Hasta La Gadget!

LAS VEGAS — MSI, a company best known for its critically-acclaimed line of netbooks, is showing a thin-and-light notebook here at CES 2009 that goes head to head with Apple’s MacBook Air.

The MSI X-Slim Series X320 borrows unabashedly from the Air’s design. It’s extremely thin, with a maximum thickness of just 3/4 of an inch (1.98cm) and winglike profile that tapers down to a knifelike edge along the front. It weighs just 2.9 pounds (1.3kg) and has a 13-inch widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio) display, plus an extra-large touchpad. In short, it’s an Air clone.

But the X320 will cost far less than the Air’s $1,800 starting price: It will cost between $700 and $1,000, depending on options, when it goes on sale this spring, an MSI representative told Wired.com.

Naturally, such cost cutting doesn’t come without compromises. The X320
has an attractive but chintzy-looking plastic housing. It was
decidedly difficult to open (long fingernails might help in prying the
clamlike halves of the shell apart). And instead of OS X, the X320 is
running Windows Vista.

But beggars can’t be choosers. If you want an ultralight computer and
don’t want to go with the dinky keyboards and tiny screens of the
netbooks, the X320 looks like it will be an inexpensive alternative to
the Air.

Photos: Jonathan Snyder / Wired.com

LAS VEGAS — A tiny video projector is just what you need for impromptu screenings of the latest lightsaber video on the wall of a tent — or
on the back of that dweeby kid sitting in front of you in class.

And that’s exactly what WowWee — a name better known for a line of flying, dancing, wisecracking robots — has come up with. The company’s "Cinemin" line, which debuts today at CES 2009, includes three models of tiny, iPod-friendly projectors. Prototypes of all three were on display at CES Unveiled, a press preview event at the trade show.

The Cinemin Stick, pictured above, is a candybar-sized projector with internal flash memory and an SD card slot.It will cost between $325 and $350 when it debuts in the second half of 2009, according to a WowWee representative. It was the only working model on display. The images it projected appeared reasonably bright and clear at a distance of two or three feet, when projected against a silver projection screen in ordinary hotel ballroom lighting.

A related model, the Cinemin Swivel (below), has a hinge to facilitate aiming the projector at the ceiling. Unlike the Stick, it will not have an SD card slot. The company claims that the Swivel will have a 3-hour battery life; it’s expected to cost around $250. The Swivel will be available in the second quarter.

Both models have ports for connecting an iPod or iPhone, so you can play videos using the projector instead of just the device’s tiny screen.

And the Cinemin Station (also below), which is about the size of a clock radio, has an iPod dock for plugging in your favorite MP3 player. It doubles as an external speaker as well as a projector, and will cost about $400 when it becomes available in late 2009.

All three models use DLP technology from Texas Instruments. WowWee has not yet released detailed specifications, exact pricing, or the exact dates when these products will be available.

What’s 1 primary laptop plus 1 secondary, smaller computer equal? Want, that’s what. Asus just showed us a modified G50 media laptop with a secondary 4.3 LCD display computer with some help from Microsoft here at Asus’ CES presser. Microsoft actually calls it “two computers in one chassis” running independently from each other but sharing a common battery. The smaller computer will run for over 12 hours for all your widgeting (contacts, email, etc) needs — alas, it does not appear to be removable. Funny thing is, not a single mention by Microsoft about SideShow. Check the video after the break, it’s compelling and nerd sexy to see a movie launch from the small, second computer onto the larger display.

Continue reading Asus features modded G50 with 4.3-inch secondary computer, oh my

Filed under: Laptops

Asus features modded G50 with 4.3-inch secondary computer, oh my originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We spotted some Asus keyboards last week, but none were nearly as potentially awesome as the official Eee Keyboard. Featuring wireless HDMI, it’s a “fully functional PC” with full QWERTY and a mini secondary touchscreen.

Asus was vague as to if/when we’ll actually see the Eee Keyboard come to market (though we’re pretty sure it’s a semi-real product), but it’s a fantastic concept for a home theater PC if we’ve ever seen one. Through wireless HDMI you could potentially make any television into your monitor (complete with audio playback) without having some huge PC taking up space.

Processor? RAM? Yeah, we have no clue. But look at all those ports!

The Eee train won’t stop until all consumer electronics have been assimilated. Today Asus introduced the world to the Eee Keyboard, a full-sized keyboard with built-in PC including WiFi (and Ethernet), speaker, mic, and 5-inch interactive display and touchscreen. It weighs less than 2 pounds and connects to existing displays. Well, it would if it was more than a concept, which, knowing Asus, means someday soon.

Gallery: Asus Eee Keyboard revealed

Filed under: Desktops, Peripherals

Asus’ Eee Keyboard revealed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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