Mobile
ExoPC Slate offers a tablet-centric UI over Windows 7
I’m normally not a fan of interface overlays to make Windows work on a mobile PC. Inevitably, there’s a need to dig beneath the overlay, sticking you with a desktop-based interface. However, I think the ExoPC Slate with 8.9″ multi-touch screen may have remedied that problem by taking the overlay concept a necessary step further.
Basically a netbook in slate form, the ExoPC doesn’t stop with the usual launcher type interface. Per their website (translated from French):
Applications for Slate ExoPC are specially designed for use touch. The development kit is freely available and allows for quick and easy touch applications in Flash or Javascript.
So while the ExoPC is running on Windows 7 Professional, it’s intended primarily to run custom apps, not Windows applications, though it presumably can do both. I’m a little puzzled as to why it’s running Professional as opposed to Home Premium. Certainly it’s better than the Starter version, which lacks touch support, but I have to wonder if perhaps they need XP mode for the UI. I also notice their mockups lack critical interface elements (not to mention advertised hardware), so it’s not clear how the UI will work. Another puzzle is whether it has mobile Internet installed. The specs (posted after the jump) mention CDMA/SIM, but not 3G.
Product is in prototype right now without multi-touch (and half the battery life), which they appear to be selling for US$780. Or if you can wait for the final multi-touch version, it’s US$599.
Via Engadget
Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz
Intel 945GSE + ICH7M
Integrated Intel Graphics GMA950
2GB DDR2 RAM 667Mhz
Multi Touch Screen 8.9 inch
1024 x 600 pixels 1024 x 600 pixels
SSD 32GB
Card Reader SD / MMC
802.11 b/g WLAN WiFi
Bluetooth
10/100 Network
1.3 Megapixel Webcam
3 USB
Headphone and microphone
VGA Port
CDMA / SIM
4 hour battery life
Jeff Jackson
02/01/2010 at 1:35 pm
No stylus? Then not interested.
Carlos
02/01/2010 at 11:44 pm
Hi,
I think interface overlays to make Windows work is, according to my perception, the best way to answer the needs of tablet users (based on Windows OS).
I’m always trying to mod the SO in order to use my TX2120 (the passive digitizer) with the finger. Scroll bars, menus, tabs and other buttons are quite dificult to use with an interface that was made for mouse or trackballs.
Using the TX2120 with the stylus and the active digitizer, is no problem, but an interface more friendly for touch would be appreciated.
Several interface overlays come to my mind, some of them are: HTC sense over WM, HTC sense over Android, SPB mobile shell, etc.
At the end, all the new developments around tablets, digitizer and OS, will benefit to the final user.
Lorie Ghamy
02/02/2010 at 7:45 pm
Carlos,
Free Origami Experience 2 interface (Work with Windows 7) :
First Panel :
– Internet (Web with a special browser layer, and RSS)
– Media (Audio, Images, Video with dedicated interface)
– Programmes
Second Panel :
– Time and date
– Wheather
– Post-it (Ink and Type text)
– Tasks (Ink and Type text)
– Mail (Outlook or Windows Mail)
– RSS
Thats a good touch layer for simple and easy tasks !
https://cid-ba3ce29f32ae6aec.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BC%D1%8B/OrigamiExperiencePackv2.msi