One has to wonder if this is the beginning of the end for a lot of the random netbook makers now that the big boys of Asus, Acer, HP, and Dell are serious about cashing in on the market. We’re told that everyone wants a netbook, but something tells us that isn’t exactly the case and the actual market probably isn’t big enough for small players like Everex, Cherrypal, Coby, and Mouse – at least not in the US market, that is.

Everex via gadgetmix

On March 22nd, Everex will be releasing its Eee-like Cloudbook in Japan. Unlike the Cloudbook available here in the US, the Japanese version has a front-mounted trackpad (instead of up in the corner), touchscreen, webcam, and Windows XP.

All these features will come at a price, though, as the Japanese Cloudbook (model number CE1200J) will cost 59,800 Yen — or $617 US. More details (translated) here.

Japan gets the CloudBook with Touchscreen [Ultramobilelife.com] via Gotta Be Mobile

Did you hear that? That was the sound of the Everex Cloudbook finally hitting. We’d heard rumors of it being delayed until at least March, but Wal-Mart has them in stock, at $399.

While initial review units had problems, it’s possible they’ve been corrected for the final retail version, but given the tight time from, we doubt it. Tread softly here, Wal-Mart shoppers.

Everex 7″ CloudBook CE1200V Ultra-Portable Laptop w/ VIA C7-M Processor ULV [Wal-Mart dot com]

Those of you waiting for tomorrow — when the Cloudbook is supposed to be available at fine retailers like Walmart — might want to prepare yourselves for a longer wait…again.

Already delayed to begin with, the Everex Cloudbook has been, you guessed it, delayed again. First it was Chinese New Year coupled with OS refinements and now it’s snow. Snow. Snow is delaying the Cloudbook until the middle of March, according to DigiTimes.

The shipping of the CloudBook ultra-low cost notebook PC by Everex, a subsidiary of First International Computer (FIC), will be delayed due to disruptions caused by recent heavy snowfall in China, according to sources at channel vendors.

Heavy snowfall in China prior to the Lunar New Year holiday at the beginning of February disrupted power and transportation, causing delay at FIC’s factory in Suzhou, noted the sources. Because of the disruption, shipments of the Everex CloudBook will be delayed with shipments to the retail channel in Taiwan to be pushed back to mid-March noted the sources.

Snow. Snow from the beginning of February. Come on.

Everex CloudBook shipments reportedly delayed [DigiTimes]

Our pals over at Laptop got their mitts on the CloudBook and they’ve run into two major problems. I guess it’s three, but they’re only reporting on two. They can’t even get it past the start screen right now is what I’m being told. LMAO. Here are the other two things they’ve run into.

* The pointing device: The touchpad is a tiny stretch of plastic in the most awkward place you can possibly imagine, on the right above the keyboard. The left and right mouse buttons are on the left side above the keyboard, forcing you to use two hands to navigate and click.
* The initial setup: We selected our language without a problem but we can’t get past the screen where you select a city, because there’s no OK button when you go to select your timezone. If you close or minimize the timezone selection window, you get a blank desktop with no icons and no way to do anything. Not a good start.

CloudBook Unboxing and Very First Impressions [Laptop]

Update: Check out the mini-review here. Looks like the CloudBook falls short compared to the Eee PC.

The video’s about on the same level of quality as Heidi Montag’s new music video, but considerably sexier. Well, maybe. In any case, it doesn’t give you the sense of how compact the thing is since there is no way of telling the scale in the video. It could be a galaxy-sized Cloudbook in a white void, but likely it’s just their production model, set to hit the street hot on Valentine’s Day. If your significant other wants a lappy they can fit in their purse (or Men’s European Carry-All), you’d better get it on with the pre-ordering.

Youtube [via Eee Site, via Cloudbooker]

There’s no joy in Mudville as Everex has delayed its $399 Linux-based ultraportable notebook (specs here) until February.

It was supposed to be released yesterday and, sure, February’s less than a week away but Everex is talking about a month from now, meaning the end of February.

The delay, according to Everex, is due to the “OS being refined” and workers taking time off for Chinese New Year. Sorry kids. I was looking forward to this one, too. Hopefully it won’t get delayed any further.

Software ‘tweaks,’ Chinese new year delay Everex CloudBook [Computerworld]

I caught word from the VIA rep at CES that Everex would be offering a 7-inch Linux-based notebook at Walmart and then Nicholas followed up with the official word. Now we’re hearing that Everex will follow the 7-inch version (shown above) up with a 9-inch version some time in June and will aim to keep it under $500.

The 7-inch version will cost $399 so it might be safe to say that the 9-inch version will cost $499, in which case we’ll get into discussions like, “Why would I buy this when I can get an 8-pound Dell with Windows and a bunch of other stuff for $499?” Asus also plans to release 8- and 9-inch versions of its Eee PC by the middle of the year too and it looks like Acer’s getting in on the fun as well..

Exciting stuff on the horizon, folks. As Natalie Merchant always said, “These are the days we’ll remember, my friends.” She’s so wise. Also, she looks like my Aunt Jane.

Everex to make CloudBook UMPC with 9-in. LCD [Computerworld]

Product Name: Everex Cloudbook
Description: An “ultra-mobile” PC that runs on gOS Rocket
Price: $399
In-store date: January 25 (at Walmart.com)
Site: Everex
Why it’s cool: It’s green (as in the environment), which is chic nowadays, and does seem to offer a decent power:performance ratio given the price. The Linux-based gOS Rocket has a really impressive UI, too.