Coby could launch a sub-$100, Windows CE-powered netbook

Coby has been showing off a line of 7 to 12 inch mini-laptops for the past year or so. But the company hasn’t actually sold very many computers in the US to date. But that coudl change this year, with Coby perhaps focusing on one of the areas where it performs best: Dirt cheap products that bear a resemblance to higher end devices from their copetitors.

Engadget spotted a Coby mini-laptop with a 7 inch display, a 624MHz Marvell PXA303 processor and Windows CE at CeBIT in Germany. Basically, this device has all the power of a 4 year old PDA or phone, but packed into a netbook-sized case complete with a keyboard and touchpad.

Coby’s had this model (the NBPC722) in its lineup since at least the middle of 2009. But here’s what’s new. Engadget reports that the NBPC722 could arrive in the US this spring for as little as $85.

While this little guy is hardly the most exciting netbook/smartbook-like product I’ve seen in a long time, it’s certainly one of the cheapest. You know, if it ever comes to market.

Posted on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010, 11:04 am by Brad Linder | 9 Comments

http://www.twitter.com/ Wekkel

As long as it's dirt cheap, there's a market for it. A 'notebook' you would not worry about too much 'en route'. The stuff you type in with this machine is probably worth a lot more.

Indeed, an older PDA with high usability due to the keyboard. I am very interested in this product if the price is right.
http://home.comcast.net/~tomleem/ BigGoofyGuy

I think it would fit in the 'one computer per student' category like the OLPC but for a price that OLPC could not get to. It might also work as a childs first pc or as an extra computer that one can take with you and not really worry about; especially if ones data is online at a secure site.
Bonegrinder

So we have finally reached the point of having disposable netbooks. This looks like it could be a great first laptop to keep the very little ones off the parents computer. I just hope the keys don't fall off (like other Coby gear). It could be a real choking hazard.
John Morris

WInCE? Nope. Get a penguin on there and I'm in.

Of course it won't shop up so the whole discussion is pointless. The same forces that have kept every other cheap ARM device out of the US will stop this one.
challmark

http://alpha-400-mips-elonex-razorbook-coby.blo… Above link has more on the COBY NBPC722.

This is big news, for a company whose products are as pervasive as COBY's to get into the PC price war. Finally the day of ubiquitous CHEAP computing has arrived. This should help drag down all computer prices, even for Apple and Sony. Let's hope so anyway.
Kiteless

If I see one of these at Fry's Electronics (or what ever local chain, just seems like Fry's is the only place I find Coby stuff) for $85 I will buy it. Honestly this is just fun nerd gear. FOr some reason I can just picture it in a shrink plastic wrap hanging from a peg by the check out at Walmart!
challmark

To correct the URL I gave for the NBPC722, the complete one is:

http://alpha-400-mips-elonex-razorbook-coby.blo…
ricord

This small laptop will be very useful with Opera mini or mobile,and Skyfire!!!For Worldwide,an AA cells version would be more intresting!
ricord

This small laptop will be very useful with Opera mini or mobile,and Skyfire!!!For Worldwide,an AA cells version would be more intresting!

Coby could launch a sub-$100, Windows CE-powered netbook

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