Asus
While Asus offers many lines of traditional laptop models that mirror those of its competitors, the company also has several models that present new advances in portable computing design and technology. From ultra-portable handheld PCs to leather embossed designer notebooks, Asus is pushing the boundaries in the laptop industry.

More resembling a Playstation Portable than a computer, the R2H Ultra Mobile PC currently runs Windows XP Tablet edition, and will presumably be outfitted with a version of Windows Vista in the near future. It has a 7 inch LCD touch screen in the center of the console, and a separate keyboard that can be attached to the unit, and also folds in half for greater portability. With these features, this machine acts just like a regular laptop, but it has certain built-in peripherals that take it well beyond the mobile computing experience of other brands.

An RF biometric fingerprint reader is embedded directly into the console, adding greater security to the software inside. It works by reading the fingerprint from the live layer of skin beneath the dry outer surface layer, reducing the likelihood that the reading will be affected by calluses or dirt.

Also standard on this Asus notebook computer is a GPS antenna, coupling with a widescreen GPS software solution, so the R2H can double as a portable navigation tool. The antenna also comes with a foldable mechanism which is convenient for storage with its not in use.

The built in touchscreen is also a plus, given that this Asus computer laptop is more like a handheld console that one wouldn’t likely carry with a mouse. It also comes with Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity, WLAN 802.11 a/b/g wireless technology, and a high-resolution webcam to boot. Indeed, the R2H is fully loaded, and its amazing that they fit all of these peripherals in such a small console.

Discount Asus notebooks are not widely sold in electronics stores, but can readily be found online. Cheap used or refurbished Asus laptops are also often available on auction or classifieds sites, so make sure to check these if you can’t afford the price tag for one of these new R2H’s.