CES 2009

(Credit: Viewsonic)

I guess I can thank Viewsonic for ensuring that I'm not writing about monitors and monitors only for CES 2009. The company has made a few attempts to diversify its product line, and I for one appreciate it, if for no other reason than you can say only so much about HDMI connections and screen sizes before you're driven batty. Take it from one whose been there (and maybe is still there).

The LinkPC or ViePC (Viewsonic's press material claims two different names) is Viewsonic's most unique offering at CES. The LinkPC is a small, square-shaped PC that attaches to the back of any VESA-compatible monitor. The device is powered by an Intel Atom 1.6GHz CPU and 1GB RAM. It also features a 160GB hard drive, gigabit Ethernet LAN, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, VGA output, sa erial port, and four USB 2.0 ports.

Like the VPC100, don't expect anything near a performance powerhouse here. The LinkPC is tailored to tasks like e-mail, Web surfing, and basically anything you'd expect to do on a Netbook.

The LinkPC has an MSRP of $399 and will be available in March 2009.

Giant fonts are the way of the future.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CBS Interactive)

Hard to believe there are still enough novice computer users still out there that a company would develop a whole line of computers specifically geared to them. Hard for me to believe, I should say, because BenQ sees things differently.

At CES, BenQ unveiled its first ever PC, the nScreen. The nScreen is being tailored for novice computer users, specifically senior citizens and children. The company is offering three nScreen models in its first Blue Ocean series: 18.5-inch wide screen i91, 21.5-inch wide screen i221, and the 18.5-inch wide-format i92. All three will be in the sub-$600 range when they debut in either the second or third quarter of 2009, according to BenQ.

BenQ has included a custom user interface that it thinks will appeal to seniors, children, and novice users. The UI is available for Linux and Windows XP Home and offers ease of use features like larger than normal font sizes, and the elimination of a tiered folder system. Instead it offers large point and click icons for Internet, e-mail, games, movies, photo/video sharing, Skype, and office documents, to name a few.

If the fonts are too big for your eyes or you want to make them smaller you may be able to, as some models include a font adjustment prompt that appears upon startup. For those who may be hard of hearing, an integrated equalizer automatically optimizes sound, specifically hard-to-hear high frequencies, according to BenQ.

Some models of the Blue Ocean series models will feature a customized keyboard, which will include a bigger keys and separate number and symbol keys so there is no need to press "shift" for symbols like "#." The unit we saw did not have such a keyboard.

Other features include an integrated 1.3-megapixel Webcam and VoIP phone (Skype handset comes standard on 21.5-inch models, optional on the 18.5-inch model), a 16:9 aspect ratio for HD and full HD (depending on the model) movie watching.

Other specs: SRS TruSurround HD sound, AMD Yukon platform with AMD RS690E+SB600 chipset, 720p native resolution (on the i91) to 1080p (on the i221), with all models featuring 1GB of system memory, 802.11b/g, 100BaseT, six USB connectors, and 4-in-1 card reader.

We managed to be among the very first to snag a coveted Sony Vaio Lifestyle PC, so here are a couple of in-the-wild photos, plus some first hands-on impressions.

Despite the small overall size, we found the keyboard fairly easy to use. At first, the lack of a touchpad worried us, but the trackpoint was fast and responsive, and after 15 minutes or so, we got fairly used to navigating with it--a very light tap on the pointing stick will give you a left mouse click. We're still not entirely sold, however, and still think a touchpad is better for many tasks.

The 1,600x768 screen has a higher resolution than many 15-inch laptops. Some initial attempts at online video streaming played fine, and the built-in Verizon-powered mobile broadband worked as advertised.

Even with Vista as the operating system, the Vaio seemed to run about as well as any Intel Atom system with XP we've used (2GB of RAM and an SSD hard drive help). With Windows 7, purportedly excellent for Netbooks, it would probably fly (relatively speaking).

It's hard to convey just how small this thing actually is. In the photos below, you'll see it positively dwarfed by an HP Mini 1000. ... Read more

We've seen our fair share of surround-sound headphones, but the Psyko 5.1 PC gaming headset goes about it in a unique way. Instead of loading separate audio channels in each ear cup, the Psyko 5.1 places them on the unit's headband and it's the ear cups that house the actual subwoofers.

With the speakers located on the top of your head, the Psyko 5.1 relies on the strategic positioning of the channels in the headband to create the surround sound effect. Currently the Psyko 5.1 is only available for PC, but the company assures us that video game console versions will be coming soon.

For more on how the Psyko 5.1 works, check out Tom Merritt's first look from the CNET stage.

(Credit: Saitek)

Home console flight simulator and air combat games just got a bit easier to control. Just in time for upcoming titles like Tom Clancy's HAWX, Saitek is introducing the Aviator, a flight stick fully tested to work Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games. That said, Saitek claims the Aviator will also perform well with the Blazing Angels series of games released earlier on.

Available for both platforms, each Aviator will also have the ability to work with PC games as well, doubling the compatibility. The Xbox 360 version (pictured) not only has the familiar silver Xbox guide button, it also has room for a headset connection in order to chat with other players during aerial dogfights. The PlayStation 3 Aviator features a Home button for access to the cross-media-bar while playing.

Both Aviator flight sticks are scheduled to ship this month for $50.

Much like Apple, Sony likes to keep its Vaio products aimed at mid-to-high-end buyers and generally eschews the budget end of the market (although there are actually a handful of sub-$600 Vaios we've reviewed fairly favorably).

When it comes to Netbooks, it's no different; Sony's entry into the very hot minilaptop category shares a lot with Netbooks such as the Dell Mini 9 or Asus Eee PC, but clearly goes out of its way to avoid being lumped in with them.

The P-series Lifestyle PC is one of the smallest laptops we've seen; it is almost similar to a UMPC, but with a traditional clamshell laptop design. The widescreen 8-inch 1600x768 display and tiny keyboard make for a form factor that has roughly the same footprint as a standard white business envelope, and is less than 1-inch thick, weighing 1.4 pounds.

To fit a reasonably full-featured PC into a chassis this small, some sacrifices had to be made, and we're worried the lack of a standard touch pad (instead there's a ThinkPad-like pointing stick), will keep this new system from being as useful as it could be. It does, however, include a 3G mobile broadband antenna, 802.11n Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth, with mobile broadband service provided by Verizon.

Like several other laptops we've seen recently, there's a pre-Windows instant-on operating system, which uses the familiar Sony cross-media bar menu found on the PlayStation 3 and handheld PSP consoles. Once you boot into Windows, instead of the XP variety found on most Netbooks, it has Vista, although the 2GB of RAM (up to 4GB capacity) should help it run smoothly.

Sony told us it was planning on marketing this almost clutch-size laptop specifically to women, but we didn't take them seriously until we saw these lines in the official press release:

"Designed for the fashionista in all of us, it's the ideal companion..."
"The spacing between keys has also been engineered to help reduce typing mistakes making it perfect for long fingernails."

The P-series Lifestyle PC will retail for about $900, and options include solid state (up to 128GB) or standard hard drives and a variety of colors, including garnet red, emerald green, onyx black, crystal white, and classic (matte) black, with matching accessories including a fitted leather case. More photos are after the jump.

Meet Sony's new Vaio Lifestyle PC

(Credit: Asus)

What could be better than a small, low-cost, easy to use Netbook laptop? How about a small, low-cost, easy to use Netbook laptop with a swiveling touch screen? Conceptually similar to the recently updated Intel Classmate PC, the new Eee PC T91 has a rotating display that can be spun 180 degrees and folded down, akin to what you'd see in something like the Lenovo X60.

Even though the system still has only an standard 9-inch display, Asus managed to stuff in a GPS antenna, a TV Tuner, and an FM Transmitter, making it a bit of an overachiever for the Netbook market.

Inside, it's still a standard configuration of the Intel Atom CPU and Windows XP. Price and availability details should be forthcoming, but Asus does say the T91 will be available in a variety of colors.

The iLuv iSP200 is both a PC speaker system and a USB hub.

(Credit: iLuv)

iLuv has trotted out the iSP200, a 2.1-channel PC speaker system for laptops and desktops. The iSP200 will be available in June for $99.99.

In its press release, the company appeared to be targeting Macbook Air owners, but the system works with any computer. Robert Caputo, iLuv's vice president of sales, says: "We feel that the iSP200 with its sleek and stylish look is a great complement to the Macbook Air and is the complete 2.1-channel speaker solution providing 32W RMS sound and three extra USB ports for users entertainment needs." OK, sure. The USB hub we like.

Here's a rundown of the rest of the iSP200's specs:

*Integrated 2.1-channel audio amplifier with built-in subwoofer

*Built-in SRS-XT technology for "surround sound"

*Provides 32W RMS of sound

*Master/bass/treble volume controls

*Magnetically shielded satellite loudspeakers

*Built-in USB 2.0 hub (three USB ports)

*Speaker through USB or 3.5mm audio

*3.5mm aux-in jack

*Speakers are detachable from the main unit

Updated at 11:30 a.m. PT with pricing info.

(Credit: LaptopMag.com)

Intel has a convertible Netbook on tap for the CES 2009 crowd assembling once again in Las Vegas next month.

Laptop magazine got a sneak peek at the newest version of the low-cost Classmate PC. It has an 8.9-inch swivel screen with touch and stylus input, a Web cam, and 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor, 60GB hard drive, and Windows XP, with a few Intel touches to make XP work for the convertible form factor. So far, that includes Vision Objects Pen Input, which makes anything input via the stylus editable as text, as well as a virtual keyboard.

It's manufactured by CTL, like the original Classmate PC (which Intel will continue to sell). Laptop reports that it will begin shipping in mid-January.

Intel says that the price for the convertible Classmate will be slightly more than the original Classmate. The range will likely be somewhere around $250 and $400, though the company said it can't be more specific right now.

Brooke Crothers contributed to this report.