The next netbook: It's really a phone

Steven Lyle Jordan · 01-21-2010, 07:38 PM

Well, sort of. But not really. Actually, the Lenovo Skylight is a netbook, powered by the same chipsets that go into cellphones. The reason is that the cellphone chips use less power, so they'll run longer than laptops and other netbooks (an expected 10 hours), and give you always-on web connectivity the whole time. Developers are expecting people to buy these through their cellphone carriers, getting a discount off of the estimated $500. price tag by signing up for a monthly data plan.

Will these make good e-book readers? Well, it's Linux-based, so there will be apps available for it out there somewhere. More details at the Lenovo web site.

chainring · 01-21-2010, 08:11 PM

Hmm, I really don't know what to say other than this looks like an answer to a question nobody asked.

10"
2lbs
10 hours
Discounted off $500, but...
will likely require a data plan.

How in the world can this be any better than the current netbooks with a USB 3G stick?

Oh, and it's ugly as sin. Just my opinion...

Sydney's Mom · 01-21-2010, 08:22 PM

Oh, and it's ugly as sin. Just my opinion . . .

Dulin's Books · 01-21-2010, 08:29 PM

why hasn't anyone done a netbook that is ACTUALLY a phone yet? Instead of having a netbook and a phone just have the netbook w/phone built in. you use your bluetooth headset/car speaker to talk

Steven Lyle Jordan · 01-21-2010, 09:25 PM

I'd bet you could use Skype with it... but to get access, you'd still need a cellphone data plan, which I don't think you can get without the calling plan. Either way, I'd bet there's a bluetooth-type device that would let you use it as a phone.

kolrone · 01-21-2010, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

Oh, and it's ugly as sin. Just my opinion . . .

Agreed. Ever since the first pics were leaked, I thought it was one of the ugliest designs. I can't stand all that space above the screen

carlobee · 01-21-2010, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chainring

Oh, and it's ugly as sin. Just my opinion...

wow. i hear you. LOL.

LDBoblo · 01-21-2010, 11:37 PM

I think this particular device is not worth getting worked up over, but it represents a compromise design that could be useful for netbook/ebook reader merging. Slap a 10" Pixel Qi display in there and make it convertible, then hide the scars from being lashed with the ugly stick and it'd have some real multifunction reader potential.

Dulin's Books · 01-22-2010, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

then hide the scars from being lashed with the ugly stick and it'd have some real multifunction reader potential.

surely it was bigger than just a stick. more on the order of a whole branch.

CleverClothe · 01-22-2010, 02:40 AM

BTW, these are called smartbooks.

Javed · 01-22-2010, 06:45 AM

The video is more like an ad than a review but you can see what the device looks like. It cracks me up how they call it a little pop-up usb reader; seems like they expect owners to go out and buy more of these as the maximum each can store is only 16GB. Not sure how much memory the mini-sd can hold. The netbook uses a Snapdraggon processor. Also I heard elsewhere the keyboard has good feedback for a netbook/smartbook.

bbusybookworm · 01-22-2010, 07:04 AM

While I like the design and Idea behind this My biggest Peeve with it is that it supposedly it is 3G only, i.e. No WiFi.

Now I don't know about you, but While I like the ability to connect anywhere, via 3G, the fastest connection I can usually get is via Wifi, especially in build up areas.

I'm more keen for its Bigger brother, the U1 that was also announced at the same time. It's a hybrid with Windows 7, but a detachable screen which has the same guts as the Skylight. With a reported 8-10 Hours of battery life in laptop mode, and 6-8 in slate mode, It looks like a more interesting and versatile device.

JKOnTheRun Had a nice detailed hands on with all the new devices Here, (Unfortunately the video is not embeddable here) and Rev3 Also had a close look.

Javed · 01-22-2010, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

While I like the design and Idea behind this My biggest Peeve with it is that it supposedly it is 3G only, i.e. No WiFi.

It has 3G and WiFi integrated!

kennyc · 01-22-2010, 07:19 AM

They say there's a place for everything and to put everything in it's place....but to be honest.....

Javed · 01-22-2010, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

I'm more keen for its Bigger brother, the U1 that was also announced at the same time. It's a hybrid with Windows 7, but a detachable screen which has the same guts as the Skylight. With a reported 8-10 Hours of battery life in laptop mode, and 6-8 in slate mode, It looks like a more interesting and versatile device.

The U1 is looking good to me also. The hybrid Windows7 and snap on keyboard may be a good design.
Would like to know more about this device in the future.

01-21-2010, 07:38 PM	#1
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	The next netbook: It's really a phone Well, sort of. But not really. Actually, the Lenovo Skylight is a netbook, powered by the same chipsets that go into cellphones. The reason is that the cellphone chips use less power, so they'll run longer than laptops and other netbooks (an expected 10 hours), and give you always-on web connectivity the whole time. Developers are expecting people to buy these through their cellphone carriers, getting a discount off of the estimated $500. price tag by signing up for a monthly data plan. Will these make good e-book readers? Well, it's Linux-based, so there will be apps available for it out there somewhere. More details at the Lenovo web site.

01-21-2010, 08:11 PM	#2
chainring Addict Posts: 210 Karma: 1000659 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Sunnyvale, CA Device: Kindle Voyage, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650 (black), Kindle 3G	Hmm, I really don't know what to say other than this looks like an answer to a question nobody asked. 10" 2lbs 10 hours Discounted off $500, but... will likely require a data plan. How in the world can this be any better than the current netbooks with a USB 3G stick? Oh, and it's ugly as sin. Just my opinion...

01-21-2010, 08:22 PM	#3
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,895 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	Oh, and it's ugly as sin. Just my opinion . . .

01-21-2010, 08:29 PM	#4
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	why hasn't anyone done a netbook that is ACTUALLY a phone yet? Instead of having a netbook and a phone just have the netbook w/phone built in. you use your bluetooth headset/car speaker to talk

01-21-2010, 09:25 PM	#5
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I'd bet you could use Skype with it... but to get access, you'd still need a cellphone data plan, which I don't think you can get without the calling plan. Either way, I'd bet there's a bluetooth-type device that would let you use it as a phone.

01-21-2010, 11:37 PM	#8
LDBoblo Wizard Posts: 1,385 Karma: 16056 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Asia Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Sony PRS-505	I think this particular device is not worth getting worked up over, but it represents a compromise design that could be useful for netbook/ebook reader merging. Slap a 10" Pixel Qi display in there and make it convertible, then hide the scars from being lashed with the ugly stick and it'd have some real multifunction reader potential.

01-22-2010, 02:40 AM	#10
CleverClothe Guru Posts: 618 Karma: 493394 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Device: iRex iLiad, Onyx Boox 60	BTW, these are called smartbooks.

01-22-2010, 06:45 AM	#11
Javed Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,270 Karma: 1126878541 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Astak Pocket PRO, iPod Touch, PRS-650	The video is more like an ad than a review but you can see what the device looks like. It cracks me up how they call it a little pop-up usb reader; seems like they expect owners to go out and buy more of these as the maximum each can store is only 16GB. Not sure how much memory the mini-sd can hold. The netbook uses a Snapdraggon processor. Also I heard elsewhere the keyboard has good feedback for a netbook/smartbook.

01-22-2010, 07:04 AM	#12
bbusybookworm Tech Junkie Posts: 1,027 Karma: 10080 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Earth Device: iPad, MotoXStyle, OnePlusOne	While I like the design and Idea behind this My biggest Peeve with it is that it supposedly it is 3G only, i.e. No WiFi. Now I don't know about you, but While I like the ability to connect anywhere, via 3G, the fastest connection I can usually get is via Wifi, especially in build up areas. I'm more keen for its Bigger brother, the U1 that was also announced at the same time. It's a hybrid with Windows 7, but a detachable screen which has the same guts as the Skylight. With a reported 8-10 Hours of battery life in laptop mode, and 6-8 in slate mode, It looks like a more interesting and versatile device. JKOnTheRun Had a nice detailed hands on with all the new devices Here, (Unfortunately the video is not embeddable here) and Rev3 Also had a close look.

01-22-2010, 07:19 AM	#14
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	They say there's a place for everything and to put everything in it's place....but to be honest.....

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