Close Menu
TechCentralTechCentral

    Subscribe to the newsletter

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    • News

      Blue Label Telecoms to change its name as restructuring gathers pace

      11 July 2025

      Get your ID delivered like pizza – home affairs’ latest digital shake-up

      11 July 2025

      EFF vows to stop Starlink from launching in South Africa

      11 July 2025

      Apple plans product blitz to reignite growth

      11 July 2025

      Nissan doubles down on South Africa despite plant uncertainty

      11 July 2025
    • World

      Grok 4 arrives with bold claims and fresh controversy

      10 July 2025

      Bitcoin pushes higher into record territory

      10 July 2025

      Cupertino vs Brussels: Apple challenges Big Tech crackdown

      7 July 2025

      Grammarly acquires e-mail start-up Superhuman

      1 July 2025

      Apple considers ditching its own AI in Siri overhaul

      1 July 2025
    • In-depth

      Siemens is battling Big Tech for AI supremacy in factories

      24 June 2025

      The algorithm will sing now: why musicians should be worried about AI

      20 June 2025

      Meta bets $72-billion on AI – and investors love it

      17 June 2025

      MultiChoice may unbundle SuperSport from DStv

      12 June 2025

      Grok promised bias-free chat. Then came the edits

      2 June 2025
    • TCS

      TCS+ | MVNX on the opportunities in South Africa’s booming MVNO market

      11 July 2025

      TCS | Connecting Saffas – Renier Lombard on The Lekker Network

      7 July 2025

      TechCentral Nexus S0E4: Takealot’s big Post Office jobs plan

      4 July 2025

      TCS | Tech, townships and tenacity: Spar’s plan to win with Spar2U

      3 July 2025

      TCS+ | First Distribution on the latest and greatest cloud technologies

      27 June 2025
    • Opinion

      In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

      30 June 2025

      E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

      30 June 2025

      South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

      17 June 2025

      AI and the future of ICT distribution

      16 June 2025

      Singapore soared – why can’t we? Lessons South Africa refuses to learn

      13 June 2025
    • Company Hubs
      • Africa Data Centres
      • AfriGIS
      • Altron Digital Business
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Group
      • Arctic Wolf
      • AvertITD
      • Braintree
      • CallMiner
      • CambriLearn
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • Domains.co.za
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • Iris Network Systems
      • LSD Open
      • NEC XON
      • Network Platforms
      • Next DLP
      • Ovations
      • Paracon
      • Paratus
      • Q-KON
      • SevenC
      • SkyWire
      • Solid8 Technologies
      • Telit Cinterion
      • Tenable
      • Vertiv
      • Videri Digital
      • Wipro
      • Workday
    • Sections
      • AI and machine learning
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud services
      • Contact centres and CX
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Electronics and hardware
      • Energy and sustainability
      • Enterprise software
      • Fintech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
      • Public sector
      • Retail and e-commerce
      • Science
      • SMEs and start-ups
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Events
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home » Gadgets & Reviews » Vodafone Webbook review: cheap and cheerful Ubuntu netbook

    Vodafone Webbook review: cheap and cheerful Ubuntu netbook

    By Editor31 October 2011
    Twitter LinkedIn Facebook WhatsApp Email Telegram Copy Link
    News Alerts
    WhatsApp

    Cellular network operator Vodacom recently launched a netbook, the Vodafone Webbook, that, at R1 499, it hopes will give South Africans an affordable entry into personal computing. TechCentral put the Webbook through its paces.

    The computer, which runs the Ubuntu Linux operating system — specifically Ubuntu 10.04, code-named Lucid Lynx — has a 10-inch LCD screen, 512MB RAM, and 4GB of flash storage.

    It sports an 800MHz Freescale iMX515 processor that is based on the ARM Cortex-A8. It also includes a low-end webcam — centred above the screen — and a built-in microphone for Skype calling.

    Ubuntu is a fairly low-demand operating system, which results in the Webbook going from off to booted in under 40 seconds, with another 20-second delay for it to be operational after logging in.

    Unfortunately, despite the reasonable boot time, the device is a little sluggish, but then it’s a R1 499 netbook so it’s more than a little optimistic to expect high-speed performance.

    It’s not the speed of the Webbook that is most likely to cause users problems, but rather the machine’s lack of storage space. With a 4GB flash drive, 2,4GB of which is used by the operating system and applications like OpenOffice.org, the Webbook isn’t meant for storing multimedia files.

    But then, like Google’s Chromebook, the idea of devices like the Webbook is that most of what a user does will be cloud-based, obviating the need for local document storage.

    With this in mind, the Webbook supports 3G (via a Sim slot) and Wi-Fi. It comes with Mozilla’s Firefox Web browser preinstalled that defaults to a Vodacom-branded search page on first launch.

    Being a netbook, the Webbook has a slightly-smaller-than-normal keyboard that takes a little getting used to. The black, textured trackpad has a left- and right-click button beneath it and is surprisingly responsive for such a low-cost device.

    The machine has two USB 2.0 ports — one on each side — and a 3,5mm headphone/speaker jack.

    Weighing in at just under a kilogram the Webbook is as lightweight as one would expect from a netbook. Vodacom claims up to seven hours of battery life, but even five of actual time would be more than respectable.

    As Vodacom is promoting the Webbook, it’s no surprise it comes bundled with a variety of data plans. It’s available with 100MB of data a month for 24 months at R1 899 outright, or on a contract deal at R189/month for 24 months that includes 500MB of data a month over the contract period.

    Users can also opt for a top-up option that includes a modem and 100MB of data a month for the first three months at R169 on Vodacom’s Top Up 135 package.

    Considering its target market, the Vodafone Webbook is a respectable device. For its price, it’s surprisingly well equipped and is exactly the kind of product that countries like SA need to reduce the barriers to entry to getting online.

    It’s not going to impress power users at all, but then that’s not its mandate.

    Our only real quibble is the lack of storage — we feel it should be at least 8GB — but at the price (less than an entry-level smartphone) it certainly fills a gap in the market.  — Craig Wilson, TechCentral

    • Subscribe to our free daily newsletter
    • Follow us on Twitter or on Facebook
    • Visit our sister website, SportsCentral (still in beta)


    Lucid Lynx Ubuntu Vodafone Vodafone Webbook Webbook
    Subscribe to TechCentral Subscribe to TechCentral
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email Copy Link
    Previous Article‘There is no value in an idea’
    Next Article Can Nokia rise phoenix-like from the Asha?

    Related Posts

    MTN CEO edges Vodacom rival in pay stakes – but just barely

    18 June 2025

    Vodacom appoints new CEO to lead international markets

    3 June 2025

    Vodafone CFO to step down

    7 May 2025
    Company News

    $125-trillion traded: Binance redefines global finance in just eight years

    11 July 2025

    NEC XON welcomes HPE acquisition of Juniper Networks

    11 July 2025

    LTE Cat 1 vs Cat 1 bis – what’s the difference?

    11 July 2025
    Opinion

    In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

    30 June 2025

    E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

    30 June 2025

    South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

    17 June 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    © 2009 - 2025 NewsCentral Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.