Ah, Windows 7 Starter — you’re adding to the retail cost of netbooks, and for what? Lack of support for multiple monitors, DVD playback, or remote media streaming? Lack of Windows Media Center? Granted, these things aren’t at the top of your list if you’re rocking a netbook (and DVD playback won’t be on your list at all) but we have principles, y’know? And that leads us to the next batch of Eee PCs that will fly the flag of the aforementioned OS. Both machines sport your standard Atom N280, 1GB memory, IEEE802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, and customary 10.1-inch display. Of the two, the 1005HR-WS sports WXGA, a 250GB HDD, and will run you ¥49,800 (about $546). The 1005HE-WS, however, is WSVGA and comes in two capacities: 250GB HDD for ¥46,800 ($513) or 160GB HDD for ¥44,800 (about $490). In addition to that jive Starter edition of Windows, battery life for these guys has decreased to about 8.4 hours. Available in Japan come mid-November.

[Via Engadget Japan]

In anticipation of the Thursday’s launch, the crazy kids at Gigabyte Japan have refreshed two of their netbook lineup to include Windows 7 Starter. Unfortunately for the T1028X tablet we’ve been tracking for a while now, this flavor of the OS doesn’t support multitouch. While that makes a touchscreen far less attractive in our eyes, maybe you’re into that sort of thing. Who knows? That said, new OS aside, you’re pretty much looking at the same old netvertible. Also on tap, the M1022X brings the M1022M docking netbook up to speed, adding a 6 cell battery (boasting 8 hours of use) to the 10.1-inch, Atom N280-powered ultraportable. Look for that one to retail for ¥66,800 ($738) while the T1028X fetches ¥72,800 ($804).

[Via Netbooked]

Manufacturers the world over have given this one some serious thought, and they’ve decided that you want something that feels like a MacBook Air, looks (vaguely) like a MacBook Air, and doesn’t run OS X. Available come October 22, the iiView A2 features an Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz CPU, 2GB DDR2 RAM, 320GB HDD, a 12.1-inch display, and 802.11 a/b/g/n wireless. Shipping for $399 with Windows 7, this guy will look right at home next to your award-winning collection of Air KIRFs — and won’t break the bank in the process. Hit that read link for more info.

[Via ChipChick]

In the mood for a thin-and-light, got $1,300 burning a hole in your pocket? Have we got a lappie for you! The kids at T3 have put the new Sony Vaio X through its ever-lovin’ paces recently and have been kind enough (and gracious enough) to give us the scoop. In short, there’s a lot to love about the thing: thinner than even the MacBook Air (yet packed with an ethernet connection, VGA, and two USB ports) and “super light,” this guy offers an “impressive” 11.1-inch display with “excellent color reproduction.” On the other hand, while the carbon fiber keeps weight down, it isn’t too terribly sturdy — the entire body “flexing alarmingly under light pressure.” And sure, you’re paying quite a premium for an Atom CPU, but hey — maybe you’re into that sort of a thing. If so, hit the read link for the rest of the story.