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Laptop Laidback 3 Launched; Rumors: MacBook Updates To Have Non-Intel Chipsets, Glass Trackpads?
Tuesday, July 29 2008 @ 10:39 AM ET | Article Link
Laidback We "R" Inc. Launches Version 3.0 of the Laptop Laidback Table
The Laptop Laidback laptop stand for use in a relaxed, reclined posture is a longtime favorite of mine and I've been using one of them since 2001 - the original model made from solid Nova Scotia maple hardwood. It's a high-quality piece of equipment, and notwithstanding the intensive use it's received, it looks and feels as good today as it did seven years ago.
The Laptop Laidback is specifically designed as a laptop table that provides users the ultimate in comfort by providing them full control and flexibility to place the laptop in the best position possible, designed specifically to provide ultimate comfort for laptop users on a bed, couch, lawn chair, etc.
The Laidback makes it possible to optimize the ideal arm, hand, neck, shoulder, and leg positions recommended by ergonomists to maximize comfort when using a laptop computer. Comfort is key in this context When you're comfortable, you are also pain and stress free, and can extend your laptop usage, be more efficient and effective, and can significantly reduce further stress on your body.
The correct position is to always have your upper arms and elbows resting on a flat surface (no reaching), so to ensure this the laptop table must be able to adjust up and down so your palms and fingers rest on the keyboard (without having to lift your elbows off the support surface). Laptop Laidback makes it easy to achieve this body English.
The patented new Laptop Laidback Version 3 will continue to be a boon to laptop users with disabilities, back problems or mobility issues. The product can be used in bed, on a sofa or in a recliner type chair, and is fully adjustable (to maximize comfort), easily stored, and portable.
Laidback is designed to be a dedicated-purpose product and to fulfill that purpose uncompromisingly well, so Laidback We "R" Inc. don't recommend purchasing it to eat snacks on, use as a TV tray, or a perch for the bird. The product is specifically designed for laptop users who want to maximize comfort in the horizontal position, although that being said, they do have customers that have found other uses for Laptop Laidback such as a stand to rest a book on while reading in bed.
How strong is Laptop Laidback? It will hold up to 22 lbs, which is well in excess of the heaviest Mac laptop ever built.
Laptop Laidback is claimed to be easy to assemble without the use of any tools. A simple diagram printed on the back side of the laptop table walks you through the process, and it reportedly takes about 1 minute to assemble, or less once you;re practiced.
The Laidback 3 is made from an engineered polymer which delivers strength, light weight (under 3 lbs), and durability.
The product measures 11 inches by 16 inches.
Laidback We "R" Inc. warranties its product for 1 year from date of purchase, and the product is sold with a "30-day money back" return policy with no restocking fees but shipping costs in either direction are not refundable.
Laptop Laidback 3 sells for $99.99
I can't wait to get my hands on a review unit!
For more information, visit:
http://www.laptop-laidback.com/index.php
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Apple To Use Non-Intel Chipsets, Glass Trackpads, In New MacBooks?
The rumor mills are still running double-overtime this week with more speculation about Apple's presumably imminent notebook refreshes or redesigns.
Appleinsider's Kasper Jade stirred the pot vigorously yesterday suggesting that the generation of personal computers from Apple may include some of the most significant architectural changes since the switch from Power PC to Intel X86 CPUs.
Jade notes that with the Intel transition Apple largely abandoned its former practice of engineering its own custom motherboard chipsets to support the CPUs it bought from Motorola, IBM and Freescale in its Macs, and has so far relied on slightly tweaked versions of industry-standard chipsets offered by Intel to the PC industry at large in its Intel-based systems, but that may be about to change.
The report says that "people familiar with [Apple's] plans say the next generation of Mac hardware, including a trio of new notebooks, won't adopt the Montevina chipset announced as part of Intel's Centrino 2 mobile platform earlier this month and may indeed use a chipset with little or nothing to do with Intel at all, although it must be emphasized that the primary CPU used in Macs will continue to be from Intel, and given the resounding success that the Intel shift has been for Apple sales-wise, they would be insane to abandon Intel CPUs at this stage of the game.
VentureBeat's MG Siegler weighs in suggesting that that Apple may have its eye on a new set by Intel-rival AMD which includes faster integrated video, Hyperflash I/O and support for Hybrid Hard Drives (regular hard drives with flash components means to load faster).
CNet's Tom Krazit muses that Apple might have decided its partnership with Intel doesn't mean it has to use all of Intel's products, observing that while Intel has done a fine job of engineering mobile CPUs, its performance with integrated graphics chipsets (such as the much-maligned GMA units used in MacBook's and the MacBook Air), whose graphics has left a lot to be desired.
Krazit also points out that Apple recently acquired a passel of chip designers with its acquisition of P.A. Semi.
Over at Computerworld the buzz is that Apple's upcoming line of portable computer refreshes could include:
• thinner, slightly more rounded cases than current MacBook and MacBook Pro with design cues from the MacBook Air.
• A glass trackpad with multi-touch and gesture support but no multi-touch screen
• Case formed out of one piece of aluminum, a la the Apple aluminum keyboard using a completely different manufacturing process
• Release anticipated in late September
• Intel Centrino 2 platform chips.
• 16:9 screens in slightly bigger sizes: 14 inch and 15. 6 inch
• Macbook Air to should get 45nm processor
However, CNet's Krazit observes that while glass might allow for all kinds of trackpad-oriented multitouch goodness, it seems like a warranty nightmare.
Good point.
bookmystique@pbcentral.com
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17" MacBook Pro
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