It’s a tad heavier than the EeePC, but the kicker is the options, and there’s lots of them.
- New $499 ultraportable notebook
- Multiboot Linux/Windows option
- Has hard drive unlike EeePC
Has Pioneer Computers managed to replicate and improve the EeePC’s incredibly popular $499 EeePC notebook formula?
The new pint-sized, super cheap rival is called the DreamBook Light IL1 – and it’s worth checking out for the options alone, including a choice of pre-loaded Ubuntu, XP, or Vista (costs extra), or a multi-OS option with Linux and Windows.
In terms of size, the DreamBook is tiny, though at 1.1Kg (which, incidentally, is lighter than Apple’s 13.3inch Macbook Air) it’s slightly heavier than the 928g Asus EeePC. The screen is also the same size at 7inches and a resolution of 800x480.
Crucially you get a hard drive option (40GB) or a 2, 4 or 8GB flash drive – great news for music and movies for those long train rides home from work. There’s only 2 USB ports verse 3 for the EeePC, but you do get a 6 cell battery option, versus 4 cell for the ASUS.
Interestingly Pioneer has gone with a Via powerplant (C7-M 1.0G) – we’ll be interested to see how it shapes up with the 512MB RAM option under Windows.
The downside is you’ll be paying more than $650 if you lay on some of these basic options, including 1GB RAM and XP Home. You can knock $123 off by opting for Ubuntu instead of XP, which will probably go down well with Linux fans, but mightn’t be as easy for schoolkids to use as ASUS’ custom Xandros effort.
DreamBook Light IL1 Spec List:
Price: From $499
Weight: 1.1Kgs
Dimensions: WDH - 244mm x 172mm x 28.5mm (front side)
Processor: VIA C7-M 1.0G
Chipset: VIA VX800U
Graphics: Embedded
System memory: Up to 1GB
LCD: 7'' TFT; 800*480
Drive: Preserve on IDE for 1.8''HDD
Battery compartment: Space for 18650-type x4, upgradeable to 6 cells
Speaker: Stereo
CPU: VIA C7-M 1.0G
Memory: DDR2, 512MB or 1GB
Storage
Option 1: NAND flash 2GB, 4GB or 8GB
Option 2: 1.8''HDD 40G PATA/80G PATA
LCD
7”-wide TFT LCD
Color mode: 800x480, with LED backlit,
TTL interface
I/O ports
USBx2,
Headphone out, Mic-in, DC-in
RJ-11
RJ-45
VGA-Out
Wireless: 802.11b/g; USB I/F, on module board
Battery
2 cell LiFePO4, 183665 x 2,( 3600mA, 6.5V)
4 cell Li-Ion, 18650x4 (4800mA, 7.4V)
6 cell Li-Ion, 18650x6 (7200mA, 7.4V)
6 cell LiFePO4, 18650x6 (5100mA, 6.5V)-- TBD
Removable battery pack with hard pack, gauge and connector
Built-in Ethernet
Memory card reader: 3-in-1, SD/MMC/MS
Webcam: 640 x 480, 0.3M