Tablet PC News Archive

October 2005

October 3, 2005

ClearCube Launches the ClearCube Solution Network: the Industry's First PC Blade Ecosystem
Yahoo! News

ClearCube removes the traditional PC from the end-user's desk and replaces it with secure end-user connection devices including ClearCube user ports, Neoware thin-client appliances and Motion Computing tablets. These devices connect to a PC Blade -- a full featured, Intel-based computer that is secured in the data center. Using the ClearCube Management Suite, IT managers can remotely monitor, manage and provide computing solutions to users anywhere in the world.

"ClearCube PC Blades are an excellent backbone to our Neoware clients," said Michael Kantrowitz, President and CEO of Neoware. "The combination of PC Blades and Neoware enables a very secure, highly manageable computing environment."

Gateway juices tablets with 14-inch screen
Orlando Sentinel

The art world wouldn't look the same without the sketches of Michelangelo and Picasso.

The digital world would be different, too, if the concept for the Compaq Portable Computer hadn't been sketched on a napkin and Moore's Law of semiconductor speed on a piece of graph paper.

The Tablet PC, enabling one to doodle, draw and take notes on an LCD screen, has yet to replace pencil and paper because nobody has created a computer chip smart enough to read the chicken scratch that passes for handwriting in the post-cursive era.

Gateway's new CX200X Convertible Notebook, really doesn't wow me as a computer notepad.

But it more than measures up as an all-round laptop because its designers pushed the boundary for a Tablet PC screen from 12 inches to 14 inches in a widescreen format.

Much of the competition uses a 12-inch screen to help reduce system size. No one wants to doodle on a tablet as bulky as a printed volume of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Gateway has made a trade-off, sacrificing some portability for versatility. The 7-pound CX200X is a couple of pounds more than a typical 12-inch model from other vendors.

But Gateway's 14-inch display helps tip the scales in this system's favor because its widescreen format is ideal for surfing the Web and watching movies.

When used in standard computer mode, the screen's cinematic proportions (12 inches wide by 7 1/4 inches tall, and 14 inches diagonally) handles a DVD with aplomb.

Those dimensions are also well-suited for displaying two text pages side-by-side, a convenience if you're using half of the screen for reference while composing a document on the other half.

But, wait, there's more. The Convertible Notebook's rotating hinge allows the screen to pivot, reversing the dimensions to tall-and-thin, making the shape resemble a picture frame.

The screen folds flat, leaving the exterior flush with the keyboard and the digital surface facing up. In this configuration, the computer is nifty for viewing Web pages because there's less need for scrolling.

Of course, it's still a computerized tablet, and Gateway's stylus pen can be used for jotting notes or drawing directly on the screen.

The $1,399 test model includes an ample 512 megabytes of memory, a 60-gigabyte hard disk and a built-in DVD burner.

Despite its heft, the Convertible Notebook beats out other Tablet PCs for usefulness. And if you still crave paper notes, you can always print out your digital doodles.

Targus Notebook Chill Mat™
Tablet PC Questions

Birdie has been complaining about the Acer Tablet PC resetting. My first guess was spyware, malware, or adware running on the machine. However, after looking several different times, this was eliminated as a cause. As she described the problem, she talked about a slowdown of the machine prior to the shutdown. Yesterday we purchased the  Targus Notebook Chill Mat™, an excellent accessory for any Tablet PC convertible user. After being on for almost 24 hours straight, the Acer Tablet PC did not slowdown, shutdown, or reboot. The Chill Mat did the trick. Cool.

Tatung introduces new tablet PC family
eChannelLine

San Francisco-based Tatung Science and Technology has unveiled two new tablet PC models, the entry-level 10.4'' TTAB-910E and the 12.1'' TTAB-A12D.

"The light weight and slim dimensions of the new TTAB-A12D tablets make them ideal for applications in healthcare, insurance, education, inventory management, manufacturing, and other areas that require users to carry the units for long periods of time, while the TTAB-910E provides affordable entry level Tablet PC for vertical applications," said James Hwang, Tatung's director. The TTAB-A12D tablet PCs measure 9.13" x 11.92" x 0.73" (232 mm x 303 mm x 18.6 mm), weigh 3.08 lbs (1.4 kg), and can be operated with either a stylus an optional keyboard. The 12.1'' TTAB-A12D comes configured with a choice of a 1.6 GHz Intel Pentium M processor LV 768 with 2MB L2 cache or a 1 GHz Intel Celeron M processor ULV 373 with 512KB L2 cache. The entry level 10.4'' TTAB-910E comes configured with an Intel Celeron M processor LV 733 MHz with 256KB L2 cache. Both models feature an integrated security system based on Omni Pass AP biometric fingerprint recognition. The TTAB-A12D can be rotated 90 degrees by using the optional docking station, allowing users to view the tablet screen in portrait or landscape format. When the tablet is rotated on its cradle, the on-screen image also automatically rotates, and it can be inclined for four different viewing angles. Both TTAB-A12D tablets feature WLAN 802.11 a/b/g or b/g via Mini PCI, a 56K V.92 Modem card, and IrDA on the motherboard. I/O Ports include VGA out; DC-in; USB 2.0x2; IEEE1394; Headphone out; Microphone in; Modem Port; LAN Port; Docking Port and KBD Stand Interface. Audio support is AC-97 Rev 2.2/2.3/Azalia compliant with integrated stereo speakers and an integrated full duplex microphone; and an optional array microphone. The unit also includes a card bus slot for Type I/II, Mini-PCI, MDC.

The TTAB-A12D system includes a Lithium Ion battery pack, with up to four- hour battery life when used with a six-cell battery pack, support for S3 hot swap features, and an AC adapter 12V DC power supply. Standard accessories include an AC adapter, power cord, stylus pen, pen tether, quick start guide, Window XP tablet PC edition, utility CD, a 6-cell battery pack, and a detachable keyboard stand. Optional accessories include a 10-cell extended battery pack that holds power for up to six hours, an external battery charger, slim USB keyboard, RF mouse, docking station, slipcover, and carrying bag.

Have briefcase, will travel
FCW

The slow days of summer are over and the boss says it's time to hit the road again. The day before your trip you stand looking at your empty briefcase and contemplate what to pack.

First, you think about what you want to accomplish. You'll need to write some documents and check e-mail on the road, and you plan to make the most of your time at the airport and on the plane to complete those tasks.

You're also scheduled to present a slide show to a small group. The attendees will want to be able to use some of your information when they're in the field and away from their computers.

Another meeting will be a brainstorming session that will involve drawing diagrams you'll want to reference later. Most of them will be static, but some will need simple animation to be fully effective.

So what will accomplish all those tasks and still fit in your briefcase? We've rounded up four products that fill the bill.

The first is Lenovo's ThinkPad X41 convertible tablet PC. It's the lightest convertible tablet on the market, and it switches from notebook to tablet mode in seconds. Use it in notebook mode to type documents and e-mail messages, or use it in tablet mode to take notes while you're sitting or standing. You can also make a presentation to a small group by rotating the screen.

Lenovo obtained the X41 through the acquisition of the IBM Personal Computing Division. The X41 is one of the few notebook PCs on the market that includes a touchpad and a trackpoint for navigation. But if you don't like either of those, you'll want to check out Iogear's Laser Travel Mouse 1600. This small, lightweight mouse works on almost any surface, and its high resolution means that moving the cursor requires little effort on your part. That's perfect when you're working in cramped spaces such as airplane seats.

Yes, Microsoft listens
Whatisnew.com

Do you remember the old TV commercial where a person said, "When EF Hutton speaks, people listen..."? When customers, partners, developers speak, Microsoft Tablet & Mobile PC team members listen. Over on the Tablet PC Team Blog, Koji gives a quick update on what happened at PDC and how the team is not only listening but taking action. 

October 4, 2005

Toshiba Announces Enhanced Convertible Satellite(R) Notebook Tablet PC; Satellite R15-S829 Features Additional Multimedia Functionality, Increased Performance at Affordable Price
Business Wire

Toshiba's Digital Products Division, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. and provider of industry-leading portable computers, projectors and other mobile-related services and products celebrating Toshiba's 20th anniversary of the first mass-marketed laptop computer, today announced the availability of the Satellite(R) R15-S829, a convertible notebook for mainstream notebook users with added multimedia functionality and enhanced performance.

Starting at $1,599(1), the Satellite R15-S829 convertible notebook allows users to work with a traditional keyboard or rotate and fold the screen down for use as a Tablet PC with digital pen-based input and control. Consumers are given the capabilities of a full-featured notebook with the added convenience of handwritten notes.

The Satellite R15-S829 offers features new to the line, including a DVD SuperMulti Double Layer drive that reads and writes in up to 10 formats and can nearly double a recordable DVD's storage capacity in DVD+R double layer format, and an 80GB hard drive(2) operating at 5400 rpm for quicker access to files.

The product also includes 512B memory(3) (expandable to 2GB), Intel(TM) Centrino(R) Mobile Technology for optimum wireless(4) connectivity with a more powerful Intel Pentium(R) M 735 processor(5), and Microsoft(TM) Windows(R) XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 operating system.

"The Satellite R15-S829 is perfect for the notebook buyer who would like the ability to move beyond the keyboard and take notes, handwrite an e-mail or draw with digital ink on a portable, fully configured notebook PC," said Jeff Barney, vice president of marketing, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems. "Consumers will appreciate the freedom and creativity possible with a dual-function notebook that also offers Toshiba quality, design and reliability at an affordable price."

With its 14.1-inch XGA display, the Satellite R15-S829 offers a writing and viewing area similar to an 8.5- by 11-inch piece of paper in Tablet PC mode. A Tablet PC Input Panel allows users to later convert digitized "ink" into text.

Microsoft Office OneNote(TM) 2003 software is included to enable users to better capture, organize, find and share notes gathered from e-mail, meetings, presentations, classes, the Web and other sources. OneNote captures virtually any type of information -- ranging from typed notes to audio -- in a single convenient place.

The Satellite R15-S829 is currently available from ToshibaDirect (www.toshibadirect.com) and major consumer electronics and computer stores nationwide. Toshiba is committed to offering consumers the most competitive pricing possible, regularly offering rebate and other discount programs to its retailers. Consumers should check local stores and newspaper advertisements for current retail pricing on Toshiba notebook PCs.

Attention Tablet PC Developer Experts: Request for Technical Articles and Samples
Whatisnew.com

The Tablet PC and Mobile PC teams are looking for aspiring authors with great technical ideas, samples, and content for our Developer Center. If you’re a developer who has innovative Tablet PC or mobile PC ideas, is interested in seeing those ideas published, and wants to get paid for published articles, let us know. For more information, send e-mail enquiries to TabISV@Microsoft.com. If you have a great idea for us to write about or really want someone else to write about a specific topic, send us e-mail about that, too.

Mi-Co Sponsors NC Home Health Care Leadership Conference
ClickPress

Wilmington, NC. Demonstrating its continuing commitment to the health care market, Mi-Co, the mobile data capture software company, announced today that they are sponsoring the Leadership Conference hosted by the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina. The conference is being held in Wilmington NC at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside on October 3 and 4, 2005.

Phillip Greene of Gateway Computers added, “Mi-Forms Software on the new M280 Tablet PC from Gateway is an excellent combination of power, performance and price for the mobile healthcare professional capturing client data.”

October 5, 2005

OmniMD chooses the MEDCIN® Terminology Engine for its Specialty EMR
NewsReleaseWire.com

OmniMD, a leading developer of HIPAA-compliant Internet/Intranet/ PDA/ Tablet PC / Desktop PC based enterprise clinical solutions, has announced the availability of MEDCIN® clinical engine in its Specialty Electronic Medical Records(EMR) product. MEDCIN® includes more than 270,000 clinical data elements covering symptoms, history, physical examination, tests,diagnoses and therapy. MEDCIN has evolved over 26 years, in collaboration with physicians on staff from Cornell, Harvard, Johns Hopkins and other medical centers.

Tablet PC Update
eSchool News

One of the reasons I've been busy is that our Tablet PC pilot keeps rolling along, and we've been collecting some regular reflections from our teachers that I thought might be interesting to share. Let me just say that personally, I think the tablet technology is potentially transformative for teachers, and as you'll see if you read all the quotes, it's been transformative for many here. Now I know that we are extremely fortunate to be able to test this model (Tablet PC, wireless Internet access, wireless ceiling mounted LCD projectors), and we're hoping to expand it to most if not all faculty next year should things continue to go well. The creativity that inking allows, the "never have your back to the students" mobility that wireless connectivity allows, the abilty to save and share the work you do on the tablet, and the hand-off-ability of giving it to students to show their work renders a lot of other technologies (i.e Smart Boards) pretty irrelevant. It's been a treat to watch. So anyway, here are a few teacher comments, and you can read a bunch more excerpts if you like.

Xplore's Rugged Tablet PC's Selected for Streamlined Service
PR Newswire

Xplore Technologies a leading international rugged Tablet PC provider, announced a strategic deployment to Shell GAS LPG by its Platinum Systems Integrator, Rugged Systems Ltd. Working with IT advisor, EACS Ltd., Shell GAS LPG selected Xplore's rugged iX104C2D Tablet PC's for deployment by their engineering functions as part of the company's larger Six Sigma project in the United Kingdom.

Shell GAS provides gas delivery service as well as maintenance and installation service of gas vessels at customer sites. Xplore tablets are primarily used for engineering functions to maintain the vessels at the customer's location, install new LPG vessels into new customer properties, and remove them when they are no longer needed. Engineers can complete orders onsite at the customer location and send finalized work order forms back to the office real-time. The original paper-based method, when documents were sent by fax or mail was slow; and the forms did not always include all the vital details. Utilizing the conditional format of the electronic forms, Shell GAS receives all the required data. Due to the streamlined process, the company achieves a higher level of customer satisfaction.

Motion Tablet PCs Receive High Marks at Celebration High School; Mobility Helps Set Teaching Best Practices into Action
Business Wire

Celebration High School (CHS) has begun a new era in teaching with Motion Computing(R) tablet PCs. This fall marks the school's first year as a totally wireless, ultra-mobile teaching environment. All 110 teachers and administrators at the Celebration, Fla., high school are now using Motion tablet PCs.

The Motion tablets serve as the hub of CHS's wireless teaching world that includes a campus-wide wireless network, wireless projectors, and interactive white boards. Gone are the days of grading and lesson plan books for CHS teachers. Academic, disciplinary, and personal information about each student is securely stored wirelessly via the tablet on the school's network. In addition to using the tablet to create and project lessons, teachers grade assignments submitted electronically and can analyze that data and share it with administrators instantaneously. CHS has more than 700 wireless laptops available for student use.

"One well-known best practice in teaching is that students learn best when teachers interact with them, as opposed to lecturing to them," said Scott Muri, CHS's assistant principal. "Students pay more attention when the teacher circulates throughout the classroom. With the tablet, interactive white boards, and wireless projectors, the teachers at Celebration High are able to move about the classroom freely."

Over the past three years, CHS tracked the evolution and reliability of tablet PCs, waiting for the right time and the right technology to fall within the state's IT budget for the school. With Executive Source Quality Computer Systems (ESQ), a Motion Computing channel partner, CHS selected Motion M1400 tablets for their durability, flexibility, and ease-of-use. Teachers were trained by ESQ on basic tablet functions in April 2005 and were up-and-running without any major issues in time for the start of the 2005-2006 school year. According to Muri, the teacher's response to the tablets has been overwhelmingly positive.

Here's what two CHS teachers had to say:

    "In addition to drawing on presentations and lessons with the
tablet's pen, I enjoy being able to type notes using the Bluetooth
keyboard. I usually set my tablet up with an LCD projector and then
take the keyboard out into the classroom and sit with the students.
They seem to enjoy it and feel like they are a part of running the
class."
-- Amy Hughes

    "I've really enjoyed the tablet PC because it's interactive and
mobile. It's made a big difference in the way my kids learn. They're
more engaged and attentive because of this new and different
technology."
-- Joel Fox

Our Favorite Laptops
PC Magazine

Another one of our favorite laptops is the Fujitsu LifeBook P1510, a small, sleek system with the added benefits of a Tablet PC. If you need the freedom to move about the country and not feel the weight of your laptop slowing you down, then the LifeBook is a very good option.

October 6, 2005

Fujitsu-Siemens Lifebook P1510
TrustedReviews

Fujitsu-Siemens slogan for the Lifebook P1510 is “See how big small big can be”. It’s certainly apt as the Lifebook P1510 is tiny – a mere 37 x 232 x 167 mm (HxWxD) It’s the smallest Tablet PC notebook I’ve come across. Indeed it’s one of the smallest notebooks I have ever seen. Of course, small doesn’t automatically mean good, as there tend to be several features missing, but as you’ll see the Lifebook P1510 is quite a remarkable little machine.

Gateway Takes Convertible Notebook Mainstream With New Performance, Features and Affordable Price
PR Newswire

Performance Notebook With Tablet Capabilities Priced Less Than $1,400; System is the First Convertible With 14-inch Widescreen Display in Retail; Gateway Extends Value by Adding Full Version of Microsoft OneNote 2003

Gateway today unveiled its new Gateway(R) CX2600 Series Convertible Notebook, which unites the power and performance of a full-featured notebook PC with the convenience and flexibility of digital pen input and Microsoft Windows XP Tablet Operating System 2005.

The Gateway CX2600 Series Convertible Notebook is sure to get the attention of students, consumers and professionals alike. It is available now in several different models at leading retailers including Best Buy, Best Buy Canada and CompUSA.

The first convertible notebook available at retail with a 14-inch widescreen display, the new Gateway Convertible Notebook provides all the benefits of a full featured mobile PC including high performance capabilities, premium features and extended battery life. The system's unique design enables it to be easily "converted" from a notebook into tablet mode; the display simply swivels and folds down upon the keyboard to allow users to take handwritten notes, draw diagrams and edit documents directly on the stunning display. Gateway's new CX2600 Series Convertible Notebook is affordably priced at less than $1,400.00 -- a price that is making the technology much more appealing for a wider range of notebook customers.

Gateway further enhances the value of the new Gateway Convertible Notebook by including all the software that gives customers a great tablet experience right out of the box. In addition to Microsoft Windows XP Tablet Operating System 2005, Gateway also includes a full version of Microsoft OneNote 2003 on the convertible.

October 7, 2005

Agilix Labs Participates in the 2005 Schools of Distinction Awards
PR Newswire

Agilix Labs, Inc., a leading provider of mobility software solutions for the education market, today announced its participation as a sponsor in the 2005 Intel and Scholastic Schools of Distinction Awards. Agilix is providing 200 copies of GoBinder(TM) to each of the 20 K-12 schools that were recently announced as award-winners, a value of $200,000. Awards are slated to be presented to the 20 schools at an annual gala held this evening in Washington D.C., which will be attended by Agilix management. Sponsored by Intel and Scholastic, the Schools of Distinction Awards are for the top K-12 schools that have demonstrated extraordinary educational achievement and innovation, providing exemplary models for success. Awards were given to an elementary and a secondary school in each of 10 categories: overall academic achievement, literacy, science, mathematics, teamwork, leadership, collaboration, professional development, technical excellence and technical innovation. "Agilix is delighted to participate in the 2005 Intel and Scholastic Schools of Distinction awards," said Curt Allen, Agilix president and chief executive officer. "We support the effort to recognize innovation in our elementary and secondary school systems throughout America. Our youth are our future, and all efforts to accelerate student learning will pay great dividends to the destiny of our communities."

Agilix GoBinder is a mobile learning application that enhances the learning process by enabling students to take in-class notes, capture learning content for rapid recall and stay organized. Students can use Intel-based notebooks or Tablet PC computers to take digital notes, capture content, and search, annotate and organize all of their class materials. The application helps students stay organized with a calendar, task and contact manager.

October 10, 2005

Two Gateway Firsts Hit Stores Last Week
Twice

New York — Gateway Computer marked two firsts last week as it began shipping the company's first LCD monitor designed for the consumer and professional markets and its first consumer Tablet PC.

Shipping on the same day as the FPD2185W was the CX2600 series, Gateway's first attempt at selling a Tablet PC to the masses. Unlike its previously introduced business models, this was designed from the ground up as a notebook with the tablet functionality added afterward, McDonald said.

The series consists of two units, the CX2610 selling at Best Buy for $1,399, and the CX2608 selling through CompUSA for $1,349. The models are essentially the same with each having a 14W-inch touch-screen display, a 1.7GHz Intel Pentium M processor, 512MB of memory, an 80GB hard drive and an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900. The Best Buy version features a dual-format, double-layer DVD burner, while the CompUSA model has as DVD/CD-RW drive.

McDonald said Gateway specifically moved away from the ultra thin and light formats used by other Tablet PC vendors instead relying on a notebook with a heavier chassis and stronger hinge for the pivoting display. This not only added strength, a factor found lacking in Gateway's earlier models, but keep down costs, he said.

McDonald believes Tablet PC functionality may soon become just another feature on mainstream notebooks. He compared the current situation Tablet PC market as being similar to where wireless networking was several years ago, found on a few models or as an option.

“I would expect that in five or six years 90 percent of the market to have some level of tablet functionality,” he said.

Location tracking -- for people, products, places -- is fast coming into its own
Boston Globe

At the Illinois Institute of Technology, prospective students could take a self-guided tour using a tablet PC that spits out information on activities happening near where they are standing on the Chicago campus or gives them architectural highlights of the Mies van der Rohe building as they walk by.

Such tracking technologies, including new applications for Global Positioning Systems, are coming to a campus, cafe, or care center near you.

After years of false starts and underwhelming results, systems for locating people, places, and objects are finally finding themselves. Once the province of the fanciful imagination of Q from the James Bond series, location technologies are wending their way into ordinary business practices and extraordinary human applications, from monitoring the elderly to connecting a cardiac patient admitted to the emergency room with the nearest surgeon.

Gateway Takes Convertible Notebook Mainstream With New PerformanceFeatures and Affordable Price
eCoustics.com

Performance Notebook With Tablet Capabilities Priced Less Than $1,400; System is the First Convertible With 14-inch Widescreen Display in Retail; Gateway Extends Value by Adding Full Version of Microsoft OneNote 2003

Gateway today unveiled its new Gateway® CX2600 Series Convertible Notebook, which unites the power and performance of a full-featured notebook PC with the convenience and flexibility of digital pen input and Microsoft Windows XP Tablet Operating System 2005.

The Gateway CX2600 Series Convertible Notebook is sure to get the attention of students, consumers and professionals alike. It is available now in several different models at leading retailers including Best Buy, Best Buy Canada and CompUSA.

The first convertible notebook available at retail with a 14-inch widescreen display, the new Gateway Convertible Notebook provides all the benefits of a full featured mobile PC including high performance capabilities, premium features and extended battery life. The system's unique design enables it to be easily "converted" from a notebook into tablet mode; the display simply swivels and folds down upon the keyboard to allow users to take handwritten notes, draw diagrams and edit documents directly on the stunning display.

Gateway's new CX2600 Series Convertible Notebook is affordably priced at less than $1,400.00 -- a price that is making the technology much more appealing for a wider range of notebook customers.

"With the new Gateway CX2600 Series Convertible Notebook, our customers can do more in so many areas of computing; it gives them unprecedented advantages over traditional notebooks," said Chad McDonald, director of notebook product marketing, Gateway. "The extra capabilities added by the innovative convertible design and easy-to-use suite of software let our customers capture handwritten information, sketch diagrams and conveniently access online information. Plus, it lets customers enjoy existing and new applications for work, school and play."

Gateway further enhances the value of the new Gateway Convertible Notebook by including all the software that gives customers a great tablet experience right out of the box. In addition to Microsoft Windows XP Tablet Operating System 2005, Gateway also includes a full version of Microsoft OneNote 2003 on the convertible. Microsoft OneNote 2003 is an easy-to-use software program that provides handwriting recognition as well as the means to capture, share and organize written and recorded notes, information and files. When purchased separately, Microsoft OneNote 2003 has a suggested retail price of $99.

So Much To Do With The Gateway Convertible Notebook
The Gateway Convertible Notebook enhances and expands the mobile computing experience to help customers be more creative, get more done and have more fun. Following are just a few of the new and innovative ways that the convertible notebook can be used:

October 11, 2005

Ball State Moves To Head Of Class In Intel’s Ranking Of The Top 50 “Most Unwired” U.S. Campuses
LBS-zone.com

Survey Finds Students Check Laundry Status from Laptops, Log in to Virtual Office Hours and Turn in Term Papers from the Quad

As the most technology savvy and well-connected generation of college students enters school this fall, Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., is the nation’s “Most Unwired Campus,” according to Intel Corporation’s second annual survey on wireless Internet access at U.S. colleges and universities.

Last year many campuses reported limited wireless network capabilities. This year’s survey, conducted with the Center for Digital Education, reveals that students are more likely to be enjoying campus life unwired. Seventy-four percent of this year’s top 50 schools have 100 percent wireless network coverage on campus, up from 14 percent of the top 50 in 2004. According to the survey, the top 50 most unwired campuses are, on average, 98 percent covered by a wireless network, up from 64 percent last year.

Rounding out the top 10 campuses for the greatest wireless Internet accessibility are Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Mich. (No. 2); University of Akron, Akron, Ohio (No. 3); Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H. (No. 4); Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh (No. 5); Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, Mass. (No. 6); St. John’s University, New York (No. 7); Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland (No. 8); Bryant University, Smithfield, R.I. (No. 9); and Trinity University, San Antonio (No. 10).

* Professors at Coppin State University ( Baltimore) and Winona State ( Winona, Minn.) use wirelessly-enabled tablet PCs to transmit data to LCD projectors from anywhere they roam in the classroom.

Once just a productivity tool for business travelers to stay in touch with the office and customers, laptop PCs have become an indispensable part of student life. More than 20 million portables (laptop, tablet and convertible PCs) are expected to be sold in the United States this year, almost 23 percent more than last year, according to industry research firm IDC**. Without adding pounds to packs, Intel® Centrino® mobile technology has helped to fuel a new category of lighter, thinner and more powerful wireless-enabled laptop PCs. Connecting to wireless Internet access points (hotspots) with laptop PCs and other wireless-enabled devices is quickly becoming part of everyday life across America.

Shock and war
Computeractive

Itronix, in town for an arms fair, has shown off two laptops targeted at the military and other users of rugged notebooks.

One was a Tablet PC in which the processor is in a sealed compartment, water-cooled with pipes leading out to a heat exchanger.

October 12, 2005

Tablet Kiosk Introduces Think Pink; Sahara i215 Pinkie Tablet PC to Benefit Fight Against Breast Cancer
Press Release

Tablet Kiosk announces the release of their newest addition to the Sahara Brand Slate Tablet PC's, the Sahara i215 Pinkie, benefiting the fight against Breast Cancer.

The Sahara i215 Pinkie integrates the latest mobile CPU power, 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi and a wide viewing angle display as standard equipment, while maintaining their sleek lightweight design.

The Sahara i215 Pinkie utilizes the latest Intel(r) Centrino mobile technology low voltage processor, running at 1.5 GHz with 2MB L2, worldwide wireless capabilities with an Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG (802.11a/b/g) wireless module and the highly regarded Hydis Wide Viewing Angle Display, offering viewing angles of up to 180 degrees, as standard equipment.

Winners of the 6th Annual Final Draft Big Break! Screenwriting Screenwriting Contest Announced at Event Honoring Sydney Pollack
Emediawire

Final Draft, Inc., publisher of Final Draft®, the world’s #1-selling scriptwriting software, today announced the winners of the 6th Annual Final Draft "Big Break!" International Screenplay Contest at an event that also honored Hollywood legend Sydney Pollack with its inaugural Final Draft Hall of Fame Award. Big Break! is an annual, global screenwriting competition designed to support emerging creative talent. Big Break! rewards screenwriters with over $15,000 in cash and prizes and exposure to the entertainment industry through meetings with industry professionals, studio executives and agents. This year’s winners were selected out of 3,500 entries worldwide (a 25% increase over last year).

The first place winner is Julia Van Develder of Rhinebeck, New York. Her winning screenplay, The Escape Artist, tells the story of an aspiring artist who finds himself trapped in a boring corporate job and a loveless marriage. He fakes a mental breakdown and is committed to a psychiatric hospital in hopes of pursuing his dream in the guise of “art therapy.” But his boss and his wife discover the con and are out for revenge.

Second place goes to Craig Tiede of Meadville, PA. His screenplay, Zoo Day, is about a meteorologist who abandons his own cancer treatment to track a hurricane. His life collides with those of a wounded soldier and a single mother raising her teenage sons. Together they battle the elements and forge bonds in an attempt to survive.

Jon Gilbert of London, England, won third place. His screenplay, The Sculptress and The Thief, is a thriller about an armed robber on the run from police who takes refuge in a warehouse owned by an eccentric, elderly sculptress. Tensions grow as her devious plans undermine the robber's haven, ending in a horrific climax.

Big Break! Becomes the First Paperless Major Screenwriting Contest
Through the combined efforts of Big Break’s! premier sponsor Microsoft and Without A Box, the contest’s official Screenwriting Submission System, a majority of this year’s 3,500 entries in the contest were submitted, read and judged without being printed on paper. Entries were received online at Without A Box and then transferred to Microsoft’s Sharepoint Server which delivered them to Microsoft Powered Tablet PC’s for reading and judging. “By utilizing Microsoft’s technology we saved hundreds of man-hours of copying and printing, not to mention many trees," said Marc Madnick, CEO of Final Draft, Inc.

October 13, 2005

Ball State University Moves To Head Of The Class In Intel’s Ranking Of The Top 50 “Most Unwired” U.S. Campuses
noticias.info

Professors at Coppin State University ( Baltimore) and Winona State ( Winona, Minn.) use wirelessly-enabled tablet PCs to transmit data to LCD projectors from anywhere they roam in the classroom.
Broadcast across campus wireless networks, sporting events can be viewed anywhere on campus with a wirelessly-enabled laptop PC at Ball State, Purdue ( West Lafayette, Ind.) and Western Michigan University.
At Carnegie Mellon and Dartmouth, students can use wirelessly-enabled laptop PCs to check the status of their laundry loads and washing machine availability.

Professors are conducting virtual office hours and administering exams online.
University operations are being streamlined through wireless Internet access, as schools equip campus security staff, housing services staff and facility managers with wirelessly-enabled laptops to complete paperwork and submit work orders instantly from the field.

Once just a productivity tool for business travelers to stay in touch with the office and customers, laptop PCs have become an indispensable part of student life. More than 20 million portables (laptop, tablet and convertible PCs) are expected to be sold in the United States this year, almost 23 percent more than last year, according to industry research firm IDC**. Without adding pounds to packs, Intel® Centrino® mobile technology has helped to fuel a new category of lighter, thinner and more powerful wireless-enabled laptop PCs. Connecting to wireless Internet access points (hotspots) with laptop PCs and other wireless-enabled devices is quickly becoming part of everyday life across America.

Tablet PC's Reach for the Masses
New York Times

The two main types of tablet PC's are the slate model, a book-shaped computer with a pen, and the convertible model, which includes a keyboard and closely resembles a laptop. Both types run the same programs as other Windows-based computers, but all of the mouse actions can be performed by touching the pen to the screen.

The pen also allows users to write directly into programs in longhand, using an on-screen input panel, or by tapping letters and numbers on an on-screen keyboard. For example, in a Web browser you can either write a Web address by hand or tap out the letters on the on-screen keyboard. Programs developed specifically for the tablet PC offer greater uses for the pen, including mathematics, drawing and more expansive handwriting capabilities.

A new unit from Motion Computing, the LS800 (starting at $1,899; www.motioncomputing.com), is an ultraportable slate tablet PC. It measures less than an inch thick and 8.94 inches long, and the screen is 8.4 inches diagonally. With an exterior made of carbon fiber, it weighs about 2.2 pounds and is the lightest and smallest of the slate tablet PC's on the market.

The LS800 comes with a built-in fingerprint reader, which can grant access to the system using finger scans in addition to passwords. It also includes several buttons alongside the screen - one for toggling between landscape and portrait views; another to turn the Wi-Fi radio on or off; and another that starts up the Motion Dashboard, a utility program that quickly allows users to recalibrate the pen, activate the Bluetooth radio and adjust settings like security and Wi-Fi connectivity.

On the other side of the size spectrum is a new convertible model from Gateway, the CX200 (starting at $1,100; www.gateway.com). It has a 14-inch display that, as with other convertibles, flips open like a laptop and can swivel to one side and then fold down over the keyboard with the screen facing up. It is the first convertible tablet PC with a display using the WXGA wide-screen format (a maximum resolution of 1,280 by 768 pixels, and a 16:9 aspect ratio for wide-screen viewing of DVD movies).

The CX200 is large: it measures 13.58 inches wide, 11.14 inches deep and 1.36 inches thick. It weighs about 6.75 pounds with an eight-cell battery, according to Gateway, and comes with a choice of several processors, from a 1.4-gigahertz Celeron M up to a 2.13-gigahertz Pentium M. It includes a bay that can accommodate optical drives or a second battery, and it has a seven-in-one memory card reader.

From Hewlett-Packard comes a model aimed largely at business users seeking portability, the HP Compaq TC4200 (starting at $1,599; www.hp.com). With a 12.1-inch screen, the device is essentially a convertible version of Hewlett-Packard's ultraportable notebook, the NC4200. As with many ultraportables, the TC4200 lacks a built-in optical drive for playing or burning CD's and DVD's, but it offers a selection of standard-voltage Pentium M processors, from 1.73 to 2 gigahertz, typically available in larger models. The casing is made of magnesium alloy, a hard material that is protective but also adds weight.

Another model aimed at business users is from Lenovo, the ThinkPad X41 tablet (starting at $1,899; www.thinkpad.com), the first ThinkPad tablet. The X41, like the TC4200 from Hewlett-Packard, has a 12.1-inch screen, but at 3.5 pounds with a four-cell battery, it is about a pound lighter. It comes with a 1.5-gigahertz low-voltage Pentium M processor, which sacrifices some speed compared with some other models, but puts less strain on the battery and helps reduce weight.

Another new convertible, the Toshiba Tecra M4 (starting at $1,614 after rebate; www.toshibadirect.com), is aimed at consumers, college students and business users. It has a 14.1-inch screen and is large enough to be a desktop replacement. It has an assortment of ports and expansion slots, including three U.S.B. ports, with two along the left side and one in the back; a Secure Digital slot; a PC-MCIA slot; S-Video for TV out; and a four-pin FireWire port (the type that does not provide power to an attached device).

When it comes to software made for the tablet PC platform, a variety of programs have been developed. For mathematics, the MathJournal from xThink ($198; $98 for students; www.xthink.com) can calculate solutions to handwritten math problems. For example, you can write out an equation like 5 = 2x + 1, and the program can solve it numerically or symbolically, or plot the result on a graph.

A $100 program, the PlanPlus for Windows XP from FranklinCovey (www.franklincovey.com), is a planner and contact manager; you can write appointments directly in the calendar, add daily notes and write in contact information by hand that can be linked to Microsoft Outlook for sending e-mail.

The tablet PC is also seeing hardware changes. Microsoft relaxed its definition of tablet PC's last month and is now allowing computer makers to put its Windows operating system for tablets into units with touch screens. The first is an ultraportable convertible from Fujitsu, the LifeBook P1510D, which is expected to be available on Nov. 22, according to a Fujitsu spokeswoman (starting at $1,549; www.fujitsu.com). It has an 8.9-inch screen and weighs about 2.2 pounds with a three-cell battery.

A touch screen made to work with the tablet PC operating system allows the use of any pointing device, including your fingers; it does not require the special pen of today's tablet PC's. (A version of the P1510D is available with a touch screen and the Windows XP Professional operating system, starting at $1,499.)

Microsoft has added features and addressed handwriting accuracy in past updates of the tablet PC edition of Windows. In Windows Vista, the Microsoft operating system due out next year, more improvements for tablet PC's are planned. (A note about Vista: If you are considering buying a computer now and upgrading to Vista next year, check first with the manufacturer about system requirements, including the graphics processor's ability to support Vista's graphics-intensive features.)

Among the improvements in Vista is a way to import text from sent e-mail messages to help recognize words not found in standard dictionaries; Pen Flicks, a way to assign actions like "delete" or "copy" to specific pen movements; and a way to train the system to recognize your personal handwriting style.

October 14 2005

Were on our way to Digital Life in NYC !

DigitalLife is the only consumer technology event showcasing the latest in all things digital. Hosted in the largest convention center in NYC, DigitalLife will transform the Jacob Javits Center into a digital playground for THREE straight days! So, come check it out — and bring your family, friends, and co-workers — don't forget, kids under 12 get in FREE!

October 17 2005

Is It Really Time to Upgrade?
Washington Post

To hear Steve tell it, buying a computer was, by now, supposed to be as simple as grabbing something off the shelf at the grocery store. However, Angela notes, even if it's easier to buy a machine these days, knowing which one to buy still requires some decision-making. And so the Duo set out to streamline the process. They didn't look at every computer on the market--and neither should you. Instead, they've got a little list of questions you should ask yourself before you head for the store.

A few users may, however, have needs that immediately circumscribe their buying choices. For instance, some handwriting-friendly folks may be interested in Tablet PCs, which allow users to operate the computer simply by scribbling on the screen with a special stylus. Steve's handwriting is wretched, and Angela crashed the machine multiple times during her testing, but if this is your cup of tea, these things are out there. More popular lately is the use of the computer as an entertainment center for storing photos, music, and video. If that's a priority, says Steve, you might consider a Media Center PC, which lets you use your hard drive as a TiVo -like digital video recorder. (Though, he grumps, most of those types of machines turned out to be somewhat flaky during our testing as well.)

Blackboard and Agilix Labs Release Backpack -- New Mobile Learning Application
Market Wire

Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB ), a leading provider of e-learning software and campus commerce systems, and Agilix Labs, Inc., a worldwide leader in mobile learning solutions for education markets, today announced the availability of Blackboard Backpack™, a mobile learning application that synchronizes with the Blackboard Academic Suite™. Blackboard Backpack will be available to academic institutions, faculty and students using Blackboard. The technology which allows this synchronization will be a core part of Blackboard's latest software release, Release 7 for the Blackboard Academic Suite.

Blackboard Backpack allows students and faculty to easily download local course and organization content in the Blackboard Academic Suite, so that the local application's database is up to date and available for non-connected use. The primary benefit is to enable students' offline access to educational materials, and incorporate it into their personal learning knowledgebase.

The first application of its kind in the education market, Blackboard Backpack enables students to download content from the Blackboard Learning System™ and the Blackboard Content System™ on to a desktop, laptop or Tablet PC for each course they are enrolled in. Once course content is stored locally in the Blackboard Backpack database, students can view it offline, organize it, annotate it and search it. The offline content appears exactly the same as it does online. Additions and changes to the content made by faculty are automatically captured and downloaded when students re-synchronize with the Blackboard server.

Gates to students: We need your ideas
PC World Magazine

Microsoft needs students interested in computer science to program the IT innovations of tomorrow, including Tablet PCs that users can write on with a pen and wireless camera phones that interpret foreign street signs, Bill Gates said Friday.

"It's key for young people coming into the field to come in with an open mind," said Gates, Microsoft's chairman and chief software architect, speaking at Howard University, a historically African-American university in Washington, D.C. "It's really your generation, and many of you specifically, who will have a chance to drive this forward."

The Fujitsu Lifebook P1510d: a TabletPC Lover's Perspective
Blogcritics.org,

Vista Beta 1 on the P1510d
Wanting to experience the P1510 as a Tablet PC, I grabbed my copies of Microsoft Windows Vista Beta 1 and installed it. I tried two different builds. I was aware that Vista makes many more demands of hardware than its predecessor, and I had concerns that the 512mb of RAM wouldn't suffice, but I found I had no unexpected performance issues whatsoever (there were some device driver problems and application compatibility issues, but this was expected in a beta, and I reported it to Microsoft). I can honestly say that using the Vista Tablet Input Panel on the Fujitsu was a better experience than using the TPCE 2005 TIP on my beloved ViewSonic V1250.

Conclusion
If I hadn't been using an active digitizer for a year and a half, I'd be sold. For those who are new to penabled computing or who have been using PDAs and wishing for something that can do and show more, I have little doubt that the P1510d will deliver. A way simply needs to be found to make the device run cooler.

October 18 2005

TechNet Webcast: Single Image Deployment with Tablet PC Edition 2005 (Level 200)
msevents.microsoft.com

This webcast will provide the information you need to build and deploy Tablet PCs, leveraging the same Microsoft Windows XP image you have used for your notebook PCs! We show how to use the System Preparation Tool to deploy Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, which eliminates the need to maintain separate images for Tablet PCs and non-Tablet PCs. We show you some of our quick tips and best practices for building and maintaining a single image-helping to save you time and increase your information technology efficiencies.

Microsoft Issues Windows Vista October CTP
Storage

On Monday morning at 8:00 am PST, Microsoft will issue the October 2005 Windows Vista Community Technical Preview (CTP), or build 5231, to beta testers, and MSDN and TechNet subscribers. As an interim build between the Beta 1 and Beta 2 milestones, Vista build 5231 does not include the fit and finish of a true beta, but it does introduce several major new features, including Windows Media Player (WMP 11), Mobility Center, and Network Center, as well as a significant upgrade to Internet Explorer (IE) 7.

As my exhaustive review on the SuperSite for Windows (see URL below) demonstrates, these claims are accurate. Windows Vista build 5231 includes a variety of new features. WMP 11 includes a new graphical media library that utilizes album art rather than the database-like lines of text that characterize other media players. The new version of Media feature features swooping, animated graphics, and uses Vista graphical features to overlay video and photo slideshows behind the user interface. A new Mobility Center provides a front-end to the many tools notebook and Tablet PC users will need. And a drastically rearchitected volume control finally lets you discretely control the sound output of any application or service; with this capability you could mute everything but WMP 11, for example.

Xplore's Rugged Tablet PC's Provide Sharp Service for Global Global Market Leader
Canada NewsWire

a leading international rugged Tablet PC provider, announced that its rugged iX104C2D Tablet PC's were selected for logistics application at a major customer of Exel UK Ltd. Xplore's rugged mobile computing solution is the hardware core foundation for the company's Track and Trace project to improve the efficiencies of its logistics chain, and to provide first class service for its wholesale customers.

Agilix Labs Partners With SanDisk to Deliver Secure Mobile Learning Solution for Education
Yahoo! News

Agilix Labs, Inc., a worldwide leader in mobile learning solutions, today announced that it is collaborating with SanDisk® Corporation to deliver an integrated solution for education. The solution will enable the distribution of copyrighted, electronic content that is supported by Agilix GoBinder.

Agilix GoBinder is a mobile learning application that enables students to take notes, capture, organize, search and share learning content and manage their personal schedules and assignments. The integrated solution will use SanDisk's recently introduced FlashCP(TM) technology that can securely, easily and legally distribute copyrighted and educational material over the Internet to USB drives.

Students using the integrated solution will be able to view, annotate and search copyrighted, protected content within Agilix GoBinder, when used with a SanDisk Cruzer® Freedom USB Flash Drive. The application will connect to a SanDisk online catalog, from which licensed and free content can be readily downloaded.

Agilix Labs to Bundle SparkNotes Content in Agilix GoBinder
Yahoo! News

SparkNotes, a wholly owned subsidiary of Barnes & Noble, Inc. the world's largest bookseller, and Agilix Labs, Inc., a worldwide leader in mobile learning solutions for education markets, today announced a partnership that will enable Agilix to bundle SparkNotes content in its popular GoBinder application. In addition, SparkNotes will promote GoBinder on its Web site, www.sparknotes.com.

Agilix GoBinder will be distributed with some of the most popular SparkNotes content as part of the application. GoBinder will include a SparkNotes tab to include the content, giving it significant prominence within the application. Both SparkNotes study guides and GoBinder software are designed for college students.

GoBinder is a mobile learning application that allows students to create their own personal database of knowledge content. Students can take notes and create digital paper of any Microsoft Office application file, PDF or Web page. Notes and digital paper can be annotated, highlighted, searched and shared with peers. GoBinder enables students to manage their student life, by including a calendar, assignment and contact manager. This data can also be synchronized with Microsoft Outlook or Palm devices. GoBinder runs on any Windows XP computer, and supports digital ink in Tablet PCs.

MIKE WENDLAND: Microsoft has a winner with Tablet PC operating system
Detroit Free Press

Not to be a name dropper, but when Bill Gates spotted me last week at a news conference in Ann Arbor his face broke into a big grin and he greeted me with something to the effect of "Hey, Mike, my favorite reporter!"

Alas, it wasn't my journalistic skills that brought the compliment. It was the machine I was using to ply my trade: a small, slate-like computer using the Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC operating system.

Gates absolutely loves the Tablet PC system. He thinks it's one of the most innovative and useful things Microsoft has ever invented, even though it's been slow in taking off.

It was the second time this year that Gates and I had a face-to-face and the second time he noticed me using a Tablet. The last time we met, back in April during a visit to Dearborn, he was so taken by my use of the Tablet that he mentioned me by name a few days later during a speech in Seattle. So when Gates saw me last week again using a Tablet, he once again beamed approval and later, when I asked him about technology that personally excites him, he mentioned the Tablet PC.

"I'm staking my reputation on it in a very big way," he said.

The Tablet PC I was using last week is the LS800 from Motion Computing, one of a dozen or so computer makers who put out Tablet versions. Some tablets look just like laptops. The screen swivels around to cover the keyboard and, with a stylus, you can take notes in handwriting right on the surface of the screen.

Take It With You
Entrepreneur

There is also another class of notebook. Tablet PCs haven't hit the mainstream with a vengeance, but they are an intriguing alternative to standard notebooks. They come in two types: slate and convertible. Slate tablets appeal to users in specialty areas that essentially need a very portable digital writing device. The $2,349 slate-style Fujitsu Stylistic ST5020 comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and an integrated fingerprint reader. The easy-to-carry package weighs 3.5 pounds. Convertibles have a wider appeal. "A convertible tablet is more of a mainstream notebook with tablet functionality," says Gunn. The Hewlett-Packard Compaq tc4200 Tablet PC is a good example of the convertible genre. Starting at $1,599, it features a 12.1-inch screen and a three-year warranty, and weighs a very reasonable 4.6 pounds. Cutting-edge technology fans, crea-tive entrepreneurs, and those who just can't pass up the notebook-and-pen functionality should check into tablet PCs.

Lenovo ThinkPad X41
Siliconrepublic.com

Even before you get to the many features of Lenovo's ThinkPad tablet PC, the thing that strikes you on first grappling with it and again on repeated operation, is just how easy it is to use. It's not an intimidating piece of kit by any means.

Fujitsu pen PC packs powerful punch
eChannelLine

Fujitsu has announced the LifeBook P1510D notebook, the industry's smallest convertible notebook compact enough to go anywhere and light enough to hold effortlessly, with the versatility to easily convert from a conventional notebook into a slate tablet. Slightly larger than a DVD case and perfect for sliding into a lab coat pocket, the it weighs in at a scant 2.2 pounds and is equipped with a bright, compact 8.9" wide SVGA touch screen display making it ideal for the mobile workforce or person on the go. Use it in tablet mode and navigate easily through forms-based applications used extensively in healthcare, field and sales force automation and supply chain management, or use the pen stylus and eliminate the need for a notepad and paper archives. Easily rotate the screen and tilt it up to transform the LifeBook P1510D notebook into a standard notebook with a keyboard for versatility and mobility without compromise. For more information please see: http:// www.fujitsu.ca

The Pen is Mightier with GDI+ and the Tablet PC Real-Time Stylus
MSDN Magazine

Many programming interfaces are the result of a compromise between the polar ideals of simplicity and versatility. Some, however, break the interface in two and pursue both goals independently. They keep the simple programming interface for many common programming tasks, but also provide a versatile interface for more unusual needs.

Such a separation between the simple and versatile characterizes the application programming interface for the Tablet PC. Much of the Tablet PC API is remarkably easy. With just a few lines of code you can attach an InkOverlay object to any Windows^® Forms control and start doing some of the stuff Paul Yao demonstrated in his article "Add Support for Digital Ink to Your Windows Application" in the December 2004 issue of MSDN^®Magazine.

Yet, as a result of this simplicity, InkOverlay has some severe and inescapable limitations. If InkOverlay doesn't quite meet your needs, you may want to make the leap to the other Tablet PC programming interface—the far more versatile Real-Time Stylus. That's what this article is all about.

UCLA Medical Center Shreds Hospital Paper Chase With Mobile Wireless Access to Comprehensive Patient Data
UC Los Angeles

UCLA Medical Center is piloting a mobile, wireless patient information retrieval system that gives physicians instant access from throughout the hospital and around the world to real‑time patient data via wireless Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and cellular smart phones. The Global Care Quest system, or GCQ, is intended to improve access to patient data, save health care workers time, trim the cost of care and tighten patient safety standards.

At UCLA, GCQ integrates with digital medical records, bedside charting and laboratory results, to create the most comprehensive digital medical data storage and retrieval system of its kind. This state-of-the-art software solution advances existing technology by offering — for the first time — PDA and cellular smart phone access to real-time data from bedside ICU monitors, as well as X-ray and CT/MRI scan imaging studies. Physicians can access medical data throughout the medical center via the hospital's wireless network (Wi-Fi or 802.11b), and remotely, outside the hospital, through high-speed cellular network connections (1xRTT, EV‑DO, EDGE).

The GCQ system integrates with hospital and clinical information systems through wireless networks accessible on both Palm OS and Pocket PC (Windows Mobile) devices, as well as standard MS Windows-based desktop and Tablet computers. Patient privacy is protected through use of authentication codes and data encryption that meets standards set by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

October 19 2005

Convertibles: The new laptop bling?
Legit Reviews

A laptop that has a screen that can flip around 180 degrees and be used as a Tablet PC? Not only is it possible, it's an inevitability, and will become more commonly known by 2008. Sales of these "convertible" laptops are projected to sk