Here's a Smartbook prototype from Freescale Semiconductor that unfolds to provide keyboard and mouse functionality.

A modular Smartbook concept that enables customization.

T&A: Nikkei Electronics Asia has released a report comparing the potential pricing differences among different portable computing devices hitting the market over the next few months.

One of the key predictions is that the low prices of smartbooks might cut into the netbook market.

Basically, as the small yet delicate functional gap between smartphones and netbooks entice more players into this segment, manufacturers of Smartbooks, mobile internet devices and more will gradually segment the market for portable computing devices even further.

Not only that, within the netbook space, the ultra-thin notebook, or consumer ultra low voltage (CULV) notebooks are also attracting a lot of attention.

The Smartbook is the brainchild of Freescale Semiconductor and Qualcomm Inc., first unveiled at Computex Taipei in June 2009. Here’s a promo video on what exactly a Smartbook entails:

(Editor opinions: 2)

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PC makers like HP, ASUS and Dell might consider running Android on future mini-notebooks but will this move disrupt the mojos of dominant players like Microsoft and Intel?

T&A: Wall Street Journal online published a report today (could be an April Fool’s joke but you never know…so check the link for updates), where PC makers like Hewlett-Packard (HP) and others have considered using free software developed by Google to run smaller computers.

For instance, they have been testing Google’s Android operating system (OS), now accessible on mobile phones, in new versions of their mini-notebooks. The problem however is that the OS isn’t exactly compatible with most popular PC applications, which is one of the reasons why Microsoft’s Windows continues to dominate in this space, which according to research firm NPD Group, sits in more than 90% of new mini-notebooks.

Besides HP, Taiwan-based Asustek might be considering using Android in its mini-notebooks while Dell has been customizing Android software in a range of its devices which it plans to launch next year, including mobile phone, mobile Internet devices and so on. (Editor opinions: 1) (more…)