Everex is refreshing its Cloudbook line of ultraportable, Linux-based notebooks with redesigned models that may eventually include low-power Intel Diamondville processors, bigger screens and more storage.
Plans to include the Intel processor are “very tentative” and for now the company will continue to use Via Technologies’ low-power processors in Cloudbook laptops, said Paul Kim, director of marketing at Everex.
Cloudbooks are based on the reference design of Via’s ultramobile Nanobook laptop. The reference design calls for Via’s C7-M processor, which Cloudbook uses. Priced at US$399, the Cloudbook competes with inexpensive ultraportable computers like Asus’ Eee PC. It was launched last month.
The new Cloudbook models may bump storage up to 120GB, quadrupling the storage available on the current Cloudbook model, Kim said. The refreshed Cloudbooks may also include 8.9-inch screens and improved touchpads under the keyboard, Kim said. The current Cloudbook model has a 7-inch screen and the mousepad is placed over the keyboard.
“In regards to the refresh, a touch-sensitive screen — with higher screen resolution — and moving the touchpad down underneath the space bar are the big items under consideration,” Kim said. The company has said it is developing a Cloudbook with a touch-screen interface that it plans to make available worldwide by the end of the year, priced at US$499.
Everex also said it plans to include solid-state flash drives when those prices fall.
The company is working on software-side improvements as well.
“We’re discussing with [Linux-based] gOS to better the power management features, wireless configuration and window sizing,” Kim said.