Asus could be on the verge of launching one of the most interesting tech products of the year, if rumours are to be believed. The EEE Keyboard PC is in fact an entire computer in a keyboard. You can just plug it into any display to get it working, or can even do some basic tasks on a 5inch capacitive touchscreen that is a part of it. In essence, even as other desktop PC manufacturers are attempting to merge the CPU (the tower-like component)into the display to make computers more compact, Asus has gone the other way and merged the CPU into the keyboard! Of course, the specs of the device are nothing to really rave about - Windows XP Home, an Intel Atom N270 processor, an Intel 945GSE / ICH7-M chipset, 16GB SSD upgradable to 32GB storage, 1GB memory, GbE Ethernet, Wireless LAN, HDMI, and Bluetooth - but the form factor is impressive, and the device looks very sleek indeed in aluminum (shades of the Macbook, eh?)
All of which is expected to cost in the vicinity of Rs 27,000. A bit on the expensive side, but then the first edition of innovative products always do cost a bit. No, we do not know when it is coming to India (or the world, for that matter), but the chances are that we will be seeing it this year.
Yep, you got that headline right. The folks at DataWind (the same gents who gave us the PocketSurfer) have come up with a netbook with an Internet package for a year (30 hours per month) - all for a piffling Rs 7999. Called the UbiSurfer, the device comes with an inbuilt modem and a sim card that will connect users to Tata Indicom’s CDMA network all over India. On the spec front, it has a 7 inch display, a full standard 80-key keyboard, Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity, a USB port, 128 MB RAM, 1 GB onboard flash memory storage (and 50GB online), dual speakers and an onboard office suite, all powered by Windows 6 CE(an OS seen in GPS and other mobile devices running Windows Mobile) - all that in a sleek package that tips the scales at around 700 grammes. And that’s not all - the company claims that thanks to its data compression technology, the device will be able to access the Internet at very high speeds, even on slow networks. Finally, if you think that 30 hours a month is too little for your Internet needs, go ahead and take an unlimited package that will let you surf the Net as much as you want - for Rs 99 per month! Continue reading »
As the number of Android phones in the country increases, a rather disturbing trend is becoming evident - a number of smartphone manufacturers are selling their devices with older versions of Android and what’s worse, are not providing any option to the user to update them to newer versions. In simple terms, just imagine that someone not only sells you a computer that is running an older version of Windows (say Windows 98) but also prevents you from updating it to a newer version. Sounds ridiculous? Well, that is exactly what seems to be happening. Of all the Android devices in the country, only two - the HTC Legend and the Motorola Milestone - are running the latest version(2.1) of Android. Of the rest, only one - the Samsung Spica - has been updated to the latest version. The others - HTC Hero, HTC Tattoo, HTC Magic, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, LG GW620, Samsung Glaxay, Acer Liquid - are all running older versions of Android (either 1.5 or 1.6). Continue reading »
Apple managed to deliver every tech lover’s dream yesterday - better machines at lower prices - when it announced its latest range of MacBook Pros. While most attention has been focused on the fact that these notebooks come with more powerful processors, better graphics and better battery life (upto a staggering ten hours in the case of the 13 inch MacBook Pro and nine hours in the 15 and 17-inch models), what a lot of people seem to have missed is that Apple has actually cut the prices of the entire range - some models are now more than Rs 20,000 cheaper than their previous versions. Continue reading »
We have seen our share of good-looking netbooks (remember how we gushed over the Karim Rashid eeePC from Asus?), but we must confess that we were VERY impressed by the HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition launched yesterday. In fact, HP launched a number of notebooks yesterday, and most of them were pretty good looking with excellent configurations, but it was this one that caught our eyes (and our hearts, to an extent). It has got a decent netbook configuration, is small enough to slip into most purses, and looks utterly awesome with butterflies on a subtle golden metallic cover. Even the keypad is of a golden hue.
Way too girly and blingy , some might think, but heck, we have to admit that this netbook has really got the looks. And at Rs 21,990/-, it actually costs a lot lesser than a number of smartphones. We will say more after we get a chance to review it.
Want to find out what’s happening in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but do not have a television at hand? Well, just dial 08 123 123 123 on your cell and you will get access to live ball by ball coverage and even access video footage. Making all this happen is July Systems’s MIX platform, which serves up live ball-by-ball updates, action replays, video scorecards, cheerleader videos, and many more exciting features. Best of all, you do not need a smartphone to access this service - just about any cell with Internet connectivity at any location will do (there are more than 6,000 models supported) and you do not even need broadband or 3G, as it works fine over EDGE and GPRS. Best of all the service is totally free - even 08 123 123 123 is a toll-free number. You just end up paying data costs for using the Internet. Incidentally, if you do not feel upto dialing numbers on your handset, just open its browser and head to m.ipl20.com to get a slice of the IPl action.
Think we are sounding over-effusive about this? Well, ’tis because it really works pretty well. Just try the service and then join us in the applause!
The Thinkpad is one of the most respected names in the world of notebooks, especially on the enterprise side. However, of late, there was a feeling in many quarters that the brand had become a bit boring, especially given the snazzy-looking hardware that the competition (Dell, HP) was turning out. Lenovo’s response has been to revamp the Thinkpad and come out with the dazzling Thinkpad Edge. We got our hands on one for a few days and think that it is one of the best ultraportables around. Here are six reasons to support our claim: Continue reading »
Asus certainly is trying to infuse new life into its eeePC series. A couple of weeks ago, it launched the Eee PC Seashell Karim Rashid (1008P) with designer looks thrown over the usual netbook specs, and now it has come out with yet another eeePC, the Eee PC 1201T. And if the Karim Rashid edition had us drooling over its looks, this one has stunned us with its combination of specs and price. For, this is no run-of-the-mill netbook with a 10-inch screen and an Atom processor under its hood. Nah, this one has real processing muscle, great graphics, and still does not cost the earth. Continue reading »
They are the rage these days, but have also triggered off a debate as to whether they are actually substitutes for full-fledged laptops. We are talking of netbooks, whose sales are booming like never before. Its supporters say that it is the ultimate mobile computing device, while those who advocate “proper” laptops look down on netbooks as underpowered gadgets. If you are one of those who is torn between going for a laptop or a netbook, here’s our simple take on the subject.
You know you really need a netbook when:
You need to do lots of word processing and Web surfing, including staying connected with your social networks and blogs
You are constantly on the move and often have to work in temporary or makeshift locations like cafes.
You need lots of battery life, as the places you go to do not have power outlets.
You either hate lugging around heavy machines or are already burdened with a lot of luggage.
You do not deal much (or at all) with multimedia.
You do not do much multi-tasking on the computer
You do not have very large fingers (most netbook keyboards are a real pain to use)
Whatever you associate with netbooks, it is certainly not style. These are supposed to be the ‘umble cousins of the real thing, after all, scaled down in terms of specs and more often than not, in looks as well. There have been exceptions to the rule, such as the Sony Vaio P series last year, but these have been on the pricier side. Well, that might be about to change with Asus unveiling the Eee PC Seashell Karim Rashid (1008P) at Mumbai yesterday, a netbook conceived with the help of Karim Rashid, one of the world’s leading designers. We have not got our hands on a unit yet, but we must confess to being VERY impressed by what’s on offer. Continue reading »
A few days ago, I saw a notebook that would make a Macbook stop and check its appearance in the mirror (heck,higher praise than that I cannot give). The Sony Vaio P series notebook is perhaps the sleekest laptop I have ever clapped eyes on.
Would I love it as a gift? You betcher! Would I buy it? Er…
The notebook that started off the entire netbook craze, the Asus EeePC 701, is now available for Rs. 9,950 from Croma superstores. I spotted it last evening at this price and I must confess that I had to really restrain myself from dipping into my pockets and buying it straight away. Continue reading »
Here we have a version of windows which should actually have been Windows Vista. I am sure the world would have had no problem in waiting for a new OS for a year or two more than getting stuck with a crappy capital intensive Windows Vista. Yes, I am talking about all new Windows 7 which was released in its public beta version last week by Microsoft. A much better visual treat than Windows Vista and increased usability puts this version straight into driver’s seat. With my limited casual testing, I could not find even a single feature or performance level issue which was worse than Vista. Continue reading »
As the launch of 3G nears, a gamut of devices are ready for launch in India. Apart from 3G phones that have been there for a while, now its time to focus only on the Internet as we get set to access broadband speeds on an handheld. No matter how advanced devices we use today, cellphones don’t give you the same Internet experience that’s expected from a desktop or a notebook. Continue reading »
In late 2007, Asus stunned the computing world with its eeePC - a notebook that was incredibly light and portable and handled most mainstream computing tasks (browsing the Web, e-mailing, writing documents, etc.) efficiently, without draining one’s bank account. The original eeePC was a huge success, notwithstanding some muttering by hardcore techies about its processor and storage space, not to mention the absence of an optical disk drive. In fact, it spawned a whole new category of portable computers - the netbook. Continue reading »
The first touch screen was born almost four decades ago. Having said that, have we really seen the kind of evolution in touch technology like we’ve seen in microprocessors? Four decades and we’re still talking about single touch devices. Multi-touch is still more of a fascinating James Bond gadget that we still wait to see. But does that mean, we don’t have multi-touch devices in the market at all! Ofcourse we do. To start with, we have the ubiquitous Apple iPhone—perhaps the most revolutionary touch device till date. iPhone came with a dual touch capability, enabling users zoom-in and out images by merely pinching their fingers. Continue reading »
Look up the review of any PC or notebook these days and it is a fair chance that you will come across terms like 3DMarkTest and BatteryMark Test. There will be some figures scribbled next to them and the reviewer will also present some conclusions based on these. For instance, a certain 3DMarkTest score might mean the computer is good in gaming or a certain BatteryMark test might indicate that the computer has bad battery life.
The problem is: I do not know how reliable these tests are. Continue reading »
One of the long-standing beliefs surrounding Apple’s laptops, the MacBooks, is that they are, for all their power and multimedia prowess, unsuitable for gaming. The new range of MacBooks seems to have shattered that myth, with its on-board NVIDIA graphics. So when I was thinking of picking up a gaming notebook, the new MacBooks featured eminently in my considerations.
A friend of mine, however, advised me to try out the older generation MacBook Pro which came with a 512 MB NVIDIA 8600M GT graphics card, 2 GB RAM and a 2.5 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor and a gorgeous 15.4 inch screen. Some of my acquaintances in tech publications scoffed at the notion, saying that the card would not be powerful enough for modern games, and reiterating that the “Mac is not for games” line. I was also shown a number of benchmarks and tests according to which the MacBook Pro would struggle with most new games. Continue reading »
The much awaited laptop under the ‘One Laptop Per Child’ finally came out in 2007, although not quite at the targeted price of $100. Despite the hype, the jury is still out if this will address the shortage of computers amongst the resource challenged. The order book still seems to have a lot of blank pages left.
A more practical alternative may actually be from NComputing, winner of ‘The Wall Street Journal 2007 Technology Innovation Award.’ What does this product do? It enables many users – each with their own monitor, keyboard and mouse – to connect to and harness the power of a single PC. Most desktop PCs being very powerful, a typical user only uses a fraction of its processing capabilities. Depending on user needs and the PC, up to 30 users can be connected to a PC. And the cost to enable this can be as low as $70 per user according to Raj Shah, Chief Marketing Officer, NComputing. This is only the price of the NComputing hardware – the peripherals are naturally extra. Read on to know why this product makes sense
Even as Apple releases a new version of the iMac, it is perhaps time that corporate India took a closer look at the business benefits offered by the Mac platform. Read on for more…
Asus could be on the verge of launching one of the most interesting tech products of the year, if rumours are to be believed. The EEE Keyboard PC is in fact an entire computer in a keyboard. You can just plug it into any display to get it working, or can even do some basic tasks on a 5inch capacitive touchscreen that is a part of it. In essence, even as other desktop PC manufacturers are attempting to merge the CPU (the tower-like component)into the display to make computers more compact, Asus has gone the other way and merged the CPU into the keyboard! Of course, the specs of the device are nothing to really rave about - Windows XP Home, an Intel Atom N270 processor, an Intel 945GSE / ICH7-M chipset, 16GB SSD upgradable to 32GB storage, 1GB memory, GbE Ethernet, Wireless LAN, HDMI, and Bluetooth - but the form factor is impressive, and the device looks very sleek indeed in aluminum (shades of the Macbook, eh?)
Yep, you got that headline right. The folks at DataWind (the same gents who gave us the PocketSurfer) have come up with a netbook with an Internet package for a year (30 hours per month) - all for a piffling Rs 7999. Called the UbiSurfer, the device comes with an inbuilt modem and a sim card that will connect users to Tata Indicom’s CDMA network all over India. On the spec front, it has a 7 inch display, a full standard 80-key keyboard, Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity, a USB port, 128 MB RAM, 1 GB onboard flash memory storage (and 50GB online), dual speakers and an onboard office suite, all powered by Windows 6 CE(an OS seen in GPS and other mobile devices running Windows Mobile) - all that in a sleek package that tips the scales at around 700 grammes. And that’s not all - the company claims that thanks to its data compression technology, the device will be able to access the Internet at very high speeds, even on slow networks. Finally, if you think that 30 hours a month is too little for your Internet needs, go ahead and take an unlimited package that will let you surf the Net as much as you want - for Rs 99 per month! 
As the number of Android phones in the country increases, a rather disturbing trend is becoming evident - a number of smartphone manufacturers are selling their devices with older versions of Android and what’s worse, are not providing any option to the user to update them to newer versions. In simple terms, just imagine that someone not only sells you a computer that is running an older version of Windows (say Windows 98) but also prevents you from updating it to a newer version. Sounds ridiculous? Well, that is exactly what seems to be happening. Of all the Android devices in the country, only two - the HTC Legend and the Motorola Milestone - are running the latest version(2.1) of Android. Of the rest, only one - the Samsung Spica - has been updated to the latest version. The others - HTC Hero, HTC Tattoo, HTC Magic, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, LG GW620, Samsung Glaxay, Acer Liquid - are all running older versions of Android (either 1.5 or 1.6). 
We have seen our share of good-looking netbooks (remember how we gushed over the 
Want to find out what’s happening in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but do not have a television at hand? Well, just dial 08 123 123 123 on your cell and you will get access to live ball by ball coverage and even access video footage. Making all this happen is July Systems’s MIX platform, which serves up live ball-by-ball updates, action replays, video scorecards, cheerleader videos, and many more exciting features. Best of all, you do not need a smartphone to access this service - just about any cell with Internet connectivity at any location will do (there are more than 6,000 models supported) and you do not even need broadband or 3G, as it works fine over EDGE and GPRS. Best of all the service is totally free - even 08 123 123 123 is a toll-free number. You just end up paying data costs for using the Internet. Incidentally, if you do not feel upto dialing numbers on your handset, just open its browser and head to 
The Thinkpad is one of the most respected names in the world of notebooks, especially on the enterprise side. However, of late, there was a feeling in many quarters that the brand had become a bit boring, especially given the snazzy-looking hardware that the competition (Dell, HP) was turning out. Lenovo’s response has been to revamp the Thinkpad and come out with the dazzling Thinkpad Edge. We got our hands on one for a few days and think that it is one of the best ultraportables around. Here are six reasons to support our claim: 
Asus certainly is trying to infuse new life into its eeePC series. A couple of weeks ago, it launched the Eee PC Seashell Karim Rashid (1008P) with designer looks thrown over the usual netbook specs, and now it has come out with yet another eeePC, the Eee PC 1201T. And if the Karim Rashid edition had us drooling over its looks, this one has stunned us with its combination of specs and price. For, this is no run-of-the-mill netbook with a 10-inch screen and an Atom processor under its hood. Nah, this one has real processing muscle, great graphics, and still does not cost the earth. 
They are the rage these days, but have also triggered off a debate as to whether they are actually substitutes for full-fledged laptops. We are talking of netbooks, whose sales are booming like never before. Its supporters say that it is the ultimate mobile computing device, while those who advocate “proper” laptops look down on netbooks as underpowered gadgets. If you are one of those who is torn between going for a laptop or a netbook, here’s our simple take on the subject.
