We've been following the Simputer with great interest for two years now and we're happy to report the product is finally shipping. Designed in India for use by those who speak Hindi and Kannada, the book-sized, pen-based Linux device is targeted to a mass audience as a sort of "volkscomputer" for both rural and urban areas of the subcontinent.
New Viewsonic Tablet PC first with 802.11g WiFi
ViewSonic has announced the launch of its V1250S, a convertible tablet PC that includes integrated 802.11g and 802.11b wireless access via Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG Centrino technology. The 802.11g wireless standard supports newer local area networking technology with transfer speeds nearly five times faster than 802.11b. The product is expected to ship in the second quarter of 2004.
Click here to read the announcement at Viewsonic.com. -- Posted Wednesday, March 24, 2004 by davidmacneill
HP announces new rugged notebook and Tablet PC
Filling a gap in their otherwise comprehensive computer line, HP is now offering a pair of rugged pen computers, a clamshell notebook (HP Rugged Notebook nr3600) and a stout tablet (HP Rugged Tablet PC tr3000). Stay tuned to this page for a detailed analysis of these machines by editor-in-chief Conrad Blickenstorfer, followed by full PenLab reviews in the next issue of Pen Computing Magazine.
Click here to download the press release from HP in .DOC format. -- Posted Friday, March 19, 2004 by davidmacneill
90GB ATA flash drive
M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd. has released a standard ATA notebook drive casing that uses 90GB of high-speed flash memory instead of rotating platters. Though the blinding speed and vibration/shock resistance of this drive would be a great upgrade to your PowerBook or Tablet PC, this $40,000 drive is obviously not intended for everyday users but for military and ultra heavy-duty industrial applications.
Click here to read the article at ExtremeTech. -- Posted Thursday, March 11, 2004 by davidmacneill
Newtendo
As further evidence that Apple's Newton OS may never die, a developer has created a Nintendo emulator for the platform.
Click here to visit the Newtendo website.
Amazingly, there are an estimated 20,000 active Newton users, with a small number of talented developers keeping things interesting, a very active discussion list, and at least one nicely done blog. Reading these makes me want to charge up my "old" MessagePad 2100 and re-enter this delightful world.
Click here to visit NewtonTalk.
Click here to visit DumbStart. -- Posted Monday, March 1, 2004 by davidmacneill