Alright, so we suppose a labeled version could be created upon request, but the beauty of Kazuharu Sakura's handmade leather keyboard is really in its simplicity. Just imagine: your delicate fingertips frolicking endlessly on the soft, supple skin covering the abnormally large Enter / atypically small Space bar, not to mention every key in between. Our knees get weak just thinking about it.

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]

The Asus U3, which we told you about back in the hot and humid days of July, has gotten its official announcement from the company -- and it looks pretty sweet. The Santa Rosa-based, 13.3-inch laptop still rocks a Core 2 Duo processor (in T7500, T7300, T7100, T5450, T5250, CM540), a Nvidia GeForce G8400M G External graphics chipset, up to 2.5GB of RAM, and a 160GB SATA hard drive. In the communications department, the U3 packs 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.0, but apparently the GPS we mentioned will be offered as an option along with 3G connectivity and turbo memory. The system also includes a slew of ports, like eSATA, HDMI, GPS RF in, USB, Firewire, VGA/D-Sub, and TV out, plus rocks a built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam and fingerprint reader. Luckily for you fashion plates, Asus has stuck with the leather-bound hand rests and "piano black" exterior, all wrapped up in a magnesium aluminum alloy, which the company thinks is perfect for "metropolitan professionals." The laptop is rumored to be available in September for around $2000.

[Via Laptoping]

Asus, a company that's pushing some pretty interesting and innovative products into the spotlight as of late, is stepping up to bat with another new entry, dubbed the U3. The 13.3-inch ultraportable rocks a Billy Joel-approved "piano black" exterior, with a smooth, sensual leather finish on the palm rests, making it stylistically quite distinctive. The U3 features the much-loved Santa Rosa chipset, and will likely utilize one of Intel's low voltage Core 2 Duo processors (the L7500, for instance), but that's just where the fun begins on this baby. The jam-packed specs include integrated GPS, HDMI and S-Video outs, eSATA, USB, and Firewire ports; SD and ExpressCard 54 slots; and an NVIDIA 8400M graphics chipset -- which can be switched off via hardware for power conservation. Asus reps say the system is due in September at a price point somewhere around $2,000.

[Thanks, Coriolis]

Nearly a month after Lenovo teased us with its Olympic-inspired laptop, and just days after loosing a bevy of Santa Rosa machines on the world, Lenovo is catching our eyes once more with an admittedly lacking teaser site for a Reserve Edition ThinkPad. The very non-interactive website sports an annoying background track, a cheesy selection of closeup leathermaking shots, and absolutely zero information about an actual computer. Of course, one could theorize that the firm has a leather-clad lappie in the pipeline for the affluent set, but it's not like you can't get that already. Nevertheless, this certainly isn't the first nor the last time we'll see such tease acts in order to hype up a currently unreleased product, but hopefully the deets on this one will end up surfacing as quickly as those on the Beijing machine did.

[Via LenovoBlogs, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

While digiframe manufacturers keep pushing for larger and larger LCD sizes to adorn (or completely consume) your coffee tables, Brookstone's going the opposite direction with its Digital Photo Wallet. The presumably chintzy "nappa leather" wallet doesn't look to be of much better quality than those sold at your favorite dollar-for-everything store, but it does manage to house a 1.4-inch LCD that reportedly stores 55 photos. Additionally, it's completely removable and rechargeable, sports an on / off button and scroll controls, and interfaces with your PC via USB. Of course, you could just stick with the wallet you're comfortable with and pick up a digital photo keychain, but if you're serious about this one here, watch for it in mid-May for $59.

Asus may not be ready to provide many specs on its new Lamborghini laptop just yet, but the company's more than happy to spill the details on another of its latest rock solid, heart touching laptops, the W6Fp. As with its Lambo brethren, the W6Fp comes wrapped in leather for your typing pleasure, along with what look to be nearly desktop-sized keys for some additional comfort. Specs-wise, you'll get a 13.3-inch WXGA display, a 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo T5600 processor, Intel 945GM Express integrated graphics, 1GB of memory (up to 1.5GB), a 120GB hard drive, DVD super multi drive, and, of course, Windows Vista (Home Premium edition by default). Rounding out the laptop are built in Bluetooth and WiFi, and a battery that'll give you just 2.7 hours of juice on a charge, although you can nearly double that if you pop in the extra "bulk battery" included with the system. Look for this one to hit Japan at the end of the month for about 249,800 Yen, or just over $2,000.

[Via Impress]

Prestigio is at it again, this time bringing a somewhat prestigious portable hard drive wrapped in supple, sure-to-be-costly leather. This tidbit of luxury sports a 0.69- x 3.20- x 5.16-inch enclosure, which is covered in a "stylish classic black or brown leather coating," and houses your choice of 40, 60, 80, 100 or 120GB 2.5-inch hard drive. Additionally, it boasts a "one touch" backup system, allowing you to clone your data onto the portable drive with just the press of a button, and while it supports a software-based password system, the lack of a biometric scanner keeps it from true greatness. The classy Data Safe II comes packaged in a "fashionable box," derives all the power it needs from just a USB 2.0 port, and should be available real soon. Although there's no price set just yet, you can sign up for the "pre-sale" on the company's website should you so desire.

Asus just went official with at least one of the 4 leaked laptops we saw a few weeks back -- the Lamborghini emblazoned VX1 "Golden Addition" -- and hit us with yet another leather-clad model in their S6F. The Golden Edition VX1 is all that we heard: packed beneath that 15.2-inch SXGA+ (1400x1050) display you'll find up to 2GB of DDR2 memory, a dual-layer DVD burner, 3.7-hour battery and an ExpressCard/54 slot among a wide range on in/outs with a 2.16GHz Core 2 Duo proc and 128MB of nVidia GeForce Go 7400 VX graphics providing the vroom, vroom. Thing is, they skimped on the disk with an Ultra ATA/100 160GB HDD spinning at 5,400rpm. If that doesn't scare you off then you'd best get moving race-boy, only 200 will be produced, in Japan anyway. Also announced is the 11.1-inch WXGA (1366×768) S6F which smacks of the S7Fm leaked, albeit dressed in a fine suit of dead cow. It opts for a 1.66GHz L2400 Core Duo processor and up to 1.5GB of DDR memory and 100GB disk, Intel 945GM Express graphics, a dual-layer DVD burner, ExpressCard/54 slot, and even a webcam in the bezel like any good laptop should these days. You'd better opt for the 3.75-hour, 6-cell battery though 'cause the standard battery only manages a pathetic 1.6-hours. Well, at least it'll look nice in your purse. Both will hit Japan's wealthiest starting tomorrow with the little S6F set to demand ¥279,800 (about $2,387) on up to a preposterous ¥389,000 (about $3,318) for the VX1. Now how 'bout showing us those leaked gaming rigs, ok ASUS?

[Via Impress]

Read -- S6F Leather Addition
Read -- Lamborghini VX1 Golden Addition

Asus has unveiled a leather-clad duo of notebooks today -- the W6 and upgraded S6 -- to presumably tackle that oh-so-lucrative "luxury computing" market. While the S6 has donned the leather outfit for some time now, Asus is releasing it in a "limited run" of hot pink, which is sure to take top priority on your lovely lady's wish list. Also boasting camel / black colors, the S6 is powered by an Intel Core Duo L2300 / L2400 processor, sports an 11.1-inch WXGA display, 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth, S-Video out, five USB 2.0 inputs, and an ExpressCard slot to boot. The mightier W6 loses the pink shade, but gains options for Intel's T5500 / T5600 / T7200 Core 2 Duo processors, and a 13.3-inch WXGA screen. While there's no word on pricing or availability, we expect these tastefully decorated machines to demand a stiff premium when they hit stores.

[Via Laptoping]

We'll probably never have the ears to distinguish a $1,500 pair of headphones from a $200 pair, but Ultrasone clearly thinks the Edition 9s are worth that extra fistful of cash. The company's press release claims that the technology in the 'phones "reduces sound pressure to the eardrums by an astonishing 40 percent" and that the headphones reduce EM field radiation (you know, like radio signals given off by your cellphone) by "up to 98 percent." These headphones have a frequency range of 8Hz to 35Hz, and come with Ethiopian sheep leather (is that good?) in the ear pads and headband pad.

As you may recall, when Apple launched the iPod HI-Fi a few months ago, the company also rolled out a couple of spiffy leather cases for the iPod nano and iPod with video. However, despite the momentous importance of the iPod Hi-Fi, the company neglected to provide it with a leather case of its own. That oversight has, fortunately, now been remedied by Japan's Focal Point Computer Corp. The company's iPod Hi-Fi case is made of Italian leather, has openings for the Hi-Fi's speakers and ports, and includes a shoulder strap so that the Hi-Fi can more easily achieve its destiny as a portable speaker system. The price: a mere ¥34,800 (about $300), which is surely a bargain, since this will protect your "audiophile" sound system from the vagaries of the elements. What's more, that price includes a matching leather case for your iPod remote, something for which Apple would easily charge an extra $99. We suspect that just about everyone who owns an iPod Hi-Fi will be rushing to Focal Point's web site to order one of these when they roll out in June. All five of you, that is.

Update: This case will also be available from Tunewear in the US for $295 as the "Concerto Bianco." No ship date has been announced. [Via iLounge]