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NEC Develops Linux Tablet/PDA Hybrid
zmcnulty writes "I've translated today's PC Watch article (Japanese) about a new tablet/PDA device from NEC - it has an 8.4" (640x480) touchscreen LCD, and a CD-ROM drive. It's also suprisingly affordable; about $645 USD. However, don't expect to be able to buy one soon, as production is limited to only 4,000 units for the first year. Still, this is an interesting prospect, and it's good to see major Japanese corporations interested in Linux."
Being an avid handheld user (T3) I think that Linux on the handheld is a largely untapped medium. I think that the power and flexibility of Linux on something as small and effecient as a handheld is an excellent combinaiton. I also think that the open nature of Linux would work to the handheld's advantage. There are numerous times I wish I could tweak settings or applicaions on my handheld but I am not able to do so. I hope this is the beginning of a long-term shift in the handheld market.
A little learning never hurt anyone.
It's good to see the idea that failed for Windows adopted by the Linux community.
_____
Thank you.
I agree, the idea of a tablet PC is rather moronic whatever the operating system.
As for sucking battery life, wonder if anyone will start making tablets with Transmeta processors. Might save some juice. But even that wouldn't make the idea very attractive to me.
If my answers frighten you, stop asking scary questions.
Sure 8.4" diag isn't large, but at least 800x600 would have been nicer. What they have is fine for your command prompt, but I'm sure it's gonna get pretty cramped once you start running Gnome/KDE and GUI apps..even with virtual desktops. Hopefully the included GUI software will have slimed-down/iconified buttons and such.
$cat
...1998 is calling--it wants its "M$" back.
.NET technology ...and much, much more
You know that it's a stupid idea when Microsoft comes up with it.
Just like:
* Taskbars
* Maximize, minimize, and close buttons in the upper-right corner.
* The standard print dialog.
* Internet browser/file browser integration.
* "Start" menus
*
*
Which as we all know are ideas never seen in the OSS community. Oh...wait.
Keep your eyes to the sky.
Thank you for your karma whore. You like this idea very much. You like PDAs very much. You wish you could tweak your PDA. You think the open nature of Linux would work to the PDA's advantage. Thank you for offering nothing of actual value that will be modded up. Speak in repeated short sentences that ends with a "I hope this is the beginning of..." statement that yet again doesn't actually say anything.
Where do they get these names?
Seems kind of intimidating!
Pardon me Antoine but you need to lay the crack pipe down and get a grip.
I have had top of the line Palms and PPCs with all the fixings and nowhere near paid that much. And these devices have *Loads* of software free and purchased on the market.
I use a Dell Axim supplied by work and am pretty happy with it.
I am daily linux user, have been for years. But 645? There goes the TCO argument.
I can get a laptop for 645. A 4 day trip to mexico.
Puto
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Whats the point of linux on a pda? I mean, Windows Mobile does it just fine. Its 100% designed for mobile, and even coming from microsoft, I never find it crashing. I was gonna install linux, but I didn't want to risk everything, and it was pointless I realized. Windows Mobile does everything just fine, I know your not used to hearing something good about Microsoft on /., but its true. Now, with a hybrid, it still sounds a little huge for a pda. I think once it gets that big, its really a tablet, in which case linux is a great idea. I think this is a whole new angle from which linux could attack the Mobile market, and in this case be worth it, and its advantages will be shown.
http://www.beyourowneviloverlord.tk
http://www.frozenchickenthrowing.tk
http://www.killercamel.tk
...
........
You must be new around here.
Basically, we thought the Linux Tablet/PDA Hybrid was totally overrated and would recommend against it at this time.
Apparantly some phrases, such as "surprisingly affordable," translate better than others...
$650 as surprisingly afforadble? Sheesh.
Download my free songs!
_not_ MS.
.pdf w/ annotations using a pen than a mouse, esp. with the new Adobe Acrobat 6 (killer app for Linux, extend xpdf to allow it to annotate and fill in .pdf formas), and I don't have to spend time scanning my (paper) sketchbook, or transcribing notes from it.
Microsoft was actually rather late to the pen computing game --- and only got there by twisting Go Corp.'s invitation to develop apps to an excuse to create pen extensions for Windows since Go didn't follow their suggestion to do so (extrapolation of Jerry Kaplan's version in his book _StartUp_ and the spin placed on the same event in the book _Building Tablet PC Applications_)
Heck, even Atari had a prototype, the STylus.
There was also a Linus machine (no relation to a certain Thorvalds) which a few people have prototypes of.
And of course there was the ill-fated Momenta.
I've been a pen computing afficionado for a long while, and the machines have really gotten practical of late (power, battery life, are decent, storage is phenomenal).
Using a pen system means I've got all of my data with me, and can use it / manipulate it, _without_ needing to sit down and set up / make room for a clamshell laptop (I've been buying laptops since 1985 (GRiDCase III Plus), they're nice enough, but more awkward to use than a pen slate, less acceptable in some situations (meetings, interviews), and require that I schelp around a graphics tablet in addition (okay, graphic designers are pretty much unique in needing that).
But it's a _lot_ easier to mark up a
This device is really interesting 'cause of the size (much smaller than most Tablet PCs --- guess they didn't want to compete with their own LitePad) and for its internal CD-ROM drive --- can you say portable e-book reader? (I'm thinking like the kid CD-ROMs, Living Books, Tivoli, et. al.)
William
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
Believe it or not, I'm the one that wrote that.
I chose "suprisingly affordable" because the main product I was comparing the NEC to is Sony's Airboard, which retails for 136,500 yen (around $1,300 USD) just by form factor. Obviously, the Airboard has more functionality, but details on the NEC device are still scarce.
I'm guessing that "sea urchin" is most likely a mistranslation of some kind of pointing device (stylus?). Sea urchins are pointy after all... ________ The NEC personal products, selling the liquid crystal information terminal which specializes in browsing LOOKPAL On sale in late June Standard price: 68,250 Yen (tax included) [approx. $644.47 USD] Ahead communicating: DMS division business promotion group. Tel. 03-6479-5852 On May 30th, the NEC Corporation announced the "LOOKCLUB series" LCD information terminal with built-in CD-ROM drive. The list price is 68,250 Yen (including tax). As for sale at the mass sales store and the like the bundle incoming order sale which for the time being leads the action and direct sales section becomes the main force. In addition, it does not do either the sale with the NEC direct it is the NEC direct sales sight. In the sales planning first year 4,000, it ships late from June. As for the same product "you see", "you read", "you hear", opening being something which was given out as the product which specializes, "in PC and the product of the new genre which does not belong in PDA. Like PC it cannot compile the file and it cannot process, but it is suitable for the perusal of the picture and the file. At one time, when in the radio-cassette tape recorder market whose sound recording function is necessary, playback private walkman appeared it becomes the product of the same image ", (the NEC personal products DMS division mountain village good Hiroshi group manager) with you define. Positioning of LOOK CLUB series 2nd feature, 3rd also feature is prepared. The LOOKPAL's features include an 8.4" LCD and built-in CD-ROM drive. Using its touch-screen interface, the user can easily load pictures and other files. For the first time, it is easy to know even with the person who is touched PC indicating just the idea contest of 4 types such as sea urchin and at starting point in time perusal of Internet. It is easy to operate even in the person who is poor overlap click it can operate with the long pushing above the sea urchin and 1 second. In addition, have tried to be able to input making use of the software keyboard according to need. As for the software keyboard, other than QWERTY system, those of 50 sound arrangements are prepared. Even with NEC PDA "Sigmarion" we can load the browser of England Picsel Technologies which has the result of adoption, other than the file of HTML, PDF and JPEG etc., we can peruse the file format of approximately 20 types such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint of Microsoft without doing the installation of various application software. Adopting Linux to OS. "At the beginning it examined also TRON, but from the fact that among other things it is insecure in the control and the like of CD-ROM it made Linux", that it has explained. Concerning the adoption of Windows, "before turning off power in addition to cost being high, in state you remembered in memory, after that you turned on power and directly, you continued and it was loaded you applied the function which can do operation, but with such job you waived from the fact that possibility of freezing is high", that it did. Adopting Intel PXA255 400MHz to CPU. The memory of 64MB is loaded. As for external size 243x161x34mm (width x depth x height). As for the weight which includes the battery approximately 1.1Kg. Battery drive time approximately 2 hours. Already we have started the business talk with the self-governing community and the like, preparing CD-ROM of each national language in for sight-seeing area of local end, the same terminal loan to the sightseer. You say that method of kind of using which can do the sight-seeing guide in the sightseer from world nations is supposed. In addition, we have assumed that other than method of using which was called the terminal and the business support tool for accessing to the electronic self-governing community, the private user peruses the picture of the digital camera mutually, while perusing burning of CD-ROM at the kitchen, works and/or is also a use w
Remember when the tablet/thinclient idea first came out and Microsoft was so critical of the idea? They put all their marketing muscle into destroying the concept but as soon as the companies that were trying to create a niche for themselves with it died off then suddenly M$ jumped on it and said 'Hey! Look at what WE thought of! This isn't the same as those ideas we put down because this one runs Windows!' Is this LookClub the beginning of a new wave of non-Window devices in this form factor?
[Server already seems to be chuggin, thought this might be handy]
It's called the "LookClub," and it's a not a PC, but it's not a PDA either. I guess that makes it close to a Sony AirBoard? Although not really.
It does, however, use Linux, and is suprisingly affordable. But don't expect to be able to get your hands on one soon - NEC will only produce 4,000 of these this year.
More information and an image of the device inside.
NEC Personal Products Corporation announced the "Contents Browser LookClub series," an information terminal with LCD screen and CD-ROM drive, on the 30th. The price is 68,250 yen (with tax).
Rather than urgently selling the product at a number of storefronts, NEC is focusing on direct sales to different groups. Also, it will not be available for purchase on NEC's direct sale website, "NEC Direct." The company plans on producing 4,000 units in the initial year, and will begin shipment in the latter part of June.
The LookClub series was designed with an emphasis on "seeing," "reading," and "hearing." According to the NEC Personal Products DMS Division's Group Manager, Yoshihiro Yamamura, it considered "to belong to neither PC nor PDA genres; this product is a new genre. It cannot edit and treat files like a PC, but it is suitable for reading images and other files. This is a bit like how the 'play-only' Walkman was introduced into a radio-cassette market requiring recording functions of all its products."
The first generation "LookPal" will have an 8.4" LCD display, and an internal CD-ROM drive. It also uses a touch panel screen, making for easy opening of images and other files.
So that the device is easy for those who have never used a touch-based PC before to understand, 4 icons (such as internet, etc.) will be displayed when the device is powered on. And for those that do not like double clicking, the operations are easily controlled by pushing for under one second. A software keyboard will also be used for input as necessary. The soft keyboard can be arranged in either QWERTY or 50-sound styles.
The device uses the same browser that is currently used in the "Sigmarion" PDA also from NEC - this browser is from England's Picsel Technologies. Rather than having to install an application to read each different type of file, the browser can read 20 file types such as HTML, PDF, JPEG, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
The operating system used is Linux. NEC has explained that "We were originally looking at TRON, but due to some problems with using the CD-ROM, we went with Linux." And about using Windows, "Apart from the cost being high, we wanted the ability to save the state of the device to memory immediately before powering off - and be able to resume work in that same position when the device is power on again. But since operating the device in this fashion made freezes very likely, we let Windows go."
An Intel PXA255 400MHz processor is used as the CPU. The unit has 64MB of memory.
The external dimensions are 243 x 161 x 34mm (W x D x H). When including the battery, it weighs 1.1kg. The battery lasts about 2 hours.
Negotiations with various municipalities are already going on - a CD-ROM loaded with various languages is prepared, and the device is loaned to tourists, who then go see the local sites. It is supposed to be a sort of travel guide that speaks the language of the tourists from around the world. Also, besides being usable to connect to the city government for business support tools, it could be used for individual users mutually sharing digital camera images, or accessing recipes from a CD-ROM while in the kitchen.
NEC plans a second generation "LookLet" - with a 4.7" LCD screen, and a "LookRex" - with a 12.1" LCD screen within the year. It is expected that both of these products will more or less have the same options as the LookPal.
Meanwhile, for investment into the LookPal, "LookMaker" from Sony PCL is currently being developed for creation of contents for the device, and will be available for sale.
nice gadget though, my first thought was.. take out the clumsy cdrom and add wireless, so the translator also suggested.
;) I can imagine, imagine that.
actually, leave out the wireless, just allow for usb, then you could add wireless through a usb plug-in.
the tablet might(will) become the tv companion(client) laying around the couch in numbers for each or most family member. thanks to this tv companion with wireless network connection each tv viewer will engage more interactively with quiz shows, talk shows, movies, competitions, polls, et al. but keep it cheap, slim and modular.
if any tv/media company wants to know what I'm talking about, call the number at: http://sophistic.com (hey it worked when I last talked about watch phones, IBM called
njoy.
This is the truth. All I need to do to lock up my Thinkpad is to close the lid, wait just long enough for Windows to *begin* going to sleep, and then open the lid again. At that point, the laptop is hung. Reliably. Works every time. It's probably one of the most reliable aspects of Windows...
So, this thing doesn't mention wireless. I don't think I would want one of these if it didn't have integrated wireless technology.
I'm on a chair.
The operating system used is Linux. NEC has explained that "We were originally looking at TRON, but due to some problems with using the CD-ROM, we went with Linux." And about using Windows, "Apart from the cost being high, we wanted the ability to save the state of the device to memory immediately before powering off - and be able to resume work in that same position when the device is power on again. But since operating the device in this fashion made freezes very likely, we let Windows go."
also, if you're using the definition of "Personal" of "annoying to others" e.g. Personal Stereo, Personalised Ringtones... then the bigger it is, the more Personal it is, and hence the more PDA it is.
Why do you give Microsoft credit for the idea of a mobile computer client with a touch screen and accessories?
All they should have credit for as a company in this case is to jump the bandwagon.. but giving them credit as the inventor in the year of 1998 or any year prior, geez.
Are you applying for a position at the patent office?
coz it looks like my old school lunchbox.
"When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem begins to resemble a nail." - Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)
No, no we haven't
3010CT
3020CT
A bit more here:
http://www.ids.org.au/~shaynest/articles/portege/
The NEC is larger, volume wise. Yes, it has a CD drive built in, but who uses those things on the road anyway? Sheesh. How did this make NEWS?
Hi Guys
Here's another one - Tablet PC.
I'm no Microsoft lover (been using Linux for ~ 6 years now), but I gotta tell you, my new Tablet PC is extremely cool (Gateway M275 convertible). Very usefull as well.
I truly hope the open source community will see the importance of this form factor and get on the bandwagon - Tablet PCs offer the ability to read like an e-book, write with a pen, or carry out traditional computing in the notebook fashion.
Just my thoughts, now flame away at me (and yes Apple fans, I know there once was the Newton, but where is the Apple Tablet now? I looked for one, had to settle for the Microshaft version)
I think, therefore I thought.
For this price, get a used laptop or iBook off ebay and throw Linux on it. Then you'll get a real display, HD, expandibility, etc. No cramped screen, no expensive wifi cards, just a real system, but one that you can take with you. Like here
650 USD, done.
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
I just got a linux handheld with a 640x480 4" screen, the Sharp Zaurus SL-6000L, from PC Connection for $699.
It was quite inexpensive compared to a Dell Axim, in the sense that the Dell Axim costs ALMOST NOTHING TO PRODUCE, so more of your money can go to wiping out Linux when you purchase the Axim.
Yes, you who purchase the Axim and put Linux on it could, if you would follow your few dollars, find them wending their way to Redmond, and thence to SCO, or wherever the people who are threatened by Linux wish to apply it.
Your total cost of ownership is quite a bit higher than your initial outlay because of this. Also, MY total cost of ownership is higher because you do this, so I am asking you to stop! Buy something with Linux pre-installed for a change!
p.s. The display on the SL-6000L is magnificent! I think a lot of my extra cash went into that.
I really, really would have hoped for an 800x600 screen as well. I've really been looking for sort of a faster version of the Siemens Simpad (www.opensimpad.org). I bought one last year with an 8.4" screen that's 800x600 and a 200mhz ARM processor. I paid close to $400 for it. It also has a full blown PCMCIA slot.
I think there is, or at least will be, a market for tablet devices. But the options thus far have been crap. A desktop OS, like XP, on a tablet form factor, just doesn't work.
First, portability is important. No, it doesn't need to fit in a shirt pocket. But, a two inch thick brick is not ganna work either. Lose the CD drive, it's not useful enough to waste the space for. Get the thickness down to that of a Palm V, while being lightweight and durable, and you've got something.
Even the hard drive is questionable.. Put enought flash memory in it to hold the OS and Apps. Include a could SD slots for expansion/removable media. Of course, Wifi and bluetooth are needed, along with a USB 2.0 port or two.
What I want to know is, if I connect it to my computer, will it work as a 2nd monitor/sketchpad.
THAT would make it worth the money. It's nearest competition from Wacom (admittedly higher-end) is over 2k. And you'd be able to take it with you if you want to draw on location.
- step 1: make 4000 tablet pc's
- step 2: NEC30CD-ROM LOOKCLUB68,250()
- step 3: profit!
I can't think of any reason why anyone would own one.
Compaq-son-of-HP (used to?) make the TC1000 with a Transmeta processor.
You need to install an RTFM interface.
I'm sorry, if you can't grip it in one hand easily and write on it, then it ends up being a three-hand affair, two to hold the tablet steady and one to draw/write/type. Personally, I think the Apple Newton was the perfect "Super-PDA/Tablet" form factor. Not something you want to carry in your shirt pocket, but something you carry around at work or as a PC replacement on the go. The Newton's screen was just under 6" (480x320), but one could conceivably fit a wide/tall screen of 8" diagonal, perhaps (768x512) in the same form factor. If I'm giving up the power of a laptop, I want to lose the bulk of the laptop also. My dream PDA is described in my journal entry. where I mention the SuperPDA concept.
There is no trap so deadly as the trap you set for yourself
-Raymond Chandler, The Long Goodbye
What I need is something bigger than a pda, smaller than the tablets I've looked at, purpose is to be carried around by non-techies to fill out forms with vital statistics and brief jargon-laden notes which are then dumped to a processing script on a server.
The optimal solution must be light and physically robust, be very very easy to use. The users are absolutely uninterested in the technology/gee whiz factor; they're busy doing something else and charting/notes are the biggest time cost in their lives.
Any suggestions?
Um, they are more 'interested' in Linux than we are! Well, kind of... When I visited Kyoto, all the university nerds wanted to learn was Windows because all the universities tought was Linux. In my university in the US we wanted to learn Linux while all that the university (Columbus State University) tought was windows. :P
Well, my point is to not be too suprised when you see a Japanese product runing Linux because a LOT of Japanese students are being tought how to use it and program for it.
"Never, never suspect the dreams within the dreams of dreaming children." ~The Amazon Quartet
...Linux ripping them off?
All you've proved is that Linux is ripping off features Windows made popular, though ripped off from previous efforts.
What does this have to do with Linux copying Windows?
I think tablets do have a potential future in the student/business market, and Linux has an opportunity to dominate if more developers jump on the wagon. Microsoft is taking huge software leaps with Journal, OneNote, etc., and the Linux community needs to catch up. Personally, I won't buy a tablet until it can have 100% handwriting recognition + streaming TV + 100% voice recognition + video recording of some sort built-in. Now, that I see as a good product!
Only dreams...
-------
artlu.net
The first paragraph of the English page is an opinion of the translater and not included in the origial Japanese article. No, I don't think any Japanese would consider $650 as "surprisingly affordable." We Japanese are crazy about those electric gadgets, I know, but we are not THAT crazy!
Would somebody please tell me why they can't just make a Sharp Actius MM-10 (or -20 now, I guess) with a swiveling screen?!! That would be the best palmtop/tablet PC ever, since it's so much thinner and lighter than all the tablets I've seen so far, and it has Wi-Fi and no useless CD-ROM! It's sad that the company that makes the Zaurus can't figure this one out...
(link, by the way)
I am talking computers with just enougth keyboard and display to be able to write or use a spreadsheet comfortably, and precious little else.
In the past many of these kept thier software in ROM, data in RAM, and had no aspirations to mimick a desktop or server OS. Better still, they did not bother with fancy graphics or WySIWIG.
Battery life was long and they ran a couple of seconds after turning them on (Much like, say, a Palm).
Frankly, 15 years after the M10, there is no comparable product on the market, nothing comes close.
A modern day M10 could have USB, including use of USB keys, software in flash, and of course internet conectivity, with a WAP browser and pine like reader.
Cost.....$100
And if you thought that was boring you obviously havn't read my Journal ;-)
I've always said I wanted a wireless enabled device thats bigger than a PDA and smaller than a tablet like the pads they use on Star Trek. One of these babies running an ARM processor with WiFi and thinner (no CDROM) would kick major butt. And since it runs linux I asume there is some way I could whip it up to look like LCARS. (LCARS Linux distribution anyone? Please? Linky?!)
Ok, maybe this is just another one of my geek fantasies (like having 24" touch-lcd screens mounted on my walls for quick home automation and internet access) but I'm sure other slashgeeks out there share the dream. Glad to know we're one step closer.
Im dreaming ofa big bndwdth, That can resist the
There are more Tablet PCs, which come pre-installed with Linux. But almost none of them has made it into the market yet.
Sounds like the Siemens Simpad. It's basically a tablet PC with PDA components. It has a 8.4" touchscreen capable of displaying 800x600 pixels, a 206MHz StrongARM CPU, 64MB RAM, 32MB ROM and it can run either Linux or Windows CE/Mobile (flashable ROM). In addition, it has a PCMCIA slot at the top so you can plug in a wifi-card.
Battery life is approximately 7 hours.
Sadly, it went out of production before it even got introduced in the US (or anywhere outside Germany). I find it to be one of the most innovating machines available, it's smaller and has better battery life than a real tablet PC, yet it has the advantage of having a fairly large screen which makes the browsing experience much better than on an average PDA.
first off you are so mis-informed it isn't funny. I have been using Tablet Pc's for over 15 years now. My first tablet Pc was a Dauphin DTR-1 and the idea for it came from a small company that made an innovative device that was used by a large number of FBI agents in the early 90's. Microsoft and windows was an afterthought and they only jumped on the band-wagon later. I have had many tablet pc's through that time and my favorite to this day is still the old fujitsu Stylistic LT that is only a Pentium 233MMX processor. (OMG! how can you do anything with a slow processor!) with a special rebuilt battery pack using today's battery technology I go ALL DAY without a need to charge the tablet. and Yes, I run linux on it because microsoft's pen extensions for tablet pc's SUCK and have sucked bad cince the Windows for Workgroups days. (Those were the best pen extensions to windows ever. they worked near perfectly and seamlessly.)
When I worked as a Microbiologist and Water Chemist I used tablet pc's exclusively. Today I am the only one in the manager's meetings with one and I am still much more productive is using it correctly than the managers sitting there with laptops, or the ones that bought a new tablet pc for hugse $$$ with way too much power and trying to use it as a laptop without a keyboard.
tablet pc's are NOT a laptop, if you think you can use it like a laptop then you dont know how to use a tablet pc and should not own one. They are more efficent as a larger PDA with insane storage and capabilities as well as a realistic input/display area.
Microsoft tries over and over again to make a tablet PC something that it is not and they fail miserably every single time... It must be a pet project of Bill Gates or someone else that does not understand what a tablet PC really is.
so please, go and do some research, go and actually learn about tablet pc's.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Isn't it an Etch A Sketch?
This COBY 7" DVD player with built in screen is more compact than the flip up screen models, it looks like a tablet. It plays Audio CDs, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD=R, DVD+RW, and MP3 or JPEG files recorded to CD-R/CD-RW discs. It also comes with a large set of accesories for $399. I bought this for my kids for xmas to watch on road trips.
Science is the Real TRUTH!
Looks like they're following suit with Linux PDA companies and staying about $100-200 above the competition.
Philips already makes one.
I'd like something simple. Why all the extra baggage when they make these? Tablet PC's, PDA/tablet hybrids, palmtop, they all try to aim too high. I just want a modern day PDA (or pocket PC) with a bigger screen. Is that hard to do? Is there a design problems I'm not getting?
My ideal version would be the zaurus 5500 with a big screen. No other changes PERIOD. Sharp? Are you listening? anyone started a hardware hack for that? I guess it's need a bigger battery too, but that's it.
AB HOC POSSUM VIDERE DOMUM TUUM
You know, if you get it so that this has WIFI, can join up with your home computer, and set it as a second monitor, this could rock. What you would get is you could chug away at the computer, then grab the tablet and go lie down on couch or bed and sit and read web pages on your browser of the main computer. COOL. Then when you get up, you could transition back to the main computer without having to reopen everything.
Party at O'zorgnax's Pub! Buy me a Slurmtini aye?
"I can be self-referential if I want to," said Tom, swiftly.
IGEL and Neoware (manufacturers of thin clients) have models coming up that in plain words are a thin tablet client:
/. article, Hitachi is leading the way with fuel cell powered units. Wheeehaa!
They have I/O such as USB and touchscreen, of course a wireless NIC, but don't rely on harddisks and such.
These devices are of course only meaningful in an area with wireless LAN and terminal server capacity available. Examples:
hospitals, museums, (retail) stores, warehouses etc.
I for one miss better performance on these battery dependent devices (at least compared to a fat Tablet), but as mentioned in previous
The more you know, the less you need. [Admin added: from me.]