The 400 MHz claim is likely to be hyperbole for all these clones (Yinlips, Bestlink, Elonex, etc). The Intertoys clone was cracked open and has a Jz4730 (nude pictures are available), the same cpu said to be present in the Razorbook. However, it runs at the blazing speed of 336 MHz.

If you still have a Razorbook around, may I suggest a small experiment. Nothing else is needed but firefox; the machine will not be harmed. Just replace the current url with file:///proc/jz/cgm (followed by enter). If you see a line containing something like

ICLK : 335.46 MHz

you know you have been fooled by 3K Computers. If you get an error message, that probably means the configuration differs from the Intertoys clone and you need the jailbreak in order to mount /proc. Full credits go to:

http://wiki.kwaak.net/twiki/bin/view/Main/CoolGadgetAlpha400
http://people.fruitsalad.org/adridg/bobulate/index.php?/archives/614-Lowest-end-stuff-for-KDE4.html

OTOH they are also pissing off the open source programming community that could easily supply updated and optimized software for this class of machines.

To answer my question, according to two different sources a Jz4730 cpu is used. That means USB 1.1 according to Ingenic, not USB 2.0, another “inaccuracy” (such as the Internal 56K V.92 Data/Fax PCI Modem listed on http://www.3kcomputers.com/razorbook400.html, when there is no PCI bus).

i pass

The cpu (actually SoC, System on a Chip) is not x86-compatible (AMD/Intel/VIA), but MIPS32-compatible, as you can see if you check ftp://ftp.ingenic.cn (mips_toolchain_guide.pdf might ring a bell).

The big question is why they say it runs at 400 MHz, while the Ingenic site’s “top model” is a Jz4740 @ 360 MHz (Jz4720 and 4730 run at lower speeds). I really would like to know which chip is used (it also could be the Jz4732, which does exist but isn’t mentioned at http://www.ingenic.cn/), and if the 400 MHz rating is typical marketing BS, or if they overclock the Jz4740, or if this mysterious Jz4732 in fact does run at 400 MHz.

If you buy a laptop with an Intel chip, wouldn’t you like to know if it was a Core 2 Duo, Celeron or Atom?

http://www.eeepcnews.de/2008/05/09/netbook-one-a110-fuer-199-euro/

Totally different beast. That one has C7-M, like the Cloudbook.

http://www.one.de/shop/one-mini-notebook-a110-p-2667.html?tab=2#tabs&osCsid=82d861b3529eb3df497efd52078e3804

The Razorbook has a CPU I’ve never heard of.

I think what they are doing is against the GPL, the license for probably 99% of the software (Linux kernel, C library, busybox, etc) they are (or might be) using. They infringe upon the rights of the programmer under the GPL to inspect, change and improve the software. They are under obligation to disclose their changes to all GPL source code.

Now, somewhat ironically, if they had been using NetBSD they could indeed have locked down the software.

IMHO these marketing guys haven’t the faintest idea what they are (re)selling.

About flash, I’ve seen somewhere they were opening the source code, so the problem here (different architecture – other than x86) can be overcome recompiling the flash player from source.

Linux is my favorite OS almost *anywhere* – You just need to understand the philosophy behind, and almost *everything* becomes possible.

I think this device can be seen as half way to a clamshell PDA with a reasonable keyboard (beter than other PDA’s and mobile phones)

Let’s see if they can publish the source code of this platform and apps, so that more improvements start to become available from other developers…

Didn’t your video show 40-second boot time?!

Product description also calls it a “Mini media mogul” — wtf?
http://www.3kcomputers.com/razorbook400.html

I’m really wondering about this thing. I have a killer portable USB keyboard I could connect to this. As it is crap for Flash video, I wouldn’t be distracted while mobile writing…