Intel also stated that Notebooks are likely to get smaller in 2008, in response to today’s dynamic lifestyle requirements for improved portability. An innovative range of Ultra-Mobile PCs (UMPC) will lead the way for those in need of extreme portability. UMPCs will provide full PC capability in ultra light and small form factors for on-the-go business users. To that end, in the first half of 2008, Intel will introduce a platform codenamed Menlow, which will deliver 10x lower power compared to the first UMPCs in the market. (Source: Trade Arabia)
Posted Friday, December 14, 2007 by ChrisD Rating: 5Comments (0)
The tablet PC market is still very much a niche proposition, accounting for low single-digit percentages of the overall notebook market at best. As a form factor, it has attracted a fair bit of attention, but its never really been matched by sales, and the resistance of some vendors to enter the sector was seen as an indicator that it was destined to remain a niche.
Now however, the Dell launch seems to have some analysts predicting that tablet may be ready for take off. Dell is often regarded as a yardstick for computing, particularly in the US, where its mass market dominance and somewhat conservative approach to new technologies tend to give the impression that when Dell does something, then its mainstream, and not beforehand (in the same way that no-one ever got fired for buying IBM).
But I'm not so sure that the tablet is ever going to take off. (Source: Mark Sutton, itp.net)
A Microsoft engineer claims the touchscreen capabilities in the next version of Windows will leave iPhone fans "blown away".
Writing on his blog, the engineer says the Tablet PC "remains one of the coolest projects remaining in mainstream computing".
He then issues a bold claim about the Tablet PC developments that will arrive with Windows 7. "I will say that if you are impressed by the 'touch features' in the iPhone, you'll be blown away by what's coming in Windows 7," says the engineer, Hilton Locke. "Now if only we could convince more OEMs that Windows Touch Technology is going to drive their sales." (Source: Barry Collins, PC Pro)
It's a cross between a laptop, tablet and PDA. Does this portable mini-computer from Samsung live up to its intriguing design?
Ultra Mobile PCs remain something of a mystery to us. Originally developed in a joint venture by Microsoft and Intel (codenamed the "Origami project"), these mini-computers are a cross between a laptop, tablet and PDA. They typically have 7-inch LCD screens, multi-gig hard drives, lack a built-in optical drive but run Windows XP Tablet or Vista on a mobile Intel processor. Too small to be useful as a laptop and too big to carry around like a PDA/smartphone, it remains to be seen whether these devices can fill any serious need in the life of a digital consumer. (Source: InfoSyncWorld)
Posted Wednesday, December 12, 2007 by ChrisD Rating: n/aComments (0)
That doesn’t mean they’ve produced anything I actually wanted to purchase and, in fact, I passed them over for our last several tech purchases (both major and minor) because HP combined great deals with great customer support via a local reseller. Now, however, as I see just how useful tablet PCs can be in a classroom, I have to say I really want one of their Latitude XTs. This tablet, scheduled to begin shipping in January, looks to be small, light, powerful, and innovative in its use of the touchscreen. (Source: Christopher Dawson, ZDNet Blogs)
Posted Wednesday, December 12, 2007 by ChrisD Rating: n/aComments (0)
UMPCs have come up against many of the same criticisms levelled at Tablet PCs: that the battery life is not good enough; there is no clear “killer app” for them; and that laptops are actually a better match for user requirements.
However, there are signs that UMPCs might avoid the Tablet PC’s fate. OQO’s Model e2 seems to be a hit with both travelling executives and IT staff, perhaps because it really does offer the facilities of a full PC in a pocket-sized format. If more UMPC designs can emulate its success, there could be wider adoption in future. (Source: IT Week)
Building upon its award-winning legacy of Tablet PCs, Toshiba's Digital Products Division, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the Portege® M700 Tablet PC series. The Portege M700 is the company's first Tablet PC to incorporate a touch screen LED backlit display.
As the ninth generation of Toshiba's innovative Tablet PC product line, the Portege M700 series offers enhanced versatility, performance and productivity to attend to the needs of on-the-go professionals, "corridor warriors," educators and students.
"Toshiba's Portege M700 Tablet PC provides mobile professionals with an exceptionally intuitive Tablet PC to meet their mobile computing needs," said Jeff Barney, vice president of marketing, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. "Building upon many years of successful Toshiba Tablet PC platforms, the Portege M700 incorporates our customer's most requested features resulting in Toshiba's most powerful and versatile Tablet PC to date."
As Toshiba's first Tablet PC with a touch screen supporting both fingertip input capabilities and traditional pen-based input, Toshiba's Portege M700 empowers users with a more flexible and convenient Tablet PC computing experience. The Portege M700 detects the presence of a digital pen or a user's fingertip, automatically switching between the different input methods, with the digital pen given priority when both inputs are simultaneously detected.
The Portege M700 series incorporates an LED backlit display with anti-glare coating, which allows Toshiba's new Tablet PC to be viewed in a wide range of environments both indoors and outdoors. The LED backlit display produces superb image quality and rich color saturation indoors. While outdoors the anti-glare display delivers a clear, easy-to-view image.
The resolution offered by the widescreen 12.1-inch WXGA display of Toshiba's Portege M700 yields 30 percent more detail than a standard 12.1-inch XGA display. This affords users enhanced clarity for viewing multimedia files and multiple page documents side by side. The Portege M700 Tablet PC display mirrors the layout of a standard sheet of paper when in portrait mode to give users a familiar writing workspace.
The Portege M700 series uses high-performance Intel® Centrino Pro processor(1) technology, including Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processors(2), Intel® 965 Express chipset, Intel® Wireless Wi-Fi Link 4965AGN supporting draft 802.11n(3), and Intel® Active Management Technology (AMT 2.6). Intel's AMT 2.6 delivers the ability to remotely deploy systems and supply proactive security and maintenance measures. This provides the network manager better control of mobile computing assets to minimize user downtime and provide greater efficiency at the office of when traveling.
The Ultra SlimBay® on the Portege M700 gives users the flexibility to change the configuration of the Tablet PC to adjust to their individual user needs. With support for an internal optical drive, second hard drive or weight saver, the Ultra SlimBay helps eliminate the bulk and inconvenience of carrying additional external components. The Portege M700 comes with a DVD SuperMulti Drive(4) and weight saver as part of the standard configuration.
To simplify the transition from notebook computer to Tablet PC, the Portege M700 design incorporates an improved hinge and display guide/peg mechanism as well as latch-less design to provide greater ease of use and industry leading stability. This combination of features ensures the display is securely locked into position in both notebook and Tablet PC mode.
The inclusion of the latch-less design enables Toshiba to cleanly integrate a Webcam and microphone on the bezel of the Portege M700. The 1.3 megapixel Webcam provides mobile professionals the flexibility to communicate face-to-face with colleagues, co-workers and loved ones when out of the office or traveling. The Portege M700's Webcam can take still photos, record video clips and record audio notes.
Featuring the full suite of Toshiba's third-generation EasyGuard™ technology(5), the Portege M700 brings a more reliable and secure mobile computing experience that includes:
HDD Protection--Because the hard disk drive (HDD) is one of the most critical Tablet PC components and that a dropped Tablet PC rarely falls in a single linear direction, Toshiba implemented the 3D accelerometer. This mechanism detects the acceleration caused by a sudden fall from multiple directions. The 3D accelerometer helps guard the HDD against awkward accidental drops, including a spinning, falling Tablet PC, by rapidly removing the HDD head from between the HDD platters, better protecting the Portege M700 in all three rotational dimensions of pitch, roll and yaw.
Shock Absorbing Design(6)--The Portege M700 Tablet PC features enhanced protection zones that run along all sides of the Tablet PC to help the Portege M700 better withstand accidental drops. Toshiba also placed reinforced ribs within the rounded edges of the display to better protect critical components including the display and inverter by dissipating energy resulting from accidental bumps or drops. For further durability, Toshiba encased the display with magnesium alloy, a lightweight, rugged material utilized in structural, automotive, industrial and aerospace manufacturing.
Spill Resistant Keyboard(7)--Toshiba improved its spill resistant keyboard to help protect against accidental spills of water and other liquids, including soda and coffee with cream and sugar. This enhanced feature affords users time to save work and shut down the system in the event of an accidental spill -- helping to prevent the loss of data.
Additional information about Toshiba's EasyGuard technology is available at http://www.EasyGuard.Toshiba.com
In addition to providing a reliable and secure mobile computing experience, Toshiba has incorporated several value-added features, including two "Sleep-and- Charge" USB ports. These ports allow users to charge compatible electronic devices, such as select cell phones or MP3 players whether the system is on or off. The Sleep and Charge USB ports eliminate the bulk and inconvenience of carrying extra chargers to recharge mobile devices. Toshiba's Portege M700 is compatible with several Portege M400 accessories including: Express Port Replicator, digital pen, reserve pen, battery and secondary battery.
The following configurations demonstrate the various specifications and price options available within the Portege M700 Series:
Integrated DVD SuperMulti (+/-R Double Layer) drive(4)
Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN (802.11a/g/n)
Intel® Pro 82566MM 10/100/1000 Ethernet
Bluetooth® v.2.0 + EDR
Integrated 1.3 megapixel Webcam® with built-in microphone
Complete product specifications for all the Portege M700 models are available at http://www.sell.toshiba.com or http://www.toshibadirect.com.
The Portege M700 series is available with a three year standard, limited warranty(12), which includes carry-in support at Authorized Service Providers throughout the country; or customers may utilize any of the 4,460 UPS Stores and Mail Boxes Etc. locations nationwide for packaging and delivery of the product to a centralized depot for prompt turnaround service. Customers can also choose to upgrade the Portege M700's service plans, including up to four years of extended warranty coverage.
All new Toshiba notebooks and Tablet PCs are RoHS-compatible(13), effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances. This coupled with a mercury-free LED backlit display has earned Toshiba's Portege M700 the Green Electronics Council's Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) gold status. To achieve this status, the Portege M700 had to pass a strict set of criteria created to reduce the impact electronics have on the environment. The Portege M700 is Toshiba's sixth mobile computing solutions to earn the EPEAT gold status.
Toshiba also offers a computer trade-in and recycling program to reduce environmental impact and promote efficient utilization of resources. All Toshiba computers qualify for free recycling, while non-Toshiba computers and other consumer electronic products can be recycled for a small fee. For more information please visit: http://www.reuse.toshiba.com (Source: Press Release)
Posted Tuesday, December 11, 2007 by ChrisD Rating: n/aComments (0)
Today Dell announced its new Latitude XT Tablet PC. While Dell could have used one of its standard notebooks and just added the Tablet PC features, instead they thoughtfully designed a Tablet PC from the ground up. The Latitude XT is an ultra-thin, ultra-light, fully functional PC.
Targeted at education, field sales, medium and enterprise business users alike, users will be will be appreciative of the nine and a half hour battery life, the ability to use a pen or their finger for commands and brilliant display. When the pen is in range it takes control of the PC, if the pen is out of range you can use your finger or the track pad.
Starting at $2499.00 the new Dell Latitude XT Tablet PC has and assortment of features and options that will appeal to a wide variety of users. Below you will find my first photos for the new Dell Latitude XT.
On the left - Dells Outdoor Viewable Screen - CCFL 400 nit LED backlit Screen - 220 nit - shown on right (Source: Linda A. Epstein, TabletPC2.com)
The next logical WebKit product for Apple, it seems to me, is a much larger version of the iPod Touch. It would be Apple's first tablet computer and, while they'll still claim it runs OS X, Apple WON'T call it a Mac.
I'm not the only person thinking like this. Here's more from an old friend who is much smarter than I. He sees an Apple tablet coming in January for five simple reasons: (Source: Robert X. Cringley)
When we saw the first Australian sample of the Q1 Ultra earlier in the year, we were by turns both pleased and disappointed. The evolution of the hardware interface together with Vista’s greater touch-friendliness was encouraging, but simply not enough to convince us that the Origami project was ready for the big time. While the shift into production hasn’t brought about any revolutionary changes, it has clarified how the Q1 Ultra will ship, as well as some of Samsung’s future plans for it.
There have been some minor tweaks: the fingerprint reader is gone and Vista Home Premium appears. Samsung claims this should give around four hours of life – a reasonable claim given that the Q1 returned light-use times of 3hrs 8mins for the three-cell battery. Intense use reduced this to 1hr 40mins. The optional ($120) six-cell battery lasted 6hrs 44mins and 3hrs 50mins respectively.
The “mouse” button on the left now switches the centre-mounted joystick between a trackpoint and a cursor-style selector (to skip through desktop objects sequentially). You can also use your finger or the stylus, with Vista’s software graphical “mouse” appearing under the pointer, complete with a left and right button. You can also touch-and-hold to simulate a right-click. To the right of the screen, the directional keypad can launch applications of your choice, and left and right mouse buttons sit below. (Source: Ross Burridge, PC Authority)
Posted Monday, December 10, 2007 by ChrisD Rating: n/aComments (0)
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