updated 11:35 am EST, Thu March 5, 2009
BenQ intros Joybook S57
BenQ on Wednesday announced the release of the new Joybook S57, a media-centric notebook with a 15.6-inch, LED-backlit screen capable of a greater-than-720p (1366x768) resolution. The high-spec screen, which also has a relatively quick 8ms response time, plays movies at their native 16:9 ratio. The system is also taxed only lightly when playing HD video from the optional Blu-ray combo drive thanks to hardware decoding on an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 graphics chipset, which also brings mid-range gaming to the notebook.
Fashion is also a minor concern: the black exterior of the S57 is contrasted against a pearl white interior when the notebook is opened up.
Processing power will come from a choice of Centrino 2-era CPUs, though no mention of how much RAM will be included or optional has been made. The hard drive can be optioned up to a 500GB capacity, while an 8X DVD burner is standard equipment. Draft-N Wi-Fi is likewise built-in, as are eSATA, an ExpressCard slot, HDMI and a multi-card reader. Bluetooth 2.1 support is optional.
A 2-megapixel webcam and integrated microphone allow for video chats, while a pair of 2W speakers with SRS TruSurround HD support provides audio output.
BenQ's Joybook S57 will launch in Australia, Thailand and Malaysia on March 9th, though pricing information has not been released. It's also unknown if the new notebook will be offered in any other markets.