What exactly is a smartbook, and how is it different from a Netbook or tablet? It's not always clear, but these newcomers give us an idea.
Scott Stein
I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.
The Freescale Smartbook Tablet tries to get the best of both worlds by offering a tablet that docks into its own keyboard base.
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Smartbooks at CES 2010
Many smartbooks seem to be thinner but similarly-screened versions of Netbooks. Shown off at the Nvidia booth, the Compal Ultimate has a look that's nearly indistinguishable at first glance, despite having a Tegra 2 processor.
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Smartbooks at CES 2010
The Mobinnova Beam has an 8.9-inch screen and HD output. For an OS it runs Windows CE currently, although the Beam will also come with a Google Android OS at a future date.
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Smartbooks at CES 2010
Looking similar to the Beam, the Pegatron Neo has a standard silvery chassis and dark keyboard, but is wafer-thin compared to Netbooks with a similar 10-inch screen.
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Smartbooks at CES 2010
With a full-size keyboard and a bright display, the Lenovo Skylight puts its focus on typing ease rather than cutting down on dimensions of width and length. In terms of thickness, however, the Skylight is barely thicker than a magazine.
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Smartbooks at CES 2010
Smartbooks do have identical-looking competition: manufacturers such as Viliv specialize in miniature devices running full Windows OS with Atom processors.
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Smartbooks at CES 2010
Will tablets overtake smartbooks? Nvidia shows off a number of tablet alternatives running Tegra processors. It could come down to whether or not you prefer portability over a keyboard.
