First off, I want to express our sincere appreciation to our hardcore fans.  Despite months without any new blog postings, we still have a respectable volume of daily visitors and a sizeable number of subscribers to our RSS feeds.

Our first priority will be updating our product database.   During our idle period, we kept the price comparison charts up to date.   The urgent work will be to add all of the new models that have been introduced over the past several months.  This work happens behind the scenes, so you probably won’t see a lot of blog activity until that the database is up-to-date.

We have decided to remove all netbooks with Vista operating systems from our product database and replace these with Windows 7 versions.  That will speed the process for us.  Most of these units are gone from the marketplace – any remaining will be purged soon.

We will be making some changes to our site. 

1. Our daily “Falling Netbook Prices” posts were very popular, but required a lot of labor.  Some days there were only one or two items.  We will continue to publish these – just not daily – but whenever there are enough to be meaningful.
2. Our Buyer’s Guide section will be removed.  We envisioned an expansive set of articles to help buyers make decisions on the right product.  However, the current content is skeletal and not up to our standards. 

The biggest change that we have chosen is the scope of products that we will be covering.

We’ve debated this issue for a very long time.  Do we stick to just netbooks?  How do we decide what is and is not a netbook?  What about ultralight low-cost laptops?  What about smartbooks?  And so on…  

We have decided not to be bound by a strict definition of a netbook, because there is no clear definition – and the definition keeps evolving. 

Instead, we have decided to cover anything that is close to a netbook.  That will allow us to cover a wider range of exciting products.  After all, many of our readers are interested in netbooks, but may find that they need more horsepower.  Why not provide information on some of the better ultralight,  low-cost laptops.  Or, they may be bound to the price range – in that case, why not provide some options for full-size budget laptops?

Along the same lines, we will no longer attempt to include every netbook in our product database.  In the past, we invested a lot of time and energy including products for which there was little interest – and on products that we would not recommend.   In the future, we will cover only those products that we believe are of interest and worthy of our coverage.

So, in summary, we are back and on a mission to make our site more useful to you.

As always, we are interested in your opinions.  Do you agree with our plans?  Do you have other recommendations?  Let us know below.

Related posts:

1. The ULPC Scoop Is Now Netbook Scoop
2. Ultra Low-Cost PC Scoop website launched!
3. New Site Design: What Is New?

This is the first of many “Overview” articles.  Our intention is to publish one for every netbook, nettop and all-in-one desktop that is actively sold in the USA.

As we complete each one, we are also inserting the content into our product information pages.  You can view the Toshiba mini NB205 product page here.

The reason for explaining all of this is to get your feedback on the structure.  Is there anything that’s missing?  Is there a better way to present the information?  Too much detail?  Too little detail?

Please comment below or drop me an email.  I plan to use this first one as a template.  So, it would make sense to make any revisions before I start to clone it.

Related posts:

1. New Product Search Feature
2. Toshiba mini NB205 gets Editors Choice
3. Netbook Buyers Guide – Work In Progress

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.

New Look and Feel

You told us that the old design’s white text on a blue background was hard to read.  So the new site design offers better color choices designed to ease readability.

We also modified our overall layout with the intent of maximizing the amount of content displayed.  While our new design features a fluid layout (meaning the main section expands and contracts based on window size), we specifically worked to optimize the layout for visitors with 1024×576 displays.

You also told to “crank up the speed” – and so we have done that.  Even though you can’t see the under-the-hood enhancements we’ve made, you will appreciate the “snappiness” of the new site.

New Search Bar

Netbook Scoop Search Bar

The new search bar offers the ability to search our site in three different ways.

The default search, using the Articles tab, will locate articles and permanent pages from our blog that match the search terms.

Via the Products tab, you can search our product database.  The search engine will return products with matching names or descriptions.  For example, searching for ‘N270 +blue’ will return a list of products that are powered by Intel Atom N270 processors which are available with a blue exterior.

The Price Range tab provides a way to obtain a list of all products available within a price range.  When you click on the Price Range tab, the phrase “between 300 and 400″ is autofilled.  This phrase can be modified to the price range desired.  In addition, other expression are also supported like: ” < 300″, “>= 450″, etc.  Just be sure not to include dollar signs.

Sample Product Family Page

Browse Products

Clicking on “Browse Products” link on the Main Menu provides access to our product database using a drill down process.

The initial page shows all of the manufacturers who currently offer netbooks in the USA.  From this page, you can see the product familiies that each offers.  For example, choosing the Acer logo will display the A110, A150, D150, D250 and 751h families of the Aspire One netbook.

Clicking on the “More Information” button on a product family will list all of the models in that product family.

Choosing a specific model from the list will take you to our next new feature.

Sample Product Page

Product Pages

In our poll, you asked us to “provide more information to help visitors choose best netbook for them” and “add links to reviews, videos and articles to the product pages.”  The product pages were designed to meet both of these requests.

Our new product pages provide a wealth of information.  From the tabs below the product you can access:

• Features
  This is where we tell you about the product’s most important features and we explain what makes this particular model unique.
• Specs
  The complete list of specifications for the product can be found here.
• Reviews
  Here we provide a quick summary of written reviews for the product and links to take you to the complete reviews if you want to read more.
• Videos
  Inside this tab we have selected the best videos that show the product.
• Prices
  Our price comparison charts are organized by color, making it easy to see who has your model in stock at the best price.

This area is still under construction.  While the programming is complete (for now), we are still actively writing the content.  So, temporarily, you may find products where the tabs are empty.

If you are in a hurry to obtain the information for a specific model for which we have not completed adding content, please tell us and we will give it our top priority.

Price Comparison Sidebar Widget with Samsung Brand Expanded

Price Comparison Chart Sidebar Widget

In the Compare Prices section of our site, we used to list all of the products in the sidebar.  When we started, there were only a few models.  Over time, the list became unwieldy.

In the new site, we have solved this problem by collapsing the list of models in the sidebar.  The list can be expanded by clicking on a brand.  Clicking on the brand a second time collapses the brand once again.

The image on the right shows the widget with the Samsung section expanded.

What’s Missing?

The number one response to our poll was “make it easy to compare specs on different models.”

We have not implemented that feature yet.  But, in the new site we are building a complete list of specifications for every product.

Once we finish compiling the specs, we will introduce a feature answers your request.

Summary

We hope you like all of the new features.  We want to thank all of you who responded to our poll and provided such good ideas.

We are not anywhere near complete.  We have lots of new ideas for future improvements.

But we would like to hear about what you like, what you would like us to improve and your ideas for the future.  So, please comment below.

Related posts:

1. New Site Design
2. Site Design Updates
3. What Improvements Would You Like to See to Our Site?

But please come in and stay awhile.  Just forgive the dust… and the noisy pounding and hammering in the background.

UPDATE (7/27/09 2:00AM EDT):  OK.  The site appears stable.  The new features all appear to work as planned.  We still need to add content like reviews, specs and videos.  However, if you spot anything unusal, please leave a comments and we will fix it ASAP.

Related posts:

1. New Site Design: What Is New?
2. Site Design Updates
3. Site Upgrade Complete

The entry on row 21 of our spreadsheet was Sid Mair.

Congratulations, Sid!  You are now the owner of an Asus Eee PC 1008HA.

Related posts:

1. Netbook Giveaway Closes Friday at Midnight
2. Giveaway Update: Deadline Extended Until Netbook Arrives
3. Announcing Our May 2009 Netbook Giveaway

We have lists of ideas for improvement.  The challenge for us is not ideas, but time to implement all of the things that we have dream up.

Therefore, we are always trying to decide what is most important.  So, instead of us deciding, we thought we’d list several ideas here and ask you which ones you think are more important.

Please vote on the list below.  You can choose up to four items by holding down the control key.

If we have not listed an item that you think should be a priority, please tell us about it in a comment below.

Related posts:

1. New Site Design: What Is New?
2. Site Upgrade Complete
3. New Site Design

And we are at the point with our May 2009 Netbook Giveaway.

It sounded so simple.  Our plan?  Tell our readers we will give away a netbook at the end of May.  Ask them which one they want.  Order it.  Play with it for a short time.  Publish a review.  Select a winner.  Ship the netbook to them.

In the beginning everything went per plan.  We announced the giveaway.  You selected the Asus Eee PC 1000HE.  The Blue model.  We ordered it.  We unboxed it.

Then things began to go south.

We put the 1000HE on the charger overnight.  When we powered it up the next morning, the display was goofed up.  It appeared in low resolution with funky psychedelic colors.

No problem.  Just get it exchanged.  But after a number of calls and emails, it became obvious that we would not have a replacement before the end of the month.

So, if we were going to keep our commitment to give away a netbook at the end of May, we needed a Plan B.

My solution: up the ante!  By the third week of May, the 1000HE was no longer the most popular model of the Eee PC.  The 1008HA was now the hot item.  So let’s switch the prize!

This brainstorm occurred to me in the middle of a three-day out-of-town seminar.  During the next break, I popped open my netbook and placed the order with the first merchant who showed it in stock.  I processed the order in less than 60 seconds.  I was proud of my snap decision-making and fast execution.

The following morning, I searched my email for the ship confirmation.  There was none.  A quick trip to the merchant’s site showed that there stock was gone and my order was on hold awaiting their next delivery from Asus.

Earlier today, I looked at placing the order elsewhere and having it shipped overnight, Saturday delivery.  After recovering from the sticker shock, I looked at Monday delivery instead. Still ridiculously expensive.  OK, how about regular delivery?  Oh, if we don’t choose expedited delivery, it won’t ship until next week?  Then never mind.  Our original order is supposed to ship by then.

So after stepping back, taking a deep breath and taking some time to find some dark humor in all this, I had a good laugh.  OK.  It’s time to give in and roll with it.

So this is where we are:

The delivery of our Asus Eee PC 1008HA has been delayed.  We will keep enrolment open until it arrives.  At that time, we will close the entry process and select a winner.

I still feel bad that we didn’t perform to our original plan.  But sometimes life has other plans.

Update 6/3/09:  The delivery of the White model was delayed again, so we accepted a Black model as a substitute.  It is in transit.  Deadline for entries is Friday, 6/5, at midnight.  Drawing (random) over weekend.  Winner announce on Monday.

Related posts:

1. Announcing Our May 2009 Netbook Giveaway
2. Netbook Giveaway Closes Friday at Midnight
3. May 2009 Netbook Giveaway Terms and Conditions

When it became apparent earlier today that we would not have a replacement 1000HE in time, I made a command decision and ordered an Eee PC 1008HA instead.

My logic?

The original decision to giveaway an Asus Eee PC 1000HE was based upon your votes in a series of polls earlier this month. But these were done before the introduction of the 1008HA.

I decided that there was much more excitement about the 1008HA – - and that you would probably be much happier getting one of the latest Eee PCs instead.

So if you would be interested in receiving a White Black version of the Asus Eee PC 1008HA, then please be sure to sign up before Saturday at midnight.

Asus Eee PC 1008HA 160GB XP
	10.1" Display (1024x600), 1.66 GHz Intel Atom N280 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, 1.3 Mp WebCam, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
	Comes in: Pearl Black (1008HA-PU1X-BK ) - from $330.00 Pearl Blue (1008HA-PU1X-BU) - from $339.95 Pearl Pink (1008HA-PU1X-PI) - from $364.99 Pearl White (1008HA-PU1X-WT) - from $359.99	More Info

Update 6/3: Due to the lack of availability of the White model, we substituted Black.  Entry deadline is now Friday, June 5, at midnight.

Related posts:

1. Giveaway Update: Deadline Extended Until Netbook Arrives
2. Announcing Our May 2009 Netbook Giveaway
3. Netbook Giveaway Closes Friday at Midnight

We did experience some unexpected problems.  The site was down for a couple of hours last night.  Then, our price comparison tables stopped functioning properly for a bit.

But that’s all behind us now.

We apologize if you were inconvenienced.  We appreciate your support.

Update May 28, 2009 12:20am: Well, after about 12 hours of additional downtime, we are up again.  Full speed ahead!

Related posts:

1. Good News! We’ve Outgrown Our Server!
2. New Site Design
3. Happy Thanksgiving!

Update 5/28/09: We have changed the model that we will give away.  We have upgraded to an Asus Eee PC 1008HA (White).

Update 5/29/08: Our Asus Eee PC 1008HA is on backorder.  Enrolment stays open until it arrives.

On May 4, we told you we were going to give away a netbook during the month of May.  In that post, we asked you which netbook you wanted us to give away.  You told us you wanted Asus Eee PC 1000HE.  So we asked, “Which Color?”  And you voted for the Blue model.

So we ordered a Blue Eee PC 1000HE.  It has arrived!

Tonight we will record the unboxing.  We will post it here as quickly as we can edit it.

We will use the netbook for a short while.  Then we will publish written and video reviews of the Eee PC 1000HE.

At the end of May, we will give it away to some lucky winner.

The Giveaway is open to all residents to the USA who are 18 years and older.  To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is subscribe to our newsletter (that includes clicking on the link that completes the confirmation).

Subscribe to Our Newsletter
To subscribe, simply fill out the form below.

        
                  
        
                
        
Our strict privacy policy keeps your email address 100% safe & secure.

It is that simple!

By entering you agree to our May 2009 Netbook Giveaway Terms and Conditions.

Related posts:

1. May 2009 Netbook Giveaway Terms and Conditions
2. Giveaway Update: Deadline Extended Until Netbook Arrives
3. Netbook Giveaway Closes Friday at Midnight