Well, what do we have here? Indeed, it is another Windows 7, Atom-powered tablet, but this one happens to be from CTL, reputable maker of those Classmate PCs. Unlike some others CTL's done its teaser video of its 2go PC Slate just right by revealing most of the vitals including the full specs and availability. In case you don't feel like hitting the read more link to watch the short clip, here's the Cliff Notes version: The 10-inch capacitive touchscreen slate is powered by a 1.6GHz Atom N450 processor, 1GB of RAM, and has two USBs and a 2-megapixel webcam. That's right, a netbook with its keyboard chopped off. The software overlay that you see in the blurry picture above is actually Intel's Blue Dolphin interface for the Classmate PC, so perhaps the company is planning to use that to skin the underlying Windows 7 Home Premium OS. It should all be ready by early June for that popular $499 tablet price, but in the meantime CTL, we wouldn't object to you giving HP a call and teaching them how to make a teaser vid!
@Bearitone Not bad, almost the same as the HP Slate. But better are Tablets with Nvidia Tegra 2 dual core processor, like Notion Ink Adam and ICD's Tegra 2-powered Gemini. ADAM specs here > http://www.notionink.in/adamtechspecs.php I think my money is waiting for the Notion ink ADAM
@Beatnik THE iPad KILLER Some details for Notion Ink ADAM:
Here’s a quick summary of the features highlighted in the video above:
180 degree swivel camera
The camera integrated into the device can be swivelled 180 degrees. That means you will be able to use it as a webcam when turned to face the screen, and as a recorder when turned to face away from the screen. However, the Adam also has a 90 degree setting which allows the device to be placed on your lap while sitting to record presentations. Even better, a notes application will be available to write as you record.
Rear-mounted trackpad
All tablets we have seen so far rely on the touchscreen alone for screen navigation. The Adam has a multitouch screen, but Notion Ink has included a trackpad on the back of the device. That means the screen can remain clear of hands while you move a cursor or scroll with you fingers on the back of the device.
3 USB and 1 HDMI
Notion Ink has been quite generous with ports on the device managing to fit 3 USB and 1 HDMI port to allow for video output to a larger screen if desired.
24 hours of battery life
During the interview it is stated that the Adam will have more than 10 hours battery life when viewing HD video output. Also, for general use, we can expect more than a day of battery life.
Open SDK for app development
Notion Ink will actively encourage 3rd-party application development by providing an open SDK. As this is an Android device we can expect many apps to be available at launch.
Screen viewable in all lighting conditions
Both in this video and the last prototype demonstration video the Adam’s 10″ Pixel Qi display is shown to be very easy to read in all lighting conditions. Here’s it is even shown next to a MacBook in direct sunlight and the difference is astonishing.
Notion Ink representative Rohan confirmed the Adam would be released in June and will ship with a custom interface built on top of the Android OS. There’s also mention of two versions of the device, but no details as to what the differences are other than thickness. One will be 13mm thick (as seen in the video) while the other is 11.8mm. We can only assume that the difference is down to battery size. Pricing is thought to be around $325.
@Beatnik they said there are 2 versions due to one with pixel Qi and one without the screen for reading under sunlight. Also different versions for optional WWAN (mobile internet, dunno if its written right).
The killer fact for me is the enormous battery life and with tegra 2 I expect decent video codec support (= Anyway it got me sold lol
@TheSunman89 Me too... I guess that in the end build quality will be better on the hp. Not to mention the too cameras one at front and the other in the back. Another aspect is the displays viewing angles witch i find bad in others than the slate... Anyway i never saw a video of the hp in action...
i don't like the icons.. just like every other product out there.. at least joojoo had a nice bing-like look.. but why can a tablet be more clean like a desktop? how about we click or drag from the corner and get apps, like documents in apple's doc, or have just a few important widgets to the side, like htc sense or windows's gadgets ... mm.. maybe it's asking too much.. what i like someone else won't like, and since a lot of ppl own an iphone they might be attractive to the same idea.. not being a ms fan or anything.. but this is why i like the courier look... seems different.. still a prototype tho'
@pedmart It's Intel's Blue Dolphin, they use it on a lot of netbooks. If you don't like it you can just turn it off and use Windows 7 standard interface.
Guess I'm not seeing the pricing here. If a comparable netbook sells for $300 how does losing a keyboard/mouse and adding in a touch screen justify the $200 price increase?
When a netbook company starts to offer netbook like slates and netbook like pricing you will see a total win. Right now, everyone is sticking with iPad like pricing. Lose for the consumer.
There are plenty of netbooks that use SSD (usually 16GB max though). Even then - the price simply is not justified. If manufacturers want these to go mainstream they have to drop the price to comparable pricing with netbooks.
@hated one Yep. Lots of people. The iPad is flashy and easy. But not everyone wants to be tied down to Job's scheme. The flexibility of a full blown OS is a great thing.
Hello 2010 tablet makers, you can't simply take netbook guts and put it into tablet form and say, were done! You have to bring something new to the table(t)...maybe better HD content playback, performance and battery life?
@One Love I will say this is a bit different than the other two Atom powered tablets as this is running the slightly more efficient Pintetrail Atoms. Hopefully, they will gives us a model with the Broadcom HD decoder or better yet the dual core Pinetrail Atom with the Broadcom HD decoder pair in this.
Silver-painted plastic and parting lines around the ports that look like they came from the mid-90s need to die. I understand the obsession with following Apple's industrial design, but silver-painted plastic is not true to the material the way anodized aluminum is.
If it runs anything but apples locked OS and has a usb port and decent styling (ipads glass and aluminum isn't bad) then I'd consider it. I dont see myself buying a piece of hardware where im locked into a walled garden system. Remember AOL? Yeah besides this blog - neither would I.
does the stupid lingering mouse pointer make anyone else mad? it's been in every windows tablet, it just looks stupid in a device that's meant to be mostly touch input.
"Hello 2010 tablet makers, you can't simply take netbook guts and put it into tablet form and say, were done! You have to bring something new to the table(t)...maybe better HD content playback, performance and battery life?"
Thats what a slate PC is. iPad is a MAcBook Air, removed keyboard and add touch, oh and removed the OS. Battery life really, come on people. the iPad runs a phone OS on a laptop battery, of coures it last long. Thats common sense not innovation.
Windows will kill all the tablets, whatever the brand makes them. Poor companies. Windows is not supposed to work out for anyone except programmers and MS IT oldsk00lers. Windows tablets are not viable.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
posted April 8th 2010 4:36PM
Looks clunky... They really need to hire some better interface designers.
@Bearitone
Not bad, almost the same as the HP Slate.
But better are Tablets with Nvidia Tegra 2 dual core processor, like Notion Ink Adam and ICD's Tegra 2-powered Gemini.
ADAM specs here > http://www.notionink.in/adamtechspecs.php
I think my money is waiting for the Notion ink ADAM
@Beatnik
INTERESTING DEMO VIDEO HERE: http://www.geek.com/articles/gadgets/video-reveals-impressive-notion-ink-adam-tablet-features-20100214/
I am loving the back mouse, and the double display function (color and ebook reader EVEN UNDER SUN LIGHT)
@Beatnik THE iPad KILLER
Some details for Notion Ink ADAM:
Here’s a quick summary of the features highlighted in the video above:
180 degree swivel camera
The camera integrated into the device can be swivelled 180 degrees. That means you will be able to use it as a webcam when turned to face the screen, and as a recorder when turned to face away from the screen. However, the Adam also has a 90 degree setting which allows the device to be placed on your lap while sitting to record presentations. Even better, a notes application will be available to write as you record.
Rear-mounted trackpad
All tablets we have seen so far rely on the touchscreen alone for screen navigation. The Adam has a multitouch screen, but Notion Ink has included a trackpad on the back of the device. That means the screen can remain clear of hands while you move a cursor or scroll with you fingers on the back of the device.
3 USB and 1 HDMI
Notion Ink has been quite generous with ports on the device managing to fit 3 USB and 1 HDMI port to allow for video output to a larger screen if desired.
24 hours of battery life
During the interview it is stated that the Adam will have more than 10 hours battery life when viewing HD video output. Also, for general use, we can expect more than a day of battery life.
Open SDK for app development
Notion Ink will actively encourage 3rd-party application development by providing an open SDK. As this is an Android device we can expect many apps to be available at launch.
Screen viewable in all lighting conditions
Both in this video and the last prototype demonstration video the Adam’s 10″ Pixel Qi display is shown to be very easy to read in all lighting conditions. Here’s it is even shown next to a MacBook in direct sunlight and the difference is astonishing.
Notion Ink representative Rohan confirmed the Adam would be released in June and will ship with a custom interface built on top of the Android OS. There’s also mention of two versions of the device, but no details as to what the differences are other than thickness. One will be 13mm thick (as seen in the video) while the other is 11.8mm. We can only assume that the difference is down to battery size. Pricing is thought to be around $325.
@Beatnik
they said there are 2 versions due to one with pixel Qi and one without the screen for reading under sunlight. Also different versions for optional WWAN (mobile internet, dunno if its written right).
The killer fact for me is the enormous battery life and with tegra 2 I expect decent video codec support (=
Anyway it got me sold lol
iPad sexual harassment 'er
@n0ne
You know...you don't NEED to have a comment on 70% of all the articles (or more). You're not even interesting..
@Very Powerfull Codfish,
Your feeding the Troll.
Cease and Assist.
@n0ne
You're the troll?
The comment was so lame, I didn't even get the point.
NO Iphone OS 4.0 news!?!?!!? WHAT?? heheeh it sucked anyway...
@Alexpeegs You could at least try to be funny... >__>
yeah...keep 'em coming...
but so far Adam is the one that impressed me most :D
@Sree Ya, I'm waiting for more news about the Adam from Notion Link (did I say the company's name right?)
@groovedafied Notion Ink :)
Because the Coleco Adam was such a big hit.
I waiting for the hp slate....
@TheSunman89
...to finish your sentence?
@TheSunman89
Me too...
I guess that in the end build quality will be better on the hp.
Not to mention the too cameras one at front and the other in the back.
Another aspect is the displays viewing angles witch i find bad in others than the slate... Anyway i never saw a video of the hp in action...
i don't like the icons.. just like every other product out there.. at least joojoo had a nice bing-like look.. but why can a tablet be more clean like a desktop? how about we click or drag from the corner and get apps, like documents in apple's doc, or have just a few important widgets to the side, like htc sense or windows's gadgets ... mm.. maybe it's asking too much.. what i like someone else won't like, and since a lot of ppl own an iphone they might be attractive to the same idea..
not being a ms fan or anything.. but this is why i like the courier look... seems different.. still a prototype tho'
@pedmart
I'm sure you can customize it to your liking, it's still windows 7. (right-click properties) ;)
@pedmart
It's Intel's Blue Dolphin, they use it on a lot of netbooks. If you don't like it you can just turn it off and use Windows 7 standard interface.
@chrisj979
Yes probably you will be able to use win 7 interface by just going to properties...
I guess.
Man all these new tablets that are coming out look so familiar...I can't put my finger on it....oh wait I just did ;)
@gentlefury ALL of them?
@gentlefury I assure you whatever you are touching right now is not what you think it is.
Guess I'm not seeing the pricing here. If a comparable netbook sells for $300 how does losing a keyboard/mouse and adding in a touch screen justify the $200 price increase?
When a netbook company starts to offer netbook like slates and netbook like pricing you will see a total win. Right now, everyone is sticking with iPad like pricing. Lose for the consumer.
@bjsguess Probably because slates use SSD and netbooks typically use regular Hard drives. Right now SSDs are pretty expensive.
@jaxim
There are plenty of netbooks that use SSD (usually 16GB max though). Even then - the price simply is not justified. If manufacturers want these to go mainstream they have to drop the price to comparable pricing with netbooks.
@bjsguess
It must be the touch screen, all the netbooks I've seen at $300 don't have touch.
This one needs to lose a few pounds.
@hated one
Yep. Lots of people. The iPad is flashy and easy. But not everyone wants to be tied down to Job's scheme. The flexibility of a full blown OS is a great thing.
Hello 2010 tablet makers, you can't simply take netbook guts and put it into tablet form and say, were done! You have to bring something new to the table(t)...maybe better HD content playback, performance and battery life?
@One Love
I will say this is a bit different than the other two Atom powered tablets as this is running the slightly more efficient Pintetrail Atoms. Hopefully, they will gives us a model with the Broadcom HD decoder or better yet the dual core Pinetrail Atom with the Broadcom HD decoder pair in this.
What do we have here??? Another piece of crap that will fail miserably.
Video is almost useless, considering he only touched the screen once. Makes me think he's hiding something about how responsive the screen is...
Silver-painted plastic and parting lines around the ports that look like they came from the mid-90s need to die. I understand the obsession with following Apple's industrial design, but silver-painted plastic is not true to the material the way anodized aluminum is.
@NapkinDoodle
This is true.
@hated one
If it runs anything but apples locked OS and has a usb port and decent styling (ipads glass and aluminum isn't bad) then I'd consider it. I dont see myself buying a piece of hardware where im locked into a walled garden system. Remember AOL? Yeah besides this blog - neither would I.
Fuck me, do they ALL have to look the bloody same?
Can someone at least do one in white or something!?
@Jamescb
Right. Have fun with this overweight turd
And look at all the smudges on that thing - has that guy got no shame?? Someone give him a tissue...
does the stupid lingering mouse pointer make anyone else mad? it's been in every windows tablet, it just looks stupid in a device that's meant to be mostly touch input.
@One Love
"Hello 2010 tablet makers, you can't simply take netbook guts and put it into tablet form and say, were done! You have to bring something new to the table(t)...maybe better HD content playback, performance and battery life?"
Thats what a slate PC is. iPad is a MAcBook Air, removed keyboard and add touch, oh and removed the OS.
Battery life really, come on people. the iPad runs a phone OS on a laptop battery, of coures it last long. Thats common sense not innovation.
This is hackintoshable!
Nope. Apple has prevented Mac OS from running on the Atom.
@hated one
It's not locked down like apple's iPad. You can install what ever you want on it, not whatever Steve Jobs wants.
Wow that thing looks thick. Probably weighs a ton too!
@Tenny
that's what she said...
Arg. I want a stylus to take notes with. Not just written notes that I can type, but a pen to do diagrams and annotate presentations from professors.
As yet, keeping my Motion LE1600 seems to be the best cost/performance.
Windows will kill all the tablets, whatever the brand makes them. Poor companies. Windows is not supposed to work out for anyone except programmers and MS IT oldsk00lers. Windows tablets are not viable.