By Terry Currier
video of 66 different vendors Computers Gaming Health Power Security Storage Utilities
CES even with the economy cut backs the show was still interesting. There were many companies that cut back on the floor space from what they have had in the past. Some did not even have floor space. Companies have been renting space in other hotels and having mini-exhibits there. Others take a suite in the Hilton, or other hotels and invite selected guest to come see them. ActionTec began that almost 10 years ago with Comdex. They said they could do that and send a limo for guest cheaper than getting space on the floor. Viewsonic has been off in a suite for two years. Belkin this year, look for more to start doing this. The number of people attending the show this year was so reduced that the hotels lowered their normal convention overpriced rates. I could walk around the convention floor, not squeeze around.
Netbooks was definitely the hot item vendors were showing.
Asus www.asus.com
The Eee PC S101 has a Fast Bootup Time and intuitive
point-and-click user interface that even first-time PC users will find
extremely easy to use. Fast startup, get onto the Internet in mere seconds from
the time you press the power button. The Super Hybrid EngineSuper Hybrid Engine
(SHE) provides you with more power per charge: up to 5.4 hours of mobile usage.
AMD (Advanced
Micro Devices) www.amd.com
AMD today launched “Dragon” platform technology for desktop
PCs featuring the new AMD Phenom™ II X4 processor. Even the most demanding
users such as enthusiasts and high-end gamers desire affordable systems capable
of delivering HD entertainment, graphic-intensive game play at the highest settings
their monitors can handle, as well as quick and easy transfer of video
entertainment to and from mobile devices. Dragon platform technology provides
the power to do it all by combining the Phenom II X4 processor, with ATI
Radeon™ HD 4800 Series graphics and AMD 7-Series chipsets.
HP, Dell and Alienware plan to offer Dragon platform
technology-based desktop systems in the first quarter of 2009, with Dell
offering immediate availability in its Dell XPS desktop line.
The heart of Dragon platform technology features intelligent
multi-core technology that automatically provides processing power where it’s
needed most during multitasking among demanding applications. Offering
frequencies up to 3.0 GHz with significant headroom for overclocking, without
skipping a beat. The platform offers fast DirectX® 10 graphics to improve
integrated graphics processor performance, even at the highest game settings on
display resolutions beyond HD, limited only by the resolution of their
monitors.
AMD Phenom II CPUs feature AMD Cool'n'Quiet™ 3.0 which
automatically provides dramatic power management improvements with minimal
performance impact. Its efficient multi-core design offers low processor
temperatures and quiet fans, even when computing in HD.
Free Software Supercharging
In addition to Dragon platform technology, individual AMD Phenom II X4 processors will be available from AMD channel e-tailers at launch:
AMD also announced the availability of the AMD platform for
ultrathin notebooks, enabling exceedingly thin and light OEM designs with rich
entertainment capabilities at an affordable price. The platform is based on the
new AMD Athlon™ Neo processor, ATI RadeonTM X1250 integrated graphics and
optional ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3410 discrete graphics. The AMD platform
debuts within the HP Pavilion dv2 Entertainment Notebook PC ultrathin notebook,
which measures less than one-inch thick and weighs less than four pounds. The
HP Pavilion dv2 also comes equipped with a 12.1-inch diagonal LED BrightView
display, nearly full-size keyboard, and optional external optical disc drive
with Blu-ray capability.
The AMD platform for ultrathin notebooks allows consumers to
enjoy true HD entertainment with available smooth 1080p HD playback, sharp
images and vibrant colors. The platform also delivers a robust casual gaming
experience with realistic 3D graphics. Likewise, with advanced digital outputs
including HDMI and DVI, consumers can connect to their favorite devices such as
an HDTV for an immersive home theater experience.
EMTEC www.emtecelectronics.com
They unveiled the Gdium, an ultra-portable, affordable
netbook computer, designed to be smart, reliable and stylish. Weighing in at
2.6 pounds and boasts a compact size (9.8 x 7.2 x 1.25 inches), while still
offering a web-optimized 1024 x 600 resolution on a notable 10-inch screen. It also comes equipped
with a full, comfortable keyboard.
The software application package included with Gdium is
based entirely on Open Source software. It includes an extensive variety of
programs: Firefox internet browser, Thunderbird e-mail client, instant
messaging, VoIP, blog editor, audio/video players and security utilities, as
well as a complete Open Office suite of applications for word processing,
spreadsheets and presentations.
The Gdium integrates an energy efficient processor and operating system. The
processor, based on MIPS-64 architecture, is provided by ST Microelectronics, a
tier-one top-quality chip maker. It runs on a dedicated and optimized version
of Mandriva Linux OS, specially designed for the 64-bit processor.
The G-Key is a unique bootable USB key on which the Linux
operating system, applications and personal data are stored. The G-Key allows
each user to store their personal information and preferences securely, without
leaving a trace on the computer.
They have a dedicated website, which features an online, social networking
environment and provides multimedia resources as well as educational content
aimed at students. The website provides a range of communication tools and
services, from e-mail to chat forums, social networking, blogs and dedicated
news forums in a safe, user-friendly environment. See video of CES booth.
Fujitsu www.fujitus.com
See video of CES booth. Its new LifeBook ® A6220 notebook can be personalized and
still be cost effective. You can now select a Color Lid to personalize and help
protect the outer surface of your notebook. The gesture-enabled touchpad makes
it easy to scroll and zoom. It has a HDMI port and Blu-ray™ capabilities along
with wireless USB. Features include:
The 1.32-pound limited-edition tokidoki® branded LifeBook U820 convertible mini notebook with integrated Garmin Mobile® GPS navigation combines computing power with a fun fashion statement. It is WiMAX, designed to make computing easier for seniors with little prior computing experience. A novel approach to cooling notebooks is showcased with the LifeBook N7010 notebook, the industry's first water-cooled portable. The limited-edition LifeBook U820 tokidoki-branded mini notebook, priced starting at $ $1,124 for a base configuration. Powered by the Intel(R) Atom(TM) Z-series processor which supports lower power consumption, fewer chips, VT Technology and integrated support for 1080p HD video decode. Other features include:
HP (Hewlett-Packard) www.hp.com 
The all new HP Mini 2140 is designed specifically for the
mobile professional. With a 10.1-inch diagonal scratch-resistant display, available
in either standard-definition (1,024 x 576) or high-definition (1,366 x 768)
resolutions. It has a 92 percent of full-size QWERTY keyboard, a touchpad, increased
battery life and a range of hard-drive options including an optional
high-capacity 80 GB solid-state drive, the all-aluminum cased HP Mini comes
with all the features needed to keep on-the-go professionals productive and
connected. Powered by the latest Intel® Atom processor, the HP Mini includes
wireless technologies as well as an integrated VGA Webcam.
Other features include:
New accessories designed for the Mini include an HP USB
Docking Station, USB-powered HP Mobile Audio Speakers and HP USB optical disk
drive that can read and write CD and DVD formats, as well as offer HP
LightScribe capability to burn content directly onto discs. The HP Mini 2140
starts at $499 and is expected to be available by February.
The HP Pavilion dv2 is a highly mobile notebook that’s made
to travel and priced within the reach of consumers. Measuring less than 1-inch
thick and starting at 3.8 pounds, it provides a full notebook experience with
powerful discrete graphics, high-capacity hard drive up to 500 gigabytes (GB.) In
addition it supports optional built-in WWAN for wireless connectivity and
includes an HP Webcam and microphone. An optional lightweight, external optical
disc drive with Blu-ray capability also is available. The notebook is powered
by a specially designed new AMD Athlon™ Neo Processor-based platform and
features a sturdy magnesium casing, 12.1-inch diagonal LED BrightView display
and a nearly full-size keyboard. It will be available in two finishes with matching
HP Imprint designs on the palm rest: Espresso and Moonlight. The dv2 is
expected to be available in the United
States in April with a starting price of
$699.
The HP Pavilion dv3 was designed to support consumers’
on-the-go lifestyle featuring a 13.3-inch diagonal BrightView LED backlit
display, a built-in optical drive and a lightweight magnesium casing. Weighing
4.35 pounds, it includes processor and graphics performance that can power a
wide range of productivity or entertainment applications. It is based on the
AMD Turion™ Ultra X2 notebook platform. Optional features include solid state
drive for faster boot up time and lighter weight and a backlight keyboard for
working in low light. The dv3 is available today in the United States at www.hpdirect.com with a starting price of
$799.
The new HP Pavilion dv6t notebook PC has a 16-inch diagonal
widescreen display and is the first of its size in the Pavilion family. An
updated HP Pavilion dv7t notebook PC offers a 17.3-inch diagonal, 16:9 aspect
ratio display and improved graphics processor.
The HP Mini 1000 Mi Edition is a uniquely simple, mobile
Internet companion built on Linux it includes an Ethernet jack, two USB ports,
Wi-Fi and optional Bluetooth® wireless capabilities.
Designed for photo and video editing, music creation,
gaming, and other demanding tasks, the HP Firebird with Voodoo DNA is the
newest high-performance PC. An advanced thermal management system, which
includes everything from its factory-sealed liquid cooling system to the
energy-efficient components and external power supply, helps keep the PC
running cool and can keep it quieter at full crank than most gaming PCs do at
idle. Its Intel® Core 2 Quad processor, dual NVIDIA GeForce 9800S small form factor
graphics cards in SLI configuration and hot-swappable 320 GB dual hard drives
provide customers with performance-grade operation. available online at www.voodoopc.com starting at $1,799.
The new HP MediaSmart Server ex485/ex487 automatically
centralizes and stores digital media files and other documents on Windows® and
Mac computers. The server easily publishes photos to popular social networking
sites, remotely streams photos and music to any Internet-connected PC or Mac,
and centralizes iTunes music libraries for playback to any networked computer
running iTunes. With the MediaSmart Server, consumers also can back up
networked PCs and Macs, as well as duplicate designated folders to Amazon’s S3
online backup service for an additional layer of protection.
HP also introduced the market’s first all-in-one,
touch-enabled desktop PC for businesses. Through the use of interactive technology, the HP dx9000 TouchSmart Business PC can transform a business’s
end-customer experience, allowing customers to connect, select and interact
with vendors and each other. Customers can have a hand in, for example, placing
orders with a retailer, conducting virtual video service calls, using touch to
teach or utilizing social networking for business. In addition to its
easy-to-use touch screen capability, the all-in-one PC includes the hardware
and monitor in one space-saving device, while offering a full suite of
business-ready software applications and built-in multimedia features tailored
for small to medium-sized business environments.
The HP TouchSmart for business is pre-loaded with Windows Vista® Business 64, a
powerful Intel® Core 2™ Duo P8400 processor, 4 gigabytes (GB) of memory, a 320
GB high-speed hard drive and a Virtual LAN (VLAN) driver. Its 22-inch diagonal
high-definition, widescreen HP BrightView LCD display tilts up or down for
maximum viewing. The system’s integrated five-in-one Media Card Reader lets
users easily transfer photos, files and videos to their computer from various
types of memory cards. Available in North America in February at a starting U.S.
street price of $1,399.
Accessories from HP
Expected to be available in spring, all mice start at an
estimated $40. Keyboard and mouse combos are priced from $80 to $90.
HP PCs are backed by HP Total Care, a suite of
in-or-out-of-warranty service and support options. With HP Total Care,
consumers can reach support agents 24/7 by phone, email or real-time chat. They
also introduced its Consumer Buyback and Planet Partners Recycling Program,
which offers consumers in the United States a simple way to receive cash for
their unwanted technology equipment or, if there is no value, recycle it.
Through the program, consumers can receive cash back for, or responsibly
recycle, their unwanted PCs, monitors, printers, digital cameras, PDAs
(personal digital assistants) and smartphones of any brand. See video of CES booth.
Intel www.intel.com
Intel featured their newest processors. The Core i7
processor is the first member of a new family of Nehalem processor designs and
is the most sophisticated ever built, with new technologies that boost
performance on demand and maximize data throughput. The Core i7 processor speeds
video editing, immersive games and other popular Internet and computer
activities by up to 40 percent without increasing power consumption.
Intel's Turbo Boost automatically adjusts the clock speed of
one or more of the four individual processing cores for single- and
multi-threaded applications to boost performance, without increasing power
consumption. It has the latest Intel power
-saving technologies, allowing
desktops to go into sleep states formerly reserved for Intel-based notebooks.
Designed with Intel's Hyper-Threading Technology, the
processor also allows multiple computing threads to run simultaneously,
effectively enabling it todo two things at once. As a result, the Core i7
quad-core processor delivers 8-threaded performance.
Announced in March of 2008 the Intel® Atom™ processor in
making big inroads with netbooks. All the computer companies were showing them.
They are designed specifically for small devices and low power, while
maintaining the Intel® Core™ 2 Duo instruction set compatibility. The design
also includes support for multiple threads for better performance and increased
system responsiveness. All of this on a chip that measures less than 25 mm. See video of CES booth.
Shuttle us.shuttle.com
H7 5800 - Powered by the Intel Core i7 so you can enjoy all
your favorite gaming entertainment wherever you please without a lag. Your
choice of either the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 or ATI Radeon HD4870 lets you
experience every bit of detail in high-definition quality for lifelike worlds
and characters – right on your gaming monitor. Multi-tasking and multimedia is
a breeze with up to 16GB of DDR3 memory, you can run more programs at the same
time. With the many hard drive options, there’s space to store all your music,
photos, videos, and even games – no matter the size of your collection. Immerse
yourself into the game and hear every blade and gunshot thanks to the 7.1
channel high-definition audio that comes standard.
Sony www.sony.com
See video of CES booth.
VAIO P Series –
Sony calls it the world’s lightest miniature notebook
Connectivity
VGN-CS Series
- Starting
at $790
Connectivity
Touch-sensitive controls with 12 bright LED indicators that light up as you glide your finger to change tracks, scenes or adjust the volume. It has a 12-tone music analyzer that translates your music into a colorful light show.
FW series
- 16.4"1
extra-wide display with 16:9 aspect ratio
Connectivity
VAIO® LV Series PC/TV
All-in-One
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E8500 (3.16GHz, 6MB L2 Cache)
Windows Vista® Ultimate
Series Features: 24" XBRITE-FullHD™ LCD, 4GB RAM, 1TB hard drive, Blu-ray Disc™ record/playback, 256MB NVIDIA graphics, HDMI™ in and TV tuner. Equipped with a Blu-ray Disc™ optical drive and NTSC/ATSC television tuners, you can watch high definition Blu-ray Disc movies and record TV, movies and photos to Blu-ray Disc media. Easily hook up your PLAYSTATION®3 system or set-top box via the HDMI™ input. Designed for media enthusiasts, it has a built-in DVR with a 1 terabyte hard drive stores up to 100 hours of HDTV. Tackle virtually any graphics requirement with a NVIDIA® GeForce® 9300M GS graphics card and 256MB of dedicated video RAM.
TT series
An 11.1" notebook weighing just 2.87 pounds with Blu-ray.
Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology and an ultra low-voltage Core™ 2 Duo
processor combine for maximum performance from minimal power. A built-in sensor
monitors ambient light, adjusting the brightness of the LCD and conserving
valuable battery life. When you customize a TT with Microsoft Windows Vista
Business or Ultimate, you also get a copy of Windows XP Pro on disk.
Select TTs feature a dual-channel 256GB4 (128GBx2) SSD with
RAID (Random Arrays of Independent Discs) technology for even quicker boot-ups,
application launches and overall performance. Features include:
Connectivity
Toshiba www.toshiba.com
For multimedia enthusiasts and mainstream gamers, Toshiba
announces support for the ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD4000 series of graphics
processors. With support for DirectX® 10.1 and highly efficient
performance-per-Watt. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD4570 and HD4650 will be
available on Toshiba’s Satellite® P300 line of desktop replacement laptops
exclusively through www.toshibadirect.com
in February.
Toshiba Qosmio® X305-Q725: A technically advanced multimedia
platform for the gaming and entertainment enthusiast, the Qosmio X305-Q725
blends features built for fidelity and speed, including: a 17-inch diagonal
widescreen TruBrite® display, high-performance NVIDIA® GeForce® 9800M GTX
graphics, an Intel® Core™ 2 Quad processor, a 64GB solid state drive, premium
Harman Kardon® stereo speakers and much more. The Qosmio X305-Q725 is available
now for $2,700 MSRP. The Qosmio X305 series of gaming laptops is available in a
range of configurations starting at $1,449 MSRP. 
Toshiba Satellite E105-S1402: Built with the consumer in
mind, this thin and light laptop is less than five pounds versus an industry
average of six pounds and features a built-in Webcam with face recognition for
a unique and secure way to log on. But it still offers heavy-duty capabilities,
starting with a longer battery life that runs up to four and a half hours on a
single charge. Available now exclusively at Best Buy and bestbuy.com.
For consumers who want to personalize their laptop
experience, the Toshiba Portégé® A600 family offers models with different color
options such as Pink, White and Black, while the Toshiba Satellite M300 is
available in Ruby Red and Frost White on www.toshibadirect.com.
dynadock™ U Universal USB Docking Station: Compatible with
all versions of Windows® XP and Vista®, along with six USB 2.0 ports, the
dynadock U helps laptop users easily stay connected and productive. They can
dock, undock and recharge MP3 players and cell phones with the touch of a
button and by acting as a conduit for add-on peripherals, the docking station
expands a laptop workspace into a dynamic PC system. Available now for $150
MSRP. See video of CES booth
Some future laptops will feature a fast charge system – SciB. It takes in a higher wattage and yet they said it would not deteriorate the battery itself.
Via Technologies www.via.com.tw
They demoed new mobile systems based on the VIA Nano
processor, as well as VIA C7® processor-based mini-note designs from the Global
Mobility Bazaar program. Among the key mobile systems is the new Dr. Mobile
FreeStyle 1300n thin and light notebook. Powered by a choice of 1.2GHz or
1.3GHz VIA Nano processors, it weighs less than 1.3kg and delivers stunning HD
video performance through its 11.6" screen.
The New VIA ARTiGO A2000 is a barebone storage server. The
sleek, black, 2-bay system supports up
to 3TB, ideal for PC enthusiasts seeking compact, power-efficient home media
storage. It can also serve as a headless Network Attached Storage box or media
storage and streaming device in home server applications. Measuring just
5.3”x4.7”x10.2”, it is powered by a 1.5GHz VIA C7-D processor and supports up
to 2GB of DDR2 SO-DIMM 667/533MHz memory. Two Serial ATA bays with integrated
power ports are mounted within the case, and a type I Compact Flash socket is
located discreetly beneath the motherboard.
Connectivity includes a Gigabit Ethernet port, and support for a wireless
802.11 b/g module, while two USB 2.0 ports at the back are supplemented by one
port at the front. Multimedia is provided through the VIA VX800 system media
processor, featuring DirectX 9.0 3D graphics support through the VIA Chrome9™
integrated graphics, hardware video decoding acceleration of multiple video
formats, and VIA Vinyl HD audio. It supports Microsoft Windows XP and Vista, Ubuntu 8.04, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10
(Service Pack 2) and FreeBSD.
The VIA Trinity platform couples a power efficient VIA
processor like the VIA Nano™ processor with one of VIA's highly integrated
unified digital media chipsets, and adds the power of an onboard S3 Graphics
PCI Express discrete GPU to bring the latest in x86 technologies to even
smaller spaces. This is coupled with one of the VIA system media processors,
all-in-one, highly integrated digital media IGP chipsets featuring the 800MHz
VIA V4 front side bus.
The VIA NSD7800 home server, supporting up to 8 full sized
hard drives with a fraction of the hassle associated with larger servers,
enabling system integrators to offer the ideal solution for SOHO and family storage needs. Measuring 13.4" x 13.4" x 5.9"and
powered by an energy-efficient 1.5GHz VIA C7-D processor.
Stated prices are rounded up to the nearest dollar.
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