Preview : BenQ Joybook Lite U101 Emo Netbook

The BenQ Joybook Lite U101 is BenQ Group's entrance to the world of netbooks. Since Asus started the Eee frenzy, and netbook's sales rise dramatically, everyone's hoping on the netbook bandwagon to have their piece of pie.

Typical netbook here we have, powered by Intel's infamous N270 Atom processor @ 1.6GHz, coupled with crappy Intel's GMA 950. 1 thing funny about this netbook is that, it only has 512MB of DDRII-533 RAM, which is unremovable. However, BenQ also throws in an 160GB SATA SSD. I might be wrong here, but the label indeed stated SSD, but this is rather rare for a brand to throw in such a large SSD into a netbook. I shall check this out sometime tomorrow.

Btw, this netbook comes with Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR support too! There's another model that has HSDPA supported, but that's optional, which means another model. -.^ Of cause, basic 802.11g wireless is equipped in this netbook.

The small blue box package.

The netbook in full glory. Rather flowery for a black bezel netbook. Haha!

Comes with a targus netbook nylon pouch. This pouch is actually the same pouch given in the Acer Aspire One's package.

Comes with a driver disc, User Manual, Adapter and Power Cord, and also a 3-cell battery.

First boot~! :) Genuine Windows XP Home here, with Norton Antivirus 2009 60-days trial.

The keyboard layout. The response is good, but somehow I don't feel comfortable when typing on it. The touchpad's Left-Click and Right-Click isn't that nice to spam on too as its very noisy to click on.

Notice that the "~" key is located in between the Escape button and F1 button? Which means the number keys are shifted a key ahead unlike other keyboards, which makes it even weirder... This really needs some getting used to.

Wireless notification, netbook status notification, and battery status notification.
No Bluetooth notification here, and no wireless On/Off Switch.

On the left side we have 1 x DC-IN, 1 x D-sub port, and 1 x USB port.
Rather useful for projectors and LCD monitors, unlike HP's Mini.

On the right we have a 4-in-1 Card Reader, Mic-In & HP-Out, 2 x USB ports, 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet port, and a notebook lock slot.
(Card Reader support : MS/MS-Pro/SD/MMC)

The QEye 1.3MP webcam, which is rather standard in notebooks and netbooks.

This photo will explain why the Lite U101's 512MB RAM cannot be removed.
Its hynix rams are integrated into the mainboard, and only has 1 Sodimm slot.

Nice clean curve edges just like the HP Mini, except for the flowery emotions printed on the black chassis.


There's 3 colors available : Blue, Black, and Silver.