From Dynabook to iPad 4
Created by cmclellan on 06/02/2014
Last updated: 22/05/14 at 09:08
Tags: tablets
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Microsoft traditionally ‘gets it right’ with the third iteration of its products, and the Surface Pro 3 may prove to be another example. Billed as ‘the tablet that can replace your laptop', the Surface Pro 3 has a bigger 12-inch screen than its 10.6-inch Surface Pro 2 predecessor, with a 2,160-by-1,440-pixel resolution and a 3:2 aspect ratio. It’s also thinner (9.1mm compared to 13.5mm) and lighter (800g vs 900g). There are third-generation Core i3, i5 and i7 models starting at $799 (£639), plus a range of extra-cost accessories including new Type Covers with a much-improved trackpad and a sturdier tablet-docking mechanism for better ergonomics in laptop mode. Also helpful here is the new multi-angle kickstand. The (included) stylus has been redesigned: it’s now a battery powered Bluetooth device that includes useful OneNote integration. Microsoft claims that the Surface Pro 3’s battery is good for up 9 hours of web browsing.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2014/may14/05-20surfacepr.aspx
Announced at CES 2014 along with the stylus-free TabPRO range, the 12.2-inch (1,600 by 2,560) NotePRO 12.2 is Samsung's largest and best-specified Android tablet (as of March 2014). Running Android 4.4 (with Samsung's TouchWiz interface) on either a 1.9GHz eight-core Exynos 5420 SoC or a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 (LTE model), the NotePRO 12.2 has 3GB of RAM and either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, the latter expandable via a Micro-SD card slot. Wireless connectivity is via 802.11a/b/g/n/ac wi-fi and Bluetooth 4.0, with optional LTE mobile broadband. It has Micro-USB and infrared (for remote control use) ports, front (2Mpixel) and rear (8Mpixel) cameras, weighs 750g and delivers a claimed 13 hours internet usage on its 9,500mAh battery.
http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/samsung-galaxy-note-pro/4505-3126_7-35833904.html
The fifth-generation 9.7-inch iPad has the same 264ppi Retina Display as the iPad 4, but is 2mm thinner and 28 percent lighter. It runs on Apple's latest 64-bit A7 processor/M7 motion coprocessor platform (as also seen in the iPad mini with Retina Display and the iPhone 5s). Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n performance is improved thanks to a second antenna and MIMO technology, but there's no 802.11ac support yet, while the (optional) LTE mobile broadband now supports more frequency bands. Apple's claim of 10-hour battery life for the iPad Air is borne out in testing. With the introduction of this model, Apple discontinued the iPad 4 and 3, leaving the 2011-vintage iPad 2 as its entry-level large-format tablet.
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2013/10/23Apple-Announces-iPad-Air-Dramatically-Thinner-Lighter-More-Powerful-iPad.html
The key feature of the second-generation iPad mini is its high-resolution (2,048-by-1,536-pixel) 7.9-inch Retina Display, which delivers a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch (compared to 163ppi for the original iPad mini). It also runs on the same 64-bit Apple A7/M7 processor/motion coprocessor platform as the iPad Air (and iPhone 5s), with 1GB of RAM, up to 128GB of internal storage, dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n (but not ac) wi-fi and optional LTE mobile broadband. Apple claims battery life of 10 hours for the iPad mini with Retina Display (the same as the 9.7-inch iPad Air).
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2013/10/23Apple-Announces-iPad-Air-Dramatically-Thinner-Lighter-More-Powerful-iPad.html
With its screen resolution of 2,560 by 1,600 pixels, the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX has the hightest pixel density (339ppi) of any tablet on the market (as of March 2014). Its 7-inch stablemate packs 1,920 by 1,200 pixels for a still very respectable 323ppi. Both tablets run Amazon's Fire OS 3.0, a fork of Google's Android, on a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 system-on-a-chip (SoC) with 2GB of RAM and 16, 32 or 64GB of internal storage. Connectivity is via wi-fi (802.11a/b/g/n) and optional LTE mobile broadband. The Fire OS fork means you can't access Google's Play app store, but must use Amazon's far less extensive selection (or sideload apps yourself). Of course, Amazon provides copious services, including the impressive Mayday live on-screen video tech support. Claimed battery life is 11 hours' 'mixed use' for the 7in. Kindle Fire HDX and 12 hours for the 8.9in. model.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1857766&highlight=
Outwardly similar to its predecessor, the 10.6-inch, 900g (31.7oz) Surface Pro 2 runs Windows 8.1 on a faster, more power-efficient fourth-generation Intel Core i5 (Haswell) processor with 4GB or 8GB of RAM (4GB models have either 64GB or 128GB of storage, while 8GB models have 256GB or 512GB). Like the Windows RT-based Surface 2, it features a dual-angle (24 or 40 degrees) kickstand, adding a shallower position that's more comfortable for use in laptop mode with an optional Touch Cover or Type Cover. Battery life is considerably improved over the original Surface Pro, which was widely criticised on this score. Still missing from the feature list are GPS, NFC and a mobile broadband option.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2013/sep13/09-23surface2pr.aspx
The Windows RT 8.1-based Surface 2 offers several key improvements over its Surface RT predecessor, including a high-resolution (1,920 by 1,080) 10.6-inch screen, a new silver colour scheme, a dual-angle kickstand and a 1.7GHz Nvidia Tegra 4 quad-core system-on-a-chip (SoC). It comes with 1GB of RAM, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, a full-size USB 3.0 port, a Micro-SD card reader plus front (3.5Mpixel) and rear (5Mpixel) cameras. Wireless connectivity is via dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n wi-fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and optional LTE mobile broadband. Microsoft claims 10 hours of battery life for the Surface 2, which is borne out in testing.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2013/sep13/09-23surface2pr.aspx
First glimpsed as a prototype at CES in January 2013, Panasonic's massive 20-inch 4K Tablet officially launched the following September. It has a screen resolution of 3,840 by 2,560 pixels (231ppi) and comes in 2.4kg (5.3lbs) Standard and 2.54kg (5.6lbs) Performance models. The 4K Tablet runs Windows 8 on an Intel Core i5 (Standard model) or Core i7 (Performance model) processor with 8GB or 16GB of RAM respectively and discrete Nvidia GeForce GT 745M or Quadro K1000M graphics (both with 2GB of dedicated video memory). Aimed at the creative community, the 4K Tablet has an optional optical stylus that reads pixels using infrared technology and uses Bluetooth for communication with the tablet. It has a 256GB SSD for storage, offers 802.11a/b/g/n wi-fi and Bluetooth 4.0, has front (720p) and rear (5Mpixels) cameras, and delivers claimed battery life of 2 hours (Standard model) or 2.5 hours (Performance model).
http://www.panasonic.com/business/toughpad/us/4k-tablet.asp
Fifteen weeks after launching the Surface RT, Microsoft followed up with the Windows 8/Intel Core i5-based Surface Pro, which unlike its Windows RT-based stablemate could run traditional desktop applications as well as Windows Store apps. A bulkier and heavier device, the 900g Surface Pro had a 10.6-inch screen with a higher resolution (1,920 by 1,080 pixels, 208ppi), pen support via a Wacom EMR digitiser and a 42 watt-hour battery (compared to the Surface RT's 31.5Wh unit). It came with 4GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of SSD storage, dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n wi-fi and Bluetooth 4.0. As with the Surface RT, there was no mobile broadband option for the Pro model, which had a USB 3.0 port, a Mini-DisplayPort connector and a Micro-SD card slot. The Surface Pro performed well, but its 4-hour battery life was disappointing.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2013/jan13/01-22surfacefamilypr.aspx
Announced at CES in January 2013, the Toughpad FZ-G1 is a rugged (MIL-STD 810G) 8-inch (1,920 by 1,200) tablet running Windows 8 Pro on a 1.9GHz Intel Core i5-3437U processor with up to 8GB of RAM. A sturdy 1.13kg (2.5lb) device, the FZ-G1 has up to 256GB of SSD storage, 802.11a/b/g/n wi-fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and optional 3G or LTE mobile broadband. Wired connectivity includes USB 3.0 and HDMI ports, plus a docking connector and a configurable port than can take Ethernet, USB 2.0 or serial ports, or a Micro-SD card reader. There are front (1.3Mpixel) and optional rear (3 Mpixel) cameras, and the standard 6-cell battery delivers a claimed 8 hours' life. A beefier 9-cell battery is available as an option.
http://www.zdnet.com/panasonic-toughpad-fz-g1-review-7000014869/
A co-development between Google and Samsung, the 10.1-inch Nexus 10 had a class-leading resolution of 2,560 by 1,600 pixels (300ppi) on its release. The 603g (21.3oz) device runs Android 4.2 on a 1.7GHz Exynos 5250 SoC with 2GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of (non-expandable) internal storage. Wireless connectivity is available via dual-band 802.11n wi-fi and Bluetooth 4.0, but there's no mobile broadband option. There are front (1.9Mpixel) and rear (5Mpixel) cameras, Micro-USB 2.0, Micro-HDMI and docking ports, and the 9,000mAh battery delivers a claimed 7 hours' web browsing. ZDNet gave the Nexus 10 an Editors' Choice award, saying: "The Nexus 10 sets the standard for other tablet manufacturers. If Google can persuade developers to fill in the gaps in the app market, then it will deserve to be wildly popular".
http://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/nexus-best-of-google-now-in-three-sizes.html
Microsoft's first own-brand tablet was announced in June 2012 and shipped in October. It was the debut platform for Windows RT, a reduced-functionality version of Windows 8 (it only runs Windows Store apps, plus the bundled desktop version of MS Office) for ARM-based systems. The 10.6-inch (1,366 by 768 pixels) Surface RT weighed 680g (1.5lbs) and ran Windows RT on a 1.3GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 SoC with 2GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, the latter expandable via a Micro-SD card slot. Wireless connectivity was available via 802.11a/b/g/n wi-fi and Bluetooth 4.0, but there was no mobile broadband option (or GPS). The Surface RT had USB 2.0 and Mini-HDMI ports, plus magnetic power and docking connectors (the latter used for add-on Touch Cover and Type Cover keyboards) and could be propped up on a (single-angle) kickstand. It had front and rear cameras (both 1Mpixel), and its 31.5Wh battery delivered up to 8 hours' life, according to Microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2012/oct12/10-25surfaceretailpr.aspx
Apple’s fourth-generation 9.7-inch iPad had the same 2,048-by-1,536 (264ppi) Retina Display as its third-generation predecessor, introduced just seven months earlier. The main new feature in the iPad 4 was the faster 1.4GHz A6X SoC, which superseded the 1GHz A5X in the iPad 3. A model with 128GB of internal storage was also added, along with a 720p front-facing FaceTime camera, better LTE support and the new Lightning connector (replacing the previous 30-pin docking connector). CNET gave the iPad 4 an Editors’ Choice award, but noted: “The latest iPad adds several tweaks and improvements to secure its position at the top of the tablet heap. It's better all around, but third-gen owners need not apply”.
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/10/23Apple-Introduces-iPad-mini.html
Apple’s first small form-factor tablet was the 7.9-inch (1,024 by 768 pixels, 163ppi) iPad mini, which weighed just 310g (0.68lbs). It ran iOS 6.0 on a 1GHz Apple A5 SoC with 512MB of RAM and 16, 32 or 64GB of non-expandable internal storage. Wireless connectivity was via 802.11a/b/g/n wi-fi and Bluetooth 4.0, with optional (LTE) mobile broadband. There were front (1.2Mpixel) and rear (5Mpixel) cameras, and a Lightning connector with various optional adapters (for video out and SD card readers, for example). Apple claimed 10 hours of wi-fi browsing from the iPad mini’s battery. CNET concluded that: “If you want the full, polished Apple tablet experience in a smaller package, the iPad Mini is worth the premium price. Otherwise, good alternatives are available for less money”.
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/10/23Apple-Introduces-iPad-mini.html
The Kindle Fire HD came in 7-inch (1,280 by 800 pixels, 216ppi) and 8.9-inch (1,920 by 1,080, 254ppi) versions, running an Android 4.0-based OS on 1.2GHz TI OMAP4 4460 and 1.4GHz TI OMAP4 4470 SoCs respectively, both with 1GB of RAM and 16GB or 32GB of (non-expandable) storage. Wireless connectivity was via 802.11a/b/g/n wi-fi and Bluetooth 3.0, with LTE mobile broadband available as an option on the 8.9-inch model. Both devices had Micro-USB 2.0 and Micro-HDMI ports, the 7-inch model weighing 353g (13.9oz) and the 8.9-inch model weighing 545g (19.2oz). The modified version of Android on both devices only gave access to the Amazon-curated app store, rather than Google's more extensive Play Store.
http://www.zdnet.com/amazons-kindle-fire-hd-family-the-highs-and-lows-you-need-to-know-7000003880/
A co-production with Asus, the first-generation Google Nexus 7 was a 7-inch (1,280 by 800 pixels, 216ppi) tablet weighing 340g (12oz). It ran Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) on a 1.3GHz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 SoC with 1GB of RAM and 8GB or 16GB of (non-expandable) storage. Wireless connectivity was via 802.11b/g/n wi-fi and Bluetooth 4.0, but there was no mobile broadband option. The Nexus 7 had a front-facing 1.2-megapixel camera but no rear camera, and had a Micro-USB 2.0 port but no video-out connector. Google claimed 9 hours of web browsing from the device’s 4,325mAh battery. ZDNet summed it up as follows: “The Nexus 7 offers an appealing combination of 7-inch form factor, quad-core processor, Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) OS, pleasing design and solid build quality. Affordable pricing ensures that Google has a winner on its hands”.
http://developers.google.com/events/io/2012/
The inexplicably-titled 'New' iPad (widely referred to as the iPad 3) was the first of Apple's 9.7-inch tablets to feature a Retina Display, with a resolution of 2,048 by 1,536 pixels (twice the iPad 2’s pixel density at 264ppi). Weighing slightly more than its predecessor (650g/1.44lb versus 601g/1.32lb for the wi-fi version), the iPad 3 ran iOS 5.1 on a 1GHz Apple A5X SoC with 1GB of RAM and 16, 32 or 64GB of (non-expandable) internal storage. Wireless connectivity was via 802.11a/b/g/n wi-fi and Bluetooth 4.0, with optional LTE mobile broadband. It had a much-improved 5-megapixel rear camera, the front camera remaining at a modest VGA resolution. GLONASS support was added to the GPS module, and claimed battery life remained the same at 10 hours of wi-fi browsing. Delivering an Editors’ Choice award, CNET summarized the third-generation iPad thus: “With a host of improvements—faster graphics, 4G wireless options, a better camera, and a gorgeous high-res screen—the latest iPad cements its position at the head of the tablet pack”.
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/03/07Apple-Launches-New-iPad.html
The 10.1-inch (1,024 by 768) Toughpad A1 was a rugged tablet running Android 3.2 (Honeycomb) on a 1.2GHz Marvell dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, expandable via a Micro-SD card slot. Aimed at mobile outdoor workers in construction, field sales, the military and similar challenging areas, the Toughpad A1 had both MIL-STD-810G certification and an IP65 ingress protection rating (complete protection against dust; can handle ‘water jets’). Wireless connectivity was via 802.11a/b/g/n wi-fi, Bluetooth 2.1 and optional LTE or WiMAX mobile broadband. With a stylus and active digitzer, enhanced device security, plus front (2Mpixel) and rear (5Mpixel) cameras, the Toughpad offered 10-hour battery life.
http://tpgweb2.net/panasonic/toughpad/Toughpad_Press_Release_11_07_11.pdf
The Toughpad B1 was a smaller, lighter 7-inch (1,024 by 600 pixels) Android stablemate for the 10.1-inch Toughpad A1, with similarly rugged certifications — MIL-STD 810G, IP65.
http://tpgweb2.net/panasonic/toughpad/Toughpad_Press_Release_11_07_11.pdf
The original Kindle Fire was a 7-inch (1,024 by 600, 169ppi) tablet running an Amazon-modified version of Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) on a TI OMAP4 4430 SoC with 512MB of RAM and 8GB of (non-expandable) internal storage. It had 802.11b/g/n wi-fi but no Bluetooth or mobile broadband, and lacked a camera.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1610968&highlight=
Lenovo’s first business-focused Android tablet was, naturally, a ThinkPad (the company’s consumer range is called IdeaPad). A robust 10.1-inch (1,280 by 800) slate with a Gorilla Glass-protected IPS screen and an optional digitizer pen, plus an optional dock and a keyboard-equipped folio case, the ThinkPad Tablet offered a suite of business-class features, including software covering security, virtual desktop support, enterprise deployment and secure email. The 748g (1.65lbs) ThinkPad Tablet ran Android 3.1 (Honeycomb) on a 1GHz dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 SoC with 1GB of RAM and up to 64GB of internal storage, with 802.11b/g/n wi-fi and Bluetooth 3.0 wireless connectivity. It had front (2Mpixel) and rear (5Mpixel) cameras, USB 2.0, Micro-USB 2.0 and Mini-HDMI ports, plus an SD card reader for storage expansion.
CNET concluded that “If your IT department could design a tablet, the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet would be it”.
http://news.lenovo.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1468
The first of many Android-based tablet/notebook hybrids from Asus, the 10.1-inch (1,280 by 800) Eee Pad Transformer reinvigorated the idea of the ‘convertible’ tablet, which dates back to the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition era a decade earlier. Running Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) on a 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 SoC with 1GB of RAM and 16 or 32GB of internal storage, the Eee Pad Transformer tablet weighed 680g and lasted for a claimed 9.5 hours on its 24.4Wh battery, rising to 16 hours with the additional 24.4Wh battery in the keyboard dock. Wireless connectivity was via 802.11b/g/n wi-fi and Bluetooth 2.1 (no mobile broadband option), with Mini-HDMI, docking and (proprietary) charging connectors plus a Micro-SD card slot on the tablet; the keyboard dock added a pair of USB 2.0 ports and a full-size SD card slot.
ZDNet's verdict: "We are impressed with this Android 3.0 tablet/notebook hybrid, which works well in both modes. It combines a high-quality screen with good battery life in a generally pleasing design. The only real drawback is the current dearth of tablet-optimised apps".
http://www.asus.com/uk/Tablets_Mobile/Eee_Pad_Transformer_TF101/
Samsung’s 10.1-inch (1,280 by 800) Galaxy Tab was first shown at Mobile World Congress in January 2011, but Apple’s slimline iPad 2 prompted a rethink, which was unveiled at the CTIA Wireless event in March. The revamped Galaxy Tab 10.1 came in at 8.6mm thick (conveniently under the iPad 2’s 9mm, and 2.3mm thinner than the original design) and weighed 565g (1.25lbs). It ran Android 3.1 (Honeycomb) on a 1GHz dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 system-on-a-chip (SoC) with 1GB of RAM and 16, 32 or 64GB of internal storage. Connectivity was via 802.11a/b/g/n wi-fi, Bluetooth 2.1 and optional HSPA+ mobile broadband. There were front (2Mpixel) and rear (3Mpixel) cameras.
http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/samsung-galaxy-tab-10/4505-3126_7-34505338.html
With a similar specification to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 (also unveiled at CTIA Wireless), the 8.9-inch model offered a higher pixel density (170ppi versus 140ppi), lower weight (453g versus 565g) and required a slightly lower-capacity battery (6,000mAh versus 7,000mAh).
http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/samsung-galaxy-tab-8/4505-3126_7-35020080.html
Thinner (9mm versus 13.4mm) and lighter (601g versus 680g) than its first-generation predecessor, the iOS 4.3-based iPad 2 also had a faster dual-core Apple A5 processor with 512MB of RAM, front (0.3Mpixel) and rear (0.7Mpixel) cameras and an optional Smart Cover. Despite some caveats ("The iPad's screen resolution hasn't budged, photo quality is mediocre, there's still no Adobe Flash support, and ports for HDMI, USB, and SD all require adapters"), CNET was impressed: “The iPad 2 refines an already excellent product. Its easy-to-use interface, vast app catalog, and marathon battery life bolster Apple's claim to being the king of tablets”.
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2011/03/02Apple-Launches-iPad-2.html
Announced at Mobile World Congress in February 2011 and shipped in May, HTC’s 7-inch (1,024 by 600 pixels) Flyer was an early small-form-factor tablet — albeit a hefty 420g one. It ran Android 2.3 on a 1.5GHz single-core Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC with 1GB of RAM and 16GB or 32GB of Micro-SD-expandable storage. It had 802.11b/g/n wif-fi, Bluetooth 3.0 and optional HSPA mobile broadband, plus front (1.3Mpixel) and rear (5Mpixel) cameras. A then-unique feature of the Flyer was its ‘magic pen’ digitizer, but this was offset by a high price and poor battery life.
http://www.zdnet.com/htc-flyer-3040093145/
Having bought the innovative and well-received webOS from Palm (which used the OS in its Pre and Pixi smartphones) in April 2010, HP announced the 9.7-inch (1,024 by 768) TouchPad in February the following year (along with the Veer smartphone). It ran webOS on a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC with 1GB of RAM, 16 or 32GB of internal storage with 802.11a/b/g/n wi-fi and Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity (no mobile broadband option). It had a Micro-USB port for PC connection and charging, and could also charge wirelessly via an optional Touchstone charger. HP claimed 9 hours’ life for the 740g (1.6lbs) TouchPad’s 6,300mAh battery. Launched on 1 July 2011 (in the US), HP announced the discontinuation of all webOS-based devices on 18 August, ridding itself of existing inventory in a fire sale. In February 2013 HP sold webOS to LG, which currently uses the OS in its Smart TVs.
ZDNet’s verdict: “For business professionals intent on productivity, there's a lot to like about the HP TouchPad. The email and multitasking capabilities alone are enough to give it an edge over the iPad. And, we haven't even talked about the TouchPad's ability to print (especially to HP printers) — another important asset for some professionals. The expanded Web browsing capabilities are huge, too. It allows the TouchPad to access a lot of sites (Flash and others) that aren't accessible from the iPad. This can open the door to Web-based business apps and other important sites”.
http://www8.hp.com/us/en/hp-news/press-release.html?id=899361#.UwIQlEJ_us4
Motorola’s 10.1-inch (1,280 by 600 pixels) Xoom was the first Android tablet to run the tablet-optimised Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) OS. It had a 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor with 1GB of RAM and 32GB of Micro-SD-expandable storage. Wireless connectivity was 802.11a/b/g/n wi-fi, Bluetooth 2.1 and optional 3G mobile broadband. It had front (2Mpixel) and rear (5Mpixel) cameras and delivered a claimed 10 hours of wi-fi browsing from its 6,00mAh battery. ZDNet’s review found the 708g (1.56lb) Xoom on the heavy side and bemoaned its use of a proprietary charging cable.
http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/motorola-xoom-titanium/4505-3126_7-34647650.html
Announced at CES in January 2010 (before Apple’s iPad was officially unveiled), HP’s 8.9-inch (1,024 by 600) Slate 500 finally shipped after 9 months’ gestation in October. By then it had evolved from a consumer device into a busines-focused tablet running Windows 7, with a docking stand, a carry case and an active stylus. Built around a 1.86GHz Intel Atom Z540 processor with 2GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, the 680g (1.5lb) Slate 500 had 802.11b/g/n wi-fi and Bluetooth 3.0 wireless connectivity, with optional mobile broadband (HSPA). The tablet had front (VGA) and rear (3Mpixel) cameras, a USB 2.0 port, a docking connector and an SD card slot, and the 30Wh battery was rated for 5 hours’ use. The dock added two more USB ports and an HDMI port.
CNET described the Slate 500 as “a lightweight, sturdy device, with a slick industrial design and several hardware advantages over the iPad, especially when it comes to ports and connections”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_Slate_500
This 7-inch (1,024 by 600) tablet ran a custom QNX-based operating system called BlackBerry Tablet OS. It was not a success: following sales of just 500,000 or so in its first quarter of availability, the PlayBook's price was slashed in an effort to boost take-up. A key initial problem with the PlayBook — apart from the fact that its name clashed with its business focus — was its inability to support email and calendar functionality unless connected to a BlackBerry handset. That was solved by an OS upgrade in February 2012, which also added a number of other new features, including the ability to run Android apps. Sales did not recover, however.
CNET’s review was summarised as follows:
“The good RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook is a fast, powerful 7-inch tablet with HDMI output, advanced multitasking and security, and a browser that integrates Adobe Flash 10.2 for a desktop-style Web experience.
The bad The 7-inch screen cramps the powerful browser; the wake button is difficult to push; and app selection trails the competition.
The bottom line The BlackBerry PlayBook ably showcases RIM's powerful new mobile operating system, but its middling size diminishes many of its best features.”
http://press.blackberry.com/press/2010/pressrelease-4577.html
Samsung’s first Galaxy Tab was a 7-inch (1,024 by 600) tablet, unveiled at the IFA show in Berlin. Weighing just 380g, it was a very different portable proposition than Apple’s 9.7-inch, 680g iPad. Running Android 2.2 (Froyo) on a 1GHz Exynos system-on-a-chip (SoC) with 512MB of RAM and 16GB or 64GB of internal storage, the Galaxy Tab could expand its capacity via a Micro-SD card slot (not available on the iPad). Connectivity was via 802.11n wi-fi, Bluetooth 3.0 and 3G (HSPA) mobile broadband. As well as the standard Google Mobile Services, Samsung had its own offerings, including a Readers Hub for consolidating e-books, online magazines and newspapers.
Successors to the original Galaxy Tab were the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus (November 2011), and the 7.7in. Galaxy Tab 7.7 (February 2012).
http://www.samsung.com/uk/news/global/2010/samsung-galaxy-tab-opens-a-new-chapter-in-mobile-industry
An enterprise tablet, focused on Cisco's unified comms ecosystem, announced at Cisco Live 2010.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/meet-cisco-cius-android-tablet-for-workers-students-watch-out-ipad/36387
JooJoo was a 12.1-inch (1,366 by 768) Linux-based tablet that arose from the ashes of a disastrous collaboration between the technology blog TechCrunch (in particular, its then-editor Michael Arrington) and Singapore development studio Fusion Garage (in particular, its then-CEO Chandrasekar Rathakrishnan). The 'Crunchpad' project descended into acrimonious litigation after Fusion Garage unilaterally announced that it would go it alone with the JooJoo, a 1.1kg (2lbs) device featuring a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor with 1GB of RAM, an Nvidia ION GPU, a 4GB solid-state drive, 802.11b/g wi-fi and Bluetooth 2.1. The JooJoo made it to market shortly before Apple’s first-generation iPad, giving Fusion Garage a brief spell in the media headlights. The company eventually went into liquidation in January 2012.
http://www.zdnet.com/a-look-at-joojoo-web-tablet-the-ipad-rival-3040088823/
Described by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at its unveiling as “a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price”, the iPad can certainly be credited with kickstarting the ‘modern’ era of tablet computing. The 9.7-inch (1,024 by 768) iOS 4 device, which shipped in the US in April 2010 and in May internationally, ran a 1GHz Apple A4 system-on-a-chip (SoC) with 256MB of RAM, had 16, 32 or 64GB of storage, 802.11a/b/g/n wi-fi, Bluetooth 2.1 and optional 3G (HSDPA) mobile broadband. Battery life (claimed) was an impressive 10 hours (web browsing). However, as CNET noted: “The iPad's lack of front or rear cameras, Flash support, and integrated HD video output already have us pining for next year's model”.
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/01/27Apple-Launches-iPad.html
A Windows Vista-based UMPC with Windows Mobile for use in tablet mode.
http://www.zdnet.com/htc-shift-3039425963/
Successor to Nokia's 770 Internet Tablet.
http://www.zdnet.com/nokia-n800-internet-tablet-3039285509/
Codenamed Project Origami and trailed by a viral marketing campaign, the Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) was formally unveiled at CeBIT in the shape of the Samsung Q1. Running Windows XP Tablet PC Edition with a special Microsoft Touch Pack designed to enhance usability on a small form factor (7-inch-screen) device, UMPCs were the result of collaboration between Microsoft, Intel, Samsung and other OEM partners. Reference specifications included: less than 2lbs (900g) weight; a 7-inch screen with a choice of text input methods (on-screen keyboard, stylus); battery life of at least 2.5 hours; a 30-60GB hard drive; and Intel Celeron M, Pentium M or VIA C7-M processors. Devices could also include GPS, a webcam, a fingerprint reader, digital TV tuners, plus CompactFlash and SD card readers. Connectivity was via wi-fi, Bluetooth and Ethernet, with optional mobile broadband.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/features/2006/mar06/03-09mobile.aspx
Announced at LinuxWorld in May 2005, Nokia’s 770 Internet Tablet shipped in November of that year. It had a 4.1-inch (800 by 480) touchscreen and ran Maemo on a 252MHz TI OMAP 1710 processor with 64MB of RAM and 128MB of internal storage. Wireless connectivity was via 802.11b/g wi-fi and Bluetooth 1.2, with storage expansion available using an RS-MMC card slot (RS stands for Reduced Size).
http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/nokia-770-internet-tablet/4505-3126_7-31396042.html
The release of Microsoft’s Windows XP Tablet PC Edition saw the launch of a range of Tablet PCs — both slate and convertible — from OEM partners, including Acer, FIC, Fujitsu, HP, Motion Computing, NEC, Tatung, Toshiba and ViewSonic. Windows XP Tablet PC Edition included digital ink extensions for Office XP, the Tablet PC Input Panel, Windows Journal for taking handwritten notes and Microsoft Reader for viewing e-books.
Microsoft's Tablet PC Hardware Requirements specified the following features:
• High-performance active digitizer with 'hover' mode
• Resume from suspend in two seconds or less
• Battery life in suspend of at least 72 hours
• Automatic hibernation (save-to-disk) when the battery is exhausted
• Rotation between landscape and portrait modes without rebooting
• Docking and undocking without notifying the OS ('Grab-and-Go')
• Legacy-free hardware (no serial, parallel, PS/2, game or FDD ports)
• A Tablet PC without an attached keyboard must provide a dedicated hardware mechanism to produce a 'Ctrl-Alt-Delete'.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2002/nov02/11-07tablet2002launchpr.aspx
Of all Microsoft’s Windows XP Tablet PC Edition OEM partners, Fujitsu had the longest track record, collaboration stretching back to 1993 with the development of the Stylistic 500 tablet. Based on an 800MHz ultra-low-voltage Mobile Intel Pentium III processor with 256MB of RAM (768MB maximum), the Stylistic ST4000 was a 1.48kg, 22mm-thick slate with a 10.4-inch XGA (1,024-by-768) colour TFT featuring an active digitizer. There was 40GB of hard disk storage, plus connectivity via an integrated V.90 modem, 10/100Mbps Ethernet, 802.11b wi-fi and infrared. An optional dock offered an optical drive and three USB ports. The Stylistic ST4000 lasted around 4.5 hours on its standard 4,000mAh battery.
http://www.fujitsu.com/hk/news/pr/fpcap_20021107.html
The first Tablet PC from specialist vendor Motion Computing.
http://www.motioncomputing.com/downloads/User_Docs/Legacy_Products/motion_user_guide.pdf
http://www.cnet.com/laptops/motion-computing-m1200-tablet/4505-3121_7-9932171.html
Measuring 0.8 inches (20.3mm) thick and weighing 3lbs (1.6kg), the convertible HP Compaq Tablet PC TC1000 was based on a low-power 1GHz Transmeta Crusoe TM5800 processor with 512MB of RAM (768MB maximum) and featured a 10.4-inch XGA-resolution colour TFT display. Graphics were handled by an Nvidia GeForce2 Go 100 GPU, hard drive storage went up to 60GB and on-tablet connectivity included USB 2.0, modem (RJ-11), Ethernet (RJ-45) and VGA, along with integrated 802.11b wi-fi. An optional docking station provided more ports and connectors. Highlights were a clever screen/keyboard hinge that allowed the two components to be separated, a phone-like jog dial and good battery life. Reviews marked down the underpowered Transmeta processor, however.
http://www8.hp.com/us/en/hp-news/press-release.html?id=170720&jumpid=reg_r1002_usen_c-001_title_r0001#.UwXns0J_us4
The 12.1-inch Portégé 3500 was a convertible tablet — essentially a conventional clamshell notebook with a hinge that allowed the screen to rotate through 180 degrees to fold down flat on the keyboard, facing outwards. At 1.85kg, it was heavier than your average slate tablet, and bulkier too. It ran XP Tablet PC Edition on a 1.33GHz Mobile Intel Pentium III processor with 256MB of RAM (1GB maximum) and a 40GB, 5,400rpm hard drive for storage. Wi-fi, Bluetooth and infrared were all present, along with a V.90 modem and 10/100Mbps Ethernet. Toshiba claimed battery life of up to 4.6 hours for the Portégé 3500.
http://www.toshiba.co.uk/discontinued-products/portege-3500-002f6/
A rugged XP-basedTablet PC.
http://www.cnet.com/laptops/viewsonic-tablet-pc-v1100/4505-3121_7-20599183.html
Unveiled by CEO Craig Barrett at CES in January 2001, the Intel Web Tablet has an interesting back-story. It started as an internal ‘skunkworks’ with the goal of creating a reference design for OEMs. A stylus-driven touchscreen device, the Web Tablet ran on an Intel StongARM 1110 processor and was designed for viewing content on a connected PC, using Intel’s AnyPoint wireless technology. As such, it was more akin to Microsoft’s later (and equally ill-fated) Smart Display than a regular tablet computer.
The project changed gear when Intel chairman Andy Grove heard about the Web Tablet on a TV broadcast and promoted it to an Intel-branded product. Tensions with OEMs and escalating costs eventually did for the Web Tablet, although it almost made it to market: the product was all set for the 2001 holiday sales period when the axe fell. Perhaps the Intel Web Tablet’s lasting legacy is its internal codename: the Intel PAD, or IPAD.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57614579-94/before-apples-ipad-there-was-the-intel-ipad-seriously/
During his keynote at Comdex/Fall in 2000, Bill Gates demonstrated a prototype Tablet PC with a 600MHz CPU, 128MB of RAM, a 10GB hard disk and a pair of USB ports. It ran a beta version of Windows XP (codenamed Whistler) with pen computing extensions, and showcased 'rich digital ink' that captured on-screen handwriting and drawing for instant or deferred manipulation.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/features/2000/nov00/11-13tabletpc.aspx
Announced at Comdex/Fall in 1999, this Windows (98 SE or NT) tablet had a 13.3-inch active-matrix colour touchscreen and was powered by Intel Pentium II or III processors with up to 256MB of RAM. Offering handwriting and speech recognition software, the Qbe had a camera, Ethernet and infrared connectivity, a 56Kbps modem, two PCMCIA slots, an optical drive bay and a smartcard reader. The Aqcess Qbe won awards for Best Handheld Computer at Comdex in both 1999 and 2000.
http://money.cnn.com/2001/02/27/sbstarting/entre_prichard/
Introduced by chip-maker Cyrix at Comdex/Fall 1998, the WebPAD was a consumer-focused wireless tablet for web access and email management. Built around a pen-driven 10.4-inch colour screen, it ran a Cyrix MediaGX processor with 16MB of RAM and 8MB of ROM, and had two USB ports plus a microphone and speakers. Connectivity was via a proprietary (Harris Semiconductor PRISM) 2.4GHz wireless link to an internet-connected base station, with a range of about 500 feet. The prototype shown at Comdex did not include a hard drive or PCMCIA slot, but the design supported these components if OEMs required them.
http://newscenter.ti.com/index.php?s=32851&item=125577
The healthcare sector has long been an important vertical market for tablet computers, and Fujitsu’s Point 510 was the first to be specifically designed for the purpose, according to the company. Built around a 10.4in. colour DSTN display with 800-by-600 (SVGA) resolution and a pressure-sensitive digitizer, the Point 510 was powered by a 100MHz 5x86 processor with 8MB of RAM (56MB maximum) and used a 1.6GB shock-mounted 2.5in. hard disk for storage (2.1GB optional). Integrated wireless connectivity was optionally available via Proxim’s RangeLAN2 (a precursor of 802.11b wi-fi). Other connectivity features included a Type III PC Card slot, two serial ports, PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports, a VGA port, a floppy drive port and a connector for the optional docking station. The Point 510 ran Windows 98, Windows 95 or MS-DOS 6.2 with Windows for Workgroups 3.11, weighed 3.8lbs (1.7kg) without the WLAN option and had battery life of up to 5 hours, or 15 days on standby.
http://www.slideshare.net/FujitsuTS/fujitsu-tablet-pc-history-22-years-of-experience-more-than-20-generations-of-improvements
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