A tablet PC is a mobile computer shaped like a slate on which data can be entered via a touchscreen and a stylus. Tablets are becoming steadily more powerful and sophisticated and there is also more tablet-specific software available. For instance there is Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and some tablets also come with Linux pre-installed.
Tablets come in two basic varieties. Slates consist of a screen and a stylus without a keyboard though it is often possible to attach a separate keyboard either through USB or wireless. Convertibles come with a keyboard attached to the screen at a single joint which can be rotated out when necessary.
The main advantage of a tablet is a much more intuitive interface since for many people writing is still easier than typing. The stylus comes in especially handy for digital art because the mouse is often too jerky a device for precise drawing. It also makes it easier for students to take classroom notes involving graphs or diagrams. Some tablets come with speech recognition software as well and if necessary a keyboard is available on many models.
Tablets, especially slates, are also lighter and easier to handle compared to laptops.
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Tablet PC
Friday, July 28, 2006
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Choosing a laptop: Sony Vaio & Dell Inspiron
Perhaps the first thing to consider before choosing a laptop is how much you need to carry it around and what kind of multimedia features you need. The two are closely related.
Lighter laptops generally have smaller screens and fewer multimedia features but of course every kilo of weight saved makes a difference if you intend to carry it around a lot. For instance you might consider the Sony Vaio Z1RA which weighs about 2 kilos. The screen is 14.5 inches and the main features are quite good: a 1.6 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM and a 60GB hard-drive.
On the other end of the scale is a model like the Dell Inspiron 9300 which weights about 3.5 kilos. This extra bulk helps produce some great multimedia features though. You have a 17 inch wide screen and also two speakers including a sub-woofer which make it a great laptop for watching movies. The DVD writer comes in very handy for storing large multimedia files and the 128 MB ATI video card is essential if you want to play the latest games. These features are comparable to a good desktop and such models are often called desktop replacements.
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Laptop | Sony Vaio | Dell Inspiron
Lighter laptops generally have smaller screens and fewer multimedia features but of course every kilo of weight saved makes a difference if you intend to carry it around a lot. For instance you might consider the Sony Vaio Z1RA which weighs about 2 kilos. The screen is 14.5 inches and the main features are quite good: a 1.6 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM and a 60GB hard-drive.
On the other end of the scale is a model like the Dell Inspiron 9300 which weights about 3.5 kilos. This extra bulk helps produce some great multimedia features though. You have a 17 inch wide screen and also two speakers including a sub-woofer which make it a great laptop for watching movies. The DVD writer comes in very handy for storing large multimedia files and the 128 MB ATI video card is essential if you want to play the latest games. These features are comparable to a good desktop and such models are often called desktop replacements.
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Laptop | Sony Vaio | Dell Inspiron
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Accessories for your PDA
Protection, data entry and connectivity are some of the features that can be improved by using PDA accessories.
It’s not the most exciting accessory but a protective filter for your PDA’s LCD, like this one for the O2 XDA, is among the most useful and cost-effective. The filter protects the screen from scratches and harmful sunlight and your eyes from ultraviolet rays. It also sharpens the image and improves colour quality.
If you need to enter a lot of data you might consider a Bluetooth keyboard like this model for the HP iPaq. The model is big enough for comfortable typing but can be easily folded and put away when not in use. There is a small stand where you can attach the PDA and Bluetooth means that there are no messy wires between the devices.
For connecting your PDA to a wifi network you might need to buy a separate wifi card like the SDIO WLan card which plugs into the SDIO slot and is compatible with most PDA’s with Pocket PC 2002/2003. Important features included low energy consumption, Wireless Active Sync for synchronizing data with your PC and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) for secure wireless connectivity.
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PDA | PDA accessories
It’s not the most exciting accessory but a protective filter for your PDA’s LCD, like this one for the O2 XDA, is among the most useful and cost-effective. The filter protects the screen from scratches and harmful sunlight and your eyes from ultraviolet rays. It also sharpens the image and improves colour quality.
If you need to enter a lot of data you might consider a Bluetooth keyboard like this model for the HP iPaq. The model is big enough for comfortable typing but can be easily folded and put away when not in use. There is a small stand where you can attach the PDA and Bluetooth means that there are no messy wires between the devices.
For connecting your PDA to a wifi network you might need to buy a separate wifi card like the SDIO WLan card which plugs into the SDIO slot and is compatible with most PDA’s with Pocket PC 2002/2003. Important features included low energy consumption, Wireless Active Sync for synchronizing data with your PC and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) for secure wireless connectivity.
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PDA | PDA accessories
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Power (i)Paq: HP iPaq 6315
The iPaq h6315 is a PDA which can be used as a GSM phone and also has basic multimedia features like a camera making it an excellent device for your mobile needs.
The 6315 comes with a 3.5 inch screen with a 240X320 resolution and 64,000 colours. It is quite bright and very easy to read outdoors even in bright sunlight. The unit includes a VGA camera and you can also play MP3 files stored in the memory. The 6315 comes with some neat accessories including a detachable keyboard, a wired headphone set for hands free phone use and a leather case. Battery life is excellent; the rechargeable and removable lithium-ion battery provides seven hours of usage when fully charged.
The included software bundle is also quite good. The operating system is Windows Mobile 2003 Phone Edition and the unit comes with the standard Microsoft programmes like Pocket Internet Explorer and Pocket Excel. In addition, there are a number of utilities like ClearVue Presentation for viewing Powerpoint presentations and ClearVue PDF for opening PDF files. The included CD also contains Microsoft Outlook and Active Sync: a programme for synchronizing your PDA with your PC.
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PDA | iPaq | iPaq 6315
The 6315 comes with a 3.5 inch screen with a 240X320 resolution and 64,000 colours. It is quite bright and very easy to read outdoors even in bright sunlight. The unit includes a VGA camera and you can also play MP3 files stored in the memory. The 6315 comes with some neat accessories including a detachable keyboard, a wired headphone set for hands free phone use and a leather case. Battery life is excellent; the rechargeable and removable lithium-ion battery provides seven hours of usage when fully charged.
The included software bundle is also quite good. The operating system is Windows Mobile 2003 Phone Edition and the unit comes with the standard Microsoft programmes like Pocket Internet Explorer and Pocket Excel. In addition, there are a number of utilities like ClearVue Presentation for viewing Powerpoint presentations and ClearVue PDF for opening PDF files. The included CD also contains Microsoft Outlook and Active Sync: a programme for synchronizing your PDA with your PC.
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PDA | iPaq | iPaq 6315
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