News Bits: Ego-Lifestyle Notebooks Enter U.S., Notebook Sales to Increase 23% in 2007, Vista Antivirus News

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Worldwide notebook shipments to increase 23% in 2007

According to Taiwan's Market Intelligence Center (MIC), worldwide notebook shipments will increase 23% from this year to 88.74 million units total in 2007. Desktop shipments will only increase 5.7% to 144.98 million units total. Overall PC shipments in 2007 will grow 11.7% to 233.72 million units.

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Ego-Lifestyle introduces &quot;Tulip Ego&quot; Luxury Laptop to U.S.

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Ego Lifestyle is introducing their latest European-designed luxury laptop, the Tulip Ego, at Barneys New York. The laptop features fashion-forward interchangeable &quot;skins&quot;, which are available in a wide variety of designer fabrics and finishes.

The Tulip Ego has an elegant design with round shapes and interchangeable skins, which can be changed anytime and anywhere. It features AMD Turion 64 Mobile Technology, an integrated webcam, a keyboard with 15 dedicated keys, and a state-of-the-art audio system with two microphones.

Retail price of the system starts at $5,000 USD (ouch). More information on the Tulip Ego can be found at www.egolifestyle-us.com.

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See our coverage of Tulip Laptops at CeBIT 2006

Asus R1 gets WHQL Vista Certification and Asus W3J Core 2 Duo Reviewed

Asus this week announced they have received WHQL certification from Microsoft for their R1 convertible Tablet PC / notebook device. Asus is the first notebook manufacturer to receive this accreditation on a notebook. The R1 notebook series will receive the Vista x86 Premium logo.

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If you're interested in reading up on the Asus W3J 14.1&quot; notebook with Core 2 Duo then check out a review posted in the NBR forums by user Nrbelex.

Windows Vista may not need antivirus

Microsoft co-president Jim Allchin is confident enough in the security of their new operating system, Windows Vista, that he says it may not even require antivirus in certain situations. Vista features many new security features, including an improved firewall, an all-in-one security suite (Windows Defender), and other features such as Kernel PatchGuard.

Allchin talked about two new security components which give parents control over what their children can and cannot do on the OS. Parental Controls allows parents to monitor/manage their child's privileges, which include web restrictions, time limits, blocking games, blocking specific programs, and activity reports.

The second feature is Address Space [Layout] Randomization. It helps to fend off malicious attacks by rendering system kernel object code in memory.

Allchin says he is happy with the current security level of Vista. He said: &quot;Windows Vista is something that will have issues in security, because the bar is being raised over time. But in my opinion, it is the most secure system that's available, and it's certainly the most secure system that we've shipped.&quot;

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Dell to develop 150 mobile computing labs at Oklahoma City Public Schools

Dell is currently working with Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS), The City of Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area Public Schools (MAPS) Trust to install two mobile computing labs in each of the district's 79 schools, which will give educators the necessary flexibility to balance computing resources during a comprehensive building improvement project.

The $690 million sales tax and school bond initiative, MAPS for Kids, will allow every OKCPS student to attend a rennovated school by 2012. Dell is providing OKCPS with a $3.5 million package, which includes 1,920 Dell Latitude D620 notebook computers which will be integrated with mobile carts. Each cart holds 12 notebook computers and a wireless access point.

OKCPS has already begun participating in the Dell TechKnow program, which is a 40-hour after school program that provides underserved middle school students with an opportunity to learn technological skills and earn a home computer.

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Microsoft to release 6 new security patches next week

6 new security patches will be released by Microsoft for Windows next week; all 6 of them are critical. There are few details available on the patches, but it is known that one of them will address the exploit currently found in Microsoft's XML Core Services.

Microsoft will also be updating its Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. Two other non-security high priority updates will also be available on Microsoft Update and Windows Server Update Services.

The critical patches should be available on Tuesday.

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That's a ridiculously overpriced notebook. IMHO it's ugly, and the specs (pasted below) are *awful*. An Integrated graphics notebook with no dual core processor for $5K? Go figure. I guess it's all about style, or something.

# USB memorystick that functions as release key for decorative skins included
# Integrated carrying grip
# Sliding doors that hide connectors
# 15 direct access keys
# Carrying strap with integrated hybrid DVBT module and antenna (for digital and analog television) optional
# Instant on functionality for Restoring Operating System
# 2 integrated stereo microphones
# Integrated camera with mirror like functionality
# UMTS prepared with built-in external antenna
# Voice recognition software
# Bass Reflex Sound System (4 integrated speakers behind the screen)
# Mobile AMD Turion 64 Mobile Technology
# Microsoft Windows XP Mediacenter
# Simultaneous 32- and 64- bit Windows- compatible support
# 1 MB second level cache, integrated on chip
# ATI Radeon XPRESS 200 M chipset
# 12.1 inch WXGA widescreen with anti-reflection foil 1280 * 800 pixels resolution
# 16.7 million colours
# 1024 MB So-Dimm DDR Internal Memory
# Front load DVD+-RW player
# 4-in-1 cardreader: supporting SD, MMC, MS, MS Duo
# 80 GB SATA Harddisk drive
# Integrated 801.11 abg WLAN WiFi Certified solution
# Integrated Bluetooth
# S-Video out, 1 PC Card slot (1 Type II), 3 USB 2.0, 100 Mbit RJ 45, external display (VGA) port, Microphone/ line-in jack, Headphones / speaker/ line-out with S/PDIF support, 1 mini USB 2.0 connector
# Antivrus with one year free updates, Phoenix Recovery Pro, Dragon Naturally Speaking 8
# 3 hour in use battery life
# Weigth: 2.6 kilogram (battery included)
# Dimension: 36 (lenght) * 28 (width) * 6 (heigth) centimeter
# 2 * 110 Volt Power Adapter

 

I think if someone showed up with that at my local Barney's or Starbucks coffee would be shooting out my nose. That Tulip suckers ugly and lame. Even funnier someone would actually pay $5000 for that?? Even funnier someone would actually buy it. Haven't I seen this design someone before though?

 

Why do I have this feeling that Microsoft will be eating those words in a few months.......

 

Ha, ha, ho ho! he he! Vista doesn't need AntiVirus!!! (*cackles*) When that day comes, I will eat my notebook, uncooked!

 

Looks a lot like the old iMac (not sure what they were called) or something like that. Think Legally Blonde.

 

Lol, that's what I was thinking of. I don't know what the old iMac was called either and yes the pink laptop from legally blonds in the middle of all those thinkpads at Harvard.

 

At least it's mildly affordable, unlike their US$350,000 diamond encrusted version.

Then again, diamonds are a girl's best friend, maybe get her one of those instead of an engagement ring?

Pair that with a US$54,000 diamond encrusted Samsung cellphone, and that US$20,000 diamond encrusted MP3 player for the complete loadout.

 

That's the weirdest looking laptop I have ever seen. In fact I'm not even sure I would buy it even if I did have that kind of money...

 

I can guarantee I wouldn't...

So if they want the admins to test one who gets to carry it around?

 

They'd have to pay me to carry one of those things around.

 

Yeah, this laptop is a rehash of the famous "toilet seat" Apple iBook.