UK supplier intros 8.9in, SSD netbook as world goes 10in, HDD

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By Tony Smith, 17th March 2009

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UK system builder CMS Computers has unwrapped its latest netbook, the Zoostorm Freedom, and an entirely unexceptional item it is too.

Well, almost. We're pleased to see CMS equipping the Freedom with an 8.9in display, which we reckon is the sweet spot for small, cheap computers - despite most vendors telling everyone that no, we really want a 10in machine.

CMS' Zoostorm Freedom: standard spec

CMS has also opted for an 8GB SSD when everyone else is shifting to bigger but less rugged HDDs.

That said, the Freedom's design is nothing special - and neither is the spec, which is a just below netbook-standard 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU, 512MB of 667MHz DDR 2 memory, 533MHz frontside bus, GMA 950 integrated graphics, 0.3Mp webcam, two-in-one memory card reader, 10/100Mb/s Ethernet, VGA and three USB ports.

On the plus side, the Freedom has 802.11n Wi-Fi rather than the more commonplace 802.11b/g. CMS claims a four-and-a-half hour battery life from the Freedom's 4400mAh battery.

The Freedom weighs 900g and measures 225 x 170 x 20-33.8mm. It costs £240 ($338/€260) and is available now. ®