden hue.

Way too girly and blingy , some might think, but heck, we have to admit that this netbook has really got the looks. And at Rs 21,990/-, it actually costs a lot lesser than a number of smartphones. We will say more after we get a chance to review it.

Asus certainly is trying to infuse new life into its eeePC series. A couple of weeks ago, it launched the Eee PC Seashell Karim Rashid (1008P) with designer looks thrown over the usual netbook specs, and now it has come out with yet another eeePC, the Eee PC 1201T. And if the Karim Rashid edition had us drooling over its looks, this one has stunned us with its combination of specs and price. For, this is no run-of-the-mill netbook with a 10-inch screen and an Atom processor under its hood. Nah, this one has real processing muscle, great graphics, and still does not cost the earth. Continue reading »

They are the rage these days, but have also triggered off a debate as to whether they are actually substitutes for full-fledged laptops. We are talking of netbooks, whose sales are booming like never before. Its supporters say that it is the ultimate mobile computing device, while those who advocate “proper” laptops look down on netbooks as underpowered gadgets. If you are one of those who is torn between going for a laptop or a netbook, here’s our simple take on the subject.

You know you really need a netbook when:

1. You need to do lots of word processing and Web surfing, including staying connected with your social networks and blogs
2. You are constantly on the move and often have  to work in temporary or makeshift locations like cafes.
3. You need lots of battery life, as the places you go to do not have power outlets.
4. You either hate lugging around heavy machines or are already burdened with a lot of luggage.
5. You do not deal much (or at all) with multimedia.
6. You do not do much multi-tasking on the computer
7. You do not have very large fingers (most netbook keyboards are a real pain to use)

Whatever you associate with netbooks, it is certainly not style. These are supposed to be the ‘umble cousins of the real thing, after all, scaled down in terms of specs and more often than not, in looks as well. There have been exceptions to the rule, such as the Sony Vaio P series last year, but these have been on the pricier side. Well, that might be about to change with Asus unveiling the Eee PC Seashell Karim Rashid (1008P) at Mumbai yesterday, a netbook conceived with the help of Karim Rashid, one of the world’s leading designers. We have not got our hands on a unit yet, but we must confess to being VERY impressed by what’s on offer. Continue reading »

They may have racked up millions in sales figures and added a whole new dimension to working on the move, but one area where netbooks are supposed to be deficient - and notoriously deficient at that - is playing games. Most pundits point out that as netbooks have got relatively weaker processors and generally no graphics cards, they are unable to handle most new games. Well, that may be true, but then who says only the latest games are any good? There are literally hundreds of titles out there that serve up an amazing gaming experience and joy of joys, many of them run just fine on netbooks. So what if they are a bit long on the digital tooth!

In fact, the folks at Cnet have come up with a list of 25 games that can be played on a netbook and there are some amazingly good titles in there, including the likes of Arcanum and Gabriel Knight and even a browser-only version of Quake. Yes, you might need an external optical drive (DVD or CD drive) to play some of them, but one thing you can be assured of is stacks of fun. Read the list here.