So you weren’t impressed by news that hackers had figured out how to gain root access to the Alpha 400 laptop? Well here’s a new hack for you. While the company behind this ubiquitous mini-notebook (also known as the Razorbook 400 and the Trendtac Ultra Mobile PC), has decided to offer an optional WiFi USB dongle instead of built-in wireless capabilities, one Dutch user figured out how to make his outie an innie.

Basically, it looks like there’s an unused USB port on the inside of the unit. So if you disassemble the casing on a USB WiFi dongle and attach it to the USB port and find a good spot in the case (say, next to the display), you don’t have to carry around a spare part just to connect to the internet.

You can read his original comments in Dutch, or check out a Flickr Photoset showing the hack in more detail.

thanks Menno!

The “world’s cheapest laptop” goes by many names. In some countries it’s known as the Alpha 400, while others call it the Razorbook 400. But all the variations have one thing in common so far: They run a custom version of Linux that makes hacking/tweaking the operating system pretty difficult.

When Laptop Magazine’s Joanna Stern got a first look at the 3K Razorbook 400, one of the things she noted was that there was no way to gain terminal access or to change the boot menu and load an alternative operating system. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. And some hackers in Holland have figured out how to access the terminal as root. Trendtac, The Dutch distributor has posted instructions online.

Liliputing tipster Menno Dijk who sent this in also points out that Ingenic, the makers of the CPU used in these computers, has posted extensive information about running Windows CE 5.0 with the chip. US distributor 3K has already suggested that it will make a version with Windows CE available. But perhaps we’ll see an unofficial port sooner than that?

thanks Menno!

While the OLPC XO Laptop never really hit that mythical $100 price point, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to sell a laptop for little more than a Ben Franklin. Alibaba is selling the so-called “World’s Cheapest Laptop,” for just $130. The only catch? You need to order 50 or more laptops to get that price.

The laptop is basically a rebranded Razorbook 400/Skytone Alpha 400. That means you get all the usual goodies (or not so goodies, as the case may be), including a 400MHz CPU, 7 inch 800 x 480 pixel display, 128MB of RAM, 1GB of flash memory, and a simple Linux-based OS that’s notoriously difficult to fiddle with.

The PC also comes with an SD card slot, 3 USB ports, an onboard mic, and a VGA port. There are also optional LAN and WiFi dongles for hooking up to the internets.

[via Engadget]

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!

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.

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 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.

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.

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: