The Linux distribution that comes with most versions of the 3K RazorBook, Alpha 400, and similar Xburst-powered mini-laptops is a bit limited, to say the least. While it comes with a web browser and a few other utilities, adding third party applications can be a chore.

Last month we mentioned an alternate Linux distribution called 3MX that makes the Xburst netbooks feel a bit more like real computers. It comes with a web browser, media player, instant messenger, word processor, and bittoreent client, among other things. But back in March there were still a few kinks to work out, and not all of the hardware worked out of the box.

But the latest version fixes all of the major issues. 3MX release candidate 3.1 adds support for auto-mounting USB devices and SD cards, WEP and WPA WiFi security, and even support for some USB 3G modems.

Of course, the operating system is still only part of the story. These XBurst netbooks stll have slow 400MHz processors, tiny keyboards, and low resolution 7 inch, 800 x 480 pixel displays. But if you’re looking for a dirt cheap ultraportable computing device for under $200, you could probably do worse.

The 3K Razorbook 400 isn’t going to win any awards for speed, performance, or design. This little netbook has a 400MHz ARM CPU, a 7 inch, 800 x 480 pixel display, 4GB of flash memory and just 128MB of RAM. But it’s cheap.

How cheap? Normally it costs a bit over $200, but right now TheNerds.net has a model in stock that is selling for $154.99.

This mini-laptop runs Windows CE 6.0, which is similar to the operating system found on Windows Mobile phones. It comes with stripped down Office applications for creating and editing text and spreadsheet documents, as well as a simple web browser. The RazorBook comes with a 2 cell, 2100mAh battery and measures 8.7″ x 5.6″ x 1.25″.

There are also a few versions of Linux that can run on the 3K Razorbook 400 if you want to do something funky like install Firefox.

You can read more about the Razorbook and similar netbooks by checking out our XBurst netbook reading list.

Update: It’s even cheaper at Buy.com, where you can pick the RazorBook up for $148.

via Eee PC.net and Laptoping

Some of the cheapest netbooks on the market are also the most frustrating for power users. Sure, you can pick up a 3K Razorbook 400, or one of a few dozen netbooks based on the same design for under $200. But not only do these machines have small 7 inch, 800 x 480 pixel displays and tiny keyboards. They also have slow 400MHz Xburst processors and a custom version of Linux that makes it very difficult to add or remove programs or do much of anything else with your netbook.

A few months ago we saw the first third party Linux distribution for these machines. And now there’s a new distro called 3MX Linux.

3MX comes with Firefox 3, Dillo, VLC, Transmission BitTorrent Client, Pidgin, XChat, Abiword, and a bunch of other programs, many of which you won’t find on the standard Linux distribution. 3MX can be installed using an SD card on some Xburst netbooks, including the 3K Razorbook 400, and the Trendtac 400.

The operating system is still a work in progress, and some things don’t work perfectly. For instance, you can’t automatically connect to wireless networks yet, you have to initiate connections manually. The same goes for mounting USB drives. But  3MX shows a lot of promise for anyone looking to get more out of these cheap and  tiny laptops.

Update: While the latest release candidate does indeed still have some issures with WiFi connections and mounting USB devices, there’s an earlier stable build that works just fine. thanks wicknix!

You know all those stories about the “world’s cheapest netbook” you keep seeing that all seem to point to the same laptop, but with different names? That’s because they’re all produced by the same Chinese company, Exon Technology and distributed worldwide by companies that use a dozen or so different names for the same device. Two Liliputing readers have put together some pretty awesome resources for information about these netbooks powered by XBurst CPUs.

Notebooks.com Wiki

Liliputing reader revoke has taken it upon himself to create a single repository of info about these cheap, underpowered netbooks in the new Notebooks.com Wiki. The wiki article was created as part of the Liliputing and Notebooks.com Lenovo IdeaPad S10 Giveaway contest, but it makes for great reading material if you’re interested in learning more about these XBurst netbooks. And since this is a wiki entry, not a bible, you’re free to contribute or edit the article.

Liliputing Forums

If you’re interested in reading more about these tiny laptops, Mikez has created an extensive thread dedicated XBurst netbooks in the Liliputing Forums.

Other resources

You can also find some excellent information and some downloads at Little Linux Laptop and Dutch community Trendtac.hyves.nl.

The 3K Razorbook 400, TrendTac/Skytone Alpha 400, or whatever else you want to call the cheap netbook made by Exon Technology, may not be the most powerful computer around. But it’s certainly one of the cheapest, typically selling for $250 or less.

But these little laptops tend to run a custom version of Linux that’s hard to alter, replace, or do much of anything with. Sure, it includes a web browser, word processor, and several other basic applications. But if you want newer apps like Firefox 3, good luck trying to get them to work on an Alpha 400 running the default operating system.

But now there’s an alternative, at least if you’re willing to run alpha software. A hacker by the name of Lee has put together a custom Linux distribution for these tiny netbooks.

Xenium Linux is still pretty rough around the edges. For example, there’s no way to automatically connect to a network, you’ll have to do it manually every time. And the same goes for mounting USB devices. You’ll have to mount them manually as well. 

But this is just an early build. Those problems and others could be fixed in future releases. And unlike the version of Linux that ships on these laptops, Xenium isn’t locked down. It should be much easier to install programs and customize your operating system, desktop environment. 

And this should go without saying, but if you decide to replace your operating system, you will lose all the data on your netbook. So make sure to backup any important files first. There’s currently no easy way to make a dual boot Alpha 400.

via Liliputing Forums

You know those cheap mini-notebooks with a custom LInux operating system, a tiny touchpad, and a 7 inch display that seem to be all over the place? Apparently they’re all made by the same company in China. And that company, Exon International Technology, is giving them a bit of an upgrade. Or at least a lateral-grade.

Exon recently replaced the 400MHz Ingenic CPU in these netbooks with a 400MHz Intel XScale processor. It’s also calling the new models the PC701-LX. The first netbook I’ve seen with the PC701 name is the Firstview PC701. I think it’s fair to say these are the same computer.

While the XScale CPU may nto win any awards for speed, it is at least a bit more common than the Ingenic CPU. The Intel XScale processor is used in a wide variety of mobile devices including cellphones and PDAs. I wouldn’t expect it to handle Windows XP very well, but it’s good enough for Windows CE or the light weight custom version of Linux that Exon preloads on these netbooks. The product page does say that the PC701-LX is Windows XP compatible. So I guess it’s theoretically possible to run the operating system. I just wouldn’t expect much from it.

Update: Exon says the Windows XP model has a 1GHz x86 CPU and 8GB of solid state memory, but costs more than the version with the 400MHz Intel XScale processor.

If you’re going to put out a cheap netbook with substandard specs, based on the often-rebranded Skytone Alpha 400/3K RazorBook 400/netbook of many other names, that’s fine. Heck you could even try to tell me it’s a good netbook because of its low price. Most of these mini-notebooks sell for $250 or less. But please don’t try to tell me it’s the best. Because with a 7 inch, 800 x 480 pixel display, a 400MHz Xburst CPU, it clearly is not.

But that hasn’t stopped one company from naming their cheap netbook with just those specs the “Best PC007” (PDF link). So much for truth in advertising.

via Pocketables

It looks like there are two more netbooks in the world based on the same reference design as the 3K Razorbook 400. French site Blogeee noticed a new netbook available from RueDuCommerce called the SurfOne INOS1, which sells for about 189 €, or about $257 US. It has a 400MHz Ingenic CPU, a 7 inch 800 x 480 pixel display, 128MB of RAM, and a 2GB SSD. As far as expansion and connectivity go, the SurfOne INOS1 series has an Ethernet jack, WiFi, 3 USB ports, and an SD card reader.

Meanwhile, UK computer distributor Elonex has put out a sequal to the company’s Elonex One £99 laptop. The Elonex One t+, which we first got a glimpse of a few months ago, is apparently now starting to ship. And one UK blogger took this netbook which looks like it’s probably based on the same reference design as the INOS1/Razorbook for a spin.

In general, he says the netbook has a decent keyboard, an awkward trackpad, and an easy to use custom Linux operating system with all the basic software you’d expect including a Firefox-based web browser, a chat application, aword processor, and spreadsheet app. The One t+ goes for about £129 or $226 US.

via Blogeee and Engadget

With Quarta announcing plans to shoehorn Windows CE onto netbooks including the Acer Aspire one and Lenovo IdeaPad S9, I decided it was time for another look at a netbook that’s actually designed to run Windows CE. The 3K Razorbook 400 (which goes by many different names in many different countries) is a tiny little notebook, even by netbook standards, with a 7 inch screen, a 400MHz CPU, and 4GB of SSD. While most models currently run a custom version of Linux, 3K plans to release a model running Windows CE soon.

You can check out a video of a 3K employee demonstrating the device after the break.

While Windows CE may not be able to run all the programs that work with Linux or Windows XP, it is a capable little operating system that has the basic look and feel of Windows. It’s got a start menu, taskbar, and system tray. It boots in 10 to 20 seconds. And the version that will ship with the Razorbook 400 will have viewers for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, although you’ll probably want to invest in sometihng like SoftMaker Office if you want a full fledged office suite that lets you edit and create documents. 

Perhaps most importantly, the version of Internet Explorer that comes with the Razorbook supports Flash 9 content, which means you can watch most online video and interact with other web sites. The biggest problem I’d run into with prior handheld computers running Windows CE was that the web browsers were next to useless. The other problem was that the operating systems were rarely upgradeable. I have no expectation that you’ll be able to upgrade the Razorbook 400 from Windows CE 6.0 to Windows CE 7.0 when it becomes available.

But because there’s already at least one Linux distro designed for this hardware and a group of dedicated hackers working on developing more software for it, if you get tired of Windows CE or find that it’s outdated in a year or two, perhaps you’ll be able to change the OS.

In the meantime, make sure to check out the video after the break.

thanks Steve!

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As promised, Menno Dijk has uploaded a series of useful applications for anyone using a “little linux laptop.” These laptops go by many names, including the 3K Razorbook 400, the Skytone Alpha 400, the Bestlink Alpha 400, and the Yinlips Micro PC. But they’re all basically the same device, and if yours is running Linux, odds are you’ve been having a hard time figuring out how to do basic things like pull up a terminal with root access.

The site also has a handful of open source games and utilities including a contact manager and a text editor. While this tiny laptop isn’t exactly going to give the MSI Wind a run for its money in the looks or performance departments, it’s hard to beat the price. You can pick one up for under $200.