This evaluation, part of the series of reviews on best value notebooks and netbooks, is on another class of computers with an even lower form factor than netbooks – Tablet PCs. Tablet PCs differ in that they boast a touch screen and a stylus that allows easy navigation. The stylus permits freehand drawing/writing (uses handwriting recognition software), a cumbersome task to achieve with notebook or netbook.
Though Microsoft coined the term “Tablet PC” in 2001, the first successful mass-market product was the Apple iPad launch on 4/2010. Over the years, Tablet PCs underwent various iterations. Chief among them are the Slate Tablet PCs that was similar to a writing slate and the Convertible Tablet PCs whose swiveling keyboard allowed for dual functionality – slate tablet as well as a netbook. Most Slate Tablet PCs also allow enabling an external keyboard through USB or wireless.
Ample selection is on hand for consumers on the lookout for Tablet Computers. Since the Apple iPad launch, a plethora of announcements and products rumored to have been in concept stage have bombarded the market. Tablet Computers still in concept stage include announcements by Freescale, Foxconn, HTC, MSI, and a prototype by the Government of India for Tablet PCs with an expected price of $35. One major disappointment among the Tablet Computers rumored to have been in the concept stage was from Microsoft when they shelved the MS-Courier product at announcement this April prompting a petition from the Internet community asking them to reconsider this move.
Below is a look at Tablet PCs currently available in the market selected on the basis of web popularity, sorted by price:
To do a Best Value comparison of Tablet Computers, we chose four best values from the spreadsheet above. Below is a look at our selections and a comparative spreadsheet:
Summary & Recommendation:
Choosing among our best value selections simmers down to establishing a price range and going by preferred hardware/software. At the low end, the ARCHOS 7 Home Tablet
is an outstanding value – an Android-based tablet with reasonable functionality for $149 is great for anyone looking for something which is in between a smartphone and a notebook. Overall size and weight makes this choice an ultra-mobile option. Firmware updates are a necessary evil and that is the one downside for the technically challenged.
Choosing between the Apple iPad
and Lenovo S10-3t is a matter of personal preference than anything else. Sure, Lenovo beats Apple iPad hands-down when comparing the specs, but that won't make a believer out of a diehard Apple fan.
Fujitsu Lifebook TH700
grays out the line between a Netbook and a Tablet. Size-wise, this tablet is heavier and bulkier than most netbooks, but the bonus is the superset of the functionality in both. It is a great choice, for those in pursuit of the complete functionality of a laptop (swappable bay, external keyboard/screen etc through USB, and performance) as well as a tablet (touchscreen, drawing, and other IPAD functionality). This is a great alternative for those seeking to replace existing computing machine (laptop/desktop) while also adding tablet features.
Related Posts:
Last Updated: 07/2016.
Though Microsoft coined the term “Tablet PC” in 2001, the first successful mass-market product was the Apple iPad launch on 4/2010. Over the years, Tablet PCs underwent various iterations. Chief among them are the Slate Tablet PCs that was similar to a writing slate and the Convertible Tablet PCs whose swiveling keyboard allowed for dual functionality – slate tablet as well as a netbook. Most Slate Tablet PCs also allow enabling an external keyboard through USB or wireless.
Ample selection is on hand for consumers on the lookout for Tablet Computers. Since the Apple iPad launch, a plethora of announcements and products rumored to have been in concept stage have bombarded the market. Tablet Computers still in concept stage include announcements by Freescale, Foxconn, HTC, MSI, and a prototype by the Government of India for Tablet PCs with an expected price of $35. One major disappointment among the Tablet Computers rumored to have been in the concept stage was from Microsoft when they shelved the MS-Courier product at announcement this April prompting a petition from the Internet community asking them to reconsider this move.
Below is a look at Tablet PCs currently available in the market selected on the basis of web popularity, sorted by price:
| Product | Thumbnail | Best Price | Details |
| Archos 7 |  | $149 | Outstanding Value! 8GB HD, 7” TFT LCD touchscreen, Android-based OS, Wi-Fi. |
Coby Kyros MID7015 7-Inch Android Internet Connection Tablet |  | $154 | Great low-cost alternative as a media and internet device. Android 2.1 OS, 7-inch resistive tourchscreen, microSD card slot up to 16GB, built-in 4GB, Accelerometer, EBook reader, 3200 mAH battery. |
Zenithink 10” Touchscreen Android 2.1 Tablet |  | $210 | Great choice for early adopters who do not mind firmware upgrades and other optimizations. Android 2.1 OS, 1080p HD video, MicroSD Card Slot. |
Velocity Micro T301 Cruz 7-Inch Android Tablet |  | $220 | Read Kindle books in full color. 4GB Internal, Android-Based OS, Cruz Market interface to download/install other apps. |
Motion Computing Le1600 |  | $265 | Good choice for people those who want to stick with the ubiquitous Windows XP. Windows XP Tablet PC – superset of XP professional, 60GB HD, 1.5GB RAM, View anywhere screen, Bluetooth, Full Digitizer Pen. |
iRobot Google Android 2.1 Apad |  | $300 | Apple iPad clone that runs on Google Android. PDF, Word, Excel, Email. 128MB RAM and 4GB storage, WiFi, GPS via Google Maps. |
Compaq TC1100 Tablet PC |  | $320 | 2003 Model. Windows XP Tablet Edition OS. 512MB RAM, 40GB HD. |
Viewsonic G-Tablet  |  | $440 | Great Apple iPad alternative for folks willing to invest in enhancing the user experience – ROM replacement, etc. Solid cutting-edge hardware, but firmware replacement is a must as the in-built one is below par. 10” Multi-Touch LCD Screen Android OS 2.2, MicroSD slot upto 32GB, 16GB HD, 3D-Like graphics – NVIDIA Tegra 2 Processor, Virtual QWERTY keyboard, 8-10 hour battery – 3650mAH Li-ion. |
Toshiba Portege m200 |  | $450 | Another 2003 Edition Windows XP Tablet for folks wanting to tinker with older models and/or wanting to stick with Windows XP. |
ASUS Eee PC T101MT-EU27-BK Convertible Tablet |  | $459 | Great choice for folks having a hard time to choose between a netbook and tablet. Item ATOM N455 CPU, Winodws 7 Starter OS, Multi Touch when loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium. 250GB, 3 USB Ports, 6.5 hour battery. |
| Apple iPad (16 GB WiFi) |  | $499 | First machine to make truly mobile computing a reality! 9.7” LED-backlit glossy mult-touch display, 16GB flash drive, Wi-Fi Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, 256MB RAM, iWorks utilities for laptop-like functionality, 10-hour battery. There are versions with additional HD space and 3G for up to $300 more. |
Lenovo Ideapad S10-3t Netbook Tablet |  | $499 | Touch Tablet with 180-degree screen rotation. NaturalTouch panel, Wi-Fi, Windows 7 Home Premium, Webcam, Sterio speakers, 1.3M webcam, Card reader, USB 2.0 connectors, 250GB HD, 4-cell Li-Ion battery (3 hours). No Bluetooth. |
Hewlett Packard TM2T Tablet PC |  | $1050 | Good choice for folks having a hard time deciding between netbook and tablet at a higher price point than the ASUS. Comes with Windows Home Premium 64-bit standard, Touchscreen, WEBCAM, Intel Wireless-N Card. |
| Fujitsu LifeBook TH700 Tablet PC |  | $1050 | Another good choice between netbook and a true tablet. Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, 2GB Memory, Intel Core i3, Card Reader, DVD Writer, bi-directional display hinge with dual digitizer, 320GB HD. |
To do a Best Value comparison of Tablet Computers, we chose four best values from the spreadsheet above. Below is a look at our selections and a comparative spreadsheet:
| Product/Feature | Archos 7 | Apple iPad | Lenovo Ideapad S10-3t | Fujitsu Lifebook TH700 |
| Thumbnail | | | | |
| Best Price | $149 | $499 | $499 | $1050 |
| Type | Pure Tablet | Pure Tablet | Hybrid – Netbook Tablet | Hybrid LIFEBOOK Tablet |
| Base Hardware | 600 MHz ARM Cortex-A8 32 bit processor and 32-bit DSP, 439MHz | 1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed | Intel Atom 1.66 GHz N450 | Intel Core i3-350M 2.26 GHz |
| Base Software | Linux | iPhone OS | Windows 7 Home Premium | Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g), USB 2.0 | Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR | Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) | Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, 1000/100/10Mbps Ethernet, Modular Bay. |
| Size & Weight | 8x4.2x0.5 inches, 10.6 ounces | 9.56x7.47x0.5 inches, 1.5 pounds | 6.9x11x1.1 inches, 2.8 pounds | 11.69x9.17x1.43 inches, 4.4 pounds. |
| Screen | 7-inch TFT LCD touchscreen 800x480, 16m colors, matte | 9.7-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen multi-touch, 1024x768, oleophobic coating, multi-language character simultaneous support | 10.1 inch LED backlight 16:9 widescreen with NaturalTouch (responsive fingertip touch), 180-degree screen rotation | 12.1 inch WXGA TFT with dual digitizer 1280x800, anti-glare. |
| Memory | 128MB | 512MB | 1GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 8GB | 16GB | 250GB | 320GB |
| Battery | 7-hours | 9-hours | 3-hours (4-cell) | 4.56 hours (6-cell) |
| Others | Virtual Keyboard and Auto-firmware updates. There is a new version with Android 2.1 Éclair and new 800MHz processor for around $30 more. | Ambient Light Sensor, Dock connector port, headphone jack, built-in speaker, microphone, multi-language, multi-docs | Active HD Protection System, Instant ON, OneKey Rescue, DirectShare, Card Reader & USB 2.0, 1.3M web camera. | Dual Layer Super Multi Writer, Intel HD Graphics, RealTek stereo speakers, HD Audio-in/out, 2M web camera, Spill-resistant keyboard, Intelligent Touch Pad, ExpressCard & SD slots, USB 2.0x3, firewire, external display, HDMI-out. |
Summary & Recommendation:
Choosing among our best value selections simmers down to establishing a price range and going by preferred hardware/software. At the low end, the ARCHOS 7 Home Tablet
is an outstanding value – an Android-based tablet with reasonable functionality for $149 is great for anyone looking for something which is in between a smartphone and a notebook. Overall size and weight makes this choice an ultra-mobile option. Firmware updates are a necessary evil and that is the one downside for the technically challenged.Choosing between the Apple iPad
and Lenovo S10-3t is a matter of personal preference than anything else. Sure, Lenovo beats Apple iPad hands-down when comparing the specs, but that won't make a believer out of a diehard Apple fan. Fujitsu Lifebook TH700
grays out the line between a Netbook and a Tablet. Size-wise, this tablet is heavier and bulkier than most netbooks, but the bonus is the superset of the functionality in both. It is a great choice, for those in pursuit of the complete functionality of a laptop (swappable bay, external keyboard/screen etc through USB, and performance) as well as a tablet (touchscreen, drawing, and other IPAD functionality). This is a great alternative for those seeking to replace existing computing machine (laptop/desktop) while also adding tablet features.Related Posts:
- Best Values in Netbooks & Notebooks - A Comparative Review.
- Best Value Portable Computers for Students (Laptops, Netbooks, and MacBooks) - A Comparative Review.
- Tablet PCs - A Comparative Review (this post).
Last Updated: 07/2016.
1 comment :
WOW, a great comparison, it's actually what I was thinking of this morning when I was using my old trusty thinkpad, time to upgrade!
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