Here's to hoping you North Americans don't fall too hard for BenQ's latest Joybook, as the R45 is destined for almost everywhere but here. Nevertheless, this globetrotter packs a 14.1-inch WXGA (1,280 x 800) display, Intel's 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, NVIDIA's GeForce 8400M GPU, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, an optional dual-layer DVD writer, 802.11b/g WiFi, optional Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, 2-megapixel webcam and a 4-in-1 multicard reader. Additionally, you can count on four USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet / modem jacks, an HDMI output, VGA, ExpressCard slot, audio in / out, 4-pin FireWire and a six-cell Li-ion good for around 2.5 hours of use. Sadly, BenQ left us hanging in regard to a price, but look for this pleather-coated lappie to land in China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and Russia later this month.

[Via PC Launches]

With all these new Penryn-based lappies hitting the shelves, we can't help but be immediately underwhelmed by the BenQ Joybook A53. Sure, the case is fairly attractive, but still, offering up a Core 2 Duo T7250 with just 512MB of RAM is sort of weak. Granted, we've all ideas this one's being aimed at the budget-minded set, so hopefully they'll be down with the 80 to 200GB 5400RPM hard drive choices, dual-layer DVD writer, 15.4-inch WXGA (1,280 x 800) resolution display, trio of USB 2.0 ports, VGA output, audio in / out and 6-cell battery good for around 2.3-hours of usage. Also of note, you'll find integrated Ethernet / WiFi, a 4-in-1 multicard reader and a 0.3-megapixel webcam for pixelated video chats. Unfortunately, BenQ didn't mention how costly this one would be, but it will be rolling out to Poland, Russia, China, Thailand, and Australia right away, while the rest of the world has to wait just a few more months.

[Via Electronista]

We know what you're thinking: "Hey, hasn't BenQ gotten a name change?" Well guess what, cowboy? Not for laptops. In fact, the multi-named, electronics-making creature-thing has just introduced a new model into its Joybook laptop lineup, the R43. The system sports a 14.1-inch "UltraVivid" WXGA display, an Intel 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, up to 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, an SiS Mirage 3+ GPU, and all with WiFi and Bluetooth you could possibly need. Of course -- more importantly than specs -- the laptop features a stylized, abstract case design guaranteed to make the ladies want you and the men want to be you... or, vice versa. The R43 will be available in China in December, with a rollout in other countries "in the coming months."

Another month, another Joybook. Thankfully, BenQ's workin' overtime to keep things fresh in its ever-growing laptop lineup, and the flashy R56 doesn't disappoint. The machine sports a 15.4-inch WXGA widescreen display with an eight-millisecond response time, HDMI output, and NVIDIA's GeForce 8400M G to boot. Additionally, you'll find an Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 processor, 512MB to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, up to 160GB of SATA hard drive space, an optional dual-layer DVD writer, six-cell Li-ion battery, 802.11a/g/n, built-in stereo speakers / subwoofer, and a slew of ports including Firewire, Ethernet, VGA, audio in / out, eSATA, ExpressCard, and four USB 2.0 connectors. Unfortunately, BenQ's not handing out any pricing or availability deets just yet, but click on through for a few more angles of this stylish machine.

[Via Electronista]

Damn skippy BenQ has a new Joybook out that will almost certainly never make it to the US: the A52, to you. As usual, BenQ has foregone any serious product photography (seriously, what the hell kind of backwards company wants to show off their consumer electronics on the internet, we ask?), but despite a wide 16ms 15.4-inch DBEF (Display Brilliance Enhancement Film) WXGA (1280 x 800) display, ATI Radeon Xpress 200M graphics, Core Duo CPU, 802.11a/b/g, drives up to 120GB, dual-layer DVD burner, and PCMCIA slot, this kinda low-ender only lands with Vista Basic. Don't worry though, Taiwanese consumers, we hear Asia's a pretty sweet place to pirate the occasional copy of Windows if you need a quick bump to Ultimate.

[Via MobileWhack]

Not a whole lot of details on these new Taiwan-bound lappies from BenQ, but we've got the essentials. The Joybook S73VG, pictured above, runs a Core 2 Duo processor, sports an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 for graphics, and conveys its pixels with a 14.1-inch 200 nit LCD. As for the S31V, this fashionbook doesn't match up in processing heft to big brother S73VG, with a mere Intel Centrino processor, but the 1.3 megapixel webcam, 13.3-inch 250 nit display and your choice of white or black colorings should keep you well enough occupied. Of course, both laptops are running Vista. As for price, the S73VG demands a reasonable TD 44,900 (about $1,363 US), while the S31V will run you TD 42,900 (about $1,303), and both laptops should be out by the end of February.

[Via Akihabara News]

Having decided that it would be marketplace suicide to continue offering an all-XP lineup while the rest of its competitors were loading their machines up with Vista, BenQ has joined a growing list of manufacturers in adding Microsoft's brand new OS to a trio of its Joybook laptops. As with most of the other Vista upgrades we've seen, specs on the R55V, S73V, and S31V remain almost identical to those on the models' non-"V"-labeled counterparts (the R55, S73 (pictured), and S31, respectively). To wit, you're still getting a Core 2 Duo processor and NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 graphics on the 15.4-inch R55V, while the 14.1-inch S73V maintains its predecessor's dual core chip and ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 video card. As you might expect, nothing much has changed with the 13.3-inch Joybook S31V either; it's still a Centrino Duo-based system featuring a 1.3 megapixel webcam and SRS TruSurround XT audio. Expect these models to hit foreign shelves sometime within the next few weeks (along with Vista itself, of course) for perhaps a slight premium over the older, dustier XP-powered notebooks.

Two new ones from BenQ, the quite similarly specced P52 (pictured) and R55 Joybooks. Both laptops feature 15.4-inch WXGA displays with 200 nits of brightness and 16ms response times and weigh 6.2 pounds, but the P52 goes for an AMD Turion 64 X2 processor, while the R55 sports Intel's Core 2 Duo chip. Both Joybooks are also privy to Bluetooth 2.0 and S-Video. For graphics, the P52 has the 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1600, while the R55 goes for the 256MB GeForce Go 7400 from NVIDIA. The Intel model also has SPDIF sound, while its AMD sibling has a DVI-D port, but we're in the dark in regards to the rest of the specs, and price and availability prove equally evasive. At least these two desktop replacements are looking sharp, though they do seem to be Korean bound, so it's not like we're going to get much action with these anyways.

Read - BenQ Joybook P52
Read - BenQ Joybook R55

The latest from BenQ is a well-specced AMD Turion-based laptop with plenty to love. Beyond the large range of dual-core Turion 64 X2 processors, the Joybook P52 features an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 card with 512MB of memory, up to 2GB of RAM, a 120GB SATA HDD, dual-layer DVD burning and DVI-D in/out. There's four USB 2.0 ports, Firewire, gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11a/b/g WiFi for connectivity, along with a 5-in-1 card reader. The 15.4-inch screen manages a 1280 x 800 resolution and 16ms response times, and there's an included DVB-T tuner to round it all off. The main thing the computer seems to lack is the built-in webcams of its contemporaries, but at 1.2-inches thick and 5.6 pounds, it seems BenQ did a pretty job with this one all the same. No word on price or availability, but hopefully those AMD chips point to budget-friendly leanings.

[Via Engadget Chinese]

We're still digging out from under the avalanche of technology that was the 2006 Computex show, and in our efforts we stumbled across AVING's encounter with the latest BenQ Joybook we've been hearing about. The R55 sports a Core Duo processor, Bluetooth 2.0 and NVIDIA's 256MB GeForce Go 7400. What makes it noteworthy, though, is the 16ms response time (many laptops range in the '20s), which they claim is the "world's fastest" when it comes to 15.4-inch WXGA laptops. This R55 uses the UltraVivid technology, which includes a brightness-boosting Display Brilliance Enhancement Film to improve visibility and greatly reduce the dreaded LCD ghosting effect. We know it's still nowhere near the quickness of a faithful CRT, but that's no reason to frown little girl. It is, after all, called the Joybook.