NEC Joins the Netbook Market with LaVie Light

[malware]

NEC announced today its entry into the netbook market with the introduction of its first netbook - LaVie Light. I have to admit this is an odd name for a computer part although Eee is not a better one too, but people seem to like and buy them regardless of their strange model names. The NEC LaVie Light serves up the typical netbook specs - a 8.9-inch display with 1024x600 resolution, Intel Atom N270 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, and last but not least a Windows XP Home Edition operating system. The LaVie Light weighs in 2.6 pounds and also includes a 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, three USB 2.0 ports, an SD card slot, and a built-in 1.3MP camera. The 8.9-inch NEC LaVie netbook will be released in Japan on November 6th this year. Exact price for the model wasn't announced, but its price is estimated to be around $650.



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[jbunch07]

I don't much care for the look of it, that white keyboard comes across as tacky to me.

 

[Flint]

This looks kind of cheap. All box like. Looks like a laptop from 1996.

 

[try2banme]

This looks kind of cheap.

That's because it is.

 

[Flint]

That's because it is.

Well, $650 for a netbook isn't exactly cheap. I was really talking about the aesthetics.

 

[jbunch07]

agreed, I don't like the style of it at all, ive seen much better looking netbooks for around the same price.

 

[Arrakis9]

i personaly like the design of it, pure simplicity and the keyboard is a really nice contrast to the case.

 

[v-zero]

i personaly like the design of it, pure simplicity and the keyboard is a really nice contrast to the case.

Are you mad?! It looks like a cuboid cow!

 

[cdawall]

now were is the lime green lettering on the keyboard thats all the missed in making this look about as bad as they could

 

[FordGT90Concept]

This looks kind of cheap. All box like. Looks like a laptop from 1996.

My thoughts, exactly. Looks like a circa 1998 Gateway laptop I pitched not too long ago. At least that gateway had black keys too.

 

[Deleted member 3]

I do like the design, the screen is too small though. The device is small enough already, at least keep the screen the size of the device.

Besides, 8,9" netbook, 8,9" display. Which is it?

 

[oli_ramsay]

Why would they name their first notebook after a toilet? Lavie/lavvy is slang for lavatory here and hopefully it wont live up to it's name.

 

[Wayward]

Isn't the whole point of a netbook to be cheaper than a regular laptop? There are plenty of full sized laptops available for under $650. Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose?

It's not just this one either, they are making pricey eee's as well. I think these companies are starting to miss the point of "smaller AND cheaper".

 

[Deleted member 3]

Isn't the whole point of a netbook to be cheaper than a regular laptop?

No, size is the selling point. Cheap is a nice second argument. Though ultra portables for example have been quite expensive. Though those are usually 12/13". ie large and fast enough to work semi-decently, yet still small enough to take anywhere.

 

[Wayward]

No, size is the selling point. Cheap is a nice second argument.

Really? Wow, could have fooled me. The only netbooks I've seen around recently are the sub $400 Aspire One's. When I ask why they were purchased the first thing I'm told is usually some variation of "because it was the cheapest", often including "with XP". The next thing usually is "and look at how small/light it is".

I may live in a weird place, but here it seems the first thing people look for is the price tag. That said, it may have more to do with the lousy economic situation than anything else. I'd bet "lighter/smaller" will become a much bigger issue after the economy picks up.