The Chinese company Delstar has announced a seven-inch netbook that runs Windows CE on an ARM processor. The DS 700 will be sold for $120 by KMart in the retailer's post-Thanksgiving "Black Friday" sale, according to various reports.

The pending KMart sale -- revealed by Liliputing and other websites that obtained advance copies of Black Friday advertising -- brings a new level of prominence for Windows CE netbooks. However, it could also lead to disappointment on the part of shoppers who expect the Delstar device (below) to run their favorite Windows games and other applications.


Delstar's DS 700

Though mostly offered outside the U.S. in the past, $100 netbooks are not an entirely new phenomenon. The devices keep costs down by using relatively small LCD panels, employing Windows CE as their operating systems, and by using ARM- or MIPS-based processors rather than x86 CPUs. Recent examples have included the Lanyu eBook LY-EB01, the Join Tech J1-Pro JL7100, and the 3K Computer RazorBook 400 CE.

Contrary to what the ad at right -- from Heartland America, another reseller of the Delstar device -- implies, the DS 700 offers dated technology. Still, the netbook does offer 802.11b/g wireless networking, web browsing via Internet Explorer, a PDF viewer, and the ability to work with Microsoft Office documents. Delstar specifies "document creator," "spreadsheet creator," "presentation creator," and "media player" software, which could refer either to Microsoft's own Office Mobile or to some unknown third-party offering.

Delstar's DS 700 shown with packaging and AC adapter

The DS 700 includes an unspecified, 400MHz Samsung processor, 128MB of RAM, and 2GB of flash storage. Other features include a seven-inch screen with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, touchpad, 10/100 Ethernet port, three USB 2.0 ports, plus microphone and headphone jacks. The device's three-cell battery is said to provide three hours of operation.

Features and specifications listed for the Delstar DS 700 by KMart, Heartland America, or other resellers, include the following:

• Processor -- 400MHz Samsung SoC
• Memory -- 128MB of RAM and 2GB of flash storage
• Display -- Seven-inch screen with 800 x 480 pixel resolution
• Expansion -- SD slot
• Networking:
  • LAN -- 10/100 Ethernet
  • WLAN -- 802.11b/g
• Other I/O:
  • 3 x USB 2.0
  • Microphone jack
  • Headphone jack
• Battery -- Three-cell, lasts for three hours
• Dimensions -- 9.75 x 6.5 x 2 inches
• Weight, including battery -- under 2 pounds

Further information

Liliputing's item reproducing the KMart Black Friday advertisement may be found here. A Heartland America page devoted to the Delstar DS 700 may be found here.

Delstar has apparently produced an Intel Atom-based netbook as well, the DS 1000. More information on that product may be found on an eCost.com page, here.

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