Thomas Kretschmann

Small isn't always beautiful, but it is convenient. SanDisk is adding new, shriked Flash SSDs to its portfolio to be able to equip ultra-portable PCs and lowest-cost solutions with cheap flash storage instead of hard drives.

ASUS isn't only showing cheap mini-laptops at its CeBIT stand. The Taiwanese company also brought a few full-fledged portables for a variety of uses.

Xerox's color laser printers are finally becoming affordable. At this year's CeBIT, the self-proclaimed document company is introducing a 12 page-per-minute office color-laser printer for under $450.

With its F5, Motion Computing is unveiling a Tablet PC in a slate design. Its magnesium case and prominent carrying handle underline the fact that it was designed with outside use in mind.

When someone says ASUS, chances are you'll think of the EeePC. However, the company has also brought various cell phones and smartphones to show at CeBIT. Its Lamborghini ZX1 is a real eye-catcher.

Toshiba is moving away from removable storage media with its new HD camcorders. Instead, the models of the Gigashot series record directly to an internal HDD.

We've been hearing rumours since the beginning of the year that the ASUS' highly successful EeePC would soon spawn other models. Now it's official. The "EeePC 900" will be much better equipped than its predecessor.

Traditionally, the big names of the IT industry make their predictions the day before CeBIT opens. This time, Microsoft's Steve Ballmer was one of them and predicted ground breaking changes for the future.

For months stories about it have been percolating through the web. Now Microsoft wants to demonstrate it before a large audience at CeBIT - the desk computer called "Surface" that the Redmonders have been wording on for the past five years.