Starting at a mere $399, the Everex CloudBook marks the latest entry to the expanding world of UMPC-type subnotebooks at affordable prices. With a 7-inch display, 1.2GHz processor, and 30GB hard drive, the CloudBook certainly doesn't make a very good desktop replacement computer, but it does look like one impressive little road warrior. Does the CloudBook perform better than the competition? Is it the best $400 purchase you can make? We answer these questions and more.The Everex CloudBook (starting at $399) is available in just one configuration at the time of this writing. Our CloudBook has the following specifications:
1. gOS Rocket operating system (Linux variant)
2. 1.2GHz, VIA C7-M Processor (ULV)
3. 512MB DDR2 533MHz, SDRAM
4. 30GB Hard Disk Drive (3600rpm parallel ATA)
5. 7" WVGA TFT Display (800 x 480)
6. VIA UniChrome Pro IGP Graphics
7. VIA High-Definition Audio
8. 802.11b/g WiFi
9. 10/100 Ethernet Port
10. DVI Port
11. Two USB 2.0 Ports
12. 4-in-1 Media Card Reader
13. 0.3MP Webcam
14. Headphone/Line-Out Port
15. Microphone/Line-In Port
16. 4-cell Lithium-Ion Battery
Build and Design
The Everex CloudBook is an impressive little machine at first glance. The innovative grip-through LCD hinge design and compact form factor come together with smooth matte black plastics and a hint of metal reinforcement in just the right places. Weighing in at just two pounds the CloudBook was built around the VIA Nanobook reference design ... a subnotebook prototype developed by VIA as a platform for their new mobile technologies.
Despite the impressive compactness of the design, the CloudBook is reasonably solid and durable thanks to the fact so much was packed into such a tiny space. We don't recommend dropping the CloudBook but it should survive the average use and abuse that any other $400 notebook can handle.
The CloudBook does not have a latch to hold it closed, and while the hinge mechanism generally works well at holding the lid in place it is very easy to move the lid by slightly shaking the notebook. On the bright side, there is almost no flex to the screen or chassis. While we're on the topic of the screen lid, the hinge was designed so that you can reach under the CloudBook and grasp the back of the notebook with one hand (wrapping your fingers under the display) and type with your free hand. While this is a nice idea, it's hardly practical since the CloudBook uses a non-standard touchpad interface which requires two hands to use (more on that later in this review).
The CloudBook does not have a latch to hold it closed, and while the hinge mechanism generally works well at holding the lid in place it is very easy to move the lid by slightly shaking the notebook. On the bright side, there is almost no flex to the screen or chassis. While we're on the topic of the screen lid, the hinge was designed so that you can reach under the CloudBook and grasp the back of the notebook with one hand (wrapping your fingers under the display) and type with your free hand. While this is a nice idea, it's hardly practical since the CloudBook uses a non-standard touchpad interface which requires two hands to use (more on that later in this review).
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