Subnotebook
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A subnotebook (also known as a kneetop or an ultraportable) is an extremely small and lightweight portable computer, with all features of a standard laptop computer and running all its applications. Its overall size is much smaller than an A4 paper notebook (8.27"×11.69"), but they are oftentimes somewhat larger than a handheld computer. Hence it often has smaller than 10" (diagonal) screen and weigh less than 1 kg; as opposed to full-size laptop with 15" screen and weighing 2 kg or more. These savings in size and weight are usually achieved by omitting ports and/or removable media drives; subnotebooks are often paired with docking stations to compensate.
Contents |
History
The earliest subnotebooks were the Poqet PC and the Atari Portfolio, which were both released in 1989 and ran DOS. In 1996, the Toshiba Libretto 20 was first released with 6.1" screens, 270MB hard disk, weighing 840g and running on Windows 95. Originally, the Libretto series used 486 processors from AMD. The combination of compact form factor and performance proved popular with buyers in the far east. In 1996, Sony released their best known N505 series VAIO subnotebook, which has been recognised as the master design and symbol of a machine in this size. With carbon fiber structured TX, SZ and X505 series, Sony is still a leader in the subnotebook market. Recently, the subnotebook has lost the title to the Ultra Mobile PC as the smallest and most portable full-blown computer.
Recent models
Examples of recent subnotebooks sorted by weight are:
| Model | Specifications | Dimensions (mm) | Mass (g) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Vaio PCG-U3 | Transmeta TMS 5800 933 MHz CPU, 256 MB RAM, 20 GB hard disk, 6.4" XGA display | 184.5 x 139 x 30.6 | 820 | 2004 |
| Fujitsu Lifebook P1510 | Intel Pentium M 1.2 GHz CPU, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB hard disk, 8.9" SVGA display | 232 × 167 × 34.5 | 990 | 2005 |
| Toshiba Libretto U100 | Intel Pentium M 1.2 GHz CPU, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB hard disk, 7.2" LCD display | 210 x 165 x 29.8 | 999 | 2005 |
| Panasonic R4 | Intel Pentium M 1.3 GHz CPU, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB hard disk, 10.4" XGA display | 229 x 183.5 x 24.2 | 999 | 2005 |
| Fujitsu Lifebook P1120 | Transmeta TMS 5800 800 MHz CPU, 256 MB RAM, 30 GB hard disk, 8.9" SVGA display | 231 x 158 x 34.5 | 1000 | 2002 |
| Dell Latitude X1 | Intel Pentium M 1.1 GHz CPU, 512 MB RAM, 30 GB hard disk, 12.1" WXGA display | 287 x 196 x 25.4 | 1130 | 2005 |
| FlyBook V33i | Intel 1.1 GHz Pentium M, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB hard disk, 8.9" LCD display | 235 x 135 x 31 | 1230 | 2006 |
| Sony Vaio VGN-TX series | Intel Pentium M Ultra Low Voltage 773 1.1-1.3 GHz CPU, 512-1.5 GB SDRAM, 60-80 GB hard disk, 11.1" WXGA display, internal dvd optical write-capable drive | 272.4 x 21-28.5 x 195.1 | 1250 | 2006 |
Other examples
- The Sharp Actius PC-MM10, it's about a half-inch thick. It has a 1 GHz Transmeta CPU, 256 MB of memory, a 15 GB hard drive, and built-in Wi-Fi.
Other recent models include the Sony U-series, OQO, and Vulcan FlipStart, although the latter two are much more often referred to as "Ultra Personal Computers", as they are barely larger than a typical palmtop.
External links
- What is subnotebook computer? - Webopedia single paragraph definition.
- Subnotebook computer - Computer Hope single paragraph definition.
- How to buy a notebook PC - classifies subnotebook as "3-pound ultraportables that rely on external drives".
- Laptop buying guide - defines ultraportable as "Weight: 4 pounds or less ... Display: Smaller than 12 inches (diagonal)".
- First, what is a subnotebook? - a section of an article reviewing a subnotebook, NEC Versa UltraLite, defines it as "trimmed down to just a display, a keyboard, a hard drive, and a few vital data ports".
- The Fujitsu LifeBook P1120 Notebook - Transmeta success story article.
- Sony PCG-U3 - Dynamism article.
- Panasonic R4 Review - NotebookReview August 31, 2005 article.
- Dell Latitude X1 Review - Cnet article.
- Review of the Flybook Ultralight
- News and Reviews About Ultraportable Laptops (Subnotebooks) - Daily Updated.
