"convertible" netbooks

[chet]

OK I like the concept of this netbook (rugged, flip screen touch screen etc.) but MDG does not have best rep. here in Canada and it seems a little pricy ($699 CDN)

http://www.mdg.ca/flip/

Is there any other netbooks out there that do the same thing?

 

[haven]

Flip screen laptops are known by several names. Some companies call them tablet computers. Others call them convertibles, and reserve tablet for models that don't have a keyboard. Still others call computers that don't have a keyboard a slate computer.

I like "convertible" because you can switch between conventional laptop orientation and the slate configuration, with keyboard covered.

Asus is starting to market a 9 inch convertible computer in USA. It's called the Eee PC T91.

Gigabyte makes a 10 inch convertible, called the T1028X TouchNote . They also sell a 9 inch version called the M912.

Dell just introduced a convertible called the Latitude XT2 XFR. This model has a 12.1 inch display.

HP makes a convertible called the HP TouchSmart tx2z with 12 inch screen.

Kohjinsha makes a model with a 7" screen called the SK3.

Several companies have leaked information about new convertible models. These include the Gateway EC18T (11.6 inch screen), the MSI U150 (10 inch screen), and the Acer Aspire Timeline 1420P (11.6 inch screen).

Fujitsu just introduced a new convertible called the LifeBook T5010. It has a 13 inch screen.

Speaking of Fujitsu, I have a very cool convertible called the Lifebook U810 on my desk today. It has a 5.6 inch screen and 1024 x 600 resolution, weighs less that 1.75 lbs, and runs Windows Vista. It looks like a netbook that was captured by a tribe of headhunters and shrunken to half its regular size. The U810 and the newer U820 models are designed to be used while standing up.

Chip Haven

 

[chet]

wow thanks Chip! The 10" screen appeals to me. I have been looking at an Ipod Touch but I think a small netbook will be better suited to what I will be doing. (on site QC reports and engineering stuff) would be nice to run an application to read Autocad DWG which so far a touch does not have right now.

 

[chet]

after doing some reading the Kohjinsha unit looks pretty cool. Do you know of anywhere in North America that sells them?

 

[haven]

http://www.dynamism.com/#Product=kohjinsha_sc

Dynamism sells the Kohjinsha SC3, a model with 7 inch touchscreen.

 

[haven]

ASUS Eee PC T91MT convertible

Here's a review of the new ASUS Eee PC T91, a convertible PC
with 9 inch multi-touch screen: http://myt91.info/

Other specs of the T91:
Intel Atom Z520 (1.33GHz)
1 GB RAM
32 GB solid state drive
1024 x 600 screen resolution
5+ hours battery life
Windows 7 Home Premium OS
weight 2.2 lbs
Price $550 in USA

When ordering, be sure you're getting the T91MT, the model with
multi-touch and Windows 7. The earlier version is T91SA, with
single touch, 16GB SSD and Windows XP Home. At this writing,
Dynamism is still selling the old version.

Sources for the new version include PC Connection and Amazon.com