When you buy a computer from a well known company, there's a good chance it was actually manufacturer by a less well known company that specializes in producing OEM computers and electronics for big companies like Acer, HP, and Dell. Every now and then you'll even find two companies selling nearly identical machines based on the same OEM design. For example, the Medion Akoya Mini and the MSI Wind notebook are basically the same computer.

As one reader pointed out, it looks like the folks making the OEM version of the 3K RazorBook have quite a few customers. Because you can find this tiny, low-cost laptop with a whole slew of different names in different parts of the globe.We already knew about the SkyTone Alpha 100, but here are a few more examples:

• SilverStar E-PC
• Yinlips Micro PC
• BestLink Alpha 400
• I'm not sure this one has a name.
• Or this one either.

All of these devices sport similar specs, including a 7-inch, 800 x 480 pixel display, a 400MHz CPU, and flash memory instead of a hard drive. They run a custom version of Linux, and it's practically impossible to access the BIOS or change the operating system. Future versions may run Windows CE.

thanks Menno!

Remember back Asus first announced plans to develop a low cost ultraportable computer? Back when they said they could sell it for as low as $200? Yeah, that never really happened. Even the cheapest Eee PC units with just 2GB of storage and no webcam sell for $299. Now enter the Bestlink the Alpha 400 -- a $250 computer from a budget electronics maker.

The Alpha 400 isn't going to win any awards for design or horsepower. It's got a 400MHz Xbust CPU, 128MB of RAM, and 1-2GB of solid state flash memory. It's also got a 7 inch 800 x 480 pixel display, all of which officially makes this $250 laptop slighly less powerful and less cool than that $299 Eee PC 2G Surf.

But the Alpha 400 does have a few tricks up its sleeve. In addition to Linux, it can run Windows CE. And there will be WiFi, CDMA, GPRS, and ADSL add-ons. Wait... there's no built in WiFi? Nevermind.

[via Engadget]