Rockdirect Teams Up With Intel to Create the World’s First Wireless Technology Surfboard

24.06.04

- Allowing surfers at the Intel GoldCoast Oceanfest to surf the Net on a Rock Tablet while waiting to catch a wave -

Rockdirect, the UK’s largest specialist notebook manufacturer has teamed up with Intel, the world’s largest chip manufacturer, to create the world’s first wireless technology surfboard.

Created as the ultimate surfing accessory and recently launched at, the 2004 Intel sponsored, GoldCoast Oceanfest, the North Devon free sports and music festival, the Intel surfboard allows surfers to check their e-mails, surf the web and even record footage of themselves catching the best waves.

Intel’s Consumer Marketing Manager, Tim Hatch said: ‘the whole idea of getting behind this festival was to push our technology to the limits. Intel Centrino mobile technology allows people to work and play much more freely - whether you’re accessing a hotspot at the beach, out on your surfboard, or from a café or bar. Its all about giving people the freedom to get online when and where they want - and this technology demonstrates that with a bit of imagination you can do just that.’

rockdirect supplied Intel with their T200 Notebook to be fitted into the one-of-a-kind board. Rock’s T200 Notebook incorporates Intel’s Centrino mobile technology, which allows a Wireless Internet connection from the surfboard to a ‘hotspot’ on the beach.

The T200 also has a very slim and light form factor, which makes it easier to incorporate in to the Surfboard without effecting how the board performs or the ride quality for the surfer.

But most important feature of the Rock T200 Notebook, which made it possible for the notebook to be fitted into the Surfboard, is the screen. The revolutionary rotating screen enables the true mobile user to convert their notebook into a Tablet. The sharp, bright 14.1” TFT is the first ever 14” screen available on a Tablet PC which supports a pen based input. Embedded into The T200 screen is a video camera capable of recording up to 64Mb of footage, a great asset to the Surfboard for capturing all the action when in use.

Key Features of the T200 include:

• Up to Intel Pentium M Processor 1.7Ghz
  - Featuring Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Technology
• Microsoft® Windows® XP Home
• 1Mb On-Die L2 Cache
• Up to 1Gb DDR RAM
• Up to 80Gb Ultra DMA Hard Drive
• 14.1” XGA Active Matrix Touch Panel Display
• Screen Rotation - 90º/180º/270º
• Integrated Intel® Extreme Graphics
• 802.11g Integrated Intel® Pro Wireless LAN
• Built-in Digital Video Camera
• Built-in 4-in-1 Card Reader
• External FDD and DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive (Optional)
• 6 Cell Smart Li-ION Battery
• Internal 56k V.90 Modem & 10/100Mbps LAN
• 2 x USB 2.0 Ports
• Ability Office & Anti Virus Scan
• Tan Rite Pen Software
• 3 Hot-Keys for TAB, ESC and Quick Display Mode Rotation
• 1 x Stylus Included

The new Intel surfboard unravels a huge amount of potential for surfers around the world, creating a new way of allowing surfers to get online, by using Intel Centrino mobile technology to connect to a hotspot whether they’re on the beach or out in the surf.

‘ We were happy to be able to contribute to the success of this unique project’ says Nick Boardman, Managing Director, rockdirect ‘I hope that there will be more exciting ideas like this in the future, and that Rockdirect will be involved with creating further inspirational ways of using computer technology’

To request photography of the board, or to interview one of the people behind the board’s creation please call:

Tracey Gillespie
01793 403 136
tracey.gillespie@intel.com

Sally Scorer
020 7465 7721
sally.scorer@redconsultancy.com

Winston Eavis
020 7465 6410
winston.eavis@redconsultancy.com

Florence Karat
020 7465 7727
florence.karat@redconsultancy.com

About Intel:

Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom. Intel® Centrino™ mobile technology is Intel's best technology for mobile PCs and is optimised for thin-and-light, mini and sub notebooks and tablet PCs.

Important Information: wireless connectivity requires additional software, services or external hardware that may need to be purchased separately. Availability of public wireless access points limited. System performance, battery life and functionality will vary depending on your specific hardware and software. See http://www.intel.com/products/centrino/more_info for more information

Intel, the Intel logo and Intel Centrino are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

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