The Libretto W100 dual-screen netbook ain’t the only mini-laptop Toshiba announced today. The company is also rolling out its first smartbook, a 10 inch mini-laptop with an ARM-based chipset running Google Android 2.1.
As expected, Toshiba’s first ARM-based smartbook will be called the Toshiba AC100. Here’s a brief rundown of the specs:
- Display: 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixels (Not a touchscreen)
- OS: Google Android 2.1
- Chipset: 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra TM250
- Storage: 8GB to 32GB flash storage
- Memory: 512MB
- Battery: 8 hours run time, or 180 hours in standby
- I/O: HDMI, USB, mini USB, mic, audio, SD card slot
- Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth and optional 3G
- Camera: 1.3MP
- Dimensions: 10.3″ x 7.5″ x 0.8″
- Weight: 1.9 pounds
Toshiba has made a few interesting choices with this smartbook. First, there’s no touchscreen display, which is unusual for an Android device. And while it’s running Google Android 2.1, the Toshiba AC100 comes with the Opera Mobile web browser in place of the default Webkit-based Android browser. The machine also comes with Documents To Go and Fring preloaded for office, chat, and VoIP functionality.
SlashGear reports the mini-laptop also has custom Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter widgets. Right now the browse rdoesn’t support Flash, but Toshiba says that will be addressed with a software update to Android 2.2 in a few months.
Like most Android devices, SlashGear also points out that while you can plug in a USB mouse, keyboard, or hard drive, you’re not going to have any luck plugging in a printer or digital camera. That’s not really a problem on a smartphone-sized device, but when you present customers with something that looks like a laptop, they may expect it to function more like one.
You can check out the official promo video as well as a hands-on video from Netbooked after the break. Netbooked reports that the smartbook will ship in Japan as the Toshiba Dynabook AZ and it will run around $440 to $548 in that country.
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5 Comments on "Toshiba AC100: 10 inch netbook with Android, NVIDIA Tegra"
The best is to install Ubuntu gnu/linux for Arm.
I hope will be officially or unofficially possibile, if not , I don’t like a cut down smartbook device.
thanks Brad for this great device. Can you compile a list of smartbooks around and separate the list from the netbooks. You might want to create another list for tablets.
You site now is all jumbled up.
I think manufacturers are making a real effort to innovate netbooks in the wake of the iPad hype, and so they should, netbooks still have a place in the consumer electronics market and with models like AC100 smartbook you can see why, how long they have a place is another question though
This actually looks pretty good, to my surprise. It might be the one I’ve been waiting for. Somebody needs to get Ubuntu running on it, though.
Hi everybody,
as I think there are many people out there who face this problem, I decided to launch a Wiki about the AC100, focusing on alternative operating systems.
I would be very happy to see that we can concentrate our efforts and share our wisdom in this Wiki. There is also a discussion forum available at the bottom of each page.
Access it at: http://http://tosh-ac100.wetpaint.com/