Yesterday, April 22nd, was celebrated the Earth Day. On this occasion, Michael Dell unveiled at the Fortune Green conference a wooden PC. This eco-device has a bamboo case, and uses 70 percent less energy than a regular PC. Moreover, the bamboo box was built using recycled materials like old bottles, milk jugs and detergent cases. Personally, I am glad that some companies project such devices to protect the environment.

Without disclosing any specs, Dell has announced that the product would come out later this year and would be priced between $500 and $700. As I see it, the eco-PC looks good and it could compete with Apple’s Mac mini. What do you think?

via Earth2Tech

The popular mini-notebook from Asus will get some competition. Taiwan’s Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) has presented its plans to built a low-cost computer with 3G support. That means the Asus Eee PC will have a tempting rival.

Besides the 3G support that enables Internet access via HSDPA and HSUPA (High Speed Downlink/Uplink Packet Access) technologies, the ECS models will feature Wi-Fi support, 56Kbps modem and Bluetooth wireless. Moreover the ECS computers will run on Intel’s Atom microprocessor paired with an Intel 945 GSE chipset. The hardware configuration includes either a regular HDD or a SSD (solid state drive) and up to 2GB of DRAM. ECS users will have the option to choose between the 8.2″ screen or the 10.2″, respectively.

The notebooks will run Microsoft Windows XP or a Linux OS. No price or availability details were revealed, but ECS has got at least a fan in my person.

via InfoWorld

Toshiba has presented Monday its new slim tablet PC - Portege M700. The laptop sports a 12.1-inch touchscreen at 1280 x 800 (WXGA) resolution supporting digital pen and touch. It is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7500 CPU. It comes in two models with 2GB of RAM and running Windows Vista or with 1GB of RAM and having the popular Windows Xp. The storage capabilities include a Serial ATA hard drive of 160GB (or 80GB lower versions) and memory card slots. No problem for chat lovers, because Toshiba Portege M700 features incorporated web cam and microphone.

Other important features would be the WiFi Link 4965AGN (802.11a/g/n), the Bluetooth V2.0 and the Ultra SlimBay optical disk drive. The Toshiba Portege M700 will retail for $1,799 (2GB RAM model) or $1,699 (1GB model). Also a standard version with 80GB hard drive and 1GB memory starts from $1,499. Toshiba offers 3-year warranty, I believe, enough until you will replace it.

Product page via Crave

Prepare yourself to get your computer a makeover with the stylish new products Philips just unveiled. A wireless keyboard and four new mice featuring gorgeous designs are now ready for your computers.

Offering a four-way scroll wheel is included in all the 4 new mice: 1 wireless notebook mouse, 2 wired desktop mice and a wireless desktop mouse. Additionally, the SPT5701 desktop set offers a wireless keyboard with a wireless mouse featuring a 7 month battery life due to the included power management.

As an extra feature the wireless keyboard is also equipped with drainage holes to avoid damage due to accidental spills of liquids. According to Philips, the new products will be available starting May 2007 in Asia Pacific and US. - Marius TRUSCULESCU -

The Razer design team has manage to outdone itself and release another stylish cool device. This time is the Pro|Type keyboard that is more than a good looking accessory to any computer.

The $129.99 keyboard includes the usual volume controls, programmable keys but audio I/O connectors are also present together with 2 USB ports (one of them being gold-plated). However that is not all as the Razer Pro|Type also can serve as an an iPod dock, and two dock adapters are also provided.

- Marius TRUSCULESCU -

HP needs a bigger market share this being the purpose for launching new desktop computers with better designs, better prices and better specs.

HP Pavilion Slimline s3000 series have AMD processors and 1GB of ram for $500, and if you choose Intel inside it’s $550. For these prices you get to choose from two graphic cards, not the best but good enough. This is the medium priced desktop in the new series they’ve launched, which you can use with a TV tuner or a Pocket Media Drive bay.

If you are looking for lower prices you can take a look at HP a6000 series starting from $330 on Intel processors, 512MB ram, integrated graphics and Pocket Media Drive bay. Of course it has more inside but not worth mentioning now. It’s a good buy for the lower end PC market. Now if you are serious gamer for example or you just need a bigger beast you get yourself the m8000 series coming with HD DVDs, AMD or Intel dual core processors that you will have to pay at least $950.

All the desktop computers have Vista installed and you can buy them now. Not sure how good Vista will be on what they plan to release but let’s hope they did the tests right andd the systems will work fine and fast. - ALEX ION
[HP press release via Engadget]

Asus today announced it will release its new EN8600 GTS graphics card bundled with the “S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadows of Chernobyl” game. One of the most anticipated FPS (first person shooter) games in history, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. has been postponed several times in the past years, but gamers now have the option of enjoying the details with the newly announced graphics card.

Based on the GeForce 8600GTS graphical engine, the Asus card incorporates 256 MB of high speed DDR3 128 bit memory. The GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) processor is running at 675 MHz, while the memory is clocked at 2 GHz, but overclocking is also possible for experience gamers who want to squeeze more power out of the card. Customers also have the option of connecting two of this graphics cards in SLI mode to achieve better results.

With such a graphics card HD content is also supported trough the HDTV-out, while Dual DVI supporting two 3840 x 2400 @ 30Hz resolution displays being also available together with the common VGA and TV-out connections.- Marius TRUSCULESCU

[More details at Asus]