Crystal-bedecked laptops prove a hit at expo

Dubai From teen fashionistas to performance-obsessed geeks, Gitex Technology Week 2008 is catering strongly to the young and technology savvy this week at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Most halls were packed to overflowing with business, information technology and telecommunications professionals, but the consumer electronics hall was to where the youngsters made a beeline.

Eliciting the most oohs and ahs were Touchmate laptops. Representatives said the computers contained the world's fastest processor, Intel's Core 2 Extreme.

The fashionable laptops feature Swarovski crystals in many designs.

"The world is very different. We want to look different. You have to look unique, you have to look the best. What we are trying to do is merge both technology and fashion," said Touchmate representative Kamal Kumar. Touchmate's laptops come in hot pink, Ferrari yellow, white and black.

The company also launched the world's smallest computer with a seven-inch screen, which is also a tablet computer. "It's good for travellers and students and comes with a camera, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and weighs less than 1kg," Kumar said.

Waterproof camcorder

Dunk it in water, drop it on the floor or leave it outside and Panasonic's newly launched SDR-SW20 camcorder will still work perfectly.

The device, which was launched late last month, is waterproof up to 1.5 metres, shockproof up to 1.2 metres and dustproof.