We’ve seen netbooks flourish for the last two years. These cheap and relatively underpowered mini-laptops have been super portable. Add the fact that they can do almost all the basic computer user’s needs at an affordable price, so it’s really no surprise that netbooks have been the number one product for many computer manufacturers.

But it looks like in 2010 we’ll be seeing the portable computing landscape changed yet again. Lots of talk about a new class of mini-laptops running ARM-based processors have been on the news a lot lately. Since they’re running ARM, they won’t be able to run Windows XP or Windows 7. They’re all going to be on Linux. However, they’ll be able to last for a long time on a single charge, and some will be featuring integrated 3G connectivity and HD video acceleration features.

You also get the ability to receive emails, instant messages, and other data even while the computer is in sleep mode. Basically, you are going to get the best of both worlds in terms of notebooks and smartphones, hence the name “smartbooks.”

From Liliputing:

The president of ARM Korea says that as many as 20 ARM-based smartbooks could hit the streets in the first quarter of 2010.

Most, but not all of these devices will likely be sold by mobile broadband providers at subsidized prices. That means you may be able to pick up a smartbook for less than $200 up front. Some might even be free. But you’ll probably end up paying up to $60 per month to actually use the 3G wireless capabilities, which means that over the course of a 2 year service contract you could end up paying between $1400 and $1600 for a device that looks like a laptop, but which has a slower processor and won’t run Windows.

Are you willing to put up with Linux if it means that you’ll be able to get more out of a single charge? Give me your thoughts!

Now if you’re all about traveling and you find even a netbook too big for you, maybe it’s time to consider getting one of those MIDs. I’m actually not a fan of MIDs, but imagine getting a cellphone-sized mini computer out of your pocket and booting it up to Windows XP. That’s pretty sweet if you ask me. Also, the portability potential of these MIDs are astounding.

One MID manufacturer I’m impressed with is Viliv. They came out with a new MID, and although we don’t have much in the way of specs out yet, I’d like to get my hands on this baby. The known specs of the Viliv N5 are:

- 4.8 inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen
- Intel Atom
- Wifi, 3G and GPS
- Keyboard

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Netbooks are meant to be taken everywhere. That much we know. We all know that the diminutive sizes of netbooks make them ideal for lugging around everywhere. But then if you do decide to carry your mini laptop everywhere, there’s the simple matter of safety. We don’t want to drop our precious netbooks when we’re working in rugged places, right? (Although there’s the matter of bringing your netbook – which isn’t made of top notch materials to begin with – to a rugged place, but whatever floats your boat.)

But if you do insist on bringing your netbook to a potentially dangerous environment, to protect it you might need a MiniMount. It’s basically a rack that allows you to mount a netbook in the home or car for easier use. You need MiniMount’s hard shell case – it’s the one that easily lets you set your netbook on their mounting kit.

From the MiniMount website:

Mounts are available in preconfigured kits containing what you need to attach your MINIMOUNT case in most any imaginable setting. From passenger car to forklift, from big-rig to RV, from office cart to exercise bike, from work bench to laboratory, from bed post to tripod, from quad to tractor, it goes where you go.

Both RAM-Mount and Manfrotto integrate for clamp mount, direct surface attachment, or in-vehicle bolt-on applications. Our Quick Plate™ system allows the MINIMOUNT to be easily detached from mounting arms without tools and without protruding hardware.

Prices start at $79.

Apple fanboys have been clamoring for it over and over again: “give us a tablet, for crying out loud”. We all know that the iPhone or an iPod touch doesn’t compare to a full Mac OS X experience.

People were looking for the closest thing to an Apple tablet, and the CrunchPad came out. Oh wait, it didn’t. It got killed before it even came out, and is now being sold under a really meh branding. “Joo Joo”? Really?

Anyway, it’s reported that Apple rented the stage at t the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco for late January.

According to Techvibes:

While both Apple has made no comment about the event, sources familiar with the event say that Apple plans to make a significant product announcement early next year.

The device is expected to be announced in January, where it will then go into mass production and be sold a later in the year. Very little is known about the device itself, but it is expected to have either a 7 or 10 inch screen. It is also expected to look like a blown up iPhone. It’s been reported as well that the tablet has been developed under the close eye of Steve Jobs himself.

Remember, it’s just a rumor, but who knows? I’m rather excited at the prospect of a blown-up iPhone working as an Apple tablet, running Mac OS X. Imagine what you can do with it. But then, I don’t remember a single tablet computer that did well. I can’t wait to see what Apple does with it and how they’ll redefine the market.

Ok, so I guess you’re pretty excited for Google’s entry into the operating system market with Google Chrome OS. I don’t know how anyone could get pretty excited over an OS running a web browser and nothing else, but if you’re into cloud computing and you would want to have a feel of what Chrome OS might turn out, you should try BrowserLinux.

BrowserLinux is a fast and small linux distribution for surfing the web. In fact it’s so small that it claims that it eats up only 78Mb upon installation. It’s actually based on Puppy Linux, which is by itself one of the most lightweight Linux distros available.

Unlike Google Chrome though, BrowserLinux is not all browsers. It also has a few applications installed, and you have options to add extra software if you want to.

The applications that come preinstalled on BrowserLinux are:

• Web-browser (Firefox 3.5.5)
• Flash 10
• PDF-reader
• Music Player (Alsaplayer)

To install BrowserLinux, you need to download the ISO and run Unetbootin.

Okay, if you’re looking to install this on your main computer, I really wouldn’t advise doing that. Having a lightweight operating system is well and good, but to run a system as stripped-down as this, you’re going to run into something that’ll need an application not available for your OS. Better stick with a bootable flash drive if I were you.