A mobile browsing solution?

You know, I think a great idea for a product would be a laptop that sells for about $250 - $350, is solid-state (ideally), and runs a simplistic OS (Maybe Linux), has WIFI, and has web browsing capability, the ability to check email, etc. Something small you could just throw in a bag and take to a coffee shop instead of lugging a $2000 laptop.

Why are laptop makers trying to make ultra small but super fast laptops? An internet device does NOT have to be top of the line! Why not release something that meets minimum system requirements for web browsing? And then make it cheaper?

Ideal Specs
- Around 1Ghz
- 500M RAM
- 10G Harddrive
- WIFI
- USB
- Solid state with expandable SD card slot.

Ideally it would get about 10 hrs of battery life on one charge and would turn off/on without having to "boot up."

There are some solid state laptops emerging, but they're all very expensive and (in my opinion) sortof over-kill for someone who just wants a simple, durable device to take down to a bookstore/coffee shop and surf the web/check email.

With the emergence of Google Docs and such products, why doesn't something like this exist? Heck, perhaps Google should even build an ultra cheap laptop optimized for Google's web products...

dep

asus? is coming out with something like this.

With the price of SSD not coming down too much yet, would be impossible for that price range.

Yes, the Asus eee pc. I think the $300 version had either 8gb or 16gb.

Yeah ASUS is releasing a cheap notebook like the op had suggested. When you think about it, cell phones are setup for email and some of the newer ones have the ability to browse the web to a certain degree. The Sony PSP can browse the web so it can be done and in a small form factor.

I don't think American consumers buy what is smart and practical but for the most part they want to buy the best for the money that they can afford. Look at cars and how many people are in a 4 door sedan or SUV totally alone. They could be driving one of those European smartcars for example but for whatever reason Americans don't want that even if it is more practical. Big and powerfull is what most Americans want.

yes, that is sad but true. Americans want the best and the biggest...

But, it's all about marketing, too. If it were stylish and sexy as well as affordable, I bet it'd do wonderful. Wifi and "on the go" products seem to be picking up traction.

dep

The Asus Eee seems to be exactly what I was talking about. Can't wait to try one out. Though I didn't get any specifics on the web browser. I hope it's Firefox.

dep01 said:

The Asus Eee seems to be exactly what I was talking about. Can't wait to try one out. Though I didn't get any specifics on the web browser. I hope it's Firefox.

Click to expand...

I think it is.

It is.