It may have as much of a libel focus as a product one these days, but German PC builder Smartbook AG does have one notable claim to fame: it has never actually made a smartbook.
That doesn’t look set to change any time soon either, as the maker of such ‘gems’ as the Zenid GC Crystal netbook has reached new heights of irony with the announcement of the ‘Smartbook Logo’… a CULV laptop.
Spotted by Liliputing, the laptop features an Intel CULV (Consumer Ultra-Low Voltage) processor, 11.6-in 1366 x 768 display, 1 GB RAM, 250-GB hard drive, plus an HDMI port and Windows 7 Home Premium is pre-installed. Taking some notice of the smartbook concept, the Logo will have integrated 3G connectivity.
Battery life is pretty good at up to a claimed eight hours, though the weight does border on the heavy side for an ultraportable at 1.3Kg. That said, the biggest concern is the price – and at a truly mind-blowing €699 ($952) – about €200 ($272) above that of a typical, identically specified CULV machine – I am dumbfounded as to who will buy it.
Then again, perhaps that isn’t the point – or maybe we are just being cynical again…
Gordon
