A Tablet PC Blurs The Gap Between A PDA And A Computer

Before you dismiss Tablet PC consider this, not long ago you a laptop computer was something that required you carry a suitcase and workout with weights at the gym. I remember carrying around a laptop that was portable and it was at least 12 pounds... for the battery! OK, I exaggerate a little but it was very heavy. Then along came PDA's and things started to get a little easier. For one thing, a PDA would allow you to capture phone numbers and do some very basic computing. Add to that the pen stylus and you could almost do a days work in the field.

But now, after several false starts, the latest form of portable computing has arrived, the Tablet PC. Tablet PC’s take the best of PDA and laptop computing, add a sprinkle of pen computing, coupled with a fine flat panel monitor and you've got an ideal environment for working in the field.

You have no need to rely on cables that tie you to the office. The added benefit of a big screen together with easy to read fonts and its a joy to work with in almost any environment. I read recently that the new Tablets PC's in most cases are thinner and lighter than a traditional notebooks. So if you're tired of carrying your laptop PC with you, maybe you should take a closer look at Tablets. Although they are only a few companies in this market, all are heavyweights in the industry. They include Acer, Apple, Fujitsu, Gateway, HP, Toshiba and ViewSonic - all key players.

Another nice feature is that you don't have to be a touch-typist to use a Tablet PC. You can use a pen or a stylus provided by the manufacturer. All you need do, it write the words on the glass panel and they become text as if by magic. Imagine if you cannot type how liberating it must be to be able to key input without needing a keyboard. In terms of operating systems, there are choices to be made here. Microsoft's Windows has a Tablet Edition and there are flavors from several Linux developers that will run on a Tablet PC.

So you can save money here if you choose to do so. In terms of selecting the ideal Tablet PC for yourself, you need to factor in several issues. Larger and brighter screens cost more. The longer the battery life the higher the cost. Then of course, CPU speed, hard disk capacity and memory installed all play a key role in determining the cost and usability of the Tablet PC you choose. Also, try to purchase your carry case at the same time, these are often designed to fit the exact shape of the Tablet PC you purchase. You can probably get a package deal buy buying everything at the one time. Last point, make sure you get a good warranty with your Tablet PC, you don't want to find out after using it in the field that the warranty doesn't cover you. It may be worth examining extended warranties at the time of purchase.

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tablet-pc news:

Arbor launches an Intel Atom-based tablet PC (Digi Times) Arbor has launched the Gladius G0710 full-featured tablet PC which has passed IP-54 certification and met the Military Standard 810F tests for vibration, crash shock and transit drop, according to the company. The PC features an Intel Atom CPU.

Xplore Launches New iX104C4 Rugged Mobile Computer (Centre Daily Times) Xplore Technologies Corp. (OTCBB:XLRT), a maker of award-winning rugged mobile computers, today announced its new iX104C4 Tablet PC. "Our new iX104C4 has the best indoor/outdoor viewable display in the market today and signifies another milestone for Xplore as we continue to innovate in the rugged tablet computing segment," said Mark Holleran, President and Chief Operating Officer of Xplore.

3 launches Skypephone S2 (Engadget) Filed under: Cellphones Hold up just a second, this is more than your average WiFi-powered Skype handset for yakking it up while you're wandering around the abode in your skivvies. In fact, it's none other than the follow-on to 3's Skypephone of last year -- the aptly-named Skypephone S2 -- offering HSDPA data, a 3.2 megapixel camera, 50MB of memory with a microSD slot for plenty ...

ARCHOS Redefines Mobile Internet and Media With Its Internet Media Tablets (Broadcast Newsroom) DENVER, CO -- (Marketwire) -- 08/20/08 -- Between WiFi hotspots and 3G mobile networks, consumers can access the Internet almost anywhere, and more than half of Americans (62 percent) are engaging in digital activities away from home or work today.*