Photo: Rob ‘n’ Rae / Flickr

Once upon a time, Microsoft’s Bill Gates predicted that in the near future every household would contain one PC. This prediction is coming true, and last week the UK government went one step further in achieving this dream by offering residents an affordable scheme to get online.

Connectivity

Over 9 million UK residents have no access to the internet from home, and this will be changed as new, refurbished PCs are now available, costing only £98. Martha Lane Fox, the government’s digital spokeswoman, admitted in a recent interview with the Financial Times that cost is a major barrier in getting people connected.

‘Motivation and inspiration are still two of the biggest barriers, but clearly perception of price is another big deal for people,’ she explained. Helen Milner, MD of internet support organisation UK Online Centres, agrees. ‘Although research shows going online can save people around £560 year, we know the cost of setting yourself up at home is still a real barrier for lots of people.’

Recent debut

The low-cost E-cycle PC scheme, making its debut last week, is being run by the disabled employment services and kit recycling company Remploy. These PCs will first be sold via 60 UK online centres offering computer courses and support to users unfamiliar with the internet.

Affordable PCs

With the problem of affordability being targeted, the refurbished hardware will begin to sell from £98, which will include a flat screen monitor, a mouse and keyboard and will run the operating system Linux. Also included is a package containing a warranty, telephone support and free delivery. Three Mobile have agreed to provide internet connectivity, at only £9 a month.

Various cost options will be made available by Remploy, offering various connectivity and hardware for the low cost PC scheme. Cash payments are available at over 20,000 sites.

Many companies all around the world are engaged in manufacturing a wide range of USB sticks. However, did you know a USB stick bootable device could be used for running Linux or another operating system on your computer? Indeed, booting your PC is no longer reserved to the CDs that come with your computer. Some of the best companies engaged in manufacturing a wide range of USB sticks include Kingston, the memory maker Sandisk, Corsair, Misc. and Integral. These are available in various capacities and designs and you can choose as per the requirement.

Some of the best available USB drives include Kingston DataTraveler 101 2GB, Sandisk Cruzer Contour 8GB, Sandisk Cruzer Micro 16GB, Misc. 8GB USB Flash Drive and Misc. 4GB USB Flash Drive. Sandisk Cruzer Micro 4GB (USB Stick) is an amazing USB. The USB stick has a 4 GB capacity so that you can store all types of audio, videos and various other documents. The read speed of the USB is around 7.0 MB/s and the write speed is 5.0 MB/s. Corsair Flash Voyager GT 16GB is one of the most attractive USB devices available in the market. It has a memory size of 16 GB which allows you to store all sorts of media. The Kingston DataTraveler 101 2GB (USB Stick) is another USB 2.0. The dimensions of the device are 55.65 x 17.3 x 9.05 mm.

Misc. 8GB USB Flash Drive is available in a stylish black colour. It provides 8.0 GB memory so that you can store all sorts of videos and audio. The above mentioned USB drives are available in a compact size and it can be easily carried and transported.

The eMachines E525-902G16MI is a low-cost notebook manufactured by the eMachines brand, a renowned name in building affordable and incredible performance PCs. The eMachines E525-902G16MI notebook has a 15.4 inch HD Acer CineCrystal LCD screen and includes an Intel Celeron processor. The Intel Celeron processor has a processor speed of 2.2 GHz which means that the processor is fast when it comes to performance. The eMachines E525-902G16MI has 1 MB processor cache which provides the notebook to work in a smoother way. The notebook has an image display resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels and the standard screen size allows the user to view pictures and videos with utmost clarity. The eMachines notebook delivers optimum quality while the user is viewing a video or movie. The notebook includes a DDR2 2 GB RAM memory that allows different functions to perform at a same time. The eMachines E525-902G16MI notebook has a 160 GB hard drive that includes the SATA storage technology, which provides the notebook with more storage capacity.  

The eMachines E525-902G16MI includes a Intel GMA 4500M HD graphics card with a card memory of 384MB. This allows the notebook to produce better picture contrast and faster processing. The notebook is also comprised of 10/100 Ethernet option and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. The webcam enables the user to click better quality images and it also provides better picture resolution while video chatting or conferencing. The eMachines E525-902G16MI notebook also includes 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, microphone and memory card reader. The microphone enables the user to record and voice chat with friends and family. The memory card option of the notebook helps to extract data from memory cards when attached to the card reader port. The eMachines E525-902G16MI is compatible with Linux operating system.

Redefining mobile connectivity, Acer Aspire One A110-AGP is a revolutionary netbook packed with fun and powerful computing features. Available in a diminutive 8.9 inch form factor, the Aspire One netbook is ready to go within a few seconds of being switched on. The interface is pure simplicity, the home screen divided is into four areas that contain all the applications you need to stay connected, work, play and organise your life while travelling. A unique netbook, the applications can be customised on the home screen to suit every user’s individual needs. The Acer netbook is slim, thin and especially designed for people who travel. Compact and easy to carry, it allows you to store your work while on the go. An ultra-portable laptop, it is good value for money and offers a good balance between price and performance.

Totally performance-oriented and incredibly efficient, it measures 24.9cm in width, 17cm in depth and 2.9 cm in height. Weighing a mere 1kg, it is powered by Atom 1.6 GHz processor from Intel and a reliable 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM that enables you to work efficiently. Capable of multitasking, it has a stunning 8.9 inch TFT display screen with a resolution of 1024×600 pixels. Offering crisp and clear image clarity and sharpness, the laptop also supports Linux operating system and Wi-Fi certified Mobile technology. Equipped with Intel 945GSE Express chipset with 533 MHz Bus Speed, the Acer Aspire One A110-AGP netbook also provides 512 KB spacious installed cache memory along with 16 GB hard drive capacity. Running on rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, it can provide reliable backup for up to 3 hours. The laptop is also compatible with SD, MMC, MS, MS Pro and XD cards.

Another netbook from Acer, Acer Aspire 751 is a pretty standard netbook in terms of specifications and functionality. But is has an 11.6 inch screen and a full sized keyboard and also a good-sized touch pad to go along with it. Unlike the tiny screens of an average netbook, this one has a bigger screen. It makes the user feel comfortable while browsing the Internet. An innovative product, Acer Aspire One 751 has an 11.6 inch screen. Unlike other netbooks which have 10 inch screen, this one has a bigger screen which is more comfortable to use. Powered by Intel Atom X520 1.33 GHz processor, it is fast and efficient and allows you to complete more tasks in less time. It has 1 GB DDR2 memory and 160 GB hard disk which has a generous capacity for all your files, photos, music and other media. The Aspire One netbook is also powered with a card reader for easy data transfer activity, integrated webcam for video chat and Wi-Fi connectivity for Internet browsing. Bluetooth makes wireless communication with this netbook possible.

The Acer Aspire One 751 has Windows XP as its operating system. It weighs a mere 1.35kg weight and is extremely portable. Running on Lithium-ion 3 cell battery, The Acer Aspire One 751 has a screen resolution of 1366×768 that makes surfing the Internet comfortable. Unlike other netbooks, it is a “Widescreen Netbook”. Capable of satisfying the most demanding executive, the netbook is fully loaded with many useful features.

Tags for this article: netbook, netbooks, aspire

An ultra thin laptop, Apple MacBook Air (MB543B/A) is as thin as your index finger. Every detail has been streamlined to create this compact wonder. Various size and weight-saving innovations have made it possible for this machine to become the world’s thinnest laptop. It has hidden ports, slimmer hard drive and a low-profile battery and many other features that work towards making the laptop slim. Still, the laptop has a 13.3 inch LED wide display screen which offers sharp and vivid images. It has a full-sized keyboard for the user’s typing comfort and a large multi-touch track pad.

The MacBook Air comes has 2GB of RAM built in and offers ample memory for your favourite applications. Its 4200rpm 120GB hard drive has plenty of storage space for all your media, photos, files, music and other items. You can also video chat with ease thanks to the integrated iSight camera feature of the laptop. The Apple MacBook AIr MB543B/A also has a 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor custom-built to fit within the laptop’s compact dimensions. Though the laptop does not have a DVD drive, it however has a unique feature called Remote Disc which lets you wirelessly use or borrow the optical drive of a Mac or PC in the vicinity.

The advanced laptop offers a truly mobile lifestyle as it is equipped with the next generation 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1. It has Mac OS X Leopard as its operating system, iLife ’08 and a 2 year guarantee which will give you some peace of mind. This ultra thin and ultra portable gadget has NVIDIA GeForce 9400M as its graphics card and one USB 2.0 port for expansion. Weighing nearly 1.36kg, the laptop has a maximum battery life of 4.5 hours. Built-in omni directional microphone and integrated speakers are other useful features of this machine.

Offering the user unique computing experience, Asus Eee PC 1000H-WHI066X in pearl white colour has 7 hours of battery life. Its exclusive Super Hybrid Engine ensures that the battery lasts long while its Super Hybrid Engine offers performance and power consumption modes that allow easy adjustments in accordance to various needs. Ideal for travelling, the netbook from Taiwanese manufacturer Asus comes with an exclusive 10GB Eee Storage. The file-encrypted Eee Storage with 5GB worth of downloads has easy accessibility from both Windows and Linux platforms. An exciting machine, it has a large 10 inch screen that allows comfortable viewing of documents and web pages. Its keyboard is almost the same size as standard keyboard size and is very convenient to use. You can choose from a total of 4 custom-coloured designs to suit your personality. The Eee PC’s surface has inlaid motifs that are beautiful and do not fade with time. A robust machine, it has a scratch-resistant surface.

Weighing a mere 1.45kg, it is truly a portable notebook with an Intel Atom N270 processor that runs at a speed of 1.6 GHz. The Asus Eee PC 1000H-WHI066X Pearl White netbook has high speed connectivity with Wi-Fi 802.11n and built-in Bluetooth that allows easy data transfers between devices. It comes loaded with a full range of applications that enhance communication and computing experiences. Its built-in devices include stereo speakers, wireless LAN aerial and Bluetooth aerial. It has a card reader and a 160GB hard drive, which can store all your data, files, music and other media. Equipped with a 1GB RAM, it also has a Sound card and an integrated 1.3 mega pixel camera. With Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition as its operating system, it comes with a 2 year warranty.

Every computer lover has got his and her eyes fixed on the latest product from the ASUSTek Computer Inc, Eee PC™ SeaShell which to be launched in UK on the 15th May. Everyone is holding the breath and rightly so. A look at the upcoming product is enough to get you hooked on to the Seashell, which does very much resemble the seashells.

But to a tech-savvy person there are many things besides looks that matter. Exploring the specifications of the laptop ensures that the initially generated interest among the buyers would definitely hold good.

The ASUS Eee PC 1008 HA ‘Seashell’ is not just another addition to the Eee PC Series. It actually takes the bar higher and higher. The kind of perfection the designers have targeted becomes quite obvious from the pains they have taken in making the laptop resemble the seashell, i.e. true to the name given.

The laptop weighs only 1.1 kg and has astonishingly small dimensions of 262mm x 178m x 18~25.7 mm making it easiest to carry around wherever you may be. Not just that, the Asus Eee PC 1008HA-WHI012X SeaShell netbook has a 10 inch LED-backlit display screen that gets you 1024×600 pixels and comes with Colour-Shine technology. So you not only get smaller and handy size but you also get the best of technology as well.

The system doesn’t fall short on any front. It is driven by Intel® Atom N280 processor, the very best in its domain. It comes with 1GB DDR2 RAM and impressive hybrid storage of 160 GB SATA HDD and 10 GB Eee storage.

To ensure effective connectivity it comes with WLAN 802.11 b/g/n @ 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 2.1 features. Also it has Mini VGA connector, 2 x USB 2.0, LAN and audio jack for smooth interface and better options for enjoying the laptop.

To make the Seashell a complete product, the Taiwanese manufacturer ASUS has provided 1.3 MP camera. It also comes with stereo speakers and a built-in digital array mike enabling you to get all the desirable multi-media features.

ASUS is bringing out their upcoming offering in various impressive colours including usual ones like white, black and blue and typical ones like pink, sapphire blue and ruby red. There would be something to suit the likes of everyone. It must be accepted without any doubt that the buzz that Seashell Asus netbook has already managed to generate is turning out to be as justifiable as anything can be.

The Asus Eee PC 900 20G Linux weighs less than a kilo and offers a wide range of options of mobile computing. Equipped with an Intel Celeron M 900 MHz processor Eee is shockproof and has dimensions of 22.5×17X2cm. Compact in design, this laptop has an energy-saving Solid State Disk (SSD) technology, which makes it very suitable as a travel companion. The ASUS Eee PC 900 20G also has a 8.9″ widescreen, a 1.3 mega pixels integrated webcam and 20GB storage capacities for GNU Linux operating systems. Available in a beautiful pearl white colour, it takes to 20 seconds for the laptop to start as it operates on Linux as oppose to Windows where it takes a minute to start the Window and wait for the pop-ups to load. The battery lasts for a maximum time of 3 hours and 45 minutes. Also, the Asus Eee PC 900 20G Linux comes with a 5800 Mh battery, which is great as it increases the life of the battery and allows greater productivity. Not only does the laptop battery last longer, it even works quietly. A cooler and quieter machine, this compact netbook has a smaller and slimmer air vent than its predecessors. Especially when running on power saver mode, it runs silently.

Incredibly well-made, Asus Eee PC 900 20G Linux has a small and compact chassis that is strong and well put together. The screen hinge feels chunky and is secure as the screen stays well protected. Since the laptop comes with a slip cover, the Asus Eee PC 900 20G Linux can be put in any bag without any worries. Loaded with a powerful processor, the lean machine can take on any computing task with ease. Durable and chunky, the Asus Eee PC is compact at the same time and very well-suited for travel. The only possible drawback is its small keyboard, which could be uncomfortable for some users.

The Acer Aspire One A150L (LU.SO50A.105) is an ultra portable laptop designed to deliver continuous access to the Internet with a simplified wireless experience. It is equipped with an Intel Atom processor, specially designed for netbooks and it weighs incredibly little… just 1.26 Kg! It has 120 GB hard drive that provides great storage capability and its external drives not only make good overflow storage, but also are ideal backup devices. The Acer netbook’s external devise keeps your treasured photographs and other files safe from the risk of hard drive failure or laptop theft. This external drive comes with Nero backitup2 to take the effort out of making backups. The whole thing is password protected to add that extra level of security. The powerful Intel Atom processor gives you fantastic performance in an incredibly small package and with addition of CrystalEye webcam you can easily keep in touch with your loved ones absolutely free.

Acer Aspire One A150L (LU.SO50A.105) offers 512 MB RAM which can be enhanced to 1.5 GB and uses the Linpus Linux Lite operating system, which minimizes start up and shut down times. It has external 3.5 inch hard disk High quality aluminium housing for optimum hard disk cooling and On/of switch External power supply (noiseless without fan), which results in low power consumption. The Acer Aspire One A150L (LU.SO50A.105) provides intuitive and specifically optimized software interface that helps users to have user friendly experience. Its screen is 8.9” TFT 1024 X 600 (WSVGA) with 18-bit colour, but it does not have Bluetooth. It has Intel GMA 950 graphics and a built-in WiFi connection and expandable memory up to 4 gigabytes. All these features establish the fact that the customers are going to get the maximum benefits out of minimum investment.