Lounge Chair, Netbook, Cruise Control

A collection of notable events, latest consumables and interesting websites

By Forbes India

Published: Apr 1, 2010 07:08:34 AM IST

Updated: Apr 1, 2010 08:40:44 AM IST

F1 Lounge Chair

The Formula 1 season would have started by the time you read this. And for the die-hard fans, here’s the perfect chair to watch all the action. The F1 Lounge Chair, designed by Alexander Christoff, is inspired by the F1 racing car. But it’s not just good looking; the chair is ergonomically sound, designed to support the contours of our bodies. It’s made of fibreglass, with chrome steel legs, and has an upholstered, adjustable headrest. But, alas, the chair isn’t commercially available at this time; it’s just a design concept. Which means, says a cynical Forbes India staffer, knock-offs will soon be available in India.

Courtesy Overdrive

Sit Down and Shut Up

The brainchild of Jonas Rylander and Michael Hollesen, the Sweetspot Ballerina (Rs. 36,000, klutzdesign.com ) is an audiophiles’ throne. The headrest is just 13cm wide (your ears get every nuance of the music) and the whole chair is easily adjustable: When you find the perfect position, it can be locked in place. The arms curl into a hollow where you can store a remote.

It’s also extremely comfortable. The fibreglass frame provides ample support and leather cushions provide a sumptuous look. Each cushion has a layer of rubberised horse hair, providing the kind of cushioning found in expensive sofas. On top of that is a layer of memory foam — a type of polyurethane with increased viscosity — that moulds to your body and remembers your shape. That is, you can settle into a bespoke buttock imprint.

Courtesy T3

Commonwealth Writers’ Prize

The Commonwealth Writers’ Prize just announced its 2010 Regional Winners. They are: for Europe and South Asia, Solo, Rana Dasgupta (Best Book) and In Other Rooms, Other Wonders, Daniyal Mueenuddin (Best First Book); Africa, The Double Crown, Marié Heese (Best Book) and I Do Not Come to You by Chance, Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani (Best First Book); Canada and the Caribbean, Galore, Michael Crummey (Best Book) and Under this Unbroken Sky, Shandi Mitchell (Best First Book); and South East Asia and the Pacific, The Adventures of Vela, Albert Wendt (Best Book) and Siddon Rock, Glenda Guest (Best First Book). The overall winner will be announced in Delhi’s India International Centre, at the end of a week of literary events, including signings, readings and interactive sessions, at a number of venues in the capital. Mita Kapur, head of Siyahi, the literary consultancy that is the creative programmer and organiser, tells us that Shashi Tharoor will be the chief guest. Look for details of the programme at siyahi.in .

Cruise Control

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas is the world’s largest cruise ship. At 361 metres, if you stood it on its end it’d be taller than the Eiffel Tower. There’s space onboard for over 6,000 passengers, plus a couple of thousand crew members, and that still leaves acres of room for activities from swimming and surfing to rock climbing and hurtling from stern to prow on a massive zip wire.

If you’re allergic to calisthenics, fear not, there’s plenty of more sedentary onboard entertainments: An open-air park, with more than 12,000 trees, 22 restaurants, seven bars, one of which, the Rising Tide, rises and falls between three decks of the ship! There’s also 3,000 square metres of shops to explore.
For a seven-night stay in the four-star International Plaza, Orlando, followed by a seven-day round cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Mexico, prices start at Rs. 1,00,000 per adult
(virginholidayscruises.co.uk ).
Courtesy T3

Netbook Guide

Chip, a Network18 consumer electronics magazine, has just launched a comprehensive consumer buying guide on netbooks. Th e special edition titled: Chip All About: Netbooks, contains detailed product information and latest prices for over 75 netbooks, with prices ranging from Rs. 13,000 all the way to Rs. 90,000. Apart from listing the latest and best netbooks available currently, the consumer guide also carries a number of useful articles on subjects like fi nding the right one, getting the best performance from your machine, choosing the best OS and browser, and so on. You can download it free at chip.in/allabout .

(This story appears in the 02 April, 2010 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)