“People often complaint about the overheated laptop and discomfort caused by it. Logitech has introduced this new Cooling Pad to cater to the needs of all these notebook users. Logitech Cooling Pad N100 with slotted surface and virtually silent airflow protects you and your notebook from the difficulties and discomforts caused by the over heated notebook,” said Mr. Subrotah Biswas, Country Manager, India & SAARC, Logitech.

While using a laptop on the couch or bed or at a desk, the Logitech Cooling Pad N100 improves airflow around the laptop. To help protect users from the heat the Cooling Pad N100 features a slotted surface, which allows the USB-powered fan to distribute air quietly and evenly.

To create a steady, unobstructed airflow, the Cooling Pad N100 uses rear air intake, unlike other cooling pads, which generate airflow from angles that are easily blocked by the laptop itself or loose articles of clothing. Plus, the enclosed, durable construction protects the internal fan from dust and damage.

The Cooling Pad N100 includes a low power-consumption USB cable that connects to a computer with minimal impact on the notebook’s battery – while still delivering enough power to improve airflow around the laptop.

The Logitech Cooling Pad N100 is priced at Rs. 1995 and enjoys a replacement warranty of three years.

eMachines is a stand-alone brand that is sold through retailers, e-tailers and channel partners in the U.S (Home market) and was previously available in selected markets like Canada, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom. As part of Acer’s multibrand strategy, brand eMachines is now being launched globally with the India launch a part of this global strategy.

Acer also announced an exclusive distribution tie up with Supertron electronics for eMachines across the country in its launch phase.

“The eMachines brand of notebooks being launched today are the right tools for work and entertainment, promising optimized performance that simplifies daily computing. It comes equipped with a simple but neat design. The unique interlink pattern that adorns the top cover also serves the practical function of being smudge-proof, a bane with most Notebooks that have a shiny top cover which is prone to scratches and impressions/smudges left behind by handling. The notebooks are LED backlit making them power efficient and they come at most competitive price points that will definitely attract the consumer looking for a good notebook at a great bargain from a reputed global brand”, said to S. Rajendran, Chief Marketing Officer, Acer India.

eMachines products are designed for users with a pragmatic approach that want their computer to be efficient and affordable Integrating a 16:9 HD, high-brightness LCD display and a comfortably wide keyboard, the new D, E and G series notebooks offer improved visuals and usability, while the embedded webcam and built-in wireless connection ensure effective connectivity that makes real-time Internet communication trouble-less.

Features of the eMachine D535 launched are -

- Intel Celeron mobile processor
- Dual-channel DDR2 SDRAM support
- 14″ HD 1366 x 768 pixel resolution
- 160 GB HDD
- 5-in-1 card reader
- 8X DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive
- Integrated webcam1, 0.3-megapixel resolution

Price – Rs. 24,999+ tax

Features of the eMachine D725 launched are -

- Intel Pentium mobile processor T4200
- Dual-channel DDR2 SDRAM support
- 14″ HD 1366 x 768 pixel resolution
- 160GB hard disk drive
- 8X DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive
- Integrated low-light-enhanced video webcam
- Touchpad pointing device
- Easy-launch keys

Price – Rs. 27,999+ tax

The emachines are pre-loaded with Microsoft Works 8.5, Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 and eMachines Comprehensive Security Bundle that includes a 60-day trial of Norton 360 All-in-One Security (Anti-Virus, Anti-Spam, Anti-Spyware and Firewall).

The eMachines line of notebooks comes with a standard one-year limited warranty and would be supported by over 150 Acer notebook service centers across 100 plus cities and towns.

Lenovo used Nvidia Ion’s revolutionary design to create a thin, lightweight, low-power laptop with a 12-inch screen and improved application compatibility. The Lenovo IdeaPad S12 has the graphics horsepower to support high definition media and many PC games which will not run on most low-cost small PCs. 

“Nvidia Ion is one of the latest technologies available for the PC industry for small, low cost laptop PCs, and we’re excited to be among the first to use it,” said Stephen DiFranco, vice president and general manager of consumer and commercial channels, Americas Group, Lenovo. “With its 12-inch display, full-size keyboard and rich multimedia optIons powered by Ion, the IdeaPad S12 balances an improved computing experience along with the size and affordability many consumers are looking for today.”

“The Lenovo IdeaPad S12 with Nvidia Ion graphics is a game changer for the industry,” said Jeff Fisher, senior vice president of the GPU business unit at Nvidia. “It’s a powerful testament to what a small PC can do if it’s optimized with Ion. The thin and affordable S12 does everything you expect a PC to do including watching movies, playing games, flipping through vacatIon pictures or editing family videos.”

Nvidia Ion graphics support:

- All versions of Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7
- Outstanding HD video including 1080p and Blu-ray movies
- Stunning HD video through an external monitor via HDMI
- Popular games including Spore and Battlefield Heroes
- DirectX 10 graphics with advanced digital display connectivity
- Accelerated video enhancement and conversion using Nvidia CUDA technology

The Lenovo IdeaPad S12 is expected to be available later this summer, and features 160 GB of storage, 1 GB of memory, a six hour battery life, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3x USB 2.0, an Express Card slot, a 4-in-1 card reader and VGA/HDMI outputs, supports HD and Blu-ray video up to 1080p. Pricing for models starts at $449.

While most laptop cooling pads are designed to work well on a table or desk, the Belkin laptop cooling pad, with the extra width and adjustable height, enables use of laptops while sitting anywhere at home or office, while the cooling fan keeps the heat off the legs. Its slope improves typing comfort and reduces wrist strain and it has grips pads to prevent the laptop from slipping.

The Belkin Laptop Cooling Pad is available in white and black.

The Cooling Hub is elevated by a flip-out stand in the back, and slip-resistant rubber pads that cover the laptop contact points to keep notebook elevated at a prime viewing angle. The raised platforms are equipped with an embedded fan that helps cool down a hot laptop and features four USB ports that can be used to connect USB enabled devices like an external hard drive or mouse. The  Cooling hub can accommodate upto a 17-inch laptop and it’s available with a rubber padding and runs on external AC adapter or laptop battery power via attached USB cable.

“In scorching summer conditions, working with a hot laptop can be quite uncomfortable,” said Mohit Anand, Country Manager, Belkin, India. “Designed to offer maximum cooling comfort and easy connectivity for USB enabled external devices, the sleek and slender Belkin laptop cooling hubs make it more convenient and comfortable to use laptops anywhere in a home or office,” he added.

Backed with a life time warranty, Belkin Laptop Cooling Pad and Cooling Hub will be available this month at an estimated street price of Rs. 1,311 and 2,428 respectively.

The new Acer Aspire One models measure only one inch thin and come in four color chassis choices (Diamond Black, Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue and Seashell White). Both models weigh less than three pounds (2.75 pounds for the AO751h and 2.44 pounds for the AO250) and feature a soft-touch palm rest to increase typing comfort.

The new Acer Aspire Ones models provide access to the Internet via Wi-Fi 802.11b/g and come with the option for 3G broadband wireless connectivity. The extended 6-cell battery for the AO751h can provide uptime of up to eight hours, while the 3-cell battery can provide four hours of uptime. The AO250’s standard 3-cell battery can provide up to three hours and 15 minutes of battery life, while the 6-cell battery can provide up to six hours.

The new devices use the latest Intel Atom processors (N270 on the AOD250 and N270 or Z520 on the AO751h) and feature the Acer Crystal Eye webcam, built-in digital microphone and two built-in stereo speakers.

The Acer Aspire Ones have three USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet and VGA as well as Bluetooth capabilities that can be activated with the Easy Launch Bluetooth key. Both new models also feature a multi-in-one digital card reader.

Both models are available in several configurations

“At Lenovo, we always keep pushing the limits of good design, balancing form and function, as exhibited in our Lenovo IdeaPad Y650, the super-thin and light 16-inch laptop and Lenovo IdeaCentre A600, the slimmest and fully loaded all-in-one desktop. This unique blend of design and engineering sets us apart from competitors and gives consumers a new kind of entertainment and computing experience”, said Ramprasad L, Vice President, Transactional Consumer Sales, Lenovo India.

The IdeaCentre A600 is Lenovo’s first all-in-one desktop featuring a 21.5-inch frameless screen and measuring only one inch at its slimmest point.

It features a 4-in-1 optional remote which enables four unique features:

1. ‘Motion sensor’ gaming feature
2. Can also be used as a VOIP 3 handset to make and receive phone calls over the Internet.
3. Serves as a media center/TV remote, and with Microsoft Vista Media Center users can use the controller to operate DVDs, movies and TV
4. Functions as an “air mouse” so it can be used to operate the cursor on the screen.

The all-in-one offers a 16:9 aspect ratio screen with full HD resolution delivering outstanding image quality while the integrated speaker system with bass sub-woofer and Dolby Home Theater audio certification completes the home cinema experience. Users can also take advantage of the TV tuner for watching and recording.

At the core of the all-in-one is the Intel Core2 Duo processor, optional ATI Radeon graphics card technology with DirectX10 support, up to 4GB of fast DDR3 memory and up to 1TB (1,000GB) of hard drive space.

The Lenovo IdeaCentre A600 all-in-one desktop is available at an MRP of Rs. 69,500, inclusive of taxes.

The 1000HE incorporates Asus’ Super Hybrid Engine battery conservation technology with a battery life of 9.5 hours. It features a 10-inch LED backlit display with a keyboard that’s 92% the size of a conventional desktop keyboard, comes with 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 and a 160GB hard disk with an additional 10GB of Eee Online storage.

Albert Tung, Managing Director, Asus India said, “We have constantly innovated the Eee PC without compromising on performance and efficiency. With our new offering of the Eee PC 1000HE, we have integrated the new Intel Atom N280 processor and have enabled an extended battery life which has made it easier for our users to embrace technology that is easy and exciting to use.”

Gopal Swaminathan, General Manager – OEM Business, Intel India, “The Intel Atom processor is based on an entirely new micro architecture designed specifically for small devices and low power.  It measures less than 25 mm², making it Intel’s smallest processor yet. It is intended to power devices like the Asus Eee PC 1000HE for children, first-time Internet users and people who desire an extra PC for basic computing applications, listening to music, e-mailing and surfing the Internet. With this processor we will reach out to many more people and give them computing experience.”
 
The Eee PC 1000HE costs Rs. 24,990 exclusive of taxes.

The sleek, aluminum-encased notebook is 0.65-inches thick and comes with a 13.4-inch screen and a 128 GB solid-state drive. Shipping begins on Tuesday.

Starting at $1,999, the Adamo is positioned as Dell’s new high-end brand. Another configuration will sell for $2,699.

The device comes packed in a clear case along with an optional branded sleeve or tote bag from designer luggage and handbag label Tumi.

The Adamo is meant “to make a design statement, to surprise people that this is a Dell,” said marketing executive John New. “This is for the customer that has that discerning taste, and is willing to pay a little more for that.”

Dell has been working to generate buzz for Adamo, Latin for “to fall in love with.” Word of the PC began to leak late last year, and the company hosted an event in January in Las Vegas where it provided a fleeting glimpse of the laptop as it was held aloft by a model.

Apple helped launch the so-called ultra-portable category last year with MacBook Air which, at 0.76 inches, previously laid claim to the title of world’s thinnest.

The Adamo at 4 pounds is heavier than the Air, which weighs 3 pounds and is priced from $1,799. Most PC makers, including Lenovo Group, Hewlett Packard Co and Sony Corp also sell ultra-portables.

Dell has been trying to reinvigorate its consumer brand amid efforts to diversify its revenue base. Business customers make up around 80 per cent of Dell’s revenue, while PCs account for roughly 60 per cent.

Last week, Dell launched the $799 Studio One 19, a touchscreen all-in-one PC meant for family use in the kitchen or the living room. The Studio One 19 will be available first in Japan and then in other countries later in the spring.

Dell shares have slid 13 per cent since the start of 2009, while Apple’s have jumped 12 per cent. Dell, however, has outperformed Hewlett-Packard, whose stock has dropped 20 per cent since the year began.

The Touch Book, previewed at DEMO 09, weighs less than two pounds as a netbook and has a battery life of 10 to 15 hours – three times longer than most netbooks.

“The Touch Book is perfect for these tough economic times because you can use it in so many ways,” said Gregoire Gentil, founder of Always Innovating and creator of the Touch Book. “You can use it as a netbook computer, a hand-held game device, or a video player. You can even reverse the keyboard to prop it up on a table in an inverted ‘V’. Finally, because it is magnetic, you can remove the keyboard and put the tablet on the fridge to serve as a kitchen computer or digital frame.”

The Touch Book combines the best of open source software and open hardware with a sleek industrial design by designer Fred Bould. The innovative design includes internal USB plugs. “I hate having dongles hanging from my laptop – I often end up disconnecting them accidentally – so we opted to put the USB inside,” said Gentil.

The Touch Book is the first netbook featuring an ARM processor from Texas Instruments, resulting in outstanding battery life, and a fan less, heat-and-noise-free system.

The Touch Book is expected to ship in late spring and will start at $299.

The entire range was launched with models sashaying down the ramp showing colourful and trendy notebooks.

Anand Sankaran, chief executive officer of Wipro Infotech, said the company is hopeful that its new range of affordable laptops would make good business especially in times of global financial crisis.

“We wanted to break the rupees 20,000 price barrier. So, this laptop is launched at sub- (rupees) 20,000 and it basically is for the consumers. It’s for home use. So, we wanted to ensure that we get it at a price point which is affordable to the consumers in times like this,” he said.

Starting from a price of Rs 19, 999 onwards, the new range of notebooks comes in a range of vibrant colours including chrome red, ocean blue, racer yellow, autumn red and coral blue.

“This notebook comes with a 12 inch and 14 inch screen, 2 GB RAM, 2 megapixel camera and Windows into this system. So it’s a no-compromise product. It breaks the rupees 20,000 barrier from price point level. What we are bringing into the market is a fully functional, stylish, premium range of product for discerning users,” said Ashok Tripathy, general manager and head of computing business, Wipro.

Wipro said that the new laptop represents the bold Indian look and that’s the reason why they chose the name ‘e.go’. One of the striking features of the ‘e.go’ notebooks is that they are completely environment-friendly and also hold green leaf label.

The ‘e.go’ range comes in three models – 7F3800, EM471X series and BM2700 series. It also comes with 12 inch and 14 inch screens. With battery backup capacity for three hours, the laptops are fully loaded.