While Apple's iPad offers beautiful touch screen support for all its apps, the device does not run Flash, which is the technology that powers most no-download casino games. This means that iPad users can't simply log-on to their favorite instant play casino and start enjoying touch screen slots, blackjack, and other games.
Fortunately, there are alternatives. News has just surfaced of an upcoming Hewlitt-Packard touch screen tablet PC that will be powered by Windows 7. This means that the device will run all no-download casinos without problems. Basically, anything that works on your netbook computer will also work on the new HP Slate 500.
While touch screen tablet PCs are nothing new, most are powered by Android OS or other mobile operating systems, and are therefore unfamiliar to Windows users. The comfortable Windows 7 interface on the new HP Slate 500 means users won't have to learn anything new, other than getting used to using their fingers to control online casino games instead of a mouse or trackpad.
Full specs for the HP Slate 500 are not yet available, but according to Netbook Updates, the device will probably offer the following:
• 8.9 inch display
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• Two cameras for shooting photos or video and web conferencing
• 1.6GHz unspecified processor (probably Intel Atom)
HP says the Slate 500 in customer evaluation phase, and no release date has been given.
It's strange to see the words 'gaming' and 'netbook' together like that. Traditionally, netbooks are tools more than toys, and their computing power is far too average to please hardcore computer gamers. But Alienware is a big name in gaming computer technology, so we'll take their word for it. They call the M11x the "world's most powerful 11-inch gaming laptop", and judging by the specs, they're probably right. The question is – is it worth the $1,099 price tag?
M11x gaming netbook: Essential specs
• Intel Core i7 processor
• Nvidia GeForce GT 335M graphics card with 1GB memory
• Intel HD Graphics Media Accelerator
• 2GB of DDR3 RAM
• 160GB hard drive
Clearly, the M11x is a beast of a machine. It weighs in quite heavy at 4.4 pound, but it is compact and packs a powerful punch. For proper computer gaming, the processor and graphics card are definitely up to speed, but the RAM is a bit low, and the hard drive is pathetically small. Consumers must also be aware that they are paying quite a lot extra for the Alienware brand.
For casual gamers, or for anyone who uses their netbook for online casino games, the Alienware M11x is overkill. It's killing a fly with bazooka overkill. No download casino games don't need much computing power to run, and users can find much, much cheaper netbooks that are more than powerful enough to get the job done.
My advice? Skip the M11x and go for an ASUS Eee PC, or check out our netbook reviews for more options.
Microsoft has spoken (again). I've lost track of how many times Microsoft has change the date they will kill off the nine-year-old Windows XP once and for all. The new date is October 22, and it seems like this is the real, final, official death date for this popular PC operating system.
The reason for thinking things are getting serious is that Microsoft has been talking to OEMs, reminding them that they should stop pre-installing XP on new netbooks. What is the alternative? Windows 7 of course.
According to Microsoft, a full 88% of new netbooks are already shipping with some version of Windows 7 installed. If you ask me, this is a good thing. Windows 7 and netbooks go hand-in-hand. As netbook technology becomes more and more powerful, users are able to make better use of the features that this new operating system has to offer.
In truth, the change won't have much of an effect on netbook casino gamblers. Since the no download casino games that netbookers play run completely online, they are independent of the operating system installed on the computer running them. In fact, no-download casino games run equally well on Windows netbooks as they do on Linux machines and Macs.
Whichever OS your netbook happens to be running, there are piles of great instant play casino games out there waiting to be explored, so choose one that looks good to you and start winning!
As odd as it may sound, it's absolutely true. Instead of a keyboard, this unusual netbook sports a second screen. Both the main screen and the bottom screen are touch-sensitive, allowing users to manipulate files and enter data. While experts are unsure of how the new device will be received by the public, Toshiba intends to bring it to the market within the next few months.
The Toshiba Libretto W100 sports two 7-inch, 1024×600 touch screens. Inside, a 1.2GHz Pentium U5400 processor and 2GB of RAM offer plenty of power, while a 64GB SSD offers minimal storage. The device comes pre-loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium.
When users need to actually type, all it takes is the push of a special button to turn the bottom screen into a virtual keyboard. Those lucky few who have gotten their hands on the device say that typing is cumbersome – the keyboard is small, and the lack of tactile feedback makes typing difficult. This is definitely not a good device for composing long emails.
When not a keyboard, the bottom screen is designed to run a special program called LifeSpace. It's designed specifically for this device, helping users move through the computer's file structure, manipulate documents, and launch programs. LifeSpace makes full use of the device's touch capabilities, and is a unique new approach to the idea of personal computing.
The price? A hefty $1,099. This is a lot more than a 'normal' netbook would cost, even one with these same specs. The extra money, of course, goes towards the dual touch screens. At the end of the day, the W100 is not designed for heavy business use, but it would be a great device for netbook gaming. The dual touch screens would give users a unique way to play slots, poker, blackjack, and other online casino games. The machine has plenty of power, and would handle anything players threw at it. The W100 seems more like a toy than a tool, though in the right hands, it could be used to win quite a lot of money gambling online.
This may be a bit of preaching to the converted here, but while playing a flash game on the Netbook recently, a few thoughts came to mind about the advantages of playing casino games on the device. And so: the top five reasons why playing on a Netbook is better than on a PC or laptop computer.
• It's convenient. Of course – this is the reason you bought the Netbook in the first place. Maybe you're a traveler or just can't work in your home all the time. For whatever reason, visiting a familiar no-download casino on your Netbook can make you feel at home wherever you are.
• Keep downloads off your devoted work computer. It's the number one reason to play on a flash casino in the first place, after all. Without downloaded files (which you can never seem to completely erase) cluttering up your hard drive, everything will run smoothly on that other machine while you enjoy your time on the Netbook.
• You can do two things at once. You know how most online bingo rooms have casino slots? Or that sportsbook websites offer blackjack and table games? This gives players something to do during breaks in bingo or football or whatever. Now, with the World Cup on for the next month, what will you do for gaming if you're going to the pub or even stuck at home? That's right: You're using your Netbook.
• Special flash casino bonuses. Yes, they are rare. But after you find one (maybe from among the pages on this website), you'll cherish it forever for sure.
• Finally, some casino games and/or software are made for the no-download format and are therefore perfect for the Netbook in a textbook case of harmonious technologies. I mean, you wouldn't use a deck of cards to play video poker, would you?
Ever since the launch of the Apple iPad, tablet PCs are getting a lot more attention. Tablets are mobile computers with touch-screen interfaces. Some, like the iPad, are specialized and only run proprietary apps, but there are also more open-ended devices out there which run on the Windows operating system and can do everything a netbook computer can do. While netbooks still seem to have a stronger hold on the market, the scales could easily tip the other way. Which device has a brighter future?
Chances are, both will exist in a few years' time. Ultimately, the difference between a tablet and a netbook boils down to one very important thing: a keyboard.
Netbooks have keyboards, but tablets do not. This means that netbooks will nearly always be favorites in terms of productivity (writing emails, creating reports, updating blogs, etc), while tablets are often better for leisure activities – mostly gaming, web browsing, multimedia, and that sort of thing.
From the point of view of online gambling, both work equally well. Keyboards are not essential tools when playing slots or blackjack or any other internet casino games. In fact, a touch screen interface can make gambling on the go easier and more enjoyable, since players interact directly with the screen rather than using a mouse.
While the future is far from certain, we believe that tablet PCs and netbooks are both strong enough to survive for many years to come – or at least until someone events a tablet with a virtual holographic keyboard!
Intel revealed a netbook yesterday that they are dubbing the 'Canoe Lake' platform. As of right now, it's just a working prototype, so don't expect to find one for purchase just yet. We're covering it here anyway because it introduces some very exciting new technological breakthroughs that are big news for online netbook gamblers.
First of all, this machine is incredibly, unbelievably thin. When closed, this netbook is just 14mm thick, barely taller than a magazine. Because it is so thin it has to cram the bigger components like the battery and the fans into the back, so the shape is a bit odd, leaving a gap between the keyboard and the monitor when it is opened. But this is a small price to pay for such a light and thin machine.
More importantly, the 'Canoe Lake' prototype is capable of displaying HD video at full 720p. This packs a lot of resolution into the machine's 10" screen, ensuring that no download casino games look sharp and clear. The prototype packs a GMA 3150 processor makes it capable of handling high-def multimedia, so online casino games will play as smooth as they would on a full desktop computer. Intel says that the retail devices will support up to 4 cores, making these little beasts very powerful.
Intel expects that machines based on the 'Canoe Lake' model will be shipping in the second half of this year. Intel wouldn't say what companies will be producing these new high-definition multimedia netbooks, but it won't be long until they start hyping this incredible next-gen netbook.
Google may be releasing their very own netbook by Christmas 2010 if web rumors turn out to be true. These rumors follow news that Google will soon be launching its own mobile phone – the Nexus One.
What might this netbook look like, and why should online gamers care? First of all, it is suspected that the device will be 3G-enabled. This will let users access the internet through cell phone networks, which will allow players to log in and gamble from far more locations than simple wireless internet will allow. While 3G usage comes at a cost, the trade-off is incredible flexibility and convenience, which for many players is worth paying a little extra for.
One possible downside is that a Google netbook would almost certainly run Google OS. The point of this operating system is that it lives mostly on the internet, and it is designed for use with web apps like Google Docs for word processing and spreadsheets, or Google Picasa for photo sharing. While this would limit the netbook's usability (it would basically be a useless brick without constant internet access), it really doesn't affect online gambler much, since all that is needed to enjoy no download casino games is a web browser like Google Chrome and some sort of internet access.
At the end of the day, a Google netbook would be great for online gambling on netbooks. Its 3G capabilities would provide extra flexibility, letting players gamble in more places, and its Google OS would complement the idea of no-download casino games nicely.
Of course, the Google netbook is all just a big rumor, so don't get your hopes up!
Netbook hardware is undergoing constant change, and with each new improvement, the speed and power of ultra-portable computers continues to increase. A big change in netbook hardware technology is just around the corner – Intel has announced the upcoming Atom N550 dual-core processor, and it's due out by the end of the year.
This new processor means big changes, and it's something that netbook gamers should get excited about. The extra processing power will let manufacturers to 11.6″-12.1″ displays (the current limit is 10.2"). While this increase in display size will also increase the overall size and weight of the netbook, it also means more screen real estate for no download casino games. This new hardware advancement will push netbooks even closer in size to standard netbook computers, blurring the line between the two. Fortunately, these new systems should still come with a sub-$300 price tag.
There will be a few strings attached. The biggest restriction is that the new processor will require at least 1 GB DDR3 RAM, and users should expect to see new Atom N550 systems offering at least a 32GB SSD or 250 GB standard drive. But again, these are good things, especially for users who enjoy playing online casino games on their netbook.
While Apple's iPad offers beautiful touch screen support for all its apps, the device does not run Flash, which is the technology that powers most no-download casino games. This means that iPad users can't simply log-on to their favorite instant play casino and start enjoying touch screen slots, blackjack, and other games.
