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Sharp unveiled last week for corporate users a notebook PC that also functions as an external hard drive. When the notebook computer is powered off and placed in its cradle, a desktop computer has direct access to the notebook's internal hard drive via a USB 2.0 interface.

The new machine is part of Sharp's MM1-1 series, which was released to the consumer market in October. This series has been popular among Japanese consumers, according to Masaaki Takeda, a spokesperson for Sharp.

"Using a notebook PC as a hard disk drive is something new and consumers are choosing the MM1-1 series because of this function," he said. The Osaka, Japan, company plans to keep the MM1-1 series' hard drive function in future products, he said.

This helps business users who need to access the same data while in the office from a desktop PC and on the road with their notebook. While working in the office, users can keep the MM1-1 on the cradle and use it as a hard drive and when on the move, use it as a normal notebook.

Slim Design

The MM1-1 is one of Sharp's slim-design Mebius Muramasa notebook PC series, measuring 9.9 inches by 8.1 inches by .5 inches and weighing 2.5 pounds.

ts basic model carries an 867-MHz Crusoe TM5800 processor, 256MB of memory, and a 15GB hard drive with a 10.4-inch XGA LCD. Corporate users can choose between 36 customized options including wireless LAN connectivity.

The MM1-1 series will be available in the corporate market on January 22 in Japan. Its price varies according to the customization. Currently, it is sold at around $1,411 for consumers, Takeda said. Sharp is planning the overseas launch of the product for consumers sometime next year but has not decided when, he said.

The company also added the MT2-3 and the PM2 series to Mebius Muramasa line-up for corporate users.

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