LG shows off upcoming X200, X300 netbooks at CTIA

At the currently ongoing CTIA show in Las Vegas, LG was showing off its netbooks, including the already available X120 and the upcoming X200 and X300. The X120 is already on sale at Radio Shack, where it commands a $100 price with a two-year AT&T mobile data contract for its built-in 3G modem. In Electronista's tests, it was very easy to carry at 2.8 pounds, though it didn't feel as well made than some admittedly pricier competitors. The keyboard does stretch across nearly the entire width of the device, and does make it surprisingly comfortable to type on, though we didn't spend hours at a desk with it.

The X200 feels heavier than the X120, which it isn't, as specs put it at just over 2.6lbs. This can be attributed mostly to its hinge design, which has more feedback and makes the device less prone to bending when operating. The X200 will be sold in much the same way as the X120, though with which carrier and when has not been confirmed. We noticed it was much more useful and comfortable: its 10.1-inch screen has a higher, 1366x768 resolution, and its gets a more useful chiclet keyboard. While it has typical netbook innards with 3G, what may surprise most is the X200's design: it has silver-colored interior panels and a curved shape to the top of its lid that, at first glance, reminded us of Nokia’s Booklet 3G.

The X300 will not be sold with a carrier subsidy, as it lacks a 3G radio, but it should be the most impressive on paper: it steps up screen size to 11.6 inches and packs a 2GHz Atom as well as a 64GB SSD, which while small makes it extremely fast. It's by far the most stylish of the three, with a textured lid, though this comes at a price. First, and subjectively, the plastic feels thin and hollow, which gives a feeling of a lack of value -- though this is no doubt exaggerated by the very light 2.2-pound weight. There are also just two USB ports located on the rear of the netbook, making them harder to access. Also back there is a microSD card reader and a mini HDMI output, so buyers will at least have some expansion.

The performance of all three of the netbooks is as one would expect for an Atom chip, even including the 2GHz part. It's perfectly acceptable for web browsing and the odd standard-definition movie, but ask it to do many things at once or process larger files, and it slows down noticeably. We hope that future LG netbooks eventually adopt NVIDIA's Ion and make 1080p movies a reality.

LG staff on hand did not reveal ship dates or approximate pricing for the X200 or X300, but did confirm they will ship sometime this year.

X120

X200

X300

By Electronista Staff