Netbooks for under $100
Two netbooks priced under $100 made an appearance a few weeks ago. Both netbooks are geared toward very low income groups and third world countries. But you never know, they may meet your needs if you’re looking for an ultra-cheap ultra-low performing device.
The MenQ $80 Netbook
This netbook made an appearance at the Netbook World Summit 2009. A very basic netbook from MenQ (not BenQ*), it runs on 64MB and uses Windows CE. The Windows CE operating system has been optimized for low-storage machines and can run on as little as 1MB. Windows CE also powers devices such as mp3 players and mobile phones (is interchangeable with Windows Mobile and Pocket PC).
It’s a 7″ netbook (resolution 800 x 400) that comes with 3 USB ports, an Ethernet cord, a power adapter slot, headset and microphone jack, and a 4-in one-card-reader. It comes with a Samsung CPU running an ARM 11 core. The Windows CE OS can support a browser which means it can surf the internet. All you want in an netbook :) According to Sasah Pallenberg from NetbookNews (see video below), the netbook is really fast – but what else do you expect from something that CAN NOT support any bloat ware :)
You may be unimpressed by the machine, but it’s strength is it’s $80 price point (without a two year agreement with a telecom provider that will run into thousands ;) ). True, similar netbooks like Eee PC 701 showed up almost two years ago but they cost between $145 to $200 (refurbished). So the $80 tag does matter, especially as the rich-poor divide increases in developed countries as well as developing ones.
The Cherry Pal Africa $99 Netbook
As the name suggests, the Cherry Pal Africa netbook is targeting developing countries as well with it’s $99 price point. This netbook is 7″ like the MenQ ones, but runs on 256 MB RAM. It runs on either Windows CE or Linux, and has a 400MHz processor and offers 2GB storage. (This reminds me of my first desktop back in 1999!)
Interestingly, this netbook isn’t being sold as a computer, but as an appliance that serves a function (of connecting to the internets). Put that way, it forces you to stray from thinking ‘aesthetics??’ and “high-def??” Like the MenQ, it isn’t targeted to people who can afford a fancy computer, for people who just need cheap access to the internet.
UPDATE: MORE READING
On further research, turns out the MenQ is available for $80 wholesale, and that Cherry Pal may be buying cheaper netbooks (like the MenQ) and rebranding it and then selling it. I don’t want to get in to the controversy, as I’m only concerned about the effect of low prices on the overall netbook market and future trends. If you want to read more, refer to this expansive article by Teleread.
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