ASUS Eee PC T101MT now shipping to the form factor indecisive
By Joanna Stern 
posted April 10th 2010 2:02PM
posted April 10th 2010 2:02PM
posted April 10th 2010 2:02PM
powered by gdgt
ASUS Eee PC T101
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
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.
definitely waiting for Win7 premium and maybe bigger battery. the tablet looks sexy
@kingofwale totally agree with Win7 premium, what is wrong with the battery? 6.5 hours is not enough?
@kingofwale I'll just take the starter OS and install Ubuntu onto it, which supports multitouch and gives a complete OS experience.
@jasonhaley ubuntu has been a real dickhead about my lenovo s10-3t. it doesn't have much in the way of hardware support for touchscreens and even after compiling from source single touch works ok but multitouch is glitchy as all hell.
@jeffeulogy It works well with Ubuntu and the European version according to this reviewer http://www.liliputing.com/2010/03/asus-eee-pc-t101mt-to-ship-in-april-for-499.html .. I don't think the American version would be any different.
@kingofwale
Are we 100% positive this is a capacitive display?
This says it's resistive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qymTYxMcXg8
If it's resistive I'm going to resist giving my money.
@Dig Deep
That image does a really great job of portraying there is no bevel on the screen edge. However I'm thinking there is...
Just because it says it's multi touch doesn't mean it's capacitive. Resistive is so 90's.
@Dig Deep It wouldn't matter what the input was anyway since the damn thing is shipped with Starter. Even the Slate will come with a bumped up SKU (if not, a mod that supports multitouch).
Hold on to your monies, folks.
@jeffeulogy
That is because Linux never works correctly. I am sorry to say it because I love the idea of Linux, but its implementation is always bad. Windows always works just fine when Linux struggles at everything but serving up web pages.
My college runs both Windows XP computers and a variety of Linux computers. One lab has computers set up to dual-boot XP and Ubuntu. I just hate it when I walk in to use a computer and it is booted into Ubuntu.
@kingofwale Win 7 is great, for sure it'll suit this swivel laptop perfectly. One of my concerns here are the battery issues too, hopefully it will be addressed. Opinions- http://bit.ly/asus-3e-series-swivel
@Dig Deep
Personally I'd rather have a resistive display instead of capacitive on a tablet, namely since you can actually write on it properly, and if it's a better one it would be pressure sensitive as well.
@N900 If the price is right, who cares. When theres the option of Ubuntu for example for $x less I usually go that way and do a clean install of W7 anyway.
@kingofwale
I think that eee brand is the best for couple of years. They just look what other do on expensive scale, then they wait and kill everyone. I think this will be bestseller in this category. Of course as you said we need to wait better multitouch compatibility
@Peter F That's because Windows always comes preinstalled on the hardware with necessary drivers installed by OEMs. Have you ever tried a Windows XP install? Not even Windows 7 has as much hardware support on the 4GB DVD as a 700 MB Ubuntu CD.
@Dafrety
Actually this input support finger and pen. I know it's magic! I used it actually it's pretty sweet.
Let's hackintosh that baby and get a real Apple Tablet going. I'm going to wait for the review, but I'm already considering buying one.
@Pat Hartl whaaaat? why in the world would you do that? Apple OS (desktop OS) has no native multitouch
@Jimbojones Why wouldn't you want to do that? With a 10" screen I don't think you're going to be doing much multitouch, besides, I'm sure there's some multitouch driver package out there or something. I'm sure some other hacker wants to do the same thing.
@Pat Hartl W7 was designed from the ground up for touch support, and adjusts spacing and menus and icon sizing and everything accordingly when a touchscreen is present, not to mention multi-touch support.
W7 is simply a better operating system hands down for a tablet.
Imho this is the future ideal form factor. As cool as tablets are everyone still understands you need a keyboard to do real work. This has the best of both worlds.
@Proverb And that's why tablets are mostly used for entertainment purposes or work that doesn't require much text input like documents and spreadsheets. Tablets are not laptop replacements.
This thing does not have best of both worlds imho: it might have a tablet formfactor, but not the weight and batterylife of a 'real' tablet. (With real tablet I mean: ARM based with purpose build OS, no desktop OS)
@Proverb Everyone 'understands' that tablets are for consuming content on the go, not content creation. That's what Laptops and Desktops are for. Why people still think you need a keyboard to surf the web, watch a movie or read an ebook when on a train, in Starbucks or lounging on the sofa is beyond me.
@MaTdg You are refering to a slate, not a tablet. The "tablet" form factor, its a convertible full notebook or desktop replacement
@Proverb I'd agree with you. I have the t91mt and I really like it. It was the first non-Mac laptop I've bought in a decade. While my MBP is still my day-to-day workhorse, One Note on the t91mt has really changed the way I work. No more scraps of paper, and I can just email my interesting scribbled plans to myself and save them for later.
Couch browsing in notebook mode is nice. Small screen, but it doesn't get hot on the lap.
@Proverb Hasn't this form factor been around for years?
@Bosco T91mt is the best alternative to ipad available on market. Dont know why engadget choose t101 as alternative.
T91: ssd, fanless, internal battery
T101: hdd, fan, replaceable battery
now tell me wich one looks like an ipad....
@trihy Good points. The t101mt might be nicer if you want the larger screen (but same 1024 x 600 pixel area), large hard disk, and replaceable battery. The t91mt's keyboard is a tad challenging. Great in a pinch, but not good for typing all the time. I really do like the form factor though.
So far as software... A significant trend among developers right now is optimizing for the 1024 x 600 screen size (full screen windows, etc.) and making UIs more touchable (larger target areas). I did this earlier this year for a kids' ebook/literacy app. And I'll tell you... There is nothing like reading with your 5 year old niece and engaging her in the reading by having her touch the screen to turn pages, play sounds, etc. It is amazingly immersive. And it doesn't require a *magical* crippled, expensive devices. This stuff will just get better and better over the next couple of years too.
@jaffreywali Yes, it has. Everyone's been conveniently ignoring Microsoft's early efforts with Tablet PCs and Windows XP Tablet PC edition.
@Proverb
I love this form factor as well. Alternatives would be a slate with BT keyboard. They key is having a full OS available. iPad is just way too limiting for what I need. And I definitely don't need a smart phone, iPad, Laptop/Desktop. A smart phone + convertible netbook is more than enough for 90% of what I do.
@jaffreywali Yes, but not at this price
@Liminality
I think you are forgetting social media, which involves a lot of text entry. I think the slate form factor would be fine if someone comes up with a good virtual keyboard for the slate/tablet screen (no one has up to now, everyone is still trying to simulate the typical keyboard and that doesn't work well on a slate, though it works for a smart phone because of the smaller size). The most natural text entry for a slate would probably be writing though.
@trihy
I think it is the slate and tablet terminology that is confusing everyone.
Tablet is a boarder term that includes both with and without keyboard. Slate has no keyboard. It is better to use slate when talking specifically about no keyboard.
In general, I think it is true that the slate form-factor is just not a good fit for doing actual work, it is better for entertainment.
@Proverb Beyond the tactile feedback keyboard, one nice thing about convertible tablets is that the screen stands up on its own.
This makes typing so much easier than having to hover directly on top of a screen laying flat on a desk.
@jaffreywali
The form factor is around for years but it is too thick, heavy and expensive. A tablet that is hard to hold for a long period of time doesn't mean anything.
The form factor that is thinner, light and cheap only started appearing since last year (T91). However, its performance is not good enough. Any other problem is Asus didn't advertised (very few people know about this).
@r3loaded
And many people forget how heavy and expensive previous tablet is.
Tablet is a correct idea for future laptop development. However, its hardware cannot support its actual use until today.
The benefit of a tablet is you can fully operate it by using one hand (another hand hold the tablet). Previous tablets are too heavy to allow prolonged use in such kind of way.
Moreover, previous tablets are much more expensive than a normal laptop. It is unreasonable for us to buy an expensive device when we can't use its major selling point continuously.
@Rockchan What shocked me most about the ipad is the UI. Everything on it is lightening fast so much so that my core duo 2.5 GHz, 6 GB RAM Sony Vaio FW that I use at work seemed slow by comparison. there's an Apple Store in the mall across from where I work. The UI on the ipad is the best I've ever encountered for any product I've ever used. I bet the 3 G version will sell very well. Most Netbooks by comparison are very sluggish... Even my high end Vaio X. It is way more functional than an ipad, both my notebooks run win 7 pro, but in UI the ipad destroys both easily... The ipad is that good from a pure UI perspective. The web browser, media player, email client and some of the apps that I tried out like Netflix were jut too well implemented.
A convertible is good... but a "netvertible", not so much :/
@lsx
I lean more toward a lenovo thinkpad x200 tablet. those are super cool, but still durable and powerful. I know it's a totally different price range, but if I'm going to get a tablet pc, I want two things. I want the touch to be responsive, which leaves only things like the ipad and expensive convertibles. And I want it to actually benefit me in some way, which rules out the ipad and similar slate tablets.
@DrNDGo
not that I could afford an x200 tablet. I'm just saying I don't see much good out of cheaper tablets until they are perfected. Which will come soon enough.
Do we know whether the screen is capable of multitouch input and just needs the software upgrade? If so, are you going to do an anytime upgrade as part of the review to see how the multitouch performs? That's probably what I'd do if I bought one (and at the price point, I might), but I could really use knowing how multitouch works on it.
@mmaestro Yes we do, after clicking through: "10.1" Touch Screen (Multi Touch functionality when loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium OS)"
I wonder how well it will run OSX86. Definitely a contender for me as I'm on the fence regarding buying a new Macbook, or an iPad.
@Honza
If you are trying to choose between an iPad, and a macbook, you have absolutely no idea what the concept of the iPad is all about. If you plan on doing more than simple media consumption, you need a full computer. The iPad is intended to supplement, not replace computers.
@dmgabe The iPad is intended to waste money. Get a convertible and you have everything you need. Some have instant-on options.
@dmgabe Nope you misunderstood me. I already have several Macs and an iPhone, my point was I cannot really afford to upgrade my current laptop AND get an iPad. I'm wondering which will be a more effective use of my $.
@Honza
Get a laptop instead of the iPad. You already know how you use a laptop in your daily life, a newer one would be faster and more capable. You don't have an iPad right now and while that might be nice, it might also be a waste of money and you don't end up using it.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is you already know how a laptop will fit in your life, you don't know about the iPad.
@Honza Totally depends on what you're upgrading from. There's no way I would upgrade my 2008 alubook at the expense of not having an ipad. If I were still on my blackbook from 2007, then I'd be all over a new macbook like a rash. My ipad's in the post.
Doesn't look like it can handle HD streams neither with that CPU chipset combination. Count me out.
Hmmm a netbook with a shit TN screen running a desktop OS that doesn't even support multitouch, looks like Asus has another winner on their hands!
@alex2792 a TN screen is fine for most things. The only thing it's not good for is someone doing illustrator work. For me playing games or coding it's fine. I wish they'd make a cheap 30 inch high res TN screen. Sure the colors on TFT and IPS are better but honestly I don't care about the difference or notice it playing video games/web surfing/ or programming. That being said screw windows 7 basic. screw the resitive screen.
Gimme linux with multi touch and make this thing as thin as possible.
Its not CAPACITIVE, its RESISTIVE!