News Week of July 22, 2007

Best & Worst Notebook Designs of the Modern Era

Best Notebook Design #1 - Acer TravelMate C100 (2002)

Worst Notebook Design #3 - IBM ThinkPad TransNote (2001)

As notebooks became more mainstream, many people found themselves debating the use of good old paper-and-pen versus the mighty PC. IBM attempted to please both camps with the IBM ThinkPad TransNote. The TransNote came in a folio case that featured the ThinkPad computer on one side and a standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper notepad on the other. The notepad sat atop an electronic digitizer that translated notes taken with a special pen for use in the PC.   (Source: Jeffrey L. Wilson, Laptop Magazine)

Writing notes on your computer....

Good article about a business executive who got tired of lugging around paper and made the move to paperless!  He makes many good points here and encompasses One Note from Microsoft as part of his routine, an excellent choice as I do the very same thing and I can't tell you the time it saves in having to reference notes from a prior meeting and the convenience of having them all in one locations.  It is also nice to take notes and use the nice export to Outlook tool as well to email the notes to all attendees!  BD   (Source: Barbara Duck, The Medical Quack Blog)

Toshiba laptops get wireless dock

Toshiba Corp. on Wednesday announced that it has started selling the first laptops with a new high-speed technology that allow them to connect wirelessly to a docking station that can support an external monitor.

It's one of the first consumer applications of ultra-wideband, or UWB, wireless technology, which allows data transfer speeds far faster than previous wireless technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Using those technologies to relay video to an external monitor is difficult.

However, UWB has limited range — the Toshiba laptops have to be within 3 feet of the docking station. Also, current UWB chips use radio frequencies that are legal in the U.S. but not in most of the world.

The laptops are part of the business-oriented R400 line. They start at $3,079 and double as Tablet PCs, which allow the user to write on the screen with a stylus.

The docking station, or port replicator, costs $500. Apart from the monitor port, it includes four USB ports, an audio port and an Ethernet port. Comparable non-wireless docking stations from Toshiba cost $180.

The laptops and docking station will be sold directly be Toshiba and by its distribution partners but won't be in stores.  (Source: Press Release)

Driving in reverse

The technician works with the core block of the engine linked with a tablet PC that is connected to the main computer via a wireless LAN system. The PC helps the technician scan parts before they're fitted to the engine. It is a measure of stringent quality control.

"Humans can handle work more delicate than robot. Humans care about dust and odds things before putting parts into the engine, but robots would not," AMG staff Alex Weber explained.

It's remarkable watching a technician complete an engine, carefully putting part after part with his own hands and see it roar to life. It takes less than three hours to assemble an engine and each bears the name of the technician who put it together.   (Source: Peerawat Jariyasombat, Bangkok Post)

Fresh Out of the Box: The New HP Compact Compact 2710p Tablet PC

Outside in the Shade

Designed with the business user in mind, the HP Compact 2710P is a no frills no fuss Tablet PC that feels sturdy in your hand and fits easily in a briefcase or backpack.  For convenience HP will offer an optional Ultra-Slim Expansion Base with integrated DVD+/-RW and an Ultra-Slim Battery for those times when you need DVD access or longer battery life.  (Source: Linda A. Epstein, TabletPC2.com)

When it's Time to Consider a Tablet

Imagine how much more productive you'd be if your handwritten lecture notes had a Google-like search ability, were organized in a completely logical way, and even had audio clips of the lecture built-in. According to Tracy Hooten, a senior at the University of Texas at Austin and the founder of StudentTabletPC.com, those are just a few of the ways Tablet notebooks save students time and alleviate stress. We talked to Tracy about the benefits of a Tablet over a regular notebook and came away with five reasons why you should consider one for yourself. (Source: Erin Scottberg , Laptop Magazine via GottaBeMobile))
Posted Wednesday, July 25, 2007 by ChrisD
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Fujitsu LifeBook T2010 Notebook PC gets FCC Approval

Earlier this month we have reported about Fujitsu LifeBook T2010 being demonstrated at Singapore. Now, FCC gives a green signal to Fujitsu to launch its LifeBook T2010 ultra-light convertible tablet PC in U.S.

T2010 is a sleek and lightweight tablet pc, making it an ultimate notebook PC for professionals.

The ultra-portable T2010 provides a 12.1-inch Crystal View WXGA (1280×800) screen with bi-directional swivel, Bluetooth connectivity, fingerprint sensor and supports Santa Rosa platform.  (Source: TechGadgets.in)
Posted Wednesday, July 25, 2007 by ChrisD
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TabletKiosk Sahara i440D Slate Tablet PC First Look Review

TabletKiosk recently introduced their newest Sahara Slate PC, the i440D and guess who got their hands on one. That is right, the i440D is in the TabletPCReview.com office and our model is running Vista. After spending a few hours with the i440D, I was quite impressed by how fast the wireless connection was and how responsive the pen was. Key factors to look for in a slate tablet considering it has no keyboard and probably will be lugged all over the place.

The Sahara i440D resting on its stand.   (Source: Tiffany Boggs, TabletPCReview.com)

Eastfield College granted 2007 HP Technology Leadership Award

Eastfield College was awarded a 2007 HP Technology for Teaching Leadership award designed to transform and improve learning in the classroom through innovative uses of technology. Leadership awards are additional, higher value grants awarded to HP Technology for Teaching grant recipients whose projects demonstrate success in their first year of implementation. Eastfield was selected for reinvestment because of its success in using HP technology to enhance instruction, demonstrating a measurable, positive impact on student achievement, and proposing innovative plans to expand their programs to have broader impact on student success.

Faculty at Eastfield College are using pen based tablet PC's and wireless technology to increase student interaction and participation in General and Organic Chemistry lecture courses. The purpose of the computer technology is to make students more active in their classroom learning experience and to enhance a cooperative learning environment. The Leadership grant awarded to Eastfield will allow for expansion of this project to additional faculty including courses in other disciplines. For more information on this project see our web site at www.eastfieldcollege.com/smpe/chemistry/HPGrant/index.html

Eastfield is one of 10 HP Technology for Teaching higher education grant recipients that have been selected for the Leadership award in 2007. The award package includes HP Tablet PCs, cash and professional development with a total value of more than $120,000.  (Source: Press Release)

The Tablet Reconsidered

More than four years ago Bill Gates introduced the Tablet PC as a “revolution” in computing. The digitizer stylus, combined with strong handwriting recognition, could replace the keyboard in many situations, we were told.

Well, years later the keyboard remains alive and unchallenged as the input device of choice, and Tablet PC sales have been generally underwhelming until very recently. Which is no to say that users looking for a new laptop shouldn’t consider the Tablet PC (or “convertible”) option that manufacturers like HP, IBM, Toshiba and Gateway offer in their portable lines. The original “slate” design had no keyboard at all, but the newer convertibles are just standard laptops with a Tablet option. In this integrated form, the Tablet is a nice add-on worth considering on a number of grounds.

Tablets are excellent for Web browsing. Now that the Web is a primary reason people turn on their computer, the pen is actually a more efficient and precise way to navigate pages than a touchpad, and many convertibles have scrolling wheels that make page navigation even easier. With the automated form fillers already built into many browsers and toolbars, there is even less of a need for typing text.    (Source: Steve Smith, E-Gear)
Posted Tuesday, July 24, 2007 by ChrisD
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HP Compaq 2710p Tablet PC First Look Review

HP has done it again, but this time they turned it up a notch with the newly released 2710p Tablet PC. This 12.1" tablet has a solid design that is sleek and very appealing. It's not all eye-candy either, with its 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo processor and solid chassis. I mean there is no flex in this tablet at all and the brushed aluminum trim around the keyboard definitely catches the eye. My first impressions of the 2710p are good and I have only spent a few hours with it.

The HP Compaq 2710p Tablet PC.  (Source: Tiffany Boggs, TabletPCReview.com)