Have you noticed any Wi-Fi connectivity with your iPad? Let us know.

The workarounds include:

• Update Wi-Fi router Firmware
• Use WPA or WPA2 wireless security
• Adjust your screen brightness
• Renew your IP address

Yes, you read that correctly… a possible workaround is “adjust your screen brightness”. Why didn’t I think of that? In all seriousness, how does screen brightness affect anything remotely dealing with the iPad’s Wi-Fi? MacRumors forum user, NakedPaulToast, gives the following comical answer…

”If you turn the screen to the absolute darkest you won’t be able to see the bars showing poor WiFi reception.”

Some of the issues that Apple is trying to fix with these workarounds include weak signal, general networking issues, SynBay, and forgotten passwords. Apple goes on to say in the document that they will “address remaining Wi-Fi connectivity issues with a future iPad software update”.

Have you tried any of Apple’s suggested Wi-Fi workarounds… if so, how did they work? Tell us.

Mike McDonald spoke with Intel’s Holly Bourne about the machines at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas earlier this month. She was kind enough to demonstrate them:

The Clamshell Classmate PC is lightweight and compact, catering to child-size hands. It has a durable drop-proof outer case and a carrying handle. It’s keyboard is water-resistant, it comes with a built-in camera, and its loaded with education-specific features and software.

The Convertible Classmate PC also has the built in camera, carrying handle, durable outer case, water-resistant keyboard and educational features and software (though its touch-optimized). It also comes with dual mode so you can switch between tablet and traditional laptop modes.

Specs for both the Clamshell and the Convertible can be seen here (click the image for a larger view):

The Classmate PCs are readily available. In the future, Intel plans to work with local developers to create customized versions of the Classmate PC for specific local needs.

 

The old software was cool-looking, centralized, and had a lot of big buttons, while this one is bold, filled with extra information widgets, and lots of coolness, enough to make me jealous of UMPC owners. While the old stuff was about usability, the new goodness is about the centralized dashboard and great-looking touch computing.

Read more at the Origami Project’s blog.

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The idea behind this venture backed by Microsoft was to create a computing experience that anyone could carry around with them and access at any time. Weighing in at just around 2 lbs. and with a seven inch screen it was going to make life a bit more portable.

The idea is simple, create a hardware device that can run a regular install of Windows XP Tablet PC edition, and market it to the masses. The Ultra Mobile PC tries to hit that target.

Initially there were a couple drawbacks to the devices:

Low Battery Life – When the UMPC was first launched there were some complaints by the early adopters. Most notably was the amount of time available on the battery during a charge. The Q1 ran for close to three hours, and another offering by TabletKiosk; the UMPC named eo, had some problems with the device that would quickly drain the battery. Fortunately, both companies have addressed these issues by providing longer life batteries that provide around 5 hours or more on a charge. By using power management techniques within Windows XP you can probably get a day’s use from the device without having to run for the outlet. With new technologies on the horizon like flash based memory and better power conservation on the CPUs, we should see battery life to continue to lengthen in 2007.

High Cost – Cost of the UMPC was pretty high at the initial launch, many models were released with a retail price of around $1,200 or more. Some models range higher depending on the features of the device. 2007 should bring lower prices as memory costs continue to dip as well as efficiencies in manufacturing costs. Once costs come down the market should see a heavy turn in purchasing of the UMPC, for example; online retailer woot.com recently posted the Samsung Q1 at a price of $750 twice within the same month, on both of these sales the Q1 was quickly purchased and they sold out in very little time. This low price provided by woot.com clearly demonstrates that the UMPC still needs to come down to meet its price point, at that time the UMPC should see a major boost in sales by consumers.

Confusion in the Marketplace – After the UMPC was launched there was confusion over what the device actually was. Was it a Tablet PC, or was it a laptop? Many of the initial reviews were poor due to issues like the device lacking a keyboard or DVD drive. For most of the early adopters who purchased the device however, they really didn’t see a problem with these issues. The UMPC is meant to be a mobile device, something carried in a backpack or cargo pocket, not something to do heavy computing in a work environment. Even so, Samsung responded by including a USB keyboard into the package with every purchase.

Several manufacturers provide versions of the UMPC. Most notably is the Samsung Q1 which had a better marketing strategy than other competitors in the segment in 2006. Samsung worked with partners like Best Buy as well as using their PR and communications departments to bring the Q1 into the consumers mind.

Another boost for marketing and building awareness of the UMPC was the support Microsoft placed behind it. Microsoft opened up an online community (http://www.origamiproject.com) to foster and support the growth of the early adopters as well as build a support resource for owners of the UMPC.

Where do we see the UMPC going for 2007. We can only expect it to gain in popularity as a platform. Microsoft employee and member of the UMPC team Dustin Hubbard recently posted on the OrigamiProject.com community site that:

“But alas, all will be explained on January 8th. All I can say is to expect an all new experience. It’s the best product work my team has ever done!”

Which is the date of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. 2007 should bring new features as well as improvements over the existing models as far as battery life and cost. We’re looking forward to the future of the UMPC and what 2007 brings.

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Patrick Santry of Santry Technology Solutions, and owner of the popular gadget site: RedmondGadgets.com has kept an eye on the technologies coming out of Redmond for the past 12 years. Patrick is a frequent presenter and author on Microsoft technologies.

There is plenty of passion for the forthcoming Tablet PC design from Korean electronics maker LG.

Their C1 model has a much more modern look than previous attempts by the company in this field.

“LG seem to have heard my silent cries and taken the current trend for high-gloss surfaces on board in their new C1 convertible. With its piano-black lid and bright white keyboard, Tablets are no longer the dull cousin of the flash consumer notebook,” Chris Davies wrote at SlashGear.

He noted LG confirmed the new model would have an Intel Core Duo processor, Nvidia graphics, and built-in cellular connectivity.

The base of the C1 has places for a GSM/Edge card and a SIM card.

TabletPCReview.com has a number of pictures of the C1.

Performance and other specifications are not yet known about it.

CrunchGear reviewer Richard Ozerman makes no mistake about convey his wanton desire for the C1.

“This is one tablet we’d like to be seen out and about with,” he wrote.

LG has not begun advertising the C1 on its site yet. C1′s predecessor, the T1 Express Dual, and the Centrino-powered LT20 still appear on the LG product pages.

All of them run the Windows XP Tablet Edition.

If LG does not announce the C1 before the holidays, one might guess they will wait for Vista to launch in the consumer market in 2007 before making the C1 available.

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The process of reviewing and discussing a technology product looks tailor-made for online video.

I would like to think they can complement a written review quite nicely, but I’m a writer and have that kind of bias.

Video has not become the main way to review Tablet PCs, or any other tech product, yet. That’s a very conditional yet, as some Tablet PC-related content may be found through simple searches of video sharing sites.

Google Video has less than a couple of dozen results for a query on “tablet PCs.”

A Toshiba Staellite tablet review from ExpoTV.com appears here, as does an overview of the HP Compaq TC4400 as given by a member of HP’s staff.

YouTube yielded about four times as many results for the same search.

One user created a clip demonstrating the use of Microsoft Max photo and news software on a ThinkPad X41 Tablet device.

I had expected CNet to have a selection of videos, given that site’s focus on all things in technology.

It does, and runs short pre-roll ads before reviews of Tablets like the Toshiba Portege M400.

For those who prefer pretty pictures to new video hotness, several sites can fulfill that need for Tablet PC visuals.

Engadget, TGDaily, and Ars Technica all do reviews with photos of the product at hand.

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Tablet PCs may be ready to grow beyond some very narrow vertical niches. Industry-wise, they have been popular with healthcare and financial computer users. Tablet PCs can also be found in places like an auto dealership garage, where service managers use them to compose service orders for customers.

The long-delayed Vista may follow along to those places too. Microsoft’s statement about the broadening of its Vista Release Candidate 1 testing program included some information of interest to Tablet PC users:

The Vista Home Premium version lists a suggested retail price of $239, or an upgrade price of $159. Vista Business has a suggested retail tag of $299, and carried an upgrade price of $199.

Eric Charran, posting on his blog on the Microsoft Developer Network, noted his testing of Vista on a Tablet PC machine:

Microsoft said of its pricing that it has remained unchanged for versions that have equivalents in Windows XP. They also noted, “The announcements signal a major step for the technology industry toward the final availability of Windows Vista, currently targeted for volume license customers in November 2006 and general availability in January 2007.”

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The market being created by the Bush Administration’s initiative and motivation to start digitizing the field of education could spawn a $25 billion market. TabletPCReviewSpot noted that Fourier Systems and its Nova5000 stand ready to gain from that market, which should start with a need for schools to equip five million students starting next year and increasing after that.

Fourier’s Nova5000 would cost $399. Company CEO Dov Bruker said in Globes that it was a low price compared to alternatives from competitors. “We have produced a computer with the functions of a laptop for the price of a PDA,” he said.

That price could come down even more. Bruker said Fourier’s plans would have it reach one to two million pupils in 2007, at a price of $300 per student. Fourier would enter the US market through the distribution platforms available from Dell, Ingram Micro, and CDW.

The company wants to find a strategic partner in the publishing sector to help the Nova 5000 reach the market. That could lead Fourier to pair with someone like Scholastic or McGraw-Hill, both powers in the field of publishing for schools.

On the specification side, Fourier said the Nova5000 runs on Windows CE 5.0, with word processing, spreadsheet, and wireless web and email capabilities. The company claimed the battery would last a full school day, through use of a Suspend button to conserve battery life when the Nova5000 is not in use.

Its built-in 64MB of RAM and 128MB of storage memory drops to 32MB and 94MB respectively after Windows CE and the bundled software for the Nova5000 has been installed. Fourier uses the Intel PXA 255 400 Mhz processor, which was designed for embedded systems, in this Tablet PC.

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From the geek perspective, a tablet PC is a pretty cool device. Modern ones like those made by Fujitsu and other manufacturers can be used as a modern version of the slate tablet, or by pivoting the screen operated like a conventional notebook computer.

Taking a look around places where one normally sees portable computers and their owners at play, like the library or Starbucks or Panera Bread, and it’s notebook after notebook. I’ve yet to see one outside of a display case.

It seems as though tablet PCs should take off. There is some demand for them in a couple of distinct vertical niches. If the very first Tablet PC concept were announced today, it’s easy to imagine people seeing them as useful for the healthcare industry.

Financial industries like insurance should take right to them as well, and a few have. Multitudes of forms can be rendered into electronic form, and that stylus can replace the ballpoint pen as the sign on the dotted line choice.

Both of those industries have one thing in common – paperwork. Let’s face it, we’re no closer to a paperless society than the Cubs are to winning a pennant. But anyone who has ever been admitted to a hospital or signed up for life insurance knows that the need to sign here, initial here, and date this here on paper persists.

I tend to think it won’t take off until Apple releases a tablet PC. It may take the equivalent of a Photoshop on the software side to drive that adoption, but if Steve Jobs and company can bring the artistic crowd into the fold, other ease-of-use-first customers could follow.

This week marked the tenth anniversary of Flash technology, now owned by Adobe via its purchase of Macromedia. Wired News reminded us that Flash began as an application called SmartSketch, an illustration tool made for the stylus-driven Tablet PC.

Maybe a return to the past, with ten years of technology advancements coming along for the ride, will turn the question of “Why a Tablet PC?” to “Why the heck not?” instead.

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Historically the tablet was used by the Egyptians to write on clay tablets with a writing stick. In the present day the clay tablet has been replaced with a screen and the writing stick with a stylus. The tablet PC may be considered the pen and notebook of the future. They typically weigh around 2-3 pounds and their main feature is portability. The idea of a tablet PC was floated by Alan Kay of Xerox but was a commercial failure until now, when the prices have fallen down and it is expected that the prices will fall in future. The first widely sold Tablet PC was Newton of Apple Computers.

The hardware consists of a slim touch screen, stylus, optional wireless keyboard and mouse. In this type of computers the data input is not through the traditional mouse and keyboard but through a stylus or a virtual keyboard on the screen. It also has the facility of data input through wireless keyboard and mouse. The stylus is used to write directly/tap on the screen or fingers are used to input data through the touch screen. There is a magnetic field over the screen which interacts with the stylus electronics, hence the user can rest his hands on the screen without distorting the image and only stylus movement affects the screen. They come in various sizes like 8.5 inch, 10 inch and 14 inch.

There are different types of tablet PCs like slates, convertibles and hybrids. Slates consist of just the screen and the stylus. If a slate is attached with a keyboard it is called a convertible. Typically the keyboard is attached with a single joint and it folds/opens onto the screen. The Hybrid has a detachable keyboard so that it can be used both as a slate or a convertible.

Tablet PCs come with resident softwares like handwriting recognition software, speech recognition software, shorthand entry software, virtual keyboard etc,.

There are various advantages like portability, users who are not comfortable with keyboards find stylus more friendly, they do not interrupt line of sight as they are kept on the table and are helpful in meetings and are handheld so can be used in giving presentation while standing up. The disadvantages of Tablet PCs have been cost till now but since the prices have fallen and are falling, hence is not a constraint anymore.

Various companies like Acer, Lenovo, Toshiba Fujitsu, HP, Gateway, Compaq, Motion, NEC etc are manufacturing Tablet PCs.

Are they future proof?Till recent years the Tablet PC was a commercial failure but with the advances in battery technology, handwriting recognition software, wireless internet access, larger memory, better screen resolution they are being accepted as commercially viable option. Many popular science fiction movies portray the use of Tablet PCs. Tablet PCs are bound to replace the notebook & pen and future books, magazines, newspapers.

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Tyson J Stevenson writes on a wide variety of computer related subjects, always with valuable news & reviews. Expect to see his name often. A related resource is Tablet Computers or visit News 2 Reviews.

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