Clover Systems SunBook Has a Pixel Qi Display

Even with all the talk about how netbooks haven't been doing as splendidly as some would have hoped, it seems that new models are always coming out, even some with less than ordinary yet quite appealing displays.

Netbooks took off when they were first launched because of their very small price points in a time when the economy wasn't doing too well.

Even early last year, analysts and IT players alike predicted golden times ahead for entry-level mobile computers.

Then, tablets came out and quickly turned into a segment that began to slowly eat at the market share of low-end laptops.

Still, netbooks continue to be sold by the millions, and Clover Systems decided to stand out through the use of a less than usual display.

As pointed out by Liliputing, the outfit created the SunBook, a laptop that utilizes one of Pixel Qi's transflective displays.

Said screens are known for their ability to turn off their backlight and be viewed under direct sunlight.

Other than this detail, the specifications are not unlike those of any other netbook out there, from the CPU to the battery.

An Intel Atom N450 chip is at the heart, with a clock speed of 1.66 GHz, while 1 Gb of Ram and a HDD of 250 GB complete the essential feature set.

Other specifications include 3G and 4G modems, the expected connectivity and I/O options (WiFi, USB, audio etc.) and, depending on the battery pack, 8 to 12 hours of operation on a single charge.

CES 2011 was the first occasion where the SunBook was spotted, and now sales have started, for $795. Granted, the tag is higher than that of most competing solutions, but is justified by the Pixel Qi panel.

What remains to be seen is how popular this first Pixel Qi-enabled netbook proves to be and if, by extension, the panels themselves end up getting adopted by other laptops.