News Week of August 26, 2007

Tablets being put to use in some classrooms

“So far, so good. It’s going far better than I expected,” said Cyndi Danner-Kuhn of The Learning Commons.

Many of the classes around campus now have adopted a full technology friendly schedule. As many as 34 instructors are using the tablet-PC friendly program, DyKnow, in their classrooms. DyKnow allows instructors to make presentations and share them with their students by sending the slides right to their laptops and tablets. Then, the students can write directly on the slides while taking notes.

“It is so much easier to write notes right on the slide you are studying,” said sophomore Justin Longbine.  (Source:  David Cross, The University Leader)

Cincinnati School Fosters Creative Learning With Tablet PC in One-to-One Program

Overview: Cincinnati Country Day School (CCDS) in Ohio has a long history of integrating technology into the classroom. In 1996, the school embraced the one-to-one computing pilot program sponsored by Microsoft and Toshiba, providing a mobile PC for each student's full-time use. And when the Tablet PC and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system arrived in 2002, the school migrated to the Toshiba Tablet PC to take advantage of pen-enabled computing and ink-integration for the Microsoft Office system programs. Later, CCDS deployed DyKnow interactive instructional software and the school has plans to upgrade to the Windows Vista operating system. The Tablet PC has captured the imagination of students and teachers.  Registration Required (Source: Microsoft, ZDNet)

Major "Wow" Factor - Fujitsu Lifebook T2010 Tablet PC

A First Look at the Fujitsu T2010 Tablet PC

First and foremost let me begin by saying that the Fujitsu Lifebook T2010 Tablet PC has the best indoor - outdoor display I have ever seen on a Tablet PC.  You can clearly see the T2010 screen even in very bright sun.  Adding to the accolades for this screen is that fact that there is no loss of brightness or clarity indoors, so you don't have to compromise indoor quality to get outdoor visibility!   The display is nothing short of amazing and my photographs simply don't do it justice.   (Source: Linda A. Epstein, TabletPC2.com)

Researchers question school in high-tech age

About 100 Grade 5 and 6 students in four classes will be equipped with tablet PCs. With those detachable screens, they will be free to move about the wireless facility, doing homework or researching on the web in, say, the gym or library. Should learning stop because there's a system crash, IT staff are on site to get the students back online.

In the classroom, their desks are arranged in clusters to foster peer-to-peer and group problem-solving through a variety of tools like Smart Boards and LCD screens.

"We're not trying to get the technology to replace everything. We want it to be as an additional resource that helps student learning," said Joe Estephan, the teacher of the tablet PC Grade 6ers.  (Source: Dean Bennett, Canadian Press)

Review: Fujitsu T2010 — All Hail the Golden Tablet

WIRED Practical yet pretty panel — one of the best and brightest displays we’ve seen on a tablet PC. Decent specs in small package. Wacom-pen ready. Fantastic high-gloss LED-backlit touchscreen. Dark, minimalist beauty. Long-life battery.

TIRED No camera. No cellular modem. No optical drive. No touchpad. Many ducats required for purchasing a model with capable specs. Loud, annoying fan.   (Source: Rob Beschizza , Wired)

HP 2710p Tablet PC InkShow Video Review

Along with the stunning new design, there are some nice new features like a webcam, keyboard light, business card scanner, WXGA screen, and capacitive touch volume controls. However, as you'll see in this InkShow video review, some of the design choices HP made were at the expense of function. For example, the capacitive touch volume controls sound like a great idea, but practically speaking, the lack of tactile feedback make them difficult to use. In addition, they are not available while in tablet mode.  In fact, there are very few options available while in tablet mode. While the 2710p is a fantastic unit and I'll continue to use it, there are some things about the 2710p that prospective buyers need to know before making a decision, and I try to cover most of those in this review.

Along with a detailed tour and honest assessment of the 2710p, you'll also get to see:

• a real demonstration of the display issues that plague Vista users with the Intel graphics cards. This isn't a knock on the 2710p, as it appears to be primarily related to Vista and Intel video graphics.
• a functional and size comparison to the Lenovo X61 Tablet PC. I think you'll be quite surprised how much smaller the 2710p is compared to the x61.
• a look at the Ultra-Slim battery and dock
• a demonstration of the business card reader and software

Microsoft develops double sided touchscreen

Microsoft is pioneering a new touchscreen that can be operated from both the front and back.

The device aims to overcome the conventional touchscreen flaw of the hand covering-up much of what is being displayed. Microsoft's existing prototype, called LucidTouch, allows users to view the front screen without obstruction by entering text, navigating maps and clicking links from the back.

Beginning with a commercial touchscreen, the researchers at Microsoft bolted a multi-input touchpad to the back and then fitted a webcam on a boom to record the motion of the user's fingers. This video is then fed into software running on the PC which filters out everything except the fingers, adds pointers to the fingertips so that users can select items precisely on screen and then feeds it back to the display.   (Source: Stuart Turton, PC Pro)

Fujitsu LifeBook T4220 Tablet PC User Review

After completely using and testing this unit for more than a week, I have to say that my overall attitude towards Fujitsu’s new T4220 and the company itself reflects the joy I have in using the tablet. I would not hesitate at all in recommending the T4220 to users in search of a solid, robust and stylish Tablet PC. Coupled with Fujitsu’s amazing customer support, I believe that this tablet will meet and far exceed user’s expectations of a high grade Tablet PC.  (Source: Chris Carnabatu, NotebookReview.com)
Posted Wednesday, August 29, 2007 by ChrisD
Rating: 4.6 (Rate it) 1 Lowest 2 3 4 5 Highest Comments (0)

The New Gateway E-295C / C140X Tablet PC

Toshiba Protege R400 Tablet PC - You'll Want to be a Protégé...Owner

Final words

The Toshiba R400 Protégé notebook comes complete with a small and compact laptop carrying case that, thankfully, looks like a regular fashion item. So at the end of the day, you have a notebook that looks good, doesn't weigh much and goes about its duties competently. If you have the money, all SGD$4,699 (~USD$3,093) of it,  the Toshiba Protege R400 will be an excellent addition to your mobile lifestyle.  (Source: HardwareZone)

Q&A: Lenovo COO Fran O'Sullivan

You've launched another tablet PC, the X61 with the dual-touch screen. Are all mainstream notebooks eventually going to turn into tablets or is it still really for vertical users?

I don't think it will ever replace the notebook but the applications where the tablets are working - in vertical or in education - we could not be happier with our tablet results. I was reading on the plane over that one of our corporate partners said 'Lenovo did not create the tablet category but they did perfect it'. We really have worked hard on the getting the best of long battery, thin and light and a clamshell when you need it to be or switching to a tablet when you need it to be. And it's popular; we have been pretty much chasing demand since we announced it.

We've been very successful in verticals, in education. But in general there certain individuals - we have them within Lenovo - who are tablet people. People tend to say either 'we love tablets!' or 'I'll go back to the notebook' but nothing in between. It's black and white, there's no grey.

As handwriting recognition and voice recognition get better, does the tablet become a more normal form factor? Will we all start carrying thin and light UMPCs without keyboards? (Source: Mary Branscombe, IT Pro)

Samsung Expands its Q1 Ultra Family with the Availability of Three New Ultra Mobile PCs

New Solid State and XP-Based UMPCs Are Now Shipping and Available

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today announced three new additions to its Q1 Ultra family of Ultra Mobile PCs, the Q1U-SSDXP, the Q1U-ELXP and the Q1U-XP. The new Q1U-SSDXP is the first Q1 Ultra to incorporate a solid state Flash NAND hard drive instead of a traditional rotational disk drive. All three of the new models are based on the Microsoft Windows XP Tablet Edition operating system. The new models, which are now shipping, continue to advance Samsung’s commitment to the emerging and fast growing UMPC product category.

Introduced in May 2007, the Q1 Ultra is Samsung’s second generation UMPC. Complete with a 7” wide 300 nits ultra-bright LED backlit LCD, an integrated split-QWERTY keypad for fast text entry, and full PC compatibility, the Q1 Ultra is designed to enhance productivity, ease-of-use and portability in a range of personal and professional scenarios. With an increased battery life of up to 4.5 hours coupled with faster speeds, flexibility and mobile functionality, the Q1 Ultra product provides a compelling solution packed into an ultra small 1.5 pound package.

"Since pioneering the UMPC form factor one year ago, Samsung has relied on customer insights to deliver a range of ultra mobile computing solutions that best meet the varied needs of our customers," said Bret Berg, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. "With the Q1U-SSDXP, Q1U-XP and the Q1U-ELXP, Samsung has delivered three new solutions that appeal to a broader range of personal and professional users."

About the Q1U-SSDXP

Fueled by an impressive 32GB of SSD flash NAND solid-state memory hard drive, as opposed to the traditional 1.8” rotational disk drive found in the other Q1 Ultra models, the Q1U-SSDXP UMPC is a no-compromise, high-performance mobile computing solution that can fully operate in a diverse range of user/environmental conditions.

The Q1U-SSDXP is designed for optimum performance combined with increased usability. Overall system performance is significantly enhanced, as the SSD is capable of reading and writing information to and from the solid state drive faster than models with typical disk drives. By replacing the traditional disk drive with a solid state drive, the Q1U-SSDXP no longer has any internal moving parts, making it a significantly more rugged solution for those users and applications warranting the added ruggedness. Additionally, the Q1U-SSDXP can operate in an expanded environmental range, making it that much more versatile when compared against a model with a traditional disk drive. Priced at only $1,649.00, the Q1U-SSDXP reflects the growing availability of Flash NAND-based solid state drives and Samsung’s commitment to reducing the customer’s overall total cost of ownership (TCO).

About the Q1U-XP and Q1U-ELXP

The Q1U-XP and Q1U-ELXP are fully featured UMPCs aimed at the B2B commercial markets that require a Windows XP operating system. Pre-installed with the Windows XP Tablet Edition operating system, the Q1U-XP and Q1U-ELXP enable full PC compatibility with all XP legacy applications. Featuring the new Intel Ultra Mobile Processor running at a clock speed ranging from 600MHz to 800 MHz, along with 1 GB of high speed DDR2 system memory, the Q1U-XP and Q1U-ELXP are compelling solutions for those mobile individuals who meet deadlines, complete projects and stay in touch while on the go.

To protect secure information, the Q1U-XP, Q1U-ELXP and the Q1U-SSDXP come standard with a built-in biometric fingerprint reader as an added level of system security. Using the AuthenTec fingerprint scanner combined with the OmniPass security software, the Q1U-XP, Q1U-ELXP and the Q1U-SSDXP reduce the risk of data theft by adding another layer of security to the system.

Like the earlier Q1 Ultra UMPCs, these new Q1 Ultra models continue to push the connectivity boundaries by including integrated 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, providing users with wireless communications regardless of their location.

Facilitating seamless communications across a range of environments, these new Q1 Ultra models feature a 300 pixel webcam, along with a high-performance dual-array microphone, enabling face-to-face video chatting/video conferencing. Additionally, a high-resolution 1.3 mega pixel camera supports video recording and still pictures, allowing users to simply snap and send videos/photographs with a single device. Supporting these features, all Q1 Ultra models are equipped with a 300 nits ultra bright, seven-inch wide WSVGA LED backlit LCD touch screen that boasts a native, high-resolution of 1024 x 600. All Q1 Ultra UMPCs also integrate the AVS Now instant-on feature, allowing users to enjoy a host of multimedia applications, including video, movies, music and still photos, without booting up Windows.

Value-add options include a docking station which supports 3 USB 2.0 ports, additional standard or extended-life battery charger slot, audio out port and microphone in port, GPS navigation receiver and maps for the U.S. and Canada, an external USB-based keyboard with point stick and mouse select buttons, an organizer/portfolio carrying case, 6-cell extended-life battery providing up to 8.5 hours of continuous run time, 8-cell extended-life Power Bank battery providing up to 11 hours of continuous run time and a DVD RW +/- Dual Layer external Optical Disk Drive.

The Q1U-ELXP–powered by the 600MHz A100 Ultra Mobile processor and a 40GB hard disk drive–is available for an MSRP of $999.00. The Q1U-XP UMPC–powered by the 800MHz A110 Ultra Mobile processor and a 60GB hard disk drive–is available for an MSRP of $1149.00, while the Q1U-SSDXP–powered by the 800MHz A110 Ultra Mobile processor and a 32GB Flash NAND solid state drive–is available for $1649.00 MSRP. All models can be purchased through a variety of retail and e-tail outlets including Amazon.com, B & H Photo, Best Buy.com, Buy.com, CDW, Circuit City.com, CompUSA, Costco.com, Fry’s, J&R Music, MicroCenter, NewEgg.com, PC Connection, PC Mall, and Tiger Direct. All Q1 Ultra UMPCs are also available through distribution via Ingram Micro & D&H Computing.   (Source: Press Release)

Connected: Convertible notebook PC light of weight, heavy on ability

With the C-120x convertible notebook computer, Gateway engineers have put together a very usable, durable system that can go almost anywhere and has extra touches that make it stand out.

As a convertible notebook, the C-120x is a standard PC laptop with keyboard that can turn it into a Tablet PC so you can use a stylus (included) to handwrite on the screen. The Tablet PC capability is powered by Windows Vista and makes it possible to create sketches or enter text. The software will recognize the text and turn it into standard ASCII characters (so they look typewritten and work well in typical applications, such as word processors and spreadsheets).

Any time you have an external, nonattached device such as a stylus, you risk losing it. But the C-120x can tell whether your stylus is properly parked in its pen garage on the side of the system -- so when you turn off the system, it alerts you if it's missing, thereby decreasing the risk of loss.  (Source: David Radin, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PG NOW)

Acer to Acquire US-Based Gateway, Inc., Solidifying Acer's Position as the #3 Largest PC Company in the World

Acer Inc. (TWSE:2353), one of the world's leading branded PC vendors, announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Gateway, Inc. (NYSE: GTW).  Gateway is the fourth largest PC company in the US and a leading retail PC provider.  The combination will create a multi-branded PC-company with over US$15 billion in revenues and shipments in excess of 20 million PC units per year.

Under the terms of the agreement, Acer will commence a cash tender offer to purchase all the outstanding shares of Gateway for $1.90 per share, which represents total equity value consideration of approximately $710 million.  The acquisition has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both Gateway and Acer and is subject to standard closing conditions, including approval under Hart Scott Rodino, Exon Florio and similar laws outside the U.S.  The acquisition is expected to close by December 2007.

Gateway earlier announced that it intends to exercise its Right of First Refusal to acquire from Lap Shun (John) Hui, all of the shares of PB Holding Company, S.ar.l, the parent company for Packard Bell BV - a leading European PC vendor based in France. In addition, Gateway is currently in discussions with a third party with regards to a sale of its U.S. based Professional business. 

"This strategic transaction is an important milestone in Acer's long history" said J.T. Wang, Chairman of Acer. "The acquisition of Gateway and its strong brand immediately completes Acer's global footprint, by strengthening our US presence. This will be an excellent addition to Acer's already strong positions in Europe and Asia.  Upon acquiring Gateway, we will further solidify our position as number three PC vendor globally."

Gianfranco Lanci, President of Acer, added, "Both Acer's and Gateway's geographical presences and product positioning are highly complementary.  We believe that our combined scale will lead to significant efficiencies. Gateway has built one of the industry's most powerful and unique brands and with this acquisition, we will have the opportunity to implement an effective multi-brand strategy and cover all the major market segments.  In time, we intend to actively manage our brand portfolio and differentiate our brands to address different consumer segments.  We are also acquiring a world-class team and Gateway's employees will be critical to our combined success." 

"We believe our complementary geographical and product mixes, and our mutual focus on the consumer market makes Acer an outstanding partner for Gateway." explained Ed Coleman, CEO of Gateway.  "Joining with Acer will enable us to bring even more value to the consumer segments we serve and capitalize on Acer's highly regarded supply chain operations and global reach to expand the scope of the Gateway and eMachines brands around the world.  Acer has made impressive strides in the global PC market and the board and I welcome this merger."

The combination of Acer and Gateway is expected to result in significant revenue and cost synergies.  The considerable increase in scale will result in reductions in per unit procurement and component costs for both companies.  This combination also creates a real opportunity for the cross-selling of product portfolios by leveraging the customer relationships of both Acer and Gateway.  Significant savings are also expected through the increased efficiency of the combined back-office functions.  The pre-tax synergies are expected to be at least $150 million.  In addition, this transaction is expected to be accretive to Acer's earnings per share in 2008 without synergies.  (Source: Press Release)