BIOS: Technology Means Business

What could be better than one touch screen on a laptop computer? Two touch screens, according to George H. Crist, Sr., president and founder of Estari, the innovative Harrisburg, PA company that has developed the world's first dual-screen laptop computer.

Estari has developed the world's first full functioning, wireless-capable, portable, dual-screen computer. The 2-VU Dual-Screen Mobile Computer is the first product of its type, and this novel product promises to transform the way you experience information, learning, and knowledge through the innovative convergence of technology.

According to Crist, about 20 per cent of today's computer users have two monitors on their desktops to compare two documents or images, search the Internet while working on a document, or accommodate multiple applications and multiple views of projects or schematics. The 2-VU is designed to extend the convenience and flexibility of this dual-monitor experience in a single laptop computer for mobile workers in many diverse industries where complex tasks must be accomplished in the field, such as military equipment repairs.

'Our dual-screen technology will allow our military customers to view required technical orders and the schematics in the equipment manuals side-by-side at the site of the repair,' Crist explains. 'In another example, engineers can view building diagrams across both screens while in the field to give them more visibility, as well as convenience. Besides the dual touch screens, the mobility of the 2-VU and its incredible eight hours of battery life make it indispensable for mobile workers.'

The 2-VU Dual-Screen Mobile Computer (from $4995) features a side by side dual-screen design that allows you to view and compare two documents simultaneously, either in the same application, or different applications, such as graphics, text documents, Web sites, maps, spreadsheets, catalogues, manuals and a host of other materials - all in a 'mobile' solution.

Estari's 2-VU dual-screen computers are two touch screen, full-page, full-colour, multimedia electronic computing devices. Integrated in each 2-VU is mini PCI Type III slots for wireless, and other uses, a CompactFlash card slot, internal speaker and headphone jack, internal microphone, and a wireless LAN (802.11b/g) antenna. The 2-VU operates using the Microsoft's Windows XP Professional or Windows 2000 Professional operating systems and has the capability to attach an external keyboard and mouse with integrated USB ports or through the use of wireless devices.

In addition to 'traditional' PC features, the 2-VU differentiates itself from the competition through its 'superior' ergonomics and combination of reading, handwriting, keypad, and keyboard interface. The dual colour TFT active matrix displays have a native resolution of 1024x768 pixels-per-screen, and processing power comes in the form of a 933MHz Intel Pentium III Ultra Low Voltage Processor M. You also get a 40GB hard disk drive (upgradable to 80GB), 512MB of memory, and nVidia GeForce 4 440 Go with 64MB of dedicated memory.