Forbes.com (In an article on the EEE PC):
Winter Computer Solutions will be happy to modify your netbook for you.
Link to Article: http://www.forbes.com
"BURLINGAME, CALIF. -- There's a dirty little secret a lot of people in the computer industry don't want you to know about your netbook. Are you alone? Good. Now here it is: It's really just a PC.
Okay, stop laughing. You knew that, of course. That's why you bought the thing. The problem: The companies designing, building and selling these suckers don't know you know that.
Many computer manufacturers are hoping these low-cost laptops won't hurt the margins they like to get on their fuller-featured machines. Tough luck. Research analyst Gartner predicts sales of low-cost netbooks will double to 21 million units in 2009 from 11.7 million units last year. Overall PC sales, by contrast, are expected to fall 9.2%.
And netbooks are growing more capable, even as they continue to fall in price. "People love them because they are usable PCs for a lot of purposes," says Gordon Haff, Gordon Haff, principal IT advisor at Illuminata, in Nashua, N.H.
While PC makers will tell you netbooks are much less capable than, say, a quad-core desktop processor with dual graphics cards and 8 gigs of memory, if you measure a machine's capability by how much mischief it can get you into, then you may not be able to find a better machine on the market.
Wired.com found this out the when its editors posted a video showing readers how to boot Apple's ( AAPL - news - people ) OS X operating system onto one of Dell's $279 Mini 9 netbooks. While Apple's machines are pricey, the software ran just fine on the dinky Dell ( DELL - news - people ). The problem: Apple wasn't happy with Wired.com's little stunt. It asked Wired.com to remove the video. Wired.com complied.
No one will complain if you install Linux, however. While many netbooks come with stripped-down, user-friendly variations of the software, full-blown Linux will work just fine on the tiny machines. Even if you're not a master geek, you probably have a friend or two who can help out and fix any nagging glitches you might encounter.
Few people are interested in installing an operating system onto a computer just for the joy of, say, using a particular operating system. The real attraction of netbooks is that just like the PCs of the past decade, netbooks have the power and flexibility to let you navigate your way through the Internet ether and have some fun. For example, you can download file-sharing software and steal music and movies--something you can't do so easily from, say, an iPod touch.
Of course, if you're looking for a cutting-edge performance demon, look elsewhere (and start saving your money too). Take the Dell Mini 9. Its 1.6-GHz Intel Atom processor and 1 GB of memory are fine for e-mail and Web surfing. Its specs are on par with, say, a six-year-old Dell Latitude. The older laptop, however, will come with a capacious mechanical hard drive, rather than the smaller, lighter 4 GB solid state drive you'll find on the standard Mini.
For some, however, those stripped-down specs are just a starting point. Users are also adding GPS chips, wireless cards, TV tuners and touch screens to their netbook gear. This can get tricky: Installing a touch screen, for example, involves cracking open the netbook's case, adding a touch-screen panel to your machine and wiring in a special controller. Another option: Companies such as Winter Computer Solutions will be happy to modify your netbook for you.
To be sure, netbooks won't replace smart phones, cameras or music players anytime soon. "The converged device is never going to be as good at some of the individual functions as a stand-alone device," Haff says. But unlike such purpose-built gadgets, netbooks will work with a huge grab bag of off-the-shelf parts. The only limit is your ingenuity.
One caveat: Many such modifications are for advanced users only. Like when cracking open your notebook computer, be ready to void your warranty and know enough to fix anything you may break while you're poking around. " ~ Forbes.com
Wired.com (In an article on the EEE PC):
"I’d say it was a work of passion and love for computing," said San Diego resident David Winter, who has crammed three solid state drives into a netbook, upping the capacity to 128 GB. (Normally, netbooks only ship with solid state drives in double-digit capacities.) His next project? A laser espionage microphone that he plans to implant into a netbook, which will enable him to record sound from behind someone’s window.
Link to Article: www.wired.com
"Cheap, Easy-to-Mod NetBooks Are a Hacker’s Paradise, By Brian X. Chen October 15, 2008 | 6:01 pm | Categories: Hacks, Mods and DIY, Notebooks
Thanks to their utilitarian design and low prices, netbooks are inspiring a booming subculture of hackers souping up their liliputers with touchscreens, Bluetooth and unauthorized operating systems like Apple’s Mac OS X.
As netbook sales continue to soar, more and more tech-savvy grease monkeys are dismantling netbooks to add fancy features including back-lit keyboards, GPS and longer-lasting batteries.
"I’d say it was a work of passion and love for computing," said San Diego resident David Winter, who has crammed three solid state drives into a netbook, upping the capacity to 128 GB. (Normally, netbooks only ship with solid state drives in double-digit capacities.) His next project? A laser espionage microphone that he plans to implant into a netbook, which will enable him to record sound from behind someone’s window.
Netbooks may seem like unlikely devices to attract the interest of hardware hackers, who traditionally have been drawn to bigger iron. Compared to full-size laptops, netbooks are low-powered and have limited feature sets. But in the face of a broad economic meltdown, hacking a $400 netbook makes more sense than risking a pricier, full-featured laptop.
Netbook modding is becoming so popular, Winter has launched a netbook-modding business: Winter Computer Solutions, which mods customers’ netbooks with GPS, Bluetooth, DVD readers or HDTV tuners.
Winter, who runs his burgeoning business on his netbook, is known for his remarkable netbook-mod stunts.
He once sold an Asus Eee PC netbook sporting every mod you can imagine: A 7-inch touchscreen, Air Play for transmitting FM radio, an overclocked processor, a Bluetooth adapter — and the list keeps on going.
DIY Devices, an up-and-coming electronics store, is planning to sell a kit called the Aeeeris, which will convert netbooks into tablets. Though a kit makes the procedure sound easy, converting a clamshell netbook into a tablet is considered an extreme mod — it’s not for the faint of heart. Available for a $60 pre-order, the kit includes a base, but a touchscreen must be purchased separately.
Another netbook modding nut goes by the handle "JKK." He hosts a web site dedicated to tutorials on netbook modding, and he says hacking mini notes is so trendy because it’s generally very easy — even for non-engineers. JKK Mobile’s most popular hack was installing a stylus-controlled touchscreen on an Asus
EEE PC, which JKK said was simple enough to do with a $50 kit from a Chinese manufacturer.
"The easiest things can actually be done by anyone," he said in a phone interview. "You don’t even have to open the whole device."
Brad Linder, writer of Liliputing, a blog devoted to ultraportable devices, thinks there’s even more behind the netbook modding craze. He noted that the modder community is continuing to make hacking netbooks easier because there’s a wealth of knowledge on the internet — forums, blogs and even instructions Provided by dell - discussing how to disect them
"It’s not like people haven’t been hacking hardware for years as well, but I feel like these little machines have become a paradise for hackers," Linder said. "While [netbooks are] designed to have low-income audiences, educational markets and kids, the people who mod these the most are nerds."
Making it easy, netbooks are all very similar in terms of specification and build. Practically every new netbook features a 1.6-GHz Intel Atom processor with either a 9- or 10-inch screen; the variations between models are very minor, which is why modding generally remains simple with the release of each new netbook.
And despite the general principle that smaller gadgets should be more difficult to customize in terms of hardware, Linder noted that their insides —
such as hard drives, 3-G cards and so on — are getting smaller, too, so it’s not too difficult to cram more features into these netbooks.
Linder, however, said he shies away from hardware mods and that he’s more of a "software guy." His Eee PC 1000H triple boots Windows XP, Ubuntu 8.04 Linux and Mandriva 2009 Linux.
One of the most popular software hacks for netbooks is installing Mac OS X Leopard, Linder said. The process typically takes people a few hours —
but that’s not long compared to the amount of time consumers will have to wait for Apple to finally deliver a netbook.
"People were talking about Apple coming out with a laptop under $800 for the first time, and someone already made one and it’s a netbook," he said. "I’m really impressed that the user community is able to accomplish things that even major manufacturers aren’t doing."
Shaun Craig Wrote:
Hi there,
My name is Shaun Craig and you just did some computer repair/maintenance on my daughters computer. She was very impressed with your work and I thank you very much for doing all the work you did at such an incredibly reasonable price. My other daughter, is going to contact you about her computer. Her wireless has issues and other stuff she can tell you about. Just wanted to give you a heads up and thanks again! - Shaun
Dynamic Computers Wrote:
Fast service, very good communication. These people know how to do business. Will be doing business with them again. A+
Tom Fota Wrote:
I brought my laptop in last week to have the DC Power Jack fixed and I'm happy to report that the power cord now fits snugly with no loss of AC power. This had been an increasingly frustrating problem over the last year as it became harder and harder to maintain AC power, finally getting to a point where I was no longer able to run on AC power or charge the battery. I dropped my laptop off one morning and picked it up the next morning. You even called me later that afternoon to let me know it already done. A tremendous value! Thanks! - Tom
The Waldorf School of San Diego wrote:
- You are the ultimate uber-computer guy! Thanks for bringing your own brand of magic to our office. - Sandy!
- Thanks so much for bringing a new level of
expertise to our school! Along with your sunny attitude! Thanks so much, - Julie
- Awesome work - thank you for your hard work and kind attentions. Your skills are
impressive! Thank you, - Lori
- Wow! you are so quick and efficient and friendly. That combo doesn't come all the time. I really appreciate your time and efforts. Thank you! - Anja
- We are loving the new setup in our office. What a difference to have some speed! We enjoyed having you around and I’m just sure we’ll see you again! - Gaylen
Robin Knight Wrote:
Just wanted to say thanks again for helping me so quickly with my laptop. Many businesses have lost sight of how important customer service is to create lasting customers, I hope your enthusiasm and attention to the needs of your customers always remains as important as it does now! When I am provided with good service I am motivated to spread the word and help get your more business. So many people waste their money on undeserving businesses! So thanks again, you made something I was dreading painless and positive. - Robin Knight
M.C.R.D. of San Diego wrote:
Dear Winter Computer Solutions,
Just a short note to say thanks for your great services today!
Honeycutt-Smith & Associates wrote:
Hi Winter Computer Solutions, Thank you for all your help last night and this morning! I really appreciate you walking Paul through the printer set up this morning :)
Ralph L. Looney, Colonel USAF Ret. wrote:
Dear Winter Computer Solutions: Thank you so very much coming to my aid! You can bet I will refer "WINTER COMPUTER SOLUTIONS" to all my friends. Thank you & God Bless you.
Corn Poppers wrote:
I love my XP Professional! Thanks for all your help it is greatly appreciated. The stuff in the office is doing good too. You did good!!! If you need a reference just holler. Sometimes people like referrals and we are quite happy with what you did!
Frank Wrote:
Maybe you can come over this summer. We'll definitely be in touch. Thanks again, and I will refer my friends and clients to your shop. - Frank.
Larry Uebbing Wrote:
Thanks David. I appreciate the great service and an awesome weekend to you too. - Larry
Jean Lacombe Wrote:
Hi David,
Woke up today, saw your revisions and would simply like to express that you made my day. No more changes. It looks good and reflects the feel and the expression we wanted to convey all along. We are sure you probably agree also with us that it matches the feeling you witnessed as well during your visits. Thank you.
Great Job. Once more, thanks for your patience and your suggestions and expertise. We are sure friends and other owners of businesses like ours will inquire about your services once the site begins to be more popular over time. We'll be glad to give you the high mark without reservations.
Finally, we know it was also a challenge for you because the concept was way out anything else you had done before. Hence, your experience too has grown and your creativity thereby is enhanced. Routine is anesthesia to our brain. Challenging newness in uncharted fields is the salt of our creativity and though at times we sweat in striving while we put that 9 pound ball in our cranium work, at the end the effort is always enlighting and fruitful. Einstein stated "...success is 90% work and only 10% inspiration...". It takes 90% work to reveal less than 1% of our inherent great creativity. The process of doing it is what brings us joy.
See you on Wednesday. Take Care. Enjoy the beautiful day.
Jean & Yanique
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