The eCAFÉ Ex HD netbook by US based computer manufacturer Hercules is a slim and lightweight netbook with a claimed battery life of 13 hours in what the manufacturer assumes to be normal usage conditions.

Just like the thinner and lighter Slim HD model the eCAFÉ Ex HD sports an unusual design with the screen folding down into the keyboard base for improved durability. It is powered by an ARM Cortex A8 Freescale i.MX515 processor and comes with 512MB RAM, 8GB Flash iNand and an 8GB SDHC memory extension card, 3 USB ports, Ethernet port, headphone and microphone connectors, SD card reader, a built-in 0.3MP webcam, and HDMI output.

The eCAFÉ Ex HD offers HD 720p video playback and resume from standby in under 4 seconds. It runs the Linux based Hercules eCafe Netbook OS, which is probably derived from the discontinued Ubuntu Netbook Edition looking at the product images and some of the included software packages, listed below:

• An application for data synchronisation and transfer between the eCAFE and another computers (PC or MAC)
• A free application download center with games, desktop applications, entertainment, etc.
• Gwibber for access to social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Identi.ca
• Empathy instant Messenger which supports Windows Live, Yahoo, AIM, and Google Talk
• OpenOffice.org desktop suite
• Totem video player and Rhythmbox audio player

The eCAFÉ Ex HD will be available starting April 2011 at suggested retail prices of US $269. For more information see the Hercules product page and the eCAFÉ press release.