Pocket-size Preview Of Computers' Future

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday July 4, 2006

GR

TECHKNOW was on hand last week for the Australian launch of two landmark Sony products: Australia's smallest fully functioned PC and the world's first Blu-ray laptop computer.

The diminutive Vaio UX17, pictured, (RRP: $2499) fits into a pocket and weighs only about 500 grams, but has a 1.2GHz processor, 30GB hard drive and Windows XP installed.

On the left side of the 4.5-inch screen are the mouse buttons and on the right is the mouse (in the form of a thumb-stick), making navigation similar to that on a portable games platform like the PSP.

Alternatively, there's a slide-down keyboard and a stylus-equipped touchscreen.

Meanwhile the Vaio AR18 (RRP: $5499) is built around its Blu-ray drive, which edits, burns and displays content in full high-definition.

Blu-ray is, in simple terms, the next step beyond DVD, with a much more precise laser that means a single disc can store up to 25GB of information (a 50GB version is on the way).

Check out an upcoming Techknow feature for more information on these new products.

© 2006 Newcastle Herald

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