Why Touch Screen Laptops Are So Cool at Starbucks

Are you the kind of person that likes to hang out in coffee shops and surf the Internet? I am. I just made a really cool discovery. One of the coolest ways to have fun in your local coffee house is to bring along one of the many new touch screen laptops that are available. They come in all shapes and sizes, and the screens are remarkably responsive to either your finger or a stylus. And you can grab the whole page and move it around like they do on Star Trek sometimes.

When people see you using it you will suddenly become very popular. If you’ve never considered a touch screen laptop, then maybe you should mosey on over to your computer shop and pick one up. You’ll be glad you did.

from : http://www.fzsports.net/technology/why-touch-screen-laptops-are-so-cool-at-starbucks/
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Best 10 Laptop

BUY a laptop is a significant investment, and to choose the right laptop requires the right decision. When selecting a best laptop on the basis of all existing features and options is a difficult process. Below are the 10 best laptop possible into your criteria.
1. Lenovo ThinkPad T400
T400 is a middle-of laptop Lenovo ThinkPad family and is the best laptop on the market today. T Series is a combination of solid value, performance, and convenience. This 14.1-inch laptop is thinner than Lenovo’s SL series and the series R. T400 weighs 5.1 pounds, thin and light, but combined with great energy. This 14.1-inch screen has a resolution of 1440×900, which is better than most laptops out there. Has Intel Core 2 Duo.

2. Acer Aspire One; This is the best netbook enough for all types of securities less than $ 400. Where a second-generation Netbooks are competing with the price of laptops, Acer Aspire One can survive with $ 379 price, without cutting or design features. For a small laptop, the Aspire one has a great power savings. With the Intel Atom, offers good performance for simple tasks. Design of portable Internet devices has received the award, the Japan Good Design Award, one of the leading design awards.
3. Apple 13 “MacBook Pro: MacBook, one of the best laptop Apple has experienced substantial cuts last year and Apple has been doing our best to replace those cut. Series MacBook features an aluminum material, glass LED screen, and trackpads multitouch. To enter the series Pro, MacBook features such as FireWire ports, an SD card slot, the keyboard is lit, and the battery duration is longer than the previous types.
4. HP Pavilion tx2500z: HP Pavilion tx2500z is an ideal notebook for students. Enough to the main notebook and offers flexibility at reasonable prices. tx2500z has a design and features similar to its predecessor, tx2000.
5. Dell Studio 15: Dell Studio 15 notebook perfectly illustrates gambungan multimedia and mobility. This Studio Series, worth $ 1,250, a 15-inch display, has the same design with the XPS series but the studio system worth $ 300 more expensive than the XPS. Despite having the same shape, the laptop is 25 percent thinner and heavier than the XPS, with plastic rather than metal.
6. Fujitsu LifeBook T5010 Tablet PC: Fujitsu LifeBook T5010 is a laptop that has a common standard with the optical drive, like its predecessor, the LifeBook T4220. Fujitsu posted a 13.3 inches screen. Lifebook also updated in order to maximize the benefits of Intel Centrino 2 technology.
7. Toshiba Portege M700: Portege M700 offers a smooth transition from notebook to TabletPC. With Intel Centrino processor technology and supports wireless Pro 802. 11a/g/n, M700 is very productive. M700 has a 12.1-inch widescreen with LED display with pen support, touch screen, and graphics to penyesuain inside and outside the room.
8. Dell Mini 9: Nothing new on the Dell Inspiron Mini 9, but this is a good example to form a mini laptop, without reducing the possibility of purchase. Inspiron Mini 9 has a 8.9 inch wide screen and use Win XP or Ubuntu Linux.
9. Sony VAIO CS: Sony VAIO CS offers a combination of strength with a variety of color patterns; colors designed to match with the character. CS series features a 2.80Ghz Intel CoreTM 2 Duo, Windows Vista Ultimate or another edition, 14.1-inch LCD screen, 320GB hard drive, and 4GB RAM. Term battery for 4jam and weighs 5.7 lbs.
10. Fujitsu LifeBook T2020: It has features similar to its predecessor, T2010. The difference lies in the 12.1-inch screen with 1280×800 pixels. Has a swivel screen and a touch screen.
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HP's New Touch Screen Laptop and All-In-Ones Debut

HP is taking touch to the people, with new touch screen laptop and desktop models, all featuring Windows 7 and some shipping on Oct. 22, when the new operating system is formally introduced.

The new multi-touch models include a number of applications that take advantage of the interface, including Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, Recipe Box, a webcam "photo booth" application, and the HP Music Store.

* HP TouchSmart tx2 -- A laptop, starting at $799, with a 12.1-inch screen that rotates 180-degrees for use as a tablet. Besides touch commands, users can write or draw on the screen with an electronic pen. Available Oct. 22.
* HP TouchSmart 300 and 600 -- Are the third-generation of HP's touch-enabled desktops. The 300 has a 20-inch screen and the 600 (shown) has a 23-inch display. The 300 starts at $899 and will begin deliveries on Nov. 1, with the 600 due Oct. 22 and priced starting at $1,049. Read our review of the HP TouchSmart 600.
* HP TouchSmart 9100 -- An all-in-one desktop, starting at $1,299, which includes a 23-inch touch screen. It can be used as standard touch screen PC or tasked as a map or events kiosk in an office, hotel, or other location. Deliveries begin in December.
* HP LD42200tm -- A digital signage device with a 42-inch touch screen. Available in December for $2,799.

Besides touch screens, HP also introduced several business desktop and laptop computers as well as new value-oriented Compaq-branded desktops and a laptop.

The Compaq Presario CQ61z (where do they get these model numbers?) costs only $399 and features a 15.6-inch screen, after $100 instant rebate. The Compaq 500B business desktop sells for $359, while the new Compaq Presario 4010f desktop sells for $309.

My take: The laptop looks very interesting and I will consider purchasing one during my next upgrade cycle. I am not wild about reaching out to touch a desktop, although HP is pushing these models for entertainment and kitchen use, where touch makes some sense.

In the kitchen, the touch screen is meant to be used with recipes and other applications that can work entirely by touch when keyboard use isn't appropriate. Verbal directions are also provided.

The new Compaq's are a welcome addition to lowest-priced laptops and desktops. The laptop competes with netbooks on price and will win some of those battles.

David Coursey tweets as @techinciter and can be contacted via his Web page.

from : http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS322024206120091013
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Wolverton: A new generation of computer tablets is on its way

I may have caught a glimpse of the future last week.

In San Francisco, a startup company called Fusion Garage showed off the JooJoo, a touch-screen device that looks like the iPhone's big brother. The JooJoo is one of the first of a new generation of tablet computers expected to hit store shelves in the coming year.

Much of the buzz around tablet computers has focused on the one Apple has reportedly long had in development and is widely expected to unveil early next year. But similar devices are expected to arrive in coming months as well, many running Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system, which supports multitouch gestures common on touch-screen devices.

Back in August, with rumors about Apple's so-called iTablet reaching a crescendo, I was skeptical about the potential of such a device — and the whole concept of tablet PCs. I couldn't see anyone trading out a notebook or a cell phone for such a device, which meant tablet makers would have to convince consumers to buy yet another gadget — something I figured they'd be reluctant to do.

But after playing with the JooJoo, I'm less dubious. Maybe these types of gadgets will find a market after all.

The JooJoo, which is slated to ship in February and can be pre-ordered from Fusion Garage, is designed as a "living room" device. By that I mean you can use it to surf the Web, read electronic books, check e-mail,watch Web videos and even place video calls — all while leaning back against the comfy cushions on your couch. That's a lot different from the typical Web surfing experience today, which usually involves being stuck in the study with a desktop or being hunched over a laptop.

Unlike a laptop, the JooJoo doesn't have a keyboard. Instead, it's got a 12-inch touch screen through which you can press virtual buttons or access a virtual keyboard.

Also unlike a typical computer, it doesn't allow you to load full-scale programs on it. Its operating system is built around a Web browser, so any applications you use have to be Web-based. Fortunately, it does support Adobe's Flash, which should allow you to view all kinds of video and play lots of Flash-based games.

I already do most of my home Web surfing these days on my iPhone, so the appeal of the JooJoo is obvious to me.

Like an iPhone, you can hold it in your hand, making it more portable than a laptop. But it has a much bigger screen than an iPhone, making it better for reading or watching videos. And because it's built around a Web browser, you have access to Web-based video and other content that's often difficult to get on to your TV, even with the latest Internet-connected set-top boxes.

Despite all that, the JooJoo is not quite there, and I can't see buying it. First off, Fusion Garage is in a legal dispute with a former collaborator, which may block it from ever shipping the JooJoo. And the JooJoo has other problems. It costs too much and does too little.

Fusion Garage has priced it at $500. That's more expensive than most netbooks and about the same price as some ultrathin computers, both of which can do more than JooJoo because they have full operating systems.

Unlike those devices, you can't do much on the JooJoo without an Internet connection, except view content stored in its browser's cache. Because you can't install applications on it that will run without an Internet connection, you won't be playing any complex games on it.

The JooJoo also won't let you permanently store music or movies on it or even access such files from an external drive. So you're limited to what you can find through a Web browser, rather than the music you may have stored at home or can download through stores such as iTunes.

That might not be such a problem if it had a 3G antenna to allow you to connect to the Internet over the cell phone companies' widespread networks. Unfortunately, the only kind of Internet connection the JooJoo can use is via Wi-Fi. While many consumers now have Wi-Fi routers at home or at their offices, hot spots can be hard to find elsewhere.

Still, for all its shortcomings, the JooJoo did open my eyes to the possibilities of tablet computers. If some company can make one that's less pricey — or at least more capable — they just might have a winner.

from : http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_13972244
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Latest Laptops – MSI X600 Pro, Asus P50IJ-SO036X, Eurocomm Core i7 Laptop, Dell Studio 17 and HP ENVY 14

For all those out there who are desperate to own latest high-configured laptop, listed below is information upon the latest releases and technical aspects of the Laptops from popular manufactures. These days apart from laptops many people are interested in going out for Netbooks. Netbooks from HP, Acer and Dell are very famous in the market.

X600 Pro Ultrathin from MSI equipped with Windows 7 Home Premium

MSI’s latest addition to the X-Slim line of ultra thin laptops, the X600 Pro Ultrathin measuring 39.2cm x 25.5cm x 2.5cm comes in stylish slim black frame, ensuring both power efficiency and less power consumption with sustainable battery life. Ultrathin is powered by Intel Core 2 Duo processor inorder to provide excellent multitasking capabilities and this processor runs on the Intel GS45 + ICH9M-SFF chipset for providing more durable battery life for the users. X600 Pro comes with a 15.6 LCD screen of aspect ratio 16:9 with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels and features amazing graphics provided by ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 graphics card having 512 MB of Video RAM. The X600 Pro hard drive storage capabilities range from 250 GB to 640 GB and the DDR2 memory can be expanded upto 4GB. Ultrathin laptop has MSI chiclet keyboard, which limits the typing errors and increases comfort for the users.

X600 Pro is outfitted with 1.3MP web cam, a card reader and runs Windows 7 Home Premium. X600 Pro has various connectivity options including 802.11 b/g/n Wireless LAN and HDMI output. Bluetooth and a WiMAX wireless module are provided as Optional connectivity capabilities. X600 Pro contains four high-fidelity speakers with superior SRS Premium Sound capabilities and is equipped with two USB 2.0 ports, D-Sub connector, one port for Mic, headphones, E-SATA and USB Combo.

Although the technical aspects of X600 Pro were conveyed by MSI, the release date or the pricing details are not yet disclosed.

Asus latest P- series Laptop – P50IJ-SO036X

ASUS has added another Laptop to its line of P-series mobile personal computers, P50IJ-SO036X, which is a portable Laptop equipped with Intel Core 2 Duo T5870 CPU which runs at 2.0GHz and has a FSB of 800MHz with L2 cache memory of 2MB. P50IJ-SO036X makes use of Intel GL40 chipset and GMA 4500 M integrated graphics controller. Measuring around 370×256×31~35 mm, it comes with a matte screen, 15.6 inch High Definition anti-glare TFT-screen with 16:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1355X6768 pixels, which has power-efficient LED back light.

ASUS P50IJ-SO036X is well equipped with all standard connectivity options, the full array of performance and I/O capabilities for business usage. The connectivity options include LAN 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ-45 network adapter and integrated 802.11b/g/n WLAN and the I/O capabilities comprises of a 3-in-1 Card Reader interface, a VGA output, four USB 2.0 connectors, two jacks, one for headphones and one for a microphone, 0.3-mega pixel web cam, a number pad and Altec Lansing Speakers. The laptop also has an 8x DVD burner and runs the Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit OS.

P50IJ-SO036X business laptop is currently available in the areas of Germany and Austria and has estimated price tag of 589 Euro.

Eurocom Core i7 Laptop with gigantic 2.5TB of Storage Space

Eurocom, the designer of the world’s first laptop featuring an Intel Core i7 processor has announced update to its D900F Panther, a mobile desktop replacement, which will facilitate users with a gigantic storage space of 2.5TB. Featuring 17-inch (1920 x 1200 pixels) display, the D900F Panther, is an extremely fast notebook that offers workstation caliber capabilities and a complete built-in UPS which makes it an ideal choice for high-end users, who look for a portable workstation capable of delivering incredible performance.

The D900F Panther is capable of supporting up to 4 storage devices, including either traditional hard disk drives or solid state drives. This unit can also be built with a Xenon processor, up to 12GB of RAM, a GeForce GTX 260M or GTX 280M graphics processor and an optical drive that can be either a DVD writer or a Blu-Ray drive. Equipped with a 2MP or a 3MP web cam, WiFi, Bluetooth, 12-cell battery pack and provision for a choice between Windows 7, Vista, XP, Server 2003 or Server 2008, as an operating system, this Laptop is expected to be quite expensive.

Dell Studio 17 Laptop upgraded to Multitouch capabilities

Dell updated its most powerful laptop “Studio 17” with multi touch capabilities in order to make it more appealing. Studio 17 packs true high-end performance and many enhanced features into its small form factor. Studio 17 is powered with either an Intel Pentium or Core 2 Duo processors. The system equips up to 8 GB of RAM and huge storage space of one terabyte at 7,200 RPM. With 17.3-inch display (1600 x 900 pixels), Studio 17 features either an integrated GMA 4500MHD graphics controller or a discrete ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570/HD 4650 video card enabling excellent quality in graphical performance. The display is touchscreen and has multi touch functionalities implemented in it. Now, Photo management, Image editing and many other applications can be performed using the intuitive touchscreen interface, a technology complemented by the support provided by Windows 7.

With integrated WiFi capabilities, Studio 17 includes a DVD drive or Blu-ray, ports for USB 2.0, a USB/eSATA combo, and HDMI connectivity, along with a DisplayPort, a VGA port and FireWire connectors. Running on a six-cell battery pack, Dell’s Studio 17 costs around $899 and is available for online purchase.

HP plans for a New ENVY 14 Laptop

HP official announced the advent of its ENVY 13 and ENVY 15 models in early September, and it is reported that now, HP is preparing to launch another ENVY laptop, the ENVY 14 which would probably be close to the previously released models. Designed to provide users with high-end portable computer systems in a unique and stylish design, the ENVY 13 works on a CULV platform (Consumer Ultra Low-Voltage) and features a 13.3-inch WXGA display, while the Envy 15 is powered with Intel’s mobile Core i7 processors in a 15.6-inch display design. The rumored model is expected to feature one of Intel’s Core 2 Duo processors and comprises a display of 14-inches. The price of ENVY 14 is expected to be similar to the other two ENVY laptopsreleased.

If you have any other Laptop with you or if you have tried any new laptop which is impressive, then do let us know about them through the comment section.

from : http://www.techhail.com/gadgets/latest-laptops-from-msi-asus-eurocomm-dell-hp/2350
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TouchFreeze: Automatically disable your laptop’s touchpad/trackpad while typing

Back when I first got my laptop, I had a helluva time getting used to trying not to touch the touchpad while typing. Eventually after lowing the sensitivity of the touchpad and spending hours typing, I learned how to minimize my typing errors resulting from accidental touchpad touch-age. However, to this day I still struggle with the problem at times. If you are like me and share the same problem, TouchFreeze may be for you.

TouchFreeze is a very small, lightweight, and simple utility that automatically disables your touchpad whenever you type. When you stop typing, TouchFreeze re-enables the touchpad.

TouchFreeze works out of your system tray:

To use TouchFreeze, all you have to do in install it and run it. TouchFreeze does everything itself so there are no "settings" for your to change.

Now please be warned TouchFreeze will not work for every laptop - it doesn't work for mine. However, I do suggest if you struggle with the touchpad-typing problem you give TouchFreeze a try and if it works for you, great; if it doesn't just uninstall it. You may grab TouchFreeze from the following links:

Version reviewed: v1.0

Supported OS: Windows NT/2000/XP

There have been reports that it works on Windows Vista and Win7 also.

from: http://dottech.org/freewaresr/13241
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Mr.Bill Gates. Read This.A Perfect computer… I’ve an idea here.Please,if u like this,develop such a computer?

Well , if u like this , develop such a computer ..coz’ i’m only 13 yrs old ‘ u know’..
So here it goes:-
1) it should have perfect graphics….no need to buy very costly..(i mean buy chinese sort of stuff ..it’ll b cheap)

2)Touch screen attached , Starting with 10" x 15" ( this too … a chinese will do)

3)should be as compact as possible …..(at most 1 inch in depth)

4)Should b supportive of just 1 OS developed by u.(will increase ur product popularity in market) + avoids piracy.
for that , it should NOT support bootable CDs & DVDs

5)it should b carriable …( laptop sort of ) ; folding(not necessary)

6)To avoid piracy , u must develop a coding chip sort of …, using which(when inserted) only the comp. should work.{only 1 chip for a comp.)

7.)In built GPS will increase its popularity adding to its list of features.

8)OS should have more advanced features than vista……like using a user friendly voice interface would b definately a great one.
also it should b multi languaged (and even better if u hv atleast 1 language from all the countries including their national one)

IF THIS IS DONE , IT WILL DEFINATELY MAKE YOUR THIS VERSION OF OPERATING SYSTEM POPULAR…………..

and please , do mind it to keep the cost as low as possible (if possible 500 USD- minimum profit on 1 comp.)…dont take it as a joke …. coz’ if u keep the prices low then ur no.f computers being sold in market will increase ….and so will the profit!

imagine if u made this out(most importantly the price) , then urs will b the only computer being seen in every house in the world….

AND SO THE PRODUCTIVITY WILLL INCREASE!!!!!

…..if anyone likes this please email me at :-
yash.mehrotra@live.com

The question was answered by :
SteGriff :
Further to first (fantastic) answer

* Microsoft constantly have law-officials watching over their shoulders to make sure that they abide by competition laws; they would be fined very heavily for making a computer which can’t even boot another OS.

* The features you have added aren’t enough for people to buy the system despite its massive limitations on the user.

* Pray tell: If the computer has all languages, what second language would there be for a country, other than Esperanto? Windows has shipped in multi-language for years

Finally, if you ACTUALLY thought this was a good idea, you would have kept it to yourself and made a fortune. Luckily for you, it is not.

from: http://blog.replytool.com/email-hacks/mrbill-gates-read-thisa-perfect-computer-ive-an-idea-herepleaseif-u-like-thisdevelop-such-a-computer
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Cool Rollup Laptop

This new laptop prototype looks like it'd be pretty cool, minus the gay shoulder strap!

from : http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/80853083/
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Click here to find out more! Dell tablet to debut at CES, says rumor. Is a 5″ screen really a tablet?

Dell plans to launch a tablet computer — one with a touchscreen instead of a mouse and keyboard — based on Google’s Android mobile operating system, says a report attributed to “multiple black ops sources” on gadget site Pocket-lint. The new product will allegedly be shown off at the gadget industry’s biggest trade show, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in early January.

Dell has not yet responded to requests to confirm or deny the rumor. And at this point, there are no photos of the rumored device on the Internet, only artists’ conceptions of possible tablet devices.

If the story is true, Dell’s tablet has a chance to beat another rumored tablet from Apple to market in a new product category.

Unfortunately, the rumored device is also rumored to have a 5-inch screen, closer to that of a smartphone than a personal computer. Pocket-lint names the Archos 5 Internet Tablet as a competitor, but the Archos’ 4.8-inch screen is also small to be considered a tablet. A rumored touchscreen computer from Asus, similarly, is said to have a screen in the five to seven-inch range. These computers seem designed to compete with the Apple’s 3.5-inch iPod Touch — an iPhone without the phone and camera — rather than breaking new ground.

Such smallish screens aren’t in line with the original concept of a tablet PC, whose touch-sensitive display area would be the size of a clipboard or a laptop. Fantasy drawings of Apple’s unicorn-like tablet invariably give it a generously sized screen.

A Silicon Valley startup effort, the JooJoo tablet, is based around a newly-available 12.1-inch touchscreen. Now that’s a tablet. But the JooJoo is not yet in customers’ hands, and its $499 pre-order price seems a large amount of money to risk on an unproven twelve-person company’s first model. A lower-priced tablet with a laptop-sized screen from a big-name brand seems more likely to be the hit product that finally launches the genre.

The tablet computer has, in the past year, gone from sure-to-fail niche product to eagerly-anticipated Next Big Thing. That’s because the original tablets were envisioned as workplace tools, replacements for the clipboards and binders carried by doctors and other knowledge workers. They were designed to be tapped at with a stylus, a design obsoleted by the iPhone’s wildly popular touchscreen in 2007. They were, all in all, boring.

The new vision for tablets is couch computing — a way to check Facebook, watch YouTube, tap at Twitter, and putter around the Web in a relaxed, leaned-back way rather than leaning intently into a desktop or laptop keyboard for high-speed work.

Do you ever lie down with your laptop on your chest? A slim, light tablet — basically a touchscreen with some miniaturized guts behind it and a wireless Net connection — would be much better than balancing a folded-out laptop on your belly. Should anyone actually ship a full-sized tablet, it would be the computer you could keep tucked under your pillow.
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The Windows 7 RTM Touch Pack to Be Available for Download

Microsoft plans to make available for download a range of applications designed to take advantage of the touch capabilities built by default into the DNA of Windows 7. The Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7 was initially announced at the start of this year, after the company had produced the first Release Candidate (RC) build of the operating system. At that time, the software giant revealed a move that disappointed Windows 7 users from the get-go. Microsoft noted that the Touch Pack for Windows 7 would not be available to the general public, but instead offered only to original equipment manufacturers.

However, at that time, Brandon LeBlanc, Windows communications manager on the Windows Client Communications Team, did promise that Microsoft would release the Touch Pack for Windows 7 to a much broader audience, based on customer feedback. In this regard, it looks like Microsoft will make good on its promise, according to Neowin.

“Microsoft is planning to make it available via download soon but has not confirmed/committed to a timeline,” a company spokesperson stated. At the same time, on the official website for the Touch Pack for Windows 7, the software giant noted, “The Touch Pack comes preinstalled on some multitouch PCs running Windows 7, and will soon be available for download. It's not included in Windows 7.”

The Touch Pack for Windows 7 is comprised of three games and just as many applications, including: Microsoft Blackboard, Microsoft Garden Pond, Microsoft Rebound, Microsoft Surface Globe, Microsoft Surface Collage, and Microsoft Surface Lagoon. Of course, the Redmond company failed to provide an actual release date for the Touch Pack for Windows 7.

“The Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7 is a collection of games and programs that you interact with using your fingers. To use these games and programs, you need either a laptop with a screen that supports multitouch or a desktop PC connected to a touchscreen that supports multitouch (including all-in-one PCs with touchscreens),” Microsoft said. “To find this capability, look for a laptop, all-in-one PC, or touchscreen with the Windows 7 logo that says it supports Windows Touch.”

Still, for those that know where to look, the Touch Pack for Windows 7 is already available for download. All applications from the Touch Pack were leaked in the wild at the start of June 2009, and are still up for grabs via BitTorrent trackers and warez websites.
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2010: The Year of the Tablet Computer?

In China, 2010 will be the year of the Tiger. In the tech world, 2010 will be the year of the Tablet -- or so it seems. A bevy of tech companies have teased, talked, and have not denied rumors that they are working on a fabled tablet computer. Here is a look back at 2009 tablet buzz with a look forward to 2010 -- the year of the Tablet.

Asustek is rumored to be working on an Eee Pad, according to Digitimes. Rumors of a Dell tablet won't go away. Earlier this year, rumors of a Microsoft two-panel tablet appeared after Gizmodo got its hands on one of Redmond's concept videos. And starting Friday, the JooJoo Web tablet is supposed to go on sale for $499 at thejoojoo.com. And of course there is the ever-present Apple rumor that "soon" it will introduce a tablet.

Let's take a look at the hottest tablets that may, or may not, be hitting store shelves next year.

The JooJoo

Many of the tablets being discussed online are highly fictional at the moment, but the JooJoo is one tablet that's already here. This device has a 12-inch touchscreen with 1366-by-768 resolution capable of displaying 720p high-definition videos. The processor is rumored to be a 1.6GHz Intel Atom chip, other specs include 1 GB RAM, 4GB solid-state drive for caching Web content, one USB 2.0 port, Webcam, microphone, headphone jack, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity (no 3G).

The device is supposed to go on sale online as of Friday, December 11 for $499. But at the time of this writing the Website was still not accepting preorders, and that functionality may not come online today. As you may know, the JooJoo is mired in controversy due to its previous incarnation as the CrunchPad, which was to be a joint venture between TechCrunch and Fusion Garage. Early Friday, TechCrunch Founder Michael Arrington confirmed that his company had filed a lawsuit against Fusion Garage. It's not clear what effect this lawsuit might have, but Fusion Garage could be forced to suspend sales of the JooJoo, at least temporarily.

While you're waiting for the legal system to settle the matter, check out PC World's first-look video and hands-on review to learn more about the JooJoo.

Dell Android Tablet

In June, rumors of an iPod Touch-like device from Dell started surfacing, and now there are reports that Dell is set to reveal this 'tablet' at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. Details are scarce, but according to the latest rumors, the Dell device would run Google's Android operating system and have a 5-inch touchscreen.

Of course, it's a bit of a stretch to call this device a tablet in the Apple sense, in fact, this device sounds more like a mobile Internet device (MID). MIDs are nothing new and have been around for some time. Samsung made a splash at this year's CTIA trade show in Las Vegas when it introduced the Mondi: a 4.3-inch LCD touch display device, with 4GB of onboard memory running Windows Mobile, hardware QWERTY keyboard, and WiMax support.

Dell's device could also be a multimedia player designed to compete directly with the iPod Touch and Zune HD. The Dell device will supposedly be available first in the U.K. on an unspecified date, with a U.S. launch to follow. Check out this video below that purports to show off this Inspiro-tablet.

Eee Pad

Details about Asustek's plans are even more scarce than information about Dell's device. DigiTimes says the device will be called the Eee Pad, and will have a 4- to 7-inch touchscreen, and will include a combination of MID and regular PC functions. Again, another device that sounds like a prime competitor for the iPod Touch and Zune HD. DigiTimes says the Eee Pad suggests may have been inspired by Apple's rumored device.

Tablets have been on Asustek's agenda for some time, and the company recently got into multi-touch with the release of the T91MT, a tablet notebook with an 8.9-inch screen. Asus has also been working on a dual-panel laptop/e-reader that was supposed to be released by the end of 2009.

Microsoft Courier

Unwilling to let Apple take all the rumor glory, in September, rumors surfaced of a fascinating secret project reportedly being developed at Microsoft HQ. Called the Courier, this device would sport two 7-inch screens (presumably in color), a built-in camera on the back and Wi-Fi. Instead of a physical keyboard, the device would use a combination of multitouch and stylus inputs. (Image of Courier, right, is from Gizmodo)

Unlike the other tablets that have a multimedia focus, the concept reportedly being considered by Microsoft is geared toward creating a digital recreation of a two-page paper day planner. Of course, that description doesn't do the Courier concept complete justice, as the device would include sketching and design capabilities as well. Check out the video below to see the Courier concept in computer-animated action.

Oh, and one more tablet

I almost forgot; no tablet roundup would be complete without mentioning that rumored device from Cupertino, California. The supposed Apple Tablet would be a device with a 9- to 10-inch screen, and would basically be a larger iPod Touch priced as high as $1000. Although there is no verifiable proof this tablet exists it has already been hailed as the possible savior of books, newspapers, magazines and a better-than-average movie experience.

You have to hand it to Apple. Even when the company officially says nothing, while rumors of the device run rampant, the team at 1 Infinite Loop has managed to influence the future plans of rival computer manufacturers and other industries that have an eye towards the digital future. Now that's influence.

from : http://www.pcworld.com/article/184432/2010_the_year_of_the_tablet_computer.html
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MSI Wind Top AE2010: Single-Touch Screen and Good Budget Performance

MSI?s Wind Top AE2010 does a great job of filling the gap between budget-minded all-in-one PCs and flashier big screen models.

MSI's Wind Top AE2010 ($650, as of December 8, 2009) is one of our favorite new budget all-in-one PCs. It has a 20-inch single-touch display, Windows 7, and 4GB of memory; it ditches the Atom CPU for a 1.5GHz Athlon X2 Dual-Core 3250e processor; and it is among the best-performing budget all-in-one PCs (20-inches or smaller) we've seen. But we've got a few concerns, too.

The display's glossy coating creates an annoying reflection of yourself whenever a scene goes dark, and it makes the darker contrasts of a movie or game less rich than you would otherwise see. You also lose detail in darker scenes, as the screen itself has a kind of gray quality to it if you're setting up the system in a room with average lighting. The AE2010's saturation is good, but not great--scenes are colorful enough to appear fine; however, competing all-in-one systems offer more vibrant looks. The AE2010's built-in speakers are a bit worse than those found on your average laptop--not exactly a strong point when you're looking to bust out the movies and the popcorn.

But at least the display is touch-enabled, albeit single-touch. A number of recent budget all-in-one PCs have nixed the touchscreen, and we miss it given Windows 7's touch-control features. MSI's own touch software isn't all that great: The Webcam effects, note-taking applications, and a children's picture-matching game are, frankly, not the best demonstration of how useful touch control can be.

The AE2010's WorldBench 6 score of 60 is practically the same as the 59 returned by the $600 HP Pavilion MS214. The cheaper HP has a smaller 18.5-inch screen that also lacks touch input. If you're on a budget, but want an all-in-one with flat-out speed, consider spending a little extra on the $900 Acer Aspire Z5610 (a 23-inch multitouch) or the $944 Dell Studio One 19 (a 19-inch multi-touch). They scored 93 and 101 in WorldBench 6, respectively.

As with most all-in-one PCs, the AE2010 comes ill-equipped for modern gaming. Its ATI Radeon 3200 graphics delivers a lackluster 13.6 frames per second on a stripped-down version of our Unreal Tournament 3 benchmark (1024-by-768 resolution, high quality).

The AE2010 packs 320GB of storage. That's pretty much the new standard at this price level, but it's worth mentioning that the $550 Lenovo C300 all-in-one offers twice as much (one of that model's few redeeming features). Like the Lenovo, the AE2010 uses a 32-bit operating system (Windows 7 Home Premium, in this case) that can't fully use all 4GB of installed memory. Crazy, right?

At least networking connectivity is top-notch: the AE2010 has both 802.11n Wi-Fi and gigabit networking. You'll be hitting the fastest connection speeds possible whether you prefer a wired or wireless setup at home.

Alongside the six USB ports and the multiformat card reader on the system's front and rear is one extra connection: an eSATA port. It's an odd, yet enjoyable inclusion--I would have expected to see some kind of new display connector instead of eSATA. The generic keyboard and mouse bundled with this all-in-one are both corded, so expect to lose two of these USB ports just to be able to work with your machine--unless, that is, you feel like pounding the screen with your finger a lot. As the system contains no help in the manual for upgrading, you're on your own should you wish to attempt any kind of operation on the insides.

MSI's Wind Top AE2010 does a great job of filling the gap between budget all-in-one systems and flashier big-screen all-in-one PCs (over 20 inches) that we've tested. Minus the slightly questionable picture quality, it's hard to find many faults with the AE2010 that wouldn't exist on any comparable all-in-one desktop. That's just the nature of the game for inexpensive AIOs, and the AE2010 is one of the better examples that doesn't trade away too much for what it delivers.
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