Asus, maker of computer hardware, laptops, and even PC’s, is rumored to be working on Kinect ready laptops. Microsoft announced Kinect for Windows a while back which brings some cool motion controlled technology to computers and laptops.

The Kinect is quite a sensation and has even broken sales records which put it in the Guinness World Records under fastest selling consumer device. The company managed to sell 10 Million units in just the first 3 months of its launch.

The Daily, a news source that is available exclusively on the iPad, said that they spotted two prototypes from Asus which appear to be netbooks that are running Windows 8 and include Kinect sensors on the top of the screen where you would normally see a webcam. On the bottom of the screen, there are LEDs.

Nowadays, most laptops have a built-in webcam. It’s something that has pretty much become standard. Also, a lot of desktop computers have a webcam so the integration is there, but the big question that we have yet to see, is will people actually use motion controls? With that said, PCWorld explains why the technology in a laptop:

“In any case, why put Kinect in a laptop? The technology works best when you’re standing back a dozen feet from the sensor, and even then it’s hit and miss — a low-res camera that only tracks your movements semi-accurately (if at all, when moving quickly). Park that in a laptop screen and . . . what, you’re going to control movies? Play games? Manipulate 3D objects Minority Report-style? Because sitting a few feet from a laptop, as all laptop users do, isn’t close enough to do any of those things far more competently with a mouse or trackpad and keyboard?”

Do you think Asus is on to something here with Kinect or will it never catch on?

Asus Rumored To Be Working On Kinect Ready Laptops is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apple is always filing, and being granted all kinds of patents some of which are obviously intended for a looming battle in the mobile space with Android but not all of them are meant for the battlefield but rather for some interesting innovation.

Two new patents have surfaced this week that are leading industry observers to wonder if Apple is actually working on a new way to power their MacBooks.

The patents show that Apple is exploring ways to use still cutting edge fuel cell technology as the power source for its future line of MacBooks, as well as other computing devices as well.

One of the big advantages of using fuel cells is that they would be even smaller and lighter in design that the current battery designs being used.

The patents, discovered earlier this week by AppleInsider go by the titles: “Fuel Cell Systems to Power a Portable Computing Device” and “Fuel Cell System Coupled to a Portable Computing Device”. Apparently the filings make reference to the need, and desire, for more renewable energy sources.

Of course the key point for Apple is that, as they put it in their filings, that fuel cell technology would allow laptops like their MacBook to “run for days or even weeks” before need a recharge.

via SlashGear

Could fuel-cell-powered MacBooks be on the Apple horizon? is a post from: The Inquisitr

I realize that just about everyone and their brother is proclaiming how mobile computing, whether through our smartphones, laptops, or tablets is changing our world except there are two problems with that idyllic belief – the carriers and the joke we refer to as battery life.

There’s no need to go into the first choke hold on mobile growth but the second – battery life – is the one that more than anything else will dictate how persuasive mobile computing becomes. While we have been seeing some radical improvements in the length of time you can use a battery between recharges has been improving but that is because smartphone, laptop, and tablet manufacturers have been trying their damnedest to eek out every millisecond from a system that has changed very little in comparison to the rest of the technology that relies on them.

Thankfully we aren’t stuck with the battery companies being the ones researching new battery technology as evidenced by a research team at the University of Leeds that have invented a jelly battery that is not only cheaper than existing battery options but also lighter, safer, and more importantly – more powerful.

The Leeds-based researchers are promising that their jelly batteries are as safe as polymer batteries, perform like liquid-filled batteries, but are 10 to 20% the price of either.

The secret to their success lies in blending a rubber-like polymer with a conductive, liquid electrolyte into a thin, flexible film of gel that sits between the battery electrodes.

“The polymer gel looks like a solid film, but it actually contains about 70% liquid electrolyte,” explained the study’s lead author, Professor Ian Ward from the University of Leeds.

via BBC

One of side benefits of this new battery technology is that it can also be formed into shapes and can be exceedingly thin without losing any of its power output, which could have an interesting effect on over designing of things like smartphones and tablets at some point in the future.

Can we have a peanut butter and jelly battery please, but hold the peanut butter. is a post from: The Inquisitr

When we talk about high-end laptops we usually think of names like Apple and Alienware but they are being joined by a new range of super thin ultra laptops from companies like Sony. When it comes to gaming on the laptop Alienware has always been the brand to watch however there is a newcomer to the field that introduced a new; and unique, gaming laptop today.

The company, better known for its gaming mice, is Razer and their laptop is called the Razer Blade and comes with their own custom UI called the Switchblade User Interface. Another really cool feature is the 10 dynamic keys and LCD screen that sits to the right of the keyboard.

Here’s what you can expect when it comes to the laptop’s specs when it ships this holiday season:

• 2.8GHz Intel® CoreTM i7 2640M Processor
• 8GB 1333MHz DDR3 Memory
• 17.3″ LED Backlit Display (1920×1080)
• NVIDIA GeForce® GT 555M with NVIDIA® OptimusTM Technology
• 2GB Dedicated GDDR5 Video Memory
• Built-in HD Webcam
• Integrated 60Wh Battery
• 320GB 7200rpm SATA HDD
• Wireless Network 802.11 b/g/n Compatible
• 16.81″ (Width) x 10.9″ (Depth) x 0.88″ (Height); 6.97lbs (Weight)

You have to admit those are some pretty sweet spec for a $2,800 price tag.

According to an interview with Ars Technica Razer’s CEO and Creative Director Min-Liang Tan said that no matter how hard they tried they couldn’t get any laptop makers to build a laptop with the specifications required by Razor so the company had to buy an ODM in Taiwan in order to get their ideal laptop built the way they wanted.

Additionally Tan said that market research wasn’t even a thought when they started work on the Blade project

 Tan told Ars the company has never been interested in market research and focus groups, both of which he admits would indicate there is no market for something like the Razer Blade. He also points to the fact that everyone said the same thing about the company’s line of gaming mice when they were launched. “So, in short, there’s no market if you ask the guy in the suit, but we’ve designed something that we have always wanted for ourselves—we don’t care about the market at large—we do care about the PC gamer,” he explained. “If we designed based on the ‘market’ you wouldn’t see many of the things that we have launched.”

Razer has hired some impressive talent, including the team behind OQO, and engineers from Apple, Dell, and others. They’ve been operating in stealth mode for three years, working on a number of projects that were ultimately canned for not meeting Razer’s standard. The Razer Blade is going to be the team’s grand coming-out party, and it’s certainly a standout product in the gaming PC market.

Way to go Razer.

Razer thumbs its nose at bland laptops, if you have $2,800 to spare that is. is a post from: The Inquisitr

[Pic] Laptop. Reviewed. is a post from: The Inquisitr

Meet The HP Pavilion g6s, A Budget Friendly Sandy Bridge Laptop is a post from: The Inquisitr

As the most recent Wikileaks data dump has everyone talking there is one thing that has business worried: lost or stolen laptops that can lead to things like the Wikileaks data sharing of what is presumed to be private information.

A study by Intel and the Ponemon Institute (pdf) attempted to answer the question of how much this kind of loss costs companies. After asking 329 companies taking part in the study they found that the combined cost to corporation is $2.1 billion a year. On a per company basis this breaks down to $6.4 million per year.

Collectively, the companies studied said their employees lost more than 86,000 laptops during one year alone. The study by Intel and the Ponemon Institute showed that the cost per laptop was $49,246, a number that includes the cost of replacements and investigations related to the loss. The losses also include costs related to lost intellectual property, reduced productivity and legal and regulatory charges.

In a three-year span, the chance that a laptop will be lost or stolen is 5 to 10 percent. About 25 percent of lost laptops are due to theft, and another 15 percent are likely lost to theft. Some 60 percent are simply missing.

via VentureBeat

So, how much does stolen or lost laptops cost business? Try $2.1 Billion is a post from: The Inquisitr

Men who use laptops and hope to conceive should take note- the devices are being implicated in a fertility-hampering rise in scrotal temperatures.

The heat from laptops can adversely affect sperm quality, and according to a recent study conducted by the State University of New York, men might not even feel the semen-baking temperatures:

The researchers, led by Dr Yefim Sheynkin, a urologist at the State University of New York, hooked up thermometers to the scrotums of 29 young men who placed a laptop on their knees while using it. They found that even with a lap pad under the computer, the men’s privates overheated quickly.

“Millions and millions of men are using laptops now, especially those in the reproductive age range,” Dr Sheynkin told Reuters Health. “Within 10 or 15 minutes their scrotal temperature is already above what we consider safe, but they don’t feel it,” he added.

Dr. Sheynkin was non-committal on the level of risk from laptops on sperm overall, and said the use of laptops isn’t likely to lead to long-term fertility impairment. However, it was recommended that men experiencing issues with infertility use a table for their laptops or barring that, sit in a position less likely to cause testicle overheating.

Laptops: Totally burning up your sperm is a post from: The Inquisitr

I’m not sure how it is that people can afford to do this type of crap given the prices of some of the gadgets (the iPad comes to mind) but that sure hasn’t stopped these brave, or insane, people from doing whatever they can to absolutely destroy their gadgets.

iPod meet torch

Lithium batteries aren’t meant for direct current

No home runs for this iPad

Where’s the marshmallows?

Start up the BBQ

Let me introduce you to my AK-47

Ouch

via DVICE

Some hilarious examples of gadget murder is a post from: The Inquisitr

“Toasted” is a word that sounds way better when paired with “marshmallow” or “coconut” than “skin.”

“Toasted skin syndrome” isn’t new- tradesmen like glassblowers and iron workers used to get it occupationally- but now that people are increasingly using lap-based electronic devices, the skin condition is appearing again. It’s characterized by a mottled, sponge-like discoloration that often presents on the thigh area, a place where people tend to rest their electronics. While burns are a bit easier to avoid, “toasted skin syndrome” results from long-term, lower intensity heat exposure, and thusly may not be as easy to prevent.

Ten cases of the condition have been reported in medical journals in the past decade, and WebMD describes what is also being called “laptop-induced dermatosis”:

Researchers from Switzerland, reporting in the Nov. 5 issue of Pediatrics, focus on the case of a 12-year-old boy who developed a sponge-patterned discoloration on his left thigh after playing computer games with his laptop resting on his upper legs a few hours per day for several months.

“He recognized that the laptop got hot on the left side,” the researchers write. “However, regardless of that, he did not change its position.”

Doctors say the condition is seen more frequently on the left side of the body because power supplies and batteries are often located in that area. And while the syndrome is generally harmless (if creepy sounding) there is a small risk that it can develop into skin cancer. No cases of skin cancer linked to the condition have been recorded, but doctors advise using a lap desk or carrier bag to diffuse heat generated by personal electronics.

[WebMD]

Doctors warn of laptop-related “toasted skin syndrome” is a post from: The Inquisitr

Well you can create your own faux steampunk look for about £14.95 courtesy of Rockett St. George by using this sticker kit.

Personally I think I’ll wait until I can afford a real steampunked gaming machine.

Steampunk your laptop keyboard on the cheap is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Maingear MXl-15 has been one of the most anticipated multimedia laptops since the companies eXl-15 gaming laptop arrived a while back and now users can grab the new system with a bunch of features your sure to love.

The devices offer Intel Core i5 and i7 options, plus the ATI Radeon Mobility 4570 GPU with 512MB graphics and an LED backlit display  with resolutions of 1355 x 68 and 1600 x 900. The systems can also pack up to 8GB DDR3, an eSATA connection and the choice of HDD and SSD storage. The units also feature multi-touch pads.

The “base price” is $1,000, but with the ability to power house the systems memory and processor, it’s easy to see a $2,000 unit shipping to our place by the time all is said and done. Either way it’s a sleek looking powerhouse that we’ve been waiting for. [TweakTown]

Maingear mX-L 15 Multimedia Laptop Is Ready To Blow Your Mind is a post from: The Inquisitr

When it comes to the outside of our laptops we see quite a variety of stickers. Everything from Sleeping Beauty to start-up stickers galore. As nice as some of those might be I don’t think they come close to the gorgeous skins by Gelaskins of National Geographic photographs.

These are just a sample of what is available via the Gelaskins site but they give you an idea of how good they all would look.

hat tip to My Modern Metropolis

Show your laptop some gorgeous National Geographic love is a post from: The Inquisitr

Personally I hate it when people plaster the outside of their laptops with all kinds of start-up company stickers. You see them all the time at conferences or your local Starbucks but to do this kind of thing just ruins the look of any laptop – and especially Apple MacBooks.

However people love to personalize their possessions and it’s no different when it comes to laptops. That doesn’t mean you have to slap layers of company stickers on it as you can see from these really cool MacBook stickers.

The first one is pretty recognizable since it’s been around for a while but the rest of them might be new to you.

Snow White

Snow White’s Witch

Apple Pie

Ryu and Ken Hadoken Street Fighter

Whack A Mole

Ironman

Bart Nirvana

ET

Twilight

Mac Evolution

hat tip to My Modern Metropolis

Skinning some personality onto your MacBook is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Acer TravelMate Timeline series has just debuted with a focus on business customers. The line features three models: 8571, 8471 and 8371 and come with various  screen sizes and other helpful business options.

Users have the option to choose between 13.3 inches, 14.1 inches and 15.6 inches, with Core 2 Duo Processors, an Intel GM45 Express chipset and up to 4GB SDRAM (configured by the user).  They also come equipped with WiFi 802.11a/b/g Draft N, Bluetooth and gigabit LAN.

The Timeline also features Windows 7 with fingerprint security and rather decent pricing that ranges from $899 to $999.

The units are available now directly from Acer. Here’s the official press release:

December 22, 2009
08:45 AM Eastern Time
Acer Debuts TravelMate Timeline Series of Notebook PCs for Business Customers
Excellent performance combined with up to eight hours of battery life deliver ultimate mobility and convenience

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

Acer America, part of the world’s second largest PC vendor (1), today introduced its new TravelMate Timeline series of notebook PCs for business customers. The new TravelMate Timeline 8571, 8471 and 8371 are ultra-thin mobile workhorse notebooks designed for on-the-go professionals who need prolonged productivity. A long lasting six-cell battery provides up to eight hours of power(2) when Acer PowerSmart Manager is enabled. With prices ranging from $899 to $999, the TravelMate Timeline series delivers excellent performance and the capabilities most important to travelling professionals. Offering a choice of Intel Core 2 Duo Processors supporting Intel 64 architecture and equipped with the Intel GS45 Express chipset, and either 3GB or 4GB of fast SDRAM, the TravelMate Timeline notebooks provide the horsepower business professionals need for multi-tasking, e-mail, Internet browsing or powering through advanced applications.

Keeping sensitive work information safe and secure, each TravelMate Timeline series notebook features the Acer Bio-Protection fingerprint solution, providing the peace of mind and security that business travelers, in particular, will appreciate. For traveling professionals and off-site workers who need to stay in touch with the home office and clients, the TravelMate Timeline notebooks makes it easy to browse websites, check email or make VOIP calls through a range of communications capabilities, including 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N WLAN, Bluetooth and gigabit LAN. In addition, an integrated webcam is included for face-to- face interactions and videoconferencing sessions.

The TravelMate Timeline notebooks offers displays ranging from 13.3, 14.1 to 15.6 inches, keeping the notebooks thin and light, providing an ideal size and weight for most traveling professionals. Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with full support for Microsoft DirectX10 delivers bright, crisp graphics and video. In addition, the wide keys of the Acer FineTouch keyboard allow for comfortable typing while on the road, and the multi-gesture touchpad lets users navigate, zoom and scroll with remarkable ease. A touchpad lock prevents accidental cursor movement. Back in the office, an optional Acer EasyPort IV port replicator provides quick connection to desktop peripherals, such as a keyboard, monitor and printer. A 5-in-1 card reader makes it easy to transfer photos from a camera or camcorder. Giving businesses flexibility and convenience when it comes to their operating systems, the TravelMate Timeline series comes with Windows 7 Professional (32-bit) pre-installed, and can be easily overwritten with Windows XP Professional, which Acer provides on a CD.

Configurations, Pricing and Availability

Available now from Acer’s reseller partners, the new TravelMate Timeline series includes the following models:

Acer TravelMate Timeline TM8571-6465
* Intel Core 2 Duo Processor SU9400 (3MB L2 cache, 1.40GHz, 800MHz FSB)
* Windows 7 Professional (32-bit) pre-installed; Windows XP Professional CD included
* 15.6-inch display (1366 x 768) * Intel GM45 Express chipset
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
* 4GB (2/2) DDR3 1066 SDRAM
* 320GB(3) SATA hard drive
* Integrated Super-Multi drive
* Acer Crystal Eye webcam
* 5-in-1 digital media card reader
* 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N WLAN, Bluetooth, gigabit LAN
* 3 – USB 2.0 ports
* HDMI port
* Multi-gesture touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip
* Acer touch-sensitive hotkeys (Touchpad Lock, Backup Manager, PowerSmart)
* Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) battery
* 3.5 lbs.
* 12.67″ (W) x 0.92″ to 1.13″ (H) x 8.97″ (D)
* Energy Star® 5.0 compliant * MSRP $999 Acer TravelMate Timeline TM8471-6306
* Intel Core 2 Duo Processor SU9400 (3MB L2 cache, 1.40GHz, 800MHz FSB)
* Windows 7 Professional (32-bit) pre-installed; Windows XP Professional CD included
* 14.1-inch display (1366 x 768) * Intel GM45 Express chipset
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
* 4GB (2/2) DDR3 1066 SDRAM * 320GB(3) SATA hard drive
* Integrated Super-Multi drive * Acer Crystal Eye webcam
* 5-in-1 digital media card reader
* 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N WLAN, Bluetooth, gigabit LAN
* 3 – USB 2.0 ports
* HDMI port
* Multi-gesture touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip
* Acer touch-sensitive hotkeys (Touchpad Lock, Backup Manager, PowerSmart)
* Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) battery
* 3.5 lbs.
* 12.67″ (W) x 0.92″ to 1.13″ (H) x 8.97″ (D)
* Energy Star® 5.0 compliant
* MSRP $999

Acer TravelMate Timeline TM8371-6457

* Intel Core 2 Duo Processor SU9400 (3MB L2 cache, 1.40GHz, 800MHz FSB)
* Windows 7 Professional (32-bit) pre-installed; Windows XP Professional CD included
* 13.3-inch display (1366 x 768)
* Intel GM45 Express chipset
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
* 4GB (2/2) DDR3 1066 SDRAM
* 320GB(3) SATA hard drive
* Integrated Super-Multi drive
* Acer Crystal Eye webcam
* 5-in-1 digital media card reader
* 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N WLAN, Bluetooth, gigabit LAN
* 3 – USB 2.0 ports
* HDMI port
* Multi-gesture touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip
* Acer touch-sensitive hotkeys (Touchpad Lock, Backup Manager, PowerSmart)
* Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) battery
* 3.5 lbs. * 12.67″ (W) x 0.92″ to 1.13″ (H) x 8.97″ (D)
* Energy Star® 5.0 compliant
* MSRP $919

Acer TravelMate Timeline TM8571-8537

* Intel Core 2 Duo Processor SU7300 (3MB L2 cache, 1.30GHz, 800MHz FSB)
* Windows 7 Professional (32-bit) pre-installed; Windows XP Professional CD included
* 15.6-inch display (1366 x 768)
* Intel GM45 Express chipset
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
* 3GB (2/1) DDR3 1066 SDRAM
* 250GB(3) SATA hard drive
* Integrated Super-Multi drive
* Acer Crystal Eye webcam
* 5-in-1 digital media card reader
* 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N WLAN, Bluetooth, gigabit LAN
* 3 – USB 2.0 ports
* HDMI port
* Multi-gesture touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip
* Acer touch-sensitive hotkeys (Touchpad Lock, Backup Manager, PowerSmart)
* Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) battery
* 3.5 lbs.
* 12.67″ (W) x 0.92″ to 1.13″ (H) x 8.97″ (D)
* Energy Star® 5.0 compliant
* MSRP $899 Acer TravelMate Timeline TM8471-8818
* Intel Core 2 Duo Processor SU7300 (3MB L2 cache, 1.30GHz, 800MHz FSB)
* Windows 7 Professional (32-bit) pre-installed; Windows XP Professional CD included
* 14.1-inch display (1366 x 768)
* Intel GM45 Express chipset
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
* 3GB (2/1) DDR3 1066 SDRAM
* 250GB(3) SATA hard drive
* Integrated Super-Multi drive
* Acer Crystal Eye webcam
* 5-in-1 digital media card reader
* 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N WLAN, Bluetooth, gigabit LAN
* 3 – USB 2.0 ports
* HDMI port
* Multi-gesture touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip
* Acer touch-sensitive hotkeys (Touchpad Lock, Backup Manager, PowerSmart)
* Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) battery * 3.5 lbs. * 12.67″ (W) x 0.92″ to 1.13″ (H) x 8.97″ (D)
* Energy Star® 5.0 compliant
* MSRP $899

All models come with a standard one-year parts and labor warranty, which can be extended to three years with the Acer Advantage service. Additionally, some models have longer warranties offered through specific channel partners. All Acer notebook PCs are backed by toll-free service and support.

About Acer America
Since its founding in 1976, Acer has pursued the goal of breaking the barriers between people and technology. Globally, Acer ranks top 3 for total PCs and No. 2 for notebooks1, with the fastest growth among the top-five players. A profitable and sustainable Channel Business Model is instrumental to Acer’s continued growth, while the successful acquisitions of Gateway and Packard Bell complete the company’s global footprint by strengthening its presence in the U.S. and enhancing its strong position in Europe. Acer is proud to be a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Movement in staging the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter and London 2012 Olympic Games. The Acer Group employs more than 6,000 people worldwide. 2008 revenues reached US$16.65 billion. See www.acer-group.com for more information. © 2009 Acer Inc. All rights reserved. Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, and/or service marks, indicated or otherwise, are the property of their respective owners.

Acer’s just outed a new line of laptops, the TravelMate Timeline series. Aimed at business customers, the TravelMate Timeline 8571, 8471 and 8371 are 13.3, 14.1 to 15.6-inchers, respectively, with a range of Core 2 Duo CPU options, Intel GM45 Express chipsets, up to 4GB of SDRAM, also boast 802.11a/b/g/Draft N WLAN, Bluetooth and gigabit LAN. These Windows 7 bad boys also come with Acer’s Bio-Protection fingerprint security, which might furnish you with some small peace of mind on the road. The TravelMate Timeline series range in price from $899 to $999, and are available now. For full specs, check the press release after the break.

Acer Debuts TravelMate Timeline Series For Business Savvy Customers is a post from: The Inquisitr

Artists love to find new ways to show off their talent and old established pieces of art are always looking for new ways to be displayed. Add to this the proliferation of laptops and you have the perfect way to spread beautiful pieces art that everyone, not just the owner of the laptop, can enjoy art.

Below is a large collection of laptop skins as this new art platform is being called. This is the combined laptop skins gallery that was posted separately over at Surfing With The Alien.

Laptops: the new artistic platform [16 Pics] is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you’re in the market for an ultra high end laptop and you don’t mind a $3000 price tag you can now pick up the Asus 16″ Lamborghini Laptop with it’s bespoke speakers, sewn leather palm rest and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lens cover.

Buyers will also receive a Lamborghini mouse and a laptop case that matches the computer. The system also rocks a Core 2 Quad CPU, 1TB SSD and 4GB of RAM, all of which utilize a 16-inch “Full HD” display.

Unfortunately users will have to deal with Windows Vista, which seems a little silly given the mostly positive reviews Windows 7 has been receiving.

The Asus 16″ Lamborghini comes in black and white coloring and weighs a hefty 7.71 pounds.

Asus 16″ Lamborghini Goes On Sale, $3000 Pricetag, Windows Vista is a post from: The Inquisitr

Now just to clarify right off the top – there is no official word out about whether or not Apple is voiding the warranties of computers owned by smokers but if the news as being reported by the Technically Incorrect even approaches fact then Apple has definitely crossed a line.

Chris Matyszczyk tells of two separate people who have taken their machines in to an apple store in the case of Derek in Des Moines and an authorized Apple repair center in the case of Ruth. In both instances they were informed by staff that there would be no work done on the machines because they had come from homes where some-one was smoking and this voided the computer’s warranty.

One, named Derek, recounts the tale of his overheating black MacBook. He took it into the Apple store in Jordan Creek, West Des Moines.

He told The Consumerist: “Today, April, 28, 2008, the Apple store called and informed me that due to the computer having been used in a house where there was smoking, that has voided the warranty and they refuse to work on the machine, due to ‘health risks of secondhand smoke’.”

[...]

Then along came Ruth, who took her son’s iMac to an authorized repair center. After five days, they apparently told her they couldn’t work on it because it was contaminated with cigarette smoke and was therefore a bio-hazard.

When Ruth appealed to Jobs’ office, she said she was told by someone named Dena that nicotine was on OSHA’s list of hazardous substances.

Source: cnet News – Technically Incorrect

Now given that Ruth actually got someone in Apple itself to say this and confirm that the warranty was indeed void shows that even if the practice isn’t an official policy it sure seems to be a condoned one.

If this is indeed the case then I’m sorry but Apple is putting its nose in where it doesn’t belong and this is flat out wrong.

[image courtesy of anythingbutipod.com]

Apparently Apple is voiding warranties of smoker’s computers is a post from: The Inquisitr

Acer is attempting to add a little bit of extra zing to the October 22nd release date for Windows 7 by throwing in a touchscreen on their Acer Aspire 5738PG laptop that not coincidentally is due out that same day.

The touchscreen based laptop features finger pinching, double touching and flicking technologies, while also offering a multi-gesture touchpad and a number keyboard.

The laptop also houses an impressive Intel Core 2 Duo processor with an ATI Radeo HD 4570 GPU and 15.6 inch LED screen with 1366 x 768 pixels of resolution.  The unit is also shipping with 4GB RAM, 320GB hard drive and WiFi 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N support.

Users will also receive HDMI out abilities and USB 2.0.

With a starting price of $799.99 it’s also a relatively cheap offering given the technologies it employs.

Acer Aspire 5738PG Likes To Be Touched In All The Right Spots is a post from: The Inquisitr

It appears that the US Government doesn’t think that it’s a good idea to use any of your electronic equipment like laptops and mobile phones after you return from a trip to China. In fact they suggest that you use separate equipment all together for your trip and then wipe it clean afterwards.

Such was the case when Mark Bregman, chief technology officer at Symantec, was advised by some “three-letter agencies in the US Government” to buy a mobile phone in the US and throw it away when he returned. This is on top of the fact that he already uses a separate MacBook Air for his trips to China – which the agencies also suggested he weight before leaving and again on returning – which he reimages every time he returns home.

Bregman said the US was also concerned about its companies employing Chinese coders, particularly in security.

He said the "software supply concern" was due to fears that Chinese developers would insert malicious code into software sold to American companies or the US government.

Source: CRN – Safety first for IT executives in China

Visiting China? Throw away your mobile phone on returning is a post from: The Inquisitr