Editorial Sol Computer's $749 Netbook, $1000+ Tablet: Achieving Cheap and Overpriced

[qubit]

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

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[D4S4]

i think they deserve a round of applause. and that every customer that buys one should get a party thrown in celebration of their awesomeness.

all in all, that's just bs. hope at least somebody sees this and avoids sol computers like plague.


EDIT: http://www.topshoptv.com/index.asp?tn=default_v0 - this has to be their target market.

 

[Kantastic]

Bet you the ShamWOW guy will sell these like hotcakes.

 

[Fourstaff]

Watch as the government snap a hundred thousand of each.

 

[micropage7]

bah.
whats in their mind?
sell intel atom at that price

 

[Jegergrim]

That is even high for european standards xD, good luck with those prices

 

[robal]

They're probably aiming to prey on unwary people that judge product by looks and 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 http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2002/07/12

 

[Rowsol]

EDIT: http://www.topshoptv.com/index.asp?tn=default_v0 - this has to be their target market.

LOL. I saw a $100 mop!

 

[m4gicfour]

...costs a staggering $1,099.00. This piece of rubbish costs more than a high-end Macbook. I do wonder who their target market is for these products? Someone please let me know.

Morons. They forgot to replace the Samsung logo with an Apple logo. *ducks*

 

[qubit]

Morons. They forgot to replace the Samsung logo with an Apple logo. *ducks*

I know, I couldn't believe it! I just had to post this story when I saw that. This outfit sounds like one of those fake Chinese brands, doesn't it?

 

[NC37]

Morons. They forgot to replace the Samsung logo with an Apple logo. *ducks*

I was about to say the same myself. If anyone could make cheap hardware like this sell for more, its Apple.

 

[douglatins]

This is the worst evar!

 

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

Bet you the ShamWOW guy will sell these like hotcakes.

ILOL'd

but in all seriousness, would like to see a performance comparison between the tablet and a Xoom.

 

[HalfAHertz]

ILOL'd

but in all seriousness, would like to see a performance comparison between the tablet and a Xoom.

impossible because one runs x86 and the other ARM

 

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

lol Atom N455 is jurassic

 

[FreedomEclipse]

$749 is way too high for a netbook of that spec.... and all im seeing is that youre paying and extra $300-$400 so you can can take it outside and use it in direct sunlight??

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.

 

[Frick]

bah.
whats in their mind?
sell intel atom at that price

Could make sense, if they had some awesome stuff going for them. But they don't have that, so yeah.

 

[mdm-adph]

Watch as the government snap a hundred thousand of each.

The government can only buy these if it's part of their existing HP or DELL contracts. And they'd probably actually cost a little bit more.

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.

 

[Derek12]

What a scam, my netbook is the same and costed me 240€ 8 months ago.

lol Atom N455 is jurassic

BTW the processor isn't old, it's low power one, the battery lasts me 6 hours+ . But it's fine for the uses intended for a netbook.

And it is very fine IMO


And I saw similar tablets like that for 400€

 

[John Schimenti]

I read your review of SOL Computer's 10" Tablet and would like to add my 2 cents - even though it seems that I am 3 years late.

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.

 

[Arjai]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2003/01/08/minus-the-pope-and-a-rabbi

 

[Frick]

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.

qubit doesn't do "news" here anymore, which is a good thing because it was always like this. He "uncovered" "dirt" on many things in this "hardhitting" format. I think he's humbler now.

Thanks for your insight!

 

[John Schimenti]

qubit doesn't do "news" here anymore, which is a good thing because it was always like this. He "uncovered" "dirt" on many things in this "hardhitting" format. I think he's humbler now.

Thanks for your insight!

I know the owner of SOL. He is a very nice, well intentioned chap. The SOL Computer are expensive because he has to purchase finished product from Asia and then change the screens manually, repackage them and market them one at a time. I don't think that he is getting rich doing this. He does however support his product very well. I have cracked 3 screens and he has replaced them for about $300 each. I hope that he gets better press than what I see on this blog.

Thanks for acknowledging my post.
John

 

[R-T-B]

Yeah, I'd like to think we do better journalism here now than what you see there. That was in the earlier days of the site.

We are however a gaming and performance oriented site, and being that is NOT this products goal, your input is appreciated.