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By: Richard Del Cazzo
Web site: http://www.hdtv-hdtv.com
ViewSonic® Corporation, a worldwide Visual Technologies™
leader, announced today that it will be the first U.S. Microsoft
industry partner to make Smart wireless lcd displays available
to consumers through leading online and storefront retailers.
The airpanelTM V110 and V150 wireless lcd displays which will
enable users to experience always-on, anytime mobile connectivity
to a PC from anywhere in the home, will be available to customers
across the U.S. beginning January 8, 2003.
In his keynote speech at COMDEX Fall 2002, Microsoft®
chairman and chief software architect, Bill Gates, also revealed
that consumers can pre-order their ViewSonic airpanel V110
and V150 Smart wireless LCD displays through participating
retailers, including Comp USA, Amazon.com, Buy.com, Fry’s
Electronics and RCS. Customers that take advantage of the
pre-order program will not only be among the first to own
a Smart Display, but will also receive a free docking station—up
to a $199 value.
“Today’s technology savvy consumers want access
to their PC in different rooms in their homes, away from the
desktop,” said Marc McConnaughey, senior vice president
of the Advanced Technology Group, ViewSonic. “Our airpanel
V110 and V150 Smart wireless LCD displays will give customers
access to information, applications and services at any time,
in any room, and in offering them an opportunity to pre-order
the devices, we can meet demand more rapidly.”
The airpanel V110 and V150, 10-inches and 15-inches wireless
LCD displays respectively, are wireless touch screen monitors
intended for remote mobile use throughout the home, while
the V150 can also be employed as the primary desktop monitor.
For additional value and ease of use, both airpanel Smart
LCD displays will be offered with everything the consumer
needs to get the devices up and running right out of the box,
including integrated wireless support, a USB wireless adapter
solution (up to a $100 value), and an upgrade to the Microsoft
Windows XP Professional operating system (a $200 value). The
airpanel V110 and V150 are available for estimated street
prices of $999 and $1,299 respectively.
“Microsoft and ViewSonic have worked closely over the
past year to deliver on our vision of enabling consumers to
access their Windows XP-based PCs from anywhere in their homes,
at any time,” said Keith White, senior director of the
Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group at Microsoft Corp.
“Early feedback from families testing Smart wireless
LCD displays has been extremely positive, and we are excited
that customers can preorder their Smart Display before they
become broadly available January 8.”
Pre-order buyers of Smart Displays are expected to be the
traditional “early adopters” of technology. This
audience—composed of customers eager to apply forward-looking
technology and gadgets to their daily lives—can test
drive the airpanel V110 and V150 wireless LCD displays at
COMDEX Fall 2002 where they will be on display in the Microsoft
Smart Display tent outside the Las Vegas Convention Center.
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