Tag Archives: slate

May 07

What is a Slate Tablet PC?

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Not all tablet PC’s look like an iPad, and this article helps to explain just what is a slate tablet PC.

Tablet Computers

Tablet computers are gaining popularity thanks to a wide variety of features and applications that make them somewhat comparable to regular laptop computers. In many regards, the only primary difference is the interface. Tablet PC’s have been around a while now and the most popular style gaining ground these days is the slate tablet PC, so if you’re in the market for a new tablet you may be wondering just what is a slate tablet PC. In this article, learn more about slate tablets and how they work.

Why is it Called a Slate?

The word ‘slate’ implies a flat surface most commonly associated with writing. In the old days, school children had chalk slates that they used to do their classwork and hold up for the teacher to see. The same basic principle applies with slate style tablet computers. While laptop computers are portable, they are still meant to be placed on some kind of surface in order for you to use them. Slate tablet PC’s don’t need to be set down anywhere to be used.

A slate tablet PC is a computer that looks like a big screen and has no visible means of input. There is no keyboard, mouse, trackball, or touchpad. They are thin and may feature a few ports along the outer edge, depending on the model. By design, slate tablet computers are meant to be held in the palm of one hand while you use the other hand to interact through a touchscreen interface. Everything you need to operate the computer is right there on screen, including a digital keyboard. For a more detailed explanation, check out our article on how tablet PC’s work.

From typing documents to working in spreadsheets or even manipulating photos, slate tablet computers offer a wide range of possibilities that are even further enhanced thanks to the touchscreen interface. That’s why we are seeing more apps and games designed specifically for this new interaction style, and it’s changing the way in which people use computers. Be sure to check out my article on the pros and cons of not having a keyboard on tablet computers.

(Image credit: ASUS, Inc.)

Slate Tablet PC’s Available

Hardcore PC enthusiasts will often discount the Apple iPad as not being a ‘real’ computer, though from a functionality standpoint it is pretty close. However, one of the first truly tablet style computers to hit the market was the HP Slate 500, which was released as a business class machine by HP. They put it out shortly before Christmas 2010 and it’s no surprise that HP quickly sold out of them. Be sure to read my iPad vs. Slate 500 article to compare the features of these two innovative new devices.

Asus also has a line of Eee tablet PC’s that blew people away at CES 2010. In fact, there are several Asus tablet PC’s to choose from since this company really embraced the new technology. In addition to tablets running Apple and Microsoft operating systems, you may also consider other style tablet devices from companies like Samsung and their Android tablets. As these type machines gain popularity on the market, you can expect nearly every major manufacturer to jump in the ring. For more information, check out this list of five tablets comparable to the iPad.

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Mar 27

5 Must Have Features on Tablet and Slate Computers

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1. 3G + Wi-Fi

Slate and tablet computers will change how internet users browse their favorite websites, but if you are stuck with a tablet, slate computer, or ebook reader that doesn’t support Wi-Fi or 3G features, you’ll have no way to access the web. Wi-Fi will be great for browsing the internet within your home or within a Wi-Fi hotspot, but 3G is a must for any tablet or slate computer owner that wants to have the freedom to access the internet wherever they are.

2. Multitouch

A simple touchscreen will do, but if you really want to “wow” your friends and get the most out of your tablet and slate computer, having multitouch features is a must. Multitouch features on your slate and tablet computer will allow you to have more than one input point (use more than one finger) and do cool features like pinch-to-zoom and two finger directional scrolling.

3. LED or Colored Display

Believe it or not, lots of slate and tablet computers don’t have color screen display features. The 1920′s are over with and nowadays colored screen features must already be a feature of any device that costs several hundred dollars. It’s acceptable for ebook readers (with E Ink technology) to not have features like a colored screens, but tablet and slate computers should definitely have a colored display.

4. Portability and Battery Life

Tablet and slate computers should be a perfect blend between media players and laptops and one of the main selling features of slate and tablet computers are their small size, portability, and long battery life. Tablet computers can sometimes get too big and defeat the main reason for owning a slate computer: portability. If you wanted to drag around a large clunky device, you’d want a laptop and not a slate or tablet computer.

5. Applications

Apps will be a huge deciding factor in the slate or tablet you decide to buy, and you won’t want to be stuck with a one-trick device that won’t satisfy your needs. Your slate or tablet computer should run on an operating system that features a broad range of functionality and will support future applications. Buying a slate with limited features will cost you a great experience during the lifespan of your tablet or slate computer.

For more on ebook readers, read IPad or Kindle: Which Screen Hurts Your Eyes the Most?, Notion Ink Adam Tablet to Fight Heads-On with the Apple IPad, and Kindle Responds to iPad: Offers Multiouch, Color and Wi-Fi.

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1 of 2 people in the world named Millionaire, I enjoy writing edgy and and sometimes warped articles (with a splash of humor). I’m from Chicago so I’m always inspired by the crazy things I see everyday. Enjoy.  View profile

Aug 29

[TemptingReviews] Asus Eee Slate EP121 – ...

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Finally…a slate that is worth the dollars asked. the ExoPC (which I also wrote a review about) being 0 pales in comparison to the Eee Slate which is 0 more. Based on the specs of this beast, I would say the ExoPC is overpriced by about 0. Nice machine, but just comparing specs. This device has two things that make it not quite appealing to everyone: the weight and the battery life. the weight makes it not that desirable for lengthy holding, though it is no more heavy than any of the Motion Computing tablets. IN fact, spec-wise this is comparable to the Motion J3500, it just doesn’t have the same battery life (and obviously, this is because it’s a lot slimmer than the Motion tablet). contains the same Gorilla Glass which by itself makes it infinitely more valuable than any other tablet out there, but the back seems to be simple plastic rather than ruggedized, so I figure the machine could still break and you’d just have a flawless piece of glass. Who knows. On a scale of 10 I would give it an 8. Battery life and weight are the only factors holding it back. Again THIS IS NOT AN IPAD COMPETITOR. I would go out on a limb by saying this isn’t even really a consumer device. I’m not sure why they put 7 Home Premium on it (64 bit Home Premium at that), because it just doesn’t fit into a consumer market with the Android tablets and the iPad. My advice: Upgrade it to 7 Ultimate or Professional, and use it in a business environment as a mobile computing solution. ARE YOU …Video Rating: 4 / 5

[TemptingReviews] Asus Eee Slate EP121 – Windows 7 Tablet

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Aug 22

Toshiba Thrive 10 Inch Tablet Updated to Android ...

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Of the many tablets I’ve tested in 2011, I remember two of them as being particularly unimpressive and underwhelming. I’m talking about the Toshiba Thrive and Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet. now the former just got updated to Android 4.0.4 ICS ahead of quite a few models, I might add.

This bulky slab called Thrive offered a full size USB port and HDMI and a very thick shell, with good grip and the ability to remove the back cover and battery. the update gives the slate video improvements, enhancements to the camera and connectivity and the usual bug fixes and stability improvements. You just need to reach the “Service Station” app on the tablet, check for updates and it will all be done. Meanwhile, the 7 inch Thrive owners will have to wait a bit longer for the update.

Since the owners of Toshiba tablets are barely getting Ice Cream Sandwich, odds of seeing Jelly Bean on them are slim to none, but there’s always CyanogenMod 10, right?

Toshiba Thrive 10 Inch Tablet Updated to Android 4.0.4 ICS

Aug 22

BlackBerry PlayBook- The novel slate from ...

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BlackBerry PlayBook- the novel slate from Blackberry

The first mover was Apple iPad next it was Samsung Galaxy Tab but now it seems that several mobile phone makers are coming into the Slate PC hype and Blackberry won’t lag far behind in this aspect. the commencement of the novel Blackberry Playbook, a novel slate PC gadget made by the mobile giant is all set to reveal during the second or third quarter. a seven inch slate weighing less than a pound Blackberry Playbook is one slate to look forward to and perhaps the competitors are looking out for probable strategies to match the commencement of this novel Blackberry tablet.

This impeccably designed and sophisticated device will surely make browsing, playing and communication more easy and comfortable wherever you go. Blackberry Playbook works with a new Blackberry Tablet OS rather than the much rumored Blackberry 6 OS.

This newfangled OS is created with the QNX technology which is also used for other electronic widgets today. In terms of the speed it is anticipated to run with a Cortex A9 Processor at 1 GHz which should make it the quickest slate PC ever. Memory wise it is equipped with a 16GB and 32GB options.the back facing camera which is at 5 mega pixels is High Definition which clocks at 1080p and the front facing camera at 3 mega pixels offers for video conferencing and calls. Other specs includes WiFi, GPRS and Bluetooth 2.1. the best aspect about this slate is that it picks up from where the iPad have failed to progress it has a rear camera at 5 mega pixels and a 3 mega pixel in front which can be used for video calls and conferences.

The 5 mega pixel back snapper is also capable of recording HD videos at 1080p resolution.

There are two ports a micro USB jack and an HDMI port which means it can be connected to a presentation widget such as a projector or even an HD screen. the interface of the BlackBerry Slate is much like a combination of the webOS and the Blackberry OS which signifies it can be very capacitive with its multi-media attributes and games. apart from that QNX also affirms the souk that this Tablet PC will be a great widget for games capturing not only the slate PC freaks here but also the game buffs. To keep up with the recent demands in the Slate PC community the Blackberry Slate OS is said to support a number of platforms such as Java, Adobe Flash and Air, HTML 5 and POSIX. there are numerous networks in the UK mobile market who are offering this newest slate from Blackberry which is BlackBerry PlayBook comes with some of the best BlackBerry PlayBook deals like contract deals, pay as you go deals and sim free deals along with several gratis offerings.

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BlackBerry PlayBook- The novel slate from Blackberry « Curly Gibson

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Aug 19

Different Tablets for Different Lifestyles

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The is a Guest Post by Nicky Elkins.

There are a lot of different tablets out on the market these days. so, when it comes to buying the rightone, it can be hard to decide. Finding a tablet that fits into your lifestyle is very important whetheryou are a business person, student, parent, or an entire family. if all you want to do is to play gamesor surf the web, then you may not want a tablet that is capable of putting together business plans andproposals. Here are some of the top tablets out on the market, their main uses, and who they might begood for.

Asus Eee Slate B121

The Eee Slate B121 by Asus is aninteresting tablet. It is built with an Intel Core Processor, an HD interface, and access to the Asus WebStorage system for cloud computing. This tablet is great for students and business professionals. It runsWindows 7 and, unlike many tablets, it is able to run Microsoft Office products like Word, Excel, andeven Power Point. It doesn’t matter how you want to operate the tablet, more than likely it can do it.It comes with a Stylus and Bluetooth Keyboard so you are able to type with a key board if you want,or you can use the touch screen keyboard. however, if you prefer to take notes or write up reports byhand, you can certainly use the Stylus. the Eee Slate has handwriting to text capabilities so you canwrite in your own handwriting and convert it to text, or keep it in your handwriting. It has the capabilityto search through documents that are either in plain text or your handwriting, which makes it easy forstudents to study. the Eee Slate is paving the way for portable computing by being not only a portabletablet, but a full on computer including essential ports, out puts and in puts, like USB and Mini-HDMI. Ofcourse, everyone wants to have fun, and the Slate definitely has some games available to play, but notas much as other tablets that have access to app stores.

Lenovo ThinkPad

tablets so it is easy to put in a back pack, purse, or briefcase. It has a dual core processor, built in WiFi,and has access to Amazon’s cloud storage system. This tablet is set up through Amazon, so any books,movies, or apps that are purchased go through the users Amazon account. the Kindle Fire is good forany avid reader because of its access to thousands of books made for kindle, including textbooks forstudents, and magazines or newspapers. Unlike the first generation Kindles, the Fire has a full colorscreen making it great for apps, movies and TV shows, as well as surfing the internet. so, if you aresomeone who enjoys reading at the doctor’s office, at the gym, or even before bed, the Kindle Firewould be a great tablet for you.

Apple iPad

The Apple iPad 2 is one of the leading tablets out on themarket. the iPad 2 is great for someone who wants to surf the web, play games, read, or be social.Running on the iOS 5 this tablet has multiple capabilities like reading from their Newstand that hasnewspapers, magazines, and different journal subscriptions, messaging with iMessage, using the built inTwitter app, Safari Reader and web browsing, and plenty more. It’s screen has an amazing retina displaythat is great for viewing text, photos, videos, and is even capable of video editing. Since it is from apple,you have access to iTunes and the App store. Social media and conversing is made easy on the iPad withthe different Apps you can download, the built in Twitter, and front facing camera for Facetiming. Thistablet is great for everyone in the family because of all of the apps that are available, but it can be easilydamaged. so, before you let your children have a go at it; make sure you get a durable case to protectthe screen. Unlike many other tablets, the iPad 2 does lack the ability to read or play Flash programs. Alot of people use it the same way they would a laptop, but many find it difficult to type on the screenkeyboard, which you can buy a keyboard that is compatible if you would like. the iPad is great if youwant to play and surf the web more than do stuff for work or school. the newer and more updated version is the new iPad.

Different Tablets for Different Lifestyles

Aug 13

BlackBerry Playbook 4G to be announced on August 9

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We’ve recently featured a 10.1” tablet that is believed to be the next Blackberry Playbook and apparently there is some truth to this. Today RIM announced that they will be releasing the Blackberry Playbook 4G on the 9th of this month.

Although not the 10-inch tablet that we’ve mentioned on our previous post, RIM will be releasing the 4G version of the 7-inch Blackberry Playbook which is also shown in the leaked photos here.

The LTE slate will initially be released in Canada and there’s still no word about its pricing or if the tablet will ship to other parts of the world. but apart from having SIM card slot for a 4G LTE connectivity and a major bump on its processor which is now a dual-core 1.5GHz, the new Playbook remains pretty much the same as the previous model.

We’re not sure what RIM’s up to, but we’re guessing that these are the unsold units from last year. The logic is quite simple actually, take a solidly built 7” tablet, rig it with a more powerful processor and throw an LTE capability for good measure and Voila! The company got itself a more marketable slate. but how this will fare in the Canadian market is still remains to be seen.

BlackBerry Playbook 4G to be announced on August 9

Aug 11

RIM announces 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook, hits ...

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Research In Motion (RIMM) on Thursday took the wraps off of a new version of its PlayBook tablet, the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook. Rumors had previously pegged July 31st for the new slate’s launch. RIM’s revised PlayBook features specs that are in line with the original model with one main addition: 4G LTE connectivity. “We’re excited to bring customers the first BlackBerry PlayBook tablet with support for 4G LTE networks,” said David J. Smith, EVP of Mobile Computing at RIM. “The new 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook offers a broad range of premium features, including a stunning 7 inch display, front and rear facing HD video cameras, HDMI out and stereo speakers, and it also offers premium performance on high speed cellular networks, helping customers to be more productive than ever and to make the most of their time on the go.” Bell, Rogers and Telus in Canada will be the first carriers to offer RIM’s new tablet, and it will become available on August 9th. Pricing was not announced. RIM’s full press release follows below.

Research In Motion Introduces the New Ultra Powerful, Ultra Portable and Ultra Fast 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet

Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today launched the new 4G LTE™ BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet with built-in support for cellular networks. The new 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook maintains a sleek and ultra-portable form while delivering overall faster performance over the original BlackBerry PlayBook, as well as support for blazing fast 4G LTE networks. Launching in Canada first, the new 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook allows customers to work more productively and connect to the Internet, as well as access their email, on-line apps, media and content, from more places than ever.

“We’re excited to bring customers the first BlackBerry PlayBook tablet with support for 4G LTE networks,” said David J. Smith, Executive Vice President, Mobile Computing at Research In Motion. “The new 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook offers a broad range of premium features, including a stunning 7 inch display, front and rear facing HD video cameras, HDMI out and stereo speakers, and it also offers premium performance on high speed cellular networks, helping customers to be more productive than ever and to make the most of their time on the go.”

Featuring the latest BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2 software, the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablet gives customers access to high speed mobile networks around the world (LTE and HSPA+)1 and offers an exceptional, high-fidelity, fast web experience that supports more HTML5 functionality than any other native tablet browser on the market2. The powerful unified inbox allows users to easily manage multiple personal and work email accounts, as well as messages from Twitter®, Facebook® and LinkedIn, all in one place. The built-in Calendar and Contacts apps offer features to help customers better manage schedules and prepare for more effective meetings. plus, the apps’ unique integration with social networks can provide customers with a wealth of information about their contacts at their fingertips.

The 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is also enterprise ready. It can be easily managed with BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion and includes BlackBerry® Balance™ technology, which allows a user to use a BlackBerry PlayBook for both work and personal purposes by keeping business information highly secure and separate from personal information.

Out of the box, the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablet comes preloaded with the tools customers need to be productive as well as to have fun, whether in the office, at home or on the road. Thousands of apps for work and play are also available on the BlackBerry App World™ storefront, such as the recently launched BlackBerry® Video Store for all PlayBook customers in Canada, bringing additional functionality and value to customers. The BlackBerry Video Store offers a catalog of thousands of movies and TV shows. Customers can begin watching media as soon as they start to download a file, so they won’t have to wait for the entire file to transfer before they can begin enjoying great entertainment on the tablet’s high resolution display or on an HDTV using the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet’s HDMI output. Canadians can download the free Video Store app on BlackBerry App World.

The 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablet will come with 32GB of memory storage and will be available from Bell, Rogers and TELUS in Canada on August 9, 2012. Additional variants of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet supporting various high speed cellular networks are expected to be available in the coming months from carriers in the US, Europe, South Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

For more information about the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, please visit:http://ca.blackberry.com/playbook-tablet.html. Data plans are sold separately.3

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RIM announces 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook, hits Canada first on August 9th

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Aug 03

Apple’s opening statement: Samsung said ...

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Apple presented its opening statement in the company’s trial against Samsung this morning, painting Samsung as an aesthetic thief that took inspiration from Apple rather than innovate on its own — but not before the second day of the trial got off to a rocky start. the 10 jurors for the case were selected just yesterday, but the morning began with one juror already asking to be removed. Stating that her employer wouldn’t be paying her while she served, she said she’s already suffered panic attacks due to the related stress; she was dismissed moments later.

Things appeared to be going off the rails when the remaining jurors were brought in thereafter — only for the court to discover that it was short yet another juror. Fortunately, the individual did show up.

Apple: iPhone was industry pivot into slate-style phones

Apple began its presentation with Apple counsel Harold McIlhenny showing the jury one slide of several Samsung phones from 2006 — including several laden with hardware buttons, like the i730, and the QWERTY keyboard-enabled Blackjack — and another of some 2010 devices: all sleek, slate-style phones. the case, he said, came down to simply asking how Samsung moved from the first group of devices to the second. the pivot point, Apple claims, was the introduction of the original iPhone on January 9th, 2007, a device that McIlhenny said had been in development since 2003. if the iPhone had failed, he said, it could have taken down Apple altogether.

McIlhenny then detailed the iPhone’s success, pointing to its intuitive UI — exemplified by the bounce-back feature when scrolling though lists — and the edge-to-edge black glass that “draws people into” the phone. Admitting that Samsung could have innovated and perhaps bested Apple in the marketplace on its own, he said instead that the company copied the iPhone’s design and user interface. he showed the jury several slides of internal Samsung documents — including an internal review of the iPhone’s impact from September of 2007 — which stated that competing with the iPhone “one way or the other is inevitable,” and that the iPhone hardware was “easy to copy.”

Apple’s comparisons showed some extreme similarities

Then, one by one, McIlhenny walked the jurors through the four design patents and three utility patents Apple is claiming Samsung infringed. Back-to-back video comparisons of the latter three were shown, including the bounce-back and double-tap-to-zoom features, showing what appeared to be extreme similarities between the Apple and Samsung implementations. Moving into the trade dress charges, Apple contented similar copying happened after the 2010 introduction of the iPad.

Apple attorney William Lee then addressed the jury about the infringement claims Samsung is bringing against Apple, framing Samsung’s charges as a purely reactionary measure enacted after Apple brought claims against the company. as expected, Lee asserted that Samsung didn’t follow proper procedure when it came to its standards-essential patents — and that Apple buys the baseband chips that perform the allegedly-infringing behavior from Intel, which pays its own licensing fee. (Lee said Samsung wants roughly $12 per iPhone or iPad sold for the infringement; Apple buys the chips from Intel for $10 each.)

According to Apple, Samsung has sold 22.7 million devices in the US that take advantage of Apple’s intellectual property, generating $8.16 billion in revenue and more than $2 billion in profits. Cupertino is seeking up to $2.525 billion in damages, but there’s no doubt Samsung will be painting a very different picture in its own statement later this afternoon.

Apple’s opening statement: Samsung said iPhone was ‘easy to copy’

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Jul 29

Galaxy Tab 7.7 Banned From Being Sold In 27 ...

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The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 has been banned from being sold in Europe, following a ruling in a German court. That’s certainly not good news for Samsung, nor is it good news for Google, who is trying to gain ground in the tablet market with its Android operating system.

Apple announced yesterday that it sold 17 million iPads last quarter.

The ruling came as the result of an Apple win in a patent battle with Samsung. CNET shares a statement from Samsung, saying it’s “disappointed with the court’s ruling” and it “will continue…to protect our intellectual property rights and defend against Apple’s claims to ensure our products remain available to consumers throughout the European Union”.

Slate put together this video report about the ordeal:

The ban applies to all 27 member states of the European Union, and marks a very significant blow for the product, and for Android. Apparently the Galaxy Tab 10.1 can still be sold, as its design is different enough from the iPad to avoid such a ban. the court just didn’t feel the same way about the Galaxy Tab 7.7.

It’s certainly a bigger blow to Samsung that it is to Google, as Android is available on plenty of other tablets, but having more choices for Android is what has gotten the operating system where it is today. not having to rely one specific device, and being available for a multitude of feature sets and price ranges has been key for Android’s increased market share.

Samsung touts the Galaxy Tab 7.7 as the world’s first tablet to feature “the brilliant Super AMOLED Plus display”.

Galaxy Tab 7.7 Banned From Being Sold In 27 European Countries