Smartone Vodaphone here in Hong Kong just started using another similar device from the same manufacturer to offer home broadband along with a fixed line phone service. I've had it about a week and it is working similar to low-end DSL service, but at 2/3 the cost, 1/2 if you include in the phone service.

http://www.smartone-vodafone.com/jsp/mobile/home_broadband/english/benefits.jsp

I use an iRex Iliad http://www.irextechnologies.com/. e-ink screen never fails to impress, is great for reading pdfs, and you can sync up with evernote for cataloging you stuff. They now have one that is basically letter size, which would be even more impressive, if not a little too large.

The main advantage over a tablet pc, it weighs around 1 pound, and will run all day.

The Sony store here is taking pre-orders for them starting at HKD 7,980, so basically USD$1000 for the basic model: http://www.sonystyle.com.hk/ss/product/vaio/vgn_p15g_q_e.jsp

Delivered mid Feb.

That one that is displayed is a grey market one. Those can be quite expensive, but is available early for those that have more money than patience. The downside of buying those is also the warranty is not valid locally usually, so either they are not warranted or are just covered by the shop's repair discretion.

I just saw one here in HK at Harbour City at the Sony Style store. It is pretty slick. Keyboard is not bad, but will take a little getting used to. The pre-loaded system is a little laggy. In general, it is a nice machine and am considering picking one up.

Well, from the looks of it, it is probably just providing some filtering (the big silver things are capacitors) to keep noise from the card getting to the system, and perhaps leveling out the power supply to the card a bit. Actually, with that number of caps, it should be effective, if there is an issue to start with.

SmartTone/Vodaphone here in Hong Kong offers something vaguely similar. Basically a cordless phone that uses the cell network for the connection. It can SMS you if you receive a voicemail when you are away, and also has a SIP VoIP connection included as well.

Yep, you are wrong, that is the HTC Advantage.

The turbines help to regulate the movement. The little switch thingy on the back opens and closes a valve to the turbines, which makes them go faster or slower.

Hong Kong International Airport uses RFID for all bags. You get this sticky tag on the outside of each piece of checked baggage.

This is a factory mockup box. The product could be final production, but most likely is FEP (First Engineering Prototype) or similar. The box obviously is using the die cut of the production box, which is usually done by the printing factories to check the final construction using whatever material they have on hand (ie. the same printing factory does Brother Fax boxes). My guess is that the carton packing uses a re-shippable inner carton, so someone at the factory goofed and mixed an FEP sample in with the shipment (hmmm, which brown box is it again?).

Funny but understandable mistake.