PaceBlade Technology, a start-up company in Hong Kong, has introduced the PaceBook, a computer that is a notebook, a desktop PC and a tablet PC, aimed at the retail and vertical markets here.
At first glance, the PaceBook's three-in-one system seems like a clever concept that gives a whole new meaning to modularity. Instead of one integrated device, the PaceBook is sold in parts so the 12.1-inch touch-screen display and wireless keyboard are separate units.
This gives users great flexibility. Depending on the accessories bought with the Taiwan-made product, the display can be mounted on a stand and used like a regular desktop PC, connected to a keyboard and used like a notebook, or carried around like a tablet PC, using the touch-screen display to input information and launch programs. The company also sells accessories including a digital camera, a port replicator, DVD-Rom drives, remote controls, office stands and carrying cases.
A tripod hole at the back of the unit enables the model to be fixed on the dashboard of a vehicle or at check-out counters in supermarkets.
The tablet unit holds all the ports - Firewire, two USB ports, infrared - necessary for operation, as well as speakers and a microphone. The digital camera accessory fits on a round USB port on the display unit making video conferencing possible. The camera swivels around 360 degrees, tilts up and down and has 640 by 480 pixels resolution.
At the core of the system is a Transmeta Crusoe 5600 or 5800 processor running at 600 or 867 megahertz. The device runs Microsoft XP Home, Professional or Windows 2000. While this small unit weighs only 1.8 kilograms without the keyboard, there are many full-featured laptops running an Intel processor that weigh in on the same scale.
Toon Vandamme, business development manager for PaceBlade Technology, said laptops were the PaceBook's main competition. 'Laptops have limitations. They get too hot, they have short battery life and they do not offer the kind of flexibility PaceBook does,' he said.