Details for the ipad2 16GB black 3G Tablet Computers
The feature packed Ipad2 16GB Black 3G, featuring built in wireless networking and Bluetooth connectivity. Get your work done fast using the 1GHz CPU Apple A5 processor (CPU)See it all on the bright 9.7 inch Displaywith a 1024 x 768, XGA resolution.
The Ipad2 16GB Black 3G is also equipped with built in 3G for mobile internet anywhere, via your mobile phone provider.
Design and Build
iPad 2 with the skinniness of the 8.8mm frame, the tablet retains a very sturdy feel. It’s not the least bit fragile and there’s zero flexibility. It’s a piece of engineering that defies physics.
The weight has also dropped. At 601g (for the WiFi version) the tablet has shed 15 per cent of its body mass. It’s still not Kindle-light though, and we still found the one-handed grip uncomfortable.
The design itself has evolved with the edges which are rounded like an Apple iPod Touch. While it looks better and is less bulky, the thinner edges actually make it more difficult to keep a steady hand. You also have to adopt an awkward reach-around approach to access the volume and screen switches.
Screen
While we were blown away by the original iPad’s 9.7-inch 1024x768 LED-backlit display, we were hoping this would bring a version of its Apple Phone 4 Retina Screen. Now it hasn’t, we’re a little disappointed.
While indoor performance is still great and colours are truly vivid for gaming, photos and videos, in the post-Retina Screen world, text still isn’t quite as crisp as we’d like and it’s still pretty useless in sunlight. It also attracts a lot of finger marks. Lets hope an improved screen comes on any iPad 3 in future.
Processor and graphics
A quantifiable improvement comes with the new dual core 1GHz Apple A5 processor, replacing the A4 by offering twice the power. If you thought this thing was nifty before, then wait until you get a hold of the iPad 2.
Such is the speed of response when you touch the screen that you’ll think ‘did I even touch that yet?’ It almost pre-empts your commands. The heftier apps, like the new GarageBand (an essential download, the highlight of which is the different response from piano keys depending on the sensitivity of your touch - enabled by the accelerometer and a huge leap forward) still take a short while to open, but not noticeably so.
Apple also promised a nine-fold improvement in the graphics department. We tested this claim with EA’s Dead Space, which specifically advertised an iPad 2 upgrade. It looks phenomenal, almost PS3 and Xbox 360-esque, while the fast-paced monster-slaying action was slick and judder-free. You feel we’ve only just scratched the surface here. More >>
The feature packed Asus Eee Slider. See it all on the bright 10.1 inch IPS Display
The Asus Eee Slider is equipped with a Optical DVD Drive Not Included.
At first glance, the Asus Eee Slider PC is a very ordinary T101MT netbook. Ten-inch diagonal, the typical resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels, a keyboard, which is also suitable for extended typing sessions - so far known from the numerous competitors.
On closer inspection of the screen fall on the first differences. The unusual fact hovers high above the netbook body, and most importantly, he has slightly veiled. No, it's not because I forgot to deduct the protection film: About the screen itself is an additional layer that is responsible for the detection of touches. When you T101MT is not so reliant on the keyboard and touchpad, you can also tap directly on the screen.
Even worse, though, is the fact that the screen always looks smudgy, as if there's an extra layer of plastic film sitting over the top. As a result, when you move the screen around, the surface of the display seems to shimmer, which makes it hard to read documents and Web pages.
It's a shame because the touchscreen is very responsive and reacts even to the lightest touches. It also supports multi-touch gestures, so you can pinch your fingers together to zoom into pictures in Windows Live Photo Gallery or Internet Explorer. Given its small size, the display also has a pretty good resolution of 1,024x600 pixels.
But there's another problem with using the T101MT as a tablet -- Windows 7 just doesn't offer anywhere near as slick a touchscreen experience as you'll get from dedicated tablets like the Apple iPad or Android-based Samsung Galaxy Tab. For example, text in menus can be difficult to tap accurately with your finger, so you often have to reach for the stylus, which is tucked into the side of the display. Also, multi-touch functions, such as a zooming, are jumpy rather than smooth.
Software and performance
Like I told you, this device comes with Windows 7 Home Edition and there are also a couple of Asus utilities pre-installed that should offer better interaction with the touch-display.
However, all these applications manage to bring the system to its knees. As you know, the PineTrail platform ain’t known for performances, so by adding a bunch of extra programs from the start you won’t help it at all.
In conclusion, I do have to say this is the most sluggish Atom powered device I ever got my hands on. And I’m not talking about doing fancy stuff; just basic changing between screens or opening a new application takes countless seconds, thus ruining the overall experience.
I tried to run PCmark05 but i failed to get a final score unfortunately. As for Windows rating, this device got a 2.4, very much similar to the one of the 1008PE Karim Rashid. However, these scores can’t show how sluggish overall the system is, only a real life test would. More >>
Blackberry playbook
A true stunner 7" LCD display, 1024 x 600 screen resolution
High resolution, WSVGA, capacitive screen with
4-finger multi-touch and gesture support
"The response is exceptionally good, it has a nice slick feel as you cruise around the device" Pocket-Lint; Chris Hall, Reviews editor
A true stunner
7" LCD display, 1024 x 600 screen resolution
High resolution, WSVGA, capacitive screen with
4-finger multi-touch and gesture support
"The response is exceptionally good, it has a nice slick feel as you cruise around the device" Pocket-Lint; Chris Hall, Reviews editor
Nothing can stop you now
Now there's a professional tablet built to offer you the high-performance experience you demand.
Get started easily — simply swipe-to-wake
Blazing speed and tremendous power in a tablet format
1 GHz dual-core processor
BlackBerry® Tablet OS with symmetric multiprocessing
1 GB RAM
Powerful, user-friendly QNX technology: It's what the World Wide Web runs on
True simultaneous multitasking — apps run simultaneously and in real time
Accelerometer, 6-axis motion sensing (gyroscope) and digital compass (magnetometer)
GPS capability
Micro USB port
Uncompromised Web
With the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, you get access to the web, not a scaled down mobile version.
Games, media, apps and all the rich content the real Internet has to offer,
all on your BlackBerry PlayBook
Full Adobe® Flash® 10.1 enabled
Built-in support for HTML 5
No-compromise rendering of text, graphics and video
Connect anytime, anywhere from your BlackBerry Tablet
Connect anytime, anywhere in the UK
Wirelessly connect to your BlackBerry® smartphone for real time access to email, calendar, address book and task list, Documents To Go and BBM™, using BlackBerry® Bridge™
BlackBerry PlayBook with Wi-Fi 802.1 a/b/g/n (available today)
All BlackBerry PlayBook tablets support Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR
Video chat like never before
The Tablet has crystal clear high resolution display
Dual video & dual facing cameras
Marvel at your media features
3 MP 1080p HD forward-facing camera
5 MP 1080p HD rear-facing camera
Stereo speakers and stereo microphones
Crystal clear video; H.264, MPEG4, WMV HDMI video output
Micro HDMI port for 1080p playback
Music Store by 7 Digital, BlackBerry® Podcast app
Blackberry Tablet PC - Design
RIM surely didn’t waste any time to properly grace the PlayBook with a prime quality show, and rightfully thus, we’re completely mesmerized with its good glow. Accompanying its sheer luster is its affordable resolution of one,024 x 600 pixels, though not mind bending, it provides enough detail to captivate anyone from a so much look. Naturally, its high pixel density count places enough stress on as regards to everything to concretely deliver sharp visuals that are enlightening to the eyes. And complementing its detailed stature is none aside from its natural trying color production that appears to pop with its juicy and iridescent trying palette. Finally, it’s still visible even underneath the foremost demanding conditions outdoors underneath the sun – and it solely needs being placed at approximately seventy fifth brightness. Impressively, there’s no denying the very fact that the PlayBook employs in all probability one among the simplest trying displays to grace a pill up to now.
In keeping a slim profile, there are literally only a few buttons clinging onto the perimeters of the PlayBook – that once more contributes to its overall clean appearance. Conveniently placed dead center on the highest fringe of the pill could be a row of slightly raised buttons for the media functions of the pill – these embrace the quantity up, down, and pause/play keys. though we’re accepting of the affordable quantity of feedback exhibited by them, we’re not notably too keen on the close toby dedicated power button’s super small size and near dead response. In fact, it’s undeniably the worst power button we’ve come upon with a pill. Additionally, the 3.5mm headset jack and microphones also are found on the highest edge likewise. More >>
HTC Flyer
Specs: Android 2.3, 1.5GHz single-core Snapdragon, 1GB RAM, 32GB memory, 7-inch capacitive LCD at 1024x600, 5MP camera, 3MP front-facing camera, phone-call-friendly 3G, 415g. What we think: HTC has decided to release it's first tablet running on Android Gingerbread (2.3), which will upset some purists that only believe these tablets should run on Honeycomb. However, it does come with a new version of HTC Sense with dual-pane windows which works well with videos and email. As a single-core device in a dual-core world, though, will the Flyer be good enough?
HTC Flyer Design
HTC Flyer is the best looking and solidly built 7-inch tablet we’ve been able to check out thus far; mainly because of its unibody aluminum construction. It is a sophisticated looking tablet which feels sturdy enough, weighing 14.82 ounces. It has an interesting aluminium unibody construction, with the white plastic accents at the rear of the device adding to its pristine look. This tablet has a 7″ LCD display, having 1024×600 pixel resolution. Obviously, colors look brilliant on this device and text looks sharp and crisp. Moreover, with excellent viewing angles and great screen visibility outdoors, HTC Flyer can be used anywhere with ease. The Magic Pen (touchscreen stylus) that is provided operates on pressure sensitivity, allowing users to use it effortlessly. While the left side of the HTC Flyer houses the 3.5mm headset jack and power button, the right side contains the microUSB port. On the top of the HTC Flyer are the tablet’s two microphones and volume rocker.
HTC Flyer Specifications
HTC Flyer measures 195.4mm x 122mm x 13.2mm (7.7″ x 4.8″ x 0.52″). HTC launched the Flyer in a WiFi only version, with 16GB or 32GB storage. With the WiFi printing option, emails can be immediately accessed and printed.
HTC Flyer Features
This tablet runs on a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and uses HTC’s Sense UI. It operates on Gingerbread, as opposed to the usual Honeycomb OS used on tablets. However, thanks to the updated version of the Sense UI and the fast processor, users will not feel the absence of Honeycomb strongly. HTC Flyer responds quickly and accurately and the amazing 3D effects keep users mesmerized. It comes stocked with 1 GB RAM. Users have access to seven home screens and with the improved notifications bar, apps can be accessed quicker. Even standard apps like the calculator and clock have been improved and integrate more functions in them. Thus, not only is there a change to a sleeker look, but also one that functions better. More >>
Samsung Galaxy Tab NC110 AM4UK GT-P1000CWA
Details for the Samsung Galaxy Tab NC110 AM4UK Tablet Computers
The feature packed Samsung Galaxy Tab NC110 AM4UK , featuring built in wireless networking and Bluetooth connectivity. Get your work done fast using the 1GHz CPU processor (CPU)See it all on the bright 7 inch Displaywith a 1024 x 600, WSVGA resolution.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab NC110 AM4UK is equipped with a Optical DVD Drive Not Included.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab NC110 AM4UK is also equipped with built in 3G for mobile internet anywhere, via your mobile phone provider
Component
Specification
Operating System
Windows 7 Starter
Processor Speed
1GHz CPU
Memory Size
1 GB (Gigabyte)
Optical Drive
Optical DVD Drive Not Included
Card Reader
Built-in Card Reader
Display Size
7 inch Display
Display Resolution
1024 x 600, WSVGA
Graphics Memory
Shared Video Memory
USB Ports
1 x USB port
Web Cam
Integrated Web Camera
Bluetooth
Built-in-Bluetooth
3G/HSDPA/GPRS
Built in 3G
Wireless
Wireless LAN 802.11bg and n
Warranty
1 year makers warranty
Dell Streak 7 Tablet PC
Details for the Dell Inspiron Duo Tablet Computers
The feature packed Dell Inspiron Duo, featuring built in wireless networking and Bluetooth connectivity. Get your work done fast using the 1.5GHz CPU Intel Atom Dual-Core D550 processor (CPU) and take advantage of the Intel Graphics Video Chipset. See it all on the bright 10.1 inch multi touchwith a 1366 x 768 resolution.
With a 320 GB (Gigabytes) Hard Disk the Dell Inspiron Duo has plenty of storage space for all your Digital media, documents and software.
Component
Specification
Operating System
Windows 7 Home Premium
Processor Type
Intel Atom Dual-Core D550 Processor (CPU)
Processor Cores
Dual Core (2)
Processor Speed
1.5GHz CPU
Memory Size
2 GB (Gigabytes)
Hard Drive (HDD)
320 GB (Gigabytes)
Display Size
10.1 inch multi touch
Display Resolution
1366 x 768
Graphics
Chipset Intel Graphics
Graphics Memory
Shared Video Memory
USB Ports
3 x USB port
Web Cam
Integrated Web Camera 1.3 MegaPixel
Bluetooth
Built-in-Bluetooth
Wireless
Wireless LAN 802.11abg Draft N
Warranty
1 year makers warranty
Dell Streak 7 Tablet PC - Design & Usability
Dell Streak 7 inch display has a resolution of 800x480 pixels in a 16:9 aspect ratio. The capacitive display's surface is touch-sensitive and also supports multi-touch gestures depending on the application. The displayed content rotates depending on the tablet's position. However, not all apps support this function.
The brightness and the reproduced colors subjectively look very pleasant. We could measure the maximum brightness of 309 cd/m2 in the lower center area. The brightness decreases a bit towards the top right corner. The illumination is very good with 91%. The installed display can still supply an average of 299.1 cd/m2.
We record a black value of 0.42 candela per square meter (brightness unit). Thus, the screen achieves a great maximum contrast ratio of 717:1 in the display's center.
Although Dell Streak 7device has a smaller screen than most, and has a less than ideal resolution, this device was designed to allow for portability – and the screen quality really isn’t bad. The viewing angle is not great, but the colors really stand out. This device utilizes Gorilla Glass which minimizes scratches. And is overall solid and well-built, with a great design.
Compared to the competition, 4G connectivity is what helps to the Dell Streak 7 to really stand out. The Xoom is the only other tablet with the ability to connect to 4G, as well as Wi-Fi and 3G.
Dell Streak 7- 4G is more than just a small step up from a 3G connection, it is so much more. It is a brand new technology (only available to a third of the nation) that’s growing all the time. It’s really changed the way you can download on the go, and you’ll be able to download even whole movies at lightning speeds! While you will pay a little more for 4G, it is well worth it!
Dell Streak 7 is different from other tablets, including the Galaxy Tab. The Dell Streak 7 is meant to be held only one way: the landscape position. Although it does handle position switching through the built-in sensors, there is one decisive aspect of the design that ensures you’ll keep it held sideways.
If you’ll notice, up in the corner the hard buttons are all angled in one direction. To briefly digress, I posit that these hard buttons will contribute to a slight confusion when it comes to this device.
Although it will eventually be easy to overlook those buttons, I think they point directly to a more-media centric usage pattern for the Dell Streak 7 and their position – high on the upper right side – will force the device into one position for most users. Again, this is fine. It’s a general purpose “tab,” not quite a tablet PC and not quite a smartphone, and it exists to allow folks to simulate some of the applications at which the iPad excels, mainly video playback and gaming.
The custom Dell UI reinforces this notion by placing items on the home screen on little “stages.” There is the Social Media stage with Twitter, Orkut, and MySpace (JK all the way. It’s Twitter and Facebook) as well as an email stage. The main “stage” features many entertainment apps quite prominently.
However, bear this in mind when comparing this to something like the Galaxy Tab. The Galaxy Tab is a portrait device while this is a landscape device. It’s not a true distinction since both can work in either mode, but it is something to consider when choosing one of the other. More >>
Motorola Xoom
Details for the Motorola Xoom Tablet Computers
The feature packed Motorola Xoom, featuring built in wireless networking. Get your work done fast using the 1GHz CPU NVIDIA Dualcore processor (CPU)See it all on the bright 10.1 inch Displaywith a 1280 x 800, WXGA resolution.
The Motorola Xoom is also equipped with built in 3G for mobile internet anywhere, via your mobile phone provider.
Component
Specification
Operating System
Android 3.0 (Honeycomb)
Processor Type
NVIDIA Dualcore Processor (CPU)
Processor Cores
Dual Core (2)
Processor Speed
1GHz CPU
Memory Size
32 GB
Display Size
10.1 inch Display
Display Resolution
1280 x 800, WXGA
Graphics Memory
Shared Video Memory
USB Ports
1 x USB port
HDMi Port
HDMi Port
Web Cam
Front and Rear Cameras
3G/HSDPA/GPRS
Built in 3G
Wireless
Wireless LAN 802.11abg Draft N
Toshiba Portege M780 10V PPM78E-08E02LEN
Description for the Toshiba Portege M780 10V Tablet Computers
Intel Core i5-560M, 2.66GHz CPU, 2 GB (Gigabytes) RAM, 320 GB (Gigabytes) HDD, 12.1 inch Display, Intel GMA Series, DVD Supermulti, Windows 7 Professional, Wireless LAN 802.11abg upto 54Mbps, Integrated Web Camera 1.3 MegaPixel, Built-in-Bluetooth, 2.00kg
Toshiba Portege M780 10V PPM78E-08E02LEN Tablet Computers
Component
Specification
Operating System
Windows 7 Professional
Processor Type
Intel Core i5-560M Processor (CPU)
Processor Cores
Dual Core (2)
Processor Speed
2.66GHz CPU
Memory Size
2 GB (Gigabytes)
Memory Type
DDR2
Hard Drive (HDD)
320 GB (Gigabytes)
HDD Interface
SATA Interface
Optical Drive
DVD Supermulti
Card Reader
5 in 1 Card Reader
Display Size
12.1 inch Display
Display Resolution
1280 x 800, WXGA
Graphics
Chipset Intel GMA Series
Graphics Memory
Shared Video Memory
USB Ports
3 x USB port
Finger Print Reader
Built-in Finger Print Reader
Web Cam
Integrated Web Camera 1.3 MegaPixel
Bluetooth
Built-in-Bluetooth
Wired Network
10/100/1000 Gigabit Internal LAN RJ-45 connector
Wireless
Wireless LAN 802.11abg upto 54Mbps
Warranty
3 year makers warranty
Archos 9 UK501352
Details for the Archos 9 Tablet Computers
The feature packed Archos 9, featuring built in wireless networking and Bluetooth connectivity. Get your work done fast using the 1.2GHz CPU processor (CPU)See it all on the bright 8.9 inch Displaywith a 1024 x 600, WSVGA resolution.
With a 60 GB (Gigabytes) Hard Disk the Archos 9 has plenty of storage space for all your Digital media, documents and software. The Archos 9 is equipped with a Optical DVD Drive Not Included.
Component
Specification
Operating System
Windows 7 Starter
Processor Speed
1.2GHz CPU
Memory Size
1 GB (Gigabyte)
Hard Drive
60 GB (Gigabytes)
Optical Drive
Optical DVD Drive Not Included
Display Size
8.9 inch Display
Display Resolution
1024 x 600, WSVGA
Graphics Memory
Shared Video Memory
USB Ports
1 x USB port
Web Cam
Integrated Web Camera 1.3 MegaPixel
Bluetooth
Built-in-Bluetooth
Wireless
Wireless LAN 802.11bg upto 54Mbps
Warranty
1 year makers warranty
Archos Tablet PC- Design
Design wise, it’s just like the Archos 5 and Home 7 tablets but bigger. It’s got a nice brushed metal finish around the bezel. Extending out the sides are gently curved ends that house the buttons, speakers, the 1.3 mp webcam, and a neat optical mouse. The device itself it fairly thin, coming in at just 17mm, or .67 inches at its thickest.
Due to the curved back, the edges you hold it from end up feeling much thinner. It tips the scales at just 1.8lbs, which is a bit heavier than either the HP Slate or the iPad, but still light enough to be held up comfortably.
One really nice bonus feature is the kickstand. It may seem like a silly add on, but it give the Archos the flexibility to be used on a desk with a mouse and keyboard in “netbook” mode without the need for any extra docking stations or stands. It also has a lower setting which is nice for typing.
It’s much less slippery than the iPad. The optical mouse and buttons are positioned just right to be under your thumbs when holding the device in landscape mode, and I found it sometime easier to just wiggle my thumb rather than reach across the screen to tap something. The buttons are well laid out for two hand landscape use.
As Archos’s focus is on media consumption, the device is laid out well for widescreen video viewing in landscape. However, the 16:9 screen does make the device feel a bit awkwardly wide in landscape mode and very narrow in portrait. As Archos intended it to be mostly used in landscape, there is really no easy way to rotate the device aside from digging through the menus for the Intel graphics. Which is just as well as 600 pixels of width is really not enough for much of anything. More >>
Viewsonic Viewpad 7 Silver
Details for the Viewsonic Viewpad 7 Tablet Computers
The Lenovo ThinkPad X201 carries the same delightfully-intimidating, ultra-portable business-notebook-on-steroids design as all the X-series notebooks before it. At first glance it looks like any other T-series notebook with a boxy frame and rubberized paint but much smaller. With the notebook open, you see that the design is as small as it can be without reducing the size of the keyboard. Keeping the large keyboard on the small frame does have consequences, however, such as a short palmrest that's too short to support most wrists with your fingers in their typing position. The X-series notebook is essentially the smallest ThinkPad that still allows Lenovo to incorporate a full-size keyboard in its design.
Build quality is great compared to many of the small netbooks and CULV notebooks that have hit the market in the past couple of years. Just like the larger T-series counterpart, the Lenovo ThinkPad X201 1 retains the strong stainless-steel screen hinges, durable Lenovo ThinkPad keyboard, strong plastic cladding, and alloy chassis. The thinner design does introduce some minor flex and the screen hinges feel "weaker" when scaled down but this is all relative. For a 12-inch notebook the X201 can easily be tossed around with little worry about it breaking ahead of schedule or wearing out before its useful life is up. Try to do the same thing with cheaper consumer competition and you won't like the results.
End-user servicing is still taken into consideration with easy memory and hard drive access. The Lenovo ThinkPad X201 retains the side panel to quickly swap out the hard drive and the bottom cover to upgrade the system memory.
Lenovo ThinkPad - Touchpad
The biggest news with the Lenovo ThinkPad X201, aside from the new processors, is the optional touchpad. The ThinkPad X Series traditionally relied on the track point as the sole pointing device, to avoid any compromise in the form factor or keyboard, making this a rather important update.
Lenovo ThinkPad X201 of course made this change for the corporate world primarily: not having a touchpad can be an excluding factor when a company is researching vendors, so it is better to have than have not. This same story is why the T410 got four USB ports instead of the traditional three.
To avoid significant re-engineering, Lenovo opted to work in the constraints of the Lenovo ThinkPad X201 palm rest, aiming to modify only the palm rest to fit the touchpad. This simplifies things on their end and gives purists the option to have a completely touchpad-less ThinkPad X Series.
While I am a die-hard TrackPoint user, there are times when it is nice to have a touchpad around. If I have been doing a lot of typing and mousing, it is nice to have an ergonomic change and mouse around without having to apply pressure to the red nubbin. Also, I find that if I am more consuming content than creating it, I prefer to more comfortably use the touchpad rather than have my hand more outstretched and engaged using the TrackPoint.More >>
Advent Vega
UK release date: November 2010
Specs: Android 2.2 (sans Android Market), 1GHz Nvidia Tegra CPU, 512MG RAM, 512MB storage, capacitive LCD at 1024x600, 1.3MP rear-facing camera, no 3G, 700g. What we think: At £250, the Advent Vega comes in at a very attractive price - it's probably the best tablet for those on a very tight budget. And actually, it isn't half bad. It's responsive, it's not too heavy, it runs Android without breaking a sweat. The problem is that without 3G connectivity there's no Android Market access. There's also no Home button, and the other hardware buttons are fiddly as hell.
Advent Vega Tablet PC - Design
Advent Vega is a 10.1-inch Android tablet that seems to be causing quite a stir. On paper this is justified: you get a 10.1-inch Android 2.2 tablet, with a capacitive display, it is slim and looks good, and features a powerful NvidiaTegra 2 processor. All this is yours for just £249.
But it isn’t quite that simple and much of the demand for the Advent Vega comes from the potential the Vega offers, rather than the out-of-the-box experience. In fact on opening the box you might be a little disappointed, unless your plans for the Vega involve getting involved in modding.
So what do you get? Open the box and you are presented with a 10.1-inch device. The edge-to-edge capacitive display looks fantastic with a 1024 x 600 pixel resolution, although the viewing angles are strictly limited. There are no buttons on the front of the Vega except a webcam set in the bezel. Measuring 275 x 177 x 14mm, it is a smart looking device from the front.
But the immediate concern is control. The controls are set into the edges of the Vega along with all the connections. The top right-hand corner offers up a mic, power/standby, a screen rotation lock, and a back button. The right-hand edge sees a volume rocker, 3.5mm headphone jack and a flap covering the slot for the microSD card, USB and HDMI ports, along with a DC connection. The bottom features a docking connector. Internally it features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Advent Vega Tablet PC - Hardware
The device feels sturdy, well put together and a reasonable weight at 750g, but not too heavy.
As I mentioned above, the spec sheet looks pretty impressive. Put it up against the Galaxy Tab spec sheet and you’d probably plump for the Advent Vega. There are some chinks in the armour though. On board memory shows to me as 331meg, of which I only have 41meg free. I’ve moved plenty of apps to the MicroSD card, which is only 4gig out of the box, but I still have over 3 gig free. I do, of course, have a 16gig MicroSD card on order, which will mean I can load it up with TV shows and movies. More >>
HP TouchPad
Specs: webOS 3.0, 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon CPU, 1GB RAM, 16GB, 32GB storage, 9.7-inch capacitive screen at 1024x768, 1.3MP front-facing camera, 740g. What we think:The HP TouchPad is less polished than the iPad, with a smaller range of impressive third-party apps. Yes, it's got features that the iPad lacks, but so do the Android tablets, and they have a bigger app selection, too. The interface appears more polished than many Android tablets, but in operation that doesn't really stand up. It's also lagging behind in many hardware features, such as HDMI output.
HP Touch Pad Tablet PC - Design
HP Touch Pad is thicker and heavier than the iPad 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, however the form factor is comfortable to hold in the hands thanks to its curvy backside that features a glossy and soft to touch black piano finish. One could argue that the texture is prone to fingerprint marks, true – but I rarely look at the back of a tablet anyway.
The TouchPad offers a home button that acts pretty similarly as the iPad one, except that its shape is oval and not round. Additionally it is almost invisible, making the front of the device very minimalistic looking.
From the specifications, you may have noticed the absence of a back side camera, which, from a manufacturer point of view, is a good choice for cutting the costs: I have not seen a lot of people using their tablet to shoot pictures or videos, they all have a Smartphone or a compact camera for that matter.
HP Touch Pad - Screen
HP Touch Pad simply played it safe with their screen specifications and outfitted the TouchPad with a very similar LG IPS LCD to the one found on the iPad 1 & 2. The reduced number of pixels compared to the current crop of Android tablets isn't anything worth worrying about, though there are noticeable jaggies in Angry Birds and Robotek compared to the Android Honeycomb versions that run at a higher resolution. As always, Apple looks certain to crank up the pixel density in the next iteration of iPad so HP cannot rest on their XGA laurels for long, despite the TouchPad being the first WebOS device to break the 320x480 resolution barrier. Black levels, in particular, were less than spectacular. Thankfully, the HP TouchPad's LCD has a very neutral color balance and no blue or yellowish tint was noticeable. Viewing angles are absolutely spectacular, as is expected of an IPS display.
One quibble is that the backlight, even when cranked to maximum, falls far short of the retina-searing brightness of some other tablets, particularly the iPad 2. Additionally, the auto-backlight feature errs on the conservative side, often requiring manual intervention for a slight brightness boost to comfortable levels. Performance outdoors does suffer drastically but that is understandable and not a major usage scenario for most tablet users. In fact, WebOS 3.0 has survived the removal of the gesture area quite nicely and I'll discuss this more in the software-oriented parts of this review.
While the TouchPad is the most landscape orientation-friendly WebOS device yet, it still feels "best" in in portrait mode, much like iOS. Nevertheless, landscape-oriented activities such as web browsing, video watching or playing Angry Birds become incredibly more satisfying without having to deal with an exposed keyboard (Pixi) or an accidentally-exposed keyboard slider (Pre, Veer) offering interference. The fiddly accelerometer and I had a difference of opinion in this matter, which I will also discuss later. More >>
Amazon Kindle Fire
After months of speculation, the Amazon Kindle Fire has been officially announced at an event in New York, marking the first time the company has entered the tablet market proper. The successor to the Amazon Kindle is a 7-inch device that comes with Android, albeit a version that has been heavily altered by Amazon to make the best use of the company's e-shopping spine. The screen is an IPS display that's made from Gorilla Glass, it houses dual-core processor, and weighs in at 14.6 ounces. There is a tablet-optimised shopping app on board - this is said to comprise simplified and streamlined pages, so it is easier to buy stuff on than the actual Amazon website.
Amazon Kindle - Screen
The Amazon Kindle’s screen is 7 inches and it delivers 16 million colors in high resolution. It is a stunningly brilliant looking screen. It uses what amazon calls IPS or in-plane switching technology which incredibly like the ipad’s screen technology. It is a multi-touch screen, so if you have been using phone, tablets or any sort of multi-touch screen you will be used to it. The difference is this is brand new technology which is extremely fast and responsive. The actual resolution of the screen is 1024 x 600, which is a great size for viewing entertainment. The Kindle Fire screen does have a anti reflection treatment which helps when viewing in sunlight or at many different viewing angles. As far the screen build, it is chemically strengthened, meaning that is 30 times harder than plastic. Now that doesn’t mean that you should forgo the protective sleeve or cover, it just means it will last a lot longer and be more resistant to bumps and scratches.
Amazon Kindle - Hardware
Amazon Kindle consists of dual core and the processor made extremely responsive. I’ve had the chance to test and use many mobile devices, including tablets and phones using dual processors and so far the Kindle fire’s processor is the most responsive and fastest to date. There was absolutely no hangups or slowdowns whatsoever and the device which is a rarity in mobile devices like the kindle. It is a great leap for mobile technology for sure.
As far as storage goes, there is 8gb on board the Kindle. This may seem like a downside to some, seeing that there isn’t SDHC support or expandable options. And, yes it may be a downside to this device, but it is a smaller downside than you may think and I will explain why. The individuals who will get the most use out of the new kindle is users that take advantage of all of Amazon’s many services. With the Kindle fire you get a Free Amazon Cloud Drive Account Which stores most of your content, books, movies, mp3′s on Amazon’s own servers which makes the 8gb storage on the kindle look pretty infinite. You will only be storing personal documents and the like on the on-board storage. Your movies and mp3′s and the like will be in the cloud. More >>
Sony Tablet S
Display
Display Type TFT Color LCD Display Size (cm) 23.8 cm Display Size (in) 9.4 inch Resolution Name WXGA Resolution 1280 x 800 Backlight LED Touchscreen Touchscreen Function Supported
CPU
Processor name NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2 mobile processor Processor speed 1.0 GHz
Memory
Memory Size 1GB
Storage
Total Capacity up to 32GB
Interfaces
USB Port Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) micro A/B connector (host/client support) x1 Microphone jack No Headphones jack Yes Memory Card Slot SD memory card x1 SD Card Slot SD, SDHC
Network connectivity
Wireless LAN Yes Wireless LAN Type IEEE 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Max. Data Rate 72 Mbps (TX) / 72 Mbps (RX) Wireless WAN No Bluetooth Bluetooth® standard Ver. 2.1 + EDR GPS Function Yes
AC adapter Yes Power Cord Yes SD Card No Strap Yes
Dimensions
Depth Main Unit 17,4 cm (6,9") Height Main Unit 1 cm (0,4") Width Main Unit 24,1 cm (9,5") Weight 598 g
Battery Bundled
Model Name BPS24 Battery Type Lithium ion Battery Life time 8 hours (Standard usage*) Battery Charging time 5 hours
LG Optimus Pad
UK release date: 2011
Specs: Android 3.0, 1GHz Tegra 2 CPU, 1GB RAM, 32GB storage, 8.9-inch capacitive screen at 1024x768, 2x 5MP rear-facing cameras for 3D capture, 2MP front-facing camera, phone-friendly 3G, 630g. What we think: The Optimus Pad is a super-looking tablet and has the USP of having dual 5MP rear-firing cameras for 3D image capture. Add to that dual-core Tegra 2 CPU, a decent screen and Android 3.0 and you've got an exciting tablet on your hands. But pricing could be this tablet's Achilles heel – it's going to be pricey.
Notion Ink Adam Tablet
UK release date: Summer 2011
Specs: Android 2.3, Nvidia Tegra 250, Cortex A9 dual-core CPU, 1GB RAM, 1GB SLC, 10.1-inch capacitive display at 1024x600, optional Qi display, 3.2MP swivel camera, 3G, 2x USB, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, compass, 726g. What we think: The Notion Ink Adam Tablet is maybe the most anticipated tablet of them all. While it runs on Android 2.3, the Bangalore-based company has built its own complex interface on top called Eden. The hardware specs are impressive on paper, and it looks like this could to be one of 2011's hottest products. Or, it could be an absolute disaster... we'll find out soon enough.
Nokia N800
N800 Internet Tablet is Nokia's second attempt at a portable device bigger than a phone or handheld but smaller than a laptop, designed primarily for browsing the Internet, receiving email and making video calls over the Web when you're out and about. The first was the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet.
What's unusual about these devices is that there's no phone inside -- they rely on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to get access to the outside world. They run an odd operating system, too -- the Linux-based OS is exclusive to these devices. The N800 is, therefore, something of an oddball.
Design
The N800 Internet Tablet is about a third bigger than a PDA. It's designed to be held sideways, in widescreen format, and its dimensions make it feel like a serious piece of kit. Usefully, there's a flip-out stand at the back, allowing it to be propped up on the desk.
The upside of the large size is that there's room for a vast screen. It measures 105mm corner to corner, and is 90mm wide by 54mm tall. Its 65k colours may not impress tech-heads much, but its 800x480 pixels might. We found it sharp, clear and bright.
The downside is that the N800 is too big for all but the capacious pockets in serious coats -– you won't get it into your jeans or jacket.
The front is pretty much devoted to the touchscreen, which you'll probably find yourself controlling with the stylus as opposed to your fingers.
There are a fair few buttons scattered around the edges and the front, although the touchscreen makes most of them superfluous. Useful ones include the four-way navigator and three shortcut keys, which let you go back a screen, open/close menus and switch between applications quickly.
Meanwhile, at the top, are volume control buttons that double as screen zoomers and a button that toggles between normal and full screen.
One of the best aspects of the N800 is the hidden camera, designed to use when making video calls over the Internet. Push it in and the camera pops out of the side of the casing. It swivels so you can film yourself or what you're looking at, and when you are done you just push the camera back into its slot.
Other cool features include stereo speakers and two SD card slots -- one external under the stand and one internal next to, but not underneath, the battery.
Features
As there's no phone inside, you can only use the N800 for voice calls via the Internet. Both voice and video require you to have an account with either Google Talk or Jabber. No other providers are supported as we write, which is a real shame.
In fact, it would be fair to say that if you're not near a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth phone connection, the N800 Internet Tablet isn't that useful as it's so vital for the RSS reader, Internet radio, instant message app, email and Web browsing.
The Web browser, however, is lovely. The high-resolution screen makes browsing sites far more rewarding compared to other handhelds and phones, although a small laptop is better still.
There are a few other handy features too, including music and video playback, a PDF viewer, drawing application, image viewer, notes maker and calculator.
Whenever you need to enter text, such as when using the notes maker, you can use the slightly tricky handwriting recognition or one of two on-screen, tappable keyboards. You'll probably need to use the stylus to work the first one as it's slightly on the small side, but the other expands to fill almost the entire screen and is just fine for tapping at with both thumbs.
If you're considering the N800 instead of a handheld, it's worth noting that there's no calendar or to-do list as standard.
Performance
One thing that really lets the N800 down is its battery life. We asked it to play MP3s from an SD card continuously, forcing the screen to stay on during playback, and we got 5 hours 15 minutes of music. Generally, when using it for a mix of listening to music and Web browsing, we weren't confident of a day's full usage without mains power.
It also ran a touch slowly at times. We had a bit of a wait during startup, but more of a concern was our PDF reading test -- not only was a 1MB PDF a little slow to load, we had to wait a couple of seconds every time we moved through the pages of the document and zoomed in and out of the text.
We can't deny that the N800 was great for mobile Web browsing, or that it looks very slick and handles well, or that its large screen is a real step forward when comparing it to those found on handhelds. We aren't, however, convinced its reliance on Wi-Fi for access to the Internet is a good thing.
Panasonic Toughbook CF19 RHRAXPE CF-19RHRAXPE
Description for the Panasonic Toughbook CF19 RHRAXPE Tablet Computers
Look & Feel
Here we go with another toughbook laptop, the Panasonic CF19 laptop. As we know from previous toughbook laptops they are not designed to be pretty. So the super industrial design featuring magnesium and alloy panels and extra tough rubber casing looks incredibly....well.... tough. It is heavy for its size, but so are armour plated cars! The CF19 Toughbook features a handy built in carry strap you don™t need a bag with this laptop just strong arms!
Features
Ok well loads of features with this one including a daylight readable touchscreen so you can use this laptop like a normal laptop or spin it over, yes that™s right the screen spins around so you can use the Handwriting tablet which to be honest I spent most of my time on messing about drawing pictures like I was 7 again with my etchasketch toy. It™s impact resistant, apparently you can drop them from shoulder height and not break it, I didn™t try this out though...was scared. However check out Youtube and you'll see Toughbooks being thoroughly 'tested' to the limit! It™s also splash proof, dust proof and can withstand humid conditions. The 10.4 inch display is impressive for a smaller screen so photo™s and my drawings looked There are loads of ports including Firewire, and the ports are protected with plastic coverings so no dust will get into them. This laptop has built in wireless and Bluetooth.
Performance
is good and this tough laptop has a reasonable 160GB of storage space you won™t have issues with storage. Processing time is OK, this laptop has a 1.2GHz CPU Intel Core 2 Duo processor that is reasonably speedy for a laptop of this size. Battery is pretty good too and can last well over 4 hours.
Value for Money
This laptop is expensive however, if you require something that needs to survive in harsh conditions then this is the laptop for you. It is as unbreakable as any laptop can be, so could save a clumsy user a small fortune in the long run!
Overall
I love testing toughbooks and the Panasonic CF19 is no different. Tough and durable these laptops can take on more than your average laptop. This smaller version is excellent and if I decided to stop working in an office and say be a building site inspector this would be the laptop for me.
