Bamboo Laptop Is Star of Computer Show

It's not often that computers are sold on their "spiritual warmth" and "refreshing fragrance" but the star of the world's biggest IT fair was something different. Instead of shiny plastic it was encased in laminated bamboo strips. The result, said its Taiwanese makers, Asus, was "both aesthetically pleasing and good for the environment".

The Eco Book was the answer, they said, to the growing concern about the use of plastics.

"Bamboo is the most sustainable raw material there is," said Jellent Sun, a senior director.