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[TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS]

The Samsung Instinct. PHOTO: NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE

PUTTING THE FOCUS OF COMPUTING WHERE IT BELONGS: ONLINE SOCIALIZING.

Years ago computers tackled weighty tasks like calculating rocket trajectories and putting a man on the moon. The new Everex MyMiniPC has a different aim: It lets you browse MySpace more efficiently.

Designed around an Intel Pentium Dual-Core mobile processor, this 5cm-thick PC runs gOS Space, a version of Linux that has been specially tweaked to offer seamless access to MySpace, the world’s biggest social networking site. The operating system, which looks a bit like Apple’s OS X, also has dedicated icons for media and news Web sites right in the dock at the bottom of the screen.

The MySpace icons make it easy for users to post photos and video right from their desktops and leave notes on each others’ profile pages. The PC has 512 megabytes of memory, a 120-gigabyte hard drive and a DVD burner.

While it’s far more frivolous than ENIAC, the MyMiniPC will be more useful to people who know what computers are really for.

Everex MyMiniPC. PHOTO: NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE

IT’S SLIM AND PORT-FRIENDLY AND IT’S A KEYBOARD, TOO



Keyboards used to be heavy, clunky and distinctly unstylish things. Ergonomics and aesthetics have given rise to models more like the Kensington Ci70, a slim space-saver with programmable hot keys, USB ports and fashion-conscious design.

This keyboard, which is less than an inch thick, mimics the low-slung keyboards found on laptops. A sliding door hides the five programmable keys. There are two full-sized USB ports as well as a single mini-USB port with a cable for quick connection to cameras and MP3 players.

Kensington Ci70 keyboard. PHOTO: NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE

The Ci70 also has media keys for controlling volume and music playback as well as a full numeric keypad. It works with Macs or PCs.

This svelte device might not replace the old clackety keyboards that so many hackers cherish. But isn’t it time to embrace the idea of modern lines and lots of ways to connect?

Canon’s iP100 mobile printer. PHOTO: NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE

EASIER PAPER HANDLING AND IMPROVED RESOLUTION ON A GO-ANYWHERE PRINTER



When you absolutely must print on the spot, Canon’s iP100 mobile printer wants the gig. This 2kg printer has a flat shape that lets it fit into a briefcase or its modern counterpart, the messenger bag.

It is an update to a long line of similar-looking siblings, but paper handling is improved and the resolution has doubled, to 9,600 dots an inch. That means good-looking photos, even at the maximum print size of 8.5 by 11 inches.

The 2133 Mini-Note PC by Hewlett-Packard. PHOTO: NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE

Built-in infrared and an optional external Bluetooth accessory allow wireless printing from some laptops, cameras and even some camcorders. If a PC isn’t handy, the built-in image correction for red-eye, cropping and face-brightening lets the printer wing it alone. Of course it prints text, too, so it’s suitable for emergency document revision on the street, if you’ve packed the optional US$80 battery.



HP OFFERS LOW-COST LAPTOP FOR KIDS



Child-friendly computers like the XO from the One Laptop Per Child project have paved the way for low-cost machines aimed at the global education market, and now Hewlett-Packard is making an appearance on the playground. The basic model of the company’s new 2133 Mini-Note PC tips the scales at around 2.2kg and taps the wallet for less than US$500.

The low-end configuration gets a wireless laptop running SuSE Linux with a four-gigabyte solid-state hard drive, but several configurations are available on the company’s Web site. The Mini-Note PC can be upgraded with a 120-gigabyte hard drive and Windows Vista Business. Bluetooth connectivity, a Web cam and bigger batteries are also among the add-on options.

Although the price can start edging up to standard laptop levels, the Mini-Note has a few features that might appeal to parents or others looking for hardier hardware. Along with a scratch-resistant 8.9-inch color screen and protective keyboard coating, the Mini-Note PC also has an accelerometer to protect the hard drive if the computer is dropped.



SAMSUNG INSTINCT TAKES ON APPLE’S BABY



The Apple iPhone may have raised the ante for smartphone design last year, but the competition is not just sitting around. Although it has a similar slablike form and touch screen function, the new Samsung Instinct has a few special features of its own.

If you don’t actually have any calls to make, the phone offers plenty of multimedia options to pass the time, like e-mail, TV for live and on-demand video, wireless song downloads and radio channels. The Instinct has a GPS function that gives you directions on screen or by voice, as well as a built-in camcorder and 2-megapixel camera with a 2x zoom.
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