Topic: Sharp
Category: Notebooks
Technorati: Linking Blogs

Sharp will bring out an updated version of their 3D laptop that they released last year.

The major change is the inclusion of a Japanese operating system and keyboard. The previous version was  a development model, so it was English o­nly.

Sharp Corporation will release the "Mebius PC-RD1-3D" o­n January 28th, which uses the company's 3D display LCD technology, for 350,000 yen.

This is an update to the "Mebius PC-RD3D" development model released back in October of 2003. This model included an English operating system and English keyboard, but the "PC-RD1-3D" uses a Japanese operating system and Japanese keyboard.

Using the 3D Stereo software, applications which use DirectX and/or OpenGL will automatically be converted to 3D images. The unique technology does not require the use of any special glasses, allowing for enjoyment during movies, still images, games, etc.. Word processing and mail can of course be done in the normal 2D fashion like conventional PCs.

It uses a Pentium 4 2.80GHz processor, 512MB of RAM (PC2100), 60GB HD, a DVD multi drive, and a floppy disk. The display is a 15" TFT LCD with 3D capability and an XGA resolution of 1024x768. The video chip is a Nvidia GeForce4 440 Go (64MB).

For interfaces, there are: Type2 PC Card 1x, Type2 CF Slot 1x, SD Memory Card/Smart Media Slot 1x, Memory Stick Slot 1x, Ethernet, 56kbps modem, USB 2.0 4x, IEEE 1394 1x (4 pin), S-Video output 1x.

The operating system is Windows XP Home Edition Japanese version, and there is preinstalled software such as "Shade 6 advance," "Aquazone Underwater Park for Sharp" for 3D softwares, and "WinDVD 4" as well as "MyDVD 4" for DVD related software.

The main body size is 352 x 296 x 46-53mm (W x D x H) and it weighs 4.6kg. Battery life is around 1.3 hours (conventional battery).

Inspired by:
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2004/0122/sharp2.htm

News Release:
http://www.sharp.co.jp/corporate/news/040122-1.html