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Frontier promises rugged MacBook Air rival

updated 08:30 am EDT, Fri March 14, 2008

 

Frontier FRLN


Frontier today put out an aggressive challenge to Apple by claiming a system which is both lighter and tougher than the MacBook Air. The FRLN is thicker than its American counterpart but occupies less space through a smaller 12-inch, LED-backlit screen and weighs just 2.75 pounds, all the while being more resilient against everyday use. The chassis of the FRLN can withstand up to 265 pounds of pressure and survive drops from up to 2.5 feet; it also comes with a water-resistant keyboard that guards against rain or spills.

In an unusual move for this system class, Frontier is opting to use the same 800MHz Intel A110 processor as found in UMPCs, providing four hours of battery life even with the small standard battery. An extended battery runs the system for up to 8.5 hours. The notebook is also supplied with 1GB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, and 802.11g Wi-Fi. It ships to Japan in late march for the equivalent of $1,291 and will not be officially released in the US. [via Impress]




By Electronista Staff

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computers, MacBook Air, Frontier
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Previous Comments

  1. cmoney

    Mac Enthusiast

    Joined: Sep 2000

    0

    FRLN

    Is that supposed to be pronounced Forlorn? Like RAZR?


  1. Thermaikos

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2007

    0

    ugliness



    ugly machine ugly OS


  1. BelugaShark

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2007

    0

    x

    MacBooks have see through characters that can be lit in the dark, which the Frontier doesn't have, instead it has the typical PC notebook stickers for characters that wear-off in a couple of months. It's thicker, and runs Windows, comes with less RAM, smaller screen and costs a measly $300 less. And I don't know about it being "stronger", the MBA can also be dropped from 2.5 feet or 30", that's not very high.

    Although I'm not a big fan of the MBA, Apple's model makes more sense. It comes with software to remotely install apps from your desktop, and did I mention that it runs OS X?


  1. adrianm

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2005

    0

    not really a rival...

    ... given the processor.

    it's more like an oversized UMPC.


  1. Pismo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2006

    0

    High tech

    It even comes with VGA! How 1998!


  1. Guest

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 1999

    0

    New Light Laptop

    Hey... No doubt a lot of machines are just great. Windows Windows Windows Windows Windows Wind.


  1. jhawk95

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2006

    0

    It still runs.......

    Yea! But it still runs......

    Windozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzezzzzzzzzzzzze!

    So it is still a piece of c***!


  1. leamanc

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2003

    0

    More like

    a competitor to the Asus EEE PC, not the MBA.


  1. Foe Hammer

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2005

    0

    Strong Competition

    This Frontier (who?) thing competes with the MacBook Air about as well as a set of hedge trimmers - with the hedge trimmers faring a little bit better than the Frontier in actual tests.


  1. Monde

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2004

    0

    Fugly

    I don't see the folks at Apple shaking in their boots over this offering. Compared to the Air, its fugly.


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