GScreen's Dual-Screen Spacebook - First Look

The Alaska based company, started by Gordon Stewart (yep, that is where the G in gScreen comes from), is aiming its dual screen laptops professional designers, filmmakers, photographers and really anyone who can't live without a dual screen for everyday productivity. They have also been in talks with the military. The chassis (which we expect is at least 12 pounds) is built around the 15.4 inch screen (though the first units that come to market will have 16-inch or 17-inch screens) and its twin, identically sized screen slides out from behind the first using a uniquely designed sliding mechanism.

"We designed this knowing that many may not need the extra screen at all times," Gordon told me. But when you do use both screens you'll get about 30-inches of screen space. GScreen plans to release dual 13-inch models at some point.

Gordon plans to have the first Spacebooks being sold through Amazon.com by December of this year. Currently they are making tweaks to the power source (as you can see from one of the images) and to the screen slider.

They will run Windows 7 and be powered by Intel Core 2 Duo processors (we would love to see some mobile core i7 love here), 4GB of RAM and high-end Nvidia GF900M GT discrete graphics. The plan is for fast 7,200 RPM hard drives and six or nine-cell batteries. It will also have a DVD player so you can watch a flick on one screen and refresh Giz on the other. "It is absolutely the opposite of a netbook," he told us. Yea that is no kidding with a price tag that he is hoping to keep under $3,000.

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Labels: Laptop

Consumers pick gadgets over Gucci

The vendor’s Microsoft Tech To Impress Report found that nearly half of 1,000 UK respondents said being able to show off the latest gadget is as important to their overall fashion image as an item of clothing.

Of those surveyed, 43 per cent said they would rather spend their money on a piece of technology than on a piece of clothing. Six out of 10 people admitted to leaving their new gadget on the table for envious friends to admire.

This has changed people's perception of the significance of technology, claimed the report. Of those polled, 40 per cent agreed that the appearance of their mobile devices is more important now than it was five years ago.

The report also revealed that young professional women are now much more likely to own several portable gadgets such as mobile phones, digital cameras and laptops. The research suggested that manufacturers have recently focused on creating products that are designed to appeal to women.

Andre Reuter from Microsoft said: “This research is further proof of the social impact of the rise of mobile working. As more people use technology on the move and therefore in front of others, this places far more importance on the look of the accessories they are using than ever before.

“It has got to the point where technology is now an integral part of many people's image, and this is why Microsoft is committed to producing the very best-looking, easy-to-use mobile hardware for busy people who need to look good.”

Microsoft’s report also investigated consumer shopping habits, which have seen spending on mobile technology rise 14 per cent in the past five years. Nearly a quarter of the population admitted to purchasing a piece of technology based on its appearance, regardless of whether they needed it.

Source: http://www.channelweb.co.uk/crn/news/2248520/consumers-pick-gadgets-gucci

Labels: General