News Week of October 7, 2007

Dell Latitude XT Tablet Specs, Images Leaked

In late May, Dell announced to the world that it would bring a Tablet PC device to the market this fall. Dell showed a grainy video of its new Latitude XT in action, but failed to give any concrete details on the device. Some features were simply inferred from the video like the 12.1" display, built-in fingerprint reader and Windows Vista operating system.

Thankfully for us, LesDeLLiens.com has unloaded a wealth of information on the Latitude XT in addition to some high resolution imagery.   (Source: LesDeLLiens.com, via Daily Tech)

First impressions of The Fujitsu Lifebook U810 Ultra Mobile PC

This handy Ultra Mobile PC weighs a mere 1.56 pounds and is roughly the size of a paperback novel.  In fact if it were not for the battery it would be smaller than a paperback, which means it is both small enough and light enough to take with you anywhere you go.   Don't let the small size fool you, the Fujitsu U810 UMPC is packed with features that let you do anything and everything you need to do, where ever you happen to be.   (Source: Linda A. Epstein, TabletPC2.com)

Product review: Samsungs Ultra-Mobile PC

Samsung, with its Ultra Mobile Q1 device, wants to break the mould with a new shape of PC.

The machine, which weighs 69g and has a 7-inch LCD screen, is not much bigger than Sony’s PlayStation Portable and is actually a fully functioning PC with Windows XP Tablet Edition, an Intel processor and 1-gigabyte of memory.

With the PSP and many new mobile phones coming with wireless connectivity, you wonder if Samsung has missed a trick. But the more I delved into the device the more I found it strangely compelling.   (Source: John Kennedy, Independent.ie)

Dell says he'll be ready with PC alternatives

The company is also building a new consumer business, increasing its focus on emerging markets. The vendor also this year announced that it would ship Linux on a desktop. In addition, Dell said the company will soon introduce tablet computers.

Ric Rodriguez, an IT architect at a federal agency that deals with health care that he declined to identify, said he was surprised by Dell's decision to offer tablets. "In the past, they have actually ignored the whole concept," he said. But Rodriguez said he see value to tablets, especially in health care.  (Source: Patrick Thibodeau, Computerworld)
Posted Thursday, October 11, 2007 by ChrisD
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An office in your pocket

GCN Lab Test: Tiny but full-featured OQO runs a full operating system

The new OQO model 02 ultramobile PC would look at home in a piano bar. We almost thought we heard jazz wafting out of the box when we opened it.

This model, the successor to the model 01+, has had a major design overhaul. The company traded in the gunmetal-gray color for black, and also rounded the left and right sides for a sleek, sophisticated look. Even the air vents look cool: Instead of a standard mesh grate, the vent covers are circles of varying sizes, making them look futuristic.

The OQO is special because it’s a tiny, one-pound device that is nevertheless a full-featured PC, running full versions of Microsoft Windows XP or Vista. That differentiates it from similar-sized portable computers on the market, which generally run abbreviated operating systems and don’t contain all of the features of a PC or laptop.   (Source: Michelle S. Haase, GCN Labs)

Tiny Rugged UMPC WIth Vista

Avantec, the Australian distributor for General Dynamics, has announced the availability of the GoBook MR-1 proclaiming it the first fully rugged handheld Windows Vista compatible UMPC offering sunlight readable LCD screen technology.

Mobilised has covered the General Dynamics rugged notebook range before and can attest to its ability to withstand some pretty rough treatment. - which includes dropping the military grade device from chest height and standing on the laptop screen while closed.

The small size of the GoBook MR-1 may acutally work in its favour because the small screen size should make it even more able to withstand the rough and tumble.  (Source: Adam Gosling, Mobilized)

Talking Tablet PCs and Intrusive Computer Screens

For those who have children not yet six years old, I’m going to let you in on a secret.  There will come a time when much of your adult conversation will take place on the sidelines... at the soccer field, baseball diamond, fencing salle, or at dance lessons.  Such was the case a few weeks ago when I ran into some old friends.

The occasion was the first soccer game for my young daughter.  I ran into another parent who I had last seen at a soccer game for my youngest son- at least 4 years ago.  Her husband is a professor at a seminary.  He knew of a colleague who uses a Tablet PC in his teaching, but was not acquainted with it himself.  We discussed the phenomenon of students and their laptops in class, the instructor seeing the backs of computer screens rather than the faces of students.  At first I thought this a bit unfair, as I had no computer screen to hide behind when I was a student.  Closed eyelids or a dazed look were obvious to see in those days.  I still remember with fondness the time in organic chemistry when I awoke to a quiet voice asking me, “Where ya going, Mikey?” with my head drooped forward and my nose about one inch above the desktop.

But then I realized that screens really offer little protection, as a dozing student now appears to be a laptop computer sitting on the torso of a human body, and the silence of inactive computer keys must be deafening at times.   (Source: Mike Moore, GottaBeMobile)

HP Middle East secures new PC deal with Higher Colleges of Technology

HP provides UAE students with ultra-portable, high quality tablet PCs to enhance learning and development
 
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - HP Middle East today announced its new deal with Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) to provide its students with HP's high quality, reliable PCs.

In line with the demanding specifications of HCT's student learning, HP Personal Systems Group was awarded the tender with HCT to supply them 4,000 of HP tc4400 Tablet PC's. The programme ensures that on the day of registration, students can purchase their tc4400 Tablet PC at student prices at their campus, through HP's current sales and service partners.

Alfred Chrispanous, Enterprise Account Manager, Personal Systems Group, HP Middle East, said: "HP is particularity proud of this project due to our close working relationship with HCT as we strive to deliver the best technology solutions and feel honored to assist in the learning and development of the UAE students."

HCT is committed to maintaining the highest quality in all its programs, and has a rigorous program quality assurance system (PQAS) in place for this purpose. HCT's graduates are well recognized in the industry and are most sought after. As part of delivering these high quality programs, HCT's dependency and adoption of technology is very high.

All HCT students are required to use a portable computer as part of their learning process and HCT believes in using a vendor that provides providing the students the best of technology and a return on investment that ensures a viable computer during the student life of an individual. The initial contract was successfully won by HP July 2007 and will run for one year.

Full after sales care and support is provided, as HP offers all students with access to seven onsite engineers throughout the UAE, and has provided each student with a call centre number, made up of 60 people, on-hand to answer any queries. In addition to this, HP has ensured that new replacement PC's are available at all times, should they be required.

The HP Compaq tc4400 Tablet PC is a power-packed ultra portable notebook or convertible tablet and adapts to the way the students can work with excellent performance and productivity-enhancing features. With Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processors that allow you to simultaneously use multiple applications, the Tablet PC also comes with a 12.1" XGA display and allows the students to switch from keyboard to pen for writing quickly and naturally on a durable glass panel.

HP's ongoing post sale support will cater to this large and happy student community in providing upgrades, trade-ins and pc-clinics during the student life of the tablet. HP supports HCT's ongoing tablet initiative and actively participates in its efforts to build a highly skilled and educated national workforce.

The Higher Colleges have expanded dramatically and today the HCT is the largest higher education institution in the U.A.E., a system of 16 campuses offering over 75 modern programs to more than 16,000 Emirati men and women. Using qualified teaching staff, innovative teaching methods and the latest technology, the HCT has quickly developed a reputation for its commitment to excellence, quality and exceptional standards.

Since the establishment of its four founding colleges in 1988, the Higher Colleges of Technology have become well respected for innovative learning in the United Arab Emirates. Across the UAE today, in the cities of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Fujairah, and Madinat Zayed the fourteen HCT men's and women's modern campuses offer an impressive range of programs.   (Source: Press Release)

Product review: Samsung Ultra-Mobile PC

Samsung, with its Ultra Mobile Q1 device, wants to break the mould with a new shape of PC.

The machine, which weighs 69g and has a 7-inch LCD screen, is not much bigger than Sony’s PlayStation Portable and is actually a fully functioning PC with Windows XP Tablet Edition, an Intel processor and 1-gigabyte of memory.

With the PSP and many new mobile phones coming with wireless connectivity, you wonder if Samsung has missed a trick. But the more I delved into the device the more I found it strangely compelling. (Source: John Kennedy, SiliconRepublic.com)

ITS finds new ways to teach

This year, the tablet PC is included in the laptop models available through the CCI program. Capitalizing on the availability of the tablet PC, and leveraging the knowledge gained through last year's faculty tablet PC pilot, ITS-TL has partnered with student government to conduct a student tablet PC pilot.

Tablet PCs are now on loan to 25 students for the 2007-08 school year. More than 475 students volunteered to participate in the pilot. Selected students attend a basic orientation program and follow-up training sessions, create regular blog postings and give their feedback through focus group meetings.  (Source: Charlie Green, The Daily Tar Heel)
Posted Tuesday, October 9, 2007 by ChrisD
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Fujitsu the Clear Wintel Laptop Leader for Reliability and Customer Satisfaction, Says Annual PC Magazine Reader Survey

Fujitsu One of the Top Vendors for Overall Customer Satisfaction for Fourth Year in a Row

SUNNYVALE, CA--(Marketwire - October 8, 2007) - Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation today announced it has established itself as the clear Wintel laptop leader for reliability and customer satisfaction, according to PC Magazine's 20th annual Reader Satisfaction Survey. For the fourth year in a row, Fujitsu scored significantly better than average in overall satisfaction, reliability, and likelihood of recommending, and this year received the highest scores in these categories of any Wintel notebook manufacturer. Most other laptop vendors received lower scores for reliability and customer satisfaction. The entire report can be accessed at http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2184105,00.asp.

"Fujitsu notebooks are well-engineered products that have stood up to every challenge our students have put them through," said John Jones, vice president of IT, at Indiana Wesleyan University, which has supplied its students, instructors and administrators with more than 5,000 Fujitsu notebooks over the years. "When you are sending out thousands of notebooks each year to students who rely on them for their education, you simply cannot tolerate a high failure rate. Year after year, Fujitsu notebooks continue to perform well. They last longer and need fewer repairs than notebooks reviewed from other vendors."

Fujitsu has earned its reputation for reliability during more than 21 years of developing and manufacturing mobile computing devices that keep on-the-go users productive. This year, PC Magazine readers awarded Fujitsu significantly better than average scores for overall satisfaction (8.4), reliability (8.6), and likelihood of recommending (8.2) -- out of a possible 10.

"Our leader position in the Wintel category is the result of our efforts to deliver what our customers really need," said Paul Moore, senior director of mobile product marketing, Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation. "This attention to customer needs, combined with our innovative designs, expert engineering, extensive quality testing, and committed customer service results in one of the most reliable systems you can buy. As Indiana Wesleyan University discovered, you can depend on high-performance Fujitsu notebooks for years of dependable service and the best possible mobile computing experience. We don't call them LifeBooks for nothing!"

A complete line of high-performance Fujitsu LifeBook(R) notebook PCs, ranging from powerful desktop replacements to ultra-portable and convertible notebooks, fit the needs of every mobile user, from professionals to gaming enthusiasts. Fujitsu Stylistic(R) Tablet PCs offer both pen and keyboard inputs, ensuring flexibility and productivity.   (Source: Press Release)

Fujitsu LifeBook T4220 tablet PC

This successor to the LifeBook T4020 offers several improvements. The Fujitsu LifeBook T4220 tablet PC series now uses Intel's Santa Rosa processor line, and the hard drive, sealed before, is now user upgradable.

Most important, the Fujitsu LifeBook T4220 tablet PC has a single, bidirectional hinge that is a first for a convertible and a major convenience breakthrough. When you want to switch between the tablet and notebook forms, you can swivel the screen right or left on its hinge - no worries about having to double-check a directional arrow or twisting the screen the wrong way on the first try.

The Fujitsu LifeBook T4220 tablet PC has a few protective features, starting with a shock sensor that protects hard-drive components during a fall by retracting the drive's read-write head. Sturdy plastic port covers attach to the notebook, so they can't fall off and disappear; they keep dirt and moisture out of the network, modem and monitor ports. The Fujitsu LifeBook T4220 tablet PC also automatically shuts down the optical drive during tablet use to protect it from breakage.   (Source: Carla Thorton, PC Advisor)