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US-based PaceBlade Technology will launch a new mobile PC notebook, the PaceBook, a laptop that can also be used as a tablet PC.
The new PC is designed to improve ease of use and overall reliability, said the company. The PaceBook includes an ergonomically designed keyboard with user definable hot-keys and pre-defined function keys for the most commonly used applications and controls.
Since the keyboard is wireless, the PC unit and display can be placed further away for improved posture, said the company. In addition, the hingeless design and separate keyboard address user concerns about mechanical and electrical reliability.
Mechanical hinges on notebook displays eventually fail and spillage on keyboards usually does irreparable damage, said the company.
In addition, unergonomic keyboards can contribute to repetitive stress injury and the short distance between the user and the display can result in poor posture and lower back pain, according to the company.
The PaceBook has a battery life of six hours or more on a single charge, said the company. This means that the PC can be used for a full day's work in any setting.
The PaceBook, launched at Cebit this week, is expected to retail for about USD2000, including all necessary accessories, said Eric Djie, president of PaceBlade.
The device includes dictation and handwriting recognition, and the company said it will be particularly suitable for road sales professionals, presentations, conferencing and other professional applications.
After its launch, the PaceBook will be targeted initially at the European and US markets through a number of original equipment manufacturer partners, said Djie. Ireland will not be targeted specifically, but will instead be part of the European market.
The PaceBook uses Transmeta's TM5600 series Crusoe microprocessor in conjunction with Silcon Motion's Lynx graphic chipsets.
The PaceBook is particularly advantageous because it can be used in the same way as any other notebook, according to Djie.
"We will go into mass production in a couple of months," said Djie. "Originally, we thought that Japan would be the biggest market, but we expect to be active in the US, Europe and Asia."
PaceBlade was founded in California in 2000 and is at www.paceblade.com
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