Dell is working on its first design for a tablet PC

Dell is working on its first design for a tablet PC, which will be called the Latitude XT.

The XT will be based on Intel's Santa Rosa platform and will almost certainly have a 12.1-inch screen. It will take a convertible form, which means it will be a notebook computer with a screen that can be twisted around to create a touchscreen slate.

Eric Greffier, the company's director of client marketing for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, told ZDNet UK that Dell's delayed entry into the tablet market was timely. "Historically, I do not believe there has been a market for [tablet PCs]," he said. "The convertible format is recent. All three form factors [slate, convertible and hybrid] have been fighting in a small market, and it is clearer now that convertible is the format."

Greffier also suggested that the inherent tablet PC support and enhanced handwriting recognition included with Windows Vista made the form factor more attractive, as users would in the past have had the added cost of buying the Tablet PC Edition of Windows XP.

"We wanted to wait for Vista and the Santa Rosa [Centrino Pro] ultra-low voltage platform," he added, suggesting that the new platform's enhanced power management made it possible to "have enough brightness at the LCD level" to make the tablet usable outdoors without overly compromising battery life.

Tablet PCs have been available in one form or another since the late 1980s, but became more mainstream with the introduction of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition in 2002. They have traditionally been used in a small number of vertical markets, notably healthcare, where the ability to write on a screen while walking is often seen as particularly advantageous. Most computer manufacturers have been selling tablets for a while, but Dell has held out.

Dell plans to reveal more details regarding the tablet later in the year.

GBM Podcast #17: The Technical Difficulties Show
Gotta Be Mobile

Suffice it to say though, that we’re back with another GBM Audio Inkshow with lots of Tablet PC and UMPC goodness to talk about. Not only that, Hugo’s back from CeBit Australia, and Dennis and Warner grill him on what mobile gadgets he saw and didn’t see and much more. And yes, we are still flirting with getting in trouble with PETA.

Download or listen to this GBM Podcast here 

Gateway E-155C Tablet PC Review

Tablet PC Reviews

Tablet PC Features

The E-155C is pleasant to work with in Tablet mode, the active Wacom enabled pen works very well, on par with the much touted Lenovo X60 tablet PC. Writing feels really quite natural, close to the true paper and pen experience. One dissapointment is that the screen doesn't automatically orientate itself with the user when rotated into tablet mode, this has to be done using the screen rotate button that's on the screen. This falls far short of the X60 Tablet PC that has a built-in accelerometer to detect the orientation of the device and rotate to face the "right way up" based on how the user is holding it. The E-155C runs Vista Ultimate in which the Tablet PC features are built-into the OS -- it's a nicer Tablet PC OS implementation than XP was.

RCS students receive Tablet PCs

Rogersville Review

It was hard to tell who was more excited about the arrival of Fujitsu Tablet PCs at Rogersville City School, the students or school personnel.

The Fujitsu T4215 Lifebook units, distributed to 55 staff members in early April, were officially presented to approximately 214 students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades Thursday morning.

“This is the day we have been waiting for all year,” Director of Schools Ravan Krickbaum said. “This is the day the latest in technology comes to students at Rogersville City School and we are so proud.”

School officials had originally entered into a lease/purchase agreement to distribute Gateway Tablet PCs at the start of the 2006-07 school year. That lease was terminated and new bids solicited in February because of maintenance concerns.

“I know we are at the end of the school year and we had planned to do this a lot sooner but we are very excited this implementation is taking place today,” Brandy Shelton, RCS Technology Director said. “We are not looking at this as having only a few weeks left in the school year. We are looking at this as an opportunity to see how much we can accomplish in this month.”

The initiative, dubbed Project SM@RT (Success Matters At Rogersville Tennessee), will assign a Tablet PC to each student for use in the classroom during the school year.

In addition to the units, the building and on the surrounding grounds have been equipped with wireless technology.

“This is something unique and very special. As far as I know, this is the first one-to-one initiative of its kind in the entire state of Tennessee,” said Dennis Holmes of Outsource, the Kingsport-based firm that installed the wireless technology.

According to Shelton, the Tablet PC units, unlike traditional laptop computers, can be configured so the user can “write” on the screen.



“A wireless projector has been installed in every classroom. With this technology, a teacher will be able to roam around the room freely with a Tablet without being tethered, work on it and it basically becomes an electronic chalkboard,” the technology director said.

The wireless technology will allow teachers to send students their assignments directly to the individual student Tablet PCs and the students will be able to complete the assignments and e-mail them back to the teachers.

“From receiving your assignment, to completing it, to submitting it — the process will be paperless,” Shelton said.

Shelton also predicted Tablet PCs will eventually become standard equipment in every classroom and could replace the traditional textbook.

GottaBeMobile Hardware InkShow: The Gateway E155C Convertible ...
Gotta Be Mobile

Gateway’s newest Convertible Tablet PC, the E155C, is one that I predict, if Gateway follows its previous marketing strategies for the M280/285, will become a very popular choice, especially among first time Tablet PC buyers. Aiming at the student and professional markets, this solidly designed Core 2 Duo Multi-Touch Tablet PC has a lot to offer.

I’m particularly impressed with the implementation of the Multi-Touch screen and very glad to see that Gateway has decided to once again embrace Wacom technology for the digitizer and the pen. It works as advertised and does so quite well. In my opinion the Inking experience is top notch. I’m also very impressed with the brightness of the backlit screen, (even though it causes some interesting lighting effects in the filming of the InkShow.) I did check out the screen in sunlight (although not shown in this InkShow) and it is indeed very readable in sunlight.

Watch or download the High Res version  (29:46 minutes, 227mb, Windows Media streaming or direct download)

Check out more on the Gateway E155C Convertible Tablet

Medion UMPC RIM 1000: a first look
ZDNet UK - UK

 

Medion, the Germany-based specialist in mobile kit such as notebooks, handhelds and satellite navigation devices, has launched a 'second-generation' Ultra Mobile PC, the UMPC RIM 1000. Aimed at commuters and other mobile profesionals, the UMPC RIM 1000 will be available from May 2007, both online and at a number of retail outlets, for £799.99 (inc. VAT).

LG C1 Express Dual Tablet PC Review
Tablet PC Reviews

The LG C1 is an impressive Tablet PC. Its lightweight design and glossy piano blue/black finish give this Tablet that professional appeal. Its Core Duo 1.2GHz processor doesn't lack in performance either. The C1 doesn't have an internal optical drive just like the Toshiba R400, but the C1 weighs much less and is definitely small enough to take anywhere with its 10.6" WXGA display. LG does have an external drive though that is included in the price, very sleek and it fits perfectly in your bag even with the Tablet. The C1 is perfect for any user, especially if you are looking for something lightweight that runs Windows Vista. The only problem is getting your hands on one if you live in the U.S.

Education continues to contribute to Tablet PC sales
Whatisnew.com

In a recent publication addressing Tablet PC sales, Tablet PC Sales are Slowly Gaining Momentum, Garter specifically calls out use of Tablet PCs in education, particularly higher education as a dominant market driver of convertible form factors.

The article also states, "In the past year, there has been growing interest from students, mostly in higher education," and "Inserting nontext characters into notes or new documents — Many higher-education students and faculty in math, chemistry, physics and engineering are using tablet PCs." I just pulled out two of the several possible quotes from the report about Tablet PCs in education, all of which are address the growing role of education in the Tablet PC market. I specifically see that the efforts through Microsoft Research, such as with its RFPs and workshops, has been a major driver of this interest, as well as commercial software applications extending value.

Gartner provides three possible forecasts, which I find very interesting. It lists good, better, best scenarios in which the main dependency is how much marketing attention Microsoft provides for Tablet technology.

Fujitsu LifeBook P1610
The Age

t's about half the size of a typical notebook PC and weighs a little less than a kilogram, yet the LifeBook P1610 is still a surprisingly functional little machine.

The P1610 is a Tablet PC, so its 22.6cm touchscreen can be twisted back on itself to lie face up on the keyboard. You can then use the included stylus to write on the display or tap away at the on-screen keyboard, menus and buttons. It's a fast and convenient way to use your PC when you're on the go.

Those who prefer to interact with the notebook in a more conventional manner can use the keyboard to type but be warned - it's about two-thirds the average size, so it's not ideal for those with big hands.

 

 

Student Tablet PC Taking Applications for Author Position

I think we need some fresh blood here. Between school and busy college lives, we’re having trouble keeping the site as active as we’d like.

Instead of letting it just suffer a slow, painful decline, we’re opening up the lines for an additional author. Maybe we just need help.

Why would you want this position as STPC author?

Well, if you’re posting a lot anyway and you’d like a little formal recognition for it
If you wouldn’t mind a little extra cash each month from google ads
If you’re looking for a job in technology (getting your name out is a great networking tool)
If you’re looking for an activity you can put on your resume that doesn’t require frilly meetings and elections
What would it require?

A love/passion for Tablet PCs and/or all touch technology
You need to be a student, and more than a “student of life”
At least 10 posts a month. That’s only one every three days. Easy as pie (usually).
So how do you apply?

Send your name and a brief background to tracy@studenttabletpc.com
Attach/Include a sample of your writing, preferably an article you would post if you were selected. No length requirement, but use your own judgment. It could be a post you already made on your own personal blog or a forum.

*NEW* Tablet PC 2's Editors Choice Convertible Tablet PC NEW*