News Bits: New Gateway Laptops, USB Ghost Detector, Tablet PC Based Software and Job Opportunity

New Gateway M680 and M360 Released

Gateway M680 17-inch Widescreen Notebook is now available from Gateway

Last week Gateway introduced a new 17-inch laptop, the M680. The M680 replaces the M675 from Gateway. The M680 weighs 7.7 pounds and is about 1.24 inches thick. For a 17"widescreen laptop that's arelatively thin and light offering, many 17-inch screen notebooks will weigh in at 9lbs or more.The M680 can be configured with an ATI Mobility Radeon x700 PCIExpress card with 128MB of RAM, upto a 2.13GHz Pentium M processor,comes standard with at least 512MB of DDR2 RAM (up to 2GB), up to 100GB hard drive and5400RPM hard drive speeds available.

Gateway M360 15.4-inch Widescreen is not available from Gateway

Also introduced last week was the Gateway M360 15.4-inch widescreen notebook configurable with a Pentium M or Celeron M processor. The Pentium M available is not the latest Sonoma based platform though. The price is low on this notebook, which is honestly the most exciting thing about it. With integrated graphics and slow hard drive of 4200RPM being the max available, this is not a performance notebook and although the starting price of $849.99 is good, that configuration gives you a Celeron M with 256MB of RAM so you'd be crazy to spend such an amount on such poor specs. Not sure what Gateway is doing with this notebook, it's completely lacking compared to what you can get for the same price with other brands.

More: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-31-2005/0003294508&EDATE=

Ghost Detector USB Flash Memory Stick (not a joke) Soon Available

Ghost Detector and Flash Drive storage device all-in-one

SolidAlliance Corp.'s portable GhostRadar beeps and flashes red lights in response to unusual magnetic waves. It also reacts to body heat and perspiration detected by a sensor where users place their thumbs.

The gadget went on sale Friday in Japan and the first shipments to the United States are on their way, said SolidAlliance Vice President Yuichiro Saito. GhostRadar is a novelty item that comes attached to USB memory storage device.. Its memory ranges from 128-512 megabytes. The device's memory and ghost detector functions are not linked, Saito said (in case you were concerned?).

The iDuck flash memory card is also available from SolidAlliance

GhostRadar is recommended for spooky late nights alone at your computer, and for those curious about finding out if their sudden chills represent a supernatural visitor. The device may beep as often as once an hour in a place that's haunted but might fall silent in other spots.According to Saito,"This [GhostRadar] detects invisible phenomena and so the system is confidential, this is not a game. This is a measuring device." The company's other USB memory offerings have been hits in Japan. The Sushi Disk comes with replicas of various types of the Japanese delicacy, including shrimp and raw tuna. The i-Duck storage unit includes a colorful glowing duck. In Japan, GhostRadar costs about twice as much as a regular memory storage unit at 19,800 yen (US$185; euro140) for 512 megabytes, according to Yokohama-based SolidAlliance. U.S. prices haven't yet been decided, the company said.

More: http://www.solidalliance.com/index.html

Microsoft Releases Free Tablet PC Experience Software Package

Ink Art is part of the free Tablet PC Experience Software Package

Microsoft has released a free software package for your Tablet PC called the "Tablet PC Experience Software Package" This package includes six different applications, one of which is the Ink Desktop program that allows users to write down notes directly on the desktop area for quick and easy acces, like a phone number, address or top priorities for the day. Another application called Ink Art simulates an artists canvas and set of tools, so the truly creative types can have a virtual art experience without the mess or expense of gathering all of those art supplies.

More: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/tabletpc/experiencepack/overview.mspx

Need some Extra Work? Get a Tablet PC forEight Weeks and Earn Some Money

Are you computer savvy? Do you love working with new products and introducing them to consumers?This may be the perfect job for you!

The Eleven Agency is currently seeking staff for our nationwide in-store Tablet PC demo program for the following cities: Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Washington DC, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas/Reno, Miami, Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County (CA), San Diego.

Program Goal:

Our team of friendly, knowledgeable sales representatives will work in retail stores to generate excitement and spread knowledge about the Tablet PC in Consumer Electronic stores nationwide, as well as educate and excite store associates about the product.

Preferred Qualifications for Demo and Backup Reps:

1. Retail experience (CE retail experience preferred)
2. Strong knowledge of Microsoft platform - Windows XP; Word Processing,
   Spreadsheets, Internet software, Email
3. Ability to interact and relate with consumers
4. Detail oriented (ability to maintain organized
   documentation, capture consumer & retailer feedback, etc)
5. Reliable
6. Friendly
7. Enthusiastic

Visit Dates:

8 week program: April 29, 2005 - June 19, 2005

Visit Schedule:

Each rep territory will consist of 4- local stores. Demo Reps will rotate their store visits In store hours are as follows

1. Friday 6-9PM
2. Saturday 10:30-6PM
3. Sunday 10:30-5PM

Back Up Reps:

Same qualifications as Demo reps. Paid per week to be on call during the hours of the Demo Rep program.Available ALL weekends during program!

Training: Demo and back up reps will receive 16 hours of paid training. All reps will also be issued a Tablet PC to use during training and the 8 week demo program! Our hourly rates of pay and incentives are among the most competitive in retail!

If you think you meet the qualifications for our team of sales associates, please send your resume or letter of interest to [email protected]