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Tablet PC News Archive
May 2006
New Q1 Developed in Collaboration With Microsoft and Intel
Sales Begin May 7 at www.bestbuy.com/ultramobilepc
With Samsung planning a U.S. launch of its Origami tablet on Monday, the folks at TabletKiosk had hoped to already be shipping significant quantities of their rival device.
Instead, the tiny Southern California company discovered a manufacturing issue in the first prototypes; the internal fan was striking the devices' outer shell, causing a myriad problems. As a result, the company had to make some tweaks, and most of the devices won't ship until June.
"It's extremely frustrating," said Gail Levy, TabletKiosk's director of marketing. Doubly so since the company has already sold out its first production run (though it won't say how many have sold or shipped) and its phone continues to ring with people interested in buying the tiny tablets.
And it's not just gadget geeks who are calling. While much of the Origami buzz has been around the device's appeal to consumers, TabletKiosk is aiming its product, called "Eo," at niche vertical markets like health care and manufacturing--the same kinds of people who have bought larger, more expensive tablet computers, which is TabletKiosk's primary business.
But while the company has lost some of the pride that comes with being first to market, it has managed to win points from customers pleased that it is taking the time to get it right
Pen Interaction
There are a number of enhancements that provide a better experience when interacting with the OS with a pen. Foremost among these is the Pen Flicks feature.
Pen Flicks are quick little gestures that can be assigned actions. The act of flicking is like quickly drawing a line in one of eight directions. It is important that the line is straight and that the motion is brisk.
Updated Tablet Input Panel
I love the way that the new Tablet Input Panel (TIP) hides. When not in use the TIP docks at the side of the screen with just a wee sliver visible. Best of all you can dock this at any height on either side of the screen.
In conclusion…
The good news? All these features make for a much smoother experience on a tablet than the one we had with Windows XP Tablet Edition. And the even better news? I'm not done yet – Tablets are mobile PCs and I have another whole post planned on What's In Vista for Mobile Users.
The bad news? It's not out yet!
First Impressions & Photos
From the Samsung Q1 Ultra Mobile PC
Launch Event in San Francisco
A Tablet PC, a media device, a GPS device and more...
According to officials, small computers, running the Tablet version of Windows, will be available from Best Buy's online story starting May 7 and in stores in the summer.
The device, which runs Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet Edition operating system, costs $1,099 and comes standard with a 40GB hard drive, 512MB of memory and a USB cable. A variety of accessories are available from Samsung for the Q1, including a keyboard, DVD drive and extra power packs.
Origami machines run a tablet version of the Windows XP operating system and are aimed at a market niche between laptop PCs and PDAs. The devices allow users to browse the Internet, listen to music, view movies and other video entertainment, play games, and "write" handwritten notes much as they can on a Microsoft Tablet PC device.
Samsung's Q1 has a 7-inch LCD monitor with touch screen functionality and is about half the size of an average laptop PC. At 1.7 pounds it is also lighter, and is less than an inch thick. Battery life runs about 3 hours.
Lifestyle Tablet PC Applications
TabletKiosk ™ Begins Shipping New UMPC Device
eo ™ is the first UMPC available in the US market.
TabletKiosk, a leader in mobile PC computing solutions, today announced it has begun shipping eo ™, the new Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) which is the first UMPC device available in the US market.
Powered by the 1.0GHz VIA C7-M ULV processor , a new ULV processor that provides longer battery life than traditional LV processors, eo ™ was designed for ultimate productivity and convenience.
“TabletKiosk is to be congratulated for leading the way in the US market for this new category of device. eo ™ brings together the best aspects of the Tablet PC with ultra mobility, enhanced multimedia capabilities, and a full connectivity suite,” commented Epan Wu, Deputy Director, CPU Product Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. “Integrating the VIA UMPC platform, eo ™ takes full advantage of the VIA C7-M ULV processor’s ultra low-power operation for longer battery life, while still maintaining robust performance for a full range of mobile applications.”
WHO Microsoft designed the hardware concept and wrote the software for it, just as it has in past years with palmtops, cellphones and media centers. So far, companies like Samsung, Asus and TabletKiosk have signed on to make and sell Ultra Mobile PC's.
WHAT Earlier this spring, "what" was exactly what Microsoft wanted people to buzz about. In an Apple-esque attempt to use suspense as a marketing tool, Microsoft dropped hints about a mysterious project called Origami and doled out weekly videos with cryptic captions ("...do you know me? ... and how i can change your life?"). Origami — the Ultra Mobile PC — turns out to be a very small touch-screen PC. Microsoft recommends a seven-inch touch screen, two-pound weight, wireless networking and, of course, Windows XP.
The missing keyboard is a tougher nut to crack. Microsoft faced this challenge once before, when it created the Tablet PC (a touch-screen laptop design). And because it runs the Tablet PC version of Windows XP, the Ultra Mobile PC inherits the same tools. For example, there's an on-screen keyboard; a handwriting-recognition window that offers excellent accuracy but makes editing brutally frustrating; rudimentary speech recognition; and Windows Journal, a free-form note-taking program that lets you delete, search and move your handwritten phrases.
Does the Ultra Mobile PC exist because a touch screen might be useful in niche industries like insurance investigations and package delivery? Maybe. But the speed and flexibility of a Tablet PC would make much more sense — and cost hundreds of dollars less.
ECS Gets FCC Approval for H70 Tablet UMPC
ECS markets a UMPC sized device as a Tablet PC with FCC approval
Elitegroup Computer Systems has just received the Federal Communications Commission's thumbs-up on its version of an ultra mobile PC. 
According to UMPC News, both models will feature a 7-inch WVGA TFT display at 800x480 resolution, a 3-in-1 flash reader, a 1.3 megapixel camera, high-definition 7.1 channel audio with built-in speaker and mic, 802.11b/g WLAN and Bluetooth capabilities, and a touch sensitive screen with a stylus, which is standard on UMPCs, and a Synaptics pointing stick.
All sources stressed that the H70 is not going to be marketed as an Origami device, but rather a Tablet PC. Pricing has not been seen on the H70 but we should expect to see numbers around those of other UMPC devices.
Toshiba is conducting an eSeminar to demonstrate how the Tablet PC can cut costs and increase employee productivity for enterprises. Ziff Davis Media VP Aaron Goldberg will be conducting the live seminar and it promises to be a good one.
May 10, 2006
2:00 p.m. Eastern/ 11:00 a.m. Pacific (60 minutes)
VP, Market Experts Group - Ziff Davis Media
For large enterprises, versatility, flexibility and mobility are key, especially with so many workers in remote and branch locations or on the road. That's why so many organizations are discovering the advantages of Tablet PCs.
The latest generation of Tablet PCs from Toshiba offer incredible computing power, enhanced productivity features and are extremely portable, allowing your business's road warriors to be as productive as possible from any location.
Join Toshiba for this live, interactive eSeminar where you will hear firsthand from mobile technology experts how the Tablet PC can cuts costs and increase employee productivity.
With the Ultra-Mobile PCs just starting to ship, it's so easy to spend time reading every word written about them and wanting to learn even more about what people think.
Walt Mossberg obviously spent quite a bit of time considering the Samsung Q1 UMPC and what he'd like it to be, versus what the particular model is at the moment. He says, "The Q1 is sleek and attractive," and also, "Origami, is really just a small Tablet PC. That's a good thing...."
Microsoft's OneNote was a super application when it first launched with Office 2003 three years ago, and the version to be released with Office 12 looks to have grown up very nicely. OneNote is a note-taking application that's most useful in meetings, lectures or for doing research. It enables you to type - or, if you have a tablet PC, handwrite - notes, scribble diagrams and gather information from many different sources. It's focused on this core competency of rapid and eclectic note taking, but with an increasing emphasis on collaboration in these activities. I use OneNote extensively on my tablet for taking notes in meetings and at conferences, and when back at my desk on my main PC OneNote will convert my handwritten scribbles into text. I can also draw in other textual or pictorial information from Internet Explorer, PowerPoint, Excel and other applications as I research my topic, whether I'm designing an application or writing an article.
- Full-version Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system
The point reviewers are missing about Ultra-mobile PC
jkontherun
Last week I was having lunch in a local restaurant and an idea for an article struck me while sitting there. I pulled out the Sony and pen and started fleshing out the structure for the article with ink when it became clear to me I needed to do some heavy writing while the ideas were floating fresh in my mind. I pulled out a portable wireless keyboard, and in 5 seconds was writing the actual article. In ten minutes I had captured the very essence of what I wanted to say in the piece, and only because I could carry the Sony in with me and actually use it in a location with limited space. That's my freedom of expression that would NOT have happened had I used a laptop because it would have been left in my office.
This is what the current rash of reviewers are missing about the UMPC. It is about the mobility that provides opportunity to exercise the freedom of expression in places that would otherwise not occur.
The LE1600TS leverages the acclaimed, innovative design and ergonomics of Motion's slim LE1600 slate tablet PC, replacing the digitized display with a resistive touch screen. The touch screen, a durable, five-wire grid membrane with a coating of transparent metal oxide, enables direct and accurate input with a finger or stylus.
"Motion is squarely focused on providing the mobile technologies that can bring increased productivity to mobile workers in vertical industries," said Debbie Crosek, Motion Computing director of product marketing. "The LE1600TS extends Motion's leadership in slate PCs into the industries that use menu-driven applications to improve efficiency."
The Motion LE1600TS is available with an Intel(R) Centrino(R) mobile technology, including a 1.5GHz Low Voltage (LV) Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor, the Mobile Intel(R) 915GMS Express Chipset, and the Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200 BG Network Connection. It can also be configured with an Intel Celeron M Processor ULV 373 (1.0GHz). The LE1600TS features Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Tablet PC Edition 2005.
As when the Tablet PC was first released, people watching the Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) are hesitant about if it really offers what the ideal is and what “Origami” was built up to be in so many our minds.
Information can help solve this dilemma. People need more information. People need to be able to get hands-on experience with UMPCs, try out software that matches their own interests, learn how to deal with certain situations, etc.
In the absence of accurate information, people make things up. Let me repeat that again because it is critical. In the absence of information, people make things up. I’ll go one step further and say that in the absence of accurate information, people guess at who may be an expert who they can sufficiently rely on and unfortunately, may not always make the best decision. It happens.
Shannon King got rid of her paper notebooks the minute she saw how  beneficial the wireless notebook she purchased through Mercy High School was going to be for class.
Instead of using pen and paper to take notes, she picks up the stylus connected to her tablet PC and writes on the screen.
And when class is over and she needs to study those notes, she can simply click a button to convert her writing -- no matter how sloppy it is -- into text.
"I like how it keeps me organized, and I'm not an organized person," said Shannon, 14, a ninth-grader from Livonia.
She's among 18 students at Mercy High in Farmington Hills who are part of a pilot program in which their parents paid $2,199 for a Hewlett-Packard Tablet PC.
It is a tablet-style computer, about the size of a trade paperback and at 1.7 pounds (770 grams), only slightly heavier. It has a 7-inch (18-centimeter) screen with a few buttons around it, but no keyboard or mouse.
Looking for a great PC that runs a fully fledged version of Windows XP but weighs less than 2 pounds (1 kilogram)?.
Well, it is here, at least if you can live without the "great" part. The Samsung Q1 is one of the first computers made to Microsoft Corp.'s Ultra-Mobile PC specification, which was formerly known as the company's Project Origami.
It is a tablet-style computer, about the size of a trade paperback and at 1.7 pounds (770 grams), only slightly heavier. It has a 7-inch (18-centimeter) screen with a few buttons around it, but no keyboard or mouse. If the Q1 were red, you'd think "Etch A Sketch" when you saw it.
The Q1 lists for $1,100 (euro871). Some have complained about that price, but I think it is mostly a matter of disappointed expectations _ Microsoft had said the UMPCs would cost between $500 (euro396) and $1,000 (euro792). The other manufacturer in the first wave of UMPCs, TabletKiosk, is shipping a "limited" production run of its own device for $900 (euro713), and is expecting more inventory in a month or so. Asus is also bringing out a UMPC.
The Q1 is still cheaper than Tablet PCs, which start at $1,500
This is the second year in a row VCU has taken the first-place honor at Microsoft's Imagine Cup Software Design Invitational. Last year's team placed eighth worldwide.
"It's kind of starting to be a little dynasty. It's pretty exciting," said Joanne Cunningham, a VCU team member who helped develop the winning design -- the PocketDoc, a software application used to connect physicians and patients.
Last year's winning VCU team developed software for a Tablet PC that helped young children to learn to write letters.
The objective this year was to create software to help people live healthier.
Team PocketDoc, made up of computer science graduate students at the VCU School of Engineering, will travel to India in August with a chance for more than $25,000 in prizes.
Each of the HP Technology for Teaching grant recipients will use HP wireless Tablet PC technology to enhance learning in engineering, math, science, computer science or business courses.
Much of the growth of Tablet PC technology in classrooms around the world can be traced to a small group of educators and researchers which includes Dave Berque, professor of computer science at DePauw. Dr. Berque's work on the Greencastle campus led to the development of pen-based technology that is now being used in classrooms around the country. The system, which is manufactured and marketed by DyKnow, recently received a United States patent, which lists Berque as the inventor.
"The combination of DyKnow software and the newest generation of Hewlett Packard Tablet PCs will give students to opportunity to do collaborative electronically facilitated group work in ways that have not previously been possible," says Berque. "Small groups of students will be able to collaboratively sketch freehand solutions to class exercises on shared sheets of electronic paper. The Tablet PC form factor will  make it easier for students to work naturally in groups, and the power of the machines will also allow the students to run software development environments."
The professor adds, "The equipment provided by the grant will also give DePauw students and faculty members experience with state of the art Tablet PCs. Schools with required laptop computer programs are increasingly selecting Tablet PCs instead of standard laptops. Through this project we will come to better understand the potential benefit of Tablet PCs over standard laptops. I believe this may inform the direction of our laptop initiative in years to come."
NewspaperDirect’s PressReader software allows readers to download and store, on a UMPC device, issues of their favourite newspaper title from amongst NewspaperDirect’s growing list of publishing partners.
UMPCs operate on a full version of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition software, allowing users to access all their familiar applications including Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer. UMPCs are lightweight and designed to meet multiple information and technology needs including: email and web access, viewing photos, playing music, watching videos and doing everything else you’ve come to expect from your PC. With initial devices having a seven-inch screen, it is both mobile and practical.
“Ultra-Mobile PCs are an exciting new category of devices that will give people a full PC experience that fits in their hands,” said Otto Berkes, general manager of the Ultra-Mobile PC group at Microsoft Corp. “We’re glad to have NewspaperDirect developing PressReader for UMPCs. It’s a natural fit for people with a mobile lifestyle who want their news on the go.”
Marc Orchant and James Kendrick are back with show #21! We give ESPN and  Entertainment Tonight a run for their money to kick the show off. In this one hour show we celebrate Tracy Hooten Day and pay homage to her recent article comparing many different Tablet PCs and her excellent overview that describes how she uses the advanced note-taking capabilities of Tablet Enhancements for Outlook (TEO) 3.0 beta. The first Origamis/ UMPCs are finding their way into the hands of consumers and we take some journalists to task over the rather lame reviews that have been published.
Ellison is the reigning king of the cove, a software salesman but no relation to the billionaire Oracle chief. In 2004, he retrieved Bonds' home run balls No. 660 and No. 661 in the cove. The first one tied, the second one passed Willie Mays' total. Ellison gave No. 660 to Bonds and sold No. 661 for $17,000, the proceeds of which he used to buy his bright-colored kayak.
Ellison is a purist on the subject of snagging Bonds' home runs. ``I don't use a net. It's a philosophical thing.'' But he holds nothing back when it comes to his technology accessories. He installed a tablet PC in a waterproof case on the kayak so he can watch the game live on television, streamed from a Slingbox at his Fairfield home.
The screen is responsive to touch and has little parallax or misalignment. Calibration is more exacting than on most tablets: you can do the standard 4 corners or 9 (and even 25) point calibration. The touch screen is a pleasure to use, much better than the OQO and similar to PDAs in terms of accuracy and responsiveness.
For those of you who are new to Windows XP Tablet Edition, you can take notes using digital ink in Journal, then tell the app to turn it into regular every day text at your leisure when you return to your office or desk.
The pair of Office 2003 updates refreshed Outlook 2003's anti-spam filter and fixed a flaw in OneNote 2003, the note-taking application that Microsoft sells separately from the Office suite.
According to a support document on the Redmond, Wash. developer's Web site, OneNote users would see their handwriting disappear from a Tablet PC screen when they lifted the pen.
EO tablet kiosk looks decent
Inquirer, UK
VIA HAD ONE of the fabled Origami tablets on display at E3. This one was a full production model by EO called tabletkiosk. Announced at CeBIT just over a month ago, this is the next grand vision in the myopic world-view of Bill Gates and his apparent tablet fetish. That said, given the Origami constraints, it is not a bad toy.
So, other than being saddled with Origami, what is the tabletkiosk? It is a touchscreen PC with a 7-inch screen, a 1GHz VIA C7-M CPU, 256MB of RAM, a 40G HD and Wi-Fi. It runs the full version of WinXP Tablet, and is a fully functional PC. It lacks a keyboard, but had an on screen 1/4 circle thumb keyboard. You can hunt and peck your way through an email, but I would not want to write the next great novel on it. I found the lack of feedback disconcerting, but I am told that you get used to it in no time flat.
If you need such a device, make sure to check out the tabletkiosk, I found nothing wrong with it, it was actually quite pleasant.
Hands on with the TC4400 
pringle.net.nz
Introducing the TC4400
I’ve been evaluating a pre-production version of the TC4400 for the last few weeks. In addition to the usual poking and prodding I’ve used the TC4400 in anger for the last week or so because my beloved TC1100 became a bit unstable.
Certainly one of the coolest, sexiest yet functional super-small notebooks available in the US. The specs and power make this machine good enough for business and school use while Windows XP Tablet Edition puts the touch  screen to good use with better support for pen and voice input compared to non-Tablet Edition OS P1500 models. The screen's resolution is high enough to make web browsing and working with MS Office documents pleasant though the 8.9" LCD may cause some eyestrain when run at full resolution. If you need and want one of the lightest notebooks on the market, don't want to compromise on specs and find the Tablet features useful, the P1510D should be on your shortlist despite a few shortcomings (lack of an optical drive, poor viewing angle and not the most colorful and sharp display).
Pro: Size! They don't get much smaller than this while maintaining display readability and keyboard usability. The touch screen is convenient and you need not use a special pen. Windows XP Tablet Edition software makes the most of the pen. Good performance and good battery life. An attractive price for a Tablet at this size.
Dualcor cPC has no wireless whatsoever
Mobilemag.com
Maybe it's in an effort to keep costs down and allow for a more affordable  device, but it is awfully disappointing to hear that the DualCor cPC, which I can only assume stands for compact PC and not quite ultra mobile, will come with no integrated wireless technology whatsoever. Nope, you won't find any 3G or Bluetooth on this chubby device, nor will you be treated to the now standard-issue Wi-Fi connectivity.
What is interesting about the Dualcore cPC, though, is that it is the first device ever to offer both Windows XP Tablet Edition and Windows Mobile 5.0
Talk-2-Toshiba Launched Worldwide
Techtree.com
Toshiba Corp has announced the launch of a new service, "Talk-2-Toshiba," a simple two-step process for users to instantaneously reach Toshiba directly  for service support solutions. The launch of this service is part of Toshiba's 20th anniversary celebration, of its first mass-marketed laptop computer.
Instantaneously, the phone rings and once the call is accepted, a Toshiba Global Support Center Agent would then speak to the user directly. Calls can be of warranty or services nature; or software or hardware issues related to Toshiba notebooks, tablet PCs and pocket PCs.
First Look: Ultra Mobile PC Head-to-Head
PC World
Samsung's Q1 and TabletKiosk's EO--the first systems based on the Microsoft/Intel Ultra Mobile PC specification--prove you can cram an awful lot into a small package. Both devices condense the best features of a tablet into a package that's less than half the size and weight of a typical laptop.
Even at the steep price, I think that people who prefer writing by hand to keying, and anyone who likes using a stylus instead of a mouse, may find the products viable laptop replacements. Of the two systems, I give the edge to the Q1, which has more connectivity options as well as support for portrait view.
One of the first upgrades for many users of these products will likely be a second battery pack. The Q1 lasted only 1.75 hours on a single charge, and the EO lasted about 2.25 hours. Both vendors offer longer-lasting batteries ($240 for the Q1's Power Bank, which claims to offer 3.5 hours of power; TabletKiosk is promising a 6-amp battery pack for the EO, but hasn't announced pricing yet).
If these devices had lower prices, either one could be the portable computer I've longed for. Both the EO and the Q1 can replace a full-featured laptop, if you're willing to live with an overcrowded screen and a few costly but necessary add-ons.
Sony Announces $1,800 VAIO UX UMPC
DailyTech
Microsoft and Intel announced the new Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) form-factor back in March with the aim to bring full Windows XP (and later Windows Vista) functionality to a handheld, tablet-based devices. Over the past few months, we've seen UMPC devices from Asus, Samsung, ECS, DualCor and TabletKiosk. Today, we can add a new player to the game: Sony. Here's the real kicker though, Sony claims the whole ultraportable weighs in at just 1.2lbs.
Rather than just enter the fray with a cookie-cutter "been there, done that" design with its new VAIO UX, Sony has decided to spice things up a bit. While all previously displayed UMPCs make do with a stylus for input as well as a somewhat awkward on-screen keyboard, the VAIO UX features a dedicated sliding keyboard for quicker data entry in addition to the traditional stylus. The VAIO UX also comes with a "touch launcher" which gives users quick access to oft used functions like email and music.
Editors Note: The SONY UMPC is not using the Tablet PC OS, so it does not have the Tablet PC functionality.
Podcast: Common Barriers in the Tablet PC Market
Whatisnew.com
Gartner Voice podcast discusses Tablet PCs with Leslie Fiering. The podcast leads with, "The sale of tablet PCs has grown twenty-five percent each year since their introduction in 2002, but their adoption remains largely for vertical applications. Find out if they are appropriate for your workforce." Excellent. Definitely take the time to listen. Also, she lists price as one of the top barriers to consumers. True, but don't Ultra-Mobile PCs and lower cost Tablet PCs like the what is offered by Gateway begin to address this?
Acer C200 series Tablet PC review!
gottabemobile
In this review, I spent a good bit of time with the Acer C200 Tablet PC, doing both  hardware videos as well as some Camtasia InkShows of utilities, etc.. I really enjoyed this piece of equipment, it was sturdy, dependable, and unique in a number of ways. Acer has been doing Tablet PC’s since the beginning, and it shows in their products. From the nice internal optical drive to the unique slide up screen, this Tablet PC is well worth taking a good look at.
Active Ink Software Releases v5.0 of their Form Design Software for the Tablet PC
PR Web
Active Ink Software has released version 5.0 of their Form Design software for the Tablet PC. This new version adds several new features that will make filling out a form and sharing it with others much easier.
Product Features:
Expanded Writing Area – The writing area on the form will expand to accommodate the amount of space required to fill out the form.
Search Capability – Records can be searched for by entering a “keyword” in ink or text.
Recognition Context – Handwriting recognition results can be improved by setting a recognition factoid when defining a field.
Pen Gesture Support – Check boxes, drop down lists and pop-up windows can be easily invoked using the pen stylus.
Digital Signature Authentication – A form can be authenticated to ensure that the data entered has not been altered.
PDF File Support – A filled out form can be saved as a PDF document.
Document Routing – An Active Ink form can be emailed to others for their review.
Access Support – The data entered on a form can be saved and retrieved directly from a Microsoft Access database.
Field Validation – Rules can be created that will validate that the data entered is correct.
Password Protection – A form can be password protected so that it cannot be accessed.
VB Script Support – Microsoft’s VB scripting language is supported for automating certain functions.
About Active Ink Software
Active Ink Software is a leading developer of e-form software for the Tablet PC. Their form designer eliminates the need for paper forms by creating the digital equivalent. For more information, visit the company’s web site at www.activeinksoftware.com
Ilium Software Announces Support for UMPC
Ilium Software, a market leader in the Windows Mobile Pocket PC and Smartphone software industry, announced today that they will include Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) versions of all of their programs in their future product releases. This announcement makes Ilium Software the first major PDA software developer to embrace the new UMPC platform.
"The UMPC is a natural evolution for users seeking a comprehensive mobile experience," stated Marc Tassin, Senior Product Manager for Ilium Software. "We're very excited about the prospects for this new platform."
The almighty midget
Australian IT
COMPUTER manufacturers around the world are gearing up to support the latest contender for the title of next big thing. It is, in fact, a little thing, called an ultra mobile personal computer (UMPC).
Bigger than a handheld but smaller than an ultraportable PC, which normally sells for about $3000, the UMPC runs Windows XP Tablet Edition, so it is equivalent to those tiny ultra-portables, but with no keyboard or pointing device.
It does have a souped-up touchscreen, including Tablet functions such as handwriting recognition.
Microsoft says UMPCs represent a new category in mobile computing: small, light, carry-everywhere hardware coupled with all the functions of a Windows-based PC and a choice of input options.
Florida Fire Department Installs MobileEyes(TM) Fire Inspection Software
Business Wire
Fire inspectors in Destin, Florida now have the time-saving tools that allow them to perform inspections, record violations, get electronic signatures and print inspection reports on site, without returning to the fire house.
According to Destin's Division Chief Rodney Syfrett, the department recently installed MobileEyes(TM) fire inspection software, provided by TradeMaster, Inc. The software runs on a tablet PC and includes handwriting recognition capabilities that make note-taking as easy as writing on a yellow pad.
Relative merits of Laptops and Convertible Tablets
pringle.net
I previously posted that I was going to compare the relative merits of four types of mobile PCs. It is my opinion that the distinct types of devices are evaporating as the spaces between the types are populated. Instead of distinct types we now have broad and overlapping categories populating points along a continuum of mobile device.
In this post I am going to compare the relative merits of the traditional laptop and the convertible tablet. Before I begin let me start by stating the obvious. I am speaking in general terms in this post. If I make a sweeping, general statements like “Laptops are physically bigger than convertible tablets” I fully accept that it does not apply in every case. For example there are some ultra-portable laptops. That’s fine – as I said we are dealing with broad and overlapping categories. The exceptions to sweeping statements are the overlaps
The Convertible Tablet
Convertible Tablets embody device comprimise. They may not be quite as sleek and light as a their slate cousins but they also lack some of their limitations. Be sure to check back for my next post in this series pitting convertibles against slates). | 
medical equations. Includes a medical abbreviation and acronym lookup tool.
communications, today launched the LE1600TS, a light, slim slate PC with a touch screen. The LE1600TS is ideal for industries including hospitality, gaming and retail that do repetitive data entry with touch input software. 
ultraportable mobility, superb performance, and productivity-enhancing features
Dreamweaver and possibly do some server admin stuff too. Oh yes, there's FTP-ing those nicely edited photos to our server, answering emails and IM-ing too