Archive for September, 2009

Lithium iron phosphate material production technology

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
1. Technical Features
This technical route and the use of lithium iron phosphate as the main raw material, using a unique step in response to Preparation of conductive-performance lithium iron phosphate, the main advanced and innovative are:
(1) avoid the use of other synthesis methods ammonium dihydrogen phosphate as raw material, producing a large number of ammonia pollution of the environment.
(2) using a special mixing method, so that additives and lithium source, iron source, phosphorus source to achieve full mixing, but without drying, directly calcined. Additives in the follow-up response that could play a role in reduction, but also form a lithium iron phosphate particles coated with the role of cathode materials can greatly improve the electrical properties.
(3) The process by dry mixing, without alcohol, without drying, reducing process steps, reducing investment in equipment, lower costs, and increased the safety of the production process.
(4) using the process route easier to control, process stability, low-cost raw materials and equipment used are from domestic and greatly reduces the cost of industrialization. Easy to achieve high-volume production.
(5) The pre-project using a new technology developed lithium iron phosphate material g capacity has been reached or exceeded imports.
2. Technology maturity and reliability of
In accordance with this technology in pilot production line of lithium iron phosphate material has been tested many domestic battery manufacturers, product performance, has been able to meet the requirements, using lithium iron phosphate material production of lithium-ion batteries have been be market-proven, so the technology is mature.
3. Technology and raw materials, adaptability and its economic rationality
The process is especially taking into account the adaptability of raw materials, you can use a variety of sources of raw materials, particularly the achievement of the localization of raw materials, all materials are available on domestic procurement, and is not from a single supplier to ensure supply and price of raw materials reasonable.
4. Continuous, automated case
Process with semi-automatic machinery, the main sintering process with continuous production, that is, considering the mechanical work efficiency, but also to take into account the wealth of human resources, but also reduces equipment maintenance costs.
5. Technology transfer.dell 6y270 battery,dell 75uyf battery,dell c1295 battery,dell gd761 battery,dell kd476 battery,dell laptop battery.

China Lithium Battery Patent Battle

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

The article comes from http://www.mylaptopbattery.co.uk/blog/2009/09/03/china-lithium-battery-patent-battle/

In the first half of this year, this newspaper since 3114, the four successive interest of the University of Texas and its commercial mandate Hydro Quebec, Canada, Phostech alleges that the U.S. battery maker A123 (GEM), Inc., Vaillant (Valence) Company Infringement lithium iron phosphate patent dispute. This series of reports have caused widespread concern outside the industry. Today, lithium HP laptop battery?iron phosphate batteries on the topic of the patent once again affects the electric car industry’s nerves, but the protagonist of the incident replaced by China.
Lithium iron phosphate in North America patent litigation battle it, when a lithium iron phosphate battery patents to defend the war broke out in China.
DVD patent pool in order to avoid recurrence of this tragedy, our country more than the battery companies and research institutions are positive actions, to collect evidence to prove that Hydro Quebec and the French research center in China last year, the application of carbon lithium iron phosphate-layering technology patents ( Phostech Canada has been exclusively licensed to the company) is invalid. However, the present situation hp PB991A battery ,hp PB992A battery, the Chinese side want to win, extremely difficult.
■ foreign success in China for carbon-layering technology patents
This year, our electric cars and motive power batteries of the forum is particularly high. In almost every forum, can see the shadow of Canada Phostech company representatives.
Not long ago, the fourth South China Lithium Power (International) high-level Technical Forum held in Shenzhen. Made a special trip from Canada came to participate in the forum Phostech Rice, CEO? Toston smiling. After the introduction of products and technology, Toston answered live audience on the patent question. He said: “In the United States, the Tribunal intends to recess for some time to continue to hear from companies such as our A123 lithium iron phosphate battery patent dispute. Last December, the European Patent Office rejected the Phostech the company’s lithium iron phosphate battery patent application . We intend to continue to apply for patents, is expected to be approved in 2010. In addition, in Japan, we are also actively apply for a patent. ”
Toston talked about Phostech companies in the United States, Japan and Europe patent applications received, but did not mention China, and I wonder if the wish to avoid. According to report, in 1999, the French scientific research center, Professor Michael? Oman and Germany invented the carbon-layering technology, solves the conductivity of lithium iron phosphate materials, poor problem. Subsequently, from Hydro Quebec and the French Scientific Research Center have applied for the patent. In 2008, the two institutions in the Chinese patent application is approved, the patent has been the exclusive right to use license to the Canadian Phostech company.
Seize the high ground in the patent, after, Phostech actively explore the Chinese market. Currently, the company has opened an office in Shanghai. At the same time, its high-level frequent appearances in China, and actively promote the company’s lithium iron phosphate batteries and materials hp PB994A battery ,hp PB995A battery.
■ two patents can not bypass
Li-Quan Chen Chinese Academy of Engineering, told reporters in the lithium iron phosphate batteries and material field, there are two core technology patents is impossible to bypass, one of which is the layering of carbon technology patents, and the other is the carbon-thermal reduction technology patents. The former has applications in China, the Canadian company has the exclusive right to use Phostech; the latter owned by the United States Viagra can be company, has yet to apply for a patent in China. However, Viagra can be company has set up two companies in Suzhou — Vaillant Technology Co., Ltd., Takeyasu Energy Limited, are responsible for the production of lithium iron phosphate materials, and battery production. In order to seize the Chinese market, Viagra can be company does not rule out the patent on the trivial.

Academician Li-Quan Chen also told this reporter in a surprising thing: It turned out that Viagra can be company owned by the carbon thermal reduction technology patents, is entirely his students — Dong masterpiece.
In 2000, Dong switched from a Canadian company to enter the United States Vaillant, serving as a senior research fellow. Prior to that, he has been the French National Research Center for Condensed Matter Physics Institute of Chemistry of Bordeaux and received a doctorate and post-doctoral study in the United States. In Vaillant’s work, Dong fully demonstrated the Chinese people industrious, intelligent character in just six years, he helped Vaillant companies in 28 countries around the world applied for the patent materials, lithium iron phosphate (Dong is the inventor , the property Vaillant companies hp PP2182D battery ,hp PP2182L battery).
However, things are unpredictable, Dong was perhaps never imagined that today, these patents would become the Chinese battery enterprises to enter the field of lithium iron phosphate battery barrier.
“At that time, I can think of their own materials, lithium iron phosphate formulations and preparation methods are written out and apply for a patent. Some of the patent, Viagra can be company already has the appropriate technology at that time, and others are under development, There are simply not begun to study. This series of patents is very tight, almost covering the manufacturing aspects of lithium iron phosphate battery is indeed hard to break. “talking about past events, Dong told this reporter.
■ want the patent is invalid, the Chinese side little chance of toppling
“In the lithium iron phosphate batteries and materials, China has absolutely can not be called art. A small number of corporate patents, said there is no problem, it is nonsense, and there are many complex issues to be resolved. If we say that, for the University of Texas and the A123 Corporation Lithium iron phosphate between the patent dispute, we are somewhat indifferent manner of taste, then, this time with the Phostech companies in China to obtain the carbon-layering technology patents, as well as companies such as Viagra can seize the Chinese market, speed up, patent issues very realistic placed in front of us, not be evaded. “a company official said the battery hp Pavilion DV1000 battery ,hp Pavilion dv2000 battery.
It is aware of this, these batteries before businesses and relevant research institutions together to gather evidence, look forward to tear down barriers to multinational patents.
State Intellectual Property Office a staff surnamed Wang told reporters, “Patent Law” Article 22 clearly provides that a patent application at least have novelty, creativity and practicality, and there is no other substantive issues in order to be authorized. By the same token, if you want the patent invalid, the State Intellectual Property Office shall review committee to pursue the invalid request has been authorized by the patent to prove there is no novelty, inventiveness or usefulness. If rejected, you need to bring an action through the legal channels to resolve.
The staff member also said that the best means of proof is to find a one or more previously public documents, and to compare the patent claims, if the overlap, you can prove that the patent lacks novelty. Corporate sources, and now they have found an open literature, but the arguments are not particularly strong. Once the proceedings, the odds are not great.
Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Physics, doctoral tutor Huang Xue-Jie said, after the U.S. Japan’s NTT paid 30 million yuan (equivalent to RMB) settlement, the only solution of the lithium iron phosphate material patent disputes. Many enterprises in Taiwan is to spend money to buy other companies to Phostech the right to use the patent. “If in the end, China and Japan, companies have to embark on the road to spend money on patent licensing, which is China’s iron phosphate lithium battery manufacturers would be a bad news, but also a sad thing hp Pavilion DV4000 battery ,hp Pavilion DV5000 battery ,hp Pavilion dv6000 battery.”

Freezing method can do repair laptop battery

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

The article comes from http://www.mylaptopbattery.co.uk/blog/2009/09/02/freezing-method-can-do-repair-laptop-battery/

Books bought in April 2004, when the laptop battery can only be used 40 minutes, and after almost a year of use, performance, good books, but the battery can only uphold the 10 minutes of. According to jar the depth discharge method, I have poor battery more terminal one, even if the power shortages and a serious shortage of warnings can only be completely closed to maintain less than 8 minutes. My HP laptop battery has become legendary in the body.
Practical problems placed in front of me: for the core, or replace the battery, not a moment to decide, usually very few battery when the things that delayed down. Until one day, by chance I broke into a Hong Kong mobile phone forum, saw a revival of the method for mobile phone battery, anyway, I think the battery has finished on the dead horse a living horse doctor bar. 5 days later, my battery reborn.

First, remove the battery from the books, obtain other a newspaper. What, no, can not it, quickly ran downstairs to buy a bar. Hey, toilet paper can also be. Roll up a newspaper to put the hp 367759-001 battery ,hp F2024A battery dead.
The next step is carefully put the battery pack is good, pay attention: Be sure to tightly wrap, remember, remember. The purpose of a newspaper for a while to tell.

To rent a suitable volume of plastic bags, newspaper or toilet paper would be a good battery pack into them, excess release pockets of air, with wire or rubber band fasten pocket.

It is a critical step, and open your refrigerator freezer door, your masterpiece into the minus 5 degrees of frozen box. This time, after you waited patiently in the closing 72 hours, what, you do not know 72 hours is how long? Yun Si, that is, three heavens. This time, you know the newspaper because of the use of the bar, that is, to absorb excess moisture, plastic bags are sealed to prevent outside moisture stored into.

3 days later, remove the battery, remove the plastic bags and newspapers, at room temperature for 48 hours which is two days after the charge on the machine. Wow, a miracle, my battery can insist that 1 hour and 18 minutes, and 78 minutes Yeah, my mother, my God. My battery finally alive again.
In this experiment the same time, a IBM600E battery, a Canon S100 digital camera batteries and a battery-Lucent PHS has been tested and all of them.
But later, after a few freezing, the battery completely back to the original state, so freezing lithium batteries can not be repaired hp F4812A battery ,hp HSTNN-LB31 battery ,hp Pavilion ZV6000 battery.

Digital Demolition: Three Laptops Take a Beating

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

In the first episode of Digital Demolition, Chris and Sarah test “rugged” laptops from Dell and Panasonic. Can these PCs survive being frozen, dropped, getting dirty, and taking a shower with a member of our staff? You’ll have to watch to find out.

Digital Demolition: Three Laptops Take a Beating

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

In the first episode of Digital Demolition, Chris and Sarah test “rugged” laptops from Dell and Panasonic. Can these PCs survive being frozen, dropped, getting dirty, and taking a shower with a member of our staff? You’ll have to watch to find out.

Dual-screen Laptop Provokes Lust, Derision

Friday, September 4th, 2009

An unknown Alaskan company is attracting attention for a $3,000 laptop it plans to build that will apparently be the first to sport two 15.4-inch LCD screens.

Planned to arrive in time for Christmas, the SpaceBook from gScreen Computer Corp. will come with two identically sized LED backlit screens, one sliding out from behind the other in a design created by the Anchorage-based company, according to an article in Gizmodo late last week.

The Windows 7-based machine will also come with Intel Core 2 Duo processors, 4 GB of RAM, Nvidia GF900M GT discrete graphics, 7,200 RPM SATA drives, DVD player, and the choice of six or nine-cell batteries.

And it will weigh 8.7 pounds, the company said Tuesday by tweet, which is double the weight of mainstream laptops.

“It’s absolutely the opposite of a netbook,” gScreen CEO Gordon Stewart told Gizmodo.

gScreen is aiming the SpaceBook at designers, filmmakers, photographers and other creative professionals who are willing to pay for portability, power and extra screen real estate.

That strategy has potential, said PC analyst Rob Enderle.

“Whether you’re talking about engineers or graphic designers, you’re talking about a market that has money and is dissatisfied with the mobile products they have to choose from,” Enderle told TechNewsWorld .

The company, which did not return an e-mailed request for comment, is recruiting seven to nine beta testers for its coming laptop, according to a tweet this week by the company.

Reaction among commenters at Gizmodo ranged from delight to sarcasm. “Every Graphic Designers Dream!!” enthused one writer. “Can’t wait to pull this out in coach class on a cross country flight,” wrote another. “I think I’d get the 2 laptops. Double the battery, 1/3rd the cost,” wrote a third.

gScreen has not commented on the expected battery life for the SpaceBook. It has said it is developing a ruggedized version of the SpaceBook for the U.S. Navy, as well as a dual 13.3-inch model that weighs 5.7 pounds. It is also considering using AMD processors in addition to Intel’s.

Founded in 2003 as an R&D company, according to the company’s Web site, gScreen has apparently not produced a laptop for the market before.

The SpaceBook, which is expected to be sold online at sites such as Amazon.com and NewEgg.com, isn’t the first laptop with multiple screens, though it is the first to sport two screens of identical size.

Most notably, Lenovo Group Ltd. last Christmas began selling its dual-screen ThinkPad W700ds. Aimed at the same creative professional audience as the SpaceBook, the W700ds sports a 17-inch main LCD screen and a slide-out secondary 10.6-inch screen.

Computerworld ’s Brian Nadel praised the 700ds’ “top-notch graphics” and fast quad-core processor, but said the unit, which weighs 13.2 pounds including AC charger, was “thick and heavy.”

The main SpaceBook appears to shave almost 5 pounds, or almost a third off the W700ds’ weight.

The SpaceBook’s advantage in price would be much less drastic. The W700ds, which listed at $5,100 at release last year, can now be purchased between $3,100 and $3,900 online, compared with the anticipated $3,000 price for the SpaceBook.

Microbial fuel cells a new direction

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

The article comes from http://www.mylaptopbattery.co.uk/blog/2009/09/01/microbial-fuel-cells-a-new-direction/

Tsinghua University, China University of Pennsylvania and the latest research shows that bacteria can be dirty salt water into drinking water and electricity.
The study made clear the development of a microbial fuel cells laptop battery a new direction. In the past, microbial fuel cells are often used to generate electricity or hydrogen or methane in the form of stored electricity.
According to the Discovery Channel reported that the University of Pennsylvania scientist Bruce Logan (Bruce Logan) said that the microbial fuel cell can be organic waste into energy source acer laptop battery. Logan and other authors in the “Environmental Science and Technology” magazine (Environmental Science and Technology) published a related paper. Logan said: “In this latest discovery, we believe that by changing the micro-power generation, we can deal with salt water for desalination.”
The researchers first from ponds or other natural water samples collected. Millions of micro-organisms in the sample, some bacteria (scientists have yet to ascertain the type) will be automatically generated within their cells, electrons and protons, and they are transferred to in vitro. Other bacteria will absorb these electrons and protons, as the creation of hydrogen, methane and other chemicals such as acer Aspire 1690 batteryacer Aspire 1300 battery energy material “fuel.”
The researchers found that the use of two specially designed plastic film to take advantage of the energy generated by these organisms. This film can be produced by microorganisms isolated electron, ion, or gas, allowed to flow to the cathode or anode, respectively. Cathode, anode and membrane assembled in a small tissue box, as the same transparent plastic box. Between the film by adding a cup of pond water, bacteria start and, ultimately, can produce up to 90% purity of water.
The purity of water can be based on scientific or commercial needs to be adjusted, or even up to drinking water standards. Microbial fuel cell can be removed in the water most of the salt, because the process can reduce power consumption, it can also reduce the cost of water desalination.
The same is also studying the microbial fuel cells, Oregon State University, Liu (phonetic) said: “No matter how the treated water salinity, which will be the first time the human microbial fuel cell used for desalination acer Aspire 1410 batteryacer Aspire 5560 battery.”
Liu said: “Using this method, basically do not need to input energy; if artificially added to the cells in the organic material they can even produce energy.”
At present, both the dilute salt water to produce electricity or produce hydrogen, methane or other gases, microbial fuel cells are restricted to the laboratory. This situation will change next month, Logan and his colleagues at a winery near the installation of a large-scale microbial fuel cells, plans to produce wastewater into hydrogen.
Logan said: “At present this is only a demonstration project. But in the end wineries will be able to use the power generated by microbial fuel cell-driven cars, forklifts and other vehicles.”

Activate the “aging” laptop battery

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

The article comes from http://www.mylaptopbattery.co.uk/blog/2009/09/01/activate-the-aging-laptop-battery/

To show the battery is damaged. Therefore, the laptop battery maintenance and rehabilitation needs of laptop users is the topic of concern. Maintenance process is also often referred to as “activation”, “activation”, a very vivid and to reflect that the acer laptop battery “dead” and rebirth process.
I summed up the activation of a battery approach, its basic principle is that when the charge and discharge currents must be small (but not too small, or too long), there is to try to be filled, put completely. Cell damage because the battery in use after a period of time will “aging” of. Concrete expression of the resistance is bigger, at charging time at both ends of voltage rise faster, so it will be easily found for the charge control circuit has been filled, the capacity also is naturally “down”. Since relatively large battery acer BTP-42C1 batteryacer BTP-43D1 battery internal resistance, discharge voltage drop by high speed, the system can easily mistaken for a voltage not enough, lack of electricity (in fact, there is no electrical discharge).
As can be seen from the above description of the battery is a vicious cycle of aging process, the discovery of lost working hours, the battery faster than when what it should be tempered, or else it will be finished sooner or later. In addition, many lithium battery failure is the battery package of a certain energy-saving result of core failure, a bad pot of soup mouse droppings. This phenomenon can not be avoided, because the battery power-saving core of each character can not be fully consistent with a long time there are some quality, the aging first weakened, undermining the whole (series after) the discharge curve. It simply means that section of bad batteries before charging full discharge also finished first place, but this time the capacity of the other batteries have not been fully utilized.
The core of a power-saving over charge / over-discharge will not cause the battery monitoring circuit that the whole is full of / discharge end of the. For example, when charging other batteries start getting close to full charge when pressed, that section of bad batteries may have reached the terminal voltage of 4.30V or higher, resulting in overcharge damage, while others are sufficient dissatisfaction. Editor’s note: For internal batteries battery damage, the “Chinese computer education” 2001 No. 2 has a very good article - “notebook computer batteries DIY” worth learning from. Interest, courage and capacity of friends can try to open the battery pack, believe that the help of multimeter, you can quickly find the damaged batteries (voltage abnormality). If conditions permit, according to the corresponding parameters of the replacement batteries can be qualified product. The battery charge and discharge lithium-ion battery charging poses as a way of fast charge constant current in the voltage reaches a certain value and then to slow charging constant voltage mode. Notebook computers are often not strictly a constant-current charge of monitoring devices acer BTP-44A3 batteryacer BTP-52EW battery.
The system load when a large charge current on small, whereas the large, the current from the AC power adapter power margin decision. Clearly, the system will charge the battery and other components, such as CPU, hard drive, LCD and other competing energy sources. I tried to run side Superπ, while charging the way and found that the charge current in the 0.70 ~ 1.70A between the changes, can not meet the lithium-ion battery charging requirements, so I fear that this will work, rechargeable batteries were defective. IBM statement calling for notebook computers will not operate when the charge is probably the reason. Charge at boot time, if we can select the charge mode, you do not choose fast charge mode (Express charge mode), to avoid premature battery “full.”
There is a time of low battery power to prohibit the use of the highest CPU performance in order to reduce the power of the competition. If the notebook computer’s CPU is to support the use of SpeedStep technology, it is best to install the driver (the vendor will be responsible installed) to facilitate the adjustment performance. SpeedStep program icon is a blue flags, right-click performance tuning options it can occur. Under the Windows XP system, SpeedStep program will be problems, this time to rely on or to modify the BIOS parameters of the regulation of a number of brand-specific programs, such as IBM notebook computer software is very powerful tool.
Electric-discharge of lithium, or always-on, let the natural discharge better acer Aspire 1680 battery. Is best not to use physical methods (string of resistors in the class). Not to say that that was not feasible, but relatively large risk, if the internal protection circuit was not working, then set aside the batteries, and the worst is probably the battery explosion, of course, this unlikely. Circuit hidden dangerous is not impossible, a number of big-name manufacturers have found that the design of potential risk factors exist in a battery recall, as mobile phone battery when you do not hear the explosion.
Small knowledge:
In general, notebook computer battery protection circuit in the part is usually voltage block, control chip, insurance, and temperature probes. Temperature protection device is usually a one-off, the inside has a fuse (some 130 ℃ Fuse), is used to monitor the voltage regulator block work. If the charge-discharge process exceptions, immediately there will be a current through the temperature protection device, will fuse fuse, the battery’s internal circuitry at this time for the open circuit state, and can not be restored. If you want to repair only the replacement of temperature protection device, but such temperature protection device on the market hard to find. Discharge is the discharge current as small as possible, the operation is to slow down and let the CPU, hard disk stops turn, transferred the darkest the screen (or close the switch off), then do not run any programs until the laptop automatically shut down. The emphasis on small-current discharge is to prevent premature detection of laptop battery shortage. I have disabled the hard disk, close the screen, cancel the power of the state police under the laptop completely discharge (put a close to 6 hours), the battery acer BTP-58A1 batteryacer BTP-59A1 batteryacer BTP-60A1 batteryacer BTP-63D1 batteryacer BTP-73E1 battery capacity from 31.72Wh restored to 33.65Wh.

Dell laotop battery usage instruction

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

 The article comes from http://www.mylaptopbattery.co.uk/blog/2009/09/01/dell-laotop-battery-usage-instruction/

Notebook laptop battery is a more important component, its state is directly related to the notebook computer in the absence of the power of the environment the ability to work, so the correct use and maintenance of batteries is necessary. Laptop battery is a form of consumables in the use of a period of time, will begin to age. Original Batteries as a physical work environment factors susceptible to influence, but the main reason leading to cell loss is caused by oxidation of the DELL laptop battery internal resistance to increase, even if you do not set aside the battery, it can only be a certain degree of delay loss rate of the battery only. Therefore, the use and maintenance of the battery are a few suggestions:

1. No need to ensure that every time the full release END electric recharge, there is an external power supply conditions should make full use of external power supply;
2. A period of time to do a protection circuit placed under the control of deep-charge battery power to amend the statistics, but it will not increase the actual capacity of the battery dell Inspiron 4100 battery,dell Inspiron 4150 battery;
3. A long time without the battery, should be placed in the shade in order to weaken its internal self-passivation reaction speed; this article Source: Dell Laptop Battery Use
4. Protection circuit is also able to monitor the battery self-discharge, long-term without the battery should be charging to a certain degree of power in order to prevent self-discharge of batteries in storage in the discharge of excessive lead to excessive damage to the battery.
In addition, according to our information the battery manufacturer, Dell notebook battery charging protection measures have improved in 95% of electricity that is used trickle charging, the battery is full will no longer charge after that there will be no overcharging phenomenon. In addition, because the battery life is fully charge and discharge cycles to calculate, not simply in order to calculate the number of charge cycles (fully charged battery to completely run out of this be considered a charge-discharge cycle), not on reducing the battery life on one charge one tine. Therefore, the battery should have been inserted in a notebook is the right to use the above method, and will not affect dell Inspiron 8000 battery,dell Inspiron 8100 battery,dell Inspiron 8200 battery life.

One Big Netbook for One Low Price

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

Some people are buying netbooks to use as their main computer. I’m a big fan of netbooks, but there is no getting around the small keyboard and screen, they are best used sporadically rather than constantly.

Back in May, I wrote that I expected a new class of netbook computer, those with 12 or 11.5 inch screens, would be the perfect mating of low price with a keyboard and screen good enough for everyday, continual use.

One of this new class of netbooks, the Lenvo S12, is currently on sale for $379 (with free shipping). This is an amazingly low price for a 12 inch netbook.

There are multiple models of the S12 and this price is for the cheapest one.

A month ago, when Brad Linder did a lengthy review of the next-model-up S12, it was $499. That model, with an Intel Atom processor, now sells for $449. For $379 you get a VIA Nano processor.

Still, no one buys a netbook for the performance, it’s purchased for some combination of price, portability and operating system.

The most important aspects of the S12, for me at least, are the full sized keyboard and the 12.1 inch 1280×800 screen.

I have not used an S12, or seen a review that comments on just how pokey the VIA processor may or may not be. Certainly the glossy screen will be a turn-off for some.

On the other hand, Linder notes that “Typing on the IdeaPad S12 keyboard is virtually the same experience as typing on a laptop with a 14 inch or larger display” and he estimates the battery life to be between 5 and 6 hours.

He also agrees with me about prefering a larger netbook. He writes :

“As much as I love a 10 inch netbook, I find myself frequently grabbing the larger IdeaPad S12 when I’m on the go because it has many of the benefits of a netbook including long battery life and relatively small size and light weight, with the added advantage of a screen that can display significantly more information.”