14 DAY TRIAL // As if the already released ultra mobile PCs were not enough, 3K Computers announced another ultra-portable computer that strikingly resembles the successful Eee PC. The PC manufacturer has a long tradition in selling re-branded OEM notebooks, and its new $399 Longitude 400 perfectly fits into the picture.
The notebook weighs a little below 900 grams and is shaped in the same style as Asustek's Eee PC 701. It comes with the same 7-inch display, a feature that is already obsolete, given the fact that the industry is switching to 8.9-inch panels.
3K computers claims that the sub-notebook comes with a "full-size" keyboard, which is almost wrong. It's true that the keycaps are slightly more distanced from one another, but it's a long shot to claim that it is similar to the keyboard of a fully-fledged notebook.
The notebook's technical specifications keep the same line as any mainstream sub-notebook of your choice, with a few minor exceptions. The ultra-mobile notebook sports three USB 2.0 connectors, 1GB of internal flash storage and 512MB of RAM. The big news is that it comes with a 400 MHz processor built on a 32-bit architecture. Despite the fact that the company did not detail upon the CPU, it is alleged that it is a ultra-low-voltage offering from VIA.
Storage is almost inexistent, and users who think of installing Windows XP on top of the machine had rather pick another device. The 1GB solid-state drive is merely not enough, given the fact that it can store as much as a $8 low-end USB flash drive. It's true that the storage capacity can be expanded via a SD card, but this means extra money.
The Longitude will have to compete with the Eee PC, as well as with some other nice UMPC offerings that sell for about the same price, such as HP's 2133 Mini-Note. The Eee PC 2G surf version is only $100 more expensive, but comes with twice the storage capacity and with a more powerful CPU.