LENOVO IDEAPAD U1 TABLET WITH A DETACHABLE SCREEN

Tablet PCs usually have a display that you can swivel and fold down over the keyboard. But the Lenovo IdeaPad U1 tablet is different. It comes with an 11.6 inch detachable screen. Another interesting feature is that the tablet portion of U1 has a secondary processor in it.

The IdeaPad U1 can function as both a notebook and a tablet. In the laptop mode the device has a CULV processor and runs Windows 7. Other features include 4 GB of RAM, 2 USB ports, HDMI and VGA. Up to 128GB of SSD is also available for storage. Now what if you want to use the device in the tablet mode? Well, just detach the screen and you will have a fully functional touch-screen tablet PC powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon ARM-based processor, 512MB of RAM and a 16GB of flash memory. The tablet version runs Skylight Linux, a custom OS developed by Linux.

The IdeaPad U1 weighs around 3.8 pounds. The detachable tablet alone weighs 1.6 pounds. The battery, WiFi, 3G and Bluetooth are all tucked away in the tablet. In the laptop mode you will get around 6 hours of uptime and in the slate mode you will get more. Prices start at $999.

FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR RELEASES A REFERENCE DESIGN FOR A CHEAP TABLET

Freescale Semiconductor has introduced a reference design with which you can build a dirt-cheap ARM based web tablet. The proposed machine will run either Linux or Google Android. Freescale plans to showcase the prototype at CES which begins in a few days. The company is also hunting for hardware makers interested in producing devices based on its design.

Freescale says that companies can produce laptops for as little as $140 using its design. The Freescale prototype has the following specifications:

Display: 7 inch touch-screen display with 1024 x 600 pixels
Battery: Up to 12 hours of battery life
Thickness: less than 0.6 inches
Weight: less than 1 pound
Storage: 4GB/8GB/16GB Flash-based storage
Other features include an SD card slot and WiFi. There is no 3G.

The Freescale tablet is aimed at students and young people in the age group of 15 and 25. Freescale isn’t worried about not having a QWERTY keyboard on its device. The company says that users in its target group are comfortable with onscreen and thump keyboards. More details should emerge at the CES.

UPCOMING NOTION INK TABLET TO HAVE PIXEL QI DISPLAY

Pixel Qi says that its 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel displays are already in production. And now the company has announced that Notion Ink is going to be first manufacturer to release a product with its transflective display. The upcoming Notion Ink tablet will run Google’s Android. It will be powered by a NVIDIA Tegra T20 chipset. The Tegra chipset will give it enough power to handle 1080p HD video while at the same time reducing overall power consumption.

The Pixel Qi display can operate in two modes: fully saturated color mode and grayscale ePaper mode. The ePaper mode will save energy and make the display readable in bright settings. And while working indoors you can change the settings to fully saturated color mode and use the device as a computer. The tablet doesn’t have a physical keyboard, but it can be used for surfing web over WiFi. It can also be used as an eBook reader. Notion Ink says that you will be able to play HD video continuously for up to 8 hours.

The tablet is feature-packed. It supports WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G wireless and GPS. It has USB, HDMI, SD card slot, headphone and mic. It also has a 3 mega pixel webcam. For storage there is a 16GB or 32GB onboard flash storage.

Notion Ink is expected to show off the device at CES. No word on pricing or availability as yet.

STANTUM RELEASES A TABLET PC OUT OF DELL INSPIRON MINI 10

Stantum has unveiled a 10 inch slate PC specifically built out of Dell Inspiron Mini 10. It is not known whether the company plans to mass produce the device because it is described as a ‘proof of concept’. There is, however, a page for ordering an evaluation unit. The slate PC comes with a multi-touch screen that can handle 10 touch points at the same time. The tablet accepts both finger and stylus inputs. It supports Windows 7 with no additional drivers.

The tablet measures just 1.2 inches in thickness and weighs around 2.3 pounds. The 10.1 inch display comes with either 1024 x 600 or 1024 x 576 pixels. There are 2 USB ports. Other features include Bluetooth and WiFi.

It will be interesting to see whether the tablet would do well when it hits the market. But one thing is certain: It will have to be priced aggressively.

ASUS T91MT TOUCH-SCREEN TABLET REVIEW

Asus has upgraded its Eee PC T91. The new version dubbed T91MT has Windows 7 Home Premium and supports multi-touch features.

Configuration
Processor: Intel Atom Z520 (1.33GHz, 533MHz FSB)
Display: 8.9 inch LED-backlit resistive multi-touch display
Storage: 32GB Solid State Drive
Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium
Graphics: Intel GMA 500 Graphics
Memory: 1GB DDR 667MHz
Price as configured: $549.99

Build quality
Build quality is excellent. The notebook looks and feels solid in your hand. The T91MT is ultraportable. The netbook measures just 1 inch in thickness and weighs 2 pounds. The bottom of the netbook provides an easy access panel to the RAM. If you need to upgrade other components you will have to disassemble the whole netbook.

Screen
The new and improved T91MT has a multi-touch display that accepts two-finger input. The previous version had a single-input touch-screen. The display is good. Colors look bright and lively. The viewing angles are also decent. Another nice feature is that the display on T91MT is less glossy than the display on T91.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard shows absolutely no flex at all and delivers a nice typing experience. The touchpad is a Synaptics model. It is neither too glossy nor too textured. Touchpad sensitivity is good.

Ports and Slots
Port selection on T91MT is average. There are 2 USB 2.0 ports, headphone, microphone and VGA out ports. Other notable features include 10/100 Mbps Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth v2.1, a 0.3 Megapixel webcam and 2x MMC/SD/SDHC Card Readers. There are no HDMI, FireWire or eSATA ports.

Performance
Performance is sub-par. The T91MT has a 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor which is much slower than the 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 found in most netbooks. The integrated GMA 500 graphics is also less powerful than the GMA 950 chipset common in netbooks. On the plus side, the GMA 500 is capable of some HD video decoding with a few tweaks.

Battery life
The Atom Z520 may not be very good at handling CPU-intensive tasks, but it is highly power efficient. The T91MT has no difficulty lasting for 5 hours on a single charge.

Pros
Reasonably priced
Good build quality
Nice display
Good battery life
Light-weight

Cons

Battery is internal.
Poor processor

MALATA RELEASES CONVERTIBLE TABLET FOR THE CHINESE MARKET

Malata has released a convertible tablet called the R108T. The device features an attractive design and carries an affordable price tag.

The convertible R108T has a 10 inch touch screen display with 1024 x 600 pixels. The display can be folded down over the keyboard to use the netbook in the tablet mode.
The tablet runs Windows 7 which has several touch friendly features. It is powered by a 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor with 1GB of DDR2 RAM and a 160GB hard disk drive. Other features include 2 USB ports, a card reader, VGA and 1.3MP integrated webcam.

Pricing and availability
The laptop is built for the Chinese market, but it is expected to make it to the US sometime soon. It appears that the laptop is selling for about $439.

ACER UNVEILS CONVERTIBLE ASPIRE 1420P TABLET

Acer has unveiled a convertible tablet called Aspire 1420P. It has a flexible multi-touch display and runs on an Intel CULV processor.

The Aspire 1420P is based on the Intel GS45 chipset. It is powered by a Celeron processor. Up to 8 GB of DDR2 RAM can be installed. The storage option is a 320GB hard disk. The laptop has an 11.6 inch display with 1366x768 pixels and it supports 200-nits bright colors. The display is multi-touch enabled and accepts finger and pen input. For handling graphics, there is Intel GMA X4500MHD integrated chipset supporting HD video offloading. Other features include 3USB 2.0 ports, HDMI port, Gigabit Ethernet, WWAN 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi b/g/n and Kensington lock.

The machine weighs 3.80lbs and comes with Windows 7 Operating System. The 5600mAH 6-cell battery is expected to give up to 8 hours of battery life. The machine is available in three colors – Diamond Black, Sapphire Blue and Ruby Red.

No information regarding pricing or availability has been announced as yet.

DELL INTRODUCES XT2 XFR RUGGED TABLET

Dell has introduced what it calls industry’s first rugged tablet PC with capacitive multi-touch technology. The device called XT2 XFR has a 12.1 inch display and some decent specifications packed inside a rugged frame.

The XT2 XFR is powered by a 1.60GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600 processor. It can be configured with either a 160GB hard disk drive or a 128GB solid state drive. Up to 5GB of RAM can be installed. There are no discrete graphics cards: Intel’s GMA 4500MHD does that job. The touchpad is gesture enabled. Other features include 3 USB ports, Ethernet, FireWire, VGA, a fingerprint reader and hot-swappable 2MP camera or GPS.

At just 5.4lb, the tablet is fairly lightweight. Presently it is customizable with Windows Vista and XP. Windows 7 may be available in the near future. Prices start at $3599.

ASUS EEE PC T91MT TABLET NOW SHIPPING

The Asus Eee PC T91MT is an updated version of the Eee PC T91. The new version offers multi-touch functionality and runs on Windows 7 Home Premium. The notebook started shipping this weekend.

Detailed specifications of the notebook are as follows:
Processor: 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 Processor
Memory: 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 1 Slot, 2GB Max
Storage: 32GB Solid State Drive + 500GB Free Eee Storage
Display: 8.9-Inch Touch LED backlit LCD Display
Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit) Operating System

The Asus Eee PC T91MT is probably the lightest and thinnest touch notebook in the world. It can be used both as a notebook and as a tablet. The touch-screen offers multi-touch functionality making it possible to navigate applications with the touch of a finger. And with the included stylus it is easy to jot down notes on the touch screen. The machine runs on an energy efficient Z520 processor and is expected to last for 5 hours. The 32GB Solid State Drive is shock resistant. Asus also provides 500GB of online storage.

Other notable features include the Asus Super Hybrid Engine and the Touch Gate software which makes navigating around the web and folders easy.

LBOOK T9 A TABLET FOR $350

The latest to enter the already-crowded tablet computer market is the Lbook T9. It will reportedly sell for between $350 and $375.

The Lbook has an 8.9 inch display featuring 1024x600 pixels. It will run on a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom Z530 processor with 2GB of RAM. The hard disk capacity is 120GB. Other features include WiFi, Bluetooth and optional 3G. The tablet measures about half an inch in thickness and weighs just 1.5 pounds. It is expected to be available around March.

The Lbook T9 isn’t probably the best tablet out there, but its price isn’t bad. A better alternative is indeed the Asus Eee PC T91 which has a touchscreen and a keyboard.

GATEWAY TO LAUNCH 11.6 INCH EC18T CONVERTIBLE TABLET

Gateway plans to launch an 11.6 inch convertible tablet running on the Windows 7 Basic or Home Premium. Dubbed EC18T, the device may offer stiff competition to Gigabyte T1028 and Asus Eee PC T91.

The EC18T is rumored to run on the Intel Core 2 Duo processr with 4GB of DDR3 SDRAM and Intel GS45 Express graphic chipset. The leaked pictures of the device shows a stylus holder built into the screen bevel. Other features include what looks like an HDMI port.

Gateway has not yet announced any official information regarding pricing or availability, but it is expected to reach the market soon after the release of Windows 7.

GIGABYTE UNVEILS TOUCH NOTE M1028 TOUCHSCREEN TABLET

Gigabyte has unveiled a convertible touchscreen tablet – the Touch Note M1028. The device is equipped with a 10.1 inch touchscreen display.

Sources reveal that the Touch Note M1028 will be available in four different configurations. While two models feature displays with 1024x600 pixels, the other two will have higher resolution displays with 1366x768 pixels. All models will come pre-loaded with 1 GB of RAM which can be upgraded to 2GB. The storage capacity is 160GB. The tablets are likely to run on the new 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 processor. While three models will have the integrated Intel 945GSE GRAPHICS chipset, the Touch Note M1028P (one of the two models with higher resolution) will have the Intel GN40 chipset which is expected to improve HD video performance.

Other features include Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth. All models will run on Windows XP. Some models will also have 3G mobile broadband and WiMax.

FUJITSU ADDS A MULTI-TOUCH SCREEN TO LIFEBOOK T5010 TABLET PC

Fujitsu has added a multi-touch screen to its popular LifeBook T5010 tablet PC. The new screen supports two finger gesture touch control. The multi-touch features will be available only after the release of Windows 7 in October.

The LifeBook T5010 has an LED-backlit 13.3 inch screen with dual digitizers. With its bi-directional hinge, it can be rotated in either direction. The tablet runs on Intel Core 2 Duo processors with integrated Intel graphics. Up to 4GB of DDR3-1066 RAM can be installed. Other features include a built-in WWAN and modular bay. Prices start at $1,759.

RAMOS LIKELY TO LAUNCH ANDROID-BASED TABLET NEXT WEEK

RAmos, a Chinese firm known for making portable multimedia players, is expected to release an Android-based tablet soon. The device will be capable of playing 1080p HD video content.

RAmos is expected to make an official press release on September 25. The Ramos tablet will have an ARM based processor. It will be able to play back 1080p MKV (H.264/VC-1), AVI (XviD/DivX), and other video formats with 30-40Mbps bitrates. In looks it is similar to the Rockchip, another Android-based tablet, but the hardware may be different. The Rockchip uses the RK2808 chipset which can play only 720p videos. As the RAmos device is capable of playing 1080p HD video it is likely to have a different graphics chipset.

AIS INTRODUCES LOW-COST TABLET PC

AIS has launched a 10.4 inch low-cost tablet notebook. This machine has received medical equipment certifications and is fit for use in the field, factories and retail service industries.

The AIS tablet is powered by a low voltage Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz processor with Intel 945 GSE Chipset + ICH7. It has a transflective touchscreen display which is readable in direct sunlight. Other features include integrated 802.11b/g WiFi and Bluetooth. There is also a PCMCIA slot for wireless connection in areas where WiFi or Bluetooth is not available. The tablet can be configured with Windows XP, Embedded, or CE.

The AIS tablet is made of an aluminum-magnesium alloy. It has sealed ports for waterproof and dustproof protection. The machine can also withstand shock, vibration and drops. Prices start at $1,499.

7-INCH TOSHIBA JOURNE TABLET PLAYS HD VIDEO

Toshiba unveiled a new 7-inch touch screen tablet at IFA in Germany. The device called JournE is powered by an ARM-based processor and runs on the Windows CE 6.0 Pro operating system. The touch screen has a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels.

Through its HDMI output the JournE can play back sub-1080p video or full HD video. It supports a wide range of codecs including H.264, DivX and WMV. Other features of this tablet include Wi-Fi (b/g) and 1 GB of storage. There is also an SD card slot for expanding the storage space.

The JournE measures just 14mm in thickness. It is expected to be released in the fourth quarter of this year. It will cost around €249.

FUJITSU RELEASES 2 MULTI-TOUCH TABLET PC

Fujitsu has released two multi-touch tablet PCs dubbed T4410 and T4310. They are powered by a Core 2 Duo processor (up to T9600 possible) with an Intel GMA X4500 graphic card.

The T4410 and T4310 have a 12 inch Wacom multi-touch display. Other specifications include 3 USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, FireWire, SD card reader and an Intel Wi-Fi Link series Wireless Adapter supporting 802.11n. Optional features include UTMS modem and Bluetooth. Fujitsu provides two storage options on these tablets. Users can opt for either a 2.5inch hard drive or an SSD.

The expected battery life is 6 hours. If you need more uptime you can insert a secondary battery into the bay which will increase the battery life to 9 hours. Both tablets use the Windows 7 OS. They will be released shortly after the release of Windows 7 in October. No information regarding prices is available as yet.

WHAT IS A TABLET PC?

Mobile professionals often need to take notes. But unfortunately a laptop is not suitable for that. Thankfully there is a useful alternative in the form of tablet PCs. You can use both keyboard and a stylus on a tablet PC. With the keyboard you can type in data much like you do on a laptop and with the stylus you can write on the touch screen display. Both convertible and slate style tablet PCs are available.

Tablet PCs are compact making them easy to pack and carry around. It serves two purposes: it can function as a personal computer; it is also a note-taking device.
The convertible model has an integrated keyboard and display. The display can be rotated 180 degrees and then folded down over the keyboard. The slate style has a removable keyboard. The notes you take on a tablet PC can be edited and revised later. It can also be shared via email or cell phone.

LENOVO THINKPAD X200 TABLET PC

The Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablet PC is powered by a 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo processor. It has a solid design. It may be a tablet, but it is still a ThinkPad and does manage to live up to its name. The tablet weighs around 3.8 lbs making it perfectly portable. Most models sport an active digitizer, with the touch screen being optional. Over all the display is good. The digitizer is great and you can take notes like you write on a paper. With the 1.86 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, the X200 performs well. It boots up really fast. You can surf the net and run multiple application without any trouble.

The solid keyboard is nice to type on. Like other ThinkPad models this too has a trackpoint. The trackpoint is easy to use and accurate like a mouse. The pen too works well, and it has an eraser. There are 3 USB ports, a 5-in-1 Card Reader, PCI ExpressCard, VGA, RJ-11 and RJ-45, microphone and headphone. Other useful features include Intel Wi-Fi 5300 and WWAN.


Battery
The estimated battery life for the 8-cell battery is 10 hours. Alternatively you can use the 4-cell battery and you will still get 4 to 5 hours of battery life.

System Configuration
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.86GHz L9400 processor
Memory: 2GB RAM
Hard Disk Drive: 160GB hard drive, 7200 rpm (Solid State Drive optional)
Graphics: Intel GMA X4500 graphics
Display: 12.1" WXGA (1280 x 800) display with active digitizer, touch screen optional
Operating System: Windows Vista Business


Pros
It has good battery life
Solid design
Good pen
Nice and crisp display

Cons
Could have used more features

THE GATEWAY E-155C TABLET PC

A very convenient feature of this tablet is that the biometric fingerprint reader and hot keys are located on the display frame and not the keyboard area. This is particularly helpful when you use the PC in the tablet mode. Another useful feature is that the display can be turned left or right. The keyboard is slightly small. The stylus is easy to use and has an eraser tip.

The 4-cell battery provides up to 4 hours of up time. Overall, the E-155C Tablet PC is well designed and suitable to anyone who needs the dual functionality of a tablet and notebook.

System Configuration
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Tablet Edition
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo ULV Processor U7500 (1.06GHz)
Hard Disk Drive: 60GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard drive
Optical Drive: 24x/24x/24x CD R/W and 8x DVD-ROM combo drive
Memory: 2-512MB modules - 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Battery: 4-cell Lithium Ion
Display: 12.1" WXGA TFT Active Matrix with touchscreen and bi-directional hinge tablet function.
Connectivity: V.92 56K Modem, Bluetooth, Intel 10/100/1000 Ethernet Adapter, Intel 3945 802.11a/b/g WiFi.


Pros:

The display is scratch resistant.
Weighs just 4.5 pounds
Display can be turned left or right.

Cons:

If you need to make presentations, you will need to connect to external display
The keyboard isn’t quite suitable for those with large hands