Dell's M109S pocket projector

• Ultra Portable – At 92.5 x 104.6 x 37.1 mm and a mere 360g, you’ll hardly notice it's in your laptop case.
• DLP^® and BrilliantColor^TM technology – Millions of precision mirrors use light more efficiently to generate lifelike images and vibrant colors.
• 858 x 600 SVGA Native Resolution – Displays up to 480,000 pixels with a 4:3 aspect ratio, right from the palm of your hand.
• 800:1 typical (Full On/Full Off) Contrast Ratio – Projects clear images and easy-to-read text. Anytime, anywhere.
• Easy Connectivity – A multi-input cable delivers easy connectivity to laptops, desktops, DVD players and gaming consoles.
• Long Projection Life - The M109S utilizes mercury-free LED light source of usage life up to 10,000 hours¹, helping to save money and reduce maintenance to a minimum as no replace of LED module light source is required.
• Password Protection - Keep critical presentations safe and secure.
• Green Machine - With the efficient, mercury-free LED technology, you can help protect the planet and your bottom line.

IBM deal to buy Sun Microsystems hits delays

The proposed IBM-Sun deal is still on, but discussions could take several more days as IBM lawyers perform due diligence, according to Reuters.

The news service cited "people with knowledge of the matter" as saying that a deal is unlikely to be struck before next week at the earliest, as IBM looks at various parts of Sun's software and server business.


But the move could raise anti-trust concerns with US regulators, the report said. Sun and IBM have a combined 65 per cent of the $17bn (£11.7bn) market for Unix servers, which are mainly used by large enterprises and government organisations.

IBM still leads the server space with nearly a third of the market, followed by HP, Dell and Sun.

Sun has been seen by analysts as vulnerable to an acquisition for some time, given that it has never been fully able to monetise its technology assets and recover from the drop in demand for its high-end servers at the beginning of the decade.

Reports in The Wall Street Journal suggest that IBM may offer nearly double Sun's Tuesday closing share price of $4.97 (£3.58), in a cash deal totalling around $6.5bn (£4.68bn). The newspaper said that IBM is examining the terms of Sun's various technology licences to check for any conflict with IBM's business.

Sun's shares closed on Friday down 6.14 per cent at $8.10 (£5.60) on the Nasdaq, giving the company a value of about $6bn (£4.1bn).

Samsung N310 Netbook kills germs fast

Samsung has announced a 10-inch Netbook which, among other things, kills bacteria. The N310 has been styled by award-winning Japanese designmeister Naoto Fukasawa and will presumably be welcomed with open--but latex-gloved--arms by OCD sufferers.

It boasts a frameless 10-inch screen and pebble design keyboard, which Samsung reckons is 93 percent of the size of a desktop keyboard for easy typing.

The N310 weighs about 2.6 pounds with a four-cell battery, which Samsung claims will give you up to five hours without busting out some mains supply. Battery savings come from the LED display and optimized performance from the Intel Atom processor.

It'll ship with Windows XP Home Edition, so it doesn't overtax the 1GB of RAM. Other features include a 160GB hard drive, a 1.3-megapixel camera and a three-in-one memory card reader. You get no less than three USB ports and the option of Bluetooth.

As if that wasn't enough, it also "uses the latest medical technology" to smear the keys with a "special finish" that makes it "almost impossible for bacteria to live and breed." We don't recommend using it to clean your toilet, however. The N310 will be available in May. No word on price yet, but we'll keep you posted. If you'll excuse us, we're off to wash our hands again.

Panasonic releases Lumix G Vario 7-14mm lens

Panasonic today unveiled a new interchangeable ultra wide-angle zoom lens called the LUMIX G VARIO 7-14mm/F4.0 ASPH. In spite of its impressive wide-angle zoom range of 7-14mm (35mm camera equivalent; 14-28mm), the new lens is surprisingly compact and lightweight for casual on-the-go use.

Taking advantage of its wide, 114-degree angle of view, users can easily fit subjects into the frame even when shooting indoors where the distance is limited. The world looks extraordinary when viewed through the new lens, allowing photos and movies to be recorded with a uniquely rich perspective.

This high-performance lens system achieves outstanding compactness by combining 16 lens elements in 12 groups, including two aspherical lenses and four ED lenses. Image resolution is high from corner-to-corner even at the wide-angle setting. It also features F4.0 brightness over the entire zoom range thanks to its large-diameter glass moulded lens elements.

When mounted on the DMC-GH1 Lumix G Micro System Camera, the new lens allows use of the advanced contrast AF system, which includes a Face Recognition function, for more convenient, more enjoyable shooting. Seven blades give the aperture a rounded shape that produces an attractively smooth effect in out-of-focus areas when shooting at larger aperture settings.

The LUMIX G VARIO 7-14mm/F4.0 ASPH lens also features a highly reliable metal mount, and uses multi-coated lens elements that minimise ghosts and flare to further enhance its optical performance. The optimally designed lens hood enables use even under strong sunlight.

LUMIX G VARIO 7-14mm/F4.0 ASPH specifications

Focal length	7-14mm
35mm equivalent focal length	14-28mm
Diagonal Angle of view	114° (W) - 75° (T)
Maximum aperture	F4.0
Minimum aperture	F22
Lens Construction	• 16 elements/12 groups • 4 ED glass elements • 2 aspherical elements
Number of diaphragm blades	7, Circular aperture diaphragm
Minimum focus	0.25m / 0.8ft
Maximum magnification	Approx. 0.08x / 0.15x
Image stabilization	No
Supplied accessories	• Front and rear caps • Lens Hood • Lens Case
Weight	300 g (10.58 oz)
Dimensions	70mm diameter x 83mm (2.76 x 3.27 in)
Lens Mount	Micro Four Thirds