Mobile Technology

GoNote 10-inch ICS touchscreen netbook launches in time for return to school

GoNote 10-inch ICS touchscreen netbook launches in time for return to school
Ergo Electronics has launched a new budget-friendly ICS touchscreen netbook just in time the return to school
Ergo Electronics has launched a new budget-friendly ICS touchscreen netbook just in time the return to school
View 11 Images
Ergo Electronics has launched a new budget-friendly ICS touchscreen netbook just in time the return to school
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Ergo Electronics has launched a new budget-friendly ICS touchscreen netbook just in time the return to school
The GoNote features a 1.2 GHz ARM RK2918 processor supported by 1 GB of DDR3 memory and 8 GB of solid state storage with microSD expansion
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The GoNote features a 1.2 GHz ARM RK2918 processor supported by 1 GB of DDR3 memory and 8 GB of solid state storage with microSD expansion
The GoNote offers up to five homescreens for housing different widgets, shortcuts and apps
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The GoNote offers up to five homescreens for housing different widgets, shortcuts and apps
In addition to touchscreen functionality, the GoNote has a full QWERTY keyboard and touchpad
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In addition to touchscreen functionality, the GoNote has a full QWERTY keyboard and touchpad
The GoNote netbook features a 10-inch, 1024 x 600 pixel resolution, LED-backlit display with touchscreen functionality
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The GoNote netbook features a 10-inch, 1024 x 600 pixel resolution, LED-backlit display with touchscreen functionality
The ICS tablet is powered by a 1.2 GHz ARM A10 Boxchip processor with integrated graphics
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The ICS tablet is powered by a 1.2 GHz ARM A10 Boxchip processor with integrated graphics
There's built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, HDMI and USB connectivity
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There's built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, HDMI and USB connectivity
A Bluetooth keyboard case is also available
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A Bluetooth keyboard case is also available
There's a 2-megapixel camera at the rear and a VGA webcam to the front
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There's a 2-megapixel camera at the rear and a VGA webcam to the front
The GoTab Epic V features a 9.7-inch, 1024 x 768 pixel resolution, LED-backlit capacitive multi-touch IPS display
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The GoTab Epic V features a 9.7-inch, 1024 x 768 pixel resolution, LED-backlit capacitive multi-touch IPS display
The tablet benefits from a lightweight but strong aluminum unibody design and is just 9.7mm thin
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The tablet benefits from a lightweight but strong aluminum unibody design and is just 9.7mm thin
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Thanks to Google, whenever we hear someone mention Ice Cream Sandwich we automatically think of recently released tablets or smartphones. Now there's another mobile computing format to consider with the launch of Ergo Electronics' GoNote, the UK's first touchscreen Android hybrid netbook. Pitched as the perfect modern homework companion and playtime buddy for students about to return to school, the budget-friendly device features a full-size chiclet keyboard and trackpad, and also brings touchscreen functionality to the form factor. If you'd rather opt for a cheap tablet, the company has also launched a new ICS tablet called the GoTab Epic V.

The new GoNote netbook features a 10-inch, 1024 x 600 pixel resolution, LED-backlit display with touchscreen functionality (albeit of the resistive variety) which is reported to be capable of registering two touch points simultaneously for some pinch/zoom action. Text input can be undertaken onscreen via the virtual keyboard using either a stylus (not supplied) or finger, but being a netbook there's a full QWERTY keyboard and touchpad below the display for input comfort. A 0.3 megapixel VGA webcam sits top center for video chat, with a built-in microphone for audio (as well as a 3.5 mm audio-in jack).

The GoNote netbook features a 10-inch, 1024 x 600 pixel resolution, LED-backlit display with touchscreen functionality
The GoNote netbook features a 10-inch, 1024 x 600 pixel resolution, LED-backlit display with touchscreen functionality

The Android 4.0 (ICS) flavor of Google's mobile operating system gives users access to thousands of educational, productivity and entertainment apps via the Google Play Store and offers up to five homescreens for housing different widgets, shortcuts and apps. The GoNote also comes pre-loaded with the Kingsoft Office for Android suite, which is capable of creating, editing and saving documents in the Microsoft Office file format.

Under the hood beats a 1.2 GHz ARM RK2918 processor supported by 1 GB of DDR3 memory and 8 GB of solid state storage with microSD expansion. GoNote users can also take advantage of 5 GB of free online storage courtesy of Box.com, with files secured using SSAE 16 Type II encryption. There's built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and an Ethernet port for wireless or wired online connectivity, four USB ports, and a mini-HDMI out that enables the display of content up to 1080p on big screen TVs or monitors.

Providing the juice is a 9000 mAh/3.7V rechargeable Li-Pol battery that's claimed to be good for about six hours of internet browsing or a stand-by time of around a week.

While netbooks in general are not exactly the most expensive of portable computing products in the marketplace, the GoNote is very cheap indeed. It's set for September release at a suggested retail price of £149.99 (US$236) in either black or white.

Also launched today, is the rather good looking and equally-IPS-packing GoTab Epic V. The new tablet sports a 9.7-inch, 1024 x 768 pixel resolution, LED-backlit capacitive multi-touch IPS display in a lightweight but strong aluminum unibody design. It's powered by a 1.2 GHz ARM A10 Boxchip processor with integrated graphics, and is supported by a 1 GB of DDR3 memory and 16 GB of solid state storage with microSD expansion.

The GoTab Epic V features a 9.7-inch, 1024 x 768 pixel resolution, LED-backlit capacitive multi-touch IPS display
The GoTab Epic V features a 9.7-inch, 1024 x 768 pixel resolution, LED-backlit capacitive multi-touch IPS display

There's a 2-megapixel camera at the rear and a VGA webcam to the front, built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, HDMI and USB connectivity and a 7000 mAh Li-Pol battery for 100 hours stand-by or between four and seven hours of internet browsing between charges.

The GoTab Epic V is available from next week and carries a suggested retail price of £179.99 (US$284), but for an extra £20 Ergo will throw in a Bluetooth keyboard case.

Now for the bad news ... folks outside the UK and Ireland won't be able to get their hands on either product at launch. Ergo's Sam Goult told us that wider availability will be coming soon. We'll keep you posted.

Product pages: GoNote GNT 10, GoTab Epic V

View gallery - 11 images
4 comments
4 comments
Jon A.
Too bad the laptop doesn't have the 1024x768 screen.
Also, too bad this isn't available in the US. It sure beats the "Little Linux Laptop" I bought for $170 a couple years ago.
pmshah
@ jonA.
You are not going to see a1024 x 768 on any kind of portable device - net book , notebook . tablet any more as it happens to be a letterbox aspect ratio no longer used by any one any more.
When available in the US it should be still cheaper as U.K. prices include 20 % vat.
We have some Chinese make 10" Android tablets running ICS which come in a leather case which already include a USB-OTG keyboards selling for around US$ 160/=
Michael Kruger
way too expensive
agulesin
Cheap, yes, nasty? maybe.
They aren't very confident on the USB front: "*Some USB devices may be compatible." (from the manufacturers site bit.ly/SHyj7M)