Follow us on TwitterMoblin 2.0 Review
Posted by Steve Greer on August 20, 2009 in Netbook Market, Operating Systems, Reviews
At Netbook Scoop, we have been testing various new operating systems on our netbooks over the last week.
Earlier we reviewed Google Android as a netbook OS. We also published tutorials on installing Android and Moblin on bootable USB memory sticks so that you can test these OSs without actually installing them on your hard drive.
Today I’m going to show you Moblin 2.0 Beta running on an Asus Eee PC 1008HA.
Booting Moblin
I decided to install Moblin 2.0 to the hard drive of the Asus Eee PC 1008HA to give the operating system a true run. The boot time was about 45 seconds. Not bad for a Linux based OS (note that I did not install the quick boot option).
Once I was booted into the Operating System I come right into the MyZone Screen.
How to test Moblin from a USB stick
Posted by Steve Greer on August 16, 2009 in Netbook Market, Operating Systems, Reviews
It is apparent that Windows XP’s days are numbered. So, naturally there is a lot of interest in several new operating systems being developed for netbooks.
This weekend, we are exploring Moblin (initially developed by Intel), Android (from Google), Kubuntu (from Canonical) and Windows 7 (from Microsoft). All of these are pre-production releases, so we expect some buginess.
There has been some talk about Acer releasing a netbook with Moblin loaded on it. So, first up is Moblin.
We wanted an easy way to test Moblin without installing it to your hard disk. We thought you might like to know, too. So here is how we did it.
Preparations
All you need is a 1 GB USB stick and a few minutes of your time.
There are a few things to keep in mind while testing Moblin on your netbook.
It is recommended that you have an Intel Atom N270 or N280 processor with the GMA950 chipset. I’ve read that Moblin does not have support for the GMA500 chipset as of yet.
While it is possible to create a bootable CD, I would also recommend booting from USB instead. I’ve done some testing with the Live CD an found it to be a very slow experience.
Steps to Create Live USB Stick
Here are the steps to create your own bootable USB key. This takes about 5 minutes and you are good to go.
1. Download the latest Moblin release from Moblin.org
2. Download Win32DiskImager.exe
3. Unzip the file and extract the contents to a known directory
4. Run W32DiskImager.exe (See screenshot below)
5. Select the Moblin Image File
6. Select the drive letter that represents your USB key
7. Select the “Write” button to byte-copy the image to the USB stick.
8. Presto! You have a bootable USB stick.
9. Make sure you set your bios to boot from USB before you try and boot.
10. Boot Moblin from your USB stick and Presto! You have Moblin available for testing.
I will make sure and post a video in the next day and share some of my experience using Moblin.
Just remember one thing while testing. This is a BETA release and does not represent the final release.
Asus Eee PC 1008HA – Reviews
Posted by Tom Greer on August 3, 2009 in Asus Netbooks, Reviews
We have scanned the web to find the best reviews of the Asus Eee PC 1008HA. Below, we provide brief summaries of each along with links to the articles where you can read the full text.
If you are seeking additional information, our Eee PC 1008HA product page includes a product overview, specifications, videos and price comparison charts.
Asus Eee PC 1008HA Overview
Posted by Tom Greer on August 3, 2009 in Asus Netbooks, Reviews
Asus Eee PC 1008HA
Summary
What’s Special
- The Eee PC 1008HA features Asus’ new Seashell design – the look is simply stunning
- Super slim – only 1.0 inch thich but the shape makes it look even thinner
- Extremely light at only 2.2 pounds
- All of the external ports have covers, which really itrackmproves the looks
What’s Not So Special
- While the appearance of the 1008HA is breathtaking, what is inside is rather typical for a competitive netbook
- The battery is non-removable
- There is no VGA out port -but there is a VGA dongle stowed in a pocket in the bottom that provides that functionality.
Asus Eee PC 1005HA Overview
Posted by Tom Greer on August 1, 2009 in Asus Netbooks, Reviews
Asus Eee PC 1005HA
Summary
In the USA, Asus is currently shipping two different version of the Eee PC 1005HA, which they have named 1005HA-V and 1005HA-P. The table below shows the differences.
| Feature | 1005HA-V | 1005HA-P |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Atom N270 (1.6GHz) | Intel Atom N280 (1.66GHz) |
| Battery | 48Wh 6-cell | 63Wh 6-cell |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
In this overview, we will cover both models.
What’s Special
- The Eee PC 1005HA is the second in Asus’ sleek Seashell design series. The differences between the 1005HA and the recently-introduced Eee PC 1008HA are that the 1005HA:
- has a removable battery
- has a built-in VGA out port
- has an access panel for upgrading RAM
- is thicker (1.4″ vs. 1.0″)
- is heavier (2.8 lbs. vs. 2.2 lbs.)
- does not have plastic covers over the side ports
- Comfortable chicklet-style keyboard with two full-size shift keys located where they should be
- Clearly, the best Eee PC model to date (don’t be fooled by the numbering convention, the 1005HA is newer than the 1008HA)
What’s Not So Special
- At 1.4″ thick, it is significantly fatter than many competitive netbooks. Some comparisons: Samsung N310 (1.1″), Aspire One D250 (1.0″), Dell Mini 12 (0.92″)
- The touch pad has small dots, designed to provide tactile feedback that some find uncomfortable to use
- Keys on keyboard are flat and have very little space between them, which some find difficult to use
Acer Aspire One D250 Overview
Posted by Tom Greer on July 31, 2009 in Acer Netbooks, Reviews
Acer Aspire One D250
Summary
The Acer Aspire One D250 comes in two basic versions. The base-cost model is configured with a three-cell battery and without a Bluetooth adapter. The high-end model ships with a six-cell battery and adds Bluetooth support.
Other than those differences, the versions are identical, so we will cover bosheth here.
What’s Special
- Thinner (1.0″) and lighter (2.4 – 2.8 lbs) than preclvious Aspire One models
- Mouse buttons are now below the touchpad
- Solid netbook at a great price – one of the best netbook values around
What’s Not So Special
- The touchpad is smaller than most
- Keyboard is the same as the Aspire One 9″ models, which was good in its day, but competitors’ 10″ models have roomier keyboards.
New Site Design: What Is New?
Posted by Tom Greer on July 27, 2009 in Reviews, Site-related, Videos
Over the weekend, we implemented a completely new design for the Netbook Scoop web site. The new design has offers a number of new features. The common link between all of these features is to provide you easier access to information about netbooks, nettops and all-in-one desktop computers.
Responses to Our Improvement Poll
Back at the beginning of June, we asked you what improvements you wanted us to incorporate into the Netbook Scoop web site. Much of our work was in direct response to your answers.
So here is a rundown of the new features.
Toshiba mini NB205 gets Editors Choice
Posted by Steve Greer on June 18, 2009 in Netbooks, Reviews, Toshiba Netbooks
The new Toshiba mini NB205 has received an Editors’ Choice Award at LaptopMag. 
The mini NB205 will have 2 models with the first priced at $349.00 and a higher priced model at $399.00.
When you look at the specs on the netbook it looks like your standard run of the mill:
- 1.66-GHz Intel Atom N280 processor
- 1GB RAM
- 10.1″ display
- Intel GMA 950 graphics card
- 802.11 b/g wireless
- Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
- 160GB Hard Drive
In the review that LaptopMag gives they state that the laptop has one of the longest battery life to date for a netbook. The mini NB205 packs a whopping 8.5 hours of battery life.
The keyboard is very comfortable with a large touchpad. This is a nice plus since many netbooks have small touchpads.
In all to sum up what LaptopMag had to say about the netbook:
In creating its first netbook for the U.S., Toshiba has learned from the mistakes and successes of its rivals, and one-upped them all. Its mini NB205 has everything we’d recommend in a netbook: an attractive chassis, comfortable keyboard and touchpad, and more than eight hours of battery life for an affordable price. While Samsung’s N110 and ASUS’ Eee PC 1000HE continue to be good choices, Toshiba’s $399 mini NB205 provides an all-around solid package, and longer endurance than the competition.
| Toshiba mini NB205-N210 160GB XP | ||
 | 10.1" Display (1024x600), 1.66 GHz Intel Atom N280 Processor, Intel GMA950, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, 0.3 MP Webcam, 802.11b/g, 3-Cell Battery, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 2.8 lbs | |
Dell Inspiron Mini 12 Review
Posted by Tom Greer on May 11, 2009 in Dell Netbooks, Reviews
Dell’s Inspiron Mini 12 breaks new ground in the netbook marketplace. With atypical netbook features like a 12.1-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution, an Intel Atom Z-series processor, a larger keyboard and the speaker mounted face-up on top of the keyboard, the Dell Inspiron Mini 12 stands out.
| Dell Inspiron Mini 12 40GB 6-Cell Linux | |||
 | 12.1" Display (1280x800), 1.33 GHz Intel Atom Z520 Processor, Intel GMA500, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.1,6-cell battery, Ubuntu Linux | ||
Comes in:
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