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First Android-Based Netbook, Set-Top Box

Posted by timothy on from the every-glovebox-could-have-one dept.

An anonymous reader writes "China based Skytone famous for making skype headsets have brought out a $100 device, the Alpha-680 netbook running Google Android for its OS. The device has Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB ports and an SD card slot. After watching the video though, I get a feeling that the boot time is somewhat long. IMO good enough for browsing." Also on the Android front, ruphus13 points out what the maker claims is the first "fully realized" non-mobile Android device (though I think there were some other non-mobile gadgets on diplay at CES), a set-top box from Motorola based on Android. According to the linked post, it's "capable of playing DVDs and CDs, transferring music and video to a mobile device, and ripping and storing files" and "will have a full-featured Chrome-like browser."

6 of 114 comments (clear)

  1. Anemic for 100 by CSFFlame · · Score: 5, Insightful

    $100 isn't very much. As low spec as that is, it's very good for $100. I don't know why they were bashing it so much.

  2. Android Java by pleappleappleap · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'd be much more impressed with android if there was a full JRE available.

  3. Not disappointed at all! by oo7tushar · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm actually wanting one if it's around $100. It would be perfect for showing simple stats or doing very basic quick commands. Could even write a custom application quickly.

    I'm not anywhere close to disappointed by the specs as the author of the article is.

    --
    internet like monkeys'
  4. It's $100 bucks...! by TheNarrator · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Geez... The reviewer was criticizing this netbook saying that this thing was "low-end" and a glorified cellphone. Well I have no idea what kinds of cellphone you can get with a QWERTY keyboard, an RJ45 Jack, USB, 3G, Wifi an SD card slot and an 800x600 screen for $100.

    1. Re:It's $100 bucks...! by fm6 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The "reviewer" was the usual ignorant and opinionated "technology columnist". Saying stupid things is practically part of his job description.

  5. Re:Why? by fm6 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Please. Java SE may not be the Windows killer Sun used to claim it was, but there are still a lot of people running Java GUI apps, especially in enterprise applications. And not "legacy" apps either. It's a simple way to create simple client programs that you can deploy over the web. It will never replace native apps for most purposes, but it still has a big role.

    The absence of a JRE would all seem to relate to the confusion over what kind of device Android is really meant for. Google seems to have targeted at cell phones and PDA-style devices. In that context, not supporting Java SE makes sense. But once you start deploying Android on netbooks....