Intel's new convertible Classmate PC hands-on

Score one for the kids! We just got to toy around with the new convertible Classmate PC and, boy, does it feel solid. Though it feels quite heavy in hand, it definitely feels like it can take a beating in a backpack and, as you can see in the video below, survive a decent fall. We're less impressed, however, with the resistive touchscreen performance. Though we're keeping in mind that these were pre-production units, the resistive touchscreen was quite unresponsive to the pen input when we tried to draw on the screen. Can't you hear the youngins, Intel? They want multitouch! We still appreciate that rotating webcam and the improvements made to the expanded the keyboard and touchpad. You'll have to hang tight on getting one of these for little Jimmy -- Intel tells us these will be brought to you by OEMs sometime in April.

Intel convertible Classmate refresh hands-on

[NewL Posted Mar 2nd 2010 7:03AM]

Oh please. Engadget wants multitouch, kids want styli to draw stuff instead of finger-only nonsense.

[naashak Posted Mar 2nd 2010 1:21PM]

@NewL

Just becoz it is resistive doesn't meant it can be multi-touch. In fact as of now the state-of-the-art resistive multitouch (by folks like Stantum) is better than capacitive multitouch.

[Prospero Posted Mar 2nd 2010 7:05AM]

Nifty, if I was 15 years younger.. oh hell id want one now too ;)

[emopoops Posted Mar 2nd 2010 7:15AM]

this is a trip and a half.

[pgk2009 Posted Mar 2nd 2010 7:19AM]

Covertible? (title typo)

[dez Posted Mar 2nd 2010 9:34AM]

@pgk2009

easy to hide, covertable is right.

[abedinthehouse Posted Mar 2nd 2010 7:35AM]

Its nice and pretty cool, y no multi-touch?
is this based on kids market????
I woudlnt want that if I was a kid again...
Id rather spend half the money on a game counsel for my kid, then something that can ultimately be used for things I dont want them doing...but ofcorse thats based on the fact that this product is aimed at kids???


btw "it appears to be fine" IS NOT fine...at least, prove to us its still okay

[abedinthehouse Posted Mar 2nd 2010 7:36AM]

Its nice and pretty cool, y no multi-touch?
is this based on kids market????
I woudlnt want that if I was a kid again...
Id rather spend half the money on a game counsel for my kid, then something that can ultimately be used for things I dont want them doing...but ofcorse thats based on the fact that this product is aimed at kids???
either I dont think id still spend my money on this, when there seems to be better touch screen laptops comming out...plus where r the specs?

btw "it appears to be fine" IS NOT fine...at least, prove to us its still okay

[kobioshi Posted Mar 2nd 2010 7:46AM]

"Covertible" Does that mean Sam Fisher can take one on a mission?

[iretru Posted Mar 2nd 2010 8:35AM]

It reminds me of the old clamshell ibooks.

[kingstu Posted Mar 2nd 2010 8:46AM]

I want to know will they have a classmate that runs MeeGo

[bob e Posted Mar 2nd 2010 9:04AM]

Joanna is my favorite reviewer on Engadget.
Nice work :)

[bigsofty Posted Mar 2nd 2010 9:12AM]

Stuff multi-touch, how about an accurate pen with having to throw ridiculous amounts of money at WACOM for there over priced touch screens!

[iatriki Posted Mar 2nd 2010 9:19AM]

it looks cook & stuff! how much does it cost?

[JRO Posted Mar 27th 2010 10:55PM]

@iatriki

Provantage has it available for $501.61 + S&H. I suspect this will be going rate for a while.

Personally, I think is a pretty clever little machine but a bit expensive.

[bradsh Posted Mar 2nd 2010 9:29AM]

Multitouch is worthless on desktop OSes. WAAAAY better off with proper pen input.

[Hackettman Posted Mar 2nd 2010 10:07AM]

Id kinda like to be a kid these days......

[vanmankline Posted Mar 2nd 2010 10:33AM]

It kinda looks like the tangerine iBook I had back in high school.