Monday, September 19th 2011
Sol Computer's $749 Netbook, $1000+ Tablet: Achieving Cheap and Overpriced
Ok, let's get what's sort of good-ish about this netbook out of the way: the Pixel Qi's screen allows it be viewed easily in bright sunlight, which seems great - if you don't mind washed out colours and poor contrast under normal room conditions. The bad? Everything else. This Netbook isn't even made by Sol Computers. It turns out to be just a rebadged, refurbished Samsung netbook with a Pixel Qi panel in it. And get this: Sol Computer doesn't even hide the Samsung logo under the screen proving this is just a repackaged netbook, yet, it costs a hefty $749.00! Yes, Sol Computers' sole achievement is to have made something that is both cheap and overpriced. Amazing. Now, their Tablet PC is even worse: it's a rebranded "Alibaba special" i.e. generic Chinese tablet that doesn't even appear to support multitouch interface - yet it costs a staggering $1,099.00. It costs more than a high-end Macbook. I do wonder who their target market is for these products.
Netbook specs: Processor: Intel Atom N455 1.6 GHz Hard Drive 250GB USB Ports: 3 Operating System: Windows 7 Start Memory: 2GB DDR2 Display 10.1; LED-Backlit 1024x600 WSVGA Greater than 1000 nits (outside, sunlight) Media Card Reader SDHC, SD, MMC LAN: Ethernet and Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n Webcam Dimensions: 10.4"w x 7.4"d x 1.4"h Battery: 11.1v 4400 mAH 6-cell lithium ion Weight: 2.71 lbs.
Tablet PC specs: Processor: Intel Atom N455 1.66 GHz Operating System: Windows 7 Memory: 1GB DDR3 (supports up to 2GB) Graphics: UMA of Integrated Graphics 200MHz/DirectX9 Hard Drive 8/16/32 GB Display: 10.1" LED-Backlit 1024x576 USB Ports: 2 LAN: 10/1000Mbps Fast Ethernet/Wi-Fi or 3G G-Sensor: detects screen rotation and orientation Web Cam: 1.3 Mega Pixels Weight: 1.98 lbs. Dimensions: 10.6"w x 6.9"d x 0.5"h Battery: Internal 3Cell 3100mAH Polymer Battery Pack
Sources: Tom's Hardware and TechCrunch
Tablet PC specs: Processor: Intel Atom N455 1.66 GHz Operating System: Windows 7 Memory: 1GB DDR3 (supports up to 2GB) Graphics: UMA of Integrated Graphics 200MHz/DirectX9 Hard Drive 8/16/32 GB Display: 10.1" LED-Backlit 1024x576 USB Ports: 2 LAN: 10/1000Mbps Fast Ethernet/Wi-Fi or 3G G-Sensor: detects screen rotation and orientation Web Cam: 1.3 Mega Pixels Weight: 1.98 lbs. Dimensions: 10.6"w x 6.9"d x 0.5"h Battery: Internal 3Cell 3100mAH Polymer Battery Pack
Sources: Tom's Hardware and TechCrunch
23 Comments on Sol Computer's $749 Netbook, $1000+ Tablet: Achieving Cheap and Overpriced
all in all, that's just bs. hope at least somebody sees this and avoids sol computers like plague.
EDIT: www.topshoptv.com/index.asp?tn=default_v0 - this has to be their target market. :D
whats in their mind?
sell intel atom at that price
While these two things are barely related (as Sol doesn't have 'elitist' advertising campaign and their overpriced stuff IS INDEED crap),
still I can't resist quoting this one :) www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2002/07/12
but in all seriousness, would like to see a performance comparison between the tablet and a Xoom.
Id rather pay for a flight to Amsterdam and get jiggy with a few hookers for a few days and still have spare change to buy a few rounds for everyone at the pub.
And I differ when the summary says "$1,099.00" will buy you a "high-end Macbook." No, $2000 will buy you a high-end Macbook -- $1,099 will buy you the cheapest Air they sell. :P
And it is very fine IMO
And I saw similar tablets like that for 400€
I have bought two of these and use them as external monitors on my racing sailboat. They have worked reliably in that type of harsh environment for 3 years running! These touchscreens have been subjected to intense direct sunlight, sub-zero winter freezes and 120 degree blasts of heat (a cored fiberglass boat retains heat very effectively.
These screens are also so bright that we can see the data presented on them in direct sunlight. They have also functioned in the middle of downpours in summer squalls.
I do not know of any other product that would have survived - let alone performed so well in this type of application. You cost / value comparison is totally invalid inasmuch as this is not a mass-produced item, which could benefit from the kinds of economies of scale that normally distributed electronics enjoy. I thank God for Chris Swanner and his persistence to overcome the kinds of obstacles he did so that I could purchase a product that performs as reliably as this one has for me. In fact, I'm buying another one right now! If you have any questions, (other than to vent obnoxious and thoughtless comments such as what I see on this thread), please feel free to contact me.
;)
Thanks for your insight! :)
Thanks for acknowledging my post.
John
We are however a gaming and performance oriented site, and being that is NOT this products goal, your input is appreciated. :)