OLED notebook to come?

High profile demonstrations of the latest large-screen organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month have sparked talk about the possibility of an OLED notebook computer, says eeTimes.

Notebook makers and analysts said such a product could plough new ground in size, weight and power, but will be no more than a very high-end niche for the foreseeable future.

Samsung and Sony showed large screen OLED displays at CES, including a Sony XEL-1 11-inch OLED TV said to cost more than $1 700. Multiple companies are promising more of the displays are on the way, but to date the industry has seen no successful commercial products using such screens.

Despite seeing strong demand for its processors in the fourth quarter of 2007, posting record revenue and unit shipments and experiencing improved profitability due to its lower cost structure, Intel is sending mixed messages about its future outlook, says eChannelLine.

During Intel's post-earnings conference call on 14 January, Intel CEO Paul Otellini repeatedly said the company's PC processor business, which generates more than 70% of its quarterly revenue, remained on firm ground from the beginning of 4Q07 through the company's 14 January earnings call.

TBR believes a slowdown has yet to hit Intel due to the absence of order cancellations to date, coupled with low inventory.

In the mobile computing world, quad core processing and chipset refreshes are almost as certain as death and taxes. Fortunately, 2008 looks set to be a more exciting year than simply watching specifications grow, says CNet.com.au.

The recent Consumer Electronics Show proved to be a fertile ground for the latest breakthroughs in technology. However, many of the prototypes showcased may take years before hitting the retail market.

Here are a few predictions for 2008: UMPCs to catch up with ultra-portables, design becomes key, mobile gaming increases, the SSD becomes more widely used and multi-touch becomes more common.