New laptops getting savvy!

New laptops getting savvy! February 08, 2008 LG R200 The most striking feature of the new LG R200 notebook is the inclusion of a 2.5-inch auxiliary LCD display on the top cover. This LCD display takes advantage of Vista's SideShow technology that allows access to files and Outlook information without having to boot into the operating system. The touch-sensitive buttons, which are reminiscent of LG's Chocolate phone series, gel well with the notebook. Users can play music and view images on the secondary display without opening the cover or turning the notebook on. LG R200 has this 'dual' function due to its external screen. It also sports a piano black exterior; but the notebook's surface is a magnet for fingerprints, so users who wouldn't like to see a 'dirty' notebook must bring the cleaning cloth that LG provides at all times. This 12.1-inch notebook does not disappoint on connectivity options. There are three USB 2.0 ports, a 5-in-1 multimedia card reader, a PC Express Card slot, a Firewire port (IEEE 1394), an S-video and D-Sub output, a gigabit Ethernet and 56 kbps modem port, a Line-in, Mic-in, and S/PDIF jack, and a cable PR port. The R200 also has an Intel 802.11a/b/g module and Bluetooth v2.0 that allow users to connect to the Internet wirelessly and transfer files from the computer to mobile phones, printers, or other Bluetooth-enabled devices. It is equipped with an Intel Core2 Duo processor, 1 GB RAM, a 160GB hard disk drive and has the latest dedicated ATI Mobility Radeon HD2400 graphic chipset which is superior to any integrated GPU and more than sufficient for the casual gamer. The R200 also includes some interesting software with associated keyboard hotkeys which allows for a couple of programmable shortcuts, change the wireless networking options and disable the keyboard or touchpad. The software also allows to set the fan speed to normal, silent or cool modes. Quiet mode can be useful on a plane or in a shared environment late at night, while cool mode is particularly good when working with the computer on your lap for extended periods, or when using high performance applications. Image: The LG R200 is priced around Rs 51,490 in the Indian market.