New from Compaq

The new Compaq Presario CQ-40 Notebook works like a charm without burrowing holes in your pocket.
Take its 14.1″ High Definition Widescreen with the BrightView Technology plus the Altec Lansing Speakers, and you get the most favorable audio-visual experience every time. Powered by AMD Athlon X2 Dual Core, you get to work or play with the multiple programs as you please without sacrificing superb performance. It’s also packed with bluetooth, an integrated webcam, multiply digital media reader slots, DVD and more - it’s probably still believable if you announce a price tag double of what you handed out.

Specs:
- AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core Processor for Notebook PC QL-60 (1 MB L2 Cache)
- Free DOS
- 14.1″ diagonal WXGA High-Definition BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
- DDR2 with dual channel support - 1GB
- 160 GB - 5400 rpm
- SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
- Compaq Webcam with Integrated Microphone
- Altec LAnsing speakers

check this out - Fujitsu LifeBook U820

Just how convertible cars are extremely reliable, so are convertible notebooks. The LifeBook U820, however, introduces a new category - a convertible notebook, as it come with an extremely tiny 5.6″ display which surprisingly enough, manages to pack in a whooping 1366 x 768 resolution into the tiny area. It even boasts touch screen functionality to boot, and like most notebooks, is powered by an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor aided by 1GB RAM. If you opt for the hard drive option, you will be able to choose from 60GB or 120GB flavors, while those who have more dough to splash can always settle for the shock-mounted 64GB SSd. Other features include GPS navigation, Wi-Fi connectivity, a 1.3 megapixel webcam and an SD/CF memory card slot.

Vocal Controlled Mouse

I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand using the touch pad on my laptop. One time I forgot my mouse, and I had to use it. I almost went crazy that day. The problem with using a traditional mouse is that we’ve been told that continued use will lead to repeated wrist syndrome.

Fortunately, people at the University of Washington (Go Huskies!) are developing a vocally controlled mouse, or a vocal joystick. It is designed for people with disabilities, and I’ve included a You Tube video demonstrating it for a patient with a spinal disorder, available after the jump.

So how does one operate the vocally controlled mouse? Saying “ahh” will cause the cursor to zip to the northeast corner of the computer screen, and saying “ohh” sends it to the southeast corner. For specific directions, other vowel sounds are needed.

It turns out the vocally controlled mouse has a very simple setup. It is software connected to a microphone that can recognize the vowel sounds needed for motion. The UW developers are also working on using this voice recognition technology on robotic arms.

No word if this technology will be developed for the casual computer user, whether handicapped or non-handicapped, but you can’t deny that this could change a lot of things.

Source

Designer Notes

With every notebook maker trying to chip in a bit of style, it’s time Lenovo also joined the fray. And so, the Lenovo IdeaPad U110 tries to blend technology and aesthetics, without compromising on either. And as it has won three Best-Of-Show awards at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas, you can be assured of its style quotient. All we need to check now is the functionality within this 1.05 kg, 11″ wide and 18.4 mm thick notebook. Will Lenovo deliver yet again?

Book Your Fun!

Whoever said laptops are only for professionals on the move? Notebooks perhaps but not Joybooks! BenQ’s Joybook Q41 is for those who believe in making fun a part of their everyday life. Featuring Microsoft’s SideShow, the gizmo’s 2.5″ external screen displays info like email messages, appointments, RSS feeds and music files. So, you needn’t even open the laptop lid. All fun, no hard work. Well almost!

Features: Motherboard: IntelCore2 Duo processor T7100
RAM: DDRI-667 1 GB and above (max 2 GB), Graphics:SiS Mirage 3
Audio: Built-in 1.5W speakers x2

Easy Lappy:

I always wanted to own an ASUS laptop (yup, they’re the guys who built the Lamborghini series of notebooks!) but were always put off by the high price tag. But now, it seems as if they too plan to tap into the low price segment. Which is why they have launched the ASUS Eee PC, all of 7″ wide and weighing just 0.92 kg. With a 900 MHz Intel mobile processor, 512 meg RAM and 4 gig disc space, it looks like a fairly conventional ultra-portable-but further shrunk by about a third! And oh, I forgot to tell you about its built-in webcam and stereo speakers.

LAP TALK:

HP’s latest notebook designed for mobile professionals comes with powerful computing capabilities, convenient security and multimedia features, all wrapped up in an elegant black shell. The Pavilion dv3000 Entertainment Notebook PC is designed to be the one notebook that executives should consider when ollking for a mobile workstation. It’ll allow them not only to work comfortably but also to enjoy all forms of multimedia entertainment. The wide-screen display notebook is powered by 2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9300, a 160 GB hard disk and 8X Super Multi LightScribe Double Layer (8.5 GB) DVD+RW+R Writer. In addition, the notebook also offers support for the second HDD and Flash-based solid state storage drives. Let’s work!

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