Alright, stick with us here. For some reason, ASUS decided it best to name its freshest e-reader the Eee Tablet, while its downright magical tablet goes by Eee Pad. Got all that? Good. The Eee Tablet (again, not to be confused with the Eee Pad tablet) is half e-reader, half note taker, and it's an interesting twist on a played product category. We took a few precious minutes to experiment with the device here on the Computex show floor, and overall, we like what we're seeing. Gone is the painfully slow E-Ink page refresh that Kindle owners are so accustomed to, with this particular LCD proving deliciously quick at changing screens. The only hang-up comes when you attempt to flip through too many pages, too fast -- we managed to harness a loading wheel on two occasions, both of which took around six or eight seconds to vanish and the next page to finally appear. We also confirmed that the screen only works with the included stylus, much like pen-enabled Wacom tablets. That said, the bundled stylus was perfectly weighted, and the Eee Tablet responded well to our doodling. Speaking of weight, the model shown here in Taipei was shockingly heavy (at least iPad-level heavy), while the 10-inch EP101TC was markedly less hefty. Enough chatter -- have a look at our hands-on video just past the break.
Me too... or, I would have been, if it had been available a year ago and still had Calc II in front of me. Now I'm not quite sure if it's a value proposition or not.
If it had a Mirasol display, I'd probably have to buy one just on general principles, though. :)
@thescreensavers i'd think the camera is for taking pictures of books and documents, not recording lectures (your professor might not even like that). ideally, you would then be able to annotate the images--bye bye, photocopier. this would be the first truly compelling application for a tablet i've seen so far.
@Outsider Sorry but I have heard that this thing will cost you around $399. I would rather add $100 more and get a more powerful dual-core Atom netbook where I would simply download the Amazon kindle app and I will be good to go. http://netbooksreview.net/asus/eee-pc-1201n/
@thescreensavers you dont have to use the camera to take a picture of the board. you could use the camera to take picture form your text book to add to your notes, such as graphs or diagrams :)
@jordanbiffle Right. Non backlight LCDs always have this little dusty look which makes an already greyscale display feel even less colorful. Not so sexy in my opinion. People like it crisp and shiny.
@jordanbiffle The Newton was totally ahead of its time, and the Courier was basically a modern version of the Newton. I really wish hardware makers could understand this and put some more styluses and less finger wiping.
Well, Asus kind of understood it. We won't get a Courier, but we'll get a new Newton.
@fuesse They didn't even try to write on it normally, no one writes lecture notes that big.
They said it was only slow when they flicked through too many pages, not creating a blank one, if you watched the video you would see it created a blank page instantly.
@fuesse Not whilst I'm taking notes no, I focus on what I'm doing at the moment not flicking back multiple pages.
If anything they probably have some sort of overview system or contents system for quickly moving between pages rather than having to load each individual one.
Other than that, seeing as they are presenting it's note taking features I would probably be able to readily export my notes to my computer for when I wanted to quickly browse through them.
New page is instant. When the time comes they will have 12inch tablets which are lighter then this tablet.
I am really interested in this type of thing, I always loose paper notes which Is why I like to type things, let alone my handwriting sucks.
I can do one single math problem on the screen use as much space as I want then flip to #2 and then #3..ect Then I can come back to my work months later for my Midterm and study off what I wrote.
@fuesse The response of the screen seems good enough, they'll just need to improve the contact between the pen and screen (to feel more like pen on paper).
@tobsmonster2 but it doesnt seem to have pressure sensitivity or grey levels... which makes sketching really kind of useless. and then imagine a full sketch when turning the page for a little handwriting already took many seconds.
@erwin Would you rather take a picture of the complex diagram your professor just drew on the board or try to painstakingly recreate it on your tablet as he moves onto other topics that might be important later?
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 May 31st 2010 6:16AM
At 199~299, I'm interested. But that camera better be hi-rez for it to do any good.
@Outsider
Problem is regardless, camera will only work if your in the front row. or close to the board.
@Outsider
Me too... or, I would have been, if it had been available a year ago and still had Calc II in front of me. Now I'm not quite sure if it's a value proposition or not.
If it had a Mirasol display, I'd probably have to buy one just on general principles, though. :)
@Outsider
It is Ugly, heavy and the screen is less than pretty... But you can draw on it!!!!! I want one
@Outsider
...
Its a newton?
@thescreensavers
i'd think the camera is for taking pictures of books and documents, not recording lectures (your professor might not even like that). ideally, you would then be able to annotate the images--bye bye, photocopier. this would be the first truly compelling application for a tablet i've seen so far.
@Outsider Sorry but I have heard that this thing will cost you around $399. I would rather add $100 more and get a more powerful dual-core Atom netbook where I would simply download the Amazon kindle app and I will be good to go. http://netbooksreview.net/asus/eee-pc-1201n/
Thanks, but no thanks
@janeapple The product managers at ASUS have repeatedly said on video that this is $199 or $299 depending on the storage option you choose.
@Outsider This is just the beginning I guess. http://j.mp/asus-eee-tablet-prev
@thescreensavers
you dont have to use the camera to take a picture of the board. you could use the camera to take picture form your text book to add to your notes, such as graphs or diagrams :)
Reminds me of the Newton.
@jordanbiffle
Right. Non backlight LCDs always have this little dusty look which makes an already greyscale display feel even less colorful. Not so sexy in my opinion. People like it crisp and shiny.
@jordanbiffle
The Newton was totally ahead of its time, and the Courier was basically a modern version of the Newton. I really wish hardware makers could understand this and put some more styluses and less finger wiping.
Well, Asus kind of understood it. We won't get a Courier, but we'll get a new Newton.
HUH? SO FAST? I thought it was just announced....
@jordanbiffle
It may end up like the Newton as well.
This is brilliant, I'm loving it.
Good bye huge piles of paper and folders!
@EroThraX
ya, good luck replacing all your paper with a screen you can write about 10 lines before turning to the next screen which then takes 10sec+.
@fuesse They didn't even try to write on it normally, no one writes lecture notes that big.
They said it was only slow when they flicked through too many pages, not creating a blank one, if you watched the video you would see it created a blank page instantly.
@EroThraX
so with that little screen ... u think you never want to flick through your records???
@EroThraX
and dude, if i didnt watch the vid - how would i know it took so long turning the friggin page?! smartass.
@fuesse
Not whilst I'm taking notes no, I focus on what I'm doing at the moment not flicking back multiple pages.
If anything they probably have some sort of overview system or contents system for quickly moving between pages rather than having to load each individual one.
Other than that, seeing as they are presenting it's note taking features I would probably be able to readily export my notes to my computer for when I wanted to quickly browse through them.
@fuesse Because they said so in the article.
@fuesse
New page is instant. When the time comes they will have 12inch tablets which are lighter then this tablet.
I am really interested in this type of thing, I always loose paper notes which Is why I like to type things, let alone my handwriting sucks.
I can do one single math problem on the screen use as much space as I want then flip to #2 and then #3..ect Then I can come back to my work months later for my Midterm and study off what I wrote.
@EroThraX
yeah...because nowadays you spend soooo much time writing things down on paper.
@damakaveli Well yeah I'm a student in the Pharmaceuticals field so yeah I write a lot of stuff down on paper, every day..
@damakaveli
As an Engineering student I write all the freaking time. For that reason this would be great.
doesnt seem to work for advanced sketching at all :(
almost looks like those wipe-away kiddy slates...
hardware quality seems nice though.
@fuesse
yeah, doesnt look like it can handle my drawing ... sad.
@foggyflute
sad indeed!
i was so hooping for some sort of mobile cintiq12 or so...
@fuesse
The response of the screen seems good enough, they'll just need to improve the contact between the pen and screen (to feel more like pen on paper).
@tobsmonster2
but it doesnt seem to have pressure sensitivity or grey levels... which makes sketching really kind of useless.
and then imagine a full sketch when turning the page for a little handwriting already took many seconds.
@fuesse
cheap mobile slate with digitiser? The closest you'll get is a motion computing slate, or if you dont mind 1024x768, good ole HPTC1100.
They better improve load times if asus want this thing to be practical !
@fuesse
Uses wacom technology I heard someone from asus say.
So yea it's got the pen sensitivity and such that wacom offers.
it must be more slimmer ....
a camera? on this thing? what for?
@erwin
have you ever attended a meeting, or a lesson?
@erwin Would you rather take a picture of the complex diagram your professor just drew on the board or try to painstakingly recreate it on your tablet as he moves onto other topics that might be important later?
@erwin
Yeah if you think Ipad is the optimum device (which is far from it).
More junk from junky companies
@assb10yr
More junk from junky commenters
looks fantastic can probably work for everything @ school.....also will keep me from distractions during lecture..... love it want it
This looks like the drawing board for kid...why do u need a camera for a B&W tablet? Will need to look at the real thing.
@sqsuica
A camera is useful when you need to record something that it is difficult to be written on the device (e.g. a chart or a picture).
If that one works well I`ll get one for college!
Nice step to introduce a notetaking thingy between all those half baked useless fingerinput tablets ...
Napoleon Dynamite works for Engadget?
if you really want that just get a Newton off eBay.
@mack14 too bad the newton was a Piece of Crap.
This looks really interesting. *college student*
Good for watching those cinema noir b\w movies :D
Please take the 2450 dpi and put it in a device with a screen like the Notion Ink Adam.