Viliv S7: VAIO P killer?

You know you have an iconic product when, barely a week since its announcement, people are already looking for a VAIO P killer. Though the Viliv S7 isn't exactly a clone of the VAIO subnotebook, it nonetheless bears so much resemblance that sites like Engadget and UMPC Portal are comparing the two even before either products have hit retail shelves.

So what does the Viliv S7 bring to the table?
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USB 3.0 will crush eSATA, FireWire

Intel demonstrated a working version of USB 3.0 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Here's why it will make eSATA and FireWire obsolete.

When USB 3.0 is expected to hit the market in early 2010, it will have been 10 years since the now ubiquitous USB 2.0 was introduced (April 2000). The current USB 2.0 specification runs at a theoretical maximum speed of 480Mbps, and can supply power (for those looking for the hard details, you can find the USB 2.0 specification here (zip file).

According to the USB Implementers Forum, there were 2 billion USB 2.0 devices shipped in 2006 (one for every three people in the world), and the install base was 6 billion (almost one for every person in the world). In November 2007, the USB Implementers forum announced the USB 3.0 specifications, and Intel officially demonstrated the technology at CES 2009.

Now, the juice: USB 3.0 promises a theoretical maximum rate of 5Gbps, meaning it's 10 times faster than USB 2.0. USB 3.0 is also full duplex, meaning it can upload and download simultaneously (it's bi-directional); USB 2.0 is only half duplex.
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A cool bib for your lap

I've always liked the toasty heat of a notebook perched on my lap, particularly on nights when it's chillier. Of course, I don't have to fret about all that hullabaloo surrounding male fertility. But occasionally, my portable does leak electricity, and getting zapped isn't the most pleasant of sensations.

So when Thermapak announced its Heatshift Laptop Cooling Pad, my interest was kindled. For one, this isn't another plug-in device requiring electricity, so that's a cost-savings plus in today's more prudent climate. For another, there's no need to go through thick tomes of manual to figure it out. What this is is simply a soft, egg carton-like foam pad you prop under your notebook like a mat, and let its HeatShift Technology go to work dissipating heat from your machine and even cooling it.

The pad comes in 13- to 17-inch sizes, which should work with even heavy-duty desktop replacements, though resting such a monster on your lap is not a good idea. Prices range from US$27.99 to US$34.99, with a choice of black and, oddly, pink. A quick check of the Thermapak Web site found that Ingram Micro is a distributor. So if the company has a presence in your corner of Asia, chances are the cooling pad should also be available.

Via Chip Chick

CES 2009: Computers and hardware wrap-up

Historically, the Consumer Electronics Show hasn't been a place where we'd find a ton of new laptops, desktops, or computer components. After all, PC makers had Comdex (a now-defunct Vegas trade show), and are generally more interested in hitting the back-to-school and holiday seasons than releasing new products in January.

Still, this year was a decent one for new introductions, and almost every major name in the computer business had a handful of new products to show off. Most were more evolutionary than revolutionary, but when you're dealing with essentially the same small pile of CPUs, GPUs, hard drives, and chipsets, anything that breaks away from the commoditization of PCs is a plus.

HP's Firebird desktop continues the integration of HP and its boutique brand acquisition, Voodoo. The system has the distinct look of a high-end Voodoo PC, but is branded as being "HP with Voodoo DNA", and carries a relatively mainstream price.
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Another premium Netbook from ASUS

A premium Netbook is, in fact, an oxymoron. It's akin to buying a Lexus for the price of a Lamborghini. The ASUS Eee PC S101 was such a machine and its descendent, the S121, not only continues the tradition but has also bumped up the bling factor.

Many have commented that the high price of the Eee PC S series is a major disadvantage for a category in which many Netbooks cost well under S$900 (US$651.75). But in terms of portability and form factor, it's still a fraction of the cost of a traditional ultraportable. Like the Dell Inspiron Mini 12, the latest Eee PC S121 has a generous 12.1-inch LED-backlit display and comfortable keyboard to boot. However, while its predecessor was happy with an aluminum palm rest and sleek form factor, the S121 ups the ante by covering the palm rest with leather and adding Swarovski crystals to the hinges. The user can also opt for a cheaper 250GB harddisk or massive 512GB solid-state drive.

Our main concern is that with only a small four-cell battery and large screen, the uptime for the S121 might be compromised. There is an option to install Windows Vista Basic on this Netbook despite the fact that the S121 is based on a slower Atom processor than the S101 (1.33GHz vs 1.6GHz). Availability dates and pricing have yet to be confirmed.

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