Before getting in examining the technical characteristics of low-cost laptop Packard Bell EasyNote XS, you need a quick detour on the platform VIA NanoBook, from which it derives.

During the Computex 2007, VIA had redefined the concept of portability, launching a small and lightweight subnotebook, even in the price. The Taiwanese company in recent years had specialized in the production of low-power processors, intended largely for the ultra-compact desktop (SFF, Small Form Factor), but also successfully adopted in many UMPC. From here the entrance in the infant market for low-cost laptops, the jump was short.

The goal was to build a notebook from a kilogram of weight, allowing the use of computer applications, such as the Office suite, access to email and surf the Internet on a Microsoft Windows operating system.

The answer was VIA NanoBook, the first ultra-mobile platform open source. Rather than a platform in the sense used by Intel (platform closed) or AMD (open platform), in fact, VIA NanoBook is a "reference design", a scheme that third parties (typically OEMs) may change, according their ideas and needs.

Packard Bell was one of the first companies to use the design on his laptop VIA NanoBook EasyNote XS, followed by Everex in its CloudBook in the United States in early 2008. Packard Bell XS debuted officially at the mobile electronics fair, IFA 2007, after a few weeks to be introduced on the European market, especially Italian.

"This notebook is ideal for those who want to stay connected in a simple and immediate," said Emmanuel Fromont, Packard CEO Bel Italy. "It has all the functionality of a notebook, but is much smaller."

According to the list in August, Packard Bell EasyNote XS is available in stores and authorized resellers, or simply at the company's official online store, at a price of 479 euros (VAT included). The model on sale, EasyNote XS20-014, coincides with the sample in our possession. In short, the technical equipment includes a 7-inch screen, a VIA C7-M 1.2GHz, 1GB RAM, 30GB hard drive (SATA 5400rpm), 802.11ag WLAN, 10/100 Ethernet LAN, webcam, and Windows operating system XP. To protect it from bumps and scratches, comes with a stylish case.