iPad Killer? Compaq AirLife / Lenovo Skylight Smartbooks

Q: What do you get when you cross a Smart Phone and a Netbook?
A: A Smartbook!

Introducing 2 new products in the Smartbook Category: Compaq Airlife 100 and Lenovo Skylight. It's weird, compared to the iPad, these 2 machines shine a very bright light! The Airlife looks like a Macbook and the Skylight looks like an iPhone/iPad. Weird. It sure would be cool if there was a unified platform re: apps, so we didn't have to go to everyone's "store" to buy apps, but I don't see consolidation any time soon (although the major Mobile carriers and Phone manufacturers are releasing their own app stores in the coming weeks with an attempt at grabbing a piece of the very lucrative App market) - as these are major money makers for Apple, Palm & Google. I wonder whose store Lenovo will be using to sell movies & music.

Compaq Airlife 100
Compaq recently announced the Airlife 100. It's a small Netbook-like computer with 10" screen. Difference? It has Google Android OS which gives it a lot more flexibility and speed over traditional operating systems such as Windows and Mac OS X. It has "instant on" like a phone, a cool webcam, 3 G broadband, wireless, and more. The other cool feature - it's a touch screen like another product that was recently released - oh yeah, the iPad.

Has cool task bar along the bottom - looks quite like the MacOS Dock.

• Operating System:Google Android
• Resolution: 1024 x 600 pixels
• Storage: 16 G SD drive
• Processor: Qualcomm's Snapdragon
• Battery life: 12 hours, 10 days of standby & Replaceable
• Internet Connectivity: Wi-Fi B/G & Broadband
• Connectivity: 1 USB port, SD Slot, headset jack
• Camera: 1.3-megapixel webcam
• Weight: Under 2 pounds
• Color: White
• Release date: Now in Spain, My guess - April/May 2010 in US and More!

Only bummer (for us in the US)? It's being rolled out in Spain with carrier Telefonica. My guess is that they are doing this limited release to get the bugs worked out before release Internationally.

Too bad it doesn't have a swivel screen. If it did, you could close and it would be exactly like an iPad.

Cool Video Tour

Lenovo Skylight


The Skylight was actually introduced before the HP/Google device, so it can claim to be the first Smartbook. The operating system is "gadget-based" rather than browser based. It's like have 6 little webpages per screen. You can scroll through the pages, just like an iPhone/iPad, by swiping your fingers across the screen. Comes with 18 pre-loaded and I'm sure there will be tons of free and paid for ones. Comes pre-loaded with Faceobook, Amazon, Gmail and more gadgets.

• Operating System: Linux
• Resolution: 1,278-by-720 pixels
• Battery life: 10 hours, according to Lenovo
• Storage: 20 G HD (14 G internal storage) + unique slot to add USB sticks
• Connectivity: Two USB ports, Micro SDHC (with card installed), SIM slot, multimedia card slot (SD, SDHC, MMC), mini HDMI connector, headset jack
• Camera: 1.3-megapixel webcam
• Weight: Under 2#
• Colors: Earth red and lotus blue
• Est Released date: 4/2010

Mobile market just got even more EXCITING!!

Since Verizon will be offering Skype in March of 2010, for both Android & Blackberry phones finally, my guess is that both these mobile devices will also have Skype offerings.

Pricing? Not sure on either. Will most likely be $499 w/2 year contract; more with no contract.

One last question - Where does this leave Apple Mac OS and Microsoft Windows for the Desktop and Laptop computer? Could be obsolete in next 5-10 years, if things progress at this pace.

Next 2 Mobile Devices for review - New Offerings from Dell + Windows 7 Mobile!