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[whom_e]

Okay, I have a laptop, but it's on the bulky side and I've been thinking I wouldn't mind having a smaller netbook more suitable for toting around. More for writing than for surfing, most likely, but of course a little Web access wouldn't hurt.

I've been watching for prices of these things to come down to $200 or so. Hasn't happened yet.

But today, I saw that PC Richard, a chain in these parts, is advertising a 7 inch netbook from "Visual Land" for $119.97. In googling it, I found that another outfit had recently offered the same model for $99.99.

Here is Visual-Land's site (which doesn't really give a lot of info):
http://www.skweezer.com/s.aspx/-/www~visual-land~com/vl760_black~html

and some customer reviews (which are all over the map) can be clicked on at amazon.com:
http://www.skweezer.com/s.aspx/-/www~amazon~com/Visual-Land-V-Net-VL-760-4GB-BLK-NetBook/dp/tech-data/B002VAGE3Y/ref=de_a_smtd/188-2312608-8908262

And then, I found another, similar product --with different specs -- from a company called EGlobal Wireless, this one actually being sold for $99.99 (free shipping).

http://eglobalwireless.wordpress.com/

http://www.eglobalwireless.com/p-4333-new-7-mini-netbook-laptop-notebook-wifi-windows-2gb-hd.aspx?gclid=CKv_rfO4-aECFZdL5QodFiYBEA

Couldn't find anything about this one anywhere else on the Web...

I might have missed something, but this is the first I've heard of these things -- which are not CherryPals or something that requires a subscription. They run on Windows CE (which we of course are all familiar with), so they obviously can't do it all but they probably wouldn't be much worse than this box.

I gather they have Flash memory, not a hard drive? I don't quite get if they have a disc drive so I don't know if you could set up a printer, for example? The browsers don't seem to be specified? -- and I don't know what kind of word-processing software the Visual-Land has (the $99 one is said to include Word, which seems improbable because wouldn't a copy of Office alone cost at least that much?). I'm also not even sure if there's an AC adapter included?

Since they both have WiFi, I could go online at a hotspot, even if not at home on dialup at the moment.

I'll try to satisfy my curiosity about the Visual-Land in PC Richard's local store in the next couple of days (which, of course, may be enough to dissuade me), but meanwhile, interested in any opinions or conjectures.

[overtimeman]

Go to amazon.com and read the reviews on those netbooks running WinCE.All reviews say they couldn't get them to do anything and they were returning them for a refund.Never saw 100% dissatisfaction on all reviews before.Look before you leap!Carolina Mike!

[whom_e]

[nellybly]

My grandson got that for Christmas. All the flash and such to be installed has to be the kind for mobile devices.

The keyboard is awfully cramped but OTOH I have rather large hands for a woman. It's ok and would do in a pinch. Though I'd really want a larger one running Windows XP I wouldn't turn my nose up at this one. Just be aware of the limitations and you're ok.

You can use BB with it (which is how he connects to the Internet).
_________________
A rose by another name: deadly, thorn-bearing assault vegetation.

[overtimeman]

When I went to amazon I just put netbook WinsCE and looked at only a couple of their products.Didn't bother to ckeck everyone of them out after looking at the reviews of a brand I never heard of before.Our version of WinsCE is only 3.0 with the deuce.Wonder what our units could accomplish with WinsCE6.0.Guess we'll never know.I just googled WinsCE and saw the links to amazon and was surprised it was even still being offered as an operating system.As long as there is a $ to be made why not.Carolina Mike!

[hlr356]

Can the CE 5 & 6 do IE 7 ?

henry

[whom_e]

[boom60]

When I see something like this I just ask myself one question. "WHY?" 4GB flash card and 64 Mb of RAM... people you got to be kidding. I wouldn't buy this... no better yet I wouldn't take one for free. Total junk if you ask me.

[overtimeman]

Windows CE's future for the time being has been shelved however, Windows Embedded are still failing to break-even, and the long term patience of Microsoft corporate may mean significant changes to what we in the Windows CE community perceive the platform to be. The haemorrhaging division, which at the end of the Microsoft 2004 financial year lost $46 million (US) and lost a staggering $219 million (US) in the previous fiscal term has never made a profit for Microsoft. Unless the distinction between Windows CE and Windows Mobile on the one hand, and the increasingly cautious embedded system developer community on the other can be clarified, Windows CE itself may be in danger if forthcoming releases fail to stimulate the market.

It cannot be ruled out at this point, given the perceivable lack of enthusiasm in the Windows Mobile world, that the pedestal afforded to the historic Windows CE based Platform will steadily begin to dissolve, being absorbed instead into the steadily widening set of licensing options available to all Microsoft Embedded developers who already have access to the traditional Handheld PC shell and the new Embedded Media Centre sample shell.
If such restrictions continue, then they will do so to the detriment of Windows CE itself, hindering adoption and continuing to add confusion in the form of over-bearing economic factors. In a world when innovation from Embedded linux community continues to drive adoption, and where the prestigious Apple Computers is debating entering the embedded device world Microsoft can ill-afford to continue to restrict access to its interface and shell technologies.

As a consequence, the future of Windows CE itself rests not with developers or large OEM's, but internally to Microsoft and with the bureaucracy of Windows Mobile. http://www.hpcfactor.com/support/windowsce/wce6.asp

[TisMike]

Pretty much covered in other responses. Personal opinion,
no way would I consider buying one. But, if you really would like a netbook, there are some brand name ones available that would be suitable for your usage. Cost a few bucks more, but it would be worth it.

I sincerely believe, that the purchase of any device and cost, depend primarily on the usage of that device by the one who is considering getting it.

Take care,
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Mike

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