ViewSonic and Toshiba are both using the Comdex trade
show to launch new Tablet PCs, advancing a relatively new type of
computer that has found some success in vertical markets but has
been slow to gain widespread use.
ViewSonic's V1250 is its first "convertible" Tablet PC, which
means it has a swivel screen and can be used as both a traditional
notebook or as a pen-based portable tablet. It has a 12.1-inch
screen, uses Intel's Centrino chip package for wireless
connectivity, and weighs in at a fraction under four pounds,
ViewSonic said. Pricing starts at $1,795.
In tablet mode, the device has a small navigation pad which
protrudes from the right of the screen with buttons for tasks such
as scrolling, toggling between applications and launching Internet
Explorer. It comes with a docking station that doubles as a battery
charger.
Toshiba's M200 also has a 12.1-inch screen and uses Intel's
Centrino chip. It comes with a novel docking station that lets the
user tilt the machine to an upright position for use as a primary
monitor, or fold it flat for use as a tablet.
Touch-screen buttons can be programmed by the end user to open
different applications, and zooming software makes it easier to
adjust the size of icons. Pricing starts at $2,499.
Other features include an SGXA+ poly-silicon TFT (thin film
transistor) display, Nvidia's GeForceFX Go 5200 graphics chip and a
base of 512Mbytes of Ram.
Gateway has also announced plans to offer a Tablet PC. Its M275
convertible product is expected to be on show in Las Vegas this
week.
Microsoft introduced the first Tablet PC prototypes in 2001 and
had high hopes for their widespread use. Microsoft chairman Bill
Gates once predicted that Tablet PCs would outsell desktop and
laptop computers by 2005.
However, Adoption has not been as rapid as the company would
have liked. Some analysts say use of Tablet PCs will be limited for
the time being to vertical industries such as health care,
manufacturing and finance.
In his keynote speech at Comdex on Sunday, Gates highlighted the
Tablet PC and looked forward to an upgrade to Windows XP Pro Tablet
PC Edition codenamed Lonestar. The update promises to offer better
handwriting recognition support, among other features, and is due
out mid-2004 as a free update to existing customers.
James Niccolai writes for IDG News
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