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NETBOOK PC PC : DISCUSSION

More Design Details at CES with Asus
Posted in Netbook PC | January 16, 2010 7am

As i went through more pictures from CES, the one thing that jumped out at me were the random design details i had fun with regarding netbooks at the Asus booth! So figured before we overlook some of these tiny fun inspirations, here's a roundup of some cool inspirational finds!On this special version of the seashell...

... you have to look closely at the fascinating texture...

... looking even closer... isn't it amazing? Too bad it was behind glass, i wonder how grippy it is! Built in non slip? No extra case needed perhaps?

While i personally wasn't into the disney princesses look for my netbook... and i'm not even a huge mickey mouse fan... there was something adorably cute about a little mickey head as the webcam! Kind of makes you wonder about what other types of shapes you could add there... could having a smiley face make people smile more at the camera? Without even realizing it?

And when they say "All Day Computing"...

... it's this display of 14 hours of battery life going from Taipei to Las Vegas that blew my mind. 14 hours!!!

 

NOTEBOOK PC PC : DISCUSSION

WEPC + Waveface @ CES
Posted in Notebook PC | January 8, 2010 4pm

Don't laugh, but i was a little excited to see WEPC have its own wall in the ASUS booth at CES. I even looked at all of the sketches you guys have been making to see whose were included in the main poster graphic... feel free to comment if you see yours in the closeup below!

Also fun to see in person is the dual screen concept that was first shown at CeBIT... there really is such a rush to seeing ideas transform and evolve into concepts and prototypes!!!

And to take that even FURTHER ~ it was fun to check out the Waveface concept that is debuting at CES. It felt much like many dream projects worked on through design school ~ but still exciting to see in concept stages and listening to people come up and comment on how incredible it would be to have a wearable, modular system to constantly be in communication with the cloud of all their important info... moving with them from the tv in their home to their laptop that can switch from having a keyboard to being a shareable multitouch tablet/screen to their flexible yet rigid phone/bracelet/alarm clock component that can travel with them...



Look! It's like the future evolution of the dual screen laptop!


In flat rigid form ~ it can be held/used like a "normal" phone... when folded it's wearable or dockable at home...

Additionally ~ check out the video that Asus released explaining the concept further!





Gotta admit ~ the future is inevitably going to be awesome. As far as watching our technology get smarter, savvier, and sexier as it integrates more naturally to enhance our lives.

NOTEBOOK PC PC : DISCUSSION

ASUS @ CES: Designer Collaborations
Posted in Notebook PC | January 8, 2010 4pm

Wow, CES is its usual whirlwind of madness ~ and regardless of my WEPC affiliation, the ASUS booth definitely grabbed my attention! Particularly with their two new designer collaborations they were showcasing! So take a look at their booth with me through pictures...First up is the new Eee PC Seashell ~ the Karim Rashid Collection ~ they worked with Karim to create two special Eee PC Seashells in a hot hot very Karim glossy pink and a matte brown. While i still do completely adore my super sleek black seashell (with eyes still!) ~ these are an interesting designer collaboration of a twist... and while i'm not sure if they are thicker, with their multifaceted tiled look, they certainly at least feel slightly thicker... but it may just be an optical illusion!

Oh! and it's green! (in the eco conscious way... not the color)

Side view!

Signed by Karim...

See? Its an interesting multifaceted tile effect on the cover ~ definitely gives it an interesting (and perhaps more grippable) texture...

In addition ~ there is an accessory line to match the Karim Rashid collection, including a special sleeve, matching tile textured external harddrives, and mouse, all coming in both the pink and brown.

The other new collaboration is the ASUS NX Series ~ with Audio by Bang & Olufsen, and design by their cheif designer, David Lewis.

Really the most fascinating features of this.... its HUGE for starters... And its SUPER chromed out fingerprint material is both on the wrist pad, and the outside face of the machine when you close it... also 2 TOUCHPADS!!!!!!! Which feels like the kind of fun ideas that some of our own WEPCers were dreaming up ~ separated multi touch could be an interesting idea for the future... but for now it seems like you pretty much pick between using the two, otherwise its much like using two might and they conflict a bit. But it's a beast of a machine... and stunning picture quality (yes, i did get a bit distracted watching the animal vids going by... on the premise that i was waiting for this perfect moment in the video to capture  this picture!)

Ok well ~ that's my first peek in to the ASUS CES experience... more to come soon!

NETBOOK PC PC : DISCUSSION

3 Ideas to make a netbook more than just a netbook
Posted in Netbook PC | November 25, 2009 3pm

Black Friday ~ Cyber Monday ~ it's not quite as much of a techfest as it was in years past. I've been poking at prodding at friends and followers alike to figure out what is on their hot list of gifts to give and gifts to want this year. Sadly, not so much jumping out in regards to specific items, but the usual tech categories are definitely popping up ~ digital cameras, music players, video game systems, gps units... and netbooks are definitely coming up frequently! Whether its for the kids to play with so they don't mess with your primary computer... or for your travel needs when crammed on airline seats... or for the college student to take notes on... or simply as a new mini to have around the house for guests, in the kitchen, etc...Now while everyone else may help you navigate the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales ~ i'm going to assume you can find your way around to get the great price on the machine to gift... but THEN what? Don't forget the most important part of gifting isn't so much the gift itself, but the experience of receiving it and playing with it! Spice it up a bit! Get Creative!SO, you found the perfect netbook, in the perfect color (regardless of whether its sleek black or neon pink ~ you know there are millions of others out there exactly like it)... so to make it a truly memorable gift, here are 3 ways to make it a bit more unique for the recipient, and a bit more YOU, so they don't forget how awesome you were to think of them with this adorable new netbook! (And don't worry the ideas are less pricey and more thoughtful!)1. Stickers and Decals!You could custom make them if you're handy ~ or even take some sharpies or paint to sticker paper... or if you know their favorite artist, there are lots of sites out there making art skins for devices now (i.e. gelaskins, Stickstickbangbang, and more)... Personally, i'm not so much a fan of trying to make my netbook into a mini painting, i'd rather enhance it and add character to it... Blik has some fun rub on decals designed by artists!

Here are their shadow puppet and bird transfers.

Here are more artsy ones ~ black and white is from one of my favorite french artist duos Mrzyk and Moriceau and the red ones are Cross Stitch Transfers...Of course, on the more extreme side, you can also cut your own ~ i have my vinyl cutting plotter next to my desk... so when i get an idea i just send it right over!2. Engrave it!Engrave your tech will help you laser etch the design of your dreams right into the case ~ and you can get pretty creative with how that can turn out... especially if you think about the material of the case and what will be exposed as you cut into it! Here are a few examples from their gallery...

Anything is possible... whether you want a flora wonderland....

.... or some stunning anatomical etchings...3. Accessorize it!Ok ok, so if the top two were a bit too creative for you and you're feeling shy... don't forget accessories always work well too... whether it is finding the perfect case or netbook bag (don't forget, for the ladies, those netbooks often fit in some pretty stunning larger clutches!)... or fun usb keys filled with pictures/videos to get them started....

LaCie's imakey is my personal favorite these days ~ and it goes up to 32GB now! You can preload it with some music, movies, pictures, anything to set the mood as they unbox and play with their new netbook!

Just to get you thinking ~ here's a fun Cheap Monday leather envelope clutch ~ its not necessary to go with the traditional sleeves!