Yesterday, we brought you the news of a fine piece of Linux equipment: a £100 ($200USD) laptop built for mass deployment in classrooms everywhere. Today, we bring you news of what exactly will be under the hood. The whole kit and kaboodle runs off of an optimized Debian kernel, and has a slew of useful applications. To make things simple and to spread the Elonex ONE brand, all applications will be branded. For example, to access the internet, you use ONEInternet, to write stuff you use ONEWord...etcetera.

Anywho. As far as hardware goes, the laptop will sport 1GB of flash-based storage, 128MB of DDRII RAM, a seven-inch 800x480 screen, two-channel audio, built-in speakers, a microphone and an audio jack. Networking will be provided by an 802.11G adapter, and a 10/100 Ethernet adapter. The processor is still very much unknown, but it is likely going to be a LNX Code 8 Mobile Processor running at 300MHz. Expect official specifications, and product deployment, on February 28th.

To combat the Asus EeePC, American company Elonex will be offering a Linux-based laptop for roughly £99 ($193/€132). Dubbed the "One", we can confirm that it will have Wi-Fi connectivity, Ethernet networking, a solid-state hard drive, at least two USB ports and audio jacks. It will also weigh less than a Kilogram. The cheap laptop was designed around the classroom. The entire case is about as tough as a turtle shell, and the business-half of the laptop (the part without the screen) can be detached from the laptop at any time, and hooked up to any type of display, in case the monitor fails. Elonex will be taking the One to Birmingham, UK, on February 28th for The Education Show. Elonex will unveil further details/specifications on February 28th.

The market for laptops is quite uncertain at the moment. With Apple having made/making a transition over to Intel, ASUS launching more EeePCs and an anticipated flood of cheap computers, the market could go anywhere from its current state. Analysts over at Gartner have a pessimistic view of the future. They think that the very thing that got people into laptops in the first place could doom the industry. A desire for capable, portable information powerhouses could, by 2012, push businesses and people away from laptops, and towards smaller devices such as PDAs and so-called smart phones.

A relatively new company, with aspirations of great fame and fortune, is seeking to make a footprint in the IT industry. With the name Rock, Rock has decided to make one massive laptop. Dubbed the "Xtreme SL8", this machine claims roughly 15,000 points in 3DMark06. To do this, it runs the following hardware.

• 2.93GHz Core 2 Extreme QX6800
• A pair of NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX GPUs
• Up to 4GB of DDR2 800
• Your choice of one 600GB 7200RPM HDD, or 1TB of 5400RPM RAID storage.
• One HD-DVD reader/burner
• 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, as well as a Gigabit Ethernet port.
• 6600mAh battery

With this array of extreme hardware, this laptop is sure to burn holes in both wallets and laps alike.

Dell has upped the specs for its performance notebooks by introducing the option of dual 8800M GTX graphics cards for the XPS M1730. Dell is claiming performance improvements of as much as 49% compared to dual 8700M GT graphics processors, commenting that the notebook is capable of reaching 13,500 points in 3DMark06. However, the extra performance comes at a premium, with the minimum price for this setup being $3,400. That works out at being $1000 more than a single 8700M GT and $700 more than dual 8700M GTs, with the top-spec model costing around $7,000.

ASUS today unveiled its new ASUS G70 notebook featuring powerful dual-graphics based on the highly acclaimed NVIDIA SLI technology, as well as the support of dual hard drives and 8GB of system memory for optimal transfer rates. The new G70 delivers a new level of immersive cinematic graphics with an unprecedented combination of computing power and gaming performance.

Dell today announced the Inspiron 1525, a 15.4-inch notebook that is smaller, slimmer and lighter than the generation it replaces. The new notebooks also offer more personalization options with four new cool patterns in addition to the original eight colorful LCD back choices. With a starting price of $499, the Inspiron 1525 is available at www.dell.com/inspiron.

Consumer notebook computers managed to outsell their desktop counterparts for the first time in 2007, thanks largely to the introduction of low cost notebooks such as ASUS' Eee PC and strong advertising campaigns for Intel's Centrino technology. Overall market figures, including corporate purchases, saw notebook sales rise 21% to 31.6 million units, whilst desktop sales fell 4% to 35 million units. Notebook sales are expected to account for 66% of the overall market and 71% of the consumer market by 2011. ASUS' Eee PC can be had for just $299, whilst reasonably equipped Celeron-M and Pentium notebooks can be found at some retailers for between $399 and $499, both of which have driven this surge in sales.

The compact 11.1" widescreen U2 is made with extensive detailing and leading technology, taking luxury computing to a whole new level. Based on the latest Intel Centrino Processor Technology, Windows Vista operating system, the U2 further offers a 32G Solid State Disc (SSD) memory module that is lighter and more reliable than standard hard drive while remarkably speeds up the computer boot up and consumes less power for longer operation.

BenQ today announces the launch of a new class of laptops-the Joybook Q41 featuring dual screen. Equipped with 14.1" UltraVivid widescreen, a 2.5" auxiliary display, Intel Core2 Duo processor and Microsoft Windows Vista operating system, the Joybook Q41 is designed for forward-thinkers with exquisite tastes. The Joybook Q41 keeps your favorite music, treasured photos, fun games, and updated information available on its 2.5" auxiliary display. The Joybook Q41 is the first laptop to offer VoIP function directly from the auxiliary display. Users can dial directly from the auxiliary display to be instantly in touch with friends and colleagues. As a new class of laptops, the Joybook Q41 is designed to fulfil all of your needs conveniently.

Relatively unknown computer manufacturer WidowPC has become one of the first companies to launch a notebook equipped with NVIDIA's 8800M GTX graphics processor. The Sting 517D2 features up to a 17" 1920x1200 screen, a 512MB 8800M GTX GPU, an Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 processor running at 2.4GHz, 4GB DDR2 memory and an MTRON 32GB SSD hard drive - quite an impressive combination. The downside is that you will have to pay at least $4,744 for those specs (chuck in a couple of extras like a DVD burner and Vista Ultimate and you'll be getting on for $5,000), but if you want the best portable graphics money can buy, this is the notebook for you.

HP has quietly updated its range of notebooks just in time for Christmas. The new models feature improvements such as more video memory, Blu-ray drives and a few minor design changes. Buyers can now choose up to a 512 MB 8600 GS graphics processor with certain models, and have the option of a Blu-ray multi-drive which doubles up as a DVD burner. The new notebooks, all part of the Pavilion range, are the 14.1" dv2700t, dv2700tbw and dv2700tse, the 15.4" dv6700z, dv6700zt and dv6700ztse and the 17" dv9700t and dv9700tz. To see more information about each of these laptops take a look at HP's website.

HP has released an update for 82 different notebook models that could potentially be affected by a security hole linked to the HP Info Center software. The update, which you can download here, deactivates the vulnerable software until a proper patch is released. Anyone with a HP or Compaq notebook listed on this page could potentially be affected by the problem and should download the patch as soon as possible. The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers when certain websites are visited using Internet Explorer 6 or 7, and is not resolved by uninstalling the software - you must use the patch from HP.

After the success of the recently launched Eee PC, ASUS looks set to become the first major computer company to release a wooden notebook as it attempts to go greener . Known as the ASUS Eco Book, this laptop is built using bamboo, which is a durable and fast-growing grass - therefore it's unlikely to harm the environment by harvesting it. The Eco Book is likely to be aimed at executives and high-end users in a similar way to the leather models released by ASUS, with the company's director of marketing communication, Cher Chronis, saying:

Originally we came out with a leather model style-book, it was very popular. After that, it was kind of natural for us to experiment with other types of materials, so we decided to go green.

At the moment the notebook is still only a prototype whilst engineers ensure that bamboo is a suitable material to used under these circumstances, but hopefully it could become a reality within the next year or so if all goes to plan.

ASUSTeK Computer has refuted industry rumors that it is planning to drop the proportion of AMD-based products of total notebook shipments next year. ASUSTeK was reported to be planning to drop the ratio of AMD notebook platforms to 10% while increasing those of Intel. However Jellent Sun, manager of ASUSTeK's notebook division has stated that AMD's proportion will remain at 18-22%. Sun pointed out that both platforms have their own market demand and ASUS will maintain a suitable ratio to meet this demand in the future.

OCZ Technology Group is pleased to announce that gamers and enthusiasts will now have access to purchase pre-built Hypersonic notebooks from a wide spectrum of online and retail outlets. High-performance laptop seekers will be afforded greater and quicker access to laptops that fit their performance expectations, while more selective users can still customize the ultimate gaming notebook through the online Hypersonic boutique store. With these new retail-ready laptops, Hypersonic intends to increase availability of its unique product offering, while maintaining the integrity and performance of its widely-popular gaming notebooks.

While for a while, things were not looking too good for the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project, things seem to have turned around quite nicely. Quite a few countries around the world have placed in orders for large quantities of the OLPC. Peru is proud to announce that it has added itself to that list. The 260,000 laptops en route to Peru will be placed in classrooms as soon as possible. However, don't be so sure if they order will fall through. In Libya, just when the Libyan government and OLPC heads were finalizing the paperwork, Intel came in and agreed to sell Libya a lot of Intel Classmate PCs.

ASUSTeK Computer has adjusted its notebook strategy to increase the proportion of Intel's Santa Rosa Refresh and Montevina platforms up to 90% of its notebook shipments, while dropping AMD-based platforms from 30% to around 10%. In line with ASUSTeK's move, market sources commented that as AMD has not shown any obvious growth in its notebook platforms, the company's notebook market share might only reach 12-13% in 2008. ASUSTeK expects its notebook shipments in 2007 will increase to 7.2 million units, with branded notebooks occupying 4.2 million of the total. The company aims to become one of the top-five notebook vendors worldwide in 2010 and a top-three vendor in 2013.

In a 1-for-2 deal, the OLPC founders will ship you your very own OLPC XO, if you give them a $400 donation, which will be put toward buying a child in need their very own laptop computer. If you would like to give a laptop to someone in need, please check out this website. Half of the $400 donation is tax-deductable, and will earn you free access to the T-Mobile HotSpot Wi-Fi service for one year. The OLPC project at this point is doing quite well, with offers coming in from several countries asking for several hundred thousand laptops, mass production starting last week, and EA promising to pre-load the original Sim City on each laptop.

Electronic Arts will be giving a lot of disenfranchised children the gift of educational gaming this holiday season. The original SimCity, a game that simulates the construction of a city, will be pre-installed on all versions of the OLPC, at no additional cost to either OLPC or the customer. The request for SimCity came from OLPC itself, and the 1989 version of the classic game will find a way to such countries as Cambodia, Libya, Nigeria (which ordered over a million OLPC laptops), Pakistan, and Peru. This is the first time a major company has "gifted a game to the world" like this, especially a game that has earned 24 awards in the past.

While countries such as Nigeria have been experimenting with the OLPC in the classroom, Uruguay is the first country confident enough in the OLPC to place an official order. The South American country of Uruguay recently placed an order for 100,000 OLPCs, to be deployed in classrooms for 6-12 year old schoolchildren. An additional 300,000 OLPCs may be ordered by Uruguay to truly achieve "one laptop per child" by 2009. The founder of the OLPC project is "delighted" by their first official order.

We commend Uruguay for being the first country to take concrete actions to provide laptops to all its children and teachers and look forward to other countries following this example

The ASUS EeePC is getting a good share of press. It will the the first UMPC that will be offered at a reasonably low cost, unlike other industry contenders, which can cost $1000USD or more. On November 1st, America will start seeing ASUS EeePC models on store shelves, and ASUS finally confirmed prices, specifications, and release dates on the high-end $400 model. The other two models are $350USD and $300USD, respectively, and ASUS has yet to announce the specifications of those.

When Microsoft discovered that the ASUS EeePC would come with Linux as the standard operating system, Microsoft was "astounded". And so, Microsoft is working hard to create a special version of Windows Vista that's small enough to run on an ASUS EeePC. This is much better (and cheaper) than alternative ways to get Windows on an EeePC. ASUS revealed earlier that with a little bit of tweaking, it is possible to get a retail copy of Windows XP working on the small 2-8GB SSD drive, and still have enough space for applications, and posted Windows XP drivers on their website in response. Neither ASUS or Microsoft have any comment as to when we can see this special version of Vista on the laptop, or how much it will cost.

When someone loses something valuable or close to them, chances are they will pay handsomely to hold what is dear to them again. This is clearly the case in New Zealand, where a brewery is offering a lifetime supply of beer (a 12 pack a month) to whoever returns their laptop to them. The computer owned by the Croucher Brewing Company, in the central North Island city of Rotorua, contains very important designs, contact details and financial information. The company is offering smaller quantities of beer to anyone with clues leading up to the laptop.

Ultra-Mobile Personal Computers, or UMPCs for short, are in no way, shape, or form new to the technology world. However, for the high entry price of $1000, most people avoid them. The ASUS EeePC aims to change that. With a starting price of $199USD, ASUS may have struck gold, finding a new niche in the market that will be exclusively theirs for at least the next few months. The EeePCs hardware specifications are listed below, for the $199USD model.

• 7" LCD display (800x480)
• 10/100 Ethernet card, 56K modem, and WiFi access
• 256MB of DDR2 RAM (upgradeable to 1GB)
• 2-8GB of SSD storage
• 4400mAh battery good for 2.8 hours of battery life
• Linux as an operating system, though the EeePC is compatible with Windows XP