NorhTec announced a netbook that operates on eight AA batteries, has an internal power supply, and runs Linux on a 1GHz x86-based SoC (system on chip).

MSI has announced a netbook that uses Intel's 1.66GHz Atom N280 processor and offers an optional TV tuner. The "Wind U123" has a 10-inch display, 80GB, 120GB, or 160GB hard disk drives, "EasyFace" security software, and available HSDPA.

From everything I have seen, Ubuntu Netbook Remix is one of the best netbook operating systems out there, and works a lot better than most of the things we see on most current netbooks. Because of this, it seems like promoting Ubuntu on netbooks would be a win for everyone.

Meego 1.0 was released last month. Predictably enough, it lacks any form of support for the GMA500 graphics chipset[1], which is reasonably in line with Intel's placing of US15W as an embedded product for MID-type devices rather than having anything to do with netbooks.

For the past year my netbook of choice has been the Samsung NC10 as while it shipped with stock Intel Atom hardware like other netbooks such as the Dell Mini 9 and earlier ASUS Eee PCs, the Samsung was built very well and possessed a rather large and well laid out keyboard for only being a 10.6" mobile computer. Catching my attention recently though has been the ASUS Eee PC 1201N netbook.

About two months ago, Intel and Nokia announced a strategic partnership without mentioning any concrete products. The first product announcement followed today: With the Booklet 3G, Nokia will offer a 10-inch netbook (and its first netbook altogether) – equipped, of course, with an Atom processor.

Linux distributions designed specifically for use on netbooks is nothing new. Canonical produces the Ubuntu Netbook Remix version of Ubuntu for these small-sized devices, Intel has their Moblin distribution that is very fast and offers an attractive interface, gOS has their own netbook distribution, Linpus has QuickOS, and the list goes on.

Over the last 12 months, netbook and mobile Linux has made massive advances in features and install base. This is primarily thanks to two netbook distributions – Moblin and Canonical's Ubuntu Netbook Remix (UNR). Both have built on the massive potential that was unlocked by the Asus Eee PC but led nowhere, as its operating system failed to inspire a new generation of Linux users.

A new class of cheaper, smaller netbook computers might upset the IT establishment this year. Without Windows or Intel chips, the new trend "puts the existing PC structure at risk."