Netbook Lounge » cheap netbooks

Coby Electronics to release cheap netbooks after all?

Stuart — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:38:25 +0000

In early December, many netbook sites, including we at the Netbook Lounge, reported that Coby Electronics was ready to shake up the market with some sub-$100 netbooks called PoqetMates.

Just a day later, a post at Ars Technica called hoax on the story posted by Arkansas IMC after contacting Cody PR representatives, who told them “this story, or any announcement regarding a netbook, was not (emphasis theirs) initiated, condoned, or approved by Coby Electronics.” A few days later came an official debunking by Coby, who said with absolute finality, “Coby Electronics Corporation is not currently producing a PC nor is one headed to market at any price under the company’s name.”

It is now January and netbook makers from all over the world are at CES 2009 in Las Vegas. And guess who is there? Yeah, Coby Electronics with a series of what appear to be discount netbooks. Engadget has the story along with some photos and information from a Coby rep.

In a variety of colours, Coby’s netbooks are lined up and the rep called them a “market research project”, before saying that the machines would price at “under $200″. The machines will be very bottom of the barrel, but if they do in fact make the market, the sub-$200 price tag should appeal to a lot of consumers looking for a cheap computer during the ongoing credit crunch.

What I’d be interested to know is if Arkansas IMC’s breaking story that they were panned so hard for WAS indeed of a hoax or if Coby’s new netbook line is completely unrelated.

Elonex to to release cheap netbook in the UK

Stuart — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:58:52 +0000

If you, like me, live in the UK, you’ll soon be able to stop by big name fashion stores Marks & Spencer and Next and pick up an Elonex netbook, according to Register Hardware. Elonex is a British PC maker and these new “handbag-sized netbooks” with 7-inch displays will soon be available for £99 (US$149) in both stores.

The chief exec of Elonex, Nick Smith, said the cheap sub-£100 price tag will put netbooks on par with smartphones and that they “are for people who want a better BlackBerry, with a proper screen and keyboard”. He also added that if you lose it on a train or in a bar, you’re only being deprived of £100 worth of stuff. Ebonex is expected to reveal more information on this discount netbook at CES in Las Vegas this week.

$99 netbooks coming on mobile broadband contracts?

Stuart — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:28:46 +0000

Netbooks could soon be available on the cheap if you commit to a two-year mobile contract, much in the same way you can get cheap broadband. ComputerWorld reckons that “subnotebooks like the Asus Eee PC, the Dell Mini 9 and the HP 2133 Mini-Note will soon cost as little as $99. The catch? You’ll need to commit to a two-year mobile broadband contract. The low cost will come courtesy of a subsidy identical to the one you already get with your cell phone.”

The article goes on to cite a Wall Street Journal story that indicates that Hewlett Packard is already talking to carriers about the arrangement, and that Dell and Asus are likely to follow. If netbook prices drop into double figures as part of packages like this, this could make netbooks more enticing for many in the United States, but it would still be a way behind some European countries. For example, here in the UK, you can get a netbook free if you sign up for contract mobile deals with some major retailers.