Mobile Computers, Mini-laptops, Linux Handhelds, UMPC, Tablet PCs, Web and Internet Tablets
Archos 101 Internet Tablet has more features, larger screen, lower price than Apple iPad
Archos is a pioneer of MP3 player and multimedia player product categories. It also had commercial tablet computers before the Apple iPad. Now, thanks to Apple, at least half of the world is excited about tablets. Archos has welcomed the increased awareness for tablets and introduced five new products. By far, the most exciting product is the Archos 101 Internet Tablet that can do more than the iPad - for less money.
Hanvon Touchpad B10 tablet PC challenges the iPad with Windows 7
Ten years ago, Microsoft's Bill Gates announced he had invented the future of personal computing. He introduced tablet PCs to the world. Hardware manufacturers had designed prototypes and were building production lines for the new product category. Software Development Kits were shipped to programmers and media was excited. Then, nothing happened. Until Steve Jobs announced his tablet and everyone was excited. Nonetheless, Microsoft has been developing further the tablet software. Now, Windows 7 tablet devices, like the Hanvon Touchpad B10 are available.
Amazon Kindle ebook reader with web browser, Wi-Fi and long battery life
Even though ebook reader devices existed before the Amazon Kindle, it was the product that created the market for ebooks, newspaper and magazine downloads. Amazon has developed multiple generations of the device after the original Kindle. The latest generation comes with Wi-Fi, increased capacity, lighter weight and longer battery life. Since this is all about consumer electronics, the product price hasn't increased with new features but fallen considerably from the first edition. Here's Amazon Kindle in Graphite and white.
Color screen and large keypad define the low-priced Augen The Book ereader
Even if you are absolutely sure you will only read ebooks that don't have graphics or have very few pictures, ereader devices with color screens are tempting. They are even more attractive if they let you access the Internet via Wi-Fi. The downside, not as sharp and high-contrast display as in ereaders built on E-ink display technology, has to be accepted if you want colors. Price is always a factor as well, especially when the affordable Augen The Book ereader comes with color screen.
Cruz Reader with touch-sensitive color display for ebooks
Low-cost ebook readers are useful little devices for reading, but that's it - there's not much you can do with them. Full-featured tablet-PCs, like the Apple iPad let you do practically anything, but they cost as much as laptops and are as large as netbooks. Perhaps a product positioned just between these two categories would be the perfect tablet/ereader? Let's find out what the Cruz Reader and Cruz Tablet can do.
Studying digital textbooks on the dual-screen Kno tablet
Textbooks tend to be large, heavy and may have plenty of illustration. Although ebooks and ereader devices are increasingly popular, it is relatively difficult to study textbooks from a compact 6 or 8-inch black-and-white screen. A new enterprise, Kno, has decided to do something about it. The Kno tablet comes with two color touch screens that allow viewing and annotating textbooks.
Paperback-size tablet Pandigital Novel with touch screen
Here's a modern day problem: you desire the Apple iPad tablet PC, because it has touch-sensitive color screen, but it is too large to be carried everywhere you want to go. You'd like to have something as compact as an ereader device that's slightly larger than a paperback, but they don't typically have color screens. Here's a device that's small and comes with touch-sensitive color screen: Let's take a look at the 7-inch Pandigital Novel tablet.
Dell Streak tablet is smaller than the iPad, but has more features
Many people who are big fans of large-screen smartphones are wondering who needs tablet PCs at all? On the other hand, if a slim tablet PC can wirelessly connect to the Internet and to a mobile phone network, why people rave about smartphones so much? Nonetheless, Dell has created a product that is trying to be both a smartphone and a tablet. Or is it? What on earth the Dell Streak is?
WeTab tablet is an open, feature-rich alternative to the Apple iPad
It is possible that the Apple iPad tablet is changing the way we use PCs just like the iPhone is changing the way we use mobile phones. The iPad, however, is a closed platform tightly controlled by Apple. The company controls which applications can be loaded to the iPad and whose content can be viewed on the device. Nonetheless, the iPad is so attractive product and there are so many add-ons available that most people don't care about the restrictions. Those who care, require alternatives, such as the WeTab.
Toshiba Portege M780 is both a laptop and 12-inch tablet
For more than ten years, many industry experts have anticipated the breakthrough of tablet computers. Tablet PCs are ideal for viewing web pages, checking out social networks, viewing videos and perhaps making phone calls via Skype. Since tablet PCs lack physical keyboard, typing a novel is easier on a laptop or desktop PC than on a slate. Unless the tablet PC can be turned into a laptop, like the Toshiba Portege M780.
Samsung eReader lets you annotate ebooks with stylus
It is exciting to witness a new product category emerging. Whereas a manufacturer designs a simple and plain low-cost device, another manufacturer trusts in features, colors and glamor without worrying about the cost. Ebook reader devices are going through the first phases of their emergence right now. Will a simple device, like the Cybook Opus, a respected brand like the Apple iPad win, or maybe the winner is a product that's somewhere in between. We took a look at the Samsung eReader.
Kobo Ereader lets you read e-books on your smartphone, PC, tablet, ereader
Many e-book readers are simple devices that require you to download e-books to a PC and then transfer them to the ereader. On the other hand, systems like Amazon Kindle can deliver e-books directly from the store to the ereader. The downside is that, for instance, Amazon's system is closed. What's in the device, stays in the device. Kobo Ereader is an e-book delivery system that's somewhere between simple ereaders and comprehensive closed systems.
Alex ereader from Spring Design is a multipurpose device
It is remarkable to discover that not all ebook reader devices turned out be like the Amazon Kindle. An ereader with large keyboard is definitely not for us. On the other hand, early signs indicate that the Apple iPad will be mostly used as a an ereader, even though it is a tablet computer that can do whatever a PC can do. Perhaps a device that is more capable than a basic ereader, but less capable than the iPad would be just the right thing? That's what Spring Design believes. Let's take a look at the company's Alex ereader.
Copia Ocean ebook readers aim to connect book lovers
Pretty soon, practically every ebook reader device will have touch screen and wireless Internet access. Otherwise, ereaders simply won't have a future. Tablet devices, like the Apple iPad will be competing from ebook buyers' attention and they come with similar connectivity options than PCs. New brand, Copia, has identified a key element that has been missing from ereaders until now - social networking.
Photo frame and multimedia tablet in one, Archos 8 Home Tablet
Digital picture frames are exceptional products in consumer electronics because most of them have been designed with grandma in mind. Products have to be so easy to use that even grandmas can cope with them. While touch screen photo frames with wireless Internet access are becoming more common, tablet PCs are becoming affordable and popular as well. So what's the difference between them? Not much, especially, when we take a look at the Archos 8 Home Tablet.
Archos 7 tablet will find its place in living room or bedroom
Archos has been a visionary company in mobile devices. It launched a portable MP3 player three years before the Apple iPod saw the light of day and portable multimedia tablets way before the Apple iPad was announced. Now, Archos has decided to enhance its tablet product range by introducing a handheld 7-inch tablet for home use.
Tablet PC for professionals from Lenovo
IBM was one of the earliest innovators of touch screen computing. Back in 1990, Big Blue designed its first touch screen tablet and named it ThinkPad. Later, Lenovo bought IBM's personal computer business. Finally, Lenovo has updated the tablet PC product range IBM started 20 years ago.
OpenTablet7 tablet computer may have multiple identities
When the company name is OpenPeak and the product name is OpenTablet7, the vision behind the product must have something to do with open technologies, way of conducting business, or open source. The product is a tablet computer that, inevitably, will have to compete against the Apple iPad. Since Apple likes to lock down everything it can and tends to prevent technologies it doesn't like from running on its products, even the fact that the OpenTablet7 can run Flash applications can be an advantage.
Pocket-size netbook PC running on Windows XP
Once you have traveled with a netbook PC, you'll never want to carry a full-size laptop PC with you anymore. There are even people who try to do all their computing tasks on a smartphone in order to avoid carrying any extra weight. If a netbook PC is too much for you, but you are not ready to trust in your smartphone alone, the Sagemcom Spiga handheld PC could be the solution for you.
Ebook reader with touch screen and Wi-Fi lets you download books from multiple stores
Even Apple fans have to admit that the company rarely can get the first version of a new product exactly right. The iPad tablet proves the point - it is missing some key features that many ebook reader devices, like the new Bebook Neo, already have. Maybe it is because the Neo is already BeBook's third generation ebook reader product.
Apple iPad is Steve Jobs' answer to netbooks and ebook readers
Bill Gates must be excited over the Apple iPad. About 10 years ago, Mr Gates loudly and clearly announced that the PC of the future is a tablet that you hold in hand and tap with your finger. Microsoft even created a special version of Windows software for hardware manufacturers to make tablet PCs. Some products were introduced, but no one wanted them. Now, Apple's Steve Jobs has announced exactly the same concept - a tablet PC. It's called the Apple iPad.
Tablet computer for ebooks, multimedia, web access: Camangi Webstation
It seems inevitable. Tablet computers, ebook readers, netbooks and other smaller than laptop PC-size devices are breaking through to mass markets. Ten years ago, Bill Gates tried to convince the world that tablet PCs are the way for the future. Nothing happened. Only after touch screen technology had matured, hardware prices dropped and Linux and Windows operating systems evolved, the evolution began. One of the most exciting tablet computers that can be used as an ebook reader, web slate or as a wireless photo frame computer is called the Camangi Webstation.
Netbook PC with detachable touch screen: Lenovo Ideapad U1
Some experts are convinced that dedicated, single-purpose electronic devices are the most convenient products to use and carry along. Others claim that it is not possible to have a separate device for every task because we would have to carry way too many devices with us. We tend to agree with the second opinion and favor multi-purpose devices. Of course, electronic products that can do many things are more difficult to design. For instance, the Lenovo Ideapad U1 netbook PC that can be turned into a tablet requires two central processing units (CPUs).
Large touch screen ebook reader for documents, papers, and ebooks
Altough ebook reader devices have been available for a relatively short time, three product categories are already emerging. First, book-size devices were introduced. Then, electronics and e-ink displays got smaller for pocket-size ereaders. Now, large-screen devices about the size of a netbook or small laptop PC have been introduced. One of the most exciting large ebook reader devices is the Que from Plastic Logic.
Tablet-like Sony Dash provides access to web applications
Many types of devices have tried to claim the space between laptop PCs and smartphones. You know, a mobile device about the size of a book that would let you surf the net, view photos and videos, read e-books, and check out how friends are doing on Facebook. Some experts believe in tablet (or slate) PCs, others in netbook PCs, whereas many trust ebook readers. Sony has introduced the Dash, a device that's meant to be your personal web viewer.
Acer Aspire One Mini-Laptop for Mobile Computing
The world has taken yet another step towards truly mobile computing. One of the major PC manufacturers, Acer, has designed a mini-laptop, which is about the size of a mass-market book. Yet, it has a qwerty keyboard and 8.9-inch screen. The Acer Aspire One also comes with Wi-Fi, 3G, hard disk or flash memory for storage, and Linux or Windows operating system.
HP 2133 Mini-Note PC Is Light to Carry and Conveniently Small to Handle
Anyone who regularly carries a laptop PC from home to work or school, will appreciate small size and light weight when the gravity draws the bag or briefcase towards the ground. Often, a tiny laptop that doesn't sacrifice the features of a modern PC is the optimal solution for businessmen and students alike. The HP 2133 Mini-Note PC comes with 8.9-inch screen, full keyboard, Wi-Fi, and a choice of operating system between Windows Vista and Suse Linux.
Running Palm OS Applications on a Nokia Linux Tablet
When a new exciting device with an advanced operating system is introduced, users typically want to quickly get as many applications as possible for the product. When another, maybe aging, but popular device platform has tons of tried and tested applications available, it might a good idea to put the two together. That's exactly what Access has done. Old Palm OS applications can now be installed and enjoyed on Nokia's handheld Linux tablets.
Book-Size Windows Vista Laptop Computer: Fujitsu Lifebook U810
Who needs a tiny laptop computer that's smaller than a traditional notebook PC, but much larger than a smartphone or PDA? Many people would like to have an ultra-light PC for short trips that don't justify dragging a full-sized laptop PC along. If a mini laptop with full keyboard and decent display was available, many shoulders and backs would feel a lot healthier. The Fujitsu Lifebook U810 is one of the first mini notebook computers powered by Windows Vista that can be used as a tablet PC as well.
Wizpy Media Player Doubles as a Tiny Handheld Linux Computer
Yet another portable media player with a small screen may not excite too many people anymore. But when the same product can be used a pocket-size Linux computer, things get more exciting. Wizpy is a tiny handheld media player that transforms into a Linux machine when it is attached to a PC.
Handheld Game Console GP2X F-200 Relies on Linux and the Open Source Community
While designing smart hardware for a new game console is a wonderful achievement by itself, convincing game designers to create fascinating applications for a new device is even bigger achievement. The GP2X handheld game console aims to make it by letting open source software developers tweak the system, port classic games, and create brand new games for the console.
Koolu Aims to Revive Thin Client Computing with a Low-Power Ubuntu Device
A long, long time ago, powerful server computers were called mainframes. Men in white coats operated them in air-conditioned computer centers. Those fortunate individuals who were granted access to the central computer, used a device called terminal to do their job. Users could only access software applications that were running on the mainframe, but never run anything locally. It was a dream for people who were managing the computers, but an extremely restrictive setup for creative people. Koolu Linux computer designed as a Thin Client is like a terminal – it only does what the central computer allows it to do. In many cases, a thin client device is exactly what organizations need.
The Small, Silent and Low-Cost Linux Computer, Compulab Fit-PC Is Dust-Resistant as Well
As electronic devices get smaller, they should get more expensive, right? Tiny components cost more and hardware design becomes more complex, not to mention the challenges in manufacturing. Small, low-cost Linux computers don't seem to follow this logic. The Compulab Fit-PC is a handheld-size product that comes with Linux, 40GB hard disk, and network and USB interfaces for using it as a PC or as a networking device.
Zonbu Linux Computer with Online Service is a Worry-Free PC for Grandma
We love our grandma. Still, the mere possibility that we would have to provide technical support for her Windows PC causes us to panic. We can envision hours of work finding lost emails, documents, icons, and mice escaped from her PC. We don't mind the occasional educational sessions with her, but we would like someone else to ensure that her computer boots daily and safely saves her photos and messages on a back-up storage media. Zonbu, a low-cost Linux computer, is trying to achieve just that. Zonbu is purchased with a service that automatically manages data backups and system updates.
Square One Personal Internet Server for Sharing Home Network Resources
Have you ever wondered why is it necessary to sacrifice a whole PC when you simply want to share some resources on your home network? Or, why does it take another computer to run a Web server that makes your pages available to the Internet? The solution for both of these needs might be here. The Square One Personal Internet Server is a small, low-cost Linux computer that comes ready with all the necessary software and hardware for sharing network resources and for maintaining a Web server on the Internet.
The Low-Cost Asus Eee PC Is a Light, Book-Size Laptop
The two most attractive features of the Asus Eee PC 701 laptop computer are its price, around $200, and its size, about the size of an ordinary book. Yet, it is a laptop computer with a 7-inch color screen and full keyboard that can be hooked up to the Internet via Wi-Fi or by plugging an Ethernet cable to its network port. Even though the Asus Eee PC is not a powerful computer, and its storage space is limited, the product will make many potential buyers of ultra-mobile laptops, UMPCs or Internet tablets seriously think of the value they get from each product.
The Small and Slim Palm Foleo Laptop for Wireless Email
We have our laptop PCs for serious work, smartphones for phone calls, messaging and photos, and Web tablets for viewing Web pages and videos. Some people are also using UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) computers because they like to tap a touch screen. What would make the world want yet another type of mobile computer? Maybe a new product from Palm. The small and slim Palm Foleo laptop device comes with a 10-inch screen, qwerty keyboard, Wi-Fi connectivity, and flash memory cards for storage. It has been designed for wireless email and syncing data with a smartphone, not as a laptop replacement.
Linutop Handheld-Size Linux Computer
Linutop is a different kind of personal computer. The device is about the size of a CD case, it doesn't have any moving parts, not even a hard drive, and it lacks keyboard and screen. But when an external monitor and keyboard is attached to the Linutop, it becomes a full Linux computer. It can be used it for Web browsing, writing or reading documents, or for special applications in libraries, schools, and information kiosks. The number of USB ports should also make the device suitable for always-on monitoring and resource sharing applications, such as Web cameras.
