Shuttle makes small computers. But up until now, most of those computers have been desktop PCs crammed into tiny boxes, barebones PC kits, and all-in-one computers. Now DigiTimes is suggesting that the company may be looking to get into the notebook business.

According to DigiTimes, Shuttle is trying to recruit 40 folks from ECS, a notebook maker that has put together some pretty nifty netbooks over the last year or so. While we’re still in the early rumor stages, and DigiTimes doesn’t really provide any quotes or, you know, confirmation of anything, I wouldn’t be surprised if Shuttle is looking at the netbook space. After all, what are netbooks but small computers?

via SlashGear

ECS may not exactly be a household name. But the company makes some pretty decent netbooks, a number of which feature integrated 3G modules. Of course, in many parts of the world you’d be hard pressed to find a netbook with the ECS label on it. Instead, you’ll probably find a netbook like the G10IL rebranded and sold under another name (like the Averatec Buddy).

But according to DigiTimes, ECS shipped 1.6 million notebooks and netbooks during the first half of 2009. The company is shooting to sell 4 million units by year’s end, and seeing as how the holiday season falls in the second half of the year, that seems like a realistic goal.

ECS also introduced three new netbook models at Computex in June.

ECS is showing off a new mini-laptop that bears a more than passing resemblance to the Sony Vaio P thanks to its small size and widescreen display. The ECS T800 will measure just 246 x 121 x 20mm and weigh about 800 grams. In American measurements, that’s 9.7″ x 4.8″ x .08″ and 1.76 pounds.

Under the hood, the computer will feature either an 800MHz OMAP3 3440 or 1GHz OMAP 3450 processor, which means the T800 ain’t going to run Windows XP anytime soon. Instead it will come with Google Android. it also has an 8.1 inch display, 512MB of RAM, a 2.5 inch hard disk or solid state disk, and 2 internal mini-PCIe slots for wireless connectivity. The computer also has 2 USB ports, a 4-in-1 card reader, and an optional 0.3 or 1.3MP webcam.

No word on pricing, but with those specs I’m guessing it’ll cost at least a few bucks less than the Sony Vaio P. You probably won’t see this machine hitting store shelves under the ECS brand name anytime soon. Instead, it’s likely that ECS will market it at telecoms interested in putting their own brand names on the hardware and maybe even the software and selling it to consumers bundled with a wireless broadband contract.

Sascha from Netbook News.de shot a little video with a non-working prototype. Check it out after the break.

Update: Computer World reports that the ECS T800 will be out in the 4th quarter of 2009 for under $500.

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ECS T10IL

It’s been a little while since we’ve heard from ECS, makers of the G10IL netbook. But ECS is preparing to show off 3 new models at Computex.

First up is the ECS T10IL, which weighs less than 1 kilogram (or about 2.2 pounds) and features a 10.1 inch display, 1.8″ hard drive or SSD, Bluetooth, WiFi, and and an HSUPA modem.

Next, we have the ECS V10IL which has a 10.1 or 10.2 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display, a 2.5 inch 160GB hard drive, and an HSUPA modem. Bluetooth is optional.

Finally, the ECS T21IL is a larger model with an 11.6 inch, 1366 x 768 pixel display. It’ll sport an Intel Celeron based CULV processor instead of Intel Atom, but ECS is still aiming to keep this machine thin and light. It has a 1.8″ hard drive.

via Netbook News.de

Looking for a seriously cheap ultraportable laptop with an Intel Atom CPU? Like cheaper than the $599 Eee PC 901 or the $479 MSI Wind? ECS vice president Henry Kwan tells Laptop Magazine that the ECS G10IL is heading to the US, and the low end model will cost just $399.

If you thought it was just consumer-oriented computers like the Eee PC, MSI Wind and ECS G10IL that were getting the new Intel Atom processor, think again. CNET Asia found a Classmate PC hanging out that the Intel Atom booth at Computex.