The 3K RazorBook, with its 400MHz processor probably isn't going to best the MSI Wind, Acer Aspire One, or Eee PC 901 in any speed contests. But the tiny laptop with its custom version of Linux and $299 price tag is certainly a viable alternative for someone who wants to do some light word processing and web surfing but doesn't want to drop $400+ on a laptop.

And if Linux ain't your thing, it looks like 3K will be slapping Windows CE on the Razorbook next month. The move shouldn't come as a total surprise. Budget electronics maker BestLink announced in May that the company would bring a RazorBook clone to market sporting Windows CE. (Clone probably isn't the best word to use here, since it's likely that the two companies are getting their systems from the same OEM source).

Windows CE is basically the same operating system that powers Windows Mobile phones and PDAs. Back in the day (the day being the late 90s and early naughts), there were two classes of devices running Windows CE: handhelds and palmtops. The handheld devices had a clamshell layout and looked like tiny computers. The HP Jornada series and the NEC MobilePro Series were among the more popular handheld devices, but eventually handhelds went the way of the dodo and Microsoft focused on palmtops that evolved into today's cellphones and PDAs.

While you can't run full-fledged Windows applications on Windows CE, the operating system does have some advantages over Windows and even most Linux distributions. It's extremely light weight, and can fit on devices with 64MB of storage space or less. It requires very little power, which means you can get a ton of juice out of a relatively low capacity battery. And it's designed for instant-on, instant-off functionality.

A 3K RazorBook with a 4GB solid state disk, 400MHz processor and 512MB of RAM would be able to run Windows CE beautifully. Most phones running the OS have storage capacities measured in megabytes, not gigs. And the RAM is usually 128MB or less. And a 400MHz CPU should be plenty.

On the other hand, you're not going to be able to run OpenOffice.org, Pidgin, or Firefox on Windows CE, (at least not until Firefox mobile comes out later this year). And it's not even clear that you'll be able to run Opera Mobile and other software designed for Windows Mobile, since most applications are designed for touchscreen devices with smaller displays.

What do you think? Would you rather buy a RazorBook 400 running Windows CE or Linux?

Cloudbook UMPC uncovered some details about an upcoming mini-notebook from China's SkyTone. If the SkyTone Alpha 400 looks familiar, there's a good reason for that. The computer appears to sport the same casing and most of the same specs as the 3K Razorbook 400.

The Alpha 400 packs a 7 inch display, a 400MHz CPU, a Linux-based OS, an SD car dslot, 2 USB ports, Ethernet and optional WiFi, GPRS, CDMA, and ADSL modules. It does look like the Alpha 400 has a few things setting it apart from the 3K Razorbook 400. The SkyTone system has just 1GB of flash storeage and 128MB of RAM, while the Razorbook has 4GB of storage, 512MB of RAM and 3 USB ports.

The 3K RazorBook 400 hasn't even hit store shelves yet, and already the company is cuttings MSRP by 25%. At $400, the Razorbook looked like a pretty crappy Eee PC wannabe. At $300? Well, yeah, it still pretty much looks like a crappy Eee PC wannabe. But the lower price, plus the fact that it's a bit smaller and lighter than the Eee PC 701, but packs the same 7 inch display makes it slightly attractive.

According to Laptop Magazine's review, the RazorBook isn't really ready for prime time. There's no way to add or remove programs, open a terminal, or view Flash video online. Apparently 3K doesn't really intend to support some of those features, and is branding the RazorBook as more of a portable internet device than a full-fledged computer. Which would have been fine, say 5 years ago. But when you're releasing a product that looks like a computer, and is priced competitively with products that are clearly computers, the ability to add and remove programs or switch operating systems isn't really too much to ask.

Oh, and the RazorBook 400 name seems a bit silly now that the price is $299. I suppose it could refer to the computer's 400MHz processer.

The 3K Razorbook 400 is a $399 laptop that's being marketed as an alternative to the Asus Eee PC. At first glance, it looks pretty reasonable. It's got a 7 inch 800 x 480 pixel display, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of flash memory. But as I've mentioned before, I have a few concerns. First, the Razorbook has a 400MHz CPU, and second, the company describes the operating system as "genuine CE Linux Operating System Version 2.4." Umm, yeah.

Laptop Magazine's Joanna Stern has been putting a review unit through the paces, and she says the Razorbook's actually better than expected. It's smaller than the Eee PC 701, but has the same sized screen. In other words, you don't spend all your time staring at the bezel and wishing the screen took up the whole lid of the computer. But more importantly, that 400MHz processor seems perfectly capable of performing basic tasks. The machine boots up in just over 40 seconds, and it only takes a few seconds to launch most applications.

The software interface does seem a bit baffling. There's no way to add or remove applications. There's no way to bring up a terminal. And there's no way to change the operating system since you cannot configure the device to boot from an external device like an SD card, USB stick, or CD-ROM drive.

There's also no webcam, and no VGA port. All you get are 3 USB ports, an SD card reader, mic and headphone jacks, and an Ethernet port.

Oh, and did I mention that there's no easy access to the battery. If you want to remove or replace it, you've got to pull out a screwdriver (to pull out a few screws).

For more information, plus a few videos, make sure to check out the Laptop Magazine blog.

3K is promoting its new RazorBook 400 mini-notebook. And if it looks familiar, there's good reason. It's pretty much the same computer 3K was showing off last month, only back then it was called the Longitude. Aside from the name change, I don't see many changes. The computer's still got:

• 7 inch 800 x 480 pixel screen
• 400 MHz processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB flash storage
• 802.11b/g
• 3 USB ports
• SD card reader

And as for the operating system, the Longitude... I mean RazorBook stil packs the same "genuine Linux" OS. No word on what distro that would be, or what a fake Linux operating system would look like.

[via Mobility Site]

It's remarkable how many computer makers there are that I've never heard of. And all of them seem to be launching an Eee PC competitor. The latest is 3K, a subsidiary of Florida Micro. The company has just announced plans to release the Longitude 300 Mini Notebook PC.

So how does it stack up against all the other $400 mini-notebooks hitting the streets these days? Well, it's got a 7-inch screen, but there's no mention of the display resolution. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess 800 x 480. It's got an Ethernet Port, and WiFi, SD card reader, and 3 USB ports.

The 3K Longtitude also has a "full size keyboard," and weighs less than 2 pounds. It runs a "Genuine Linux Operating System," and not one of those cheap knockoffs, and ships with AbiWord and Gnumeric instead of OpenOffice.org. That's probably because OpenOffice.org takes up a few hundred MB, and the Longitude has a tiny 1GB solid state disk for all... I mean, none of your storage needs. And did I mention the CPU? This little guy is rocking a blazing slow "energy saving" 400MHz CPU.

Overall, I have to say, this is the new mini-laptop I'm least looking forward to. The Longitude should be available in May, but the company encourages you to pre-order now due to high demand. Seriously, that's what the press release says.

[via Engadget]