By The Way - WISHING YOU A SIMPLY FAB YEAR AHEAD!

Here’s wishing you a Happy New Year -

One that beckons with promises and hopes

Opportunities and unexpected open doors.

There will be times to be fabulous,

Occasions to savour – in every minuscule minute –

To love and make time for the people we treasure

To make the most of every second chance given;

To recognise our blessings, no matter how humble,

To forgive ourselves a little, to treat ourselves a little better

To make a difference in someone else’s life.

So here’s a happy new year to one and all,

And a Simply Fabulicious road ahead!

- Ee Waun and Elaine
The SimplyFab Team

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Binge - You Don’t Have to Be Lavish to Eat Well

You don’t have to break the bank to live the good life, that’s my mantra. Have your nose honed onto good value and you can do a pretty decent job living a budget la dolce vita.

Gunther’s, named Asia’s Top 7th restaurant by the Miele Guide (…Altogether now, say, “Ooooooh…!”) has recently rolled out a weekday set lunch at a shamelessly purse-friendly $38. This gets you a choice of three appetizers, three main courses, plus dessert, coffee or tea. Not bad for a place that was once revered in hushed tones, and having been there was like having seen the face of God! Favourite items here are Cold Angel’s Hair Pasta with Oscietra Caviar and crispy Suckling Pig with Kriek Beer Sauce, Carpaccio of Wagyu Beef “Tartare” style is served with crispy potato, and Fine Tart of Apple a la Dragees with Vanilla ice-cream. (I doubt these great creations will fall into the humble three course menu though…..) For a fancier feast, fork out $128 for a six course dinner featuring the best of the a la carte creations.

36, Purvis Street, #01-03

Tel : 6338 8955

Another restaurant good for suckling pig and offering an even more enticing deal is Vanilla Pod at Mandai Orchid Garden. From now until 31 January, kids below 12 eat totally for free – nada, zero, zilch. Music to my Ebenezer ears! So it’s nowhere as polished and fine as Gunther’s, but you can expire soulfully among the lush foliage dressed in an Egyptian cotton frock, as your angelic offspring gambol in the sprawling, undulating grounds of flora. Lunch (or dinner) on modern European dishes – be assured the food is good! – particularly the pork knuckle ($25.50 and large enough to feed 2) and ice cream doused with Pedro Ximinez. It’s a must-do especially on a lazy Sunday, and definitely worth the long trek out to the wild yonder. Best thing is, this deal is good even on weekends and Public Holidays. One adult limited to two kids only, please.

200 Mandai Lake Road

Tel:l 6368 0672 or e-mail: marketing@chefpeterandcompany.com.sg

Next stop, Grand Hyatt Singapore. Have you heard of Oasis? It’s their all-day poolside restaurant up on Level 5 of the Terrace Wing, tucked within a lovely rooftop garden. Pick a cool day to go, cos it’s all alfresco – no air-conditioning, darlinks. The main draw there is its barbecue buffet dinner every Friday and Saturday from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. Good for the carnivore in you, it’s laden with grilled meats, sausages and seafood prepared a la minute from the custom made charcoal grill. $68.00+++ per person with free flow beer, wines, soft drinks and margaritas. Best thing to do? Go first for a pampering at Hyatt’s spa Damai next door, then when you’re all nice and kneaded, totter over to pig out with the family. Now that’s a good way to start any weekend.

Tel: +65 6732 1234 (Reservations are a must)

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By The Way – Safari Zoo Run

Okay, sometimes we just can’t be too serious. So how about running in memory of the monkey? After all, she did help put the Singapore Zoo – and possibly the rest of our sunny island – on the world map more than any other fancy luminary… even if she had a reputation for being a bit of a hairy prima donna. But a bit of respect for the dearly departed…So back to my question: how about running for the monkey?

Into its 2nd year the Safari Zoo Run takes place on 6 February 2010 (the day she went to the zoo up in the sky) with a Fun Run for adults and older kids (above 10 yrs old) spanning 6.2km the night safari and the zoo routes in total.

What’s more, 10-12 year olds can take part in the first ever aLive Fastest Kid run which takes them through 3.2 km of the night safari route.  Registration has begun and closes on 10 January 2010, with limited places still available. Flag-off is at 3:30pm on 6 February 2010 for the Fastest Kid run, with girls and boys competing in two separate categories.Hopefully the animals in the Night Safari will be kept away to ensure no one becomes the lion’s meal or runs into a lazing rhino…..?

A registration fee of $25 will entitle each kid to a Safari Zoo Run dry-fit running tee, a Safari Zoo Run bib number, a F&N goodie bag on the race day, completion medal. The Fun Run costs $38 to register and flags off at 4pm.

Log onto www.safarizoorun.com.sg or pop into any Runninglab or The North Face store to register.

- Ee Waun

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By The Way - Egyptian Exhibition at the Museum, The Largest Ever

Another Christmas is over. How were the prezzies? Mine was a little thin this year.....

So now we're taking a little break from all the partying and doing some token labouring before we hit the new year celebrations. We've done tonnes of eating and shopping and giving and air-kissing and put on some extra girth, no doubt, so perhaps a little waddle about would be good for us.

I shall potter down to the National Museum this afternoon with my kiddie for some cultural injection (there’s just so much turkey we can look at after a while) and catch the latest exhibition, Quest for Immortality – The World of Ancient Egypt which goes on from now until April 4. It’s the biggest exhibition the Singapore National Museum has brought in to date, even larger than last year’s Greek Masterpieces from the Louvre which I caught and enjoyed tremendously.

Not going to bore you with culture-vulture details, but just the nuggets of need-to-knows for the Egyptian exhibition: The 230 artefacts include Egyptian texts, sculptures and other burial relics spanning from 4000 BCE to 950 CE and it includes authentic mummies dating back to 6000 years ago - two cartonnage covers with mummies inside them, and a linen wrapped mummy. (On the right, a pic of an 'ear plug' which the women used as jewellery then. Ouch!)

As part of the exhibition, there are free guided tours, curator’s tours and many children’s workshops. Of the latter, look out for the interactive tour (13, 16, 18 & 20 March) which is enlivened by ‘tomb explorer guides’ role-played by local theatre practitioners. (For dates and workshop tix, call the SISTIC hotline at (65) 6348 5555.)

Exhibition fees: Adults $15; free for children with student passes.

National Museum of Singapore

93 Stamford Road 

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By The Way - A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!!

Sweeties!

There are so many reasons to celebrate…

Bigger bling looks better on you these days,

You lost your youthful insecurities somewhere on your way to Tiffany’s…

You don’t need to angst about dating anymore…

There’s such a thing as breakfast Champagne…

You can drink bellini’s before noon without an excuse…

You got the latest Mac and a one-button-does-it-all pie maker

(and all the other gadgets you had your eyes on)

You look downright better than your ex’es……and their wives,

Your kids love you and they’re going back to school soon,

There are absolutely gorgeous frames out there for your new reading specs,

Your diet can wait ‘til the new year,

And studies show you are better looking now than the generations of women before…..

So go forth and scintillate!

Have a Simply Fabulicious Christmas
and a Dazzling Year ahead!

Peace, Love & Cocktails!
Elaine and Ee Waun

The Simply Fabulicious Team

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Beauty - "Smell-y" Gifts

The horrors of last minute shopping have gripped you with a morbid fear of crowds. Well look no further, the solution this year is gifts that smell good. You just head to the nearest Department  store (yes, no avoiding that) but when you are there, zero into the fragrance counters.

And voila, you have it. An unlimited choice of what I call "smell-y" gifts. Ok so you have to know a little about the person that you are buying it for or then again maybe not. Just buy is my philosophy .. it is ultimately the thought that counts and at the end of the day, he who stresses less, enjoys the season best.

What we have spotted: 

Diesel for men offers a cute one this year, a limited special Artoyz edition of Only the Brave. In collaboration with artist and illustrator Bunka, the Only the Brave cult bottle has been given a new graphic twist to showcase a lifestyle faraway from compromise. Great for a teenager or a man who likes collecting toys. 

Giorgio Armani gift sets this year have adopted fiery aesthetics with their plush velvet cases in luxuriant red. For her – IDOLE d’Armani: Giorgio Armani’s latest signature fragrance for women, blends the absolute elegance of loukoum rose dusted with saffron. This set has a 75ml IDOLE Eau de Parfum, 50ml Body Lotion and 50ml Shower Gel retails at S$139 (UP $168)

Emporio Armani also serves up Diamonds, a girl’s best friend. Opulent and vivacious, Emporio Armani Diamonds is for the strong multi-faceted woman who is talented and dazzling. This brilliant fragrance is developed from the four unique sparkles of fruity, floral, woody and amber elements through notes such as litchi, freesia and patchouli. This set has a 100ml Diamonds for Women Eau de Parfum, 50ml Shower Gel and 50ml Body Lotion retails at S$129 (UP $161)

Available at major department stores and perfume counters.

- Elaine

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Breakaway - 'IT' Luggage

When you jet off for your next holiday make sure that you observe what luggage the fashionistas are unloading of the airport's conveyor belt. 

I have noticed that almost every one who is IN the know in Hong Kong and likes hard case luggage sports a Rimowa. It seems to be this year's 'IT' brand here. And the most popular model seems to be the Silver Integral with its molded aluminum frame that supposedly gives the case better stability. Integrated lever-action locks with a patented automatic opening system and combination locks keep the contents confidential. The convenient interior appointments and the net packing divider also keep everything in order inside.

Rivaling this, is Samsonite’s new Tokyo Chic, a lightweight luggage that looks swanky and sleek with a trimmed exterior and a metallic finishing. The luggage comes with a TSA lock for double protection and has been constructed using polycarbonate which makes the luggage lighter, whilst its retractable telescopic pole allows for multistage extension. Its waterproof and washable features offers travellers the advantage of owning a “brand new” travel piece, upon each trip. Comes in a variety of sizes and colours including Grey. Navy Blue, Dark Red, Silver and Black. Available at Samsonite Multi Brand Concept Store located at #04-04 Plaza Singapura Tel: 62388616).

 

- Elaine

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Buys – Cats Online

Look at what we stumbled upon! Delightful cat art done with a local flavour. These cute cats are artist Paul Koh’s signature beasts, and apart from painting them as swanky art pieces, they are available online in the form of tile coasters, fridge magnets and tote bags, too. For shopping online, check out http://www.catmasutra.com/.

From what I see, there are limited editions of each item, so the really popular ones – usually with the obvious Asian or Singapore flavour – gets sold out pretty quickly. If you’d rather have these hanging bright and brave on your walls, Utterly Art is holding an exhibition of his original works – catmaSutra - Six Appeal – from now until 27 Dec. Prices start from $450.

Utterly Art

229A South Bridge Road (2nd Level)

Tel: 6226 2605

(Images from www.catmasutra.com)

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Binge – Quick! Need Cake!

Eek! Christmas is almost upon us like a ton of bricks, and you’ve forgotten to get a gift for your friend who so kindly invited you to dinner next week. You can’t go empty handed, but there’s no time to hunt for gifts. No fear. Here are some gorgeous binge-worthy food gifts to pick up so you don’t make an embarrassingly empty handed entrance. Just pick up the phone, make your order and pick them up. No fuss, and no headless chicken madness this time.

Shangri-la Singapore

Isn’t this just adorable? A classic fruit cake done in a whimsical wintry North Pole landscape with marzipan penguins. How delightful is that? It’s created by Shangri-La’s Area Executive Pastry Chef Hervé Potus who’s also got some new log cakes in unusual fruit combinations: Strawberry and Lychee; Alphonso Mango and Passion Fruit; Oreo Cheese Log Cake with Forest Berries and even the Super Mao Shan Wang Yule Log Cake for a tropical injection.

Tel: 6213 4377 or visit The Line Shop in the hotel’s lower lobby

The Ritz Carlton Milennia

For the hip and high cultured, pick up cakes from the Ritz Carlton’s Christmas Gourmet Shoppe. Executive Pastry Chef Terence Pang has rolled out haute log cakes inspired by contemporary artists Dale Chihuly, Zhu Wei, David Hockney, Lee Li Lin and Andy Warhol. Available until Dec 25, from 11am-8pm daily.

Tel: 6434 5288 or email rc.sinrz.restaurantreservations@ritzcarlton.com

Grand Hyatt Singapore

Always pretty and hands-down reliable, the cakes at the Grand Hyatt never fails to impress. If you just want a guaranteed-to-impress product, here’s where you’ll get it. I bought a beautiful fig tart there 8 years ago for a Christmas party and the hostess I gave it to still talks about it. What I like here this time is the classic fruit cake. Elegant and simple….and sometimes you just want something really great but straightforward – always nice with a shot of warming brandy. Feel the love yet?

Tel: 6734 6731

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Binge - GOOD Looking and GREAT Tasting

If you happen to be in Hong Kong for the festive season, make sure that you drop by for tea at Sevva, Hong Kong’s uber chic restaurant and lifestyle haven located on the 25th floor of Prince building in Central. 

Sevva offers not only a stunning 360 degree view over Hong Kong’s breath-taking skyline but it also serves their signature ALL RED traditional celebration cakes. 

This red buttermilk chiffon sponge cake with cherry jello has fresh cream and is dribbled with cherries and raspberries galore. You can takeaway the cake at the restaurant entrance at HK$500 for 500g and HK$850 for 1000g (add an additional 10% service charge for dining in).

If you are looking for a gift that will get you the raise you deserve back home, buy one of their three indulgent hampers.

TRÈS UNIQUE features award winning, unheated and unprocessed pure raw organic honey from Tasmania, and organic caffeine-free tea from Penelope Sach, Australia. It comes with nine unique tea spoons, designed and hand crafted in France.

CRÈME DE LA CRÈME includes a SEVVA cake coupon, plus cake knife and eight jewel-toned dessert forks, which add a striking presence to any table setting. The delectable selection of cake options includes the Coco, Divine, Casino, Pazzo, Carmen, Chocolate Fudge Cake with Marmalade or iconic Original Crunch Cake.

A LA CARTE presents fine organic wine from the Brusone Vino Da Tavola vineyards in Siena, Italy as well as a unique, jewel-toned set of eight dessert knives crafted in France.

See: www.sevvahk.com

SEVVA HONG KONG, 25/F Princes Building, 10 Chater Road, Central, Hong Kong

Another delightful food gift is Agnes B’s limited-edition lollipop box decked in their ‘ab heart’ monogram with 20 lollipops in 5 fruity flavours, including orange, coke, strawberry, lemon and grape. Available at all Agnes B stores in Singapore and Hong Kong. 

- Elaine

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Buys - The BFF Gift List

What do you get a great girlfriend a.k.a BFF who is always there for you? She entertains your calls even at 2am in the morning, listens to all your woes and whining and still makes you believe that it is not quite the end of the world yet for everything wrong in your life .. and most importantly celebrates all the rights with just the correct measure of encouragement.

I vote this one the - the handbag hook, the ideal girlfriend gift. Royal Selangor's pewter handbag hook lets her branded baby hang from the table conspicuously instead of being flung at the back of her chair or left carelessly on the floor or worse, squashed because it has been clutched against her curvy cleavage. 

The range features six charming designs - Cat, Owl, Fan, and Rosette in stylized and smooth forms, Cabochon using pewter and Sepetir wood, whilst Lily and Fan are in eye-catching intricate patterns that feature Swarovski crystals adding that brilliant sparkle. Prices are from S$60 each. Available at all Royal Selangor retail stores, authorised dealers and online at www.royalselangor.com.

Another top vote - a Moleskin diary for 2010. I spotted  this range in Hong Kong ranging at about HK$198 onwards (approximately S$30 plus) at most major bookstores. Classy and compact, they fit beautifully into her leather tote. I am the type that needs to glance at my appointments for the week so I vote the monthly or weekly diary, the best buy. Still they have them in limited edition, pocket or large sized, horizontal and vertical formats and in a series of colours. 

My vote goes to the Red hard back. At least she can spot in when she reaches for it inside her cavernous bag! Available at most major stationery and book stores. 

Agnes B from Paris also has a few lovelies. They have applied the adorable “ab heart” monogram as a symboi of love this Christmas and it appears on everything from their outfits to their accessories.

Things that caught my eye from their collection. Available at all Agnes B outlets in Singapore and Hong Kong: 

- Elaine

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Buys - "Happy" Socks? - go figure!

How “happy” can you be about socks?

“Euphoric” apparently! “Happy Socks” are a brand of high quality socks (80% combed cotton, 17% polyamide and 3% elastane) that ensure a perfect fit like gloves. Long lasting, they come in different shapes, colours and designs and are made by the sock maestros in Europe who make socks for the Turkish and Belgian armies.

Another question, how do you market socks?

Get a few friends together, make sure that they have a few glasses of wine (or beer) and bring along a decent digital camera. And the result -- go figure, after you see these pictures. S$13.95 for each pair so get happy!

Available at:
VERY WOOONDERLAND, ION Orchard B312,
ACTUALLY...(at 29A Seah St) and
Rockstar by Soon Lee (Cineleisure)
See websites: www.actually.com.sg and www.very.com.sg


- Elaine

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This Weekend - Get into the festive spirit!

Take the family for a stroll along Orchard Road, take in the lights, the décor, some last minute shopping and whilst you are there pop into Paragon.

Local acapella group Vocaluptuous, sing to the season with performances on the hour on Saturdays from 7.30pm to 9.30pm and Sundays from 3.30pm to 5.30pm until Christmas Eve from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.

And if you like what you hear, buy both their albums, NOTES FROM AN ISLAND and ALL WRAPPED UP at only S$30 (U.P S$20) at Gramaphone outlets and The Esplanade Shop (whilst stocks last).

Details at http://www.vocaluptuous.com.sg/

- Elaine

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Bling and Binge - All things "CUTESY"

CUTESY BLING 

If you like cutesy and are a fan of home made jewelry than do check out these pretties made by some of our very own SIMPLYFAB readers.

www.iheartkitty.com is all about Hello Kitty jewelry for both kids and adults. Handmade trinkets, earrings, bracelets and that feature kitty charms sourced from all over the world, some dressed in cosplay costumes and some made from crystal with lovely pearl and gold plated chain links or on silver bracelets. Email contactiheartkitty@gmail.com for prices and details.

If you know a little Diva who loves to dress up then check out www.twinklestars.biz. Made from baked polymer clay these adorable handmade beads have been created into jewelry for kids and adults. Email contacttwinklestars@gmail.com for prices and more details.

SIMPLYFAB READERS – just state that you are a SIMPLYFAB reader in your email and enjoy a 10% discount through December 2009 for both stores above.

CUTESY BINGE 

Feel a sugar rush coming on? I certainly do after checking out Frostie the Cookie. See www.frostiethecookie.com.

This totally cutesy home baked business started in 2005 has been churning out delicious hand-crafted frosted cookies to celebrate special occasions, such as Baby Showers, Weddings, Birthdays and Christmas. See their Frostie The Cookie Christmas cookies and 7 different gift sets. 

All cookies are individually packed in cellophane and are air-sealed to maintain freshness, embellished with a ribbon. S$4 a piece, choose from Mr. Santa, Happy Elf, X'mas Tree, X'mas Sock, Winter Mitten. Sparkling Snowflakes come in a smaller cluster of 3 for S$6. The gift sets come in a ribboned box, with candies and chocolate. Gift tags upon request at additional cost. Prices start from S$13.50 onwards. Email frostiethecookie@yahoo.com.

- Elaine

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Bytes - All I want for Christmas... my personal wish list

Thank you everyone for the great feedback on our post on gift ideas for the him-who has-everything! Who says it more blessed to give? I share my personal wish list with those of you who are thinking of stuffers that will make your Christmas stocking bulge … always remember, good things do come in small packages.

APPLE NANO WITH VIDEO

I definitely want this as I am a huge MAC fan. More than a music player, Steve Jobs and his happy helpers just keep building on one great idea and look how the ipod has evolved… the new ipod Nano that launches in time for Christmas has a larger screen, a polished aluminium finish, a built in video camera and comes in 9 wonderful colours. A built-in mic lets you capture audio, too. And when you play back your video on iPod nano, you’ll hear the recorded audio with it. All of which means your indispensable music player is now your indispensable video camera. There are also 15 fun video effects let you add a little Hollywood to your video. 8GB with 2000 song storage and 8 hours of video is $228 whilst 16GB with 4000 songs and 16 hours of video is $288. 

E BOOK READER

Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Sony are selling this new baby. Sony calls it the “ebook reader”, Barnes and Noble calls theirs the “Nook” and Amazon calls it the “Kindle”. Call it whatever, but this paperless book can hold all your ebooks provided you think this is a good way to read. What’s available:

Barnes and Noble Nook (US$259)

Where to buy: Barnes and Noble

• 2 screens, one 6-inch e-ink screen and 1 color touch screen

• Runs Google's Android operating system

• Has Wi-fi

• Wirelessly downloads books over AT&T's 3G network

• Barnes and Noble will offer special downloads if you go into the store

• Lending feature lets you lend e-books to your friends for 14 days for free

• Comes with 2 gigabytes of memory which lets you download about 1500 books but you can also expand it with a memory slot

• Reads any e-pub or e-book format so there is no one format of books that you need to buy for this device and if you buy books through Nook, you can port them to other devices

Kindle 2 (US$259)

Where to buy: Amazon.com

• Holds 1500 books

• 6 inch display

• Downloads books over AT&T 3G and now works internationally

• On-board dictionary

• Syncs bookmarks and highlights to the Web on kindle.amazon.com

• Can also read books on your Windows machine using Kindle software

• New PDF reader

• Books are DRM'd meaning the books you buy on Kindle will only work on Kindle

Kindle DX (US$489)

Where to buy: Amazon.com

• Holds 3500 books

• 9 inch screen

• Built-in PDF reader

• Heavily geared towards students to read textbooks

• Downloads books over Sprint's 3G network

• On-board dictionary

• Syncs bookmarks and highlights to the Web on kindle.amazon.com

• Can also read books on your Windows machine using Kindle software

• Books are DRM'd meaning the books you buy on Kindle will only work on Kindle

Sony Reader Pocket Edition (US$199)

Where to buy: sonystyle.com

• Portable 5-inch display

• Very basic. No built-in wireless or expansion slot for more memory

• 512 megabits of memory means you can store about 350 e-books

• 3 fot sizes

• Comes in pink, blue, or silver

• Reads any e-pub or e-book format so there is no one format of books that you need to buy for this device and if you buy books through Sony, you can port them to other devices

• Access up to 1 million free books on Google Books and support for free check out from libraries that support the e-pub book format. That means you check out the book, read it for 21 days, and it is completely free

Sony Reader Touch (US$299)

Where to buy: sonystyle.com

• 6-inch display

• Touchscreen and on-board keyboard

• No built-in wireless

• Stores up to 350 books with an expandable card slot so you can store more

• Reads any e-pub or e-book format so there is no one format of books that you need to buy for this device and if you buy books through Sony, you can port them to other devices

• Access up to 1 million free books on Google Books and support for free check out from libraries that support the e-pub book format. That means you check out the book, read it for 21 days, and it is completely free

Product summaries taken from: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/07/earlyshow/leisure/gamesgadgetsgizmos/main5922376_page2.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody

FUJITSU MULTI-TOUCH HANDHELD PC

Big on looks, I love the red packaging! This beauty, the size of a long wallet is Fujitsu’s new LifeBook UH900. Has a 5.6 inch vivid glare screen and is 20.4cm X 10.65cm X 2.38cm in dimensions. It is ultra lightweight at only 500g so that it can be easily slotted into a clutch bag or pocket even. Full Windows 7 PC capabilities and a 62GB SSD storage space driven by an Intel® Atom™ Z530 processor, it comes with a touch pen for precision and possesses a full suite of wireless connectivity and communication tools such as Bluetooth® support, web camera, stereo mic with an additional integrated 3.5G technology configuration which allows high speed internet access, anytime, anywhere. Visit http://sg.fujitsu.com/pc for further details.

- Elaine

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