News Week of December 3, 2006

SunTech arms sales staff with tablet PCs

A READY-TO-WEAR EYEWEAR supplier is using tablet PCs to help reps get up-to-date customer profiles, provide quick sell-through and replenish stock.
 
Vancouver-based SunTech Optics Inc., which sells sunglasses, reading glasses and accessories, recently deployed a sales automation application called EZ Route to increase sales efficiencies. But the application required a portable hardware platform, and its initial plan to roll out EZ Route on PDAs just wouldn't cut it.

“Our programmer of 15 years gave us a year's notice that he was retiring,” said Mike Chang, SunTech's IT manager. “So we decided to take a hard look at our business.”  (Source: ITBusiness.ca)

Gateway Makes the Grade With a $2.2 Million Contract From the Illinois State

Gateway to Supply Award-Winning Convertible Notebook PCs for the State's Technology Immersion Pilot Project

Gateway, Inc., the nation's third-largest PC company, is earning high marks with the announcement of a $2.2 million agreement with the Illinois State Board of Education. As part of the contract, Gateway will provide convertible notebook PCs and support services to five Illinois school districts for the state's Technology Immersion Pilot Project.

Gateway is working in tandem with the Illinois Board of Education to make the Technology Immersion Pilot Project a success. Gateway is providing participating schools a complete solution, including best-in-class technology and excellent service that is delivered from call centers located in North America.

"We are excited to partner with Gateway to help close the digital divide," said Illinois Lt. Governor Pat Quinn. "Laptops are the textbooks of tomorrow. I applaud the Board of Education and these forward-thinking schools for electing to engage in an innovative program that prepares students for success in the workplace and beyond."

The Gateway® M285 Convertible Notebook PCs will be given to teachers and sixth graders for use as a teaching tool to support day-to-day instruction and student testing. The convertible notebook's unique design allows it to be easily "converted" from notebook into tablet-mode by simply swiveling and folding down the display. The tablet enables students to use the PC with the digital pen for numerous activities including, solving mathematical equations, drawing diagrams, editing documents and taking notes directly on the widescreen display. Teachers are able to enhance the curriculum and classroom collaboration by taking advantage of the functionality of the convertible notebooks.

The Gateway M285s will be used to support multiple programs within the Technology Immersion Pilot Project, a joint effort between Illinois State Lt. Governor Pat Quinn's office and the Illinois State Board of Education. The project supplies students with the laptops equipped with science and math tutorials; word processing, note taking and spreadsheet software. In addition, educators will benefit from professional development training and schools will receive technical assistance to aid in developing a school-based laptop network.

"We admire Lt. Governor Quinn and the Illinois State Board of Education for their strategic approach to increasing student engagement," said Vin Riera, Gateway vice president, professional sales. "Leveraging technology in the classroom contributes to stronger student involvement and attendance. It's fulfilling to see that our convertible PCs are enriching the learning experience and preparing students for the workplace of the future."

For more information about the Technology Immersion Pilot Project, please visit http://www.illinoisconnect.org/.  (Source: Press Release)

iRobot Sentinel Technology: Control Multiple Robots From a Single Table PC

The folks at iRobot stopped developing Jetsons-inspired robot vacuum cleaners for a second to crank out the Sentinel, a technology that allows users to control several different robots simultaneously from a Tablet PC. The technology is being aimed at our fighting men and first responders so they can more safely and efficiently haul ass. The Army threw iRobot some cash to develop the Sentinel, so it's only a matter of time before the technology is deployed in any one of our well-managed theaters of operation.  (Source: Nicholas Deleon, Gizmodo)
Posted Friday, December 8, 2006 by ChrisD
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MetaFacts looks at how mobile PC use varies from home to workplace

Most mobile PCs, although portable, are used in only two locations, and are used very differently than desktop PCs, according to the 2006 Mobile PC Profile Report from MetaFacts, Inc. Most employer-owned mobile PCs stay in the workplace, although when mobilized, are often used in hotels, home offices and client locations. Home-owned mobile PCs spend more time outside the home than work mobile PCs do outside the workplace. Besides various rooms of the home, such as adult bedrooms, living rooms and home offices, home-owned mobile PCs are used twice as often as work mobile PCs in a school, at the library, in a cybercafe, or at a restaurant.

"Notebook and tablet PCs are bought for the promise of portability and freedom, yet only get used in a couple types of locations," said Dan Ness, Principal Analyst at MetaFacts. "Even though Mobile PCs are more powerful and lighter than ever, Americans seek the convenience of always on and always connected. Also, someone you see using a notebook in public is probably using their home, not work, PC."

Mobile PCs also have some surprisingly different uses than desktops. Mobile PCs are used three times more often than desktops for online betting, and two times more often to create presentations, write blogs, access community/social networking groups like Friendster or LinkedIn, and watch DVDs. Work mobile PCs are more likely to be used for CAD/CAM design. Report results also indicate that mobile PCs are used more by the 18-34 group than among the 55+ group.

"Mobile PC users are highly sought by both online and brick-and-mortar retailers, because they're more active buyers than desktop users," said Dan Ness, Principal Analyst at MetaFacts. "Also, mobile PC users shop at different locations. They're twice as often as desktop PC users to have recently shopped or purchased in person at an Apple or Sony store, and online from BJ's, CompUSA, Fry's Electronics, Apple, Staples, Radio Shack, Office Depot, Borders, Dell, or Costco."

Other findings in the Mobile PC Profile Report involve consumer electronics use. "Mobile PC users enjoy their nomadic lifestyle, being twice as likely as desktop PC users to be using a handheld GPS, Apple iPod, other portable MP3 player or digital camcorder," said Ness.  (Source: Press Release)

ASUS R2H Ultra Mobile PC Review

ASUS offers a good mixture of mainstream accessories like the TV adapter and more businesslike kit such as the fingerprint sensor and the USB keyboard. The built-in GPS receiver and the front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera have broad appeal.

During testing we found the R2H to be a capable and compelling system that has clearly been put together with some care and attention to detail. However, we do have some reservations. We got 3 hours and 40 minutes of continuous music playback from the system's 6,860mAh Li-polymer battery with the screen forced to stay on. Admittedly this is over an hour more than we got from Samsung’s Q1 and ASUS does bundle a second 3,430mAh battery, but given that the R2H is a multimedia-oriented system with wireless and powerful audio-visual features, we’d have liked more uptime from a single cell.

The ASUS R2H comes with a great bundle of accessories and shows off the Ultra Mobile PC format better than Samsung's Q1. However, like the Q1, it does nothing that an ultraportable notebook cannot, and we're not certain that, outside a few vertical niches, it's a compelling choice for business users.  (Source: ZDNet.co.uk)

UMPC: better, but the jury's still out

It's taken until now to get our hands on a second UMPC, and the ASUS R2H is a big improvement. It still costs £799 (inc. VAT), which will get you a very decent traditional notebook, but (in the UK at least) you get a great set of extras and add-ons, including a digital TV tuner, folding keyboard, external DVD rewriter and a mouse. That's on top of built-in features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and a 1.3-megapixel digital camera. We certainly enjoyed setting up this little critter on the desk and keeping an eye on the TV news.

But that's the problem really: unless you have an absolute need for a small Tablet PC, a machine like this is only ever going to be an accessory. Few business people are going to want an R2H for their primary computer — especially with its pedestrian 900MHz Celeron M processor.  (Source: Charles, McLellan, ZDNet.co.uk)
Posted Thursday, December 7, 2006 by ChrisD
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ITU - LG readies mobile WiMax devices for launch

The first products from LG to support mobile WiMax will be a version of the company's XNote C1 Tablet PC and a PDA (personal digital assistant) based on Microsoft's Windows Mobile 5.0 software, said Nam Keehyun, manager at LG Electronics' Digital Media Strategic Planning Department.

Mobile WiMax offers downlink speeds up to 10.2M bps (bits per second), which is expected to increase to 40M bps or so next year. The technology is currently commercially available in South Korea and Japan. The technology is also being tested by operators in other countries and plans are underway to roll out the technology in the U.S., Australia and China.

The XNote C1 with mobile WiMax will also include support for 3G (third generation) networks that have been upgraded with HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology, which allows faster downloads. The new notebook will be available worldwide during the first half of the year, Nam said.   (Source: Sumner Lemon, IDG News Service, PC World)

Product Review: HP Compaq nc2400

Another surprise is that this is the first ultraportable to feature in HP’s portfolio. It definitely packs a lot of power into a small casing: literally in fact. The nc2400 is less than 25mm thin and has three battery options depending on whether you care for something lighter to carry (the device has a starting weight of 1.29kg) or one that will last a full working day. A useful touch is HP Fast Charge Technology, which takes just an hour and a half to charge the primary battery up to 90pc.

The keyboard isn’t noticeably smaller than standard laptops, although I found it a little awkward. The sacrifice instead has come with the loss of a trackpad in favour of a pointer located between the keys. Purely on personal preference, I reckon HP made the right call here. The pointer’s default setting is a touch on the slow side but again, I think this is a better option than to have the cursor whizzing around the screen.  (Source: Gordon Smith, Silicone Republic)
Posted Wednesday, December 6, 2006 by ChrisD
Rating: 3.15 (Rate it) 1 Lowest 2 3 4 5 Highest Comments (0)

Next-gen OQO ultra-portable computer coming

Today, the OQO model 01+ sells from $1200 and will be replaced by a completely new design soon. According to a filing published on the FCC website today, the new ultra-portable computer has been approved by the organization and could be ready for introduction in the near future. Expect the model 02 to make its debut during CES 2007 (January 8-11) or earlier.

Images and technical specifications of the device have not been published due to a confidentiality request by OQO. We will have to wait a few more weeks how the new unit will look like, but it is rather trivial to predict that the new model 02 will be providing significantly more performance than the 1 GHz Transmeta Crusoe, which has been used since the model 01's introduction and has been phased out over the past year. We assume that OQO will continue using an x86 processor, which could either bring a Via C7M-ULV processor (1.06 - 1.5 GHz) with power consumption levels between 3.5 and 7.5 watt or an Intel Core Solo ULV CPU (1.06 GHz, a 1.2 GHz and a 1.33 GHz model will launch at the end of this month.) However, OQO could also go with a Core 2 Duo ULV processor, if the device is intended to run Windows Vista.  (Source: Wolfgang Gruener, TGDaily)

Innovative Office Products Displays EVO™ Tablet Arm at 2007 International CES

Product extension brings the award-winning EVO™ design to notebook and tablet PC users; elegant design understands that computing can be done in comfort and style

Easton, Pa.—December 5, 2006—Innovative Office Products, Inc. (www.lcdarms.com http://www.lcdarms.com ), a designer and manufacturer of ergonomic mounting solutions for LCD monitors and keyboards, will introduce the EVO™ Tablet Arm to the 2007 International CES, January 8-11, 2007, in Las Vegas, Booth 70950 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center.
           
The EVO™ Tablet Arm is a product line extension of the award-winning EVO™ LCD mounting arm that was first introduced at CES 2006. Winner of the prestigious 2006 red dot design award, EVO™ levitates flat panel monitors above the work surface, enabling intuitive fingertip adjustment of monitor height and position.

The EVO™ Tablet Arm is a floating docking station for tablet PCs and notebooks, allowing the user to create an ergonomic computing station at his or her primary desk, without having to sacrifice the mobility of the computer. A gas spring arm "floats" the computer above the desk for comfortable viewing, with quick attach and release for work on the go. A full-size keyboard and mouse can be used to recapture the comfort of a desktop PC.

"This product targets the growing community of portable computer users, particularly business users who have adopted the portable as their primary computing device," said Bud Oddsen, president of Innovative Office Products. "Portables offer mobility and convenience, but are poorly suited for extended computing sessions due to their poor ergonomics."
            
The EVO™ Tablet Arm is of particular value for tablet PCs, which can be awkward to use, particularly from a seated position—the user must either lay the screen flat on the desk, or cradle it in one arm while writing with the other. The EVO™ Tablet Arm solves this problem by allowing the user to suspend the screen in a comfortable viewing and writing position. Or, if used with a separate keyboard and mouse, the tablet can simply be used as a monitor.

Unique features of the EVO™ Tablet Arm include:
* User-friendly design that securely grips both tablet PCs and notebooks without the use of Velcro or sticky tape.
* Adjustable clasps that allow free access to jacks, CD drives and ports.
* When used with tablet PCs, it enables one-hand use of the tablet.
* Rotates to allow the tablet to be used in portrait or landscape position.
* Adjustable strength allows the user to "dial in" the weight of his or her portable for optimal balancing.
* Folds flat, freeing desk space when not in use.
 
"With our latest brand extension, we're extending the elegant EVO™ design to meet the desktop needs of any commercial office space," Oddsen said. "The EVO™ product line separates itself from the competition with an elegant yet functional design that is ideal for design-conscious commercial and home office furniture computer users who understand that computing can be done both in comfort and in style.”   (Source: Press Release)

NEC's ShieldPRO Tablet PC: as tough as it is ugly, almost

Look, it's fine to claim your wares can handle drops, spills, pressure and dust. Who doesn't aspire to a sense of unkempt ruggedness now and then? But if you've got the 'nads to drop it or bath it in a tub of sparkling water for press shots, well, our mustachioed public servants should probably take notice. Sure, NEC's new ShieldPRO Tablet PC isn't the prettiest girl on the block, but she'll do ya right when the going gets tough: 90-cm (nearly 3-foot) drops to concrete, -20°C to 50°C (-4°F to 122°F) temps, dust, sand, water... no problem, this pup brings a 54 Ingress Protection rating.   (Source: Thomas Ricker, Engadget)
Posted Tuesday, December 5, 2006 by ChrisD
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Vista Sidebar Tablet PC coolness

Take a look at the latest idea from Loren Heiny - an ink-enabled Ink Pad for the Sidebar in Vista. I love reading his blog when he explains his design and coding processes - it provides great insight into how he tackles an opportunity to extend the utility of digital ink on the Tablet PC.  (Source: Marc Orchant, ZDNet)
Posted Monday, December 4, 2006 by ChrisD
Rating: 3 (Rate it) 1 Lowest 2 3 4 5 Highest Comments (0)

Wakrah school pilots e-learning class project

"Thanks to the eSchoolbag, I don’t have to carry my heavy schoolbag any more," said Mariam Abdul Rehman, one of the 188 students who is excited to take her Tablet PC home.

"Studies have become fun now with animations on my PC. I can’t wait to take it home," added her classmate, Hebba Mohamed.   (Source: Gulf Times)

Lenovo targets pyramid's bottom

The Lenovo ThinkPad is undergoing a brand repositioning. The iconic notebook and tablet PC brand, which is a strong IBM legacy for Chinese computer-maker Lenovo, is now being targeted at small and medium businesses, individuals and self-employed professionals.

The message is being driven home with a host of new print and television ads for the Think brands, giving the campaign a distinct India flavour, highlighting the hi-tech features of the Think series and going for a two-edged sales pitch.

"The Think series, which also includes ThinkCentre desktops, was already well-entrenched among large enterprise users and had a strong brand recall. What we are doing is extending Think's business-centric focus to India's growing small and medium business segment. At the same time, we are taking the brand to the mobile professional/entrepreneur too," says Ajay Mittal, vice-president, brand & marketing, Lenovo. (Source: Chiranjoy Sen, India Times)

EverNote Software Featured on All New Fujitsu Notebooks and Tablet PCs

EverNote® Corporation today announced a new partnership to distribute EverNote software on the Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation line of high-performance and reliable LifeBook® notebooks and Stylistic® Tablet PCs shipping in North America.

In addition, the LifeBook P1610 pen-enabled convertible notebook will include both EverNote Plus and EverNote ritePen®, an advanced handwriting recognition software.

EverNote Corp. is a leader in information capturing technologies. From best-of-breed digital ink and handwriting recognition technologies, to its popular personal content management application, EverNote provides a single place for capturing, categorizing and instantly locating any kind of notes, including text, web and document clips, handwritten notes and images, and accessing them on multiple platforms and devices.

“People appreciate software that works with them to make their job easier,” said Paul Moore, senior director of mobile product marketing, Fujitsu Computer Systems. “EverNote, whether it is used with a pen or keyboard, delivers on this with a clear, easy-to-use, searchable notepad.”

A leader in mobile computing, Fujitsu offers a complete line of LifeBook® high-performance notebook PCs, ranging from powerful desktop replacements to ultra-portable and convertible notebooks, to fit the needs of every mobile user. Fujitsu Stylistic® Tablet PCs offer unsurpassed levels of flexibility, productivity and performance with both pen and keyboard inputs.

“The popularity of Fujitsu notebooks and Tablet PCs gives EverNote more exposure to a growing base of mobile users,” said Leonid Kitainik, executive vice president of EverNote. “We are excited about the partnership with Fujitsu that helps business users and consumers manage the myriad of content that they interact with every day. Additionally, we are positive that LifeBook and Stylistic users will enjoy the forthcoming version 2.0 of EverNote, which includes our new Search in Images (AIR-Search) technology.”   (Source: Press Release)