Chinese PC maker Rui Iridium Star Digital’s latest netbook bears a superficial resemblance to a Sony Vaio P. But it looks like it’s a bit wider, with room for a larger keyboard. Still, instead of a typical touchpad, the netbook has a pointing nub in the middle of the keyboard which helps save some space.
While the Sony Vaio P has an Intel Atom Z5xx series processor and a high resolution 8 inch, 1600 x 768 display, this Chinese knockoff has a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, GMA 950 graphics, and a 10 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display. In other words, aside from the lack of a touchpad, it’s prety much a typical netbook.
The machine has a 160GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, 802.11b/g/n WiFi and a 3 cell battery. It weighs 2.6 pounds, measures 11.3″ a 6″ x 1.2″ and probably won’t be available in the US anytime soon.
You can find many more photos at Shanzhaiben.com.
via Cloned in China
I have a Thinkpad with a ‘nub’ instead of a touchpad. I prefer it to a touch pad. I think having a ‘nub’ is better than a touchpad; IMO. I accidentally re-arranged some directories because of a touch pad. I usually use a usb mouse with my notebook computers with a touchpad.
I also find the pointer to be much more precise and predictable than touch pads, and quicker too, after you get used to it.
holy apple/sony knockoff! I love it! Is it possible to order these from china?
Oh so close! Then I looked at the detailed photos and found it only has one button for the pointer. Get three on there like a Thinkpad and I’d be in heaven.
Remember, netbooks were supposed to be small. Note what removing that pad does to the size! And there is still some room to shrink. The Thinkpad X31 I’m typing this on has a 12″ display (4:3, which would make a fair difference) and is less than 11″ wide (270mm to be exact). The big difference is this Thinkpad has almost no bezel.
I’ll bet the one button is a two function rocker, and I could get by without the middle button, I think. If it doesn’t have any provision for scrolling, I could use the arrow keys. I’m wondering if they pirated the pointer. Since Lenovo is a Chinese outfit, probably not. (I’m assuming Lenovo owns the patents, etc.)
My X61s “12 inch” Thinkpad is only 10.5″ wide, just 1/8″ wider than my 1000HE EeePC. Love those narrow bezels, especially on the keyboard. As you intimate, if we lop off the top 168 pixels (=1.6″) at the top of the screen (1024 x 768 vs 1024 x 600 for netbooks), it makes a difference; but on mine, the screen would still measure 11.25″ diagonally.