Skype swipes Packard Bell for EasyNote Skype Edition laptop

You wouldn't know it (nor would you probably want to), but (in)famous PC manufacturer Packard Bell is still chugging along making all manner of consumer computing devices over yonder in Euro-land; as of today, their portfolio now includes an industry first for a computer: a Skype brand. That's right, we're talking about the spankin' new Packard Bell EasyNote Skype Edition. It probably won't be any different from the rest of Bell's run-of-the-mill laptops, but it apparently will feature a 14-inch widescreen display and invariably have some kind of Skype branding. Oh, and we can postulate that it'll feature a sound card -- probably with in and output ports, 1/8th-inch -- and USB ports; that's safe to assume, right?

[Via Xataka

[Calvin Thomas @ Jun 21st 2006 10:30PM]

I found this to sound more like an advertisement for Skype / Packard Bell then anything. I don't see any mention in the piece about Skype and Packard Bell mad at each other. So.. where does the heading "Skype swipes Packard Bell" come from? As far as I can tell by your article?.. they love each other.

[David @ Jun 22nd 2006 1:35AM]

Geez, you would hope it comes with Bluetooth. And maybe a headset. Doubt it does, but it should!

[jamminman @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:07AM]

oh no! packard bell is back!


lol.

[Tony Rayo @ Jun 22nd 2006 3:24AM]

Oh man, I had no idea Packard (Hell) Bell was still in business at all, but I really don't get the point of this in the least. My laptop has a nice built in camera (and anyone who doesn't have that can easily and cheaply buy an external one), is speedy and if I so felt desired I could link one of my keyboard's extra control buttons to launch Skype (among the silver buttons there is even one with an icon of a phone engraved into it, currently it launches Netmeeting but that could be changed in seconds).

The reason I said all of that is because they are painlessly obvious counters to their three "special" features that is suppose to make me want to buy this computer over any other. Now I admit I don't know how well HP is doing in Europe (like I said earlier, I didn't even know they still built computers), but this seems like HP is mooching off of the Skype name much more than it is the other way around that in my eyes would equal Vista coming with Firefox installed and set as the default browser =p. Crazy brits!

[Cheap Laptops @ Jun 22nd 2006 4:55AM]

What a sweet deal for Skype, i bet there will be an eBay laptop next as they do own Skype, what a crafty and way for advertising, and also pointless at the same time

[Chris @ Jun 22nd 2006 5:09AM]

Hey I take offence to this! Packard Hell isn't a British brand it's American - it seems never to have dies over here though, unfortunately... and PB isn't HP there two different companies completely please do not smear the good name of HP with Packard Hell