ASUS intros SideShow notebook, XG Station, VoIP phone

Computer maker ASUS today made a large series of new device announcements in the run-up to CES 2007. Leading the introductions is the W5Fe (pictured), the company's hotly-anticipated ultraportable. The 12-inch widescreen PC is the first to support Microsoft's Windows SideShow for viewing the computer's data without powering the main system. In its finished form, the SideShow display syncrhonizes with its host PC's startup or shut down phases and provides quick access to contacts, e-mail, and music; it even serves as a navigation display, ASUS says. The base system ships with a 1.66GHz Core 2 Duo, 80GB hard disk, and a 1.3-megapixel camera. The system will launch soon after Vista's own debut in late January, with pricing varying by region.

Details of the XG Station video card for notebooks and the AiGuru S2 VoIP phone can be found after the jump.

Alongside its new notebook, the company provided official details of its XG Station adapter. The L-shaped device is the first external graphics card for notebooks: plugging into the fast ExpressCard slot of more recent portable systems, the XG Station adds the performance of a GeForce 7900GS video card to systems that would otherwise be relegated to slow onboard graphics, ASUS says. The adapter is additionally future-proof and can have its video card replaced. An external LCD not only monitors the vital statistics of its video hardware -- including clock speed, temperature, and fan speed -- but also helps adjust volume for a built-in, 5.1-channel sound card. ASUS is readying the XG Station for release in the second quarter of 2007, but has not revealed a price.



Lastly, ASUS has previewed its new AiGuru S2 handset. The bar-shaped phone is designed with Skype calling and supports the program's more advanced features such as conference calls and SkypeOut dialing to real-world numbers. What truly separates the phone from rivals, says ASUS, is its convenience as a remote extension of the PC. When paired with a nearby Windows Vista PC through Wi-Fi, the phone acts as a wireless SideShow display that can check on important data anywhere in the home. The S2 will also stream music from any PC using iTunes or Windows Media Player as its jukebox software. ASUS plans a release for the Skype device this quarter but declines revealing an exact price.