In Pictures: Mobility Rules at Computex 2007

Not all motherboards are created equal. In particular, Via's palm-sized Mobile ITX, introduced at Computex, catches attention because of its miniature size: The motherboard measures 7.5cm by 4.5cm--making it about the same size as a namecard. The board sports a C7-based processor, a chipset with integrated graphics and video capabilities, and memory.

Last fall, Toshiba announced the first HD DVD-R drive; the mobile drive, the first recordable HD DVD drive to ship, became available in notebooks in Japan this spring. Oddly, the initial offering could only handle write-once HD DVD-R discs; it didn't support rewritable HD DVD. At Computex, Toshiba rectified that omission, by announcing it would soon be shipping the first HD DVD-RW. This slim-line mobile drive will ship to OEMs in July, according to Toshiba.

Via Technologies introduced an ultraportable notebook reference design at Computex. Via's take on the ulraportable concept is designed around a Via processor and keyboard. The NanoBook weighs less than 2 pounds, runs Windows Vista or Windows XP, and has Wi-Fi; the pop-out module can be used for three components, as-yet announced. The unit uses a 1.2-GHz C-7M processor, a 7-inch LCD touch-screen display, and either a 30GB or 60GB hard drive. The unit will first be sold in Euope in the third quarter, under the Packard Bell BV brand. A similar device will ship Stateside, too.

In this shot, you can see an example of how Via's ultraportable reference design for the NanoBook can take advantage of a space for removable modules. The company has developed three components for this module.

First, Acer brought the fast-car Ferrari look to its notebook and monitor lines. Now, the company will be adding the Ferrari PDA to its lineup. The black PDA, dubbed the Ferrari Racing Personal Navigator, runs Windows Mobile software, and includes a built-in GPS and ALK CoPilot version 6 navigation software. The unit is due to ship in Europe in the third quarter of 2007.