I’m loving it! The Samsung 900X1B is an 11.6” notebook running an Intel Core processor with a battery life of 5-6hrs in web-working scenarios. Sounds big and heavy right? It’s not. The price matches the productivity potential and it’s working well as a partner to  my 7” Galaxy Tab Android Tablet.

The Samsung 900X1B is part of the Series 9 range that includes a 13” version and it’s designed around the ‘Ultrabook’ principle of efficient, light and stylish. It’s been available for a few months now but in my opinion it’s one of the best 11.6” notebooks out there. It weighs 1.06KG, 2.33Lbs and has a dynamic range that excites me. From 2.8W screen-off idle to 31W video processing. This stylish bit of kit can handle a huge range of tasks.

Yes it’s a desktop device (although I’ve done some one-handed action with it in the last 48hrs) and it’s not in the same category as an Ultra-Mobile, handheld PC device but given the lack of solutions in that area and the improvement in 7” tablet devices recently, this fits in as a perfect portable PC companion.

I want one. Although having said that I think the Core i3 version I have here is unnecessarily constrained. Core i5 at 1.6Ghz with Intel Turbo Boost action would extend the dynamic range even further without major battery life penalties but, here in Europe, the 900X1B with Core i3 and 4GB RAM, 64GB storage is dropping in price quickly. It’s €880 right now. Very attractive and a lot of PC and quality engineering for the price. Matt screen, back-lit and high-quality keyboard, fast SSD, Gigabit Ethernet (via wobbly adaptor) and more.

OK let me stop now. If you’re interested, check out my first impressions, battery life test at Ultrabooknews.com and then join me on Sat 3rd Dec 2011 at 2100 CET (Your timezone details here.) for a live Q&A and review [I’ll be live here]. Those of you that were interested in high-end netbooks are going to love this. If the price is too high for you, just wait. This is the sort of 1KG laptop that will be $500 in a few years. Mark my words! Devices like this will totally displace the high-end netbook market.

I’ve posted a detailed review of the ASUS UX21 over at Ultrabooknews and even if you think the device is too big, I encourage you to read the article to learn about the platform and it’s differences to Oaktrail, Cedar Trail and other low-power platforms. The UX21 idles down well and gets things done so fast that the total battery used for tasks is, in many cases, less than on a low-power platform. The effect is known as ‘HUGI’ by Intel – Hurry Up Get Idle – and it seems to work.

The platform provides a high dynamic range of operating modes from simple web-based work in a netbook-like 8W power to gaming and video editing to a quality that you would never achieve on an Atom-based platform.

It’s interesting to think of where this could lead to. Will Atom-based devices just dissolve into a low-cost category? Will there be an interesting option for ‘Ultraslates’ in the future? Could Intel create an even more efficient, smaller and small platform based on their leading technologies. My feeling is ‘Yes’ and I talked about it in an article earlier this year.

I suggest reading the UX21 article though for more details and proof that there are some Ultra Mobile possibilities with the high-end mobile computing platforms.

ASUS UX21 Full Review

Many thanks to Jeff Kent (Mobile Barbarian) for sending us this detailed review of his Eee Slate EP121 from real-life business scenario perspective. Remember, this is a 2.6lb device containing a 12” screen and Core i5 processor. Not quite a handheld but in some respects, still an ultra mobile device.

I recently purchased the Asus Eee Slate EP121. As the term “Slate” indicates, the EP121 is a Slate (as opposed to convertible) tablet. While Slate tablets these days are multiplying like rabbits, the EP121 is a rarer bird:

• Its OS is not the typical Android or iOS, but Windows 7 (Home Premium, 64 bit).
• Its screen size, 12.1”, is much larger than the typical 7 – 10.1” range.
• Its screen is not just capacitive, but includes an active digitizer for digital inking!
• Its specs are muscular: Core i5 (U470) processor + 4 GB DDR3 RAM + 64 GB SSD.
• You also may need to be more muscular to hold it: 2.6 lbs.

There already are video reviews by professional bloggers whose video and picture taking skills far outstrip my amateurish efforts. One in particular is this review by MobileTechReview (“MTR”), which is the source of most of the pictures in this review, and also includes a very thorough 15:21 video (referred to as the “MTR Video”). Even Microsoft has gotten into the act with promotional videos featuring the EP121. So instead I thought I would discuss the EP121 from my perspective as a user. So you have a context for my usage, before we get to the EP121, let me introduce myself.

Who I am

My name is Jeff Kent, though my students have affectionately (?) nicknamed me Genghis Khent, and one created my avatar shown here. I live in the Los Angeles area. I have dual careers. I am a Professor of Computer Science at a local community college. I also work at a law firm as an attorney and network administrator. Additionally, I teach computer programming classes online, both for my community college and also privately for a national consortium of community colleges. In my spare (?) time I have a blog, Mobile Barbarian, that is devoted to my favorite hobby (and expenditure of discretionary funds), mobile gadgets like phones and tablets. My wife, who also is a Professor of Computer Science but is not enthralled with gadgets, tolerates my hobby because, as my blog motto states, “Mobile devices are cheaper and safer than mistresses.”

However, mobile gadgets are a tool as well as a hobby. My job(s) duties require me to be always connected. I also am mobile, going from one job location or meeting to another. Hence, I need to be connected and do tasks when I am not tethered to my home or office base.

But this isn’t a review of me, but instead of the EP121. So let’s get to it!

Why a Windows 7 tablet?

Particularly for business users — and I’m one — there are mission-critical Windows applications that have no iOS or Android equivalent. For example, wearing my attorney hat, I heavily rely on software like CaseMap, which creates a database of a case’s facts, issues and documents, and TextMap for storing, indexing and searching deposition transcripts. There’s nothing I’ve found for iOS or Android that would fill their role. Additionally, even if some iOS or Android equivalent existed, there would be an issue of converting from one application’s format to the other.

There’s also the matter of digital ink. While tablet these days seems to equal touch, I’ve always regarded digital inking as the essence of what makes a tablet a tablet. I cringe at the over-use of the term “killer app”, but OneNote is a killer app for business.

An active digitizer makes a big difference in inking. Windows 7 tablets commonly have active digitizers. The EP121 is no exception, with an active digitizer in addition to a capacitive touch screen.

By contrast, on my iPad 2, which has no active digitizer, inking feels more like drawing, if not finger-painting. Ditto with Android, except for the HTC Flyer, which does have an active digitizer, albeit N-trig, not the Wacom digitizer (which I regard as superior) on the EP121.

But is a good tablet experience possible on Windows?

OK, I’ve justified the need for a Windows 7 tablet. But I still want the touch to be as smooth and responsive as possible. No offence to our canine friends, but performance on a Windows 7 Tablet PC can be a dog.

Indeed, much has been written that touch is not as smooth and responsive on Windows 7 as it is on other operating systems that are tablet-optimized (iOS, Android Honeycomb). Yes, Windows 7 is fundamentally a desktop, mouse and keyboard OS. Consequently, the touch experience may not be as good as with a tablet-optimized OS. But need it be bad? I think not. In this regard, the MTR review comments:

“[T]he bigger problem is Windows’ somewhat unearned reputation for being a poor tablet platform…It hasn’t helped that several small manufacturers (generally Asian companies whose products arrive here online or through importers) went with underpowered Intel Atom CPUs and screens that are too small to work well with Windows.” (Emphasis added).

I think this comment hits the proverbial nail on the head. So let’s see how the EP121 addresses these two critical issues.

Brute force uber alles

I’ve owned other Windows 7 slates, once upon a time the Motion LS 800, later the Viliv X70, more recently the HP Slate 500. The latter two have an Atom processor, and either 1 GB (X 70) or 2 GB (Slate 500) of RAM. Unfortunately, not enough processor muscle. Often I’d have to wait a not insubstantial amount of seconds for an operation to complete. Worse, sometimes the tablet would freeze, requiring a reboot.

This waiting and freezing is at least an inconvenience. Sometimes it’s more than that. The interruption can disrupt the flow of a business meeting and make you look like you don’t have your act together. Worse is when this happens in court before Judges who — how shall I say this — are not renowned for their patience. Indeed, reliability in Court became such a concern that I had paper backups of everything, which sort of defeats the purpose of bringing the tablet.

Brute force usually solves such problems. So it is here.

The processor is a ULV (ultra-low voltage) Core i5 470UM. It’s Intel’s currently latest and greatest ULV processor. It’s quite powerful. Per Intel, its clock speed is 1.33GHz, with Turbo Boost 1.86GHz, and has 2 cores and 4 threads with 3MB cache. So from the standpoint of brute force, mission accomplished.

However, it’s not a Sandy Bridge ULV, as these are just coming available. The difference is not power, but battery life, an issue (and problem) discussed later.

The EP121’s 4GB of DDR3-800 RAM also is plenty of brute force. Theoretically the processor (and the 64 bit OS) can support 8GB, but there’s only 1 SODIMM slot, and I don’t believe any 8GB sticks are yet available (and even if they were you’d probably have to mortgage your house to buy them). Nevertheless, 4GB is plenty.

The 64GB SSD is large enough and fast enough. Per the MTR review, the SSD is of SanDisk manufacture with a mSATA form factor, looking like a mini-PCI card. Of course, the SSD could be upgraded to one of the larger, speedier ones becoming available (but see my comments later regarding upgrading).

The bottom line is I haven’t experienced on the EP121 the hiccups I’ve experienced on lesser-powered Windows 7 devices. This is very important in settings like Court where reliability is not a matter of convenience but instead mission critical.

In Mondays post I outlined the 1K challenge:

1000 Words written on a mobile PC setup weighing less than 1KG, costing less than €1000

I’ll be taking four rigs on the road over the weekend (Starting Saturday) and testing them to see what works best. We’ve got four sets of kit lined up for the test:

• Exclusive! – Tega V2 Tablet PC arrives in Europe on Friday
• Toshiba AC100 ‘Smart Book’
• Viliv X70 – 7” Windows Tablet – Winner of our 2009 awards.
• TBA

Call for help

As you can see, I’ve got one position open at the moment. I’m aiming for a lightweight 7” Android Tablet although the options aren’t too good at the moment. The Viewpad 7 and Camangi FM600 and Archos 70 aren’t available. The SmartQ T7 3G is here but the OTG option for attaching a keyboard isn’t working. I’m also looking at the ultra low cost Archos 7 HT, the Smartbook Surfer, WITS A81 and a few others includiong the Galaxy Tab which is available in Germany now. If anyone in Germany has got a 7” Android tablet they can loan me for the weekend (one that works with a USB keyboard) I’d be interested to hear from you.

Or should I just order a Galaxy Tab from Amazon? Anyone care to sponsor that

If I don’t manage to get a 7” Android tablet I have the Viliv S7 ready for action – it’s still one of the best mini laptops around.

Again, thanks to everyone that joined in with the Viliv N5 [information] Live Open Review session tonight. Through pure perseverance I got my N5 from Fedex at the Cologne airport today [Note: Don't try and pick something up from there unless you have two hours, passport, vehicle registraion docs and want all the posessions in your car to be scanned!] and we did a good 2.5hrs of testing with hundreds of visitors via the live session over Ustream. It was a live unboxing for me so my first impressions will come later this week but in the meantime, here are the live recordings we produced.

Update: All videos now available on YouTube.

Part 1 – Unboxing Overview. (12 mins)

Part 2 – JKK Overview, Video performance, Q&A (30 Mins)

Part 3 – Further testing and Q&A including summary. (43 Mins)

First things first, Pocketables have a full review of the Viliv N5 up. They seem to be very happy with the device although there’s confirmation that there’s no video-out port. It’s been blanked-off. Click-through for the full review.

After you’ve read the review, don’t forget that despite the high possibility that my N5 won’t turn up in time, JKKMobile is getting his and we’re planning a live session. This will happen today (Monday 28th) at 2130 CEST (1230pm San Francisco. Other times here.) on the UMPCPortal and JKKMobile live channel.

Update: Live review is finished now but the recordings are available.

Specifications, information, images and links for the Viliv N5 here.

There will be a live video and audio feed along with a chat channel for questions and discussions. I hope you can make it. I hope my Viliv N5 can make it too! If not, my UMID BZ will be there as a comparison. We’ll try and include comparison thoughts about the UH900 too.

We will try to record the main part of the session.

See you on the live channel and follow/check here for any late announcements/updates.

Update: Live review is finished now but the recordings are available.

Jkk spotted that the Sony Vaio P11 that was just announced yesterday has already been ripped apart by a Japanese site called PlusD (page in Japanese).

Additionally, Joanna Stern has already dropped a full Sony VAIO P11 review over at Engadget. Enagdget also tells us that the VAIO P11 will start at $799 here in the US. While you should head over to the Engadget review to get the full details (and watch the nice video overview of the device), Joanna sums up the review by saying:

Can you get an $800 laptop with five times the performance of the P Series, or a $399 netbook with better ergonomics and endurance? Of course, but the Vaio P is — and will probably always be, unless it drops severely in price — a niche device meant for those that have the cash to burn on an overpriced, albeit striking little laptop. But regardless of it not being a gadget for the masses, we’d still like to see it gain a touchscreen and more than four hours of battery life. Ultimately we feel the same way we did when we concluded the first VAIO P review: “There’s some cool stuff happening here. $800 worth of cool things? That’s your call.”

I have to say that I’m rather disappointed with Sony and their release of the Vaio P11. They seem to have only added a few novel features to the VAIO P – more thoughts on this later.

If you’ve been itching to get to know the iPad, head on over to our review at UMPCPortal’s consumer focused sister site, Carrypad.com. We’ve had a month to get a real feel for the iPad and published our findings in a full review.

Don’t forget to check out the iPad’s product page in our product database for full specs, news, and more.

Once again we had a great audience for our live open review last night. Over 600 people dropped in to watch JKK and I testing out the Viliv S10 in an extended, close-up, warts-exposed review session.

We recorded two videos from the sessions which are up at Ustream.TV (I’ll try and get these over to YouTube soon) but as a summary, let me go through some of the things we found out.

Hardware: Both of us are very impressed with the build quality, plastics and styling of the S10. It beats every other convertible 10”-er out there.

CPU differences: The difference between the 1.6 and 2.0Ghz version is of course noticeable. The 2.0Ghz version is much smoother in general operation and the difference was very noticeable when we compared the use of Microsoft’s Surface demo software. The 1.6Ghz version benefits well from the fast SSD though and once I had turned off Aero, the UI responsiveness went from poor to good.

Battery life: The production samples we have don’t show remaining battery time and only count down in 10% charge increments but we took measurements throughout the session and as the meter dropped to 80% I calculated that the device would run connected, in-use with 100% screen backlight, light browsing and video clip playback for 7.5 hours. For such a slim device it’s incredibly efficient.

Heat and Noise: None. Silent and cool to touch. One small patch gets warmer but it’s hardly worth mentioning.

YouTube video playback. 720p using Flash 10.1 beta was good (only tested on 2.0Ghz)

Video. MKV, AVI, WMV. H.264, Divx, WMV9, MPeg2 all handled well. 1080p played in Windows media player. NOTE: I now see that there are some additional codecs installed on this production sample. It’s obviously tweaked in terms of video software but it proves it works!

Special features: USB file transfer client. Fast SSD. 3-point multitouch.  Analogue video output. (S-video, VGA, component)

Loudspeakers: Very poor.

We talked at length about the value of multitouch in Slate and laptop mode and clearly there’s a lot to be learnt here. Multitouch is new territory for me and I can see it fitting well with programmable gestures and on screen keyboards in tablet mode but I still can’t get used to holding 1.2KG of tablet. For me, multitouch in tablet mode is only going to be useful and feel natural when the weight is 800gm or less. As I said, i’m only starting the multitouch journey right now and maybe I haven’t ‘got it’ yet. If you’ve got thoughts or experience with multitouch, your input here would be greatly appreciated.

JKK will be doing some Viliv S10 videos this week. Keep an eye on JKKMobile. My unboxing overview is here.

We are actually rather intrigued by the Kohijnsha dual screen DZ series netbook as a pro-focused mobile productivity device and hope to be bringing you some first hand coverage soon. For now you can take a look at some good videos from Wow-pow-blog which has a three part DZ series video review. We’ve got the first embedded below, and you can view the other two parts by jumping over to Wow-pow.

[NewGadgets.de] via [Liliputing]

The Eking S515 has been with me for about a week now. It was sent over by Mobilx who wanted some feedback on the product. Fine, we said. As long as we can make all feedback public, we’re happy to help. Here’s what we’ve got so far.

Specifications, links, videos, gallery available in the Eking S515 information page.

Introduction.

The EkS515 reminds us of the Wibrain i1 we had about a year ago. [Article] No, we don’t mean to say that it’s an ugly brickling but in terms of usability and ergonomics for productive UMPCs, it’s up there with the best. The Eking S515 even looks good.

The trick (as we’ve found with multiple Windows-based devices) is to get some form of mouse control under the thumb. The U820, Everun, OQO 02, M704, HTC Shift (information) and even the original Wibrain all had a mouse pad of some sort and it makes a huge difference. Fine control of the mouse for selecting icons, window elements and links becomes much easier. Double-tap to click helps too and if you’ve got the mouse buttons available on the opposite side, it helps with right-click operations.

In terms of getting things done, the S515 is one of the best slider UMPC designs we’ve tested and if you look at any other slider device between 5 and 7” out there you’ll find that it does pretty well on battery life / weight ratio too. 2.5hrs for 450gm is slightly less than the Compal/Agio slider MID offers but remember that this is a 1.2Ghz device with hyperthreading. Noticeably more powerful than the Compal slider.

Build quality is reasonable although we would have problems recommending this for industrial use as screen hinges are always going to be a weak point. Plastics are good and we like the rubberised finish that increases friction on the keys and underside of the device. The Mouse pad area on the right of the screen frame is a shiny low-friction finish.

When closed and held in the hand, the device feels relatively dense although when used with two hands in typical thumb-typing mode, 450gms is an easy weight to use for 30-60 minutes at a time. Strangely, the device feels and looks smaller when in the neoprene case. Magic!

In terms of design then, we’re happy with the Eking. It feels good, works well and looks OK. This isn’t eye candy but it’s a very good productivity design.

Full gallery available.

Performance.

The Eking S515 uses the new 1.2Ghz hyperthreading Z515 Atom CPU which produces some really good results. Boot-up is relatively quick and navigating around the OS is easy with the mouse system outlined above. Web-sites load quickly and  standard def YouTube works fluidly in both embedded and full-screen mode but we’ve got three big problems to consider.

First, there’s the 800×480 screen. While WVGA on an 4.8” screen isn’t a problem in itself, implementing Microsoft Windows on that resolution is. A default installation with a default Firefox set-up will net you about 50% of the area for web browsing and many programs won’t even install if they check for a minimum resolution. Some notification windows won’t even show the ‘accept’ ‘cancel’ buttons causing a huge roadblock. Tweetdeck is one of those apps. With some tweaking, you can work round these issues. (Here’s one nice tweak that removes annoying notification balloons.)

The second issue is more significant. Slow SSD write speeds (on small block sizes.) This might sound a bit technical so I’ll put it another way. Constant short-term freezes or ‘stuttering.’

The effect was seen on a previous UMPC, the Raon Digital Everun Note, and I’ve heard of the same problem on some netbooks too. The problem occurs when the SSD and SSD-controller combination can’t write multiple small chunks to memory quickly enough. Buffers fill and any program wanting to read/write from the disk simply has to wait. It’s not a problem you see on hard disks and fast SSD’s but when you experience it, you’ll know about it. It reduces performance to frustratingly low levels and limits multi-tasking capabilities drastically.  On the Everun Note it was possible to swap out the SSD but on the Eking there’s no such option.

We’ve been testing an application that might help with the slow flash write problem. FlashFire is a program that promises to speed up low-end SSDs. After installing we have seen a reduction in freezing and can measure improvement using CrystalDiskMark. Longer term testing is needed on this but we’re hoping it reduces the stutter and freezing issues to an acceptable levels. Buffering of data can have disadvantages though so use this at your own risk.

The third major issue to report on is battery life. The slider form-factor is a notoriously difficult design to use if you want to keep battery capacity high so as with all sliders out there, you can’t expect to have a huge battery pack included. Take the original Raon Digital Everun for example. It’s the same size as the Eking S515 and because it doesn’t have a slider keyboard, it has a battery that is over twice the size of the battery in the Eking. The Eking has a 13wh battery and users will struggle to manage with 2.5hrs connected battery life. The device has class-leading efficiency and to put that into perspective, it could run for well over 10 hours if it was connected to a 6-cell battery pack from a netbook but carrying 200gm of battery pack is not the idea here. We just hope that spare batteries are cheap and that the docking station also includes a battery charger. [Note: In a short, uncontrolled standby battery drain test we saw the battery drop by 1% every 5 minutes indicating that even standby mode will leave you with an empty battery if you don’t turn it fully off before going to bed.]

Finally on the list of minus-points is the fan. We’ve seen a few Intel Menlow-based devices without fans this year and we’re starting to see high-power ARM solutions that are also fanless so when the fan starts up on the EKing S515 it’s a little surprising. The noise isn’t too bad and the exhaust is tucked nicely away at the rear/top of the device.

Other notes

Keyboard – Focused on thumb typing. The membrane-layer keyboard is not for touch typing but works extremely well for thumb typing. Well-spaced keys with a thumb-focused width work well. We found the space key had a hard spot on the right (exactly where we want to use it) but apart from that the keyboard is good. Missing F11 key (fullscreen) and right Shift key are somewhat annoying but +/- keys are well placed together (for zoom in/out on Firefox) A dedicated Internet Explorer startup button went unused. We hope this is programmable but can’t find the information in the Chinese-language manual.

BT/Wifi – The 3DSP BT/Wifi solution was fast to connect and had very good Wifi reception. We haven’t tested it for efficiency but it’s a USB-connected module so we’re not expecting it to be the most efficient implementation.

Audio speaker – Mono. Loud. Acceptable. Positioned (as is the mic) for phone capability. (If that’s your bag!)

3G module – We installed a Huawei 550 3G (UMTS) card and were able to get up and running with no problems. Our test device had pre-installed antennas.

Camera – The Camera is only VGA resolution but to be honest, higher resolutions rarely result in better quality for video calling. I had some fun today and recorded this video demo. As you can see, Skype video works.

Notes. (Continued)

• Docking station port untested.
• USB client capability. Untested.
• Battery life: About 2.5hrs Wifi on. 50% backlight. No remaining battery life indicator in Windows 7 or XP.
• HID drivers for Tablet PC software. Untested
• Stylus. Tiny. Akward.
• Neoprene case. Tight but good.
• Screen. Matt. Good brightness.
• Touch. Light-touch.
• 4-hour standy test saw battery drain drop by 1% every 5 minutes. (50% in 4 hours) which is very poor.

That’s about all we have now. Our overall opinion so far is that while the design is good and productive, there are too many issues for the pro-mobile user to have to deal with and work-round on this device. For the hobbyist and researcher though, the EKing S515 offers a lot of interesting and productive features at an interesting price point.

For of all, thanks to Jeff Hill of Misticaudio for sending over this case for review. They’ve stepped in at just the right time with a leather case for the Archos 5IT that fits well, doesn’t impact on the usability of the device and looks great at a very acceptable cost. $28 is a good price although you’ll need to consider taxes and customs costs if you’re importing it.

More images in the gallery.

As you can see from the images, the case is a Wallet design with an access window, cut-outs for ports, buttons and the speaker and an integrated stand. There are also two slots for credit cards and, in the fold, a slot for a stylus. Stitching is neat and the clips seem good enough. The stand is relatively solid and there’s some padding and strengthening in the screen flap. A few corners of the device are left exposed so there’s still a chance of a nasty knock if you’re very unlucky and the chance for dust and dust to get into the connectors but to be fair, this is a case that is designed to allow you to use the device and its connectors. I haven’t tested a docking station yet but that should arrive soon and I’ll update this post when I’ve tested it out.

The Archos 5 IT doesn’t ship with any sort of case or cover and although the plastics and screen seem strong, I’d still recommend buying a case for it if you’re planning to use it while mobile. The Misticaudio case is tidy, stylish option.

The Misticaudio case for the Archos 5 Internet Tablet is currently available at Sensory Candy

Jenn over at Pocketables.net is getting ready to take a break from the site to become a new mother, but she isn’t leaving the internet empty handed as she goes. She recently got the Kohjinsha PA [Portal page] series convertible which might just be a device so ugly that only a mother could love it — yet still she managed to dish out a mini review of the PA series as her last post until she returns sometime next year. Jump over and have a look at the smallest convertible in town.

Don’t forget to check out the M1 size comparisons as well. I certainly didn’t realize that the PA series was nearly the same size as the UMID M1 [Portal page] until I did so myself!

Kubel of MyT91.info seems to be one of the first guys to get his hands on the recently released T91MT, the first multitouch version of the T91 [Portal page]. In addition to an unboxing that was posted the other day, kubel now also has a full review of the unit.

The unit is pretty much exactly the same build as the T91, but it is rocking Windows 7 and a multitouch resistive touchscreen which kubel says only functions correctly with up to two points of input.

Though there was a T91MT intro video which appeared to show that the T91MT could understand varying levels of sensitivity, kubel says that this is not the case, and performance is what you would expect with a plain old resistive touchscreen. However, gesture support could possibly help with palm rejection when writing on the screen, but isn’t implemented in all applications.

I’m doubting that the T91MT would make for a good tablet if you want to take ink notes (you usually need an active digitizer for that) but the T91MT is most likely designed around the idea of touch rather than stylus input, hence the included finger oriented software.

Jump over to MyT91.info to read the full review.

One of Asus’ upcoming Eee PCs, the 1008HA, which Chippy and jkk got to check out at this year’s CeBIT, has seen a handful of reviews from across the web recently. Engadget rounded up several of them and they seem to be pretty positive.

Eee 1008HA’s Portal page for full specs
Eee 1008HA Gallery

Let me refresh your 1008HA memory: We first heard about the 1008HA being referred to as the Eee ‘Shell’ PC. At CeBIT 2009 we got the first glimpses at the 1008HA and it was apparent that the ‘Shell’ denotation was referring to the unibody enclosure. Obligatory MacBook Air comparisons ensued, but the 1008HA is more of a style focused netbook than a MacBook Air competitor.

Its nice to see an Eee PC which isn’t just a slight change from the older, more money conscious designs; the Eee 1008HA is thin and light and looks pretty nice. The keyboard has what appears to be a very good layout, featuring fully sized shift keys. We’ll see if we can get our hands on a production 1008HA at some point but for the time being, check out Engadget’s post for a few reviews.

After many months of wondering if the S5 was going to be as good as we first imagined it to be, it’s time to review the final retail version and make some conclusions. The Viliv S5 is one of the smallest tablet PC’s in the world. It includes a full PC hardware architecture and Windows XP software. The manufacturer has used a mature design from it’s PMP range and the end result is a solid, well-built pocketable device aimed at media, web browsing and, due to the built-in GPS, navigation.

Vilis S5 specifications, discussion, links, videos and images in the community specifications page.

Read the full story

Before I sent the Vaio P [Portal page][review] back to its home I dropped the beta of Windows 7 on it to see how it would handle the upcoming operating system. As you may have heard around the web, Windows 7 seems to be a bit more snappy than Vista, making it feel more like XP while keeping the nice new features. You may have read in the performance section of the VAIO P review that turning on Aero in Vista brought some very visible sluggishness; well I can’t say that has changed in Windows 7, but it did score a bit better on some preliminary benchmarks and it handled boot/standby/hibernate a good deal better than Vista.

One particularly nice thing about Windows 7 was that it pulled down some updates for the Vaio P right as it was installed. Automatically through Windows Update it let me know that there were a few driver updates available for the chipset (in addition to standard Windows updates) and a few moments later I had them installed. Now that is service!

The biggest improvement from Vista to Windows 7 is the decrease in boot times:

Compare that to the Vista based boot times and you’ll note an increase that nearly runs across the board:

In addition to improved boot times, the Vaio P scored higher with Crystal Mark when running Windows 7. While the Vista based test scored the VAIO P at 27879, I was able to get Windows 7 to score right around 30400. I was glad to see that the VAIO P was able to break 30k even though Windows 7 seemed to handle the SSD a bit more slowly than Vista. This seemed odd to me because Windows 7 is supposed to deal with SSDs more effectively than previous versions of Windows. However Windows 7 in still in beta so they may still be tuning that facet of the OS. But as I mentioned, despite the slight drop in SSD score (Windows 7 running around 10k while Vista scored 11447), it still scored higher than Vista. Aside from a slight increase in all other areas, there was a largely noticeable jump in the OGL score. Vista has been noted to have poor OGL rendering as I believe it emulates the XP version. Whatever the case, it looks like they’ve gone back to the XP version, or brought the component up to speed as I seem to recall OGL scoring over 2000 as opposed to 135 under Vista.

I’m looking forward to the day when Windows 7 will be offered on a computer like the VAIO P instead of the more bulky Windows Vista.