If you’re an IT maven you’ll probably be pleased with Shuttle’s latest release, the X2700. It’s loaded with a 1.67Ghz Intel Atom 230 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 120GB hard drive, WiFi b/g, gigabit Ethernet, DVD burner, a whole mess of ports, and a GMA950 video card. Alternatively, you could just buy the box and fill it with all the goodies your heart desires.
The Linux based computer is available here for about $380. I prefer Shuttle’s D10 desktop with a built-in 10-inch touchscreen LCD.
Razer unveiled two new versions of its gaming keyboard, the Lycosa, today. The Lycosa Mirror adds a polished finish to the keyboard’s surface and is complimented by enhanced backlighting (pictured). The Arctosa is designed for the gamer on a budget and foregos the backlighting for silver on black lettering, or black on black lettering for the no look gamer. The previous Lycosa gaming keyboard featured a rubber finish that apparently didn’t sit well with gamers - rubber and sweat don’t always mix well regardless of the anti-slip abilities.
Both keyboards are available direct from Razer this November for $80 and $50 respectively.
I’m no media center fanatic, but this low profile (2.7-inches) unit from Okoro Media System struck a cord with the aesthetics snob in me. The OMS-SX100 is equipped with an AMD dual core Athlon X2 processor, is energy ‘green’ and comes standard with a 500GB hard drive, DVD burner, 2GB of RAM, HMDI, DVI and VGA output and runs Windows Vista Home Premium. It rocks the latest audio decoding, and for a little extra cash you can double the RAM, toss in a Blu-ray drive, and double the hard drive capacity. Looks like you can add SageTV or Snapstream during the config process, and they’re said to be launching a CableCard ready version in the near future. Choose between black and white.
The OMS-SX100 is available here starting at $1,695 and ships November 6th.
Features: 4.8-inch touchscreen (800×480), 800Mhz Intel Atom processor, 3G and quad band connectivity, includes stylus, three axial G-sensor for scrolling through web pages and landscape mode, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, multiple video and audio support.
Availability: Italy currently with the possibility of US. Official product page here
Telson, which was just acquired by new ownership, is apparently bringing to market an ultra mobile Multimedia PC that will be able to display 3D images via its 4.3-inch touchscreen. Included is a camera dongle, which will purportedly be able to snap 3 dimensional photos. Other specs include a 1.2GHz VIA C7-M processor, 512MB RAM and 30GB hard drive.
No word on pricing or availablity, but I wouldn’t expect it State side anytime soon.
Last week we saw two tiny keyboards that are fit for elf hands and 3 fingered character cartoons. Adding to the mix is yet another Brando keyboard, only this one sports wireless and a built-in optical trackball with 1000 dpi. It runs over 2.4Ghz RF tech and speaks to your computer via the included USB key.
What is it: An out of the box desktop computer specifically rigged for hardcore gamers
Features: 2.5Ghz or 2.83Ghz Intel Core2 Quad Processor with liquid cooling, Nvidia GeForce 9600 GT or 9800 GTX graphics, up to 8GB of RAM, two or three 640GB SATA II hard drive configurable with RAID and speeds up to 10,000 rpm, 8x USB 2.0 ports, Firewire, gigabit Ethernet, TV out, 6 audio outs, media card reader and 64-bit Windows Vista.
The details are lacking, but from what I’ve inferred, Toshiba has been working on a home media server that will sit at the center of your entertainment center. The polygon shaped device uses NFC, or near field communication, to tell when compatible devices are within proximity for sucking down relevant media. It then beams the information to your HD TV. Unfortunatley, the device is conceptual, but one can hope.
With an expected price tag of $150, IO Data’s Mini Bluetooth Keyboard probably won’t fly off the shelfs, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t earn some street cred for its small form factor and wireless Bluetooth abilities. As you can see it’s not much larger than a grown man’s hand, which begs the question of usability?
The iMac comparison bit is, well, a bit worn out at this point. But Sony, which long dragged its heels in denial of the iPod is perhaps getting on board a bit sooner with the cult of Mac thing, and introduced the small footprint Vaio JS1 all-in-one desktop computer today. No touchscreen like the HP Touchsmarts, but it’s rockin’ a 20.1-inch LCD (1680×1050), 500GB hard drive, 3GB of DDR2 RAM, Intel Core2 Duo E7200 processor, DVD burner, WiFi, Vista Home Premium and can play and record SACDs.
No word on price or launch date, but it may only hit the EU
