Recently, there has been a sudden trend for netbooksand BenQ is one of the last few to enter the netbook market. Although frankly, there isn’t much that can be said about the specifications since every other 10-inch netbook has the same processor, RAM and operating system, BenQ has to find a way to market their Joybook Lite U101 that differentiates itself from the rest.
Having tried a couple of netbooks, I can honestly say that the Joybook Lite has its pros and cons. Firstly, in terms of looks, the U101 has a very funky, artistic design on the lid to cater for hip, young adults. On top of that, it comes in colors; pink, white, dark blue and the stoic black. The 101 also boasts a 16:9 aspect ratio display on its 10-inch screen, apparently the first to do so in the long line of netbooks, However, I must say that the keyboard is a little cramped and there is unnecessary wastage of space around it that could have been put to good use such as expending the keyboard area. Another gripe I had was the battery lifespan. However, BenQ Joybook Lite U101 is a little lighter compared to some of its competitors; weighing around 1.5kg together with its AC adapter, making it easy to just toss in a shoulder bag and you can barely feel the additional weight.
The BenQ Joybook Lite U101’s uniqueness comes from the design of the lid. If you look closely, you will notice that the design is actually a repetition of Wingdings-like emoticons that has been cleverly designed to read “I (love) Joybook Lite”. Although the shape of the netbook may look the same as any other, or not as sleek as some of its competitors, the Joybook Lite U101 has actually gone through pretty good R&D as it has gone through special moulding to prevent it from wear and tear.
However, in terms of pricing, the Joybook Lite seems a little bit more than its competitors. Considering the identical specs, my guess is BenQ is trying to sell the concept more than the actual product. So if you think that looks are important, then this hip looking netbook might fit your bag perfectly.
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