The Latest Tablet PC Comparisons, Reviews, Software & Accessories and Announcements
Our Tablet PC Quick Compare include photos and allows you to quickly and easily compare the differences between individual Tablet PC'S
Updated November 18, 2009
Right, the good news first: a new report says the Apple tablet will now come in two flavours, LCD and gorgeous OLED. The bad news: that means the Apple tablet will likely be delayed until the back end of 2010 as Apple tries to bring costs down.
Today, AT&T introduced its newest netbook, the Samsung Go. It weighs in at 2.8 pounds and can connect to AT&T's data network (where available), sports an eye-catching midnight blue color, a soft texture design, LED-backlit, borderless glass display (which is scratch resistant, by the way) and comes with a 4-cell battery. There's also 3 USB sockets, a 160GB hard drive, Windows 7 Starter, a 1.3MP camera and an Atom N270 CPU.
The Samsung Go is available beginning Nov. 22 through AT&T retail locations or online
Laptops from Asus and Toshiba, followed by Sony and Apple, had the lowest failure rates of the nine manufacturers included in a report from Square Trade, a provider of electronics warranties. Hewlett-Packard, which is the world’s largest producer of PCs, came in last.
Asus and Toshiba are the most reliable laptop makers, and netbooks have a 20 percent higher failure rate than laptops, according to a Nov. 17 study from SquareTrade, an electronics warranty provider that analyzed the failure rates of more than 30,000 new laptops covered by its warranty plan.
The report arrives just in time for the holiday shopping season, and offers an overview of laptop failure rates, failure rates caused by accidents versus malfunctions, and netbook failure rates compared to those of laptops.
Considering a netbook purchase? You aren’t alone.
“[By 2009,] netbooks have achieved a feature-set maturity that has allowed them to fully compete with low-end notebook computers,” according to SquareTrade. “Laptops have historically been among the most popular electronics gifts, and this year the netbook is especially attractive to shoppers operating on tight budgets looking for an inexpensive way to replace an aging computer
It defined netbooks as laptops costing less than $400, entry-level laptops as those priced between $400 and $1,000, and premium laptops as those passing the $1,000 mark.
Foxit Corporation, a leader in mobile/desktop PDF solutions and Ritescript®, a division of Evernote® Corporation, a provider of handwriting recognition and digital ink technologies have announced an immediate availability of PDF PenSuite Pro™.
“We at Ritescript are excited about the cooperation with Foxit Software, a world-renowned PDF expert.” said Leonid Kitainik, general manager of Ritescript. “With the fast growth of Tablet PC usage in healthcare and the proliferation of electronic whiteboards in education, our joint product will make doctors, nurses, students, and teachers more efficient in their offices and on the go and will contribute to the paperless world.”
Revolutionizing the PDF for Healthcare and Educational Professionals
The PDF PenSuite Pro is a powerful and inexpensive PDF authoring tool emphasizing digital ink features. This technology is geared toward professional users in the healthcare and education markets. The PDF PenSuite Pro makes it easier for healthcare offices and doctors along with educators and students who are increasingly using Tablet PCs, convertible netbooks, pen tablets, interactive whiteboards, and any other digital pen.
Getac Products Surpass Rigorous Test Processes for Heat/Cold, Sand/Dust and Water to Ensure Outstanding Performance in Any Environment
Getac, a leading innovator and manufacturer of rugged computers that meet the demands of field-based applications, announced that its line of notebook computers and Tablet PCs has been MIL-STD-810G, MIL-STD-461F and IP65 certified by an independent testing lab to withstand severe environmental conditions. These standards were established by the military to ensure minimum performance standards for any product used by agencies and organizations within the Department of Defense.
GTM will be demonstrating Alirti™ at the upcoming CES from booth 36440 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, upper level of South Hall 4. Stop by Globaltel Media’s booth for a daily chance to win a tablet PC. For demos and more information on Aliriti™, visit www.alirti.com.
Many users looking to buy a netbook are put off by units that come with Windows 7 Starter Edition, according to a survey by an online consumer comparison shopping site. Unfortunately, the site, Retrevo.com, found consumers have little choice.
The site found that most of the netbooks sold by Amazon.com -- 23 out of 28 -- came with what Retrevo referred to in a blog post as "a low-end feature-starved version that lacks many of the features that make other versions of Windows 7 so attractive." In short, they almost all come with Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows 7 Starter Edition pre-installed.
So Retrevo decided to ask its customers what they think.
With some 1,100 consumers responding, the non-scientific survey found that 56 percent said they'd be dissatisfied if a new netbook came with Starter Edition, the lowest-end edition of the new Windows 7 operating system.
In addition, 61 percent did not realize that Windows 7 Starter Edition lacks features that come standard with Windows XP, which until now has been the most popular operating system to ship with netbooks.
For example, Starter Edition lacks multiple monitor support, the ability to personalize the desktop, and DVD playback capabilities. It also does not sport the Aero user interface.
For the last few days, rumors about an Nvidia-made tablet PC based around the Tegra processor have circulated around the Internet. Now Nvidia's given Engadget some straightforward info about the device. The gadget is currently in the prototype phase, and comes in several different sizes. It currently runs Windows CE and uses a resistive touchscreen, although we're likely to see it run the Android OS and feature a capacitive touchscreen when it launches.
This gadget is currently set for a launch roughly around March of 2010. This is extremely exciting, because the images we're seeing of the current prototype look almost identical to the iTablet renders we've been watching for months. While Apple may never actually end up producing such a device, a Tegra-based tablet running Android sounds just as good. If not a little bit better.
Japan-based PC vendor Fujitsu has launched the 12.1-inch LifeBook T4310 tablet PC priced at NT$52,800 (US$1,625) in Taiwan along with the 11.6-inch LifeBook P3110 and 12.1-inch LifeBook P8110 ultra-thin notebooks priced at NT$29,800 and NT$48,800, respectively.
While LifeBook T4310 is priced higher than the NT$25,000-35,000 asked for tablet PCs by first-tier vendors, Fujitsu Taiwan emphasized the T4310's high quality and specifications, as well as its "made in Japan" origin.
Fujitsu Taiwan pointed out it sells about 100 tablet PCs per month in Taiwan mainly to the medicare and education markets, but with the new tablet PC entering the consumer market, sales are expected to increase in the future.
The LifeBook P3110, made by Quanta Computer will only be sold in the Asia Pacific market and the company plans to launch another P3 series model made by Inventec in the future. The LifeBook P8110 is produced by Fujitsu in-house.
Windows 7 was naturally the star of the show at Microsoft’s recent Windows 7 Launch Event in New York City. But also taking the stage was an assortment of new computers, many designed to take advantage of the new operating system.
While browsing through the aisles of machines on display, I found several that caught my eye, especially among the notebooks and netbooks. I discovered several portables that take advantage of Windows 7 multitouch, a few that convert into tablets, and others that can run for several hours on a single battery charge. But the big theme was thin and light. The newest in notebooks and netbooks are thinner and lighter than you might have thought possible, so they're great options for your users who are always on the go.
Acer
Aspire 1420P
The Aspire 1420P was on display for only a very short time, so I didn't get much of a chance to play with it. But based on the demo and its specs, this could be a winner. This 11-inch notebook has a swivel top that converts it into a tablet PC. From what I could tell, it's thinner and lighter than some of the other notebook/tablet combo portables that I've seen. I'm not sure if Acer classifies this as a notebook or netbook (the lines have been getting very blurry)
Lenovo
ThinkPad X200 Tablet with Multi Touch
Lenovo offers its own combo notebook/tablet PC, slightly larger than Acer's but also a bit thicker and heavier. Powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo, it's also likely to be speeder than Acer's Celeron driven-machine. Lenovo provides up to 4GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive or 128GB Solid State drive. The company claims a single battery charge can keep the PC running for around 9 or 10 hours. Add in a weight of around 3.5 pounds, and you've got another good choice for road warriors. The 12-inch screen can swivel to turn the ThinkPad into a full-fledged tablet PC. You can even order an Optional SuperBright Outdoor panel designed to eliminate glare and reflection when you take the PC outside
Fresh from research indicating that Acer has now overtaken Dell in worldwide PC sales, the Taiwanese giant is now adding a second multi-touch Tablet PC to its burgeoning list of notebooks. Following on from the recently announced 1820P, the new model, 1420P, will ship with an 11.6in touch-sensitive, rotating screen with resolutions of either 1,366×768 or, on the cheaper model, 1,024×600.
Powered by a choice of Intel’s CULV processors – Celeron and Core 2 Duo – on top of a GS45 chipset that integrates the GMA X4500MHD graphics, Acer quotes a maximum battery life of around eight hours, based on the supplied 5,600mAh six-cell battery.
What do you get when you build a laptop computer without the DVD drive? A small, lightweight (2 to 3 pound) computer called a netbook that does most of the things you want from a notebook computer.
You can get on the Web, do e-mail, and light word processing.
Just about all of the new models have a Web cam and come with WiFi and Bluetooth capability.
"They're terrific portable computers, if you travel a lot," says Jim Barry, the consumer electronics industry's Digital Answer Man
"And they start as little as $250. The highest-priced ones are only about $500."
This might explain why netbooks are growing in popularity.
"Just about all of the companies that make portable computers or desktops for that matter are now making Netbook computers."
Most netbooks have a Windows or Linux operating system. Some models come with Windows 7 Starter Edition.
An FCC filing (PDF) from Novatel has revealed that Dell plans to apply its rugged XFR badge to a tablet PC for the first time. Titled the Latitude XT2 XFR, it would take the company’s familiar 12-inch XT2 convertible tablet but harden the system for use outdoors or in more dangerous workplaces: the body would have extra shock-absorbing protection, particularly at the corners and the hinge. It would also have protected ports to guard against dust or water.
If you’ve been holding out for your next netbook with view to upgrading to a touch capable device and you have a somewhat restrained budget then the Windows 7 powered Asus Eee PC T91MT Tablet Netbook will doubtless prove a particularly tempting proposition in offering the enhanced usability of a compact convertible along with an 8.9” touch capable LED LCD display.
The Asus Eee PC T91MT Tablet Netbook (specifically the T91MT-PU17-WT) comes with a 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor and 1GB DDR2 RAM (which can be upgraded to a maximum of 2GB) under the hood whilst, in terms of storage capacity, you’re looking at an integrated 32GB solid state drive backed up, of course, with 500GB of online storage space courtesy of Asus’s Eee Storage facility.
Now, even as the economy continues to falter, Motion, whose biggest competitor is electronics giant Panasonic Inc., could have an advantage.
Its target customers are in health care and construction, two industries expected to grow this year, thanks to the federal government's economic stimulus plan.
In the spring, Motion launched a new slate tablet PC, the J3400, designed for rough and tumble treatment, including drops, bumps and dusty and wet conditions. Priced at $2,299, it includes a camera, GPS and all-day battery life.
David Krebs, a mobile and wireless analyst at VDC Research Group in Natick, Mass., said Motion "was one of the earliest pioneers in this market, and they're clearly recognized as one of the top leaders, both in market share and in innovation.
"There's something of a rebirth happening in this category right now, thanks to renewed interest in health care, construction and the military. Motion is in the right place to benefit from that."
They're not alone in either the tablet PC or scurrilous-rumors category, though: Gizmodo has been drilling deep into the Courier, a tablet/booklet that will supposedly run on Windows 7, with Microsoft-crafted hardware, and let you take notes and run applications. On Nov. 4, the blog hit the proverbial motherlode, publishing several slides and a short video of Courier allegedly in action.
The Asus Eee Keyboard, previously confirmed for an October 2009 release, won't be out until 2010. Savvy gadget nerds probably realized this several days ago, when the netbook-inside-a-keyboard didn't launch within the one month window given. Now, Digitimes gives us the reason why. Apparently the original version of the Eee Keyboard didn't pass wireless regulation testing.
Asus also confirmed that, during the CES 2010 show, they'll be debuting a 10” tablet PC as well as several smartbooks. They'll also show off some Atom N450 netbooks, new ultraportable PCs, and possibly a 9” grayscale E-Reader. In addition, CES could see the first unveiling of “several” Asus Android smartphones.
ARCHOS once again is leading the way in innovation with the introduction of the Netbook of the future, the ARCHOS 9 PCtablet. The new ARCHOS 9 PCtablet combines the performance of a high end netbook with breathtaking aesthetics, excellent ergonomics and a tactile interface on a superb screen.
Pure lines, extreme thinness (0.67''), 800g and a stunning black finish, the ARCHOS 9 PCtablet pushes the boundaries of elegance and simplicity on a Netbook, fulfilling the expectations of the most mobile users. It provides all the power and comfort needed for daily usage.
With this ultra-light and thin PCtablet, you can watch you videos (including Full HD format), browse the web, “video chat”, or write your mails or documents.
While the world and his wife seems obsessed with the Apple Tablet, which is still, let’s remember just a rumour at this point, Microsoft’s Courier tablet looks increasingly impressive. Read on to find out about the amazing interface of Microsoft’s magic tablet…
If you’re used to the fairly convention files and folders structure of Windows (even the shiny new Windows 7), Microsoft Courier looks like it could blow your mind.
The heart of Microsoft Courier’s UI is the rather snazzily named Infinite Journal. It’s a notebook which catalogues your writing, drawings, photos and multimedia. It is actually structured with pages and each item has a time stamp and is geotagged.
There are also options to add your own custom cover to the Infinite Journal and the ability to search not just by time, location, file name and tags but via handwriting recognition.
There is also a view called Smart Agenda which summarises the content in your Infinite Journal showing appointments, emails, to-do lists, weather and messages from friends in one place.
In this marvelous multi-touch world we live in gestures are vital and Microsoft Courier has them. A one-finger tap and hold will clip and copy content, a flick vertically scrolls, two fingers gestures open and close apps. Up or down opens apps while swiping across the screeand off closes them. You can also pinch to zoom.
The Official website for Tony Winning Actor David Alvarez from the musical Billy Elliot on Broadway is now Live. Next week I will be introducing David to the Lenovo X200 Tablet PC.
One of the smallest, most pocketable ultraportables still remains the Sony Vaio P. We always liked its slim design and high-resolution screen...the problem was that it was far too expensive. That problem may be in the process of being rectified, according to reports that Verizon could be adding the Vaio P to its subsidized Netbook offerings this week. The cost? A mere $299, according to Gadgetmix and Phonearena. While that would require a 2-year contract, the original Vaio P cost around $1,000 at the beginning of 2009, making the subsidized price very appealing.
Even better, the P seems like it will be outfitted with a 160GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM, and Windows 7 Home Premium. While it will have to compete with other high-quality Verizon Netbook offerings like the HP Mini 311, the Vaio P is another high-design Netbook we wouldn't mind owning at the right price, especially with 3G built in.
Most of you thought that the XO OLPC would be succeeded by the XO-2, dual display laptop, right? Well, it appears that the idea has been binned, in favor of an XO tablet computer, and taking into account the popularity of netbook computers, we can see why they’d want to check out tablet computers. The bad news is that you can’t expect it until at least 2012, which is still a long way away. By that time will we all be sporting phones that can project 20-inch images, and flying cars? We’ll have to wait and see.
Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD),division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the availability of its new line of Satellite Pro, Tecra and Portg business laptops with Windows 7 support. The Satellite Pro line features new screen size options in 15.6-inch, 17.3-inch diagonal display configurations as well as a 13.3-inch diagonal touch-screen display and includes performance enhancements that will appeal to cost-conscious professionals looking for a reliable PC at the right price.
'Windows 7 provides us with the ability to offer our customers the many productivity enhancements in the new operating system that enable business professionals to work more quickly and effectively while in the office or on the road, as well as innovative features such as Touch in form factors beyond Tablet PCs,' said Carl Pinto, vice president of product development, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division.
Touch-enabled Laptops Enhanced Productivity
Building on its expertise in Tablet PCs, Toshiba is bringing the intuitive touch experience to laptops built for mobility. Leveraging Windows 7 multi-touch capabilities, the new Satellite Pro U500 Touch laptop features a 13.3-inch diagonal multi-touch screen display that helps mobile professionals easily tap, drag-and-drop and scroll through files, calendars, tasks, or zoom in and out of a window with just a two-finger pinch. In addition, Toshiba is including touch-ready basic productivity software, Toshiba LifeSpace' on the Satellite Pro U500 Touch.
Perfect for students, administrators and teachers, Toshiba has updated the Portg M750 with more powerful Intel Core' 2 Duo processors2. With its pen and touch input, the convertible Tablet PC with a 12.1-inch diagonal display supports solutions that encourage 1:1 learning and interaction in the classroom, enabling students and teachers to draw diagrams, take notes or annotate documents in their own handwriting. Users can feel confident with their computer purchase as Toshiba delivers the Portg M750 Tablet PC with the utmost security, functional features and a generous Three-Year Standard Limited Warranty. The Portg M750 Tablet PC comes equipped with Windows XP Tablet PC Edition with upgrade media for Windows 7 Professional. Prices start at $1,279 MSRP1.
Acer recently outpaced Dell as the second largest PC seller in the world. Is No. 1 Hewlett-Packard next on the list?
Acer Chairman J.T. Wang reportedly intends to ship 40 million notebooks in 2010, a number that could help the Taiwanese company challenge and even overtake current champ Hewlett-Packard for the top spot in portable PC sales.
To achieve this goal, Acer is looking to kick up revenue by more than 70 percent over the next three years, said Wang in an interview with Reuters.
Much of that revenue growth is likely to come from an anticipated 50 percent gain in sales for low-cost Netbook PCs. As the economy improves, Wang expects to sell an ever greater number of low-priced, portable PCs, a segment that has been very kind to the company.
and, if this rumor from PhoneArena (via Electronista) is correct, a fourth is on the way. The Sony Vaio P netbook is said to be making its way to Big Red for a very low price; $300. The Vaio P retails for $850, which means quite a subsidy from Verizon, and quite a deal for their customers.
The VZW-edition of the P will pack Windows 7 and a non-standard 160 GB hard drive. Normally, this Vaio only comes with 60 and 80 GB hard drive options, which could be a sign of an error in the rumor.
Dell has unveiled the Latitude XT2 XFR, which it claims is the world's smallest multi-touch rugged tablet PC.
According to Dell, the 12.1in tablet PC's design was inspired by discussions with US law enforcement and national defence bodies. The Latitude XT2 XFR is 38mm thick and weighs 2.45kg.
Compression-sealing and a rugged LCD display and keyboard means the tablet PC is resistant to moisture and dust, making it ideal for industrial use.
Powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, the Latitude XT2 XFR is available with up to 5GB of RAM and either 64 or 128GB solid state drive. Alternatively, users can choose a 160GB hard disk drive.
The 12.1in multi-touch display can recognise four simultaneous finger presses and can be used to record data, manipulate images, zoom into maps or scroll around documents.
For months, gadget blogs and rumour sites devoted to following all things Apple Inc. have been abuzz with unconfirmed reports that the Cupertino, California computer giant is hard at work developing a touch screen tablet, or "slate" portable computer.
So what do we know about the possible Apple Tablet, iSlate or whatever it's going to be called?
We've been told the Apple Tablet is a personal project of Apple chief executive officer Steve Jobs, one which he has kept a close watch over since returning from this health-related absence this summer, according to the Wall Street Journal.
New York Times executive editor Bill Keller ignited fresh speculation about Apple's impending tablet earlier this week when he mentioned the "impending Apple slate" during a speech (skip ahead to the 8:30 mark of the video).
multi-functioning rugged Tablet PC has the capacity and performance to support all the applications mobile workers need at a price companies can afford. MobileDemand, a leading Tablet PC provider, introduced the xTablet T7000, a rugged UMPC (Ultra mobile PC) that combines the functionality of a notebook, full Windows OS of a tablet and the portability and data collection capabilities of a handheld in a light-weight slate form factor with a built-in numeric keypad, optional QWERTY keyboard attachment and 7" high resolution (1024 x 600 & 768) all-light-readable touch screen display.
MobileDemand, a leading Tablet PC provider, today introduced the xTablet T7000, a rugged UMPC (Ultra mobile PC) that combines the functionality of a notebook, full Windows OS of a tablet and the portability and data collection capabilities of a handheld in a light-weight slate form factor with a built-in numeric keypad, optional QWERTY keyboard attachment and 7" high resolution (1024 x 600 & 768) all-light-readable touch screen display.
xTablet T7000
"Our customers need a new kind of rugged Tablet PC; one that is small and light-weight like a handheld, yet still has a large screen and the performance and functionality of a full Windows OS device," says MobileDemand President Matt Miller.
"The xTablet T7000 delivers on all these requirements. Customers can run full versions of their business applications eliminating the need to create and support 'light' versions. An example is in the direct store delivery market for consumer goods: in addition to replacing laptops for field sales, beta tests indicate that the xTablet T7000 also has the potential to replace handhelds for route delivery. Plus, it offers customers additional capabilities to provide new revenue-generating products and services to their customers and make better decisions at the point of transaction," Miller continues.
Just because a laptop is rugged doesn't necessarily mean it can't be light. With that thinking in mind, Dell today announced the newest addition to its family of rugged laptops and tablet PCs, the Dell XT2 XFR.
Marketed primarily to customers in the military, police, border patrol, field service organizations, factory fulfillment and first responders, the XT2 XFR is a convertible tablet PC that measures 1.5 inches by 12.1 inches by 9.4 inches (HWD) and weighs 5.4 pounds (with the standard 4-cell battery and solid state drive included).
The 12.1-inch WXGA (1,280-by-800) screen has capacitive multitouch and is outdoor-viewable.
NEC does have a prototype tablet PC in the works, where it will resemble more closely to a mobile Internet device thanks to its form factor that will sport a touchscreen display at up to 8". Meant to function more towards a full-fledged PC, we still have no word on its technical specifications, and despite the mockup showing off Android, it might not be reflective of the final design. NEC has praised the device's speedy boot up time which might point towards cloud computing as part of its specifications.
Businesses large and small view the xTablet T8700 Rugged Tablet PC as a superior computing choice because of its exclusive feature combinations. Mobile workforces can depend upon the xTablet to perform mission critical tasks, including applications in field service, retail, food/beverage distribution, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing and warehousing to name a few.
Enhanced Productivity
Empowering your field workforce becomes critical as businesses expand their duties to include ever growing services for customers. Collecting accurate data is vital to an efficient process, so MobileDemand created best in class automatic data collection capability with the xTablet T8700.
"The xTablet was clearly our choice due to its combined power and ruggedness. We don't have time to contend with hardware problems on non-rugged computers."
New Lenovo IdeaPad Laptops and IdeaCentre Desktops Deliver Style, Ease of Use and Multimedia Features for Consumers New PCs Bundle Lenovo
Enhanced Experience Certification for Windows 7 and Complementary Intel Processor Technology
Lenovo today unveiled a lineup of new IdeaPad laptops-- U150, U550 and Y550P --
and IdeaCentre desktops -- B500, K300 and H230 -- designed to meet the
performance, style and usability standards of multi-tasking consumers.
The new Idea PCs combine stylish designs and innovative features enabled by
the ultra low power Intel® Core™ processor family of products and
improved performance with an Intel® Core™ i7 processor. These new
products ship with Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system and also include
the unique Lenovo Enhanced
Experience for Windows 7 -- the result of joint engineering by Lenovo
in collaboration with Microsoft to provide users with faster system boot
and shutdown, richer multimedia features and easy system maintenance tools.
Touch screen technology may seem shiny and new but any analyst will tell you that it has been
around for decades: ATMs, grocery store self-check kiosks, even museum exhibits. But what makes
Windows 7
so exciting is that no computer operating system ever incorporated native support for multitouch before. The new breed of multitouch laptops and desktops with touch screens don't need extra downloads or plugins-- multitouch just works.
A few Windows-based "multitouch" systems have come out as well—namely the
HP TouchSmart TX2
and
Dell Latitude XT
line of laptops, as well as the
HP TouchSmart desktop PCs
. These systems used built-in hardware and software solutions to accommodate two-finger touch (though they still couldn't support three- and four-finger gestures). But it wasn't until early glimpses at Windows 7 this year that we saw Microsoft itself respond to the multitouch trend.
How Multitouch Works
A few months before those MacBooks hit the scene,
Microsoft announced its plans for multitouch
at the All Things Digital conference in California. Unlike any of its predecessors, Windows 7 natively supports multitouch functionality in touch screens and is built to accommodate up to 10 points of contact. On the Engineering Windows 7 blog, the developers highlight all the ways the OS was tweaked to optimize it for touch. It's everything from making keys on the on-screen keyboard glow when your finger is covering the letter to improving high dpi support to make small links and buttons easier to access with touch.
Though the software is similar across platforms, the PCs we've tested use different hardware solutions. The multitouch laptops we've seen so far, like the
Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablet
and
Fujitsu LifeBook T5010
use dual-active digitizers, meaning they have one technology for the stylus and another, called capacitive, is activated for multitouch using your fingers. Non-tablets like the
Lenovo ThinkPad T400s
use a capacitive touch screen only, and many more will follow this implementation (Toshiba and Acer have already announced capacitive touch panels on their mainstream laptops).
Tablets are all well and good, but sometimes you want a real keyboard and the increased utility of a netbook. And netbooks are fantastic, but sometimes you'd like to be able to just navigate on the fly with a touch of your fingers. If only there were some sort of portable gadget that could bridge the gap between netbook and tablet PC. Oh wait, what's this? According to Pocketables, there is!
Japanese manufacturer Kohjinsha has just announced the release of their PA series of netbook/tablets. These nifty little gadgets feature a 4.8" WSVGA touchscreen, 1.33 GHz Atom CPU, 512 MB of RAM, and a 32 GB SSD. The battery life for this sweet tabletbook is listed at an impressive 7.5 hours, and it features an SD slot and 1.3 MP webcam. Altogether, the Kohjinsha PA looks like one of the more impressive gadgets we've seen.
Far more Mac owners than PC owners would be willing to pay more than $600 for the rumored Apple Tablet, according to a survey released Monday by consumer electronics shopping site Retrevo.com.
According to the survey by Sunnyvale-based Retrevo, 68 percent of Mac owners were willing to pay the price, opposed to 36 percent of PC owners.
Data for the survey came from a study of online individuals conducted by an independent panel, Retrevo said.
To the question of whether they plan to purchase their first netbook this year, 20 percent of PC users said yes, 22 percent of Mac users said yes and 33 percent if iPhone users said yes.
Hantech, though, has now released the SiSo Tablo which, in addition to working on a piece of paper, can be used directly on the PC's screen like a stylus. To do this, Tablo includes a USB device that looks like a miniature desk lamp that attaches to the top or sides of a PC screen. It tracks the movement of its stylus using ultrasound; the stylus requires three tiny batteries, each the size of an aspirin.
Tablo ships with Microsoft software that makes Windows think the PC is a tablet PC and allows all the tricks that a tablet PC can do, including handwriting recognition.
Tablo can be handy for creating a quick diagram, sketch, or signature inside a document. It could also be useful for filling out a large number of check boxes on digital forms. And because it works with so wide a variety of notebooks, Tablo offers you more choice in terms of PC configuration.
For example, Tablo can be used with inexpensive netbooks with 10-inch screens, whereas most tablet PCs have larger screens -- and the extra weight that comes with them.
An FCC filing (PDF) from Novatel has revealed that Dell plans to apply its rugged XFR badge to a tablet PC for the first time. Titled the Latitude XT2 XFR, it would take the company's familiar 12-inch XT2 convertible tablet but harden the system for use outdoors or in more dangerous workplaces: the body would have extra shock-absorbing protection, particularly at the corners and the hinge. It would also have protected ports to guard against dust or water.
Most internal details aren't revealed in the filing; however, Novatel does confirm the XT2 XFR will at least have an option for internal 3G both on EVDO and HSPA. A fingerprint reader is visible. The system on show at the US agency is running Windows Vista Ultimate, but Dell is now assumed to be using variants of Windows 7 that will likely include Professional. A capacitive screen that still offers stylus support is also a probable feature.
No immediate clues exist as to when the toughened Latitude will ship. [viaWireless Goodness]
Reach out and Touch
There was one surprise: Microsoft said that Amazon will offer its Kindle e-book reader platform for Windows 7 PCs, specifically targeted at touch-based devices. A beta version will be available next month. By downloading the free reader, individuals can use a tablet as they would a Kindle. "It will work on any touch-based laptop," said Austin Wilson, director of Windows product management, during an interview in a partner pavilion at the launch.
While a Kindle-enabled tablet PC could function as a primary e-book reader device, Wilson believes it will be used to supplement the Kindle. "I think most people will use it as a companion, not a replacement," he said.
OEMs such as Acer, Fujitsu and others said they will release new tablet-based laptops that support capacitive-based touch functionality. Unlike traditional resistive-based touch systems, these devices will be more reactive to customer input, Wilson said.
Acer has launched its 11.6-inch Aspire 1420P tablet PC in the Taiwan market at a suggested price of below NT$25,000 (US$772). The Aspire 1420P comes with a convertible design and is powered by an Intel SU2300 processor and runs on Windows 7. The tablet PC is made by Quanta Computer.
The Aspire 1420P is equipped with a battery that Acer claims can run for eight hours continuously. The device also features 2GB DDR3 memory and a 250GB hard drive.
Acer president Scott Lin pointed out the launch of Windows 7 plus the maturity of panel technologies will help demand for table PC rebound. However, he believes tablet PCs will still be pushed in niche markets and will account for less than 10% of global notebook shipments in the future.
Nonetheless, Acer expects to play a big role in the tablet PC market,
Microsoft Corp. formally unveiled Thursday its newest operating system, Windows 7, as the software giant tries to move beyond the disappointing performance of the previous system and recharge revenue growth.
"Today is an important day for the computer industry. Certainly for Microsoft," said Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer at a launch event in New York that was crowded by Microsoft partners and laptop-toting technology press.
The Windows operating system remains the world's most widely used, with some version of it sitting on roughly 90% of the world's computers. However, according to technology research firm Gartner Inc., more than 80% of Microsoft's corporate customers are still running XP.
Reviews of Windows 7 have been overwhelmingly positive. The program is designed to be simpler and run at faster speeds. It sacrifices features that can over-complicate the experience and place an unwanted burden on memory, according to reviews.
Windows 7 is impressive. That word is rarely used in the same sentence as “Microsoft” and “Windows” – certainly not in recent years. But it fits here.
Unlike its predecessors, this Windows version feels as if it were designed and built by a single, coordinated team instead of being assembled from interchangeable parts. In daily use, Windows 7 feels graceful and often (but not always) elegant. Although it builds on elements that debuted in Windows Vista, it fixes many usability sins and adds consistency and polish to an interface that had too many rough edges. And some very impressive new capabilities, especially the grossly underrated Libraries feature, offer rewards for digging deeper.
Windows 7 runs smoothly and efficiently on even modest hardware. Remarkably, it reverses the longstanding trend to make Windows bigger. From a standing start, Windows 7 uses less memory, runs fewer services, and consumes less disk space than its predecessor, Windows Vista, and in the 64-bit version it can address about five times more RAM than you can actually stuff onto a single motherboard. This year, anyway.
Amazon announced on Thursday its “Kindle for PC,” a free application that lets users read e-books on their PCs.
The software makes it easier for a tablet PC to double as an e-reader that’s compatible with Amazon’s Kindle store and its 360,000-some books.
Like its namesake e-reader device, Kindle for PC uses Amazon’s Whispersync tech to automatically save and synchronize bookmarks and last page read across devices. (Kindle books can now be read on the Kindle, Kindle DX, iPhone, iPod touch and PC.)
Motion`s J3400, F5 and C5 Tablet PCs Now Available with Windows 7 Offering
Enhanced Productivity Benefits and New Features That Support Computing at the
Point of Service
Motion Computing®, a leading provider of integrated mobile computing solutions,
today announced that its complete line of rugged tablet PCs are ready to ship
with Windows® 7 Professional. Additionally, the Motion® J3400, C5, F5 and LE1700
Tablet PCs are supported for upgrading to the new operating system. With
enhanced tablet PC functionality, faster performance and improvements to power
management for extended battery life, Windows 7 helps mobile users extend the
productivity benefits of computing with highly mobile Motion Tablet PCs.
Windows 7 also supports tablet PCs with improved pen computing capabilities.
From enhanced handwriting features to customized dictionaries, users across
vertical industries can now more easily gather and input information without
relying on a keyboard. Tablet PC enhancements in Windows 7 include improved
handwriting recognition, the ability to support handwritten math expressions,
virtual keyboard text prediction and support for 12 languages.
Apple launches a portable tablet sized computer that can be used to surf the internet as well as to read electronic books. This device has a 10 inch screen that is ideal to read books as well as news papers and hence can save papers and will in turn protect the environment by reducing the fast rate of deforestation.
* This gadget will surely redefine newspapers and magazines. The big media company’s, book publishers and magazine executives are negotiating with Apple to bring their content onto the device in some revolutionary way.
* The gadget will enable us to read electronic books or news papers that will get updated as new editions release or new definitions or news come by.
* The gadget also enables us to see animated pictures related to the books or news papers.
* Moreover the Apple is also aiming to make people listen to the actual speeches that are written in the books or news papers.
Archos has announced the availability of its new Archos 9 PC tablet. Powered by an Intel Atom processor and running Windows 7, the tablet is said to offer the performance of a high-end netbook with a multimedia twist.
With a full touch-sensitive 9-inch resistive screen, virtual keyboard, optical trackpoint and left/right mouse buttons, the 9 is 1.7cm thick and weighs in at 800 grams.
The adjustable leg stand means the device can be positioned upright for videos and there's support for 1080p files, with a 60GB hard drive plus 25GB online storage.
As far as movie content goes, Archos says the 9 comes with £80 worth of free movies to download from the Archos Media Club.
Size, Weight and Prices of New LifeBook Lineup Appeal to Business Travelers and Consumers
Combining the advantages of Windows(R) 7 with the latest trends in mobility, Fujitsu today expanded its line of LifeBook(R) laptops in North America, launching new ultra-thin notebooks, multi touch convertible tablets and desktop alternatives designed for business travelers and consumers.
With the attractively priced LifeBook T4410 convertible tablet PC for mobile professionals, available with multi touch/pen input or pen-only input, and the LifeBook T4310 convertible tablet PC for consumers and students, available with multi touch input, Fujitsu rounds out the industry’s broadest tablet PC line. The thin and light systems with configurations starting at 3.9 and 4.2 pounds respectively and 12.1-inch wide displays offer unmatched flexibility with a modular bay and dual digitizer supporting two-finger touch. The dual digitizer delivers the ultimate experience by providing traditional pen-based input, as well as the ability to use two-finger touch to manipulate images, zoom into maps, and interact with the tablet PC in ways never before possible. The flexible bay allows users to configure the system the way they like — whether adding a second battery for all day computing, an optical drive or second hard drive — without changing the outside dimensions of the unit.
News Highlights LifeBook T4310 multi touch convertible tablet PC designed for students and consumers
• Lightest configuration at 4.2 pounds with a 12.1-inch WXGA LED backlight display and bi-directional hinge
• Dual digitizer (active digitizer/capacitive multi touch screen) with gesture support
LifeBook T4410 multi touch convertible tablet PC designed for mobile professionals
Offers optional Windows 7 Professional, Vista Business, or XP Downgrade and all the features found in the LifeBook T4310 multi touch convertible tablet PC, plus a host of features important for mobile
Company Works Directly with Microsoft for Six Months to Ensure Products Maximize New OS Features Including Multi-Touch Technology
Getac, a leading innovator and manufacturer of rugged computers that meet the demands of field-based applications, announced today that its complete line of rugged notebook computers and tablet PCs are fully compatible with Microsoft's long-awaited Windows 7 Operating System. Getac engineers spent more than six months with Microsoft developers to ensure its product line would maximize all the features, functions, and performance of Windows 7, right out of the box. In addition, Windows 7 will enhance Getac's newly-introduced Resistive Multi-Touch technology with an entire library of identified gestures for keyboard-free PC operation, even with industrial gloves.
Certified by Microsoft, Getac's Resistive Multi-Touch technology supports Windows 7 operating system, by using a series of single touch, dual touch, "flick," and application gestures so users of Getac products can quickly and easily perform numerous on-screen tasks such as move, copy, delete, zoom, and rotate by simply touching the screen and performing the task desired with their fingers. Unlike commonly used capacitive multi-touch technology, resistive multi-touch technology can perform these actions, and many others while wearing protective gloves, making it ideal for industrial and field professionals who work with dangerous chemicals or perform their job in extreme weather conditions. Even with gloves, the sensitivity and accuracy of the multi-touch screen is extremely high. The screen features 2048x2048 resolution, 100 points per second report rate, and less than 35ms response time.
Industry experts predict that e-readers will be the holiday season's hottest gadget gift, but tech bloggers have already moved onto the next big thing: Tablet computers. The excitement over the laptop's slimmer, slinkier, sexier cousins reached new heights over the past week, with news that Popular Mechanics magazine named the CrunchPad tablet computer one of the 10 Most Brilliant Products of 2009, crediting its creator, TechCrunch blog founder Michael Arrington, with taking a lead in the industry. However, as bloggers were quick to note, the long-in-development CrunchPad has no release date, putting it nearer to the fantasy realm occupied by Apple's Tablet than any of the other breakthrough products on the list. Why are tablets so interesting, especially unreleased ones? Here are the recent perspectives:
The Time is Ripe Last month, PC Magazine's Lance Ulanoff offered 10 reasons why he thinks tablet PCs will succeed. He takes readers through a bit of early tablet history, when the devices first launched with embarrassingly weak technical specs. Ulanoff is confident that the new tablets from Apple, Microsoft, and yes, TechCrunch have done away with the previous generations' mistakes, that they can capitalize on the previously unimaginable speed of the modern internet, and will thus receive a much better reception from the public: "It'll only be the first wave, and there will likely be significant differences among these few products. However, they'll all share some common features: thin, easy-to-carry form factors, ubiquitous connectivity, light, lean interfaces, brilliant color screens, and gesture-based computing. They'll generate more excitement than any pen- or tablet-based computer ever did. And tablets will take their rightful place in the computing pantheon."
Laptops to Meet Every Need and Budget Feature New Stylish Color Options and Latest Processors From Intel and AMD
Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced its line of Satellite and Qosmio consumer laptops will be available with Windows® 7 beginning October 22. The new line of versatile laptops, pre-installed with Windows 7, are designed to match every budget, with the latest processors and spacious storage, in a wide range of screen sizes and styled for every taste.
“From faster performance and extended battery life to simplified navigation and connectivity to new ways to share media, Windows 7 greatly enhances the PC experience,” said Carl Pinto, vice president of product development, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. “With Windows 7 and our new laptops, people can get exactly what they want, innovations they can see and touch, at prices they can afford.”
Among the most noticeable changes Windows 7 will bring to the PC hardware world is the emergence of a large number of new all-in-one computers with multitouch features.
As with a lot of hardware design, Apple deserves some credit for pioneering flat screen all-in-ones with its iMac line. But HP earns the biggest share of the credit for making touch desktops mainstream with its TouchSmart series, starting almost three years ago, and then broadening out to include new software in either 22-inch or 25-inch models.
A number of other vendors followed in the space, with systems that support a single touch on screen and systems without touch interfaces.
But with Windows 7, what we're seeing now are machines that support multitouch. In most cases, this means you can use two fingers to drag around photos and icons, resize things on screen, and more. Announced earlier were a number of new systems such as the Gateway One ZX series. This includes the 20-in ZX4800 series (starting at $720) and the 23-inch ZX6800 series (which starts at $880 for an Intel dual-core system and $1400 for a quad-core one).
The Dell Studio One 19, which has a 19-in display, starts at $699 for the regular display and $899 for the multitouch version. And last week, Sony announced its L-series, with a 24-inch display starting at $1300, offering options such as a quad-core Intel processor, discrete graphics, and Blu-ray drives.
HP on Tuesday announced its new line, which includes the 20-inch TouchSmart 300 series (based on an AMD processor, starting at $899); and the 23-in TouchSmart 600 (based on Intel dual-cores and starting at $1,049). Unlike the earlier line, these are now 16:9 displays. HP also announced a business version of the 23-inch model known as the 9100; a new version of its TouchSmart TX consumer tablet that starts at $800; and a new 42-inch digital signage touch display.
Most of these systems come with the Windows Touch Pack, which I discussed in my post about trying a Windows 7 based laptop, but most add a bit to it. Gateway, for example, has "TouchGadgets," which include individual gadgets for working with music, photos, digital media (such as video and slideshows), social networks, and memos.
HP rewrote its TouchSmart applications: Now it's a series of tools instead of a single one. You can use touch for things accessing music and photos, controlling the integrated webcam, and so on. It now has five third-party touch applications as well, from Pandora, Rhapsody, Netflix (for streaming movies), Hulu, and Twitter. Having applications from independent software developers in addition to Microsoft and the hardware makers is a very good sign that developers think touch will go mainstream.
Building upon its nearly 30-year history of touch innovation, HP today launched the next era of multitouch computing for consumers and businesses.
Among the new products, HP introduced three touch-enabled HP TouchSmart PCs and its first fully interactive, 42-inch diagonal, high-definition (HD) digital signage touch display, the HP LD4200tm.
“Since the launch of the first TouchSmart PC nearly three years ago, we’ve worked closely with a growing number of software companies and independent vendors to develop built-for-touch applications that give consumers and businesses rich interactive multimedia experiences,” said James Mouton, senior vice president and general manager, Desktop Global Business Unit, Personal Systems Group, HP. “These collaborations have helped to make HP touch computing the most advanced touch experience in the market today.”
New consumer HP TouchSmart PCs packed with exclusive touch applications
HP now offers a choice of 20- or 23-inch diagonal widescreen consumer HP TouchSmart PCs – the HP TouchSmart 300 and HP TouchSmart 600. Each features a sleek, award-winning design that integrates either a stunning HD-capable or HD widescreen display with a multitouch enabled screen.
Users can simply pinch, rotate, arc, flip, press or drag a finger across the screen of the PC to access information, entertainment and social networks in a natural, intuitive way. Though accompanied by a wireless keyboard and mouse, new 16:9 widescreen tiles make multimedia, social media and other applications a rich and engaging touch experience.
The new consumer HP TouchSmart PCs feature exclusive built-for-touch applications(1) including:
Pricing and availability(14)
The HP TouchSmart 300 starts at $899 and is expected to be available Nov. 1.
The HP TouchSmart 600 starts at $1,049 and is expected available Oct. 22.
The HP TouchSmart tx2 starts at $799 and is expected to be available Oct. 22.
The HP TouchSmart 9100 starts at $1,299 and is expected to be available in December.
The HP LD4200tm 42-inch widescreen LCD monitor starts at $2,799 and is expected to be available in December.
Powerful multimedia software puts digital content at people’s fingertips
HP today announced the industry’s first convertible notebook PC with multi-touch technology designed specifically for consumers.
Building upon the touch innovation HP developed for its TouchSmart desktop PCs, the HP TouchSmart tx2 Notebook PC was developed for people on the go who value having their digital content at their fingertips – literally.
The enhanced HP MediaSmart digital entertainment software suite on the tx2 allows users to more naturally select, organize and manipulate digital files such as photos, music, video and web content by simply touching the screen.
“Breezing through websites and enjoying photos or video at the tap, whisk or flick of a finger is an entirely new way to enjoy digital content on a notebook PC,” said Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager, Notebook Global Business Unit, Personal Systems Group, HP. “With the introduction of the TouchSmart tx2, HP is providing users an easier, more natural way to interact with their PCs, and furthering touch innovation.”
The tx2 is the latest result of HP’s 25 years of touch technology experience, which began with the introduction of the HP-150, a touch screen PC that was well ahead of its time, in 1983.
Digital media powerhouse
The tx2 gives customers the choice to set aside the keyboard and mouse in favor of a more natural user interface – the fingertip.
HP’s multi-touch display delivers quick and easy access to information, entertainment and other social media. The tx2 recognizes simultaneous input from more than one finger using “capacitive multi-touch technology,” which enables the use of gestures such as pinch, rotate, arc, flick, press and drag, and single and double tap.
The convertible design with a twist hinge allows consumers to enjoy the TouchSmart in three modes: PC, display and tablet. With a rechargeable digital ink pen, users can turn the tx2 into a tablet PC to write, sketch, draw, take notes or graph right onto the screen – and then automatically convert handwriting into typed text.
Starting at less than 4.5 pounds, the tx2 possesses a 12.1-inch diagonal BrightView LED display and an HP Imprint “Reaction” design.
The tx2 notebook’s HP MediaSmart software lets customers enjoy photos, listen to music and watch Internet(1) TV or movies in high-definition.(2) The software is optimized for multi-touch input while also making it simple to search digital content. In an effort to provide consumers with rich content through the Internet, HP has expanded its partnership with MTV Networks (MTVN) by offering video content from 10 television channels and online brands within MediaSmart’s TV module.
Sony introduced a touch-screen TV/PC, a 1.6-pound laptop and a colorful line of notebooks — all boasting Windows 7, Microsoft’s newest OS, scheduled to arrive Oct. 22.
Sony introduced three new Vaio PCs on Oct. 8, each of which will run the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system.
The Sony Vaio L Touch HD PC/TV is a 24-inch multitouch widescreen, with a resolution of 1,920 by 1,080. As the name implies, it’s as much PC as television, with an optional Blu-ray disc drive, an optional built-in tuner and a terabyte of storage.
“The L Series is the ultimate multimedia hub—it’s your PC, HDTV and DVR in one compact, stylish device,” said Sony Senior Vice President Mike Abary in a statement. “And with cutting-edge features such as multitouch, it’s ideal for media lovers who appreciate HD performance and cutting-edge technology.”
From an Entry-Level Model to a High-Performance Configuration, Gateway Brings Elegance, Simplicity and Advanced Features to Its New Line of Multi-Touch All-in-Ones
Ushering in the next generation of desktop computing and leveraging the advanced multi-touch capabilities of Microsoft Windows 7, Gateway today introduced the Gateway One ZX Series, all-in-one (AIO) desktop PCs with multi-touch displays.
“While touch screen PCs to date have been cost-prohibitive and somewhat limited in their capabilities, Gateway is making this new technology more accessible to average consumers, while using an industry-standard solution that isn’t challenging to learn,” said Ray Sawall, senior manager of product marketing for Gateway. “The functionality of Windows 7 and multi-touch brings an entirely new computing experience to consumers, and our affordable all-in-one PCs are the perfect vehicle for showcasing this technology.”
Resembling a sleek flat-panel TV, the glossy jet black Gateway One ZX Series offers an ultra modern, luxurious industrial design, which enhances the look of any room in the home. Small touches add to the system’s clean streamlined design, including an adjustable back stand, integrated speakers, silver and clear acrylic accents and illuminated feet and keyboard – which provide a beautiful ambient glow – and make this PC stand out from the rest.
New Technology Allows Touch-Screen Gestures to Move and Edit Documents; Navigate Files and System Applications in the Most Extreme Environments
Getac Inc., a leading innovator and manufacturer of rugged computers that meet the demands of field-based applications, announced that its line of rugged Tablet PCs will be the first rugged computers to offer a Multi-Touch screen for use with or without gloves. Having Multi-Touch technology on Getac's V100 Tablet PC will allow users to move and edit documents, rotate maps and photos, zoom in and zoom out the maintenance manuals, and navigate numerous system applications by using a series of "gestures" with their fingers.
The new Multi-Touch technology uses a series of single touch, dual touch, "flick," and application gestures. Users of Getac's V100 Tablet PC will now be able to quickly and easily perform numerous on-screen tasks such as move, copy, delete, zoom, and rotate by simply touching the screen and performing the task desired with their fingers. Getac’s Resistive Multi-Touch technology is not based on capacitance sensitivity, which means users can perform these actions, and many others while wearing protective gloves. This makes it ideal for industrial and field professionals who work with dangerous chemicals or perform their job in extreme weather conditions. Even with gloves, the sensitivity and accuracy of the multi-touch screen is extremely high. The screen features 2048x2048 resolution, 100 points per second report rate, and less than 35ms response time.
Motion Computing®,a leading provider of integrated mobile computing solutions, and Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) announced today that Corning® Gorilla™ glass has been added to Motion’s most rugged offerings. The C5 Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA) and rugged F5 Tablet PC now include the thin-sheet glass that was designed to protect against real-world events that cause display damage.
The Motion C5 and F5 were designed for highly mobile professionals across vertical industries such as healthcare, construction, field service and manufacturing. Both IP-54 and MIL-STD-810F rated, the tablets are fully rugged yet lightweight, making them the ideal solution for workers who compute while walking or standing. Designed specifically for mobile devices, Corning’s Gorilla glass improves screen durability without adding weight to the highly mobile tablet PCs. To view a video demonstration of the C5 and F5 with Gorilla glass visit http://www.motioncomputing.com/choose/spec_gorilla_glass.htm.
NVIDIA and Adobe have announced that they are bringing rich web experiences to netbooks and mobile devices built using NVIDIA GPUs. Both of the companies have been working with the Open Screen Project to optimize and improve the new Flash Player 10.1 software to use GPU and graphics acceleration on a range of mobile internet devices.
NVIDIA customers like HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Acer, and more will be able to use Adobe 10.1 player on their machines. Adobe says that the use of a NVIDIA GPU and its 10.1 software will let users enjoy rich web applications and interactive content like HD video.
NVIDIA GeForce, Ion, and Tegra GPUs will be able to get much smoother viewing experiences when accessing rich content built with the flash platform including SD and HD video from Hulu or YouTube. “Consumers want the best Internet experience – whether it’s a mobile device in their pocket or a netbook at the coffee shop,” said Dan Vivoli, senior vice president of NVIDIA. “Our engineers have worked closely with Adobe to make this a reality.”
In the last few years, expectations about patient privacy information, medical services, data retention, and health care provider availability have risen dramatically. These expectations have been largely driven by the regulations, and many hospitals and medical practices have responded by adopting strategic initiatives to increase worker mobility, enabling them to work more closely with patients and with peers. Overall, the independent market analyst, IDC, estimates that as many as 105 million workers will be considered mobile workers by 2006
Forward-thinking health care providers have armed their mobile workers with notebook PCs and personal digital assistants (PDAs) to provide them access to information while away from their office computers.
The Tablet PC combines the best features of paper, notebook PCs, and PDAs. It provides users with a complete solution to mobile computing, eliminating the trade-offs mobile users were forced to make in the past.
"Tablets have been around in various forms for two decades, thus far delivering little other than memorable failure. Nonetheless, the new batch of devices has gripped the imagination of tech executives, bloggers and gadget hounds, who are projecting their wildest dreams onto these literal blank slates."
The Times reports Apple has been working on a tablet PC since 2003 -- or about as long as Steve Jobs has been publicly dissing the concept. (Jobs' alleged one-sentence dismissal: "What are these things good for besides surfing the Web on the toilet?")
No matter. Every week brings more "details" about an Apple tablet that Apple claims to know nothing about. A former Newton marketing weasel pro rejoins Apple, and it's yet another sign that the iPad will soon appear, borne aloft by angels next January or possibly February or maybe March.
The mania is hardly restricted to Apple. Last month HP announced the DreamScreen, which is really just a Net-connected digital photo frame on steroids, and bloggers breathlessly embraced it as a new tablet, even though it's a) not portable, b) has no touchscreen or usable input device, and c) what exactly are those guys at VentureBeat and Mashable smoking?
Gizmodo posts an animation of a proto-tablet called the Microsoft Courier and the blogosphere goes b***** crazy. (OK, pop quiz: When's the last time the blogosphere went wild over anything with the word "Microsoft" attached to it? Yeah, I can't think of anything either.)
The high-tech industry has been working itself into paroxysms of excitement lately over an idea that is not exactly new: tablet computers.
Quietly, several high-tech companies are lining up to deliver versions of these keyboard-free, touch-screen portable machines in the next few months. Industry watchers have their eye on Apple in particular to sell such a device by early next year.
Tablets have been around in various forms for two decades, thus far delivering little other than memorable failure. Nonetheless, the new batch of devices has gripped the imagination of tech executives, bloggers and gadget hounds, who are projecting their wildest dreams onto these literal blank slates.
In these visions, tablets will save the newspaper and book publishing industries, present another way to watch television and movies, play video games, and offer a visually rich way to enjoy the Web and the expanding world of mobile applications.
“I can imagine something like the iPhone with a much bigger screen being a gorgeous device with great capacity, but I don’t know where I would fit that into my life,” said a former Apple executive, who declined to be named because of Apple’s secrecy policies, but who anticipates an Apple tablet next year. “Those are the debates that have been happening inside Apple for quite some time.”
A series of photos hit the web today from an anonymous source that represented the first spottage of a new tablet PC from Gateway.
The rumored specs for the Gateway EC18T (as it was unofficially named) include a 11.6 inch screen, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor under the hood and 4GB of DDR3 SDRAM memory in the trunk for some extra bass. In addition, a Mobile Intel GS45 Express chipset will be used to showcase the Windows 7 (Home Premium or Basic – not even the rumors are sure about this one) graphics or any other shiny application you’ll want to use.
Apple's long-rumored tablet PC received another burst of attention after Apple submitted a new patent application for touch-screen functionality. Despite a refusal by Apple to confirm any rumors, reports have suggested that CEO Steve Jobs has devoted a great deal of attention to the device, which may debut in the first half of 2010, include a 10-inch screen and run a version of the iPhone OS.
Apple filed a patent application in June 2009 for a touch-screen interface, indicating that its rumored plans for a tablet PC could be well under way, according to reports that surfaced on Oct. 2.
The patent application, which can be found here, describes a device whose screen could be manipulated with not only the fingers of both hands, but also palms. In theory, this allows for a broad range of activities beyond multitouch navigation, including typing or drawing.
Welcome to the September 2009 Most Popular Tablet PCs list. This report is made using the total page-views each product page receives in one month; so each time someone clicks one of the product links, they are submitting a vote in our monthly rankings. This list doesn’t always show which models are the best selling, but instead the models that readers want to research the most.
The top of the list, including the #1 spot stayed the same, with the HP Pavilion tx2500z still holding strong. Some change occured towards the bottom of the list, where the Wacom Cintiq 12WX moved its way from #10 up to #7, and the ASUS Eee PC T91 filling the #10 spot.
At face value, Intel’s Classmate PC looks like a standard netbook. But the internals are ruggedly constructed and resistant to the drops and rough handling kids are known for. Also notable is the nice large external handle for moving the unit around. Spec-wise, the unit sports a 1.6 Ghz Atom processor, 1 GB RAM, a 8.9″ wide screen at 1024 x 600, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and an integrated web cam. Additionally, my demo unit had a traditional 60 GB hard drive, but solid-state drives are optional. Individual units can be purchased online and retail for around $480.
One of the most touted features of the new generation is the tablet mode. The screen swivels and folds down allowing kids to interact with the software with a stylus or their fingers. Intel has been making a lot of noise about their palm rejection technology, which enables students to write naturally with their hand on the display. The only experience I have with tablet PC’s is with my Wacom-based Lenovo X60 Tablet which never suffered from that problem, so likely this is an evolution of traditional resistive-touch displays. Regardless, the feature seemed to work fine as I never experienced issues where my palm caused problems with the tablet recognizing what I was trying to do, and resting my palm on the screen while writing was comfortable and natural. Additionally, the accelerometer rotates the display properly and quickly whenever I changed orientation of the laptop.
Gateway and Verizon Wireless are teaming up to release a new netbook equipped with Verizon's 3G mobile broadband service.
The Gateway LT2016u will be available starting October 4 on verizonwireless.com and in Verizon stores. The device is available in "night sky black" and will connect to the Web via Verizon's 3G network.
The netbook will retail for $149.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate, which will be sent out in the form of a debit card. Customers will also have to sign up for a two-year Verizon mobile broadband contract. Options include 250MB of monthly access plus 10 cents per megabyte overage for $39.99 per month or 5GB plus 5 cents per megabyte overage for $59.99 per month.
The LT2016u features a 10.1-inch, high-definition WSVGA LED, a 6-cell battery that Verizon says will provide up to six hours of battery life, an Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of memory, 160GB of hard drive space, and a digital media card reader.
For a limited time only and while supplies last, TabletKiosk has lowered the price of Sahara Slate PC® i440D (white only) to $1,897 (save $498) list price is $2,395.
The Sahara Slate PC i440D features the following:
Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo LV L7400
3.0GB DDR2 5300 SDRAM
160GB SATA Hard Disk Drive
Built-in Wireless a/b/g Networking
Bluetooth® 2.0+EDR
12.1" TFT XGA Wide Angle View LCD Dual
Mode Active Digitizer / Touch Screen Display
Sunlight Readable Display (standard)
Biometric Finger Print Reader
Windows Vista® Business, Windows® XP Embedded, or openSUSE Linux Pearl White outer casing
If you’ve ever considered purchasing a brand new Sahara Slate PC i440D, you won’t want to miss this opportunity.
Are Apple and Microsoft playing PR games -- or trying to psych each other out -- with dueling leaks about their upcoming tablet devices?
The latest round in the whisper campaign told blogger Mary Jo Foley that Microsoft's "Courier" tablet runs Windows 7, builds on the OneNote concept, rectifies shortcomings of TabletPC apps and may be built and sold by Microsoft in mid-2010.
She's following up on the original Courier leak to Gizmodo.
With Microsoft getting some mindshare for its tablet, whispers about Apple's new tablet began appearing today.
The iLounge blog has a really tantalizing batch of details about the device, which now has a 10.7-inch diameter screen, runs the iPhone OS and will be available in early 2010 with and without 3G wireless service. It's not a netbook or productivity tool as much as a media tablet, bringing apps and Apple services to a larger device.
It’s turning out to be a busy day down at the Internet rumour mill, with speculation rife about Apple’s possible Tablet PC.
It all stems from a report by the Editor in Chief of the iLounge blog, which claims that a reliable source has confirmed a number of facts regarding the Tablet.
The first point being that it definitely exists, of course.
Other details include the fact that Apple has created three prototypes, the first version of which had a 7 inch screen that was deemed too small. The current version has a 10.7 inch display.
The resolution of the touchscreen will be around five to six times that of the iPhone, in other words around 720p, with seven times the touchable surface area.
The device won’t be aimed at the netbook market. According to iLounge, the design philosophy is “to expand the iPhone and iPod touch media concept to its next potential level: As a slate-like replacement for books and magazines, plus all of the media, gaming, app, and web functionality of the iPhone and iPod touch.”
iLounge’s source also claims the Tablet is awaiting final approval by Steve Jobs, and its chances of becoming a reality are estimated to be 80%.
If it is approved, iLounge says the device will be announced in January 2010, with a view to a launch date in the summer. Plenty of time to let the hype sink in.
Sleek and Slim Satellite T100 Series Delivers Laptop-Class Performance With Windows 7, Intel Ultra-Low Voltage Processors and “All-Work Day” Battery Life
Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today unveiled the Toshiba Satellite® T100 Series, a new class of consumer ultra-thin laptops designed to meet the demands of everyday mobility with laptop-class performance and all-work day battery life – with price points starting at $449.99
Measuring less than one inch thick and starting at 3.49 pounds, the slim and sleek Satellite T100 Series laptops do not cut corners on features or performance. With Windows® 7 and power-efficient Intel® ultra-low voltage processors, the new ultra-thin laptops have the performance, flexibility and functionality consumers have come to expect from standard-sized laptops, yet in a highly portable package.
Setting the standard for the next generation of mobile computing, Satellite T100 Series laptops are ready at a moment’s notice, including extremely fast resume from standby times and power saving enhancements that deliver up to 9 hours of battery life
MICROSOFT Corp is developing a small tabletstyle PC to rival a similar product that may be launched by Apple, technology blog Gizmodo reported last week.
Code-named Courier, the tablet is said to be in the "late prototype" stage of development, Gizmodo reported, without identifying its sources.
The Courier has dual 7-inch screens that are touch sensitive and can be used with a stylus, Gizmodo reported.
Industry watchers said it looked like a cross between the Kindle, iPhone and a tablet, The Los Angeles Times said.
The development of the tablet was so shrouded in secrecy that many high-ranking Microsoft executives did not know it existed, said LA Times.
Those expecting Apple to introduce a new tablet computer soon may have another clue to the device's imminent arrival.
Apple has rehired Michael Tchao, one of the original developers of Apple's Newton personal digital assistant, according to a report Monday in The New York Times.
Rumors of an Apple tablet have been swirling for a couple of years, but speculation has ramped up in recent months, including reports that Apple CEO Steve Jobs has been focusing intensely on a tablet device since returning to work in June after a liver transplant.
Apple representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday evening, but Apple has apparently been laying the groundwork for a tablet PC for years. The company was granted a patent in 2005 for tablet PC design, and the company was granted a patent last year for a tablet-like device that incorporated a touchscreen. Apple has also long had some of the key technologies for a tablet computer with Inkwell--a handwriting recognition feature having been in Mac OS X for some time
Scan the dyslexicon of products targeting the territory between laptops and mobile phones--e-books, mini-notebooks, mobile Internet devices, netbooks, smartbooks, smartphones, tablet PCs and tomorrow's cloudbooks--and you understand why consumers are confused.
They're not the only ones. Practiced market watchers admit to having been caught unaware by the netbook's popularity, for example, as consumers took to the products with an enthusiasm that even the leading PC companies failed to foresee.
Join us for the first fall "Teaching with Technology Workshop." The presentation will be given by Jake Roberts from the CSU Department of Physics.
(At right: An HP tablet PC)
What are tablet PCs?
Tablet PCs are notebook computers containing hardware and software that allow users to write on the computer screen, and have that writing stored and displayed. In the context of larger lecture courses, the tablet PC can replace the use of an overhead projector, allowing the instructor to work problems, add annotations to slides, and write answers to student questions while speaking and doing other classroom tasks.
This talk will describe how the Tablet PC is used in teaching introductory physics courses, and will note the advantages of using tablet PCs in presenting and recording lectures.
Here’s a little more info on the Archos 9 Tablet. Apparently it’ll be available here in the US on October 22nd, the same day Windows 7 is available. The price tag is pretty aggressive at $499, too.
That’ll get you an Atom Z510 CPU at 1.1GHz, a 9-inch touchscreen with 1024×600 resolution, 1GB of RAM, 60GB hard drive, Windows 7 Starter, four hours of battery life, and a weight of about 1.75 pounds.
UMPC Portal has a video of the device in action. Looks pretty nice. It seems a little sluggish but some of that might get hammered out before the official release.
With Cutting-Edge Processing Power from Intel and NVIDIA, Plus Windows 7, Enthusiast-Class Qosmio X500 Laptop Delivers Advanced Mobile Performance for Demanding Hi-Def Multimedia Tasks
Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today unveiled the Qosmio® X500 Series, an enthusiast-class line of performance laptops geared for high definition multimedia and gaming. Featuring a striking design on the outside and packed with premium technologies and features on the inside, the Qosmio X500 Series offers hardcore gamers and digital content creators a portable, well-equipped “pro-class” laptop.
Qosmio X500 Series laptops feature the new Intel® Core™ i7 processor, delivering four cores of intelligent processing power, Windows® 7 and Intel’s® Turbo Boost Technology, which automatically allows processor cores to run faster than the base operating frequency if it's operating below power, current, and temperature specification limits. The laptops also offer ultra-fast DDR3 system memory, dual hard-drive configurations, as well as NVIDIA® GeForce® GTS 250M graphics with 1GB of GDDR5 video memory. Together, this pairing of high-performance technologies allow consumers to rip through the latest 3D games at lightning-fast frame-rates or create hi-definition video and audio faster and more efficiently with smooth rendering and encoding.
For hi-def lovers, select models of the Qosmio X500 Series laptops will be available with an integrated Blu-ray® drive.
Sporting a new premium design, the Qosmio X500 Series features Toshiba’s striking Fusion™ Finish in Omega Black with stylish red chrome accents and a comfortable full keyboard with LED Backlighting and numeric 10-key pad. An intuitive touchpad with multi-touch control, enables greater flexibility to browse and control what’s happening on-screen with gesture-commands, such as two-finger pinch, swipe, rotate and scroll.
It feels like the whole world is holding its breath for the Apple tablet. But maybe we've all been dreaming about the wrong device. This is Courier, Microsoft's astonishing take on the tablet.
Courier is a real device, and we've heard that it's in the "late prototype" stage of development. It's not a tablet, it's a booklet. The dual 7-inch (or so) screens are multitouch, and designed for writing, flicking and drawing with a stylus, in addition to fingers. They're connected by a hinge that holds a single iPhone-esque home button. Statuses, like wireless signal and battery life, are displayed along the rim of one of the screens. On the back cover is a camera, and it might charge through an inductive pad, like the Palm Touchstone charging dock for Pre.
Until recently, it was a skunkworks project deep inside Microsoft, only known to the few engineers and executives working on it—Microsoft's brightest, like Entertainment & Devices tech chief and user-experience wizard J. Allard, who's spearheading the project. Currently, Courier appears to be at a stage where Microsoft is developing the user experience and showing design concepts to outside agencies.
TabletKiosk®, a leading provider of mobile business computing solutions, today introduced three new systems powered by Intel® Atom(TM) Processors: the 7-inch eo(TM) a7330D Ultra-Mobile PC, the 7-inch eo TufTab® a7230XD Rugged Ultra-Mobile PC and the 12.1-inch Sahara NetSlate(TM) a230T touch screen Tablet PC.
This new generation of slate-style tablets is built for the Enterprise marketplace, and includes a number of new and innovative features designed specifically to deliver improved productivity and value to professionals working in the office or out in the field.
I am having a good time running Windows 7 on a number of devices, but one of the things I miss from previous versions of Windows is how to optimize the interface for the small screen. I have been struggling in Windows 7, on touch-enabled devices in particular, due to the inability to make the scroll bars and other windows controls bigger. The min/max/close boxes on windows are just too tiny to tap with my finger on touch devices, and the scroll bars need to be wider to be useful. While surfing around the web this past weekend I stumbled across a free method to make these controls work much better with touch.
I’m really enjoying using the two finger touch on the Lenovo X200T Tablet PC. That’s saying something since I just don’t see touch as being necessary in my usage of a Tablet PC. Frankly, I pull out a Tablet PC when I need to Ink some notes in rehearsal or a meeting or when I want to browse the web with the device in slate mode in my lap.
That’s where this version of touch works for me. It is very easy to sit with the device and surf the web. Even more so the dual digitizer implementation makes it very easy to switch back and forth between the pen or touch. Although as you’ll see there are some calibration issues that I hope Lenovo takes care of before these devices start shipping when Windows 7 rolls out October 22. (check out the video after the jump.)
The bottom line is this. Lenovo has an excellent Tablet PC in the x200T, with our without touch. As a convertible Tablet it is tough to beat
You can't buy your way onto the List. You Can't Apply for it. You have to Earn it.
Asking which model isthe Best Tablet PC is like asking what flavor of ice cream is best:
everyone has their own opinion.
What is a Tablet PC?
Tablet PCs are mobile PCs with something extra: a screen that you can write on or interact with by using a tablet pen instead of a standard keyboard and mouse. When you write on the screen, you can convert your handwriting to typed text or leave it as ink. Advancements in Windows Vista have made Tablet PCs even easier to use, with improved handwriting recognition features, ink recognition for more languages, and other features.
Slate Tablet PCs
Slate Tablet PCs have no lid or keyboard, which makes them slim and lighter in weight compared to most convertible Tablet PCs. You can hold a slate Tablet PC in one hand and write on the screen with the other hand—like a clipboard. If you want to use an external keyboard and mouse, you simply attach them to the Tablet PC. A slate Tablet PC can rest easily in the crook of your arm while you write so that you can take notes, fill out forms, or read and write an e-mail with ease while on the go, sitting in a meeting or class, or relaxing on your couch. You can also lay it flat on a table or desk to do your work.
You can use a tablet pen to select, drag, and open files, browse the Internet, draw freehand diagrams, add numbers and symbols, and more. On some Tablet PCs, you can also interact with the screen by using your finger. Most Tablet PCs are small or moderately sized. They range from 2 to 7 pounds and have screens that range from 8 to 15 inches. There are two types of Tablet PCs: slates and convertibles.
Convertible Tablet PCs
Illustration of a convertible Tablet PCConvertible Tablet PCs are notebooks that can be used either in tablet mode or laptop mode. This type of Tablet PC gives you the best of both worlds. In laptop mode, you can use the integrated keyboard and mouse or the tablet pen to navigate and write. To use it in tablet mode, you rotate the screen and lay it flat over the keyboard so that you can write on it like a clipboard. Both positions enable you to work and write with a tablet pen.
Ultra-mobile PC
If you’re looking for something smaller than a notebook or Tablet PC and yet powerful enough to get your tasks done while on the go or in tight quarters, consider a UMPC. Illustration of an ultra-mobile PCJust like other mobile PCs, UMPCs run the full version of Windows and any other Windows-compatible software. It’s a great choice for anyone who needs something compact and practically feather-light. UMPCs range from 1 to 2 pounds. The screen size is 7 inches and smaller. UMPCs with Windows Vista come with Origami Experience, which gives you easy access to your music, videos, pictures, and programs.
You can use a tablet pen or your finger to interact with a UMPC. You can carry this paperback-sized mobile PC effortlessly in one hand while using the other hand to quickly jot down notes, fill out forms, read and write e-mail messages, surf the Internet, and more.
NT$52,800 (US$1,625) in Taiwan along with the 11.6-inch LifeBook P3110 and 12.1-inch LifeBook P8110 ultra-thin notebooks priced at NT$29,800 and NT$48,800, respectively.
computer. 
problem may be in the process of being rectified, according to reports that Verizon could be adding the Vaio P to its subsidized Netbook offerings this week. The cost? A mere $299, according to 
choice because of its exclusive feature combinations. Mobile workforces can depend upon the xTablet to perform mission critical tasks, including applications in field service, retail, food/beverage distribution, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing and warehousing to name a few.
- U150, U550 and Y550P --
and IdeaCentre desktops -- B500, K300 and H230 -- designed to meet the
performance, style and usability standards of multi-tasking consumers. 
a netbook. And netbooks are fantastic, but sometimes you'd like to be able to just navigate on the fly with a touch of your fingers. If only there were some sort of portable gadget that could bridge the gap between netbook and tablet PC. Oh wait, what's this? According to Pocketables, there is!
paper, can be used directly on the PC's screen like a stylus. To do this, Tablo includes a USB device that looks like a miniature desk lamp that attaches to the top or sides of a PC screen. It tracks the movement of its stylus using ultrasound; the stylus requires three tiny batteries, each the size of an aspirin. 
tablet PC for the first time. Titled the Latitude XT2 XFR, it would take the company's familiar 12-inch XT2 convertible tablet but harden the system for use outdoors or in more dangerous workplaces: the body would have extra shock-absorbing protection, particularly at the corners and the hinge. It would also have protected ports to guard against dust or water.
an Intel SU2300 processor and runs on Windows 7. The tablet PC is made by Quanta Computer.
recharge revenue growth. 
Unlike its predecessors, this Windows version feels as if it were designed and built by a single, coordinated team instead of being assembled from interchangeable parts. In daily use, Windows 7 feels graceful and often (but not always) elegant. Although it builds on elements that debuted in Windows Vista, it fixes many usability sins and adds consistency and polish to an interface that had too many rough edges. And some very impressive new capabilities, especially the grossly underrated Libraries feature, offer rewards for digging deeper.
read electronic books. This device has a 10 inch screen that is ideal to read books as well as news papers and hence can save papers and will in turn protect the environment by reducing the fast rate of deforestation.
processor and running Windows 7, the tablet is said to offer the performance of a high-end netbook with a multimedia twist. 
or pen-only input, and the LifeBook T4310 convertible tablet PC for consumers and students, available with multi touch input, Fujitsu rounds out the industry’s broadest tablet PC line. The thin and light systems with configurations starting at 3.9 and 4.2 pounds respectively and 12.1-inch wide displays offer unmatched flexibility with a modular bay and dual digitizer supporting two-finger touch. The dual digitizer delivers the ultimate experience by providing traditional pen-based input, as well as the ability to use two-finger touch to manipulate images, zoom into maps, and interact with the tablet PC in ways never before possible. The flexible bay allows users to configure the system the way they like — whether adding a second battery for all day computing, an optical drive or second hard drive — without changing the outside dimensions of the unit. 
based applications, announced today that its complete line of rugged notebook computers and tablet PCs are fully compatible with Microsoft's long-awaited Windows 7 Operating System. Getac engineers spent more than six months with Microsoft developers to ensure its product line would maximize all the features, functions, and performance of Windows 7, right out of the box. In addition, Windows 7 will enhance Getac's newly-introduced Resistive Multi-Touch technology with an entire library of identified gestures for keyboard-free PC operation, even with industrial gloves.
screen and systems without touch interfaces.
processor, discrete graphics, and Blu-ray drives.
interactive, 42-inch diagonal, high-definition (HD) digital signage touch display, the HP LD4200tm. 
designed specifically for consumers. 
capabilities of Microsoft Windows 7, Gateway today introduced the 
field-based applications, announced that its line of rugged Tablet PCs will be the first rugged computers to offer a Multi-Touch screen for use with or without gloves. Having Multi-Touch technology on Getac's V100 Tablet PC will allow users to move and edit documents, rotate maps and photos, zoom in and zoom out the maintenance manuals, and navigate numerous system applications by using a series of "gestures" with their fingers. 
today unveiled the 
October 22nd, the same day Windows 7 is available. The price tag is pretty aggressive at $499, too.
new systems powered by Intel® Atom(TM) Processors: the 7-inch eo(TM) a7330D 
