Report: First Android netbook for $250

A recently published report indicates a Google Android-based netbook will be available for $250 within three months.   The final prototype of the Android-powered netbook will launch sometime in June, and manufacturers hope to have an official release in two months.

The Alpha 680 is powered by a 533MHz ARM 11 CPU, 128MB RAM, 1GB HDD, and has a 7-inch LCD screen, built-in WiFi, keyboard, touchpad, and a 2-cell battery capable of lasting between two and four hours. 

The ARM CPU is commonly used in smartphones, such as the popular Apple iPhone.  Although performance isn’t as high as Intel’s Atom platform, it offers better power saving features.  Since the netbook uses the ARM 11 processor instead of more expensive CPUs, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Alpha 680 available for less than $200 after its release.

The netbook will measure 8.5 x 6.0 x 1.2 inches and weigh in at 1.5 lbs., according to Skyote co-founder Nixon Wu. 

Guangzhou Skytone Transmission Technologies now has the netbook in final testing, and it hopes to have the product ready to go as soon as possible. 

The company expects the price tag to drop further once production numbers increase, with heavy marketing aimed towards emerging markets.

Skytone reportedly is working out bugs as the company is having difficulty with 20 percent of the apps that are having compatability issues.

Most netbooks are using either Microsoft Windows XP — the now defunct OS Microsoft wishes to avoid using — or various versions of Linux operating systems.  Several manufacturers, including Hewlett-Packard, have expressed interest in possibly using Android as the OS on future netbooks.