Everex Cloudbook Unboxed

Everex's $400 Cloudbook comes in a neat little green box. It makes clear that the Google Appl-routing, gOS-branded Linux distro doesn't actually have anything to do with Google: the G is for Green!

It's small, but not as tiny as UMPCs. About the same size as Asus's EeePC, it has better specs (such as a 30GB hard drive) at the same price, but our first look at a preproduction model suggests that it isn't quite as polished.

Based on Via's Nanobook reference design, the Cloudbook ain't pretty. But it ain't supposed to be, either. It's supposed to be a cheap workhorse of a subnotebook.The gappy lid-hinge won't appeal to everyone, but I know at least one person who likes the durable, no-nonsense look.

The Cloudbook keyboard is a little smaller than full size, but quite usable. No risks are taken with the design. Rubbery chiclets, of which UMPC makers are so fond, are no-where to be seen.

The trackpad is on the top-right shoulder of the keyboard, and the left and right buttons on the top-left. It works better than you'd think, but the trackpad is so small it can be hard to make precise movements. You won't be editing photos on the Cloudbook without a steady, small-tipped thumb.

Two USB ports, the power cord and audio I/O lie on the right-hand side.

And on the other, a card reader and DVI-out. It's a minimal loadout — enough to make it worth your while? Read our first impressions.