Jointech Introduces $125 Netbook -- Cheap Enough?

Jointech’s new JL7200 J-Pro mini laptop offers basic functionality at a truly affordable price.

Starting at just $125, the recently announced JL7200 J-Pro mini laptop has a price that makes even netbooks seem expensive. Featuring a 7-inch TFT LCD screen, Windows operating system and WiFi support, at first glance the JL7200 would appear to be just another netbook. However, while netbooks today are generally fitted with an Intel Atom 1.6 GHz processor, the JL7200 seems instead to be using the guts of a Windows Mobile PDA.

The JL7200 is reported to be equipped with an ARM9 Core 400 MHz processor, Windows CE 5.0, 10 Mbps Ethernet, 64 MB RAM and 64 MB ROM. Despite such lowly system specifications, the JL7200 is expected to be powerful enough for basic applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Skype, MSN Messenger and Internet Explorer. The JL7200 appears to also come with stereo speakers, a VGA port, a touch-pad, audio ports, a card reader and USB ports. The JL7200 weighs in at 0.80 kg (1.76 lbs) and it has battery life that is expected to be around 4 hours

If the JL7200 is not exactly what you are looking for, Jointech also offers the JL7100, the JL7300 and the JL777. The $99 JL7100 has similar specifications to that of the JL7200, but it instead comes without WiFi support. The more powerful JL7300 comes with a 533 MHz CPU, twice the RAM, an 8 GB NAND drive and an 8-inch display. Lastly, the JL777 comes with Windows XP, 512 MB DDR memory, a 7-inch display, an AMD LX-800 CPU, an 8 GB SSD and a 4400 mAH battery.

The JL7200 will be available for $125 in bulk purchase or for $299 in sample quantities. The JL7100 was recently showcased at Gitex 2008.