Notion Ink Adam gets detailed, pictured in its latest form
By Donald Melanson 
posted February 14th 2010 6:02PM
posted February 14th 2010 6:02PM
The folks from Notion Ink certainly haven't been shy about showing off their Adam tablet in prototype form, but they unfortunately haven't been revealing anything more than the most basic specs. That's now changed with MWC, however, which seems to have made Notion Ink quite a bit more talkative. As we'd heard previously, the Adam is Tegra 2-based with a dual-core ARM CORTEX -A9 processor, and it packs a 10-inch transflective screen with a 1,024 x 600 resolution courtesy of Pixel Qi. Also now confirmed is a swiveling 3-megapixel camera, three USB ports, an HDMI out for full 1080p video, a promised 16 hours of battery life, built-in WiFi, 3G and Bluetooth, and some welcome touches like an ambient light sensor, a proximity sensor and, of course, an accelerometer. As you can see above, the device has also undergone yet more changes from the last prototype we saw at CES, and you can check out a few more pics (and the rest of the specs) by hitting up the links below.
[Thanks, Prateek and Nasman]
[Thanks, Prateek and Nasman]
@nick91884
probably because apple knows sexy form factor is what drives in an audience for their product and that will make it sell, whereas these guys want to put out a genuinely awesome machine (in my opinion). With regards to the design of the Adam, i actually find it quite nice
@nick91884
I agree with ComradeArmona. this thing is Awesome and i would buy this over a Ipad any day. the device you are seeing in the picture is the Cheaper model and has a low power consumption screen. there is a Lcd version. that is black as has a sexier chassis.(only slightly different)
But to get back to the point. this things is Sexy in all its incarnations. Me want 3!!!!! ^_^
ps: do your self a favor read the source link and you will see the other model. and see a video demo. im sure you will change your tune.
@Alexandertron
correction im was wrong. the models are the same. the color is just different. i was confused because the black model's color scheme makes it look better.
I want this so I can use ACV and view comics on the go as they were meant to be seen.
My only question: Will it support the Android market/apps?
I'm down for one when it comes out, have about $550 budget out so far for it.
Full official specs available here:
http://www.notionink.in/adamtechspecs.php
Let the iPad killer comments Begin!
I am so getting rid of my kindle dx for this~~~
Here it is running Flash! (And you can see how nicely it performs indoor with the backlight on):
http://www.slashgear.com/notion-ink-adam-flash-video-demo-1473893/
@paladinx13
thanks for the link to the specs.
all good except for HSDPA - which allows only 384kbits up.
with H264 compression it might just be enough for good video conferencing , but I would much rather HSUPA
@smeee
HSDPA allows speeds upto 28 Mbps. Your thinking of UTMS.
@smeee
oops, missed the bit where you meant upload speed. Your correct to say upload on HSDPA is 384kb but i guess if you want to do Skype video or something then have to use wifi but thats ok.
bah - no bluetooth - must be a mistake
@smeee
The specs say: "BT 2.1 A2DP"
Any comment on the final release date and Price?
Will it be around 400$ as rumored before?
@nounousomes Its going to cost $327 USD
http://gizmodo.com/5471559/notion-ink-adam-tablet-caught-on-video-specs-finalized
its crazy huh??? i will have one. !!!
@nounousomes Yeah, they're saying $327 to $800.
There are going to be a couple of different versions, one with the Pixel Qi screen and one with a standard LCD screen.
I believe there is also going to be a version with and without 3G internet included.
I'm guessing the low end price will be without internet and without the Pixel Qi screen. The higher end being with the two features. I wouldn't be surprised if they were at $799 with 3G and prior to carrier discounts.
We'll just have to wait and see what happens, but I doubt the $327 version will leave India.
@Alexandertron
Are you getting that from someplace other than the bottom of the spec sheet where it says $327-$800?
I hope it's $327 or even $399 and I guess that's an odd price point to note, but I just can't shake this unrealistic feeling.
This will be my tablet of choice, if I ever deam a table actually useful haha. Swivel camera is badass.
I really wonder how good this is going to be as an ebook reader. If the b/w rivals epaper and the sub $400 price point is accurate, the only advantage Kindle etc will have is weight and that a huge disadvantage otherwise. I bet a lot of people will buy these just to see if they can work for them, sort of like Netbooks of 2 years ago and the Palm Pilots of 8.
I have never had much interest in the ipad but this seems worth getting just to play with. However, I am a big proponent of the ipad as it's popularity and near certain mass acceptance will only enhance the way the market/ developers find ways to make our lives easier with it. Ultimately that will only benefit the entire tablet marketplace, and quite possibly fulfill SJ proclamation of the ipad being revolutionary.
I guess it remains to be seen if there is a need for a middle ground between Notebooks and smart phones, but I suppose I can sort of see a future where something like this stakes out a place, especially with so many productive things being web based. I can also certainly see the application for older people (and kids I guess) like my dad- who looks at a keyboard, mouse and the foreign interactivity of an online newspaper and may as well have been asked to give a lecture on quantum physics. It's interesting how complexity always seems to result in further simplicity.
@nfusion770
Sorry to intrude on entirely different discussion, but I was wondering if you could respond to my last reponse to you in this story?
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/09/sennheiser-rs170-wireless-headphones-ears-on/1
I figured you may have unsubscribed & hence have not seen my responses.
Most appreciatively,
Jed
@(Unverified)
Sorry Jed- done.
USB is nice, but I just can't imagine needing 3 USB ports for a device that's supposed to be 100% mobile. Just seems like overkill.
It looks ok, but I'm definitely not in love with the looks. It looks like it should have a hinge and opening screen with that big round end, which will also make it somewhat awkward.
And what's with the price range? There's only one major set of specs from what I see, but the price range is almost a $500 swing. Are these specs for the $800 version and the $327 is going to be a stripped-down paperweight? I guess I'm not understanding the pricing scheme.
@GadgetGeezer - the source link also has a video where they explain that 3 USB ports are for people who want to use the mouse, KB and a USB storage device simultaneously
Is there any video of it showing it running any actual apps for more than a second or 2? Spec sheet looks nice but I have yet to see it actually "run" except in very small slivers. Seems like it is far enough along that the Notion Link website should have some professional quality video of it doing things vs. fuzzy "spy vids" of the device. Can someone direct me to some?
It probably has 3 usb ports because they were intending to have at least one and were able to include more than one without impacting the overall design of the device, in any case isn't it better to have too many that none at all.
On another note, what video formats are actually supported by android anyway, will this and the other android tablets need videos to be converted to be used on them or will they be able to display stuff like xvid/divx?
simply put, I want one. Now. Badly.
fvck the iJunk.
Just goes on to say how over priced apple products generally are!
Kudos to Google for Anaroid, in all realty we will ever need 1 software... but it needs to be free :)
And yes, IIT'ians are the brains behind most successful products...
Awesome but does it "just work?"
How much does this all weigh? And 16hr battery oh please, PixelQi my ass.
@kyphem
1.7 pounds ( ipad is 1.5)
@ComradeArmona Ok I looked it up, still sounds too good to be true, trust me free cheese is only found in the mousetrap :)
Looks like Adam is planning to take a bit out of Apple... :)
help me out here.. why is everyone getting so excited about a device purely meant for reading books having a camera, pretty beefy little proc & all other sorts of nice toys and all wrapped around a grey monochrome screen??
I just don’t get it... plus it looks pretty antiquated to me, think I’d rather spend a few hundred more bucks and get myself something that has a colour screen for you know reading comics or websites that can run games, play music, play video, read emails and did I mention all of this in colour... wonder if there’s anything out there that can fill the spot...
@Bongo123 facepalm!
Please do some research before posting comments. It's not a just a regular monochrome screen. It's the new PixelQi screen which can display regular LCD full color screen and low power similar to eink monochrome mode. The screen allows user to turn off the back light and go to ereader mode when they are out in broad daylight allowing the user to see the screen clearly.
Now This (My fellow posters)... Is A Real Tablet/Slate/Pad!
Love the device... However I doubt that 3 24/25 yr old kids would have any sort of marketing budget for the US market. That would mean they would need a partner here. So we would either end up getting locked up with AT&T, or have to pay a higher price for it.
This is too good to be true.
I want this so bad...if only it could be a bit sexier.
@BeanieRobert2001
Sexy design / long batterylife / good performance -> pick two.
is there already a specific release date announced or is the adam a another over-promoted death birth?
it would be great to get one, but i dont wanna wait forever.