Low-cost ARM Netbooks This page will contain links to affordable but decent Netbooks that undercut the Intel Monopoly systems by significant margins, yet provide pretty much the same kinds of features ("good enough" computing) that the average person expects out of computers: Internet Access, Music and Video playback, and Document viewing and editing. What kinds of systems will go on this page? Essentially: anything that's "good enough". Any system with 256mb of RAM or greater, a 500mhz or greater CPU and a 1024x600 screen or greater and using Free Software will definitely go on this page. It's been well-known for several years that Linux is perfectly capable of running on 256mb of RAM and a 500mhz CPU (just) but whilst you cannot expect miracles at that kind of performance, you can expect a fantastic price. Anything that's better than this minimum requirement is just icing on the cake. It's difficult to consider a system with only an 800x480 screen as "good enough" - especially for Internet use and for Document viewing, however if the price is sufficiently compelling and the overall system is useable and contains Free Software (and the manufacturer respect the free software licenses by providing full source code), then it will be considered worthwhile and will go on this page. Also, the system has to actually be real, selling in volume from factories or retail outlets, and not just a "reference design". Over the years there have been dozens of "reference designs", yet none of them have really met the "good enough" criteria, and so have not really taken off. At the time of writing, the total number of systems found so far and meeting these "good enough" criteria at an affordable price are: one! Therefore, if you hear of any alternatives, please contact me at lkcl@lkcl.net or luke.leighton@gmail.com. ChiTech CT-PC89E The CT-PC89E is based on a Samsung S3C6410 but the processor board is actually upgradeable without having to redesign the entire machine. Its specifications are pretty similar to the EEEPC 901, with an 8.9in 1024x600 LCD, stereo speakers, 802.11 WIFI and it has a cutely named embedded OS from Mid-Fun. It has everything you'd expect from a netbook, yet could be priced well below the £200 to £220 retail price of an Intel Atom system. Read more.