Netbook maker Asus showcased a range of new products at this year's CeBIT in Hannover, clearly keen to further strengthen its market position.

V3.co.uk popped along to take a look and saw several new products aimed at providing a broad range of multimedia benefits. This included laptops with improved sound, laptops made from bamboo, laptops based on the design of stealth bombers and a keyboard with a built-in touch screen and internet access.

First up was the NX90. This large and impressive looking machine has been designed with help from a top designer at Bang & Olfusen to try and overcome the poor quality (usually) associated with laptop speakers. As such the device offers high quality sound, whether the device is open or closed, and looks stylish to boot.

Next, in an effort to help reduce the carbon footprint of laptop devices, Asus showed a laptop made with bamboo to help reduce plastic use by 20 per cent. The device, part of Asus' Bamboo Collection, uses an Intel i3 or i5 processor and a Mobile Intel HM55 chipset.

Up next, and one for gamers, was the G73JH, which Asus explained had been designed around the US Stealth Bomber. As such, the device had two dual rear vents placed at the back (a bit like the bomber) so that gamers wouldn't be buffeted by hot air all the time. Secondly the device had a slightly sloping side to offer increased comfort for the wrists, particularly for periods of extended gameplay. It did look a little like a stealth bomber too, well, as much as a laptop can anyway.

Lastly we were shown a new keyboard, the WiCast EW2000, that uses a wireless video tranmission to sync up TV screens connected to a box that could read the keyboard.

The keyboard also had a built in touch screen pad, about the size of an iPhone, that provides access to the internet. This allows you to check emails, Facebook or the football without having to head back to your computer or interrupt the film playing on your screen.

02 Mar 2010