Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo Mini bends beneath our grubby paws

Filed under: Laptops

There’s no nice way to say this, Fujitsu-Siemens: your Amilo Mini’s keyboard flexes like a trampoline. Sure, there’s an Atom processor inside here, a great 9-inch screen and some other fine tech specs, but in general this netbook just feels like a shoddy piece of work, and we expect more from a top-tier manufacturer (you do desire to be a top-tier manufacturer, right?) Take those trackpad-flanking mouse buttons, for example: how are we supposed to work ‘em? Have you ever attempted to use this laptop? Let’s hope Dell’s Inspiron 910 can lift this form factor up from the mire and give it a shot at actually outlasting this faddish stage — netbooks like this just aren’t going to cut it.

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Chevy Volt Dashboard Looks Like The Future If The Future is White Plastic [Cars]

We don’t write about car dashboards all that often here on the Giz, but when the dash is from an electric car/hybrid and it shares its white sheen with both classic iPods and Stormtrooper helmets, how could we possibly resist? Nearly buttonless, the Chevy Volt’s injection molded center console features a large LCD that, from what we can tell from the picture, will be locked with the static image of 2/3 battery remaining. It’s certainly an interesting look, but I’m just not so sure it blends so well with the rest of the car. What do you think? [thecarlounge via Jalopnik]

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Caption Contest: Big Honking Camera [Capion Contest]

“Acclaimed camera manufacturer Canon is proud to introduce the world’s smallest person.”

Think you can do better? You probably can. Give it your best shot in the comments. [JJJJound via BBGadgets]

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Fujitsu announces M1010 netbook for Q4 launch

Filed under: Laptops

Fujitsu finally got official with its Amilo Mini netbook yesterday after not exactly keeping it a secret these past few months, and it’s now gone out and announced another curiously similar netbook, the M1010, which may or may not actually just be slight variation of the Amilo Mini. Like the Mini, the M1010 weighs in at 2.2 pounds and will pack an 8.9-inch display, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, and built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, plus some removable clip-on covers in an “array of delightful colors.” Fujitsu doesn’t seem to be quite ready to go any further than that, however, which could certainly suggest that it’s not one and the same as the Amilo Mini, as could the fact that Fujitsu describes the M1010 as “easy on the wallet,” which doesn’t exactly apply to the nearly $600 Amilo Mini. We should know for sure soon enough either way though, as the netbook is set to launch sometime in the fourth quarter of this year.

[Via Laptoping, thanks Danijel]

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MS Paint Gadget Fantasies are as Twisted as They are Unlikely [MS Paint Contest]

For this week’s bonus MS Paint contest, I asked you to create fantastical fantasy gadgets using everyone’s favorite rudimentary coloring program. Unsurprisingly, you guys have some pretty twisted fantasies that you want taken care of via unlikely technology. From promoting alcoholism to suggesting we turn the decomposing corpses of hippies into oil, today’s Gallery of Champions really runs the gamut of subtlety and good taste. I salute you, MS Painters.

First Place — Roberto Alicea
Second Place — Phenostar
Third Place — Daniel Luna

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Jesus Tries to Save Your Soul But Windows Stops Him [Windows]

And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder: One of the four beasts saying: “Come and see.” And I saw. And behold, there was the other Jesus, the Bible character, calling me from a big screen saying “Jesus is the Reason for The—V-Sign this program-and will be shu-whaaa?” Clearly, Jesus is good with all this saving Humanity and making water into wine tricks, but I’m afraid he’s no match for Windows errors. [Fail]

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Chevy Volt Dashboard Looks Like The Future If The Future is White Plastic [Cars]

We don’t write about car dashboards all that often here on the Giz, but when the dash is from an electric car/hybrid and it shares its white sheen with both classic iPods and Stormtrooper helmets, how could we possibly resist? Nearly buttonless, the Chevy Volt’s injection molded center console features a large LCD that, from what we can tell from the picture, will be locked with the static image of 2/3 battery remaining. It’s certainly an interesting look, but I’m just not so sure it blends so well with the rest of the car. What do you think? [thecarlounge via Jalopnik]

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Dad’s Cab Family Taxi Meter Will Make Your Children Cringe [Novelty Items]

The Dad’s Cab Meter is a fake taxi fare counter for parental chauffeurs, made so they can guilt/embarrass their ingrate children into doing chores for them. The meter incrementally increases the pretend fare and comes with a stack of fare receipts that have chores the kids can do as payment (har har har). It’s kinda like those redonkulous moments on The Cosby Show where the entire family would participate in a role-play with some sort of real-world moral to it, except not anywhere as funny. Dad’s Cab is $18, but in the grand scheme of things, mortifying your children is priceless. [Gizoo via Coolest Gadgets via Dvice]

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