Tablet PCs.

2005 BUYER'S GUIDE

TABLET PCs

Pen-based computers are resurfacing, thanks largely to Microsoft
Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, introduced in the fall of 2002. Tablet
PCs let users write directly on the screen to control their PC and
input information. The result is the promise of natural-looking
handwriting



		

		

		

		

		

		
		
			



		
		
		
		
		
	

 on the screen that users can either convert to standard
text using handwriting recognition or keep as handwritten text. But,
in the last couple of years, tablet PC manufacturers have discovered
users want the option of using pen input as well as a keyboard. So,
most of the models in this Buyer's Guide include a keyboard too,
giving you the best of both worlds.

                        DIMENSIONS               SOFTWARE

Electrovaya Scribbler SC-2100

Electrovaya             11.96" wide, 9.17"       Microsoft Windows XP
www.electrovaya.com     deep, 1" thick with      Tablet PC Edition;
Starts at $1,999        keyboard and mouse;      Corel Grafigo,
                        4.51bs with keyboard     Farstone Virtual Drive
                        and mouse; 12.1          Lite, Speech
                        "diagonal display with   Recognition software
                        1024x768 resolution;     Ink Annotation,
                        also includes            Microsoft Reader,
                        fingerprint
                        recognition

Hitachi VisionPlate Wireless Table

Hitachi                 11.6 wide, 8.8" deep,    Linux or Microsoft
www.visionplate.com     1.3" thick; 2.84lbs      Windows XPe; Bundled
Starts at $1,500        with small battery;      software for
                        10.4" diagonal           healthcare, oil and
                        display with 800x600     chemical, home
                        resolution               management, or field
                                                 force automation

HP Rugged Tablet PC tr3000

HP                      10.6" wide, 7.2" deep,   Microsoft Windows XP
www.hp.com              1.65" thick; 3.7lbs;     Tablet PC Edition
Starts st $2,749        8.4" diagonal display
                        with 800x600
                        resolution

Motion M1400

Motion Computing        11.65" wide, 9.45"       MicrosoftWindows XP
motioncomputing.com     deep, .87" thick; 31bs   Tablet PC Edition
Starts at $1,649 for    with battery; 12.1       2005; Motion Dashboard
Celeron model           diagonal display with    control panel, Softex
Starts at $1,999 for    1024x768 resolution;     OmniPass Security
Centrino model          includes fingerprint     software, My Bluetooth
                        recognition              Places, Preset WiFi
                                                 Detection and
                                                 Configuration, Windows
                                                 Journal, Sticky Notes

Toshiba Portege M200

Toshiba                 11.6" wide, 9.8" deep,   Microsoft Windows XP
www.toshibadirect.com   1.5" thick; 4.4lbs;      Tablet PC Edition
Starts at $1,999        12.1 "diagonal display
                        with 1400x1050
                        resolution

Xplore iX104C2

Xplore Technologies     11.2" wide, 8.25"        Microsoft Windows XP
www.xploretech.com      deep, 1.60" thick;       Tablet PC Edition
Starts at $3,000        4.66 lbs, 10.4"
                        diagonal display with
                        1024 x768 resolution

                        PROCESSOR/MEMORY         CONNECTION OPTIONS

Electrovaya Scribbler SC-2100

Electrovaya             1.3GHZ Intel Uentrino;   802.11b/g,
www.electrovaya.com     256MB RAM standard,      10/100 Ethernet,
Starts at $1,999        upgradable to 1280MB     56Kbps fax/modem,
                        RAM installed; 30GB      2 USB 2.0 ports
                        hard drive standard,
                        upgradable to 60GB
                        hard drive

Hitachi VisionPlate Wireless Table

Hitachi                 Transmeta Crusoe         802.11 b/g/a
www.visionplate.com     Processor 667MHz;        10/100 Ethernet,
Starts at $1,500        128MB RAM standard,      56Kbps fax/modem,
                        upgradable to 256MB      CDMA-, GSM-, and
                        installed                GPRS-compliant
                                                 2 USB ports

HP Rugged Tablet PC tr3000

HP                      Mobile Intel             802.11b.
www.hp.com              Pentium III 933MHz;      10/100 Ethernet,
Starts st $2,749        256MB RAM standard,      56Kbps fax/modem,
                        upgradable to 640MB      Bluetooth, CDMA-
                        RAM installed;           and GPRS-compliant
                        40GB hard drive

Motion M1400

Motion Computing        Intel Pentium M          802.11b/g,
motioncomputing.com     Processor or Intel       10/100 Ethernet,
Starts at $1,649 for    Celeron M Processor;     56Kbps fax/modem,
Celeron model           256MB RAM standard,      Bluetooth,
Starts at $1,999 for    upgradable to 1GB for    2 USB 2.0 ports
Centrino model          Celeron model or 2GB
                        for Centrino model;
                        201313 standard hard
                        drive, upgradable to
                        60GB

Toshiba Portege M200

Toshiba                 Intel Pentium M          802.11 b/g,
www.toshibadirect.com   1.5GHz; 256MB RAM,       10/100 Ethernet,
Starts at $1,999        upgradable to 512MB      56Kbps fax/modem,
                        RAM installed; 40GB      2 USB 2.0 ports
                        hard drive, upgradable
                        to 60GB hard drive

Xplore iX104C2

Xplore Technologies     Intel Pentium M          802.11 b/g,
www.xploretech.com      733 1.1GHz processor;    10/100 Ethernet,
Starts at $3,000        256MB RAM standard,      56Kbps fax/modem,
                        upgradable to to 1GB     2 USB 2.0 ports
                        RAM; 40GB shock-
                        mounted hard drive,
                        upgradable to to 80GB
                        shock-mounted hard
                        drive

                        POWER

Electrovaya Scribbler SC-2100

Electrovaya             Up to 9 hours
www.electrovaya.com     battery life
Starts at $1,999

Hitachi VisionPlate Wireless Table

Hitachi                 Up to 3.7 hours with
www.visionplate.com     standard battery;
Starts at $1,500        up to 7.5 hours with
                        optional large battery

HP Rugged Tablet PC tr3000

HP                      up to 3 hours
www.hp.com              standard; up to
Starts st $2,749        6 hours using second
                        (media bay) battery

Motion M1400

Motion Computing        Approximately
motioncomputing.com     4 hours battery life
Starts at $1,649 for
Celeron model
Starts at $1,999 for
Centrino model

Toshiba Portege M200

Toshiba                 Up to 4.34 hours
www.toshibadirect.com   battery life
Starts at $1,999

Xplore iX104C2

Xplore Technologies     Up to 5 hours
www.xploretech.com      battery life
Starts at $3,000