Everex

I stopped by the VIA booth at Computex today to see its menagerie of mini-notebooks. I had seen the newest version of the CloudBook Max behind glass at CTIA in April, but I was finally able to play around with the second-generation Everex mini-notebook this morning. So does it remove the bad taste in my mouth left by the original CloudBook? On the whole, yes.

As for hardware, the system feels a lot more sturdy. With a larger 8.9-inch footprint, the system gives you more real estate on the screen and keyboard. However, the trackpad is still extremely small. It is definitely smaller than on the Eee PC 701, but larger than the original’s finger-size pad located above the keyboard. I do not miss that odd thing.

The CloudBook Max on display was running Windows XP, which sure beats the gOS that was originally preloaded on the system. I have no complaints about the sizing of the windows on the 8.9-inch display; looks like they adjusted the OS for the system this time around!

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We’ve given the Everex CloudBook a thorough once-over and, frankly, found it a rather subpar derivative of the Asus Eee PC, but we have to admit that the news that’s just crossed the wire is quite intriguing.

Today, Via Technologies announced that Everex has adopted the Via C7-M ULV processor for its new 2.2-pound CloudBook Max, a 9.4 x 6.8 x 1.0-inch mini-notebook sporting an integrated Mobile WiMAX solution for use with Sprint’s Xohm network.

But wait, there’s more. Lots more.

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This week, Wal-Mart announced that it would cease selling Everex’ Linux-based gPC desktop due to poor sales. Because we wild’n'crazy folks at LAPTOP focus on mobile technology, we couldn’t help but wonder if this is an omen of things to come for the CloudBook. We spoke with Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at The NPD Group for his thoughts on the CloudBook’s (and other low-cost Linux notebooks) chances of survival.

This week Wal-Mart announced that it was pulling Everex’ Linux desktops from its shelves. Is this the result of a market shift from desktops to notebooks, or the fact that the computers ran Linux?
The sales weren’t very good and I suspect that, as it’s been in the past and as it’ll continue to be, Linux isn’t ready to be sold to a mass market audience.
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