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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."
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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.
Duris MUD - The best pkill MUD. Ever.
First Notebook Barebone Ever
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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.
If something I said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, I meant the other one.
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/
sig:- (wit >= sarcasm)
Actually, they buy them pre-assembled and slap a name badge on them, then screw you with a huge mark-up.
bytesmythe
Hypocrisy is the resin that holds the plywood of society together.
-- Scott Meyer
Try laptopparts.com here. Those are brand name displays, search found 903 of them, and no way to sort by price.
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
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...