- Ubuntu Linux One of the Better Linux OS Versions
- Relatively Low Cost
- Decent Battery Life
- Cramped Keyboard Missing Right Shift Key
- Lounge Mouse Buttons
- Colors Beyond Black Have Disjointed Design Feel
- Intel Atom N270 Mobile Processor
- 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory (1GB Max)
- 80GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
- 8.9-inch WSVGA (1024x600) Wide LCD with VGA Webcam
- Intel GMA 950 Integrated Graphics
- Fast Ethernet, 802.11b/g Wireless
- Three USB 2.0, SD Card Slot
- 9" x 7" x 1.3" @ 2.5 lbs.
- Ubuntu Netbook Linux
8/26/ 08 - Sylvania's g Netbook Meso looks and feels much like many of the other netbooks on the market. In fact, there is little to differentiate it in terms of features from offerings from ASUS or Acer. It has a 8.9-inch wide LCD screen and uses the extremely popular Intel Atom N270. This means that it doesn't stand out from many of the other offerings on the market.
One area that the g Netbook Meso does stand out is the operating system. It uses a special version of the Ubuntu Linux operating system that has been designed for smaller netbook products. The OS is extremely easy to use and very intuitive. It also has one of the best overall looks out of the various Linux netbook operating system. Performance is strong even if the boot time may take longer.
The gNetbook Meso is different to many of the Linux versions of netbooks in that it comes equipped with a fairly large 80GB hard drive compared to much smaller solid state drives. This may be a disadvantage to some in that the system is not as shock resistant, but it does provide a significant increase in the amount of data it can hold.
The big problem with the g Netbook Meso is the keyboard. Of the 8.9-inch netbook designs, it is one of the more cramped layouts that make it difficult to use over extended periods of time. Add to this the fact that the keyboard does not have any right shift key and it makes typing on it even more difficult. The trackpad is decent but the buttons are extremely loud such that they can be disturbing when used in low noise environments.
Finally, Sylvania's g Netbook Meso is actually a rebadged product for the US market. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but something to consider if you have issues with the system and have to deal with support.
