Tablet PC Buzz

Advueu's new mini Tablet PC

Saw this posted on Christopher James blog, www.TabletPCPlace.com :

"Advueu has announced a new mini tablet PC, the V800XPT-2 this is billed as "... ultra-slim and ultra-light, bringing maximum portability and performance to Microsoft� Windows� XP Tablet edition on an 8.4-inch screen." "

url: http://81.5.185.34/tabletpcplace/pivot/entry.php?id=10#body

MSNBC: Hewlett-Packard's Carly Fiorina is ousted

"Carly Fiorina�s nearly six-year reign at Hewlett-Packard Co. ended Wednesday as the company�s board forced her out as chief executive, disappointed by her efforts to transform H-P from a printer business into a broad-based technology giant. Fiorina was one of just a few women to head a Fortune 500 company

Board members said they fired Fiorina because she failed to execute a planned strategy of slashing costs and boosting revenue as quickly as directors had hoped.

Fiorina had championed the 2002 acquisition of Compaq Computer Corp. despite fierce resistance from shareholders and directors. The board is now looking for better results from the more diversified operation."

url: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6939785/

PRNewswire: Xplore Reports Third Quarter Results

"Xplore Technologies(R) Corp. (TSX: XPL), a leading international developer, producer and distributor of rugged mobile computer systems, reported today financial results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2004.

Revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2023 were approximately US $4.3 million as compared to US $4.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2003. The launch of the Company's new rugged Centrino(R)-based iX104(TM) systems was delayed until December 2004 in connection with the completion of testing and certification activities. Accordingly the Company began shipping backlogged Centrino related orders in late December. Additionally, at December 31, 2004, the Company had deferred revenue of approximately US $848,000 attributable to December shipments being physically delivered to customer locations in early January 2005.

Revenues for the nine months ended December 31, 2023 were approximately US $12.2 million compared to US $18.2 million for the same period in the prior year. Fiscal 2004 included a non-recurring special one-time sale and single major account customer that collectively generated revenues of approximately US $6.5 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2003. These factors, combined with the impact of the Centrino delivery delays, account for the majority of the revenue fluctuations."

url: http://press.arrivenet.com/bus/article.php/586034.html

TabletPC2.com: Fujitsu and Otterbox reviews

Linda from TabletPC2.com has some good reviews of Fujitsu's ST5020 and the Otterbox Tablet PC Case. Very complete and descriptive reviews; lots of pictures. Check them out!

Otterbox
ST5020

url: http://www.tabletpc2.com/Review-FujitsuST5020-Article020605.htm

My impressions of the TC4200, next version of TC1100

HP's TC4200 was on display in the HP booth and the Tablet PC booth at Windows Anywhere.

I was impressed and so were lots of other people who saw it. The top two questions: How much and when will it be available. HP's answer: starting price of $1599, and it will be available in about a month.

I also talked to the HP reps about the next version of TC1100. They didn't tell me when it will be coming, but unlike what has been posted in some threads in the HP forum, it is not going away and it will be upgraded. Having a ULV processor, they are quite limited to drastic improvements in speed. The next processor will likely be in the 1.2ghz range.

CES 2005: New Toshiba Tablet PC

[img=right]http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/forum/uploaded/Spencer/200516102150_newtoshibatabletpc_ces2005.jpg[/img=right]Well, I'm not in Las Vegas to look at all the cool gadgets with Rob, but I am sitting here at home playing the search the web for info game. :-) Rob mentioned in his previous post the new Toshiba Tablet PC that has been announced. While I don't have any specs on the unit yet, I did find a picture of the unit on Paul Thurrott's WinSuperSite. I'm sure Rob will be bringing us more details on the unit later today, as he cruises the show floor down there in Vegas. Hopefully we will get a little better picture of the device too. Paul's site mentioned that the screen on the new tablet was showing the new "Tablet PC media player skin", which I'm guessing may be part of one of the new powertoys. Again, I'm sure Rob may be able to enlighten us more on this later today.

UPDATE: WhatIsNew.com has posted what looks like a press release from Toshiba with some confirmed specs of the new unit -

An overview of confirmed specifications includes:
CPU: Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Graphics: Intel Extreme Graphics 2
LCD: 14.1-inch diagonal XGA
Memory: 512MB to 2GB (DDR333)
HDD: 60GB (4200rpm)
ODD: Select Bay DVD-CDRW drive
Wireless: Intel PRO/Wireless Network Connection 2200BG
Operating system: Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005
Docking: Advanced Port Replicator III & Tablet Multi Dock II

It looks to be a much more consumer oriented tablet than the Portege M200 series that Toshiba has out right now. Layne from WhatIsNew says that he got to play with the tablet a bit last night, and it will compete directly with the Averatec C3500. Pricing will apparently be announced when Toshiba is ready to start shipping.

URL: http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/ces05.asp

HP's new TC4200

Here is the link to HP's new TC4200.

Screen: 12.1" XGA display, wide viewing angle, ambient light sensor
Processor: Intel� Pentium� M processors 730 to 770 or
Intel Celeron� M processor 370
Video: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900
Weight: 4.5lbs
Memory: up to 2GB, DDR II SDRAM
Removable media: Secure Digital
Battery: supports an extended battery for an additional 4 hours of battery life, and enhanced stand-by for up to 1 week.
Pen: Digital eraser pen with tether and clip.
Dimensions: Dimensions (H x W x D)
1.35 (at front) x 11.22 x 9.25 in (34.3 (at front) x 285 x 235 mm)
Price: As low as $1599

"The HP Compaq tc4200 Tablet PC is a full-function PC delivering performance and compatibility in an innovative form factor, while simplifying your computing needs with the added convenience of handwriting. The light and stylish design is meant for mobile professionals needing powerful and highly-mobile computers that also offer enhanced security and reliability. IT managers will value the full portfolio of integrated security options, breadth of integrated wireless choices, and unsurpassed common accessories and consistency with the entire enterprise notebook line. With total cost of ownership in mind the HP Compaq tc4200 Tablet PC is the ideal choice for enterprise-wide deployment to highly mobile users desiring innovation and versatility."

Here is a link to the docking stations for the TC4200:

url: http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/tabletpc/tc4200/

The new M1400TC by Motion Computing

A mobile thin client tablet computer was introduced today by Motion Computing(R), a leader in ultramobile computing and wireless communications.

Thin client computers allow organizations to provide software applications and updates to their users while protecting sensitive information stored on secure network servers.

Priced from $1,649 and shipping now, the Motion M1400TC Tablet Client runs the Windows(R) XP Embedded operating system. It comes loaded with Microsoft(R) Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), Citrix(R) ICA(R) Client and Microsoft(R) Internet Explorer with the Sun Microsystems(TM) Java(TM) Runtime Environment. Because thin client computers do not store data locally like traditional PCs, these applications connect the device to software managed and data stored on an organization's network.

The Motion M1400TC Tablet Client uses the existing Motion M1400 slate tablet PC chassis and has many of the same features including its award-winning wide viewing angle display and an integrated fingerprint reader. The tablet's traditional hard drive is replaced with 512MB solid-state flash storage, allowing storage only of the operating system and essential applications.

I've reviewed the specs on the Motion site. The specs on the webpage don't appear to be entirely accurate, but the PDF version contains a more accurate version. In essence, it looks just like their Celeron tablet, with the OS being Windows XP Embedded and the storage being the 512mb flash disk.

I can see where this kind of solution would be a real benefit to large vertical installations like hospitals, and it continues to show where Motion has their ear.

url: http://www.motioncomputing.com/products/tablet_pc_m1400tc.asp

DavesIPAQ.com: iTECH Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard --- A Real Taste of Virtual Reality!!

For all of you slate Tablet PC users, you'll be really interested in this review of the iTech Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard. Its' a great review, and it looks like one of those "must-have" accessories.

Not to get too off-topic here, but this product further shows the need, in my opinion, for slate OEMs to build in a table-top type of picture frame stand into the back of their tablets. I mentioned this my review of the Motion Bluetooth Keyboard and I'll have a little more to say on this subject in my upcoming review of the SlateGlove.

A great video demoing the concept of a table-top picture frame stand can be found here.

url: http://davesipaq.com/articles/iPAQ_Bluetooth%20Virtual%20Keyboard_iTECH_2P/1.html

CNET Asia: Made-in-M'sia Tablet PC launched

Every so often, a new tablet device appears without scoring big on the rumor radar first. This interesting device designed and manufactured in Malaysia is such a case:

"Dubbed the "GMT-ACE", the computer weighs just under one kilogram and has an 8.4 inch LCD display, and its maker, Gerak Mobile Technology, claims that it is among the world's smallest and lightest tablet PCs.

A pure slate that lacks an integrated keyboard and which uses only a stylus for input, the GMT-ACE runs an Intel Pentium III processor up to 800MHz and the Windows XP for Tablet PC operating system from Microsoft."

The small size, low weight, and claimed 3-hour battery life could make for some serious competition to the TDV tablet, depending on pricing. Oddly enough, the manufacturer's specs never seem to actually mention TPC Edition as the OS and mention the screen being a "touch panel", which makes it unclear as to whether the device is a true Tablet PC. Nevertheless, it's a nice design with a good looking docking station.

URL: http://asia.cnet.com/newstech/personaltech/0,39001147,39142089,00.htm