| Operating system The main control program of your system. See Productivity Software category for Office applications.  | Choices: HP Mobile internet (Mi) software built on Linux | |
| Processor A faster processor supports more efficient operations and applications performance | Choices: Intel(R) Atom(TM) Processor N270 (1.60GHz) | |
| Memory Use more programs at once and make them run faster with more memory | Choices: 512MB DDR2 System Memory (1 Dimm) 1GB DDR2 System Memory (1 Dimm) 2GB DDR2 System Memory (1 Dimm) | |
| Hard drive Store your applications, data, digital music and digital photos on your hard disk drive | Choices: 8GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module) 16GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module) 80GB 4200RPM Hard Drive 32GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module) | |
| Graphics card Bring your favorite applications and games to life | Choices: Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator 950 | |
| Display The window to applications, the Internet and more | Choices: 8.9" diagonal WSVGA LED BrightView Widescreen Display (1024 x 600) 8.9" diagonal WSVGA LED Anti-glare Widescreen Display (1024 x 600) 10.1" diagonal SD LED BrightView Infinity Widescreen Display (1024 x 576) | |
Laptop computer screens that flip around to become tablet PCs could be an increasingly common sight near future. Convertibles, as they are called, are the newest and hottest – but not the only - offering in the increasingly diverse laptop market.
A convertible is more than just a laptop with a swiveling screen. The screen also accepts input from a pen just like a PDA – Personal Digital Assistant – or dedicated tablet PC.
Convertibles have given laptops a dual personality – use it normally or flip the screen around and snap it down on top of the keyboard to make a full-fledged table PC. Another cool feature: if you’re trying to show somebody what’s on the screen, you simply swivel it towards them – great for presentations.
With all these cool features, why doesn’t everyone own a convertible? Price mostly – they can cost several hundred dollars more than a standard laptop. Experts predict this will change as more people buy them – economy of scale. On top of that, laptop prices have literally crashed in the last 5 years making them affordable replacements for desktops.
Slate-style tablet laptops – the screen is fixed on top of the unit – are less popular, but widely praised by a select group of die hard scribblers. These units are akin to a PDA, only larger - the dimensions of a standard pad letter-sized of paper - and work in much the same manner.
Table PCs have been around for about 15 years, but sales have always been just a few percent of the total laptop market. To type, you need an external keyboard. Most people prefer typing to writing and – even today – handwriting recognition software leaves something to be desired. Most require a new writing style or a “learning” process.
Full sized tablet PC - Motion Computing LE1600 8.5” x 11”, 3.13 lbs.
Unlike underpowered PDAs, tablet PCs are full-fledged computers capable of running any Windows program. They also cost several hundred dollars less than convertibles and have been on the market longer. Lack of a swiveling screen makes them more robust and lighter, as well, according to proponents. Another segment in growth is that of the ruggedized laptops. They are attractive to anybody who’s ever dropped or banged an expensive laptop causing permanent damage. Ouch, and get out that wallet: just the screen alone could cost $1000 to replace.
| Intel® Atom™ Processor1 N270 (1.60GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512K L2 Cache)9 |
| Genuine Microsoft® Windows XP® Home with SP3 |
| 1024MB DDR2 533MHz SDRAM Single Channel Memory (512MB onboard and 512MB soDIMM card in slot)10 |
| 160GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive4 |
| Chassis with Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 and Mobile Intel® 945GSE Chipset11 |
| Gateway 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED®6 |
M SeriesBe the hit of the coffeehouse with Gateway's colorfully stylized M Series Notebook. Featuring a powerful dual-core processor and Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium, the M Series Notebooks make it easy and quick to connect with friends via the integrated webcam or surf the Internet with the wireless and quick-launch keys. Plus, you'll enjoy watching the latest Hollywood movies on the brilliant HD widescreen. |
