“The folks at Kogan are pretty good when it comes to Linux” said reader�Paul when tipping us off to Australian (and UK) technogloy outfit ‘Kogans’ latest laptop.
Available for ordering, but not shipping until late May, the new ‘Agora Pro’ ultra-portable comes with the latest and greatest version of Ubuntu so far – Ubuntu 11.04 – but is it a fitting shell for an operating system so, well, natty?
Kind of.
For its price point – a reasonable AU$389/�269 but available for as low as �219 – the Agora Pro undercuts many of its competitors – such as the similarly spec’d 12″ MSI Wind 230 at �331.
Innards
The dual-core 1.2Ghz Celeron SU2300 ULV processor boasts a relatively low TDW of 10w and “blow[s]�the Intel Atom away” performance wise. .
2GB of DDR2 RAM is a fair, if not exemplary, memory allowance. Space is provided by a 500GB – RPM not specified – HDD.
The graphics grunt is provided by an integrated Intel GS40 express chipset with 256MB shared�memory, displaying on a ‘11.6″ WXGA Widescreen HD LED Display’.
All of the above is more than capable of�handling�Ubuntu 11.04 with ease so there’s no need to worry about needing to run Ubutu Classic or Unity 2-D if ordering.With Kogan shipping Ubuntu as default on the device�WiFi,�Bluetooth, webcam and�card-reader are all likely to work out-of-the-box, too.
The usual set of features round it out: 1.3MP webcam, bluetooth, 802.11 b/g/n wifi, card-reader, HDMI and VGA out, integrated microphone, etc.
Sadly the meagre 4 Cell battery marks the Agora down. The curved lid is a stylish addition to an otherwise perfunctory looking case.
Whilst the Agora isn’t billed as a ‘lightweight laptop’ rather simply ‘ultra portable’ – semantics mean it’s not quite the same difference – it weighs a comparatively featherweight 1.52kg gross. Which is pretty netbook-esque for such a larger device.
The Agora Pro sits at a comfortable price point for those needing something a bit bigger and a bit more capable than a standard 10.1″ Netbook. For the style concious there are better and far, far slimmer options available elsewhere.
Agora Pro 12″ is available to buy @ kogan.com.au/shop/agora-pro-12-ultra-portable-laptop-computer and www.kogan.co.uk/shop/agora-pro-12-ultra-portable-laptop-computer/
Source: Kogan.com.au via Tipform