Computer World Updates

The Worlds Thinnest Laptop

MacBook Air





Specs:

Size and weight
Height:
0.16-0.76 inch (0.4-1.94 cm)
Width:
12.8 inches (32.5 cm)
Depth:
8.94 inches (22.7 cm)
Weight:
3.0 pounds (1.36 kg)1

Processor and memory
Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB on-chip
shared L2 cache running at full processor speed
1.6 or 1.8GHZ 800MHz frontside bus
2GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM onboard

Display
13.3-inch (diagonal) glossy widescreen TFT LED
backlit display with support for millions of colors
Supported resolutions: 1280 by 800 (native), 1152 by 720, 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, 800 by 500, 720 by 480, and 640 by 480 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio

Storage
80GB 4200-rpm Parallel ATA hard disk drive2
Optional 64GB solid-state drive2
Optional external USB MacBook Air SuperDrive

Graphics and video support
Pure digital video output
DVI output using micro-DVI to DVI adapter (included)
VGA output using micro-DVI to VGA adapter (included)
Composite output using micro-DVI to video adapter (optional)
S-video output using micro-DVI to video adapter (optional)
Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory
Extended desktop and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 1920 by 1200 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors
Built-in iSight camera

Wireless
Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi wireless networking (based on IEEE 802.11n draft specification); IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible
Built-in Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)

Audio
Analog audio output/headphone out (minijack)
Built-in mono speaker
Built-in omnidirectional microphone

The New Generation Of Computer

MICROSOFT SURFACE

Microsoft Corp. has chosen what it sees as the next generation in PC designs -- a computer the size and shape of a coffee table with a flat, touch-screen display -- as the third major product it has designed and is branding for the consumer electronics market.


The company today revealed its 5-year-old "Milan" project, a computer that uses wireless autosync and touch-screen technology to allow users and devices to interact with files and applications using a tabletop screen. The company designed and is branding the computer, as it did with consumer electronics products such as the Xbox game console and the Zune MP3 player.


To accompany Milan, Microsoft renamed a team within its Entertainment and Devices Division called New Consumer Products as "Surface Computing." General Manager Pete Thompson leads the group, which has worked quietly in new projects to give computers and other devices more human interfaces.