14 DAY TRIAL // One of the most anticipated additions to the fast growing market of ultra-portable netbooks is a product that combines an ARM-powered platform with the mobile-focused Android operating system. This solution will offer PC enthusiasts a choice for even a lower-priced, Internet-capable computer device that will essentially provide the basics in computing technology. On that note, it appears that the very first, commercially-available Android-netbook will be available to customers within three months, according to its designer, Guangzhou Skytone Transmission Technologies.
The company, which is located somewhere in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, is currently testing the netbook, which will be available as the Alpha 680. According to a recent news-report on Computerworld, the upcoming device will be the first product on the market to incorporate an ARM processor and run on Google's Android platform. Competitive products are expected to arrive one to two months after the release of said Alpha 680. Unfortunately, there have been no specific names of PC designers that are expected to roll out their own Android+ARM-based netbook.
According to the early specifications of the device, the Alpha 680 will provide users with an innovative design, weighing in at just 1.5 pounds and being just .5 inches long, 6 inches wide and 1.2 inches thick. This makes the Alpha 680 roughly similar to the original Eee PC 701, released by ASUS more than a year ago.
The ARM processor inside the Alpha 680 is clocked at 533MHz and boasts a 7-inch LCD screen, running at 800 by 400. It will be equipped with 128MB DDR2 RAM memory, which can be expanded to a maximum of 256MB, 1GB of storage on an SSD (expandable to 4GB) and support for SD card. Additionally, the Alpha 680 will provide two USB ports, built-in WiFi, keyboard and touchpad.