Just when you think it is safe to browse the USB hubs and webcams again, here come strange little eco-friendly Lili and Oscar.

Oscar (the USB hub) and Lili (webcam with 1.3-megapixel sensor and a built-in microphone) are available in four different colors, are constructed from recyclable materials, and are produced "in a fair trade environment." Lili will cost £30 ($60), and Oscar will be available for £20 ($40).

My dog can recognize my face, and so one might be tempted to think that NEC’s LaVie notebooks, with their "face pass" feature, is no big deal. But come on, this is a computer–recognizing your face using the 2 megapixel Webcam and using it as a password is a pretty robust feature. Otherwise, the specs are pretty typical: Core 2 Duo or Celeron, depending on model, 15.4 inch displays, and optional Blu-ray drive. Prices range from the low-end LaVie L at $1,300 to the LaVie C at over $2,500.

Meet Boynq’s 10 watt iCube II with an iPod docking port, line-in, dedicated treble / bass controls. More pix below, including the Sabre with twice the wattage and a video output, and the USB-powered Alibi webcam.

It rocks everywhere else, so why not there? Check out these specs:

• Santa Rosa chipset
• 13.3" LCD
• Choice of Core 2 Duo processors
• nVidia GeForce G8400M G External graphics
• Up to 2.5GB RAM
• 160GB SATA HDD
• 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth 2.0
• Optional GPS
• Optional 3G
• Optional TurboMemory
• eSATA, HDMI, GPS RF in, USB, Firewire, and a bunch of other ports
• 1.3 megapixel webcam
• Fingerprint reader

All of this is encased in a nice magnesium allow case, black, of course, with leather handrests. Other than an SSD and LED option, I can’t think of anything this monster doesn’t have. Should be available in the next few months, starting at $2,000 or so–which I find entirely reasonable, but then again I’m guessing the price could get astronomical when options are added.

Okay, some things are just extravagant, you know? Almost embarassingly so. Consider the specs on the new Toshiba Qosmio G45-AV680: HD DVD-R3 drive, USB HD tuner, Santa Rosa Intel PM965 chipset, Core 2 Duo T7300, 2GB RAM,  nVidia GForce 8600 GT 512MB, dual 160GB HDD, all current and future wireless standards, webcam, Harmon Kardon 4-speaker system with subwoofer,  and obligatory fingerprint reader. Whew! It’ll cost you: $3,199, but if you’re in the market for the notebook that has everything (except SSD, I do notice), the Qosmio might be your cup of tea.