Here’s my unboxing of the new 10.1” Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3 netbook. Really love the design, everything except maybe the touchpad. I usually use two hands for the touchpad and the mouse cursor jumps if you use both hands. This affects click and drag too. Solution is to only use just the edge of the touchpad and now it does not bother me. Single hand users should be fine. Battery sticks out underneath a little but it’s hidden - I’m fine with that. It’s thinner and lighter than my Samsung N140 though the weight difference is not that noticeable.

I installed Jolicloud alongside Windows 7 Starter and everything worked out of the box. Wi-Fi, brightness, sound, resume from standby.

Running through my benchmark tests right now.

Video unboxing below. Sorry about the lighting this time:

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3

• 10.1” 1024 x 600 display (glossy)
• Atom N450 processor
• 1GB RAM
• 250GB HDD
• Bluetooth (optional)
• 802.11n Wi-Fi
• 6-cell 4400mAh battery
• Windows 7 Starter
• APS (Active Shock Protection)
• Dolby Headphone
• Instant On OS
• 1.17 kg / 2.6 pounds

Priced from $350 at Amazon.com or $370 at Lenovo.com.

Pictures:

Update: Winner Announcement…

The winner is Jael !

Jael, I’ll be sending you an email shortly…

Thanks for participating folks and hopefully I can get back to doing giveaways like I used to.

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I’ve got a spare, unopened Broadcom Crystal HD Decoder card (BCM70012) laying about, gathering dust. It would be better off in your hands, so if you want it, just leave a comment below and I’ll choose one winner next week on Sunday 28th. Please provide a contactable email address when you comment or make sure to check back next week.

This card will allow you to play 1080p video on your netbook including HD Flash (YouTube) though support for Flash is not yet included in the current version. Most of the popular video players out there now support the card. Not all netbooks can physically accept the card, however, whether it be for lack of a PCI-e slot or the inability to open up your netbook easily.

Obviously the coolest feature of the ASUS Eee PC T91MT netbook is that it converts into tablet mode and you can browse the web with your finger or stylus. Here’s a look at web browsing in Google Chrome with your finger and stylus. Really enjoying it so far, and the Atom Z520 processor isn’t too bad - just fast enough so I am not frustrated.

I have another ASUS product to show off today, it’s the 12.1” ASUS UL20A. Unlike the US model which is available only in Silver and with a Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor, this model has the Celeron SU2300 processor and comes in Black, too.

This model has been on the market for quite a while now and is a very popular, cheap 12-inch notebook. ($570 at Amazon.com)

Brushed metal lid, gloss from edge to edge on the inside. It’s very quiet on power saving mode. Quite speedy as well. As you are probably aware if you have been eyeing the UL20A, it does not have a HDMI port which is the only disappointment I have with this model.

ASUS UL20A Specs:

• 12.1” 1366 x 768 display (glossy)
• Intel Celeron SU2300 processor (1.2GHz dual core)
• GMA 4500M HD graphics (1080p ready)
• 2GB RAM
• 320GB HDD
• 10/100 LAN
• 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.1
• Altec Lansing Speakers / SRS Surround Sound
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Watch the video unboxing

I’m glad to say that my netbook database is now available to browse, though it’s Beta-ish: You might catch a few bugs here and there such as Javascript being wonky in IE.

You can browse and search netbooks by specs / features, or search netbooks by name, model no. or manufacturer ID.

You can compare netbooks very easily by adding them to a queue:

Each model has it’s own product page complete with price listings, specs, related news, user submitted reviews and comments.

Browse the Netbook Database

Give it a go! If you have any suggestions or find any bugs, I’d love to hear them as I roll out the final release of the database.

Out of the first round of Pinetrail Atom netbooks to be announced and become available, MSI’s Wind U160 is one of the last remaining netbooks to go on sale. I just noticed Amazon.com now has both the Black and Gold models up for pre-order priced at $380.

• MSI Wind U160-007US (Brown / Gold)
• MSI Wind U160-006US (Black)

Both share the same specs, which we’ve seen before: Intel Atom N450 processor, 10” 1024 x 600 display, 1GB RAM (2 max), 250GB HDD, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, 1.3MP webcam, Bluetooth, 6-cell battery (15 hours) and Windows 7 Starter.  Weighs 2.4 pounds.

There’s still no release or estimated shipping date so I have no idea when it will be showing up for real.

More information about the MSI Wind U160 can be found at MSI’s global product pages.

Spent a couple of hours so far checking out the ASUS Eee Box EB1501. Loving the combination of Windows Media Center and the remote control. I don’t have to use the keyboard and mouse. Great if you’re sitting back and relaxing. Seems very quiet so far. I’ll talk more about usage later as I spend more time with it, but for now here is how to take your Eee Box EB15101 apart. Extremely easy to take apart, only takes a couple of minutes.

Update: Forgot to mention. US model should come with a smaller chiclet keyboard, similar to the one on the Acer Aspire Revo. See pic here.

Finally got my hands on an ASUS Eee Box. The latest Eee Box 1501 (EB1501) that comes with an upgraded design and an optical drive (DVD). Of course this model still packs Nvidia ION graphics and a dual-core Atom 330 processor. Priced at $465 at Amazon.com and is available in black or white.

Comes with a decent wireless keyboard and mouse and a remote control.

ASUS Eee Box EB1501 specs:

• DVD burner
• Nvidia ION graphics
• Intel Atom 330 processor (1.66GHz, dual-core)
• 2GB RAM
• 250GB HDD
• 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
• 6x USB 2.0, HDMI, eSATA, S/PDIF, audio jacks
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• Wireless keyboard / mouse / remote control

The video:

My needs are pretty simple when it comes to nettops. All I need is a quiet device that will play me HD video occasionally which covers pretty much most nettops except for the noise part. I’ll see how it performs over the week.

I’m a little late getting onto the Intel Pinetrail scene, but finally I have my hands on one of these new netbooks. The ASUS Eee PC 1005PE. I’ve got a Japanese model so I’m not sure whether I have the 14 hour or 11 hour battery just yet. I’ve got a white model with a white textured lid which you get on the Eee PC 1001P models though wish it came with the matte display from that model.

Not expecting much new with Pinetrail other than 10+ hours of battery life. Looks are identical to older models and I’ve been those those already. Chiclet keyboard brings me back to the 1000HE and it’s a little flexy.

ASUS Eee PC 1005PE

• Textured white (matte) lid
• Chiclet keyboard
• 10.1” 1024 x 600 display (glossy)
• Intel Atom N450 processor (1.66GHz)
• 250GB HDD
• 1GB RAM
• 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
• 0.3MP Webcam
• Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
• Windows 7 Starter
• 6-Cell Battery

Watch the video:

Update: Brian tells me that the new model includes a VESA mount.

If you’ve been following the Acer Aspire Revo nettop, you’d know the single core R1600 version is easily obtainable but the availability of the dual-core R3610 version has been incredibly spotty at best. I’ve been keeping track of the latter’s availability ever since it came out and apart from when it debuted, only now do I see widespread availability.

This model is newer (AR3610-U9022) then the previous R3610 model that was on sale but the only difference I can see is a 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium. You’ve still got the same Atom 330 processor, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, Nvidia ION graphics, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and wireless keyboard / mouse set.

Here are some of the stores with it in stock, selling for $330.

Amazon.com, Newegg, B&H Photo Video, BuyDig

Update 2: Review now up. Read the Lenovo ThinkPad X100e Review.

Update: Added another video looking underneath the access panel.

My 11.6” Lenovo ThinkPad X100e notebook arrived today. First X100e models have the single-core AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 (1.6GHz) processor. Dual-core Neo and Turion models will be available at a later date.

Unboxing video below (available in 1080p HD):

A look at behind the access panel on the X100e (again, available in HD 1080p):

My ThinkPad X100e specs:

• 11.6” 1366 x 768 display (matte)
• AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 (single-core, 1.6GHz) processor
• ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics
• 1GB RAM
• 250GB HDD (2.5” SATA)
• 6-cell battery (57Wh)
• 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
• 282 x 189 x 26.5mm
• 1.5 kg / 3.3 pounds weight

So far, so good, for first impressions, apart from the battery sticking out. At least that makes it easier to slip into a sleeve / case. Keyboard has a tiny bit of flex if you press down hard enough but is not noticeable normally. Love the matte display. Really loving the lack of gloss which plagues most netbooks. Excellent slick trackpad and buttons are quiet and soft to press. All four.

Hoping that large access panel underneath is easily removable.

Already done with some battery test scores. Will post some further updates on the X100e tomorrow.

You can order the Lenovo ThinkPad X100e from Lenovo.com. Price starts at $449.

Lenovo ThinkPad X100e pictures:

Stay tuned for my full review early next week. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments, on YouTube or on my Twitter channel.

Lenovo has just released a new 11.6” Lenovo IdeaPad U150 notebook model in Black with an Intel Celeron SU2300 processor. It’s available for pre-order at Amazon.com for $549.99, but not on Lenovo.com.

So that’s three Lenovo IdeaPad U150 models:

Lenovo IdeaPad U150 - 6909-56U - $549.99
Black, Celeron SU2300 (1.2GHz, dual-core), 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi

Lenovo IdeaPad U150 - 690968U - $649
Red, Pentium SU4100 (1.3GHz, dual-core), 3GB RAM, 250GB HDD, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi

Lenovo IdeaPad U150 - 690969U - $749
Black, Core 2 Duo SU7300 (1.3GHz, dual-core), 3GB RAM, 250GB HDD, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi

That puts it on par with the Acer Aspire 1410 with an SU2300 processor in terms of specs, but it is more expensive. If you’re new here, check out my Lenovo IdeaPad U150 review.

The dual-core Intel SU2300 (1.2GHz) model of the 11.6” Acer Aspire 1410 notebook may be hard to come by these days, and even if you can find one, pricing may reach far above the $400 mark that it initially sold for (BuyDig sells it for $489).

Well, it’s now back, with an larger sized 250GB HDD, just like the single-core Celeron 743 andCore 2 Solo SU3500 models. No mention of Bluetooth still, however.

Specs listed: 11.6” 1366 x 768 display, GMA 4500MHD graphics, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, HDMI + VGA out, Gigabit LAN, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi.

Available in black, red and blue at Amazon.com for $449.99 with free shipping. Blue is in stock, black and red are still on pre-order.

Thanks to RefCache for spotting this!

The pinetrail 10.1” Toshiba Mini NB305 netbook is now available to buy in the US. J&R.com has the Frost White and Java Brown models available for $399 with free shipping.

The Toshiba NB305 improves upon the previous NB305 with a sleeker chassis (rounded edges) and an integrated, more flush 6-cell battery. Toshiba rates the battery life at 11 hours.

Toshiba Mini NB305 specs:

• Intel Atom N450 processor
• 10.1” 1024 x 600 display
• 1GB RAM
• 250GB HDD
• Intel GMA 3150 graphics
• 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
• 6-cell battery
• Webcam
• Windows 7 Starter

Check out the Toshiba NB305 at J&R.com