CES 2009: Laptops at CES 2009
Sony reveals slimline P-series Vaio laptop
Sony took to the stage at CES 2009 to unveil its stylish P-series Vaio laptop, a slim, portable device that’s about the size of a business envelope and as thick a mobile phone.
Stan Glasgow, president and chief operating officer of Sony Electronics, pulled the P-series laptop from his jacket pocket to show just how portable it is.
The device weighs only 0.7kg, but it has a full Windows Vista server, is compatible with 3G mobile broadband and also features built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless networking.
The wide screen makes it easy to view the full width of web page, though the vertical display is slightly more limited by the narrow dimensions.
Designed to be intuitive and easy to use, the P-series will support the Xross media bar for simple access of favourite programs and features.
The P-series is available now for pre-orders, and will cost around US$900 (about £590).
For reviews of 28 laptops, including Best Buys from Apple, HP and Sony, see our latest laptop report.
Asus unveils raft of new touchscreen friendly notebooks
A range of touchscreen notebook computers has been launched by Asus at CES 2009.
Asus EeePC
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The Eee Top touchscreen laptop
Eee PC T91PC
The tiny Eee PC T91PC has a hinged 8.9-inch touchscreen that can fold over the keyboard for use in tablet mode (that is, without using the keyboard). It weighs just two pounds, is just one inch thick and is powered by an Intel Atom processor.
It comes with the option of a TV tuner or built-in GPS, but like all the other Asus models launched, there were no further specification or price details.
Eee Top
The Eee Top is a fairly basic touchscreen device designed to act as a central console where family members can leave notes, check email or do some basic web surfing.
M50 and N20 Notebooks
The M50 notebook is two separate notebooks in one. It includes a small 4.3-inch secondary display below the keyboard that has a collection of widgets (such as calendar, text messaging and email) to allow easy access to key applications without wasting power.
Users can access this smaller screen without having to wait for the main computer to boot. They can also launch a movie in the small screen and project it to the larger, main screen, sharing the notebook's main battery. Asus claims that this will give a battery life of 12 hours.
The N20 notebook will have Asus’s AI Touch Media software to let users navigate music and movies via the 12-inch display.
Eee Keyboard
Asus also unveiled the Eee Keyboard, a full-sized keyboard with built-in PC including Wi-Fi and a touchscreen. It weighs less than two pounds and connects to existing displays, turning your TV into a giant digital photo frame for showing photos or into a fully functional PC.
Other new models
Touchscreens aside, Asus also updated its range by announcing a stylish, ultra-slim notebook called the S121 and a premium, Lamborghini-branded notebook called the VX5.
Which? Computing senior researcher, Andy Woodward, said: ‘Asus led the way with its original Eee laptop and it hasn't rested on its laurels. The company’s new line-up contains a diverse range of innovative products, and it will be interesting to see whether they're a hit with consumers.’
For reviews of 28 laptops, including Best Buys from Apple, HP and Sony, see our latest laptop report.
To see more pics from our time at CES 2009, check out the Which? CES 2009 photo gallery on Flickr.
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