Here’s a novel idea — turning one’s standard, non-tablet PC into a tablet PC.

Hanwha Japan has just introduced its incredibly useful Duo for Laptop device, which sits gently atop one’s laptop display and tracks digital pen movements via Infrared and ultrasonic technology in order to add doodling functionality to LCDs that were never designed to understand touch input.

The only limitation — and it’s a big one — is that this seems to only work with lappies possessing up to a 15.4-inch display. If that’s kosher with you, you can snap one up, or if not, you can just wait ’til these are announced for netbooks, ultraportables and desktop replacements.

via engadget

We only have a few small but juicy Verizon rumors from a very reliable Tipster: First, we hear that HP and Big Red are working together to subsidized WWAN-enabled laptops for a start in the 2nd Quarter.

Exactly what machines can not be confirmed, but if we say we, Big Red has a cheap mini 1000 on a two-year contract in the works, because these so-called “Netbook” are all in anger these days. Second, an updated version of the charming, but questionably-useful Hub “fixed-killer ‘home phone is in the second half of the year, and VZW seems a little rearrangement, we said, there will be more upscale and offer more more functions. And we thought that was internet radio widget Gettin ‘all mad. No word on pricing for this stuff.

As PC manufacturers compete to have cooler and lower prices, HP has a big bet on better batteries. 

HP said Monday it will add startup company Boston Power batteries to almost 70 percent of the consumer line of notebooks. After Boston Power, are charging the batteries faster, longer and more environmentally friendly.

The new “Sonata” batteries deliver “sustainable development” for three years, say the two companies, which they say is almost three times more than conventional notebook batteries provide.

The batteries are based on the conventional lithium-ion cell technology in other batteries, but some changes, so Boston Power. HP Power and Boston first speech on the partnership in December.

Over 18 HP consumer PC models will offer users the option of the Sonata batteries instead of the standard battery. And it costs the consumer only about 20 percent more than current batteries.

After several months of waiting, which Adamo was finally announced. Dell has officially announced the first machine in the Adamo line, the 13.4-inch model from CES.It has a 1.2 GHz Core 2 Duo U9300 with Intel X4500 integrated graphics, 2 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD, and it weighs only four pounds, that’s a pound more than the MacBook Air. Seems like most of that money goes toward things such as a magnetic cover.

If it is on 26 March comes, maybe some higher-powered friends to join.

Apple is planning a small Netbook this summer.

The laptop has a screen between 9.7-10 inches, while the other figures are not yet completed. The two unnamed sources say that Apple is working with WINTEK for the touch screen display and Quanta, the actual notebook.

This message comes after Jobs Netbook slammed in the last year, suggesting that the iPhone has served the city as Apple Netbook, and that “we do not know how to design a $ 500 computer that is not a piece of junk.”

Knowing that (the price, and Apple in general), it is certain that the Netbook will be a price that is over $ 500? Probably, if the speculation at this stage is pointless.

Apple declined to comment on the rumors, and has done nothing to suggest they are true.

If you are looking for more color on your new MacBook or MacBook Pro, at the same time as protection, then check out this new series of colorful case of bacon, the MacBook SeeThru Cases.

The SeeThru MacBook cases are a hard shell cases for the new Unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro, the assortment includes cases for the 13-inch MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro.

This funky cases are an ideal way to protect your new MacBook, and a funky look with a selection of bright colors.

It is a mad rush of 10-inch Netbook on the market these days. Acer, LG, Asus (of course), Lenovo, Dell and many more are switching to the 10-inch product line as a priority. Now Gigabyte offers a twist. It brings the new Touch Note M1028 with soft-touch-screen function (Is Windows 7 listening?). The new baby is on display at CeBIT in Hanover, Germany, and only by the FCC is an indication that Gigabyte is ready to put it in the U.S. too. 

The M1028 is powered by Intel’s new and slightly improved 1.66 GHz Atom N280 processor, up to 2 GB of RAM, up to 250 GB hard drive, the choice of a 4-cell 4500mAh or 6-cell 7650mAh batteries, and optional Bluetooth, wireless broadband -3.5G and WiMAX. This also has an Express Card slots. 

The notice gigabyte Touch M1028 also sports 3 USB 2.0 ports, Mic-in, headphone-out, D-Sub, RJ45, 4-in-1 card reader (MMC SD MS MS Pro), DC-in, two 1.5-watt speakers, and a 1.3MP webcam. The machine also 10 100 Ethernet controller and built-in HSDPA and a Kensington Security Slot. The touch-note runs on Windows XP Home Edition. 

The display has a soft-touch screen, which work only with the fingertips. The trackpad is the mouse buttons on the sides of the bottom. 

The FCC documents call it the M1028 cafebook but that’s pretty much the same machine – as Liliputing. Also it shows the touch screen as a 8.9-inch instead of the 10-inch panel on the display at CeBIT. Further details are pretty much the same.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and while we can not say with a degree of certainty that Microsoft hardware engineers are not toiling away on this laptop cooling stand in the heyday, the year 2005, we strongly doubt that is the case.

For whatever reason, Microsoft is boldly into a new category of accessories with the introduction of USB-powered laptop Cooling Base, built over a canal and cooling fan to prevent overheating. The whole is only 1.16 mm thick, and there is also a cable management clips, if you are in need.

Asustek has announced the newly designed ASUS U and UX-series laptops, with modern styling and effortless elegance.ASUS U has a 15.6-inch LED display, Intel Core 2 Duo processor, the NVIDIA GeForce 105 g 512 MB dedicated graphics card, up to 500 GB of disk space and Altec Lansing speakers. The laptop has an illuminated keyboard and touchpad.

The ASUS UX sports a strikingly slim profile and a minimalist design. The laptop has a slot-load optical drive. The UX also an illuminated keyboard. More details are currently unknown.

There is no information on prices and availability.