20 World’s Coolest PC Designs

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Showing Off Windows 7

Design-focused PC makers are launching laptops, netbooks, and displays—and upgrading some existing models—to show off Windows 7, which launched on Oct. 22. Many of these products are thinner or lighter than their predecessors while some introduce multitouch capabilities. Here, check out 20 of the coolest new designs, from pricey to more affordable.

Lenovo ThinkPad T400s

The 14.1-inch T400s can register up to four fingers on the multitouch screen. That allows two people to work collaboratively, with both parties able to manipulate and move onscreen images with two hands. Lenovo says that’ll be handy for the laptop’s target market of engineering and design professionals.

Dell Latitude Z

The designers of the Latitude Z wanted to cater to on-the-go laptop users. This 16-in. machine, launched in September, is just over half an inch thick, weighs 4.5 pounds, and features wireless docking and charging.

Sony VAIO L All-in-One

This is a high-definition PC with a 24-in. multitouch screen display. Users can watch and record live HD television channels via the built-in TV tuner and watch videos via the Blu-ray player, also built in.

HP ENVY 13

The ENVY series of notebook PCs offer thin design for enhanced mobility. This model is less than 1 in. thin, weighs 3.74 lbs., and offers up to 18 hours of battery life with an optional $125 extended-life battery.

Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablet

The X200 Tablet supports two-finger multitouch, allowing users to manipulate objects with Windows 7-supported gestures such as pinch, zoom, tap, and flick. Touch-enabled tiles on the screen allow users to control volume and screen brightness or put the laptop to sleep. The screen also rotates to fold into a “tablet”.

Sony VAIO Signature Collection X Series

This notebook has an 11.1-in. widescreen display and weighs 1.6 lbs. The keyboard is made from aluminum, and the LCD screen is scratch-resistant.

HP TouchSmart tx2

The first TouchSmart PC was introduced nearly three years ago, but on Oct. 22, HP added two models with multitouch-enabled screens. These new models also feature HP’s built-for-touch applications for media such as Hulu, Twitter, and Pandora radio.

Toshiba Satellite M505 Touch

This laptop, with a 14-in. LCD touchscreen that lets users tap, drag-and-drop, and scroll, became available on Oct. 22 with the launch of Windows 7. Software designers have included two new touch applications: Bulletin Board for managing daily activities and ReelTime for finding files.

Sony VAIO P Series

Weighing 1.4 lbs., this 8-in. laptop was designed to slip into a jacket pocket or handbag. Sony says the battery will last up to 3.5 hours.

Acer Aspire 5738PG

Acer America released this touchscreen laptop to capitalize on Win 7 buzz. The 15.6-in. screen can support two-finger pinching and flicking while the touchpad recognizes multitouch gestures.

ASUS UL30 A

ASUS designers also focused on creating a laptop that would be easy to lug around town. This 13.3-in. model measures less than 1 in. thick and has up to 12 hours of battery life.

Acer Aspire 5738DG

This Acer notebook comes with 3D viewing technology—a 3D screen, software, and glasses. It can also create a 3D experience with two dimensional content.

HP Pavilion dm3

This “thin and light” notebook was designed with entertainment in mind. With a brushed aluminum-magnesium alloy case, it can deliver up to 10 hours of battery life, making it a good bet for watching multiple in-flight movies.

Toshiba Satellite T115

This ultrathin, 11.6-in. laptop has a full-sized keyboard and a full-sized touchpad, which enables two-finger pinch, swipe, rotate, scroll, and other gesture commands.

Samsung N140

The touchpad on this Samsung netbook allows users to scroll, pinch, and rotate objects on the 10.1-in. widescreen display. The preinstalled FailSafe service tracks the netbook if it’s lost, allowing users to retrieve, encrypt, or erase data remotely.

Gateway EC1440u

This notebook weighs just over three pounds, has an 11.6-in. HD widescreen LED-backlit display, multigesture touchpad, and up to six hours of battery life. The exterior has a glossy finish its manufacturer fancifully describes as “nightsky black”.

Dell Inspiron 11z

This 11.6-in. ultramobile laptop has a keyboard that is nearly the size of traditional laptop keyboards and is a part of the slimmest line offered by Dell.

HP Mini 110 by Studio Tord Boontje

This mini PC, introduced in September, was the first to use HP’s Imprint 3D technology to create a layered effect on the lid. Boontje, a well-known industrial designer, created a collage of endangered animals such as the polar bear, blue whale, and red squirrel for the exterior design—and created 15 wallpapers, a screen saver, and a desktop theme so users can customize the interior, too.

Dell Adamo XPS

Dell’s highly-anticipated 0.39-in. laptop is the latest addition to the manufacturer’s well-received, high-end Adamo line of laptops. The XPS will be installed with Windows 7 and be available to consumers later this year.