[Arm-netbook] Good netbook based on Cortex-A9

[Gordan Bobic]

On 08/05/2012 11:13 PM, Wojciech Meyer wrote:

> Partial responsibility for this situation (a very good netbook for
> bargain price), are the reviews on the internet which marked down the
> netbook significantly, which is actually good.

The big problem is that it came with Android as standard. Android 
without a touchscreen was always going to be a recipe for disaster. I 
still cannot believe Toshiba did that. Seriously - what were they 
thinking. If they'd shipped them pre-loaded with a proper Linux distro 
it would have been a lot more successful.

> Of course it's also a lack of support for the mainstream desktop OSes,
> which also doesn't hurt me at all.

Ubuntu actually supports the AC100 quite well.

> M$ has already ported windows 8 onto ARM, seeing increasing interests,
> in the A class embedded devices and growing user base of Android and iOS
> - which is also obvious - but a bit late.

Yeah, but nobody uses that, do they? ;)

> People that do want a keyboard instead of tablet, are usually simple
> users that either want high end performance to play desktop games or
> just use office, so having no windows is an obvious downside (as what
> they perceive). That's perhaps why Smartbooks failed.

I very much doubt anyone buys a netbook to play high end games on it. 
And Ubuntu has had OpenOffice running on ARM for a while.

> AC100 looks like a perfect choice for me, as I mostly do software
> development on a console based programs, and some PDF reading, and stay
> mostly in tiling WM and Emacs, performance is not as important as
> portability.
>
> Can't wait until will take my AC100 for a trip or to coffee shop.

It's about 90% perfect in most ways. The only thing it could do with is 
more RAM. Everything else I've managed to upgrade myself. But 510MB of 
usable RAM is reasonably livable with, especially if you have decently 
performing storage like a SuperTalent RC8. Expensive but very much worth it.

>> The process for installing a full Linux distro on them is very well
>> documented, and they are reasonably upgradable, too. Have a look here on
>> info on upgrading to a decent SSD, higher resolution screen, cooling mod
>> to enable overclocking from 1GHz to 1.4GHz, etc.
>>
>> http://www.altechnative.net/tag/ac100/
>
> Yes, I read these great articles I consider start tinkering with a
> hardware, but I've never tried even to open a laptop, (complete hardware
> beginner) but I plan to change that, and actually start using AC100 as a
> playfield for my experiments.

Have fun. :)

>> For similar money you can get the Genesi Efika MX Smartbook, but that is
>> nowhere near competitive in terms of spec and value. It is nevertheless
>> reasonably usable with a screen upgrade:
>> http://www.altechnative.net/2011/05/16/genesi-efika-smartbook-screen-upgrade/
>
> I looked at Efika, but it seems to be Cortex-A8, and also I didn't like
> it as AC100.

It is an inferior machine in almost every way. The main advantage it has 
is that it ships with Linux and is quite well supported. If you are 
willing to get your hands a little dirty, the AC100 is way, way better 
in every way.

Gordan