ECS gets optimistic about new mini netbook

ELITE COMPUTER SYSTEMS (ECS), the Taiwanese computer maker, has ambitiously predicted that it will ship around one million netbooks and ClassMate PCs before the end of 2008, despite its own late entry into the market.

Intel recently confirmed ECS was contract manufacturer for its little low-cost laptop, the Classmate PC, the nemesis and rival of OLPC’s similar XO lappie, competing for the affections of technologically undernourished third world children.

But as well as manufacturing Intel’s ClassMate, ECS decided it too wanted a tiny laptop of its own, in keeping with the current trend for l-eee-tle PCs. No sooner said than done, and ECS had launched its G-series G10IL into the ‘getting a bit crowded in here’ mini notebook market.

The G series boasted 10.2-inch screens, 3G modules allowing users to get at the Internet wirelessly over mobile phone networks and Wi-Fi. Based on Intel's Atom microprocessor, it also allows users a choice between Windows XP or a Linux OS

It soon followed up with a more compact J-series, with smaller 8.2-inch screens, littler hard drives and cheaper batteries.

ECS obviously thinks highly of its little product, because although the G10IL won’t even start shipping until at least August (if not, September), the company still reckons it can hit its one million unit target by year's end.

Might be a case of the little netbook that could. µ

L’Inq
PC World