Alternatives to iPad

[evldave]

The best support forum I've found

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/IdeaPad...k;jsessionid=17C73F08B7A4B5D67BD7856F319DCD10

I'm totally available if you have questions...

 

[haven]

Way back in post #1 in this thread, I suggested that smart phones like the iPhone, some Blackberry models, Palm Pre and others should be considered slate computers. They include WiFi as well as 3G data modems. And they can run web browsers and other applications, in addition to being used as a phone.

The biggest problem with smart phones is their small screen size. The iPhone is typical, with a screen that measures 3.5 inches diagonally, and provides 320 x 480 pixels of real estate.

This is about to change. In February, Microsoft introduced its completely reworked OS for mobile devices, called Windows Phone 7 Series. The new OS has a requirement for 480 x 800 pixels of screen real estate. We'll start seeing phones running Windows Phone 7 this Summer.

Some smart phones will get a little larger to meet this pixel requirement. Dell's Mini 5 (aka Streak) device has this pixel density on a screen that measures 5 inches diagonally. The screen on HTC's new EVO 4G phone has 480x800 pixels, and measures 4.3 inches diagonally.

Some phones, such as the HTC Touch HD and Nokia N900, use the 480x800 resolution on a 3.5 inch screen today. The result is very sharp text, but the image is a little too small for my taste. I think the 5 inch screen is better for readability. The 4.3 inch screen is a good compromise if you intend to carry the device in your pocket, but still want to view web pages.

 

[evldave]

Way back in post #1 in this thread, I suggested that smart phones like the iPhone, some Blackberry models, Palm Pre and others should be considered slate computers. They include WiFi as well as 3G data modems. And they can run web browsers and other applications, in addition to being used as a phone.

The biggest problem with smart phones is their small screen size. The iPhone is typical, with a screen that measures 3.5 inches diagonally, and provides 320 x 480 pixels of real estate.

This is about to change. In February, Microsoft introduced its completely reworked OS for mobile devices, called Windows Phone 7 Series. The new OS has a requirement for 480 x 800 pixels of screen real estate. We'll start seeing phones running Windows Phone 7 this Summer.

Some smart phones will get a little larger to meet this pixel requirement. Dell's Mini 5 (aka Streak) device has this pixel density on a screen that measures 5 inches diagonally. The screen on HTC's new EVO 4G phone has 480x800 pixels, and measures 4.3 inches diagonally.

Some phones, such as the HTC Touch HD and Nokia N900, use the 480x800 resolution on a 3.5 inch screen today. The result is very sharp text, but the image is a little too small for my taste. I think the 5 inch screen is better for readability. The 4.3 inch screen is a good compromise if you intend to carry the device in your pocket, but still want to view web pages.

...and just recently, some very smart hackers in Russia were able to get an early version of WinMo7 to work on an HTC HD2, which so far is generally considered to be the most powerful of the smartphones (released so far). It doesn't technically comply w/WinMo7 requirements (>1 button), but these make great mobile mapping platforms...I'm sure the new EVO will be sweet phone

I've run WinMo6 for a couple years, progressing from an old 8525 up to a fuze (and soon to be Tilt2)...with an older version of MS Streets and Trips, or NatGeo pocket, or Street Atlas, they all work fantastic offline, or just use Google Maps if you are in service. Plus you can get plenty of other navigation software for them nowadays (i'm still partial to my NatGeo maps exported from TOPO!).

The HD2 also has an optional battery lid/stand that basically turns it into a GPS nav on steroids...very cool stuff! ..except of course it isn't ATT (and Tmobile sucks where I'm at).

Having a mapping netbook + 4.3" smartphone gives you best of both worlds...while driving you can use netbook, then move maps over to phone once you are out of the car...

 

[Spur]

Is the Notion Ink Adam the only tablet that is sunlight readable? It looks like a nice machine, but I'm not sure I want to join the Android club.

 

[craig]

There are hundreds of sunlight visible tablets. They are used by the military, utility workers, biologists, etc. A few popular brands are Panasonic Toughbooks, Xplore, TabletKiosk, and Amrel.

Personally, I run a 7" semi-ruggedized EO TufTab and love it. Big topo maps, touchscreen, & sunlight visible.

 

[Lost Canadian]

HP fired shots over the iPad's bow today releasing this little teaser. Looks to include a camera, USB, Flash support, and an SD slot.

 

[haven]

Now HP just has to tell us how much! I don't think we'll see the HP Slate until late Summer. I expect a device like this will be very appealing to someone who uses a PC for business purposes. If HP can keep the price down, it might make a splash in the higher education market, too.

Actually, I think I prefer a slate running Google Android (or Chrome) to one running Windows 7. The startup time for Windows devices gets in the way of spontaneous use. And Windows needs a hefty hardware footprint (processor, RAM, battery). It's possible that the new Windows Phone 7 operating system, designed for use in smart phones, will be a worthy competitor for Android in this marketplace.

 

[redbeard]

Looks like price of HP is about the same.
http://gizmodo.com/5510143/hp-slate-specs-leaked-compared-to-ipad-in-hp-internal-presentation

shows some info.

 

[haven]

Engadget received what looks like an HP internal document that compares the HP Slate to the iPad. It's the first look at the Slate's hardware.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/05/hp-slate-to-cost-549-have-1-6ghz-atom-z530-5-hour-battery/

processor .. 1.6 GHz Intel Atom Z530 (Menlow)
graphics .. Intel integrated, with graphics co-processor for HD movies
display .. 1024 x 600 capacitive multi-touch panel, works with finger or digitizing pen
memory .. 1 GB, not user-expandable
storage .. 32 or 64 GB flash
extras .. SDHC flash card slot, VGA web cam, USB port
OS .. Windows 7 Home Premium w/ HP touch-oriented user interface
battery life .. 5+ hours


My comment:
The Z530 processor is used in the JooJoo tablet, and in several Viliv convertible netbooks. In my experience, Windows 7 runs better with 2 GB of RAM. The 16:10 ratio of the screen will pose a challenge for portrait display of magazines and newspapers. The iPad is 28% wider (768 pixels vs the HP's 600 pixels) in portrait mode. The graphics co-processor is probably the Broadcom HD video accelerator, which helps decode HD movies.

 

[chet]

compared to the ipads 12 hours the slates 5 hours looks pretty dismal! If it can't make it through an 8 hour work day of continual use then its going to lose allot of appeal.

 

[haven]

Engadget.com has photos of Dell tablets in 7 and 10 inch form factor.
It's not clear if these are engineering experiments or pre-production
versions of new devices. But it's clear that computer manufacturers
are trying all sorts of shapes and sizes of tablets.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/16/dells-7-inch-and-10-inch-streak-tablets-leaked/

 

[redbeard]

Wired has a quick rundown on 8 non apple tablets

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/04/gallery-non-apple-tablets/

 

[haven]

Here's another new product rumor from Dell.
It's supposed to appear in late Summer. No
price was announced.

Dell "Sparta"
convertible tablet with keyboard
11 inch screen, 1024 x 768
ARM processor, Android OS
optional 3G modem

http://www.liliputing.com/2010/04/d...ertible-netbook-tablet-arm-based-netbook.html

At present, Google is limiting access to the Android Market to
devices that have 3G capability (that is, they're supposed to be
smart phones). Google will probably let the Sparta tablet into the
list of approved devices. There are 50,000+ applications in the
Android Market today.

Google continues to develop the Chrome OS, an operating system
based on a web browser. The first release is expected this Fall, and
I expect that Google will offer a Chrome app store, in parallel with
the Android Market.

 

[haven]

The HP Slate is dumping Windows 7, according to the Michael Arrington's Techcrunch blog.

http://techcrunch.com/2010/04/29/hewlett-packard-to-kill-windows-7-tablet-project/

The reason cited is that the Intel Atom/Windows 7 combination uses electric power too quickly for a device that has to be careful about the weight of the battery onboard. Most slates weigh less than 1.5 lbs, while netbooks weigh 2.3 lbs or more.

This decision may have played a part in HP's recent purchase of Palm. Palm's webOS could be modified for use in an tablet based on an ARM processor. It's not clear if webOS will add support for all the goodies that Windows 7 supports, such as USB ports, a flash memory card slot, and an onboard video camera.

 

[Root Moose]

Microsoft cancelled the Courier project yesterday - or at least word came yesterday. It was an interesting device that I don't think got much past the concept stages. I expect that Microsoft is going to watch from the sidelines for now.

Personally, I'd love to see "light" versions of the Microsoft Office tools (Word and Excel in particular) in the app store. Stick to their strengths (software). They should port some Xbox games too.