Asustek's Eco Book encased in bamboo Date:   Tuesday , February 12, 2008 While most computer makers are thinking about new technologies that help in power reduction and make advanced PCs in metal and plastic casings, Taiwan’s Asustek Computer has created an eco-friendly notebook encased in bamboo. Named ‘Eco Book’, it has a case made of laminated bamboo strips available in different shades. The product is still in the prototype stage and engineers are testing out to see if bamboo, which has to endure extreme conditions while allowing heat from microprocessors and monitors to escape, is suitable for laptops. Harvesting bamboo, an abundant, pliant, durable, and fast-growing grass, is unlikely to harm the environment as processing wood from trees might, Asustek said, although glues and laminates for shaping and reinforcing the material sometimes contain toxins. The move is to differentiate Asustek from other notebook makers. The company is planning to release the bamboo encased laptops by 2008.