New laptop scans business cards

At last week’s HP Mobility Summit in Shanghai, the Compaq 2710p convertible laptop/tablet PC wowed the crowds with a live demonstration of its handy business card scanning feature.

At last week’s HP Mobility Summit in Shanghai, the Compaq 2710p convertible laptop/tablet PC wowed the crowds with a live demonstration of its handy business card scanning feature.

Though I’m not much of a Tablet PC fan – you know, those portable computers you can write on with a stylus pen instead of type on via a keyboard? – but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t impressed with a new model unveiled at the HP Mobility Summit in Shanghai last week.

Debuting in August for about $2000, the HP Compaq 2710p is a business PC with a “convertible” design, meaning it’s a laptop and a tablet in one (just swivel the screen around and open or close, depending on the application).

Its dual purpose design, however, isn’t what made it interesting. Instead, the integrated webcam, used for video chats with friends, family and work colleagues, can also be used as a business card scanner. Simply launch the software, place a business card in a small, extendable tray at the front of the computer, fold down the screen about halfway and a light will shine on the card before it scans and imports the info.

When I look in my office desk drawer at the thousands of paper biz cards I could have neatly organized in my Outlook Contacts, I can’t help to wonder why someone hadn’t thought of this before (yes I know there’s that CardScan accessory advertised in airline magazines!).

Other features of this HP Compaq 2710p include a 12.1-inch screen, docking tray with DVD+/-RW drive and a HP “Night Light” that shines directly on the keyboard when typing in dark areas.

Filed Under: Computers & Software