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Skytone Alpha-400

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Skytone Alpha-400
DeveloperSkytone and Exon International Technology Co Ltd
TypeSubnotebook/Netbook
Media1/2 GB solid state drive (soldered on mainboard)
Operating systemLinux
CPUIngenic Jz4730 (32bit, 336MHz [1][2]
Memory128MB SDRAM
Display7" 800x480 LED-backlit TFT LCD
InputKeyboard
Touchpad
Connectivity10/100 Mbit Ethernet
802.11b/g wireless LAN
3 USB 1.1 ports
3-in-1 Flash Memory card reader (SD,SDHC,MMC)
Power2100mAH 2-cell battery
Dimensions210mm x 140mm x 32mm
Mass0.72 kg

The Skytone Alpha-400 is a Netbook (aka: Subnotebook, mininotebook or simply mininote) with a 7" 800x480 LCD screen. Its measurements are 8.25" long x 5.5" wide x 1.25" deep and it weighs 0.72 kg (1.8 lbs). It is made in China by Skytone and Exon International Technology Co Ltd, with the former providing the Linux solution and the latter producing the hardware. It uses a Chinese Ingenic "XBurst" 336 MHz MIPSII-compatible single core 32-bit System-on-a-chip (SoC) [3] with 128MB of SDRAM, and a 1GB/2GB solid state drive.

The Skytone Alpha-400 is sometimes marked as a very low cost second computer for children, as there is an option to replace the default icons with "child friendly" pictures. It also comes with applications geared toward children, and a Flash player to play animated children's songs. The Skytone Alpha-400 does not have a flash player built into the browser, so flash dependent sites like YouTube do not work, but a standalone flash player is available to run .swf files and can be used to play flash based games, and such.

Alternative Names

The device, and variations of it, are marketed worldwide under a number of different names, among others:

  • Skytone Alpha-400
  • Razorbook 400
  • Trendtac 700 EPC
  • Silverstar
  • Yinlips Micro PC
  • Bestlink Alpha 400
  • HiVision MiniNote [4]
  • Maplin miniBook
  • Elonex ONEt
  • Letux 400 coming with Debian preinstalled
  • Jee-PC 400S
  • Exon PC701-LX and Impulse NPX9000, TNX9500 and ZMX9800 systems are very similar, as instead of the MIPS processor they both support the XBurst ARM Intel XScale PXA270 416MHz Processors, (for improved Linux compatibility), as well as some sort of Intel x86 type processors (MSTI PDX 600 AKA VortexX86DX [1] System-on-a-chip, or the VIA C7 or Intel Atom) for the announced Windows compatible versions. Additionally they also have dramatically increased the amount of RAM and FLASH and battery size to be able to support Windows.

In the US the company "3K" has increased the memory and storage of the Skytone, to be able to port Windows CE to it. It markets the device as the Razorbook 400 CE for about two times the price of the Linux version.

A very similar, but not identical system is known in Britain as the Elonex ONE.

Features

The Skytone Alpha-400, uses a specifically written version of Linux (based on a Linux kernel 2.4.x), with a user friendly interface geared toward children. The Linux desktop is implemented as Kiosk software, meaning that nothing the user can do can modify the available applications, and no new applications can be (easily) added or removed. Still, already a Dutch user has figured out how to add software to the system[5].

Browsing can be done through the use of the built in browser called "Bon Echo", an Alpha release of Firefox 2, using the built in 10/100 Base-T Ethernet port, or the integrated 802.11 Wireless LAN, but the browser does not support Flash, meaning that flash intensive tools, such as YouTube, cannot be used. However, recently Exon, the original design manufacturer of most of these devices, announced full support for YouTube and most Flash enabled websites.

The device sports three USB ports, a small but fully functioning keyboard, a touchpad, stereo speakers, and a 2 cell 2100mAH battery. The Skytone Alpha's processor uses only 200mW (0.2Watt) of power, and does not have a heat sink, and thus no ventilation openings. Some versions have extra features like a VGA video port, or a USB-OTG port.

Derivatives

A number of companies have added Windows compatibility by replacing the Ingenic MIPS processor by a more expensive x86 compatible Microprocessor (SoC) and increasing storage and RAM. Others have replaced the MIPS processor by an ARM processor and/or added RAM and storage capability, to be able to use a more mainstream version of Linux, or to use Windows CE.

One such a version, that uses Windows CE, is available as the RazorBook in the USA, its hardware specifications have been increased to better support Windows CE, as it uses 4GB of SSD instead of just 1GB, and uses 512MB of RAM instead of 128MB[6].

Exon International Technology Co Ltd currently offers the same Skytone Alpha-400 as the PC701-LX at the lowest cost of $89. This version does support YouTube and other Flash based content. An outward identical design the PC701-XP is available with Windows CE, and another version with an Intel XScale PXA270 416MHz Processor supports Windows XP,[dubious – discuss] (windows XP does not run on the original XBurst 400 MHz MIPSII processor) both versions also have upgraded other specifications to support their more demanding software. [7].

With a similar internal design but in a much larger enclosure the Hivision Mininote, (later renamed to Hivision NB0700) is, at a price of $98 for a minimum order quantity of 5000 units, meant for schools. [4][8] It looks very different from the Skytone Alpha-400, its not as small, and has a much bigger keyboard, but it is more clunky and less play-like. [9] [10]

References

  1. ^ Heise Online - cpuinfo
  2. ^ Jz4730 Data Sheet
  3. ^ Windowsfordevices.com Jz47xx SoCs descriptions
  4. ^ a b $98,- Hivision Mininote review
  5. ^ how to gain root access on a razorbook 400-alpha
  6. ^ increased specs for Windows CE
  7. ^ http://www.exon-technology.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage_noname&product_id=116&category_id=55&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=55 Exon International Technology Co Ltd Manufacturer Site
  8. ^ http://mobile.slashdot.org/mobile/08/09/04/2232225.shtml Slashdot article about the first sub $100,- laptop.
  9. ^ http://lowcostlaptop.org/2008/09/hivision-nb0700-mini-laptop-mini-price/ hivision-NB0700
  10. ^ http://hvsco.com/sp_qx.asp?id=75 Hivision NB0700 official site
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