Computers are a big business, and when you buy a laptop, chances are you consider a couple of things - the chip speed, the amount of memory, the size of the screen and the features. But what about looks? Up until now, portable PCs have never exactly been seen as a fashion statement. But that could be changing as marketers look for new ways to sell you something you already own.

Case in point - gadget crazy Japan, where a new laptop that sells for $1,750 Canadian has become the latest rage. But what's special about this machine isn't what's in it, but what's on it. It's a " Hello Kitty" model, based on the popular Japanese character. It comes with the famous feline's face on the outside cover, encrusted in 299 sparking Swarovski crystals. "PC users now tend to be men, but we're hoping to attract women with this product," explains Shinya Hashizume, a spokesman for manufacturer NEC.

The P.C. operates with Windows Vista, has 1 gig of memory and a 100 gigabyte hard disk. It's touted in ads as being "dazzling and gorgeous like a jewelry box." The company expects to sell a few hundred of the machines, which come on the market just as Japanese workers get their twice-a-year bonuses. For now, they're only available over the Internet and only in Japan.

But if the idea catches on, many wonder if we could see the start of a new trend - computer as fashion accessory. Now that's one Vista even Bill Gates never thought of.

Photo courtesy: NEC