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Author Archive for Truc Bui
Touch Sensitive Products Dominate CES Unveiled
Tonight, Rob, Sierra and I were at CES Unveiled and noticed that a significant number of manufacturers are incorporating touch technology in their latest and greatest releases. It seemed as though you couldn’t walk around the Unveiled show floor without being within eyesight of another touch sensitive product. The usual suspects are all in on the touchy fun: MSI has their new NetOn touchscreen all-in-one desktop computer, Asus is expanding their EEE PC line with resistive touchscreen tablets in both 8.9″ and 10″ varieties, Lenovo has their tablet with touch, Logitech has their touch-based universal remote… and the list goes on and on.
PowerMat Allows Wireless Charging of All Your Gadgets
One of the more crowded and active booths at CES Unveiling was the PowerMat wireless recharging station. The concept has been around for a while now, but this was my first experience with this technology. The process is quite simple: place your device of choice in the various charging adapters (what PowerMat calls “receivers”) and place the receiver with the device onto the PowerMat. The advantage of this setup is to minimize the amount of cords running around your workspace as well as minimizing the bulkiness of traditional chargers for the mobile professionals. The PowerMats come in different sizes and can charge a variety of things, ranging from iPhones and iPods to Blackberries, Motorola Razrs, and even regular AA batteries.
Asus EEE PC Tablet - More pics of the T101 H
As Rob posted from the floor, Asus aims to impress again with a tablet version of the ever popular EEE PC. Even though this can be seen as just another EEE device, the significance of that swiveling hinge cannot be understated. The device will have a resistive touch screen and will make a compelling case for people looking for an ultra-small Fujitsu P1630 alternative. Check out more pics after the jump.
Buffalo NAS Allows Browser Access, Officially Supports iPhone
One of the main complaints about the iPhone is its inability for storage space expansion. Buffalo just released a solution to this problem with their LinkStation Pro NAS at MacWorld. With the LinkStation Pro, iPhone users can access up to 1TB of storage remotely by using the iPhone’s web browser. With AT&T’s 3G network, I can see how this is a wonderful possibility for viewing movies, pictures, music, etc. from almost anywhere. Continue reading
Palm To Launch New Nova OS At CES
It’s no secret that Palm has been losing market share to RIM, Apple, and HTC year after year. Palm started abandoning their own OS in lieu of various iterations of Windows Mobile on their devices, much to the chagrin of its loyal users who miss the simplicity and stability of the Palm OS. According to Crunchgear, this year’s CES event will be the launching pad for Palm’s renewed efforts into the mobile communications sector with an expected release of a touchscreen device utilizing a slide-down QWERTY keyboard. The OS backbone is named Nova and anticipation is running high. After my WM6.1 meltdown this morning where I magically lost the native messaging app on my T-mo Wing, I’m really looking forward to seeing what Nova is capable of. The hardware is thought to be sourced from HTC like the Treo Pro. Supposedly, the new Nova OS is going to give Apple’s iPhone a run for its money, but I’ll wait until Thursday to see if it holds true, considering everything out recently was touted as an “iPhone Killer” but still left much to be desired.
HP’s Vivienne Tam Model Photographed
No human models here so if I got your hopes up I apologize. This is just the Vivienne Tam edition of HP’s 10.2″ netbook we reported on back in September featuring a standard run-of-the-mill spec sheet. What sets this unit apart is aesthetic design. Judie Lipsett of GearDiary really likes it and has uploaded a whole gallery of candy-red goodness. I can’t even begin to imagine the questions and comments that will be flying her way at CES. “Tam,” as Judie calls it, is definitely eye catching and unique in a world of bland netbooks. Design does come with a price, however, with the Vivienne Tam edition netbook starting at $699.99.
Lenovo X200T and Fujitsu T2010 In Pictures
My ongoing soft-review of the Lenovo X200T (Warner and Rob have done a much more thorough review) continues with a pictorial comparison between the X200T and Fujitsu’s T2010. Over the last few weeks, I have found myself really liking the X200T. I was finally able to turn off the startlingly loud beeping during power changes by using Lenovo’s Power Manager. Thanks to the readers who pointed me in the right direction! So without further delay, check out the pictures with brief descriptions after the jump.
Lenovo X200T In The House
With CES right around the corner, the friendly folks at Lenovo sent me an X200T to use for the event. I’m sure you’ve all seen by now the excellent reviews that Warner posted up. I won’t bore you again with another review of the tablet, especially considering how thorough, in depth, informative, and entertaining his reviews were. I do have my Fujitsu T2010 that I will be comparing it to. I was going to post up some comparison pics, but my digital camera is broken and I won’t have access to another one for another week or so. I’ll be doing more in-depth comparisons in the very near future. For now, I’ll just give a really quick rundown of what I like and don’t like in the two days I’ve been setting the X200T up for CES in comparison to my T2010. Continue reading
The End of My Dragon NaturallySpeaking Review
Well, it’s been a fun ride and interesting experience. The time has come for the Motion F5 to go to another team member and my exposure to speech technology draws to a close. The experience has been a mixed bag of jaw-dropping awe and computer-dropping frustration (don’t worry, I didn’t drop the F5). Since the last time I updated, I was able to pair the BT headset to the computer and had to retrain the software to work with the improved hardware. I also started writing a genetics term paper using just voice technology, but having science-heavy words was not conducive to the writing process. I had to add quite a few terms into the software for it to recognize properly and that proved to be more time consuming than just typing it out and hampered my chain of thought on more than one occasion. Due to time constraints as the semester draws to a close, I have abandoned speech recognition technology for the time being. Continue reading
Quick Update On Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Professional
After a few weeks’ worth of use, I must say I am continually impressed by Nuance’s latest offering of voice recognition software. Things have been slow going as I have been completely bogged down with school, but with sporadic use while watching television (with the sound low) and late-night use in bed, the Motion F5 coupled with voice recognition software has eliminated my use of the stylus.
One of the hardest things about getting used to speech recognition software is the ability to tell your computer what to do. Saying, “Start Windows Live Writer” will start the application without even touching the computer. When I browse the internet, I can say, “go to search” and it will put the cursor in the search field. What I have found with speech recognition, however, is how hardware dependent the software is. Without a lackluster single-core processor of 1.4GHz coupled with only 2GB of RAM, operations like starting an application can be quite the wait. There are also times when I would say something and there would be a big lag between when I say it and when the words appear. This has led to many duplicate sentences during my time using Dragon. Extending the hardware topic, I have found that retraining the software to correct for my style of speaking and correcting any errors has led to a great increase in accuracy. In spite of the poor quality of the built-in microphone array, Dragon has proved to be a capable learner. It can actually learn your style of speaking with adequate corrections. Over the last few days, I have tried to install the BT headset that John sent me, but I can’t for the life of me get it to work with the F5. Even though the headset pairs with the computer, the microphone has not worked. It’s definitely not an issue with the headset as I have been able to successfully pair it with my T2010 and even the T-Mobile Wing I have. I will continue to try and resolve this issue and report back once I get the BT headset to work. I can’t wait to see how Dragon NaturallySpeaking performs with a dedicated headset.
Intel Classmate Tablet Slated For January 2009
CTL’s Classmate convertible tablet PC is scheduled for a early 2009 release at a price point south of $500. The CTL 2go is Intel’s second generation Classmate device that seems to have more in common with a netbook than a tablet PC, although it does have tablet functionality. Engadget has coined it the "netvertible," but I think a "tabnet PC" might work a little better.
The specs are what you’d find in any of today’s netbooks: Intel 1.6GHz Atom processor, 60GB HDD, 1GB RAM, and WIndows XP OS. At a selling point of only $500, I am almost positive the 8.9" touch-screen is of the passive variety with an accelerometer controlling screen orientation.
Via Engadget
Lenovo S10 Netbook Gets Video Overview
The folks over at Hot Hardware gives a brief video overview of Lenovo’s S10 Netbook. In the video, you can see how tight the keyboard is, which is common among devices in this sector. One of the drawbacks of having a netbook is re-familiarizing yourself with the downsized keyboard and hand cramps and CTS pain.
A pet peeve I have with the various Netbooks out in the wild now, including the S10, are the 3-cell batteries that last less than 3 hours. Why would a manufacturer make an ultra-portable device without giving it a decent battery run time? What’s the point of being mobile if you’re tied to an outlet every 2 hours? A 6-cell battery would double the battery life and the weight of the Netbook will insignificantly increase to a tad over 3 lbs depending on chassis weight. The extra half-pound or so is well worth the extra battery run time, I think.
Photo Credit: EEEPCNews.de
Fujitsu Quietly Releases T2020 Tablet PC
I was browsing Fujitsu’s site today for updated drivers for my T2010 when I saw the T2010’s update. Fujitsu’s predictable nomenclature scheme was used and the update was aptly named the Lifebook T2020. Unfortunately, Fujitsu didn’t really do much in terms of updates and upgrades. The difference between the T2010 and the T2020 revolves around the updated Centrino 2 processor. Both SU9300 and SU9400 ultra-low voltage processors are offered for the T2020.
Unfortunately, Fujitsu seemed to have missed an opportunity to fix the shortcomings of the T2010. Unlike HP’s completely revamped 2730p, the T2020 has not answered some of the most common complaints nor made any innovative advances. The T2020 is more of a baby-step forward rather than a leap forward like the HP 2730p. However, after having experienced the spectacular latch design of the T5010, I am more than thrilled that the floppiness of the T2010 is now a non-issue on the T2020.
Pricing starts at $1700 for an SU9300-based unit on 1GB of RAM, 120GB HDD, no Turbo Memory, and Fujitsu’s Indoor Screen. Fully spec’d units with the SU9400, 4GB of RAM, 4GB Turbo Memory, a 250GB HDD, and Fujitsu’s well-regarded Indoor/Outdoor screen will set you back $2524.00. There will be future offerings with integrated 3G WWAN and up to 128GB SSD drives.
Microsoft Shows What A Tablet PC Of The Future Can Do
I’m still trying to wipe the puddle of drool off my keyboard after seeing this demonstration from Microsoft’s Jonathan Cluts. The interactive 3-D Gray’s Anatomy with various systems of interest a touch away is truly amazing. Speaking of touch, Microsoft seems to have fully implemented its capabilities during this demonstration. Not once was an active digitizer used and the accuracy of touching the screen with a fingertip is truly amazing. I wish this technology is out now! Or at least have it coming soon, please Microsoft?
The true capabilities of tablet computing, especially in an academic setting, is very well illustrated in this video. There are also brief screenshots of a future version of OneNote where Onenote is seamlessly integrated into the tablet experience as well as a timeline-like utility that allows you to quickly recall information from years ago. The most fascinating part of the video is towards the end where Jonathan Cluts reveals the future of tablet PCs resides in both cloud and client-based software. The two conjunctively working together enables what is shown in the video. I just can’t wait to see more on this!
GBM InkShow: 3-Way Tablet PC Comparison
In this GBM InkShow, I put the Fujitsu T5010, Fujitsu T2010, and HP TX2051 through their paces. Of course there’s no such thing as a winner in these types of comparisons since each device is dedicated to a separate market. The T5010 is the high-performance beast in this comparison. Running the latest Centrino 2 Duo Core processor and 2GB of the latest DDR3 RAM, the T5010 is simply blazing. The T5010 is the most expensive of the group, but if you’re looking for all out speed in a larger-than-12″ tablet, this is the only way to fly. Its weight is offset by its sheer performance and screen real estate. The T2010 is the ultra-mobile computer of the group, using an ULV processor and weighing in at 3.5 pounds. The T2010’s price is nestled between the T5010 on the high end and the TX2051 on the low end. Battery life and portability reigns supreme with the T2010. The TX2051 is an Entertainment PC with best-of-group speakers and the full array of media buttons. It’s more of a media-centric notebook with tablet functionality built-in, but its exceptional inking capabilities and its touch feature cannot be overlooked. However, its narrow viewing angles is problematic. It’s also the least expensive of the group. Keep in mind the TX2051 has been replaced with the TX2500.
Quick Specs:
Fujitsu T2010: Intel Centrino Core Duo 1.2GHz ULV Processor running 4GB DDR2 RAM 80GB 5400rpm
Fujitsu T5010: Intel Centrino 2 Core Duo 2.4GHz Processor running 2GB of DDR3 RAM 160GB 5400rpm
HP TX2051: AMD Turion 64 X2 2.4GHz Processor running 4GB of DDR2 RAM 250GB 5400rpm
- I took a look at the T5010 in this InkShow
- Here is Warner, Rob, and Matt’s T2010 vs. HP 2710p Comparison
- Here is Warner and Rob’s look at the TX2051 and Dell XT
- Head on over to Allegiance Technology Partners for a 48-hour trial of Tablet PCs.
- Download the full video (31:31 minutes, 237MB)
