Is the first Android netbook from Skytone just child’s play?
By Dave Jeyes
There have been rumors, speculation and proofs of concept about running the Google Android operating system on a netbook computer. Will the first Android netbook released by a company known for creating low-cost laptops for children live up to the hype?
The Skytone beat other netbook makers to the punch in releasing the Alpha 680 running Google Android. The Alpha 680 comes in white, black, yellow pink and red and is costs from $100 to $200.
The Alpha 680 netbook has a 7-inch LCD screen and can convert into a tablet PC form factor. However, this is really only useful for viewing movies since the device uses a touch pad instead of a touch screen.
The Skytone Alpha 680 has a 533 mhz ARM processor much like what you would find in many of the latest smartphones. It comes with 128 MB of RAM, which can be expanded to 256 MB. Likewise, it only has a 1 GB solid state hard drive which can be expanded to 4 GB.
While there’s not likely much you can do about the netbook’s speed, you can expand the memory using 32 GB flash drives. Otherwise you would likely have to invest in a network server or external hard drive to store your files.
Web connectivity on the Alpha 680 comes via built in Wi-Fi or a USB dongle for cellular networks. The Alpha 680 has inputs for a microphone and stereo out, and has an optional built-in video camera.
Skytone was known previously for its Skype headphones and laptops targeted at children. Now Skytone is targeting a netbook at the ultra-savvy Android fan base.
At the very least, this netbook should function as a mobile Internet device and Skype phone. At such a low cost, the Alpha 680 could serve as the litmus test for whether Android is robust enough to use in a netbook or laptop form factor.
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April 22nd, 2009
This I suspect will be one of those products that sounds good in theory, but in practice, it’s what’s the point? Linux (or Windows) is absolutely fine for netbooks, I just can’t see what the advantage is.
April 22nd, 2009
@John,
“Linux (or Windows) is absolutely fine for netbooks [...]”
You are partially correct; Linux is eminently suitable for netbooks, Windows belongs in a dusty museum.
“[...] I just can’t see what the advantage is”
Every single instance of a device that runs Linux is a little piece of market share denied to Redmond. The white-anting of Windows is advantageous to customers, users and technologists all over the world, and in fact it would be difficult to overstate the importance of the benefits conferred.
April 23rd, 2009
Hugh, to those of us who read Blorge regularly, your anti-Microsoft views are well known and noted. Indeed, at at times, you make some very valid points.
But must we be subjected to your anti-Redmond viewpoint in every single post you make?