Transmeta powers first sub-$800 Tablet PC

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/31768.html' target='_blank'>http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/31768.html</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/V800xptDEMO.jpg" />"Taiwanese monitor maker TDV Vision has announced what it claims are the first sub-$800 Tablet PC, the Visionary V800XPT. The new machine is powered by an 800MHz Transmeta Crusoe TM5800 processor, so naturally Transmeta is jumping up and down, and shouting about the design win. Unsurprisingly, Transmeta doesn't mention that TDV Vision is also offering a 1.2GHz version of the Tablet, the VS1200XP, based on VIA's recently announced Antaur mobile processor. <br /><br />The V800XPT sports 8.4in LCD panel, while its superiors sibling has a 14in display. There's a 30GB hard drive in there and 128MB of DDR SDRAM. The V800XPT also contains a 640x480 digicam and a four-in-one memory card reader, so it's clear TDV Vision is pitching the machine at consumers rather than the business audience Tablets are typically designed for."<br /><br />Tablet PCs continue to interest me, but not enough to go out and buy one - yet. But at this price, it's pretty tempting. I'm in the process of laptop shopping, but I'm finding it very hard to make up my mind - so many choices! I've decided that I wasn't something with a decent amount of power, which rules out most Tablet PCs - especially because having a 2nd battery installed is also a requirement that I have. <a href="http://www.voodoopc.com/systems/m355.aspx">This laptop caught my interest</a>. :mrgreen:

[Jeff Rutledge]

You'd definitely have no problems getting spotted in a crowd with that laptop eh?

Regarding tablet PC's, I'm in a similar boat. They're just not there yet. I think the idea is great, it just needs some refinement. I had a chance to test out a Compaq TC1000 for a couple weeks. Being able to surf wirelessly via WiFi at home was the greatest selling point to me, but it was so pig slow when VPN's into my Exchange account, I couldn't see it as a viable option...yet.

It's definitely version 1.0 right now. But the concepts are very good. I really liked the Windows Journal and could see myself using that a lot. Plus Office 11 (or is it Office 2003 now?) should unlock a lot of the potential for the tablet.

[rubberdemon]

That tablet caught my eye too - not much more cash than a high end pocket pc and with a full version of XP to boot ... More and more I'm thinking that it might be smart to have a smartphone for my contacts, appointments and email etc, and a tablet for commuting, since there's such a limit to the work I can accomplish with a Pocket PC (graphics, web design, etc...).

That Vodoo laptop looks extreme! Though feature for feature, some of the Toshiba models are pretty comparable - I like the 5200 series if you don't have to lug them anywhere: 60GB HD, a gorgeous 15" UXGA screen, DVD-Writer, subwoofer and a remote control!

[GoldKey]

Where is that drool icon! I finally broke down this year and bought my first laptop because I really needed to be able to do things mobily that my PPC could not do. I love using the laptop in the house to surf wirelessly wherever I am too! But, I don't carry my laptop every day, because it is a bit much. They don't show total dimensions on the model with the 8.4 inch screen, but if the bezel is not too big, it could potentiall be the size of a half sheet of paper and less than an inch thick. Definitely not pocketable, but then it would be able to do so much more. Might be just the middle ground I need. I know it won't run all my applications fast, but at least it will run them!

[Gremmie]

More and more I'm thinking that it might be smart to have a smartphone for my contacts, appointments and email etc, and a tablet for commuting, since there's such a limit to the work I can accomplish with a Pocket PC


Agreed. Depending on battery life of this new Tablet PC (I'm hazy about an 8 inch screen) I have always thought a Tablet PC/smartphone combo would be most intelligent.

[bcre8v2]

I see some appeal to the smaller Tablet PC. With a stand, external USB TV tuner, and nice "small" speakers, I have a complete portable "mini-system" that can: Play Media Files, TV, cycle though my pictures in screen saver mode while music is playing, and be aesthetic enough to sit in the living room, yet portable enough to fit in my backpack for presentations.
I have ruled out the $1500.00 Tablets simply because they're overpriced. My magic number is $700.00.
Any other thoughts for a solution would also be welcome!

-Steve

[kalex]

Jason, is it me or is this one overpriced laptop. It looks cool and has Centrino processor but over $3k? that's way too much.


Alex

[dbrahms]

i have the compaq tc1000 which has the transmeta 1.0ghz processor with 512mb ram...and it's slow as heck. what a bummer

[Jeff Rutledge]

i have the compaq tc1000 which has the transmeta 1.0ghz processor with 512mb ram...and it's slow as heck. what a bummer

I totally agree. I badly wanted to like this unit. I pretty much had my boss convinced to purchase it for me. But after trying to operate with it for a couple weeks, I just couldn't recommend it. I'm waiting for the next jump in these. I'm hoping I can jump on board then.

[lurch]

I'm sorry, this is way OT, but it's friday, I've got an hour left to work, and my head is spinning and my left ear is deaf for some reason today.... :?
so I'm a little wacky..

When I first read this sentence
I've decided that I wasn't something with a decent amount of power, which rules out most Tablet PCs
I thought you were saying that you didn't have enough strength to handle most tablet PCs... :lol:

again, sorry! :)

[dean_shan]

We need that drool Emiticon for that Laptop.

[stonepro]

Jason, is it me or is this one overpriced laptop. It looks cool and has Centrino processor but over $3k? that's way too much.


Alex


DUDE! -- Don't insult the machine by mentioning $$$!!! :duh:

Actually -- I really AM just kidding -- it IS expensive. But if $$$ weren't an issue...? I configured a test system and got the total up to $5600 -- without doubling the drives, or adding office 8O

I have an Dell8200 Inspiron... when one more year and I think I'll give these guys a call. WOW.

Jason -- if you get it... we NEED a review.

:D

[GoldKey]

Jason, setup laptopthoughts.com, and ask for a review unit! :D

[Enderet]

So you all know, the "Voodoo" laptop is made by Clevo if im not mistaken. You can look up Clevo on google and stuff. In early January I was looking around for a laptop and came across "desknotes". They are ..mmm... i guess you could say a laptop that has a desktop processor in it. Clevo has been pushing new grounds in that market and here in the US plenty of diff people are selling them. Anyone remember the very hot Alienware mobile computers? Made by Clevo. Alienware, Hypersonic-PC, Voodo, Sager, PCTorque and many others sell these laptops. Recently Clevo has come up with a new line that carries the Centrino processor in them and I believe that is the one you are looking at Jason. Head on over to www.sagerforums.com and take a look around to read user feedback and find out where YOU want to purchase it from. Hehe... the new high powered model is equiped with a 3+ ghz P4, 800mhz fsb, 9600 Ati Radeon M, 7200 rpm hd, and many other goodies.

[Enderet]

http://secure.hypersonic-pc.com/scripts/custom_sys.asp?sysid=Aviator_CX5

Here you go. This is from Hypersonic-PC. I purchased my desknote from them and I have no complaints so far.

[DavidHorn]

I really hope this comes out in the UK - less than £600, hopefully.

[ctmagnus]

...and my left ear is deaf for some reason today.... :?

Hmm. I suffer from the same thing. Only whereas I assume that's the exception for you, it's usually the case for me. (I :ppclove: it when I get a bit of sensation in there - something I find the Sony MDR-EX70LP's are quite helpful at.)

[ricksfiona]

The main reason for me to have a PPC is for mobility. You can put it in your pocket and forget about it (almost). With a keyboard, you can to some data entry quite easily. I still want the Ipaq 5550. With some minor software installs, it will do everything I want and have SUPERIOR mobility over a tablet or laptop.

The tablet is great if you need that much more power and to run PC based applications. I would SERIOUSLY think about getting the higher-end version of this tablet if I was thinking of getting a new laptop. Under $1000, 4lbs, 14" screen. Where do I sign?

[JohnnyFlash]

This laptop caught my interest (http://www.voodoopc.com/systems/m355.aspx). :mrgreen:

Looks very boring. The bright yellow casing doesn't make it less ugly: it just makes it more noticeable and ugly. If thoughtful design is important to you, I would recommend an Apple PowerBook, like the one I use.

For development stuff that is Windows specific - i.e. Pocket PC tools - I RDC into a Windows box. For graphics, animation and DVD/video/film editing, I use native Mac software and the lovely OS X.

[beq]

I see some appeal to the smaller Tablet PC. With a stand, external USB TV tuner, and nice "small" speakers, I have a complete portable "mini-system" that can: Play Media Files, TV, cycle though my pictures in screen saver mode while music is playing, and be aesthetic enough to sit in the living room, yet portable enough to fit in my backpack for presentations.
^ Hmm, I think 8" screen is probably too small to set up as TV in your living room :)

And Jason you should stop dissing the ThinkPad and enlighten yourself with one :) &lt;j/k> They need to make the X31 into a convertible Tablet PC, and along with the traditional thin-n-light T40 would make a great one-two punch... The T40's good.. ATI MRadeon 9000 32MB or FireGL 9000 64MB (overkill), 80GB HDD, 512MB DDR, all networking and wireless stuff, fully loaded in a 1"-thin and 4.5lbs base package with excellent battery life (nearly 10hrs w/ the hi-capacity battery plus drive bay battery)...

The Voodoo's strange, the front page advertises 1.1"-thick, 5.5lbs, but the next page admits 1.4" thick, 6.3lbs, etc...? Makes me somewhat dubious of their batt-life claims (even w/ Centrino)...

[Jason Dunn]

Looks very boring. The bright yellow casing doesn't make it less ugly: it just makes it more noticeable and ugly. If thoughtful design is important to you, I would recommend an Apple PowerBook, like the one I use.

Performance is important to me, which rules out any Apple laptop. But thanks for the condescending remarks! I can always count on you to say such delightful things. :roll:

[Hyperluminal]

Wow, those tablet prices are amazing. Maybe I'll pick one up. :D
Just to confirm, this will be available in the US, right?

Performance is important to me, which rules out any Apple laptop.
How true... :lol:

[trapper]

A low cost Tablet like this will be great for the educational market for schools that are moving to paperless classrooms.

[Kati Compton]

More and more I'm thinking that it might be smart to have a smartphone for my contacts, appointments and email etc, and a tablet for commuting, since there's such a limit to the work I can accomplish with a Pocket PC (graphics, web design, etc...).


They don't show total dimensions on the model with the 8.4 inch screen, but if the bezel is not too big, it could potentiall be the size of a half sheet of paper and less than an inch thick. Definitely not pocketable, but then it would be able to do so much more. Might be just the middle ground I need. I know it won't run all my applications fast, but at least it will run them!

I'm with you guys. I'm really looking for the half-sheet-of-paper-perfect-laptop to use while travelling, and to carry light work here and there, and may switch to smart phone. Wait. If they were cheaper... ;) Still looking at the Panasonic W2 and Fujitsu P5000... I'd have to have a keyboard, so I'm not sure a tablet would be quite right for me.

I'm also worried with tablets about where to put my hands so as to not get fingerprints or palmprints on the screen...

[Jeff Rutledge]

I'm also worried with tablets about where to put my hands so as to not get fingerprints or palmprints on the screen...

If it helps, I didn't see a problem with this at all for the short time I had one of these to try. The screen is totally different than that of a PPC; maybe that makes a difference. I'm not saying you can't muck it up (yes, that's the technical term), but it's a lot harder to do.

[JohnnyFlash]

Performance is important to me, which rules out any Apple laptop. But thanks for the condescending remarks! I can always count on you to say such delightful things. :roll:[/quote]

Do me a favour Jason, please delete my username from the PPCT forum.

[beq]

Peace, it's all in fun, no harm done (BTW I liked your Today's theme program way back for my original iPAQs, Stellarmetrics)

[Thinkingman]

Stellarmetrics it is all cool dude, stick around:) the more there is around here the better:) Like I was told once, just let it be like water off a ducks back We need less of this :agrue: and more of this :beer:

[Thinkingmandavid]

Hey, I agree with Thinkingman, lets chill out around here. None of us perfect, we all have weaknesses. so lets enjoy talking about pda's Jason and Stellarmetrics :)

[GoldKey]

Does a tablet PC typically allow for some type of synching with a desktop? Also, I assume they would have a PC card slot for a wireless card, etc?

[marlof]

Performance is important to me, which rules out any Apple laptop.

So.... you mean to say that a 1 GHz G4 15" or 17" wouldn't cut it for you performance wise? You must do some pretty hefty things on a laptop then. I can do most things I want on my 800 MB G3 iBook, and that doesn't profit from the Velocity Engine in the G4. I notice some performance issues in Photoshop work / Video editing, but that's exactly where a Velocity Engine, and a 1 MB L3 cache in the professional PowerBooks come in quite handy. The only reason I can see to go for a Win based laptop when it comes to performance, would be gaming. Simply because it will run more of those. ;)

[Jeff Rutledge]

Does a tablet PC typically allow for some type of synching with a desktop? Also, I assume they would have a PC card slot for a wireless card, etc?

I'm not sure what you mean when you say Sync. The tablet PC is its own full-fledged computer. So it contains all of its own data on its own hard drive, has it's own applications, etc. It's the same as having two laptops or - probably a better analogy - a desktop and a laptop.

One thing that's cool is that you can dock many types of the Tablet PC's. I'm not sure how or if data can be shared, but the dual displays are pretty cool.

Regarding wireless, most of the tablets have the option to include integrated WiFi. It was built in to the TC1000 I tested and was great. I tapped on one button and WiFi was on. It made a great little browser to cart around the house. :D

I hope I read your question right.

[GoldKey]

By Syncing, I would like my desktop outlooks (contacts/calander) to sync to each other. So if I add a contact during the day on my tablet, it would also be added to my desktop. Plus, say I have a set of folders I work on, I would like to sync them back and forth so I always have the most recent version on each machine.

Regarding wireless, the specific tablet mentioned in this thread does not mention integrated wireless. So, I was wondering if a PC card slot was standard on tablets as it is on every laptop I have ever seen.

[Jeff Rutledge]

By Syncing, I would like my desktop outlooks (contacts/calander) to sync to each other. So if I add a contact during the day on my tablet, it would also be added to my desktop. Plus, say I have a set of folders I work on, I would like to sync them back and forth so I always have the most recent version on each machine.

Gotcha. I don't know of a way to do that (at least, without an Exchange server). There might be something out there though...

Regarding wireless, the specific tablet mentioned in this thread does not mention integrated wireless. So, I was wondering if a PC card slot was standard on tablets as it is on every laptop I have ever seen.

Gotcha. I think this one does have integrated WiFi. According to http://www.tdvvison.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=121, it says "Internal 802.11b Wirless Lan".

Not bad....

[unxmully]

I have to admit to liking the smaller keyboardless version, though 128meg of ram as standard seems a little tight to me. I'd want 256 at least as a basic starting point.

If it came to the UK at a reasonable exchange rate, I'd be seriously tempted.

Andy

[SassKwatch]

The V800XPT sports 8.4in LCD panel, while its superiors sibling has a 14in display. There's a 30GB hard drive in there and 128MB of DDR SDRAM. The V800XPT also contains a 640x480 digicam and a four-in-one memory card reader
Seems to me only 128MB RAM is pretty limiting, no?

[jeff]

Performance is important to me, which rules out any Apple laptop.

So.... you mean to say that a 1 GHz G4 15" or 17" wouldn't cut it for you performance wise? You must do some pretty hefty things on a laptop then. I can do most things I want on my 800 MB G3 iBook, and that doesn't profit from the Velocity Engine in the G4.

Sure, you can do most things, but you have to do them slowly. I made my company buy me a 800MHz iBook to support the Mac users in the graphics department and there's no way you can claim it's anything but slow. Web browsing is slow (even with Safari), iPhoto is extremely slow, Office apps are slow, all file/OS operations are slow, and it sometimes takes a full minute just to generate a terminal window. The 1024x768 resolution can be limiting if you're used significantly more, too. And the iBooks look like girl laptops. The new Powerbooks might be twice as fast, but they're still slower than a P4 laptop for most purposes.