Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

http://www.techworld.com/mobility/fe...amecatsamechan

Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
We just need access to the Web.

By Craig J. Mathias, Farpoint Group

The notebook computer is doomed. OK, that's a little strong. And as one of the people who worked on the first laptop PC, the GRiD Systems Compass Computer Model 1101, there will always be a soft spot in my heart for mobile PCs. But as we move into the era of infocentricity, defined by Web 2.0 network services, the "everyone gets a CPU" model needs to be replaced by "everyone has access to an interface to the Web."

We'll continue to interact with information using the familiar WIMP (windows, icons, menus and pointing device) model of today. But that interface will run on a lightweight - as defined both physically and software-wise - inexpensive package. This may be Microsoft's worst nightmare. Still, it's the only way to go as access to more information than one can carry becomes critical and the expense involved in maintaining and managing a PC continues to increase.

It's been noted that a purely Web services approach won't work until we have ubiquitous wireless connectivity, and this is certainly true. This means that at best we'll need a hybrid thick/thin client approach for the time being and that we won't be able to ditch the notebook PC for a few years yet. But notebooks are heavy and expensive, especially with respect to operational expense, and most of the functions we require of them can be done on far simpler platforms.

It's the size factor I want to focus on here, though. A four-pounder, or even Apple's sexy new 3 lb. MacBook Air can get pretty heavy, especially with all of its required accessories and lots of airports to lug all this through.

Sure, we can use our cell phones for many Web-based functions, as well as email and personal information management tasks. But the screen of even the most business-centric phones is much too small for regular Web-centric or local-app use.

This leads to the idea of, unfortunately, one more device for your mobile arsenal. This class doesn't yet have a name that everyone acknowledges at this point; I've been calling them Web Tablets. The idea is to have a device with a screen of 7-inches or so, give or take a few, that can function as a stand-alone Web access device, typically via Wi-Fi. Or they can be connected via a USB cable or Bluetooth's dial-up networking profile to a cell phone. Believe it or not, these are widely available in a number of incarnations and approaches today. For example:

* Apple iPod Touch - It features the very good browser (and most of the applications) from the iPhone.
* Asus Eee- A tiny clamshell design; runs Linux and can also run Windows XP (if you must).
* Nokia N810 - The latest in a series that began with the groundbreaking 770; now vastly improved with a very good browser (Mozilla) and a slide-out physical keyboard.
* One Laptop Per Child XO - This largely philanthropic effort may also yield business products over time; Intel's Classmate PC has similar potential.

Linux may in fact become the preferred platform for these devices in the future, given that it's: 1) free, and 2) widely adopted by the software development community. I think we may see more of these products announced this year, despite the immaturity of this approach and the lack of any formal definition of this type of device.

Indeed, we've already seen one notable failure here - the Palm Foleo. To be fair, though, this product was a tad expensive and very limited in functionality. I think the Web Tablet is in fact defining the next big thing in mobility - a fourth screen, beyond the TV, PC and cell phone. And such may ultimately be the replacement for the notebook as we know it today.

Craig J. Mathias is a principal with Farpoint Group, an advisory firm specialising in wireless networking and mobile computing. This column appeared in Computerworld..


http://www.techworld.com/mobility/fe...amecatsamechan

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

My n810 HAS replaced my Averatec small, lightweight notebook (3715), except for developing for the Nokia.

I was looking at all three before I decided on the Nokia. And I didn't get the n800 when it came out, though it had most of the capability. The critical thing for me was it could run flash in the browser. Mainly YouTube, but many other sites use flash.

Until the developers fix the iP/Touch platform (e.g. download a podcast to a playlist on the device), assuming Apple allows them to, it is like having separate devices in one box. You can't play an mp3 to someone you are calling, you can't download anything, and you need the laptop to run iTunes to do too many things. The one thing which is integrated in the iPhone is the phone, so a bluetooth headset is a must - and I assume on the iPhone you can do a phone call AND use the applications (like the SIP capability no the Nokia).

I regularly download podcasts and listen to them with the gps tracking map up. The last few audiobooks were put on the n810 instead of my iPod, if for no other reason than I could remove them easily when I completed them.

The EEE is a small laptop. The size/weight it much better, but it still won't fit atop my dashboard or in my pocket. The n810 is somehow under that magic size (the n800 is just over, but it is so much lighter), and includes a thumb board (though I have a stowaway). I'm just surprised at how much is slowly moving to the n810 that was done on my phone, iPod, or laptop (which runs Ubuntu, so is like a somewhat larger EEE).

I have a Cradlepoint 350 EVDO router with a UM-150 and a battery pack, so I have a pocket access point that goes with me when I'm not near a hotspot. I've used it with the laptop, or just plugged in the EVDO modem, so it changes things a bit, but it is not unlike having a phone with internet access you can pair with via bluetooth.

The n810 is so complete that when I had to send my laptop in to have something fixed, and didn't notice it was taking an extra week because they didn't have a part. The last three times my iPod was on was to check if my latest attempts at mounting a Mac partition would work (yes). One thing which may have been significant was Host mode - I use USB thumb-drives to transfer data instead of having the n810 pretend it is a disk drive.

The OLPC/XO was also considered, but was only available through the give/get program so cost as much as the EEE, and didn't have all the application software I would typically use. I would probably get one at $250 or less. I have gotten an n800 for development and as a spare.

Think if you could fold the EEE into your pocket. My Bluetooth keyboard plus the Nokia is that (plus the BT headset - I never used one with the laptop but listen to radio and podcasts, and the EEE and OLPC/XO need extra hardware). But unless I'm typing something like this, the keyboard mostly stays in my pocket.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

I've been using my IT in lieu of one, and think that it could given some consderble fixes in the UI for the default apps, and then some better integration with web 2.0 services for both online and offline activity. After that, making sure that one can easily connect to other devices, such as network to a audio system, connect to a car, or even just connect to a television, would make interacting with content much more towards the aim of an IT.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

The dirty little secret of the computer world is that many, many users do nothing but email and browse the web and maybe print something, and for that they are paying for many, many features they never use and don't need.

There is no reason that tablets and cheap computers can't sweep the world. I suppose that in the future most people will again not have a real computer. They will have some kind of email/print station at home (and a movie/multimedia station, of course) and all hotel rooms will come with a cheap browser/station, where you also can read the advertising the hotel has designed for you. Everyone will carry a watch or cell phone or something that can get on the internet, with a gps unit built in. Cars will of course have the same stuff, meaning that people won't often even use the internet/email thing they have in their pocket.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

I've been "minimizing" throughout the years.

I began with a standard 15.4" widescreen laptop, which started to weigh on me when I also started having to move around more.

I had a 13.3" laptop after that, but swore I wouldn't be able to use something smaller. (yeah, right)

Took me two months to find my good old Thinkpad X31 (12 inch screen), which I won't be replacing anytime soon, as it's still the perfect laptop for me. There are few things I don't like in that laptop, I have an ongoing love affair with the nipple and everything.

Last "minimization" was the N800. With a few tweaks I had it running everything I need when I'm on the go, especially after having found an adapter which allows me to use a mini USB keyboard, connect everything else I need through a powered USB hub.

Lately I've been leaving the X31 at home and have been taking the N800 everywhere. So, in my case the N800 really replaced my desktop. I'll explain: the X31 is irreplaceable, but I tend to use it more in-house, everywhere, instead of having to sit anchored to a desk. In this hierarchy of gadgets the N800 replaced the laptop's competence, whereas the laptop replaced the desktop's.

Laptops have been selling like candy, and what they're truly replacing is desktops. Most people (non IT) that I know use them mostly as desktop replacements, because they use less space, are much more energy-efficient and are still quite portable.

So this is as I see it: the desktop is what's truly endangered. If laptops were as upgradeable as desktops, we would have already met the demise of the desktop computer, especially considering how people are using laptops with external monitors nowadays. The desktop's niche is still the gamer community, but with consoles acquiring more desktop capabilities (e.g., the PS3), the appeal will certainly diminish over time.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

I think the tablets will definitely replace tradition laptops, the question is just a matter of time. In fact, for me personally, my IT has almost replace my laptop 100%, in my mind there are only two things that make my IT fall short, 1) storage capacity and 2) software library.

However I predict that in 5-10 years, devices like the internet tablets and UMPC-type devices will have replaced traditional laptops in at least 75% or more of marketshare. (note that I'm talking about MOBILE marketshare. Just by the limitation of the screen-size, they'll never fully replace laptops in the home or desktops, etc) In my mind the only things left for the ITs before they can completely replace laptops is:

- Self-sufficiency: for example ability to update OS without need for secondary "real" computer, for example.
- Out of box printer support
- Large (both free and commercial) software collection for a wide audience with diverse needs
- More powerful core hardware (for example to allow smooth playback of large H264 files like on the iPod)
- More storage capacity at a reasonable price (say 64GB for $100) more of an issue for the N810

And most importantly: Ubiquitous internet connectivity without requiring any external hardware (i.e. mobile phone). Hopefully this will be closer to a reality when the WiMax tablet it available and will become more and more true as WiMax is widely deloyed and available virtually anywhere.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

No, not gonna happen. For anybody with the desire to do even a modicum of really computing, no laptop will ever cut it—horrible keyboards, god-awful nipples and trackpads, no expandability, and no power.

The desktop provides a lot more power, a lot of expandability and upgradability, a lot better input methods and a lot more comfort (I dunno about you, but I've never been comfortable scrunched up with a laptop on my legs). The desktop isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Slip "Reasonable battery life" in there, too.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

It's replaced my laptop for when I'm not going anywhere on long trips, or visits to cousin's house (I use to bring my laptop there to chat on IM and stuff when we're not playing videogames). So for IM, email, purposes I use bring my n800 now.

And as for the desktop thing. You could connect a laptop with an external keyboard, mouse, and external monitor. And as for power problems you could just get an expensive laptop. But after that point, you better really be using your laptop for everything. Since the money you spent on that could've been justified by a desktop and a not so powerful laptop.

But yes, your right. Desktops will never be replaced. Because of no expandability (the only thing you can change in a laptop is RAM if they even let you do that) and power.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

I now own 2 laptops (one running XP and one Ubuntu) that have completely replaced by desktop PC. I now no longer even own a desktop.

Given time, I think smaller PC's will inevitably replace laptops. However, it'll take the hardware becomming equally as powerful. For example, I can do all my programming owrk (fairly CPU intensive) on my windows laptop, and still play World of Warcraft, Company of Heroes, Halflife Source, and other 'modern' games on it. The CPUs and video cards got that good, making it a viable desktop replacement. Theres nothing a desktop can do that a laptop can't any more.

My 770 hasn't even begun to replace my laptop, and here's why:
-speed / slow processor
-too small of a display for some practical purposes (i couldnt imagine coding on it when only a few lines of text fit on a display)
-lack of 'office' practicality. This is actually more of a Linux complaint. My workplace uses MS Office and Exchange/Outlook, and there simply isn't a replacement that will run on the 770 that is 100% compatible with MS Office.
-lack of software. currently I can't just go grab 'anything' and run it. This is due to the ARM processor of course.
-web browser. As good as the MicroB engine is, it still doesn't do everything that makes the web what it is. No java support, and some of the other 'flashy' stuff doesn't always work.

If all those obsticles were overcome, then my IT would go a lot further toward replacing my laptop. Till then, I still pack both, and find myself using the lappy much more.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

Err.. sure there is. You can change a desktop. CPU bad? Replace it. Video card outdated? Replace it. Plus laptops are always going be slightly behind in power. What's the fastest laptop processor? Now what's the fastest desktop processor? They'll never catch up because they have to balance consumption of power with power. Plus with more power comes more heat (another problem when you have such a small space to deal with).

You can't do that with a laptop. Well I suppose you could if you knew soldering and where to get replacement parts and all that. You may not need the power of a quad core processor, but someone else might. And that's something a laptop can't do.

Well I suppose when affordable laptops with quad core processors come out, desktops will be coming out with 8 cores -_-.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

I bought my N810 hopingto replace my Palm TungstenC.
Instead, it's replaced my laptop,
and a Treo is replacing the Tungsten and my phone.
I'm happy.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

Oh, boloney. Can you hook up more than 2 displays to a laptop (I've got 4 right now)? Can you install more than one (fast) GPU on a laptop? Can you install lots of big, fast hard drives in a laptop with big fast RAID arrays? Install a bunch of NICs in your laptop to turn it into a router? Put in more than 8GB of RAM? Have dual 2-core CPUs? Or dual 4-core? Use any of the plethora of PCIe cards that provide you with a nearly infinite combination of inputs, outputs, and co-processing support?

Yeah, thought not. ;)

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

Here is another article similar to this subject.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

I disagree, first of all it's easy to replace/upgrade parts on a desktop. On a laptop about the best you can do is upgrade memory and the hard drive. The power of the hardware is definitely way more limited no matter how much money you're willing to spend. You sure won't be seeing Kentsfield CPUs in any laptop or a Quadro 5600 FX or 8800 GTX Ultra card for that matter. And I promise you that no laptop today can play Crysis on Very High settings at 35+fps. :cool:

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

You mind keeping your stupid spam out of real discussions? This isn't digg or the Halo forums. :)

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

It really depends on what you need to do. Travel a lot and need to read and write / edit long documents or manage large excel files? You will want a lightweight laptop.
Browse at home to read some headlines, emails or forums like this one? The tablet will be your companion. And you will use less the desktop or laptop.
Go out to see friends or for shopping and be able to access info stored on the Internet ? The tablet or a smartphone will be your choice.
You are stressed durig the week and wake up in the middle of the night? Instead of wandering to your pc you pick up your tablet (which is always on) and you will do the same stuff from your bed (dim down the light so you won't bother your significant other).
Need to do serious work like writing a lot, emailing a lot, video/photo editing, and all in a comfortable way with access to code for special characters? You will rather use a pc.
Of course it becomes problematic when you have use of all three types of devices, I mean moneywise. Every three years you will need to upgrade all you devices (maybe the desktop will survive a little longer as you can easily upgrade some components), but the whole thing can become expensive. In my case, for the work I do, tve frequent travel, etc. I am afraid I will have to keep all three devices...

Antonio

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

for vacation travel and web browsing on the go...
the tablet is now my #1 internet device...
it can make voip calls, surf the web, view photos, play music and video.

for word processing, spreadsheets, and so on, it is not yet a
substitute for a notebook or a pc... it has clumsy alphanumeric input and too small a screen for viewing text.

i tried a samsung tablet computer recently...it has a bigger screen and is windows based, but still i found it clumsy to
input text...

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

By the time you've replaced the CPU, video card, and memory in a desktop, you've bought yourself a new laptop.

I have desktops, but I rarely use them. I have a MacBookPro which can drive the 30" 2560x1920 apple display (at the same time as it's own). It is huge, more luggable than portable, but I'm out on contract and won't take a desktop. It stays in my room, but has all the power I need.

My Averatec will fit into that envelope they show for the Apple Air, but is thicker. 1024x768, can burn DVDs, and has all the other peripherals (firewire, PCMCIA, ethernet). This is my main machine for development or anything I can't or don't want to do on the n810. It also runs XP for those rare periods I need to do so (config program for hardware which only runs on XP...).

If I needed higher-end computing, 200Gb or more, 4Gb main memory (in my PPC mac!), or N-way CPUs where N is a large power of 2, I'd do a "desktop", but it would really be a server.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

I showed this thread to my husband as it's really what has happened in our home. This time last year we bought a laptop to use when we couldn't be at our desks. (Downstairs, at our parents, and on both business and personal trips) With two kids under 3, we have learned the error of our ways. Shortly before Christmas, the laptop fell and killed the jack for the AC adapter. So I started researching, and came here asking my newbie questions.

We are definitely very happy with our purchase. So much so that my husband has decided to get the 810 with our tax refund. It has definitely replaced our laptop with it. I have even surprised myself by partially replacing my desktop with it (for VoIP'ing mainly). I have also "talked" one of my friend's into getting one by just talking about what I've done with mine.

So l can definitely see these eventually replacing laptops ESPECIALLY in the general user-base.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

I am looking to basically do this exact same thing. I currently have a CDU680 EVDO modem. The service is great. I had hoped I would be able to use the USB port on the NIT with the modem but, sadly there just is not sufficent power to the port. Eh, such is life...

So I have been on the fence about the CTR350 or the PHS300. I would add the battery back in either case even though the PHS300 has an internal battery already.

My question is just how awkward is using the travel router & battery pack in order to access the web? One of my uses will require I be able to access the web discretely as possible while shopping for items to sell. Needing to research an item I want to just pull out the NIT and do a fast search. I figure I will need to carry a bag which is OK and turn on the router before I enter the store. It gives me a reason to buy a new Tom Bihn Buzz bag since my better half seems to have permenantly borrowed mine...she is like that! :)

Does your setup feel mobile enough for you? I was also concerened about potential over heating kept in the outer pocket of the bag...I would leave it a leetle unzipped.

Anyway thanks for any feedback based on your experience with your setup.

:)

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

Right now it replaces most of the webbrowsing and reading functionality of my notebook. I think that within 15 years a n810-sized device will have enough computing power and storage to do what the average person needs, just like a notebook has replaced a desktop for most people now (except for General Antilles). You then just need to just hook it up to a roll-up-screen and an external keyboard.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

How can it be a failure? It barely got into the prototype stage...

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

My desktop is plenty powerful for what I do; in fact, it's overkill. I never play any games or run any particular cpu intensive programs. That's why the n800 is perfect, it suits my simple needs and it's very small and portable. A laptop would simply be a waste of money for me.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

Bottom line is that a Tablet device and iGo keyboard nestle nicely together in a shirt pocket.

For websurfing, IMing, emailing, WOIPing, Media-Playing and notetaking (even w/voice recording)...that's all you need.

Asides from the obvious CPU/RAM upgrades, the only truely revolutionary step would be a larger virtual screen somehow.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

I bought the N800 exactly because it could be a laptop replacement for me, and actually be more useful to me than a laptop. I realize a lot of people do need a laptop.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

It's easy to see something new and expect it will replace the old. I personally don't want a web based word processor. I don't want my data going who-knows-where. But a company might want two people updating the same document at the same time. That might work for them.

Frankly, i see typical office apps - spread sheet, word processor, etc., as desktop - especially for the home market.

Death of the PC is just hype at this point. You'll have to pry OpenOffice from my cold dead fingers.

I had a 3.5 pound subnotebook in the mid 90's. 486/25. I loved it. It died after 3 years, and i couldn't justify replacing it that quickly. So i replaced it with a Palm. At 1/6th the cost, replacing it after 3 years was more doable. But i've repaced the Palm with a 770. The 770, with 64 MB RAM, and 2 GB 'disk', kicks over the 486. But the software back then was much smaller, and i had better functionality then. Of course, no one would use Netscape 4.73 anymore. And video was out of the question. It might have been able to play mp3's (it might not) but there wasn't enough disk anyway. I wrote database backed web apps on it, and read books and manuals. 640x480 monochrome.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

I still remember the Spectrum 16... :)

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

The 770 supports text to speech (with flite). It has a microphone. So, you can already take notes verbally (maemorecorder). If it could do speech->text, even if it weren't in real time, then i could see death of the keyboard. But i hear further than that - death of the written word by 2050. I don't see it. I'd like to play with speech->text, but in the mean time, i'll get a bluetooth keyboard.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

Spectrum 16 - uhm, Sinclair? That's nearly as primitive as my first machine. $900 and worth every cent. But today, really, get an 8080 software emulator for whatever you've got. Cheaper (probably free). Easier to use. Faster. Less noisy. Hours of fun.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

For me, my NIT pretty much has replaced my need for a laptop. But there are still some annoyances:

1) I don't like being constrained to the small screen even when I'm at a desktop. Some form of remote display to my desktop machine, or video-out (or both would be ideal). Being able to display the NIT's screen as a window on my desktop would be great ... but just including VNC Server in the base distribution wouldn't be enough: it needs to have encryption built in.

1b) a bluetooth keyboard is nice, but I'd still like to have an actual, easy to use, USB Host slot for bluetooth keyboard and mouse (which also means mouse support in the base product).

2) Some basic productivity apps, all of which are syncable to my desktop (or to Google): Calendar, Contacts, Todo, real IMAP email, Word Processor*, Spread Sheet*. (* even if they're just viewers, and not editors) All included in the basic OS, all fully integrated with everything else on this list. Modest is getting there in fixing the IMAP client problem... but I shouldn't need to add on things like GPE and Erming ... especially when the GPE stuff doesn't appear to use the included contacts app.

3) the included Xterm app really needs to be replaced with the enhanced xterm. It doesn't remember your settings (toolbar or no toolbar, etc.). It doesn't let you set the background text color (I'd definitely prefer white text on a black background). It's nice that they finally included it with OS2008 ... but they included the wrong implementation. (it would also be nice if there was an easy way to select 80x24, since the resolution ought to support it; but I don't now what font and font size you need in order to get that)


From there, it would probably replace my home desktop (I'd only need my home server) as well as mean that I'd never really look at a laptop again. But I'd still have my desktop at work. Though, my home desktop might get replaced by a very thin client or KVM switch (depending on the display options for #1) (the KVM would be sharing the home server's monitor/keyboard/mouse with the NIT, for when I want to work on a larger keyboard and display).

But, that's really all I need a laptop for at this point: a larger display, and a larger keyboard, than the NIT. Well, at some point, maybe also more storage space. But that could be handled with Bluetooth HDD/SDD devices.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

First off, I am completely in agreement with Johnkzin's previous post. In particular any straightforward method to output to a larger screen would bring my N800 close to perfection.

Having said that, I purchased the N800 instead of a laptop and am very pleased. I did add three additional items: two 4GB sd cards (I swap one with my camera), a bluetooth headset (for skype), and an apple bluetooth keyboard. This small collection of devices handles so many tasks for me both on the road and at home. I find them to offer greater flexibility and far better portability than a laptop. The Itouch as a consideration, largely because of the excellent interface, but the N800 beat that on greater functionality.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

I hope that doesn't mean you thought I'm not pleased with my N800/N810.

I am _very_ pleased with them. That's why I said those issues are just annoyances. I wouldn't post so much in this community if I didn't love the little thing :-) (nor would I have bought the N810 within the first month if I hadn't loved my N800)


Oh, and, I also purchased my N800 _instead_ of a laptop. I was deciding between: black Macbook, iPhone or iPod-Touch, N800. At the time (early Sept '07), I wanted a device with a physical keyboard, so if I had known the N810 was just a month or two away, I might have waited.

I thought "with a bluetooth keyboard, I could probably do everything I _need_ to on an N800, and not need to lug around a macbook". Plus, the price difference was big enough that I felt I could eat cost of the mistake if I got the N800 and it didn't work out for me (it'd delay the purchase of my macbook by 2ish months).

So it was down to the iPhone, iTouch, or N800. I ruled out the iTouch because it lacked several iPhone apps, and lacked bluetooth. I ruled out the iPhone when I found out its bluetooth didn't support keyboards, and I was worried that going down the unlocking/jailbreaking path (to add an ssh client, not to use it with other carriers) might cause me problems later on.

During the few days between ordering and receiving my N800, the iPhone update that bricked phones that had been unlocked or jailbroken came out ... and I knew I had made the right decision on the iTouch/iPhone vs N800 front. And after a few days of using it, I knew I had made the right choice on laptop vs N800.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

well almost there:

http://www.polymervision.com/frameset.php?id=&page=


http://gizmodo.com/347272/phillips-r...ld+away-screen

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

OK, Maybe my original words were a bit harsh... I'll revise to "A desktop can't do anything that a laptop can't, excluding the server role." But really, no one would ever use an Internet Tablet or personal sized computer to run Google's daily operations. I was thinking typical personal use stuff. Big fast RAIDs and multiple gigabit ethernet cards aren't typically things you would need in a 'personal computing' role.
Upgrading hardware, in my opinion, is almost worthless any more. About the only thing in the box that isn't obsolete in 6 months is the case and power supply anyway. Heck, my $2k laptop from 2 years ago could easily be replaced today with a much more powerful laptop for $600.

I dunno, my whole point was that eventually a small tablet PC could replace a lappy for a person to carry around for personal / office use, but at the moment is very lacking. I don't even consider my 770 to be a good web browsing device compared to a full version of Firefox. Lack of at-the-office usability (MS Office / Exchange / Outlook) hurts too. The one thing I really do love it for is scribbling notes in maemopad+, and keeping my calendar up to date. Having games in meetings @ work doesn't hurt either ;)

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

Still not accurate, as a fairly large amount of what I do with my personal desktop machine I couldn't do with a laptop, and server is at about the bottom of its task list.

RAIDs and such have uses outside of the server arena. Workstations are something a laptop couldn't hope to replace, either.

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

still, instead of buying a new laptop, I got my N800.
For big stuff there are two desktops upstairs, but they're being visited less and less.

johenkel

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

I just wanted a good portable device which I could take everywhere, thats why I got the N800 and its actually being used a replacement of the laptop now

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

Why is an N800 a laptop replacement but an EEE PC isnt?

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

because the eee is a laptop?

Re: Could the Web tablet replace the notebook?
 

It is a laptop, yes. But would you replace your N800 with an EEE PC as your laptop replacement?