Averatec joining the netbook game?

OC Register seems to think so. According to the article, they’re looking at a 10.2″ netbook. At what point can we finally stop calling these netbooks and call them notebooks again? Seriously, 10.2″? Isn’t 10″ already pushing it?

Regardless, I’ve never personally used an Averatec machine and my only real memory of them is from a 12″ tablet they used to make at a time when you couldn’t find them that small. However, based on the design they had with that tablet and the picture they have of this upcoming netbook, I’m cautiously optimistic.

At the very least, it seems like they’ve taken a note from Acer and included a normal shift key. Have you seen some of the crap the other makers are putting on their keyboards? I have an Eee PC and absolutely hate trying to use the right shift key, so it’s nice to see that at least two companies think it’s important to include normal keys even if it means moving the location of others around.

Regardless, I have agree with Engadget: I’m not sure anyone will care when these come out around Christmas because the market will already be so saturated that another netbook, let alone one from a company most people haven’t heard of, just won’t make much an impact.

At the very least, I think it’s important to point out that the Atom processor, while impressive, is hamstrung because of Intel’s choices regarding video solutions. Be it in a netbook or in something like the Eee Box, they’re limiting what users can do with the machines because the processor just can’t hang with simple tasks like playing Flash videos. This is quickly becoming a point of contention with me and I intend to delve into this a little more in the future.

Still, kudos for including the real shift key. That was thoughtful of them.

Thanks to OC Register for the picture.