The World's First Digital Clutch (so they say)

Aw, marketing. Taking something and making it appear much more than it is, when sometimes what it is is good enough.

As is the case with the new HP Mini Vivienne Tam Edition - what is being called "the world's first-ever digital clutch." I first saw it today in the February issue of British Vogue (that's right, I was oblivious when it went down the runway at New York fashion week in September) and thought "Really? It's a wireless and you can carry your stuff in it? And it looks like that? Brilliant!"

Not so fast. Yes, it's a computer, and yes, it's gorgeous - a glossy red case adorned with a pink and lilac peony design from Tam's "China Chic" style. But the 'clutch' part simply refers to the fact that you can carry it in your hand, rather than a clutch bag which is what one is immediately lead to believe - especially when reading about it in Vogue! And here I was thinking you could lift up the flap and have some kind of iPhone/Blackberry-type capability built in.

In that case, I have the real "world's first-ever digital clutch" - my tiny Asus Eee PC Series that weighs the same as the Viv at 1.02 kg. The only real difference is how it looks. But it is marketed for its portable functionality rather than as a stylish, high-tech accessory to be publicly displayed instead of thrown into your bag (although it comes in great colours and has been since updated to look quite sleek), so there are no fancy campaigns claiming such a status.

If you're seriously looking for a portable mini PC, do your homework. All the manufacturers are in the game now and when not paying for a designer collaboration you can get double the gigs at half the price or less. If you go for Tam's, just know you're paying double for the beauty of it. And that I'm jealous.

Runway photo: AP Photo by Stuart Ramson