At first glance the Novero Solana looks like a netbook with a slightly larger bezel around the display than you’ll find on most 10 inch mini-laptops. But that’s because the screen rests inside that bezel, and you can twist it around 180 degrees and close the laptop to use it as a tablet with the screen facing outward.
Novero plans to release the Solana in the US soon for $799, and this week it passed through the FCC website on its way to US stores.
The Novero Solana is powered by an Intel Atom N2600 Cedar Trail processor. It has a 9.7 inch, 1024 x 768 pixel display and it can run both Windows and Google Android.
The computer has up to 2GB of RAM, up to 128GB of disk space on a solid state disk, a 3MP camera, WiFi, Bluetooth and HSPA+ mobile broadband as well as 2 USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI output, and a 32Whr battery.
It weighs 2.6 pounds and measures 10.6″ x 8.9″ x 0.8″.
As ZDnet/CNET put it when reviewing some Viliv (remember them?) or UMID (them too?) products, these folks are charging notebook prices for netbook parts. Â
Suffering a similar fate as the above companies.
 The base computer components aren’t the only cost factor for a system cost. The LCD, casing, drives, etc all add to the price. Along with how hard it is to manufacture.
So hard to make direct comparisons for products intended for different product categories.
For example, no matter what, a convertible tablet/laptop isn’t going to be cheaper than a non-convertible using the same core components. It simply costs more to make a convertible…
Just like it cost more to make a UMPC, like Viliv and UMID did…
So it’s a combination of whether enough people want what these niche products offer and whether they are also enough willing to pay the increased pricing it involves, versus viable and more mainstream alternatives.
That’s a thick bezel.
 Yup, a bit unavoidable with a flip screen design. It’s either a thick hinge or thick bezel to accommodate both the screen protection and the rotating mechanism… Though I find it funny they decided to use the old iPad screen…
9.7″ at 1024×768 is exactly what the first two iPad’s used… must be a surplus 😛
Same size and res, but no guarantee that the screen will be the same quality.
 If it isn’t then it’ll be one of the few as most using the 9.7″ screens have been getting them from the same source manufacturers that made the screen for Apple, and for $799 one would think they’d at least put a IPS screen in there.
Mind that N2600 systems like the Asus Eee PC 1025C are only going for about $299, or less than half the price of this Novero Solana Netvertible…
You would think so, but I don’t think the company is well known enough to inspire much confidence.
 When even cheap Chinese knock offs of the iPad use a IPS display, it wouldn’t seem likely they’ll be using a even cheaper version. Though the front glass panel has been known to vary and could be extra glossy and/or easier to break.
Not that it matters too much, like you say the company isn’t well known and the product is lacking on many points. So likely won’t sell well in any case.
DOA
If they’d do one of these flip-screen tablet netbooks with some AMD hardware inside and a Wacom digitizer, I’d be all over it, as would at least a few other webcomic artists after a decent portable gaming/drawing rig.