Barebones Notebook

Gsurface writes "The first barebones notebook makes its appearance. The barebone notebook features no display, no CPU, no RAM and no HDD, but only the case, with keyboard and touchpad."

Comments

Re:No Display?

[The Jonas]

well, here are some small ones to get started with. I don't how well they will work with this setup, though.

Re:Interesting, but

[kfg]

You are used to shopping in stores that cater to people who *assemble* computers, and only stock those things that those people buy.

In the stores that cater to people who *build* computers you'll find everything you need.

KFG

ECS DeskNote perhaps is what they review?

[Anonymous Coward]

My guess would be that it is about the ECS DeskNote line of products, probably the A980. http://www.ecs.com.tw/products/a980.htm

Try here

[OECD]

Try here.

They also have very small screens for your next port-linux-to-small-kitchen-appliance project.

google

[gearheadsmp]

google cache for Xbit labs home page

Asus

[dlur]

Actually it's been possible for some time to get an Asus notebook similar to this, with just the case, motherboard, and LCD on it. I'm not sure Asus really wants you to be able to get them this way and they come in a "white box".

One of the guys at work got one of these, went to Intel's channel partner site, got a PIII mobile CPU for next to nothing, snagged a decent 2.5" HD from one of our retailers, and threw in some SODIMMs that we had in stock and he got a really nice notebook for hardly anything (this was a year or two ago).

He was even able to call up Asus and tell them the stickers wore off his notebook, and they sent him out some new ones for free, so you can't even tell it's not the real deal.

On the other side of things, I do believe from opening up quite a few notebooks for repairs that the vast majority of notebook components are somewhat standardized. The batteries tend to be the most varried components inside the notebooks. Consider that there are only a very few manufacturers of notebook computers that are outsourced by the major computer vendors, and that makes for some pretty standard stuff. It's even possible to get the "white box" version of most of Dell's notebooks direct from the company that manufactures them for Dell, last I checked anyways.

Text of the Story

[daddymac]

First Notebook Barebone Ever

Posted 2/28/03 at 10:00 am by Anton

ECS announced recently its DeskNote i-Buddie A980 mobile desktop PC, the first ever mobile barebone computer. It features no display, no CPU, no RAM and no HDD, but only the "case" with keyboard and touchpad. The indisputable trump of the novelty is that you are free to install the most high-end and cutting-edge hardware, or you may buy not really expensive components that are enough for your needs.

Here is the list of i-Buddie A980 technical peculiarities:

* Supports Socket 478 Pentium 4 / Celeron processors with 400/533MHz FSB with 3.06GHz clock-speed and above;
* SiS650 chipset with SiS962 I/O controller;
* 1 DIMM slot for up to 1GB of PC2100 or PC2700 DDR SDRAM memory.
* Integrated graphics core, ability to install NVIDIA GeForce4 Go420 mobile graphics card.
* 2-channel ATA-100/66/33 integrated controller;
* Includes an 8x DVD-ROM drive;
* Free bay for 2.5" HDD;
* 4 USB 2.0 ports;
* FireWire (IEEE1394) port ;
* IR port with transfer rate up to 115.2Kbit/s;
* 10/100Mbit/s Ethernet adapter and connector;
* Integrated 56K modem;
* 6-channel audio solution and built-in speakers;
* Size: 342mm (W) x 300mm (D) x 34mm(min)/50.5mm(max);
* Weight: 1.8Kg.

End-users have a lot of opportunities to expand and configure such computers, they even now can choose between 14" and 15" TFT panel, what should allow ECS' customers to get the most cost-effective solutions possible.

According to this French web-site, such barebones will be priced at $300. Not expensive, I believe, but remember that you will need to get a display, a microprocessor, a memory module and a hard disk drive to make it functional. It seems that the DeskNote i-Buddie A980 will hit the stores quite soon, as certain European local resellers of DeskNote computers already promote it and it seems that the only thing that stops them from starting the sales is the absence of appropriate LCD displays for such computers.

Last year ECS did not achieve its full-year shipment targets on the DeskNote line of products (see this news-story). Elitegroup Computer Systems decided to follow its usual strategy of offering the cheapest products possible and in order to achieve this it needs to buy as few expensive devices as possible. Since LCD panels seem to be the most highly-priced parts of DeskNote systems, the Chinese company decided to sell the DeskNote PCs without LCD panels in order to keep the inventory level of such units low. This seems to be the right idea in order to keep the lowest prices possible; however, I doubt it will help ECS to skyrocket the sales of its DeskNotes in Europe or the USA, because not a lot of customers want to build notebooks on their own. On the other hand, a lot of companies sell already functional DeskNote computers, which purchase seems to be more interesting.

Time will tell if ECS is able to boost its sales of portable desktop computers by selling display-less DeskNotes.

You may find this useful...

[djkitsch]

Here's a direct link to the manufacturer's website:
http://www.ecs.com.tw/products/a980.htm

and here's a mirror for the ineviatable slashdotting:
http://www.meatspace.co.uk/ibuddie/

A few pictures, and a lot of info

[two_socks]

Can be found here.

Re:Interesting, but

[bytesmythe]

I have a hunch it would be far more expensive than getting a brand-new notebook from Dell or Gateway. They buy their parts in bulk and can therefore pass the savings on to the consumer.

Actually, they buy them pre-assembled and slap a name badge on them, then screw you with a huge mark-up.

You can already do that here.

[bendawg]

You can do the "VectraNote" Notebook Configurator on here, and get it with no processor, Memory, or hard drive. www.actonlinestore.com

I got through!!

[Anonymous Coward]

I got through!!!

Here is the list of i-Buddie A980 technical peculiarities:

Supports Socket 478 Pentium 4 / Celeron processors with 400/533MHz FSB with 3.06GHz clock-speed and above

SiS650 chipset with SiS962 I/O controller

1 DIMM slot for up to 1GB of PC2100 or PC2700 DDR SDRAM memory

Integrated graphics core, ability to install NVIDIA GeForce4 Go420 mobile graphics card

2-channel ATA-100/66/33 integrated controller

Includes an 8x DVD-ROM drive

Free bay for 2.5" HDD

4 USB 2.0 ports

FireWire (IEEE1394) port

IR port with transfer rate up to 115.2Kbit/s

10/100Mbit/s Ethernet adapter and connector

Integrated 56K modem

6-channel audio solution and built-in speakers

Size: 342mm (W) x 300mm (D) x 34mm(min)/50.5mm(max)

Weight: 1.8Kg

Here is another story (french): www.clubic.com/n/n8018.html

Elitegroup, aussi connu sous le nom de ECS, annonce la commercialisation d'un nouveau barebone baptisé Desknote i-Buddie A980. Ce nouveau barebone ressemble comme deux gouttes d'eau à un ordinateur portable auquel on aurait enlevé l'écran LCD. Compact, incorporant un clavier, ce nouveau barebone utilise un chipset SiS651 dédié aux processeurs Pentium 4. Le Barebone intègre 4 ports USB 2.0, 1 port FireWire, 1 port Ethernet 10/100 et 1 port infrarouge. La partie audio du barebone est prise en charge par un chip C-Media et supporte le son 5.1 tout en offrant un connecteur SPDIF. Le Barebone embarque une solution graphique NVIDIA GeForce 4 420Go avec 32Mo de mémoire vidéo.

Vendu $300 ce nouveau barebone pèse seulement 1,8Kg.

Re:No Display?

[zurab]

Try laptopparts.com here. Those are brand name displays, search found 903 of them, and no way to sort by price.

And the pictures, too!

[morcheeba]

Here's the manufacturer's product page with exactly what you'd think it looks like. And, yes, it looks a bit odd. Thanks for the text!

Not the first Barebones

[Compaqed]

I've been dealing with a company here in Canada called Eurocom and they've been selling Barebone laptops for years now.

I'm not affiliated with them at all.. I just buy from them now and then.

Intel has been doing this with laptops for ages...

[arf_barf]

(ages) or atleast 2-3 years. Basically if you are an Intel OEM you can build your laptops online. Shiped to you with no os and no other taxes.

Re:Barebones Laptop

[OneFix]

CPU: 1.8 GHz Mobil P-4 $445.00
Yes, but you can get a Northwood 1.81 GHz for $136.99 from pricewatch (this is the low-ball figure)...I'ld never buy from a low-ball vendor, but it should put you in the ballpark

RAM: PC133 128MB $37.97
Don't forget it has to be SO-DIMMs...

But...close...$33.05 from Axion Technologies...

HDD: 20GB $149.00
$105.00 for an IBM 30GB ATA100@4200rpm

DISPLAY: 14.1 LCD Screen $749.00
$589.00 for a Sony VAIO PCG-FX370 15.0" TFT LCD or $395.00 if you're willing to go with a 12.1" Compaq

TOTAL: (APPROX) $1380.00
More like $670.00 - $864.00

One Small Problem...

[OneFix]

This is a "DeskNote"...not a Notebook...there's a small difference

This product differs from a notebook in that it does not include an integrated battery. An optional external battery is available. (emphasis mine)

I don't think so...

Re:Wear & tear is the beauty in this concept

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, after my DVD drive stopped working, I ordered a replacement, but apparently there was a mixup at the store and they had run out of my model of DVD drive. So they sent me the newer version (8x rather than 6x IIRC). It came in a diffeent setup, since the laptop it was made for had removable bays, but I checked the product specs and it was suppossed to be compatible, as the store said.

Long story short, take it out ofthe case, replace the faceplate with the old one, plug everything in, it all works.

Laptops parts are not as nonstandard as they'd like you to think.

My screen did crack and I could replace it but I don't have the money for a new one :-(

First Barebone Laptop?

[Anonymous Coward]

First Barebone? Haven't they seen http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/articles.hwz? cid=14&aid=397
Comes with a LCD. No CPU, RAM, HD or Battery
Saw it for $699 with 8xDVD it's still gonna cost you the price of a name brand after processer, ram, and HD is considered.

Re:ok.....

[unitron]

It may or may not need one or more tubes replaced but what you've described is the classic symptom of a bad filter capacitor in the power supply.

See if there's a community college or trade school in your area with an electronics servicing class that might want to fix it as a learning experience, or try a radio-TV repair shop that's been in business for a long time and might still have a tube tester.

Since it's a Decca, I'm guessing you're probably not here in eastern NC where I could help but somewhere that was once a part of the empire upon which the sun never set.