Too late for netBook genericide?

Are you the proud owner of a netbook? Perhaps an Asus, Dell or MSI netbook?

No you're not - according to Psion there is only one "netBook" and that trademark was registered by them as early as 1996.

A number of sites using "netbook" in one generic sense or another received cease and desist letters from Psion at the end of December informing them as much, and many, like this site selling used netbooks, have opted to shut up shop rather than risk legal problems.

The story continues in the last few days with Dell pushing to "relieve" Psion of their trademark.

With Amazon and eBay sellers using the term "netbook" with impunity, and most customers using the term generically, probably unaware that there even is a Psion netBook, it is hard to see how a claim to the trademark can be sustained by Psion for much longer.

Microsoft now bribing you to use their search

Microsoft are so desperate to get a piece of the Google search pie that they are resorting to bribery again! Yes, in a repeat of their UK Big Snap campaign from February 2008, they have launched Big Snap Search II, in which you can possibly (not) win some prizes in the form of - TA-DAAA, some John Lewis coupons - nice!

What's the catch? Well, for a chance to match two different-valued coupons and win the prize, you have to, wait for it, USE Live Search TO SEARCH FOR SOMETHING!

Now come on, what do they take us for...? If they think we're going to fall for that...

Still, if you really want those coupons and you are furiously typing random search terms into the search field as we speak, think about the possibility that it is on some kind of timer and totally disregards the actual quantity of searches made.

As for dislodging the big G with the help of bribery, it just ain't gonna work, Google has it sewn up, end of story. Anyway, Live Search has hardly even indexed The StoreMinator yet - it can't be much good.

Hmmm, still, John Lewis you say... Might as well have ONE more try...

Commodore UMMD 8010 Netbook - paper clip included!

The amazing success of the netbook format of notebook computer has prompted a venerable industry name to jump on the bandwagon - no less than Commodore itself!

Though Commodore today has little in common with the company that produced the almighty C64, as well as the VIC20, C128 and later of course, the Amiga, it is thought that new Commodore UMMD 8010 netbook, announced at the IFA Show in Berlin, will make more than just a tip of the hat to its worthy ancestor.

Some of the features the Commodore netbook is thought to include are as follows:

- Commodore Basic installed as standard
- paper clip-based reset (paper clip included as standard)
- cassette tape-based storage for full backwards compatibility
- optional external floppy drive (release delayed due to size issues)
- prominently-displayed Commodore C= logo
- lovely brown keyboard with completely pointless Restore button
- free copy of Monty on the Run
- television modulator as standard (no built-in screen necessary)

Commodore are convinced that their new netbook will combine the best of the old school of computing with the latest technology for superior performance (largely through the simple device of omitting Vista) and will poise Commodore to become a household name once again.