X

Photos: Freescale shows off 'smartbook' designs

The company aims to squeeze smartbook devices into the space between notebook and Netbook PCs on the larger side, and smartphones on the smaller side.

Jon Skillings
Jon Skillings is an editorial director at CNET, where he's worked since 2000. A born browser of dictionaries, he honed his language skills as a US Army linguist (Polish and German) before diving into editing for tech publications -- including at PC Week and the IDG News Service -- back when the web was just getting under way, and even a little before. For CNET, he's written on topics from GPS, AI and 5G to James Bond, aircraft, astronauts, brass instruments and music streaming services.
Jon Skillings
Freescale01.jpg
1 of 6 Freescale Semiconductor

Red smartbook

At the Computex show in Taiwan on Tuesday, Freescale Semiconductor unveiled prototypes of a new portable computer format that it calls a "smartbook." Both Freescale and Qualcomm have just begun promoting the smartbook notion as a potential category of computing devices between traditional notebooks (or more recent Netbooks) and much smaller smartphones.

The prototype smartbook seen here in candy apple red unfolds and separates into several pieces to allow use of keyboard and mouse. Freescale came up with its prototypes in conjunction with the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Freescale02.jpg
2 of 6 Freescale Semiconductor

Touchscreen smartbook

This less colorful concept smartbook is meant to suggest a possible touchscreen design. Here's part of Freescale's pitch for smartbooks: "Sporting larger screens than traditional smartphone devices, smartbooks are cloud-computing-centric and characterized by all-day battery life, instant-on functionality and persistent connectivity."
Freescale05.jpg
3 of 6 Freescale Semiconductor

Smartbook with vertical display

The smartbook stands tall with a design intended for vertical displays. Freescale's smartbooks would use the company's i.MX515 processor, while other potential smartbooks would use Qualcomm's Snapdragon processor. In both cases, the chips would be based on designs from ARM.

"The primary distinction between (smartbooks) and the existing crop of Netbooks will be longer battery life--eight-hour battery life--slimmer form factor, and lower price point," Glen Burchers, director of global consumer segment marketing at Freescale, told CNET News last week.

Freescale04.jpg
4 of 6 Freescale Semiconductor

Smartbook with sliding keypads

This unusual design features keypads that slide out from either side of the smartbook. Burchers told CNET News that manufacturers Wistron and Pegatron have "near production-ready" clamshell designs that could be on the market before the end of the year, and that it is targeting a price of $199.
Freescale03.jpg
5 of 6 Freescale Semiconductor

Modular design

Shades of Legos--smartbooks could also be built in a modular fashion. Under the hood, the devices are expected feature 3G connectivity and to run either the Linux operating system or Google's Android.
Freescale06.jpg
6 of 6 Freescale Semiconductor

Leather-clad smartbook

This smartbook prototype features a "leather-based" casing.

See also: "Qualcomm, Freescale say 'smartbooks' to rival Netbooks."

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos