If you haven’t made the leap to a laptop or tablet yet, you may appreciate something like the Sony Dash.

Maybe you just don’t like taking either of those items into bed, because the Dash seems geared towards those times where you want to be horizontal. The last model was the perfect bedtime buddy, offering various web-based content to rock you to sleep or maybe shake you into consciousness. Now Sony has announced two new Dash models, the HID-B7 and HID-B70.

According to Sony, both new models offer news, alarms, weather, Internet radio, photos and more. The HID-B70 Dash adds portability, via a built-in lithium-ion battery. Why you’d carry a little box around when the iPod touch, iPhone, iPad and a slew of Android devices are available doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Then again, it’s nice to have options.

Speaking of which, that same HID-B70 model is available in three colors: brown, slate blue and orange. The HID-B7 Dash comes in basic black.

Both units have a 7-inch LCD touchscreen, Wi-Fi support, alarm functions, and the prospect of having 1,000 free apps available at your bedside, in the kitchen, at the office, or anywhere else you’d want to place this unit.

Expect the new Dash models to start shipping next month. The HID-B7 Dash will have an MSRP of $129.95, with the portability of the HID-B70 costing $169.95.

Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer

Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.